Chapter 8: Another Odd Ball

After returning back to her desk from the synch test, she continued her work. After time passed and got what she needed to complete, she put things away. Standing up from her desk, she grabbed her belongs. Leaving her office, she headed for the parking garage to go home. While in her car and going up the escalator to the surface, she thought about the week. Nothing seemed to stick out as interesting while ignoring the sights and occurrences around a certain male pilot.

'…man…it's Friday night...I am so bored,' she thought. Driving back on the highway to the city, she zipped through Neo-Tokyo. Only two accidents occurred from her drive home along with a fire hydrant to burst.

Stopping at a convenience store, she picked up a few food items and other things. She returned to her apartment building and parked her car in the garage next to it. Making her way toward her apartment, she yawned out loud. While going through the lobby and into one of two elevators, she rubbed her shoulders from another day at work. Going up to her floor, she left the lift and headed toward her door.

"I'm home," Misato said after opening her front door. Stepping inside and putting her items on the floor, she closed the door. While taking off her shoes and heading down the entrance hallway, she heard soft slaps in the living room. Turning the corner, her warm-water penguin greeted her.

"Wark, Wark."

"Hey Pen-Pen," she said smiling at him. "I'll get food ready in a minute."

The large bird nodded and waddled off to where his bowl was. Sitting next to his dish, he waited. Pen-Pen heard his owner drop plastic bags in the kitchen. He heard her do something then saw her walk toward him. Seeing her place fish in his bowl, he voiced his gratitude.

Smiling and rustling his red hair a little, the Captain went to her room. Changing into her comfortable clothing, she came back into the living room. She wore a yellow tank top with high cut denim shorts. Yawning out loud, she headed toward the kitchen.

"What a way to spend a Friday night...it will be just Pen-Pen and I again," Misato thought a little depressed.

Suddenly, three distinct and separate knocks came at the door. Blinking, she looked in the direction of the front door. Hearing webbed feet shuffle near her, she saw Pen-Pen heading toward the bathroom. Assuming he would be taking a bath, the Captain headed toward the front door. Looking through the front door peephole, there was someone there in a black suit.

'...Section-2?...what do they want?' she thought. Opening it, she gasped at who was there.

"Greetings Miss Misato," Shinji said with a bow. "I believe a Friday evening seemed appropriate to visit."

'Came to visit me? Why would he…oh, stupid. The compromise…but a Friday evening uh…I wonder,' she thought. Giving him a smile, she decided to be playful a little.

"A Friday evening Shinji? Did you have something planned for this unexpected visit?"

"I am afraid not Miss Misato," he said stoically and gave a slow blink. "...however...a male's intuition can think of...many things to do around this time period."

"Hee hee...true, true. Well come on in."

Shinji bowed and entered. As he removed his backpack and shoes, the Captain went into the kitchen. Going to the fridge to grab a beer. Opening it and selecting one beer can from her wall supply, she closed it. Not knowing if he was still in the hallway, she spoke a little louder to be heard.

"Welcome to my home Shinji even though it's a little messy!"

When Shinji turned the corner of the hallway, he stopped and observed his surroundings. Blinking, he tilted his head a tad seeing how "little" the mess was around the apartment. It was littered with cloths, cans, boxes, and some garbage. To him, this wasn't bad even though he liked things clean. Misato came out of the kitchen with a couple of beer cans. Cracking one open, she breathed happily after a long gulp.

"I see," he replied calmly.

"I was going to prepare dinner for myself but that's changed. Just adds to the fun!"

Shinji nodded and sat down at the table. He watched the Captain enter the kitchen. The smell of food was being prepared. Till dinner was served, he kept glancing around the apartment. He had the utter urge to clean the mess but held it.

A saying he overheard growing up stuck in his head. The saying of 'one person's trash is his or her own treasure.' Following that, he waited till the Captain finished in the kitchen. One of the voices kept repeating itself to gaze into the kitchen. Ignoring it, the other voices were making disappointed sounds as the other sounded a bit desperate to stare at the lavender haired woman.

"Okay!" Misato said. She came out with two trays with steam coming from them. "It's ready!"

Getting a glass of water from the kitchen, both sat down at the dining table. Thanking for the food, both began eating. As time passed, no one said anything. Noises from consuming the food with chopsticks seemed louder than normal. The only other sound was from the overhead fan in the bathroom.

"..." Misato said and looked up. From time to time glancing at him, she wondered if the instant food and curry was okay. She knew that a few people said her cooking was hazardous. However, Shinji wasn't showing any signs of distaste. It gave her a little hope that maybe it was okay.

