So... uh, well, I dunno how to say this actually. So, I'll save it for the end of the chapter instead. So, lets just jump right into review responses, shall we?
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Mike Kromer: Ah, yes. Yes, explanations. Lets just say that this chapter is the first explanation in a series of explanations. Oh, lord. What am I even saying? Let's just hope that this chapter only kind of answers the questions, but not completely. I'm not ready to give away everything yet.
Useful76: I'm happy to hear that last chapter really felt like a part of Evangelion. That's... well, that's obviously what I was going for, so I'm happy I succeeded. Hopefully, now, if I can finally just get around to rewriting some of my older chapters to bring them more in line with... well, the rest of my story. Because those earlier ones... ugh, they're really rough. If only I had a freakin' beta reader, that would definitely help give me some more time instead of scouring my chapter for mistakes by myself for hours on end.
origamishishou: I guess that's a good thing it kinda pressed on your buttons. Honestly, my writing kinda does that to me too sometimes. Which is why I've actually found it has helped me quite a bit too. But, that aside, hopefully, it at least felt authentic. I tried to draw on my own analysis of myself and others when coming up with critical characterization for the characters. I try to ask what's wrong with me or other people. And, once I'd decided it was going to be Gendo giving the speech to Shinji, it was just a matter of me trying to fit my conclusions into Gendo's personality. Or, at least, the way Shinji see's Gendo's personality.
Seeking Professional Help: Yeah, I guess you could say that most of the scenarios were more of how I thought the characters would realistically see other characters as well as adding in a bit of a nightmarish spin on what they saw as their own flaws.
Hellsink Bathhall: I'm actually really happy Asuka's 'dream' messed with you a bit. (Is it wrong for me to say that?) I've always wanted to be a horror writer or horror movie director. But, I never really felt like I had it in me. (and to be honest, I still don't really) And, recently, I've just felt like the horror movie genre is just... so dead. Oh my gosh, don't even get me started on it. The last scary thing that actually freaked me out was that speaking/screaming bear in annihilation. And it wasn't even the fact the skin was missing off it's face. I mean, it helped the atmosphere, but it wasn't the main thing that freaked me out. The main thing was just the whole deal with the uncanny valley in it's voice. Like, you could tell it was a distinctly human voice, but that it was also...well, y'know... a bear. But other than that that, I haven't seen very many scary movies for almost the past decade that have actually made me feel that uncomfortable. And scary writing is even harder because, jump scares don't work with it. So, you can't go the cheap way out. You have to build the tension. You have to be good at it.
StratosOmega: Fuck yeah, they're gonna compare notes at some point, hahahaha! Though, it's obviously gonna be a little more subtle than that. They're gonna begin 'comparing notes' as early as next chapter. Though, it's gonna be a little slow... just like everything in this story. (Why do I have to upload new chapters so slowly?)
And, yeah, lmao, ADHD, that shit, lmao. Whenever I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. Then when I actually sit down to write, I think about everything other than writing. lmao! Someone, kill me. Please, I'm not joking. Lmao! But seriously though... uh, don't kill me. That was a joke.
Miguelangel: You are exactly right! I am definitely going to make them remember what has happened in their dreams last chapter. Though, the pilots probably aren't going to be speaking very openly about their dreams to each other quite yet. But, I am definitely going to use it to shape them some.
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Text Guide
Standard Wording
"Spoken Dialogue/Speech"
'Internal Dialogue/Thoughts'
(Flashbacks)
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[Slash denotes scene transition for the moment; this may be changed in the future so as to become more visible.]
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Disclaimer: I do not own or profit off of Neon Genesis Evangelion, End Of Evangelion, or the Rebuilds of Evangelion. I do not own Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Sohryu, or any of the other characters/ideas from the Evangelion intellectual property collective. All licenses remain with the proper license holders. If asked to, I will formally remove this story from the hosting website.
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*Cruel Angel's Thesis and Eva intro starts playing*
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A Journey of Hate, Power, and Love
Chapter 22
A Painful Piece of The Puzzle
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"Ritsuko?" Misato asked uneasily as she leaned into Doctor Akagi's office.
