EVANGELION: WRECKAGE (Rebuild)
BOOK I - SPIRIT
I. THE FIRST DAY
One day out of the blue, Shinji Ikari was summoned.
"Summoned"... quite a term. But the more Shinji thought about it, the more the poetic description seemed to fit what as happening to him. Summoning was for spirits being dragged up from the underworld to serve the bidding of the summoner. It was also said for fearful underlings brought before the King, to answer for some need of the ruler. Both sentiments felt correct.
Before the summoning life couldn't be described as anything other than mundane, if a bit disappointing. He lived with his mother's brother and his wife. He wasn't neglected or mistreated in any way, only treated 'separately'. His uncle didn't have kids and didn't want any, but seemed tolerant enough of Shinji's presence. Still, they made it clear in their actions that he wasn't their child and would never be considered as such.
Shinji had come to accept this.
The only regret he had was not knowing why his parents had left him here. When he asked, his guardians gave him vague answers: they worked for the government, or were employed in some kind of special project, overseas, or just 'out'. Shinji was smart enough to know his guardians never gave him a straight answer, likely because they didn't even know.
Shinji only had sparse moments of both of them. Of his mother he remembered vague comfort- she had been in his life, happy and pleasant... until gradually that changed. He would see her less and less, until there were days only with His Father.
In Shinji's mind, Gendo had become an impassible, cold, unaffected barrier. Shinji could only remember his coldness, his aloofness, his directness. It was him that delivered Shinji to his mother's older brother, and he was the last of his parents Shinji had seen. Since then, he had come to fear meeting his father again... that impassive facade.
Of course, Shinji's aunt and uncle opened all of the mail destined for him, so they knew before Shinji did that he was being summoned to Hakone. Shinji learned for himself merely hours before his bags had been packed and he was sent on his way.
Shinji was still recovering from that shock a day later on the second leg of the train ride. His summoning was all he had to think about on the train ride to Hakone, which he discovered now had a new name: Tokyo-3. The rest of his possessions would follow him once he had mailed his aunt and uncle his new address. Then, he imagined, they'd take that long-desired trip to America... now that they were unburdened.
The train arrived on time. Stepping out of the car, he studied the only reference given to him of what he should do when he arrived. It was a single polaroid photograph of a woman with short-cropped blond hair and a mole under her right eye. "I'll meet you at the station," said the hand-scrawled note on the photograph, "Be a good boy and be prompt. - R. Akagi."
This was all very strange to Shinji, but he had no choice but to deal with it. He waved the polarioid absently as he walked away from the train car and approached the street turn-out, eyes scanning the people to look for anyone who was blond. It could have been worse though, he could have met his Father here.
He almost passed R. Akagi until he did a double take. "Ah-aum!" He announced, catching her attention.
She had been standing on the opposite side of an American-made car. "Shinji?" She said, "I'm Doctor Ritsuko Akagi. I work for your father."
Shinji's fingers tightened on the Polaroid he held at the mention, and thought, of his father. "I... I see." Shinji replied and looked away.
Doctor Akagi rounded the front of the car to approach Shinji, not reacting to his hesitance. "Come with me, I'll take you to the base."
That brought up Shinji's face. "The base?"
"Yes, where your parents work." Ritsuko replied.
Shinji looked down absently. Yes, it was here. Finally. "O-ohkay..."
The drive was quiet for the first ten minutes while Doctor Akagi navigated the city. Finally, she broke the ice. "Are you nervous?"
Shinji swallowed. "Y-Yes..."
"Understandable." Ritsuko replied, "Its been many years since you have seen your parents, and you don't know what to expect."
Shinji had been twiddling his thumbs as he sat in the passenger seat. Moved by her statement, he finally asked, "W-What are my parents like?"
Ritsuko smirked as she pulled up to a vehicle entrance of some kind. "Well," She said, "Your parents are both very professional. Your father is highly admired- and highly feared around the base."
"Feared?" Shinji asked.
"Oh yes." Ritsuko replied, "Part of it is the position, part of it is his attitude. He's one of the most serious men I've met in my life."
"O-Oh..." Shinji replied. He swallowed. "And... and my mom?"
