Pilots of the Past:
This is an alternate reality GEHIRN era, so Misato recovered a bit faster from Second Impact and was able to go to high school. In this reality she met Ritsuko and Kaji in high school not college.
Stage 1: Testing Idioticracy
Tokyo-2: 2002:
An Eternal Summer was what Tokyo-2 had endured causing the March air to be over eighty degrees. The sun was shining brightly over Tokyo-2 High School as one Misato Katsuragi was stirring outside the window. The second year girl was daydreaming again and not focusing on her classwork. The purple haired teen jumped a bit when an instant message appeared on her laptop screen.
Incoming message from: KingKajigmaildotcomdotjp:
Yo Katsuragi pay attention quit daydreaming
Misato looked over her shoulder and across the room at her classmate Ryoji Kaji. He was of average build, had his black hair in a ponytail, and was wearing a smug look on his face. Misato scowled at him and sent him a message back.
Incoming message from: Misa-chan86gmaildotcomdotjp:
Mind your businesses Kaji its not like the old man is teaching us anything important!
KingKajigmaildotcomdotjp:
Relax will ya? You don't want sensei calling calling home do you?
Misa-chan86gmaildotcomdotjp:
What's he gonna tell Yui? I wasn't paying attention because he's teaching us a load of bull?
KingKajigmaildotcomdotjp:
You know no one can know the truth about SI.
Misa-chan86gmaildotcomdotjp:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know
With that Misato was done taking and just listened to her sensei talk until the bell. When she got up she smacked Kaji upside the head and continued walking. Kaji got up and followed Misato to the cafeteria.
"What was that for?" he asked his purple haired friend.
She looked at him and responded "For being you."
"That's not a good enough answer."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not."
The two kept going back and forth until they reached their usual lunch table. There they were met by their friend third year, Ritsuko Akagi. The brown haired girl watched on as her two friends argued and then asked "What are you fighting about this time?"
The two looked at Ritsuko and Kaji answered first. "She hit me upside the head."
Rolling her eyes, Ritsuko directed her next question to Misato. "Why do you provoke him?"
"He had it coming. The smug worm needs to learn how to mind his own business." Misato said bluntly.
Sighing Ritsuko knew that Misato had only ignited the flame known as Kaji.
"Hey I was trying to help you!" the boy yelled.
"Ha, like I need help." Misato snorted.
"In chemistry and home economics you do." Ritsuko cut in.
"Who asked you?" Misato growled.
Ritsuko laughed "No one, but I was trying to get off the matter." She then took on a serious tone and said "Anyway, don't forget we have testing afterschool."
"Ugh!" both Kaji and Misato groaned. "Why do we have to go?" they both said in unison. They looked at each other and yelled "Hey! Quit doing that!"
Misato stuck her tongue out at Ryoji and he did the same to her.
'For once I would like to have a normal lunch without those two fighting.' Ritsuko thought to herself. 'Geez, they fight like a married couple.'
After lunch the trio went to their classes and went on with the rest of their day. Afterschool they all met up and walked to the GeoFront. Once there, the teens were met by Yui Ikari.
"Hello Misato, Ryoji, Ritsuko, how was school?" asked Yui with a warm smile.
Misato and Kaji put their heads down in embarrassment and Ritsuko decided to speak up for them "Hello Mrs. Ikari, school was fine until Misato blew up our home economics project and Kaji was caught peeping in the girls' bathroom, again."
"Sellout." Misato whispered in her friend's ear.
Yui sighed and bluntly said "So it was a usual day."
The trio nodded and then followed Yui down into the GEHIRN base. Once down deep enough, Yui explained why they were there.
"Okay, today were going to do a neural test outside of the experimental entry plugs, go get changed and meet me in Central Dogma."
The trio nodded and went into their respected locker rooms.
After words once Ritsuko and Misato finished changing they walked over to the elevator.
"Hey Rits, you want to go to a party on Friday?" Misato asked while wearing her red with purple trim plug suit.
"You mean that second year party your friend is having? I-I don't know." Ritsuko ponder in her white with sky blue trim plug suit.
Misato pleaded with her brown haired friend. "Aw, come on! There'll be cute second year boys…"
"Like me." Kaji butted in seemingly coming out of nowhere. He was now walking next to Misato in his blue plug suit.
Misato scoffed at this statement. "Ha, please, but yeah everyone will be there." The three went inside the elevator and was riding it up to Central Dogma. "You have to come it won't be any fun without you." Misato gave her friend the best puppy dog eyes she could muster up.
Ritsuko sighed knowing full well she was going to cave in. "Fine I'll go. I just hate when you pull out the puppy dog eyes."
Misato smiled with deep satisfaction and said "You know no one can resist my charm."
"Trust me, I know Misato, I know." Kaji chimed in smoothly.
In response, Misato kicked him where the sun don't shine and yelled "Ass!"
Ritsuko looked as Kaji hit the ground doubled over in pain. "Misato, what the hell was that for! He was agreeing with you!"
