Chapter 001: The List

Shinji Ikari woke up to a familiar ceiling, after the whole debacle with Leliel. The literally soulful debate he had with the Angel of Night still weighed on his spirit, especially as his entire lifestyle had been called into questioning.

"You're awake."

As he sat up, he realized the girl's presence at his bedside.

Rei was a pale skinned girl with short pale blue hair with bangs centered to the middle and striking red eyes. She was as always, dressed in their school uniform.

Shinji, briefly remembering the sight of Rei's naked body, had a delirious, stray thought of getting her into more exposing clothes, but quickly shoved the thought away with guilty haste.

"You can just rest today." Rei Ayanami said, putting away her book and packing up her bag. "We'll take care of everything."

"But I'm fine now." Shinji assured honestly. In fact, his body felt a bit restless but manageable.

"Well, that's good for you." Rei replied before heading to the door.

As Rei opened the door to leave the room, it revealed Asuka Langley Sohryu to be lurking in the hallway outside.

With a startled gasp, she quickly hid, pretending not to care.

Amused at this, Shinji chuckled a bit. After a while, he suddenly stopped and sniffed his hand, before falling back into his bed with a groan.

"It still reeks of blood."

"You wanna what?"

Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida stared in sync at the Third Child. They were currently having a free period in class.

"My... episode in Leliel has caused me to seriously reevaluate my life." Shinji explained. "Don't tell anyone but Leliel and I had a... conservation."

"Leliel?" Kensuke asked.

"Ah. The 12th. The Angel of Night. The Jaws of God: Leliel." Shinji dissonantly intoned, his eyes flashing red for a nanosecond.

"As a Pilot, Misato-san always warned me that I was liable to die in battle. I've experienced that fact. Repeatedly." Shinji continued, worrying his friends for his brief slip in personality. "That's why I've made this. Now I'm no longer refusing to die for some abstract reason. I'll simply refuse to die unless I've done everything on this."

Shinji pulled out a journal out of his backpack and put it to the table for Toji and Kensuke's view.

"Dude." Kensuke said as Toji pulled it closer for a better look. "Did you finally crack? I'm really having second thoughts on becoming an Eva Pilot now..."

100 Things to Do before I Die to an Angel

1) Clean up the entire house.

2) Drink beer and laze around the house with Pen Pen all day.

3) Ride a Motorcycle.

4) Try growing dreadlocks

5) Eat all I want at a non-conveyor Sushi Restaurant.

6) See the Aurora Borealis.

7) Go on a date with a pretty girl that I like.

8) Go to an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet.

9) Go Sky Diving.

10) Relax at an Onsen with my friends.

11) Enter a BMX race.

12) Go camping.

13) Paint a portrait.

14) Try cosplaying.

15) Build a Treehouse.

16) Learn to speak German.

17) Offer free hugs.

18) Do Yoga.

19) Hold a concert outdoors.

20) Go gambling.

21) Kiss a girl I like.

"Oi, Shinji." Toji said as he relaxed into his chair. "I've got no problem with you trying to put some more fun in your life. Hell, God Himself knows you of all people need it. However, your list of 100 things to do doesn't even reach a quarter."

"On one hand, I'm a bit worried." Kensuke said. "On the other hand, can we fill in stuff and join in?!"

"Sure." Shinji answered readily. "Some of the stuff in there can't be done alone so I'm glad you guys are joining in."

The two guys cackled as they promptly wrote in random stuff of their own.

Across the class, Hikari Horaki and Asuka watched the trio.

"What he hell are Dummkopf and the stooges up to now?" Asuka questioned, giving them a glare that none of the boys noticed.

"I'm sure it's nothing serious." Hikari was a bit relieved as Toji and Kensuke's antics were specifically required to bring Shinji out of whatever funk he was in, considering that he'd trapped isolated with Eva 01 in who knows where for over fifteen hours. The fact they were writing in something Shinji offered only assured her that it (probably) wasn't perverted. "I'm just glad Ikari-kun's fine."

"You guys... added a lot." Shinji sweatdropped.

"I can't believe that between both of us, we still couldn't bring it up to 100." Toji said.
"I'm sure we can fill up as we go along with it." Kensuke assured. "The whole purpose of it is to give Shinji reasons to live right?"

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