"She is also fairly dedicated to her work." Ritsuko replied, "And one of the most professional women I've ever met."
Shinji nodded and bowed his head a degree. He had expected as much, given that they had left Shinji behind years ago. He had hoped, perhaps, something had changed. "Do you know why my Father wanted me to come here?"
Ritsuko glanced in the rear-view mirror and pulled the car forward a little while they waited for the entrance to clear. "I'm not at liberty to say yet." Ritsuko replied, "You have to see a few things first. What I can say is that it's something only you, Shinji, can do."
Shinji winced as he tried to think of what it was he could do. "Is... my father hurt?"
Ritsuko laughed. "No, it's not a medical emergency like that. One moment," She pulled the car up another space, grabbed a handbag and fished into it with her fingers. She presented a card to Shinji. "Could you please enter that into the machine just outside your window?"
Shinji took the card and looked at it. It was an identification card, and Shinji could read her title as he glanced at her card. NERV TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS. The window was already rolling down, allowing Shinji to push in the card and then withdraw it as the machine instructed. It beeped an affirmative, and the gate before them opened.
"Thank you." Ritsuko replied after Shinji handed the identification card back to her.
In the moment they drove inside Shinji realized they weren't entering a parking garage. Eyes wide, he looked around. "Where are we-?"
He was cut off as heavy clamps clapped around the car's tires. "What?!"
"Relax," Ritsuko replied as she put away her identification card, "This is normal Shinji. You'll see in a moment."
Shinji settled down, a little perturbed that he wasn't getting straight answers. No answer on his father, no answer on where they were even going. At that moment the car jolted, and Shinji could hear the sounds of squealing rails. He turned to Ritsuko. "We're on a train?"
"Of sorts." Ritsuko replied and nodded out the passenger window. "Look out there."
Shinji's timing was perfect. He turned his head and as he did, the darkness of the tunnel superstructure gave away to reveal the most marvelous landscape Shinji had ever seen. "Woa!" He said, pressing his face up against the glass of Ritsuko's car. "A Geofront! A real Geofront!"
Laid out in miniature at the bottom of a dome enclosure was a landscape that could have been a model for a futuristic secluded base. Surrounded by miles of parkland were a few select structures, including a massive pyramid with some logo at the apex Shinji couldn't make out.
"I knew you would be impressed." Ritsuko replied, "This is our headquarters, NERV Primary. This is where your parents work."
Shinji didn't know what to think. His parents worked in an underground base? It was something straight out of a spy film. But... what did they do here?
Shinji admired the grounds all the way down. Five minutes later, beyond another security checkpoint, Ritsuko parked her car in a full garage located under the base floor.
Shinji followed Ritsuko through a confusing maze of corridors for five minutes before he asked, "A-Are you taking me to my parents?"
"Yes." Ritsuko replied.
Shinji didn't ask any more questions after that as he tried to gather his feelings to prepare for it. Ritsuko had given him little reassurance to help.
He was so lost in his thinking he didn't realize anything about his surroundings until he realized he was standing in a dark room. The lone doorway that brought him in here slowly closed. "Wait, what?"
The door closed with a reverberating slam. It was quiet for a moment after that.
"It-It's dark." Shinji said, partially to hear the echo in the room.
Suddenly light exploded into existence. Shinji yelped and shielded his eyes to let them adjust. Opening them, he fell backward on the floor. His backpack spilled open, a lone pen rolled away and disappeared over the railing separating him from what the room contained.
Staring Shinji in the face was the largest animal head he had ever seen. Masked in purple with two enormous white eyes staring directly at him, the hideous head also had a massive horn jutting out of the forehead at an angle. The massive jaw was twisted in a kind of grin.
"Wh-What is this?" Shinji demanded as he stared to pick himself up.
"An experiment." An aged voice called from above. Shinji shielded his eyes from the spotlights playing down from the ceiling to look up. In a room above the massive head, a man was looking down upon him.
It had been years since Shinji had seen his father, but his reaction had not changed in that time. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled. "F-Father..."
"It's been a while, Shinji." Gendo said down to his son.
Shinji looked from his father to the machine. Standing now, he took a step towards it as he tried to decipher what it is. "What is this thing?"
