XI
Etching II
It wasn't hard to stop Kensuke after class. But it was hard to separate him from his friend.
"This isn't anything to do with that NERV crap is it?" Touji asked, glaring down at Hikari.
Hikari wasn't afraid of the jock, but only because she had the authority of a class representative. Shinji already knew Touji hit girls. "It is school business." Hikari said to Touji, "We must have a discreet conference with Mister Aida."
Touji gave a look at her, then Shinji, but didn't even look at Rei on the way out. After he was gone, the door closed on its own. Hikari faced Kensuke.
"A-Am I in trouble?" He asked.
"Why did you tell someone I was in NERV?" Shinji asked.
"I-I didn't I-"
Hikari crossed her arms. Shinji went on, "Somehow the whole class figured out I was in NERV. I didn't want anyone to know!"
"And I didn't tell anyone!"
"What did you say!" Shinji countered.
Kensuke, already leaning back in his seat, replied with an edge of panic, "I just said I ran into you last night and some NERV cars came to pick you up. That's all! I figured your folks got you with the company car, or something."
"Did you say that?" Shinji demanded.
"No!… Well… maybe…"
Shinji sighed while Hikari blasted, "Aida didn't you even think about what this lot would come up with if they had that information!"
"But nobody's been hurt!" Kensuke replied.
"Rei was!" Hikari shrilled as she pointed at the girl.
"T-that's just Touji…" Kensuke uttered, slumping into the desk.
"I don't wanna hear 'just Touji' when I'm in the hospital." Shinji replied.
"Hey! Touji might hurt people but he'd never get that violent!"
"Sorry, He only punches girls and hates everything related to NERV." Shinji replied, side-glancing at the door as he recalled the memory of Touji's look when he figured it was 'NERV stuff'.
"You blame him?" Kensuke replied, "His sister was squashed in the first attack by an Eva! I wouldn't be too happy if I lost someone like that!"
Hikari lowered her head to think about her own sister, Nozomi, who had also been killed in that attack.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Shinji asked, a little exasperated "Let him hit me when he feels like it?"
"No," Hikari replied. She stepped forward, "But I think it's too late to do anything about this now. If Touji wants to hurt or threaten you Shinji, you can call me and I'll deal with it."
"O-Okay…" Shinji replied, "But I don't have your number in my-"
Hikari held out her hand. Shinji put her phone in it as she said to Kensuke, "Kensuke, I don't want you encouraging anyone else about this."
"Hey," Kensuke replied, "It's hands off from me!"
"Good." She said and flipped open Shinji's phone.
"Hey, Ikari," Kensuke said, stopping Shinji from turning away. Shinji looked back at him. "I'm sorry… really, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
"Yeah well," Shinji said, "You can make it up to me by not letting Touji or whoever he is from breaking my arm or something. People at NERV already hate my guts and I don't want to give them anymore encouragement."
Asuka had finished using the restroom and was having a late lunch in the lounge adjacent to the cages when she saw Ritsuko walk in with Maya. The two were discussing something on a tablet, and crossed to the food dispenser.
"You think this will be enough?" Maya said.
"Maybe." Ritsuko replied, "As with all things pertaining to the Commander and his wife, the results cannot be predicted, only observed. Now, I think you wanted to go meet your man for lunch?"
Maya looked at her wristwatch, gave a hiccup and said, "I'm already late!"
"Be back within five minutes of the test and I won't say anything."
"Thank you doctor!" Maya replied and hurried off.
Ritsuko watched the girl go, then made Asuka jump by suddenly looking right at her. Asuka turned away, but the next time she gave a discreet look, the Doctor was already approaching.
"May I join you?" Ritsuko asked.
"Oh, please." Askua replied, setting aside her own tablet which had her e-books she was supposed to study.
Ritsuko spotted them while she took a seat across from the pilot. "May I?" She gestured to Asuka's tablet.
Asuka hadn't even let go of it and handed it to the doctor. Ritsuko set hers down and looked at Asuka's study materials. "Physics?"
"Yes, level three."
"I see. Studying to be like your mother?"
Asuka didn't say anything to that.
Ritsuko set the tablet aside and asked, "Do you want to see what mine has on it?"
Asuka's look betrayed her curiosity, and Ritsuko passed the tablet over after seeing her gaze. Asuka flipped it around and looked at it horizontally.
It was her test scores, cross-indexed with a time line. There had been notes on it as well. Asuka pinched at the screen and scrolled through it, reviewing her own synchronization information. "Am I allowed to see this?" She asked, looking up at Ritsuko.
Doctor Akagi shrugged. "As technical director I suppose I can give you clearance to see your own performance. Aren't you curious as to why you scored the way you did?"
"I remember…" Asuka trailed off, and then re-engaged her thoughts away from memories, "I remember Evangelions are sensitive to a pilot's state-of-mind."
"Apparently." Ritsuko replied.
"And that affects synchronization."
"Also, apparently."
Asuka looked back down at the data.
"If you ask me, I would say this gives someone an uncomfortable look into someone's psyche, if they knew what to look for." She took a hold of the tablet and Asuka released it. Ritsuko went on, "Comparing your synch scores from other, older tests I'd say we came across something that wildly and dramatically improved your scores. As Technical advisor, I suppose I'm required to inquire how this drastic improvement came about. It certainly wasn't anything pertaining to the technical side."
Asuka, putting the pieces together, uttered, "My mother would have to answer those questions since she is the director of pilot health and mental stability."
