Maria Watches Over Us (2004)
When Yumi Fukuzawa entered the Lillian Girls' Academy, a prestigious all-girls Catholic school in Tokyo, she never imagined she would catch the eye of beautiful and demure Sachiko Ogasawara, one of the school's most popular students. Now Sachiko has offered to be Yumi's soeur, her "sister" and guide for all her years at the academy. The whole idea has Yumi completely flustered—after all, they hardly know each other! The entire campus is abuzz with rumors about the two of them, but Yumi is conflicted over accepting Sachiko's offer. While she admires Sachiko, being her soeur would also mean constantly being at the center of the entire school's attention!
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Episode 1 - The Long Night
Release Date: 2004-07-04Sei takes Yumi to visit Sachiko's house on New Year's Day where the Yamayuri Council have a party. All the major characters are reintroduced, and with the start of the New Year, Yumi looks happily forward to spring.
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Episode 2 - The Precipitate Yellow Rose
Release Date: 2004-07-11A series of photographs implicate Eriko in enjo kosai, or compensated dating, while Eriko's behavior becomes even more erratic and strange than usual. As it turns out, Eriko does have a secret, but its far from what she has been accused of.
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Episode 3 - An Extremely Busy Day
Release Date: 2004-07-18In their midst of their graduation preparations for the third-years, the en boutons forget to organize a farewell party for the Rosas. To make it worst, Yumi finds out at the last moment that the en bouton petite soeurs must also put on a performance, and collapses from the pressure of all her various duties.
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Episode 4 - Will
Release Date: 2004-07-25In the days before graduation, Rosa Chinesis and Rosa Foetida leave their parting words to their petite soeurs and grande-soeurs. Yumi begins to worry why Rosa Gigantea hasn't done the same. She swears to Sei she'd look after Shimako and promises to do anything as her final request, and Sei's answer leads to a surprisingly sweet moment and a revelation about her future.
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Episode 5 - When Years Pass By
Release Date: 2004-08-01Graduation day arrives. As the rest of the Yamayuri Council struggle with conflicting emotions, the Rosas reflect on their lives and the memories which shaped them.
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Episode 6 - Joined by a Single Hand
Release Date: 2004-08-08With graduation's onset, Sei and Shimako remember the events which led them to become soeurs in spite of their many complex obstacles and reservations. The two of them ultimately form a deep and healthy relationship without becoming codependent.
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Episode 7 - Cherry Blossom
Release Date: 2004-08-15Shimako falls into a depression after Sei graduates and cannot bear the weight of her secret alone. But a chance meeting with the down-to-earth Nijo Noriko gives her a new friend.
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Episode 8 - A Cherry Tree Among the Ginkgos
Release Date: 2004-08-22Shimako and Noriko become even closer, but a shocking revelation about Shimako's true religion is announced in front of the entire school, testing their relationship. Meanwhile, the Yamayuri Council is concerned over the state of Shimako's well-being and decide to take matters into their own hands.
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Episode 9 - Tears of the Rosary
Release Date: 2004-08-29Shimako is pressured to take Noriko as her petite soeur, but is hesitant due to the differences between Noriko and the general culture of Lillian. Caught between her loyalty to the Yamayuri Council and her desire to protect Noriko, Shimako quietly suffers until an argument forces Noriko into action.
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Episode 10 - Beware of Yellow Roses
Release Date: 2004-09-05Yoshino takes advantage of her newfound health by joining Rei's kendo club, causing extreme worry on Rei's part and another roadblock in their relationship.
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Episode 11 - Rainy Blue
Release Date: 2004-09-12Yumi and Sachiko have not been spending much time with each other, for Sachiko is always with Tōko. Every time Sachiko and Yumi are alone together, Tōko appears. Yumi begins to believe that Sachiko prefers Tōko over her.
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Episode 12 - Blue Umbrella
Release Date: 2004-09-19Yumi gets back onto her feet with different people helping her out. She learns that she must develop an identity outside of being Sachiko's petite soeur.
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Episode 13 - With a Parasol
Release Date: 2004-09-26Yumi learns why Sachiko has been so distant lately. With newfound confidence, she promises never to question Sachiko's love for her again.