XIX Turbulence

Apologies all, this and XX went up without an editing pass. Re-uploading after I had a chance for revisions.

Trigger warning: Suicide

"Who the FUCK is this and WHY does he have a clearance!?" Misato blasted into the phone.

She was back in her office. Between kibitzing with Ritsuko and now, she had klakked back into her office to catch up on paperwork while having her monitor open on the deposition. Once Victor Langly showed up and spoke, she immediately summoned up his security profile. From there, she yanked her master phone off its hook.

Misato was spoiled on Hyuga's efficiency. Her blood boiled a little as Natsuki, standing in for Hyuga, fumbled over her response. "Uh... I'm going to have to check records for section two ma'am. But it appears his security clearance was never rescinded-"

Misato slammed her hand down on the table. "That security clearance is eight years old, and should have been pulled when he went inactive! Why the fuck is he on this base?"

"Uh-Uh, I'd have to check Major! Please stand by!" The line went dead.

Misato threw the phone in frustration. It rebounded on the cable and careened into a pile of paperwork. The small avalanche knocked over two more stacks and Misato could do nothing but just... stare.

Ritsuko made a dry observation from Misato's open office door. "Just because he's here doesn't mean Asuka is going home with him."

Misato glowered at Ritsuko as she leaned back on her desk. "What makes you think that?" She asked.

Ritsuko stepped into Misato's office, allowing the glass door to close behind her. "Remember how this will play out. The MAGI will make the computation and come up with a resolution. Langley can make his announcements all he likes, but ultimately it will be the Subcommander to decide Asuka's final disposition."

Misato straightened while leaning against her desk. "Asuka's our best pilot. I'm cutting off my right arm before I let her go to whoever this... this bozo is who thinks he can show up and...and..."

Misato finished her statement by sighing out a frustrated cloud.

Ritsuko smirked a little. "I was hoping she would go free without fuss, too."

It was only when Shinji moved to sit in his seat that he realized Rei had not entered the classroom with he and Hikari. Class rolled on as normal, though Shinji couldn't shake the despair he was feeling from Hikari. Glancing over a few times, he could tell she was trying to put up a good front, but it wasn't succeeding.

He glanced at the clock. Class was nearly over. He looked around the classroom and then at Rei's empty desk. Where was she?

Finally class ended. The students stood and filed out of the classroom, idle chatter following them out. Shinji made it an effort to pack slowly, making sure he could remain in the room with Hikari to check in with her. He glanced behind him, seeing Suzuhara and Kensuke leaving through the back door.

Finally the room was emptied after Hikari assured the instructor she would lock up the class. They were alone in the room then, and Hikari said quietly. "I think I'm going to resign."

"Resign?" Shinji repeated, stepping up to Hikari, "I-Is that how that works?"

"Yes." Hikari replied, "I just have to inform the faculty. They'll be open to accepting other volunteers, but, I don't know who they'll get to replace me. Especially if they find out they have to deal with Natsuko."

Shinji could only stare at Hikari's disappointment, and act according to his gut. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"I-I'd like that." She said, rubbing moisture out of her eyes and smiling a little.

They left the classroom, locked up the door, and then proceeded across the school to the administration building.

Hikari spoke after a long silence. "I decided to be a class Rep to follow my sister." Hikari said, then took in a breath, "I wanted to honor that. And I hoped Nozomi would have followed me... someday. Seems like a foolish dream now."

Shinji was walking beside her in silence, not sure what to say to that except to be here for her.

They passed through the doors into the administration building and then entered the office. Hikari almost stopped suddenly as they walked in, and when Shinji came up beside her he discovered why.

Three girls; Natsuko, Aisha, and Yua, were all seated in the guest chairs and as one looked up at Hikari. Natsuko had a cruel smirk cross her face, and Yua snickered.

"Fancy seeing you here." Aisha observed dryly.

Hikari screwed her face up in defiance, then turned to the receptionist. "I'm here to see the principal."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No." Hikari replied. Yua sniggered again. Shinji cast a look at the three, but their return stare made him quickly avoid eye contact. Yua sniggered once more.

Hikari sighed and was about to turn on her heel- giving up- when the door to the principal's office opened and got the attention of everyone in the room.

Rei emerged. She simply walked from the room, followed by the principal, whose eyes fell on Hikari immediately. "Miss Horaki!" The Principal called to her, "What a surprise! Miss Ayanami was singing praises about you all afternoon!"

Hikari blinked. Shinji did too. As did the three in the guest chairs.

Startled, Hikari stammered, "I...ah... what?"

The Principal stepped forward. "I remember Kodama's days here. I'm pleased to see you're stepping well into her shoes, miss Ayanami has been telling me so much about your accomplishments and dedication to your role as class rep for 2-A. Some of the personal accolades I'm rather impressed with- especially with an eyewitness to back up some of the other things I've heard about you."