Another voice spoke from above. "Ultimate All-purpose humanoid decisive battle weapon Evangelion, test unit zero one."
Shinji looked back up. Now a woman was standing beside his father, one he also recognized... but had not seen far far longer. "M...Mother..."
He could see even from here that his mother wasn't smiling. Both of his parents were looking down on him impassively.
Shinji looked at the machine, and then back up at them. "Wh-What is this? What is going on?"
Gendo commanded, "You will pilot this machine for us, Shinji."
Shinji looked at the head and pointed as he looked up. "That? Y-You want me to pilot that?!"
"Correct." Yui called down.
Shinji looked from the figures, to the head, and then back up at his parents again as he stepped backward. "I-Is that all?" Under his breath, he added, "Aren't you happy to see me...?"
Shinji had been guessing why his parents had finally summoned him back, but all of his guesses were blown to the wind the moment he saw this. He was... was feeling numb...
Yui called back down, "Piloting will be your purpose here."
Shinji's gaze fell from his parents as they wandered the walls while he tried to think. What did this mean? Years of isolation and they called him here for... this? To be a... pilot? They didn't want him back except for...
He stumbled and fell backward again, staring at the head. He was feeling woozy from too many feelings. They wanted him... but they didn't want him.
If he said no his aunt and uncle wouldn't take him back. That much he was certain about.
As the terror of being homeless crept into his mind he started to hyperventilate.
Ritsuko, watching all of this, looked from Shinji to the Ikaris. The pair were like mannequins, staring down at their son with no affection. No love.
Ritsuko looked back down at Shinji and crouched beside him. "Shinji, you can say no if you want to."
Shinji swallowed. "What... what do I have to do?"
Gendo Ikari smirked. He turned his head a little as Yui spun and walked away from where she could view their son. Gendo watched her go, and gave one more glance down at Shinji as Doctor Akagi was helping him stand up.
Then he turned and followed his wife.
After leaving the "cage" (A term that didn't inspire much confidence with Shinji), Ritsuko escorted him to another office to settle his medical and housing paperwork.
Shinji just numbly followed Ritsuko through the halls again, trying to sort out the exchange he just had with his parents. There were no answers. The only conclusion he could come to was that they were strangers... strangers with the authority of legal guardianship over him.
No, his heart told him it wasn't that simple. He needed them. The reason he came was because he was hoping to hear something from them. Even riding down to this basement under the earth, even facing that... that thing... he wanted it all to be worth it when his parents were happy to see him.
That didn't happen.
Now he needed to figure out what to do. For now, he supposed, he would be here. Perhaps things could change.
Shinji's attention was snapped up again when Ritsuko knocked on the glass beside an open office door. "Kyoko?" Ritsuko asked aloud, "I have your new pilot."
"Bring him in." A stern voice replied.
Shinji followed Ritsuko into the large office space. It appeared very spartan and stately, with few photographs but plenty of awards and certificates. He had to do a double-take when he realized a poster wasn't showing a man... but a humanoid machine of some kind. He stopped to stare but was interrupted when the owner of the office toned, "Take a seat, Ikari."
Shinji blinked and shook his head to clear his thoughts before obediently sitting in the stuffy chair across from the woman. Ritsuko remained standing.
The woman who owned the office was foreign looking, American or European in some way, but her Japanese was fluent. She had blond hair and sharp features, which at the moment were aimed at her computer as she typed.
Ritsuko patted the back of the chair. "I'll let Kyoko take it from here Shinji. Now that you're working with us, I'll see you before too much longer."
Shinji thought over her words before he realized Ritsuko was walking away. Turning, he called, "D-Doctor!"
Ritsuko stopped by the door and looked back at him.
"Th-Thank you." Shinji replied.
Ritsuko smiled. "My, pleasure Shinji."
She left.
"Shinji Ikari, 14 years old." The woman said at the computer. Shinji spun around and adjusted his posture. He had encountered sticklers before, and this woman's intonation suggested she commanded respect. Shinji glanced at the placard on her desk and read KYOKO ZEPPELIN.
"I presume you accepted your parent's request?" The woman toned.
