A creature of habit prefers the familiar. An alteration to their routine is not a simple change to make. Even faced with a significant event, it is far easier for one to fall back on established patterns.

…

And just like that, Alice found herself nestled into the same corner of the couch that she'd occupied just a short time before.

The rhythmic clicking of her knitting needles filled the room once more as she redoubled her efforts to finish her project, a bit of extra gusto behind her movements.

Two teacups rested upon the dark wood of her self-made coffee table, their contents having been drained over the course of an awkward yet meaningful conversation.

Despite the flurry of emotion she'd experienced earlier, the tranquility of this moment, as she focused on her work, helped to keep herself grounded.

The familiar, repetitive motions allowed for her to become lost in thought, something she very much needed at present.

Indeed, there was much to think about.

Today had been eventful, far more than she could have reasonably expected.

Oh, Eric…

Perhaps unsurprisingly, her ponderance mainly concerned the nature of the bond between Eric and herself.

...

How quickly things had come to this point. Though, in hindsight, she supposed that his confession, and her reciprocation, should have come as less of a revelation and more of an inevitability.

There was a distinct nature to their relationship, one that had begun to take shape even before she was made privy to the Red String of Fate.

From the beginning, she had treated him far differently than anybody else.

How had he managed to find his way in? To seep through the cracks in her facade so quickly?

With him, gone was the desire to put up a front. There was no need to be impassive or calculating or snarky or anything like that.

She couldn't quite explain why, but something about his presence put her more at ease; to the point that she could relinquish such a defense mechanism.

It made her feel as though, around him, she could be Alice. Just Alice. The same Alice that only really came out when it was just her and her dolls.

His regular visits were viewed not as a nuisance, but as something to anticipate. This was in stark contrast to her only other regular visitor.

As grateful as she was (though she would never admit it) for Marisa's repeated 'friendly intrusions', it certainly didn't take long for her unique disposition to become abrasive.

With Eric, it… it had never gotten to that point.

He was always respectful of her and her home. He didn't openly antagonize in order to get a rise out of her. He didn't tease her often, and when he did tease her, he always did so lightly.

She certainly never had to worry about him borrowing anything, either.

He seemingly endeavored to make every interaction as pleasant as he could and listened actively, even when the topic was something he knew nothing about.

He had a penchant for not forcing unnecessary conversation, instead knowing when to let a quiet moment linger.

...

That was a quality currently exemplified by the fact that her new boyfriend was perfectly content to rest on the opposite end of her couch while she tried to finish her knitting…

Her boyfriend… Her boyfriend! The Seven-Colored Puppeteer had a boyfriend!

A term as unfamiliar as it was exciting.

It… wasn't clear why fate had deigned to bring them together, but…

She could not help but smile to herself about it.

And, from the look of it, Eric was thinking about it in the same way.

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

Well, he would be, if he wasn't so utterly exhausted by his reckless little dash through the woods.

Yes, he'd been so preoccupied with the idea of telling Alice everything that he had simply not considered how rash of an action it was to use up so much energy. Only now did he come to fully realize just how careless he had been.

If he couldn't have flown the distance in one go, he'd have left himself exhausted and isolated without… Well, without two legs to stand on. It would have practically served him up on a platter to another homicidal youkai.

And that was not a notion he wanted to consider again.

…

Still, such thoughts could not spoil the fact that he'd made it through just fine and currently rested upon a wonderfully blue couch within his new girlfriend's home.

His girlfriend… His girlfriend! He actually had a girlfriend!

The thought was almost surreal.

He was…. Honestly, he was surprised that he'd even gotten this far.

His goal had been to simply tell her how he felt, to not leave anything unsaid. The chances of her reciprocating hadn't factored into his decision at all.

She… She could have done far better than him, and yet…

She'd said yes!

He could not think about the idea that they were together now without breaking into a smile.

And… Perhaps it was because he was still flying high from earlier, but he also found the fact that she was knitting to be so damn endearing. That Shanghai was also engaged in said activity only made it better.

They really do make quite a pair, those two.

…

He- Well, he still didn't really know how her dolls worked. Were they really as alive as they seemed? Or was it all just a big puppet show?

It… didn't really matter what the case was. Everybody had their quirks, and the dolls were Alice's. They were great either way.

…

He really didn't mind a bit that she was preoccupied. How could he? With such a serene expression on her face as she toiled away with her needles and yarn, she looked every bit as happy as he wished for her to be.

Besides, he had already interrupted her once today, and she had been accommodating enough to offer him tea. It was only fair that he let her finish in peace.

Eric shifted into a slightly more comfortable position, grateful for the overstuffed nature of the couch. His eyelids began to slip down, eager to alleviate their fatigue.

He let them.

His breathing, while already steady, began to come slower and deeper.

