Eric, for his part, was confused.

He stood next to the table he'd been sitting at only moments before and stared at the blonde witch, moderately baffled. "Uh, hi? Marisa, what are you doing here?"

Marisa planted her broom upright onto the floor. Then, she leaned her back up against it, arms crossed, with a trademark grin stretched across her face. The broom stood firm.

"C'mon, do I really need a reason to check in on a friend?"

His brows raised, mildly shocked by her assertion. "Friend? You consider us to be friends?"

That seemed to catch her off guard a bit. Her expression shifted slightly, but not in a positive direction. "Yeah. Why? S'that a problem?"

"What? No! I'm not trying to say that!" He didn't exactly want to piss her off over a small misunderstanding. "It's just… For some reason, I didn't expect you to. I didn't think we were quite friends yet."

Marisa put a hand to her chest in mock offense. "Not friends? How cold… How callous! I didn't think you had it in you!"

Eric sighed. He… He really wasn't in the mood for shenanigans right now. "You know that's not what I meant…"

Marisa snickered briefly to herself. Eric had to wonder. Did she really get that much enjoyment from pushing other people's buttons?

"Oh, relax. I'm just screwing with ya. Any friend of Alice is a friend of mine!" Then, she thought for a moment. "Well, as long as they don't give me a damn good reason otherwise."

That… honestly made him feel a bit better. A smile tugged at his lips.

He was… He was always grateful to have made another friend. Even if said friend could vaporize him.

He snorted to himself. "I'll try to keep my heinous crimes to a minimum, then."

"Pssh, like you would, ze. You seem like the type of guy who wouldn't hurt a fly unless the fly somehow managed to hurt you first."

He… supposed that she wasn't exactly wrong with her assessment. Well, except for flies, ironically enough. Nobody wants a bug in their coffee.

Eric shrugged. "When you're in the food industry, the flies deserve it."

…

It was a short time later that he found himself back in his seat, sitting across from the Ordinary Magician. In front of each of them sat a cup of quality green tea.

He had offered, and she had readily accepted.

'Well, if you insist~ I'm not one to turn down anything free,' she'd said.

It was with that same enthusiasm that she sipped at her all-too-hot tea, awaiting his response to the question that she'd just posed.

Eric mulled over the best way to convey to Marisa that he very much didn't want to keep revisiting that terrible moment in the woods.

"How… how much do you know?" he ventured.

"Man, answering a question with another question… Ya really don't want to talk about it, huh?" Marisa was sharp as a tack.

He stared down at his tea. For some reason, he wasn't as determined to try and maintain a positive front as he was with Sekibanki.

I… feel like I can be completely transparent with Marisa…

"Can you really blame me?" His voice was quiet.

Marisa shrugged, "Eh, I guess not. Can't say almost dyin' is all that fun, ze. Believe me, I know."

She had once again abandoned all of her swagger in favor of a much more sincere disposition. "Alice already filled me in. I just wanted to hear it from your perspective, too."

"Then there's really not much more to tell… We got attacked, and Alice fought them off." He let out a long, deep sigh. "She almost got all of them, too. I was just a useless casualty, bleeding out on the sidelines."

Marisa posed a pointed question. "Did you manage to take any out before ya got rocked?"

Eric paused for a moment before nodding. "Yeah… the, uh, the one that got my leg."

And just like that, her energy was back. Marisa lightly punched his arm. "There ya go! You went one-for-one against a youkai that wasn't doing spell card rules! That ain't useless!"

She'd definitely meant it as assurance. Paradoxically, Eric deflated slightly. "It was a total fluke… It was on my leg, and I panicked. I… I don't know how but the barrier I put up somehow cut it in half…"

Marisa guffawed. "Holy shit, ze! I've heard of people losing fingers to that before, but killing a youkai that way is brutal!"

Her laughing slowed. "I betcha 99% of the people in this village couldn't kill a youkai if their life depended on it." She leaned an elbow on the table and pointed at him. "That alone puts you on another level."

