Somehow, Banjo managed to get Miia to stop hugging him without Kazooie's help. In doing so, he looked at the clock and decided to head for bed after showing Miia her room. After hanging the backpack on the rack, Kazooie popped out to talk to Banjo.
"Little clingy isn't she 'Darling?'" Kazooie asked, putting extra emphasis on 'Darling'.
"Kazooie! Not you too!"
"Relax Banjo, I'm only joking. Still, she seems a bit too enthusiastic towards you. Hope it falters out soon."
"Me to Kazooie, me too"
Banjo hopped into the bed and fell asleep. During the night, he dremt that he and Kazooie made it back to Spiral Mountain, only for the entire place to be filled with toxic waste and renamed 'Grunty Acres'. The mountain that gave the land its namesake was gone and the house was now a condemned area. Banjo & Kazooie were shocked at the landscape. Just how long were they gone and off with that culture program?
"Grunty thinks that your precious home would look better with you in a dome!" A speaker with Gruntilda's voice said. "But don't dismay you stupid bear I brought you a present over there!"
Banjo looked until he saw it. The bodies of all the inhabitants of the Isle, all pilled on each other. Banjo had to look away although the shock of it all was unbearable to the duo.
"That's not all you ridiculous fools we have ourselves two new rules. First and foremost you ugly pair I'm no longer in my lair. Although my home is quite the treat go inside and your dead meat! Second rule don't you mishear those extraspecies you met are so outta here! Now my newest spell I hope you find, shall put you two in quite a bind!"
Suddenly a long red spell captured the duo, Gruntilda having anticipated their arrival. It wrapped around the duo, preparing to suffocate them.
Before their demise could be met, Banjo woke from his nightmare with a yelp. Except when he awoke, he saw himself wrapped around Miia's tail again. Miia appeared to be sleeping next to Banjo in his bed and had her arms on him while his tail attached to his lower body like a magnet. 'I guess that would explain the red spell from that nightmare' Banjo thought.
"Uh... Miia?" Banjo asked. "Why aren't you in your own bed?"
"Mmm... too cold. Need Darling to warm me up." Miia said in response.
"Urgh... too tight. Kazooie, are you up yet?"
In response, Kazooie gave a very loud snore as if to say 'she's your problem, not mine'.
'Great, Kazooie is asleep and I've got a large tail wrapped around me so I can't do anything' Banjo thought.
Suddenly Banjo felt the tail wrap around him tighter. He looked to his side and saw Miia was asleep. Banjo tried to wriggle himself out some more when his left hand touched the tip of Miia's tail. Suddenly Miia woke up with a gasp and the coils loosened up, giving Banjo his chance to slip out.
"Darling, why did you touch my tail?" Miia asked Banjo. Interestingly, she wasn't furious about it, but rather amused.
"Sorry about that Miia I needed to wake up and struggled around, not knowing your tail was sensitive. Don't worry, I'll prepare the bath for you." So Banjo left to go prepare the bath. As he finished Miia suddenly wakled into the bathroom.
"Uh... around here we try and give people privacy when using the bathroom. Perhaps I could go make us breakfast? After all, I think Kazooie is still asleep and trying to wake her up when she doesn't want to go on an adventure sure is frightening." Banjo said, remembering the one time Banjo (somehow) woke up before Kazooie. Since that time, Banjo became the heavier sleeper.
As Banjo prepared to leave the bathroom however Miia suddenly pulled him into the bath with her tail.
The noise somehow woke Kazooie from her slumber. She groaned and started to say "Banjo, I know we have someone else living with us, but..." before she looked and Banjo wasn't in the bed. 'Wait, if Banjo isn't here, then where...?' Kazooie's thoughts were interrupted by a loud "D'oh!" and Kazooie hopped out of the backpack and ran towards the source of the sound.
Back at the bathroom, Banjo was still struggling when Kazooie rounded the corner and stared at the scene in front of her. Miia, with her tail wrapped around Banjo, as he was trying to struggle.
"Back off from Banjo you filthy snake!" Kazooie then shot a egg that hit Miia in the head.
"OW Darling this nasty bird is being mean to me." Miia yelled only to be staring at a angry Banjo.
"Sorry about that Miia, Kazooie can be a bit of a loud mouth. But she's a loyal friend, and loyal friends don't try this "mixed bathing" thing that hot springs might do. From now one, everyone bathes separately." Banjo said in a frustrated manner and he & Kazooie left the bathroom. On their way out, Miia yelled out "meanies!"
