Chapter 16: Beginning of Change
Returning back to a stoic expression and nodding to the First Child, Shinji turned around. Seeing the doctor was next to Misato, he blinked and started walking to them. Ignoring the numerous amounts of staring eyes, he stopped seeing both of them look uneasy. Seeing that the medical staffer had the clipboard with the blood stained medical notes, it indicated that procedure can continue.
"Doctor, are you available?" he asked with a blink.
"Um…y-yes, I am," the man said nervously.
"Could you assist me in running tests and scans?"
"Tests and scans? You mean screenings?"
"Correct."
"…" he said. Glancing over at the Captain, she nodded her head at him. Nodding his head, he looked back at the male pilot and cleared his throat.
"O-okay. This way."
"..." the boy said. Blinking slowly, only his eyes followed the doctor. The man nervously walked forward and passed the Third Child. Misato watched Shinji turn around slowly and began following him. She also followed him.
'There is something weird going on,' she thought. 'What is he trying to pull?'
"..." the Captain said seeing someone move. Blinking, Rei stepped in front of the Third Child. Though she held an impassive expression, it seemed to lean toward suspiciousness. The male pilot stopped in front of her. To Misato's surprise, both were in their personal space being only a foot apart.
"Miss Ayanami, I did not forget. I am going to do some medical tests and scans," he said stoically and not fazed by her closeness. "Dr. Akagi will need them for documentation regarding today's accident. If you are willing to come along, we can continue our discussion. If you rather not, we can continue afterwards...What would you like to do Miss Ayanami?"
"…" Rei said. Blinking and repeating what he said, she looked down a little to think. Remembering all the people around still staring at them, she preferred to be alone. She looked up at him.
"I will wait until you are finished," she stated impassively.
"Very well. Shall I meet you outside of the locker rooms then?"
"That is fine."
"Then I shall see you soon," he said with a small bow.
"…" the First Child said. Watching him pass by, the female pilot turned around. Watching him, he followed the doctor down the hallway and around the corner.
'…well I'll be,' Misato thought in surprise. Still watching the First Child, Ayanami blinked then walked forward.
'She is going to wait for someone other than the Commander? Maybe I should tell her that Shinji will have to stay here regardless?'
Walking forward as well, Rei passed the administration desk and turned right. It was one of a couple of passageways that connected the medical facility to the HQ building. Going the direction that the other two went, Misato caught up with both the doctor and Shinji. All three went into a patient/waiting room. The doctor conducted the pre-visit tests of checking blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, pulse, height, and weight.
"Okay. Before we go towards the screenings, how do feel?" the doctor asked.
"…" Shinji said with a slow blink. "I don't think fine would be an acceptable answer."
"By the looks of you, no. Would you like a towel to wipe the blood off?"
"No thank you. I will remove them when I shower."
"Okay. Since you have schizophrenia, I will need to ask you a series of questions. This is all part of a procedure for anyone with a mental condition. You understand?"
"Yes doctor," he said stoically. After the series of questions were answered, the doctor made final notes and stood up.
"Okay. If you will wait here, I will have a talk with the Captain. After that, we will go from there."
"Very well doctor." Shinji said and gave a small nod.
Watching as both adults left the room, the door closed quietly. Hearing the company in his head begin to chatter, the one that gave him medical guidance sounded. Blinking and getting of the reclined medical table/chair, he walked to the door. Opening it quietly, he peered his head out. The two adults were walking down the hallway and rounded the corner to the right. Seeing them out of sight, he entered the hallway and closed the door.
'Now that you are unoccupied, lets begin with...' the older sounding voice stated and the Third Child followed its instruction. Down the adjacent hallway, both adults were walking to a door. Seeing that it was the doctor's office, he opened it. Entering, the man closed the door. Seeing the lavender haired woman turn to him, he stood attentively.
"Captain, I presume that you had other plans for the pilot?"