"And yet I couldn't protect Alice when it mattered…" He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry. I know you said she's your best friend. I couldn't live up to your expectations…"

Marisa punched his arm again, harder this time. "Alright, alright. Quit moping! Alice is fine!"

Eric rubbed where she'd hit. She had such a slight frame and yet...

Ow… She's got a hell of an arm.

"Besides," Marisa followed up. "Isn't that what you're trying to work towards? The strength to protect what matters?"

He nodded. He'd said as much to her before.

"Then just keep trying, ze! It's not gonna happen all at once. Hell, it took me years before I could go toe-to-toe with youkai, and that was with a good teacher."

"I… get that. I just feel that I could have been more capable; that I should have started earlier or put more effort into it. Maybe I could have done more…"

She waved her hand dismissively. "Eh, coulda' shoulda' woulda'. Look, you ain't the only one with those kinda regrets. The important thing is what you're gonna do now."

He didn't have an immediate response to that. Instead, the two fell into silence.

Eric took a long sip of his tea. It had cooled as they spoke, now only pleasantly warm.

"Y'know," he started. "Alice actually offered to teach me. Magic, that is."

That managed to take Marisa completely by surprise, a shocked expression spreading across her face. "She what!?"

"Yeah… She said that 'a strong grasp of basic spells and combat fundamentals would go a long way.'"

'Towards keeping you safe.'

He smiled slightly at the memory. "I… told her I'd think about it. It's not like I'm not interested, because I am, but…"

The astonishment had yet to leave Marisa's face. She practically slammed her hands onto the table. "Dude, you've got to accept! Do you have any idea how big of a deal that is!?"

Eric's somewhat confused expression indicated that he, in fact, did not.

Marisa took the liberty to explain exactly how big of a deal it was. "Magicians don't mentor just anybody! Only those they think are worth it!"

She leaned forward over the table, getting right up into Eric's face. "Do it, ze. If you don't- If you don't live up to whatever it is that Alice sees in you, then I'll be pissed."

"I just- I don't want to inconvenience her…"

Marisa groaned. "You hesitate too much, and that's the problem!"

She sat back into her chair and crossed her arms, grumbling in thought. Eventually, she released a heavy sigh.

Straightening her posture, she locked eyes with Eric, expression serious and… meaningful.

"Y'know, they say that the brightest stars burn out the fastest."

What…?

"Me? I plan on burning bright and sticking around for a long ass time, ze. Just to prove that old adage wrong."

Where… Where is she going with this?

"But… there's always some who never get the chance. Whether they're meant to shine bright or just smolder into old age, they get cut short. It's a damn shame, but sometimes life's just like that. You never really know which day's gonna be your last."

Eric remained silent. This… he knew quite well. He wasn't about to interrupt her.

"That's why I am the way I am, ze. Who knows how long I'll be around? I ain't got time to waste, so when I see something I want, I go for it without waiting."

That… definitely sounds like Marisa

"There's no time for hesitation and speculation. There's no room for doubt. There's only the things you want and what you're willing to do to get them."

She leaned forward again, emphasizing her words.

"Look, I ain't saying to go out and be an asshole. I don't think that look really suits you anyways. What I am saying is that you can't let that second-guessing of yours give you cold feet."

"Don't get so caught up on what could have gone differently. Only think about what you're gonna do going forward."

He… supposed that he never really thought of it that way. Take the initiative because life is short and… yeah.

"You said you like Alice, right? Hell, at this point I can guarantee you that the feeling is mutual. It's so obvious that even you should be able to see it. So what's stopping you?"

The real answer to that? Himself. Pure and simple.

He'd been so caught up in self-doubt and trepidation that he'd failed to see the signs that were right in front of him. Or, rather, he had seen them, but he'd been afraid to interpret them in that way.

"Go! Do it! Be true to what you want! Trust me, you'll be happier that way. You both will."

…

Damn… Why is it that every time she gets serious, I come away with a newfound respect for her?