"She would also have to answer for why your performance improves dramatically when she is absent."
Asuka set the tablet down gently, her gaze going down to the table. She couldn't deny the obvious, but she dare not acknowledge it.
Ritsuko's arms remained crossed on the desk. "Asuka, I have to show this to Yui Ikari, and by extension the commander. Is there anything else you personally would like to add to the report?"
Asuka immediately saw the chance to make things right- admit her mother was the problem and put her into doubt. Maybe it could get Shinji re-instated at his place. Maybe he could be allowed to see her again!
…But then the thought of what her mother would do about this act of defiance followed the hope into her mind. Though this might get Shinji cleared from the stupid restriction, it would mean Asuka had challenged her mother's authority.
The last time that happened…
"Asuka?"
"I don't have anything to add!" Asuka wheezed, shuddering. She snatched her tablet and got up from the bench to run out of the lounge. Ritsuko turned to watch her go, and when she was gone she sadly turned back to the table. She reached across it to take the graph scores, sighed, and moved to start eating lunch.
Shinji didn't want to go… 'home'. He wasn't even sure where home was at this point. He decided to help Hikari after class, cleaning up the room and setting things to order. It was Monday and it had to be done.
Rei remained as well, and Shinji had the feeling she was staying for him. "Uh, Rei? Don't you have somewhere to go?" Shinji asked.
Rei had answered, "I have no obligations or duties until 1800 this afternoon."
Shinji glanced at his watch. 3:40. He sighed.
Hikari had long picked up on his distress, but couldn't find any words to say that could help him. Finally, once the class duties were completed, she announced "Shinji, I'm going to have to lock up the classroom."
"Yeah, I know." Shinji replied, getting up from his seat at a desk. Rei followed him to the door.
Hikari also moved to the door, clicked off the lights, then locked the door after closing it. She turned to Shinji, "So…um… Where are you going now Shinji?"
"I dunno… Somewhere… I guess." He lowered his head. "I-I don't want to go back to Misato's place…" Because I'm too embarrassed, he added to himself, and because I still can't bear the idea of living there. He grunted at his selfishness.
Hikari just stood beside him, and right then Shinji noticed how two the close of them were standing together. As he looked at her, her gaze slowly traveled up the collar of his shirt and into his eyes. Right then, he felt his cheeks get warm. She was very pretty… innocent eyes, girlish pigtails, and just the right size for a hug. He swallowed nervously, and somehow he could feel her excitement as well. He wondered what she…
But her head turned a subtle degree to the right, acknowledging Rei's presence. Shinji felt the moment evaporate and Hikari leaned away from him. Shinji turned his head to Rei.
The girl blinked as if nothing had happened.
"So uh…" Shinji uttered, "I guess… that's it?"
"Yeah…" Hikari responded nervously, but the two of them didn't move. Finally Hikari worked her jaw before saying, "U-um… Shinji… I do have some errands after school I need to take care of. I-If you like…. Um…"
Shinji stammered. "Well ah… I-I don't want to impose-"
"Shinji!" Hikari toned with a grin in her face, "I'm asking you. You're not imposing."
Ikari looked at her as the words sunk in. He smiled. "I'd be happy to join you."
She smiled back, then turned to Rei, "Ah! Rei, you can come too if you want to."
"I will accompany you, Class Representative Hokari."
The tone of the Entry Plug had changed when Asuka returned to it. When she left, the thought of that pleasant night had been so fresh on her mind that she could have presumed it really happened. The Evangelion… had a way of doing that, she noticed. Now as she sat curled up on the seat of the cockpit, she loathed being there. It wasn't in the form of fear and tension as it had been with her mother… it was in the shape of the sickly green guilt, doubt, and disgust that was sitting on her chest now.
She sighed out another breath and hugged her knees closer to her chest, trying to fill her thoughts with the stuff she just studied for her next exam.
In the control center Ritsuko leaned away from the control panel where Maya was working. "38.5%…" The technician reported with a tone of sadness.
Ritsuko looked beyond the windows at the left side of the Evangelion's mask. Then she looked at the checklist for the preparations. "Let's begin with Procedure C."
Maya tapped in the commands, and after entering in the data and the program began to run she started to say, "She was so…"
"I know." Ritsuko replied as she jotted down figures on a tablet. When she was done she lowered it, "The best we can do is record data and facts, then present them to Doctor Ikari to draw her own conclusions."
"Will it be able to help Shinji?"
"I don't know…" Ritsuko replied, and then sighed out, "It's hard to tell with Doctor Ikari… I'm not hoping on any maternal decision on her part to get him out of the fix he is in."
"…She hasn't been very motherly at all." Maya uttered into her monitor.
"Doctor Ikari is perhaps one of the most dedicated individuals to NERV… at the expense of almost everything. The only exception I can think of is her husband. Even then…"
"Even then?"
"…Nothing." Ritsuko replied, "All right… all sections go. Begin."
Maya nodded. "Beginning plate tests."
Ritsuko blinked as she watched the armor plates begin their self-test procedures, making sure the Evangelion's musculature and skin was sealed against ABC environmental factors. It was standard procedure. She glanced at the cockpit feed, seeing Asuka curled up in the cockpit.
Sighing, she looked down at the clipboard.
