2:10pm, medical ward, lifts
"Don't worry, we aren't getting lost this time." Misato cheerfully said to herself and Shinji. Pushing a button to call the lift, they stood there for a while in quiet, until Shinji managed to speak his mind.
"Katsuragi-san...Is the Eva okay? Have I...damaged it at all?"
Despite being sixteen years old and actually being average height for his age, which made him taller than her, he looked so awfully small, scrawny and weak when compared to those around him. In fact, Misato had to stop herself giving him a hug.
"It took a couple of scratches, but it's fine." She put on a winning smile, whilst he exhaled in relief.
"That's good. I'd hate to get it broken or anything...it's far more valuable than me anyway."
"Pilots are more important than what they pilot. A machine can be replaced, a person can't." She put a hand on his shoulder, slightly alarmed by such a philosophy.
"Machines don't roar or bleed, Katsuragi-san." Chills ran down the seasoned soldier's spine at those words. To be blunt, Misato had no clue how the Evas worked, or why they worked. And she herself had difficulty believing the war machine story.
The "ding" of the lift arriving caused the pair to come back to reality. Straightening up they prepared to enter, until the doors slid open to reveal Gendo Ikari.
Flanked by Section Two operatives, he stared down at his only child with the same blank expression he showed everyone else. But as for Shinji...a scowl of uncharacteristic pure disgust contorted itself into existence on his features, right fist clenching and unclenching.
Gendo wasn't disturbed by this, as any sane man would have been if their own flesh looked upon them in such a manner.
The doors closed, and NERV's Commander was obscured from sight. A moment later, Shinji's fist smashed into cold metal, trembling with fury and distress. Although his gaze was directed at the ground, the faint sound of quiet sobbing could be heard.
Misato watched on in a helpless manner, as she herself had no idea what to do in such a situation. They simply waited until the next empty lift came, got in, then pushed the button marked Reception.
A little later, the purplehead's breath had been taken away as command's orders were relayed.
"He...he'll be living alone?"
"That's right, you'll be put in apartment four, floor eight, block one, sector two." The receptionist appeared to completely ignore the fact that a sixteen year old boy was to be living by himself.
"Will that do?" He addressed the young man.
"Yes...that'll be fine." Shinji nodded his head in a resigned manner. And yet he felt a slight bit of warmth in his heart to see Misato's concern.
"Shinji-kun, are you sure about this?" She looked at him in a searching manner, trying to detect whether or not he meant it.
"Katsuragi-san, I've lived by myself for the past couple of years. Don't worry, I'm used to it."
At least I won't be living with father.
Misato felt her heart stop for a few moments as the words left his mouth.
You hate your dad, and you live by yourself? Spirits, we have a fair bit in common don't we?
Perhaps it was this, along with feelings of guilt and compassion, that persuaded her to do what she did next.
2:30pm, parking lot
"No..." Ritsuko's voice crackled on the other end of the telephone, as Misato wickedly grinned.
"Yes you heard right, I'm taking care of, Shinji-kun now. It's already a done deal with the brass."
"Misato-chan...we want the Third child to keep piloting the Evas. We don't want him giving up all hope for humanity after spending a few days with you."
Granted there could be worse situations, but if Ritsuko's party girl friend was still the same person she'd known all those years ago, then heavens help them.
"Oh honestly, Rits-chan, I'm a mature adult. I'm not going to try anything with him-" The following eruption from Ritsuko caused Misato to hold the phone away from her ear, whilst Shinji watched on, bewildered.
Why is she doing this?
"Oh for the love of the Spirits is it completely beyond your capability to grow up!? The fact you can even suggest that kind of thing...J-j-just oh damn it don't you have any sense of shame!?" The faux blonde's rumblings were silenced by Misato hitting the end call button.
"Some people have no sense of humour."
Shinji stood there looking rather confused. Shocked that this woman was putting herself out for him.
Him!
"I suppose so." He said quietly, but he made sure his expression was one of gratitude. And this wasn't simply a force of habit, because he genuinely felt it.
Upon being ushered into Misato's now not so dented car and fastening his seat-belt, Shinji felt something akin to relaxed. Whilst such a state should be impossible for someone so anxious, the thought of not facing a terrifying monster, or his father, at the end of this journey allowed his anxiety levels to shrink to acceptable levels.
After being driven out of the complex through entrance point 18, with the major entrance points being strictly for important uses, the feeling of seeing the sun, the wonderful yellow orb that he'd thought would never again touch him with its gentle warmth, made a gentle sigh escape Shinji's lips as he closed his eyes.
