All characters and concepts are the property of their respective creators. No copyright infringement is intended, or profit made from this work of fiction.

'Good morning, everyone.'

Asuka looked round as Ms Katsurugi entered the classroom and there was a scrape of chairs as everyone settled into their seats.

'Now, before I take attendance, I have an announcement to make. We have a new transfer student joining our class from today. Rei. Come in, please.'

Asuka looked round with the rest of the class as a pale-skinned girl with pale blue hair and red eyes entered the room and stood next to Ms Katsurugi.

'Everyone, this is Rei Ayanami...'

Rei took a deep breath as she heard Ms Katsurugi say her name, stepping into the classroom.

'Everyone, this is Rei Ayanami. I hope you'll all make her feel welcome. Now, we've only got a few minutes before first period. Rei, please take the seat behind Asuka...'

Rei followed her gaze to where a red-haired girl with a tight-lipped expression was sitting and nodded.

'Yes, Ms Katsurugi,' she said, crossing the room and sitting down at her desk, as Asuka turned towards her.

'Hi. I'm Asuka Langley Sohryu. We should be friends...'

'Why?' Rei asked and Asuka grinned.

'Because we're sitting together. It would be...convenient...'

'No,' Rei said, folding her hands on the desk as Ms Katsurgi started to take the register and Asuka frowned.

What the hell is her problem...?

#####################

Asuka dropped into her seat, pulling out her textbooks with a sigh.

Maths first thing on Monday should be illegal...

She glanced over her shoulder at Rei, but she was already sitting at her desk with her head bent over her text book.

'Alright,' Mr Takamura said as he stood up and moved to the blackboard, the class falling silent. 'Let's get started. Today, we'll be working on volume in three dimensions. Mr Ikari, what is the formula used to calculate the volume of a 3-dimensional shape?'

Shinji stood up, hesitating before he answered.

'Uh...you multiply the length by the width by the height...?'

'Correct.' He said and Shinji sat down, breathing a sigh of relief.

'Now, Mr Senzo, what is the volume of this cylinder?' He asked, tapping his chalk against the shape drawn on the blackboard.

'Forty two, sir.'

'Correct. Ms Sohryu, what is the volume of this cone?'

Asuka came to her feet, licking her lips nervously.

'Uhh...13?'

'No. Ms Ayanami, do you know the correct answer?'

'18, sir.'

'Correct. Now, I want you all to open your books to page 25 and complete the exercises...'

#####################

'Are you busy?' Ms Katsurugi asked, leaning against the door.

'If I said yes, would that stop you from disturbing me?' Dr Akagi replied, without looking up from her computer.

'Probably not,' Misato admitted, with a grin. 'I just wanted to talk to you about Rei...'

'Your prodigy? Her physical's are fine, but I imagine that's not what you're concerned about...'

'No. Her grades are excellent, but I'm worried about how insular she is...'

'You wanted her and you must have seen some potential in her. She's your responsibility, now...'

'Not quite the encouragement I wanted, but I guess you're right. It's too late to go back. Thanks, Ritsuko...'

'You're welcome. Now, I've got a lot of work to do...'

'Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later...'

#####################

'On August 6th, 1945, the United Stated dropped an Atomic Bomb on the city of Hiroshima. And, three days later on August 9th, another device was dropped on the city of Nagasaki.' Mr Dokuro said, pushing his glasses further up onto his nose. ' All told, approximately 129,000 people were killed and forced Japan to surrender, effectively ending the Pacific War. With that in mind, what effect have these events had on the future of Japan?' He asked and Asuka rose from her seat.

'Yes, Ms Sohryu?'

'It crippled us. The United States murdered thousands of Japanese civilians and imposed sanctions that destroyed our national pride. Even now, we're not allowed to declare war or take military action beyond our own soil, even when there are threats to our people. Meanwhile, America keeps acting like they can do anything they want.'

'Thank you, Ms Sohryu. Does anyone else have something they want to add? Ms Ayanami?'

Rei hesitated for a second before standing up with her hands folded in front of her.

'Ms Ayanami?' Mr Dokuro repeated and Rei took a deep breath.

'I...have no opinion about it...'

'I see. Would you care to explain that?'

It...happened before I was born. Whatever it may mean, there is nothing I can do about...'

'How can you say that?' Asuka snapped. 'We're talking about the future of our country. How can you not care about that?'

'It has already happened. Whether I care or not, there is nothing that I can do to change it...'

'What?!' Asuka snapped, just as Mr Dokuro intervened.

'Thank you, Ms Sohryu, Ms Ayanami. You can both take your seats. Now, we'll look at the events that followed the end of the war and how these influenced Japanese foreign policy...'

#####################

Asuka sat down on the wall next to Shinji, unwrapping her bento and snatching up her chopsticks, grabbing a piece of sushi and shoving it into her mouth. Glancing up, she saw Rei sitting underneath a tree, her legs folded under her and a book open in front of her.