"So…how is it?" she asked with a little anxiety. Shinji's voices were running amuck from the question.

"Would you like me to be frank or assertive?" he said stoically and staring at her. The Captain didn't like either choice but took assertive.

"Needs improvement."

'...' Misato thought and sighed. 'Figures.'

"If you wish Miss Misato, I am willing to teach you how to cook. That would serve a purpose to visit you as well as other things."

"...hmm..." she said. Looking in deep thought for a moment, she smiled.

"Alright. I'll take your offer."

'Couldn't hurt I guess,' she thought.

'Hey! It's free and you have a cute chef to teach you!' her inner voice chimed in.

'Yeah…you're right. Hee hee, a double bonus,' Misato thought smiling.

"..." Shinji said with a nod. After finishing the meal, he looked back at the mess. Blinking, he slowly turned back to the woman.

"Miss Misato?"

"..." Misato said. Taking a sip of her beer, she looked at him.

"Hmm?"

"Do you mind if I clean your apartment?"

"..." she said. Staring at him in the middle of her drinking, he didn't blink or look away. Placing her beer down and blinking, she cleared her throat.

"Run that by me again?"

"Do you mind if I clean your apartment?" Shinji asked again. She looked confused.

"May I ask why you would want to do that?"

"..." Shinji said blinking slowly. Sighing internally from the annoyance of people not reading his profile, the company in his head chuckled at him. His voices told him that people do read but never the fine print. Nodding his head internally to them, all of them laughed like hyenas.

"Previous job habits."

'His job habits? Why would…oh now I remember. He was a butler not too long ago. Saves me the trouble of cleaning. But, it is rude to let someone else go through your stuff. Then again, this would be a good opportunity to get those hormones to appear!' she thought.

"Uh…okay."

Getting up, he bowed and went into the kitchen. She heard him rinse and throw stuff in the trash. The sound of a trash bag was heard as he came out with one. Misato watched him a little as he started cleaning up her apartment. He had an impassive expression on his face as he slowly picked up things.

Shrugging her shoulders, she got up and stretch a little. Taking another unopen beer can with her, she went to her room. Figuring she will get out of the way, she wondered if he was going to last with all the stuff that had been piled up. Sitting in her room, she looked through one of the magazines she got during the week. After an hour, she opened her room and noticed a difference.

'Smells clean...I wonder how much he actually did,' she thought and headed toward the living room.

Rounding the corner and looking what was there, she gasped in surprise. Her apartment was spotless. All the stuff on the floor was gone. The mats were clean as well as the table and fridge. The kitchen looked polished. It gave the appearance of a late model apartment display minus the accessories. She went to the two spare bedrooms that were used as storage. They were cleaned as well. Even all the dust was gone.

'Must work silently…a bit scary,' she thought. 'Just how much did you do Shinji?'

She heard the front door open and close. Walking back to the living room, she saw him rounding the hallway corner. He was carrying a laundry basket with all the cloths that were lying around on the floor. They looked cleaned as if he went to the laundry mat across the street from her apartment complex. He was showing signs of a little fatigue and his face was a bit dirty as well.

"Hold it right there!" Misato shouted in her confusion.

"..." Shinji said. Getting out an ironing board, he stopped and looked at her.

"Is something wrong Miss Misato?"

"You should know damn well what's wrong!" she said with an annoyed face. He stared at her for a little then answered.

"I do not understand why you are irritated. I asked to clean up your apartment and you agreed after my explanation of why. That is what I am doing, am I not?"

'Great…another Rei type answer and question,' she thought sighing and slapping her face.

"That is not the point. Boys have some choirs to do but you're like a housewife!"

"...I see..." he said. Blinking, he went back to his cleaning. Misato's jaw dropped to the floor in bewilderment. She got the feeling that his blink was similar to shrugging his shoulders. Grabbing the first piece of clothing, it was Misato's black uniform with the zipper in the front.

About to iron it, the bathroom door opened. Pen-pen walked out with a small towel and saw different things in his home. It was a bit surprising that the stuff on the floor was gone. Looking at his owner, she was doing the impossible jaw-floor pose. Blinking a couple of times, he looked at the other human and stared.

He saw that the boy had purplish eyes. Blinking, the eyes slowly moved by themselves and looked at him. Though fascinating to look at, it seemed to cause his feathers to rile a little in fear. Shivering a little, the large bird viewed what the boy was doing. Recognizing the activity, he saw his owner would do ironing from time to time.

