His Butler, at School (その執事、登校, Sono Shitsuji, Tōkō) is the forty-seventh episode of the Kuroshitsuji anime, and the first episode of Kuroshitsuji: Public School Arc.
Summary[]
In the headmaster's office, vice headmaster Johann Agares explains to Ciel Phantomhive that Weston College is an institution "protected by tradition and discipline" and asks him if he swears to abide by the school's traditions and rules. As the Prefect 4 watch by, Ciel agrees and shakes Johann's hand.
Earlier that day, Ciel hurries to make it through the gates on time. He manages to arrive just a moment before the gate is closed. Catching his breath, Ciel ponders about the public school's attributes, i.a., prestige, location, and structure. Afterward, he reminds himself about the importance of first impressions and promptly steps on the lawn, shocking his schoolmates. They are certain he will be punished with at least one Y for that, and Ciel listens to their words with great confusion.
The prefects arrive.
A moment later, the Prefect 4 arrive. When Edgar Redmond spots Ciel on the lawn, he rushes over to him; however, to everyone's surprise, he only wants to fix Ciel's crooked tie. He then asks Ciel what his name is. When Ciel replies with "Phantomhive," Edgar notes that he has not heard that name before. Herman Greenhill recalls though that the headmaster told them about a new Sapphire Owl student. Undeterred, Lawrence Bluewer proceeds to read out Rule 48 which states that only prefects and those with permission are allowed to cross the lawn, and scolds Ciel for not memorizing the school's rules before his arrival. Ciel wants to apologize but is cut off by Gregory Violet who implores his fellow prefects to hurry indoors as he cannot stand the sun. Edgar tells Ciel to be careful before he and the other prefects leave.
Before Ciel can process what just happened, McMillan nudges Ciel and congratulates him for being so lucky that he could step on the lawn without being punished. He then hands Ciel his hat which fell to the ground earlier and introduces himself as a Blue House student. Upon Ciel's inquiry, McMillan explains what the terms "Y" and "P4" mean; the former is a kind of punishment, and the latter refers to the prefects of the four dormitories whom Ciel has just met. After McMillan's explanation, they head to class; first leisurely, then hurriedly when the bell rings.
In the classroom, McMillan says Collett's sudden withdrawal from school came as a surprise and notes that it surely must be rough for Ciel to transfer schools in the middle of the year. Ciel, however, tells him that he has been waiting for the chance to enroll in Weston College and is, thus, happy to catch up. Then, Clayton bursts into the room and orders everyone to line up. McMillan quickly explains that the last one has to do tasks for the older students before he gets in line. Because Ciel is last, Clayton makes him polish the P4's schools and tells him to return to the dorm afterward for his welcoming party.
Housemaster Michaelis rescues Ciel.
When Ciel later enters the Blue House, Clayton grabs him, and he and some other students welcome him into their dorm by repeatedly tossing him into the air with a bed sheet. They only stop when Sebastian Michaelis, who has infiltrated the school as Sapphire Owl's new housemaster, arrives. He tells Clayton and the others to "exercise moderation," even when it comes to tradition, and then helps Ciel up and notifies him that he was called to the headmaster's office.
Immediately, Ciel goes to the headmaster's office. There, Herman asks Ciel about his first day, and Edgar tells Ciel that he can still switch to Scarlet Fox if he does not like Sapphire Owl. Lawrence is quick to remind him that only the headmaster can assign students to houses. Afterward, Johann and the P4 inform Ciel that, at Weston College, the headmaster has absolute power, and that the prefects govern the students for him. Johann makes Ciel promise to follow the school's rules, and when he makes his way downstairs to have Ciel sign his name in a book, he trips.
When the ceremony is over, Ciel asks the P4 when he can meet the headmaster, and they tell him that only prefects may speak to the headmaster as he is a very busy man.
McMillan tells Ciel about Derrick's transfer.
The next day, at breakfast, McMillan explains Fag Time to Ciel and how the prefects' fags enjoy special privileges, i.a., they are allowed to cross the lawn and can attend the Midnight Tea Party. When Ciel hears that the headmaster hosts the Midnight Tea Party, he ponders how he can attend one. Then, Ciel inquires about Derrick Arden. Because he is a Scarlet Fox student and, therefore, a rival, the others in the dining room begin to whisper to one another. McMillan explains that it is not well-regarded to mingle with students from other houses before he tells Ciel that Derrick apparently transferred from Red to Purple House on the headmaster's orders. He warns Ciel about Violet Wolf; however, just when Ciel asks for an explanation, McMillan's upperclassman arrives, and McMillan leaves for his fag duties.
Aferward, Clayton assigns Ciel the task of cleaning up the entire dining room because he is not someone's fag yet. When Clayton leaves, Ciel calls Sebastian to speak with him about Derrick's transfer and orders him to clean up in his stead. In the meantime, Ciel will head to Purple House to try talking to Derrick.
When Ciel arrives at Purple House and makes his way to its entrance, its students suddenly appear from everywhere, glaring at the "outsider." Cheslock, Gregory's fag, then comes. After he tells Ciel to leave, the other Violet Wolf students start throwing stones at Ciel until he surrenders and runs away. Gregory joins Cheslock after Ciel has already fled, though he does still manage to catch a glimpse of him.
Ciel tells Clayton he can ask him for anything he needs.
Back at Blue House, Ciel realizes that the only way to find out more about Derrick is to become close to the prefects. He then heads to the dining room where Clayton showers him with praise, believing that it was him, not Sebastian, who deep-cleaned the hall. Albeit annoyed at first that Sebastian overdid it, Ciel ultimately decides to use this as an opportunity to make himself liked by Clayton who is Lawrence's fag. Faking enthusiasm, Ciel tells Clayton that housework is his specialty and that he can ask him for anything he needs.
The queen's letter.
Weeks earlier, on Easter, Ciel received a letter from Queen Victoria in which she asked him to investigate the disappearance of her cousin's only son, Derrick Arden, and several other students. Because Derrick attended the closed-off Weston College, Ciel decided it was best to enroll in the school to investigate and instructed Sebastian to figure out a way for him to be able to help him out from within school grounds.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Ciel Phantomhive
- Johann Agares
- Herman Greenhill
- Edgar Redmond
- Lawrence Bluewer
- Gregory Violet
- McMillan
- Clayton
- Sebastian Michaelis
- Cheslock
- Queen Victoria (voice only)