Chapter 137: Competition
The next day started off the same. Rei, Rana, and Shinji would leave their apartment complex. Reaching the intersection down the street, Kaworu was standing in the same area as yesterday. Unlike yesterday, there was more tension in the air. Despite a majority of it emitting from the female twin, the other two pilots were also behaving a little different.
"Hey Ikari," the Sixth Child said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"…" Shinji said stopping. Slowly turning his head toward the hand, he only moved his eyes to look at him.
"Yes Mr. Kaworu?"
"Get off on the wrong side of the bed?" he said. Giving a friendly smile, he extended his index finger to poke his cheek; however, a hand grabbed it first.
"Watch it buddy," Rana said with a tight smile. "I thought I told you about boundaries."
"Boundaries?" the Sixth Child asked. Keeping the same smile, he turned his head toward her and leaned forward.
"I don't believe you told me before."
"Is that so? Let me give you a refresher," she said gripping his finger firmer and keeping her same smile.
"…" the Third Child said feeling Kaworu's hand removed from his shoulder. Hearing them talking to each other, he blinked and looked forward. Commencing to walk, someone was beside him. Walking in step with him, he looked to his left to see Ayanami. She was looking back at him with a neutral face.
"Seems to be a festive morning," he said.
"…yes…it does seem that way," she said hearing both Kaworu and Rana follow behind them. Looking forward, she tried thinking of something to occupy both her and him. Remembering something she had to do, she turned her head back toward him.
"Ikari…are you free during the lunch period?"
"I am…is something the matter?" he said turning his head toward her slightly.
"…no…I…require your help with a school matter."
"I see. Very well," he said with a small nod.
"…Thank you…"
Seeing him look forward, she did the same. When both Kaworu and Rana catch up with them, the First Child forced the corners of her mouth to go back to a neutral expression. Reaching the school, the group noticed that there were more students walking about than yesterday. Though a majority of them were by themselves or with others in groups, there were couples as well. Some were sitting next to each other smiling while others were seen around buildings talking within their personal spaces.
"Wow," Rana said looking at the small amount of couples seen in sight. "To do that so early in the morning."
"Is that normal?" Kaworu asked. Though he has seen that behavior, it was not common to see it in public sight at the school.
"There are people that do that, but they usually don't let others see them. Wonder what made them to be more daring."
"…" Rei said glancing at the couples. Their behavior seemed alluring.
"…" Shinji said walking forward and not looking at any of them. Reaching the classroom and putting their things down, the four grouped around the twins' desks. As more and more students trickled in, Rana turned toward the Third Child.
"Yes Miss Rana?" he asked. Slowly moving his eyes toward her, she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Why was she all over you yesterday?"
"She?"
"That ex-cop."
"Miss Rayne wanted to prevent me from saying something that was misleading towards Mr. Suzuhara."
"Misleading?" Kaworu asked seeing the Third Child look at him and nodded. "About what?"
"An event that caused her embarrassment."
"Was it something that you witnessed?"
"…" he said blinking. "Yes…I did witness it."
"Really?" Rana said leaning toward him. "Tell me."
"…" Shinji said slowly moving his eyes back to her.
Tilting his head to the right, a loud sickening crunch was heard. It caused the students in the classroom to stop and look at the group. Kaworu blinked in surprise thinking that the Third Child broke his own neck. Strangely though, neither Rana nor Rei seemed as startled as he was.
"May I ask why you want to know Miss Rana?"
"Oh…well…um…you know," she said leaning back. Scratching her cheek with a finger, the female twin looked at him innocently with a small smile.
"Just for references."
"I see," he said tilting his head back straight.
'…how strange…' the Sixth Child thought staring at her. 'Despite her attention being on him…her expression and coy behavior is affecting me.'
"I am afraid I cannot say Miss Rana."
"Oh?" she said immediately changing her expression to being not amused. "So there is something between you two?"
"…" Shinji said giving a slow blink. "Maybe."
"What!?" the female twin said and stood in front of him. As she started asking him questions, he gave one worded answers. Despite wanting to interject and between the two, the Sixth Child noticed Ayanami was getting rigid. Recognizing the signs of jealousy, he waited to see how things would develop. It did not last long.
"H-Hey," the Class Rep said walking over to them. "What's going on?"
"Oh," Rana said stopping her questioning. Turning toward her, she bowed a little. "Morning Horaki."
