Maria Watches Over Us
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!
Seasons
1. The Troubling Soeur Declaration
Air Date: 2004-01-07
Fukazawa Yumi's tie is fixed by Ogasawara Sachiko, her idol and the school's star, setting off a chain of events which would throw the shy and ordinary girl into the world of the prestigious student council. After Yumi walks in on Sachiko arguing with the Yamayuri Council over the school play they will be performing, Sachiko suddenly asks Yumi to be her petite soeur in an attempt to force her way out of the lead role.
2. The Awkward Piano Duet
Air Date: 2004-01-14
Yumi is hounded by the school newspaper for a report on why she turned down Sachiko and endures dance lessons with the Yamayuri Council and a piano duet with Sachiko. Through various people, Yumi learns more about Sachiko and Suguru Kashiwagi, the one who will be playing the Prince in the Cinderella play.
3. The Moon and the Rosary
Air Date: 2004-01-21
Yumi finally meets Kashiwagi when he comes to Lillian for the dress rehearsal, and learns a shocking secret about his relationship with Sachiko. Sachiko's true reason for her refusal to play the lead role is understood, making the bond between her and Yumi truly genuine.
4. Yellow Rose Revolution
Air Date: 2004-01-28
The rest of the Yamayuri Council find out that Yumi finally accepted Sachiko's rosary. Meanwhile, Shimazu Yoshino and Hasekura Rei are voted the school's best sœurs due to their respective girly and bishonen appearances, but Yumi talks to Yoshino and finds out that there's more to the pair than meets the eye and that the relationship between the two is far from perfect.
5. The Battling Maidens
Air Date: 2004-02-04
While Rei is reeling over Yoshino's shocking announcement, the bulk of the school copies them by breaking their soeur relationships too. Tori Eriko, Rei's soeur, isn't even aware of the problem due to her odd behavior and suspiscious absence from school. Yumi goes to the hospital to talk with Yoshino, and learns the true nature of the Yellow Rose soeurs. Yoshino tells her all about her plan to make Rei a stronger person.
6. Rosa Canina
Air Date: 2004-02-11
A second-year student calling herself Rosa Canina runs against the en boutons in the Yamayuri Council elections with murky intentions. Todo Shimako hesistates to run at all due to her first-year staus and her reluctance over taking a leading council position until a talk with Rosa Canina forces her to make a decision. Yumi confronts Sato Sei, Shimako's soeur, over her refusal to encourage Shimako to run, and learns more about the relationships between older and younger soeurs and how to best support Sachiko.
7. The Surprising Chocolates - Part I
Air Date: 2004-02-18
For Valentine's Day, the Lillian Newspaper Club organizes a treasure hunt in which the winners would get half-day dates with the en boutons. Yumi agonizes over what to get Sachiko for Valentine's Day, resulting in a spectacular misunderstanding between the two of them.
8. The Surprising Chocolates - Part II
Air Date: 2004-02-25
After a crying Yumi runs away from Sachiko's confrontation, Sei reveals the secret reason behind Sachiko's distress. The treasure hunt takes place with surprising results. and Yumi makes up with Sachiko in her own unique way.
9. The Red Card
Air Date: 2004-03-03
Uzawa Mifuyu narrates her past as Sachiko's desperate admirer and her reasoning behind her decision to not claim the treasure hunt's prize. She finally acknowledges that Yumi is a better match for Sachiko than her, and quietly slips out of their lives and the series.
10. The Forest of Thorns
Air Date: 2004-03-10
A tragic lesbian romance novel causes a scandal at Lillian because the author is rumored to be none other than Sei. This prompts Sei to tell Yumi and Yoshino about her past with a girl named Kubo Shiori.
11. White Petals
Air Date: 2004-03-17
A flashback from a year ago tells the story of an angry, silently-suffering Sei, who is saved from her alienation by a girl called Kubo Shiori. The two of them begin a passionate, all-consuming romance, but Shiori's secret plans for the future shatter Sei's heart.
12. First Date Triangle
Air Date: 2004-03-24
The day of the Boutons' dates arrive, and each pair has their problems. Yumi worries over where to take someone of Sachiko's stature, Yoshino follows Rei's date around in her possessive jealousy, and Shimako braces herself for spending a day with her rival, Rosa Canina. Meanwhile, Tsukiyama Minako, the head of the Newspaper Club, and Takeshima Tsutako, the school's ace photographer, try their best to get the scoop on the dates, but they comically fail to track any of them.
13. Good Day, Elder Sister
Air Date: 2004-03-31
Tsutako and Minako's papparazzi-like plans wear them out while Shimako comes to an understanding with both Sei and Rosa Canina. The dates ultimately strengthen Yumi and Yoshino's relationship with their soeurs and reaffirm the place they stand in their older sister's lives.
1. The Long Night
Air Date: 2004-07-04
Sei 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.
2. The Precipitate Yellow Rose
Air Date: 2004-07-11
A 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.
3. An Extremely Busy Day
Air Date: 2004-07-18
In 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.
4. Will
Air Date: 2004-07-25
In 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.
5. When Years Pass By
Air Date: 2004-08-01
Graduation 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.
6. Joined by a Single Hand
Air Date: 2004-08-08
With 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.
7. Cherry Blossom
Air Date: 2004-08-15
Shimako 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.
