IMPORTANT: Please read what I'm about to say because this chapter is vastly different from the other chapters. I've stated many times this was meant to be outlandish and the like, but well I don't think that's entirely the case anymore. While the type of humor will continue, there will be actual serious scenes mixed in. I will talk about it more at length in the A/N at the bottom, but please take the time to read this because it will be jarring seeing the difference going in blind. And don't worry most of the characterization I've established in previous chapters will remain the same, like Misato and Gendo or if they do change it's marginally, like with Rei to be more canon like. While it will be different I hope it remains just as entertaining, so without further ado enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion or it's characters, this is purely for fun
The convenience store and an inconvenient truth
"Look Toji, buy one get the other half price not bad, not bad at all."
"What's that? 20 yen? Sure get two then."
"Really? So I get four bags of chips?"
"What do you mean four? Isn't it buy one, get one half price?"
"Yeah, but we could get two deals out of it if we buy four chips."
"What's the other deal?"
After a year of dating one would think Hikari wouldn't have been surprised by Toji's... slow processing, but here she was.
"It's buy one get the other half price." She simply and somewhat incredulously answered, hoping Toji would understand but...
"I know, but what's the other deal? And why do you want to get four bag of chips?"
"There's no other deal."
"Then why did you say two deals?"
Hikari faceplamed for what felt like the billionth time ever since she started dating Toji, who continued looking at her confused and lost.
"I meant- Because," She began pointing at the display right below the chips detailing the deal. "If we buy two full price bags of chips then we get two half price, do you understand?"
"Yeah..." Just by his tone and slow response Hikari knew that was a straight up lie and predictably, under Hikari's critical gaze, Toji cracked a few moments later admitting. "... No. Isn't it buy one get one half price? Where did you get two from?"
"Okay, let's just do that." Hikari realized sometimes it was best to... not explain such complicated concepts to him even if it was so simple. Toji was a sweet guy, but really sometimes she wondered how he even dressed himself in the morning. "What flavor should we get?"
Toji smiled sweetly at her before turning his attention to the bag of chips lined up across the shelve before brightly saying. "Hmmm, I got an idea."
With those words Hikari raised an eyebrow to question it, but before she could get her question off suddenly Toji reached over and spun her around shielding her eyes with his hands. Engulfed in pitch blackness and surprised with his actions Hikari opened her mouth to protest, but before she could even formulate words Toji quickly explained.
"What about we play a game? Whatever you pick from the shelve, we'll buy and eat. How does that sound?"
Hikari couldn't suppress the smile that radiated off her face hearing his childish antics. While he was stupid Toji did make things fun and exciting.
"Aye, Toji you always make everything harder than they have to be?" Hikari playfully threw out where in response Toji quickly blew into her ear making her laugh and jerk at the odd sensation.
"Make them fun'ner you mean." Toji replied resting his chin on her shoulder prompting Hikari to quip.
"That's not a word." And expectedly Toji again blew into her ear hearing that.
"Always the nerd." Even blinded Hikari could feel his smile's warmth on her shoulder making her blush warmly.
"Alright, how do I do this?" Hikari excitedly began stretching out her arms infront of her and towards the shelve.
"Just feel around and pick two chips and whatever you get that's what we'll buy." It was so simple and straightforward Hikari couldn't help but shake her head at his explanation.
"And if we don't like them?"
"Well, that defeats the purpose of the game right?" Toji did have a fair point as Hikari giggled once again taking a step toward the shelve with Toji still plastered on her back.
"Mmm, okay what about these?"
"I don't like that flavor." And Hikari's smile deflated to an expected frown hearing Toji's complaint. "Oh, I meant yeah, just... let's get them!"
Toji sensing Hikari's less than pleased frown added, which somewhat elevated her annoyance, but before either of them could speak suddenly another voice spoke to them.
"H-hey, Hikari?" Her veins became ice as Toji immediately felt the warmth leave her face in an instant leading him to turn and face the owner of said voice.
Standing before him was the weirdest looking Japanese man he had seen, first off he wasn't Japanese or at least didn't look it. His hair was a dirty blonde and he had a youthful boyish freckled face to boot, then throw in his height which if Toji had to estimate was about, 6 feet give or take, he truly stuck out. But what Toji found odd was his attire, among the dreary and unspectacular clothes everyone wore, he was draped over with a red Letterman with white sleeves, and a few patches most prominently the one adorning his left arm which had a large, '85 wrapped around a ribbon like design which contained inside, Class of. But strangest of all he knew Hikari.
"B-Brad?" Hikari uneasily said unshielding her eyes from Toji's hands. "Uh, long time no see?"
"Uh, yeah... so-"
"So-" Both Brad and Hikari awkwardly started at the sametime leading an even more awkward back and forth.
"No you-"
"No go ahead-"
"Nah, you go."
"Ah... okay..." Hikari nervously began avoiding all eye contact with an increasingly uncomfortable Toji and Brad. "... So what you doing here?"
"Oh, yeah... I uh, I work as a driver for this company by the refinery on the East side and I was just delivering a shipment of beverages."
"Beer?" Toji butted in as Brad awkwardly looked at him scratching his neck before answering.
"Yeah... and uh... coke-"
"I see... so you're a drug trafficker?"
"Toji!" Burning red Hikari immediately scolded slapping her boyfriend's arm.
"What! He said coke and-"
"He meant Coca-cola." Hikari corrected garnering a small chuckle from Brad.
"Oh, yeah that too." With statement the trio fell into an awkward silence, but Brad in a bid break the silence directed to Hikari . "So... what've you been up to?"
Hikari turned to face him where she awkwardly stated.
"Oh, I'm still in school."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I was a sophomore back... you know-"
Brad's eyes immediately lit up for a brief second before a wide smile overtook his expression.
"Yeah... wow. Man I feel old!" It was joyous response, however for Toji it was anything but.
"Well you're wearing a Letterman that says class of '85, so..." Toji quickly quipped making Hikari bud Toji in the stomach.
"Oh this?" Brad still smiling picked at his Letterman explaining. "I actually graduated last year, from you guy's school."
Which led to Toji asking.
"Then why are you wearing a Letterman that isn't our school colors and why does it say class of '85?" Hikari and Brad just simply looked at each other then at Toji before Brad just shrugged and said.
