"That's one possible conclusion." Shiroe glances back at the shelf, considering for a moment. Not the books, he's gotten what he's currently going to get from them. But how do you broach the topic of multiverse theory in order to explain the possibility that some of these would be reference books in someone's world?

...carefully. Slowly. Any maybe not all at once.

"Please forgive me, I'm about to ask a few questions that might sound nonsensical. But I would not ask them if I felt safe assuming the answers were the same for you as for me. What year is it, to your knowledge?"