"…" Hikari said watching the female twin pass her by to her desk. Blinking in confusion, she looked back at the Third Child who nodded to her.
"Greetings Miss Horaki. How are you?"
"Morning Ikari…I'm okay. Was something wrong?"
"No…just a festive morning," he said with a blink. "My apologizes for the disruption it caused."
"…okay…" she said feeling stares at her.
Turning toward Ayanami, she had turned around and walked back to her seat. Turning toward Kaworu, he gave her a friendly smile and walked back to his sitting spot. Deciding to let it go, she walked back to her desk. Seeing Shinji walked to his desk to sit, she noticed Rana with a small annoyed look on her face.
'Wonder what he meant by festive?' Hikari pondered while planning to observe them again.
Classes started and acted as normal; however things changed a little bit. Toji, Kensuke, and Hikari saw that Rana, Rei, and Kaworu were acting a bit more aggressive toward the Third Child. All three seemed to want to grab his attention more and try to be alone with him. The times that Shinji went to the bathroom, Kaworu would join him and walk closer beside him. When he was asked to go deliver boxes to the admin office, Rana shot her hand faster than anyone to assist him. When lunch break occurred, Shinji stood up from his desk.
"Where are we going Shinji?" Rana asked looking up at him.
"My apologizes Miss Rana…Mr. Kaworu," he said as the Sixth Child walked and stopped near them. "Miss Ayanami has asked me to help her with a school matter during the lunch period."
"What kind of help?" the Sixth Child asked curious. They saw the First Child come toward them without her lunch box, but a paper in hand.
"I was given a notification to do a physical health check," Rei said.
"…okay…but why do you need Shinji to help you? Can't you go by yourself?" Rana asked with a neutral expression.
"A representative from our class is required to validate that I completed the physical health check."
"Really?" Kaworu said blinking. "Can I see it?"
"…" Ayanami said handing the document over to him. Rana stood up and got next to him to read it as well. Both Rei and Shinji saw his expression remain the same while his eyes veered toward the female twin. Hearing footsteps behind them, the Class Rep came up to them.
"Are you going toward your physical health check Ayanami?"
"Yes."
"You knew about it?" Rana asked looking surprised at Horaki.
"Being the Class Rep, I have to keep track of these things. I was surprised that the school admin wanted another one from Ayanami. I can only think it might have been during a time when she was absent from school."
"Huh," the female twin said with less tension on her face.
"Wouldn't you being the Class Rep mean that you would be the one to escort and attend Ayanami's check-up?" Kaworu asked after scanning through the document.
"Yes, you are correct," she said then gave an apologetic smile. "There is an admin meeting with all class reps during the lunch period that I have to attend. I did message Ikari earlier this morning if he could be Ayanami's escort which I am grateful for."
"…" Shinji said with a small bow.
"Does he have to do anything?" Rana asked.
"No. He just has to be present in the room while Ayanami is checked by the nurse," Hikari stated then looked at the clock. "You better hurry Ayanami before lunch is over. The nurse won't be available after the lunch period."
"All right," Rei said with a small nod and walked forward.
"Excuse me," the Third Child said with a small bow again and followed the First Child. The Class Rep headed back to her desk and grabbed a folder from her bag. Seeing the three leave the classroom, Rana and Kaworu continue to look at the front door.
"…" the female twin said with a confused look on her face.
"Something the matter?" the Sixth Child asked.
"As much as I want to think that document was not real, I can't prove that it was false."
"Jealous?"
"…" she said and looked at him with a deadpan expression. "Maybe. Are you?"
"…" Kaworu blinked and seemed to think about it. "Yes and no."
"Oh? Not into him as you first were?" she asked with a smirk.
"The interest has not gone away, but I would like to talk to you more," he said with his friendly smile.
"…about what?"
"Mind if we had lunch somewhere other than the classroom?"
"…" Rana said narrowing her eyes at him. "…kay…"
While heading toward the nurse's office, Rei walked beside Shinji. As they continued, there seemed to be more activity of what they saw from this morning. More couples were out and about though it was the ones in discreet areas that caught their attention. From observing, all were showing various levels of first base. Though both did not say anything, Rei controlled her building urge to engage with the Third Child.
"…" the male pilot said. Turning back forward, he ignored the couples that were around.