"Well, uh, nice seeing you Hikari and you too, buddy, so yeah see ya." Brad never answered the question as he turned around, revealing a large patch on the back of his jacket that read, 'Watanabe and below the name said, State champs '84, confusing Toji even more. Though while he was confused at this guy's odd attire he couldn't help, but notice Hikari's uncomfortable expression.
"Was he your ex?" Toji curtly and curiously asked but surprisingly, as Hikari turned to face him, Toji was wearing a face full of teasing teasing intent, the total opposite of what she was expecting.
"What! No!" Hikari proclaimed turing an even deeper red. "Why would-"
"Hey, it's okay." Toji assured wrapping his arm around Hikari. "You're with me and that's all that matters. What happened before we were together doesn't matter."
Now her blush had nothing to do with embarrassment as she was genuinely touched by his sentiment, though she really, really doubted he would feel the same way if she... explained the situation. "He's not my ex."
"C'mon, I saw how you two were acting." Toji said letting go of her. "I would know, that's how my ex's act when I bump into them, all awkward and stiff. I understand it happens."
"Yeah I know, but I never dated Brad."
"Don't be embarrassed, I mean I would be embarrassed too if I dated a Japanese dude with the name Brad." Toji joked which did little to alleviate Hikari's stress. Seeing she wasn't gonna answer Toji simply moved on to his next question. "Anyways how do you two know each other."
"Toji-"
"C'mon you can at least tell me that."
"We met at a party." Hikari quickly said catching Toji offguard.
"Party?" He blurted out before following up with. "When do you go to parties? Aren't you always studying?"
"Toji I don't want to talk about it." Hikari seriously said but it did little to deter Toji as he quickly teased out.
"Oh I see, you were a sophomore right? You probably thought, this older upper clansmen was cute at this, party, and you went over and asked for his number? Maybe you two snuck in a kiss who knows?" Immediately Hikari's face dropped making Toji burst into an uncontrollable laughter. "That's it isn't it!"
"No!" Hikari denied making Toji laugh even harder.
"It is, hahahah!" As Toji laughed and laughed Hikari simply looked down. "C'mon Hikari that's nothing to be embarrassed about! I've kissed other girl's before we started dating it's okay. But here's a question was he a good kisser? He looks like he kisses with his eyes open! Haha!"
"Toji, please I don't want to talk about."
"C'mon Hikari, you know I'm not the jealous type. I know we all had our own lives before we were together, but I also know it's better to come clean with these sort of things, so I've been told, I mean isn't it better finding out now, than on our own? I already told you about my exes now tell me about some of yours."
"Toji-" Hikari exasperated looking away which made Toji laugh harder.
"C'mon I won't get get mad."
"Toji-" She once again began only to get cut off again.
"Hikari, nothing you say will change how I-"
"Toji stop-"
"C'mon-"
"Toji stop-"
"C'mon it can't be-"
"I sucked his dick."
It was there that Toji's mouth fell to the floor ricocheting off the title back to its rightful place where he immediately stuttered.
"W-what?!"
"I sucked his dick at the party." Hikari once again repeated quickly grabbing two potato chip bags and hurriedly handing them to a still shellshocked Toji. "C'mon let's go."
"W-whoa- wait, you told me you were a virgin?!"
"I am a virgin."
"But you sucked his dick!"
"That's not how virginity works, you should know!" Hikari exclaimed in a loud whispered. "See that's why I didn't want to tell you!"
"How was I suppose to know that!" Toji proclaimed before adding. "You said you had a crush on me since we met!"
"Well you never noticed me!" Hikari fired back taking Toji aback.
"I liked you then! I thought you didn't like me!" Toji clarified making Hikari roll her eyes. "So what, you were just... doing that all this time before we got together!"
"No!" Hikari crossed her arms defiantly. "Forget about it Toji, it happened a long time ago. And plus you were the one that said whatever we did in the past doesn't matter."
"Well this is different!" Toji suddenly exclaimed using the pair of chips in his hand to point at her. "There's a difference between kissing and... that!"
"Don't be mad-"
"Listen Hikari, I'm not mad, I'm just... surprised. That is all." Toji explained taking a deep breath before softly adding. "Just... listen, please tell me and this will be the last time I ever bring it up, how many... guys have you know... been with and were any of them he bigger than me?"
"You're my first boyfriend Toji." Hikari seriously stated which made Toji cringe. If he was her first boyfriend then that meant... if she did anymore of that... the person she was performing the act with... was just... some dude...
"I know but... well... if Brad is the only one I would like to know... if he's... you know... not. I uh- I would uh... listen how many guys have you... y'know... done that-"
"Toji-"
"Hikari... I need to know, I already told you I've gone to second base with two girls and only to third with you okay, please just be honest." As Toji earnestly pleaded Hikari looked down and bit her lip contemplating on what to do where Toji softly said. "Hikari-"
"20."
"What the fuck!" Toji cried out as he actually popped opened the bag of chips he was holding in his hands before pointing at himself vigorously. "I'm number 20!"
"19."
"19!? I'm 19! Who the fuck is 20 than!" Toji furiously screamed as his heart fell into his gut.
"I misspoke, I meant 19 in total!" Hikari defended herself as Toji continued having a mental breakdown.
"Are you sure! Cause 1 dick doesn't really make a difference when the numba' that's high!"
"I know it's a lot don't make it harder than it has to be." Hikari did have a point there but Toji still couldn't get it out of his mind.
20? 20 dicks! And his wasn't even the last one!
"Please don't ever say harder again and who the fuck is number 20! It's not the new kid is it? I saw you talking to him the other-"
"Toji! I just misspoke I was thinking about the chips and you don't have to shout! Let's just talk about this once we get out of the store." Toji looked as distressed as ever, and she didn't blame him it must have been a lot to take in at such an unexpected time. She was about to offer words to try and smooth this over, but just as she moved her lips Toji's disgusted voice rang loud and clear.
"Oh my God, you wanna talk about this later! You should have brought this up before I kissed you!"
It was accompanied by a slight gag and his nauseating expression that truly... shocked her. His face had turned from joyful and happy to one of pure disgust because of her. It was... a hollow feeling. It felt... like her whole world came crashing down with his reaction and now all that was left was the past pointing a shaming and mocking finger at her, calling her all sorts of names.
She just... she didn't know what to do.
She never was particularly proud of what she had done before, but this was on a whole new level. Right now every part of her screamed in anguish and angst, every word to calm her and make her feel better were far away in hiding, right now she felt... worthless, not only in her eyes, but in his eyes.
