Eri seems a little shy as she speaks aloud her resolve - but that doesn't mean her words are any less sincere. No... this is something she's thought about carefully, and it's clear that to her, this is a special moment. It's one thing to have desires hidden away in her heart, but speaking them, making them known - in a way, Eri often feels like that's when they really become real.

She looks up at Shota, her bashful gaze holding a hint of nervousness. It's not a fear directed at him, because she's never uncomfortable around this man who she's become so close to... instead, it's that awkward anxiety you sometimes just can't help when you want someone to approve of what your decisions. Even if you know there could never be anything to fear.

"I want to make people smile, like how Jiro-san and everyone did back then... I know I said that before already, but. Do you think it's a good idea...?"

It's just that, by nature, Eri is an intensely inquisitive person - and when she's curious about something, it's her natural inclination to go charging straight towards what she wants to know. It's obvious that something's happened to account for Toshiro's abrupt change in attitude that led to them meeting again - but as much as she wants to shake him by the shoulders and demand answers, Eri isn't the young girl she used to be anymore.

She knows that it's important to be patient - because when Toshiro is ready to talk to her about whatever he's experienced, that's when he'll talk to her. It's not fair to him to ask for anything else.

So Eri won't sneak around trying to investigate her old friend's secrets, or anything like that. ...But a little curiosity isn't a bad thing to have - which is the reason that today, she's found herself at LeBlanc, the coffee shop that she wanted to see for herself after hearing about Toshiro's positive memories of the place. It's not so much to find out more about him as it is to enjoy the atmosphere for herself, though the associations it holds are something of a bonus - but the point is, when she ends up spotting one Futaba Sakura inside the building, she doesn't actually recognize that there's anything significant about her at all.

"Wow, this really is a cozy place! And not very busy... I suppose I'll just choose a table, then...?"

Eri's puzzled tone is easy to hear as she gives a confused but inquisitive look to the girl standing before her. Eri doesn't know them - at least, she doesn't think she does, but upon spotting her, they made quite the shocked expression, almost as if they recognized her from somewhere.

Which leaves Eri stumped, because she sure doesn't recognize them! But something tells her that it's a good idea to talk to them - call it intuition, or maybe just impulse.

"Do I know you from somewhere? I'm sorry I don't recognize you..."

Yet now... she's found herself back in the past nonetheless. At first, all she could feel was grief for the things she'd lost, a grief so heavy that she'd sobbed her heart out, clutching her too-small hands to a tiny, fragile chest. But then she started to wonder about the things she could change. The people she could save. And she clung to those ideas, if only because she needed to believe that there was some reason for all of this - a reason she was here that would make all of it worth it.

That desire had birthed a burning determination in her heart. It sustained her for a while... but as shameful as it is to admit it, now, the more she thinks about it, the more scared she becomes. What can one lone girl like her do to make the future better? She's not a hero. She sings, and she makes people smile... that's always been enough to make Eri happy. But now, it suddenly doesn't feel like enough.

She's sure Aizawa must have noticed her mood. As her old insecurities and hesitation eat away at her, she's tried to think about what he would say, what advice he would give her... but the Aizawa before her now is so much younger than the one she remembers best. Could she save his friend? Shirakumo, the one he'd lost and almost got back before he was snatched away again too soon? There must be others that he'd want to save as well... and Aizawa isn't the only person she wants to help, either.

"Sensei... can I ask you a question?" Eri asks, in the middle of a silent moment. She clasps her hands together in front of her, feeling every bit like the scared six-year old girl she hasn't been for a long time. "It might be a little strange, though..."

"Am I? I didn't realize I was looking at you funny at all. Sure you're not imagining things?"

Teasing Toshiro like this makes Eri almost feel like a kid again, as if she's been transported back to the past, back when they were still at school and everything was simple. Of course, it's not exactly the same - her energy now is more subdued, somewhat more gentle - but there's still some mischief behind her smile as well.

"I'm kidding. Sorry." she casually corrects herself, before speaking again. "I was just thinking about how much you've changed."

Well, maybe that's not the best way to put it. She hasn't seen him in so long that she really has no way of knowing whether he's "changed" or just grown up when she wasn't around. But she gets the feeling something must've happened recently - after his abrupt confession at the press conference, it was as if he'd been suddenly bursting with a newfound confidence that she was scared he never would've gotten back again. At least, compared to how he'd seemed on TV before.