02x07 - Individual Investigations

[bunniefuu]

Let's do this again sometime!

Kate will return to her rooms for today.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Patrick and Louise shouldn't be forced
to get involved in the phantom business.

Just growing closer like this is enough.

And I've managed to discover
a little something to look forward to.

Wait.

What should we accomplish
before the next time we meet?

Regarding the phantom mystery.

Kate is more fun than Louise thought,

so Louise will go along with it, too.

Patrick's pride will not allow him
to receive things without giving in turn.

Patrick will assist you.

And we will discover the true culprit!

We swear it on our bonds as peers!

In the face of sadness, we shall smile

To live is to be a marionette

Once your heart gets into the swing...

Would you like a coffee?





I can't seem to dance very well

Pain and resentment, and sadness, too...

Mix them, knead them...

And then a good night kiss

Shall we Dance? We shall dance

Despair and desire. This is the life!

Shadow Life!

Don't puzzle over things unnecessarily

Let's become one

How nice [How nice] How nice [How nice]

Humans... Being human... It's so nice

Individual Investigations

Lou, please clean twice as quickly today!

We're going out as soon as you finish!

Kate has asked us to do something for her!

Mistress Kate?

Don't just stand there.

If you're done,
ready everything for going out!

Louise found Kate boring because
she was always asking for favors,

but our gathering
was unexpectedly entertaining!

And that is why we're asking around?

Exactly!

If we're assessed highly,
we might receive an invitation!

You there!

You've come from
the training room, yes?

What sort of powers do you have?

Huh? And who are you?

Do you think James would
actually tell you that?

Oh, don't say that.

There are all sorts of things
we'd like you to tell us.

Louise is just a child, so she doesn't know.

W-Well then, James supposes he has no choice.

Louise placed first in her debut!

May she ask a few questions?

If you treat her so cruelly,
Louise is going to cry!

Won't you teach Louise
how you do your makeup?

And while you're at it...

Lou! Have you written everything out?

We gathered quite a lot of information
on soot powers, don't you think?

Kate's request was so simple to fulfill!

Since Louise is so exceptional,

do you think she'll soon
receive an invitation?

She is so looking forward to
becoming an adult!

Louise is certain that she'll
have lots of lovely clothes.

After all, Edward was just a living doll,
and he was dressed very well.

And Louise will eat foods
that are good for her beauty!

Oh, Louise wants her invitation
to hurry up and come!

Do you think maybe it
has already been sent?

Maryrose might know!

Let's go, Lou!

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

Are you all right?

You didn't injure your face?

No. I will be careful.

Well, this is a surprise.

To think you'd visit the rooms of
a shadow in the absence of her face.

Is it strange?

Louise is simply curious about something.

Clearly, Maryrose
is no match for you, Louise.

Maryrose's rooms are dirty.

Do you mind speaking here?

Then Louise will just ask:
when one receives an invitation,

one then goes to live in
Lord Grandfather's wing, correct?

That's right.

When faceless shadows successfully debut,

they become children
with faces who have come of age!

And then, when they receive an invitation,
they become adults!

Just as you say.

What is it you wish to ask about?

Has Louise been sent an invitation?

Only you would know the answer to that.

And it's something you're informed
of unexpectedly the day before.

What does one do after being invited?

Is it a test, like the debut?

Maryrose doesn't know that, either.

And the particulars of the debut change
according to the examiner's tastes.

Edward has horrifying tastes!

Who was the last person
to receive an invitation?

You wouldn't be acquainted
with them, Louise.

Those shadows who have gone
to Lord Grandfather's wing

must not be spoken of. It's the rule.

And those who have become
adults never return here, anyway.

So, you don't know anything, then?

That's what being a child means.

And that's why everyone strives
to become an adult.

If you wish to know more,

then you have no choice
but to ask the Star Bearers.

The Star Bearers? What a good idea!

Then, Louise will be going now!

Well, she's quite the whirlwind.

Louise!

Faces should be treated with great care.

What was Maryrose talking about?

Louise does treat her face with care!

Right?

Yes, Mistress.

Oh! This place reeks of sweat!

Oh, that's Benjamin, the person
who threatened Maryrose!

What do you want?

If you've gone to the trouble of coming
to the Star Bearers' residential wing, then...

Hm?

Perhaps he isn't so frightening?

Louise simply needs to avoid
mentioning Christopher, right?

The door wasn't locked.

Is there a rule saying
that others shouldn't enter?

There is no such rule.

But as for you and John both,

you should stay out of Star Bearer business.

Say, what is that contraption?
It's so strange!