Her hand quickly shot up to her face catching what she presumed was the first tear of what would undoubtedly be the first of many, but she couldn't care less. All that matter was Toji's disgusted expression because of her. It was there as her throat tightened, her brain squeezed out every emotion she felt out of her mouth.
"Is that what you have to say!" She began viciously through her tears.
"What do you mean!" Toji fired back as now the duo caught the attention of the other customers in the convenience store.
"You're no fucking different than any other guy!"
"I'm pretty sure no other guy's girl sucked 20 dicks!"
It was with those words Hikari's heart had finally shattered.
"Is that how you see me?" She softly worded the venom in her voice all but gone. "Just some slut who's sucked 20 dicks?"
It wasn't her soft and sad tone, nor was it the tears that were streaming down her face, no what slapped Toji across his face alerting him of the gravity of this situation was her question. She was amazing, she was special, but most importantly she made him happy, so very happy. However Toji wasn't the type of guy to say those type of sentiments, rather letting his actions express his feelings, and for the most part Hikari understood all that. That's why when she asked that question Toji realized what he said truly hurt her, what he said made her question her meaning to him, and he didn't know what to do.
"Hikari." So he began by saying her name, while his mind tried concocting a solution to all this. "I- it- listen just... I didn't mean-"
"Then what did you mean?!" Hikari asked loudly to which Toji looked away under her tearful gaze. What did he mean? What did he hope to accomplish by acting the way he did? When Toji couldn't find an answer quick enough her disappointed voice ripped though his thoughts. "You don't think I never think about what other people would say about me if they found out? The rumors, the names, the judging? I do, I think alot about all those things, but... not from you. I always thought you would be different, that we... would understand each other and be able to talk about anything. To work our way through anything-"
"Hikari that's still true!" Toji suddenly exclaimed. "We-we can still- I-I didn't mean- that's not what I meant-"
"Not what you meant!" As the words came out of Hikari's mouth more tears began swelling along her eyes and as Toji noticed he could feel his throat tighten up seeing her ever depressing state. "Than why did you say that?! Why did you- why did you gag a-and the kissing?"
Toji's mouth stayed opened as he tried finding anything to refute her, to prove to her it was just a misunderstanding, but what could he even say? So he just said the first thing that popped in his mind.
Her name.
"Hikari, I just-"
"Was disgusted, I know." She bristly said forcing a smile on her face. For Toji however that's the last thing he wanted her to say, but he knew she was dead right. When he was gaging, going on about wishing he knew that before kissing her how could it be anything else? How could it?
"Hikari-" Even as he spoke her name he knew it was a fruitless endeavor, he knew what was said couldn't be taken back and it hurt.
"Suzuhara, please... I think it'll be better if you called me... class rep... I think... I."
But worse of all it hurt her more.
"Hikari-"
"Suzuhara, please... let's just... let's just think about this okay..."
"Y-yeah, yeah let's-"
"By ourselves."
Those words stopped him cold as Toji couldn't tear his eyes away from her hoping she would change her mind. Say they could work through this together. But as they wordlessly gazed upon each other it became clear his worse fear was becoming a reality and he had no one but himself to blame for it.
What did he expect to happen by him acting disgusted and shocked? A medal? A fucking pat on the back from some purity counselor? Well whatever it was, what he needed up getting was horrible.
Toji would never forget how she looked in that moment. With tears running down each cheek she smiled wide and sadly looking straight into his eyes before promptly bowing. Toji couldn't stop his throat from tightening more and more while all he could do was wish to to go back and tell himself to shut up, to just... but all that didn't matter. There was no point in thinking about what ifs and what could have's it was impossible to change the past and as she straightened herself up and locked eyes with him again that point was driven home even further. Toji would have liked to say he had the courage to say something, to apologize, to reach out to her, but all he did in that moment was move his mouth to silence. She headed out the store immediately after, while all Toji could do was wipe away at a lone teardrop that escaped his eye.
Chapter 5: Yes this chapter's title literally refers to the changes mentioned earlier, or alternatively Something new and something old.
Mirages, Assumptions and Pain
The dirt courtyard sandwich between the two school buildings had always been a place for students to mingle and loiter after school, or least that's what Shinji had gathered in the week he's been there. Things were so different here than they were anywhere else.
The atmosphere of anxiety and dread that lingered over his old town were no where to be found here, which actually felt... almost like how the adults described the old world. Ironic that the center of what would undoubtedly be humanity's last defense against the apocalypse would feel the closes to pre-second impact but... it was. The adults smiled, the children played outside and talks about the end of the world were no where to be found. Here at school, kids dreamt of futures and the adults encouraged such dreams, college banners were hung all over the cafeteria walls and safe sex was encouraged. All those were far cries from what he had left behind in his old life and his old school.
On paper this place was a dreamland, a utopia, and in spades it sure felt like it but there was always that one thing that reminded Shinji it was nothing but a mirage. Take for instance the Angel attack last week and NERV, they were here for a reason, a horrible reason to be exact, showcasing how truly bleak this world really was. Yet, from what he's gathered since he's been here nobody seemed to notice or care. It was head scratching to say the least as Shinji felt those living in this false sense of security were merely setting themselves up for utter devastation when literally the world could end at a moments notice. However with that said a mirage, no matter how detached from reality it is, allows one to at least for a brief moment forget about those kind of things.
That's why it's a mirage.
And while Shinji wish he could say otherwise, from time to time he allowed his mind to fall into that same trap of false security and think about things that were insignificant.
Walking down the hallway and heading to the dirt courtyard, Shinji couldn't help but harken back to a few insignificant topics they discussed in class.
"Alright, now that I'm your new substitute until we find a permanent teacher let's begin with a simple hand out."
Shinji prayed and hope it contained math problems or even a simple writing prompt, but to his horror it was the worst case scenario, with the first question being:
What is your goal after graduation?
And underneath that question was a plethora of other questions asking stuff like what his favorite food was, what his favorite song was, or what his favorite movie was, etc.
Shinji immediately felt a wave of discomfort overtake him as he nervously looked around the class to gauge his fellow classmates reactions, where nobody else seemed as bothered by what they had just received. Shinji was practically sweating with anxiousness when the substitute spoke again.
"Now class take your time and fill out the questions, then when everyone finishes we'll discuss what you wrote."
It was a simple ice breaker for the class, but not for Shinji. It made him nervous, it made him worry, and overall he just heated those type of questions.