"Yeah, but he was being a smug bastard." Misato bluntly stated as the elevator door opened up on their floor. She walked out and Ritsuko followed, Kaji on the other hand was slowly regaining the feeling in his lower region.
Yui and her partner Naoko Akagi looked at the teens.
"Should I even ask?" question Naoko. She was Ritsuko's mother and spearheading Project E. Ritsuko was clearly her spitting image.
With a sly smile Misato responded "Probably not." She looked on a Kaji slowly walked in and stood far away from her as possible.
"It amazes me that you managed to get those two to live together." Naoko said as she stirred on at the trio.
"And in the same room." Yui chimed in happily.
The older brown haired women looked at her friend and inwardly thought 'She see the benefit of a doubt in everybody, must be how she puts up with Gendo'. She broke out of thought and firmly said "Now let's move on. All three of you put on your A-10 interfaces and head to the testing chamber."
The teens complied, grabbed their interfaces and headed for the test chamber.
"How do you put up with her?" Misato whispered to Ritsuko.
The natural brunette rolled her eyes. "The same way you put up with Kaji, I just tune her out and get on with my life."
This received a laugh from both girls while Kaji looked on. 'Chicks,'
Once at the test chamber the testing went smoothly but was a bit time consuming. They all had to sit in chairs that resembled cockpits while data was being monitored by their interface equipment. Then their brainwaves were tested as they reacted to different simulations.
When it was over, and the three were back in their school uniforms they went to back to Central Dogma. There Yui told them how they did.
"You all seem to be doing well so far. My only concern is that Ryoji your heart rate was going at an accelerated pace during the testing."
Kaji felt a bit embarrassed at the comment but shook it off quickly. Yui notice and reassured the boy. "Don't worry, its probably a teen thing." She smiled at him. "Now why don't you all go home, you're done for the day."
Misato smiled widely and yelled "Yes! Who wants to hit the arcade?" she was about to run out the door but she halted when Yui said something. "Hold it Misato! You know you have homework to do and have to put Shinji to bed. Tomorrow you can go to the arcade afterschool."
Misato sighed and said "Fine, we'll see you at home." She grabbed Kaji and walked out with him. Ritsuko bowed and said "Good night Mrs. Ikari and could you tell my mother I'll see her at home?" soon the teen quickly ran out after her friends.
Yui smiled and thought 'same old, same old.' She began looking over the test results for today.
The sun was setting on Tokyo-2 as the three friends walked home. Soon Ritsuko parted ways with Misato and Kaji and went home. The other two soon arrived home themselves and was greeted by a nanny hired to watch after Shinji during the day.
"Hello children," said the nanny. "Shinji is in the living room. I'll see you tomorrow." With that the elderly women left the two teens with the toddler.
Misato put down her bag and walked behind Shinji. She put her hands and his eyes and asked "Guess who?"
"Misato!" the boy yelled excitedly.
She laughed and scooped Shinji up in her arms. "You get a prize kiddo, one free hug." After that Kaji walked over and rubbed Shinji's head. "What's up little man?"
"Kaji!" Shinji yelled.
Shinji was Yui and Gendo's two year old son, he had beautiful blue eyes and brown hair just like his parents. He was so adorable that Misato and Kaji couldn't resist playing with him when they get home. The teens sat on the couch with Shinji and started their homework.
"What you doing?" Shinji curiously asked.
Misato looked up at him and responded "Homework,"
"I wanna play."
Kaji laughed "No Shinji, homework is not a game, its something we have to do when we get older."
"Can we play later?" he asked disappointedly.
Kaji looked and the clock and responded "Sorry Shinji, soon you're going to have to go to bed, maybe tomorrow."
"Okay." The toddler said cheered up a bit as his 'brother' and 'sister' can play with him later.
Soon the teens were finished with their homework and the rest of the night went on as usual. Kaji made dinner because Misato can't cook for her life, then Misato washed up Shinji and put him to bed. Later that night she and Kaji were getting ready for bed themselves. Kaji was wearing a black tank top with blue sweatpants and laying on his futon reading a magazine. Misato slid the traditional sliding door open and walked into the room. She was wearing a yellow tank top and blue shorts. She went over to Shinji's bed and looked at him to make sure was nothing was wrong. She smiled and went over to her own futon next to Kaji's.
"Hey are you okay?" Misato asked softly so she wouldn't wake Shinji.
Kaji looked up from his magazine. "Yes I am why do you ask?"
She shrugged and said "Well Yui said you heart rate was a bit high during the testing that's all."
"It was nothing I just had a lot on my mind."
"Sure." She wanted to ask more but it was already really late and they had school tomorrow. Misato laid down and went to sleep, Kaji took the hint and did the same.
"Good night Misato."
"Good night Ryoji."
A/N: Start off of my newest story (really short chapter) hope you enjoyed. Now before I go any farther in writing this there are a few things I want to address.
1. This story and my other two stories won't be abbandon, I just need time to write out each chapter.
2. For this story I'll be combining both the original anime/manga and the Dark Horse spinoff manga 'Shinji Ikari Rising Project'
3. Chapter 2: Stage 2: Just Another Day should be up by 1/9/11 - 1/15/11