AIKO
Why is no one here?

EMMA
It’s Sunday.

AIKO
Oh , yes. That should’ve been obvious, right?

Emma smiles.

Emma
Quite; yes. (beat) Now, won’t we go on?

Suddenly, Aiko is quite unsure.

AIKO
I don’t know where I have to go.

EMMA
Perhaps the idea comes with walking.

AIKO
Ok, let’s try it.

They walk along the aisle we saw at the beginning. As Emma notices the yelllow tape at a room on the end of the floor, she quickly turns around a corner to their right.

AIKO
Hey, I thought I would be the hero!

EMMA
Can’t I be his fortuna? Or Ariadne?

Aiko looks at her, frowning.

AIKO
Someone told me about that stuff once already.

He turns the corner with her, lost in thought. Se dares to thurn her head back again, then walks quickly forward.

EMMA
Hey, you’ve gone to school, that’s why.

Aiko turns, still thinking, another corner and she with him. He notices only now he’s walked there automatically.

AIKO
Wow, perhaps I can really find the way.

Emma doesn’t say anything, just follows him a few steps behind him. They arrive at a point where one can go forward, left and right into a staircase. Aiko comes to a halt. As Emma arrives at his height, she stands next to him, wiating patiently.

AIKO
I don’t know whereto go now.

They both stand still for a few moments, not kknowing what to say or do. Emma makes a step aside, out of embarassment. Aiko rapidly turns round to her, agitated by the small sound.

AIKO
I really don’t know. Really. I really don’t know. (beat) I don’t know where to go! I don’t know where to turn!

Aiko is close to panicking, suddenly pauses for a few seconds and then rushes into action as if only now remembering his part. He wanders down the corridor to the left, his hand sliding on the wall, his steps incredibly slow. He moves so graceful it seems like a dance. Emma hasn’t moved at all, just now turns her head to look at him.

AIKO
Whatever, what now. (beat) Whatever, what now! Now, that’s a promise, tonight is one, but nobody dares to speak them out loud. Instead they drown in their own words, in their empty bottles of mind. Of air and earth. No one ares to promise, they fool around and yell their affirmation into the world, disturbing her in her sleep! And I may as well chose this way as any other, Emma.

Emma is surprised he suddenly talks to her.

AIKO (CONT’D)
Because it doesn’t matter, it’s all the same shit, innit. It’s all the fucking SAME!

He ends with a shriek that echoes up and down the corridor. He stops as if frightened by his own sound and is not agitated at all anymore, suddenly. With his back pressed against the wall, he melancholically looks into the thin air in front of him. He sinks onto the ground, his back still pressed against the wall until he sits on the floor. It’s silent in the corridor for a long while, both remain motionless. Through a window on the end of the corridor one can hear birds’ singing. Aiko lets his head fall to the side, his eyes closed. After a minute or so, Emma dares to go to him, very slowly and careful to make no wound. She comes to a halt directly in front of him, and he lifts his head, opening his eyes.

AIKO (CONT’D)
I’ve done it again, right?

Emma remains silent.

AIKO (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. Really. I’m sorry.