"Not so much. Just try keeping him here as long as possible," Misato said.
"Do you think he will try to escape?"
"Maybe. I don't really know. How were his readings?"
"..." he said and scratched the side of his head. "Based on what I documented...surprisingly normal."
"N-Normal?!" she said with a shocked face.
"Yes. Based on the range of what is considered healthy for someone his age, he was in the healthy range," the doctor said immediately holding up his hands seeing her face. "I-If you tell me what exactly happened, I can make a better assessment. I can tell that he was in an accident of some kind based on the wounds I could see."
Walking from the medical facility to NERV HQ, Rei was still heading toward the locker room. She was reflecting on what had happen from yesterday evening to now. The emotions she experienced and felt from being scared, useless, bewildered, and pass the point of frustration were different.
'I don't recall ever experiencing such strong emotions,' she thought walking down a hallway.
'The Commander stated before that emotion tends to cloud judgment…does that mean my frame of mind was in error?'
'If so, then my questioning and outburst at Pilot Ikari was irrational,' she thought seeing the locker rooms up ahead. Entering the female side, she didn't see anyone. Heading toward the locker she used, the female pilot opened it. Inside was her school uniform. Staring at it, she continued her last thought.
'If I accept that reasoning, then my seeking of getting questions answered would be in vain.'
Immediately, she recalled what the Third Child said prior to starting the mission. His words and understanding of an Eva pilot rang in her head. A thoughtless puppet kept repeating into her head over and over again. It made her feel sour as a small frown appeared on her face. Shaking her head to rid of the thoughts, she brought her hands up. Looking at them, they were clenched into fists and shaking with tension. Dropping them to her side, she closed her eyes.
'Why can Ikari evoke these emotions?' she pondered. Trying to calm down and understand, she thought about answering the question that riled her up. However, she couldn't and became agitated.
'I can't accept that line of reasoning,' the First Child thought. Opening her eyes, she began changing.
'I want to know why. If I learn his answers, then will I be able to stop these emotions? Will I be satisfied?…I don't know.'
'If I point out an error in his question or answer…how will he react? Will he correct me? Will he accept my response? Will he do like he did in the classroom messaging and state that his answer doesn't matter?'
"..." she said. The last thought rang in her head as she blinked and repeated again. Irritation ran through her as she clinched her teeth.
"I won't accept that answer," she muttered and continued to change.
Once completed, she went to a mirror and saw her irritated face. Clearing her mind and trying to calm down, she felt something changed. Looking again, Rei saw that her impassive expression came back. Feeling ready, she exited the locker room. Standing next to the entrance door, the First Child waited.
Back in the doctor's office, both he and the Captain finished their discussion.
"So we are both on the same page now. Right?" Misato asked with a small smile.
"Yes Captain," the doctor said nodding and smiling.
"Good! I will leave things in your hands then. Take care!"
"You the same."
Both left the office after some time discussing and formulating a plan for the Third Child. The lavender haired woman walked down the main hallway to go into NERV HQ. The medical official headed toward the administration desk. Getting the desk attendant's attention, he discussed with the staffer about what the plans were for the male pilot. Lost in their conversation, they failed to notice doors opening and closing down another hallway that housed many pieces of medical equipment and computers.
'...geez...' Misato thought. After leaving the medical facility, she stretched herself and yawned.
'What a long night,' she thought. 'I can't wait to drop into bed and sleep. I'll just grab my stuff in my office and head out.'
After going up several floors through an elevator and walking down some hallways, she reached her office. Entering and grabbing the belongings she brought yesterday, Misato headed to the door when something came to mind.
'Wait, Rei is waiting for him…where was it? Oh yeah, the locker rooms,' she thought exiting her office. 'I might as well tell her. I don't know if she'll be disappointed or not. No point of her standing there and waiting for him to not show up.'
