Immovable Barrier 4
Neon Genesis Evangelion/End of Evangelion/Rebuild of Evangelion © Gainex.
FOURTH. NO ANSWERS YET. MAYBE THIS TIME?
"Bro! I did it! Did you see that?"
"Of course you did, Shinji. I knew you had it in you. Lets go. Everyone's waiting."
"Right."
Shinji and the taller boy walked, side by side, back to the group of stunned onlookers. Gendo was nowhere to be seen. The greeting was exceptional. Back on the surface, clean-up was beginning, now that Unit 01 was recovered.
Hours later, Misato was walking with the boys, reading over the living arrangements. Shinji... And the other boy. She considered. They were set to share a place, since the taller boy was also a potential pilot candidate. They had no machine for him, but they wanted him here regardless. They were set to share a class... With the remaining active pilot and the other pilot candidates. Misato decided this was acceptable, and dropped them off at their new apartment.
Shinji and the taller boy settled in quickly, sharing the space with all the generosity of brothers. Then they looked at the kitchen, and realized simultaneously what the biggest problem was. They had no food. They checked their pockets, before realizing they had less than 500 yen between the two of them on hand.
"This... Is a problem."
"You're right, Shinji. You need to learn to cook."
"Wha-? Me? Why me?"
"Just isn't my style, Shinji. That's all. And it's not like we can eat out every night."
"Fine. I'll learn to cook, just so long as you pull in some extra cash. We can't live on just NERV handouts forever."
"Deal, Blood Brother."
So their first week in Tokyo 3 went a lot like this. The taller boy was looking for an after-school employment opportunity. Shinji spent his time split between training and teaching himself to cook. One event that week stood out. Shinji's first interaction with that red-eyed girl.
"Right, Miss Ritsuko. I still really don't understand this synchronization rate stuff yet, so if you'd stop trying to explain it to me... That'd be really great."
"Alright, Shinji. Just focus on the training. Aim for the core, five rounds rapid."
Shinji complied. It had been like this all day. He leaned back in his seat, bored nearly to tears. He just wanted it over. Eventually, it was. He stepped out of the entry plug to find a young woman exit the other. He frowned, and looked her in the eyes. Those red eyes chilled him to the bone, and the impassive face she was making...
"Shinji, this is Ayanami Rei. As I recall, this is your first meeting?"
Misato's question jarred Shinji out of his reverence.
"Ah, uh. Yes. I- Yes, this is the first time we've met. Ayanami, was it?"
Shinji approached, and offered his hand. She looked down at it, before taking it, shaking his hand gently. He felt a strong desire to hug her, though he resisted, filing it away as an impulse to question later, as he took his hand back. Afterwards, Shinji walked away with Misato, bemused.
The next week, School began. The first interesting memory Shinji gained in his new school was the class introductions. Shinji didn't introduce himself as anything more than what he was. A teenager with few interests and even fewer hobbies. He left off the part where he was Unit 01's pilot, but the class seemed to know regardless. The tall boy's introduction... That was something to see.
"When they speak of Team Gurren's awesome leader, they're talking about me! A man of indomitable manly spirit, unfettered by any obsticle! That man's na-"
"Kamina. Stop yelling and take your seat."
"What? How dare you interrupt the mighty Kamina!"
"Bro, don't make a scene, and definitely don't yell at the teacher!"
WOAH. ANSWERS. AND FINALLY REI.
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 5?