[ The clear emotion leaking into Amos' voice draws a curious, even slightly concerned look from Howl. Amos usually presents to Howl as so even-tempered, so adept at going with the flow, that the wizard is caught off guard by it. His steps slow momentarily as he listens, taking his words seriously. As much as Howl adores Yima — and, yes, would absolutely agree that he owes her — what Amos seems to be expressing is a different kind of affection. Skewed ever-so-slightly in a different direction, for reasons Howl doesn't know and can't imagine. ]

...Because it is home. [ A flicker of his confident smile comes back. ] It's not a coincidence, Amos. That boy you once were, wishing to live among the stars — she knows him as well as she knows the you who exists now. And she's going to help us all live among the stars, in our own ways. She keeps her word.

[ The way Howl says that last part, it's like he already knows beyond all doubt that it's true. But then, suddenly, Howl stops and gazes down a long row of library books. A small placard at the end of the row indicates that this section is devoted to astronomy. ]

Ah, here we are.