Chapter 9: What are they hiding? (Perspectives)
Monday, August 31, 2015
Me and my big mouth. Asuka transferred into our class today. Only one day she's been here and she's already the talk of the school. Thinking about it a bit more, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's not every day that we get a transfer student from a foreign country.
At the same time, we probably weren't helping things ourselves. When Rei and I ate lunch with Touji and Kensuke, Touji quickly voiced his grievances with how crazy all the other guys were going over a girl with such an unpleasant personality. Kensuke, on the other hand, wasn't saying much. In fact, ever since Asuka showed up that day, he'd been acting kind of… depressed? Not really even mad. I asked him if anything was wrong, but he insisted otherwise. Then, Asuka herself showed up just as I'd spoken, and tried to acquaint herself with Rei. She offered to be her friend for the sake of convenience and went as far as saying she'd be better company than us "Three Stooges". Rei declined to change tables, assuring Asuka she was fine eating with us and also mentioning I was her boyfriend. Something about this got Asuka to stop talking and look for somewhere else to eat.
As soon as he was sure they were alone, Kensuke spoke up. "It's off, Touji."
"Off? Whaddya mean, 'off?' This is a perfect opportunity!"
"All of it. For all of the girls. It's over. We're not doing it anymore. The first chance I get, our unsold inventory is going in the trash."
"Just like that? We were makin' a killing! What's got into you anyway, Mister Goody-Two-Shoes?"
"When Asuka showed up at school this morning, it jogged back my memories of what Shinji said on Over the Rainbow. How would we feel if some stranger had photos of us that they could do whatever they wanted with? …You know what our customers do with these, right?"
"D-don't try to act like you haven't done that either! You know what the old timers say. Growing boys like us have their needs! And we help our fellow guys meet those…"
Kensuke tried his hardest to dodge the accusation. "Do we have those needs, though? I guess we do, but… surely there are better things to help us with that than girls we know at school. Sakura'll be going to the same junior high we did once she's old enough. How would you feel if you knew somebody was selling dirty photos of her?"
Touji was hit hard by this answer. "Dammit. You've got a point."
"Besides, about Asuka… Shinji sees something in her that makes her worth trying to treat with some dignity. I dunno what it is myself, but… for now I'm gonna trust him."
"I dunno if I can feel the same way, but I can't stop you, can I?"
The two friends continued talking as they walked home. Contrary to Kensuke's awareness, their every move was being watched.
Later that night, Rei, Asuka, and I had sync tests to do, since they wanted to see where we were at after our battle with Gaghiel. Rei was at 38.2%, I was at 50.5%, and Asuka was at exactly 77%. This was about what Ritsuko and everyone else on the bridge expected, given how the combined rate Asuka and I achieved together yesterday exceeded 120%. There wasn't much else to do for the night, so after that Misato and I just returned home with Rei and ate dinner together.
That's all for today. I expect things to calm down at school again after Asuka's been here for a few days and everyone's gotten used to her presence.
"I'm here. It's me, Kensuke Aida."
"Good morning, Kensuke."
"Uhhh… Morning, Dr. Akagi. …Huh? Miss Misato? …Dad?"
Thursday, September 3, 2015
As I figured it would, all the buzz around Asuka has started to die down now that a few days have passed. Yet somehow this week still has more surprises up its sleeve.
School went normally until lunchtime, when Kensuke was suddenly called to the principal's office for some reason. I didn't think he was much of a troublemaker, so it was odd to see him sent there. Touji looked like he knew something; unconvincingly, he insisted to me he didn't. Kensuke returned during history class, so luckily for him, he didn't miss much. However, he looked weirdly calm for somebody who'd just come out of a meeting with the principal. All he said was that we'd talk about it after school at our usual private meeting spot, and that I should bring Rei and Asuka too. Something strange had to be afoot if they needed to be in on it.
"So, geek Stooge. What's so important that I have to spend more time away from my beloved Kaji?"
Kensuke took a deep breath. "Guys… I'm gonna come right out and say it. Miss Misato and Dr. Akagi came by today and told me something called the Marduk Institute wanted to make me an Eva pilot. The Fourth Child." Shinji could do little more than look on in despairing disbelief as Asuka went off on him.
"WHAAAAAT?! They're already looking for more pilots?! Why? They have me, don't they?! Am I not enough for them? And why would they pick YOU of all people?!"
"H-heck if I know why they picked me! All they said was that they'd need all the help they can get since they have no idea how much stronger the Angels are gonna grow."
"…Tell me you didn't take it," Touji demanded him. When Kensuke remained silent, he grabbed him by the collar and did it again. "Tell me you didn't take it!" Still, he remained silent, and unflinching too. Disappointed, Touji let him go.
