Chapter 126: Successor of the Prototype
"…" Misato said looking at her from her statement. Red flags were going off in her head from her mannerisms.
"I think we should be here with you two if you are going to just chat."
"…" the Second Child said feeling her face becoming tenser from her comment. Seeing him blink slowly, he turned toward the others.
"I believe there is no trouble Miss Misato. Is it possible to permit Miss Souryu's request for five minutes?" he asked calmly.
"…" the Major said then looked at Ritsuko who frowned a little then sighed. "Fine. Five minutes."
"Thank you Dr. Akagi," he said with a small bow.
As the group slowly walked out of the room, each saw the two pilots staring at each other. All felt an uneasy tension in the air as the door closed. Slowly, the redhead slid off the bed and stood on the cold floor. Not reacting from the temperature difference, she headed toward him. She never took her eyes off of him getting closer and closer. Stopping in front of him, she stares directly at his eyes despite feeling her insides tense up.
"Greetings Miss Souryu. How are you fairing?" he asked softly without blinking.
"…are…you…a devil?" she whispers with a serious face as her arms had goosebumps.
"…" he said blinking and tilting his head a little. "I do not believe so. May I ask why?"
"…why…" the redhead asked gravely without blinking. "did you show me…the two of them…at it that night…it's a lie. A mind trick…it has to be."
"…" the Third Child said tilting his head back straight; however, he did not blink.
"…" Asuka said as an enraged expression came on her face. Quickly raising her hands, she gripped both around his neck and started to squeeze.
"…liar…liar…you lie…liar…you lie…" she mutters repetitively over and over again.
"…" he said not blinking from her sudden reaction.
Never flinching, he didn't resist being choked. Feeling her grip slowly increase, he closes his eyes to focus and minimal breathing. The Second Child tried to lift him up by his neck but felt too weak and he felt heavy. Trying to push him down to the floor, he didn't budge from his spot. The aspect that he was not reacting to what she was doing increased her fear and anger toward him greatly.
"…something…feels wrong," Rei muttered then looked at Rana. Oddly, the female twin looked uncomfortable and was rubbing her neck repetitively. Their eyes meet in which they looked at the hospital door. Going toward the door and opening it, both startled the others.
"Asuka! Stop!" Rana shouted as she and the First Child rushed in. The others followed suit and saw what the Second Child was doing. Ayanami and Rana tried to pull the redhead's death grip hands away. Kaji and Toji quickly stepped in aided them. Breaking Asuka's choke hold, the two males pulled her away from him. Rei and Rana stood near Shinji seeing that he didn't fall over or gasped for air. Instead, everyone froze a little to see his eyes open as blood tears came out. With choke marks around his neck, his eye color changed. The atmosphere suddenly became grime, unsettling, and eerie.
"…no…No…NO! STAY AWAY! DON'T COME NEAR ME! YOU FREAK! YOU MONSTER! YOU DEMON! YOU RAPIST! YOU SICK BASTARD!" Asuka shouted uncontrollably as she was trying to break away from Kaji's and Toji's hold on her. From her outburst, it broke everyone's stupor and made them all blink. They saw him bow slightly.
"My apologies for upsetting you Miss Souryu. I will excuse myself out. Good day."
"…" everyone said watching him set his get well box on a small table. Leaving, he closed the hospital door quietly behind him. After a few seconds, Asuka slowly broke down and started to cry. Both Toji and Kaji let go of their hold of her. The inspector pulled her into a hug and started to pet the back of her head. It made her cry harder as she gripped his clothes loosely and shaking visibly.
"…how could…you," she muttered quietly through sobbing chokes. "How could you…when you…have me."
"…" Rei said relaxing her tense face seeing the condition of the Second Child. Letting go of her fists, she turned toward the door and headed towards it.
"…" Misato said watching the First Child drop her get wall box before leaving the room. Rana did the same thing followed by the others. After Rayne left, there was only Kaji, Ritsuko, and Misato left in the room with Asuka.
"Just to let you know Major," Dr. Akagi said with a neutral tone and adjusted her glasses. "Because she was severely affected and traumatized from the Angel battle, she will have to go through therapy."
"More so based on her actions right now, right?" Misato asked watching Kaji gently move Asuka back to the bed.
"Mmm-hmm. Pilot Souryu will have to be under constant surveillance for any potential tendencies. As of right now, her piloting career will be on hold until she recovers."