"Thanks Marisa. I… I think I needed to hear that.

"Like I said, any friend of Alice is a friend of mine. It ain't like she's got very many anyways."

He rose from the table. A surge of purpose and determination building up within him.

"I'm going to do it."

Today. Today would be the day. He wasn't going to let anything hold him back this time. Not even his damned leg.

"In fact, I'm going to head over there now. I've procrastinated long enough, don't you think?" His posture was a little bit straighter, a little more sure of itself.

"Awright! Glad to finally see ya with some fire in your belly!" Marisa was on her feet, too, feeding into his determined energy.

She tipped her hat to him. "Heh, I guess I'd better clear out then, ze. Don't wanna stand in your way now!"

If he flew, it would be a straight shot there. Would he be able to fly the whole distance? That, he wasn't sure about, but he was determined to find out.

He was ready.

Though, he couldn't help but wonder if Alice would be surprised to see him again so soon.

~~~~~~Tradition's End~~~~~~

A consistent clicking sound could be heard within the Margatroid household. Its source was not that of a clock, for it possessed a different timbre.

Every so often, it would briefly cease before resuming once more.

Alice sat on her overstuffed blue couch with her legs tucked in, eternally thankful for the advent of passive cooling wards and her ability to cast them.

She certainly wasn't eager to experience the witheringly hot air outside her home.

Alice… didn't handle heat well. Perhaps she and her dolls were alike in that aspect. Aside from the dreadful sensation, she simply felt that any prolonged exposure was actively detrimental to her wellbeing.

Not that she had much reason to brave the heat anyways.

There were no appointments to keep. There were no pressing matters at the moment to attend to.

As such, she was perfectly content to keep herself occupied inside her house.

And so, Alice knit.

It was the first time in quite a while that she had actually knit anything. Sure, she regularly tailored dresses both for her dolls and herself, and she always found herself sewing up the rips and tears that inevitably formed in any article of clothing. But knitting? Not since the previous winter had she been struck by the urge to break out her knitting needles.

She supposed that her thoughts were simply in another place.

Yes, though the oppressive heat of summer had only just begun, she was already anticipating the arrival of that which would come next.

She sighed. Autumn was a prime season, truly.

It was a welcome break from the relentless summer sun. It was a time for harvests, festivals, and preparations for the hard, cold winter. It was the turning of the leaves and long, cozy nights.

If spring was the season of new life, then autumn was life's idyllic retirement.

The steady click-clack of her needles came to a stop as she rested the incomplete work in her lap.

Alice peered down at Shanghai. She, like her master, held a pair of knitting needles, though hers were more doll-sized. A similar, yet smaller skein of yarn was still connected to Shanghai's project.

With only a little more time and effort, they would have matching red scarves ready for autumn with more than enough time to spare.

Alice knew that her dolls weren't able to feel cold, but… she still found herself deeply invested in the idea of matching accessories.

And, teaching the doll to knit was surprisingly easy. In essence, it was just a series of simple commands repeated until one was finished.

Therefore, it made perfect sense that Shanghai was a natural.

…

She never did get anywhere with her planned experiments for Shanghai. After giving her schematics another hard look, she had realized that they would never have had a chance at succeeding. She'd simply based her calculations off of an inaccurate assumption.

Alice remained undaunted, however. Surely she only needed to look at it from another angle…

…

Well, there would be time for that after she had fully recovered.

Her mana reserves still weren't topped up, but they were well on their way. She could feel her body drawing in the ambient magic like a dry sponge drawing in water.

Just a little longer, now.

…

*Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock*

…

Well, that was a sound she hadn't expected to hear.

Who could that possibly be? Marisa would have busted the door down already, and realistically, Eric was still too injured to travel such a distance alone. Though, it was certainly like him to try.

He'd better have not…

…

Well, making assumptions would do her no good.

She made the effort to extract herself from her work, rising from her place on the couch and calling four dolls to attention. Shanghai took up her favored position on Alice's right side. Every doll in her formation brandished their weapons.

Better safe than sorry.