"Kensuke… why?" Shinji finally asked after watching and observing for the words to say.
"I had my reasons. For one thing, I guess you could say I felt guilty."
"Guilty? For what?" Shinji asked again. Kensuke closed his eyes, and Touji looked away. Shinji's expression grew more intense. "What did you do?"
Touji's voice began shaking a bit before Kensuke interrupted him. "Hadn't you heard any of the rumors? W-we-"
"Before you transferred in, Shinji, I ran a business where I secretly took photos of other girls at this school and sold them to other guy classmates. Touji was my lookout and assistant."
Quick as a flash, Asuka punched Touji in the face and kicked Kensuke in the stomach, knocking them both to the ground. "Idioten! Perverse! Drecksäcke! You better not have taken any photos of me! If you did, they'll have to jail me for murder!"
"D-don't worry about that…" Touji assured her as he got up. "We didn't take any of you. In fact…"
"You and Shinji's exchange on Over the Rainbow about the Golden Rule was the reason we stopped," Kensuke finished. "Just ask any of the other guys at school about us and they'll tell you the same thing. We're through with selling dirty pictures for pocket change."
"Tsk. You think getting in an Eva and fighting Angels is gonna absolve you of what you did?" Asuka prodded.
"No. Believe it or not, they didn't even mention the photos. But piloting'll still make me feel better about the whole thing. I signed up for other reasons, too." Kensuke turned to Touji. "One of the conditions I gave for becoming a pilot was that Sakura be transferred to Nerv's hospital."
"Wh-what? Ken… you shouldn't have to do that. If that's one of the things you agreed to, then let me go in your place!"
While Touji and Kensuke continued speaking, Asuka turned to Shinji and Rei. "Who's Sakura?"
"Touji's little sister," Shinji answered.
Rei explained the matter further. "Sakura was accidentally hurt as Shinji fought Sachiel in Unit-01. She has been hospitalized since late July." Asuka's temper slowly cooled as the other Stooges' exchange continued.
"Touji… Sakura still needs you. What's she gonna do if you pilot and end up getting killed? At least if I go out there in your place, you can stay by her side without worrying so much about that." Touji opened his mouth again, but couldn't find another word to say. "And Shinji… remember the day we became friends and we told you we'd do what we could to help you out? Now I have a real chance."
Shinji had to admit he was touched by this whole conversation. "I see. So there's no stopping you, is there? I still don't like this, but …I get it."
"Well, first they have to get Unit-03 brought in from the US. And then they have to see if I can sync with it. Might be the case that I won't have to pilot at all. But I at least wanna try!" Kensuke held up his fist and grinned. The others except Rei looked on with mild annoyance at how corny he was acting.
"Is this all we have to discuss? If you'll excuse us, we pilots have to return to HQ for training," Asuka hinted so she and the other Children wouldn't be late.
"Yeah. Let's hope for the best," Kensuke finished as the group went their separate ways.
The geek Stooge put on a good show, Asuka thought to herself as Shinji and Rei tried to keep up with her. But we'll see soon if he can walk the walk like he talks the talk. Not just anybody can be a pilot.
Turns out that the Marduk Institute was looking to make Kensuke the Fourth Child. And that he and Touji had been operating a creep photo business behind my back until Asuka and I unwittingly convinced him to stop. None of this was anything to be happy about. But as the conversation went on, I felt oddly glad for Kensuke even though I wasn't pleased with him taking Nerv's offer. He seemed genuinely like he wanted to turn himself around, especially as he mentioned getting Sakura to a better hospital and wanting to hold up his end of his and Touji's promise to help me however they could. Whatever happens, I'll just have to look at the bright side. If he can't sync with Unit-03, they won't make him a pilot. And if he can and he does become a pilot, then I'll have another ally to help me fight the Angels.
After we returned home from training at HQ, Misato tried to tell me about Kensuke being picked as Marduk's prime candidate for Fourth Child, only to find he'd already told the rest of us Children himself. I asked her if she knew how Marduk picked pilots, but the specifics aren't something she has clearance to know. All we can do is hope that somebody else I know isn't also picked. Maybe if the rest of us fight well enough, they won't have to pick a Fifth Child…
Friday, September 4, 2015
We didn't get to remain in school for very long today, because this morning another Angel showed up. Asuka and I were sent to fight it while Rei stayed at HQ. The plan was for us to take turns attacking it and eventually terminate it before it could even make landfall. But Asuka, not wanting to play second fiddle, unexpectedly went before me and got in the way of my aim with Unit-01's Pellet Rifle. At first it didn't seem so bad; it looked like she killed the Angel after cleaving it in half with her Sonic Glaive. But then, the two halves of the Angel started moving on their own. Asuka and I were overwhelmed and dispatched by them, and it was only thanks to the UN forces intervening with an N2 bomb to immobilize the Angel(s?) that the two of us were able to return to base to fight another day.
