"That was exciting but everything's back to normal!" Toji leaned back, kicking his legs up onto his desk, "Well, whatever normal means here."
It had been two days since their visit to the Over the Rainbow. School hadn't yet begun for the day but everyone was already in class, waiting for their teacher to get in.
"You don't think we'll see Asuka and Kaworu again?" Shinji asked.
"You might but not me and Ken! Thank god, I don't know if I could be around the Red Devil,"
Kensuke spoke up, "You really don't think we'll see them? I mean Shinji and Ayanami are pilots too and they're in class," he gestured to Rei, who gave no indication she heard them talking about her.
Toji blinked then shot up, swinging at Kensuke, "Aww, I could kick your ass, Kensuke!"
He leaned back, missing the swing and laughed, "You don't have the heart!"
Toji leaned back and grumbled, "I'll get you when you least expect it..."
"Well, at least Kaworu is nice..." Shinji trailed off, "Maybe Asuka will come around. I hope so if I'm going to be seeing her nearly every day," he sighed.
Kaworu was kind and Shinji honestly looked forward to seeing him again. Asuka on the other hand...she scared him, mostly because he wasn't sure what he had done to incur her wrath. Was it because he wasn't there on time? That wasn't his fault and he had seen her battle anyway. He sighed.
"I don't envy you, Shinji," Kensuke said.
The teacher walked in and took a seat behind the desk. After Hikari led the class through their usual spiel, he coughed to gain their attention. "Alright, kids," he grumbled, more out of tiredness than true annoyance, "before we start, we have two new students today."
"No..." Toji said softly.
Kaworu strode in, followed by Asuka with a bounce in her step. He wrote his name on the blackboard and said politely, "My name is Kaworu Nagisa. I'm pleased to meet you."
Asuka practically shoved him out of the way as he moved aside and wrote her name in large loopy script. She turned to the class, "And my name is Asuka Langley Soryu! Charmed, huh?"
"NO!" Toji howled.
Asuka walked by him, slapping him upside the head then sat down a few seats away. Kaworu himself sat in the seat in front of Shinji. Shinji glanced at Toji, "Well, Kensuke wasn't wrong..."
"Shut it before I beat both of you down!" He rubbed the back of his head where he had been smacked, "Ugh, I've jinxed us all..."
"Quick! Toji, tell me I'm never going to be an Eva pilot!" Kensuke cried.
Toji blinked at him then deadpanned, "Kensuke, you will most certainly be an Eva pilot."
Kensuke pouted then turned to Kaworu, "Hey! Nagisa! Do you think I can become an Eva pilot."
Kaworu glanced up from his computer, "It's possible but I'm not sure if it's probable. It's not really all that glamorous actually."
"I don't know why anyone would want to be an Eva pilot...no offense, Kensuke." Shinji spoke up.
"Awww, you guys don't have any faith! Too bad you can't trade! You get the quiet life and I get the action-filled one! Pow!" Kensuke pumped his fist in the air.
Shinji grimaced but didn't say anything further. Kensuke was his friend but...he wasn't the most realistic of people. And even if he could trade roles, he didn't want his friend to be put into the Eva...ever. Not that he'd tell Kensuke that.
"Anyway, I've been meaning to ask you, Shinji. Do you wanna come with me and Ken to see my sister, Sakura?" Toji asked him.
"Really? She'd want to see me? I mean, after..." he trailed off.
"Shinji, we went over this! No one's mad at you about it!"
"Yeah, Toji was the harder one to get to forgive you and we did that with the power of guilt," Kensuke pointed out while Toji shot him a look he ignored.
"Plus, she's been really wanting to meet you after I mentioned we're friends now so you have to come! You don't have any tests or anything to cop out with?" Toji raised an eyebrow.
Shinji shook his head, "Should I bring anything or?"
Toji waved him off, "Just yourself. Hey..."
He turned, "Hey, Nagisa!"
Kaworu jumped again, being one of the few students to be paying attention to the lesson, "Yes? By the way, you can call me Kaworu."
Toji nodded, "You wanna come hang out with us after school? Or do you have important pilot-y things to do?"
"Me and Asuka have already finished our preliminary tests when we arrived and the day after. So yes, I'm free today."
"And we can go over to my place after!" Kensuke grinned, "My dad's been busy and my brother's been on a business trip! So the house is all quiet...too quiet if you ask me."
"What's your brother out for?" Shinji asked, "You've never said."