Hikari blinked as if coming out of a dream. Suddenly her prospects at being a class rep weren't so dead in the water. She looked to Rei, then back at the Principal. "Well I'm surprised I... I didn't expect..."

The Principal glanced at Rei. "Miss Ayanami was very adamant that you shouldn't know about this visit, but, seeing as your here I suppose there's no use hiding it." The Principal said, leaning now against the receptionists' desk as he considered Hikari behind his glasses. "I have to say I'm very proud of you and what you've done for 2-A. In fact, I rather wish some of the other class reps would be as dedicated as you- we could use more good stories from the student body about how well they're being represented."

Hikari so wanted to turn around to see the faces of the other class reps, reacting to the principal. Obviously Natsuko didn't get her faculty information from the Principal... after all... if the Principal couldn't recognize the only three other class reps on sight.

This didn't stop Shinji and Rei from looking at them though, and registering the shock. Shinji turned back around before they could see the satisfied smirk on his face.

Hikari was beside herself. Blushing, she bowed. "T-Thank you Mister Iwami! I'm happy to be of service!"

"I'm glad!" The Principal replied with a laugh. "Now, did you want to see me for something?"

Hikari blinked. "Ah, no, it's not important anymore. Thank you again mister Iwami." Hikari gave a bow, and with Shinji and Rei, left the office and didn't look back.

Though Hikari could feel Natsuko's stare boring into her back even through the walls.

Fuyutsuki had known Gendo Ikari long enough to read the man's expressions beyond his simple dour expression. The Commander's irritation was visible from across his office. "Who is this man?" Gendo asked.

Fuyutsuki held the paperwork from the trial under his arm. It had concluded merely a half-hour before. "Victor Langley, a Neural-networks specialist. He was a C-Level employee with GEHRIN on the foundations of Project-E, but was terminated when that organization was disbanded. He was last reported moving to America, working at the University of Illinois in their Coordinated Science Lab on artificial intelligence. He has been estranged from his wife ever since departing GEHRIN."

Gendo sat taking all of that in with his typical contemplative pose. Finally, he said, "How will this impact the proceedings for the second children?"
Fuyutsuki arched an eyebrow. "Based on my read of the situation and consultation with legal, we have four options. First; Langley has offered me no documentation or support to his stake in the matter, beyond his identification paperwork that states he is her father. Regulation 24 is rather inflexible in the parties involved- there is no procedure for a third party to be introduced partway into the proceedings.

"Second, child custody laws being what they are in Japan now, Langley does have legal claim to his daughter. The case of custody remained open-ended between Langley and Zeppelin, as their divorce was never finalized legally."

"Of course." Gendo chipped in. "Our other options?"

Fuyutsuki nodded. "You either issue an executive decree on behalf of NERV to arbitrate directly in this matter, or we allow Langley to state his case and give to the MAGI. After, I will judge."

Gendo sat in silence as he considered the matter. He grunted, "This matter has taken up too much time already. Can we afford to replace the second child and give Langley what he wants?"
"Yes, but not the experience and training she's accrued as an active pilot." Fuyutsuki observed. Adjusting his stance, Fuyutsuki said, "Moreover, we can't be certain this is an act by the old men to deplete our piloting capabilities."

Gendo nodded absently as he considered it. "Opposing the old men at this stage might invite further suspicion. Which is why I can't have direct involvement." Gendo looked up. "Let Langley make his case to the MAGI. And start the process for activating a new pilot, if necessary."

Fuyutsuki crooked an eyebrow. "You mean to surrender the second children?"

"If MAGI goes against us, we may need a stopgap. I won't let one of our Evas sit idle."

In her isolation Asuka had re-read the pilot regulation that kept her safe. With nothing else to do, as her studies were stymied with restricted internet access, she had plenty of time. She had stewed on these laws in case- God forbid- the MAGI and the subcommander did rule in her mother's favor. She wanted to know if she could throw up a last minute defense to prevent that eventuality.

So she was perplexed that security allowed her father to call her. At least they denied his request to visit her in person. "Hallo mine kinder." He opened.

"Hello father." Asuka replied directly in Japanese.

Victor's pause was almost imperceptible, before he launched into speaking again. "It's fortunate the electronics exposition was moved to Tokyo-3, otherwise I wouldn't have had an excuse to come visit you."

Asuka was wincing angrily. "You didn't try hard in the past."

Victor scoffed dismissively, "You know your mother, mine Kinder, she wouldn't have allowed me anywhere near you."

Asuka blinked and her eyes fell on the photograph that was still resting on the desk. Her mother's kind, soft features and happy smile were a direct contrast to the predatory leer her father was wearing in the picture. She blinked and her eyes returned to the blank spot on the wall she was considering as she spoke to him.

Asuka said, "I expected your pride in my accomplishments wouldn't have kept you far away."

