1.5: AKAI METSUKI （赤いめつき）

"Why does my father need me to do this?" I wondered aloud.

I stood outside the door to Ayanami's apartment, Room 402. Everything about the apartment building was squalid, from the trash littering the floors to the numerous broken windows. I was shocked that anyone even lived in this building anymore, especially a fourteen year old girl. But sure enough, the door in front of me had a tarnished nameplate that read "Ayanami," so I knew I was in the right place.

The mail slot on the door was completely full and overstuffed; obviously, Ayanami didn't care about her mail. She wouldn't get it if I left it there, so I pressed on the doorbell button twice. No sound came from the inside.

I came all this way, and Father will be made at me if Rei can't come to her re-activation test later today, so I'd better find some way to get it to her…

I tried the door handle, and I was shocked to find that it was unlocked.

Odd…oh well. I guess I'll leave the card on a desk or something.

I opened the door, and peered inside.

"Excuse me!" I called.

No answer.

"Excuse me, it's Ikari." I called again.

I stepped inside hesitantly.

"Ayanami, I'm coming in." I called once again, in case she could hear.

I took my shoes off gingerly. The front door opened to the kitchen, which was filled with dirty dishes. Dirty footprints covered the floor. I tiptoed forward into the room ahead, which I supposed was her bedroom.

I'll leave the card he…wow. Is this really a girl's room?

If the rest of the apartment building had been dirty, this was even worse. Trash, clothes, and bandages littered the floor. The room was unlit; the light bulb was burned out. The only light came from cracks in the window curtains. Her school uniform was haphazardly scattered on her bed—which was unmade—and the pillow was covered in blood. A revolving hangar hung above her bed with undergarments suspended from it. A box filled with bloody bandages sat next to a refrigerator with what looked to be medicine on top, and a bag of trash hanging from the side.

How could ANYONE live in this filth? Not even Misato is this bad!

The only clean thing in the room was a small dresser by the window. It was short and wooden, and the top drawer was slightly open, revealing more undergarments. On top of it sat a few books, and a pair of glasses. Curious, I walked closer. As I approached the dresser, I saw that the glasses were cracked.

"Are these hers?"

I don't know why, but I decided to pick them up and put them on. They fit my head strangely well.

These must be HIS.

I heard the sliding of a door behind me. Shocked, I turned around. My vision was blurred, due to the cracked glasses, but I could make out a figure in front of me with blue hair. A nude figure, covered only by a towel. It was Ayanami.

Oh no! Oh my god, this can't be happening.

My insides squirmed, my face contorted as I tried to muster an explanation. She began to walk quickly towards me. I stepped back, embarrassed and scared. My legs ran into the dresser. Ayanami continued to approach, until she was standing directly in front of me. She reached forward and removed the glasses from my hand. Surprised, I tried to continue to go backwards, but the dresser was in my way. I slipped, and began to fall forward. I reached out for support, and grabbed onto Rei as I fell, knocking her over as well. I heard a crash; the strap of my book bag had caught on the top drawer's knob, and its contents spilled all over the floor.

The next thing I knew, I was staring directly into Ayanami's eyes. They were a piercing red.

Red…Red eyes. They're…beautiful. But they seem so far away.

For what seemed like a long while, we stared at each other. I couldn't tell how long it was. Eventually, however, I heard Ayanami speak for the first time.

"Do you mind moving?" she said shortly.

Her voice snapped me back to reality. I realized where I was. I was lying on top of her. And she was nude.

I jumped up sharply, thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed. As she stood up, I backed up to give her room. I averted my eyes from her body, even though I had an overpowering desire to look. She turned around and walked to her bed, where she began to dress herself in front of me.

Huh? Doesn't she have ANY MODESTY? No girl would be like this. This is just crazy! And I can't believe that happened…how embarrassing. She'll hate me forever.

"What is it?" Once again, her voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned away from her, and began to attempt to explain myself, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Well, I mean…I was…"

I turned to look at her, and saw that she was still getting dressed. Embarrassed, I turned again.

"I was asked to, so…"

My hand twitched behind my back. Sweat trickled down my face. I was blushing bright red.

"What was it? Card! Your card! It's been renewed! I was asked to…deliver…it…"

I found that my mouth was full of saliva. I nervously swallowed, still unable to turn around.

"So…so I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

I paused, before continuing. I heard the click of a case of some kind behind me.

"Misato told me that my father wanted me to deliver it to you…it's true! I rang your bell, but there was no reply, and the door was unlocked. So…

A feeble excuse. She's not going to believe me…How can I ever face her again?

I heard the door open and then close.

She's gone…oh no! I never gave her the card, and she's got to be headed to Nerv HQ…Dammit…I'm so ashamed.

I turned around, and followed her out. As I left, I saw that the glasses had been put neatly away inside a black case.

My father's…