With the thought in mind, she heads toward an elevator to go to the locker rooms. Back at the medical facility, the doctor finished discussing with the staff. Understanding what he informed them, the doctor nodded and started heading back to his office. Looking down at the clipboard with the medical notes and pre-visit tests findings, he failed to notice his door was opened ajar.
Entering his office, the ceiling sensor lights flickered on. Heading for his desk, he placed the clipboard on it still absorbed in the document's information. Sitting in his chair, he spread out the papers.
"Alright so…there is to be a series of screenings for Pilot Ikari," the doctor stated. Talking to himself, he got a notepad and waked up his computer monitor.
"…MRIs for the right leg, chest, stomach, and shoulders…x-rays for the right leg and chest for broken or fracture bones. Especially in the right calf and hip regions and the upper ribs of the chest…CT scans in cranium for mental disorder progression and possible concussion."
"Hmm," he said. Looking at the list again, he nodded.
"This should be a good amount for right now."
"Is that so doctor?"
Jumping out of his chair and pressing his back to the wall, he stared in fright in front of him. Sitting in a visitor's chair was the male pilot. He still had the plug suit on and was still bloody. His face was a little shadowed from the lighting in the room. Despite holding an impassive expression, his dark magenta eyes stood out. An eerie aura was emitting from him.
"…" the man said. He tried to formulate words, but his voice was stuck in his throat.
"…doctor…are you feeling well?" the male pilot asked without blinking. The doctor swallowed and tried to calm his nerves.
"W-What...are you d-doing...in my office?"
"Waiting for you doctor."
"I told you to w-wait in the patient room."
"..." Shinji said and still didn't blink. Continuing to stare at him, it made the hairs on the medical offical's neck stand on end.
"L-Let me go get a staff member to escort you back," he said moving toward the door slowly. Seeing two small objects move, the man saw only the Third Child's eyes following him. The pilot's body stayed in place like at statue. Turning his head and quickly getting to the door, he heard a giggle.
"…!?" the doctor said. Stopping, he only got a finger on the door handle. Feeling sweat dripping slowly down his face, he gulped audibly. About to say something, several giggles were heard from different areas of the room. Pressing his lips inward, he bit down.
'…there is nothing wrong…I am just hearing things. The pilot has schizophrenia. I just need to address him and take control of the situation,' he thought slowly turning toward the Third Child.
The pilot was still sitting facing his desk. Slowly, the boy turned his head. The doctor flinched when the he saw his eyes looking at him out the corner of his eyes. A ¾ profile view of his face was seen when the teen stopped turning his head. Breathing slowly through his nose, the doctor was about to speak when the multiple giggles occurred again.
"…!?" he said looking at the Third Child with terror. The boy's mouth never opened when the soft multiple laughs came. He still had a stark look on his face.
"Doctor, is something wrong?" the teen boy asked with a slow blink.
'What's going on here?!' the man thought shaking a little.
"Do you require assistance to sit down doctor?"
"…U-um…n-no…" the doctor said. Slowly, he walked back to his desk while keeping a watchful eye on the pilot. Strangely, the pilot turned normally toward him as he slowly sat back down at his desk. Grabbing a tissue, he started to dab the sweat on his face.
"You stated that all you need was the screenings that you mentioned. Is that correct?" Shinji asked calmly. The doctor nervously nodded and saw the boy hand him a folder that was on his lap.
"Inside should be all the ones you asked for."
"…!?" the doctor said. Blinking in surprise, he looked at the pilot then at the folder. Blinking and swallowing, he carefully reached for the folder and opened it. Slowly, he began leafing through the contents.
'They are…all here…but how? Who would help him conduct the screenings without my authorization? Also, pilots don't have clearance to use medical equipment especially the CT and MRI equipment! How were all these done so quickly? Talking with the Captain and my staff didn't take too much time,' he thought.
Looking at the time stamps on the screening documents, it seemed a bit of time passed during the talking. The first one was 40 minutes ago while the last one was less than 10 minutes ago. Pressing his lips inward again, he looked up hearing the pilot stand up.