"…" the Major said seeing Asuka suddenly turning away from Kaji when placed in the bed. Even with him standing at the bedside, she went into a fetus position and pulled the covers over her. Her crying became less audible as a couple of quiet chokes were only heard.
"…do you have any idea…what that thing was in Unit-01?" she whispered.
"…" Ritsuko said making notations on the clipboard before placing it at the foot of the bed. Turning toward the lavender haired woman, her face was passive.
"Other than what everyone witness and can assume what is in it…no."
Later in the day in the forest area outside of the city, Rayne walked through the secret doors to enter the underground SEELE Agent and containment center. Going through security clearances, she was escorted to the empty warehouse chamber. With the double doors opening, she walked into the space. Stopping at a point, the double doors closed. A minute or so of darkness and silence went by as she stood there. Crossing her arms and tapping her foot, it echoed throughout the open space. Suddenly, 12 monolith pillars appeared and surrounded her. Each had red numbers on the top portion of their front facing.
[Report prototype] 01 stated that was across from where she stood.
"Where do you want me to start?" she asked placing her hands at her side and standing straight.
[Give us details of the Angel battle] the head monolith spoke in which Rayne stated her personal account of what she witness and saw. After finishing, there were many murmurs that were going around.
[Was there a reason to why the Second Child used Unit-01 instead of Unit-02?]
"Even when asked the question, the Second Child did not state a reason."
[What condition is the pilot now?]
"For the time being, she will be going through trauma therapy. Her piloting has been restricted until she recovers."
[Trauma…was the Angel's attack that severe?]
"From what I witness and heard, yes. It has incapacitated the Second Child as of now."
[…I see…was Unit-01 placed in Terminal Dogma?]
"Yes sir."
[What of the Third Child?]
"As far as I know, he is still a back-up pilot."
[How did NERV special investigator Ryoji Kaji escape?]
"The Third Child was involved in preventing the investigator's assassination," Rayne stated and heard all of the monoliths murmur again. She was able to force herself to not smirk or chuckle from the subject they were talking about.
[Leader. We cannot send any more Agents to infiltrate NERV. The Third Child has killed off more than a dozen of our infiltrators] one member stated to her left.
[That number is 24…if you include the Agents as well.]
'…jesus…' Rayne thought surprised.
[…I agree with you] the head monolith stated. [Prototype. You will continue to be our infiltrator and your pilot position at NERV.]
"Yes sir."
[Good. You may leave.]
"…" the ex-officer stated with a small bow.
Turning around and heading toward the double doors, two SEELE Agents were on the other side when the doors opened. One escorted her back to the security clearances to retrieve her belongings. Getting cleared and leading her toward the underground garage, both got into an unmarked black sedan. Sitting in the back seat with the Agent in the driver seat, he drove the car to the surface and back to her apartment.
'…' she thought looking out the window driving down the country road. 'What the hell did I see back there?'
'What did he mean about Dummy Plug System? How does it correlate to him being in the Eva and a real person too?'
'Is that thing in the Eva the source for all the incidents that cause Shinji to become an altered form of himself?'
'That has to be it,' she thought seeing the car turn onto the main highway to go into the city. 'Shinji must be a prisoner to its will. With that monstrosity at the lowest level of NERV, there would be no chance of it influencing him. There is too much bedrock, metal, and interference between that level and the surface.'
'If that is so…then he should be able to act like himself,' Rayne thought smiling a little from it.
Back in the open warehouse space, the monoliths were still active. When the prototype left, they continued with their committee meeting. Reaching back to a subject they already addressed, the lead called out to someone.
[Did you catch everything?]
"More or less," a voice answered from the darkness. It sounded like a male teen.
[You will be our other main infiltrator to NERV and the replacement to the Second Child.]
"What an honor…why don't you have the prototype become the replacement?"
[That experiment is a failure. We don't have the luxury for error.]
"All for control and information," the boy said appearing in the center of all the monoliths. "Humans fighting over others for such petty things."
[You shall do as you are told child] the lead stated with a grave tone.
"But of course," the individual said and took a bow with his arm out. "Your wish is my command."
The next morning occurred as any normal day. Walking down a side walk, both Kensuke and Toji had met up and were walking to school.
"You know Toji, have you ever thought about how much of an impact NERV has had since the Angels started attacking more regularly?" the freckled student asked as they continued their trek on a gradual upslope.
"In what way?"