"Yes, Captain?" Ritsuko sighed.
"Rei… She… she just woke up."
"Alright, I'll be down in a minute. Let me just finish this preliminary report."
"Ritsuko… Um… what do you think is happening?"
"Misato, I don't know, okay. I told you, I want to hear what the pilots have to say before I start jumping to conclusions."
"I know. But-"
"Misato, just go buy yourself a beer and calm down."
Misato turned her gazed down at the floor depressingly.
"I don't feel like drinking right now..."
Ritsuko lowed her glasses and raised her eyebrow.
"You're really that worried about them, huh?"
"I guess so, yeah."
"Misato, just go back down stairs and be with them. I'll be down in a few minutes."
"Yeah… okay."
/
-Facts and Emotions-
/
"Good," Doctor Akagi said as she pulled her glasses off, "Now that you're all awake and attentive, I have something to tell all of you."
The children and Misato all inhaled.
"As you're all aware," Doctor Akagi started, "you three all suffered from a… fit, for a lack of better words, a few hours ago."
Misato and Ritsuko visibly saw Asuka and Shinji shiver while Rei cast her gaze towards the floor.
"What you are not aware of however is that, at the same time, the Evangelions activated autonomously."
Misato gasped.
"Ritsuko! Why didn't you tell me sooner?! What the hell?! This is serious!"
"Calm yourself, Misato! You're overreacting. It's not like I was hiding it from you."
"Overreacting? OVERREACTING!? THEIR EYES WERE FUCKING GLOWING!"
"And they're not now! So calm down and let me ask the pilots what I need to ask them, Misato!"
"Ask us what exactly?" Shinji questioned.
"Yeah, just what the hell is going on?" Asuka added.
"I'm trying to get to that. But, I can't tell anyone what I think is going on until I have an idea of what's actually happening. I'm sure you all have questions. But, so do I. So, if we can please just…" Ritsuko sighed before trailing off.
Everyone was quiet for a second. Obviously, none of them really wanted to be in the situation they were in.
"What must you ask, Doctor Akagi?" Rei inquired, breaking the silence.
"As Misato has told me several times, your eyes were glowing at the time of the incident, correct?"
"What!? You don't believe me!?" Misato spat accusingly.
"I didn't say that, Misato," Ritsuko said while trying to suppress the glare she wanted to shoot at her.
"Yeah," Asuka said as she shivered again and pointed at Rei, "Her eyes were glowing really purple."
"Asuka's… were purple too," Shinji said while closing his eyes and trying to get the memories out of his head.
"Purple? But, that's not what I saw!" Misato gasped, "Asuka's were yellow-ish. And Rei's were like an orangy red. And Shinji's… Shinji's were just... dark red. And all their pupils had become elliptical."
"Okay, so, they changed color and shape then… I'm... not entirely sure what that would signify. Honestly, a lot of this situation still isn't clear to me. But, there is one thing I'm relatively sure of."
"And, that would be?" Misato questioned while eyeing Ritsuko impatiently.
"Mister Ikari," Ritsuko exhaled tiredly.
"Hmm? Y-Yes?"
"I know that you've suffered from Phantom sensations at least once. I don't remember where, but I know I had it written down in one of your medical reports the morning when you came to me and asked me about pain you'd been feeling the night before."
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I remember that."
"And from what I've been given to understand based off Captain Katsuragi's account, you and the other two pilots where in pain a few hours ago when the fits began?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Rei said that she felt like she was burning."
Ritsuko looked at Rei, hoping for more answers.
"Pilot Ayanami, would you mind describing the sensations?"
"No, Ma'am. I would not mind. But, I am afraid there is not that much more to it than Mister Ikari's statement."
"Well, where exactly did it hurt?"
"Everywhere. Though, perhaps it was most painful in my forearms."
Ritsuko picked up a clipboard she'd lain down on a small side desk earlier. She then put her glasses back on and began flipping through a few pages.
"What are those?" Misato questioned.
"Some reports I had Maya bring me on the Children and their previous deployments as well as a few other things."