"If all is in order doctor, I will take my leave," he said staring at him.
'Definitely has his father's intimidation trait,' the doctor thought finding the similarity.
"W-Wait a minute Pilot Ikari! I can't authorize these."
"You can't?"
"N-no, I can't."
"Do you conduct the screenings yourself doctor?"
"W-well…no. My staff does them."
"I see. So you don't authorize your staff's work?"
"What? N-no!" he said getting up. "Listen here pilot! I don't know what game you are pulling, but I can't authorize these screenings without the signature of a staff member."
"If you look at each screening's ledger doctor, there are signatures," the Third Child stated without blinking. He ignored the roaring laughter and screams that his voices were shouting in his ear and at the doctor.
'What?' he thought looking at the screenings again. '…they are there…'
"Is there anything else you need doctor?"
"…I…I can't allow you to leave!" the man said feeling his forehead sweat again.
"…" Shinji said. He forced a blink after one of his voices shot off a shotgun in front of his face. Goosebumps rippled his face.
"May I know why?" he asked impassively.
"I was told not to let you leave."
"By whom?"
"Captain Katsuragi."
"Did she order you?"
"W-well…no, she didn't give me an order. Medical jurisdiction is not under her branch of authority."
"Is Dr. Akagi your higher authority?"
"Yes."
"Did you receive orders from her to keep me here?"
"…n-no…"
"If you have not received orders from Dr. Akagi to retain me here and Captain Katsuragi has not given me orders to reside in the medical facility, please explain to me why you are overstepping your authority for someone else's lack of responsibility to conduct their job properly?"
"…" the doctor said pressing his lips inward and biting down harder.
"If there is nothing else doctor, I shall take my leave. Good day," the male pilot stated.
Giving the man a bow, he turned around and left the room. When the door closed, the doctor sat back down in his chair. Sighing out loud, he tried to get the creeps out of him. Shortly, his office phone rang making him jump. Sighing again, he shook his head and picked up the phone.
"Yes?"
[Doctor, I have pilot Ikari here…um…did you authorize him to leave?] the administration receptionist stated with confusion.
"…" he said looking at the medical documents on his desk. He knew that he will be chewed out, but didn't want to be in the same room again with the male pilot.
"Yes. He can go."
[…are you su-] she was caught off as the doctor hanged up. The receptionist blinked then slowly put the phone back in its slot. Looking nervously at the pilot, he was looking at something on the desk. Stating that he could go, he bowed and left.
Waiting outside the locker rooms, Rei figured it would be a while before all the scans and tests would be completed. Half way through waiting, she moved toward an observation window. It was across the locker rooms and a bit to the left of it. She continued to ponder and reorganize her questions over and over becoming engrossed in them. If someone had passed her by, she wouldn't have known for being lost in thought and not staring at anything.
Rei recalled a sound. It was something like a door opening, but it sounded too far away to be behind her. Ignoring it, she continued staring. A few moments passed and Misato came to an intersection from a hallway. Looking left, she spotted the First Child.
'…wow…' the Captain thought in surprise and walked toward the pilot. 'She is actually waiting for him. Makes me feel kind of sad to break the bad news to her. Oh well.'
"..." the First Child said. Hearing heels clicks from down the hallway to her right, she turned to see it was the Captain. She was heading toward her and stopped some feet away.
"Hi Rei," she said with a small smile.
"Captain," Ayanami said with a stoic face and tone.
"Are you still waiting for Shinji to come?"
"Yes."
"You know, there might be a bit of a complication for him to show up."
"..." Rei said. Turning toward her, she blinked then tilted her head.
"...why...?"
"Well given that there isn't much staff at the medical facility and they have their work to do, it might be a while till he is released from there."
"…" the pilot said still tilting her head. "Their work is more important than treating a pilot in his condition?"