It's an elbow-flexion-type
upper-arm-load amplification machine.

One of Oliver's inventions.

Really?

Say, Louise wants to ask you something!

Has she been sent an invitation?

No idea.

Truly?

You're a Star Bearer,
and even you don't know?

Wait. Do Star Bearers
not receive invitations?

Don't fret over trivial matters.

Being an adult must be fun, don't you think?

Louise feels that a child's lifestyle
is far too restrictive.

Say, do you train yourselves like
that in order to intimidate everyone?

If one is not strong,
one cannot protect anything.

Protect?

Being a Star Bearer seems
like a lot of bother.

One can receive an invitation even
without becoming a Star Bearer, right?

Yes, that's right.

In that case, Louise will not aim
to become a Star Bearer!

That would be best.

Barbara, for example,
seems to have to deal with quite a lot.

Oh, there's a mirror here!

Louise makes all sorts of expressions
in front of the mirror, you see.

To practice appearing beautiful!

Possessing the desire
to improve oneself is good.

But your face appears pale.

Really? We must fix her makeup at once!

That alone will not solve
the fundamental issue.

Training is good for the body.

It improves the metabolism.

Does it? Then perhaps Louise will try it!

You aren't doing it?

What? But we are. Lou is doing it.

Even if your face trains, you won't change.

It seems you think that your living doll
is no more than your face.

Louise, try doing it alongside her.

What?

Oh, this is impossible! Louise is exhausted!

Your face grows tired
in exactly the same way.

Recognize her for the efforts
of her body, not just as a face.

Do not err in the use of your tools.

What? But she's a living doll.

Louise will return to her rooms now.

Do that.

This was sort of fun! Thank you!

"Thank you," huh?

We didn't gain much information
from Benjamin, did we?

What a failure.

Say, Lou... Are you tired?

I'm all right.

No...

I am a little tired.

What?! You've been lying?

If you don't say anything,
how is anyone expected to know?

In that case, let's rest for today.

Patrick is forever worrying over things.

What should he say?

What should he do?

Ricky, Patrick needs some advice.

Please ask me anything.

In such moments, Ricky always
provides a clear answer.

Holding another midnight
meeting of peers...

That's quite bold.

Well, now...

We should agree to that proposal.

Resolving the matter and rising in the
Star Bearers' estimations is quite desirable.

Even if the endeavor fails,
the blame will lie with Mistress Kate,

so there are no demerits
for us in the matter.

That's true.

In order to examine the relationships
between peers within the house,

first, it might be best to speak
with our team leader, Master William.

Ricky is truly exceptional.

Yes.

William and Henry are peers.

If memory serves, Rebecca and
Cynthia debuted with us as well.

Randall has no peers left, right?

W-Wait a moment, please.

Patrick hasn't grasped everyone's names yet.

But it seems one does
tend to lose one's peers.

Those who cannot adapt to the
circumstances do not survive.

The trick is not to stand out.

That, and not to disobey.

Indeed...

Of those that Patrick knows, let's see...

It would be Barbara and Maryrose.

What?!

Those two debuted together?

In the children's wing,
those two have been here the longest.

What does Maryrose think about,
alone in her rooms?

It would be good if her face could be mended.

Having someone older than you here in
the children's wing is reassuring, isn't it?

It makes William feel it's all right
that we haven't received an invitation yet.

These people will never achieve greatness.

In order, the others who have
been here the longest are...

The Star Bearer Susanna,
of the first-aid team...

And Gilbert.

That's right!

The research team has
quite a few in one place...

Oliver, Lydia, Jeremiah.

Then there are Douglas and Sarah,
who debuted together.

Huh? Is that John?

He seems a bit downcast.

The Star Bearers scolded you?

About John and Kate.

What are you doing?

Have you gone and made a mess of our plans?

No.

They said that as John hasn't
even petitioned for marriage yet,

he shouldn't make such a fuss.

And their expressions
were so scary when they said it!

As punishment, John and his living doll
are ordered to clean this room.

What?

Do people get called before
the Star Bearers for that sort of thing?

John, they have their eye on you
for some reason, don't they?

That is a problem.

Don't cause trouble for our team.

But none of it makes any sense!

Not documents for marriage,
or petitions, or anything else!

You must understand the gist of it, though.

Go look it up in the library.

Is marriage something one must petition for?

Oh! Patrick, are you interested, too?

No, not really.

In that case, you'd like to hear our
ranking of recommended girls, right?

Um, perhaps another time.

In first place is Evelyn!

Regarding marriage...

Quite studious, aren't you?

Patrick, wasn't it?

