This chapter is set parallel NME chapter 30, starting the pilots' ride back from the synch-test.

Kensuke sat on the leather couch in the dimly lit living room of his family's house and was completely oblivious to the sounds of the cheap drive-thru movie currently blanketing the room in a warm sepia glow. Normally, he would be enraptured by the thrilling adventures of Zap Gordon and the Space Pirates but then normally, he was alone. Currently, he was joined by the cheerful Mana Kirishima and the enigmatic Kaworu Nagisa, the latter of which was currently kissing him. Kensuke flushed and did his best to kiss the gray-haired pilot back, thinking for a moment about how he had gotten here. It had started a couple of hours earlier after he had been caught at the arcade…up.

A large, very angry man was hauling Kensuke by the scruff of the boy's shirt through the back entrance. "We warned you before, buddy – you cheat, you get banned," the man threatened as he shoved the schoolboy into the alley behind the store.

Kensuke was indignant. "I wasn't cheating! I was using an exploit that's built in. Don't blame me if the game creators were too lazy to test their own product."

The man was having none of it. "Save it, kid! I don't want to see you around here again and before you say anything – no, I don't care who your friend is the son of."

Kensuke was mortified. "But I come here all the time! Can't you give me another chance?"

The man stood up to his full height, towering over the boy. "You're just lucky I don't teach you a lesson for trying to steal from me! Back in my day they would have needed to carry you away in a wheelbarrow after such an incident!"

Kensuke's face whitened. "Please! Don't! Just let me go, I..."

His pleas were interrupted by a set of voices. "Kensuke, is that you?" one asked. Kensuke turned to see two of his classmates, Mana Kirishima and the new pilot, Kaworu Nagisa, looking down the alley.

Seeing a opportunity, Kensuke backed away from the man in front of him and towards them. "There you are, guys! Been looking all over for you. You two back from NERV already?" The two looked slightly confused but to Kensuke's great relief did not say anything. The boy addressed the arcade employee again. "These are my friends from NERV. This guy..." He pointed to Kaworu. "...is a pilot. I meant to leave earlier to meet up with them."

The owner sighed. He wanted no trouble with NERV, especially with all the pull they had recently acquired after all those monster fights. "Alright, just don't let me catching you doing it again, kid."

Kensuke smiled and led the two away. "Don't worry, you won't."

When they were half a block away, Mana asked him, "Who was that man, Kensuke?" Her usual cheerful tone now sounded subdued.

"There is a nice burger place near here," Kaworu answered her. "I will explain all about it there."

The two just followed the boy, their own plans for a tour now hijacked. At the restaurant, Kensuke outlined the situation over an order of fries. Kaworu looked at him curiously as he idly dipped a salted fry into some ketchup.

"If you knew the owner might get angry why did you attempt it?" he asked.

Kensuke sighed. "They have a mint condition Zap Gordon ray gun in the showcase. I have been saving up tickets for a while now but the guy is asking for so much. I guess I just wanted to skip the wait." Kensuke was dejected "Now I will never get it."

Kaworu smiled at Kensuke which brought a curious warmth to his cheeks. "We can talk to after he has calmed down. I am sure we can get you back in his good graces then. People can be very forgiving when they want to be."

"Zap Gordon?" Mana asked "You mean like those old science fiction movies?"

Kensuke perked up "You know him?" Very few people he knew shared his interests so he relished the chance to talk about them with others.

Mana nodded "My... err... uncle is a fan of them. He showed some of them to me." She smiled. "They are pretty cheesy but fun."

Kaworu looked interested "These are movies, I presume?"

Kensuke smiled wide. "Only the best sci-fi adventure serials of the sixties! Zap Gordon and the Robots Tomb is one of humanity's finest works." Kensuke was only half sarcastic

That made Kaworu perk up. "If that's the case, I will need to see these movies for myself."

Mana looked at the two. "I have only seen a couple. There are a lot right?"

Kensuke beamed with pride. "Nine, in fact. I have them all at home, if you wanna watch sometime?"

Kensuke was unsure why he was so eager, but perhaps he was just lonely. These days, Touji always seemed to be busy with EVA stuff, and when he wasn't, he was spending more and more time with Hikari. Not that Kensuke could blame him – Hikari was a nice girl and he knew he would probably do the same if a girl showed interest in him... or a boy for that matter, as Kensuke was slowly getting used to. Still, sometimes he just wished he had someone to play video games, hang out and watch old movies with. Maybe he saw an opportunity for that with these two.

Kaworu smiled "I would love to." He turned to Mana "Would you like to indulge with us?"

Mana nodded, her cheerful complexion shining like a beacon. "Sounds great! When were you thinking?"

Kensuke scratched the back of his head "Well, actually, I was planning on spending the afternoon at the arcade but now... It seems I'm all free so if you'd like I can show them to you today."

Mana seemed concerned. "You sure that would be okay? I don't want to intrude. Would your parents be okay with last minute visitors?"

Kensuke waved a hand. "It's okay. My dad usually works really late at the office and besides, he's always encouraging me to meet new people."

Mana and Kawrou looked at each other and then to Kensuke. The gray-haired boy spoke first. "If Mana would like to, I would be interested in seeing these films. We can always tour the city another day."

Mana nodded. "I'd like that a lot, it's good to enjoy things while you can."

