Asuka adjusted herself, trying to find an angle that was comfortable as she leaned out the window. Shinji was close by, mindlessly writing off answers to the assignment they had been given at the end of the period.
"What's her deal, anyway?" He hadn't been paying much attention, but Asuka's question prompted him, and he looked up at her. "Huh?" It was clear she was focused, staring at something outside the window.
"I expected, I dunno, more personality from the 'first child.'" Shinji had stood up, and was now following where she looked. Down, far below the classroom, Rei was sitting on a bench alone, like usual. She was reading, possibly doing the same work Shinji was.
"Ayanami?" "Duh." The ginger girl turned to face him. "Like, what does she do all day? Just sit and read her dumb books?" Shinji could almost feel the spite in her voice. "She just likes to keep to keep to herself, I guess."
Asuka stepped away from the window, continuing to make eye contact. Inferring she was about to pop, he put his workbook down. "But she's so annoying about it. I offered my friendship, and, what did I get? A monotone response that couldn't care less. 'If I'm ordered to.' Like, what the hell?"
Her social skills weren't what had Asuka fixated, though. She liked Rei. It had been difficult thinking about anything else since she first laid eyes on her. And for whatever reason, she really wanted Rei to like her back. But the girl seemed indifferent towards her.
This really ticked her off. Rather than deciding to leave well enough alone though, she grew frustrated. Ordinarily, people loved her company. Her charm and looks worked on most people. Not Rei, though.
"She's not the social type." "No, no, it's not that. She was bitchy about it. I could hear it in her voice, Shinji. She thinks she's too good for us. At least, for me. Mhm. She thinks she's special." He laughed as quietly as he could, wondering how it was Rei's lonesome demeanor could provoke such a reaction.
"What? What's so funny?" "She doesn't think anything like that." "Oh, and how would you know?" She got in his face, pressuring him. Geez, she's intense. "I don't. I've only talked to her a few times. But I don't think she feels superior to us."
She scoffed, taking a step away from the desk. "You know what? I think I'll go find out for myself." Asuka turned to leave, stopping as she noticed Tōji across the room. It looked like he was trying to cover up a camera.
Next to him, Aida began whistling as he saw her look at them. He nudged Tōji with his elbow, and the other boy began whistling, too. What a bunch of stooges. "Oi, Tōji, what do you have there?"
"H-hm?!" He did his best to act surprised, though him and Aida began to sweat. Asuka shook her head. "Actually, forget it. Shinji, make sure your friends don't follow me down." As she left, the two boys quickly ran over to where Shinja sat. "Oh my god! She said your name, Tōji!" "I know, man! She's such a queen…"
Asuka worked her way down the stairs, and out of the school exit. She shoved the door on her way, and it made a loud bang against the wall of the building. Down another flight of stairs, and Rei came into view.
She didn't say anything at first. Instead she moved, standing directly in front of the girl, blocking the afternoon sun from shining on her novel. This finally provoked the blue haired Eva pilot to look up.
Her eyes were cold. They intimidated Asuka a little bit too, but she didn't show it. "What is it?" She spoke softly, like usual. The monotonous cadence made the other girl turn from annoyed to angry.
"I think you owe me an apology." Rei blinked. "Why?" The single word conveyed just how little she cared. "Why? Are you kidding me?" The girl was, in fact, not kidding. She continued to stare, unwavering, as Asuka grew angrier.
"You're so dense, Ayanami! I tried to be your friend! I extended my hand out to you in front of our entire class, and you knocked it away, like you don't even care!" She listened intently, and responding instantly. "I don't."
Even a blind person could see how red in the face Asuka became. "See, Shinji said you don't think you're hot shit, but I know you do." Rei began to ignore her once again, reading her book even through her shadow.
Asuka grabbed it then, ripping it out of her hands. She tossed it on the ground. Rei's mouth opened a little, with apparent surprise. "Why did you…" "You really piss me off. It's crazy. I knew the minute I saw you that you were a stuck-up bitch."
Rei's eyes narrowed. Then she stood up, abruptly, causing Asuka to leap back in anticipation of her throwing a punch. But instead, she moved to the left, grabbing her book that had been discarded.
She patted it, knocking off some of the dirt before continuing to read. The other girl stared in disbelief. "You're…" "Go away, please." Even angrier, she yanked on the book once more, throwing it back a good fifteen feet.
As Rei moved to grab it, Asuka stood directly in her way. She brought a finger up, sticking it in her face as she spoke. "I don't know how they do it in Japan, but when you talk to me, I want respect. Do you get it, prototype girl?"
She took a breath, awaiting what she guessed was going to be a submissive reply. But instead, Rei pushed past her. Dusting off her book once more, she turned to face Asuka. "I don't respect you. Especially not now."
Rather than sitting to read again, Rei placed the novel in the crook of her arm walked away. "HEY! Where are you going!?" She got no response. Asuka thought for a moment. She wanted to follow her, but at the same time, it seemed impossible to provoke Ayanami.
Trying to force her attention only worked against her. Rei was no longer indifferent; she seemed to be growing to resent Asuka. Fine! Fine. She wants to be like that? I'll make her regret not being friendly. Ayanami…
Soon after, she heard the door she had come from open once more. Shinji exited out, carrying his book bag. "Hey, let's go home!" She smiled as he waved at her, and jogged up to meet him.
It was her night to cook, but Shinji took over for Asuka when she said she was feeling tired. Least the other kid is easy going. Her mind was still clouded, busy plotting a way to punish Rei for being so dismissive of her.
"Don't like it?" Looking down, she realized she had barely touched the yakitori. It was delicious, especially for a boy like Shinji, but she was too distracted to enjoy it. "Oh, it's great. I'm just not that hungry."
He laughed. "You still enjoyed it more than Misato would." "Where is she, anyway?" "Working late. Maybe staying with Kaji." She prodded the meat on her plate, not saying anything else. "What did you two talk about, anyway?"
"What?" "You said you were going to talk to Ayanami." She perked up. "A-ayanami is a self-righteous little girl. I can't stand her!" Shinji smiled at the reaction. "Oh, come on. You two should be friends! You'll have to work together with her sooner or later."
Asuka pushed away from the table, flustered. "I-I'm taking a shower." Quickly leaving, she pushed into the bathroom. She turned the water on hot, peeling off her clothes and stepping into the tub.
It didn't relax her like it usually did, though. Rei still sat at the center of her thoughts. "DAMMIT!" She punched the wall, trying to figure out why she was so obsessed with the quiet girl.
She didn't consciously realize it, but she had a crush. Asuka had never cared for a girl in that way before, so she didn't know how to process it. Some would turn the fixation into romance, but she decided to lash out instead.
Thinking for a moment as the hot water ran off her, she decided on her next move. Then she remembered Tōji and Aida from earlier that day, and got an idea. She wants to act like little miss perfect? Fine. We'll see how cool she stays when the entire school has locker room pictures of her.
After crafting a plan to get back at Rei for ignoring her, Asuka was able to relax. She washed her hair, quickly finishing up in the shower before hopping out. Shinji was still at the table, continuing to do his assignment.
"Yo, Shinji." "Yo." She sat across from him once more, finally in the mood to finish her plate. "Hey, do you have a camera?" "Huh? A camera?" "There's a bird I've been seeing on my way to school that I thought was extinct since the second impact. I want a picture of it."
She smiled, hoping the lie wasn't showing through her teeth. But Shinji was the trusting type, especially when it came to girls. "Oh, uhm, I think Misato had one. Check the cupboard above the sink."