Questions which... didn't have a wrong answer to, nor a right answer to.
Questions that... were subjective allowing for judgment and doubts.
Why did people need to know his musical taste? What if they thought he liked weird or terrible music?
Why did people need to know his favorite food? What if they thought the food he liked was childish or bad?
It was just... too many unknowns.
For example the very first question.
What is your goal after graduation?
How was he to answer that? How could he give an honest reasonable answer to a future he wasn't sure about? What if he said he wanted to be... a writer and everyone laughed at him?
What if they said that was an unrealistic dream, or didn't suit him? What if he didn't become a writer and became something else wouldn't that make him a liar? Would they judge him for that?
Worst of all... what if he put out a goal and never achieved it? For Shinji, he did have goals, dreams and even fantasies, but they were locked away within his head hidden from prying eyes because to Shinji... if he told someone his goals and they never came to fruition then it really was a failure.
The same with talking about the future.
The future was an unknown void filled with uncertainty, it was foolish to make assumptions about the future. That's why he tried not to think about the future because he hated uncertainty.
All he was certain about was right now he was an Evangelion pilot because that was what was expected of him, that was what was bestowed upon him. That was an undeniable fact, and until he was relieved of his duty, he would be a pilot. Beyond that everything else was-
"Hey new kid!" And of course, how could he forget to mention the biggest change. With new surroundings came new people. Now smack dab in the middle of the dirt courtyard, Shinji turned his head around to the direction where the voice came from and was greeted by two of his classmates. They had barely entered the courtyard from one of the hallways leading to it, but were fast approaching and while Shinji had no idea who the guy wearing glasses was, the other he vaguely recalled from the numerous times the class representative called out to him, Suzuhara he thought his name was. Recognizing him, Shinji formed a small welcoming smile bringing his hand in for a wave expecting a similar response from the kid, but his brisk and menacing pace towards Shinji, should have told him enough the feeling wasn't mutual.
Shinji didn't even register in his mind that right there and then he was about to get punch, until the familiar kid's fist registered itself into his thoughts.
The force knocked Shinji backwards, whipping his head dangerously backwards as his eyes teared at the horrid sensation. Starting at his nostrils and reaching right below his eyes a stinging sensation forced it's way onto his face making Shinji cover his nose hoping to dull the pain. Doing so however his attacker quickly shoved Shinji throwing him off balance.
"Think your real smooth don't you bitch!" The kid screamed at Shinji shoving him again.
"What?" Shinjj managed to word through his pain as the track suit wearing kid shoved him a third time in the chest.
"Think you're real fucking smooth, fucking with other guy's girls!"
"What are-" Shinji couldn't even get his response in as the kid took another wide swing at him where Shinji managed to somehow dodge taking a few steps back where the kid quickly closed the gap.
"Toji make it quick!" His glasses wearing friend shouted as immediately Shinji flashed his vision to the other friend, noting he seemed be on the lookout.
That little lapse in concentration proved costly, as in that brief moment Toji took a jab at Shinji's face connecting with his chin. The contact caught Shinji completely offguard where he reactively shot his hands forward, feebly trying to return the favor only for Toji to swiftly bat them away and take a wide swing hitting Shinji right underneath his eye.
The force staggered Shinji off to the side as his arms flailed around trying to keep himself from falling down. However Toji, not waiting for Shinji to fall on his own, shoved him forcefully to the ground.
Roughly skidding on the dirt Shinji threw out his elbows to abruptly and painfully stop his momentum, redirecting the momentum to push himself off the ground. It was the most athletic thing Shinji had ever done in his life as he quickly he found himself on his feet and facing his attacker, who Shinji quickly noted, was barreling towards him. With a running start Toji threw a heavy and predictable wide hook that Shinji ducked under, but with Toji's momentum almost nulled his quick reflexes as the two collided with one another. The force threw Shinji off balance knocking him backwards a step or two, with the only reason being it didn't knock him down was because Shinji had reactively grabbed a fistful of Toji's jacket to keep him upright.
Shinji's momentum nearly caused both boys to tumble, but both managed to steadied themselves. Shinji was the first to recover as he pulled himself onto Toji's body, wrapping his arm around his waist, nestling his head right underneath his ribs. The move caught Toji and to an extent Shinji by surprise, as in a spur of the moment decision Shinji began throwing clumsy, erratic and most importantly ineffective punches at Toji's side and kidneys.
"Bitch!" Toji exclaimed before quickly returning the favor as he began throwing better placed punches at Shinji's sides and back. The first couple of exchanges were tolerable for Shinji, who continued throwing punches as well, until out of nowhere the bony knuckles of Toji hit him right underneath his ribcage. The blow painfully shut down Shinji's fury of attacks as he reactively brought his arm in to protect the side of his sudden tender ribcage. Immediately Shinji realized he should have broken his clinch with Toji oppose to shielding his ribs, as suddenly Toji quickly positioned his other arm to place Shinji in a headlock pinning him onto his body.
Almost on que, Toji relentlessly began throwing punches with his free hand at Shinji's weakside as hard as he could. While his back, arm and elbow were taking the brunt of the force, each shockwave traveled throughout his entire body aggravating his tender spot more and more. At this rate Shinji wasn't gonna be able to even continue standing with how much pain he was going through.
Seeing no other options, in a last ditch effort Shinji instinctively opened his mouth biting whatever he could hoping to end this onslaught.
The taste of Toji's tracksuit was soon followed by a quick yelp and slight hesitation from Toji before he resumed his beating even harder this time. Out of options Shinji again opened his mouth this time digging deeper into Toji's side and clamping down as hard as he could. Like clockwork Toji groaned painfully while his punches immediately ceased as his pin on Shinji loosened considerably. Feeling the pressure evaporate Shinji pushed against Toji finally breaking free from his grasp.
"What the hell!" Shinji screamed at Toji, who was grabbing his side in pain, glaring back at him.
"You fucking bit me!" Toji screamed back angrily.
"Sor-yo- you attacked me!" Shinji was about to apologize before realizing he should be the last one to apologize! He was the victim here! "Why did-"
"You got blood on your jacket, man!" Interrupting Shinji was Toji's glasses wearing friend who finally spoke pointing out a huge blotch of fresh blood right where Shinji's head was pinned.
