A/N: Hey guys, Chaddy here, and I brought you some more BD. This one is a bit more character-focused, so it's not a lot of comedy like usual, but it still has some. This is officially the first fic I have released with more than three chapters, so yay. Also, in this chapter, we introduce a fun gimmick; when you see an italic message underline like this, it means a character is deleting that part of their text message. This allows me to give it a more realistic approach with text message conversations. So I hope you like it and remember to review it. I want to thank Deus and Hydrastation for the beta reading. Also, things will get good after this, so stay tuned. Oh, and (()) means a short break or separate paragraphs since FFN is a bitch.
Chapter 4: A Different Perspective
From within a room, a loud sound could be heard; the rumbles of the door were making it vibrate. The loud thumps made the appliances move.
A redheaded girl waved her hair around like crazy, bouncing all around. She strummed her fingers like a guitar as she moved around the house. The deep voice screamed out death and revenge.
Then the door opened. "What the hell, Asuka?"
Asuka stumbled from the shock and fell on her backside. "Shit, why don't you knock, Mari?"
Mari closed the door behind her. "I did, but you didn't hear me. I texted you saying, I was coming back from work, that you let the door open." She undid her hair and let it fall back. She threw herself onto the pink bean bag.
"Bring me a beer, sis."
"Do it yourself," Asuka said as she went to check her phone.
Mari tried and reached for the fridge from her bean bag, mocking her. "Ugh, can't reach it. I am dying; I need…alcohol."
Asuka sighed. She got up and got her the beer. "Ah, thanks, princess."
"Whatever, I don't know how you can drink that shit."
Mari gulped her beer in one gulp, letting out a loud burp and throwing the can away. "Like that."
Asuka looked at her with disgust. "I meant beer as a drink, not like that, you slob."
"Well, you need to learn that there are other drinks apart from whisky and vodka."
"Sure, whatever you say."
Mari placed her arms on top of her sister's head. "Did you do your part?"
Asuka scoffed at the proposition. How could her big sister say that? She gave herself those parts for nothing. "I already did; I was simply listening to Metal before you interrupted."
"Oh, you were listening to Night Sisters?"
"No, though I was going to listen to it, I also wanted to get their new single 'Through Blood and Flame.'"
Mari's eyes light up. "Now that you mentioned that I wanted to make a little wager with you."
Oh, not these again.
"Since you don't trust the puppy with doing his part, I wanted to bet on it just to rub it in your face in case he does. If Shinji doesn't do his parts, I buy you the single; however, you must do my laundry for two months if he does.
Asuka's eyes glowed. She couldn't back down from a wager, but it was on that guy, the one she berated because he looked incompetent. She hated lazy people, especially in groups; however, she trusted her gut; she was getting that single.
"Fuck it, deal." Asuka grinned. That idiot won't do it; I can already smell it.
"Alright then. I am going to bed; I am beaten. Night sis."
"Brush your teeth and bathe yourself."
Mari sighed loudly. "Fine." Asuka smiled at her approval.
She went back to hearing music, only when she plugged in her earbuds, rocking away while booting up her PC. She tried picking a game out of her Steam library; however, she remained still, not selecting a game. She looked at her screen, her mind racing with her past.
She always overthought the past; Asuka had always asked if she had made the right calls if this was what she truly wanted. In the end, it didn't matter. She was here for one thing only, and she would accomplish it if it were the last, she did.
"God is in his heaven; all is right in the world. Just like mom used to say to me," She mumbled while picking another song, turning her PC to sleep mode, and walking to her room.
Today was Friday, the day Asuka dreaded, for she had to interact with her classmate. She didn't know why she despised being around him. Maybe because he thought he was a big thing when he wasn't, or perhaps she couldn't stand looking at him for some reason. She found him intriguing but at the same time annoying.
She walked down the hall with her sister, reaching the class. She opened the door, and there he was, already sitting down, reserving their seats. She dismissed it as a one-off thing.
She kept looking at Shinji, observing him. He started looking at her; she quickly turned her head with a slight blush. Stop looking at me.
Before Asuka knew it, the class was over, and everyone was packing up. Today they were meeting; she hoped he didn't do his part.
While waiting for the boy to arrive, Mari looked at her with a smug smile. "You know you can still back out, princess."
Asuka hmphed and glared at her while pointing. "Like hell, I will; I won't back out of anything."
Mari smiled as she pointed at the boy who was running towards them.
"Hey, sorry for being late. My friend had some troubles, and I had to help him. Anyway," Shinji looked at Asuka with a smug look as he opened the computer, "here are my parts."