Back in their bedroom, Banjo put on his backpack while Kazooie hopped in. They then made their way to the kitchen. As Banjo prepared a dish that he thought Miia would like, he & Kazooie had a talk.
"What was going on in there Banjo?! Last I saw Miia forgot that you were in the bathroom and tried to have the two of you take a bath together!" Kazooie squawked.
"Apparently Miia heard about this thing Japan has called "mixed bathing" that places around here do. I'm not sure why she wanted to do so with me considering, from what I assume, it's more meant for people who know each other a little more. Since Miia only met us yesterday and because of privacy, I declined, but she pulled me in with her tail." Banjo answered. "That's why I yelled out and you know the rest."
"Hrm... fair enough." Kazooie said before going back into the backpack as Banjo turned on their new television. A news story was playing describing how Monsters that only existed in mythology actually existed and how the governments of the world were trying to allow them to coexist with humans. To that end they created the "Cultural Exchange Between Species Bill". Although reception has mostly been positive, there have been instances where people discriminate against the monsters solely because they aren't human. ('If they saw me and Kazooie, these people would probably freak out' Banjo thought to himself.) He did a double take when the news mentioned how the world hasn't changed much (then again, he was only there over a month at best so he wasn't the best judge) considering Miia's cuddling habit from that morning.
"Ah good morning Banjo, I trust you and Miia are getting along." Banjo turned around and saw Ms. Smith sitting at the table, as if she heard the sound of breakfast being made.
"Ms. Smith, I didn't know you were coming this morning." Banjo said.
"As a cultural exchange coordinator I have to check in on all homestays to ensure they are "behaving"."
"Behaving? What sort of behavior do you mean?" Banjo asked as he (automatically) put some food in front of Ms. Smith, along with some drink called Coffee. Banjo & Kazooie tried it once but didn't enjoy it, yet they keep it around for when someone is over just in case they like it.
"I'll say this, hurting an extra species is illegal and should you do it, regardless of method, you will be arrested and Miia would be deported back to her home country. All our efforts at teaching her Japanese and English would go to waste!"
"Why'd you teach her English if you were taking her to Japan?"
"Many countries of the world are multi lingual, meaning they speak more than one. As for Miia specifically, I had her learn English due to assuming you two speak English. All coordinators learn every language just to ensure we can help all species coexist."
"Interesting." Banjo remarked. "As for harming her, no need to worry about that, me and Kazooie will ensure no sorts of harm will come to her!"
As if on cue, Miia appeared and attempted to strike Ms. Smith with her tail, but not only did Ms. Smith dodge, but Banjo got hit by her instead, letting out a loud "OW!"
"Don't you dare touch my Darling!" Miia yelled.
"No need to worry about that, I wouldn't touch him even if I had to isn't that right... 'Darling'?" Ms. Smith asked. (Kazooie started laughing from inside the backpack, causing it to shake. A lot.)
"Wwhhh... what?!" Banjo stammered out, shocked that even Smith was using Miia's nickname for him.
"Well, I must be off, plenty of people to keep in line and all." Ms. Smith said as she stood to leave. She stopped at the door and said "Oh and Darling? If I were you I'd try to ensure you keep your temper calm like you do now." She then turned and leave.
As she left, Miia wrapped herself around Banjo yet again (Kazooie being in the backpack never felt constrained by this for some reason). "Darling, are these activities and the ban on them as Ms. Smith said really necessary? I mean look at me, I'm half-snake, people run in fear of me, thinking I would eat their children. And besides, you're a bear with a bird living in your backpack! People would run in fear from you just for being well... you! Even still, you were kind to me upon my entrance here, ensuring I was warm and happy" as she spoke the coils tightened around Banjo and he continued to struggle, Kazooie even coming out to try and help him escape this time.
"Even still, I don't care what you do to me! The bird brain, I do care, but you, Darling... I love you!"
"Uh Miia, you do know that even if you declared everything to me right now, I would still have to say no. I can't do it, if I did, I would lose our only chance of getting back to Spiral Mountain." Banjo told her straightly.
"What?! Bu... but Darling!" Miia proclaimed in shock. As she spoke, her tail tightened around Banjo.
"Miia, the coils are too tight! Kazooie, get us out of here!"
Eventually with Kazooie's help, Banjo managed to escape Miia's grasp with very little injury.
"Maybe we should spend the day out at the market." Banjo said after escaping.
In his and Kazooie's mind, both were thinking the same thing.
'I wonder if we'll find any more notes and Jiggies...'