…

What he did know, with absolute certainty, was that his desire to wrap Alice up in his arms again was growing.

…Would that be forcing things too early?

While he wasn't going to let himself get cold feet anymore, he also did not want to push too quickly. He didn't want to pressure her.

It was only the first day, after all!

There would be plenty of time for that in the future.

...

Ah, the future…

It was with this thought in mind that Eric inadvertently drifted off to sleep.

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

She had suspected that it was coming, and a quick glance in his direction confirmed it for her.

Deep, steady breaths, relaxed posture, and closed eyes…

Eric had fallen asleep.

She… wasn't particularly surprised. He'd looked weary when he'd shown up at her door, likely from flying all this way, and she knew well what effect mana exhaustion had on a person.

Not that she could blame him. It was actually optimal for him to nap until his mana reserves recovered.

…

Still, falling asleep in your new… your… your girlfriend's house…

A critical mistake.

A small, impish grin found its way onto her face.

Alice… couldn't quite place where this rare streak of mischievousness was coming from, but in the moment, she saw fit to indulge in it.

She flicked her wrist, and the dolls on her shelves rose to attention.

…

With the last doll in place, Alice carefully extracted herself from her corner of the couch and stretched.

The scarf would need a bit more time to complete, but she would take care of that another day. There were other things to be done now.

Stowing away their incomplete works, Alice and Shanghai made for the kitchen along with two other dolls.

Evening was fast approaching, and that meant dinner was on the agenda.

Sure, she didn't need dinner, but food was one part of her routine that she had yet to give up.

And… the thought of cooking for two…

A bright spot of eagerness bloomed in her chest. She hummed to herself as she went about with her preparations.

Tonight, she was feeling soup.

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

Tonight. Tonight would be critical. A watershed moment in the history of the Human Village.

…

While his network of confidants had already taken root through subtle machinations, it was now time for a change in strategy.

This was to be their first true large-scale production. A rally that…

No. This was not a rally. This was a call to action. A moment of awakening for the people of this realm, lost as they were to the siren song of youkai temptation.

…Did he truly believe that the youkai were demonic, impure beings? No. However, such an angle was undoubtedly effective in driving recruitment.

For every two humans content to accept the illusion of tranquility, there was one who believed they had seen this world's truth, bedeviled as they were by its unnatural order.

Of that, he was certain.

And what incredible happenstance that a drought had taken hold at this phase of the plan!

He'd heard once that 'no society is more than three square meals away from anarchy'.

While the dry weather had not affected the spring-fed waters in the Village's canals or the farmers' irrigation systems, and the harvest goddess had increased her blessings to compensate, it had still led to increasing concern over future supplies of food and water.

Ah, if only he had a true famine to work with! Imagine the potential!

…

He and he alone could take this agitation, vague and formless as it was, and focus it into overthrowing the old hierarchy.

He and he alone could ensure the success of this nascent revolution.

And if he was the one sitting atop the throne in the end?

He and he alone was worthy of wearing the crown.

…

…

…

The preparations were nearing completion when a certain somebody dropped his sign for the third time in fewer than ten minutes. He cast his gaze at the offender.

Ah, him.

One of his more useful disciples. Donating copious amounts of time, energy, and money to the cause. Tirelessly spreading the word to the people. Challenging youkai in the streets as they stood.

Less useful as of late, however. As if by divine providence, the man had been struck down by a particularly rotten streak of luck. Whether it was the cuts on his fingers from mishandling sharp implements or the bruises upon his body from constantly tripping over his own feet, the misfortune showed.

And it was beginning to grate on his nerves.

He must have sensed it, his growing ire, for he began to sputter apologies as soon as he bent down to pick up his sign.

"S-sorry… It won't happen again." The fire in his eyes had seemingly been extinguished by his recent circumstances.

…Must I waste my words so soon?

"Ensure that it doesn't. Our finest opportunity draws near, and I will not accept such embarrassments."

"Yes… you're right… sorry Hei-"

Instantly, a scathing glare fell upon him.

"Er, sorry. Superior."

The man reeked of defeat.

"Good."

This would be their formal introduction to the people.

The message must come across clearly and powerfully. An unmistakable arrow to the hearts and minds of the Village.

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

Consciousness slowly came to Eric.

He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but man had he been tired. Now that he'd managed to squeeze in a nap, he felt utterly refreshed.

Well, mentally refreshed. For some reason, his entire body still felt heavy.

On instinct, he moved to stretch, to try and work away the lingering stiffness. As soon as he did, he heard and felt a cascade of objects roll off of his body. Utterly confused, he paused his stretch and opened his eyes.

There, surrounding him, were numerous dolls. Those that had fallen laid both on the couch and the floor. Those that had not were still absolutely piled on top of him.

