Episode 9

Episode
Title Card
End Card

A Birdcage and Flowers

Japanese	Rōmaji
鳥籠と花	Torikago to Hana

Information

Season

1

Episode

9

Air Date

June 6, 2021 (JP)
August 8, 2021 (EN)

Episode Production

Screenplay

Toshiya Ōno

Storyboard

Takashi Sakuma

Director

Takashi Sakuma

Chief Animation Director

Toshio Hasegawa

Animation Director

Toshiyuki Komaru
Hatsue Koizumi

Episode Guide

Previous	Next
Episode 8: In the Palm of His Hand	Episode 10: The Final Pair

"A Birdcage and Flowers" (鳥籠 (とりかご) と花 (はな) Torikago to Hana^?) is the ninth episode of the Shadows House anime series. It aired on June 6, 2021.

Summary

The 3rd floor express their opinions on the Debut. John had cleaned his clothes and Shaun notes the revolving gate blocking their way requires an extra person on the other side. Ricky appears and the two debate why the other should help turn the gate, Shaun then notices Lou's shears on Ricky's back and refuses to trust him. Louise and Lou make it back to the exit as Ricky walks away but is chased back to the gate when a massive boulder rolls down the path. John pushes Shaun away and turns the gate to replace Ricky, destroying the boulder with a burst of soot from his hand to the Dolls' shock.

Sophie reveals her face from excitement but shifts back into a Shadow as the 3rd floor comments on the progress of Rum and Ricky. They focus on Kate and Emilico who have reunited and are exchanging talk.

Emilico realizes that she can't reach the crane to save Kate but Patrick and Ricky approach who give her Lou's shears. Reaching the crane Kate is hanging off of, Emilico climbs it as Kate's cage falls but Kate manages to hold onto the vent, saving herself. The two jump off the crane and into Emilico's cart as the plants gathered in it had saved their fall.

Plot

The members of the 3rd floor comment that Edward's method of the Debut is strange as Dolls are to lose their sense of self to unite with the Shadow to create a complete being. Sophie and Dorothy express interest in the new method as the pairs show potential but Ryan remains annoyed, Lord Grandfather approves of this new method as it shows the House still has many possibilities ahead and Joseph holds off on giving an opinion. As Unification is a major secret of the House, Dorothy has Aileen send out a warning to Edward which stops his playing.

John had cleaned his clothes as the hut icon on the map lead them to a soot cleaning room. Shaun notes the revolving wall of bars blocking their way requires a person on each side to lift a bar to turn it. Ricky approaches the other side, ordering Shaun to beg if he wants to move to the other side, claiming he saved Patrick but Shaun sees through it. The Dolls debate why the other should help but Shaun decides to leave, forcing Ricky to apologize insincerely. Before they can turn the bars, Shaun notices Lou's shears on Ricky's back and asks what happened to her. Ricky replies that Lou gave them to him then turns away when Shaun doesn't believe him. Bells go off in the distance, announcing Louise and Lou have returned who are welcomed by the Star Bearers. Lou had given Ricky her shears out of free will as Shaun calls out for Ricky to return, Edward watching this sends out a signal for a Veiled Doll to pull a lever which sends a massive boulder down Ricky's path. Coming back to the revolving gate, Ricky tearfully begs Shaun and John to take care of Patrick if he still has a future after the Debut. John pushes Shaun away, pulling up the bar which causes the gate to turn on its own and approaches the boulder. He summons soot from his hand and destroys the boulder as Shaun and Ricky watch in shock.

Sophie, excited by the volume of soot and reveals her face, licking the window with a soot tongue. She quickly changes back as Ryan and Dorothy comment on her strange behaviour when it comes to soot. The 3rd floor then comments on the progress of the Dolls all reaching and freeing their masters. Ryan angrily asks if every pair will pass as the Shadows agree there is always an incompetent pair, focusing their sights on Kate and Emilico.

Finally reunited, Kate and Emilico exchange talk before Kate explains that her cage is hung from a crane that can be reached by two keys. Emilico realizes that there was a ring of keys back at the start which was the chance for her to pass. Still determined, Emilico cuts branches off the thorns to reach the crane controls. Patrick and Ricky approach and Emilico deduces that Louise and Lou are safe, having handed the shears to Ricky which relieves Kate who is hanging by a single chain. Seeing Emilico's situation, Patrick begs Ricky to give her the shears, helping her to reach the controls. To her horror, she sees that she also needs the keys to use them. Emilico scales the crane, running on top to reach a terrified Kate who hangs onto the vent of the cage when it falls. The two jump off the crane, Kate being caught by Emilico and fall into Emilico's cart as the plants she collected softened their fall.