The room went quiet as Ritsuko flipped through a few more pages before reading over one of them and circling a few paragraphs with a blue pen. She then raised her eyes from the papers and looked at Asuka expectantly.
Asuka's heartbeat sped up.
"Pilot Sohryu, do you mind?" Ritsuko prodded.
"Mind? Mind what?"
"Telling us what you felt?"
Asuka blushed and felt heat rising into her cheeks.
"I- I didn't feel anything!"
Misato glanced at Asuka with a worried expression while Ritsuko licked her rapidly drying lips and looked around in bored frustration.
"What!? I didn't!" Asuka stated again.
"Asuka, you- you were screaming into the phone," Misato said, really only pretending to be confused at the declaration for Asuka's sake.
"Yeah, and!?"
"Pilot Sohryu, quit being insecure!" Ritsuko said bluntly.
'Fuck! Fuck! They're not buying it! And now I'm just making myself look stupid! Verdammt!' Asuka cursed to herself.
"Okay! Fine! Fine! It hurt! Are you happy!?"
"Where!?"
"That- That's private! It's none of your business!"
"I am your MD, so it most certainly is my business!"
"No!"
"Pilot Sohryu, where!? If you don't tell me, I will forbid you from piloting the Evangelion until further notice!"
"You can't do that!" Asuka shrieked!
"Yes, I can!"
"No you can't! Only the Commander can do that!"
"I don't have to listen to him."
"YES YOU DO! OTHERWISE YOU'D BE COURT MARTIALED FOR MUTINY!" Asuka shouted in her classic shrill voice.
'She's good. I wonder how Misato can stand to live with this little bitch.'
"Pilot Sohryu, cease this shit throwing fight! I advise the Commander directly. If I say no, he says no."
"That- That's not true! I don't believe that!"
"Are you really trying to push your luck this hard?"
Asuka looked at the floor and grumbled something unintelligible.
"What? What was that?"
"It was like… right here… and here," she mewled feebly as she pointed at her ribs and in between her hips.
'Fucking finally,' Ritsuko thought to herself, trying to make sure she didn't let her frustration show.
"And the actual sensation? What was it like? Burning? Cutting?" Ritsuko asked, looking for more details.
Asuka's eyes widened and she felt herself cringe as she swallowed her spit.
"St-stabbing! Eh- Uh, maybe um, and maybe b- breaking!? Crushing!?" Asuka said brusquely and with a blush.
"Pilot Sohryu, just what exactly is wrong?" Ritsuko asked with a raised eyebrow.
"N-Nothing's wrong! Jesus Christ!"
Ritsuko shook her head gently before returning her eyes to the clipboard. She once again flipped through the pages before pulling another pen, this time a red one, out of her lab coat pocket and circling a few paragraphs.
"Okay Mister Ikari, now you."
"Oh, uh, well, it was my head. Or, I guess my eye actually. It felt like…" Shinji tried to say before shuddering, "like something stabbed me. But, it felt like…. like it broke… my skull," Shinji finished while curling his lips in disgust at his description.
Ritsuko then began flipping though her reports again.
"So, what? It was like someone lobbed a pickaxe in your face or something?" Asuka asked curiously.
"Uh, yeah. I guess." Shinji confirmed with a visible wince in response to Asuka's rather more illustrated interpretation.
"Eww, haha! That's… that's kinda disgusting."
"Eh, haha, yeah," Shinji laughed back awkwardly.
"I do not understand why that is amusing," Rei said blandly.
"Of course you wouldn't, Ayanami. It's called relieving the tension with banter. It's the same as how rescue workers crack all these sick jokes and shit when they're at some really gruesome car crash where there's a bunch of dead kids. And their mom's back is broken, but she's still alive. And their father has like a bunch of broken ribs and is like missing his arm or something. But, either way, both the parents are still alive and have to see all their kids dead. And so it's extra sad. And, so to stop themselves from crying, everyone has to make themselves laugh and stuff so they can stay focused."
