Chapter 45

## Chapter Guide

**"General Evaluation"** (総 (そう) 評 (ひょう) , *Sōhyō*?) is the forty-fifth chapter of the Shadows House manga series. It is adapted into Episode 10 of the anime.

## Summary

When Rum and Shirley were walking to the exit, Shirley begins to repeat Rum's name, slowing down as if she was weakening. Rum thinks to herself that she will surely give Shirley a goodnight kiss that day. Edward, Gerald, and Aileen meet with the members of the 3rd floor and Lord Grandfather to report on the pairs that passed. Lord Grandfather recognises Edward's talents and appoints him as the manager of the Children's Building only for Ryan to voice his annoyance at Edward only failing a pair that had a Shadow on the verge of death. As they leave, Edward resolves to catch Kate red-handed as she is acting suspicious.

## Plot

Going back to when Rum freed Shirley, the words the Shadow spoke back then were Rum's name, apparently being alright with Rum having chosen her name. As she knew the way back, Rum knew they were able to make it back to the exit in time, but Shirley continued to lose strength every step as Rum continued to hold her hand. Rum notes to herself that if she was braver just a little bit earlier, she would have found happiness, certain that she will be able to give Shirley a goodnight kiss.

Edward, Aileen, and Gerald report to the 3rd floor members and Lord Grandfather. Shirley is reported to have failed to gain a personality due to Rum's shyness, which made her fail to make proper contact with the Shadow. Edward's knowledge is tested by Dorothy and he states that a Shadow's original form is a Morph, a fairy that specializes in mimicry. Morphs establish contact and mimic a Living Doll where they gain a personality through constant contact and eventually take over their Doll, becoming a being more powerful than humans. Weak Morphs will simply die after mimicking which is what happened to Shirley, but Ryan notes that it is his first time seeing a Shadow dissolve instead of collapsing. This was due to Rum bringing Shirley from the brink of death during their dance, making contact for the first time. The Dolls who started thinking on their own during the Debut were made to drink special coffee that was mixed with Lord Grandfather's soot to inspire loyalty which will make the Shadow follow suit. Rum will be made to drink the coffee as well for 30 days to turn her into a Veiled Doll. Ryan angrily throws Edward to the floor when he implies that the 3rd floor is scared of possible malcontents as Dorothy also comments that Kate deserves a passing grade as well. Lord Grandfather recognizes Edward's efforts in using the House's potential and assigns him as the manager of the Children's Building but Ryan interjects that Edward only failed a Shadow that was on the brink of death which is not enough to join the 3rd floor.

Leaving the room, Aileen notes that their entry to the 3rd floor has simply been postponed. Edward angrily calls the members of the 3rd floor trash, believing they are leading Lord Grandfather to ruin and believes that he is the few worthy to stand by him. He resolves to catch Kate red-handed as she is a malcontent.

## Characters

1. Shirley
2. Rum
3. Lord Grandfather (Debut)
4. Ryan
5. Joseph
6. Dorothy
7. Sophie (Non-speaking Role)
8. Edward
9. Gerald (Non-speaking Role)
10. Aileen
11. Louise (Fantasy)
12. John (Fantasy)
13. Patrick (Fantasy)
14. Kate (Fantasy)