"What," Victor replied, "The few I've been allowed to hear about? Your mother has been very closed to me. I couldn't hear a peep out of how you were doing! For years!"

"Of course. What reason would you have to visit your daughter?"

Victor huffed a hurt laugh, "You wound me with your words, mine Kinder. Not a day went by that I did not think of you."

Asuka straightened her posture. "Why are you interfering?"

"Augh, that's your mother's tone. So direct-"

"You can stop the pretense of being a caring father, Dad-" She emphasized the word in English, her eyebrows jumping in anger as she did, "You have an agenda here. What are you after."

"I want to hold my lovely daughter again and save her from the clutches of her wicked mother."

"Fine. You can make your case after I've won my freedom." She clutched the phone with both hands, "If you truly want to help me, Stay Out Of This. Then I'll consider contacting you when I can choose my own destiny."

She hung up and strode away from the phone with fists balled. Then she collapsed on the massive bed, gathered the sheets, and started to cry into them.

For the past few days Shinji, Hikari, and Rei had hung out at the library to get assignments done. With a good lead on their tasks though, Shinji suggested going somewhere fun. They boarded the bus and headed off towards the Tokyo-3 mall once again.

Hikari had been quiet most of the way off the school grounds. But once the bus had rolled for a while, she smiled weakly and said, "Thank you for the idea, Shinji. I need a distraction."

Shinji smiled.

Hikari blinked and turned to Rei. "Rei?" When she had the girls' attention, Hikari asked, "Why did you do that for me? You didn't have to."

Rei stared back at Hikari as she considered an answer, but looked away as she delivered it. "Ikari helped me once. I was in a position to... to do some good, and it was assistance I wanted to give."

Hikari smiled, though doubtful she would get a more concrete answer. "I see." She said while leaning back into the chair. To Shinji she said, "I don't think this is it though. I wonder if it would still be the better idea to have resigned in the end. They're just going to make things worse."

Shinji shook his head as he conjured a deep question. "What drives them to do this? Why are they so horrible?"

"Power." Hikari answered simply. She smiled when Shinji looked at her, and went on, "They enjoy the authority they have. Kodama was always afraid someone like that would take her place, and its happened. That's... another reason I became a class Rep. I thought I could control it somehow but..." She trailed off.

The bus bounced a little before they arrived at their stop at the mall. The three disembarked and headed into it. "It's funny," Shinji said, "I was doing so much shopping last week, this was the first place I thought to go."

"It's fine." Hikari said. Then, "It's funny, I never would have thought I enjoy anything like this until I met you, Shinji. Most of the time I would just be focused on schoolwork or being the class rep."

Smiling back, Shinji said, "It's the same for me, too. I didn't think I'd enjoy company like this. Most of the time... I've been alone."

Rei added then, "I've always been alone. I also... enjoy company."

Hikari nodded in appreciation of this friend group she found herself in. "I'm in the mood for some ice cream!" She declared, "Let's go to the food court!"

Shinji smiled at that idea, but just then it hit him he would need to check in with the base soon. And the memory that Asuka was on trial today almost made him stop his step. He slowed, but, seeing Hikari's happiness made him push the dark thoughts aside.

I can't help Asuka now. Shinji thought to himself, I have to put my faith in those that can.

He quickened his pace to catch up with Hikari and Rei.

There was plenty to choose from, though Rei was confounded by the options. They each grabbed a parfait of their choice, and then walked to find a table in the food court. This is when Shinji spotted Arkadey sitting alone at a table by the water fountains. Changing course, Shinji approached him. "Ark!"

The Russian looked up from the tour book that he had been looking at. "Ikari," The Russian said with half a sigh, almost like a burden had lifted from his shoulders. "You are looking well. Out of school?"

"Yes." Shinji replied, "Are you... busy?"

Arkadey hesitated a moment, then glanced down at his tour book and closed it. "Not now." He replied and looked up to see Rei and Hikari approaching the table.

Shinji made introductions, and when Shinji asked if they could join the Russian, he agreed to it. The three of them sat down.

"I was taking a break between errands." The Russian said. He thumbed the water fountain, "We don't have things like this where I come from. Not where I lived. It's relaxing."

Rei asked, "What kind of errands are you performing?"

Arkadey took a big breath and sighed, "Traveling the city for approvals, paperwork. When my countrymen left me behind the transition wasn't smooth. In the past few days I've had to get an ID card and registered as an occupant in the city. Getting interdicted on Monday did not help matters."

Hikari blinked. "Interdicted?"

"Er... arrested...?" Shinji guessed as a translation.

Arkadey thought about the word choices before he re-phrased, "Brought in for questioning. Evidently my companion was... wanted, by the authorities."

Hikari frowned a little. Shinji said, "Asuka. It was Asuka... that friend of mine."

Rei blinked, then spoke, "Ms Langley was the target of a manhunt operation."

