To Love... or Not?
By Satosh1
Chapter 2: Rei's Intervention
---------------------------------------
The couple stepped into the school doors, and immediately it already seemed like everyone had stopped their mingling and other activities, if only to stare at them. Asuka leaned her head onto Shinji's shoulder as they stared, making Shinji feel a little insecure. A couple of the male students who recognized Shinji from their classes, cheered and whistled at his win of Asuka's affections. Shinji smiled as they patted his back and shoulder, while his face gave away a consistent color of cherry blossoms. Asuka was quite amused at Shinji's reactions to it all and clutched at his arm warmheartedly.
Shinji walked the halls with a steady strut, bolstering his relationship with Asuka towards everyone within the school. Some of the girls were even saddened by Shinji's unavailability and were envied by Asuka, in which she merely winced at them. One of them even shouted "I love you Shinji!" in hopes to have his attention, but Shinji was all too conscious of Asuka that he didn't hear or acknowledge anything for his love was already taken by the girl beside him.
Asuka and Shinji stepped within the classroom of 2-A, where further stares were received. Releasing themselves from each other's grip, they sat in their corresponding seats, in which they were already conveniently placed next to each other. Asuka turned her head to Shinji and blew a kiss at him with a charming wink. Shinji blushed and motioned his hands to capture the imaginary kiss within a slick two-finger grasp, pretending to place it onto his own lips. Asuka also blushed, a just a tad more than Shinji had. It was an adorable game of who would be able to have the other person blush more, it seemed. Within watching, Toji became sickened. He regretted to have been placed so close to Shinji and had a perfect remark to shout out. But, he decided to keep quiet, for reasons he never really knew himself. Instead of trying to figure it out, Toji simply went back to his usual slumber.
The teacher came in and started the class with another of his boring lectures. He rambled on about mathematical algorithms and other nonsense that confused those who were paying attention. And almost no one did, as they were using their laptops to message Shinji and Asuka of their earlier show of affections. Shinji received this peculiar message from an unexpected person he knew;
"Ikari, what will NERV say of this?"
- Ayanami, Rei
He looked back to where Rei was seated, and as usual she was staring out the window with a dreary look, her head placed onto her hand as she leaned her arm onto her desk. Shinji sighed as Rei gave him no notice, and then he returned to his laptop where a number of new messages piled up. Rei looked to Shinji, disappointed by her bad timing. She became upset that her "opportunity" had disappeared as simple and as swiftly as that. Rei looked downwards to the floor, although she never understood why she did so.
Shinji pondered at the thought of what NERV would actually do if it had to come to telling them of the truth. But that was easily forgotten as another message ensued, this time from Asuka. The title of the message seemed a bit menacing, but he selected it anyways.
"Why were you LOOKING back at REI?"
"Never mind, I'll settle this MYSELF."
- Sohryu, Asuka Langley
A small sweatdrop appeared on the side of his face after he read the message. He knew what would happen, and persuaded himself to do something to stop her fuming.
Shinji reluctantly stood up to block Asuka away from her meet with Rei. However, that didn't halt Asuka's advance, if not having even phased her. She pushed Shinji off to the side, rather carelessly, and made him tumble onto the ground after he failed to grasp a hold of his surroundings to regain balance. Some of the students laughed at his clumsiness.
Asuka came onto Rei's desk and slammed her arms on it as hard as she could. The earsplitting sound echoed throughout the room, causing many of the students to flinch back. Rei sat there looking over Asuka with a stern look, simply saying nothing as Asuka shouted at her with extreme obscenities, having it heard throughout the whole school. Many other students from nearby classes entered the room to watch, including their teachers. Everyone wanted to know what was going on.
They all stood and watched at a cautious distance as the dispute continued on. Shinji merely laid on the floor, covering his eyes to imagine himself not being there. He then heard a distinct dialogue between the two which caught his notice, and he listened in a little closer.
"Why are you so interested in my Shinji anyways? It's not my fault you're so unapproachable towards the boys!"
"I cannot perceive the two of you forming a robust relationship."
"Oh yeah? And I can't see you ever hooking up with anyone else, either! Not even a dog would try to date you!"
"Your relationship with Ikari is merely an infatuation. It will never last."
"Shu... SHUTUP YOU BITCH!"
There was an awful sound of someone being punched, echoing throughout the room and into the halls. And as Shinji opened his eyes, he peered to the direction of the conflict only to see Rei with a swollen, reddish bump upon her left cheek that didn't blend in well with her pale skin tone. Rei had fallen onto the floor by the impact made by Asuka's jab. Shinji was infuriated. He never laid an eye to Asuka as he approached to give aid to Rei.
He grabbed onto her arms from behind and helped her out the door to the nurse's office. Asuka became aware of the onlookers and shouted at each of them to stop staring, and they immediately went back to their activities. She sulked there for a time as Shinji had left with Rei without her, leaving her there alone within the classroom.
Almost to the door of the nurse's office, Rei whispered few words to Shinji.
"Thank you... Ikari..."
And then she fainted in Shinji's arms. As he glanced at her, he noticed a slight smile emanating from her face. He lifted her up with his arms and carried her into the nurse's office for care.
---------------------------------------
to be continued...