It all started with a simple question during a lecture on modern day literature.

"Psst. Hey, Shin-man." Toji whispers sharply from one desk behind him. Shinji looks at him with the corner of his eye, knowing better than to turn all the way around and attract the attention of the teacher. He gives a quick chin up nod.

"I'm gonna go have a smoke with my buddies from 02 after class, wanna come with?" Toji emphasizes by waving two fingers in front of his mouth.

"Ah, thanks but no thanks. I don't know if I'd like cigarettes." He does know, actually, but keeps it to himself. Shinji remembers that one time when he asked Kaji for one after a rough round of interviews regarding… that time. He distinctly remembers the shrill sound of Asuka laughing at his misfortune while he hacked out a lung. Man. That was probably the first time she laughed since-

"No man, not that kinda smoking." Toji says, snapping him out of the memory. He switches from the two finger motion he was using prior to an OK sign instead, pinching his fingertips together. "THAT kind of. Like blazing."

Shinji nods his head in faux understanding. "Ahhh…" Toji nods his head back enthusiastically in response, thinking he finally got through to him. "What's blazing?"

Toji runs his prosthetic hand through his hair, groping to find the words without making himself too obvious. But opts for bluntness instead. "Like- weed, dude. You game?"

Now the words dawn on him, weed is still illegal in Japan, unless you have a prescription. But Shinji's smelt the smell of skunk every now and then during trips to the mall to know that the rules are far more lax than how they used to be. He's also seen a few American stoner comedies where the protagonists would get high and get up to shenanigans. It honestly seemed like fun to him, but the social stigma behind it was enough to make him lose interest.

Well, that's not true. The first thing that popped into his head was Asuka's disgusted response whenever said characters would be smoking. "Potheads." She'd sneer and then pull out her phone. The idea of that sort of judgement tied an instant knot in his stomach.

Shinji darts his head to see if the red headed devil herself was listening. "Uh, I dunno. Why are you asking me?" He deflects.

Toji shifts closer in his seat. "To be honest, I would've asked Kensuke but he's not in today." He looks at the empty seat next to him. "Besides, I don't think he'd say yes anyways. Also, I feel weird going out there alone y'know?"

"I know what you mean." Shinji lies. "I guess I'll come with. I don't know if I'll try it though."

His athletic friend grins and rubs his hands together. "Trust me bro, you'll love it-"

"May I come with you?" A soft voice asks whispers.

In unison, the boys whip their head to the left of the classroom, by the window, where the voice originated from. Rei looks at them blankly, waiting for a response.

Shinji doesn't know what's more shocking: the fact they've been had or her interest in the topic. "C-come with us?" Toji says bashfully.

"Yes. You mentioned smoking marijuana, would it be alright with your friends if I partoo-" Instantly, Toji switches from bashful to frantic as he tries to sush her. He scans the front row to see if Hikari, the class rep heard them. Shinji jaw hangs open, still processing what he just heard.

Toji scoots his desk closer to Rei, with genuine fascination. "I mean, yeah they wouldn't mind. We might need to give them some money if we end up smoking a lot. But, uh… What makes you want to try it?"

Rei looks at the ceiling to briefly ponder her response. "I must admit, I have entertained the thought of partaking in recreational mind expansion substances for quite some time. The prospect of losing brain cells in the pursuit of a brief serotonin burst seems to be a coming of age bonding method among adolescents. It is something I am very much interested in." Content with her answer she rests her hands on her desk and looks at Toji. "Why do you partake?"

Suzuhara rubs the back of his head. "Well. It makes me laugh and helps me loosen up."

Rei nods at his nugget of wisdom. "This is the response I was hoping for. Additionally," She looks directly at the still gaping Shinji. "I have not found any like minded individuals until now. I would feel much more safer if my friends were there with me."

The five former pilots government appointed therapists didn't do much to ease their past traumas other than to check boxes off a list, but the Doctor was extremely useful in offering phrases such as Rei just repeated. While Shinji knew that wasn't from the bottom of her heart, his surrogate sister's words pull on a string. No more maybes. If they could survive the hell that was 2015, he could handle whatever was inside some dumb plant.