The light mist from earlier in the day turned to rain when Rei, Hikari, and Shinji finally left the campus. As Rei neglected to bring an umbrella, Hikari insisted on sharing hers while Shinji used the hood on his sweater. The bus ride itself wasn't a problem, though for a moment Shinji recalled the times he was taking the bus back to his apartment. He had been alone then, but the place he was going to was his own…
It was a trade. He may have lost the apartment for now, but he enjoyed the company on this trip.
He didn't have much time to reminisce as Hikari frequently distracted his thoughts on the bus ride. "So, you didn't do the homework huh?"
"I-I didn't have time!" Shinji stammered, "A-And… And I think… I left it in my apartment."
"You really haven't been back since the attack?"
"N-No…" Shinji replied, recalling the last time he saw his door it was coated in angel blood. It was probably clear now, but he wasn't sure if the inside of the apartment was also 'cleaned out' during the decontamination. He didn't really want to find out.
"Well," Hikari said, "I'm lucky because my house is in the old part of the city. No blood, no radiation…" She turned to Shinji, "Was there really a radiation problem?"
Rei answered for him in a quiet voice, "Portions of the city in close proximity ot the beam were affected with varying degrees of radiation. The hardest areas affected were several high-rise structures downtown, which showed a maximum of 8.45 rads in 0.3% of the cityscape at high altitudes."
"W-Wow!" Hikari toned, impressed, "I didn't know you memorized those ah… facts Rei!"
"It was specified during the debriefing." Rei replied.
Shinji tried to recall any kind of debriefing, and then remembered Rei had been whisked away while he was allowed to collapse in the base. He probably never saw the information she did. He also thought about the PHASER fire through the targeting scanner… and the radiation bloom from the weapon. He wasn't aware any of those pulsing spikes hit the buildings… "Shinji?"
"Huh?" He turned his head and dropped out of his stupor to look at Hikari. The girl was smiling.
"Whatever the case, you helped save us from the Angel didn't you? Thank you."
"Uaher…" He uttered, "N-No problem?"
Hikari kept smiling.
Their stop came up soon enough and the three left the bus. The umbrella went up again and Shinji got his hood up before leaving the cover of the bus. The station had cover, but the parking lot in front of the supermarket didn't.
"Well," Hikari said, "Normally I can't bring everything because I can't carry it all, but now that Shinji's here I think I can get everything I need today!"
Shinji frowned as he imagined being press-ganged into carrying every kind of household commodity in the bulkiest packaging possible. "Uh… what DO you need?"
Hikari laughed.
"I require some items as well." Rei said.
"We can get them, no worries." Hikari replied.
They made it inside without getting run over in the parking lot, Shinji grabbing a shopping cart as the ladies pushed ahead. Though he wasn't a stranger to supermarkets, most of his shopping was usually done in smaller affairs. It still surprised him sometimes to see so much product placed in such a small space.
But then, this was Tokyo-3. Part of the appeal of this space-age city was that it had plenty enough to go around. Shinji blinked as he followed the ladies down the first of the aisles.
"All right…" Hikari said as they began in the produce section, "The question is what I want to make for dinner tonight…"
Shinji heard that. "Y-You cook?"
"Yes," She replied, "I've been doing all the cooking for my family ever since my mom passed away."
Shinji blinked. "I-I'm sorry…"
"She passed away a long time ago Shinji, It's all right." Hikari replied, staring at a rack of potatoes and looking thoughtful.
Shinji turned his head to see Rei advancing to a fruit rack of apples. Shinji turned back to Hikari, who was considering another stack of fruits. Shinji pushed the cart over to Rei. "E-Ever had apples before?" He asked.
"No." She replied.
"Well uhm… they're good." Was all he could say, already feeling this attempt at conversation was off to a bad start.
"They taste good?"
"Y-Yeah… I think so." Shinji replied, "Not really my favorite but I think they're ok."
Rei looked down at the price. "I would like to buy some."
"Uh…ok, um…" Shinji looked around, saw the typical plastic bags one packaged fruits with, and took one from the roll. "How many?"
"How many is a good number?"
Shinji blinked when he looked at her, and then considered the apples. "Well, if it were me I wouldn't get a lot of something unless I knew I liked it. How about three?"
"Three is good."
"Okay…" Shinji said and picked out three of the best looking apples. He secured the bag and moved to put in the cart. "One way I liked apples was when they were sliced."
"Sliced?"
"Something my aunt did," Shinji replied, "Apple slices with peanut butter for a snack."
Hikari's voice suddenly came in, "That doesn't sound bad actually. Could you get me some too, Shinji?"
"Sure." The boy replied.
Hikari put some onions into the cart. "Did your aunt do a lot of cooking Shinji?"
"Both of my…well… my aunt and uncle both did yeah." Shinji said as he grabbed another bag, and went on, "My aunt was American. She came up with all kinds of things to eat."
"Like what?"
"Uhm," Shinji replied, "Sandwiches, meat sometimes…" he shook his head as he tried to run through the things he typically liked, "Pasta, Casserole…" He put the second bag of apples in the cart, separate from Rei's, "Sometimes she'd just improvise."
Hikari smiled. "Sounds like your dinners were very interesting."
Shinji nodded, deciding not to mention that his aunt also consumed significant quantities of alcohol. "You can say that."
They started away from the produce section. "So," Hikari said, "If I were to ask you for any ideas on something to surprise my family, what would you suggest? Kodama wanted to try something western."
Shinji frowned. "I dunno… uhm… what do they like?"
"I want to surprise them." She said, suddenly stopping and turning around to look at him, "I know, what's the thing you last cooked?"
