The Butler, Flocking (その執事、烏合, Sono Shitsuji, Ugō) is Chapter 197 of the Kuroshitsuji manga.
Summary[]
After Snake loudly wonders if Doll is all right, Susan pulls him aside and whispers to him that girls have "their own business." She then asks Snake what his relationship with Doll is; Snake replies they used to work together.
Susan brings Finnian and Snake to Collie class and tells them to stay and watch the students until Doll's return. The Collie teacher tells her pupils that, today, they will prepare a light meal consisting of pound cake and marmalade. She instructs them to peel the oranges first and informs them that it is easier to peel the oranges after cutting them into six pieces. Oliver is the first to peel a basketful of oranges, and the teacher compliments his swiftness with the knife. He apologizes for standing out, and when the teacher praises his embroidery from this morning and mentions that he entered Collie class with the highest aptitude, Oliver excuses himself and rushes to boil the peels.
Finnian is stunned when he realizes that all Collie students are boys, as Sebastian told him that sewing and preparing light meals is usually the duty of female servants. Snake agrees that this is strange. A moment later, a Mastiff student, Artie, drags a Collie student, Daniel, back into the classroom. Daniel protests; he does not want to do his tasks as they are for "women." Artie scolds him for his views and tells him that, nowadays, even men need to learn how to sew and cook; if he keeps refusing, Daniel will be in trouble after he leaves F.O.L. Orphanage. However, Artie's words still do not convince Daniel, and Daniel boasts that he will reach his "fledging day" quickly and marry a woman who will do all this "burdensome" work for him. Enraged, Artie reminds him that they have neither a family nor status—how dare he want to make such demands? Furthermore, the orphanage prohibits such outdated ideas as it stands for progressiveness and efficiency.
Artie then turns to Oliver and tells him that, as the oldest Collie student, he needs to take better care of his siblings; Oliver apologizes. Susan sighs at the scene and wonders whether Daniel really had the aptitude for Collie class; after all, all he does is talk about reaching "fledging day" soon. When Daniel starts to speak about it again, Oliver hugs him and promises to talk to him and raise his aptitude properly. The teacher is glad that Oliver is acting like an older brother now. Glancing at Artie, Oliver says that he has to change if he does not want to cause trouble after his "fledging day." He then apologizes again.
Afterward, Artie notices Finnian and Snake and apologizes for not noticing them sooner. They introduces themselves to one another, and Snake tells him that Doll introduced them to the orphanage. Snake and Finnian are impressed by Artie's manners; despite his age, he already seems like a senior servant.
The chief arrives and whispers something to Susan who then announces to everyone present that tomorrow is Ginny's "fledging day." While most students are ecstatic, Artie and Oliver are shocked. Oliver even forgets to pay attention to his boiling orange peels, and Artie has to warn him about the burning pot. When Oliver reaches for the pot, he accidentally hurts himself. Finnian is surprised to find out that not the oldest students reach "fledging day" first; he also catches an appalled Artie wondering to himself how Ginny could reach "fledging day" so "fast" when no one else notices.