Reaching the building they needed to go to, they entered it. Walking down the hallway, there was little staff seen. Passing by one office, they heard sounds of shuffling followed by quiet whispering. Continuing on, they heard faint sounds of heavy breathing. Both kept a blank expression despite having different pondering thoughts of what that was. Reaching the nurse's office, Ayanami knocked on the door.
"Come in," a female voice stated. The door opened and the nurse saw two students on the other side. Both stepped inside and gave small bows.
"Ah. You must be Ayanami. You are here for your physical health check, yes?"
"Yes ma'am."
"And this is your…wait…you are Ikari. Yes?"
"Yes Miss."
"I was about to send out that you need your physical health check as well. You missed a number of days during which your class had them."
"I see," he said in which he glanced to his left. Ayanami was glancing at him and blinked.
"What a coincidence that you both would show up at the same time," the nurse said with a smile.
"…" both pilots said looking back at the nurse and blinked at the same time. "Yes."
"If both of you can be on the other side of the separated curtain spaces, we can start," the adult woman asked seeing both nod. While she prepared the test materials needed, both pilots went towards the curtain area. With a separation of bunk beds, both went into different spaces. Hearing both of them close the curtains, she addressed them.
"If both of you dress down to your underwear, I will call each of you individually."
The nurse set all the items that she needed on her desk and prepared two documents. Listening, she heard one of them removing clothes while the other made no sound. Looking at the open space below the curtains, she saw two pairs of bare feet. Blinking in surprise, she shook her head and called Ayanami.
Reaching the rooftop access door, Kaworu and Rana opened it. About to step forward, they saw many couples. Most of them were close to each other without going any farther than holding each other. Rana blinked and looked at him.
"Planning on something in particular?"
"…" he said blinking in mild surprised. "I didn't think there would be that many."
"So you were."
"The thought did cross my mind, but no."
"Oh? Then what did you want?" she asked turning back toward the stairs. Taking at step forward, a hand grabbed her arm. Stopping and looking back, it was the Sixth Child.
"Like I said, I just want to talk to you more."
"…" Rana said.
About to tell him to let go of her, both heard people approaching. A pair was coming up the stairs while another was coming from the rooftop. Having a déjà vu effect, she glanced at the adjacent room to a janitor closet. Not wanting to be caught in an awkward situation, she grabbed his wrist with her other hand. Without saying anything, she pulled him along. Opening the door, she led him inside and closed the door to be held ajar. Looking back, two couples ran into each other.
"Strange how there seems to be more than this morning," Rana commented softly.
"Does seem that way. I thought showing affection for public to see was frowned upon," Kaworu stated in the same volume above her.
"In a way, depending on who you are," she stated then looked up. He was looking down at her in a dark lit room. Both of them could see each other's eye color slightly shine to give a glow.
"If someone caught us like this, we might be taken as a couple," he said smiling.
"Thanks for the reminder detective," she said with an eye roll. Moving to sit down on nearby boxes, she rested her hands behind her.
"So what did you want to talk about?"
"All right Ayanami, we are finished with your physical health check. You can go put your clothes on," the nurse stated marking the final category section of the document. While making the final written requirements, the First Child turned around. Walking back to her curtain section, she glanced at where the Third Child was standing. Feeling an impulse to go see him came, she ignored it and went through the curtains.
"You may come forth Ikari," the nurse stated preparing the next document. While writing in his information from admin records, she could only hear herself writing and the sounds of someone changing. Thinking that it was Ayanami, she turned around and flinched.
"Ah! Ikari, you startled me you sneak," she stated in surprise. He was in the spot that the First Child was last standing in. About to say something, her mouth opened from seeing his physical condition.
"My apologizes for startling you Miss," he said with a small bow.
"Ikari…when…did you get these," the nurse asked standing up and walking toward him. "You did not have them when you first enrolled in this school."
"They are…work related injuries," he said watching her hands move closer toward him. She gently touched the long scar down his neck and looked a little alarmed.
"This is rather deep," she stated then walked around to look at his back. Looking a bit more alarmed, she slowly walked back to her chair. Sitting down, the nurse looked at his face.
"Yes…that one in particular is," Shinji said with a slow blink.
"Can you tell me how you got all these…injuries?"
"I rather not."
"Are you being abused?"
"…" he said blinking. "No. May I ask why are you asking?"
"These old lacerations look to be untreated and seem to be prone to opening up. Doesn't NERV have a medical team to treat personnel?"