"And I was caught in the middle." Arkadey replied. He heaved a breath as his own guilt caught up with him again. "I thought I could help her. I evaded their search but... they found us anyway. And now, in addition to being an alien foreigner, I have a record with the city's authorities." Arkadey cracked his fingers absently while saying, "Things get better and better while I reside here in Tokyo-3."

Shinji frowned, also feeling guilty that he couldn't help Arkadey with any of what was just described. Instead, he said, "Asuka's case was going to trial today... I heard. They were going to hear arguments about whether she should live apart from her mother or not."

"I hope she succeeds." Arkadey replied. "She is a vulnerable person who deserves a lot better than what she has been given."

"Yeah." Shinji replied, looking down a little.

Hikari looked between the sad faces of both men, then asked, "Is there any way to check on her?" When Shinji raised his head, Hikari asked, "Couldn't you call that in, or something?"

Shinji and Rei exchanged glances.

Makoto Hyuga wished he had better news for Asuka, but he decided to do the best he could by laying out her chances to her straight. "We don't know what your father will submit to the arbiter. Moreover we don't know what the MAGI will recommend in the matter, as it might determine you're better in the care of at least one of your parents. From there, it's up to subcommander Fuyutsuki."

Asuka had been trying to process all of the possibilities in her head. This new one- living with her father- was such an unknown that, combined with the impressions she had of him, was a nightmare in itself. She hardly knew her father. Her mother had only claimed he was a scalper, a mercenary. As soon as the going got tough he vanished. The one interview she had with him so far seemed to bear it out, with all those false claims. What would she be doing, if her father claimed her?

Asuka had been having a dead stare as she listened to Hyuga give her the bad news, impetuously. It was staring into that void that made Asuka snap a little, straightening and asking, "Why can't I just have Major Katsuragi take me in, or something? She lives alone, wasn't Shinji supposed to bunk in with her and turned it down? Can't I have that instead?"

Hyuga was shaking his head. "The case was already launched and Major Katsuragi hasn't put in a claim. You could choose this option if the Subcommander warrants you to have your freedom. You could also continue living alone if you wished."

Asuka slumped back in her cross-legged seat on the bed. "Could I also get a restraining order against my mother?"
"That also depends on what the subcommander rules. But he may not be able to, since your mother IS head of pilot health and operations. He may be able to rule that the two of you interact only through an intermediary."

Asuka heard that but sighed and dismissed the conversation in her head. None of this would matter if her mother won. "All we can do now is wait?"

Hyuga could read the impatient defeat in her tone. He pressed his lips together before saying, "Yes."

"All right. Thank you first lieutenant." Asuka said weakly.

Hyuga gathered all his papers together, stood, and crisply saluted Asuka. "I regret I couldn't do better."

He turned to go, but Asuka stopped him just before he reached the door. "Lieutenant."

Hyuga turned. Asuka blinked slowly and asked, "Could you arrange a phone call?"

The last time Shinji had spoken to Asuka, she was staring down Section Two. Days later and now Shinji sat some distance from his friends, with the phone up to his ear to speak to her.

"Are you all right?" he asked, "I've been so worried!"

"I'm fine, for now." Asuka replied. Shinji could hear the exhaustion in her voice. "I'm just... waiting. I wanted... I wanted to call to thank you."

"It's all right." Shinji replied, "I-I'm happy I was able to convey what I learned and... and it saved you."

"It did." Asuka replied, though Shinji could catch the disbelief in her tone. Asuka went on, "Lieutenant Hyuga says I'll know by the end of tomorrow what the verdict is. I... I don't know what to hope for, anymore. I'm... I'm scared."

Shinji reached out to grab a seat and gently brought himself down. "Listen," he said, "If she wins, I'm going to do what I can to get you free."

Asuka laughed on the other end. It was tinged with mirth, exhaustion, and disbelief. "You? What can you do to free me?"

A dark shade passed over Shinji's eyes. "What I have to." He said simply.

Asuka could hear that tone. On her end she blinked, unaccustomed to the stele she just heard in his voice from someone who, until now, was a soft, gentle person. She leaned forward. "Shinji, listen to me." She said with new urgency, "Don't do anything rash. I want you to promise me."

Shinji blinked, a little surprised she was addressing his exact thought without spelling it out. "Asuka-"

"I mean it. I'm not worth it." Asuka replied. She took a breath and said, "Your freedom is precious. I might lose mine. Don't give Section Two a reason to lock you up, also."

Shinji paused as he wondered what she could be talking about. Then, he pulled the phone away from his face to stare at it for a moment as if it would come alive and chew his face off. Hesitantly, he brought it back up to his ear and sighed with a grunt. "I... I wish I could help."

"I know you do." Asuka replied, "And I wish you could. I... I wanted to say something to you Shinji, before I'm cut off for... for a long time. I wanted to thank you for being my friend. Before you came here nobody gave me the time of day. I think they were afraid to, because of my mother. But that didn't seem to bother you. And... and your friendship was refreshing."