Someone must have seen the surprise on his face, because the sound of tittering laughter quickly caught his attention.

He raised his eyes, only to see Alice standing in the doorway to her kitchen, giggling into her hand.

He looked down at the dolls, and then back to her. "Alice… D-Did you bury me in dolls while I was sleeping?"

Her giggling slowed, and she brought her fingers together. "It was only meant as a joke."

Eric's gaze fell once more to the dolls. Then, he began to laugh. Suppressed at first before eventually evolving into a full on belly-laugh.

Her? Burying him in dolls because he'd fallen asleep on her couch?

"That is so like you, Alice!"

Alice looked… caught off-guard by his reaction, though his good cheer seemed to be infectious. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" she asked with no real bite.

He let the wave of mirth pass before answering. "It's just… your sense of humor. It's very much like you."

"And," he continued. "It's so rare for you to make jokes or goof around. When you do, it kind of feels like a special occasion." He sighed contentedly. "I always look forward to it."

She looked unsure of how to respond to such a compliment. She tucked an errant lock of hair behind one ear. "Thank you…"

After another moment, she perked up again. "I, um, made dinner. Would you like some? Do you have any objections to soup?"

He almost wanted to make a joke about soup being offensive to him, but…

Alice… is offering me dinner?

Yup, it was official now. She was too good for him. The quickest way to a man's heart was through his stomach after all.

"Oh, man. I would love to have some!"

…

All things considered, it was really good soup.

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

It was late when they approached their destination, though it had yet to become truly dark, a consequence of the summer's tenacious twilight.

The cacophony of cicadas droned on, only fractionally quieter in the Village than in the Forest.

While significantly less people were out and about compared to midday, the streets were by no means empty. Their footsteps, along with the dust they kicked up, added to the ambient noise.

Down one street, a particularly spirited man's voice could be heard, but Alice spared it no more than a passing thought.

She had not anticipated returning to the Village so soon, yet it couldn't be helped.

Eric had to return home at some point, and she did not feel comfortable leaving him to the metaphorical wolves.

And so, she elected to escort him. She did not mind.

As Eric led the way with practiced, though uneven steps, she found that the route to Tradition's End was becoming all the more familiar. Perhaps, one day, she'll know the streets by heart, too.

…

Only a few short minutes later, the two of them stood in front of the door to the cafe.

Eric sighed in relief as he stamped the ground with the end of his cane. "Whew, I can't wait until I can kiss this thing goodbye."

He leaned the cane up against the side of the building before turning back to face her. Then, he glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Heh, uh, thank you for coming along with me. When I get all the way better, I promise that you won't have to anymore."

Alice tilted her head slightly. "It's no trouble at all. Even if you were fully capable, I would… well, I would still have done so."

"Wha- really?"

"Of course. It's… something a 'couple' would do together, yes?" At least, she thought it was something they would do.

He brought a hand to his chin in thought. "Yeah… Yeah, that's true." He then flashed an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I just- I don't think that I've fully processed it yet."

The conversation trailed off. Alice began to suspect that this was the point at which they would say their goodbyes for the night, and yet… she lingered.

So too, did Eric.

His arms made an awkward, vaguely forward movement before immediately returning to his sides.

A small, unexpected laugh escaped from her.

Why… did I find that funny?

"Eric, what was that supposed to be?"

"I, uh, wanted to hug you again," he began, embarrassment clear on his face, even in the dusk. "But, I got worried that it might be too much."

The thought of another hug caused her heart to flutter and the blood pressure to rise, yet… She wanted it.

"Why would you think it too much?" she probed.

"I-I don't know. I just didn't want to pressure you or rush things too quickly."

His eyes met hers, a deep caring emanating from them. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

…Uncomfortable?

"Eric, I don't believe that you've ever made me feel uncomfortable." Sure, she'd felt many things since knowing him, some of them new, but uncomfortable was not one of them.

"If you wish to hug me… then, you are fine to do so."

He seemed… almost shocked at her declaration. "Are you sure?"

There he was, always worrying about her. Though… she supposed his concern wasn't unfounded.

She could admit that much.

"I may not be a social butterfly, and… perhaps you are right to be concerned…"

"I… have ample experience with solitude, I have fair experience with acquaintances, and I have limited experience with friendships."

However, this was… This was her first and only foray into this sort of relationship.

"But romance? Affection? I-Intimacy?" Alice stuttered on that last word. It was quick and subtle, but it was there, and she was sure that he could have heard it. "With no experience, I had always imagined that such things would be challenging for me to reciprocate."