Shinji blinked, but it wasn't hard to find the answer. "I-I cooked seven-seas casserole… it's what I gave to Asuka…"
"Oh." Hikari replied, reading the story in Shinji's tone and expression. She smiled, "Well, she liked it, right? Its not like the meal's cursed now is it?" Shinji didn't answer. "Oh come on! What did you use?"
"…It won't be a problem?" Shinji asked.
Hikari crossed her arms.
Rei blinked.
"W-Well…" Shinji began, "You need rice, first."
They were up to the Evangelion's waist when there was a phone call to the third cage. Maya looked to Ritsuko. The Doctor took it. "Doctor Agaki, second cage."
"Doctor Akagi," Yui Ikari's voice said over the phone, "What is the status of the tests on the second unit?"
"We are halfway through the B procedures." Ritsuko replied, "Minor anomalies reported in the nerve connections of the musculature in Area 14 of the armor plating. The musculature initially showed resistance to nerve stimuli, but after a delay that area now shows green."
"I see. Any other events to report?"
Ritsuko's eyes flicked over to Maya. The technician moved an arm to a data terminal. "Yes," Ritsuko replied, "We have been monitoring the second children's synchronization ratios. They peaked at 45.7%. This is the highest my department has observed for her- we've cataloged the event and correspondence between the pilot and ground control base. I also have an E-Graph available."
"…I see you were prepared for this eventuality."
Ritsuko smirked. "One does not skimp when the opportunity presents itself, doctor."
"Does your department have a technical explanation for the synchronization increase?"
Ritsuko needed to choose her words carefully. She had them twisted on her in Ikari's office- she wouldn't allow it here. "I believe it was the fact that we were not persecuting her performance that allowed her to attain the scores she did. It may also interest you to know that we have, for the first time, Synch ratio scores on an unconscious pilot. They also showed significant increase in synch scores."
"Really?" Yui's tone actually had a degree of surprise, "I would like the data on that as well."
"As you wish," Ritsuko said, "Though I should perhaps point out that Doctor Zeppelin did not feel the study was worth the time expended. On behalf of my department, I feel the data is worthwhile, as it may have impact on our long-term synchronization studies and capabilities with the Evangelions."
"I also feel the data was worth acquiring. Well done. I want discriminate copies of both the synch increase and the unconscious synch forwarded to my office as soon as you are done."
"Of course." Ritsuko replied.
"Carry on." Yui said and hung up. Ritsuko replaced the phone and looked to Maya to see an expectant look.
"Well," Ritsuko said, taking a step to Maya's station, "Prepare copies of synchronization events one and two. We'll be sending them off to Doctor Ikari's office when we are finished here."
"Right…" Maya said, not getting the answer she expected but obeying orders.
Ritsuko put a hand on the back of Maya's chair. "We didn't get an outright overturn of the commander's ruling," She said, "But I think we put a hole in Doctor Zeppelin's argument."
Maya nodded and a smile appeared on her face.
It wasn't just the materials for seven-seas casserole. The girls continued shopping and by the end Hikari had accumulated soft drinks, some water filters, and… female care products. Hikari caught Shinji fidgeting uncomfortably as they passed through the isle, and smiled. Shinji, seeing this, tried to compose himself, but Hikari only giggled.
Aside from the apples the only other thing Rei got were bandages.
While they waited in line Hikari asked her, "Are you sure you don't need anything else, Rei?"
"Yes." Rei replied.
Hikari glanced to Shinji, then back at Rei. "No food, no cola, nothing?"
"I do not require anything else." Rei answered.
Hikari just sighed and steered the cart forward as more space was made. Shinji pushed it, looking at the items in the cart and wondering how to carry it all. He glanced at his watch, reading 4:45pm.
Suddenly his phone buzzed. Hikari turned to him as Shinji dug it out of his pocket and looked at the number. It wasn't familiar. Opening it, he asked cautiously, "H-Hello?"
"Shinji? Is this you?"
Misato. Shinji paled a little. "L-Lt. General! I-I-"
"Shinji! Relax… I'm calling to check on where you are."
Shinji swallowed. "I-I'm out sh-shopping with friends!"
"Ah! I see!"
Shinji swallowed, "M-Misato…"
"Shinji, I'm sorry for blowing up at you yesterday."
"N-No… I should be the one apologizing…" Shinji replied, "I wasn't… I didn't…"
"Shinji, I realize you had a lot on your mind and my place wasn't the most accommodating. I'm afraid to say you were kinda… correct when it came to Kaji and I. We weren't expecting you and I should have taken a little more time to prepare for that. Can you accept my apology?"
Shinji squeezed his other hand on the handle of the shopping cart. "Can you accept mine?"
"Gladly." Misato replied.
Shinji swallowed again and said, "M-Misato… Do you want me to be at your place by the end of the day? I-I mean… if I'm supposed to?"
"Shinji, the only rule I'm under officially is to make sure where you are at all times, especially that you aren't pestering Asuka or… well… as her mother would say 'in the general vicinity'. Since she is in the cages right now doing testing and I've just confirmed you're on the surface, we're good. That is, unless you're lying to me and you're in the cages now-"
"NO! I'm not! I swear!"
Hikari giggled at Shinji's impassioned denial, while Misato went on, "With gusto like that I wonder how well you'd enforce a lie. Well, if you ARE coming back here, give me a call so I can try to make some part of my place habitable for you, ok? Maybe I can rope Kaji into helping me. Otherwise, call me later to tell me where your bunking for the night."
