The morning found Shinji standing in front of a mirror in his room trying to remember the exact way Burke taught him on how to tie a necktie.
"Does it go this way or is it like this?" Shinji mumbled to himself as he moved the wide and narrow ends across each other an attempt to remember the exact starting position of each end. If he remembered that, the rest would be easy. The problem was that Burke taught him two different knots, the four in hand and the Kelvin. Shinji thought it was a mistake on Burke's part as he realized that he had mixed the two knots together leading to a real mess. He wondered why the school required blazers as part of their uniform. He heard a knock at the door followed by Burke poking his head through.
"Hey, you're going to be late," he stated. "Not good for your first day of school.
"Sorry," Shinji replied. "I'm still having trouble…" During those months, he had learned enough English from his tutor that he could speak simple sentences to Burke reaching the point where the two could carry on a conversation so that a question could be asked in English and answered in Japanese with no misunderstanding between them. Burke came in and helped to reset and tie his tie, which Shinji recognized during the process as the four in hand, committing what he saw to memory. Once the tie was done, Burke stood back to look upon his work.
"Looks all right," he remarked. "Are you nervous?"
"Uh, a little," he answered as he put his mild blue blazer on and clasped the top button.
"Do you have your lunch?" Burke asked.
"Yes, and I made one for you too," Shinji replied.
"Great," Burke rubbed his hands together. "Oh, I should also tell you before I forget that I'm also going to be late coming home again."
"I see." He could still remember one night a couple of weeks ago hearing Burke yell 'What do you mean it's disappeared?' into his phone. Overhearing Burke's side of the conversation, Shinji surmised they were talking about Nerv HQ. After that, Burke began to spend more time at work. Shinji wanted to ask what happened, but he felt that he no longer had any right to inquire.
"After school, are you gong to be seeing her?" He also continued to visit the Ayanami type during that time. Though the conversations did not have too many complexities to them, compared to their first meaning, they had grown in both length and scope, the conversations ranging from what sketch she was working on at the moment to what she had for lunch to even stories Shinji had of the Ayanami she knew.
"Not today," Shinji said. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Then the daycare center?"
"Yes, but I should have enough time to come back here to change my clothes.
"Did you take your meds?"
"Yes," Burke seemed to ask him that question almost everyday since he began taking them, and Shinji was starting to get annoyed over it.
"And the most important part of this interrogation, do you remember you cover story."
"Yeah." Burke had assured him that no one outside of Wille knew who he really was. But as a 'safety precaution', in Burke's own words, he was given a cover story that Shinji had to learn over the last month, even his name was changed. He was still Shinji Ikari, but 錨 was used for his last name instead of 碇. It was still pronounced Ikari and still meant anchor, it just used different kanji. His first name was unchanged as Burke stated that it would be difficult for him to remember it on top of his cover story.
"I think you're going to be fine," Burke stated. "Now get going. You'll miss your train." Shinji went on his way and just made the train. He sat down on the seat to catch his breath. He noticed in the car a couple of students wearing the same uniform among the people going to work and even people his age going to other schools.
Shinji stopped himself at that observation. His age? What exactly was his age? He didn't know whether to think of himself as close to fifteen or close to thirty. He wondered if he could relate to his classmates. As one example, he hadn't paid too much attention to any musical fads outside of some songs he heard on the TV or Burke's car radio, so he didn't know what was considered good or not. He reasoned that he could play it safe and say classical if anyone asked, at least until he could get a better idea of modern music. He wished he was able to talk to Burke about all of this, but he felt that he couldn't do it. How would he be able to understand what it felt like to be…out of his time? Those were the best words that Shinji could use to explain his feelings. Besides, it was much busier at Wille headquarters these days, so he wouldn't have the time.
The train stopped with Shinji and the two students with him getting off and walking towards the Japanese School on the Fourth Ring. He reported to the school office where he got his class assignment, and was introduced to his class in the customary manner, Shinji almost writing his real name on the blackboard, but caught himself in time. His new classmates were naturally curious about their new member, taking in every detail about him as he stood up in front of the classroom and paying attention to every word he he said in his introduction. He took his seat, and the lessons for the day began. At lunchtime, some of his classmates came to his desk.