"They do."
"This doesn't look like it."
"I see."
"Do they take care of you?"
"Yes."
"Are you in pain?"
"No."
"Under my professional opinion, I think you are."
"I see," he said with a blink.
"…" Ayanami said finished changing back into her school clothes. From overhearing the conversation, she found herself engrossed into listening. At the same time, she felt that she needed to defend Shinji. Her answer came from the nurse speaking out loud.
"Ayanami, could you come here?"
"…" she said blinking.
Stepping through the curtain, she approached the two individuals. The nurse was sitting with her arms crossed in front of her chest while Shinji was standing neutrally. With a stoic expression on his face, he only had boxers on. Stealing a glance, she kept a neutral face despite feeling warmer inside.
"Do you know Ikari had these on his body?"
"Yes."
"When did he get them?"
"It was from an Angel battle that he was in some time ago."
"Was he treated for the injuries?"
"Yes."
"…" the nurse said not looking convinced. "From working with him, does he show signs of being physically disabled or in pain?"
"…" Rei said looking in deep thought before looking back at the woman. "No."
"…" she said still not looking convinced and seemed irritated. Grabbing a clipboard and placing the document on it, she stood up. Handing it to Rei, the nurse looked hard at the Third Child.
"Alright, we will see if what you say is true. Ayanami, you will state each line and write what I say. You understand?"
"…" the First Child said feeling irritated on the inside from the woman's behavior. "…yes…"
"You want to know more about me?" Rana asked seeing Kaworu nod his head. He leaned against the wall across from her; however, given the narrow room, they were an arm's length apart.
"Yes. I am interested in you as well as Ikari. More specifically, your affection for him."
"My affection?"
"Yes," he said smiling in the dark lit room. "It is stronger than others."
"Well…I guess I am a bit headstrong in that area," Rana said smiling a little. "What exactly are you trying to figure out?"
"…" he said bending forward a little. "How does one get to that level of affection?"
"…" the female twin blinked then looked deep in thought. A wider smile came to her as she closed her eyes.
"When you find that one person that makes you feel whole…warm…safe…excited…it is hard to not want to be with them."
"Someone that makes you feel whole?" he asked entranced from seeing her softened face and innocent looking smile.
"Yes…being that we are twins…it is natural to not want to be separated from each other," Rana said looking at him. "But…my love for him…goes beyond being siblings."
"Love has different categories?"
"From what I have learned, yes."
"Could you tell and maybe show me?"
"…" Rana said narrowing her eyes at him. "Don't expect much."
"Whatever do you mean?" he said and gave a small chuckle. Looking back at her, she gave a half-smirk at him and began to explain.
"Are you feeling well nurse?" Shinji said with a stoic face.
"…" the woman said looking at him with slight aggravation. "I'm fine."
"I see," he said then moved his eyes slowly to look at the First Child. "May I ask what is next Miss Ayanami?"
"There are the tape measuring categories."
"If you could do those Ayanami, I will look up something," the nurse stated turning toward her desk. Both pilots watched as she began to look for something. Blinking, Shinji turned toward the table and walked toward it. Getting the tape measure, he turned to the First Child.
"Shall we Miss Ayanami?"
"…" she said nodding and walked toward the table. Putting the clipboard down, she grabbed the tape measure. Seeing him turn around, she walked closer. Moving her arms under his shoulders, she wrapped the tape around his chest. Pulling it around and holding the measurement, she recorded it. About to commence with the waist measurement, she paused.
'…it said…to feed into…the urges,' she thought feeling her hands tense up. 'Based on past experiences…I will be more than frustrated if I do not.'
Instead of wrapping around the front, she reversed it. Going around the back, moved her arms and hands to be around his waist. Holding the measurement, she pressed herself against his back to do a loose hug. Glancing at him, he blinked and slowly looked back at her. Despite him giving a stoic expression, Ayanami felt herself warm more.
Staring into each other's eyes, a small blush came to her face. Her hands loosened their hold on the tape measure as she placed her hands on his stomach. Hugging him more, she placed her cheek next to his. Lost in the surge of content, the First Child closed her eyes.
"…" he said continuing to stare at her without blinking. Seeing that she was not going to open her eyes, he spoke softly.
"Miss Ayanami?"
