Episode: 3
"Love's Labors"
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There's a stereo in Shinji and Kaagi's room. Kaagi brought it with him when he moved in. A hand manipulates the controls, searching for a specific song. The hand finds the desired track, and pauses it forty-four seconds in. Kaagi smiles. It's 7:30am.
"Are you awake?" Kaagi asks Shinji.
"Yes," Shinji admits. He wraps a pillow around his head to block his ears.
The room is rocked by a jubilant guitar riff, an instrumental echo of the celebrant chorus. Kaagi nods his head in time with the beat, dancing around as he gathers his toiletries. The music carries him out the door, then down the hall to the bathroom.
"Fly into the rising sun," he sings along. "Faces smiling, everyone. Yeah, she is a whole new tradition. Ow! I feel it in my hea-a-art! My Woman from To-ky-o! She makes me see… My Woman from To-ky-o! She's so good to me…."
Another verse begins as Kaagi starts his morning rituals. Shinji emerges from the bedroom, rubbing his eyes. He joins Asuka, who's already in the hall with her hair wrapped in a towel. They both stare at the bathroom with long, weary faces.
"He's at it again, huh?" Asuka asks glumly.
"Yeah. Third day in a row," Shinji confirms while yawning.
"Well, as long as I get to the bathroom first, I'm not complaining."
"He waits until I'm awake."
"That's polite, I guess."
"Do you understand any of it?"
"I speak German, not English," Asuka disdains.
They don't even recognize the word "Tokyo" because it's sung with too many syllables.
By the time the song is over, Kaagi is back in the bedroom, getting dressed. After taking his own turn in the bathroom, Shinji returns and finds Kaagi examining his cello. Its case is open, and Kaagi is running his fingers gently along its wooden body. Even this slight breach of etiquette makes Shinji furious.
"What are you doing?" Shinji snaps.
"I'm sorry," Kaagi says, carefully closing the case once more. "I guess I'm just a little jealous."
He's jealous of me? Shinji thinks in disbelief.
"I've always wanted to learn to play an instrument," Kaagi explains. "But I was too much of a snob. If I couldn't learn to play on a "Strat", I didn't want to learn at all."
"A Stradivarius?" Shinji gasps in shock.
"Stratocaster," Kaagi corrects him.
They walk together to the kitchen, where they find Asuka standing, dumbfounded.
On the table in the kitchen, four places are set. Each plate has a heaping stack of waffles, with bacon on the side. Fresh fruits are in bowls beside the plates, and milk and orange juice have already been poured into each set of two glasses. Pen-pen sits beside the table, staring at the waffles in his bowl.
"Good morning!" announces Misato. In addition to her usual attire, she's wearing a blue, ruffled apron and an intractable grin. In her right hand she wields a spatula, though somewhat clumsily, because she has an oven mitt on the same hand.
Kaagi immediately sits down at the table, but Shinji and Asuka are more hesitant. After suffering their looks of skepticism as long as possible, Misato grimaces and points commandingly at their seats. Dutifully, they sit.
"There! Isn't this nice?" she says, taking her own seat. Kaagi catches a glimpse of the waste bin, overflowing with empty instant-microwave-waffle boxes.
"It's about time we had some "quality family time", you know?" Misato continues. "Plus, we never had a proper welcome for you, Kaagi. So, I called HQ, told them to expect us late, and then slaved all morning making an American breakfast, complete with utensils!"
"We have these in Germany," Asuka deadpans, holding out a fork for inspection.
"Thank you, Major. It's just like being back home," Kaagi says, enjoying the irony as he stares down at Belgian waffles and Canadian bacon.
All talking ceases as everyone digs in. Nothing but the sound of chewing, slurping, and the clatter of dishes slowly grates on Misato's nerves. She looks at the three teenagers in turn, each one rapt by the food in front of them.
"Well, come on!" shouts Misato, slamming her fork down. The children freeze mid-chew and Pen-pen looks up from his bowl. "We're supposed to be having "quality family time"! So somebody say something already!"
Misato glowers at them as they finish chewing and swallowing. Asuka looks helplessly at Kaagi, who just turns and shrugs at Shinji. Shinji has no one left to turn to, except his glaring guardian or a warm-water penguin. Perhaps stupidly, he opts for the former.
"Um…," says Shinji hesitantly, "you left your shaving stuff on the sink this morning." After that comment, Misato looks ready to explode.
