Asuka trudged into the apartment, having just gotten back from her thoroughly unsatisfying date.
'I'm going to have to talk to Hikari about that' her vengeful thoughts were interrupted by a blissful sound flowing through the apartment. Moving towards the source of the sound, she was surprised by what she saw. Shinji, grasping a cello in both hands and playing the most beautiful music Asuka had ever heard. She stood for a while and listened, watching his body rock with every moment, a look of calm on his face. She couldn't help but think that she had hears the song he was playing somewhere before, but payed no mind. Instead she recalled a quote she had read in some dusty, old magazine in a dentist's office. The music ended just as Asuka remembered, so she decided to verbalise her thoughts.
Moving slowly towards Shinji she spoke.
"The sad slow cry of the cello arose in the air,
And the cry of a thousand lost lovers was there.
The darkness consumed the low and steady sound.
As the lovers continued searching for the love that
Would never be found."
Shinji tensed slightly, previously unaware of Asuka's presence, when he heard her speak however, his body relaxed and he let the words sink in, his mind absorbing the whole meaning.
"Asuka? What was that about?" Shinji's nervous word's broke the previous calm of the apartment.
"I read it in a magazine somewhere, part of a poem I think. It seemed fitting" Asuka's calm smile seemed to relax Shinji, he hadn't seen her that calm before, but he liked it.
"Anyway, I didn't know you played the cello"
"yeah, I've been doing it since I was young, but this is all I can do" Asuka sighed, of course he would put himself down.
"Still, that's more than what I can do, you should be proud of yourself" It wasn't like Asuka to give out compliments, but given the emotion that Shinji poured out while playing, she felt he deserved it.
"Thank you, I would have thought that you would have played some sort of musical instrument though" Shinji stood as he packed up his cello.
"Oh, I do. The violin, but it's so shrill that when I had the chance to stop, I did. Also, what was the name of the song you were playing?" Asuka took a seat as she watched Shinji pack up his cello.
"Bach's cello suite no. 1: prelude" Shinji folded the sheet music and tucked it into the cello case, before clicking the case shut.
"I knew I had heard it somewhere before, isn't that supposed to be a really advanced piece though?" At this point, Asuka was working on what little she could remember her music teacher saying.
"I don't really know, I liked the way it sounded, so I chose it." Asuka sighed again, she knew it was a difficult piece, but maybe Shinji really didn't know.
"Oh well, I'm gonna go get changed" Asuka stood up and left the room while Shinji stared at his cello case.
Shinji sat, listening to his SDAT, and waiting for Asuka to return, his mind drifted.
'What did Asuka mean by lovers? Was she talking about us? No, that's not possible; she said it was from a poem, it was probably talking about someone else. Although, she could have omitted that part and it still would have made sense. Maybe she really does like me. Oh well, I guess I'll either never find out, or find out soon'
Shinji had been lost in his thoughts, because Asuka had already gotten changed and sat back down at the table. She asked a simple question, but one that reverberated throughout his entire being, making the answer to his questions known.
"Hey Shinji, wanna kiss?"