Asuka was left dumbfounded, he did them, and not only that, but as she read it, she found herself interested and intrigued by his writing. She became red with jealousy. She looked at her side; Mari was fist-pumping, knowing she had won.
"It's fine at best; we better get an A; otherwise, you will be hearing from me." Asuka glared at Shinji; he gulped and backed away, intimidated by her.
"No worry si-" Mari was cut short by Asuka.
"Si as in yes, like Spanish." Asuka sweated, trying to avoid Shinji from knowing what they were. Shinji looked at her weirdly.
"You ok Asuka?" Shinji asked.
"Perfectly fine; I don't see why you ask."
"Well, it always seems like you have an issue, Soryu."
Asuka snapped. Mari immediately recognized what she was going to do. "You fucked up, Shinji."
"WHAT'S MY PROBLEM? MY PROBLEM? LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IKARI, YOU CAN FUCK OFF WITH YOUR ASSUMPTIONS. I AM PERFECTLY FINE. I DON'T NEED SOMEONE SNIFFING OUT MY LIFE FROM MY ASS. NOW I ASK YOU, WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, IDIOT."
"Jesus, Asuka, calm down. I was just joking; you have it out for me, and you barely know me." Shinji stated. Asuka shook her head and blushed.
"I-I-I…shut up." She breathed in and exhaled, trying to calm herself down. "Anyways, in a few hours is the presentation. Be ready for it."
Asuka got up and began walking away, Mari right behind her. She grabbed ahold of her arm; she did not look thrilled. She always found her sister to be angry as the scariest part. "Are you an adult or a goddamn child! Why did you scream at him?"
Asuka grabbed her head and shook it. "Ok, I just lost it."
"Damn it, Asuka! You can't do this; you can't go out and criticize others for your own faults. After all of this, you're going to apologize to him."
"You're not, mom!"
"I am not mother, but I am your sister. Please, Asuka, just an apology, that's all. I need you to change; we aren't in high school anymore. This isn't a world I can protect you in; you need to fend off for yourself."
"Excuse me, but I don't need you to survive; I am perfectly fine with doing it on my own."
Mari closed her fist and began to breathe in. Asuka looked at her and realized she was tired of her.
"Fine then! But don't run back to me when shit hits the fan, Asuka!"
Mari left, walking away with anger. Asuka began to subside, and she realized the mistake she did. The redhead sidelined her own sister because of her own misgivings. She can fend off for herself, yet she lives with her; she is the one who works, helps her with some homework, and in hindsight, she is the provider. In a way, she was her mother.
"Damn it…" she mumbled to herself, "well no turning back now, after that I'll- no I won't, he doesn't deserve it, what does he have to say for it, in all fairness he should be the one apologizing. Then again, I did scream…."
She exhaled and kicked the ground like a child making a fuss. "Fine, I'll do it, but only after it, then I'll write him something through text or some shit."
The day of the presentation arrived. Asuka studied her lines while walking to the classroom; Mari seemed to be looking at her phone. Upon reaching the classroom, they began setting up their things to give the said presentation.
Once Shinji arrived, Asuka and her group got up. She became a bit nervous that the idiot would ruin the presentation, even if she did agree to let him try, to see if he could do it. Much to her surprise, he exceeded what she believed of him. Shinji said his parts without the need for help from his cards. He even added information not present in his writings. Asuka was stunned; she had been handed it by a boy she barely knew, something she quickly began to find interest in.
As the class ended, Asuka saw the boy leave quickly. She turned on her phone and looked at her contacts. She hovered her finger over his contact, as she thought if now was an excellent time for dialogue was-
"Asuka!"
Asuka jumped, her phone falling and hitting the ground. Asuka quickly verified if it was ok, to which it was.
Mari looked at her sister and sighed. "Guess that boy did more than ok. Don't you think?"
"Yeah…I guess." Asuka replied.
"Have you apologized for screaming at him?" Mari said as she pointed at her sister's phone, whose screen was now on the contact of Shinji. She took notice and began to blush.
Mari placed her hand over her shoulder. "It's just a quick, I am sorry, nothing else. I am not asking you to talk to him; you do what you see fit."
Asuka remained silent, not really engaging in with her.
"Anyways, I am heading towards my next class; I'll see you later."
Mari walked away from Asuka; she noticed her mood deteriorated with her lack of response.
Asuka looked at her contacts and turned off her phone.
(())
Asuka bit into her Whopper as she watched her phone. When she raised her head, her sister was in front of her. As she sat down, she looked over her phone. "What are you watching?"