"W-well, I mean, after doing the screenings and stuff they probably want him to stay there in case anything happens."
"I see," Ayanami said. Her expression did not change as she turned back to the window.
"…so..." Misato said regripping her belongings. "…it would be kind of pointless to stand here if he wasn't going to show up."
"…" Rei said. Hearing the statement, it made her narrow her eyes at the window.
'…shoot…I didn't think she be mad,' the Captain thought scratching her head.
Both heard a locker door close audibly making them both blink. The First Child turned around. Following her line of sight, the lavender haired woman saw the male locker room door open. Walking out was the Third Child dressed in his normal clothes and his backpack on. There were bandages still on his head along with some areas that were bulging a little. No blood was seen on him.
"…what?…" Misato stated quietly to herself. Looking shocked to see him, he walked to them a few feet away and bowed.
"My apologizes for the delay Miss Ayanami," he said then stood up straight.
'...why is he...here!?' the Captain thought. Blinking and feeling her mind grinding hard to understand what happened, the First Child walked forward to stand a couple of feet in front of him.
"Pilot Ikari," she said quietly with a small frown.
"Yes Miss Ayanami?"
"When did you enter the locker room?"
"Not too long ago."
"I did not hear you enter…how?"
"You were looking out the window and seemed to be deep in thought," he replied with a blink.
"…" Rei said. Blinking and thinking about it, she nodded her head.
"I see."
"Are you ready Miss Ayanami?"
"Yes."
"May we continue our discussion while escorting you to your home?"
"That is fine," Rei said watching him bow towards her. He turned toward the still shocked Captain.
"Excuse us Miss Misato," he said bowing. Gesturing his hand down the hallway to the elevators, both pilots started to leave. Shaking her head to get out of her stupor, the adult woman became equally irritated and confused.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa! Hold it you two!" Misato stated loudly. Both stopped and turned around. Both held the same stoic expression.
'Geez, they're a pair,' she thought walking toward them and getting in front of Shinji's face.
"How did you leave the medical facility?" she asked gravely.
"All the scans, tests, and screenings were completed. The doctor allowed me to leave after that," he stated not wavering from her being so close.
"W-What?" she said recoiling a little.
"Is there anything else you need to know?"
"How?"
"Miss Misato?"
"How were you able to do the screenings!?" she stated more agitated.
"The doctor's staff helped me with completing them."
"…what?…that's," she stated recoiling again in bewilderment.
"…" Rei said blinking slightly intrigued.
'Does Ikari cause these emotions from other NERV staff as well?' she thought and continued to observe.
"Is there anything else you need to know Miss Misato?"
"…" she said then slowly got back into his face and scowled. "Did you threaten them?"
"…" Shinji said blinking slowly. He ignored all the voices grinning wickedly and grunting.
"No. Why?"
"…" Misato said feeling her headache growing.
"Are you feeling well Miss Misato?"
"Shut up," she stated. Standing back up, she crossed her arms over her chest still frowning.
"You are not allowed to leave the medical facility."
"Is that an order Miss Misato?"
"It is."
"Aren't you abusing your position of power?" he asked seeing her narrow her eyes at him. She got back in his face.
"Say that again," she said in a threatening voice.
"Aren't you abusing your position of power?" Shinji said with a stoic face and not blinking. Letting out a snort of great irritation, she stood back up and looked down at him.
"Fine. Whatever. I am too tired to deal with this kind of crap. Do what you want. Don't cry to me for the consequences of your actions. Especially when Ritsuko kills you," she said with agitation.
"...I see..." the Third Child stated and blinked. "Is there anything else Miss Misato?"
"GOD YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE!" Misato burst out loud in his face then stormed off. Her shout echoed greatly down the hallways of NERV.
"Good day," he said with a small bow. His voices were rolling with laughter like hyenas. Turning his head toward Rei, she had been staring at him the entire time.
