"Where are you going?"Himiko asked.
"To the store." Kajai replied. "I'm running low on food, and I need a few things to make dinner."
"You're going to make it yourself? " Griselda was surprised. "I simply must see!"
Himiko opened her mouth to protest, but her stomach rumbled.
Griselda laughed. "Oh ho ho! Why don't you both go? It sounds as though you're famished sister!"
Face tinged pink, Himiko hopped to her feet and marched towards the stairs. "I'll...I'll be back!"
Griselda shifted until she was laying on her side. "Forgive my sister. She's usually has better manners."
"I know." Kajai replied, looking down at her. Yet another person he had thought was fictional had appeared in his house. The experience was as intriguing as it was discerning. For quite some time he'd thought that that magic was somehow real, thanks to the book. But still he had thought finding the book itself was fate, but the people in it were merely fictional. After all, there were no wizards or dragons in his world. The book had been a fascinating force of contradiction.
"Of course you do." Griselda's mischievous grin returned. "You already read all about it." She snapped her fingers and a banner appeared in mid air, sporting the words 'Tsukihime Himiko Pop Quiz Prix'
Without warning, Kajai found himself standing up at a booth with a large red buzzer, with his name on a display card. A second booth appeared with Petalbroom floating behind it.
Griselda created a nametag for herself and swapped her original attire for a more modern dress. In her left hand she held a large microphone. "Hiiii everybody! Welcome to today's game of the Tsukihime Himiko Pop Quiz Prix!"
Before Kajai could ask who she was talking to, applause and cheers resounded through the house. He looked around, bewildered as Griselda announced the two contestants.
"All the way from beyond the horizon, the ever flowering, Petalbroom!"
More applause resounded as the familiar murmured 'thank you'.
"Aaaand playing for the home team, he actually thought this was all a dream, Ojou Kajai!"
"That's Ojunko..." As cheers and clapping echoed, Kajai rubbed his neck, bashful in front of an unseen audience. "Uh...Thank you...Hey! Wait a minute--"
"Let's begin." Griselda pulled a set of white cards from the air and read it. "Question number one. What is Himiko's favorite color?"
Kajai rang his buzzer. Griselda nodded and he answered. "Magenta!"
"Correct! That's ten points for you!" Griselda beamed.
Himiko's familiar sighed. "Ohhhhh! I knew that one!"
Griselda shuffled the cards. "Let's see...Next question. On her tenth birthday, what dangerous activity did Himiko attempt?"
Kajai hit his buzzer again. "That would be... riding a dragon!"
"Correct! You're on fire, Kajai!"
"I can't hit my button!" The familiar protested. "This isn't fair!" It whined.
Griselda continued on. "Next question..."
"Hey!" Petalbroom screeched.
"If going for a dip in the ocean in the afternoon, what type of swimsuit would Himiko opt for? Bikini or one piece?"
Petalbroom bashed part of itself against the buzzer. "One piece!"
"Bzzzt wrong!" Griselda shook her head. "Such a shame. And here I thought you were close...Your thoughts Kajai?"
Kajai crossed his arms smugly. "Trick question. Himiko is allergic to sea water."
"What is going on here?"
Himiko walked into the room and Griselda had the pop quiz setup disappear.
Kajai rubbed the back of his head, sheepish. Petalbroom fumed, letting out an anguished cry before floating away.
Himiko had put her grey stockings back on. Coupled with the hoodie, it looked like she was wearing a dress. To complete the look, she had pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
It was a simple outfit, but Kajai was impressed. 'She looks nice with her hair up like that.' To get himself to stop staring, he spoke to Griselda. "I was surprised you knew what a Pop quiz was." "Of course I do, sweetheart. We have game shows you know. We came up with them first."
"What? But you don't have even have television in your world."
"No, but we have events."
Himiko did not look amused in the slightest. "Don't waste anymore spell jewels. Kazuto took mine, so we'll need yours to get home."
Kajai raised an eyebrow at that. 'Kazuto again...Is he the reason she came here?'
"Fine, fine." Griselda stretched out on the couch. "Shouldn't you be going?"
"Griselda-san, please don't do anything while we're out." Kajai asked, giving a slight bow. It seemed like he was dealing with a temperamental deity rather than a teenager.
"Mmhm..."
Himiko sighed. They walked to the door, where Kajai put on a dry pair of sneakers, and she pulled on her boots.