On their way to the pool Shinji and Asuka found Toji and Kensuke to help keep time. But first they had to return to their apartment to retrieve their bathing suits. Before they left, Asuka checked to make sure the pie was still there. With Shinji keeping an eye on her. It was untouched. A perfect triangular slice.
"Why do we have to do this?" Kensuke asked, setting his stopwatch to zero.
"It's not like you have anything better to do," Asuka said, testing the water temperature with her toes.
She had a point. They really didn't have anything better to do. But this should be good, Kensuke thought. But then again...
"I've gotta' get that pie," she said. She remembered the first time she had ever had Rei's pie.When she was offereda sliceshe turned her down. Oh, how naive she'd been. She didn't want anything as stupid as pie from Wonder girl. But when Shinji suggested she try it she went ahead and had a slice. It was the best thing she had ever tasted. When she finished it she actually apologized to Rei. For calling her Wonder girl and for turning down her pie.
"Why are you doing this just for pie?" Toji asked.
He had never had Rei's pie. She felt sorry for him. And at the same time shepittied him.
"Just shut up and keep time," she snapped.
Shinji came out of the men's changing room wearing only his swim trunks, and a red face. He looked a little uneasy. He didn't feel very comfortable wearing so little around Asuka.
"Why don't you just give up now Shinji?" she taunted. "Save yourself the embarrassment."
"Lets just get this over with," he said with a determined voice.This is worse than the time I had to wear her plugsuit, he thought.
"Get on your marks," Kensuke whined. "I want to get out of here."
Shinji and Asuka got in the water. The temperature was just right.
Kensuke took his place behind Shinji, and Toji behind Asuka.
"You'd better keep your eyes to yourself if you don't want to lose them!" she yelled.
"Don't flatter yourself," Toji muttered, hoping she hadn't heard.
Shinji and Asuka got ready to take off. Toji and Kensuke simultaneously press their start buttons and shouted "GO!"
They immediately pushed off. Asuka at first had the lead. Shinji wasn't that good of a swimmer anyway. But Rei's pie was a good motivator.
When Asuka reached the other side, she flipped and began back. Shinji made it to the other side just after herand pushed off the pool side to boost him. But it didn't matter. By the time Shinji made it back Asuka was waiting for him.
"I win!" She thrust her fist in the air. "You could've just given up- but noooooo.You wanted embarasment!"
Kensuke and Toji didn't have to compare times. They all new Asuka won. When she got out and headed to the women's changing room, Shinji just hung there in the water.
"Okay," Toji said. "See you later Shinji." He and Kensuke began walking away.
"Hold on," Shinji called as he got out of the pool.
They turned to him. "Yeah?" Toji said.
"We still need you to time our running."
From the looks on their faces, Shinji could tell that they didn't want to.
"Can't you just do it yourself?" Toji asked. "It's not that hard."
Shinji needed someone trustworthy to keep time for him and Asuka. He didn't want her cheeting her way to the pie that was rightfully his. "If you two stay and help...I'll treat you to lunch."
They turned their backs to him and mulled it over. Shinji thought her heard the word 'funny' followed by a snicker. Finally they turned around and Kensuke said, "Sure."
"Great," Shinji said. On his way to the changing rooms he passed Asuka drying her hair of with a towel. "Ready to be outrun?" he asked.
"In your dreams."