While Himiko contemplated her future, Kajai went on a tour around the Tsukihime house with Griselda as his guide. For her own amusement, she changed into a tight-fitting blazer, a white blouse, and pencil skirt--the attire of a tour guide. To complete the look she held a pointer in one hand and a yellow flag in the other.

“This is our bathing room. As you can see, the large pot is quite old, and rumored to be a peace offering from a giant. On the shelves are our brews and bath salts. As we are trained to be kitchen witches first, we make all our own beauty supplies. Not that we need to enhance anything.” 

Kajai stared at the large pot. It was similar to the cauldron downstairs but it appeared to be used for bathing only. He recalled it from Himiko’s Grimoire. Everything was different from what he imagined, and he loved it. Chimes were hung in all the doorways. Dried herbs were found in bundles in almost every room. “Here is the…” Griselda stopped talking, and looked at a clinking windchime. “Himiko is nearby, probably just outside. Meet her at the door will you? I have to see about our mother.”

“Eh? Sure…” Kajai walked back down the hallway, squeezing past several over stacked bookshelves, bursting with books and knick knacks. The house was cozy, and the wafting scents calmed him, but the dust and cobwebs instilled him with a burning desire to clean the home from top to bottom. He passed a set of stick figures painted on the wall and headed downstairs.

“An adventure...an adventure, huh?”

Himiko walked slowly down the street, kicking a pebble with her foot. The sky was stuck in a warm sunset. “Adventure…What sort of adventure is an engagement anyway? What sort of arrangement is an engagement?”

That was an interesting question. They had no rings, no vows, no promises made. How did it work? Himiko frowned at the sky. “....”

Kajai stepped out of the front door and looked down the street.

Himiko was there, hands on her hips as she had appeared the first time he saw her. But was she really there? Was he here? 

He blinked. That didn’t really matter, did it?

Himiko walked towards him. “Good to see you awake again. Something wrong?”

Kajai glanced to the side. “Ara...Well, actually…” He pulled on one of his bangs. “Yeah…” It didn’t matter whether this was real or not. Both the story and his life were progressing. 

“Is it a headache?” Himiko asked, tilting her head to the side. “That happens to me when Mama goes searching in my head…”

“Ah, uh no, not that.” Kajai shook his head. 

He dropped into a deep bow, and his bangs hid his face from view. “I’m sorry!”

“For?” Himiko blinked.

Kajai straightened and kept eye contact with her. “I shouldn't have written my name in your Grimoire. Even if I thought the book’s story was fictional, I didn't have the right to interrupt it.” 

He believed this to be true. But what he did not realize, was that by altering the story, he became a character himself.

‘He looks so serious…’ Himiko laughed nervously. “Hwaa...If I hadn’t dropped it in the first place, none of this would…” She stopped talking. If she had never dropped the book, wouldn’t things be different?

“Himiko….san?” Kajai stared at her.

“If I hadn’t dropped it, we wouldn't be here now.” Himiko smiled. “So I'm glad that I did!”

Kajai froze at the sight of her smile. “....”

Himiko rubbed her head. “Aren’t things more interesting now? Think about it! You’re probably the only mortal to ever enter Pershana! And I’m probably the first witch in Yumekoji, right?”

“Maa...I suppose you're right. Most people in my world don’t think magic exists at all. But I get to see it up close.” He looked up at the sky. ‘I might never see it again. But at least it was above me, just this once…’

Himiko’s lips parted slightly. “....” A small sigh escaped her. “That isn’t fair.” She could see it, the regret and determination on his face. 

“What’s not fair?”

“If you make a face like that, it reminds me that everything is my fault.”

She believed this to be the truth, and decided she needed to take responsibility. She pointed at him. “Ojunko Kajai, I have stolen a reality from you that I can not give back. Had my book not hit you in the head, you would not be here now. Just the same, you have taken my future. Our engagement is a contract. While the details are not certain, it seems fate has decided we are stuck together for the time being. And so I ask you this…” She opened her hand. “Come away with me, Kajai, and let’s start our new lives together.”

His heart skipped a beat. It sounded like a proposal.

 But that was too good to be true, right?

At the same time, he knew there was no way he would decline.

He took her hand.

“I accept.”