Or could it be that you've
fallen in love with someone?

No, it's...

But it's not good to rush things.

Huh?

Did you know that one cannot marry
unless one is an adult?

While one is a child,
all one can do is petition.

Do you think it to be a meaningless system?

The most important element of this system...

is the determination
to become an adult, no matter what.

There are some who are dealt with
before ever becoming adults.

That's right.

If after petitioning for marriage,
one of the pair ends up being dealt with,

they become the subject of derision.

You must choose carefully.

Find a partner who will
not be dispensed with.

After saying all of that, Sarah,
do you have a partner in mind?

But of course.

Sarah has absolute confidence, you see.

And you, Patrick... Your face is lovely,
overflowing with confidence.

How pleasing.

Sarah wouldn't mind allowing
you to join her allies.

When you say that you find
Patrick's face pleasing...

Do you mean that you've taken a liking
to Ricky, Patrick's living doll?

What?

Patrick, complimenting your face
is the same as complimenting you, isn't it?

Stop thinking of yourself
and your living doll as separate.

Grow up.

Do living dolls not experience
romantic love, Ricky?

Of course not.

You seem a little fatigued.

Lately, you've grown fond
of flowers, haven't you?

Let's take a rest in the conservatory.

These flowers are particularly fragrant.

M-Margaret grew... those peonies.

Really? That's amazing.

What a worthwhile pastime.

Oh, begging your pardon.
Patrick is pleased to meet you.

Margaret...

Your team is led by Isabelle
and Mirabelle, isn't it?

You must be worried.

What?

Yes, worried...

What will we do if they return?

Since they've been sent
to the soot pipes and everything...

Margaret hopes they will just disappear.

Because those twins' hearts
are twisted and ugly.

Um, do you like flowers?

You come here often, don't you?

Huh?

Yes.

Patrick does have an interest,
but he isn't very knowledgeable yet.

Children who love flowers...

have beautiful hearts, you see.

This section is available for use
by shadows... if they wish.

Would you...

like to try growing something together?

Yes, Patrick will consider it.

Margaret will be waiting.

Oh, right.

Um...

As a memento of our acquaintance...

please take this flower...
that Margaret grew.

Um...

You took a liking to it, didn't you?

Marriage seems to be

mode deeply embedded in the house's
power struggles than we thought.

Mistress Sarah, whom we saw earlier,
should prove a good example for us to follow.

If Mistress Maryrose should fall behind,

then she would be a candidate
for the next team leader.

Keeping the conversation
with Mistress Sarah in mind,

I gave some thought to those
who have the aptitude to become adults.

Mistress Isabelle and Mistress Mirabelle
are on the verge of failing as leaders.

Mistress Kate came last in the debut.

Mistress Margaret's interests
align with yours, but that is all.

As I thought, the only one
worthy of you, Master Patrick,

is the one who placed top
in the debut, your peer...

Speak of her and she appears.

Well, then. Yes, he's right.

Ricky is exceptional, and he always
guides Patrick in the right direction.

Oh, it's Patrick!

But Patrick's interest in flowers
is the one thing...

which doesn't spring from Ricky's influence.

Oh, all of you are here.

No.

Just how great a fool can you be, Patrick?

Y-Yes. What a coincidence.

Kate and Emilico
are different, aren't they?

Because of Emilico...

Patrick learned that living dolls
have their own inner aspects.

You're the one who split
Patrick's heart in two.

Patrick has fallen in love with Emilico.

Patrick is sorry, Ricky!

Patrick is such a bungling
failure of a master!

The least Patrick can do...

is take these feelings for Emilico...

and make certain to never, ever reveal them!

Traveling through a jumbled labyrinth...

Over and over

This lonely utopia...

I have no more need of it

A vanished smile

Promises are lies, too

Everything is pointless,
isn't it? And yet...

Even misshapen as I am, I keep searching...

For shadows of recollection

Roses whose love has rotted...

Lock their feelings away

That silhouette from back then...

I've kept on chasing it...

Even if pale, frozen thorns

Pierce my heart over and over

Until I can take that hand

Again and again

I'll wish on a star

Both Master Patrick and Mistress Louise
are very kind, aren't they?

They are.

There is information Kate
cannot gather on her own,

so they are a very great help.

It may be a good time
to hold another meeting of peers.

What is it?

You seem happy somehow, Mistress Kate!

What?

Don't block the path to the washing room!

Move!

Please, let us go!

We can't endure any more!

That isn't something you get to decide!

We're begging you!

Let us go! Please!

Next Time

The Identity of Master Robe

Next time,

"The Identity of Master Robe."