Immediately Shinji thought he might have broken skin with his bite, but just as he was about to speak an odd tickle ran through his nostrils making him immediately shoot his hand up to stop it. It became clear with the sensation alone the blood on Toji's jacket belonged to Shinji. He couldn't believe he didn't feel it earlier as it was gushing like a broken dam taking the boy's sole focus away from his assailant to stop it. Which he tried by pinching his nose and looking up.
He would like to say, he at least thought with this major nose bleed, that the fight would essentially go into a... well timeout or outright stop. That maybe Toji seeing this would let Shinji tend to his nose, but in truth Shinji's mind boggling decision wasn't even that complicated.
In reality Shinji instinctively just pinched his nose and looked up trying to stop his bleeding nose, nothing more and nothing less.
It took about half a second for Shinji to realize how stupid that was as he whipped his head back down only to be immediately suckered punch.
The force knocked Shinji to the ground where Toji stood menacingly over him.
"Dumbass!" Toji proclaimed before smirking below at Shinji. "Next time you go messin' around other guy's girls, put up a better fight new kid!"
"What?" The words slipped through Shinji's mouth muffled, bewildered and angered. "What girl!"
"What girl?!" Toji yelled before viciously pointing at himself. "My girl!"
Shinji's eyes immediately bulged where he stuttered out in a hurry, "Mana Kirishima?!"
"Da' fuck?" Toji questioned looking straight at Shinji. "Whose- no- Hikari! The class representative dumbass!"
"She's your girlfriend?" Shinji asked but before Toji could answer his friend beat him to it.
"Ex-girlfriend."
"Shut up, Kensuke!" Toji screamed turning his attention to Kensuke. "We're taking a break!"
"Same thing in my book."
"Fuck you." Toji dismissed before turning his attention back to Shinji. "Da' hell you meant by that! She's your girlfriend?! What? I'm too ugly or somet'ing?"
"N-no-" But before Shinji could plead his case Toji kicked him in the leg. "What was that for!"
"For bein' a dumbass!"
"Hey new kid don't take it too personal." Kensuke began with a smirk. "You would act the same way towards the person you found out cheated with your girl."
"C-cheated- that..." Shinji realizing what was happening figured it would be best if he gave his sympathies for his assailant, afterall if someone cheated on him than... well probably someone would in the future so... "...That sucks man. I mean it really does, like... relationships... are built on trust. Who would do such a thing to discrete such a beautiful bond!"
Both Kensuke and Toji looked at each other before promptly Toji began kicking Shinji.
"What did I do!" Shinji cried out, not realizing two things, they were referring to him and the other being how utterly tasteless his earlier statement came out before Toji exclaimed.
"You're so full of shit!" It was there neither Kensuke or Shinji expected what came next as suddenly Toji straddled Shinji and threw a wide hook that landed solidly on Shinji's face laying him out flat on his back. From Kensuke's perspective it almost looked like Shinji had gone cold, but then reactively Shinji threw his arms up almost immediately attempting to grab Toji's arms. It was uncoordinated and didn't look right, but Toji, captivated with a renewed anger, threw another punch, hitting Shinji's face whipping his head to the ground. It was an ugly sight, but surprisingly Shinji didn't seem to lose consciousness as he shielded his face with his arms, to a relentless fury of punches.
It was there Kensuke finally reacted as he bolted towards Toji to try and stop his onslaught.
"Toji stop!" Kensuke shouted wrestling Toji off of Shinji's body. "You already won!"
"The hell you talking about!" Toji, now standing and facing Kensuke, proclaimed.
"Look man!" Kensuke said pointing at Shinji. "He's not even fighting anymore! You keep going and you're gonna put him in a hospital!"
"Shut up!" Toji dismissed turning his attention back to Shinji. "It ain't my fault he can't fight!"
With those words Toji promptly kicked Shinji in his ribs sending the boy into a wheezing fit trying to recapture his breath curling up to a fetal position. There Kensuke rushed over to Toji again restraining him from doing any more.
"Toji stop!"
"Cool it-" Toji didn't even get to finish his sentence as the snapping of the heavy metal doors leading to the courtyard echoed throughout it. Quickly the two boys looked at each other before promptly running towards the street and away from the school, leaving a coiled up Shinji holding his chest alone in the dirt courtyard.
What felt like an entirety of silence overtook the courtyard as Shinji remained curled up whistling through his bloodied nose and wheezing through his mouth.
For Shinji everything hurt.
His head, his arms, his chest, his nose, even his teeth hurt, hell he didn't even care blood was still spewing out of his nose running down his face and pooling around his cheek on the floor. Shinji remained still trying to regain his breath which became increasingly staggered and hoarse as his adrenaline began wearing off and the full extent of his injuries made themselves known.
Whatever pain he felt earlier was exponentially increasing by the second, to the point Shinji didn't even know if he could will himself to stand up. It just... it just...
Before he could dwell on his pain futher footsteps coming from the cement sidewalk connecting the two school buildings caught his attention as he slowly gazed at the direction they came from. Doing so, the footsteps promptly stopped, and there standing in the middle of the outdoor hallway, was Rei Ayanami... just staring back him.
Neither spoke a word.
Neither shyed away from eye contact.
Neither moved.
It was just... surreal.
Usually Shinji would have shyed away from such heavy eye contact, but with his fogged laden mind and the fact how odd this was, the thought didn't even enter his mind. She was just... there watching him like... like she was looking for something. It didn't feel warm or caring it felt... utilitarian. It felt very professional. It felt like so many things Shinji didn't want it to feel like.
Sub commander Fuyutsuki had told Shinji, Rei was very grateful for what he did and wanted to thank him... that was a week ago... and nothing came about it.
Now face to face with said girl... she didn't seem... too eager to express those sentiments. Then again he was bleeding profusely from his nose, bruised and dirty, he must have looked pretty fucked up, even to someone as strange as Rei.
That's when Shinji could feel a small smile begin to form on his face.
While she was very odd, she was a fellow pilot, and at least she was there giving him some sort of company.
"Hey."
Just as his mouth was able to hoarsely get off a word and a smile, the blue haired girl continued their gaze just a little longer before promptly turning to her left where she went into the second school building leaving him once again alone.
The regime of silence returned engulfing the dirt courtyard while Shinji could do nothing but maintain his ever growing tighter and twitching smile holding back tears.
Why did he think she would do anything else?
This place was a utopia, Earth's last safe heaven against the apocalypse, where the adults smiled and the children played outside. Here life could be as normal as life could get post-second impact. Life here was great. Life here was exciting. Life here was hopeful.