"Well, Neo-Tokyo 3 still has many of its citizens still living here. Not many people have left the city given how the Angel battles have been."
"Some of those battles were rather brutal man. Still scared a good portion of people to leave," Toji countered.
"True…but overall, the city destruction has been small. Most of it has been outside of the city."
"That what you are reading on your dad's computer again," the Fourth Child said sighing out loud.
"Nah. There is online forum and organization groups that idolized NERV and the Evas as being the saviors of the world."
"Those are crazies talking dude."
"Don't you think what NERV is doing is saving lives?"
"…well…yeah…I guess."
"Think about our school man. It is the most sought after because of the Eva pilots being there."
"Really?" the jock asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Most of the students believe that with the Eva pilots attending there, they are the safest out of all other schools. Didn't the Class Rep mention to you that there was more funding going to our school than last year?"
"…huh…" Toji said scratching the back of his head. "She maybe said something like that."
'I can't argue what he is saying,' the Fourth Child thought as both continued walking to school.
'Ever since becoming an Eva pilot, I suddenly became popular. It was great to have girls come up to me initially.'
'But man is it a pain in the ass!' he thought ignoring the military nut go off about something he read on his dad's computer. 'Both of us can't do our normal operations like we use to!'
'Besides that,' Toji thought looking up to see three familiar figures up ahead going to the school from a different street. 'Those guys have changed my outlook on NERV and piloting.'
"You listening Toji?" Kensuke asked then looked at where the jock was staring at. "Hey. Its Shinji, Ayanami, and Rana."
"You know man…since piloting, it really makes me wonder about what they would have been like if they never piloted Evas."
"What do you mean?"
"Ayanami and Asuka have done nothing but piloting for a long time. Makes me wonder if they would have been more normal if they weren't trained for so many years."
"Hmm…possible. But you think the fire-demon would have changed?"
"…" he said with a smirk then it immediately died.
"By the way, why is Souryu not with them?"
"Ummm…she…she has to do a long series of tests after the last Angel battle she did solo," Toji said thinking fast.
"Whoa. Headstrong as usual. You got to tell me about the weapon the she was using! I saw that thing fire from the ground and it was EPIC."
"Hahaha…yeah man. I'll tell you later. Come on, I actually want to talk to those three anyways," he said speed walking forward. Kensuke smiled excited and matched his pace.
'Wonder what Shin-man would have been if he wasn't initially insane…god…scares every time I think about the shit he got put through,' the Fourth Child thought shivering a little. 'Let alone the brutal shit he did himself.'
Reaching the school gate, the two students headed toward their home room. Going up the stairs and seeing the door open, they saw the three sitting together at the front row seats. Heading over to them, Toji put his hand up seeing the Third Child start to stand up.
"Morning you guys," he said as Shinji sat back down and nodded toward him.
"Greetings Mr. Suzuhara…Mr. Aida."
"Morning," Rana said with a smile.
"Morning," Rei said with a nod toward them.
"Morning!" Kensuke stated then leaned forward. "I heard from Toji that Souryu was still at NERV for testing after the Angel battle. Is she hurt or something?"
"…" Shinji said seeing the mild panic expression on the Fourth Child's face. "Yes. Mr. Suzuhara is correct. Miss Souryu was attacked by the last Angel and is recovering. She is not physically harmed."
"Really!? What kind of an attack was it?" Kensuke said kneeling in front of the three and looking at the Third Child excited.
"Sorry Aida. We aren't permitted to say," Rana piped in giving an apologetic smile.
"Not even a little bit?" the male student asked giving a small space hand gesture with his thumb and index finger. Getting a karate chop on his head, Toji sighed out loud.
"You never give up man," he said walking to his desk to drop his stuff off. "I said I'd tell you later alright?"
"…" the three watched as Kensuke went back to his desk sighing.
"Those two…are amusing sometimes," Ayanami stated looking back at the Third Child.
"Mmm-hmm," Rana said with a smile looking back at Shinji.
"The gentlemen are a pair," he said.
Small talk was exchanged between them when more and more students came in. Hikari entered the classroom and greeted a few of the students that greeted her. Seeing the two stooges at their desks talking, they had improved their attendance. Looking at the usual three pilots sitting together and chatting, the Class Rep still had a belief that Ayanami was related to both the twins in some way. Noticing that Asuka was not present, she wondered if something at NERV happened that required her to stay.
