Shinji was perfectly aware of the fact that, in all actuality, none of them really were who they used to be.
True, he still had his cocky grins, Hiyori her restless fists, and Kensei his no-nonsense attitude—but the fact was that it was different.
He saw all their faces as if through a foggy window—personalities slightly distorted, twisted, and hammered down to accommodate their current situation. Everything had turned bitter, although one could never really taste the difference; they still all talked, laughed, bantered and chattered the same way as they used to before something hollow grew inside of them.
But really, Shinji thought, there was nothing left of who they were… only their masks.
Oh my gosh, I actually updated this! Aren't you all so happy?
This is my response to the prompt "nothing." I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a humorous or serious take on it, but then this popped into my head, so... yeah.
I don't know if you could tell, but "their masks" don't refer to their hollow masks...