Shinji bobbed his head. When she turned her head he uttered, "Uh... yes."
"Good." The woman replied simply and looked back at the computer to enter in more information. Then she suddenly turned to open a cabinet drawer and produce a manilla envelope. She slapped it on the desk in front of her and pushed it towards him. "Please review the candidate acceptance form. When you are done, sign the terms and conditions at the end of the packet."
Shinji, wincing, slid the packet towards him and opened it to inspect the contents. Paragraphs upon paragraphs of legalese was printed on many sheets.
"Th-There's a lot..." Shinji said.
"Take your time." Was all Kyoko said.
She may have said it, Shinji said, but he figured she didn't have a lot of patience. He skimmed through the document, noting a lot of scary Terms and Conditions. Non-disclosure agreements, threats of legal action if he was to breach confidentiality, and so on. After page four he started to skim even worse, before getting to the end of the 40 page document. He took a moment to re-read parts in bold before he reached into his backpack for a pen.
"What are you doing?" Kyoko asked, startling Shinji.
"O-Oh... I can't find my pen-"
With a fluid motion Kyoko whisked one out of a chest pocket, clicked it on, and slapped it on the desk. Then she returned to her work.
Shinji nervously took the pen, then started to sign. He put the pen back on the desk.
"Signed?" She asked. Catching Shinji's nod she closed the folder with one hand and slid it closer to her. "You graduated from the boarding school you were previously attending?"
"N-No..." Shinji replied. It was in the middle of the school year... did she know that?
"Very well." Kyoko replied, "I am enrolling you in the Tokyo-3 junior high school. You'll be a late entry but there's no book or fee requirements necessary on your part. Your class will be 2-A. Other details will be given to you when you attend the first day of class."
"Okay..." Shinji answered.
Kyoko ignored the hesitance in Shinji's response and went on. "You will be assigned a room in housing block 14C. As you have no motorized vehicle, you will be given a free bus and transit pass courtesy of NERV. You will also be provided a paycheck and income for being a NERV employee, rescinded only upon termination of your activities here at NERV or due to a breach of contract. You will also be given an identity card you must keep on your person at all times, for entry into NERV facility and proof of your identity as a NERV employee. NERV employees enjoy a 10% discount at all stores and establishments in Tokyo-03, valid at any time and for any purchase."
Shinji blinked. He would be having a paycheck? Glancing at the manilla folder he had just signed, perhaps it was compensation for... whatever he would be doing. Kyoko returned to the drawer on her side of the desk to pull out another folder (blue this time) and slapped it on the desk in front of him. "This is yours. This contains basic information for your role here on the base."
Shinji only started to open it when Kyoko's printer started buzzing. She spun in her chair to face it, her back facing Shinji.
He looked down at the pamphlet. There was a little green instruction book of rules and regulations, a map of the city, a tour pamphlet, a-
A sheet landed in front of him with his information about the school he would be attending. Kyoko was speaking, "You will be on-call twenty-four seven for testing and combat activity should the need arise. Otherwise, you are expected to call the base everyday at five PM to confirm your schedule with central planning."
Shinji caught one word. "C-Combat?"
Kyoko's expression did not change. "Of course." She replied as she stared at the computer, "Evangelions are combat robots. We have already had several sorties in the city to repel attacks. You would know this if you paid attention to the news."
Shinji blinked. If there were giant robots running around major cities like this, he would have heard about them, surely. "Uh... well, where I lived we didn't hear much of the national news."
Kyoko made a snort. "Figures. In any case I'll let Captain Katsuragi, or Doctor Akagi, brief you on familiarization and training on Evangelion operations. For now, you will become acquainted with the city and your living situation."
Kyoko spun to another machine to start creating Shinji's identification card, but the boy was too lost in thought. It wasn't enough that he was going to... pilot... whatever it was that was in the cage. He was also going to do battle with it. Where he could die.
It occurred to Shinji then that nothing he had heard so far was describing what he would be fighting.
Shinji followed Kyoko's terse instructions to finally get... somewhere. It was a lobby area of some kind, at the top of the longest flight of escalators Shinji had ever encountered. The room he was in was pretty wide, with a lone desk and plenty of red-cushioned chairs. Nobody was at the desk now, and Shinji was skeptical anyone really sat there.