"So, I guess we'll be celebrating tonight?" Misato said.
"Um...okay. What for?" He tilted his head.
"I have to welcome my new flat mate! What sort of host would I be if I didn't?"
Shinji couldn't understand this. Someone was not only going out of their way for him, but they were also celebrating the fact he would be living with them for the foreseeable future.
Teacher had never even celebrated his birthday...
"So what do you want? I'm stopping by one of the convenience stores so you can pick whatever you like." Misato eagerly added.
"Um...I...I don't mind. I'm not picky with food, and it's your house after all."
Last night he'd made a decision because the situation demanded it. Now...his non-existent confidence was crumbling.
"Alright. You don't have a problem with Ramen do you?"
"Not at all Katsuragi-san."
2:50pm, Tokyo-3, NERV residences convenience store 8
He stood behind his guardian, as she paid for a horde of microwaveable food at the counter.
Shinji had assumed his usual position when he was in public. Head down staring at his shoes, with specially grown fringe to obscure eye contact with the universe, and hands in pockets. Truly the image of a depressed teenager whom people wouldn't want to talk to, which suited him fine.
No one would like me anyway.
"Spirits, did you see the damage?"
He couldn't help but listen in, as two women in their late thirties joined the cue.
"Hard not to. I don't care what my husband says, I won't keep the children here."
"You can't be serious about leaving the capital? We've already abandoned two of them."
"Yes, the JSA couldn't protect either of them, and they probably can't protect this one."
"Shhh, that could get us into trouble!"
"They don't kill people for pointing out facts. Anyway that's not the only reason I want to go."
"Don't be cryptic, spit it out."
"You know that super weapon NERV used?"
"Yes...I don't know what it looks like, but what about it?"
"No one does, all the cameras were turned off last night. Well, apparently during that fight it crushed a shelter."
Shinji's heart stopped.
"Oh that's awful."
"Damn right. Three hundred people were in that bunker, and they only pulled out one who was still breathing. A little girl if the news is right..."
And that's all he heard for a while.
...All those people...oh Spirits...oh Spirits...
3:30pm, over watch.
"It's so quiet." The brown haired boy murmured.
Before him sprawled the vast emptiness of Tokyo-3. Of course he knew most of its many buildings were currently underground, but that didn't take away from the feeling of loneliness.
It had been just as they were leaving the convenience store, when Misato had checked her watch and asked if they could make a detour. Of course he'd said "yes," as being confrontational was not in his nature. Upon asking why, she'd said "Oh it's a really cool place."
Despite his teenage intuition cringing when a fully grown adult used the word "cool," he'd been taken onboard by her enthusiasm.
And he hadn't regretted it.
Despite it being empty, Tokyo-3 was so gargantuan it took Shinji's breath away.
"3:30. It'll happen now." Misato remarked to herself. Before he could even ask what It'll happen now meant, a siren echoed over the quiet landscape.
And so, as if by some great screeching wail of a command, the many apartment blocks and skyscrapers rose from the ground. He'd seen pictures of this happening before, as all children of Japan knew of their capital city's glory, and of their nation's technological prowess. But even then, nothing compared to actually seeing it in person.
"Wow..."
"Yes, I could barely believe it myself when I first saw it. But there it is, Tokyo-3. Capital of the State of Japan and probably the most advanced city in the world. This is the city you saved, Shinji-kun." Misato smiled at him.
Time seemed to slow down for Shinji.
I...saved this? I did...something good?
3:30pm, NERV Central, geo front residences, apartment 18
A pair of green eyes flickered over paper after paper, with pen held in hand.
Work was something Ritsuko never stopped doing, except when she managed to get a small amount of sleep every now and again. Granted she certainly wasn't uncomfortable right now, especially with Albert wrapped around the back of her neck.
The black cat contentedly snored whilst his owner rather wished she could do the same thing.
The other cat, a brown one called Einstein, slept atop a heap of papers which she'd fortunately finished before the pompous animal had deigned them fit to function as his bed for the evening. They demanded everything from her, and didn't give anything back in return. But still they did, as far as cats can, care for her, as demonstrated by sometimes sleeping on her face whenever she had a nap.
Not like him...
Ritsuko hissed in anger, quietly mind you, as Albert was a cantankerous bastard when woken up.
It's over, I've moved on, I'm happier, I'm never going back to that manipulative, cruel, old cu-
An excruciating rip of paper caused her to groan. Turning her head wearily, she saw Einstein claw those meticulously assorted papers.