"You know, we don't get a lot of transfer students," a girl told him.
"Oh really," Shinji replied making an uncomfortable laugh.
"Yeah. The most we see is from one part of the city to another. I never heard in your introduction where you were from," a guys said. Shinji brought his cover story to mind and answered just as he practiced.
"Mexico City. I've lived there for a large part of my life."
"You have to tell us about life there sometime," one of the boys said. Shinji nodded while he was panicking on the inside at the same time. He didn't notice another of the male students sliding into the desk next to his.
"So, how do you like it here at this school?" the stranger asked.
"Um, it's nice…uh…" Shinji replied, not knowing how to continue.
"Oh, Sorry about that. It's Miyashima, Miyashima Kyo. Say, what Ring do you live on?"
"The Second," Shinji answered, as he was tapping one of his feet on the floor at such a rapid pace, he wondered if they heard it. Miyashima whistled at his answer.
"That's a high class part of the city," he added. If I had to make a guess, I'd say your folks are either with the government or they're with Wille."
"Not my parents," Shinji answered him. "My guardian, he's with Wille."
"I knew it," Miyashima answered. "I always have an inkling of things of these Ikari." He then looked up at the ceiling and said his name again. "Ikari…. You know, this might sound funny or weird, but your name sounds reminiscent of Gendo Ikari." Shinji's entire body became tense at that name.
"Huh?" was all he could say while attempting to remain calm.
"You know, the man who set off Third Impact" Miyashima replied. Shinji hesitated to speak, wondering what he could say next.
"Don't be an idiot," a girl who was the class representative chimed in. "You saw how he wrote his name. It isn't as if they were related or anything like that."
"Fine, fine," Miyashima threw up his hands. "You win." Shinji was relieved that they dropped the subject, and any further discussion that could be had was quashed when the bell rang and classes resumed.
When school was done for the day, Shinji was wandering around the school building seeing where everything was. The class rep promised him a grand tour once school was out, but some sudden student council business forced her to cancel with the promise that it would happen tomorrow. As he was wandering around, he heard piano music coming from down the hallway. Following it, he came upon the music room where he discovered a girl playing on one of the pianos. She was not in Shinji's class, but she looked about his age. Her hair was short, and from a distance could be mistaken for a boy if it wasn't for the fact she was wearing a skirt. The girl didn't take notice of Shinji, who remained in the doorway, as her focus was on her sheet music. Even with the time he spent with Kaworu, he couldn't consider himself a proper judge of her playing, but he knew that it was beautiful.
He continued to listen to her playing for a few minutes until he was surprised by someone tapping his shoulder. He turned around to find Miyashima smiling at him. He pulled Shinji away before he could get a word out.
"Out of your league," he told Shinji in his pleasant manner.
"What is?"
"Not what. Who," Miyashima clarified. "I'm talking about her." He shot his thumb out towards the music room.
"I was just listening to her play," Shinji said. "I don't even know her name."
"And there's no point in finding out." Leading him by the shoulder, Miyashima took Shinji and began to stroll down the hallway together.
"Believe me, you don't have a chance, so it's better not to even know that." His answer was followed by a group of three girls running past them.
"Miyoko-Chan!" one of them cried out as the three ran into the music room. Shinji turned to his companion.
"I…guess it's possible you could find out in other ways," Miyashima said, "but still, it's not worth the trouble. There is ample evidence all over the school as to her unwillingness to go out with any guy." Shinji mused over his words for a few moments.
"So, does that mean you tried as well?" He asked. Miyashima was silent for several seconds before answering.
"That's neither here or there, but you see my point, do you?" Shinji nodded.
"Good. So now that school's out, you got any plans for the rest of the day?"
"I'm just going to go home. "I've had a busy day," Shinji replied.
"Oh..Okay then," Miyashima said. "See you tomorrow."
"Uh, yeah. See you tomorrow," Shinji gave a quick wave to him before he went off. He took the train back and met Burke back at the apartment.
"Hey, I just came back to pick up something, so I'll be heading back to work. How was your first day?" Burke asked him. Shinji flopped down on the couch and looked up towards the ceiling.
"Tell me about life in Mexico City," he said after a few moments of silence.