"He doesn't do much," he shrugged, "But this local convenience store chain has been talking about withdrawing from Tokyo-3. I don't blame them but my brother would rather they not. He's got a job and since Dad is with NERV, we can't really leave. He's only part of the construction and rebuilding division but they pay alright, I've heard. Plus, he's got a contract and all. Only an evacuation order will let us leave."
Shinji frowned, "That's really sad, actually."
Kensuke shrugged, "It's how it is."
Class dragged on as per usual until lunch time, a time everyone rejoiced for. The trio had accepted Kaworu so easily, Kaworu was slightly confused. They barely knew him but apparently being Shinji's friend made him their friend. They had opted for sitting outside under the trees in the courtyard, the sun beating down too furiously to go to their usual haunt, the roof. "Man, why couldn't we have eternal winter instead of eternal summer?" Toji complained as he ripped into one of his many packaged snacks he called lunch.
"Then you'd complain about it being cold," Kensuke pointed out, taking one of the snacks out from under his nose. Toji didn't notice.
"Winter doesn't sound so bad," Shinji said, "At least from pictures and stuff, I've seen."
"Hey there, dorks!" Asuka planted herself right beside them, a smug smile on her face.
Hikari sat by her, much softer, looking like she didn't like the whole idea of imposing on the boys. "What are you doing here?!" Toji cried.
"We pilots gotta stick together! Right, Fourth?"
Kaworu nodded, "In that case, we should invite Ayanami."
"What!"
"Yeah, she always looks so alone..." Hikari agreed, looking behind them to the side of the school where Rei was daintily eating her lunch.
"Come on, Shinji," Shinji jumped as Kaworu stood and offered his hand to help him up, "Let's bring her over."
Shinji nodded quickly and cautiously took his hand, pulling himself up.
Asuka watched, trying her best not to grimace. Yes, she knew she should get along with the First better and yes, she knew Kaworu was doing this on purpose. But was she ready to even sit near her?
Not particularly.
It wasn't her fault that at best, Rei still symbolized the doll her mother had thought her to be. And at worst?
Knowing Rei was an Angel/human hybrid didn't help Rei's case. Not to mention the whole "thought she died but apparently she had something to do with Instrumentality" thing.
"Do you have a problem with her?" Hikari asked, breaking Asuka out of her thoughts.
"W-well no...I've just not met her yet!" Asuka feigned an annoyed look.
Hikari wasn't having it, "Looks like Kaworu and Shinji are on their way back so you can meet her now."
She pointed to Shinji and Kaworu with Rei in tow. Kaworu gestured between him and Asuka for a place for her to sit. She sat and nodded, going back to eating as if she had never moved.
"By the way, Rei," Shinji said as he sat down, "You already met Kaworu but this is Asuka."
Asuka stiffened but nodded. Rei looked up at her with those unnerving red eyes...then nodded back, "Hello. I hope we can work efficiently together."
"Um...yeah..." Asuka trailed off, going back to eating her lunch.
She could feel the others' eyes on her, no doubt curious about her out-of-character behavior. She decided to ignore them, act like nothing was wrong. Hikari broke the silence, "You're really popular, you know that, Asuka?"
She pointed to the other groups of people sneaking peeks at their group. When they saw her looking at them, they went back to talking amongst themselves, no doubt afraid of incurring the class rep's anger.
Asuka followed her gesture then grinned, "Well, of course! An exotic foreign girl and an Evangelion pilot to boot? What's not to love?"
"They sure are curious...some a little more...," Hikari huffed in annoyance but she regained her cheeriness, "Anyway, people are really curious about Kaworu too."
"I haven't particularly noticed, to be honest," Kaworu commented.
"Don't worry, Kaworu, it was like that for me too. It dies down after a while." Shinji commented.
"How about you, Rei?" he asked.
She furrowed her eyebrows in thought, "I don't remember," she admitted.
"People were curious about her but it died down really quickly. It happens every year someone new comes so it's not really that abnormal. You pilots just get a little extra attention, is all," Hikari laughed softly.
"Anyways, I like school. I've been tutored since I can remember. Public school is a nice experience actually," Kaworu cut in.
"We can really tell who's never been to public school," Toji snorted.
Hikari shot him a glare and smacked him on the shoulder. Asuka cut in before he could protest, "I shouldn't even be here! I have a college-level education!"
"Are you just saying that or...?" Kensuke trailed off.