Not seeing anything strange, Pen-Pen just blinked. Waddling to the kitchen while carrying the towel, he looked back at the human male. Only his eyes were following him which made him put the towel over his head. The penguin did rapid head twisting and flapping of his wings to get the hibbie jibbies out of him.

'Scary,' he thought entering the kitchen.

Hitting a low level button at the large refrigerator, a low compartment door opened. Looking at the selection of the same beer lined up in a row, he picked the middle one. Closing it, he shuffled to his mini-fridge and sat in front of it. Cracking the top with his beak, he grasped it and took a swig. Releasing a pleased exhale, he leaned back against his fridge.

"..." Shinji said. Watching the pet go by, he just blinked at it. The Captain saw that he didn't seem surprised by the sight of the penguin and went back to ironing. Shaking her head a little, Misato saw he finished ironing her black uniform and reached to iron another piece of clothing.

"That's it! Shinji, you are dirty and that is enough cleaning! Take a bath NOW!"

Misato was expecting him to cringe or flinched. However, all she got was him only moving his eyes slowly toward her. The stare was impassive and had a gloomy look to it. A creepy silence went by as Shinji didn't blink once. She could feel sweat building on her back, but kept her annoyed face. He then blinked and put the board and iron away. Setting the laundry basket against the wall near him, he turned toward her and bowed slightly.

"Very well."

Watching him, he went back to the front entrance. Trying to listen to his movements, she couldn't hear him. About to say something under her breath, he rounded the corning. Seeing that he had his bag, he entered the bathroom. Closing the door behind him, it didn't make a sound. Misato let out the breath she was holding and got another beer.

The Third Child undressed and got into the bath when the water filled the tub. He let the water's warm temperature sink in. Closing his eyes, his mind started to drift. After ten minutes of being in the bath, old memories came at him like a hail storm. Most of the memories of being in a bath weren't pleasant experiences; most were too horrific to be insensitive too. But, he made no notion to fight the invading flashbacks.

When he opened up his eyes, he saw the bath filled with decomposing heads and blood that he remembered from younger years. His eyes widen a little when his voices were making the heads talk to him. They whispered atrocities and proposed him to paint the city red. Goosebumps littered his body seeing some heads were gnawing at different parts of his body. Some had rotten teeth while others had bleeding gums. He ignored them and just scrubbed himself seeing red suds form on his skin. It became challenging though as the blood filled bath smelled strong with iron and rotten flesh.

After drying himself and applying a body cream over his body, Shinji got his cloths back on. Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw that nothing was amiss and that he looked prepared. Grabbing his back, he opened the door. Closing it behind him, he saw Misato sitting on the couch watching TV. He scrubbed his hair some more and put the towel back on the rack. She turned and saw Shinji come out looking cleaner.

"How was it?"

"..." Shinji said. Blinking, he looked at Misato and bowed.

"It was...refreshing."

"A bath helps you look back at past memories. Good memories eh?" she asked with a smile.

Shinji just shook his head side to side which made her smile drop a little. Hearing webbed footsteps, he saw something small approach him in his peripheral. Turning toward and looking down, it was the penguin. He stopped in front of him and looked up. Blinking, the Third Child bowed and lowered to sit on his knees.

"Greetings. May I help you sir?" he asked stoically. Pen-Pen found the boy to be a strange one but liked being called sir. He nodded.

"Wark, wark wark."

"You wish for another beer and some fish...very well. I will set them in the kitchen for you," he said. The large bird smiled and clapped a couple of times.

"Is there anything else I can do for you sir?"

"...!? Misato said. Her jaw dropped on the couch then bounced onto the floor.

'SINCE WHEN CAN HE UNDERSTAND PENGUIN!?'

'I am liking this human. He speaks my language: short, sweet, and to the point,' Pen-Pen thought happily.

Shaking his head, the male pilot bowed. Seeing him stand up, both headed to the kitchen. Shinji prepared more fish and opened another beer for him. Showing where he would like them, the boy set the food and beverage there. Sounding his gratitude, the black suited teen bowed to the penguin. Heading back to the living room, the Third Child saw Misato staring at him with a bewildered face.

"...Miss Misato…" he called.

"...!?" the Captain said with a flinch. Blinking, she looked at him. Thoughts of what Ritsuko felt some nights ago rang in her head. Finding out from security that the scientist accessed camera feeds, it was the story she stated. Despite sounding farfetched, Misato didn't feel it was as farfetched right now.