"…I'm sorry again, Misato."
"And I'm sorry for getting off on the wrong foot. Have fun with your friends, ok?"
"O-Okay… thanks."
She hung up, and Shinji closed his phone.
Hikari asked him gently, "Your… guardian?"
"That was the lady who has the apartment." Shinji replied.
"The one with all those beer cans? And things crawling into them?"
Shinji's displeasure at the thought returned. He made a face. "Yes."
She giggled again, and then noticed they were next up in line.
"Well," Hikari said, "If you don't have anyplace to be, you can help me carry all this back to my place?"
That was a given, Shinji knew, with all the bags that Hikari had requisitioned.
As they got to the gates they noticed it was still raining. "Oh…" Hikari said, then dropped her bags at the door, "hang on!" She went to a door-side rack to pick up another umbrella, and hurried to the back of the grocery store line again, leaving Shinji alone with Rei and her modest one bag of apples and bandages.
"I do not understand." She said.
Shinji looked at her. "What?"
"Why is Class Representative Horaki returning to the line with another umbrella."
"She doesn't want us to get wet." Shinji replied.
"You do not require protection from the rain. She also has an umbrella."
"That leaves you." Shinji replied.
"… I do not mind the rain."
"Do you want to get wet then?" Shinji asked.
"It would be an unavoidable consequence."
"Well," Shinji said, "That's why she's getting an umbrella for you- so you don't have to get wet."
"Why?"
Shinji blinked. "What do you mean, why? She doesn't want you to be inconvenienced."
"I do not understand."
Shinji blinked at the strangeness, remembering Rei's earlier comment days ago… in the entry plug after he rescued her. "She wants to help you out. It's what people do sometimes… what friends do for one another."
"I see." Rei replied, "So… then would Class Representative Horaki see me as a friend?"
"I don't see why not."
"Do you see me as a friend?"
"Of course!" Shinji replied.
"I see."
Shinji blinked. At this angle she seemed awfully familiar. Almost like-
Hikari returned with the Umbrella. "Here we are! Rei, do you like this one better than the one I have?"
"I have no opinion, class representative Horaki."
"Rei, you can call me Hikari." The girl said, passing her the newer one, "You can take the new one. It's bigger."
Rei took it, examined it, and started to take off the plastic coating.
Shinji suddenly figured she could have gotten him an umbrella too. "H-Hey… you could have picked one up for me…"
"Silly boy," Hikari said as she opened her umbrella and took one of the bags, "You'll need both hands to carry all those bags. How about this- I'll cover you with my umbrella if your hood isn't enough."
Shinji paused at the thought of getting close to Hikari again. He didn't resist. "O-Okay."
She smiled, and the three of them stepped out of the supermarket exit.
Asuka emerged from the entry plug reeking of LCL, as she always did after prolonged tests. She was used to it by now, and just made her way out of the back end of the cages to go to the locker rooms to change.
Doctor Akagi was waiting at an intersection junction though, a tablet in hand. Asuka paused at the far end of the hall, balling her fists, and preparing to face more difficult decisions. Her advance was not as swift as it had been out of the cages.
Ritsuko noticed her and looked up. "Asuka, how are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Wait," Ritsuko said as Asuka passed her. The girl in the red plug suit stopped. "I'm aware your mother puts you under a lot of stress, and I'm going to guess the fact that Shinji is on prohibition because of you is also making you uncomfortable."
"…What are you trying to tell me, doctor?" Asuka asked without turning around.
"That I want to help you, and Shinji. I feel your mother is being very contrary to the performance of both of you."
Asuka closed her eyes and her head dipped a little. She wasn't alone. She wasn't helpless. But…
"I appreciate your concern." Asuka replied, "But it is unnecessary."
"Asuka-"
"Doctor," Asuka whirled to face her, "You are not my mother! You could never be! I'm sorry that you feel you have to mother every children in here with a problem but I cannot accept your… damage control!"
"Asuka!" The doctor called as the redhead ran down the hall for the locker rooms. As Asuka's words bounced around in her head, Ritsuko leaned back against the wall and let the back of her head hit the metal plating. She sighed to the air.
Hikari's house was a modest two-story affair in the old part of the city. The bus stop was a little far from the house, but by then the rain was letting up and there were plenty of trees along the street. Rei, still present, accompanied them up the hill.
"Some days," Hikari said, "I walk to school when I feel up to it. I have to get up early enough though…"
Shinji looked to the east, trying to make out the campus from here between the houses. He couldn't see it and looked ahead.
"My sister was class rep before I was," Hikari continued, "I think that's why I got the responsibility. And she ALWAYS walked to school! Ah! Here we are!"
They started up the front porch. "Uh…" Shinji said, pausing, "Is it okay if we…"
"Shinji," Hikari said as she pulled out her key, "It's not like I'm asking you to sleep over or anything! Besides, Dad doesn't usually get home until later. It's just Kodama who'll be here."
The door opened and she pressed inside, followed by Shinji and then Rei. "I'm home!" Hikari called up, "I brought guests!"
Shinji hefted the bags into the room and was all too glad to drop them in the entryway. He was just starting to take off his shoes when someone descended the staircase to the second story. Looking up, Shinji figured this was Hikari's older sister Kodama, looking very much like an older Hikari. The same color hair, same eyes, though with the lean figure of a mature woman. Her hair was bundled in a braid over her left shoulder.