"Dummkopf!" Smack!
Kensuke nursed the slap on his cheek, "Jeeez, touchy!"
"Don't test your luck. And I'm not lying!" she growled.
"It's nice to have you here anyway, Asuka. No matter what the stooges think," Hikari smiled genuinely at her.
It gave Asuka pause. It was nice to be wanted. Maybe school wasn't too bad.
Once school was over, Asuka left for NERV, to the housing they had put her in at the time being. It was adequate, not much more than a bedroom and a bathroom. She was a pilot, she deserved more than the usual employee! Granted, if things went as they did before, she'd be moved in with Misato and Shinji within the week.
What was worse about the housing though was it was virtually impossible to discuss anything with Kaworu. No doubt the entire place was bugged and while she hoped the bathroom was unmonitored...she wasn't too optimistic for it.
Kaworu was off with the stooges today, he had said. Apparently, Toji had a sister and they were all going to visit. She secretly wanted to go too, having enjoyed being included. But she understood why Toji wouldn't want her to come so she slunk back to NERV, wondering how she'd spend the night.
"Hey, kiddo!"
A silver car stopped by her and she was nearly about ready to scream, hoping Section 2 would come to her rescue. But the driver rolled down his window to reveal Kaji. "Kaji!" she smiled.
She couldn't say she had a crush on him still but Kaji was Kaji, so she still had a healthy respect for him. The whole 'knowing he was going to die' thing put a damper on the crush not to mention she knew deep down, it was a fool's pursuit. She didn't want to admit that last part so she didn't think of it at all. He smiled and popped the door open, "Need a lift?"
She nodded and happily got in with him. He drove off, "Heading back to NERV?" he asked.
She nodded, "Well, I was on my way to get a bite to eat. Sound good? I'll take you to NERV after." Kaji asked.
"Oh of course!"
He chuckled, "Yeah, no offense to NERV, but their canteen isn't the best. There's a little cafe in the city I found just this morning."
"So, Kaji, what are you still doing in Tokyo-3?" she asked as they drove, even though she knew why. A way to make conversation, she supposed. And maybe to get more information as well.
Kaji has rubbed off on me in more ways than one, she thought. At least this was a useful skill.
"Well, I did my job but I guess the Commander still thinks I can be useful in some way or another," he shrugged, "You know, Misato asked me the same thing today...she wasn't so happy about it."
"Oh, she asked about you on the Over the Rainbow. Twice actually," now Asuka knew she didn't have a chance with Kaji but she knew someone who did. Plus this was just payback for all the times Misato teased her about boys.
"Huh, didn't know Katsuragi cared that much..." he furrowed his eyebrows before breaking into a devilish grin, "She wasn't this hard to get back in college."
Asuka shot him a curious look as he talked, mainly to himself,"Though, I won't push back. Not too hard."
She shrugged, "Whatever you think will work, Kaji."
The cafe was a quiet place. To be honest, Asuka never pegged Kaji for someone who liked the quiet atmosphere but here they were, sitting at a table by the window. He sipped at his coffee and asked, "So how was your first day back?"
"Oh, y'know. Nothing too special," she shrugged, taking a long sip of her coffee. Unlike his, which was pitch-black, hers had a copious amount of sugar and whipped cream. He had gotten a sandwich but she had opted for a pastry to satisfy a sweet tooth.
"I'd think you'd be really popular with the boys,"
She huffed, "I've got more important things to deal with than boys! I'm a pilot!"
Kaji whistled and nodded, opting not to make a comment how she was growing mature. At best, she'd take it as him calling her an adult and ramp up her wooing of him. At worse, she'd take it as him calling her immature before. "Still, you need time to be a kid, Asuka," he opted for.
Instead of the angry fit he expected, she furrowed her eyebrows thoughtfully. Finally, she said, "I did make friends with some of my classmates. Hikari, she's the class rep. I'm...sort of friends with the Third and his friends though I don't think they like me very much."
"How about the First?"
Asuka barely stopped herself from grimacing, "We've met but...that's about it."
Kaji hummed but didn't provide further commentary on it. She wondered what his thoughts about the First were. Even with her previous memories and all she knew of her, it didn't make Rei any easier to be near. The last coherent thing she remembered before her coma was Rei defeating the 16th Angel (Armisael, Kaworu had called it) and her death at it's hands. She knew that she was mentioned once or twice as Asuka was being launched against the Mass Production Evas and obviously, she had a part to play in Third Impact. So she had died and come back to life. How? It was something Asuka did not know.
