Ayumu listens to Joss chatter on, smile only widening as she listens. The only time she interrupts is when the kettle whistles and that's only to tell him to go on while she finishes up the tea and brings it over. After the tea is served, she settles back down to sip and listen.

Listening to him talk about everything he's been up to is nice. It reminds her of the first time she'd met Tetsu and maybe a little of Susumu was young, too, and still spoke with her with this sort of enthusiasm and energy.

It's nice. Really nice.

"It sounds like you've been off having a fine adventure since you've arrived. And I'm really glad that you've made a friend. Shin sounds like quite a character," she says cheerfully as she finishes draining her cup.

And maybe someone else she should meet and potentially check out for. Some of the behavior Joss is describing is a little concerning but not enough to raise too many alarms just yet. Of all people, she knows better than most that people and situations are often more complex than they seem on the surface.

"Well, when you're done with your tea, I think it's time to go bag us some ayakashi, don't you?"

Ayumu says 'us' but means him, of course, but it's best to start reinforcing that bond right away and language in this matters.