"…" she said feeling his breath slightly on her lips. Her eyes opened from feeling him softly grasp her hand with the tape measure. Pulling it closer to their faces, she focused on how his fingers were over hers. His thumb was at a measurement number and next to hers. Looking back to his eyes, he hadn't moved or stirred away from her.
"I believe this was the waist measurement."
"…" Rei said enjoying the feeling of his touch.
Blinking, she slowly moved her head and whispered into his ear of agreement. Slowly letting go of him, she tried to regain her composure. While writing down the number, she wanted more. However, the nurse turned around when she looked up. She had to control her facial expression despite feeling much frustration and wanting the nurse to leave.
"So that is how much I know about it," Rana said standing up.
"That is useful insight," Kaworu said understanding a little more. "Thank you."
"Sure," she said going toward the door and opened it ajar. Pushing off the wall, the Sixth Child walked toward her when he saw her close it.
"Crap."
"What's wrong?"
"A couple of people are coming here," she said looking around in the room. "Is there anything we can use to keep it from opening?"
"Isn't there a lock on it?"
"…I don't feel one," she whispered as both could hear a couple of students on the other side get closer and closer. Unable to find anything to wedge the door, she put her hands on the door and leaned into it. Without waiting for her to say anything, he copied her in holding the door. Just as he did that, the handle rattled.
"…huh…" a male student on the other side of the door stated in confusion.
"What's wrong?" a female student asked.
"Strange…the janitor's door seems stuck. The handle turns but it isn't opening."
"Out of the way man. Let me show these guns," another male student stated and grabbed the door handle. With a hard shoulder ram into the door, the door only moved a little bit before going back into place.
"…ow…" he said.
"Well that was smart," another female stated with sarcasm.
"Maybe if we all ram at the same time it open the door."
"Uh, if you guys are that desperate. We will watch from here."
"Alright…on three man."
"What did they mean by desperate?" Kaworu asked continuing to push the door close.
"…one…"
"Probably want something of affection," Rana said pressing the door closed harder.
'…t…W…o…'
"Just keep pressing the door," the female twin stated quietly.
'…ooooo#$%NNNNNNNN#$#$%EEEEEEEE#$!'
"…!?" both Rana and Kaworu said.
Something impacted the door violently and pushed both of them back. Hitting the back wall first, the Sixth Child caught and got slammed by her. Reactively, he prevented her from having whiplash and smacking his face. Hearing her move a little, she gasped sharply. Looking up, his eyes widen a little. A recognizable male student walked through the door. His dark magenta eyes were glowing more than normal despite his stoic expression. Looking down at them, he blinked slowly.
"My apologizes for interrupting your…activity," he said with a small bow. Standing back straight, he gave a displeased face. Doing a sharp 180 degree turn, he started walking away.
"W-W-Wait!?" Rana said scrambling to her feet. Dashing forward, she felt a sudden strong pull from a hand grabbing her wrist.
"Wait," Kaworu stated with a confused face.
"L-Let me go! I have to explain to him what was going on!"
"Isn't he with Ayanami at the nurse's office?"
"…" she said blinking then looked at him hard. "Then explain who walked through the door."
"…" he said blinking and looking back at the doorway.
The door was open and there was only shadows seen fading away from his view. Feeling nothing odd, he was confused on how one person could blow open the door when two people were holding the door close. About to open his mouth regarding about there being four people on the other side of the door, she broke out of his grasp and started hurrying down the hallway.
'…no mere lilim could have done that…wasn't there others behind the door…but…Ikari came through the door…' he thought. Shaking his head, he followed after Rana feeling confused and intrigued.
"…" the Third Child said blinking at what the nurse stated. "I beg your pardon Miss?"
"I said, lower your boxers so I can examine your genitals."
"…!?" Rei said blinking in shock. Looking at the document and scanning through it, there was nothing indicating that type of check.
"Ma'am, the document has no category for that type of examination," she stated firmly.
"I believe I am the expert here. I stated that I will see if what he says is true. Until I have conducted my examination to the point that I am satisfied, I will end it. Now, lower them Ikari."
"…" he said slowly blinking.
"Ma'am, I must state again-"
"If this examination is too much for you Ayanami, you can leave. Since you are done with yours, you may go back to your homeroom."
"…" Ayanami said gripping the clipboard tighter. Anger was generating inside of her from the woman's behavior. She could feel her face becoming tenser as the corners of her mouth lowered.
"I am waiting Ikari."
"…no…" he said stoically and did not move.
