So I realized that I haven't updated this story since April. Life kind of got in the way. This is just a preview of an upcoming chapter. There will be much, MUCH more to this when I publish the whole thing. I just wanted to make sure people knew this fic wasn't dead. Thanks for reading!
08/13/2021
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Asuka turned and stepped towards her room, pulling out her keycard and swiping it across the reader. The lock made a satisfying click as it disengaged, and she pushed into the room…
Where she was immediately set upon by Hikari, the girl grabbing Asuka by both wrists and practically dragging her to the bed. Thy both plopped down on the edge, Hikari looking at her friend like a wolf might look at a fresh kill; eager, hungry.
"Well?" she asked her, Asuka wishing for a moment to be anywhere else, "How was your walk with Shinji? Did you guys see any… Sights?"
Hikari giggled as Asuka snapped her head down, staring at the floor as her cheeks flared. Hikari twined her arm through Asuka's, leaning her head on the girl's shoulder and giggling.
"I'm just messing with you."
Asuka sighed, relaxing her shoulders and laying her head on Hikari's.
"So, you two spent a good bit of time alone after we left you at the bus stop…" Misato spoke up from her bed. She lay on her side, propping her head on her elbow, "You guys have a good time? Anything particularly interesting happen?"
She glanced at Hikari and winked; any pretense of subtlety long gone.
Asuka groaned quietly and bit her lip. There was no way she was getting out of this. She was outnumbered two to one, three if you counted Sakura, though the girl was, thankfully, asleep, curled up beside Misato and snoring softly. Asuka went over all the possible escape plans available to her, swiftly disqualifying each one as either too difficult or disruptive. She didn't want to wake up Sakura, after all.
Asuka closed her eyes for a moment and let out a short breath before looking up at her roommates.
"We… Went to the beach and that village. Shinji bought us snow cones. And then we…"
She paused, looking at Misato. The woman winked and nodded slightly. The sight of Asuka pressed against Shinji as they hid behind the shack was still fresh in her mind, but Hikari didn't need to know about that. Not yet, at least.
Asuka cleared her throat. "And then we talked about some things..."
Hikari raised her head and turned to Asuka, one eyebrow cocked dramatically.
"And?"
"And then on the shuttle back, he… Well…." Asuka smiled, despite the lump rising in her throat, finishing the sentence in barely a whisper, "He put his arm around me."
Hikari's face lit up, her hands moving automatically to her mouth suppress the squeal threatening to erupt.
"Awwww… That's so sweet," Misato chimed in from the other bed, glancing behind her to make sure Sakura was still asleep, "It's about damn time, too."
Asuka stared at the older woman, blinking a few times before shaking her head. "Wh.. You mean… You…"
Misato rolled her eyes, giggling. "Oh yeah, Asuka. I've seen this coming for years. I think we all have. Right, Hikari?"
The girl looked from Misato to Asuka and back before nodding. "Yeah. It's been obvious for a while now that you two, well, you know... I mean, I knew you liked Shinji because we talk about it a lot, but now that you know he likes you as well…."
Asuka gulped. "Well, I mean, he didn't say that he liked me…"
Asuka shrugged.
"Maybe he was just being ni…"
Misato was off the bed and kneeling before the girl faster than Asuka thought possible. The older woman gently took Asuka's face in both hands and made their eyes meet.
"Asuka, I think you and I both know he wasn't just being nice. Take it from someone who has had the pleasure of watching you kids grow up, he likes you. He likes you a lot."
She released Asuka and allowed herself to fall back onto her knees, leaning against her bed.
"Sorry to be so forward, but you and I both know exactly how you feel about Shinji. And how he feels about you," she sighed, looking at the ceiling for a few moments, "Even if you two can't, or won't, admit it to yourselves or each other. Did you guys at least talk about it on the way here?"
Asuka shook her head, her face darkening again. "Not really. We kind of danced around it on the walk to the bus stop but…"
She shrugged.
"We both kind of just… Stayed quiet after he put his arm around me."
Hikari's eyes lit up. "And? Was that it?"
Asuka shook her head, her cheeks beginning to warm again. "No… I, uh… I might've rested my head on his chest…"
Hikari bit her lip, her fingers playing a tattoo on the comforter. "And how did it feel? Was he warm and soft, or was he more like Mr. Kaji; cool and…"
"Firm?" Misato offered helpfully from her spot on the floor, grinning as both girls snapped their eyes to her, "What? I'm just trying to help."
Asuka turned back to Hikari. "No, he was… Just right."
She paused.
