It was one of those days when an idea popped out in Ayu's head and she couldn't quite shake it off. It just happened. Everyone got this feeling sometimes... But it wasn't an attempt to check how her ability worked or another uneasy sensation that poked at her skull from inside. No, this felt... Different. Warm. There was someone she actually ought to pay a visit, to check how things were - so Ayu decided to take a walk. Where? To the area of Mount Paozu, of course. The house she made out of plants was there - thriving. It didn't take her long to reach the place and to notice that everything she created out of stems, leaves and wood was working as she intended, making a comfortable and safe shelter. She never really knew she got it in her... Hopefully, the couple living inside that she helped out last time she was here, wouldn't mind her visit. It would be a short meeting, she'd hate to keep them occupied while they are busy in the farming season! Ayu suddenly remembered about them when she was laying to sleep the previous day and first thing in the morning she decided to check if they were doing alright. Everything was... So peaceful and warm it was warming her heart. Their rice fields were growing luscious and green, the animals in the barn were content and healthy, and their energies despite their age felt strong. Happy. Loving.

Ayu anxiously knocked on the door and almost immediately they were opened wide. A small, wrinkled, and tanned woman blinked at her with surprise, and her expression melted into a fond display of care and gratitude. She smiled at her.

"Good morning, dearie!" Granny Tammy opened her arms with happy tears gathering in the corner of her eyes as she pulled Ayu closer for a hug. Her dry arms wrapped around her affectionately. "Move your old legs and see who came for a visit!" she teased her husband, Grandpa Sam, by shouting inside with an urging tone while stroking Ayu's back with care. The young woman smiled and embraced her back. The old man toddled near, glanced at them both, and gave her a soft pat on the shoulder. A bright smile lit up his wrinkled face. Truly, it was one of those moments when Ayu was simply happy to be greeted with those warm feelings and hugs.

"Good morning. How are you doing? Is everything alright with the house..?" Ayu started asking as soon as she was let out of an embrace. They both walked her inside, showing her to the green kitchen. She did never make any utensils or home appliances, seemed that they have added everything else themselves - but the place was still working and staying alive and verdant. Ayu did well. A stone fell from her heart.

"Of course! Everything is perfect, it's even better than our old one!" the old woman patted her hand and reached to the shelf to bring out a tray of homemade cookies. "No other house can grow blueberries on the wall of their kitchen!" she smiled and Ayu giggled.

"Come, sit, let us make some tea," her husband gave her a stool that she took and sat down as instructed, looking at how the both of them were making kitchen bustle. The kettle sang when water started to boil, Grandpa Sam was preparing mugs and Granny Tammy put a handful of fresh fruits next to a pile of peanut butter cookies. They made small talk while they were at it, and Ayu couldn't have been happier.

I'm so glad that you two are doing okay... she thought while taking a cookie from the tray.

"Why wouldn't we? Our fields are doing amazing thanks to you and our house can withstand now both floods and fires." Granny Tammy smiled, pulling another stool closer to the kitchen table, unaware that for a second there Ayu turned pale.

"Y-yes, but..." she blinked, surprised. She thought about it, right? She did not speak those words out loud? Maybe she did. Maybe it was just her imagination. Ayu shook her head, thanking Grandpa Sam for the tea and taking a careful sip. The hot, green beverage tasted amazing with fresh berries and sweet treats. "I'm glad everything worked out. That flood was scary..." she admitted. She won't ever forget that day, not only because of the omnipresent water... But she was on her way back come from a funeral. She wished she could ask Athren how was he doing after that event, but he was out of anyone's reach, far away in the space. Ayu doubted he'd like to come back to Earth, where his children lost their lives.

"Not only my wife uses the berries that appear here, the barn grows corn regularly." Grandpa patted his knee with a smile and Granny nodded. Did Ayu make the other building work like that? She didn't but walls, floors, and ceiling were amalgamations of various plants. If they were meant to remain green and sturdy all year round they could do just that - seems that she gave them a supply of fruits and vegetables too. She smiled softly to herself, glad that she could help out even more than she intended at first.

Yes, perhaps that's it. she nodded and took a bite of the cookie.

"What's it dearie?" Ayu thought she was going to have a heart attack just like that. Grandpa Sam glanced at her curiously, but a gleam of worry appeared in his eyes when he noticed that Ayu got startled by his question. Miraculously she didn't choke on the cookie, but she needed a moment to swallow the bite. She couldn't just admit that he read her thoughts, right? Or perhaps it was the other way around...

"W-Well," the young woman stuttered a little. "I did not know how would the house act and what limits would it have, but it seems that's it." she stroked her cheek feeling how she was already getting blushed. It wasn't her imagination... Somehow she made them hear her thoughts, but how and why? Ayu shook her head a little and gave them a gentle smile, placing her hand above her heart. "If it works well enough for you two, I'm glad," she added.

Despite the friendly and caring small talk, she could only focus on one thing. Ayu tried twice more time to sneak a message with her thoughts like that... Were the elderly people so oblivious, that they did not care or didn't find it weird? She could hear Granny's or Grandpa's answering her in their minds, but right after they would have said the same thing out loud, so perhaps they have not noticed. Ayu sat there trying to hide her confusion, sipping her tea and wondering how did it even happen. Did she learn how to read others' minds? No, it did not feel like that, more like she was unintentionally transferring her thoughts to them.

She ought to be more careful now.

Ayu stayed with the friendly elderly couple for almost the whole day, and when she was about to leave sun was ready to set. They both hugged her and gave her a bag full of homemade jams and pickles. Standing at their doorstep they were saying their goodbyes and Ayu again felt so moved by their tender words and gestures.

"Take care on your way back, alright?" Granny once again held her in a warm embrace, stroking her cheek to gaze fondly at her face.

"I promise, I will," Ayu reassured her, picking up the bag. "Thank you for everything, I'm calmer knowing you're doing well."

"And, dearie, next time try to talk with your mouth, not your heart. We hear you all right, we're not that old," the old woman chuckled and smiled at Ayu's suddenly pale face.

"You don't have to send your words to our heads, that's what she meant," Grandpa Sam patted her arm, beaming, perhaps both of them were slightly amused by Ayu's loss and abashment.

"I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't do it on purpose..." now bashful Ayu felt how her face was flushed with dark rose color. She pulled the braid over her shoulder and hid her blushed cheeks under thick green locks. "I-I be going now..."

They again reassured her that everything was alright, but after Ayu left and was on her way back home, walking through the forest path... She couldn't help but wonder - in what manner her mind works to pull things like that? She never really tried that, it just - happened. Like other things about her, she learned this one by accident. A sigh raised her chest. Something told her that it wasn't the end of it.

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Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 178,283
Word Count - 1,461
Technique - [ST1] Telepathy - 1TP