"…the bath is ready for you. If you do not wish to use the bath then I will drain it."

"..." she said. Getting out of her daze, she answered.

"Wha…oh, no. I'll be using it."

"Very well. Is there anything you need?" he asked. Misato shook her head nervously.

"Very well," he said and gave a bow. "Until we meet again, good day."

Misato nodded and watched Shinji go into the small hallway carrying his back pack. She heard his shoes being put on by the light taps then listened for the door close. Only the lock mechanism for the door sounded. Shaking herself again, she downed the rest of her beer before taking her bath.

Monday came around and school was in session. Students in Class 2-A groaned to themselves as the teacher lectured. It was about what happened before and after the Second Impact. Some students looked at the clock and sighed that there was another 15 minutes left of the period. Hikari was bored as well and yawned. Catching herelf, she shook her head quickly.

'Come on now. I have to stay awake. I'm the Class Representative. I got to be the role model,' she thought. Hearing the teacher ramble on for a few seconds, she looked at the clock again and sighed. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It slid open and the teacher looked over. Nodding, he stopped his lecture.

"Well come in," the instructor said motioning the student in. He turned toward the class seeing students looking more awake from the development.

"We got a new student for our class. Makes sure to make him feel welcome," the older man stated. Seeing the new student walk in, he stopped at the side of his desk. Turning toward the class, he bowed.

"...!?" Hikari said with a surprise look on her face recognizing him.

"Hello, my name is Shinji Ikari. I will be in your care...if there are any questions, I will answer them to the best of my abilities," the new students stated neutrally. The teacher was about to say something when he saw what time it was. Turning to the students, there were a lot of eager faces. Deciding to forgo his lecture, he took a seat and listened.

"Are you an Eva pilot?" asked a female student.

"Yes," Shinji said. Gasps and whispers went zipping by.

"How old are you?"

"What's your favorite color?

"Were you that guy that dressed in a black suit?"

"Who drove the Porsche that the Class Rep came out of?" a male student asked. Everyone turned to them then back to the male teen with dark magenta eyes.

"…" the Third Child stated. Blinking a couple of times, he looked at the students who asked their questions.

"...Which of the questions would you like to be answered first?"

Hikari giggled a little as Shinji answered all the questions which made a new roar of conversation. He spotted someone covered in bandages. She was in the back corner looking at him through the reflection of the window. Instead of turning to look at her, he turned his eyes to the window.

Rei heard the name of the new student and turned slowly to see the Third Child. It was the same boy that protected her and gave her his S-DAT player. When questions started to fire off, she turned back to the window. However, she gazed at him in the window reflection of the front of the class. His eyes turned toward her in the reflection as well which made her recoil a little.

"..." Ayanami said and blinked. Deciding the best course of action was to look forward, she could hide her staring. She was granted her tactic as the Class Rep raised her hand for a question. Seeing him look the other direction, she went back to her previous position toward the window. However, she looked back at him through the window reflection again.

"..." the male pilot said. Turning toward the student, it was the same girl that he met a few days earlier.

"Yes Miss Horaki?"

"So, how do you like it here so far? I mean without the encounters that you had."

"I believe that I will find this place...interesting to live in," he said without smiling.

Almost everyone smiled nervously from the strange new boy's appearance. Girls were either taking the dark magenta eyes as something of appeal or not. The guys couldn't decide if he was friendly or not. One student dressed in a track suit with dark hair was not so pleased to see him. The bell rang and he stood up. Making his way over to him, the new student only moved his eyes slowly to make eye contact.

"Yo new kid, step outside. Now!" he stated making his voice heard.

"..." Shinji said. Blinking, he looked at the other students' faces and the one who approached him.

"Very well."

Following the jock out of the classroom, everyone in class was staring at them. While heading down the stairs, there were following footsteps. Reaching the ground level, the track suited student headed for the other side of the school building. Seeing one of the footsteps behind him run faster and passed him, it was another male student.

He had blond hair, freckles, and glasses. Walking beside the jock teen, he was trying to talk to him about not doing what he was about to do. Passing the side of the building, they reached the backside of the school building. Observing the area, there was a walkway about the size of a large width crosswalk. Reaching the mid-point, he saw the two male students stop.

Halting as well, he blinked and waited. As the two turned around, both had different expressions. Shinji's voices were acting up again giving him bits of information through the chaos in his head. The one in the track cloths was named Toji Suzuhara and the other was Kensuke Aida. Hearing footsteps behind him, there were also sounds of quickened footsteps above. Glancing up a little, there were students staring from the home room.