"Oh, sorry," Kaagi chimes in, breaking the tension. "That was probably mine."
"You shave?" asks Asuka, sounding impressed. Shinji's relieved that the others have started talking, but the sound of Asuka's voice and the look she gives Kaagi ties his stomach in knots of jealousy.
"Yeah. But only like once a week."
"So, Kaagi," says Misato. "What's got you so happy these last couple of days?"
"Aren't I always happy… by comparison?" Kaagi jokes at the expense of his roommate.
"Come on," Misato encourages, "you know what I'm talking about."
"Well, okay," he says, blushing. "I didn't want to jinx it by saying anything… I mean, I haven't even talked to her since Friday…"
"Spit it out," goads Misato, eagerly sensing gossip.
"See… I asked Rei out on a date, and she accepted!" Kaagi says with as much humility as he can manage. Asuka drops her fork and Shinji nearly chokes.
"You what?"
"She what?"
"That's great!" cheers Misato. She darts her eyes suggestively from Shinji to Asuka and back again.
"Maybe the two of you should follow Kaagi's example," she tells them. "Ask somebody out." They turn their heads slowly from looking at her to stare across the table at each other. Shinji starts to choke again, and Asuka loses her grip on her fork once more. Misato just giggles uncontrollably.
After breakfast, they leave for NERV HQ. The dirty plates are still on the table, but each one is as clean as thorough eating can make it. Pen-pen, however, is still staring at a stack of barely nibbled waffles as they sit in his bowl. He sits another minute or so after they leave. Then, he waddles over to the fridge and begins to forage.
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Dr. Yoshi Kaiu looks up as the five Eva pilots shuffle in and stand at attention before him. They've each donned their plug-suits, and are awaiting his orders. They all look so eager and serious, in contrast to the rest of Yoshi's staff, milling around the test-lab in the drudgery of their routines.
"Hey, everybody," Yoshi greets them earnestly. "We're going to get started with the combat sims shortly. Three of you at a time will be going in, then rotating in and out. Sorry about that, but everything was designed under the assumption that we'd only ever have three active pilots. Units 07, 06, and 05 are loaded up, so we'll start with Rei, Kaagi, and Toji. You can head off to the boarding rooms, now. We'll be ready by the time you're plugged in."
The First, Sixth, and Fourth children comply, leaving Shinji and Asuka behind. Yoshi checks on the progress of a few technicians before turning back to them.
"We'll get to you two a little while," Yoshi tells them. "Everyone's going to have a turn sitting out with everyone else. But I sent the others ahead on purpose, because I've got some news for you." Shinji appears as nervous as Asuka is indifferent about what Yoshi may have to say.
"I was just told this morning," he continues, "that Commander Ikari has picked the two of you for a special mission. In one week, you'll be flying to the States."
"What for?" asks Asuka, irritated.
"Just the two of us?" asks Shinji. He can't decide if he's more excited about the prospect of spending time alone with Asuka or being able to get away from Kaagi.
"Yeah," answers Yoshi, "just you two. Apparently, the Lance of Longinus's lunar orbit has decayed, and it's landed on the moon's surface. NERV is sending you two to NASA with Unit-07, and you'll be getting it back for us."
"Dr. Kaiu, we're ready to begin," someone calls. Yoshi nods, then smiles at Asuka and Shinji before leaving them alone. Asuka crosses her arms and scowls, thumping down into the nearest chair. Shinji takes the seat next to her, and looks over at her in bewilderment.
"I thought you'd be honored to be going on a special mission," Shinji comments.
"You really are dense, aren't you?" she says. Shinji just stares at her blankly. "Let me enlighten you, Third Child. After that last battle, we're at the bottom of the pecking order. Wonder Girl got the kill, Kaagi took the big risk, and Toji had the brilliant idea. Toji, for crying out loud! So who do you think they want defending the city? Them, not us."
"I hadn't thought of it that way," says Shinji sadly.
Later, Rei takes Shinji's place sitting next to Asuka. After a while spent simply glaring at Rei, it occurs to Asuka that she may have a unique opportunity to torment her rival. Affecting an obviously feigned tone of friendliness, she decides to strike up a conversation.
"I hear that Kaagi asked you out," she says with just a hint of pity.
"That's correct," Rei confirms.
"So what are you going to wear?" Asuka asks overeagerly. Rei just looks at her, uncertain of the pertinence of the question.