"I could hear his heartbeat…" she continued quietly, smiling warmly to herself, "It still sounds like how I remember…"
She stared wistfully into space for a moment before a pair of fingers snapped in front of her. She jumped slightly as Hikari withdrew her hand, the girl staring at Asuka with narrowed eyes.
"What is that supposed to mean? 'It still sounds like how I remember.' You can't just throw that in there like it's no big deal, you know that, right?"
Asuka's cheeks lit up like a sunset. "It's… I… Didn't mean… I… We were kids… It…" She looked away, staring at the floor. Misato and Hikari shared a look before nodding and scooting closer to their roommate, grinning deviously.
"Okay, well now you have to tell us," Misato piped up, looking up at Asuka from her spot on the floor, "You can't leave us hanging like that."
"Yep. Come on, Asuka… Spill it." Hikari prodded, sidling up against her friend and poking her gently in the ribs.
Asuka took several deep breaths, squeezing her eyes shut before forcing them open. She looked from Misato to Hikari and sighed. The memory began to play, like an old film reel spooling up and coming into focus in her mind.
"We were 9 or 10, and we had been swimming all day..."
"Come on kids! Dinner's almost ready! Time to get out of the pool."
Kyoko Soryu grinned at the twin groans of frustration that greeted her. She stood in the shade beside the pool, the dark blue one-piece swimsuit she wore partially covered by a loose button up shirt, one of Pieter's, more than likely. She crossed her arms over her chest and titled her head back.
"Asuka, Shinji, I mean it. You still have to dry off, so hurry up."
"Ahhh, mom… Come on! Just a little longer!" Asuka whined, bobbing up and down in the deep end.
"Yeah! Please, Mrs. Soryu!" Shinji floated up beside Asuka, a neon green pool noodle under his arms.
Kyoko opened her mouth to retort when Yui stepped out from behind her, her own swimsuit exchanged for a flowing, deep purple sundress.
"Shinji, you heard Kyoko. It's time to come in. Don't make me get your father…" Yui called, hands on her hips. There was no malice to the threat, but it worked anyway. Shinji threw his head back and moaned, before grabbing Asuka by the arm and pulling her to the pool's edge. The girl offered up little resistance, recognizing a lost battle when she saw it.
Shinji climbed out first before turning and offering a hand to Asuka. She took it without thinking, looking up at him expectantly.
"Aaaand… Up you go!" Shinji pulled back, Asuka practically flying out of the pool with a surprised squeal. She landed on her feet, swaying a little. Shinji grabbed her shoulder and steadied her, grinning widely as she found her footing.
"You good?"
She looked at him strangely, before nodding.
"Yeah. I… I'm good. When did you get so strong, Shinji?"
He rubbed his head sheepishly. "I mean, it's not like you're super heavy."
Asuka felt her cheeks starting to warm, even with the late afternoon sun beating down on them. Shinji's hand was still resting gently on her shoulder, and she shrugged away under the guise of looking for a towel.
"Okay, well, be a little gentler next time. Come on, let's get dried off before we get yelled at."
She walked over to a small cabinet sitting in the grass next to the pool and grabbed two towels from inside. She threw one to Shinji as she set to work drying her hair with the other. She was going to need a shower to clean the chlorine out completely, but she would worry about that later. She found her gaze wandering to where Shinji was vigorously working his towel across his chest, his hair still slightly damp, but manageable. His head was titled back, his eyes closed as he smiled faintly into the sunlight.
She stared at him, her own towel hanging loose in one hand, forgotten. Her eyes darted across his face, the faintest hint of a tan bringing out the few freckles she knew were dotted around his nose and eyes. Why she knew they were there, she couldn't say.
He shook his head one way and then the other, knocking the water from his ears, still blissfully unaware of his observer. Asuka's gaze settled on Shinji's now open eyes. In the sunlight they were much brighter than their usual cobalt gray.
Asuka thought they looked… Nice.
"Asuka, Shinji… There's a change of clothes in the bathroom for each of you when you're done," Kyoko called out, smiling to herself as she watched her daughter tear her eyes off Shinji, "You two hurry up. Dinner is almost ready."
The two kids replied in unison, Asuka remembering the towel in her hands. She quickly worked it over herself, trying not to look in Shinji's direction. She didn't have a particular reason why, other than she figured there were just other places for her eyes to be.
Her world went dark as something settled over her head, blocking out the sun. She frantically tried to rip it off, but it wouldn't budge.
"Hey! What…" she yelled, flailing her arms. A small chuckle was her only reply, and she realized what was happening, "Shinji! Stop it! Let me go!"