Everything else? Dream-like visions of a goddess-esque version of Ayanami, holding a black sphere in her hands like it was a child. The decaying corpse of the goddess on the horizon of the ruined Earth. And a final glimpse of her, dressed in her school outfit, looking upon her and Shinji with what could have been sadness. Then she disappeared.
Everything after her "death" seemed unreal, like she had been dreaming. While she was most certainly sure Third Impact had happened, it all seemed like she had simply died and it had been her dying dream. She only remembered snatches of Instrumentality but considering it was a melding of souls, she wondered if her mortal brain could even comprehend it all.
What she did remember was Rei was a sort of Angelic hybrid that presided over Instrumentality.
In fact, it was Rei who broke the illusion of her fantasy world.
In Instrumentality, one could create their perfect world. Asuka's set her as the ace pilot who was able to kill Angels with ease. Her mother hadn't died and was well and alive, working alongside Dr. Akagi to maintain their Evas. She was on good terms with Shinji and Rei. In fact, she nursed a crush on both of them, something she wasn't sure how to deal with. It was all delightfully mundane. She was loved and she was cared for.
Then she walked into her room one day to find the First sitting cross-legged on her bed, dressed in her school outfit. "What are you doing here?!" Asuka cried, half-scandalized and half-confused since she had just left the First at NERV.
"Pilot Soryu, I regret to inform you this isn't real," Rei said in her usual flat tone...but with a hint of sadness.
"What do you mean this isn't real?!"
"I mean to say this is the reality you've created inside the LCL sea. A fabrication of reality, a dream. It is nothing more than what you wish most in life. It's nice...but it is false."
"It's...it's..." Asuka trailed off, unable to find a way to refute her.
"Well, why should I leave?! Just because it's fake!" she cried.
"Yes," Rei looked her in the eyes, "And in the reality outside of here, someone misses you very much."
Asuka didn't stay for too long after that. The fact someone really wanted her, even after all that had happened, was more substantial than the fake connections she had created.
She'd be sure to drag Kaworu somewhere remote and make him explain all of that; the First Child and what had happened during Third Impact. He hadn't explained a lot. Granted, she didn't ask him how many times he had gone through this song and dance so perhaps he wasn't sure what she needed to know.
"You're thinking hard. Anything you want to talk about?" Kaji raised one eyebrow.
"Oh no, it's just..." she paused, "I have a lot on my mind."
Kaji frowned, completely taken aback. He knew of Asuka's past so she never had to be open with him. But he hoped she would be. It was obvious holding all of that inside of her was going to ruin her. "You can talk to me if you need to."
Asuka nodded, "I might take that up with you sometime."
That was it. Asuka was hiding something and Kaji wanted to know just what it was. Not just for his own curiosity and search for the truth, but for her own sake. He sipped at his coffee thoughtfully, wondering what had changed between her trying to seduce him on the Over the Rainbow and the fight against the Angel. Actually, she hadn't made any passes at him either since then. Curious, most curious.
Meanwhile, Toji had lead his ragtag band to the hospital, true to his word. Shinji couldn't help but feel a little unnerved, but that wasn't anyone's fault. Hospitals made him nervous and somehow, a normal hospital made things worse. He wondered how many people were in here because his actions.
"Here, guys, give me your school IDs," Toji asked them, breaking Shinji out of what no doubt would have been a self-deprecating spiral.
He took their IDs to the front desk and told the receptionist, "Hey, I'm Toji Suzuhara, here to visit Sakura Suzuhara. I'm here with my friends," he jabbed a thumb at them.
"Hmm...IDs?" the lady asked.
She got them recorded and handed the cards back, "You know where to go, Mr. Suzuhara?"
He nodded and behind him, Kensuke whispered, "Considering how many times he visits her, he should,"
Toji nodded and returned to his friends, handing them their cards back, "She's up on the second floor. Not in emergency care anymore but for long-term care."
As they rode the elevator up, Shinji asked, "Why has she been in here so long...?"
"When we were caught outside, she got caught under some rubble. It messed up her arm and leg really badly and since she's so young, it's hard to fix it right up right away. Plus, I'm under the impression this hospital hasn't been funded too well," Toji answered.
"Can they fix her arm and leg?"
"Oh yeah, we got lucky there. It just takes a long time to heal."