"Oh for Spirits sake..." Lifting the brown hair ball off them, she set Einstein down on her lap whilst giving a look of if you claw me I won't feed you for a week.
The cat, seeming to understand, curled up and didn't move.
That was why she preferred cats, they just seemed to understand you with complete and utter ease. Whereas compared to a dog which just kept going back to the owner for love, no matter how much it was abused...
Taking a deeply controlled breath, she set the pen down and engulfed some coffee.
Turning her mind away from the individual who caused her so much grief, it eventually settled on a very pale girl with red eyes and blue hair upon a hospital bed.
Rei had recovered well from the incident, but Ritsuko personally felt twenty days was not enough for her to be combat effective again, even after a dip in the rejuvenation tank.
Four weeks was what she'd told the Commander, no less. And still he'd completely ignored her.
"Twenty days...she's not a machine you know..."
Ritsuko dwelt sadly on her previous conversation with Rei, noting how the only responses she got from her were quiet and short. But still, underneath all that, the faux blonde still had a feeling the girl's old curiosity was very much alive and well. Especially when she'd brought up the subject of Shinji, and what Rei's feelings were on the matter.
The Sub Commander was met with an expression of intrigue that only she would understand. For Ritsuko was one of the few people in the world who could truly say they somewhat knew Rei Ayanami. In particular, Rei wanted to know more about the person whom referred to her as "Sister."
The faux blonde took that as a sign the little girl who'd quietly badgered her with questions about everything, was still very much there.
Perhaps Gendo hadn't spoiled her completely yet.
Damn, if you could you wouldn't let her back in Unit 00 again would you? Her subconscious questioned.
Ritsuko never openly admitted to caring for the clone, as her feelings were still rather mixed despite knowing this girl since her birth all those years ago.
A sad parody of flesh, one you could mistake for a machine at times, grown from one of the greatest scientific mind's in history, and the little girl who used to become fascinated by the colour blue.
Rei was all these things to Ritsuko. And she really wished she could make up her mind on the matter.
"Am I intruding?" A loud voice boomed throughout the room. As the cats sprang into life and started hissing, she looked up at the ceiling and moaned.
"What do you want?"
It took a millisecond for Caspar to respond.
"Gendo-chan wants to converse with you on Wednesday's incident. Simulation room one, right about now."
Ritsuko sighed before standing up. Now work didn't seem so boring.
"Tell him I'm on my way." She rubbed her eyes before slinging a lab coat over her NERV Sub Commander uniform. She was halfway to the door before she stopped and checked herself.
Ah, how did I forget? The last thing I want to do is freak people out with them.
Quickly going back over to her desk, the thirty one year old picked up her white gloves and slid them over her nastily burned hands...
4:00pm, Tokyo-3, NERV quarters
"The place might be a bit untidy, as I've only just moved in myself. But it's your home as well now, so feel free to make yourself comfortable." Misato's voice disappeared down the hallway as she went to get changed, whilst Shinji stared in enthralled horror at his new home.
Clothes, beer cans, fast food containers and every other conceivable form of trash littered the floor.
By the Spirits...is this purgatory?
"Shinji-kun, could you put the food in the fridge for me?" His host's head poked out from the other side of the corridor.
"Yes, of course Katsuragi-san!" He politely bowed his head before setting himself to the task.
The apartment was small, perhaps even smaller than the one he'd lived in with teacher.
It's walls were painted a warm cream colour, whilst possessing a lounge and kitchen with a hallway running down the side of it. These led off to two bedrooms and a bathroom, with the entrance to the apartment at the other end.
Carefully not stepping on anything, Shinji worked his way over to one of the two large fridges. Upon opening it, his jaw dropped.
"Snacks...ice...fifty cans of beer..." His brain pondered over what sort of person he was living with, and what sort of life she lead.
Eventually making what space he could and inserting the food into the fridge, he ran a hand through his mousey hair. This had been an interesting day indeed.
Taking a look to his left, Shinji's curiosity was piqued by the other fridge in the corner.
What on Earth does she need another fridge for? I hope there isn't another fifty cans in there!
Upon closer inspection, he realised that some sort of small door was cut into the bottom side of it.
"Um, Katsuragi-san. What's in the other fridge?" He called out.
"Oh don't mind him, he's probably sleeping." Came the vague response.
Probably sleeping? Shinji metaphorically shrugged, as many things had not made sense over the past few days. He might as well get used to it.
