"C'mon, keep up, Shinji! You're the only one falling behind!"

Asuka was busy berating Shinji about his form while Rei and Mari continued training. They had been going at it all day now, and with Misato gone, Shinji received the brunt of Asuka's ire.

In truth, he had improved throughout the day, and they were slowly beginning to synchronize more. But that didn't stop Asuka from dressing him down every chance she got. Shinji didn't see how this tactic was supposed to help him improve, but he wasn't in much of a position to fight it.

Shinji tried to explain that he only fell behind when Asuka was participating, and when he trained with Rei they were in perfect sync. The same was true for Mari and Asuka. Asuka wouldn't hear it, and it only made her angrier.

After several hours of training, Shinji collapsed on the ground, exhausted.

"Wimp," Asuka said.

"Princess, let's take a break. We're all starving," Mari said.

"Hmph. Fine," Asuka said, going to the kitchen.

Shinji got up and sat down on the couch, still breathing heavily from the exercise.

"I'm home!" Misato announced. There seemed to be a commotion in the doorway and Shinji got up to see that Kaji was with her, and Misato didn't appear to be thrilled about it.

"Kaji-san!" Asuka said, running up to him and hugging him.

"We've been training all day, Kaji-san, because of Misato's stupid idea."

"Actually, it was my idea," Kaji said.

"Oh, well, i-it's not really stupid I guess," she stammered.

Good evening, Inspector Ryoji," Rei said.

"Kaji's fine," he said. "It's nice to see you too, Rei."

"H-hi, Kaji-san," Shinji said. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm actually here to talk with you, Shinji," Kaji replied.

"M-me?" he asked.

"Sure am," he said. "Grab me a drink and meet me on the balcony," he said as he walked outside.

"Asshole acts like he owns the place," Misato grumbled.

"What does he want with that loser?" Asuka said.

"Calm down princess, jealousy is a bad look on you," Mari said, grinning.

"W-what? Jealous? Of him? Are you crazy?" she said loudly. Rei had sat down and was busy reading her books. Shinji left to go to the balcony after getting some soda.

-

"Here you go, Kaji-san," Shinji said, handing him a can.

"Thank you," he replied.

Shinji sat down in a chair, looking at the city. The sun was going down and orange light filled the sky above the city, the buildings beginning their nightly ritual of sprouting from the earth and blocking the sun from view.

Shinji didn't know much about Kaji, so he was wondering why he would want to talk with him.

"Um, Kaji-san, what did you want to talk about?" he asked.

Kaji took a swig of his drink.

"What do you think about Rei?" he asked.

"Ayanami? Um, I mean, she's uh, she's really smart, and she's really good at piloting, and, she's nice, too," he said, stumbling over his words.

"Kaji rolled his eyes. "That bad, huh?" he said.

"What do you- uh no, no that's not what it's like! I-I jus-" Shinji's incoherent rambling was cut off by Kaji laughing.

"I'm joking, Shinji. Though judging by how you took it, I might not be anymore," he said.

"It's not like that, I-I swear! Please don't tell her," Shinji begged.

"I won't don't worry about it. But I will ask you: why are you running away from your feelings?" Kaji asked.

"What do you mean?" he replied.

"It's obvious. Do you like her?" he asked.

Shinji looked at the floor, embarrassed. "Y-yeah," he said quietly.

"Then why are you so ashamed to say it?" Kaji continued.

"Because… she wouldn't like me back," he said. "I'd just mess it all up."

"What makes you think that?" he pressed.

"Why wouldn't I?" he replied, dejected.

"Because it's not true," Kaji said. "And even if it were true, that doesn't mean you get to give up. Shinji, you've nearly died four times now. I know we haven't spoken much, but I know you're braver than I am. I couldn't do what you do."

"It's not bravery," Shinji said. "I'm terrified every time I pilot that thing. I'm not brave."

"But you still pilot it," Kaji countered. "Bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's being afraid and doing what is necessary anyway. And if you're brave enough to save the world, you are brave enough to be honest with yourself."

Shinji's face broke into a small smile. "Thank you, Kaji-san," he said.

"Don't mention it," he replied. "By the way, do you know where Rei lived before Misato moved her here?" he asked.

"Um, It's a bunch of apartments by the construction site. It's the 5th one down, room 403. Why?" he asked.

"I'm the NERV inspector, aren't I? I've gotta inspect stuff," he said.

"I wish you could have been here before," Shinji said bitterly. "Her apartment was a total dump. Why would they ever make her live there?" Kaji noticed that he was sounding a little angry.

"I'm glad you care about her, Shinji. She's lucky to have you," he said. Shinji smiled again.

"Well," Kaji said, getting up. "I've got to be on my way." He finished his drink and threw it off the balcony before walking back inside.