Shinji and Misato both looked at Asuka awkwardly, and even Doctor Akagi raised an eyebrow at the girl's commentary before returning her focus to her work.
"Relieving the tension... with banter? I will remember that," Rei said stoically.
"Heheh, don't remember too hard. You still need room in that head of yours to remember all your orders," Asuka said in a lighthearted mocking tone as she poked at Rei with her words.
"Is that an order?"
"Oh my god! That was- That was a- You know what? Never mind."
"That was? That was a what? An order?"
"No! That was a joke!" Asuka groaned.
Rei only barely smiled back at Asuka, but it was enough for her to notice.
"Hey…" Asuka said as a roguish expression dawned on her face, "Wait… wait a minute… Was… was that… a joke? From you!?"
Rei didn't say anything and continued to smile, which caused Asuka to turn to Shinji for answers.
"Shinji! Did… Did she just crack one? You're with her all the time! Surely you know! Is part of me rubbing off on her!? Is she becoming more human!?"
"Heheh, she might've," Shinji smiled bashfully as he scratched the back of his head.
"Heheheh, well would you look at that. Maybe I'll make a deviant out of you yet, Wondergirl," Asuka chuckled as she put her hands on her hips proudly.
"Okay, Pilots. Attention back up here," Ritsuko announced as she tapped on her clipboard, "Now, Misato says that when she arrived at Pilot Ayanami's residence, that all of you were incapacitated on the floor… and completely silent. And when she examined you all, your eyes were open and glowing. Before that when Pilot Sohryu had called her though, she had heard audible screaming. It still isn't clear to me if you were unconscious or not. So, tell me, do any of you remember anything about the incident?"
"...No, Ma'am." Rei said as she put a thoughtful finger on her chin.
"No… No, not really. Nothing," Shinji added as he cast his gaze downwards.
"Nothing except the pain," Asuka mentioned as she gingerly rubbed her arm.
"Hmm, so that rules out remembering anything. Though, that's still not enough to deduce if your were simply unconscious or if you're suffering from some sort of memory loss. Maybe organic or disassociative post-traumatic amnesia. Or perhaps something similar to lacunar amnesia. But, that's usually caused by brain damage… Hmm," Ritsuko thought aloud as she bit on the tip of one of her pens.
"So, what!? They're mentally impaired now!?" Misato asked as she gestured her outstretched hand in front the children furiously.
"I didn't say that, Misato! In fact, I was actually doubting such a thing! Though, it would be prudent to run tests to be sure..."
"What!? NO! I don't want anyone scanning my brain!" Asuka protested.
"See, I'm sure they're fine," Ritsuko said casually.
"Hmph, you're pretty dismissive of your duties as a medical professional," Misato huffed while crossing her arms.
"What can I say? I'm tired and I've been taking on the responsibilities of two women since someone keeps dismissing her duties and leaving work early," Ritsuko shrugged.
"I- Ergh!" Misato growled before biting her tongue in an effort to avoid embarrassing herself.
"Now, back on topic. With this information… well, I can't say a whole lot. To be honest, a good portion of this still warrants some… er, maybe a lot of investigation. But, I have a strong feeling that this is tied to the Eva's somehow. One moment."
Ritsuko flipped a couple pages down on her clipboard until she reached the page that was on the very top before continuing with her monologue.
"What I'm about to read off to you are sync rates that I had Lieutenant Ibuki bring to me after checking the Magi. Ninety-two point three percent, ninety-three point seven percent, and ninety-seven point six percent."
"And, what does that have to do with anything?" Misato asked scathingly.
"These were sync rates from a few hours ago… When the Evas activated with no one in them."
Misato gasped.
"Wait… You're… you're saying the Evas synched with them… But... How is that even possible!? They weren't anywhere near them. They weren't in their plugs or their plugs suits! And Asuka is the only one who's even wearing her A-10 Neural connectors! They were miles away! How could the Evas possibly sync with the kids!?"
"It shouldn't be possible. So, you should probably stop jumping to conclusions. We don't have any conclusive proof that the Evas did, in fact, sync with their designated pilots. That being said though, I would venture that it is highly likely they did. Considering the time frame and the sensations the pilots experienced, I feel it's more than a coincidence in all likelihood. The how of it though, I don't know."