"Nope. You were distracted, so you're fair game. You'll never escape!"
With that he yanked down on the towel's edges, before flicking his arms in towards each other, sending the damp cloth spinning around her head, wrapping her up like a colorful mummy. Shinji let go and stepped back, admiring his handiwork.
After a few moments of struggle, Asuka tore the towel from her head. She gave Shinji the meanest stare she could muster, and received only a smile, that smile, in reply. Her breath caught ever so slightly, her eyes widening a few millimeters. She shook her head, scrunching her brow and sticking out her tongue.
"That's not funny, Shinji…"
"I think it is." He winked before darting past her, running for the back door and the promised change of clothes within. Asuka stood staring after him for a moment. She wanted to be mad, but…
It had been some time since he had smiled like that in front of her, at least since his birthday the year before. As much as she tried to deny it, she was always left more than a little fuddled whenever he favored her with it. He could be so handsome whenever he…
"Asuka! Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to come eat?" Shinji's call broke her trance and she blinked, looking in his direction. He had somehow already changed into dry clothes, faded blue shorts and a white shirt adorned with an anchor pattern, "Come on! Mom made your favorite dessert!"
With that he disappeared back into the house. Asuka stared after him for a few moments before making her way into the house. She entered the bathroom and exchanged her red and white one-piece swimsuit for a bright yellow sundress before entering the dining room, the rest of the party milling about as they waited for her. Shinji's face lit up when he saw her.
"Asuka! I saved you a seat!" He slapped the chair next to him and Asuka made her way over. She sat down and Shinji grinned at her, a piece of grilled beef having appeared between his teeth. She shook her head as their parents joined them, Yui admonishing Shinji for stealing a bite before everyone else. They all dug in, the small feast before them quickly disappearing in a maelstrom of utensils and laughter.
After a while (and several servings later) Shinji pushed his plate away and leaned back.
"I'm stuffed!" he exclaimed as he patted his stomach, "Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Soryu!"
"You are more than welcome, Shinji. I'm glad you liked it. I've never made gyudon like that before, so it's good to know I did it right" Pieter Soryu responded, leaning back himself, his arm draped over Kyoko's shoulders, "I'll have to make it again sometime."
The woman beside him chuckled and leaned against her husband. "Not too soon, though. I can feel it going straight to my hips. I need time to recover."
Yui chuckled in agreement, laying her head on Gendo's shoulder and closing her eyes. "It was delicious, Pieter. What did you think, dear?"
Gendo merely grunted happily, laying his head back to stare contentedly at the ceiling.
"Hey mom? Can me and Asuka go play videogames? I'll put our plates in the dishwasher before we go."
Yui looked up at Gendo. He nodded before standing, pulling her up with him.
"I don't see a problem with that. Come on Pieter, Kyoko. Those beers aren't going to drink themselves."
With that, the adults adjourned to the covered patio, various cans appearing in their hands as they sat in the colorful lawn chairs set around a small glass table. Shinji stood up and grabbed his plate before stacking his and Asuka's parents on top. He took them into the kitchen, reappearing a short while later, empty handed. He stopped beside Asuka and held out his hand.
Asuka looked up from her plate, the last bit of rice stuck between her chopsticks. She plopped it into her mouth and handed her plate to Shinji. He disappeared back into the kitchen, popping back out a moment later.
"Alright! Come on, Asuka. I got the new Street Fighter, and I need someone to practice winning against."
She glared at him before shaking her head and standing. "We'll see about that. Now come on." She walked into the den off from the dining room, sitting on the couch as Shinji got the game started. He handed her a controller and sat beside her, grinning widely as the first match started.
6 matches and 3 wins and losses each later, Shinji put his controller down and yawned, stretching his arms over his head. "Wow. I just got really sleepy."
Asuka nodded.
"Well, we did spend the last 5 hours swimming. You know that always takes it out of you," she paused, her eyes suddenly very heavy, "And me too, apparently."
Shinji yawned again, putting his controller on the floor before practically falling to his right, stretching out on the couch. "I think I'm gonna close my eyes for a bit. Feel free to keep playing."
He was asleep and snoring softly before Asuka could reply. She considered the controller in her hand for a moment before standing and turning off the console. She yawned, rubbing at her eyes. A nap didn't sound too bad at the moment. She looked at the couch, and Shinji sprawled out on it, before turning to the recliner tucked in the corner. She scratched her chin, considering her options.
The chair was comfortable, she knew that. She had spent plenty of afternoons sitting in it after school, working on homework, Shinji usually laying on the couch doing the same. The recliner also had a built-in heater and massage function that she was quite fond of.