So, she's a bookworm. That figures...

'What do you think of Rei?' Toji asked, nudging Shinji in the side. 'She's pretty cute, right?'

'I guess so...'

'Come on. You've got eyes, haven't you?'

'Who cares?' Asuka snapped, rounding on him. 'Do you have to keep going on about her?'

'What's the matter? You jealous...ow!' Toji cried, as Asuka's fist struck him on the back of the head. 'What was that for?'

'I've had enough of talking about Wonder Girl...' Asuka muttered, standing up and stalking away with her hands balled into fists.

Dammit...

#####################

Asuka pulled her gym shirt over her head, turning to glance at Rei who was sitting on the bench with her hands folded in her lap.

'You think you're so smart, don't you, Wonder Girl?' She began, just as Ms Katsurugi poked her head into the locker room.

'Come on, girls. Let's get a move on. I want everyone to start their warm-ups...'She said and Rei stood up, following the others into the gym, Asuka scowling after her.

Someone needs to put her in her place...

She's like some damn doll...

Asuka thought, as she worked through her warm-up, reaching down to press her palms to the floor, feeling the slight burn in the back of her legs. Across the gym, Rei had hooked her feet under the lowest of the wall bars and was doing sit-ups.

Look at her. She's not even sweating...

'Alright, girls,' Ms Katsurugi said, moving to the centre of the gym with a ball tucked under her arm. 'Today, we're playing volleyball. Fumiki, Kana, Rei, Shiho and Isuzu, over here. Hiroko, Matsuki, Asuka, Mari and Mineko, over this side. First team to score five points wins. Let's go.'

She tossed the ball towards Asuka and she caught it in both hands as Ms Katsurugi blew her whistle. Asuka leapt, slapping the ball with her hand, sending it speeding towards Rei. She smirked as the ball struck her on the leg and made her stumble. As Rei picked herself up, Shiho recovered the ball and sent it back, Mari intercepting the shot and flicking it back over the net, scoring their first point. Kana fielded the ball and launched a fast shot that Asuka intercepted, deliberately knocking it in Rei's direction. She tried to send it back over the net, but the shot went wide, rolling out of the court.

'Get it back, Wonder Girl!' Asuka yelled and Rei walked to the edge of the court, picking up the ball in both hands and walking back.

'Serve it!' Asuka shouted and Rei hefted the ball in both hands, throwing it as hard as she could. However, the ball struck the net and bounced back, Asuka grinning.

'Nice going, Wonder Girl!' She crowed as Fumiki grabbed the ball and served, sending it towards Mari, who returned it with enough force that it caught the defenders off guard and Asuka cheered just as Ms Katsurugi blew her whistle again.

'Good shot, Mari. That's how it's done!'

'Alright, girls. That's it.' Ms Katsurugi said. 'Everyone go and get changed.'

'Good game, Wonder Girl,' Asuka whispered, as she passed her and headed for the locker room.

Rei kept her eyes straight ahead, ignoring the stares and whispers as she headed for the showers, shutting the curtain behind her. Turning on the shower, she stripped out of her gym uniform and stepped under the hot water. She washed slowly, listening as the locker room emptied until the last set of footsteps had faded away. Only then did she shut off the water and step out, grabbing a towel and starting to dry herself off as she crossed to her locker. Draping the towel over her shoulders, she retrieved her uniform and started to dress. She was just putting on her shoes when there was a knock on the locker room door.

'Rei? Are you alright in there?'

'Yes, Ms Katsurugi. I'll be out in a minute...'

'I'm not checking up on you,' Ms Katsurugi said, poking her head around the door. 'I just wanted to see how your first day was?'

'...it was fine. Thank you...'

'...okay. Well, if you ever need anything, come and speak to me...'

'...thank you, Ms Katsurugi...'

'I'm home,' Asuka called, slamming the door shut and kicking off her shoes.

'Hello, Asuka,' her Mother called from the kitchen. 'How was your day?'

'Fine,' Asuka muttered as she stomped into the kitchen and sat down at the table, pulling out her phone, her fingers clicking over the keys as she started texting.

'Good. I'll be working late tomorrow, so there's Miso and Saba Shioyaki in the fridge for you...'

'But, you were going to take me shopping, tomorrow...'

'This is important, Asuka. I'll take you shopping on the weekend. Now, go and get changed. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes...'

Asuka stared at her for a second before pushing back her chair and stomping upstairs, throwing herself down onto the bed.

Her work's always important. More important than me...

Rei closed the door of her apartment behind her, flipping on the light switch as she made her way to the kitchen. Leaving her bag on the table, she opened the fridge and took out a bento box, carrying it back to the table. Grabbing a book from her bag, she picked up her chopsticks and started to eat with only the ticking off the clock for company.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any comments, reviews or constructive criticisms very welcome.