Rozen Maiden - Episode 10

09. Ori

**The Stairway** (階段 *Kaidan*) is the tenth episode of the Rozen Maidenanime series. It first aired in Japan on November 4, 2004.

## Contents

* 1Summary
* 2Important Events
* 3Trivia
* 4Screenshots
* 5References & Citations

## Summary

A male classmate named Yamamoto tries to ask Nori on a date, but is cut short as she is obliged to have cake with Jun and the dolls. While Nori serves Suiseiseki and Shinku, a special episode of Detective Kun-kun has the undivided attention of Jun and Hinaichigo, who Nori also serves. Shinku’s interest is eventually piqued as well, and she turns around to see what's happening on the TV. When she turns back, the strawberry melon from the top of her strawberry melon cake has vanished. From Shinku’s point of view, Suiseiseki is the only one to blame, but nobody else will believe her - especially after Suiseiseki melodramatically accuses Shinku of eating her own strawberry melon and demanding hers as well. Nori threatens to cancel dinner if the gang can't settle the dispute while she's out shopping for groceries. Hinaichigo immediately sides with Shinku and Jun gives Shinku the benefit of the doubt and sides with her as well, while Souseiseki gets silently sucked into siding with Suiseiseki.

Jun, Shinku and Hinaichigo form a barricade at the top of the stairs, and Shinku scribbles all over Suiseiseki’s case (which is a very valuable item for a Rozen Maiden) and throws Hinaichigo’s crayons at her, causing her to fall face first onto the hard wooden floor. Suiseiseki is outraged. Then, Tomoe appears and insists to join in, taking Shinku’s side. Soon, they launch a toy alligator to the bottom. Jun explains to Suiseiseki that it only bites the hands of liars, and thus she should have no problem putting her hand in its mouth. She does so, and the alligator clamps down tight. Suiseiseki issues a competent apology before realizing the trick and taking it back. Then Nori arrives in confusion, and is forced into siding with Suiseiseki. For revenge, she raids the kitchen and taunts the group by gorging on snacks that she is holding hostage. Jun rubs two blocks of polystyrene to create an irritating sound, to which Suiseiseki responds by banging pots and pans. Suiseiseki’s final scheme involves getting out the strawberries and tempting Hinaichigo down to her side. Hinaichigo jumps towards the strawberries, and the resulting squabble between her, Shinku, Suiseiseki, Souseiseki and Tomoe sends Jun, Hinaichigo, Shinku, Tomoe and the box barricade toppling down the stairs. Nori gets knocked over, and everyone lands in a painful heap, apart from Suiseiseki because she was fine, and Hinaichigo, who she caught in her arms. Nori asks everyone what really happened, and Shinku tells the truth and Nori finally believes her, although she did exaggerate it a bit. Suiseiseki ends up being punished and sent away, while Nori rewards the gang with their beloved flower-topped hamburger steaks.

## Important Events

* Yamamoto, a high school student with a crush on Nori, is introduced, and his failed attempts to ask Nori on a date will become a running gag throughout the rest of the series.

## Trivia

* "Die Treppe" is German and means "The Stairway".
* Animation errors: Midway through the episode, Shinku has a bandage on her head that disappears not long after. Later, Suiseiseki is drawn in a simplistic style for a single frame before reverting to her more detailed self.
* This episode is often regarded to be the best episode of the original series, due to its lighthearted, comedy-centric nature.
* This episode adapts Phase 14.