"Sorry again for the delay Miss Ayanami. Please," he said with a hand gesture toward the elevators again.
"…okay…" she said blinking. Slowly nodding her head, both walked next to each other. Heading down the hallway, they went to the elevator. Reaching it, the call button was pressed.
"…" Shinji said staring at the elevator doors.
"…" Rei said staring at the elevator doors.
The elevator dinged and opened. Gesturing her first, she nodded and entered. After both got in and turned around, Ayanami pressed the surface level. Both stood near each other as the doors closed. As the elevator began to ascend, they stared at the doors in front of them.
"…" he said with a blink.
"…" she said with a blink. As a few moments of silence went by, both still were staring at the doors. She felt herself slowly getting frustrated. However, she remained stoic.
"Something the matter Miss Ayanami?"
"…" Rei said looking at him. A small frustrated sigh emitted through her nose as she looked back at the doors.
'…there are too many questions…' she thought in irritation. '...I...don't know where to begin.'
"Perhaps starting with a question would help," he said stoically. Ignoring her eyes widening a little and looking at him, a frown appeared on her face.
"How did you know I was thinking?"
"Is the answer 'I'm insane' acceptable?"
"…" she said and turned back to the doors. "No."
"Very well. I guessed."
"You guessed?" she asked seeing him nod. The child voice forced a thought into Shinji's head. She pondered a little on how he could have read her thought.
"I didn't read your thoughts," he said causing her to blink in surprise. He looked at her with an impassive face.
"I'm not that insane."
"…" Rei said frowning at him again. "Your sense of humor is not amusing."
"My apologize," Shinji said with a small bow. "I was trying to lighten the mood."
"…" Rei said. Turning her head back to the elevator doors, she felt strange. His comment made her feel to not frown as much.
The elevator stopped and opened up. Gesturing her out first, she exited followed by him. Both headed toward the air rail and called for a car. When it arrived, both entered it and started ascending. Rei stared at Shinji in which he stared back. Both were sitting across from each other.
"Is there anything else you wish to know Miss Ayanami?"
"…yes…" she said with a nod. "You stated that...an Eva pilot is like a thought puppet...Correct?"
"Yes."
"You also stated that...I wasn't a thoughtless puppet despite being an Eva pilot...Correct?"
"Yes."
"What makes me different?"
"You're pondering and your emotions show you are not," Shinji stated with a blink.
"…" Rei said. Blinking, she looked at the car floor and repeated what he said in her head. Nodding, she looked back at him.
"I see."
"What else do you wish to know?" he asked with an impassive face.
As they continued their ascent, Rei continued to ask questions. Even when they got off the air rail and onto a train, she continued to ask questions. To her surprise, he continued to give an answer to each one. If it was something he knew the answer to, he would state it. The ones he did not know the answer to, he stated he didn't know but suggested where an answer could be found.
From time to time, Shinji would ask her a question she asked him. If she couldn't answer, he asked what she thought it could be. It felt different to the First Child to be asked to provide an answer even when she didn't know what the facts would be. Even the answers to a few questions that seemed illogical to her, he agreed. In explaining, there were some things that illogical as an answer and didn't know why either.
Reaching the station nearest to her home, both got off. They continued to converse while heading toward her home on foot. Since asking her first question, Rei slowly became more engaging the more she talked with the Third Child. She couldn't place why talking with him now was relaxing when at first he was so frustrating. The opportunity to ask all questions that she could think of was refreshing.
To hear answers and to give her answers was enlightening. To express opinions was new. To have someone to talk to about things was oddly rewarding. The experiences and moments she was acquiring seemed to remove many clouded aspects from her mind. Walking down a sidewalk, both were still conversing with each when the female pilot brought up a different topic.
"I would like to talk about what beauty is," Rei stated. Despite stating it out loud, she wasn't sure why she was asking him this. Wondering if she was from not resting and being sleep deprived, she felt very awake.