But it was a mirage.
It was fake.
It wasn't real.
It was an illusion.
And he couldn't even enjoy that!
He couldn't bask in this mirage because it didn't want him!
The truth was, this misery seemed destined.
It seemed inescapable.
That's why he hated assuming things because everytime he got his hopes up it all came tumbling down.
It just wasn't fair.
Just like always, he was on pace to be bullied here, he was on pace to make zero friends here, and it already seemed he alienated his fellow Evangelion pilot.
He was pathetic.
But what was new?
He had always felt that way about himself, and today was just a reminder.
He had assumed a lot of things only for it to come back and bite him in the ass.
Like with moving to Tokyo-3.
He assumed once he saw how different the place was compared to his old town, that things would be different. That maybe he wouldn't be as miserable, that his life might take a turn for the better! Or just enough that he could at least fool himself into being happy.
And like with with Rei.
He had assumed what Fuyutsuki told him was true, but apparently that wasn't the case. If she truly was grateful or wanted to thank him she would have at least asked him if he was alright or called for help, but she just left. Left him alone.
Like everyone did.
However Shinji couldn't leave it at that as his mind took him back to a week ago during that faithful day piloting the Eva. When he fought the angel he... asked them to switch him out with Rei...
What a cowardly thing... what a horrid thing to even ask.
At the time Shinji was sure whoever was piloting the Evangelion would die and to save his skin asked for Rei to be that pilot. Even though his request was quickly denied and a whole slew of other things came after it, she must have heard, she must have. Perhaps she was disgusted by his cowardice and held a grunge because of it. Had she done the same to him he would have felt... betrayed, especially since he was the one who volunteered to pilot in her stead. To volunteer on the behalf of someone and then want to rescind it? That was disgustingly low.
But that was just the kind of person Shinji was.
Perhaps he deserved this.
Perhaps... he deserved worse.
Perhaps... he was overwhelmed with emotions and every negative image he had of himself manifested itself in his brain.
But truly from a physical standpoint and an emotional standpoint he felt like absolute shit.
So he remained there in the dirt courtyard, alone and beaten.
NERV Headquarters and the small screen
"This is so..."
"What? C'mon just finish!"
"J-just...listen to this... 'She then pressed herself on his shoulder, like a scarf blowing dashingly in the wind on a breezy winter night in late November or early December (you know the feeling) wrapped around a neck. Ducky turned his gaze to his side where he looked back at her beautiful light brown orbs that he could he could get lost in forever if given the chance-"
"Oh my God."
"Hehe- it gets better, '"Andie." Ducky began as to Andie she swore never had her name sounded more beautiful than coming from his lips. "I love you... I've always loved you." And then, Andie with trembling lips breathlessly uttered with tears streaming down her beautiful green orbs, "I love you two, Ducky." He used two as in the number two."
"Spelled out or like 2 the number?"
"Spelled out."
"God, this keeps getting better and better."
"It gets better man, here's the last part. 'The two embraced each other as snow began to fall overhead while the song, 'Just like heaven by the cure began to play. Author notes, I hope you enjoyed my little one-shot and really I want to thank you all for taking your time to read my little fic. As for the song I was debating how to work it in as I have a bigger project on the horizon for these pair and I really want to incorporate music in it, so feedback of how you guys liked it would be greatly appreciated. Also I wanted to thank all of you for the support, only if this pairing happened in canon right? Oh well until next time catch you laters'."
There was a silence that followed as the two men quickly made eye contact before bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
"That was fucking hilarious!" Kaji exclaimed loudly.
"Cringy man!" Gendo added pointing at the tablet. "People read this stuff!"
"Let me see it!" Kaji said as Gendo leaned over and handed Kaji the tablet. Skimming through the tablet Kaji's eyes lit up as he pointed at the screen and exclaimed. "Look man they got comments like YouTube!"
"Read the fucking comments, man!" Gendo enthusiastically shouted nearly jumping up and down.
"Let's see, here the latest one, 'Lovely as ever, I absolutely adore how you write the characters and how true they are to canon! I also wish they kept the original ending!'"
"The old fart must have gotten a kick out of that!" Gendo shouted as the pair broke into another fit of laughter.
"Shit listen to this one, 'I wish I could write like you, so beautiful and wonderful. Hope to see more from you!"
"I hope not!" Gendo exclaimed making Kaji chuckle.
"Oh what about this one it's fucking long, 'So-so story, though here are some of my criticism, first off Andie drives a 1959 Karmann ghia yet you described the front turn signal lights as wrapping around the body, well that simply isn't true. The 59 model had turn signal lights that were smaller and shaped liked a cone sitting right underneath the headlight, what you were describing was the later models like a 70 to 74, which I understand the confusion if you aren't into cars and only searched up Karmann ghia without doing the proper research. Also just to point out you called the parking brake an E-brake, once again not a big deal but it's correct term is a parking brake. Another point of criticism Andie has brown eyes, but you kept mixing it up with green! Do proper research before you write, how lazy can one get? If your writing-"
"Gosh, what a douche, it's fucking fanfiction." If Gendo was saying that... than that meant something.
"Yeah they wrote like 2 thousand more words. Oh here's another one, 'Dude, it's canon Ducky is like a brother to her, so it's gross. Your basically pairing people who view each other as siblings, gross.' Also look-"
"What the fuck are you two doing!" And suddenly screaming at the top of his lungs was Fuyutsuki as he stormed his way to Kaji ripping the tablet away from him. "Secert desires what the fuck are you two reading!"
"Hey man it's your fanfiction." Gendo quickly quipped as Fuyutsuki turned beet red.
"I-I never wrote- what are you talking about!" Fuyutsuki shouted as he angrily looked at the tablet. "I don't even know what this website is!"
And just to demonstrate Fuyutsuki stared at the tablet and tilted his head acting confused.
"It's on your tablet!" Gendo pointed out before adding. "You seemed real proud of it in your writing!"
"M-my writing?" Fuyutsuki incredulously said pointing at himself. "I-I don't even know how to write! I mean I haven't written anything since I was in college! And it was academical, not- what did you call it? Fiction-fanmade-"
"You know what it is." Gendo quickly proclaimed to Fuyutsuki who exclaimed in a higher pitch.
"I do not! And why were you going through my tablet!"
"Simple old man! My phone died and Kaji left his in his car and we wanted to watch porn so we went to your office and grabbed your tablet!"