Beyond the chairs was a security turn style and a set of doors, likely a security gate in order to get into the facility. Shinji absently flicked his new ID card, one that was projecting his school photo that he took last year.
Shinji looked around the room as he waited and then checked his watch. He had been here for a half hour, waiting for someone Kyoko said would be his guide to whatever new residence he would be living in. He sighed.
If he had his SDAT player things would be a lot simpler. Music just wasn't a barrier to the outside world- but also his tool for helping him work through things, or relax. Only when he was on the train to come here this morning did he realize that he forgot it at his aunt and uncle's place. He wondered if he would ever see it again.
Shinji fished through his backpack again. Not knowing what to expect he haddn't packed for an overnight stay, but he did bring a few things. However, he still couldn't find his pen. Even if he wanted to kill the time by writing his thoughts, or drying, or highlighting the intimidating NERV rulebook he had been given, he didn't have a writing implement to help make things stick. Where did his pen go?
Suddenly the door to the base opened and Shinji jumped. Two employees were leaving and sharing a joke between them. They didn't stop to look around and were probably just leaving for the day on some other business. Only when they got to the gate and used their badges did Shinji realize... they weren't speaking Japanese. His fragmentary English didn't pick up on their language either. Foreigners worked here too?
The room fell into silence again, forcing him to wait a little longer.
He didn't want to catch a nap in case his guide arrived, so with nothing better to do he started scanning the tour pamphlet of Tokyo-3. It was, pretty simply, a guide to the place. Tokyo-3 was constructed as the pinnacle of modern human science (at least, possible by Japan). The modern wonder of the city had an advanced rail system, city-wide internet connection and cell-phone reception, robots, and even holograms (which he would have to see, later). Thinking about where he lived now it was at least helping him forget the intimidating things of the past hour.
Of course, realizing that made him think of his parents.
Before he could dwell on that the door opened once more. A woman was leaving, but she cast a look around ad managed to see Shinji. coming to a halt she looked down the hallway towards the city exit, then approached Shinji. "Um, are you waiting for someone?"
"Uh, yes!" Shinji said, starting to rise and tensing to bow forward, "I-I'm Shinji..."
"Oh! Hello!" The woman replied and hastily bowed back to respond to him. "I'm Maya." She paused, then asked, "Are you... an intern or something?"
"Uh? No... I'm..." Shinji said once straightened, putting his hand on the back of his hand in the typical modest gesture, "I'm a... a pilot?"
"We have a new pilot?" Maya replied, "I wasn't... wait!" She pointed at him with realization on her face, "You're Ikari's son! There were rumors going around about that... wow, you're actually here!"
"Y-Yeah..." Shinji replied. This was odd. A complete stranger was more enthusiastic about his being here than his own parents.
Maya thumbed to the door, "Do you need to get in?"
"N-No," Shinji replied as he waved a hand, "I-I was waiting for someone to take me to where I was going to live..."
"I see." Maya replied, "Well, I'm only an operations technician, not a tour guide. But! I work with the Evangelion guidance teams, so you'll be hearing more from me! Anyway, I just got off work and I'm headed home. You take care now, okay?"
"Oh-Okay..." Shinji replied.
"Welcome to Tokyo-3! Bye Shinji!" She said as she walked off, waving to Shinji, and then continued to the turnpike where she flashed her ID. Shinji eased himself back into his seat, perplexed at the encounter. She was the most upbeat employee Shinji had met here. What was her name, Maya? He'd have to remember that. The first friendly face in this place to actually say hello to him.
But she wasn't his guide.
Shinji settled back into the seat and turned to the thick green booklet he had been handed. This was much more official than the pamphlet on Tokyo-3. The rules on protecting classified information were repeated here (mercifully since Shinji didn't take a copy of his agreement with him), as well as other rules for pilot behavior. He noted ones on living situation controls, expected salary, and even benefits! Shinji waved his tongue over his teeth- it had been a while since he had seen the dentist. He needed to see an optometrist too.