"Of course it's more than a coincidence!" Misato spat.
Ritsuko was beginning to have serious trouble holding in her frustration. She'd wanted to be home an hour ago, but she was still stuck at NERV and probably would be for the foreseeable future. And the thought did not appeal to her.
"Misato, that's a logical fallacy to state as certain fact. Correlation doesn't equal causation. You would have learned that back in high school if you hadn't been doing… other things. The Evas have activated on their own before without causing some kind of freak-out in the pilots. So, this may not have any connection with the children. I don't know for sure. I'll need to go back and look at the records later."
"Heh, other things she says," Misato chuckled under her breath.
Both of the women sighed before Ritsuko attempted to get back to her explanations, which she dearly wanted to finish and be over with.
"Pilot Sohryu, Unit-02's sync reading was the aforementioned ninety-two point three percent. Rei, Unit-00's was ninety-three point seven. And Mister Ikari, Unit-01's sync was at ninety-seven point six."
"Th-That's not fair! HOW'S THAT FAIR!?" Asuka blurted, "I'm the one who was wearing my A-10 connectors! Aren't they suppose to improve my sync rating!? And even if it didn't, I'm the best Eva pilot anyways!? Why did they get better sync rates!?"
"Pilot Sohryu, those are not better sync rates. It's normally treated as extremely dangerous per the liability of mental or physical contamination to sync at anything above eighty percent! And even that is pushing the line. Hence why it has never been allowed to take place in an active combat situation or even in test environments. On top of that, as I told Misato, it's possible the Eva wasn't even syncing with you. Which would explain why your neural connectors may haven't have had any effect on the sync rate of your Eva, assuming they even had the capability of interfacing with the Eva from that far away in the first place."
Asuka looked down at the floor as though she'd just been scolded.
"And beyond any of that, the restraint limiters shouldn't have allowed the Evas to even reach a sync rate above eighty percent anyways. But when I had Maya check them, they were fully functional, which shouldn't be the case" Ritsuko groaned while pushing her glasses up over her forehead and massaging her face with her hands, "But, that aside, these are the top three records for any Evangelion sync rate. And, should it turn out that the Evas did sync with each of you… I don't even know anymore. I should run tests on each of you for contamination. But, none of you were even in a plug. And that's only the beginning of the irregularities. So, any tests I did run may not be valid anyways. Ugh… still, better safe than sorry. So, I'm going to have to ask each of you to come to my lab later. But, for now-"
Ritsuko once again began flipping through the pages on her clip board before yanking out three of the reports and tossing her clipboard onto the small desk beside her.
"I'm aware you're all probably tired of hearing me speak. Trust me, I am too. But, bear with me. These are reports on three of the deployments you have been on. I believe that these instances are the cause of the pain you all felt earlier. I didn't know for sure if these would end up being relevant, but after hearing your descriptions, I'm sure they are."
Ritsuko cleared her throat before explaining the contents of each report and their relevance.
"Shinji Ikari, on your first deployment, you engaged the third Angel, which we have code-named Sachiel. Evangelion Unit-01's skull was pierced through it's eye and out the back of it's head by means of a lance of light. Would you say, in your opinion, that those events match up with what you felt a few hours ago?"
"I… Yeah. Yeah, that sounds... exactly right."
"Rei Ayanami, on your deployment during Operation Yashima, you were tasked with defending Unit-01 from the fifth angel's attacks. The angel, henceforth referred to as Ramiel, was able to launch a beam-like attack at Unit-01 while the positron cannon was charging. In Unit-00, you intervened and attempted to block against the attack with NERV's experimental Ægis Shield. The shield was eventually destroyed and you were left to defend against the angel with nothing more than the Eva's own body and your AT Field. ...Would that accurately describe your pain?"
"Yes. I believe it would."
