Somehow, Shinji and Kaworu managed to escape the greenhouse, and the next day, Shinji was being driven by Misato to the newly built Tokyo-4 to visit Touji. She dropped Shinji off, and he walked up to the door of Touji's family's apartment. Shinji swallowed, and knocked on the door. It opened, revealing Touji standing with crutches.
Touji smiled. "Hey, Shinji! Come on in."
Shinji and Touji sat in Touji's room, talking.
"Yeah, that was pretty intense," said Touji, referring to the Unit-03 incident. "Fortunately, I was blacked out most of the time due to the intense pain."
Shinji choked and coughed a little on the coke he was drinking.
"You feeling sick, dude?" asked Touji, grinning.
"Haha, what?"
"Cause I got some sick medicinal shit right here." Touji held up a bong. "Should cure whatever ails ya. Got lots of strains to choose from. Kyoto Kush. Tokyo-4 Turquoise. Tsukuba Tskunk.-"
"That's okay, I'll pass," said Shinji.
"Suit yourself." Touji inhaled from the bong, then put it down and leaned back in his chair. "Dude, dude, dude. Dude dude dude. I don't mean to get all emotional, but what you do, piloting those Evas... I don't envy you. Anything can happen, and those angels are terrifying."
Shinji nodded, though he had a soft spot (or maybe a hard spot) for Leliel.
"It's not fair that you have to be the one to fight them. In fact, I hear you're dealing with an angel right now, an angel who's actually a human. What's his name?"
"Kaworu."
Touji sat up and looked at Shinji. "You know what? We need to make this fair. Anything that Kaworu does to you, you do to me, and I'll do to him."
Shinji's reflective pondering turned into an incredulous look. "I don't think that would work. I-"
"Shinji, I don't want you to shoulder this burden alone! So, whatever it was, whatever he's done to you, I don't care, you do it to me, and I'll do it to him. And don't go easy on me, either."
Shinji stared at Touji for a few seconds. "Okay."
"Good. Should I stand up?"
"Yes."
Touji stood up with the help of his crutches. He awaited Shinji's attack.
Shinji sighed, then looked into Touji's eyes. "Shinji," said Shinji to Touji, mimicking Kaworu, "I'm so happy I could get to know you. I think I was born just so I could meet you. I think you're the bee's knees. Oh, wait, what's that? You're planning a party, where you're trying to get people to warm up to me? Well, I don't care about that, I've decided I'm leaving early because I'm a fucking morning person. And also, I don't like the Lilin because I think they have brittle hearts. It doesn't matter that they brought cookies and freshly-made guacamole, I'm going to categorically judge every one of them because of my bullshit personal philosophy."
Touji was thoroughly confused but said nothing.
"Wait, what's that, Shinji? Did you somehow get the impression that I don't enjoy your company? Well it's your fault for getting that impression, but nevermind that, let's have lunch, only, turns out, it's not with me, it's with my clone. I mean, why would I inform you of a minor detail like that?"
Touji remained confused. Shinji walked closer.
"Gosh, Shinji, you didn't like the fact that you met with my clone instead of me? Well, I'm going to sneak into your room and spy on your computer while you've stepped out. And in the end, you know I'll get away with it because you find me irresistible, don't you, Shinji? Well-"
Shinji leaned in and kissed Touji on the mouth.
"-You'd be right."
Touji stood in silence.
Shinji just looked at him.
Finally, Touji spoke. "I'm going to need that written down."