His task complete, the young man parked himself on one of the blueish coloured sofas, letting himself relax for the first time in days.
Granted the sofa was average in comfort, but he didn't care. Leaning his head into it, the stress and fear of the past few day finally took their toll, causing his yielding to exhaustion.
I'll just close my eyes for a bit...just for a few minutes...
Some time later, when Misato had dressed into some casual clothing, she walked back into her lounge only to find Shinji fast asleep. She chuckled quietly before, with as much stealth as possible, opening the fridge and getting what food she could out of it. Surprisingly the pinging of the microwave didn't wake him up, as did the sound of wrapping being torn open, and food being dumped on a plate. Eventually, she had to go over to the comatose boy and shake his shoulder.
"Hey sleepyhead. I know you've had a rough day but the evening meal is important." She said cheerfully, as Shinji groaned when consciousness returned to him.
"How long was I out?"
"Not long at all. Now get up, or your dinner will go cold." Misato led him over to the table and sat down in clothes that screamed look at my nice curvy body.
To his cerulean eyes, the food looked...edible.
Perhaps.
Ready made was something he'd never experienced before, as his teacher had always encouraged him to cook for the both of them. Encouraged as in Shinji would starve and gain a cut lip if he didn't.
Misato had already leaned back in her seat and downed a can of beer in one much to his alarm, before slamming it back down on the table and starting to eat.
Slowly picking up his chopsticks, Shinji joined her whilst mulling over how, if he ate in the same way she did, wolfing it all down within seconds, he'd have received the beating of his life from teacher.
Ten minutes later, he found himself becoming more and more uncomfortable, especially with Misato enveloping four more cans, becoming louder and louder.
"Life doesn't get much better than this, huh, Shinji-kun!?" Her voice shook the apartment, with the boy in question shrinking into his seat and meekly replying "I suppose so."
She tilted her head in drunken confusion at Shinji's nearly full plate.
"Not hungry? Even if it's instant it isn't bad."
"No, no everything is fine...it's just I've never eaten like this before..."
She wants something from me, that's the only reason she's being nice...
"What!? Are you finicky!?" Her face was directly in his almost immediately, yellow shirt exposing a certain part of her chest.
"No not at all, Katsuragi-san, I'm really grateful for this." He tried smiling, but his quiet and cowering voice betrayed his fear. And then, to his complete surprise, she smiled back.
"Isn't this nice?" She stated, not as a question, but as fact.
"Um...what?"
"Eating with a friend is a lot better than being by yourself, am I right?" She slumped back into her seat, grinning drunkenly.
He simply opened and closed his mouth for a few moments.
"Y-Yes, Katsuragi-san."
4:15pm, NERV Central, simulation room one
The gold and white giant stood there, as if frozen in time. It's mighty fist had smashed into the observation room, shattered glass that was yet to be cleaned away still littered the floor. Ritsuko couldn't help but look at Evangelion Unit 00 every now and again, her brain constantly reminding her it was deactivated.
That it couldn't move.
That even in this light it was clearly stationary and wasn't looking at her.
He'd been standing there in front of her for a while now, his back turned as she explained the situation.
"So in short, the fact is I can't tell you why it did what it did. Perhaps the synch went wrong, perhaps the restrictions failed, I don't know. What I can tell you is that Unit 00 is just as unstable as ever. And I strongly recommend we don't put Ayanami-san back in there for some time, lest we repeat the current situation." She took a deep breath, having talked non-stop for the past half hour.
Gendo didn't respond for a few moments, keeping his back turned so as to make whoever was speaking to him feel small and insignificant.
But Ritsuko was having none of that.
"Am I required for anything else, Commander?"
"I want Unit 00 ready for combat operations within three weeks." The Commander finally spoke after thirty minutes of quiet.
"That's too soon for a synch test sir. Ayanami-san is lucky to be alive it is."
"That was an order Sub Commander."
"Commander...with all due respect we have to consider the strain this has on the Pilot. A Pilot Link requires an immense amount of effort, in a weakened state it could kill her or worse." She subconsciously shuddered at the thought of "worse."
"This along with the fact that all our Pilots are children...we need to take great care-" She was stopped mid sentence by Gendo, with that commanding yet lifeless voice of his.
"There are no others who can pilot the Evas. As long as they live, that is what I'll have them do." He said in a manner indicating the conversation was over.
But Ritsuko was stubborn.
"They are not tools...Commander." Her eyes narrowed, giving him clear indication of her disapproval. However, as she well knew, he simply didn't care.