In Gensokyo, you could never quite know who it was you were dealing with. And… she couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. Having her dolls at her side helped ease that feeling.

She donned her poker face, as she'd done many times before.

No youkai would get the better of her, especially not in her own home.

Fully prepared, she moved to open the door.

…

Her cool facade faltered almost immediately upon recognizing who it was that stood on the other side.

"Eric? What are you doing here?"

The man who should have been in the village stood before her.

Reckless. Far too reckless. You should not be here. You should be resting!

She almost found it within herself to be cross with him, yet… as she looked…

He was winded, taking quick, deep breaths. He was sweating from the effort of traveling in the summer heat. He was… still leaning on his cane for support.

He… had to have had a good reason for coming all the way here. She was certain of it.

And so, she gave him time to catch his breath.

As his breathing came under control, he faced her directly. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, before closing it once more.

His expression began to shift. Initially, he had appeared absolutely determined. Now? He looked nervous.

"Alice, I… I have something to tell you." He trailed off, before clenching his fists as if he was trying to steel his nerves.

"Oh? What is it?" Alice said, concern creeping into her voice. "What brought you all this way?"

"I… I…" he tried, but ended up trailing off.

"Eric?"

"I-It's just… I… GODS why does this have to be so difficult!" Eric protested as he turned away in frustration.

Something about the way he said that felt… different. It felt… important. It made her stomach quiver in equal parts anticipation and uneasiness.

What was he trying to say? She hoped that it was something positive, but there was a part of her that couldn't help but fear the worst.

The fact that he continued to look away did not ease that fear.

Alice nearly spoke again, seeking to coax the words out of him, before he took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh.

Eric looked at her again, this time locking his brown eyes onto her own. There was an intensity to his gaze.

"I like you."

…

Oh. Oh. So that's where this conversation was going.

It was a simple declaration, only a scant three words, yet…

Alice's eyes grew wide. Her breath caught in her throat.

Now, it wasn't that she was necessarily surprised by what he meant; she'd already suspected that the relationship was developing that way. But, she hadn't expected it to happen so soon, and certainly not today!

If Eric was bothered by her lack of response, it didn't show. Instead, he simply continued.

"I like you, and… L-Look, I know that I'm nothing special. I'm just some human who can't even fight right, but… I can't help it."

He took a half step forward. "I… count the days until I can see you again. I love spending time with you. I love making you laugh and holding your hand. And I…"

He closed the distance by another half step, leaving only a mere foot of space between them.

"I know I can't offer much, but I want to see you happy. I want to be there to support you and help you in any way I can."

He then let out a bit of a shaky laugh, seemingly starting to lose his confidence again in typical Eric fashion. It was a quirk of his that she had come to find endearing.

"You… had said, back when we'd first met, that it was too soon to think about something more. And, at the time I had agreed wholeheartedly. Hell, even now might be too soon for it… But, I've also come to realize something."

His voice steadied again. "Nobody knows what day's gonna be their last."

The mere thought added a shot of anxiety to the cocktail of emotions swirling inside of Alice.

"I'm only human, and I've already almost died once. Who knows how long I'll be alive? There's… There's so many things I haven't done yet, so many things I want to do, and I don't want to let my own hesitation get in the way anymore."

He visibly swallowed. "I don't want to leave anything unsaid or leave behind regrets."

"That's why, right now, I'm telling you exactly how I feel. It's not guaranteed that I'll ever have another chance."

His eyes bore into hers, conveying just as much meaning as his words. He held eye contact in silence for what felt like an eternity. Then…

"I adore you, and I feel like our hearts are meant to be together. I-I want to give you the world. I want to be by your side so that you never have to feel lonely."

"Do... do you accept my feelings, Alice?"

"Will you have me?"

…

It was a simple question. A simple, innocent question, and yet its effect was profound.

Eric…

She was not prepared for this today. She was… not prepared for the absolute whirl of emotion taking place within her.

Surprise, disbelief, happiness, anxiety, affection, and more.

She wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh, cry, or hug the man standing before her. It was overwhelming, but it was overwhelming in a good way.

This was happening. This was actually happening!

What did I ever do to deserve this?

How should she respond? What was the best way to respond? Alice wrestled with her emotions, trying to keep them under control.

Eventually, a small, fond laugh escaped from her, one that had a choked-up quality to it.

He really hadn't needed to say all of that. Just the one question would have sufficed.

"Of course," was her response.

All of the air seemingly escaped his lungs at once. His expression morphed into one of disbelief.

"R-Really?" he had managed to say after he drew in another breath.

Alice almost wanted to laugh again at his abrupt shift in demeanor.

She nodded. "As if there could have ever been another answer to your question." She could feel her smile stretch wide enough to crinkle her eyes.

He simply stood there, gobsmacked. Then, he pumped his fists in the air, sporting an impressively wide smile of his own.

"Yes! I-I can't believe it!"

Eric suddenly leaned forward.

Despite her very slight height advantage and despite his injured leg, he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around in a tight hug. It only lasted a meager few moments before she found herself once again with feet on the ground, face ablaze and butterflies in her stomach.

And then, as if realizing what he'd just done, Eric stepped back slightly, glanced away, and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Thankfully, that smile never left his face. "Heh, uh, sorry about that. I… might have gotten a little carried away. I'm just… so happy."

Why was he apologizing? He had nothing to be sorry for.

It was a wonderful hug.

She… She wanted to feel it again.

And, so she would.

~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~

Soooooooooo~ We've come to an important juncture. Every romance story has a point where the characters stop pining and start being together. The big question is, what does it take to trigger that change?

For Alice, well, she had already been thinking it over since her little chat with Remilia. After more time spent together (both on and off screen), she was already starting to look forward to what the funny little red string would bring. Though, the canon states that she is a bit of a coward at heart, so she likely wouldn't have been the one to make the first move.

For Eric, well, he's a bit of a coward, too. When it comes to romantic love (something he has little to no experience with), he is definitely hesitant to pull the trigger. He doesn't want to screw things up! However, his whole perspective has had a bit of a change after a near death experience. With a little help from Marisa, he's realized that he sort of needs to be bolder, or else he could very well die before he ever has his chance.

Honestly, Marisa is the best wingman (wingwoman? wingwitch?). She just wants her friends to be happy~

I had been thinking for quite a while about how I wanted this to happen. I've been waffling about timing, method, place, etc. since before I even finished writing the first chapter. And, I came to the conclusion that I actually didn't want it to come as a grandiose affair.

I think it fits the two of them in this story.

And, I'll admit, it might be slightly impulsive on my end, but I decided that I was done waiting. I wanted to start writing them as a couple. A new, inexperienced, definitely still awkward about it couple, but a couple nonetheless. I always did feel put off by stories where the main couple never managed to actually become a couple until the story was almost over.

NOW, this is not the end, or even close to it. There's still a lot of story left, and I've got a good amount of ideas for what is to come. But, whatever the future holds for them, know that they will face it together.

And besides! Just think of all the relationship things that I can weave in. Dates, gifts, festivals, pet names, and more. I'm honestly excited to write more.

Thank you so much for reading up to this point! Review if you want! Have a great day!

P.S. You have no idea how much I wanted to make a 'Stole the Precious Thing' reference, but I never could find a good place, lol.

~~~~~~Reviews~~~~~~

fajar867: Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait, lol. In terms of what sorts of magic? Well, considering Eric was basically self taught by using grimoires that he'd found, he likely has some major holes in his fundamental knowledge of magic. I imagine that the first thing would be brushing up on the basics like projecting magical energy, how to make a spell circle, how to train and increase your capacity for magic. That sort of stuff. I likely won't get too into the weeds, but we will see him and Alice working on some of it. Something danmaku related would probably be on the agenda somewhere, too. He's gotta have something to throw at fairies, lol.