Line #167 VisualNovel/TheyAreMyNobleMasters


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/theyaremynoblemasters.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:Being a butler sure is tough!]]
3
4	Ren and his older sister Mihato run away from their abusive father, setting foot in the big city and determined to make it through together. Finding a job isn't easy though, but things look up when Ren helps a girl who faints from the summer heat. She appears to be a member of a very rich family and they just happen to be looking for a new butler and a maid.
5
6	So before they fully realize it, Ren and Mihato are hired by the Kuonji family, consisting of the three quirky sisters Shinra (a classical conductor), Miyu (a genius inventor) and Yume (a school girl and the youngest). The staff they employ are perhaps even crazier than the bosses, if that is in any way possible, and Ren finds his days filled with dealing with the hijinks of his demanding masters, his zany colleagues and his jealous sister - not to mention all the people that walk in and out of the mansion to stir things up even more.
7
8	''They Are My Noble Masters'' (''Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de'' in Japan) is typical {{ecchi}} fare, with a hapless teenage boy surrounded by beautiful women who all want a share of his attention. Unlike most other shows in the same vein, Ren is not quite the innocent or stupid protagonist, although he still gets beaten up on a regular basis when unwillingly (or willingly) seeing one of the female characters in various states of undress.
9
10	The makers of the show don't leave out the emotional material either, which in this case actually works pretty nicely and gives this show a bit more depth than you'd first expect despite the fact that it is filled to the brim with all kinds of {{otaku}} fetishes.
11
12	Not to be confused with ''Manga/HeIsMyMaster'' (although you could be [[FollowTheleader forgiven]] if you did).
13	-----
14	!!Tropes:
15	* AbusiveParents: Ren’s father is an abusive alcoholic leech.
16	* AintNoRule: The rules say three people (humans) to a team. Doesn’t say anything about robots with antiballistic missiles.
17	* BattleAura: Various characters.
18	%%zero-context example* BeachEpisode
19	* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: During the boat race, the cunning Miyu actually stops to give some advice to how to proceed properly to Yume’s team. She reasons that Yume would have figured it out in a minute anyway, but now their team has goodwill towards theirs. Sure enough, near the end of the race Yume’s team declares they’re too far behind to win, but attack Ageha to help Miyu.
20	%%zce* BetterOnDvd
21	* BittersweetEnding: Unlike the other generally happy endings, Natose [[spoiler:leaves the mansion]] in her ending, feeling that [[spoiler:she’s too emotionally dependent and insecure to stay. She plans to return when she’s become more independent]].
22	* BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: Shinra thinks that Yume has some real talent at this for a change. When Yume and Natose try it out, they do a pretty decent job. Unfortunately, Miyu and Mihato were still better.
23	* BoyBand: Miyu gets one as a present, to her utmost delight.
24	* BrotherSisterIncest:
25	** Ren and Mihato consider it normally to basically make out in the hallway in front of everyone while an uncharacteristically deadpan Beni snarks in the background about it. Totally normal sibling relationship, honest. In fact, their bro/siscon tendencies are so blatant that Miyu can go from “That is absolutely impossible” to “Oh, it’s really true then?” if he swears on her name. That said, Mihato seems much more serious about it than he does: He mostly just looks up to her.
26	** Sister Sister Incest: Shinra molests all cute girls with her favorite being Miyu.
27	* CallBack:
28	** In the early middle of Beni’s route, Ren jokes that she’ll never be Shinra, which really pisses her off. He goes and apologizes sincerely when he realizes how angry it made her. A few weeks later on her birthday, he tells her the same thing, except now he’s dead serious. She can copy Shinra all she likes, but she’ll never BE Shinra.
29	** Early in Shinra’s route, Yume is upset that a bear was shot for getting too close to human habitation, but doesn’t know how to avoid such situations in the future. Shinra tells her that there’s one way to do it. Nothing more comes of it until Beni’s route, which unlocks afterward. Shinra’s answer? [[spoiler:Buying land for nature preserves, which is how she spends her money.]]
30	* CaptureTheFlag: The entire premise of Episode 3.
31	* CensorSteam: Or in the case of this show, censor ''sunbeams.''
32	* CerebusRetcon: Yume’s escapism is played for laughs in the common route, but in her route it’s shown to be something she always does whenever there’s a problem. She’s grown too used to being coddled and having people like Natose or Ren solve her problems for her.