He was at the section on domestic living rules when the door opened a third time. A girl came out, one that immediately caught his attention from her red hair and foreign looks. She was about his age and about his height, dressed in long red pants, a black shirt, and a puffy olive-colored jacket with forign patches on it. She spotted him instantly. "Are you Shinji?"
"Y-Yes." Shinji said, standing and performing a polite bow. Raising he asked, "Are you supposed to take me to where I'm going to live?"
"Yes." She replied, watching him. Then she said, "I'm Asuka. Welcome to NERV."
"T-Thank you." Shinji replied out of reflex for the courtesy.
"This way," Asuka said as she started for the door, "It's a bit of a walk."
Shinji made sure he gathered everything before following her out the door and into Tokyo-3.
They walked three blocks in silence before Shinji finally had the nerve to break the ice. "Uh, how far is it?"
"Pretty far." Asuka replied, "But it's on this street. We just keep walking until we reach it."
Shinji turned his head to follow a bus. "Couldn't we take the bus?"
"It's cheaper." Asuka replied, "Besides, no bus line goes directly to where we're going anymore."
This didn't make sense to Shinji until they reached a particular crosswalk with a massive gash in the ground. Shinji had to stop and stare at the construction work. While they waited for the light to go their way he asked, "Wh-What happened?"
"An Angel." Asuka replied. She turned to look at him. "You didn't know?"
Shinji just shook his head.
Asuka sighed. "I don't know how much I'm supposed to tell you. It just... happens. There's fighting in the city."
Shinji wanted to push, but he also didn't want to irritate his guide. The light changed green and they continued across the street. Shinji couldn't help but keep throwing glances at the crater though, wondering what could have been large enough and had that much power to plow through city concrete.
As they were passing through the outskirts of the city bustle Shinji asked, "H-How did you get into NERV?"
"Both of my parents worked there." Asuka replied.
"M-Me too." Shinji said, secretly relieved to know he had something else in common with someone his age.
"I know." Asuka replied, "You're Shinji Ikari, son of the Base Commander and Scientific Director. You've been a rumor around the base for months, ever since the accident."
"A-Accident?" Shinji asked, "What happened?"
Asuka didn't say anything at first, before saying, "You'll find out soon enough."
Shinji fell silent again as he decided against prying. He looked around.
They had left behind the built up areas of the city. The buildings were looking a little older, more rundown. Evidently the shining technological marvel of the city only went so far. They were also moving closer towards the lake at the edge of the city. Shinji checked the pamphlet... it was lake ashi.
Finally they were approaching a row of high-rise apartment complexes. "We're here." Asuka said simply. Looking at the buildings, Shinji found them like most of the NERV employees he had met thus far; stale, imposing, uniform, and conformist. They were a series of identical apartment buildings that stretched a good ways down the street. No grass grew around the base, and a chain-link fence bordered the sidewalk and bare dirt. Somewhere, something was being hammered with rhythmic procession.
They walked down a simple stone pathway to the base of one of the apartment buildings. Asuka stopped and half-turned to Shinji to ask, "Do you have your apartment card?"
"Um..." Shinji replied and opened his backpack to pull out the blue folder Kyoko had handed him. Looking through the pocket folds, he found the white plastic card he presumed was what Asuka was asking for. Looking at it, it had a simple floor and room code printed on the white face. The reverse just had the magnetic strip, a serial number and a QR code.
As Shinji was putting his backpack away, Asuka was saying, "The landlord never comes- payment is dictated by NERV but your landline phone has maintenance and security programmed in."
As Shinji fitted the backpack over his shoulders again Asuka had paused, then said, "I'll see you to your apartment. Where is it?"
Shinji looked at the plastic card then showed it to Asuka when he couldn't decipher it. She examined the card and then turned to the stairs, saying, "Same as my floor, three flights up. Let's go."
The apartment was as bare bones and uninviting as the outside of the building.
The walls were bare insulation material, with a simple tile floor. One massive bay window was on the opposite side of the room, though it was hidden behind thick drapes. A kitchen was built into the right of the entryway. The bathroom was on his left as he walked in.
There were furnishings, at least. The kitchen had a stove and refrigerator. A bed with simple sheets was up against the window.
Just... the bare... essentials.