"Some video of a guy screaming at chat and doing a weird walk. What a goddamn psycho." Asuka said without looking at her sister.
Mari took one of Asuka's fries, much to her dislike. "So did you write to him."
No response. "Asuka…?"
"Uhm, well yeah…I was, but the-" Mari snatched her phone, and a struggle between the two commenced.
"Give it back, Mari!"
Asuka snatched the phone, and her eyes widened. "What did you do."
"Gave you a head start." Mari had written 'hello' to Shinji.
Asuka shook herself and began writing.
Asuka: Hey, sorry my dumb sister wrote the message
Asuka: Well, that hello was mine
Asuka: How are you doing?
Asuka looked in front of her and realized her sister was gone. Her search quickly ended when a notification popped up.
Shinji: All good
Asuka: Cool
Silence lingered
Shinji: So, everything ok?
Asuka: No, my bitch of a sister wrote to you, and now I have to talk to you.
Asuka: Nah, all good, here eating lunch, you?
Shinji: In a class, this professor is boring.
Asuka: Yeah, they are. Do you need time? We can talk later.
Shinji: In what sense?
Asuka: You are in a class, dumbass. I hope I am not bothering you.
Shinji: Oh well, in that case, we can talk later, perhaps tomorrow.
Asuka: Wow you are so smooth with your response
Asuka: Sure thing. See you
Asuka blushed as she turned off her phone. Well, that's taken care of. She got up and walked towards her next class.
As Asuka arrived home, her sister was waiting for her right at the entrance. "So, how did it go?"
Asuka looked unamazed and stuck her tongue out. "Fine."
Asuka took off her shoes and walked to her room, closing the door behind her. Asuka took out her computer and started writing. She stopped writing and glanced at her phone. She extended her arm but stopped reaching for it. "Forget about it."
She continued writing. She was not interested, yet she felt intrigued, wanting to know more about him. She had come to college for a reason, and that was to study. She wanted to meet others, but the idea of a distraction made her mind race. She wanted a boyfriend but wanted to be independent for a few years, graduate, and do what she always wanted to do, work her dream job as a pharmacist. Making her parents proud of her helped them the way they helped her.
She sighed and looked at a photo of her family when they were young. Don't worry, little Asuka, we will make mommy and daddy proud.
She continued her writing until she couldn't anymore. She fell asleep on her computer, and Mari watched from the door. She smiled. "The princess fell asleep."
She carried her sister to bed; she wasn't heavy; Mari ran the risk of waking her up, but she was knocked out; it was unlikely. She kissed her forehead and touched her hair as she placed her down on the bed. "Night, sis."
Asuka rose from her bed. Her hair looked like a lion, she slowly reached for her phone, and her tiredness went away.
Shinji: Hey morning Asuka, hope I am not interrupting anything. How are you doing?
Asuka was shocked; she hadn't expected the boy to write back at her, so she did the next logical step.
Asuka: I am fine, you woke me up idiot
Asuka: Fine
Asuka: Fine and morning to you. How is everything?
Shinji: Fine, I have music today, but it's in the afternoon so it won't be a bother.
Asuka: you play music?
Shinji: Ah shit, I didn't tell you, yeah, I play the cello.
Asuka: nice another fool with a hopeless dream. So, you here wasting somebody else's space?
Shinji: What you mean?
Asuka: I meant if you like music, why science?
Shinji: Parents
Asuka froze a bit because of the response.
Asuka: parents?
Shinji: My mom and dad forced me to get a degree in microbiology or some shit to work at my dad's company. A pretty big one, called NERV.
Asuka: Wait, your dad, is the CEO?
Shinji: yep
Asuka: So, you're not the poor kid I envisioned. Then why the fuck are you complaining?
Shinji: I don't like what I am studying, like I said, it's been forced. I could care less about science. Also, what poor kid vision?
Asuka: Then why are you so good at science? Regarding your question, what I meant with the poor kid stuff, is that I thought you weren't rich.
Shinji: I study in my off time, and reading before class helps too. Also, I know I am rich but hate it; I rather live without it; it's a constant struggle to want to make something for yourself and work for it when your parents throw cash at it like nothing. Defeats the whole living by yourself. Do you get me?
Asuka: So, you're not a rich brat, but at the same time, you are by force? So, you are a privileged brat.
Shinji: No, what I meant, but sure, if it's hard to envision that but believe me, I barely brought anything for me. I am thinking of finding a job to settle the cost of anything I need, I want to fend off too, but my parents just don't want to let go.