33	* ComicallySmallBribe: It’s hard to get on Natose’s bad side buts easy to get back on her good side. Just give her a piece of beef jerky or some caramel and you’re forgiven.
34	* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: When Mistina blatantly lies that Yume isn’t on the track field, she waits for Ren to punish her. Having figured her out already, he tells her that her punishment is not being punished.
35	%%zce* {{Cosplay}}
36	%%zce* CrossPoppingVeins
37	* CurbStompBattle: After Natose [[spoiler:kidnaps Ren and Yume]], Ren tries to [[spoiler:return home]] and Natose disables him in approximately two seconds.
38	* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to the other routes, Shinra’s route features a great deal more conflict and a generally abusive relationship.
39	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Not played for as much angst as most examples of the troupe and they all turned out into quite decent people despite of it, but still, most of the main cast has one.
40	** Ren and Mihato have a MissingMom (she died when [[DeathByChildbirth giving birth to Ren]]) and lived (up to the beginning of the series) with their [[AlcoholicParent drunken dad]] who regularly [[AbusiveParents beat them up]].
41	** Benis' parents also [[ParentalAbandonment died]] when she was little, so she was raised by her uncles, who also [[AbusiveParents treated her like crap]] and forced her to work on their restaurant since she was small, until they eventually just fired her and kicked her to the streets.
42	** Natose's backstory is probably the saddest one, as she used to live on a tropical island, till a Tsunami came and gave her a DoomedHometown and a dead little sister, and being the only survivor, she's left with SurvivorsGuilt and her nice EyepatchofPower. It's no wonder she quickly becomes a FailureKnight for Yume once they met.
43	** Shinra was forced at a young age to take over the familial responsibilities on top of her other musical responsibilities, causing [[spoiler:her to suppress her normal emotions and causing a rift between her and Yume that is not resolved until late in the series]].
44	* DrowningMySorrows: After it becomes clear that Miyu and Ren hooked up, Mihato and Shinra both get utterly smashed since their siblings have been taken away.
45	* DrugsAreBad: Beni is writing a game script with three options when you find someone’s bag: Take the money, return it to the police and sniff the white powder inside. Sniffing the powder makes the player character instantly go insane. Bad end.
46	* DudeNotFunny: InUniverse.
47	** When Mihato calls [[spoiler:Yume’s runaway letter]] cliché Beni snaps that this really isn’t the time for that.
48	** Shinra buys Natose a doghouse as a joke. Miyu is annoyed and even Mihato seems kind of uncomfortable with the joke. Natose fails to realize she’s being mocked and likes the present, much to everyone’s surprise.
49	* EarnYourHappyEnding: After struggling with Shinra and family issues for most of her route, Ren finally manages to win her heart, [[spoiler:marry her and reconcile with his father]] in the epilogue.
50	%%zce* {{Ecchi}}
51	* EvilIsPetty: Yume’s idea of a delinquent older sister is one who tells kids Santa doesn’t exist or RageQuits video games.
52	%%zce* {{Fanservice}}
53	* FirstKiss: Forcefully stolen from Ren by Ageha, after she deemed him being allowed [[IKissYourHand to kiss her hand]] to be too demure as a way of thanking him. Cue Ren's and his [[BigBrotherInstinct sister]], [[BrotherSisterIncest Mihato's]] (who happens to be watching said scene from a window) [[PostKissCatatonia complete]] [[BlueWithShock and utter]] [[BlankWhiteEyes shock]], followed by Ren [[OcularGushers bawling]] about his firts kiss on the floor. Ageha then blushes and reveals it was her first too, before running away.
54	* FissionMailed: If you pick the masochistic ‘I want to be scolded’ option when asked what you want as a reward from Shinra, she angrily calls Ren a disgusting pervert who doesn’t know his place, much to his horror. And then she asks if that was an acceptable scolding.
55	* FlatWhat: Yume’s reaction to Natose’s attempt at traditional medicine to cure a cold (Leek up your bum) is probably not as enthusiastic as Natose would have liked.
56	* FormalCharactersUseKeigo: As servants, Natose and Ren using formal speech is to be expected, but they also tend to use it on Yume out of habit, which bothers her. Ren’s mastery of keigo is considered insufficient for use on important guests, however.