"You fucking bastard." Fuyutsuki began. "Were you gonna read a lemon- I uh meant read porn! This isn't porn it's just letters and words!" Fuyutsuki screamed turning even redder.
"Nah." Kaji add finally speaking with an easy smile. "As soon as we opened your tablet it was already on this page."
"That doesn't mean I wrote it!"
"Yeah, then who would have the username Yuiluver227?" Gendo quickly said all but confirming to Fuyutsuki his secret was blown.
"I... fuck you." There was nothing left to say as Fuyutsuki bowed his head in shame before plopping down next to Kaji on the couch in defeat.
"If it's any consolation, I like how you write." Kaji beamed to Fuyutsuki.
"Really?" Fuyutsuki questioned before Gendo jumped in.
"Nah, you suck loser, hahaha." Gendo and Kaji then high five each other as Fuyutsuki just sank lower and lower to the couch wishing he would have put a damn password on his tablet.
"Misato for the last time I am not giving you a physical!" And screaming from the other end of the hall leading to Gendo's office was the voice of Ritsuko Akagi as her heels clicked vigorously towards Gendo's office with Misato close behind.
"Ritsy! C'mon I have a weird sensation on my hamstring and-"
"I'm not that type of doctor!" Ritsuko screamed right outside of Gendo's office becoming visible to the trio inside.
"Then why did you give Shinji a physical last chapter- I meant last time!" She did have a valid point there.
"Misato!" Ritsuko began. "Does it look like I know! Does it look like anyone here knows what the hell we're doing!"
Ritsuko also had a very valid point too...
"Hey blondie shut up!" Gendo shouted to Ritsuko who turned her fury from Misato to Gendo.
"Are you telling me to shut up!" Ritsuko incredulously answered back pointing at herself striding menacingly inside Gendo's office.
"Your the only blondie here, right!" And not backing down Gendo exclaimed standing up from his desk to meet her height.
"I'll have you know this isn't blonde, it is sunflower blonde, okay?!" Ritsuko spat, but before anyone could further escalate this argument Misato jumped infront of Ritsuko stopping her in her tracks to exclaim.
"I also have blonde hair!" Misato promptly grabbed her hair, only to let it flow freely out of her hands brightly adding. "It's just... espresso blonde."
"You mean black?" And making himself relevant was Kaji who easily corrected Misato much to her displeasure.
"W-what the hell are you doing here!" She screamed at the top her lungs turning to see the last person she ever wanted to see again.
"You know, work, espionage, smoking a bowl with my best bro, you know, the cool stuff."
"That is not cool!" Misato barked pointing a finger at Kaji. "You're not cool!"
She then closed her eyes and blew a raspberry at Kaji who chuckled at her actions and smiled.
"I just love your sense of humor Misato."
"Yeah, well, well- well fuck you, I hate you!" And again she blew a raspberry at Kaji making Ritsuko just facepalm.
"Why did I sign up for this?"
"Because of this! Boo-yah!" Gendo shouted as he pointed to his crotch, pelvic thrusting. "Ladies contain your orgasms!"
"How am I your subordinate?" Fuyutsuki muttered to himself which didn't go unnoticed by Gendo, but before he could turn his attention to Fuyutsuki Ritsuko spoke.
"Sir, will you stop? Why did you summon us all here to your office?"
And as she finished asking her question a knock on the door caught everyone's attention as they turned to look at a man standing at the doorway dress in a brownish red suit holding a briefcase.
"Excuse me, I'm not interrupting anything am I?" The stranger began with a smile as everyone looked at him confused except for Gendo who smiled. "Of course I'm not, I'm kinda a big deal."
The stranger proceeded to strut inside with an air of arrogance shooting creepy smiles to the females present their.
"Who are you?" Misato asked to which the man smiled wider stopping a mere foot away from Gendo's desk where he turned around to lean against it facing everyone.
"Well, glad you asked, though I'm surprised you don't recognize me." He began spiffing up his suit before explaining. "My name is Shiro Tokita and-"
"Who?" Everyone questioned hearing his name making Shiro sigh in defeat.
"C'mon." Shiro began with a noticeable quiver in his voice. "I was part of the Jet Alone project? You were there!"
"What?" Everyone said once again.
"You know that giant robot, that blew up half of Tokyo-2, during that demonstration?"
"When did this happen?" Misato asked tilting her head quizzically.
"3 years ago. We asked for an Evangelion to help, but NERV refused to send its lone pilot at the time to aid us." Shiro bitterly recalled before clinching his fist. "That robot deserved a more dignified death."
"What about the 100,000 people who died as a result of the nuclear explosion?" Kaji rightfully question to which Shiro just shrugged.
"They weren't important to the plot."
"Yeah they were bitches." And of course Gendo had to throw his two cents in.
"Oh I remember you!" Misato beamed clapping her hands. "The jet alone guy! Wow I didn't even knew you had a name!"
"Nobody does." Shiro silently uttered under his breath before smiling at everyone in the office. "Anyways you guys can wiki it later, I have business to take care of. Me and my team have shifted gears and decided to try a different career path. Mainly in the entertainment industry-"
"It's not porn right?" Misato earnestly asked.
"Misato!"
"What? From my experience, when they say 'entertainment industry' it usually means porn okay!" Misato clarified making Ritsuko shake her head and Shiro chuckle.
"No, we're a respectable business, providing mainstream content."
"Sure..." Misato skeptically said before adding. "But incase you do porn, there's this guy named Shinji-"
"Misato!" Ritsuko shouted angrily at her friend, but it wasn't enough to deter Shiro from continuing.
"Anwyays, I came here today, because of the generous proposal Commander Gendo Ikari gave to us." Shiro began opening his briefcase. "My production company, Jet Alone Productions is renowned for bringing some of the best content available for most basic cable packages, such as highly critical reality shows like, Living with a douchebag on an island, or the totally different show called Dating a douchebag on an island, naked, except everything's censored. We're also responsible for hit shows like, Okinawa Shore and it's spinoffs, Akira and Akio go to Akihabara and Osaka party shore. Here's our pamphlet. "
"That's a lot of shows to produce in 3 years." Misato rightfully pointed out as Shiro handed her a pamphlet.
"Yeah, well it's not hard to find attractive attention seekers looking to become famous and flame out pathetically. I mean one of our stars from our first shows is already dead, and the cast was excited to honor him which is why we're making a new series based around his funeral with the old cast returning called, 'Reunion party funeral'."
