Author: Daryn Maxwell
Chapter: 01: What A Beautiful Day
Date Started: 21 Dec. 2003
Date Completed: 22 Dec. 2003
Disclaimer: Shinseiki (Neon Genesis) Evangelion and all of its characters are property of Gainax. The lyrics and chapter title are from a country song by Chris Cagle, 'What A Beautiful Day'.
A/N: Yarrr-- my first attempt at an Evangelion story, even though I haven't written in ages. Hurrah! (Or not... ::shifty eyes::) This plot is probably overdone, but I actually haven't read it in the NGE fandom so I'm going with it anyway. As a side note, I don't know how this is going to end. I've mused on a few different endings-- a couple happy, a couple tragic-- and I'm still musing. Feedback would be nice!
/ Day one, I stumbled through hello on 5th Ave /
/ Day two, we grabbed a bite to eat /
/ And talked all afternoon /
The day as nondescript as usual with the weather at about 25º C, Ikari Shinji leaned forward in his desk, eyes fixed on the small, rotating figure of a glass angel before him. From the music box came the ever-familiar melody of "Ode to Joy", almost drowned out by the chatter of the students around him. To his trained ears, however, the almost ritualistic tune was all he could hear. Beside him, Ikari Rei sat as quiet and picture-perfect as always. Shinji's younger sister by a year, it was almost impossible for anybody but her brother to elicit a reaction from her beyond a possible expressionless glance.
The two of them were a strange sight, silent and still in the busy, bustling classroom. Having been homeschooled up until high school, they both showed little interest in making friends. Despite their solitary habits, however, Shinji had managed to make a small group of close acquaintances, but Rei always kept her distance.
A sudden shuffle lured Shinji's eyes away from the music box. Horaki Hikari, a friend of his and the class representative, called out "KIRITSU!" as everybody rushed to stand at their desks. Sighing, Shinji and Rei exchanged glances before getting to their feet as the teacher walked in and went to her own desk. Smiling as always, she nodded to Hikari, who proceeded to call out "REI!" At the cue, all of the students bowed and up rose a (more or less) unanimous chorus of "Good morning, Miss Katsuragi!"
Katsuragi Misato brushed her dark hair off of her shoulder as she beamed brilliantly at her first period junior class. "Good morning, everybody. I hope you're all well-rested and wide awake, because we're going to start out today with a pop quiz."
Despite the traditional student tendency to groan at such news, not a peep was heard as everybody hurriedly pulled out papers and pencils. Everyone knew better than to complain to their youthful history teacher, who was as charming as she was beautiful, but also deadly to cross. Besides, they had a pop quiz once a week, which kept every student on their toes and prepared.
There was a knock on the door just as Misato began to write the questions on the chalkboard. She narrowed her eyes as Kaji Ryouji, the botany/health/gym teacher and Misato's infamous boyfriend, entered with his trademark smirk. "Yes? May I help you?" Misato asked politely with an icy tone and narrowed eyes-- a look that could make anyone, student or faculty alike, wither. Anyone except for Kaji, that is.
Much to her disgruntlement, Kaji laughed. "The week has just begun, and you're so tense already? I don't know how you'll get on."
"If you have nothing more important to do than waste my time, I'll have to ask you to remove yourself," Misato snapped with annoyance before regaining her composure. She hated for class to be interrupted.
Shaking his head, Kaji leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms, still wearing his infuriating smile. "Now, now, Misato-- such a temper against the man who shares your bed!" Misato flushed crimson at the sprinkle of laughter amongst her students and looked ready to hurl a chair at Kaji when he swung the door open.
Instantly, the juniors began chattering amongst themselves, and Shinji lazily lifted his head to peer at the doorway. No sooner did his eyes fall on the figure standing beside Kaji than he bolted upright in his seat, blinking. He was aware of a slight warmth in his cheeks when he forced himself to look back down at his desk, startled at his own reaction.
The gray-haired boy entered the class with a disarming smile, approaching Misato with Kaji a few steps behind him. Bowing his head briefly, he stood upright once more before turning to the entire class. For a moment, Shinji could have sworn that the unusual red eyes lingered on him before the boy spoke, his voice as smooth and clear as the sea. "Good morning. My name is Nagisa Kaworu. I'm pleased to make your acquaintances."
Misato looked surprised, but her anger had evaporated at her first glimpse of Kaworu, and at his unexpected calm courtesy, she smiled warmly at him. "Good morning, Nagisa-kun. I'm Miss Katsuragi. I welcome you to Class 2-A."
Kaji chose this moment to speak. "Nagisa-kun just transferred here from Aichi. His records are outstanding-- brilliant all-around student, a musician, very well-recommended by his teachers."
Kaworu laughed slightly at this, and Shinji felt something flutter within him at the bell-like ring. "Mr. Kaji, you're making me out to sound like some sort of genius. I'm embarrassed," he said-- and true enough, there was the faintest dash of pink spread over his cheeks.
Chuckling, Kaji patted his shoulder. "Oh, am I? Well, maybe because you are a genius." He winked. "Or maybe you're some sort of angel."
Eyeing Kaworu's slightly uncomfortable look, Misato gave Kaji a light whap with her clipboard. "You're humiliating the kid and he hasn't even been in class for a minute! Go on, get out, you lazy lump-- don't you have dirt to play with?" she scolded. At her new pupil's confused look, she winked before explaining in a low voice, "he's the botany teacher."
"Misato, I'm surprised! Since when have you extended using your bedroom voice to students?"
"GET OUT!"