"Hikari," The woman toned, "Who… oh."
Hikari turned. "This is Shinji Ikari! He's our newest addition to the class. And I've already told you about Rei… this is her."
Kodama came off the steps. "Now I remember, you're the boy who left the message yesterday. Is everything all right?"
Shinji recalled leaving that haphazard phone message and blushed accordingly. "Eheh… mostly."
Kodama turned to Hikari. "He's not spending the night here."
"W-What!" Hikari stammered, "Where did you get that idea?"
"I figured the idea would have crossed your mind, I know you too well." Kodama turned to Shinji, "I'm real sorry-"
"Nono! It's all right, I didn't want to impose…" He turned to the door.
"Shinji!" Hikari beeped, bopping him softly in the arm, "She said you couldn't sleep over, not stay to visit!"
Shinji looked at her and then Kodama, who was smiling. "O-Okay…"
Kodama turned away from the entrance, "We don't have much in the way of entertainment though, unless you like Television."
"A-Actually," Hikari piped up, "S-Shinji was going to help me cook dinner tonight!"
"Huh?" Shinji squeaked, having not given much credence to that suggestion on the bus ride here.
"Really?" Kodama replied, turning around, "What is he preparing?"
Hikari looked to Shinji. The boy swallowed, "S-Seven seas casserole…"
"Never had it," Kodama said, and then said to Hikari, "It had better be good."
"I-I can promise it!" Hikari replied.
Kodama, smiling, turned and headed back upstairs.
Hikari sighed a breath of relief and drew a look from Shinji. "Heh…" she said, "My sister, Kodama."
"I'm not gonna be forbidden from ever seeing you if I mess dinner up, am I?"
Rei blinked.
The office of Doctor Akagi was quiet while Ritsuko sifted through the data on her computer. She sipped at her coffee, and while putting down the platter considered the pack of cigarettes she had bought for herself. She almost grabbed it to light up but was interrupted by her phone ringing.
Ritsuko jumped a little, shaken out of her thoughts, and leaned over her desk to look at the number calling.
IKARI, S
Ritsuko hesitated before she picked up the phone. "Yes Shinji I'm here."
"D-Doctor Akagi! I-I wanted to call to see if I was needed tonight."
Ritsuko didn't think so, but wanted to check in case something popped up. "Hold on a minute…" She pulled up a master table for scheduled maintenance and synchronization. Evangelion 01 had little damage during the last battle, so he wouldn't be in for repair tests. Rei was needed this evening though, but the field for WHAT she was required for wasn't filled in. She'd have to look at that later. "No, it looks like you're clear Shinji."
"A-All right, I wanted to check."
"Shinji," Ritsuko said, "Did you get a call from Lt. General Katsuragi today?"
"Y-Yeah she called to ask where I was. Why?"
"Just making sure." Ritsuko replied, "Have you found a place to sleep tonight?"
"N-No… I can't just go back to my apartment can I? I-I still have the key…"
Ritsuko remembered what she read on the official documentation for Commander Ikari's executive order. "I'm sorry Shinji but Kyoko's official wording recommends you aren't even in the same building as she is, unless on NERV business."
"O-oh…"
Ritsuko smirked. "If it makes you feel better some of us on the base are doubting Doctor Langly's reasoning for this mandate."
"Really? W-What about… my parents?"
"They might be harder to convince," Ritsuko said, "But I think there might be sufficient grounds to challenge the ruling against you. As a pilot, you are within your rights to do so."
"…I didn't know that."
Ritsuko smiled. "Maybe we can discuss it the next time you are in. You aren't alone in this, Shinji."
"T-Thanks Doctor. I-I'll talk to you later. Have a nice…er…day."
"You too Shinji." Ritsuko replied. Even before Shinji hung up, the way she sounded that farewell… she replaced the phone gently on the hook and leaned back in her seat, going over the conversation in her head. As she remembered Asuka's words, she sighed and slipped her head into one of her hands.
The photograph stared impassively.
Shinji looked up. "You have to leave?"
They were in the kitchen of the Horaki estate. It was a small thing, just a long counter with a sink in it and a refrigerator to one side. A table was at the center of the room where all the ingredients for dinner had been piled.
"Yes." Rei replied, "It will take a half hour to reach a base entrance from this location. I am required to be there at 1800."
Shinji looked at a clock, and then tried to figure out military time. 6:00. "Oh…okay… Well, I-I guess you'd better go."
"Yes. Thank you for letting me share today with you."
Shinji blinked. That was an odd thing to say. "N-No problem…"
"Hey Rei!" Hikari chirped, "How about tomorrow we go shopping or something!" Shinji was surprised to see Rei apparently startled. "What's the matter?" Hikari asked, "You don't have any plans or anything, do you?"
"N-No…" Rei said.
"Then it's a deal! Maybe we can get Shinji to come with us, if the two of you aren't busy that is," Hikari said, not needing to address with what.
Shinji felt himself blush at the idea of spending more time with the pretty girl. "S-Sure…"
"Great!" Hikari said, then looked to Rei, "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Very well Class Repr… Hikari."
Hikari smiled.
Rei left with her bag of things and the umbrella she had been given. The rain had returned.
After closing the door Hikari sighed. "Up until now I didn't think it was possible to get her to socialize…" She turned to Shinji, glanced at the stairs, and gently pushed him into the kitchen while she uttered under her breath, "I know the two of you were pilots… what happened? She hasn't been the same since the attack."