Shinji, startled, read finality in her tone. "Asuka-!"

"I'll see you sometime."

"Asuka, wait!"

"Goodbye Shinji."

The phone went dead.

"Asuka!" Shinji cried into the phone. It was useless. He clapped the phone closed and brought a hand to his face. He didn't hear the clopping of Hikari's Mary Janes as she ran from their table to Shinji's side. At their original table Arkadey had stood. Rei remained seated.

Maya was on-call for the Evangelion departments when Ritsuko was in meetings or otherwise unoccupied. With the doctor in session now with her proposal for the Expo in the coming week, Maya of course took the call. She was happy when she saw it from Shinji. "Shinji! Great of you to call," She glanced at the clock on her desk in the Tactical center, "And on-time too! Let me check your schedule to see if you're needed tonight."

Shinji didn't respond immediately, which caught Maya as odd two seconds after she had picked up the number. "Shinji?"

"M-Maya..." he sounded sedate, "I-Is Ritsuko...Doctor Akagi available? I-It's important."

Maya, concerned, reached up and grabbed the phone with both hands for a moment. She then reached out her hand to check the schedule. "Doctor Akagi is in a meeting for another hour Shinji. Can I take a message?"

"I... no. It's more urgent than that." Shinji said, "I... It's about Asuka."

Maya blinked. "Is something the matter? What about Asuka?"

"I..." Shinji fumbled on the other end of the line, trying to figure out what to say that wouldn't make anyone listening too alarmed. "I...just wanted to return her call. She called me a moment ago."

Maya didn't believe it was just that, but she decided to honor Shinji's request. She could follow up with him in person later. "Let me check."

She put in a call to security. After a brief exchange, and learning about the restriction, she called Shinji back. "Shinji, you'll need to schedule a call in advance. If you like I could set that up for you."

"Could it be after Subcommander Fuyutuski made his decision?"

Maya blinked, startled. "Shinji is something wrong?"

"Y-Yes... but... I don't think anyone can help." Shinji said sadly, "Thank you Maya."

"Shinji! Wait," Maya said, "Let's meet up later okay? You're making me worried."

"I'd...I'd like that." Shinji replied, "Just give me a call. I'll be... around."

"Okay." Maya said and hung up the phone. She stared at it in surprise at the phone resting back on its hook.

Shigeru was already over her shoulder. "Something the matter with Shinji?"

Maya only nodded a little, then turned her head and spoke in low tones to Shigeru, "We should get in touch with Hyuga. Something's going on with the children."

Shinji spun his phone in his hands while Hikari was seated beside him. "I just..." He said, "I have the feeling she's going to... to do something rash...if."

Hikari's hand was resting on the back of the chair. She wanted to comfort him... but...

Rei was also seated in a seat opposite of him. Arkadey was standing, having gotten off the phone moments earlier to reschedule an appointment.

Shinji shook his head, "But I don't want to make things worse for her by just panicking!" He sighed and put his head in his hands, "What do I do?"

The three of them remained in silence for a moment, all of them trying to think of a plan. It was Arkadey who spoke first. "You keep trying to help her." When Shinji looked up, Arkadey continued, "You let her know that, as a friend, you do not give up. Did she forbid you from contacting her again?"

Shinji looked down at his phone. "N-No..."

"Then keep doing so." Arkadey said. He pulled up a chair and sat down in it, "In the darkest times, it is enough to know that a friend is near. That all is not lost. That this is not the end."

Shinji looked at his phone again. "B-But I have to... schedule a call..."

"Then go in person." Arkadey said. When Shinji looked up, Arkadey shrugged, "That is what I would do."

Shinji shook his head. "I-I don't want to cause a scene... and... it might get me into more trouble."

"You won't know unless you make the attempt." Arkadey said.

Shinji shook his head again and looked at Hikari. She offered a sympathetic smile.

"Ikari." Rei said. She stood, getting everyone's attention. "Security will not allow you to visit her. Until this matter is resolved she remains in protective custody."

Shinji blinked, whiplashed that she wasn't offering support. He looked away, "I... Yeah..."

"There are others you should contact." Rei said, "You are not alone. And neither is... Ms. Langley," Rei's eyes flicked to Arkadey, then back again to Shinji. "If you cannot go as an intermediary, perhaps you can send another."

Hikari perked up, asking then, "Is there anyone else you could call?"

Shinji looked down at his phone.

They were at the mall for another couple of hours as Shinji tried to get in touch with people. First it was Hyuga.

"Thank you for letting me know." Hyuga said, after relaying the concerns about Asuka. "I wouldn't be concerned, though. Protective custody also means defense against themselves, if it comes to it. If you like, I can still call on Asuka to check in on her."

"Yes, please." Shinji said as he wiped his face, relieved a little that this possibility had been considered. "I-I can't stop being worried about her after... after..."

