DISCLAIMER, YO

I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion; Gainax and Hideaki Anno do. I'm just a 16-year-old fanboy from Alaska.

Just a quick note: Mana loses her temper here. Somewhat OOC, please forgive me. Please read and review. Thanks. – C.o.W.

Chapter 6 – The Girl from 502

Shinji Ikari peeked through the window. He could see Asuka talking to two other people around his age, but he didn't know what they were saying. He wanted to meet them. The only person my age I know now is Asuka, and she hates my guts. He had no idea that they were his old classmates. Likewise, he had no idea that a third person was leaning against the door to his apartment.

Shinji went into bathroom. He washed his face and brushed his teeth. He was deep in thoughts about many things, particularly Asuka, and his eyes looked at the bathroom mirror but he was mentally zoning out. It was then that he saw it again, behind him, as a reflection in the mirror: a flash of sky blue. Shocked, he turned around. Only the blank white wall stood there, unchanging. Shinji turned back to the mirror to see if there had been something on it, but it was clean. The hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end. What's going on? his mind asked, nearly in panic. I feel… watched. In fear, he scooted out of the bathroom as quickly. He furiously changed his clothes. He made his way to the kitchen. Quickly, he made a piece of toast and munched on it as he swigged down a glass of orange juice. Shinji finished cleaning and straightening. Something here was not right. He needed to get out of this place… soon. The boy made his way to the front door and opened it succinctly. Altogether, he was not accustomed to having young women fall right on top of him first thing in the morning.

A very thick silence gripped the cloistered area in front of the ground-level apartments. Asuka stood with the young couple, watching Mana Kirishima get up off of Shinji.

"I-I'm s-s-so s-sorry, miss," Shinji stuttered. She's very… pretty. Indeed she was. Mana wore a beautiful lacy white sundress and a large white hat accented by a pink silk bow.

"Why, thank you," Mana replied, amused. This boy is very cute, but he's shy; he just seems so detached from everyone else. Could this be… the Shinji that Asuka mentioned? She made him sound… bad. Then again, she is a bit judgmental.

Mana realized that she had finished straightening herself up and was now quite plainly staring at Shinji, whose face was a bright red. I don't think a pretty girl has ever paid so much positive attention to me, he mused.

Asuka strode over to Mana and spoke up loudly.

"Mana, dear, don't get mixed up with the likes of baka-Shinji! He's a horrible pervert!"

"Why do you say that, Asuka?" This could the emotional redhead off-guard. Ack! This dumb girl is intruding on my life!

"Never you mind! Just get away from Shinji!"

Mana was seriously put off. What is this girl's problem? I'm getting fed up with her attitude. Mana decided to say something she might regret. "Why? So you can have him all to yourself?"

Slap!

"Get away from me, you slut!"

Slap! Slap! Asuka was nursing two red hand-shaped welts she had just received from Hikari and Mana. Screaming in frustration, she headed for Apartment 501, where Shinji sat in the doorway, watching the catfight. He rammed his wheelchair backward as she stormed back to her bedroom. It made him feel so guilty. The memory of what he had done to Asuka was haunting him. He didn't want to let the pretty new girl find out. It wasn't that he liked her any more than Asuka; he just thought that another person knowing would make it worse. The girl by the red sports car and the young man sitting in the car had seen the spat as well. They'd ask him questions, questions he didn't want to answer. He didn't think that he could deal with that kind of stress. Shinji brought himself back to the present. He turned to the three teens still outside. The red-haired girl was sobbing. The brunette was fighting back tears as well. Shinji heard the boy in the car speak to her.

"It's okay, Hikari-kun."

Hikari! Shinji's mind cried out. He scooted forward to the girl.

"Are… are you Hikari Horaki?"

Between sniffles, the girl answered. "Yes, of course I am." Shinji was surprised to see how she had changed. She was taller, and her figure had filled out somewhat. Shinji turned to the boy in the car. Their minds made the same realization.

"Shinji."

"Touji." Had the circumstances been better, they would have shaken hands, at least. Shinji excused himself and brought himself to face the cute girl in the white dress.

"E-excuse me?"

Mana looked up. She'd stopped crying, and was sitting dejectedly against a wooden post. Why did I do it? Now Asuka hates me.

"Shinji?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"Huh?"

Mana now stood to face Shinji, which was not so easy, with the boy in a wheelchair.

"What happened to make Asuka hate you?"

Shinji's face fell. Abandoning all emotion, he leaned forward. At first, Mana thought he was going to kiss her until he reached the level of her ear. He quietly told of her how he had… acted as he had stood Asuka's bare body. Mana's eyes grew wide. She was unsure of how to feel, how to act. Shinji hung his head in total shame. Tears fell off of his face silently. Mana looked at him critically. It was clear that he was remorseful.

"I think I should go," was all she said. Mana returned to her apartment.

Hikari and Touji had not been able to hear what Shinji had said, but it must have been ghastly to make Mana leave like she had. Hikari called over to Shinji.

"Shinji, we're really sorry. We don't want to bother you right now. Goodbye."

The red convertible left slowly. Soon, Shinji was left all alone in the early morning sun. I have nobody now. I am no longer worth anything to anybody. It is time for me to leave. I must seek out… a new life.

Shinji went inside. He dug through the books that Makoto had given him until he came across a map of the world. Shinji Ikari closed his eyes and lifted his index finger. He brought it back down to rest on a particular place on the map. He opened his eyes tentatively. He had never heard of his destination, but it didn't matter.