Asuka's anger rose, she understood him, but something made her blood boil. She said in a low voice. "How can you say all of that? Wanting to be independent and self-sufficient, you keep accepting their money; he really is a privileged brat." Then again, he seems adamant about doing it…I'll give him a chance to see if he is telling the truth, just this once.
Asuka: Yeah, get a job, fend for yourself, idiot.
Shinji: Yeah, your right; sorry for bothering you with unnecessary details. Either way, thanks for the advice and listening. Bye
Asuka: Sure, bye
Asuka sighed. "Now what?"
"Now, you talk to him again."
Asuka turned around and looked at Mari, standing beside her door, a serious look on her face.
"What? Hey! How long have you been there?"
Mari walked forward. "Oh, long enough to know that you've been talking to Shinji." Mari looked at Asuka's face, expecting the usual Its-not-what-you-think action, yet her face looked like she had witnessed a sad scene. "What's the matter."
Asuka remained silent.
"Oh, you still don't want me to speak to you?"
She didn't say anything; she wasn't giving in, no matter how much she wanted. Yet she needed to get something out.
"Fine, then I'll leave."
"He isn't what I expected."
Mari turned around.
"In what way?"
"He is rich and believes he is the victim for studying something his family wants."
Mari placed her fingers on her chin and thought of an idea. "Maybe explore that."
Asuka turned as quickly as she could and glared at Mari. "What!"
"Princess, not everyone on this planet will live by the same conditions, sometimes we might believe people are what they are at first glance, but sometimes there is more to one than it meets the eye."
"So, you're saying he isn't a rich boy who thinks he is better than everyone but downplays it to get people's attention."
Mari nodded. "Maybe talk to him more and learn, maybe you can find something out, maybe tell him about yourself. Have him find something to connect with you."
Asuka sighed once again. She placed her hands on her face, rubbing her eyes. "Fine! I'll write to him tomorrow and be nice, tell him about myself, see what happens."
Mari walked away towards the door and had a sad expression. "Good luck, sis."
"Yeah, yeah." I can't believe I am doing this
(())
The next day came, and Asuka was already awake. She sat next to her bedside; she moved her feet, wondering what to say. This was the first time she would write to someone for other motives, she despised the guy, but something called her. Was it his life? His way of responding? His motivations? She didn't know but what she did was that she wouldn't let it go away; she had promised herself a future, and she wanted one, but she doubted. Nevertheless, it was now or never.
Asuka: Hey Shinji, morning. I wondered if you wanted to continue talking from yesterday?
…
…
…
Shinji is typing…
Shinji: Morning, I would love to Asuka.
She smiled genuinely this time.
Karl veered left, arriving at the parking lot of the campus. It was pretty empty, just like Shinji said. He looked through his windshield and saw clouds forming. Good thing I bought the umbrella.
As he got out, thunder clapped, and droplets began falling. He shook his umbrella and opened it. He walked through the heavy rain towards the arts faculty. He had been tasked with picking Shinji up after his clue meeting, which Karl accepted reluctantly. He had wanted to stay home practicing or playing, though he didn't try and sour his friend's mood.
This morning he saw him smiling and laughing. Could it be that he was meeting someone? The albino boy walked as his thoughts were clouded; he had never seen him this happy. He smiled; he knew he probably was in better hands and wished him the best.
As Karl opened the door, he shook his umbrella outside, the droplets of water flying everywhere, and placed it back in its cover. He walked the empty hallways of the faculty, looking for Shinji. In the distance, he saw him talking to some classmates. They walked away, and Shinji turned around.
"Hey bro, ready to head out. "Karl asked, fist-bumping Shinji.
"Yeah."
From behind Shinji, a girl with blue hair popped up, and Karl's heart raced. He immediately grabbed Shinji and pinned him to a wall, his hand on his mouth.
As he slowly lowered his hand from his mouth, he felt his breath tickling Karl. He looked at him deeply as if something was wrong, he got closer, and Shinji placed his lips close to his ear. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Karl shook his head and released the boy. "Sorry, it's that I saw her."
"Who," Shinji asked, annoyed. Karl pointed with his finger, and Shinji followed his arm and found the point of conflict behind Karl's struggle. "That's Rei Ayanami."
Karl's eyes widened. "You know her?" Shinji nodded.
"She is in my class and in the club." Karl paid little attention to his friend as she watched her look at her phone. She sat down and placed her instrument case next to her. She pushed her glasses back up as they were falling and ruffled her hair backward, as the bangs she had tended to cover her eyes.
"Dude, talk to her."
"I don't know, man, wh- Wait, so you aren't talking to her?"
