Something tells me that if I had invited Ayanami Rei out to lunch, I would have saved myself a lot of grief. She was busy at Nerv that weekend, though. If I'm still around next week, she may be the only one who still will talk to me.
One Weekend
3. How about Lunch at Guido's and Afterwards
I met Asuka at the Shizensaigai Plaza, at the edge of the old city. I had gotten their early. She wore a dress that was the color of the onset of dusk and a white jacket. It was a cool and cloudy day. I wore a bone colored button down and slacks. I carried my jacket over my right arm.
The exterior of the mall was all white sheet metal, concrete, and glass, the inside of Guido's was all wood and warm light. The carpet and rough plaster walls absorbed the noise.
"Table for two?" she asked.
"Yes. Ikari Shinji," I said.
"Come this way," the waitress said.
To my surprise, my mercurial companion hooked her arm through mine. I felt her warmth and smelled her perfume. The waitress led us to a booth for two, she flashed us a smile as she left. Asuka separated from me, and we sank onto the padded benches.
"Isn't this cozy?" Asuka said. "Don't worry, it's not too expensive," she confided.
The waitress returned. "What will you have to drink?"
"Cranberry juice," Asuka said. "Drinking ages are so annoying."
"Grape juice," I said. I had considered cola, but opaque fruit juices it was.
The calamari was good. I ordered some pasta. I tried some of what she had, it was good, too. She liked the pasta. We talked easily and laughed a lot. I was too caught up in the surprising and good moments to really be surprised. By the time we were ready for coffee, I had memorized the shades in her blue eyes.
I excused myself to go to the bathroom. I brought along my jacket. I used the facilities and then washed my hands.
Who was that? I wondered. I finally had a moment to consider it. I couldn't comprehend it, I just felt really good. I reached into my jacket and pulled out my comb and breath freshener. While Touji had declared me a traitor to mankind, it had not prevented him from sharing a studly hint or two.
"Comb your hair," he said and then elbowed Ken into joining.
"Minty fresh breath," was all that the otaku managed to say, before Hikari dragged them away to escort her home.
I sprayed my mouth and then tried to settle a stray strand. I accidentally spritzed my hair with the mint spray and got a bit into my eyes. It took me a moment to stop tearing. I hoped that I had not upset my date, I mean, Asuka, by taking so long.
"Sorry, I took so long," I said.
It took me a full moment to fully let the silence sink in. Asuka sat with her hands clamped at her sides. I had missed a shade; thunderstorm gray.
"Baka!" she began. I winced. "Himmel donner wetter!" she shrieked as she stood up abruptly. She held her white jacket at the top of her chest as if shielding herself. It felt like sudden summer thunder that sends you running for shelter. Above the anger and names she called me, I was most surprised by the promise of rain, though it didn't fall. "What do you take me for?" she yelled. This wasn't how she got mean at Touji, even when she clocked him with a mean jab. I realized that was kid's stuff, dry heat. This was wet, I could hear it in her voice.
Pimpf. Schwanz-something or other. Feiger hund. Mach es dir something. She raged. I felt the pressure of several eyes, but I was transfixed by hers.
"What's wrong?" I asked. She threw the glass of ice water in my face in response, and then threw the glass at me. I put up my arms in time to protect myself. I was really confused until she threw down a small white packet on the table with a small slapping sound. I tried to grab her arm, but she elbow smashed me in the stomach and covered her face as she fled.
The waitress came over, almost as stunned as I was.
"Are you okay?" she asked me.
"Damn," I groaned holding my gut. "Yeah, I'm okay."
"Is there anything I can get up?" she asked. She probably meant a cold pack.
My brain must have frozen and given me the blue screen of death, because all I could say was "Check please."