"Don't tell me you haven't bought anything!" Asuka continues condescendingly. "Well, there's still time. The thrift shops are open late." Asuka smirks at Rei's look of confusion. She sits smugly the rest of the time, while doubt silently assails Rei.
"Hi, Rei," says Kaagi when his turn comes to sit out. Rei doesn't watch Asuka go, or turn to look at Kaagi when he addresses her. "Um… Shinji let slip that he and Asuka are leaving for some special mission next Monday, so I was thinking that you and I could go out this Saturday. Just in case we get busier without them around."
"That will be fine," she says after brief consideration.
An interminable silence follows. Kaagi is too humiliated to talk, thinking that Rei's upset that he didn't call over the weekend. He wishes he hadn't let nervousness keep him from the phone. It's only a mild comfort to him that she still agreed to the date.
The tests consume the rest of the day. After ten separate simulations, Yoshi dismisses the pilots to the showers. He buys a sandwich from a vending machine on the way back to his office, and Misato is waiting for him there when he arrives. He casually salutes as he walks past her to sit at his desk.
"All the kids did great today," says Yoshi. "I sent them to the showers a little while ago. They should be ready to go soon." While holding his sandwich in one hand, he scribbles notes with a pen held in the other. Misato, with her back to him, leans against the front of his desk, then looks over her shoulder at him as he writes. In her opinion, this is a very seductive pose. She smiles her comeliest smile as he continues writing.
"Oh, by the way," he says, not looking up from his notes, "I wanted to know if you were doing anything this Saturday. I was hoping you could come to dinner at the Bistro, about five-ish."
That worked faster than I thought it would, Misato muses.
"I'd love to have dinner with you," she says demurely. "But why so early?"
"Well, I have more plans for later in the evening."
"Oh really?" she replies enthusiastically. "Sounds intriguing… but I guess I'll have to wait until then to find out."
"Um…," he starts, brow furrowed in thought, "maybe I should tell you-"
"Oh no!" interrupts Misato. "Not another word, Dr. Kaiu. You can't give it all away!" She darts from his office before he can speak further. Yoshi sits there awhile, finally giving up on the idea of chasing after her. Then, he returns to his paperwork.
He actually asked me out, thinks Misato as she strides down the corridor. Well, I wasn't exactly subtle, was I? Of course, now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with a guy like him. He's not really what I'd call my "type". But I think I'm starting to realize that my type of guy is not what I should be looking for. Sorry, Daddy…
"Major Katsuragi?" a quiet voice calls. Misato turns around to find Rei standing a few paces behind her, though she hadn't even heard her approach.
"Yes, Rei?" she asks. Misato isn't as fearful of Rei as Shinji is, and she's better at hiding it, too. But something about the girl still makes her uneasy. What Ritsuko had shown her about Rei in the depths of the Geo-front was not easy to forget.
"I believe you have the expertise to assist me," Rei tells her. "I have a "date" this Saturday with Kaagi. Today, the Second Child implied that I did not have the proper clothes to go on such an outing. Was she correct?"
"Well, I don't know what kind of clothes you have," answers Misato. Rei looks down at the school uniform she's wearing, then back up at Misato.
"These," Rei says.
Misato sighs a heavy, sympathetic sigh. Any uneasiness she was feeling leaves her body with it. She sees nothing before her but a young girl without a clue, and her heart goes out to her. It begins to dawn on Misato that the pilots who live with her aren't the only ones she should be treating like family.
"I've got an idea," she says happily. "I've got a date on Saturday, too. How about, tomorrow after school, I pick you up, and we can go clothes shopping together? Are you free then?" Rei casts her eyes to the side for a moment before answering.
"Yes," Rei replies, not turning her eyes back. Her answer seems tentative, but Misato hadn't hoped for more enthusiasm than that. Rei, meanwhile, contemplates a deeper meaning behind the words Misato had used.
Am I free? she wonders.
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"Hello, Gendo."
The room was pitch-black seconds ago. First, the door slid back, spilling light in around the man who had opened it. Next, the red NERV logo had lit up, splashed on the wall like a giant bloodstain. Lastly, a spotlight fell on a woman, seated in a chair. She looked up, and greeted her visitor.
"I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me," she continues. She'd be beautiful if her appearance weren't so disheveled. Her clothes look as thought they've been slept in for days. She wears no make-up, and her blonde hair is a tangled mess, grown long to reveal natural, dark roots.