"We are finished here, Sub Commander. You are dismissed." Unable to see his small smile, Ritsuko scowled as she turned away.
But just as she was going out through the electric sliding door, she stopped.
"Did you even see Ayanami-san at the hospital today?"
Silence.
I thought so.
And with that, Ritsuko left the Commander to his own thoughts, whatever they may be, and stormed back to her apartment so as to fume for the rest of the day.
5:00pm, Tokyo-3, NERV quarters
"Wasn't that a fair way to divide the chores?" Misato beamed from ear to ear, whilst Shinji regretted underestimating her ability at playing "rock, paper, scissors" when drunk. Now, he was stuck with seventy percent of the apartment's chores.
"Yes, Katsuragi-san." He half grimaced, half sighed.
They were still at the dinner table, with his guardian revelling in her drunkenness and lack of coordination.
Apparently in the age before Second Impact, getting drunk was usually followed by this terrible headache called a hangover. But in 2017, a simple pill provided by any chemist would stop it happening. As you can imagine, said drug was often referred to as the best thing ever by those who took it.
Misato being one of them.
"Now, this is your home." She swept out her bare arms, so as to point out the entire apartment was indeed his place of residence.
"So feel free to take advantage of anything here...except for me of course." She had to cover her mouth with a hand, as Shinji went through many different expressions in a few seconds.
Shock.
Horror.
Embarrassment.
"I...I...um...yes, Katsuragi-san."
"Gah, yes, yes, yes, that's all you ever say isn't it? Well it's getting on my nerves!" Misato reached over the table, grabbed a tuft of his hair and started tugging it.
"You're a boy aren't you? Where in heaven's name is your backbone?" She eventually relinquished her grip as Shinji stammered another petrified "yes, Katsuragi-san."
Slumping back into her seat, the purplehead sighed.
"Oh I suppose that's just the way it is with you." She looked like she was mulling over something for a few moments, before suddenly brightening up.
"You should take a bath! Yeah that's a great idea!" She swept our her arms once again in a most dramatic gesture, completely failing to notice her charge's look of complete confusion.
"Hot water cleans the mind and soul..hic.." She put a hand to her mouth as a few drunken hiccups escaped her lips.
"I'm...I'm sure, Katsuragi-san. I'll go have one now..." Shinji tenderly got down from his seat, respectfully bowed, then walked off whilst Misato dwelt upon drunken philosophy.
He stood in front of the bathroom door, with absolutely no item of clothing upon his person. From the dining room, he could hear her occasional giggle over whatever her strange mind was thinking of.
What the hell have I got myself into? Shinji smiled slightly before placing his hand upon the door handle.
Misato sipped some water after gulping down one of those hangover pills and relaxed in the silence of the place in which she lived.
Her previous apartment had been one of the ones down in the geofront, huge and luxurious. But...she found it a too big and empty for her liking, so she'd moved up into the city where there was a fair bit more to do. And this apartment, unlike her old one, had character to it.
Then her mind began to try and remind her of something...something important that Shinji really should know.
And then she remembered.
"Shinji-kun, would you come in here for a moment, I need to talk-" She wasn't able to finish, as a high pitched shriek of terror echoed throughout the house.
With the pounding of feet, he appeared in the kitchen with a look of panic.
"K-Katsuragi-san! There's a...a...thing in the bathroom!" His high pitched voice slowly ebbed away as the thing that had scared him so, waddled past with a small towel wrapped around its shoulders. As if completely ignoring the situation around him, the Penguin went straight to the other fridge and placed its clawed flipper onto a clear piece of material next to a small door in the fridge's side.
After a brief series of bleeps and bloops, the door opened and the Penguin stepped inside his home, not before giving Shinji some sort of evil eye.
The door sealed behind him, and the bird was gone.
"What...what...?"
"Ah, that's Pen-pen. He's your other room mate." Misato smiled ever so slightly over the situation before raising an eyebrow.
"Um...you might want to cover that up." She had to raise her glass of water to her lips, so as to hide her smirk.
Shinji turned bright red as he realised his somewhat small manhood was on full display. With yet another shriek, he tore around the corner and back down the corridor, the bathroom door slamming shut behind him.
I should probably be nicer to him...but it's just too much fun! And anyway, he's probably made his mind up about me already.
Misato went back to drinking her water.
Actual water.
Not that awful orange goo his plug had been filled with the night before, but the clear liquid which was so much lighter and more comfortable than LCL could ever hope to be.
Here, Shinji Ikari was truly relaxed.