"Asuka Langley Sohryu, during your second combat sortie, you were deployed in Unit-02 alongside Pilot Ikari in Unit-01. During this endeavor, you encountered the angel that we have code-named Israfel. Following several unsuccessful attacks, the Angel separated into two targets from hereon known as Israfel Alpha and Israfel Beta. Israfel Alpha engaged you in combat, consequently resulting in Evangelion Unit-02 being penetrated through its lower torso and not less than half its ribs being broken once or multiple times. Does that fairly represent the pain you went through earlier?"
"I mean… I guess..."
"Well, as before, I still cannot say for sure if this would relate directly back to the Evangelions. But, I assume you've all experienced a severe case of phantom sensations, though one that's quite unlike any instances on record. ...I assume you're all familiar with Phantom sensations? I've never really taken the time to properly explain them to any of you because, up until now, they've never been this… disruptive..."
"Yes, Ma'am. Though, this is the first time I have experienced them firsthand," Rei said quietly.
"Hmph! Shinji told me something about 'em once. I only ever had them like once or twice. But, yeah, I know what they are," Asuka said snidely as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"And, as mentioned before, Mister Ikari did ask me about them one morning, so I suppose that about sums everything up for now," Ritsuko said as she straightened her glasses and picked up her clipboard again, "You kids head on up to my lab now to check for contamination. I'll be up in a minute."
"Wait, just like that!? You're done!? There's nothing else!? No… medication!? Or… something!?" Misato asked in a worried tone.
"There's not really anything else to do right now. But, I can prescribe them painkillers in the event that this happens again. Though, I'm not entirely sure how much that will help. Other than that, the only thing I can do is just try to study this incident as best I can and come up with a more viable solution."
/
"H-hey! Watch what you're sticking that thing!" Asuka snapped as Ritsuko examined her behind a curtain in her lab.
"If you would quit being so jumpy, I might just be able to control were I'm sticking it," Ritsuko mumbled boredly.
"It… has been awhile since we have had time to ourselves," Rei mentioned quietly to Shinji as she and him sat quietly on a waiting bench watching Asuka struggle with Ritsuko from the other side of the curtain.
"Yeah. Asuka's just been… different recently. And, it doesn't really leave us a lot of time to be ourselves when she's always following us everywhere."
"Following you."
"Hmm? Following me?"
"Yes, she's following you. She doesn't like me."
"Well… yeah… I guess that's kinda true. But-"
"HEY! You two better not be talking about me! I can here you whispering over there!" Asuka interjected rudely from behind the curtain.
"Uh, we- We weren't! We were just talking about… our… plans… for the next week and all. We're gonna… uh...-" Shinji trailed off, realizing he'd spoken before thinking.
"We are going on a date," Rei stated matter-o-factually.
"WHAT!? A DATE!? YOU MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO BE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME!? Why you-" Asuka growled.
Rei didn't pay the agitated girl any mind however, and simply turned to smile at Shinji with an uncharacteristically large smile.
"So, what should we do?" Rei asked innocently.
Shinji thought for a second. And, for a moment, nothing really came to mind. But, suddenly, something occurred to him.
"Erh, well. I do have one idea. The only one I can think of that would really get Asuka off our backs anyways. Heheh," Shinji chuckled bashfully.
/
-The Heart and Ewer-
/
"WHAT!? YOU'RE HAVING A SLEEPOVER WITH HER!?" Asuka shouted accusingly.
"Well, yeah. I mean, why not?" Shinji asked while cooking dinner for the second time that night.
"Why not? WHY NOT!? WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT!?" Asuka demanded as she slammed her hands down on the kitchen table, "YOU'RE NOT EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO SLEEP OVER AT ANOTHER GIRL'S HOUSE! AND YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN ASK MISATO FOR PERMISSION! Oh, you're lucky she's in the bathtub, because if she wasn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation. She'd straight up say no. Surely she's not that irresponsible."
"I heard that, Asuka! And Shinji, I think that's a great idea!" Misato cooed from her hot steaming bath.
"YOU'RE NOT HELPING, MISATO!" Asuka snarled back into the bathroom.