"Okay, new kid. Listen up!" Toji began. He saw the male teen slowly turn his eyes back to him and blinked. The stoic expression and demeanor gave him the impression of someone else in their class. Pushing that aside, he continued.

"My younger sister was hurt bad during your fight with that Angel. She still in da hospital! My dad and gramps work in your lab, and I'm da only one who can stay with her."

"It ain't da goin' der I mind…but supposing she ends up with some scar? She'll never be a babe! Don't cha feel sorry for her?"

"And whose fault you think it was…?" he said frowning. Walking over toward the Third Child, he stood in front of him.

"..." the male pilot said without blinking or expressing anything.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT! She was pinned under rubble because you had to go crashin' around! Don't think you're so hot just because they're all over ya!" Toji exploded pointing an accusing finger at him.

"...I see..." Shinji said and continued to be stoic. "My apologizes to hear that Mr. Suzuhara."

"...!?" Toji stated. Looking at him dumbly a little, he looked angry and waved a fist at him.

"You tryin' to make fun of me?! Sorry just don't cut it!"

"H-hey Toji! Enough already," Kensuke tried to calm his friend down.

"It is unfortunate that your sister was injured, but I cannot do much for her anyway Mr. Suzuhara," Shinji stated.

Toji didn't take that kindly and swung a fist at him. A punch was heard, but some things caught onto him very quickly. The Third Child was still standing. Only his head moved a little from the impact. Lastly, he was staring at him during and after the impact. Kensuke went into a shocked state that his friend stuck the pilot. However, he was amazed that the new kid was still standing and didn't budge an inch.

"H-Hey! You can't go around decking pilots!"

"...?" Toji replied.

Bringing his hand back, he was sure he made contact. Clenching it again, he glared a little at the new student. At the same time, a part of him felt uneasy from how the male pilot was uncannily staring at him. Even when blood started to ooze a little from the left corner of the pilot's mouth, something about him felt very off.

"You want a piece on me? Come get some!" Toji spoke with a smirk on his face.

"H-Hey! Toji, knock it off!" Kensuke tried to stop anything to escalade. Shinji stood there watching as Toji wanted to pick a fight with him. The voices in him were laughing and cheering the idea on. All wanted to hear bones cracking and snapping so they could have their school entertainment of the day.

"Mr. Suzuhara, may I ask something?"

Both boys blinked and reacted with a curious expression. At the same time, Hikari and another female student came into the open area. Both heard that Toji was picking a fight with the new student and rushed over. Elsewhere nearby, Rei still in the homeroom. Seeing when the three male students enter the space behind the building, she stood up. Opening the window, she could hear the Third Child's voice.

"Is this the treatment all Eva pilots get when they protect people? If one person did not evacuate and became injured from an attack, will all the blame be put on a pilot? Is it our fault that one person failed to take safety precautions?" he asked.

Everyone stopped in ear shot and looked at Shinji with surprise. Hikari and Kensuke looked over at Toji for his answer. Rei blinked from the questions he asked and continued to stare and listen. The jock blinked a couple of times and repeated what he heard over in his head. Letting it sink and understanding a bit, he was still annoyed.

"If this is the case then I should only care about myself. I am only one person trying to protect the masses. Since there is some value to my life, that should be enough to let that overrule others concerns. I'm assuming this is what you are saying to me Mr. Suzuhara," Shinji responded.

While rubbing the blood off his face with his palm, his answer seemed to cause many reactions. Toji didn't like the answer and looked angrier. Kensuke and Hikari seemed a little shocked. Ayanami found the answer to be odd for she never valued her life as something meaningful.

"You BASTARD! I'm drawin' da line right here!" Toji yelled.

"Hey! What are you guys doing?!" Hikari boomed. It caused both male students to recoil a little from the voice of their Class Rep nearby.

"Dammit, they just had to butt in!" Toji muttered starting to turn away.

"Listen up! A little advice! Next time you're in a fight—watch where ya put your friggin' feet! Got THAT?!"

"..." Shinji said and nodded his head.

"Mr. Suzuhara…" he continued. Everyone's attention was on the pilot as the jock frowned at him.

"If you wish to fight the next time we meet, just remember that you are confirming my statement. That being the case, I will not show you mercy when the event comes."

"...heh..." Toji said. Putting on a smug, he cracked his knuckles.

"You better watch ya back then new kid."