"Why did you divulge the boy's location to SEELE?" Ikari asks her unceremoniously.
"You sound like a broken record," Ritsuko says disdainfully. "Does it matter "why"? What's done is done. I obliterated your dummy-cores, and you asked me "why" then, too. Crazed fool that I was, I told you. But knowing "why" didn't bring them back, did it? Now Kiel and his cronies have their hands on your last precious, little secret. And, again, you want to know "why". I'd like to know why you care." Ikari says nothing and Ritsuko sniffs haughtily.
"Why haven't you just killed me?" she spits.
"Your friend Katsuragi thinks I already have," he says.
"I don't have any friends," Ritsuko whispers. Then, she tosses her greasy hair back off her face and laughs. "So that's how it is? I don't answer you; you don't answer me… pretty childish, if you ask me. Instead, why don't we make a deal… like adults?"
"I'm listening."
"Well… as much as I enjoy the occasional visit from Maya… and I suppose you expect me to thank you for allowing that?" She smiles sarcastically. "What I'd really like is some time with you. Like dinner, perhaps? If you could arrange that, I'll tell you everything you want to know… after dessert, of course."
Ikari turns to go without answering.
"Great… you just think it over," she says, her voice still dripping with sarcasm.
He leaves, the door closes, and the lights go out once more.
"See you soon, Gendo."
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The next day at school, Rei barely notices the dismissal chime when it rings. She's been staring out the window again, lost in thought. If it weren't for Kaagi walking over to her, she may have stayed there indefinitely.
"Can I walk you out?" he asks sheepishly. She looks at him impassively, then nods. "You've been sort of withdrawn lately… even for you. I was hoping we could talk about it." Rei looks surprised, still unused to someone other than the Commander being interested in her feelings. But she can't put them into words, so she says nothing.
As Asuka watches them go, resentment burns in her narrowed eyes. Across the room, Hikari sees her friend scrutinizing the couple, and she shudders. If it had been Toji leaving with Rei instead of Kaagi, she's pretty sure she would have looked at them the same way. The bitterness mars Asuka's beauty, and Hikari knows it would have made herself look outright ugly.
"Hey, Asuka!" Hikari calls, catching up with Asuka as she walks out of the classroom. They haven't had anything more than superficial talks since school started again, and Hikari has decided that today will be the day that changes.
"Hey, Hikari," says Asuka with disappointment. Hikari refuses to take Asuka's tone personally, and keeps pace with her as they continue down the hall.
"What's the matter?" she asks.
"Stupid Wonder Girl," Asuka says with contempt. "She's so damned conceited! She thinks she's a better pilot than me, but I'll be damned if she's going to think she has a better social life than me, too!"
"Well, gosh, Asuka," says Hikari, "every boy in school would still kill to go out with you." She wonders if her jealousy over that fact was showing. It's always been hard for Hikari to get people to like her, since she has to tell them what to do all the time. And she finds that boys, especially, don't often like a girl who gives them orders.
"Well… there is one boy that I'm particularly interested in."
"Really?" says Hikari brightly. She's glad to finally hear Asuka share her thoughts and feelings with her again. "Do I know him? Maybe I can set you up."
"Oh, you know him," Asuka says with a predatory gleam in her eye. "His name is Kaagi Chuda." Hikari looks horrified, but Asuka is oblivious to her friend's admonishment.
"Oh, Asuka, why?" Hikari asks with disappointment. "Can't you just find your own boyfriend?" Though Hikari is trying to suggest a positive alternative, Asuka interprets the question as Hikari doubting her charisma.
"Of course I can!" Asuka huffs. "But that's not the point. I've got to put that little bitch Rei in her place! It's almost funny, because she has no idea how much "her" Kaagi really likes me. But she's going to find out!"
"What are you planning?" Hikari asks, still aghast. She wants to tell Asuka that whatever she's planning, it's wrong. But she doesn't want to risk losing her only friend. Not again.
"Oh, just a little something," says Asuka conspiratorially. "And I think I can use your help. Those two are going out together on Saturday, but we're going to make it a group-date. See, first, you ask out Toji, and get him to invite the two of you along with them. That way nothing will seem suspicious. Then, I'll ask to tag along with my date."
"Wh-what?" gasps Hikari. The details are swirling around in her head. She tries to make sense of them all, but the one that says "you ask out Toji" keeps sending the others spinning away.