Knowing his lover's temper better than anyone, Kaji fled. The young woman seethed at the door for a moment before instantly resuming her Professor-of-Perfection image as she kindly directed Kaworu to an open seat-- the desk directly to the right of "Ikari Shinji, one of the two class mutes". Keeping his eyes glued to the desk at the friendly laughter that followed, Shinji knew he was blushing again as Kaworu sat down beside him.
"Good morning," Kaworu greeted him in a low voice, causing him to jerk his head up in surprise at being addressed. With a smile worthy of melting the hardest of hearts shining down on him, Shinji found it a miracle that he could so much as open his mouth, much less respond.
"Ah-- good morning, Nagisa-kun. Welcome to 2-A," he mumbled with a small, shy smile.
"Please, call me Kaworu, Ikari-kun," Kaworu requested, crimson eyes twinkling in seemingly perpetual amusement.
Oh, God, he's actually joking around with me, Shinji thought, feeling almost faint. "I-- er. I-- okay? Then you can call me Shinji," he managed to get out, wanting to hide his face while at the same time unable to take his eyes off of Kaworu's.
"If the two of you are done courting, may we resume class?" Misato's stern voice called out, cutting through the almost surreal exchange-- surreal to Shinji, at any rate. He knew his face must be burning, and peeking over at Kaworu, he was somewhat pleased to see the pale boy blushing as well.
"Sorry, Miss Katsuragi," they both chimed in unison, ducking their heads.
Rolling her eyes, Misato finished writing up the quiz questions on the chalkboard-- but with her back to the class, she permitted herself a small smile. Perhaps it was a little cruel to tease them like that, considering it's Nagisa-kun's first day, and Shinji's always so quiet. But... She gave a small, silent chuckle. It was worth it to see them both blush so scarlet. Maybe-- is it possible?-- maybe I wasn't entirely off the mark...
Class continued on, and eventually, the bell rang for lunch. Standing, Shinji was immediately pummeled, almost falling into Kaworu in the process. Souryuu Asuka Langley glared down at him. "I can't believe you caused a scene like that, Shinji-baka! And on Nagisa-kun's first day, too! You're an embarrassment to 2-A!"
"Yeah, Shinji, what were you thinking? How dare you welcome the new student? You're awful!" chimed another, more relaxed, voice as Suzuhara Touji stepped up to the four of them, joined a moment later by his girlfriend, Hikari. Asuka glared at Touji's jibe, but before she could say a word, Kensuke was right behind her, eagerly extending a hand and a greeting to Kaworu-- always excited about new students and wondering what sort of conspiracy theories they would bring.
"It-- it's not what you're thinking! We were just saying hi!" Shinji squeaked, flustered by the sudden attention. His friends were infamous for being a bit overwhelming, but sometimes they took things a little too far-- at least, in Shinji's opinion.
Kaworu stood and dipped his head slightly in greeting to them all before favouring Shinji with another smile. "I'm sorry if my actions caused you embarrassment, Shinji-kun. That was surely not my intention," he apologized, eliciting another faint blush.
"Ah-- it's okay, they're always like this," Shinji murmured back bashfully, rubbing his neck.
Asuka dropped down into the now-empty desk in front of Kaworu, its occupant on the other side of the room by now. "Ignore him, Nagisa-kun-- Shinji can't usually get his mouth to work, especially with new students. The idiot's as timid as a mouse, and complete prey!"
"I'm not that bad!" Shinji insisted, earning a kick from the redheaded girl, which he barely dodged. Instantly, a debate arose around how violable Shinji was, and he ruefully sank into his seat, keeping his eyes firmly glued to the desk.
After a moment, he could feel eyes resting on him, and he glanced up. While Touji, Asuka, Kensuke and Hikari argued, he found Kaworu staring straight at him with a curious, almost fond, smile. He blinked twice before managing a small laugh. "Is-- is there something wrong, Kaworu-kun?"
Kaworu shook his head, still watching Shinji. "No, not at all."
It was then that Shinji noticed Kaworu's empty desk. He blinked, peering curiously at the silver-haired youth. "Don't you have a lunch...?" he asked, some concern in his voice.
Shaking his head again, Kaworu absently brushed some hair out of his eyes. "I don't usually eat lunch," he explained. "Food doesn't always settle well with me."
"Me, neither," Shinji admitted, gesturing to his own empty desk. He hesitated before continuing. "... Have you been around the school yet?" When Kaworu shook his head, he paused again. "Would... you like to be shown around? I mean-- since neither of us eat, and all..."
Seeming to light up, Kaworu got to his feet, his smile extending from ear to ear. "I would be honoured and delighted if you would," he accepted gratefully.
"Great!" Getting out of his own seat, Shinji glanced guiltily down at Rei, who was slowly, meticulously eating her own meal. As if sensing his uncertainty, she looked up at him and gave a small smile.
"Don't be late coming back," she cautioned.
Grinning, Shinji nodded. "We'll be back before lunch is over." Turning to Kaworu, he nodded once more before heading to the door, the new pupil a step behind him.
Asuka paused mid-sentence as she watched the two leave. Eyes narrowing, she glared at Touji. "You idiot! You made me miss what they were talking about!"
"ME? Who started the fight?!"
"You, of course! You always do, you blockhead!"
"Asuka, Touji, please!" Hikari cried, wincing as they continued to yell over her. Sitting off to the side, Kensuke had stepped out of the argument when the quarrel began to show signs of a brawl. He alone watched the door shut behind Shinji and Kaworu, a thoughtful expression resting upon his countenance. Brushing his thoughts away to analyze later, he unwrapped his sandwich and began to eat.