"No, why would you think that?"
"You were happy this morning."
"It's another girl I haven't told you about. Look, I'll tell you later; besides, I invited her to my audition, so you will meet her there." Shinji began to push Karl, "Go on and get her."
Karl appeared into view and looked at the girl, who rose her head to see the boy, and her eyes became fixated on him. He walked forward to her and tried to maintain his composure before falling to the ground. A gasp from Rei was heard, and she went to check him. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah-h, sorry for that. Slippy floor." Karl smiled as he looked at her. He got up slowly and began to engage with her. "Do you play music?"
"Yeah, it's quite a passion of mine. Do you perhaps have any hobbies?"
"Oh um, I just play video games and read books."
"Oh, that's nice; what games?"
"Mainly Halo and Xbox games."
"Oh, you play Xbox too, that's nice."
"Yeah…" As silence lingered on between the two until she broke the silence. She wrote something on a piece of paper. She smiled as she gave him the piece of paper. "I have to go; however, I Uhm, enjoyed our talk. Your funny, take care."
She left running, almost falling to the floor. As Kaworu looked at the paper, he noticed he had been given her number. Inside of him, he felt fireworks go off, and he wanted to whoop in excitement, but it was so dead quiet that she would hear him from a mile, so he just turned to Shinji and showed him the paper.
Shinji fist-pumped the air and gave him a thumbs up.
This is probably the best day of my life.
"This is probably the worst day of my life," Karl said in a low voice as he thought if he should write to the blue-haired girl or not. He had no skills whatsoever with women; despite reading people, he couldn't understand himself or what he wanted. Overthinking things was his specialty. Karl looked at his contact and hovered over Rei's number. Screw it
Kaworu: Hey Rei, morning, sorry for writing early-
Rei is typing
Karl's eyes widened; she was writing him before he could.
Rei: Hey, morning. While our talk was short, I kind of liked it. Plus, you take way too much time writing.
Karl is typing…
Karl: Hahaha yeah, because you literally took me off my feet from seeing you. So, what are you doing?
Rei: Practicing, decided to take a break.
Karl: Music?
Rei: yep
Karl: Cool
Rei: Coolio
Karl snickered at her response.
Karl: So, what are you studying?
Rei: Studying medicine, I want to be a pediatrician.
Karl: Oh, so you like kids?
Rei: Like them? I love them; they are so cute and intelligent; I can't wait to have my own kids.
Karl: So Uhm, speaking of kids, got anyone in your life for that?
Karl's eyes widened from the response; he hid his phone and awaited the notification. "Why did I say that? Why did I say that?"
The sound of his phone reached his ears, and he picked up, eyes closed, as he opened the app to see the response.
Rei: Oh, you mean if I have someone? No, but I wish one day I could meet that somebody.
Karl fist-pumped the air; he then placed his hand over his heart, pumping fast from the nervousness.
Karl: Well, it's the first year; you still have time. Besides, you are kind of cute, so I doubt you will have to wait a lot.
Rei: Aww, that's so sweet, thanks. Anyways I have to go, so see you around.
Karl: Bye
The grey-haired boy fell onto his bed from the excitement; he had called a girl cute and didn't get hit in the face, not that he could but no aggressive response, just an aww.
He grinned and thought about what life he could have with her if he could get her. The first stones had been set now; the rest needed to be placed if he were to get her.
(())
Later that evening, they talked so much; Karl wasn't that busy with homework; he mainly used it to play or read; however, the girl had been talking to him for what felt like 3 hours. They had been talking through a call. At first, he was nervous about screwing up and saying something dumb, but he got the hang of it over time, and it became more natural.
"So, that's where you work at."
"Yeah, at Burger King, if you ever need a whopper and a person to talk to, I am there."
Karl laughed. "Well, that's great."
"Shit, that's the time. I have to go, Karl, but before I go, I wanted to know if you like to come to my audition on Saturday?"
Karl's heart stopped, he was being asked by a girl to go out, well, not go out, but his mind thought of it that way. He coughed as he became shocked by his own saliva, trying to maintain himself from blowing up with excitement. "Ah sure, why not. I'll be there, give me details later, and if you want…."
"If I want what?"
"Never mind, bye, Rei."
"Bye"
Karl hung up the phone. He placed his hands on his face as he groaned from his decision. He wanted to take her out for coffee, but he remained insecure, unsure of what she would say, and he blew it. She had invited the boy, and he accepted but never gave his proposal. I won't worry too much, I'll ask her on Saturday, yeah that's what I'll do…I hope.