I can't believe it. I actually can't believe it. I'm gonna lose my mind! My brain is gonna explode! Asuka's thoughts were racing as she ate her dinner. Misato and Shinji both watched, worried, as she stabbed through the fish with her fork, splitting it apart.
"Asuka, are you…" "SHUT IT, SHINJI! YOU IDIOT!" She forced her chair back, grabbing her meal and standing up. "I'm eating in my room!" With that, she turned and left, leaving her housemates to wonder what had happened.
"Geez, the hell did you do to her, Shinji?" "Nothing! She was fine earlier today." "Really?" "Well, at lunch. When we were supposed to walk home together, she disappeared…" Though she knew how volatile Asuka's personality was, it seemed obvious to Misato that Shinji had upset her.
"I don't want any tension here. If you upset her, you should apologize." "B-but I didn't do anything!" The woman rolled her eyes. "Just say sorry anyway, next time she comes out. Okay?" "Yes, ma'am."
Meanwhile, Asuka hadn't touched her dinner in the other room. Instead, she had her face pressed down into her mattress. Why does Rei like Shinji? What the hell is it? He's just some stupid boy! He's not even that good of a pilot!
She wasn't mature enough to know how to handle her crush being attracted to someone else. 'Losing' Kaji to Misato was one thing, but Rei, who was her age, liking Shinji, who she lived with, hurt a little deeper.
Trying and failing to focus on someone else, Asuka's mind defaulted to solving her problem. Maybe I should say something to him? Would that work? Could I just scare him off? What if he's into her, too? Then what?
On the other hand, I could just talk to Rei and tell her how I feel. She might freak out, though. Shit. Shit! She weighed the two options as she pecked at her food. It seemed easiest to talk to Shinji, and tell him to leave Rei be.
But he was friends with her. He even seemed to like her, a little. How could I get Shinji to stop talking to her? She thought for a moment, realizing a well-crafted lie could very easily keep him and Rei separate.
Asuka relaxed then. She finally had a way to keep the two apart; she would just need to implement it. And though she felt a little guilty, she rationalized it by thinking about Rei. Shinji's just a little kid. I'm doing her a favor if I get them to stop talking.
Decided on her plan, she finished her dinner and left the room, putting her plate by the sink. Misato was relieved to see her come out. "You feeling better?" She ignored her. "Oi, Shinji, I want to talk to you. In private."
His heart jumped a little. Is she actually mad at me? He followed Asuka into her sleeping area, and they slid the door shut behind him. "What's up?" "Sit down." He obeyed, wondering what was about to happen. "Look, Shinji… Ayanami told me something today."
"W-what?" Now he was really anxious. "What did she say?" She took a breath. This should be easy. Remember, he's a dumb boy… "She said that you're annoying, actually. Did you notice how quiet she got when you were around? Yeah. She's like, kind of sick of you."
His face turned pale. I thought I was making friends with Rei? "Really?" "Mhm. And she wanted to make sure I didn't invite you to any of our study sessions." Shinji looked very unhappy. "I see. I didn't know I was bothering her so much."
"Yeah, well, you are. Don't tell her I told you either, or she'll get mad at me." "R-right. Thanks for letting me know, Asuka." He left the room then with his head down. That was easier than I thought it'd be.
She laid back on her mattress, seeing there was only a few hours until she'd need to go to bed for school the next day. With Shinji out of the picture, it'd be a lot easier for her to court Rei. All I need to do is help her forget about him…
On their walk to the campus, Shinji wasn't at all talkative, even though Asuka prompted him multiple times. It was obvious to her that what she had said about Rei had gotten to him, and though she didn't want to, she found herself feeling culpable.
"Hey, cheer up. It's not like you had a crush on her, or anything." He didn't respond immediately. Wait? Did he? "I just don't get what I did that upset her." "Um, I can try to find out more, if you want…"
"No, it's okay. If she wants me to leave her alone, I will." She nodded, and they continued their walk, remaining silent for the rest of it, though Asuka began to think that her lie did a little bit too much damage.
As they got to class, Rei was already at her desk. Shinji immediately ducked down, trying to avoid looking at her. She didn't seem to catch on as Asuka went up to her.
"Morning, Rei!" "Good morning." "Your hair looks great today! Did you condition it?" The comment caused her to raise an eyebrow. "No. I didn't do anything." "Oh, wow. I wish I could get away with that."
"Do you need something?" "Huh?" "I noticed you like to compliment me when you need something." Her face turned red. "No, of course not! I just… wanted to let you know you look nice!" I might be coming on a little too strong here…
"Oh, okay. Thank you." Asuka tapped her fingers on her desk. "Did you, uhm, want to eat together again?" "At lunch?" "Yeah! If you're not busy." She nodded. "Sure." "Great! I'll see you after second period."
She walked to her own desk then, putting her stuff down. Shinji had watched the encounter. It made him a fair bit jealous; Asuka was somehow making friends with Rei, yet the same girl hated him. It didn't really make sense.