At seeing Shinji's frowning face, he added, "Don't feel bad, Shinji! The Angel could have done it to her just as badly as the Eva could have. And it's not your fault that a lot of funding goes to NERV. Without them, there wouldn't a Tokyo-3 at all, I'd reckon."
Sakura's room wasn't too far off from the elevator and Toji led them in. Sakura was awake, quietly reading a book. But upon seeing Toji, she set it down, "Toji! Kensuke!" she paused, confused at the two newcomers.
Toji smiled, "Well, you know Kensuke. The other two are my friends Shinji and Kaworu," he gestured to them, "They're pilots of the big robots, the Evas."
She gasped, "Wow! Hi!" she waved happily.
Shinji stammered, "H-hi...nice to meet you..."
Kaworu dipped his head in greeting, "Hello."
Sakura looked from one to the other then asked, "Which one has the, uhhh, purple robot!"
Shinji opened his mouth to answer then stuttered, as if his fear caught up to his all-too small amount of courage. Toji elbowed him, not hard enough to hurt him, "Shinji here!"
"Wow! Thank you!" she giggled happily, gently pushing herself up into a sitting position.
Shinji blinked, "Wh-what for?"
She didn't answer right away, a little confused by his statement. But then she smiled, "Toji said you and your robot saved us! You're a hero!"
He went to protest again but upon seeing everyone looking at him, he said softly, "Thank you..."
They stayed for only a while more until they said their goodbyes. Or rather, until a nurse shooed them out because they had to change Sakura's casts. The sun was still out but it would begin to set soon. Luckily, Shinji had called Misato in advance, telling her he was going to visit with his friends. She didn't see an issue with it, instead ecstatic Shinji was spending time outside the house (something that made Shinji a little self-conscious). She also had to stay in late, still mowing through the massive amount of paperwork from Asuka and Kaworu's debut fight.
They walked through the door and Kensuke said, "You guys can stay as long as you'd like! Like I said no one's around at the minute."
"Excuse me?" a voice called from inside and all four froze like a deer in the headlights.
The person that poked his head out into the way smirked in an amused way, showing his annoyed response was just a ruse. He pushed his glasses up higher onto his nose in way that definitely evoked Kensuke. Kensuke himself gasped in surprise, "Goichi!" before practically tackling him in a hug.
Toji coughed to catch his attention. Kensuke turned and snapped, "Don't start that manl-"
"Kensuke!" he cried, jabbing a finger at a confused Shinji and Kaworu.
"Oh."
Goichi smiled, "Hey looks like you finally made more friends! Why don't you introduce us all?"
"This is Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa," he turned to them, "and this is my brother Goichi!"
Goichi nodded at them, "Pleased to meet you, always a pleasure to meet people who my brother doesn't scare off,"
"Goichi!"
"Kidding!"
"No, seriously," Goichi's face softened, "I heard about the attacks since I've been gone. I know we talked on the phone since but it's a relief to see you in one piece. At least that last one wasn't near you or Tokyo-3."
"Actually," Toji began but Kensuke whirled on him, "He wasn't supposed to know until I told him about the footage first!"
Goichi frowned, "Why were you two out there?!"
"Shinji invited us," Kensuke said.
"Hey, Misato suggested it!"
"Still!"
"Well, I didn't know there was going to be an Angel!"
Goichi blinked as he watched the scene unfold of Kensuke and Shinji argue for really no reason, Toji looking to both like he didn't know which to join and Kaworu look helpless to do anything. He raised his voice, "Hey! You guys were safe, right?"
All four turned to him then nodded nearly in sync. "Then it's alright though I wished I was told," he said.
He paused and added, "Still, why were you all out there?"
Kensuke grinned. Shinji sighed, "Kensuke..."
"Shinji's an Eva pilot!" he gestured to Shinji with a flourish then paused and moved his hand to Kaworu, "Kaworu too."
Goichi whistled, "Wow, didn't realize they have kids piloting those things..." he looked sad for a moment before he turned, "Here, let's all sit down."
They all sat in the living room and after that, Goichi disappeared into the kitchen. Kensuke had tried to tell him he could host their guests but Goichi insisted. So in the meantime, Toji and Kensuke were booting up their game console, to teach Shinji and Kaworu the sacred art of "video games", something neither had so much as touched.
"Surprised you're not interested in these things, Shinji. You carry around that outdated SDAT of yours," Kensuke commented, handing him a controller.