8. A Cherry Tree Among the Ginkgos
Air Date: 2004-08-22
Shimako 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.
9. Tears of the Rosary
Air Date: 2004-08-29
Shimako 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.
10. Beware of Yellow Roses
Air Date: 2004-09-05
Yoshino 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.
11. Rainy Blue
Air Date: 2004-09-12
Yumi 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.
12. Blue Umbrella
Air Date: 2004-09-19
Yumi 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.
13. With a Parasol
Air Date: 2004-09-26
Yumi learns why Sachiko has been so distant lately. With newfound confidence, she promises never to question Sachiko's love for her again.
1. Vacation of the Lambs
Air Date: 2006-11-29
Sachiko takes Yumi for a holiday in her summer home. While there, Sachiko's acquaintances make trouble for them.
2. Codename Operation OK
Air Date: 2007-01-31
Lillian and Hanandera collaborate on a school festival, and Yumi tries to fix Sachiko's hatred for men.
3. Cool Breeze
Air Date: 2007-03-28
Hosokawa Kanako, a first year, sees Yumi as the ultimate embodiment of perfection. When preparations for the Hanadera Festival begins, Kanako tries to keep Yumi away from it due to her hatred of men and her fear of having Yumi be corrupted.
4. Ready, Go!
Air Date: 2007-05-30
Lillian's School Athletic Festival begins, and Kanako and Yumi make a bet to settle the problems which began between them last episode.
5. Ciao Sorella!
Air Date: 2007-07-25
The second year students go for a week's study-vacation in Italy. Yumi meets up with Shizuka Kanina while there.
1. The School Festival is a Shock
Air Date: 2009-01-03
Yumi and the Yamayurikai prepare a production (The Tale of Torikaebaya) for the upcoming school festival with neighboring boys school, Hanadera.
2. Just One Ordinary Day
Air Date: 2009-01-10
The day of the School Festival has arrived, there are many attractions but most importantly, the drama club is performing Little Women and Yamayurikai, The Tale of Torikaeba. With so much going on, the day might not just be another ordinary day.
3. Soeur Audition
Air Date: 2009-01-17
This year's remaining, petite soeur-less en boutons, Yoshino and Yumi are feeling the pressure to find their little sisters, for various reasons. Yoshino suggests that they have a Soeur Audition to do just the thing.
4. The Future Soeur
Air Date: 2009-01-24
The day of the Soeur Audition—turned into Tea Party—arrives, and soon the Kendo Competition, as well. Yoshino has been looking forward to the Kendo competition, but she has promised Eriko that she will have a petite soeur by then. Someone catches Yoshino's eye, but it looks like it might be more complicated than it seems.
5. The Sigh of the Red Rose
Air Date: 2009-01-31
Yumi and Sachiko finally go on their date to the amusement park. However, Kashiwagi and Yuuki turn up, with Kashiwagi bearing a certain agenda in mind. Yumi learns a few things and Kashiwagi's intentions are made clear.
6. The Surprise Guest
Air Date: 2009-02-07
Tōko suddenly shows up on Yumi's doorstep in a strange situation and ends up being over for dinner, while Suguru and Yumi have an agreement. As well, Rei and Sachiko have an understanding.
7. Blank Map of the Future
Air Date: 2009-02-14
The Yamayurikai Christmas party takes place. Tōko and Kanako are both invited to the party, but afterwards, Tōko rejects Yumi's offer of the rosary, and Yumi is crushed.
8. The Other Side of the Clouded Glass
Air Date: 2009-02-21
Yumi and the rest of the Yamayurikai are invited for a female-only new year party, where Yumi has an interesting dream that could be applied to her current situation.
9. The Masked Actress
Air Date: 2009-02-28
With the elections for the next year's Student Council approaching, Tōko unexpectedly enters the race with murky intentions.
10. The Keychain
Air Date: 2009-03-07
Sachiko and Suguru Kashiwagi discuss Tōko's entry in the Student Council elections and her recent behavior towards Yumi. The Lillian Newspaper Club organizes another card hunt event for Valentine's Day, while Noriko worries that Yumi has given up on Tōko. As well, the Gigantea soeurs have a small discussion about the 'next Rose'.
11. Keyhole of the Heart
Air Date: 2009-03-14
As different people in her life try to help her find happiness, Tōko continues to run away from their support. Suguru warns Tōko that if she continues to run away, one day no one will chase after her. More details of Tōko's family situation and her reason for refusing to be Yumi's petite soeur are revealed.
12. Crisscross
Air Date: 2009-03-21
After Tōko realizes her large misunderstanding, crying, she is comforted by Noriko. The next week, the Valentines' Day Card Hunt for the Next Roses take place with surprising results. Sachiko and Tōko have an interesting conversation on the stairs, and eventually Tōko comes to realize something vital to her relationship with Yumi.
13. In Search of You
Air Date: 2009-03-28
The Valentines' Day dates take place, with Chisato Tanuma finding Yoshino's card and Tōko finding Yumi's. During Tōko and Yumi's date, even more about Tōko's past is revealed, as well as her reasons for running away from home. They eventually visit the hospital owned by Tōko's grandfather, and Touko slowly starts to open up to Yumi. The season ends with Yumi's thought of Tōko accepting her rosary.
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Rating
6.3/10
Release Date
2004-01-07
Episodes
44 (4 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
Studio Deen