Shinji glanced back through the doorway into the living room. "I-I saved her life." He said, matching Hikari's volume, "She held down a power transformer when I was firing the gun to… to kill the… the thing. I-I was afraid she would have died. I went to save her."
Hikari nodded a little. "Now it makes sense. You saved her life."
Shinji looked away. "I got the feeling she didn't expect it… Maybe even… didn't want it."
Hikari smiled. "It seems she was grateful for it today."
Shinji adopted the same smile. "Yeah…."
Hikari blinked as she stared at Shinji, and then smiled. "Do you mind coming with me for shopping tomorrow?"
"N-No! Not at all…" He answered, hesitated, and looked away from her again, "I-I… Nobody's ever… asked me before."
Hikari tilted her head a little. "Especially a girl, right?"
"R-Right…."
Hikari couldn't help but giggle. "I'm learning that you can be really adorable sometimes, Shinji Ikari."
Shinji couldn't help but blush.
"Now!" Hikari piped, "Let's start making dinner! My dad could be home any hour and he'll want to eat."
Shinji swallowed at the prospect of meeting Her Father. It could be bad, if his record for parents was any trend that would continue. Well… he would do his best to make the first impression a good one. He pulled off his sweater.
Asuka dropped the pencil on the books and sighed heavily, aggressively. She didn't need this. Not now.
The formula she was staring at in the new book was evading her. Four times she had started over from the beginning, trying to grasp the basics of the new concept and wrap her head around it. Granted, this level of physics was not a piece of cake, but this… this…
She stood and moved to the refrigerator to get something to drink. Maybe if she put her mind away for a while she could re-approach the problem and tackle it head on. The homework wasn't due until noon tomorrow, thankfully allowing her a little bit of breathing room to get this down.
Then again if she was having problems here she could always turn to one of the other subject she was studying.
She opened the refrigerator and jumped a little at the presence of the large, stainless steel pot that was covered with saran wrap. Her jaw gaped a little as she realized what it was, and she closed the refrigerator without taking anything from it.
She backed up a little, hitting the back wall of the kitchen and leaning against it.
Yes, that's what the problem was. That's why she couldn't focus. Shinji was still evicted from his apartment, and she was still here at his expense. What's worse was Ritsuko seemed to expect her help in all of this.
She had the chance! She mulled over talking to Ritsuko about the possibility! But… but…
The phone rang in That Tone.
Asuka went rigid, sitting up and looking across the room in the sun-set lamp lighting at the place where the phone was ringing. Obediently she moved to it and opened it. She dared not let it go unanswered, "Ya, mutter?"
"I've had interesting reports today from the ground crews regarding your synchronization scores today."
"Yes mother."
"I want you down here in the cages now to recreate them."
"Mother," Asuka sighed, "I have studying to do."
"It will wait. You will come down to the cages now."
"Yes, mother." Asuka replied in a defeated tone.
"What was that?"
Asuka took a breath. "I am coming mother."
"Good." Click.
Asuka lowered the cell phone, snapped it shut, and looked at her homework. As her stomach gurgled, she realized he hadn't even had dinner.
She needed to get ready. She leaned against the wall to roll along it, pushing herself to face the bed, but mis-stepped and collapsed on the floor rug.
She lay there for a moment, and allowed herself a few seconds to acknowledge how pathetic she felt.
Shinji Ikari had prepared himself to face a stern-hard faced adult who would growl at him for being anywhere close to his daughters. He would take offense at Shinji's presence, insist the boy be ejected from the house, and it would take the meek appeals of the daughters to allow him to stay long enough to finish eating the very dinner he prepared.
Tokaido Horaki was, in this regard, completely underwhelming. Thin, with glasses and dark hair, he seemed to have a nervous complexion… at first not sure how to handle the strange meal with a guest for the evening but being very vocal about how great it was once he tried the casserole. "You didn't lie, mister Ikari! This is good!"
Shinji laughed nervously. The fictional nightmare Mr. Horaki had condemned Shinji for bringing accursed western food into a traditional household and manhandled him off the premises. This was a welcome change.
"So is it true?" Mr. Horaki asked earnestly, "Are you the son of Commander Gendo Ikari and Doctor Yui Ikari?"
"Y-Yeah…" Shinji replied, a little crestfallen.
"Lucky! I'd kill to be the son of the boss! I'll bet you live in the best place on the base!"
"N-No actually…" Shinji said, the table now getting very quiet, "My parents don't let me live with them. I-I just got evicted from my place, actually."
"Oooh, Evicted? How? What happened?"
"I… I dunno. I guess I made someone angry."
"Hrhhr….. lemmie guess, would it be Doctor Zeppelin?"
Shinji looked up. "How did you know?"
Mr. Horaki laughed loudly. "That woman is hated everywhere! My whole division is afraid to go to her for ANY kind of medical need! She has the bedside manner of an alligator!"
Hikari couldn't help but laugh at the sudden imagery of an alligator in a nurse's outfit. Shinji got the same image, only with the characteristic blond hair of Kyoko Zeppelin.
"So what happened? Put you on quarantine for the sniffles? Wrong color hair? Look at her funny?"
"A-Actually U-um…" Shinji swallowed, "I-I cooked something for her daughter…" Shinji glanced at the others at the table while he explained his story once again, "She was living off of Instant Coffee and Raman! That's ALL She ate! I saw her fridge and… I thought…"
"Hrrr." Mr. Horaki replied, sucking in a breath before continuing, "We were all guessing she had a daughter but didn't really knew she existed- after all, how can a woman like her bear children? It's impossible!"