57	%%zce* FuroScene
58	%%zce* GagSeries
59	* HamToHamCombat: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjTCmzVNYdM This]].
60	%%zce* HaremGenre
61	* HelicopterParents: Played with at first via parental surrogates Shinra and the colonel. They meddle in Yume’s attempts to find a boyfriend and when she settles on someone they seem very against it. When they hear it’s Ren, they relax a little and allow it to continue, though they’re not very happy. The real problem comes in later: Yume has been much more sheltered or even babied than either of her older sisters, leaving her weak, passive and unable to take criticism.
62	* HonorBeforeReason: To the point where you have to wonder whether the butlers aren't being plain suicidal.
63	* TheInternetIsForPorn: When trying to find ways to make tea, Ren instead stumbled across endless maid porn.
64	* InterruptedIntimacy: Natose walks in on Ren and Yume, bringing some snacks. Flustered, she tries to escape, but doesn’t know what to do with the snacks, so she eats them all before she goes. They didn’t even notice her.
65	%%zce* KamehameHadoken
66	* KiManipulation: The colonel and later on Ren and Kojuurou, though they're usually used for the RuleOfFunny. Natose can use them too.
67	* LoveableSexManiac: The [[HospitalHottie nurses]] taking care of Kojuurou during his stay at the hospital during episodes 7 and 8 definitely count. Sadly for them, he's [[SingleTargetSexuality Ageha-sexual]].
68	* MaybeEverAfter: Beni turns down Chiharu’s confession after their date, but tells him he’s welcome to try again when he’s grown a little stronger.
69	* MoodWhiplash: Right in the middle of a dramatic scene where Ren has been angsting over the idea he’s sure to be fired, Miyu steps up and assures him she won’t let that happen… and then bites her tongue mid sentence.
70	* MultipleEndings: Each of the three sisters has an ending, after which choices involving the servants open up.
71	* MythologyGag: In Yume’s bad magical girl fanfiction, Shinra uses an attack called the Iron Claw. When she follows Miyu’s orders without thinking later, she gets revenge with a mundane Iron Claw attack.
72	* NoCommunitiesWereHarmed: Certain Yokohama landmarks (like the Harbor View Park) can clearly be recognized.
73	* NotWhatItLooksLike: When Ren and the colonel are obviously about to start fighting, Yume and Beni somehow come to the conclusion that they’re about to have sex. Even after they start, they keep thinking in terms of {{Yaoi}}.
74	* ParentalAbandonment: The sisters' parents are dead. Luckily they left quite a bit of money.
75	* RunningGag: Ren keeps running into Beni when she’s getting changed in the bathroom. [[spoiler:She doesn’t really mind the last time considering what happened the night before.]]
76	* SeriousBusiness:
77	** Whoever thought that butlers should simply be good personal attendants is ''wrong''.
78	** Chiharu also obsesses over cleaning and seems to view the destruction of dirt as his life's mission.
79	* ShamelessSelfPromoter: The announcer in the water race keeps getting distracted by talking about herself.
80	* ShipTease:
81	** Shinra’s route has some fairly heavy ship teasing with Beni and Ren at some points. Beni’s route opens afterward, conveniently enough.
82	** Ren flirts with Natose quite a bit in Yume’s route, giving her more ship tease than Yume herself early on. She even gets happy about the idea of going out with him after work before Beni reminds her it was just group date practice and not the real thing. Aww.
83	* ShootTheHostage: Yume’s author avatar character has a disturbing willingness to shoot through an innocent hostage. She brings it back but…
84	* ShoutOut: Numerous, usually by the Colonel, although especially noteworthy is Miyu's [[Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei "I'm in despair"]] bit.
85	** The very first episode's OnTheNext has Shinra (voiced by Creator/ShizukaIto) giving a nod to "[[Manga/HayateTheCombatButler that other butler anime]]", which was entering into its last hour at the time.
86	** Ren and Colonel ooze ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' references, due to being voiced by the same voice actors as Domon and Master Asia, as well as being somewhat Expys of them. They enjoy useing their techniques, like Sekiha Tenkouken and Shining Finger.
87	*** Ren's nightmare at the beginning of the second episode features the Colonel as [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Devil Gundam]] and is strikingly similar to the finale of the Nehellenia arc of ''Franchise/SailorMoon''.