Eric opened his mouth to speak, but Alice continued. "And they may still be. But, at least…"

She looked down at her intertwined hands demurely. "So far, with you, it's been easier than I had ever thought possible…"

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

Alice…

She lifted her gaze again. A glimmer of resolve shone in her eyes. "So please, do not use that as an excuse to hold yourself back. I am no fragile maiden. If I am uncomfortable with something, I will make myself clear."

He could feel his heart squeeze.

She was far too good for him, and for her to look at him in such a way, it only made him want to hug her more.

He had to be sure, though. "So… does that mean-"

"Yes," came the immediate reply.

"Okay."

His arms began to move again, this time with clear purpose.

Slowly. Slowly but surely they found their way, encircling Alice's torso at chest level, leaving her arms free to move. His hands brushed across the fabric of her dress, seeking the best place to hold her. Once they found purchase on her back, he pulled her close. Unlike the whirlwind embrace he'd initiated earlier, he did so gently, as if she was made of glass.

A hug. Such a simple action, and one that others may not think twice about. But for him? With her? It was everything.

She was there. She was warm. She was, despite her slender frame, soft. Her hair tickled his face as his head came to rest on her shawl-clad shoulder.

When he breathed, it was very much Alice. It was a mix of leaves and ink. Wood and books. Tea and flowers.

It was a lot to take in. And, when Alice moved to return the hug only a moment later, it became nearly overwhelming.

In contrast to his careful embrace, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly. Her hands… Those long, elegant fingers… They gripped hard at the back of his clothing as she leaned into him, practically clinging to his form. If his awareness hadn't been heightened in the moment, he would have almost certainly missed her mumble the word "Please…" into his shoulder.

He instinctively tightened his hold on her, keeping her as close as possible.

She buried her face deeper into him.

His heart felt like it was beating out of his chest.

Her breaths shuddered.

He could feel the heat on his face, and a lump in his throat.

She sniffed, and then sighed. It almost sounded sad.

He didn't want to let her go.

She made no move to release him.

For now, they were content to lose themselves in the moment… and each other.

…

For how long they stood in place, it was unclear.

Eventually… Eventually… Alice shifted. She began to unwind her arms from around Eric.

Understanding, Eric moved to release her as well.

As she pulled back, she wiped away the tears that lingered in the corners of her eyes.

…What?

He- He didn't realize that she'd been crying. Concern was immediately upon his face. "Alice, what's wrong?"

Alice cleared her throat, a rare sound coming from her. "Do not worry. It… It simply brought back old memories." She sniffed again.

Eric's brows furrowed further. "Were they bad memories? Oh, Alice… I'm sorry, I… I didn't know."

She shook her head in response. "No, no… Good memories," she stressed. "Just… There can be pain in fond recollection."

Her lips formed into a wistful smile. "It reminded me of… the people I once knew."

That… That he understood.

He didn't want to pry. But… "Did you want to talk about it?"

Alice stilled, before shaking her head once more. "Not yet… P-Perhaps another time would be best."

And… he understood.

Loss…

Maybe one day she would see fit to confide in him with her story. And when she did? He would be there.

There would be time for that.

There would be time.

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

Yo! I was a bit worried that this would end up being a short chapter, but after connecting all of the bits I had written, it wound up being good on the length, lol.

And, it almost entirely focused on Alice and Eric, picking up shortly (i.e. like maybe an hour) after the end of Chapter 12.

I definitely got sappy with this one. I'd decided that I wanted this chapter to be a lot heavier on the feel-good side of things. There's lots of introspection, lots of feelings, and lots of fluff. Nothing much of consequence happens plot-wise unless you count the two of them trying to acclimate to their freshly redefined relationship.

Sure, there's… that guy, but that just means that things in the village are slowly beginning to set into motion. More on that later!

Though Alice has sort of matured since her playable appearances, I like to imagine that she still puts up a front (cool, cynical, impassive, snarky, you name it!) when dealing with most people, especially other youkai. It's something we really haven't seen much of because of how quickly Eric managed to weave his way into her life. Even Alice appears to be surprised by that fact.

If it seems like she's a little overly invested into the whole thing, well, maybe? Sure, she's a youkai, but she's also a person; one who has no experience in love. This is all new and exciting (confusing?) for her.

It's also new to Eric. I get the sense that there's going to be a thread of 'okay, so how exactly are we supposed to go about this?' as they figure their relationship out together. Definitely don't expect them to speedrun anything, lol.

I mean getting that worked up over… a hug? A hug? Hey, hugs can be impactful and important, too. Such a simple act is woefully underappreciated, tbh.

I don't want to go as far as to say that they're like, touch-starved or anything… but eh, y'know.

Anyways, thank you for reading! Review if you want! Have a good day!

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

sid99: Glad to see you looking forward to more!

fajar867: How coincidental that you would mention the relevance of a certain character to the plot just before he appears again! Yes, he is plot relevant~