"Hey, my teacher was really traditional! And this was..." he paused, fiddling with it in his pocket, "...my dad's actually."
An awkward silence settled over the room, Toji or Kensuke unwilling to ask for further clarification. "Huh," Toji said, to break the calm, "Anyway, let me show you how to play."
Shinji was horrible at the game, which was ironic as it was a giant robot fighting game. Toji had urged Shinji to pick the purple robot, though unlike Eva 01, it was a lot bulkier. Toji himself picked a sleek black beast and proceeded to demolish Shinji. "I think I'll just watch," Shinji complained, handing the controller to Kaworu who seemed delighted to try.
"Have you ever played?" Toji asked.
"Nope! My guardian didn't like video games..." he paused, "...or really anything modern."
"Weirdo," Kensuke commented.
Kaworu himself was delighted once more at the fact one of the playable characters was a dark blue mecha. It bore a visor and two horns that looked almost like rabbit's ears. Unlike Shinji, he could hold his own but like him, he too was demolished by Toji. "I reign supreme!" he cheered.
"Supreme against newbies?" Kensuke snarked.
"Shut it you!" Toji snapped, but without any venom.
"Let's not fight, guys. You have to put a good impression on your new friends," Goichi chided, walking in and setting a pack of soda onto the table.
Shinji took a soda and retreated to the couch by Goichi, watching Kaworu insist he try again against Toji. Goichi himself had been given Kensuke's video camera and he was watching through what Kensuke had recorded. He snuck a look at Goichi, specifically the white scars across his cheek and eye. He looked away before Goichi could see him looking but he noticed anyways, "Whatcha looking at?"
He pointed to his face, "Is it my face?"
"N-no, uh..." Shinji stammered.
"It's alright. People look, well usually kids your age," Goichi smiled sadly, "I wouldn't guess you guys would be used to it."
"Did you..." Shinji started.
"Second Impact?"
Shinji nodded shyly. "Yeah, that's about it," he sighed, "Have you heard of what it was like?"
"Somewhat, in school. But our teacher mostly talks about how it was after," Shinji paused and asked softly, "What was it like?"
Goichi looked pained, as if the memories themselves caused him horrible pain. Shinji backpedaled, "It's alright, if you don't want to say!"
"No," he shook his head, "You and your friend there, and whatever other teenagers NERV has enlisted, are fighting for us. And all of this began 15 years ago. Whether the two are connected, I do not know. But I do know you should know."
Shinji was struck dumb and only could nod. Even the other three had grown quiet, quietly interested in what was happening. Kensuke had heard the story many a time over and Toji knew a fair bit of it. Kaworu himself had his own special knowledge on it but a first-hand account made it personal. Goichi sighed, "It happened early morning. I was young, only four, but I remember it clearly. The sky was blue one minute then there came the howling, before the wind, so it wasn't wind. Then the wind came and the sky turned a horrible shade of orange. We lived inland but still, my parents thought we should move farther inland. It was a good idea because the waves reached so far inland. Still, before we could leave, the house was starting to fall apart. This sort of wind, it was never built to withstand it. These came from the house starting to collapse," he gestured at his face.
"That's terrible," Shinji breathed.
"Yeah, I ended up being knocked out cold. By the time I came to, whatever happened had stopped," he paused, "They tell you in school it was a meteor, right?"
Shinji nodded, "You don't think it is?"
Goichi grimaced, "No. I don't know what it is but a meteor? It doesn't sound right."
The room fell silent and Shinji pondered his words. Everyone in NERV referred to Second Impact in such a way that made it sound that if him and his other pilots fail, it would initiate Third Impact. Goichi's words sounded plausible.
"Anyway, things worked out I suppose. I mean, it wasn't easy after. We found a shelter inland and it's where we stayed for a year or so. Three or four months after Second Impact we found out Mom was pregnant," he gestured to Kensuke, "She called him 'her small miracle'."
He looked to Kensuke then Goichi, both who seemed melancholy at speaking about their mother. It made Shinji's heart hurt too, bringing to mind his own dead mother.
Goichi seemed to notice the heavy atmosphere and coughed, "Anyway, she'd be happy to see we're doing well, despite everything."
Would his mother be happy with him, Shinji wondered, sipping at his soda. The other three had began to play again, filling the apartment with sound again. He hoped his mother would be happy with him.
Author's Note: Goichi Aida is not my OC but rather a friend's, who goes by loveyouforreternity on here.