88	*** There's also a yellow ferret that looks like [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]]
89	** Episode 3 has the Colonel driving with Ren to pick up Shinra, when another car quickly passes by them. Cue the art shift of the [[TwoDVisualsThreeDEffects cars into CGI]] and the colonel [[Manga/InitialD showing Ren just how a real man drifts]]... on a limousine.
90	** In Episode 4, Shinra pulls [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Misato's]] BestBeerEver scene
91	** Episode 6 is completely dedicated to shout outs, its first moments feature Yume [[Manga/DeathNote taking a potato chip... AND EATING IT!!!]]
92	*** We later on see that she had been writing on the [[Manga/DeathNote Yume Note]], just in case someone missed the reference.
93	*** Which is followed by a completely over the top bear who wears [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Kamina's]] CoolShades
94	*** And Shinra attacking said bear with the [[Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis 108 styles]]: [[VisualNovel/ToHeart2 iron claw]], managing to shout out two series at once. (For those not familiar, the [[DeadlyUpgrade 108 Hadokyuu styles]] come from [[Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis Gin Ishida]] and the iron claw is from [[VisualNovel/ToHeart2 Tamaki Kousaka]]). Moments after this, she calls for the power of Ambrosia to active her Valkyrie Boots and attack the bear once again, all of which looks nothing at all like [[Manga/DGrayMan Lenalee Lee's Innocence, the Dark Boots]]
95	*** After this scene, Miyu drops a boxcutter onto the bear, [[VisualNovel/{{Shuffle}} Kaede]] style. The bear's response? He uses a [[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya Mikuru beam]]
96	*** And then we get Yume doing Series/KamenRiderBlack's henshin pose. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CunmS-L2KpA&fmt=18 If you really]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri0lWGRgpgE need to compare]]...
97	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEGe88J8tiA&feature=related Ren channeling]] [[Series/KamenRiderKabuto Tendou Souji]]
98	*** The result of said henshin pose? a TransformationSequence directly from ''Anime/SailorMoon.'' Her name? [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Yume]] [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure Dream]] (This may become FridgeBrilliance once you realize that, indeed, all these sequences are occurring on [[PunnyName Yume's fantasies]].)
99	*** Yume Dream using her magical wand to produce a [[WaveMotionGun giant, pink, magical]] [[PersonOfMassDestruction beam of destruction]] to finally defeat the bear, while being utterly cheerful about it, seems a little bit too similar to certain other Anime/{{magical girl\|LyricalNanoha}}.
100	*** Hato Chop brings to mind [[Manga/SoulEater a certain Death God's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdwOmehip6k&feature=related comic relief attack.]]
101	*** Mihato pulls a [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken]], the RapidFireFisticuffs from [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Kenshiro]] onto Venis, which is so awesome it deletes all her lines from the script, effectively vanishing her from most of the episode after five seconds.
102	*** And finally, Ren uses Phoenix Wright's [[GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger trademark gesture]].
103	** Episode's 7 OnTheNext has Ren and Kojuurou using moves from the VideoGame/TalesSeries.
104	** Episode 9 has Miyu chasing after Ren and De Niro with a leek. Miyu also has twintails and sports a {{ZettaiRyouiki}}. Miku parody? Hell yeah.
105	*** And then she delivers a [[Anime/{{Yatterman}} Doronjo]] shout out, with Ren and Mihato acting like [[TerribleTrio Boyakki and Tonzura (Doronjo's underlings)]] from the same show. As of this writing, you can see those three at the TerribleTrio page, being the TropeCodifier.
106	*** Miyu shouting [[Manga/DetroitMetalCity "twin" ten times in a second]] during her death metal concert.
107	** On Episode 11, Yume comments how a protagonist should be able to [[VisualNovel/SchoolDays date as many girls as he wants, without things getting ugly]] [[MemeticMutation while a nice boat appears on her imagination]].
108	*** And then, Shinra cosplays as [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Saber]] and Miyu as [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Rin]]
109	*** Miyu also has a freak-out resembling [[Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei Nozomu Itoshiki]].
110	--> '''Miyu:''' I'm in Despair! I'm in despair because my robot bites the hand that made him!
111	** In one of the post episode trailers Ren delivers a few lines in a way disturbingly similar to [[Manga/NodameCantabile another competent conductor]].