Thus, after the three finished the plate of fries, they left and took a train to one of the richer neighbourhoods of Tokyo-3. On the way, the conversation shifted towards Kaworu's position as a pilot. It was a topic both Mana and Kensuke seemed to be able to inquire about endlessly. Unfortunately, for every straight answer Kaworu gave, he also gave three meandering, mysterious replies, sounding enigmatic and mystical in the process. Kensuke would have been more frustrated by Kaworu's lack of straightforwardness if it weren't for the boy's light, serene attitude. Somehow, it seemed to put Kensuke at ease.

Eventually, they arrived at Kensuke's place. His family owned a tall well-kept house in a well-off area. A thick fence separated the walkway from the yard.

Mana looked amazed. "This is a nice place, Kensuke."

Kensuke felt a little awkward "Yeah, my dad is an important guy." At least that's what he always tells me. His father wasn't a bad guy, he was just always busy with work. More often than not he would come home late at night and head to bed without a word.

Kensuke showed them inside. He let them admire the place a bit before showing them his pride and joy - a glass cabinet In the living room that contained his prized model collection. Various tanks ships and airplanes from all over the world and period had been delicately painted and posed on the shelfs. The two seemed quite impressed. Mana seemed surprisingly knowledgeable about the types of military hardware, while Kaworu, on the other hand, enjoyed them from an aesthetic perspective, admiring the subtle paint work Kensuke had done.

After some internal debate on which movie was the best to start with. Kensuke made some popcorn, got some drinks and put on 'Zap Gordon and the Laser Racers'. The title crawl had just started when all three sat down on the couch in front of the TV. Kensuke realized now how small that furniture was. This had never been a problem when it was just Kensuke and Touji using it for their video game sessions, but now, with three people on it, there really was little space between them. Neither Kaworu nor Mana seemed to mind, though. They sat around Kensuke and looked intently at the screen. The bespectacled boy flushed a bit, being thoroughly unused to this level of closeness.

Both Kaworu and Mana seemed to enjoy the adventure movie quite a bit. By the end they were basically on the edge of their seats, watching intensely as Zap fought the space gangster Zodo Plat, laser foil in hand. The movie was not long; barely an hour had passed when it finished. Thus, Kensuke simply put the next one on. This one featured Zap exploring a harsh desert planet or at least a back lot of a Californian desert. Gallantly, Zap rescued the princess Sharnia from the clutches of the evil lord Caliban. Kensuke blushed as he realized what was coming now. As soon as they were free from the dark space fortress and back on Zap's ship, Zap and Sharnia embraced as lovers in all the glory of sixties celluloid. Kensuke looked over at Mana who looked… pink to say the least.

"Wow..." The girl was flushed "What a kiss."

Kaworu spoke up, curiosity in his voice, but also something else, something Kensuke could not explain. "Would you like me to kiss you like that, Mana?"

Kensuke jaw dropped. Was he insane? Who just asks a girl that? Kaworu seemed like a nice guy but there was no way Mana would ever...

"I… err, okay… I mean if you want, Kaworu." Mana was blushing heavily.

Kensuke was even more shocked now, and a little disappointed. When he had run into them earlier had that been a date? Kensuke felt like a third wheel now. Well, there goes movie time, he thought as Kaworu moved in front of Mana, leaning down and knocking over an empty can of soda.

"Close your eyes and lean in," Kaworu said softly. A pale hand brushed her face. Mana did so and the two kissed. It was not an old lover's kiss or one of deep longing; it was a soft, gentle thing full of life and hope. Kensuke felt guilty watching them but could not turn away. Mana seemed to shudder beneath the touch, kissing back eagerly. After what seemed like an eternity to Kensuke the two broke off the kiss and looked at each other.

"That was..." Mana trailed off seemingly out of breath, "wonderful, Kaworu."

Kaworu, for his part, seemed to be just as happy, his pale cheeks flushed. "It was lovely for me as well." As if sensing Kensuke's gaze, he turned to the boy "I am sorry for interrupting the movie, Kensuke. If you want we can continue."

"Oh no, it's okay." Kensuke forced a laugh, unsure how to respond. "I see you two are having fun."

Kaworu looked at the boy and gave an odd smile "I am sorry, I was rude not to offer. Would you like a kiss as well?"

Kensuke froze. Mentally he prepared a dozen ways to say no as politely as possible. He would be lying if he said he was not interested, but surely Kaworu was joking and even if the grey-haired boy wasn't, he could not imagine how Mana would react. Mouth agape he glanced over at Mana. He expected a furious look, but instead, she was smiling. More than anything else, she seemed to be intrigued by the prospect.

"I… I… I… ah… sure," Kensuke squeaked

Kensuke watched with anticipation as Kaworu returned to his seat beside him. All thoughts of space pirates and laser guns were thrown from his mind. His heart began to race as the pale haired boy inched closer and closer until they were centimetres apart. He could feel a twisting knot in his stomach as he felt Kaworu's breath on his cheek.

"Oh no, Lord Caliban sent his killborgs after us. Zap, what are we gonna do?" the TV continued to play unbidden.

Unsure what to do, Kensuke took the initiative. His mouth darted forwards and met Kaworu's. It tasted like Fresca and salted popcorn. Kensuke felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest as he sensed a hand running through his hair. After what felt like far too soon Kaworu broke the kiss. Kensuke was going to ask why when he looked up to see there was someone waiting. Mana was standing behind him red as a beet.

Almost in a whisper, the girl spoke up. "My turn next?" She seemed excited, but nervous. "You know, those glasses made you look pretty cute."

Kensuke smiled. He had not planned for his day to go this way, but he was certainly not complaining. "Let's pause the movie first. Zap can wait."