'I can ask them later,' Hikari thought shaking her head. 'I'm sure it isn't something serious.'
When the bell sounded and last remaining students rushed in, all took their seats. The teacher walked in toward his desk and laid down his stuff. Hikari did the morning routine and class started. Still in the first period, the front sliding door opened suddenly and the teacher looked over. Nodding, he turned around to address the class.
"Alright class. We have a new transfer student that will be joining you all. Please make him feel welcome like you have with the others. Come on in," he said motioning the person at the door to walk inside.
The teen boy that walked in made everyone blink in surprise. As he wrote his name on the board, students were murmuring from his unique features: gray hair, pale skin complexion, and red eyes. A good majority of students looked back and forth between him and Ayanami seeing that both of them had the same skin tone and crimson eye color. Seeing the transfer student turn around, he gave a friendly smile.
"Hello. I am Kaworu Nagisa. Thank you for letting me join your class. I am in your care."
After giving a small bow, he immediately recognized the First Child who glanced at him then turned to the window. Keeping his friendly smile, he saw something in the front row that made him blink in surprise.
'…there…there really is a double,' Kaworu thought seeing a male and female version of the Third Child. Both were stoically look at him in which he felt something odd from them.
"Alright…go ahead and sit in an available seat," the professor stated.
Nodding, the new student went to an open seat that was two desks behind Shinji. Walking by him, the male pilot did not make eye contact with him. Sitting down and seeing the other students settling down, class continued. At the end of the period, the start of the first break began. Only a few students got up and left the classroom. Kaworu looked over to his left expecting the First Child to either stay in her seat or come to him. Instead, Ayanami got up and walked toward the front. She stopped and stood in front of the Third Child's desk and looked down at him.
Finding her behavior peculiar and making him curious, he was about to stand up when he was surrounded by a few students in the class. They started asking him questions regarding himself in which he gave a friendly smile back and answered them.
'There are more chances to personally introduce myself,' he thought paying attention to the students' curious questions.
"Another person that will be popular," Kensuke whispered to Toji watching the new student get surrounded.
"…" the Fourth Child said crossing his arms over his chest. "…probably…"
"He has similar features to Ayanami. Is he related to her?"
"…who knows," Toji said standing up. "I'll be back after I take a leak."
"Hey Ayanami," Rana whispered from her seat getting the First Child's attention. "Is he related to you by chance?"
"…" she said blinking and not glancing at the new student. "Other than physical features…no."
"…" the female twin said feeling that there was more than what Rei was telling. Looking at Shinji, the teen boy just blinked while keeping his expressionless face.
"What do you think Shinji?"
"…" he said tilting his head up to look at Ayanami's face. Nothing was heard in his head nor a cackle of any type. Blinking again, he turned to look at Rana.
"Other than what Miss Ayanami stated, they do not have the same last name. Testing and screening would probably answer that question most accurately. Until then, I assume they are not related."
"That's true," the female twin said noticing that the First Child slightly changed her expression while looking at him. Recalling what the male pilot told her after the Angel battle, she controlled her expression from frowning. Shaking her head internally, she brought up another subject to talk about with them.
Classes continued after break and went on as normal. When the lunch period occurred, Kaworu saw a majority of the students leave the classroom. Glancing over at the First Child, he was slightly surprised from seeing her pull out a bento box.
'So she has assimilated to human culture,' he thought seeing her stand up and walk over to the twins. 'But why? She does not have to take in energy like the humans have to.'
When Ayanami reached where the twins were, both stood up with their lunchbox in hand. Watching the three walk toward the classroom door, his curiosity grabbed him at her different behavior. Standing up and putting on his friendly smile, he followed them. By the time he reached outside, the three where at the bottom of the stairs. Watching them, they stopped at a bench in the large courtyard. Looking them while going down the stairs, he was slightly surprised to see that both Ayanami and the female twin sat next to the Third Child.
'Strange…reports indicate that she was raised by and attached to the NERV Commander,' Kaworu thought reaching the ground and walking directly toward them. 'She should exhibit no other closeness to anyone else…given her origin, she should have been corrected from going outside of the intended behavior and mannerisms.'
Only making half of the distance, the new transfer student felt two eyes make contact with his. Seeing the dark magenta eyes, they did not look hostile or inviting. Blue-red eyes looked up at him next followed by crimson ones. Though he had a friendly smile on his face, he felt a slight tension inside of him from their staring. Given how much information SEELE has given him about the three individuals, the old men considered the Third Child the most dangerous.