"Next comes the really clever part," Asuka continues explaining. "I'm going to find out which boy in school Kaagi is the most jealous of, and then I'm going to bring him on the group-date. You know how competitive boys are. Kaagi will want me more than ever if I'm with someone he already envies. Then, when I start flirting with him, he'll respond just to show the other boy up!"
"I don't know about this," is all the protest Hikari can muster.
"Come on!" pleads Asuka. "You've got to help me stick it to her! You are my friend aren't you? Just go up and ask Toji out. I know you want to, and here's a perfectly good reason."
Hikari knows that Asuka's vendetta against Rei is just about the worst reason to ask out Toji. But she also knows that she'll never even have the nerve to talk to him, without Asuka pressuring her into it.
As they walk out of the building, Toji is the first thing Hikari sees. He, Kensuke, and Shinji are clustered around Misato's waiting car. Asuka prods her friend in the back with an index finger while smiling and nodding. Frowning with determination, Hikari marches over to Toji.
"Suzuhara, I need to talk to you," she commands. Toji shoots his friends a confused look as he lets himself be led aside.
"What is it, Class Rep?"
"Well, I just found out today that Kaagi and Rei are going out this Saturday," she begins, improvising all the way. "And… I thought we should go with them. It's their first date, and they'll probably be less nervous with other people around." Hikari is proud of, and comforted by, her quick rationalization.
"Are you asking me out?" Toji asks bluntly.
"I… uh… well…," Hikari stammers, looking around for Asuka's help. She sees her friend having a talk with Shinji, not far away.
"C'mon, Shinji," says Asuka, "you share a room with him! You must know someone Kaagi's jealous of!"
"Um…," Shinji starts, completely baffled by this line of questioning, "he said he was jealous of me yesterday. Does that help?"
"You?" Asuka scoffs.
"I'm sorry," Toji tells Hikari, "this is all wrong." At that, Hikari runs to Asuka's side before she can start crying.
"Hey, Kaagi!" Toji calls out as Kaagi and Rei walk together toward Misato's car. Everyone in the parking lot turns to look when Toji yells. "Can Hikari and I come along with you two on Saturday?"
"Uh… sure," is all Kaagi can say. With everyone looking him, he doesn't want to seem ungracious. A glance at Rei reveals no objection from her. He continues walking with her to Misato's car while Toji goes over to Hikari, who's blushing fiercely after Toji's outburst.
"See, it's the guy who's supposed to make all the arrangements and do the asking," Toji explains to Hikari. She sighs in relief and smiles broadly. Toji blushes, and smiles back.
"Hey, I just heard," says Asuka, marching up to Kaagi with Shinji in tow. "Do you mind if we come too?"
"We?" asks Kaagi.
"Shinji and me," Asuka says, as if Kaagi should have known.
"Uh… okay," he says, deeply perplexed. After spending most of the day wondering what was on Rei's mind, suddenly hearing what's on everyone else's is more than Kaagi can manage.
"Wewe're going out?" Shinji asks, stunned.
"Don't you want to go out with me?" Asuka asks, eyeing Shinji like he's gone mad. In his own fearful way, he's eyeing her in the same manner.
"Um… yes I do?" he hazards.
"Good," she says. "Then it's settled."
I don't know what I'm doing, Rei thinks. And I don't know why I'm doing it. Part of me… maybe more than just part of me… wants to be with, and spend time with, Kaagi. But I don't know why. And I feel awkward talking to him about it. I could talk to the Commander about anything, and he would listen and care… but not this. Somehow, I know that without even trying. Maybe Major Katsuragi can help me understand.
"I translated a poem for you," Kaagi tells Rei as they stand by Misato's car. She takes the offered paper and reads the title: "The Lady Fox" by J. Hendrix.
He's reaching out to me, Rei thinks. But I don't know how to reach back. It's not the same as it is with the Commander… or Shinji…. How can I tell him that I know nothing… but yet I still believe that everything will be all right?
"When you embraced me after the battle," she says to him out of the blue, "I liked how it made me feel." Kaagi doesn't know how to reply, except to smile a bewildered smile.
"Well, sorry to break you two up," Asuka interrupts, unable to resist dropping a hint at the disaster she's planned, "but Kaagi, Shinji, and I have to be getting home, now."