"What's the big deal anyways, Asuka?" Shinji asked as he flipped dinner out of the pan he'd been using and began cleaning it, "I mean, you already sleep in my room with me sometimes."
Asuka's eyes widened and she blushed.
"TH-THAT'S DIFFERENT AND YOU KNOW IT. So, don't even try to turn this around on me! I- I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO HER!"
Shinji's grip on the pan loosened out of shock and embarrassment and he accidentally dropped it into the sink as a wild blush streamed across his own face now.
"It- IT'S NOT LIKE THAT, ASUKA! We were just going to talk!"
"Oh, I just bet! Probably talking dirty to her!" Asuka spat.
"I'm serious, Asuka! It's not like that!"
"Yeah, whatever. I'm not hungry anymore. I'm going to bed..."
Asuka pushed in her chair, and began trudging through the living room depressingly.
"Wait! But, Asuka! You haven't eaten since lunch period at school!"
"I don't care."
"Don't worry, Shinji. I'll take her on a date and make sure she doesn't feel too left out," Misato said as she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in one of her soft purple towels.
"YEAH!? AND HOW WELL DID THAT TURN OUT FOR YOU LAST TIME!?" Asuka shouted as she turned around and furiously pointed a finger at Misato accusingly before running into her room, obviously upset.
Both Misato and Shinji blushed. At this point, everyone in the Katsuragi residence was suspected to know each other's secrets.
Misato knew that Asuka knew that she had raped Shinji. And, she could assume that Asuka had probably told Shinji that she knew, even if Shinji himself hadn't actually confirmed to Misato that Asuka had told him anything.
At the same time, Shinji knew that Asuka had almost been raped by a storekeeper as a consequence of her running away after she'd found out that Misato had raped Shinji.
And despite the fact that both Shinji and Misato knew exactly what incident Asuka was talking about, they both pretended not to… perhaps for decency's sake and maintaining the weakly supported illusion that they weren't a completely dysfunctional family of degenerate misfits with almost nothing in common aside from their duty to NERV.
And so, they both looked at each other and smiled awkwardly. Misato sat down at the kitchen table while Shinji prepared a few plates of food for himself and Misato… and even Asuka. Shinji knew she'd be out of her room later looking for food. And, he knew she'd expect a plate prepared and waiting for her on the table.
Most families might have considered it a strange gesture to arrange a plate of food for someone who wasn't going to eat any time soon. But, in the Katsuragi household, it had become a normal occurrence.
And so, Misato and Shinji ate their food in silence; just as silent as Asuka's empty chair.
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*Eva credits roll and Fly Me to the Moon plays*
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"Aww, poor Asuka.
And you'll probably all be saying poor Asuka next chapter as well, because she's going to be left all alone with me while Shinji and Rei go do whatever they might be doing. Just a little hint, it's going to be some alone time for them since Asuka keeps stalking them everywhere after school. Ooh, but I shouldn't say too much though. That might ruin the surprise! So, my lips are sealed until the next chapter of Neon Genesis Evangelion: A Journey of Hate Power and Love; The Minutes On The Clock!
Oh, and I'm sure there'll be some kind of fanservice next chapter. A boy and girl alone with no supervision. Ooh, I'm getting horny just thinking about it!"
.
Soooo... uh... well, I'm sure you're all disappointed by how short this chapter is. So, lemme explain. While writing this chapter, one of my reviewers (I'm not sure if he wants to be mentioned or not.) was messaging me some ideas. And, a couple of them caught my eye. And, I originally intended to put them at the end of this chapter. But, I decided I could probably actually just go ahead and make an entirely new chapter out of it instead. So... basically... what was going to be the end of this chapter is actually going to be reworked into the beginning of next chapter and then fleshed out! So... that's why this one is kinda short. Sorry about that...
Update: So, uh... sorry for being gone for so long, hahaha. I'm probably gonna be posting the next chapter in a couple of days though, so hopefully that makes up for my absence some.
Update: Not entirely sure, but I may have the next chapter out today. (7/11/2018 1:50 AM.)
Final update: Okay, people. About to upload the next chapter in a few minutes.