"Yeah…well…" Shinji said, "Because we shared apartments in the same building I got kicked out. I can't go anywhere near her now… orders."
"Oh, so where are you living now?" Mr. Horaki asked.
"…I haven't figured it out yet," Shinji said, deciding to leave out the fact that Misato's… place was open, "I'm still looking. Last night I stayed at the office of… of a coworker."
"Ah! Well, I don't think it would be too much trouble to put you up for tonight!"
"Father!" Kodama protested, turning to him, "We can't let another hard-luck case of Hikari's spend a night here! We discussed this!"
"Ah, well…" Mr. Horaki deflated a little, the first time since tasting Shinji's cooking, "W-We have to pay him back somehow… for dinner. Besides, none of Hikari's friends have ever left a mess when they were here."
Kodama looked at Shinji. "He is NOT sleeping in her room."
Before their eyes, Shinji changed color by several shades.
Shinji called Misato before his shower for the night.
"Ohh! A friend? Who is he?"
"Er…" Shinji replied, "Actually it's the place of the class rep. W-We became aquatinted and she-"
"SHE! My my Shinji, It seems I've misjudged you!"
Shinji sighed.
"All right! Well, just don't knock her up, okay? Oh! I forgot to mention earlier that the De-con people have gone through your stuff. What's…." her enthusiasm deflated over the phone, "What's left is here at my place. I've set it aside for you when you're ready to collect it."
"There wasn't a lot, was there?"
Misato didn't speak for a moment. "No. I'm sorry."
"…It happens." Shinji said, "Did they go into my apartment too?"
"I didn't ask."
Shinji felt the key to his apartment in his pocket. "Thank you Misato."
"Don't mention it. Sleep well, kay? Gimme a call tomorrow when you're out of class."
"I will. Have a good night, Misato."
"Oh I promise you, I will. Night!" She hung up.
Shinji looked at his phone. After closing it, he began to undress in the bathroom and realized the clothes he was wearing… except the sweater of course… was still the same undershirt, white over shirt, black pants, belt… the whole ensemble from three days previous. He took a cautionary sniff at the shirt but didn't smell anything. That didn't mean there wasn't anything on it though. He sighed.
For the moment the best he could do is pray the sweater would mask any body odor that was reeking into the shirts. He'd probably have to burn them if they couldn't be saved in whatever clothes washer he found next.
He made the bath quick, not wanting to tax the Horaki's hospitality, and was out dressed in the same stuff. Hikari found him in the living room, where he would be sleeping. "No change of clothes, huh?" She asked.
Shinji did not want to admit to her how long he had been wearing this. "Er…no…"
"Well," Hikari said, "Maybe tomorrow you can do some clothes shopping too. That is, if you have the money…"
Shinji suddenly remembered he still had the company credit card with him. He COULD afford new clothes! Maybe even another apartment of his own! He didn't need to inconv…
Hikari was smiling at him.
"Y-Yeah… I think I can."
"Well that's great!"
Shinji swallowed. "H-Hikari… what did your sister mean… by… uh…"
"Oh!" The girl replied, blushing a little as she stepped forward and whispered to him, "I bring friends of mine over now and again when they're trying to get away from their parents. I usually come up with some excuse."
"O-oh…"
Hikari added with a grin, "I never brought a boy over before though. That's a first!"
Shinji blushed.
So did Hikari.
Shinji felt another moment forming between them, and forgetting that he may have smelled terribly of his own body odor, he leaned forward-
-And then saw Kodama descending the stairs. He swallowed, pulling back a little while Hikari turned around.
Kodama made a wry grin. "I'll have an ear open tonight, Ikari."
"I-I won't do anything!" Shinji piped, "I swear!"
Hikari laughed again and Kodama crossed her arms, smirking. "Shinji Ikari, I believe you, only for the reason that I think if you TRIED anything indecent you would combust first out of embarrassment." Shinji lowered his head at her statement, and Hikari's laughter.
"All right then," Kodama said, heading into the kitchen to shut it down for the night.
Hikari turned to Shinji and bowed a little. "Thank you for letting me share today with you, Shinji."
Realizing she had echoed Rei's words, Shinji's mouth parted a little. It didn't sound so strange coming from Hikari. In fact…
She leaned up again, smiling, and then did a small jump to give him a big hug. He embraced her back, taking in the smell of her hair as he closed her eyes. This… this was…
She gave him a squeeze before pulling back, and then made a face. "Shinji, we have to DEFINITELY get you new clothes, if you ever want me to hug you again without holding my nose."
Shinji blushed. "S-sorry…"
Laughing, she gave him a gentle nudge in the shoulder with a fist. "I'll help you pick them out, kay?"
"…Okay."
"Goodnight." She said, and then turned to follow her sister up the stairs.
"Goodnight Hikari…" Shinji said, watching the two of them ascend the stairs. Shinji looked around the room and then down at the couch where the sheets were laid out. Sighing he slipped into them, pulling the comforter up over his shoulders. He reached out and turned off the lamp.
Though the room was dark, there was still light from outside peeking through the curtains. He could make out the plaster ceiling above him.
"Another unfamiliar ceiling…" he murmured.
Shinji closed his eyes… wondering how many more times the scenery would change for him like this. But then he turned his thoughts to Hikari, and fell asleep content.