The hot steaminess of the water could have made him fall asleep if he'd let it. But he didn't feel like drifting off into unconsciousness yet. He felt it was time to dwell upon the events of the past few days.
Spirits...It was only a few days ago that I was in Kure doing sweet nothing. But...that all feels like a lifetime ago.
He gently swirled his hand in the water, letting the tiny whirlpools he created engage his attention.
I've probably interacted with more people since I got here than I've done in forever.
Faces flashed past him in a heartbeat, but they were committed to memory. The one currently in prominent position, was this strange woman who'd decided to take him in.
Misato Katsuragi...she seems nice. As in genuinely nice, I didn't really think there were people like that anymore.
He grimly reflected on how even though it had occurred the year before he was born, Second Impact had killed most of Mankind's kindness. For that and many other reasons did he curse it.
She probably just wants something from me. Like piloting the Eva.
Shinji shuddered as that green orb staring at him seeped its way back into his mind.
I don't want to do it. But I have to...even if it is scary. Mother always said sometimes we need to do things we're scared of...I wish she was here.
His fist clenched a little, whilst a single solitary tear trickled down his cheek.
I'd be irresponsible if I let people die because I was scared. And...
His memory settled upon a hospital room with a pale girl lying upon a hospital bed.
I can't let them make Ayanami-san Pilot it. I'm not letting father use her as a tool then throw her away.
He wasn't at peace with it, but he felt as if his mind was truly made up.
I guess that settles it. I'll keep piloting.
Shinji stared up at his bedroom's ceiling, having not done much else for a while now.
Granted he'd first finished his bath, dried himself off, then spent a bit more time with his host.
Misato was still drunk, but unlike teacher alcohol had a very different effect upon her. When intoxicated, she somehow became even more cheerful than usual, and relentlessly teased anything that came into her line of sight. As such Shinji did go quite red at the cheeks when she kept bringing up his small beans and roaring with laughter about it.
But then the evening took a turn for the better when he was properly introduced to Pen-pen.
After giving the bizarre creature a beer can from the fridge due to it staring at him for a while, the flightless bird had hopped on the sofa and buried itself into his lap.
Henceforth, Shinji was rather fond of the male erect crested Penguin.
His bedside clock read 11:00pm, making him smile a little. Time usually went by quite slowly for him in his lonely life, but in this realm of insanity it went by faster than his father expressing emotion. He still felt uneasy, as this place was unfamiliar to him.
But that was to be expected.
Shinji tended to take a while to settle, so there wasn't anything wrong with the place, it was usually his own awkwardness making the situation difficult.
Anyway, he certainly didn't dislike it here. It was a great deal more lively than his tatty and lonely apartment back in Kure...
Indeed, he found himself rather surprised by the fact he was enjoying another's company.
His belongings were scattered around the room in boxes, moved from Kure without his permission a few days before, as if his father knew he'd be staying here for the foreseeable future. Not everything had arrived yet, but all the essentials such as clothing were here. Hence how he'd been able to pull his grey pyjamas out.
In the corner of the room however, resided his pride and joy.
His cello.
An instrument he'd taught himself to play after hearing a piece of music produced by them once before. So entranced with it, he'd saved and scraped with his money for a very long time before buying one with his own cash. Somehow he'd kept it secret from teacher for all those years, only being able to play it freely after the man died.
Where he in the mood, Shinji would have been creating beautiful sound with it at that very moment, but not now. His thoughts were still dwelling on all the events which had occurred since his leaving Kure.
His walk-man was unusually not in his ears, as HE felt his situation was best pondered in silence.
"Hey, Shinji-kun, is it okay if I come in?" Misato's muffled voice could be heard from beyond his door.
Not really knowing what to do in such a situation, he remained quiet.
A bit of light slid into the room as his door was opened. She stood there, having just finished her own bath with towels wrapped around her hair and slender body. Shinji made the wise decision of focusing on her face.
"I just thought you should know. You did a very noble, and very brave thing yesterday. You should be proud." Gaining no response for a few moments, Misato nodded in resignation as she started sliding the door shut. But not before a meek voice came from Shinji's lips.
"Thank you. Goodnight, Katsuragi-san."
The purplehead stood there for a little longer, smiling.
"Goodnight, Shinji-kun."
The door closed, and he was by himself again.
Resuming his fixation on the ceiling, arms folded behind his head, he found a full smile forming on his lips.
"Noble huh?" Shinji said quietly to himself, closing his eyes and descending into the realm of sleep.