"Thanks, Rei." Shinji says with a smile. "We'd love if you went with us-"

"Went with us where?" A shrill voice calls out not so subtly.

To the three's horror, they slowly turn their heads to look at Asuka Langley Soryu, the Destroyer leering over at them suspiciously on the right. Shinji glances at the teacher to see if they've been had but at this rate, Mr. Wantanabe had long since tuned out any sounds resembling a German accent. Thinking back to her comments about the marijuana earlier made Shinji gulp, knowing she wouldn't be even remotely discreet if they tell her the truth. "Well…-"

"We're going to that Manga store over at Tokyo-02 to check out the new One Piece volume for Kensuke, cause he's got at home sick. He's a huge fan so we thought it would cheer him up. Wanna come with?" Toji bluffs with a masterful eloquence. Shinji turns his head in awe at his best (human) friend, normally most social interactions with him and Asuka are shouting matches that ended in near scraps, but it seems as though the years have changed the former meat head's temperament. Not only that, but he just told a half truth and made it impossible for her to agree by inviting her to do two of the things she hates: walking for long periods of time and One Piece.

Asuka raises her nose in disgust at those two simple words. "One Piece!?" Damn he's good. "Why would I waste my precious time with that... Oh god," She turns to Rei, "You too Ayanami?"

Mr. Wantanabe stops pointing at the whiteboard but doesn't turn to look at the commotion. "Was there something you wanted to add, Soryu?"

Asuka shrinks in her desk, even she was intimidated by the monotone, but insanely intense literature teacher. "No, sir."

He turns his head briefly, "It's nearly the end of the day, Ms. Soryu. Try your best to pay attention." She nods her head meekly before looking back at Rei.

Rei shrugs in response, glad just to finally lose the nickname Wonder Girl. "I like One Piece."

She sneers and crosses her arms. "Degenerates." Asuka turns her silent, whispering wrath to Shini. "Hey Blockhead," Shinji whips his head attentively at the command, "How are we supposed to have pizza night if you're going to be gallivanting around 02?"

Somehow feeling inspired by Toji's gambit, he raises his hands in mock defeat. "I promise I'll be back by… six thirty?" Shinji looks to Toji for approval and he swivels his hand in a maybe sort of gesture. "Seven. But of course if you wanna make sure we get back on time for me to bake, you can always come with us to make sure we don't… gallivant for too long." He feels a kick in the back of his foot, probably from Toji. Unless Rei went for a hook, but the metallic thunk of his prosthetic leg gave it away. Shit. Was that too much? Asuka looks up to the ceiling to consider.

OH shit, shit. Way too much. He looks at Toji who gives a abort mission sign with his hand. Asuka crosses her arms and huffs, looking at the projection lighting up the whiteboard.

"Just look for Attack on Titan when you're there. Volume 100 just came out." She points her finger at Shinji, "Six thirty, Blockhead." The three aspiring smokers sigh in relief, the one thing Shinji and Asuka still talk about might have just saved their evening. The trio looks at each other, Toji grins proudly at Shinji for the recovery, who beams at the praise. Then they both grin goofily at Rei, who darts between the two confusingly, wondering why are they grinning at her.

"OK, guys." Shinji says clearly for Asuka to hear, who perks up. "I guess we'll all meet at the fountain after class and then head to the MANGA store- ow!" Okay, that one was definitely Rei.

"Sounds good, Shinji." They all turn their attention back to the class.

"Manga store? Can I come too?" Mana Kirishima pipes up. Another kick to the heel. Shinji almost opens his mouth before-

"God no one said you can fucking talk, MANA." Asuka snarks, looking at the ceiling like she's above her. Earning a few giggles from her entourage. Mana hangs her head in shame.

"Soryu! Principal's office!" Mr. Wantanabe barks, still not turning from the whiteboard.

"But-" The teacher says nothing else, but whips his head to glare at Asuka with what eye-witnesses could only describe as "laser-eyes".

"O-okay."


Thanks for reading guys! Let me know if there's something you'd like to see, or whatnot. I know Weed and Evangelion isn't really a common combination, but who knows?

-HydrationStation