"Mail comes in every day at 4." Asuka said, standing in the doorway behind Shinji, "When it comes to shipping they bring the packages up by the elevator and put them just outside the door."
"I see…" Shinji replied, still a little stunned. This was the place his parents have decided he should live? Shinji turned around. "I... I don't know what to say. I... I thought..."
Asuka blinked, looking at Shinji's distress. She looked away in thought for a moment before she blinked and looked at him again to say, "Do you have any questions?"
"I…" Shinji began as he tried to verbalize his thoughts. Then, "No… thank you."
"Okay." She said and walked backwards out of the door. "Well... I'm... several doors over in 116. Knock, or whatever, if you need something."
Shinji, facing her, nodded. He looked away then, making Asuka dip her head also as she turned to go.
"A-Asuka!"
The redhead paused in the doorway and looked at him.
"Wh-When," he swallowed, "When my stuff comes in, could you help me decorate... or something?"
She blinked. Shinji couldn't make out her entire expression against the glow of the light outside, but he did hear her say, "We'll see."
She pushed out of the room and the door closed behind her with a heavy metallic CLUNK.
Shinji hesitated, there alone in the room, before he turned inward and walked to the center of the room. He clutched his head as he sighed with embarrassment. "Stupid, stupid..." What business did he have making an invitation to a total stranger like that? He had no reason to think she wanted anything more to do with him. The conversations they had on the way to this place weren't the ones that suggested she was open to more than just a friendship. He probably torched that bridge by being too forward. A creep.
Shinji sighed heavily.
He threw his backpack on the bed, then sat on the edge, before flattening himself on the thin mattress and sighing. What a day. This was the first moment he's had to just decompress in a place, without any appointments or anyone expecting him.
Where in the world has he ended up?
"An unfamiliar ceiling." Shinji muttered. His stomach grumbled.
He glanced at his watch, where he realized he hadn't packed anything to eat. Sighing he realized he'd need to find groceries. He emptied his backpack, inspected the refrigerator and kitchen, programmed a small list into his flip-phone, then paused by the door on his way out.
He could ask Asuka to come.
He double-checked that he had the card, closed the door, and walked to hers. He raised his fist to knock, but then dropped it just as suddenly. He sighed, turned, and walked away.
"Don't need to be a creep." he uttered and started down the stairs. As he did, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the map with Tokyo-3's bus lines.
Asuka pulled her ear away from the door and walked slowly into her own counterpart of Shinji's apartment. She hesitated there, asking herself what she had been hoping for when she had heard the apartment door open? She had been distant to him- she didn't know him. Why was she excited for the chance to get to know him better?
The idea of having a coworker her age... with more emotional discourse than Rei... had been alluring. But she didn't know him- he could be just as perverted as the kids she left behind in Germany. What reason did she have to open up?
Maybe, she thought, his nice guy attitude wasn't a facade after all. She sighed at the missed opportunity.
Work had been done to make her copy of Shinji's drab apartment a little more cheery- a long carpet runner spread from the door to the main room, where another fluffy round carpet tried to hide the bare tile floor. Her bed had been pushed into the corner where Shinji's refrigerator sat, and this is where Asuka landed when she reached it. She sighed, then turned on the bed to look at the spread of homework she had unpacked before hearing Shinji leave his apartment.
Glancing at the clock, she sighed as she realized she had an errand. Flipping open her phone she dialed a number and held the phone to her ear.
"Did the third make it to his apartment?"
"Yes mother."
"Good. I presume you're studying."
"Yes, mother."
"Splendid. I rescheduled your exams to make room for a Synchronization test at 8am. Your exams will be at 5."
Asuka blinked. "But... Mother, I-"
"Are you saying you're not prepared?"
Asuka's jaw worked but she said nothing. She knew where this conversation would go if she protested. "No," She finally said, "I have it under control."
"Good." Her mother replied, "I'm still not satisfied with your synch scores. After your exams I want you here ready for trials. Understood?"
"Yes mother."
"Good." Replied Kyoko and hung up.
Asuka closed her phone and looked down at her assignments with an expressionless face. Then she looked at the large doll seated in the lavish red chair in the opposite corner. Sighing, she dropped the phone on the bed and resumed her studies.