-

Shinji sat on the balcony for a while longer, looking out into the city. The sun had gone down and the lights were turning on. The droning cicadas finally faded away, and the much more tolerable sound of crickets replaced them.

"Wark?" came a sound from beside Shinji. Pen-Pen was looking up at him annoyedly, wanting food or pets. Shinji picked him up and pet him, and he warked happily in response.

"Puppy-kun? Whatt's the matter?" came a question from the door behind him.

"Uh, nothing, Mari," he said quickly. She slid the door open and walked onto the balcony, sitting in the chair beside him.

"Is it what Asuka was saying? She doesn't mean most of that, you know. It's just her way of playing around," she said.

"I know," Shinji said. "But it still hurts."

"Well, even if you don't like her, you've still got three other gorgeous girls you're living with," she said, winking.

"I-I didn't m-mea-"

"Although going by what Kaji said, it looks like you already made your choice, huh?"

"W-wha- he told you?!" Shinji asked, now panicking. Mari laughed.

"No, but that reaction did," she said, giggling. "So, who is it?" she said, brushing her hair aside and batting her lashes comically.

"..."

"C'mon, don't be shy," she said.

Shinji was silent for a few more moments.

"I-t's Ayanami," he said, his voice barely audible.

Mari wasn't shocked to hear that, but she was surprised he was so cagey about it. She thought he was gonna say her judging by his reaction.

"P-please don't tell Asuka or Ayanami," he said.

"I won't, don't worry," Mari said. "If you tell me why," she added with a catlike smile.

"Really?" Shinji asked.

"Really," she said.

"She's… she's really nice, and I like talking with her. She seemed lonely, and I w-wanted to get to know her more," he said.

"We've got a regular prince charming over here," Mari said. "Are you sure that's the only reason?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

"I-It's not like that, I mean, she's really pretty, but I-I…" he trailed off, and Mari giggled.

"It's okay, puppy-kun! If it helps, I think she's gorgeous too. Not my type, but whatever," she said.

"Your… 'type?' You l-like girls?" he asked, sounding curious.

"Yeah, you got a problem with it?" she asked, glaring at him from behind her glasses.

"N-no, I just didn't know…" he said quickly.

"Don't worry, I like guys too," she said, winking. Shinji blushed at that.

Before he could respond, Misato walked onto the balcony.

"Alright kids, it's time for bed," she said. Mari groaned and begrudgingly got up to set up her futon. Shinji followed and got ready to go to sleep.

-

Rei woke up the next morning early and tried to get ready to go to NERV. Misato had told her last night that she was due for another exam. Rei was beginning to dread these exams more and more, as Dr. Akagi was angry about something lately, and her temper was short. She put on her school uniform and headed out of the apartment, making her way to the elevators.

Walking through the halls of NERV headquarters, Rei was nervous. She didn't know what to expect anymore. She wished she could have brought Shinji with her. She didn't understand why that woman had so much disdain for her. She thought it was normal, but the way Shinji treated her made her realize that it wasn't. Ritsuko didn't care about her health or wellbeing at all. Not like him.

Rei stepped inside Ritsuko's office after knocking.

"You know the drill," came her response. She was busy typing away on her keyboard. Rei stripped and lay down on the examination table, the metal cold enough to be painful to the touch. The bright lights above the table made it difficult for her to keep her eyes open, and the incessant buzzing of the fluorescent bulbs was gnawing away at her nerves.

Ritsuko put down her coffee and pulled up a chair next to Rei holding a clipboard. She looked lazily over at her through her glasses.

"I see your bruises have almost fully healed," she said.

"..."

"Have you been taking your medication?"

Rei nodded.

"The new dosage?"

Rei nodded.

"Have you had any changes in your mood recently?"

Rei thought for a moment. Should she tell the truth? Dr. Akagi got mad whenever her mood was brought up. But if she lied, she would be much angrier.

Rei nodded.

Ritsuko wrote something down on her papers.

"Describe the changes in your mood," she said.

"I feel… overwhelmed at times. The change in living conditions has played a factor as well. I find myself wanting to be alone much of the time." Rei said.

"That's just nerves. Anything else?"

Rei nodded. "I find myself wanting to spend more time with Ikari-kun. I want to be alone, but whenever I am alone, I find myself wanting to talk to him."

Ritsuko rolled her eyes in disdain. 'Two Ph.D.'s and I'm stuck talking to a fucking doll about her schoolyard crush,' she thought bitterly.

Alarms began to blare, alerting of an imminent Angel attack.

"What?" Ritsuko said, gobsmacked. "It should be disabled for at least three more days!" She ran over to gather her papers frantically, almost forgetting Rei was there. "Get to the lockers! Now!" she yelled before disappearing down the hall.