Despite knowing that it was the First Child that was more concerning, it didn't stop him from remembering the data. Recalling the info on how many Agents the Third Child has killed and in brutal manners, there was also his feats when piloting that caused them concern. Knowing that the male pilot himself could not harm him, the video of the underground lab came to mind. At first, it did not cause much of a reaction from him. However walking up to him in person and seeing how piercing the dark magenta eyes were, it seemed to cause the slight tension inside him to increase a tad.
Reaching a few feet away and stopping, he saw the Third Child stand up and gave a slight bow.
"Greetings Mr. Nagisa," Shinji said with a stoic expression. "How are you?"
'This is his normal mannerisms,' he thought forcing the slight tension to go away.
"I am doing well. Thanks for asking Ikari," Kaworu said returning the slight bow and smiling.
"Is there something I can do for you sir?"
"Well…I thought I would personally introduce myself to you all knowing that we will be working together."
"I see," the male pilot said placing his bento box on the bench table. Turning to him, he gave a slight bow again.
"I am Shinji Ikari. I am the Third Child and Eva pilot of Unit-01," he stated with a blink. Giving a hand gesture to the person on his left, the female twin stood up and stood next to him.
"Hi. I am Rana Ikari. I am his twin sister and a back-up pilot. I do not have a designated Eva to pilot," she said bowing slightly with a small smile.
"How do you do," Kaworu said with a smile though had to force himself from faltering.
'Strange…despite looking like copies, they don't emit the same presence and personality.'
'How peculiar,' he thought blinking and seeing the First Child set her bento box down and stand up. 'There is no record of her ever existing…yet…she is alive and real. Besides that, she emits of having a soul…while the Third Child does not seem to have one.'
"I am Rei Ayanami. I am the First Child and Eva pilot of Unit-00."
'I don't have anything to prove them true…how frustrating,' he thought then internally shook his head. Take a slight bow, he continued to smile at them.
"I'm Kaworu Nagisa. I will be replacing the Second Child as the Eva pilot of Unit-02. I will be in your care."
"Welcome Mr. Nagisa," Shinji said.
"Thank you. If you all don't mind, I rather be called by first name."
"Very well…Mr. Kaworu," he said with a slow blink and didn't change his expression.
"Was there something else you needed Nagisa?" Rana asked changing her face to look neutrally at him.
"…" Kaworu said smiling then scratched the back of his head. "I know this is a bit sudden, but I was wondering if I could talk to Ayanami alone for bit?"
"…" Rei said staring at him. Blinking, she nodded her head.
"Okay."
"Thanks!" the new student stated with happy expression. "I appreciate it."
"Ikari," she asked turning to him. "Will you and Rana remain here?"
"…" Shinji said blinking then looked at Rana who gave a small nod.
"We shall wait here if you return. If your time with Mr. Kaworu continues to the end of the lunch period, we will gather your things when heading back to the classroom."
"…" Rei said with a nod then turned to the new student. "I am ready."
"Do you mind if we go to the roof top?"
"I do not mind."
"…" both Shinji and Rana stated watching the two crimson eyed teens walk away from them. The female twin became curious and felt a small hope came to her. A few of her friends gossiped about how the rooftops on some buildings were the confession grounds. Seeing the male pilot sit back down, she did as well and started eating their lunch.
"He seems friendly," Rana stated scooting closer to the Third Child to sit shoulder to shoulder.
"Indeed," he said taking a morsel of food into his mouth.
"Definitely would be popular with the girls given his looks and unique features."
"I see. Is he of interest Miss Rana?"
"…" she thought putting her chopsticks to her mouth and thinking about it. Glancing at him, she gave a small smile.
"Would you be jealous if I said maybe?"
"…" Shinji said only moving his eyes toward her. Nothing came to him from her statement. Even the imagery of her being with the replacement pilot did not stir an emotion. Hearing nothing from the dark clone either made him ponder. Coming up with an answer, he turned toward her.
"If Mr. Kaworu made you happy Miss Rana…I would share the same emotion for you. Grant it my expressions do not portray my emotions very well, I would feel glad for you. I would also be upset if he harmed you if you chose to pursue him."
"Really?" Rana asked getting closer to his face. "You would support me in any decision?"
"Depending on what it is Miss Rana, yes and no," he said not moving from her being so close to his face.