"I understand," Hyuga said, "Probably better than you know."

Shinji caught that. He was about to ask why, but, figured it out before saying anything. Instead he switched topics. "W-What about the trial?"

Hyuga, at least, gave Shinji a perspective from how the court case went. "I laid out Asuka's case pretty thoroughly. Her mother's council offered what I think are empty statements. I can't know what the subcommander's criteria is for judging the case, but impartially I can tell you, the case laid out by her champion wouldn't hold water in any court I know of."

Shinji blinked. "W-Wait... Doctor Zeppelin wasn't there?"

"No Shinji. I don't think anyone's seen her since Monday."

Shinji hesitated. That was the day she attacked him... and Section Three had to carry her off. "I-I see..."

"...Shinji, there's something you should know." Hyuga added, "Her father was there."

Shinji had to take a moment to process that. "Her what?"

"Her father. Victor Langley. He said he was here to get his daughter back. There was a standoff in the courtroom until the Subcommander decided to hear his case. I don't know what happened after the councils were dismissed."

Shinji tried to process what that could mean. When Hyuga couldn't offer anything else and signed off, Shinji tried calling Ritsuko again to no avail.

Maya called immediately after he tried Ritsuko however.

"I'm just off work Shinji," Maya said into the phone, "I called Hyuga a while ago to figure out what's going on."

"I just got off the phone with him!" Shinji put in. Then he glazed over the conversation for Maya.

"Okay, I feel a lot better now." Maya said, "After you called Shigeru and I started calling around too. I managed to get a hold of Doctor Akagi and told her what's going on, also."

Shinji's sigh of relief was deep. "Thank you."

Maya must have smiled on the other end because Shinji could hear it. "You're not alone in this Shinji. A lot of people are rooting for Asuka."

Shinji felt a hump of emotion go through him and he put a hand to his face. "T-Thank you."

"Mmhmm. If you still want to join up later, Shigeru and I are both off for the evening. Just give us a heads up."

"I-I'm hanging out with friends myself." Shinji said.

"Really? Oh! is it that girl that I ran into with you the other day? Hikari?"

"Y-Yeah! Ayanami is here too! A-And so is...um... he was the Jet Alone's pilot."

Maya again paused on the other end before she caught herself, "Sorry... I was just caught up in the first time you and I met, and how you didn't have any friends. Now you have a group!"

Shinji couldn't help smiling at that thought too.

Maya went on, "I'll catch you later Shinji. Call if you need us."

"Thank you!"

As Shinji was completing the calls Arkadey, Rei, and Hikari had been seated at an adjacent table giving Shinji some discreetness and getting acquainted. Hikari though, was clearly distracted and Arkadey pointed it out.

Hikari blinked. "Wh-what?"

Arkadey tilted his head. "You're concerned about Ikari."

Hikari glanced at Shinji as he was trying to call Doctor Akagi, then looked back at Arkadey. "Shinji's... one of the kindest people I know. It's hard seeing him so worried like this and not being able to help." She shook her head, "As it is I still feel bad I couldn't help much when he ran away from home last week."

It was Arkadey's turn to be a little surprised. He adjusted his seat. "I did not know about this. I didn't think he would have it in him to do such a thing."

Hikari shook her head. "It sounded like he was under a lot of pressure."

Rei added context. "The matter of Shinji's interaction with... Ms. Langley... has caused problems. Doctor Zeppelin felt that Shinji was an impediment to Asuka's performance."

Arkadey nodded. "Thank you Ayanami." To Hikari he asked, "Doctor Zeppelin is her...?"

"Mother, I gather." Hikari said and looked to Rei.

Rei nodded, then looked at Arkadey when he asked, "They have different last names?"

"Doctor Zeppelin is separated from her partner. It happened some time ago." Rei said.

Arkadey nodded as he thought about that. He glanced over at Shinji as he was taking the call from Maya.

The conversation turned to Arkadey's background until Shinji finished his phone call, stared off into the distance for a while before he came back to join his friends.

It was starting to inch into the evening, then.

Rei was the first one to say anything. "Ikari, I must go."

That statement got the three others of the party to look at the clocks. "Oh." Shinji said, noting the time was inching close to four thirty. "Yes... yes it's getting close to dinner..."

"I will see you tomorrow." Rei said simply, "Good evening."

"Er... see you later Rei." Shinji replied, and Rei simply walked off. Shinji and Hikari exchanged glances.

Arkadey, still present, asked, "Is Ayanami always that forward?"

"Usually." Hikari answered, turning her head to look at Shinji. The boy was looking at her phone, until he suddenly realized again just how late it was, and how present Hikari had been. "H-Hikari!"

The girl was smiling at him.

Shinji sighed, facepalmed, and said, "I'm sorry I kept you... you didn't have to stay with me."

