Aki

Art by Ryethe

> *"You make me all tongue tied!"*
>
>

## Storyline

The Listener is first found by Aki (short for Akihiko) in the forest of Zetria on the border of Runika. He treats them for some minor wounds and a possible concussion. In return he allows the Listener to touch his ears, something very personal for nekos.

He introduces himself as an apothecary who makes the best medicinal salves "this side of the Spine mountains." He offers to bring them to the cabin he shares with his brother Kio (Kye-yo) after they take a catnap, lulling them to sleep with Sylvan.

The Listener wakes up two days after being brought to the cabin with Aki at their bedside. He introduces them to the various plants in his room and shares his passion for herbalism, as well as the book of salves he got from the fae.

Aki and the Listener are on a week-long trip to Runika to sell his salves. Unfortunately, **There Is Only One Tent**, possibly set up by Kio since he packed his brother's bag and knows why Aki would be embarrassed to share a tent with them. He ends up sharing the tent with them after much hesitation.

They reminisce about the time they've spent together and how helpful they've been to the point that Kio might even enjoy the Listener's presence. Despite the brothers both enjoying their company, Aki can sense their homesickness and suggests that they visit the Mages' Guild in Runika to help them find a way home. He musters up the courage to hold the Listener as they rest for the night.

Aki and the Listener arrive in Runika in the middle of the Winter's Dawn Festival , a celebration of the start of winter and a time for pastries. Aki explains that The Winter Market is a standing tradition from a time when travelers would come to Runika to stock up on supplies to last through the harsh season. The Festival is also a time to spend time with "someone special to them."

Unfortunately, they can't sell any salves during the Festival and all the inns are full. The Listener says they want to camp instead of finding somewhere to stay in the city. They agree to visit the Market with Aki where they can explore the city, eat pastries, and trade tinctures for gifts and trinkets instead.

## Personality

He's very sweet and caring towards the Listener. He is either socially awkward due to his isolated lifestyle or smitten by them immediately as he often acts flustered around them. Nevertheless, he generously shares his home and hobby with the Listener and offers to help them find their way home. It's also implied that he watches them carefully as he can sense their homesickness despite fitting in well with Aki and Kio.

He knows a lot about plants, though he is still learning from the book of salves the fae gave him. He's memorized the medicinal and traditional uses for the ones he grows in his room and garden. He often goes into the forest to search for plants but sometimes gets turned around.

## Trivia

### Aki

* Is the first character Hollow uploaded to YouTube.
* His brother Kio has not starred in any audios thus far but we know the following:
	+ He travels to Runika to sell his brother's salves.
	+ Knows Aki very well and likely set up the trip to Runika so that he and the Listener could spend time together.
	+ Not as friendly as his brother, especially when meeting new people.
* Is magically mute (non-magical) like all nekos.
* He taught himself some Sylvan, a primordial, inherently magical language, after meeting some friendly fae who gave him herbalism books written in the language.
* Has been working for a year on a new salve that will help with sore muscles that's still a work in progress.
* Is not a strong boi.
* Has sensitive and alluring ears. They feel nice.
* Names the plants he keeps in his room:
	+ Leo the Blisteroot, a sweetheart who likes having "Baker of the Earth" read to him. Temperamental but a good roommate.
	+ Unnamed Echo Vine that is picky about where it stays.
	+ Cassandra the Quartz Leaf, a durable plant who can grow anywhere.
	+ Laurent the Cragclimber, a daredevil who "falls on his face more than he succeeds" and lives on the walls and ceiling beams.
* Aki would be a Norwegian Forest Cat(Maybe Siberian)
* Aki cannot transform into a cat
* Aki's father is the Wolfsegner so he is technically only half neko.

### The Listener

* A human who fell from the sky into Runika and from a place that doesn't have nekos or magic. Aki doesn't recognize where they're from when they tell him.
* Smells nice according to Aki, but Kio finds their human scent overwhelming.

### Fan Theories

* Is possibly the apothecary that supplied Jackal with Rockflower salve and crushed malroot dust.

## Audio References

A complete and updated playlist can be found here.

1. ↑ Friendly Neko Looks After You
2. ↑ Friendly Neko Looks After You -Part 2-
3. ↑ A Night Camping With A Friendly Neko
4. ↑ Friendly Neko: Winter Market