"Very well," Shinji said.
"I remember reading in a book a quote by a philosopher named Sir Francis Bacon. He stated, 'There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion'. I am not sure why, but that statement comes to mind when beauty is mentioned."
"I see," he said. Blinking, his voices started whispering about Angels. They asked how everyone is an Angel in the eye of father and mother.
"What is beauty to you?" she asked curious. They rounded a street corner and continued.
"The quote that comes to mind is from philosopher George Santayana. 'Beauty, as we feel it, is something indescribable; what it is or what it means can never be said.'"
"..." the First Child said. Thinking about the quote, she tried applying it to her knowledge of things. Concentrating on, a question readily came to mind.
"How can one thing such as beauty not be measured? Doesn't society measure beauty on a materialistic level?" Ayanami asked confused. Both rounded another corner and ended up at her apartment complex. Walking up the stairs, he answered.
"People describe what beauty is in various ways. If you were to research all the meanings that people suggest what beauty is, you will find that there are infinite definitions. From a dictionary, it defines the word as 'one's own appealing to an object or person'."
Reaching her floor, they headed toward her apartment. Reaching her door, she inserted her key and opened the door. Turning around, he continued.
"Combining the two thoughts gives a stronger evidence of the word's meaning. Beauty is what people perceive it to be towards their appeal. They cannot describe it in words but only with that word," he stated with a slow blink. A few moments of silence went by as a cool breeze came. Rei felt the new information seemed to be a combination of fact, social perception, and matter of opinion. It was a new way of seeing things.
"I see," she said.
"Shall I give you an example to further the understanding Miss Ayanami?"
"Yes," she said nodding.
"Very well," he said with a blink. "You are beautiful."
"…!?" Ayanami said feeling her eyes widen a little. A mixture of being caught off guard and different emotions and sensations developed. Feeling her face warm, she quickly looked away.
"Does that help you understand?"
"…" she said blinking. Closing her eyes, she tried calming down. Understanding that what he said was just an example, the emotions that arose in her subsided. Feeling that she had reset her expression, she opened her eyes to stare at him.
"Yes."
"Is there anything else you wish to know?"
"No Ikari."
'Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey! Don't leave her hanging like that! Come on! End on a high note!' the child voice piped in loudly in his mind causing ringing in his ears.
"…" Shinji said with a slow blink still too tired to resist.
"Is there something wrong Ikari?"
"My example meant two things. One was for an example. The second was my personal opinion of you," he said and gave a slight bow. "My apologizes to have kept you up Miss Ayanami. Good day."
"...!?" she said. Her eyes widen again with the blush and warmth coming back. She stayed at the door watching him turn and walk away. Seeing his figure got down the stairs and become out of sight, she blinked a couple of times. Closing her door slowly and not staring at anything, she recalled what he said.
'He thinks I'm…beautiful…?' she thought in disbelief with a surprised face.
Shaking her head, his words repeated in her head. Taking off her shoes, she went into the main space of her apartment. Dropping her bag on the floor, she laid on her bed. Placing her arms around her pillow, she laid her chin on the cushion.
'A person who sees someone that no other descriptions or words can be described or to see as appealing…hearing that from Ikari…warms me,' Rei thought blushing again.
'Not even the Commander has used those kind words towards me,' she thought feeling herself slowly succumb to sleep.
When Shinji got to the ground level, he went toward a dumpster nearby. Looking around and not finding a body, his voices giggled and stated cryptic messages. Blinking lethargically, he turned around and started walking toward the city. After walking for a while, he got into the city. Going through many alleyways, he spotted a silhouette.
Hearing the voices hissing and making a voice impression, the Third Child walked toward the individual. It was the man in the green suit from yesterday morning. He was walking down a passageway between two city buildings with no one around him. Too tired to resist his voices suggestions, he attacked the man from behind. Knocking him unconscious, Shinji then carried and dragged the man in a different direction.