Suzuhara came up to him shortly after Asuka had sat down. "Did ya see that, man?" "See what?" "Them! They're totally dating. Like, one hundred percent!" He covered his ears, not wanting another reminder that his crush on Rei was unrealistic.
"Go away, dude. I don't care." "Ooh, someone's a little jealous. You're into Ayanami, aren't ya?" Shinji stood up. "Go away! Seriously! I don't wanna talk about it." They began to draw attention from their classmates.
"Jeez, man. Whatever." His friend left, returning to his desk just as their teacher moved up to the board to begin the lecture. It doesn't matter if they're gay or not. Rei hates me. How did I get her to hate me?
Lunch time rolled around incredibly slow for Asuka. She'd been anticipating it all day, and as such the clock moved at a crawling pace. Eventually, noon did come, and she waltzed over to Rei's desk.
"Ready?" "Mhm." They left together, out of the classroom and down the exit stairs. Going to their normal spot on the field, the girls made idle conversation. "So, did you bring a lunch today?"
"I brought a tomato." "A tomato?" As Asuka took her sandwich out, she watched Rei remove a whole, uncut tomato from her bag. "What are you…" She looked on in surprise as the girl took a bite out of it, as if eating an apple.
She chewed it, swallowing. "Thank you for introducing me to these." Rei took another bite as Asuka began to take on a disgusted look. "That's not really how people eat those, y'know."
"Aren't they fruits?" She continued to snack. "Technically, sure. But it's not something you eat like that." "Why not? I like it." Asuka didn't really have an argument, so she let her be. "Whatever…"
The redhead began to start her own lunch, before Rei interrupted her. "Asuka, do you have experience with boys?" Caught mid swallow, she choked on part of her sandwich, coughing. With boys?! What is she talking about?
"Um, well, not really. They like me, I guess." "I see." Rei continued to work her way around the tomato core. "Why do you ask?" "I don't really know how to start with Shinji." With Shinji?! Asuka tried to throw her off. "Well, normally, the girl waits for the boy to make a move."
"That's what I've heard. But he hasn't done anything to suggest he's interested in me." She smiled. "Maybe he's not." "How do I get him to be?" "You could show some skin. That usually drives guys crazy." She joked, hoping the idea would appall Rei.
"He's seen me naked, you know." "W-what?!" Asuka spit out her food, and reacted by chugging her water bottle. "When?!" "He had come over once to drop off an assignment. He let himself in to my place. I came out of the shower wearing nothing to find him in my living room."
Shinji! That bastard! "Wow! What a pervert! You're interested in a guy like that?" Rei didn't hesitate. "I don't think he did it intentionally, though his reaction wasn't very graceful." Listening to her talk about Shinji was upsetting Asuka a great deal.
"Look, Rei, if he's into you, he probably would've done something after that." "Oh?" "Trust me. Guys don't see you nude and forget about it." Come on, just forget about that idiot… "So does that mean I'm unattractive?"
"W-what? Of course not! You're very pretty!" "How can you tell?" "I-Well, I'm looking right at you. You're pretty, Rei." She didn't seem convinced. "But you can't see my body." "Well, no…" "What part is most important? Breasts? I think I've heard boys talk about breasts."
"Well, everything is important, I guess. But guys like boobs. Butts too." "Are mine suitable?" "Uh, I don't really…" Asuka was cut off as Rei unhooked the skirt piece from her arms, lowering the underpart of her uniform to show her chest.
Did she… Did she really just do that? Am I dreaming? She could clearly see her bust, only disguised by her thin bra. "What do you think?" "I-I… Um… They're… They're nice." She pulled her shirt back up. "So there's no issue with them?"
Asuka's face had completely flushed. She was stunned, having just gotten an intimate look at her crush without even asking. "N-no, you're… Like I said, you're very pretty." "Then why is he uninterested? He didn't so much as look at me today."
"Everyone has different taste, especially when it comes to love. Don't worry about Shinji. If he's not into you, it's his loss." "Hm. What do you do when a boy you like is uninterested?"
I can tell you what I do when a girl I like is uninterested… "Honestly, Rei, I wouldn't waste my time with him. If he hasn't made a move yet, he probably never well." Asuka silently left out her manipulation of Shinji earlier.
Rei sighed. "Maybe you're right." "Maybe." She returned to her lunch. "Asuka?" "Hm?" "Do you know how to kiss?" She choked yet again on the bit she had swallowed. "T-to kiss?" "Mhm. It seems alien to me. I'd like to know how, in case Shinji does decide to do something."
"Um, uh, I guess I know a little." "How do you do it?" How the hell do I explain this? "I guess you just, uh, put your face on theirs?" "And the lips touch?" "Y-yeah." "What about the noses?" "Well, you have to turn so they don't collide." "What do you mean?"
Her questions were rapidly firing. "I-it's really hard to explain, Rei." She sighed. "If that's the case, can you demonstrate?" "D-DEMONSTRATE?" "If you would." Rei moved her face closer to Asuka's. "Show me."