However…
Her gaze wandered back to the couch. It was a little older than the recliner, a little more worn. The once navy-blue cushions were now considerably lighter, years of use taking their toll. It was okay to sleep on, not quite as comfortable as the chair, but in this moment, Asuka found it had one thing going for it that the recliner did not:
Shinji.
She stood for what felt like hours, tapping her foot on the carpet. It couldn't hurt, right? It would just be two friends sharing a couch. People did it all the time, just laid next to each other, their faces close, arms around each ot….
Asuka shook her head, her cheeks threatening to catch fire. She turned from the couch, and Shinji, and willed her pulse to slow. She dared a look back. He was still asleep, blissfully unaware of Asuka's predicament. She bit her lip, taking in a deep breath as she made up her mind.
She walked over and gently placed herself beside Shinji, facing him as she shimmied away from the edge of the cushion. Their faces were mere inches apart and Asuka could feel his breath on her nose. Her cheeks were on fire as she found a comfortable spot and closed her eyes.
She woke with a start, her eyes flying open. She didn't remember falling asleep. Her face was pressed against something warm, and it was moving. There was a distinct pressure on her upper back, around her shoulders. She gingerly pulled her head back and her breath caught.
At some point during her short slumber, Shinji had wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him and pressing her face into his chest. Asuka lay there, breaths coming in short bursts, her face burning. She tentatively pulled against his arms, only for him to tighten his grip. He didn't wake up; it was simply an automatic response. She briefly considered waking him, but some other part of her quickly squashed that idea. That same part instead offered up another, much more agreeable option:
Just… Stay like this. You're both super tired, and he's not going to let go of you without waking up. Most importantly, he's nice and warm, so just stay here and go back to sleep. You can deal with this later when you both wake up. This feels… Right.
Asuka blinked, tilting her head to look up at his face. His eyes were pressed shut, soft snores occasionally making his lips flutter. She pressed herself gently against him and was nearly asleep when Shinji began to stir, mumbling in his sleep. Asuka glanced up at him, his face twitching. Asuka sighed and closed her eyes...
Before opening them wide as Shinji's arms tightened around her back, squeezing her against his chest. His mumbling suddenly cleared, coalescing into a single word, distinct and undeniable…
"Mine"
Asuka stopped breathing. She stared at Shinji, his eyes fluttering as he dreamed. She stayed like that for a while, until her pulse finally slowed. She grinned goofily as she lowered her head, pushing herself deeper into Shinji's embrace. She pressed her ear to his chest, his heartbeat clearly audible at such a close distance. Something about it calmed her, the steady rhythm slowly lulling her back to sleep…
"…And the next thing I remember is my mom shaking me awake and saying it was time to go home." Asuka finished her tale and sighed, smiling faintly. She looked over at a sound to her left and pulled back. Hikari was staring at her, eyes narrowed.
"And you never told me about this… Why, exactly?" she grumbled, crossing her arms as Asuka bit her lip.
"I… I'm not sure. I guess it just never came up," She shrugged and held her hands out in a sign of contrition, "You know I would've said something."
Asuka blushed.
"I've told you everything else, after all…"
Hikari sighed and scooted over, looping her arm through Asuka's own. "It's okay, Asuka. I'm not mad, just… Surprised. Something that big and you've never said a word about it."
"Well… She might not have…" Misato spoke up from her spot on the floor, "Buttttt that doesn't mean no one ever talked about it…"
Asuka snapped her head to the older woman, all color draining from her face. Her mouth moved up and down for a moment, "Wh… What?"
Her eyes widened.
"Don't tell me Shinji was actually awake and just never told me…"
Misato raised a hand, silencing the girl. She grinned as she adjusted her position on the floor, moving from her knees and into a seated position, legs crossed beneath her as she leaned back against her bed.
"No, Shinji was just as asleep as you thought he was. Your parents, however…" She paused, suppressing a grin as she watched the realization dawn on Asuka's face, "They were more than happy to share what they saw."
Asuka's pulse was racing. She looked to Hikari for… Something. Help, maybe? But she found none, the girl leaning against the headboard, arms crossed, a sinister grin on her lips.
"And what, exactly, did they see, Misato?" She asked, chuckling as she saw Asuka's eyes widen.
"Well, Hikari, I'm glad you asked…" The wolfish grin finally won out on the older woman's face as she leaned forward, "Because they saw…"
Misato darted her eyes around, dramatically sweeping the room for potential eavesdroppers.
"Everything."