At debriefing, Asuka once again began acting unjustly, this time trying to shift the blame for our loss onto me even though she was the one who acted recklessly and got us into this mess in the first place. She clearly didn't understand that we're not just piloting the Evas to look cool, but to defeat the Angels and stop them from killing everyone.
We spent the rest of the day training while Misato got piled with paperwork. Unit-03 was supposed to be flown over tomorrow for its activation test with Kensuke, but with the Angel (designated Israfel) breathing down our necks, those things have been postponed until further notice. I guess if there's one silver lining to this situation, it's that he gets to have a normal life for a little while longer. He should consider himself lucky.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Today was a typical school day, except that Asuka didn't show up for some reason. When Rei and I returned home that afternoon, we figured out exactly why. Upon entering Misato's apartment, we were surprised to find it full of DHL boxes. As it turns out, Asuka was in the process of moving in with me while we were at school, and was under the impression she was replacing me, going as far as to toss all the stuff out of my room. Luckily, Misato was there to clear up the confusion.
She discussed the plan with us. After analyzing the existing battle data we got from Israfel, it's been concluded that it can only be hurt by a simultaneous two-pronged attack on the separated components' cores. Such an attack will require Asuka and I and our Evas to be in perfect sync, thus necessitating that we spend this coming week doing synchronization training where we'll memorize an attack plan arranged to a special song. The training also requires us to live together; furthermore, until the Angel is beaten, Rei is banned from visiting me without Misato's permission, and I'm banned from writing in my journal, lest it mess up our synchronization.
Before retreating back into her own place next door, Rei gave me one last kiss and both of us her confidence and luck that we'll succeed in our training. I'm sure going to need it, because it'll be a long week…
Week of Friday, September 11, 2015
This entire week was insane. I can't even remember all the specifics at this point, so I'll just have to settle with some highlights.
Asuka and I were holed up in the apartment all week and had to do pretty much everything short of using the toilet and shower together. It was miserable. It included eating the same meals, brushing our teeth at the same time, watching the same TV, sleeping next to Misato, and of course, listening to the same music, all with movements as similar to one another as we could manage.
But the worst part was playing Vib-Repli with her. It's an arcade Vib-Ribbon spin-off where you wear motion sensors on your arms, legs, and body and try to match Vibri's dancing. And similarly to Vib-Ribbon, owners can load their own songs and make levels from them so that no two arcades have the same tracklist on their machines. We had to dance to the same sync training song over. And over. And over again. To make matters worse, the machine we had moved into our place for sync training was modified so that both of us would be penalized if our poses weren't perfectly identical to one another in addition to matching Vibri's. And we needed a 100% score to be considered ready. I never want to see Vibri's goofy polygon rabbit face ever again after this.
The elevators both opened at once to reveal two parties. One consisted of Touji and Kensuke. The other consisted solely of Hikari.
"Why are you here?" Touji asked the class rep.
"I'm here to check on Asuka. I haven't seen her for four days," Hikari replied to the two friends. "What about you?"
"We're here to check on Shinji. We haven't seen him for three."
Hikari paused for a moment before remembering something else. "So. I heard you two had a little voyeur photo racket going on." She sounded tense.
"Yeah. We did," Touji told Hikari. "But not anymore. We put ourselves in their shoes and stopped."
"The ones we didn't sell are in a landfill somewhere," Kensuke added. "Nobody'll wanna touch them now."
"Learned your lesson, have you? Good. Selling nasty pictures of innocent classmates to perverts is below you two," commended Hikari. "Don't think you've gotten off the hook just yet, though! I've got my eyes on you like a hawk."
Kensuke accepted her warning with a smirk. "Wouldn't expect anything less of you, class rep."
The three continued walking, soon realizing they had the same destination.
On Tuesday, Rei, Touji, Kensuke, and even Hikari showed up to check on us. At this point, things were still going poorly and I was afraid we might not be able to make it. Asuka was beginning to give up too when Misato got an idea. She suggested that Rei try playing with me instead, and to relieve myself from the burnout a bit I was allowed to choose a different song for us to play. I ended up picking Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson. I dunno if Rei is just a natural at rhythm games like this or what, but although she'd never played Vib-Repli before, she immediately understood what to do. We played the song flawlessly up until the first chorus, at which point Asuka stormed off into another room and Hikari made me go apologize to her for making her upset. Even though I'm pretty sure it was Misato's suggestion to change the operation plans for Rei that did it…
I didn't get to say a whole lot before she agreed to cooperate, having become determined to defend her own pride. As I watched Asuka there on the balcony, snacking to recover her energy, I finally realized what it is about her that makes her feel like a kindred spirit. We both want to find the inner strength we need to reach our own goals. Sure, our goals are different. I want to stand up to Father and the Angels more effectively, while she wants to be the top Eva pilot. But what matters the most, I think, is that I understand her better than I did before.