"What was that?"
"My apologizes Miss. I said no."
"If you refuse to let me examine, then I will make an incomplete physical health check. You will have to do it again; however, I will leave notes for the next person that you must be thoroughly examined. Is that what you want?"
"…" Shinji said tilting his head to the left. Loud and sickening cracks of cartilage and bones sounded. It caused the nurse's eyes to widen and her body stiffened. The Third Child's eyes seemed to glow more with an icy gaze.
"My apologizes Miss…I will follow instructions," he said without blinking.
'…he's…upset…' Ayanami said blinking with surprise. The aura that he emitted felt like it was back to the first time she met him. Eerie and unsettling, making one feel uncomfortable being near him.
"…o-okay…um…about your neck."
"Yes?"
"Does it…normally…do that?"
"Yes."
"A normal…neck doesn't…do that."
"Normal?"
"Yes…a neck…" she said getting quieter and looking uncomfortable.
"Is something the matter Miss?"
"…could you…stop…staring at me?"
"It be hard to examine me if we are not facing each other."
"…t-true…can you tilt…y-your head…" the nurse said. She was caught off by the same amount of snapping and popping from his neck as his head was straightened. He still hadn't blinked at her as his expression never changed. However, the woman looked more than uncomfortable. Even Rei was feeling goosebumps building from her arms up.
"Miss?"
"Y-Y-Yes?"
"I am ready for your examination."
"…o-okay…then pull down…"
"They are already down Miss."
"…" she said. Looking down, his boxers were already pulled down. Oddly, his groin area seemed to be in a dark shadow. Given that the nurse's office only got the sun in the morning, only the lights from the ceiling provided illumination. Looking up, a fraction of them were on. Looking at the clock, it was within the time period that the school conducted a power down to save energy.
"Miss?"
"Y-Yes?" she said flinching and not looking at him.
"It will be hard to examine me if you are staring at the ceiling."
"…are…are you," the nurse asked slowly looking back at him. Still seeing the piercing and eerie gaze, she swallowed.
"…uncomfortable…w-with this examination…I-Ikari?"
"Are you uncomfortable with this examination?" he asked back. He still hadn't blinked yet in which both pilots saw her starting to sweat a little.
"…n-no…I'm…not…l-let's begin…" the nurse stated slowly stepping forward toward him.
Kneeling down, she could see his eyes following her giving her the creeps. Seeing his groin area closer, there was a number of scars between his upper thighs. Looking at his genitals, they did not look scarred or damaged. Staring at it, it suddenly split open. A large black-red eye pushed through with a deformed mouth with sharp teeth. It stared at her while making loud chomping noises.
"Gaaahhh!?" the nurse said pushing back and backing up to the wall.
"…!?" Ayanami said startled from the woman's reaction. Blinking in confusion, she wondered why she acted that way. Looking back at the Third Child's groin area, it looked the same the last time she remembered seeing them. However, she noticed that his head was downcast. He slowly bent down and pulled up his boxers. Once they were up, he bowed.
"My apologizes if my privates were that unsightly for you Miss," he said standing up. Keeping a downcast face, he remained in a neutral stance.
"Is my examination done or is there more Miss?"
"…" the woman said slowly standing up. Going toward Ayanami, she grabbed the document and immediately headed back to her desk.
"Y-Yes…both of you leave now," she said with a trembling voice.
"Very well," Shinji said slowly turning around. Going to the curtain area he was in, he changed his clothes. Coming out fully clothed, he was looking forward with a stoic face. Going toward the door, Rei followed him. Expecting him to go first, he opened the door and looked at her.
"After you Miss Ayanami," he said with an impassive tone.
"…" she said giving a small nod.
Exiting, he closed the door quietly. Walking down the hallway to get out of the building, she walked beside him. Trying to find something to say to him, everything seemed inadequate. It felt hard to speak to him from what happened from the examination. Not sure on what to say, she looked down at his hand and felt a reflexive response in her. Slowly reaching toward it, she gently grasped it. Thinking he would pull away from not finding that agreeable, he gently held onto her hand.
"I appreciate your concern Miss Ayanami. I apologize if my behavior seemed…inappropriate and ill-mannered," he said turning his head a little to look at her.
"…" Ayanami said staring at him. Feeling a sense of relief from what he said, her inner tension was easing. Despite wanting to hold him, she walked closer until they exited the building.