"…" she said with a slight smirk and poked him with her chopsticks. "Negative points."
"…" he said blinking a couple of times then turning back forward. "…I…see…"
Reaching the roof access door of the building they went to and opening it, both Ayanami and Kaworu saw that the roof top was empty. Heading over to the hand railing side facing the school, it looked down at the courtyard and open spaces. Standing some spaces near her, he looked at the First Child. She was directly looking at the bench the twins were sitting at before turning to him. Smiling and looking at other things, he began to talk.
"You know, we are alike. You and I," Kaworu stated turning to her. "We both are after the same goal. Why not we join forces?"
"…" Rei said blinking and tilting her head at him. "I do not understand…for what purpose of joining forces?"
"We are both composites. Our goal is to achieve what the lilims call Instrumentality. To make the world whole again as one entity. One thought, one mind, one body."
'He is telling you the truth,' Ayanami's second voice spoke into her mind. 'It has been our purpose since the beginning.'
"…" Rei said blinking mildly surprised from hearing the voice. Turning back to look over the railing down below, she stared at one person. Replaying the message that both stated to her, an overwhelming tidal wave of emotions, memories, sensations, and desires flooded her mind. From such a strong mental and emotional reaction, she physically shook her head side to side.
"…no…" she said turning back at Kaworu.
"…?" Kaworu said blinking in surprise. "No?"
"I agree that we are similar...and that our main purpose should be the same. However…I will not join you."
'Stupid child…you can't resist. You will fail and you will crumble in due time,' the second voice said in a belittling tone. It caused Rei to only blink as she kept her passive face.
"We are Angels though. Our goal and purpose is to bring Instrumentality into fruition. It is our will to do so. There is no changing that or resisting it being part of our make up. Surely you jest."
"I am not. I will not join you or the ones still remaining," Ayanami stated again.
"Curious…why won't you?" he asked in a puzzled tone.
"I will not be used as a tool," she said which made his eyebrows go up. He saw that she formed her hands in fists as her demeanor slowly became serious.
"I am…my own being."
'You are linked to me. I will change that thought of yours. You have been too influenced by that lilim offspring.'
'No…this is my own decision…I don't need you,' she thought back as the second voice laughed at her.
"…?" Kaworu said perplexed and curious from what she said. "I don't understand. Our will is absolute and can never be broken…what made you decide this?"
"…Ikari…accepted me of who I am…unconditionally when I was rejected," she said.
"You mean the NERV Commander?"
"No," Rei said looking at him with irritated eyes. "That man rejected me."
"…?!" Kaworu said blinking in surprise.
'She didn't seek the Angel linked to her for acceptance…and went toward the Third Child!?' he thought in surprise. 'She is also expressing too many human emotions…how…did that boy do this?'
"Ikari has shown me more...than either the Commander or anyone else would. He continues to feed my curiosity…my wants…my desires…my," Ayanami said feeling a little embarrassed.
"…?!" Kaworu said as he stared in surprise from seeing how different she was from him. Blinking, he saw her shake her head then calm down. Looking at him with a stoic face, her eyes seemed threatening all the sudden.
"I will not give him up for your purpose…he is mine alone to become one with."
'What?!' he thought feeling his eyes widen in shock. It was the first time he saw or heard any Angel emit, thought, or say something outside and against their purpose and will.
'Individuality…self-will…self-thought…self-mind…I don't understand,' he thought trying to calm down. Taking a glance at where the twins were, his initially thoughts about the Third Child came to mind.
"How?" he asked blinking in curiosity. "How can a soulless lilim as the Third Child change you?"
"You are wrong," Ayanami said glaring at him. "He does have one…it is what captivated me and made me grow into what I am now. No soulless person can do that."
"…you…really have changed your mind," Kaworu said finding what he was hearing and seeing captivating. More thoughts of curiosity gripped him regarding about the person they talked about.
"Is that all?" she asked coldly.
"…" he said smiling and closing his eyes. "I guess so."
"…" Rei said turning around and walked away. Watching her exit through the rooftop door, he turned around and rested his arms on the hand railing. While waiting for Ayanami to appear on the ground level, he saw someone staring at him. Narrowing his eyes, the male pilot was looking at him before moving his eyes downward. The First Child came into view and headed for where the twins were sitting.
"Shinji…Ikari…hmm," he said to himself and giving a small smile. "What did you do to have her gain individuality?"