Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion, Airbus, Boeing, and any other aviation companies or planes mentioned in this fiction. Please read the Author's note!
The world is FICTIONAL, so don't be surprised if something happens differently from our world.
This is supposed to be a romance slice of life story with lemon, people underage shouldn't be reading this!
Arc 1: Chapter 1: Prologue
…Across the endless starry night, above the unbroken sea of clouds…
2016 A.D., a peaceful morning in Japan
Shinji Ikari was not a complicated boy, to say the least. His life had been dull if looked from other people's eyes, especially those social butterflies, but he got by surprisingly well. Of course this meant he didn't really have anyone that cared about him – not that he really cared about any other person in the first place.
He had had a few friends, but after he was enrolled into high school – namely, Tokyo Municipal High School that resided near Haneda Airport – he quickly lost their contacts and never heard anything from them again.
A new place meant starting over all over again, and he was afraid of social interactions. As long as people didn't come to him and bring him troubles, he could accept being left alone.
"Ahem," an attention-catching cough successfully caught his attention, snapping him out of his train of thoughts. He raised his head to see the teacher standing on the podium and scanning around the classroom.
"Class, before we start today, I have an announcement to make. EVA Air, Japan's largest airline company with its base just near Haneda Airport, has decided to cooperate with our school for their new project." The teacher raised a set of documents for the class to see. "It's called…um… 'Soaring Young Eagles'. Basically, they are finding people – teenagers – students - who have interest and talent in piloting commercial planes."
Japan was never a country with enough labor resources – possessing a land too small, the government had always been relying on exporting high-tech products to thrive in the world economy. Though the problem of aging society had started showing its true colors in recent years – people with special skills were decreasing in numbers rapidly.
The teacher's speech had instantly caught many students' attention. Flying big aircraft in the sky sounded cool to most people, even if they didn't so much as knew the tip of the iceberg about the actual career.
Shinji sighed and returned his attention to the book – he simply wasn't interested, at all. The grades he got in school were a mess – he wasn't actually stupid in any sense; he just didn't want to put in too much effort, which in turn led to the unstable foundation of his Tower of Knowledge. He couldn't build it higher than it already was, or he would risk it tumbling down. And this new…project, would likely require hellish training and put him through constant ordeals.
"Though there's a problem." The teacher pushed his glasses up his nose. "Participating in this program means completely abandoning your schoolwork. So think about it carefully before making any decisions that you may regret later."
"I'm in," Shinji's right arm shot up into the air without hesitation.
All of his classmates turned their heads and looked at him with strange expressions – after hearing the prerequisite of enrolling into the program, most of them already lost their intertest, if not forced to throw it away reluctantly. The few that still maintained hope also needed to at least consult with their parents. Shinji's straightforwardness…intrigued them.
The teacher raised an eyebrow. "…Sure, come to my office after school, then."
XXXXXX
Late afternoon of that day, the head principal's office
"…So this is the contract you need to sign before partaking in the program. Please read through it carefully." A man in his 40s spoke, wearing a formal suit, a black briefcase that had EVA Air's logo and his name – Makoto Hyuga - printed on it in his hand. "Also, Mister Ikari, since you're below legal age, we also need confirmation of your parents for the document to become effective."
"Sure," Shinji replied, letting out a silent sigh. His mother had died in a car accident when he was four, and his father had been immersing himself in his work ever since – Gendo Ikari simply left him with his professor in college – namely, Kozo Fuyutsuki – to raise his son. "Though…my parents aren't available right now. But I do have a legal guardian, is that okay?"
"Of course, as long as you can provide legal documents," Makoto replied with a small smile.
Shinji nodded and took out his Samsung and dialed Fuyutsuki's number. It wasn't like his father didn't care about him at all – Gendo would regularly send money into Fuyutsuki's bank account as a raising fee. The amount of money wasn't small in any sense, so Shinji's living quality was relatively high, even compared to the students in Tokyo Municipal High School.
"Shinji?" The old man's voice flowed out from the speakers.
"Hi, Fuyutsuki-san…" Shinji took several minutes to explain the idea to the former professor. "…alright?"
"Sure. I'll come to the school in a minute. See you soon."
"See ya, Fuyutsuki-san." With that, Shinji hanged up the phone with a relieved sigh. As much as the old professor cared about him, he rarely interfered with Shinji's personal decisions, as long as they weren't overly offensive nor risky.
This could be a new start for his life – a decision that would spiral out of his every single expectation.
XXXXXX
The day before, Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Asuka Langley Soryu was a very complicated girl, who had a massive share of her own issues. Her entire life until now was met with a series of challenges. First and foremost, her mother's death in a car accident when she was four, and the subsequent abandonment by her father.
Her second challenge was putting up with the idiots in this world – especially when she studied in college at thirteen. She had to deal with the funny, sometimes envious looks people gave her – and the best way of defense was attacking – which led to her almost non-existent social experience.
Her third major challenge was introduced by a man called Kaji Ryoji, a foster parent whom her father had picked for her. Asuka found the man attractive, to say the least – but her seduction of the man failed miserably. Aside from the obvious moral issues, Kaji had pointed out that he didn't want to face 'Three years at best, a firing squad at worst.'
Now she was 16, and the fourth major challenge flashed into her life.
Boredom.
"…Ladies and Gentlemen, flight number LH177 from Berlin – to – Tokyo is now checking in at gate number…"
Asuka shook her head, putting the brakes of her train of thoughts at maximum. She turned her head to the man sitting beside her on the airport bench with a smile. "It seems our time to go. I really hope this…program is worthy of my time, though."
"It's your choice, after all." Kaji replied with a shrug, picking up their luggage.
"I know. I only chose EVA Air because they have freaking red liveries." Asuka smirked. Fortunately, she had found a way to dissipate the dullness of her life after she graduated from college. She needed something challenging, while flying commercial airliners was one of the most skill-heavy careers in the world. "Anyway, let's get going!"
"Yes, my highness."
With that, Asuka started moving on to her way to the boarding gate, a path she didn't know would change her life forever.
XXXXXX
Author's note: First things first, I know flight numbers are two letters with numbers, but this is an alternate universe where anything could happen.
Hello everyone, as you should know this fic happens in a universe without EVA and Shinji and Asuka are pilots of commercial airliners. In our world EVA Air also exists, but it's operated by Taiwan region. In my universe EVA Airlines is an airline company operated by Japan.
Both Asuka and Shinji are born in 2000, and when the story starts, they are both 16 for safety.
I have thousands of hours of combined experience in X-plane, P3DV4, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. I will also use Electronic Flight Bag and Navigraph Navigation data to create realistic waypoints, departure/approach procedures, and airways. I hope technical details won't disappoint, though there will still be errors, and I welcome people who know better than me to point them out.
This fiction will contain mainly WAFF and romance with a lot of drama (aviation) and occasional angst, and a lot of citruses. Hope you enjoy. (Leave a fav or follow or review so that I know people are reading! Thank you very much!)
