Disclaimer: The "Evangelion" series is the intellectual property of Hideaki Anno.
"Shinji-kun, this is your home now."
Misato stood inside the apartment, smiling serenely at the boy before her.
"I-I'm home."
Shinji reluctantly stepped inside the messy apartment. Misato beamed again at her new roommate.
'Am I okay with this?' the two thought.
An immense heat radiated from the pilot's plug. The metal encasing warped from the heat. Worried hands firmly grasped at the exit hatch's handles. Sizzling and a sharp pain. The handles gave in and finally turned. The pressure from built-up steam was released. The hatch flipped up and open.
"Ayanami!" a voice cried out.
The dazed girl came back to her senses.
"Are you all right? Ayanami!" the voice called out again.
She opened her eyes and looked at her savior.
'It's just like last time…'
Just like the time she had a reason to live for someone else. The time when she first thought she could feel a connection with people. The memory brought a little more life back into her shell.
"Don't say…Don't say that you have nothing else."
Rei was startled. She looked more closely at the boy. He was tearing up.
"Don't say goodbye when you leave on a mission. It's too sad."
Rei was stunned. She didn't know how to respond. She simply watched the boy quietly cry. After some time, she finally cocked to her head to the side and naïvely asked,
"Why are you crying?"
There was no response. The boy continued. This flustered Rei even more.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what to do or feel at a time like this."
Upon hearing Rei's bashful apology, he looked up, tears still in his eyes, and suggested with relief,
"Why don't you try smiling?"
Rei gasped again. For a moment, the image of Gendo Ikari flashed before her.
'No, this is different from that time…'
This boy had done more for her. He had cried for her. Emotions found their home in her once more. Lost in her happiness, she let out a radiant smile, gladly taking the boy's advice.
Their gazes mingled in silence. They stared and stared, letting time wash over them. Waiting for the other to speak, neither dared to utter a word. They simply rejoiced, cherishing the moment.
"W..."
Shinji came back to attention as Asuka tried to place her words, breaking eye contact.
"Wel..."
Asuka stumbled again. Letting out a deep breath and straightening her hair and dress, she turned to Shinji once more, their eyes meeting again.
"Welcome back, Shinji."
Asuka put on a gentle as she greeted him. Shinji stifled a few sobs as relief overtook him. He wanted to let everything out. Asuka reached out and tightly grasped his hand. He was so happy he started cry.
Their first meeting after he went through all the pain of losing her.