Misato herself invited them to her apartment: Toji, Kensuke, Hikari, and Rei. Toji and Kensuke were the most affected ones since they never thought that a lame boy like Shinji would be the first one to have a girlfriend. Hikari was shocked too. And Rei, being her usual self, kept quiet in the table.
"Well, I think they're still both shocked about it too. You know, they've kept it a secret from me, their guardian." Misato opened another bottle of beer and drank. "Ha ha! I've caught them one night you know." Misato grinned.
"Wh-what?! They smooched?!" Toji exclaimed. "Oh, poor Shinji!"
"Shut up, you moron." Hikari defended her friend.
"Well, kids today are really are aggressive. So, why don't we drink to that?" Misato clearly was out of her mind. She had taken down five bottles before the others came and another ten while they were talking.
Meanwhile, inside Shinji's room, both the teens were perspiring because they couldn't think of a solution to their problem. They didn't want to go out there. They might explode due to embarrassment.
"Shinji! Take responsibility! You're the man here, right?!" Asuka said, walking across the room for the hundredth time.
"Take responsibilty?!" Shinji retorted who sat on his bed, tapping his fingers on his thigh. "It's our fault you know, Asuka. We should solve this together.And besides, you agreed on it."
"I didn't! If you hadn't said that we're in love, then -"
"Then what?" Shinji questioned. "What do you think will Misato say? Do you think she'll still let you pilot the Eva? I don't think so. What about your pride? What would everyone say if they knew you kissed someone for no reason? That you kissed me?!"
"Oh no, baka!" The red-head stomped her foot in disagreement. "You kissed me!"
"Because you said I was gay which is not true!" Shinji said, slightly raising his voice.
"So you kissed me and that's a proof!? If I should know, you're just a weak boy who wanted attention!"
"No I'm not!" Shinji stood up from his seat, a little enraged. "Asuka, please, let's not fight right now. Everybody's waiting for us."
"Then what do you want me to do?!" Asuka shouted.
"Can't we just pretend? I mean, we only have to pretend in front of them. But not in school. The school shouldn't know about this. Only Misato and the others. It's an easy thing to do since Misato's not always around and we are not always present at school because of the angels."
"Eh?" Asuka said as if she didn't comprehend the plan. "Me and you?! Pretend?!"
"Do you have anything else in mind, Asuka?" Shinji asked. Asuka on the other hand, who was having a hard time thinking, shrugged. She always had battle plans but this was different. It's a matter of dignity - HER dignity as a popular girl in school and a recognized Eva pilot. "Then let's prepare ourselves, Asuka." Shinji wiped the sweat that was the product of his critical thinking about the matter.
"Shinji," Asuka said, sighing.
"What is it?" Shinji said with a smile.
"You're the stupidest stupid person I've ever known!"
"I know," Shinji sighed and headed to the door. "Let's go, Asuka."
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"Hahahaha!" Toji and Kensuke laughed irrepressibly as Shinji and Asuka joined them in the living room of Misato's apartment. The two on the other hand were red as tomato.
"Hey, you two, stop it!" Hikari interrupted Toji and Kensuke just as she did in class. Then she turned to Shinji and Asuka who both sat quietly with their heads bowed down due to embarrasment. "Well, so how did it started, Asuka? Shinji?" Hikari was so excited to ask.
"H-how?" The two answered in chorus, not quite sure how it started or if it ever did. Of course, they wouldn't want to say to them that it all started just a day before and that it was all out of a bottle of beer and some teasing stuff. The whole "love each other" thing would be a big laugh for them if they knew.
The two eyed each other, as if waiting for an answer. Asuka didn't want to say they hooked up and thought that Shinji should do the talking. But Shinji had the same sentiments.
"Well?" Shinji's nosy friends were finally done with their laughing.
"It doesn't matter, you guys." Shinji answered at last with a big sort of embarrased smile, his face still red. It was too much. He didn't thought it would be this hard to say something that's not true. He was now hoping that he would just drop dead or if Asuka would like, she could drop dead with him. But he figured Asuka wouldn't like to die like that so he spoke.
"Oh, please tell us!" Kensuke insisted.
"Well, if you really want to know the truth then -" Shinji's words were cut off when suddenly Asuka hit him hard which made him curl in pain.
"Since Shinji currently in a haze, why don't we drink up first?" Asuka suggested and eyed Shinji with her furious eyes from time to time.
"Then I think there's no reason for me to stay, I should be going since Misato here had already fallen asleep." Rei Ayanami uttered as she rose from her seat. Everyone didn't notice until Rei said it - Misato was asleep. "Congratulations."
"Wondergirl, you're not going anywhere." Asuka responded and handed Rei a bottle of beer.
"She's right, Rei, please stay." Hikari plead as well. Rei was probably convinced and returned to her seat.
Everyone drank happily except Asuka and Shinji of course. The rest, except for Rei who calmly drank, spent the last few hours teasing the supposed-to-be couple of the night. Misato finally woke up and joined the little party.
It was almost midnight when they noticed the time. Everyone was supposed to go home but Misato said that she was not letting any minors on the road on such time. Everyone decided to sleep-over and since there are only three rooms in the apartment, Toji and Kensuke decided that Shinji and Asuka would take one room; Misato, Hikari, and Rei woild take the next room; and they would take the last room. It was just out of fun so Misato agreed to it.
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Shinji spread the futon on the floor. "Asuka, there's only one futon." He said.
"What do you want me to do then? Sleep on the floor? Of course you'll sleep on the floor, baka!" Asuka answered, raising her voice.
"But, it's hard." Shinji complained, but his tone showing his unhappiness was more like a plead for his 'master'. "The last time I slept on the floor I got back aches. Asuka you know that and the incident that I wasn't able to go to school for two days, right?"
"Shut up and die, baka!" Asuka was obviously frustrated with their worsening condition. She cried and buried her face in her hands. Shinji was kind of guilty for it, for saying that they love each other when it wasn't true. He just felt that he had to do something about it but he was scared.
'I mustn't run away,' was the thought that kept playing on his mind.
Asuka's sobs became more audible. "Asuka," Shinji said as his hands touched her shoulders. He had never been good at comforting a person, especially if that person hated you. However, he somehow felt responsible.And to his surprise, the red head didn't reject him. Knowing so, Shinji closed the gap between them and wrapped his hands on her back. Asuka still didn't move but continued sobbing. "I'm sorry."
"Baka, I hate you..." Asuka whispered in between her sobs. "But for now, I need you."
'I know.' Shinji thought, smiling with relief as Asuka rested her head on his shoulder.
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A/N:
Thanks for your reviews, very much!