Echoes In The Rain [Aiko/Akira]

Aiko had no issues following along with him as she stood up. If anything, it felt good to move around a bit, loosen her body, and get the blood pumping. Sitting still for too long can cause you to become locked in your thoughts as far as she was concerned. Her eyes wandered from side to side; absorbing in the sights of the wooden steps, doors, and eventually the books themselves as they entered into a new room entirely.

"Big place. I'm impressed."

Nodding, Aiko remained cordial and immersed in the moment; taking in the man's words as he spoke. Sulking in the shadows of the past would do no favors since that lack of a familiar partner to soothe her woes hurt her. To acknowledge that pain would be uncomfortable, as she assumed just forcing herself to move forward and find new things to fill that void would be the answer. So his insights on the past, present, and future struck a chord with her.

"I doubt I'll be able to do all that overnight, but it makes sense. If you refuse to acknowledge the pain of the past, it will eat your present and future. And I think...I did feel hurt and still feel pain by being let down and abandoned by someone I cared for and loved."

She glanced down at her feet, a half-hearted chuckle escaping her lips. "

"Sorry if that's depressing, just sucks to have your trust broken."

At that moment, the vast array of books around her seemed to echo her sentiment, the room's quietness mirroring her introspective state.

Aiko's eyes held a reflective depth as she absorbed the man's words, feeling a resonance with the idea that life could sprout anew from the decay of the old. A warm smile unfurled across her lips, a silent acknowledgment of the beauty within his metaphor.

"It's similar to when people die."

She mused to Akira out loud as her tone started to change from drab and dreary, to one of curiosity and presentness.

"While our bodies rot in the earth, their essence still fuels the world around us. And as morbid as that sounds, I think the death of what I used to be could be used to birth a new life as you said. So thank you for putting it like that."

The woman's right index finger tapped under her chin when she finished speaking. There was a newfound trust sparked in her chest, as Aiko's decision regarding which book to try came with relative ease.

"I'm willing to try anything you recommend you. You seem smart."

Cherry and to the point, the woman gave an affirming nod toward Akira. The affirmation in her nod was as much for herself as it was for him—a silent pledge to embrace the journey ahead, wherever it may lead.

The mention of Mt. Fuji sparked a light in Aiko's eyes, a place of beauty she had surprisingly never considered before. With an enthusiastic nod, her voice bubbled with excitement.

"That sounds delightful! I think I'll head there next after this place as I know the views are to die for."

Taking the book from Akira, she carefully placed it in her bag with the other materials she was gathering before a thought came to her mind. This WAS a library, just what was the return policy for all this? Aiko was gathering a lot of books to borrow and she hadn't asked him about the process of returning them.

Her finger began tapping thoughtfully against her chin, her vibrant blood gaze returned to Akira as she posed her question,

"And since this is a library, what's your return policy on the books? Do you want me to just come back here, or....?"

As her head tilted to the right, she blinked curiously and waited for a response.

"Oh, I'll be sure to return them then! It's nice not having to worry about a due date."

Aiko spoke in a cheery matter once more as she was delighted to mull over the context of the books at her own pace. Patting her bag filled with her goodies, she blinked and listened further as the man offered to provide lodging for her for the night. That was a surprise.

Hmmmmmm.

Aiko took a quick glimpse outdoors; her blood gaze observing the storm getting worse out and it would be a pain in the ass to get through it even with her speed to traverse it. Plus, given how massive this place was, she doubted many issues would arise with the need for privacy and space. The woman imagined that one could probably fit a whole squadron of people in this library if push came to shove.

With these thoughts in mind, Aiko nodded decisively.

"I mean, I can pay you to stay the night, but I'll happily stay for free to since it looks pretty ugly out there."

After speaking, her head gestured towards the window. But, she paused as her expression turned to one of mild playful suspicion mixed with intrigue.

"Are you sure, though? You are giving a lot for free. What's your angle?"

Her tone was light but probing. There was a part of her that was wary of generosity that came too easily, a learned caution from her experiences. Her eyes carefully studied Akira’s face for any sign of his true intentions, curious about the story behind his kindness.

Aiko listened intently, her expression softening as she pieced together the unspoken narrative behind Akira's generous demeanor. It was a familiar pattern, one she had seen in others and perhaps even in herself – transformation through trials. The way Akira described his circumstances about being a bitter person and meeting someone who opened his world put more of his actions into a better context for her.

"Sounds like that person helped you see that there is more in the world. I'm happy that happened to you!"

Her voice was warm and filled with sincerity as she seemed glad for his growth and happiness.

Though, she paused for a moment. Her gaze inferred she was thinking over something and after a few moments passed she spat it out.

"Hmm, not sure if I'll need anything tonight, but I wouldn't mind a guide to Mt.Fuji when the storm clears and I head out tomorrow. You are welcome to come with me if you want."