"That is utterly tasteless." Ritsuko commented to which Shiro just shot her a bewildered look.
"Tasteless? You think having a rave themed funeral while the funeral attendees do ecstasy is tasteless! Wow someone's a prune!"
"Prune!? What you're doing is horrible!" Ritsuko screamed before Kaji jumped in.
"You're having sex with your dead mom's lover ontop of the magi."
"Kaji not now! We're discussing societies problems not mine!" Ritsuko exclaimed furiously holding up her hand at a smirking Kaji. "I mean who even watches such garbage?"
"Did you give Akio my number!" Gendo shouted loudly answering Ritsuko's question.
"Yes sir I did." Shiro confirmed making Gendo fist pump in celebration. "Anyways let me cut to the chase, 4 weeks ago I get a call from Mr. Ikari inquiring about if we were interested in making a reality TV show about NERV and at first we laughed him off cause well, that's just stupid."
"You did what Commander!" Fuyutsuki red with fury spat out. "You can't do that what about the committee!"
"Those old farts stopped watching television ever since Namakura Gatana came out." Gendo quickly proclaimed allowing for Shiro to continue.
"Then of course, the Angel attack last week happened and we knew in that moment we had to jump on board. Child soldiers fighting aliens and protecting humanity from the apocalypse, yes please, inject that into my veins, that sounds like the cash cow my company needs! Of course me and my team had to discuss the legality-"
"Hold on sir! You're for reals?" Ritsuko interrupted glaring at Shiro. "You can't have the public seeing what we do here at NERV this is highly classified stuff!"
"That's what we thought to." Shiro answered as he stepped closer to Ritsuko before pulling a letter out of his suit coat pocket. "Here is an official document from the Japanese government, as you can clearly read, it states, 'We hereby give clearance to Jet alone productions to film highly classified and secret national security. Under any other circumstances this request would have been denied, but after a preliminary poll in America and other nations showed this production is expected to garner over 800,000,000 USD in overseas TV contracts, we have made an exception. PS Also the NERV personnel are hot."
"Why, thank you." Misato shyly said with a blush making Ritsuko facepalm again.
"This is ridiculous! 800 million dollars is not worth jeopardizing NERV, Japan and the whole world for!" Ritsuko did have a very good point, but as Shiro pointed out..
"800 million dollars or more." That really didn't help but before Ritsuko could refute him Shiro continued. "Besides doctor, this isn't about you, we want to make it more about the pilots not the staff. Afterall they are teenagers and our target audience are teenagers so-"
"Wait a fucking minute!" Gendo shouted pounding his desk angrily. "What about me! You rather have my loser son on TV than me!"
"You will get your screen time don't worry. But from our research, you guys are way too old for our demographics, especially you, old man." Shiro stated pointing at Fuyutsuki before continuing. "Our research shows our demographics prefer cute, edgy and depressed teen boys, like our future star Shinji or attractive, mysterious, suave adults like our friend Kaji here, not wrinkly, graying old creeps like him."
"Why are you pointing at me again!" Fuyutsuki shouted angrily.
"Because your old! And old people are creepy! At least according to our demographics." Shiro clarified.
"What are your demographics, if I may ask?" Kaji asked making Misato quip.
"Why!? Not like you care! All you care about are your stupid melons!" She then blew a raspberry.
"We're projecting for this show a predominantly large female audience in the teen and tween range, so between 12-20 years I would say." Shiro answered explaining. "You have to consider our polls across our network's various programs indicate we're probably going to be pulling in viewers from shows that are hugely popular within those demographics like, TeenVampire, for example."
"You're making it sound like no guy watches those type of shows?" Kaji surprising said making everyone raise an eyebrow at his comments.
"You have a point, but you have to consider these polls are answered anonymously and by willing viewers. What guy is gonna admit to watching TeenVampire?"
"Very true." Kaji agreed as everyone turned to looked at him. "What it's a good show?"
"That doesn't answer my question!" Gendo furiously shouted. "My son's a loser! A big loser! Why him and not me! I'm a stud! A big fucking stud! I nail hot chicks while he masturbates with his tiny wiener!"
"I just explained it sir." Shiro tired of Gendo's attics exasperated. "You know as well as I do, losers, socially awkward outcast and just plain weirdos, as long as they are attractive in some way, will garner some of the biggest fanbases on the internet. Go to any internet blog post and you will see what I'm talking about! It doesn't make sense considering anybody with similar traits in real life would be totally rejected by these fangirls in real life, ironic wouldn't you say?"
"God damn!" Gendo shouted pounding his fist on his desk. "I would beat you up if you weren't spitting straight facts."
"I knew you would see it our way." Shiro agreed before saying what was on everyone's mind. "Also sir when we start filming don't use the kids lingo, it's cringy and you'll probably be made to a meme."
"I'm young!"
"So now that everyone is settled, where's our future star!" Shiro exclaimed.
"Oh he's at school." Misato worded before adding. "Though he should be coming here soon, this is the time they usually get out."
"Great! When he comes we're have him sign some papers to let him know he's on board. I bet this is going to be the happiest day of his life!"
A/N
Boy what a roller coaster. This is very different than what I've posted so far in this story and if I'm being honest kinda hypocritical because I've stated before the tone of this story wasn't gonna change, but... yeah it kinda has. While it will still be outlandish and zany, like the last scene demonstrated, I'm just gonna allow myself to write more subdue scenes not meant to be totally stupid. That's basically it. I personally think it allows for better story telling and in all honesty I've come to the realization the goal I started with regarding this story is not the goal I wanna finish with. When I started writing this fic it was suppose to be as outlandish as it could get, but as I kept writing and writing I ended up wanting to tell an actual story with themes and a narrative. After not updating this story in so long and coming back to it, I've realized what I wanted to do wasn't gonna be possible if I kept doing what I was doing. I should have realized this earlier, but in reality this story truly hasn't even started, five chapters in and we haven't even covered episode 3.
Also I've added little titles to the beginning of scenes, I don't know if they'll stick, but I wanted to experiment with them. I don't know what else to say, or when I will update again, but I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this chapter, even though it probably wasn't what a lot of you were expecting. I don't know how you feel about the changes, but I truly enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you guys enjoyed reading it. Regardless, I wanna thank all of you for reading, following, favoriting and reviewing this story, hopefully I see you guys next chapter whenever that may be, for now, adios.