LOL THIRD TIMES THE CHARM LETS HOPE THE FUCKING THREAD GOES UP

Best End Hint:
Illusions in a mirror, how many similarities are there?
A reporter, a ghost, a demon of the night.
The key is in my reflection.

Today's Hint:
Faded pictures of the mind.
There is no road to the past.
The volume will be my doorway.

[X] Pack up the books and head home.
[X] "You've been so kind to me." Pause and fiddle with a few strands of Patchouli's hair.

You feel it's best for you to head home and get work done form there. While having Patchouli's help would be welcome, you can always come back when you have a question or need some help. You set about putting the books together in a stack, and turn your attention to the summoning tome laid out in front of you. You decide to pack it with the other books, and look up at Patchouli, sitting there with her nose buring in the book once again.

You lean forward over the table, an action that catches her attention. You reach out with one hand and sink your fingers into one of her long ponytails, running your fingers through it slowly.

"Thank you for your help, Patchouli. You've been a good friend." you say, ending with a soft smile. Patchouli seems caught between a mixture of embarrassment and surprise as she stutters slightly before replying.

"Aa-ah, Th-thank you Alice... I-" she trails off as she begins to stammer again, so instead she moves to hide her face with her book as you withdraw your hand. You can see she's already turned quite red even as she tries to hide herself. Without sparing too much time to prevent the situation from becoming more awkward, you quickly take up the books and float towards a window, coasting out through it while Shangai closes it behind you. Only now do you start feeling your nerves begin to act up, your arms shaking slightly. Your face feels a little hot too now, but there's no one to see you at least. You don't know what it is about Patchouli that makes you act in such a way, it just feels natural to be flirtatious with her. You're a bit concerned with how this would end up looking for Alice though if you took it too far and then left Alice with an enamoured Patchouli. Would Alice even remember anything that happened while you were in control?

You think to yourself more on the nature of your apparent life so far, and the life of Alice. You recovered memories in the library, and you realize that you've recovered Alice's knowledge of doll making, as well as remembering more things about Alice's life in the forest, her performances during festivals, and interactions with various other people. A faint memory of a girl who claimed to be a living doll. Medicine? Sounds suspicious to you, but where would you even find her? You don't have time to answer that question though, as you draw closer to Alice's house just in time to see Marisa climbing through the window. Damn it.

You speed up to get to the house, but Marisa has already gotten in, and you float in through the window she left open herself. She hears you land and turns around with a wide grin on her face.

"Yo, Alice!" she says, waving at you, then she notices the books in your arms. "Oh? A donation? Well, I'm not Reimu, but I accept your offer."

You give her a look of annoyance, then set the books down on the table. Seems she's been watching you, because when you set the books on the table, she notices Alice's grimoire sitting at the edge.

"That's unusual," she says, taking a step forwards. You hesitate, maybe a moment too long, before reacting, as Marisa snatches up the grimoire before Shanghai can reach it. She turns it over in her hands, looking at it.

"I don't think I've ever held this before actually, it feels pretty cool," she says, poking at the golden clasp that binds the book shut. She looks up at you. "Do you ever even use it for anything? Could I read it sometime?"

[] "Absolutely not."
[] "Maybe, the day you stop stealing from me."
[] "One day, Marisa, but not right now."
[] "Get out." Take back the grimoire.