. Chapter 3:

. My Name is Shinji

My name is Ikari Shinji and I live with my teacher. I didn't always, though. I used to live with my parents, but that was before I ran away. I didn't know how to run away then. I was bad at it. I took one of my father's duffle bags and filled it with three shirts, a book my mother used to read to me, my piggy bank that had enough money to buy ice-cream and a pair of clean underwear. But I know better now. If I was to run away again, I'd probably bring along some pants as well.

"Is your mother or father available?"

"Yes," I lie, then give the phone to my teacher. He thanks me and hands me one of the three chocolate kisses he was holding. I know that my teacher is not my father or even wants to be, but I was in no mood to tell that telemarketer that I lived with my teacher, and then hear him repeat it, making sure that he heard me right.

A long time ago I got in trouble at school for digging holes with other boys. I had to go to the principal who was very strict and very angry. He threatened to call my parents.

"I don't live with my parents."

"Then who do you live with?"

"My teacher."

"Don't lie to me, boy!"

I actually was lying. I didn't live with my teacher yet, and was staying at a charity organization for orphans and runaway children. The administrators were in the process of finding me a foster home but apparently, no one wanted me at the time. I didn't want to tell the principal that I lived with no one, but it seemed that I had to. He still didn't believe me.

"If you lie to me one more time...! Tell me your parents' names!!"

I lowered my head and conceded. "I-Ikari Gendo...and..." Everything had suddenly gotten worse. I'd forgotten my mother's name somehow. Perhaps it was the pressure or perhaps something inside me just didn't want to remember. I don't know if it was because of that or the principal yelling at me that I started crying.

The principal looked up the name Ikari in his directory and turned the computer monitor towards me.

"Are these your parents' names? Answer me!"

I nodded my head even though I knew what he showed me weren't really their names. Tears were streaming down my face and my nose was runny and my body was hiccupping inside. I wanted to roll up into a ball and separate myself from the world just then.

"You can expect a call from me tonight. Now take this and get out of here." He handed me a note and sent me to class. He probably did call that other Ikari family, but I'll never really know for sure. When I got to class I put my head on my desk and cried while everyone stared. The next day, teacher offered that I live with him. My life can be kinda ironic sometimes.

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Author's Notes:

Fact: The descripiton at the beginning tof this chapter of what Shinji took along with him when he ran away is roughly based on the things I packed when I tried to run away from home, myself... (when I was 6) ^^;;

That is all.