Aki is in the middle of admiring her teacup, when the woman approaches her, looking rather displeased. When she holds out the pager, a moment of confusion passes between them in which Aki isn't sure what she's looking at, then she focuses on the small text and quickly stands up. "Oh, I'm sorry," she answers, moving aside so the woman can have her chair back. She looks around, but finds herself suddenly not wanting to sit at an empty table, the loneliness of this new place overwhelming her. Momentarily, of course, then she pulls herself together. She casts a long glance at the empty seat opposite of the one she's just abandoned, swallows thickly, so as to get the horribly forward words across her lips more easily.

"Would you mind if I joined you?"