SYNOPSIS
Anya’s uniform is complete. Loid has to go to a WISE strategy meeting, so he lets Yora pick up the uniform as he heads to the hideout. At the meeting, they learn that Anya will need to obtain 8 star stars and become an Imperial Scholar at Eden Academy in order to successfully complete Operation Strix. Meanwhile, Anya is very excited to get her new uniform. But after the rich students of Eden Academy, there are always criminals, and Anya becomes the target of a group of hooligans.
SUMMARY
The counterfeiters go to a tailor to measure Anye and make her a school uniform. Since Anya has grown a bit since their last visit, Loid suggests making her uniform a little bigger. The tailor is surprised to learn that Yor is married, but he is happy for her. She asks Loid if he is an Eden Academy graduate, and when she learns that he is not, she warns him that there is a wall between those who are Eden graduates and those who are not, causing discrimination and bullying among the children. She also heard that kidnappings of commuter children are on the rise because they come from wealthy families. Hearing this, Anya freaks out and doesn’t want to go to school anymore. The tailor apologizes and says that there are also many fun things at school. Loid leaves the tailor and suggests they eat today, and Yor agrees. At the restaurant, Loid receives a secret message with food informing him of a briefing in five days at 1:00 PM at Safe House D.
Five days later, Loid receives a call that Anya’s uniform is ready. However, since he needs to attend a mission briefing, he asks Yoro to go pick it up with Anya. As he goes to D’s safe house, he meets his WISE Handler, Sylvia Sherwood, who yells at him about his recent spending spree. However, Twilight gives her even more bills, saying that school is expensive. Sylvia continues to brief Twilight for Phase 2 of Operation Strix, which will require a social gathering. Sylvia summarizes how Eden works, explaining that there are about 2,500 students aged six to nineteen, with a curriculum covering all thirteen years. Those who shine more than their fellow elites are the honor students known as Imperial Scholars. Donovan Desmond only attends social gatherings exclusively for Imperial Scholars and their parents. To become an Imperial Scholar, a student must achieve eight merits known as “Stellas”, which are awarded for exceptional grades and contributions to society. Bad grades and bad behavior at the same time receive demerits called tonitrus bolts, and receiving an eight will result in the student’s immediate expulsion.
Meanwhile, Yor and Anya go to pick up Anya’s school uniform. Anya likes it and Yor finds her cute in it. Anya decides to wear it on the way back, and when they stop at the park, she goes to show off her uniform to various people. As Yor watches Anya, he thinks about the conversation in Eden. She knows they are a pretend family but believes she could be more of a mother to her. Yor suggests they go to the supermarket to get ingredients for dinner since Loid will be late. A group of thugs notice Anya Eden’s uniform and, thinking Yor is her maid, decide to get some extra cash. While Yor is shopping for his groceries, Anya decides to go out. As Anya leaves the supermarket, the thugs grab Anya and cover her mouth, reminding her of the boutique owner’s warning. Before one of the thugs plans to take off her uniform and sell it, Yor knocks him down with a grocery bag, causing her groceries to fly. The other thugs try to extort Yor for their friend’s hospital bills, but Yor reveals that she just used all her money. One of the thugs grabs a pumpkin and tries to hit Yor with it, but Yor smashes it into several pieces with his bare hands. Yor establishes her as Anya’s mother and scares the thugs. While Yor is relieved that Anya is safe, she feels that she is a failure of a mother for letting Anya out of sight and breaking all the ingredients. Anya comforts Yor and says she loves that Yor is strong and cool. Anya asks that Yor train her because her new life in Eden would be dangerous and that way she won’t be afraid. Yor agrees and heads home where Anya begins her training, much to Lloyd’s confusion when he returns home.
The Forgers attend a welcoming ceremony in Eden. Loid is happy that they made it this far, but since the school is full of elite kids, he’s mostly given up on Anya becoming an Imperial apprentice. The announcer then reveals the houses and their owners. Anya wonders which class she will be in, but Loid already knows because he changed parts of the lineup to put her in the same class as Damian Desmond, Donovan’s other son. Loid notes that if Plan A, making Anya an Imperial Scholar, fails, he will continue with Plan B, the friendship scheme. Anya, who was in Damian’s class, became his friend and was invited to his house, taking Loid with her, which would put him in direct contact with Donovan. Loid guesses that since Anya grew up in an orphanage, she would have good communication skills with other children. Anya calls out and when she gets close to Damian she starts staring at him. Damian notices and believes that Anya has fallen under his spell. Reading his mind, Anya gets mad and moves on, leaving Damian to think she’s hard to get. Becky Blackbell welcomes Anya and Loid realizes that she is the daughter of the CEO of a major military contractor. He also meets other students from prominent families. Since they are valuable sources of information, Anya hopes to befriend them. Becky introduces herself to Anya and thinks that Anya looks like a baby and that she could take care of her a little, but when she reads her mind, Anya is upset and ignores her. The head of the class is Henry Henderson. Loid realizes that they didn’t fire him, they demoted him to teaching new students.
Henry shows the kids around and explains the Stella and Tonitrus Bolts system. Damian reveals who his father is, and the other kids gasp in amazement. He asks Anya who her father is and allows her to be his friend if he is important. Anya reveals that she is a “feeling doctor”, which disappoints Damian. Anya claims she wants to play at Damian’s house, but his friends push her away, saying she’s a peasant. Annoyed, Anya wants to unleash the killing blow she learned from Yor, but remembers how Yor taught her to control her emotions and that when someone is mean, she should laugh to make herself look like the cooler, bigger girl. Becky tells Anya to say something, but Anya says she doesn’t care and tries to smile, but sneers, which only angers Damian, who thinks she’s mocking him. Becky is impressed, thinking she is so mature, and compliments her on how mature she is, which makes Anya happy. Henry then admonishes them and tells them to be quiet. As they continue their tour, Damian throws a paper ball at Anya. Becky threatens to tell the teacher about them, but Damian says he can’t prove anything and pushes her aside. Damian goes to Anya and declares that he will bully her every day from now on. Damian and his friends taunt her some more and a flame flares in Anya’s eye. He looks away and then turns and punches Damian, who begins to cry. His friends tell the teacher, but Anya claims that he hit her hand himself. They explained her lies and even checked to see if the teacher was watching. Anya asks for proof, but they point out her first print on Damian’s face. Henry finds the act disgraceful, but Becky tries to explain that she’s been bullied all day, but Anya has held back the whole time. Henry now knows that Anya must have hit him, he remembers Yor telling her that it’s only okay to use force if you’re protecting a friend. Anya reveals that Damian stepped on Becky’s foot as she passed by, which angered Anya. Becky is touched that Anya did this for her and thanks her. Henry finds it classy that she held her anger but stood by her friend.
At the parents’ meeting, Loid sees that Donovan is not there. Henry comes and calls him and reveals that Anya punched the boy. Loid is shocked to find out that it was Damian. Henry explains that such acts of violence would have required three tonitrus bolts, but at his discretion they were reduced to one. Yor apologizes and says it’s because of their training. Loid is dismayed that both Plan A and Plan B fail on the first day. Since the commemorative photo is taken with the families of all the students, the Counterfeiters are unable to hide their troubled faces.