"Yes I did." Hikari replied. When he dropped his hand she replied, "You stood by me today Shinji when I had to do something really difficult. Being here was the least I could do. Besides," She looked away, "I... I still don't know what to say to my sister about what happened today with the other class reps."

"Yeah." Shinji replied. To Arkadey he said, "School stuff."

"Drama? I can imagine." Arkadey replied. He looked at Hikari and Shinji, observing them while they were lost in their own thoughts of the day. Grunting, he stood. "I myself have to go find dinner, or prepare it at my apartment. I must leave you now, I am sorry I also couldn't stay."

Shinji, looking up at him, said, "It's all right. I'm just glad we got to finally hang out!" Looking at his phone again he said, "I-I'm sorry it was mostly me being worried about Asuka..."

"Do not be bothered by that." Arkadey said, "Your compassion is something I admire about you, Ikari. I am still grateful for that."

When Shinji looked up again he smiled at Arkadey, then dipped his head before brining it up again, "It isn't your fault... what happened to Asuka."

Arkadey was a little caught off guard and glanced into the distance of the mall to gather his thoughts. Then, he said, "It was shortsighted of me. I should have realized that the authorities were wire-tapping our phones. It is not a mistake I will make again."

Shinji caught the significance of that detail in Ark's words, but he decided not to make anything of it. Instead, Shinji said, "I think Asuka would forgive you."

"I hope so." Arkadey replied, "I find I cannot forgive myself easily." He then gave a wave to Shinji with a side-smile, and then turned to start walking away. He hiked his backpack up as he disappeared from sight, leaving Shinji alone with Hikari.

She took a breath then eased her hands across the table where they sat. "Quite the day."

"Yeah." Shinji replied, sighing himself and leaning back. He looked into the throng of people, weary from the power of today.

Hikari matched his gaze, looking in the same direction, before side-glancing at him. A pang of sympathy hit her then, for him. She glanced down to consider her decision, then lifted her head. "Shinji... do you want to do dinner together? Just the two of us?"

Shinji, startled again, turned to face her. He blushed a little. "Just... us?"

Hikari nodded. "We've... both had tough days..." She said. Glancing away as she grabbed her phone out of her purse, she said, "I think I want to text Kodama to ask if she can cover dinner tonight while we..." She looked at him, "Ate here?"

Shinji felt the heat rising in his face, and his neck tingled a little as she looked at him. She was really cute, in those pigtails with freckles.

"Y-Yes... I'd like that." He said.

"Good." She replied.

Both of them left something unspoken in the air between them. But, they both understood where this was going. Nothing more was said as Hikari dialed her sister to tell them about the plan.

"Yui is working late tonight, so I have provided dinner." Gendo had said to Rei when she came home.

"Yes." Rei had replied.

It was just the two of them at that small square table in the well-furnished apartment of the future. The curry Gendo prepared was still warm when Rei had returned, he must have just finished it.

The table had seemed vacant before, but it was nearly empty now. Even Rei- who had become accustomed to the verbal traffic between Shinji and Hikari in recent days- felt it. She expressed it in her hesitance as she ate.

She was also wrestling with another matter.

"...How was your day?" Gendo ventured, almost hesitantly.

Rei slurped at her curry. Typically in dinner conversations like this, it was Yui who guided most of the dinner conversations with events of the day and checking in on Rei's health. Perhaps it was too unusual for complete silence here.

"It was eventful." Rei replied.

"Oh?" Gendo's throaty rasp inquired.

Rei slurped her curry again. "I defended the reputation of our class representative to our principal. Class representative Horaki was being threatened by the other class representatives, when she refused to divulge details about Shinji."

Gendo hesitated with ignorance. "Ah."

Silence hung over the table for another moment. Gendo wasn't sure how he could carry on from that... it had been years since he was in a school.

Rei set down her spoon as she had finished her curry. "Commander." She said.

Gendo looked up. Rei did not often address him over dinner. "Yes."

"The second children's independence is in jeopardy. It greatly concerns pilot Ikari, he has spend most of today, and this past week, concerned for her. I wanted to ask you to intervene to deny Doctor Zeppelin's command and allow her independence."

Gendo was speechless as he listened to it. Rei had never made a request of him like this before, and her simple face looking up at him meant he couldn't apply his normal, tactical approach against it. Rei had nothing to gain from making this request. There was no leverage or trick hidden within it. It came from Rei, the clone.

Gendo lowered his face to his unfinished curry. "I... cannot intervene. It would cause too many... complications."

"You can direct the Subcommander to influence the decision by proxy. As base commander your priorities have a higher weight than that of the command staff. The second children is irreplaceable... to this base, to this defense team, and to pilot Ikari."

Gendo's eyes tilted again. "She is important to Shinji."

"Pilot Ikari has a lot of emotional investment in her wellbeing. It... it is his way."

