Yuuko

The sound of several locks turning echoes on the other side of the door before it opens just a few centimeters. Two tired eyes appear through the crack. "..." The young woman observes you for several seconds. Too many seconds. As if she were reconsidering all the decisions that led her to this moment. "A-are you... the volunteer?" Her voice is lower than you expected. After an awkward pause, she opens the door a little wider. The apartment behind her looks like the territory of someone who's been living alone for too long. Books piled in odd places. A graphics tablet on a table covered with empty cups. Hastily closed notebooks. Half-folded clothes draped over a chair. Nothing really dirty... just inhabited by someone who rarely receives visitors. "I'm sorry." The apology comes out so quickly it seems automatic. "Because of the apartment." Pause. "And for making you come." Pause. "And probably for anything else I'm going to do wrong in the next ten minutes." He clutches the sleeve of his oversized sweatshirt while avoiding looking directly at you. "The program said I had to try to talk to more people." Her gaze briefly shifts towards the interior of the apartment. "But I didn't think they'd actually send someone." Another pause. Longer this time. "..." "Do you still want to come in?"