Hikari was about to scoff at them when she saw Shinji's hand go up to crack his knuckles. The pilot felt this was confirming the information. Everyone turned into a slightly pale face when they heard his knuckles pop loud and gruesomely from both hands. Rei's eyes widen from hearing the pops from where she was. She felt a slight rise of the small hairs on the back of her neck.

"Until we meet again, good day," Shinji said and bowed.

He felt someone familiar was watching them for a while. Slowly turning his head and looking up, he saw the First Child standing by their home room window. Ayanami blinked in surprise from being seen, but continued to stare. He bowed slightly in her direction and turned around. Walking away, he bowed to Hikari and the other female student in apology.

Later in the day and at NERV HQ, another synch test was being done. Misato, Maya, and Ritsuko were sitting in the control room observing and talking while the procedure was in progress. So far, everything seemed to be in order. The Third Child was showing stable readings and nothing out of the ordinary happened. The Captain thought of something and pressed the comm-link.

"Hey Shinji, how did it go?" Misato said over the intercom.

[Greetings Miss Misato...I believe the synch test is still in progress...but it is going well so far.]

"No no—I mean your first day at school."

[...School...I am...indifferent to it] he said stoically. It made the women in the control room smirk at each other.

"Is that so? Do you have all the basic information of places on the Eva memorized?" Misato asked.

[Yes.]

"Good," she said then turned to the scientist.

"We'll start where we left off yesterday," Ritsuko stated.

"Without putting the program on max this time."

"...yes...?"

"Just checking."

"Start Induction Mode," Ritsuko ordered. Beginning the shooting simulation again, the Third Child went through the training. He had improved since last time. The act of going to the actual shooting range and survival course over the weekend proved to be useful aid.

"Shinji has been improving every time he gets in the Eva," Ritsuko said starting a conversation.

"Really, how much?" Misato asked with curiosity.

"It's come to an average of 2.1% to 2.7% increase per week."

"That's good, he's getting there I guess," she stated. Both looked back as Shinji shot down another image of the Third angel with just three shots.

"So, how was the unexpected visit of the Third Child?" Ritsuko asked with a smirk on her face.

"...?" Misato said and reacted a little. "Oh, heh heh—it was...interesting. He acts like a housewife."

"Why do you say that?"

"He cleaned my entire apartment in about an hour," the Captain stated.

"He cleaned your apartment…" the scientist said in surprise. Thinking about, she gave a smirk.

"Or did you get him to clean it?"

"He asked me if he could," Misato stated letting out a sigh of annoyance.

"And you just let him go through all your things just like that. I would say he got you," Ritsuko said drinking her coffee. Maya stopped herself from snickering but had a smile on her face.

"I wouldn't say that. He acts extremely like Rei except just an upgraded version of her," the Captain stated looking at her cup.

"I would have to agree with you on that," the faux blonde said while watching the simulation.

"Hey Rits, has Shinji…you know…ever looked strangely at you?"

"..." the scientist said. Misato saw Ritsuko shift her feet a little and saw her nod. Maya turned her head to listen better.

"Was it when you drank…"

"..." Ritsuko said. Nodding again, she looked at her clipboard with a calm face.

"How did you feel then?" she asked. The scientist looked up from her clipboard and saw more images of a virtual Angel go down. Shinji practiced quick draw and fired more simulated rounds while using the AI.

"It creep me out to no end," Ritsuko said with a semi-hollowed voice. The remembrance of the Third Child staring at her and talking to her from the security camera made her shiver. She always wondered how he knew it was her but was reluctant to find out.

"..." Misato said. Watching Maya look back to her monitor, the scientist kept staring at the Eva. Looking back at the Eva firing at a wall, she folded her arms over her chest.

"How much do we really know about him?"

"Technically we don't have anything about the Third Child. We have only basic information about him and his condition. He is similar to the First Child in more ways than one."

"I remember reading that he stayed with a family right?" Misato asked. She felt a growing sympathy for the male pilot.

"True, but the family never released anything about him. They only took him as their butler...at least, that is what they say."

"Do you know anything about his childhood?" Misato asked feeling depressed.

Ritsuko got a piece of paper out and handed it to her. Misato read the paper and raised her eyebrows. Looking at the years of the Third Child's history, there were large blanks of the years going by. Shinji's entire childhood and beginning adolescent years weren't even blacked out, just blanks. Misato looked up confused and Ritsuko raised a brow.

"What the heck does this mean?" Misato asked questionably.

"No record is what it means. Lost or never found. But...there is someone who knows about it."

"..." the Captain stated. Knowing what she meant, she watched the rest of the simulation.