It showed well enough yesterday and the day prior as we made rapid gains in synchronization capability, enough so to get a perfect score on our training song. But while we were technically ready to fight Israfel again, there was one more challenge I was faced with last night as we were going to sleep.
Misato had to work late that night, meaning Asuka and I were home alone together. She took over Misato's room to sleep in and threatened to kill me if I tried to cross her "impenetrable wall of Jericho". Whatever. I wasn't interested in that. But later, as I was trying to fall asleep listening to music on my SDAT player, Asuka suddenly came in and lay down to sleep next to me, giving me the closest eyeful I'd seen yet of her long, slender legs and her breasts. I had no clue what she was trying to pull. She knew full well I was already with Rei. Was she trying to tempt me away from her? It was shocking to see her do this, and I almost got up to move somewhere else when I suddenly, softly heard her call out for "mama".
Just like me, Touji, and Kensuke, either her mother was dead or something terrible was going on with her. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The three of us all having lost our moms could've been a coincidence, but there was no way that could be true if Asuka lost hers too. And she was crying a little. Clearly she was in distress, and she might've been getting desperate for comfort. It would've been wrong for me not to do something in this situation.
I turned off my music player, put my hand on her shoulder, and whispered that everything would be okay. My mother was gone too, and I could understand some of the pain she was feeling without her. If she needed someone to cling to, I'd be there. Not long after I said this, she drew closer to me, wrapped her whole body around mine, and demanded me not to let go of her. And I didn't. When we woke up, Misato had already found us asleep like this and was understandably concerned. She said we could talk about it after dealing with Israfel, who was already on the move again.
Our rematch against it was a resounding success. After getting it to split back up, we distracted the two halves with our guns and dodged their lasers as we got in position for our synchronous counterattack. When the time was right, we forced the halves to re-fuse with one another before smashing its cores with well-placed kicks. Honestly I can't describe it too well through writing. It was one of those things you'd have to see to believe. We even made the kind of graceful finish Asuka'd been hoping for from the beginning. As we exited our Evas, she thanked me for my help both in this battle and last night. It was the least I could do for her.
After debriefing, Asuka, Rei, and I convened with Misato again. Now that Israfel was gone, and also now that she'd seen Asuka being physical with me this morning, the current living arrangements were no longer appropriate. Although I'd explained to her what led us to sleep like that, the changes that had to be made couldn't be helped. Though Asuka's technically still under Misato's custody, effective Monday she'll be staying in Rei's apartment instead. Asuka protested furiously at first, until we showed her how barren Rei's place still was, got her up to speed on how we tried to get her away from the Cemetery, and enticed her with being able to move more of her things out of storage.
During this conversation, Rei also mentioned that she didn't have a mother either. Which makes five of us kids who don't have them, and four of us who are either Eva pilots or soon to be. Could us lacking birth mothers have something to do with us being chosen as pilots? Whatever it is, I don't like having to play along with it. But given the alternative, I don't really have a choice…
"Beginning first stage connection… Main power supply connected."
"Operational voltage has passed the critical point."
"Understood. Move format to Phase 2."
"Beginning connection of pilot to Unit-03."
"Opening circuits. Pulse and harmonics are normal."
"Synchronization is normal. Central nervous system elements are normal."
"All necessary checks clear. Approaching absolute borderline… Borderline cleared. Unit-03 has activated."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
It's good to be back. At this point, the remaining Action Arc chapters have been outlined. The events of Episode 13 (where Ritsuko and the rest of the bridge gang fight Ireul) involve the pilots themselves very little, so I'll have to get creative with the corresponding SIDP chapter. This would in turn be helped by getting a better idea of how the existing relationships will develop through chapter writing.
Special thanks to Evageeks for help with canon fact-checking (including timeline planning), and to my pre-readers Argent and Spider for examining the chapters released so far. Please check out their works (specifically A Strange Duet and The Moment Yuuko Found Out) if you can. The former is another Evangelion (AsuShin) fic, while the latter is a Nichijou fic.
EDIT (2/4/2022): Changed when Asuka was to move in with Rei to fix a continuity error.