Epilogue

Seven days later

Michiko slowly poured a small amount of sake into a pair of choko*. She and Mitsuha were sitting in Bar Micchan's kitchenette for what seemed an eternity of silence. Despite growing up in a family that worked in a bar, Michiko generally didn't violate the law against drinking out of respect for proper behavior and her parents. However, after having her entire world turned upside down these past seven days, she desperately needed something stronger than green tea at the moment. "You know, with all you showed me this past week, I don't think I ever got around to finishing your order."

*cups used for drinking sake

Mitsuha looked at Michiko in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Michiko went to the corner of the bar where delivered packages were received and confirmed the package receipt. She handed one of the packages to Mitsuha, then gestured to the remaining ones. "Take care of those. They're some of the most premium labels Japan has to offer, and they cost you a lot of gold coins. I've included a recommendation for six of the best for Count Bozes' family, and I'm sure you'll do well with the rest."

Mitsuha paused then smiled. "Maybe I'll take some of the lessons you taught Marcel this past week to heart with them."

Michiko expressed shock, "Don't you dare use these bottles for highballs and sours! Vintages of this quality deserve respect!"

"Well, you shouldn't have shown Marcel those fancy cocktails or how to incorporate wines and liquors into cooking," Mitsuha replied with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Now he's going to be pestering me non-stop on what else can be done."

"Like you're one to talk about cultural contamination...'Yamano cuisine...?' Really...?" Michiko scoffed with amusement.

"He actually wanted to call it 'Mitsuha cuisine'... I had to talk him out of that," Mitsuha admitted.

It must have been the alcohol , Michiko thought, before both girls burst out laughing. Once they calmed down, Michiko pulled out a metal cocktail mixer, poured two ounces of vodka, an ounce of vermouth and several ice cubes. "Here... show him this next time you see him," she said as she gave the cup a gentle stir before pouring the strained mixture into a martini glass and placed an olive. "I can't believe you've never shown them the most famous drink of all time."

"I thought you're supposed to shake those," Mitsuha said, remembering Tsuyoshi-oniichan's habit of quoting famous movies.

Michiko shook her head. "That makes it too cold, in my opinion; you lose the aromatics. If he wants to play around, you can change vodka for gin, swap the olive for a lemon twist, or add a splash of olive brine."

Mitsuha took a tiny sip. I could see Viscount Ryner liking this... and Paradise Diner would really increase their dinner sales revenue for very little effort if they added these to their menu...and of course the bottles would be another big seller for me! Mitsuha thought. Just another step to my retirement!

"Well, if you ever decide you're tired of ruling the other world, look me up... 'Lightning Arch-Priestess'," Michiko said with a wink.

Mitsuha looked at Michiko with a stunned expression. How did you...? her face said wordlessly.

"Come on... I might not have magical language powers, but my ears work just fine," Michiko explained. "When everyone in that city kept calling you that with awe and reverence, including that very bright little ten-year-old girl you got hooked on Japanese anime DVDs, it doesn't take long to figure it out."

Sabine, you little tattletale... Mitsuha grumbled before continuing. "Well... anyway, I don't... rule anything. I'm just in charge of my one small province," Mitsuha demurred.

"Right..." Michiko thought wistfully and nodded knowingly. Sure you don't... I have eyes too... and it was clear that your life and future is in that other place just as my life is here. Those people... they're looking to you as an inspirational figure, whether you admit it or not. What we had...what we used to have...the future we were looking to share together... she thought sadly, were the dreams of children, and now would only be what might have been, had the Fates been a little kinder.

As if to answer her silent thought, Mitsuha extended her pinkie to Michiko. "To whatever happens next..."

After a brief pause, Michiko reciprocated, linking her pinkie, "...in whichever world it takes place..."

Fin