"Yeah, sorry I can't give you a ride today," Misato says, opening the door for Rei. Rei looks away from Kaagi, and then climbs into the passenger seat. "But us two girls have some shopping to do! Bye-bye!"
Shinji, Asuka, and Kaagi stand, watching Misato's car depart. Each wears a look of confusion, each for a different reason. Behind them, Toji and Hikari are still smiling at each other. And on the curbside, Kensuke sits, wishing he'd brought his camera today.
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In a darkened room, a man and a woman huddle together in front of rows of computer banks. The woman squints, straining to read several printouts in the dim light. The man just shakes his head.
"So, the psychometric readings have remained this high throughout the week?" she asks.
"Yeah," the man says. He walks over and taps on a large, glass cylinder. "It doesn't even look alive. But, like you said, it's "awake"… Did you see the figures that correlate with the timeframe of the Angel attack?"
"I did, and I'm impressed," she says. The man smiles and the woman scowls. "Not with you."
"I know," he says guiltily, "but I never could resist a compliment."
"Well, how's this, then? With the data you've helped me to collect, we finally have what we need to make SEELE an offer."
"And if they refuse?"
"They won't," the woman tells him, "because they know that if they do, we'll take what we have to Ikari."
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"I am uncertain that I should go through with this," Rei says, feeling daunted as she and Misato walk through the mall. She had never been to a mall before. Signs silently scream about sales. People all around her press uncomfortably close. She never thought she'd desire the quiet solitude of her apartment, until now.
"You sound just like Shinji," Misato chastises. Rei ponders this statement. Any clue as to how she may be connected to Shinji interests her, especially after her recent encounters with Kaworu.
"I do?" Rei asks. Misato nods.
"You shouldn't let one snide comment from Asuka discourage you," she reassures her. "Besides, you can't back out now. Kaagi would be heartbroken." Rei can tell from the context that this would be bad, but "heartbroken" is just another word for which she has no frame of reference.
"There's so much I don't know…," she says aloud.
"Well, I'm not just your fashion consultant…" (I'm probably your only female role model, Misato realizes.) "…you can ask me about anything." Rei thinks on this a moment.
"After how many dates does one typically engage in intercourse?" she asks, blindsiding Misato.
"Uh…," (Did you ever just ask the wrong person! she thinks.) "…you're too young to be thinking about that." The sentiment is sincere, but Misato still feels like a clichéd adult.
"I will be fifteen this year," Rei says. She also mentions the exact month and day she was born in 2001, and it sounds oddly familiar to Misato. But she can't spare the time to try remembering what other significance the date may have.
"Trust me, you really are too young," she reiterates.
"Because I said so" Misato thinks mockingly. Miserably, she also thinks, I really am becoming a parent; an old, un-cool parent. Dauntless, Rei continues on the subject.
"This seems contrary to what I overheard Kachiko Naguchi-"
"Kachiko Naguchi sounds like a slut," Misato interrupts. She takes a deep breath, stops walking, and looks Rei dead in the eyes. "Look, if you feel like kissing him, go ahead and kiss him. If you feel like doing more than that… just don't… until we talk some more, okay?"
Rei doesn't appear to comprehend the social difference between kissing and intercourse, but she knows very well how to follow an order. She nods, and Misato breathes a sigh of relief. They continue walking through the mall until they come upon a clothing store.
"Do you see anything you like?" she asks Rei as they enter.
Rei looks around at all the clothes. She notes the different cuts, colors, and textures, but to her, those distinctions are meaningless. She understands clothes only in their capacity as covering for the body. Certain clothes, like a school uniform or a plug-suit, are required for certain activities. But she's never attached any emotional significance to them. Not even as minor an emotion as "like".
"Can I help you, Ma'am?" interjects a perky clerk.
"Well, I'm looking for something low-cut," Misato tells her. "Maybe a short skirt to go with it… and some high-heels, if you carry shoes here."
"I see…," says the clerk, smiling artificially. She looks at Rei. "And what size does your daughter wear?"
"I meant for me," Misato says icily.
Is there some vast conspiracy to make me feel old? she thinks. She massages her temples with both hands to keep herself from wrapping them around the salesgirl's neck. Fortunately, the young lady quickly departs.
"I'm looking for something low-cut…," Misato hears Rei tell another clerk who was wandering by.
"No you're not!" she yells.
This is going to be a long afternoon….
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Episode Midpoint