Gendo stared beyond Rei, past the far wall an into the abstract area where he knew the committee was waiting. Up until now he had been careful to play his cards right- be the obedient lapdog and avoid making waves. It was part of the plan.

Intervening on this could raise eyebrows.

He looked own at Rei.

"Why do you ask this of me?"

"Because you have the authority to do something." Rei said. She dipped her head and said, "Because... I wanted to help Ikari. Just as he helped me."

Gendo stared at Rei for a long moment. He side-glanced at the chair where his wife, Yui, would normally be.

Then the empty corner.

"...I will consider it." He said.

"Thank you." Rei responded. Then she stood and began cleaning up from dinner.

Though Hikari suggested going half and half, Shinji decided to pay for dinner. His NERV credit card had hardly approached the max spending limit, so it was an easy purchase. Especially now that he was done shopping. "I also owe you for covering my shopping from the other day." He said.

He had insisted, though, on someplace with repute. He couldn't abide a chain restaurant, so he picked somewhere nice. Just outside the mall in downtown Tokyo-3 was a place called SushiZen, which after perusing the menu, Shinji found 'acceptable'. They took a table and Hikari observed, "I should have known you had high tastes for food when I learned you were a cook."

Shinji, defensive, replied in a raised tone, "W-Well it- it's important! Processed stuff just... tastes bad! I'll always insist on cooking to save anyone from prepackaged stuff. It's disgusting!"

Hikari couldn't help laugh at his indignation. "What?" Shinji asked, a little hurt.

Hikari shook her head, "No, no. Your dedication is admirable Shinji. It means you have standards you won't let someone cross, after all."

Shinji leaned back a little in the seat in spite of himself. "I-I didn't realize that..."

Hikari shrugged. "Like you said, it's important."

Shinji smiled a little in return. Their menus arrived before too long and, after their order, they settled down into discussing other things. Hikari opened up about the last time she was in a restaurant like this, Shinji spoke about the same, and before long the conversations spun into more mundane subjects. Not Evangelion, not school, just them.

It was about midway into the dinner that Shinji had a pang that this was, informally, a date. He had to correct his thinking though- he couldn't make assumptions for Hikari as that way lead to heartbreak. But, at least for him, it made his heart beat a little more assuming that maybe this could be something more.

They were out until 6. Both of them left SushiZen happy and satisfied. The conversation that started from within continued as they walked.

"I always wanted a cat." Shinji said, in response to Hikari's description of her aunt's comparative menagerie. "My aunt and uncle had a dog that never took to me, but I always liked how graceful cats were."

"I always wanted a penguin." Hikari said, surprising Shinji and she laughed. "Since I was a little girl I loved them! The way they waddled and how they're colored and everything. I had to give that up though, who heard of a warm water penguin?"

They reached the entry way back into the Mall. It was the same entrance where they first arrived, hours earlier. Both of them glanced up at the large obelisk clock that stood before the stairway down into the structure. The time read 6:15.

"Oh!" Shinji said, and pointed, "I'm sorry, I didn't see it was... this late."

"I did." Hikari replied, blinking and looking up at him, "But I didn't care. This was fun."

"Yeah." Shinji answered.

Hikari smiled up at him.

Shinji swallowed nervously. There was a... a heaviness in that moment. He was standing very close to Hikari, his heart thundering in his ears. He could hear her small breath as she looked up at him, also nervous.

Shinji swallowed again. "Do... Do you want to..."

Hikari craned her head back a few degrees, her eyes closing a little. Shinji leaned in like you're supposed to.

Never before had Shinji touched someone like this. Her breath against his face, the feel of her lips...

Before he could realize what was going on, they parted. Both of them laughed nervously as they leaned back, but didn't step back.

"I...er..." Shinji stammered, unable to process with all of the emotions flowing through his face.

Hikari, too, was blushing also. Her hand had found Shinji's, and their fingers intertwined. "This... This is crazy." She said.

"Is it? I... I never done anything like this before."

"Me neither."

He laughed, she laughed.

"Do... Do you want to?"

"Yes." Hikari said, with a silky affirmative that made Shinji tingle.

"Oh...okay... okay!" Shinji said, laughing still nervously, "Okay..."

"Okay." Hikari replied as they came together again in a hug- his hands on her shoulders and her arms on his chest for another kiss.

Things were a little blurry for Shinji after that, though it would be a time he would remember for the rest of his life. They left the clock tower, holding hands and talking idly as they walked along the street. Hikari at some point called Kodama for a ride, and Hikari's older sister (after some ribbing) accommodated. Shinji saw her off at the street corner, sharing one more kiss and holding on to the magic moment as she watched Hikari drive off.

He was drunk on that feeling for a while as he went to the bus stop.

On the bus though, it left with a sigh as he remembered... Asuka's apartment door was two doors over from his. She hasn't been in her own home for nearly a week.

That sigh turned into steely resolve.

Asuka, his first friend and fellow pilot, was still in jeopardy.