112	** One Hato Dekopin failed to cause any pain, much to Beni’s confusion. Unfortunately, “You are already dead.”
113	* SickeninglySweetHearts: Post dere flip, Beni and Ren have a severe case of romantic diabetes. You can see Haru in the background making various aghast faces at their cute behavior. When questioned about, they admit they’ve neither started formally dating nor even admitted they love each yet, which they settle offhandedly right then and there. Poor Chiharu.
114	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: The reason why Ren appeals to both Shinra & Miyu is the fact that he's honest, hardworking and maintains an air of [[ChasteHero innocence]]... somewhat.
115	* SpitTrailKiss: TheBigDamnKiss between [[spoiler:Ren & Shinra in the finale, which results in Ren [[PostKissCatatonia smashing face-first]] into a flight of stairs]].
116	* StylisticSuck: Yume’s magical girl story is awful, simply awful. It even gets awful background music while Ren reads it.
117	* TamerAndChaster: This began as an adult visual novel.
118	* TechnicianVsPerformer: Though Shinra’s concert was technically perfect, her teacher criticizes it, disappointed that this is all she can do after such a promising start. Completely confused, [[DramaticallyMissingThePoint she begins training herself harder to make sure there are absolutely no mistakes.]] When she finally realizes that poor people have problems too and that she was kind of a dick to Ren, she relaxes and rearranges the orchestra to allow herself to show more personal expression in the upcoming performance.
119	* TheirFirstTime: Ren’s first time, no matter his partner, tends to be kind of odd.
120	** Miyu phrases it as a reward for good service as does Shinra. Shinra is also embarrassed or irritated to admit that it’s her first time as well.
121	** Beni and Ren are incredibly awkward about it, though it’s also clear that they care about each other deeply and are trying to make things as pleasant as possible for their partner.
122	* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted: [[spoiler:Miyu clearly has some sort of depression]] and it’s clearly beyond the cast’s ability to handle. It’s agreed that she ought to go to a hospital to get checked out, but she refuses to get evaluated [[spoiler:until Deniro explosively forces the issue.]]
123	* ThreeWaySex:
124	** Miyu tells Ren he’s not allowed to get along with other women too well, but then adds that if it’s Mihato she supposes she’s okay with it. Seeing that Mihato is depressed at losing her brother, she follows through on it so long as everyone is clear that any future encounters are seen as a bonus for Ren and a gift for Mihato, not an indication of equality between her and Miyu in the relationship.
125	** Much to Natose’s surprise, Yume decided she was willing and able to help Yume’s relationship with Yume advance past just kissing. Natose doesn’t seem to mind much, which is good considering Yume basically ordered her to do it.
126	* TrainingFromHell: Ren gets put trough this constantly, due to the aforementioned SeriousBusiness.
127	* TranslationConvention:
128	** Beni’s first conversation with the colonel began with asking him if he spoke English, presumably while using English.
129	** Averted with Shinra and Natose’s first meeting until Ren irritably tells her to speak in Japanese even if Natose didn’t know the language then. Her smirk makes it clear she’s just screwing with him like usual.
130	* TwinTelepathy: Apparently, Ren can send complex messages to Mihato by concentrating without anyone batting an eye at the idea.
131	* UnequalPairing: When Haru teases Ren about his devotion to Shinra, he snaps back that of course he’s crushing on her a little. She’s beautiful, talented and way out of his league. Not to mention that he’s just a servant. Even after they start a relationship, he’s still a servant and she once (probably) jokes that if he doesn’t quit teasing her she’s going to reduce his salary. [[spoiler:They do get married in the epilogue, though.]]
132	* UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo: A downplayed example like SleepsWithEveryoneButYou. After Shinra starts being more affectionate with Yume, she stops harassing Miyu so much, who ends up missing it.
133	* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Ren gets Shinra to play a shooter in the arcade by noting you can shoot fleeing enemies in the back or execute captives at the end of the level.
134	* VitriolicBestBuds: Beni and Ren in Shinra’s route argue constantly, but to their surprise they actually do seem to be friends. The exact same relationship in Beni’s route worries everyone else for some reason.
135	* VolleyingInsults: Beni and Ren.
136	* TheWorfEffect: In Yume Note, Shinra always gets beaten first so that Yume can save the day for real.
137

Context VisualNovel / TheyAreMyNobleMasters