"Difficulties be damned, full steam ahead! Don't let those Tokuajin bastards regroup!"
Admiral Kenchi Tsuruku, battle of Hoyo strait, 1st of September 2005.
1:30pm, Friday the 24th of July, Sengokuhara High
The sun had gone past its zenith, but the heat it produced still burned down on Japan. A never yielding barrage of rays fell down upon the various children who ran around the school, as they went about their day to day business, such as getting work in on time, or doing that extra bit of studying for exams. Shinji did not have such things to do, as he was a studious young man who kept on top of his work. High grades were not something he achieved often, but failure had yet to happen. It surprised him, truly, for he felt after putting in every assignment he'd done, he'd surely fail. But no such thing had come to pass.
Yet he grimly noted.
To his left however, Rei was highly academic. Far more intelligent than he could ever hope to be, getting excellent grades for every piece of homework, exam, or assignment. Clearly, through a miracle of science, his mother's genius had passed down to her.
Bringing his mind back to the present, he looked at the nearly blank document in front of him, with only a few lines copy and pasted from the The Vance dynasty, giving him some semblance of a guideline.
"Ikari-kun, you have done little work for the past hour." Rei flashed her gaze at his monitor.
The two were sitting alone in the classroom, everyone else having cleared out for lunch break. Just some more awkward quality time together.
"I know...gah I just don't know what to do. I've been looking at this for an hour straight and nothing's come to me." He sighed. "I'm dead."
"What is the issue?" She leaned over a bit, her red eyes analysing his work.
"I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around this. It's that old history assignment on why Sebastian Vance was so popular. I mean...I get it but I can't put it into words. It's such a pain..." Shinji leaned back in his seat and exhaled loudly.
Leaning away, Rei returned to her work.
"Perhaps your mind is overtaxed and requires rest? I would recommend acquiring sustenance from the cantine. I have work yet to be finished, go on without me."
Feeling her advice had truth to it, he closed the monitor down, pushed his seat out and stood up, stretching his limbs until he heard satisfying "clicks."
"You've probably got a point. Are you sure you don't want to go now Ayanami-chan?" He asked.
"I am sure." She continued working.
"Alright, see you in a bit."
Getting his things together, Shinji made his way to the classroom door, pushed it open, then began walking down the corridor to the cantine. It did pain him by no small amount to leave Rei all by herself, but of late she'd seemed a bit more...alive. Not so oblivious to the universe, seemingly cold and uncaring or alien.
In her own way, she was totally amicable with him, which was something the boy immensely appreciated. Now that she seemed a good deal more happy, he felt a little more at ease with letting her out of his sight.
Nevertheless...he wouldn't be any longer than ten minutes.
...Maybe if Meadow-san is at lunch I could ask him for help? He is an Imperial...
He quickly corrected himself. He didn't know that boy well enough to even go out of his way to say hello, let alone engage in conversation. And as for his redheaded colleague...well she was causing quite a stir.
Many of the male students had a thing for Asuka already, as apparently she was exotic. Considering the things he'd seen, she seemed rather hot tempered yet ordinary. Granted, she hadn't yet started wielding orange lightening as a weapon, but he wouldn't be too surprised if she could. Nevertheless, the German countess was refreshingly human to him. And there was no denying...she wasn't exactly ugly.
Neither of them were.
Shinji promptly rolled his eyes.
Samuel had already caught the attention of dozens of girls by now. Of course that was to be expected, as he was a rather handsome individual. Granted, Hikari certainly didn't seem impressed by him, usually being rather annoyed by his pomposity and self superiority. Kirishima seemed utterly uninterested, and Rei...he doubted she was even comprehended that sort of thing.
Honestly, looks aren't everything. At least some people can see that... He told himself, shoving down feelings of his own inadequacy with the opposite sex.
His attitude leaned towards "mildly irritated" on the matter of the gaijn. He didn't dislike them of course, in fact he had some respect for them. They seemed totally unafraid to be themselves, not conforming to the situation but forcing it to suit their needs.
It was almost admirable...but unfortunately it really did make them come off as rather rude. Whilst they would not seem overtly rude in their home societies, in Japan...
I don't dislike them, but I don't like them.
By the time he arrived, the cantine was still quite full, students bustling around holding their trays and bags of food. Usually, Shinji would put his own packed lunch together and eat that for the midday meal instead of sampling whatever the school had on offer. However, today he felt unusually adventurous. He certainly wasn't disappointed, as today salty ramen and deep fried tempura was on offer, which the boy found to be surprisingly tasty. Still, he took his time with his food, spooning in mouthfuls, chewing properly, then swallowing. Teacher had spent years both metaphorically and physically beating this into him, so of course these mannerisms stuck.
As he leisurely drank his carton of milk, a shadow belonging to someone only slightly shorter than himself shrouded his world in darkness. The boy felt his stomach contort in upon itself, having a very good idea of who was looking down upon him.
"Well hallo there, Shinji." Said a sickly sweet and entirely fake voice.
Oh Spirits
"Oh hello...Soryu-san..." Shinji felt every bone and muscle in his body groan with horror.
Asuka stood directly behind him, one hand on slightly thrust out hip, the other holding her school bag. The standard navy blue uniform complemented her well, despite red and blue being colours opposite to one another.
A wicked smile flashed on her freckled face, as she watched her prey sink into his seat.
Gott you're easy to scare. How many months of fun do I have ahead with you?
"I didn't think the invincible Third child would be sitting all by himself. Doesn't he have legions of adoring fans to pander to him constantly?" She leaned on the table.
"Um...I don't know...most of my friends have already eaten...I don't think I'd want fans..." Shinji muttered.
"Really? You wouldn't want to be the centre of attention!?"
"No thanks. I don't like crowds." He tried to ignore her, putting some prawn into his mouth.
The redhead found herself stumped by this. This young man, who had been stealing her glory for more than a month, was actually averse to gaining attention for it. It made no sense to her, after all to have the world's focus was a life goal of hers. She would command it's attention and respect for decades to come, through nothing else but her sheer skill and prowess as a Pilot.
"Ugh, how boring. Attitude like that is going to make you one lonely old man." Asuka turned her nose up at him, again, as if he were some sort of putrid meat. Unknowingly, this did sting him somewhat.
I don't need reminding of how pathetic I am.
"What's boring?" Said another voice, one Shinji really didn't want to hear at that moment.
Samuel walked over in his usual manner, hands held behind his back, his expression not hostile but very much under control.
"This is. Herr misanthrope apparently doesn't like crowds." The redhead nodded at the meek Japanese boy.
"Well, he didn't strike me as the type." The Imperial brought himself to a halt next to Asuka.
"Good afternoon, Shinji. Nervous about this evening per chance?" He raised an eyebrow.
"What's happening tonight?" Shinji asked, surprised.
Asuka explosively sighed, muttering about a dummkopf with the attention span of a goldfish, whilst the blonde boy began smiling.
"Ah, didn't you know?" He leaned forward.
"Know what?" Shinji felt a little part of himself tense.
"I'm surprised, Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi was very specific. It's combat simulations at six. I'd wish you the very best of luck, but as you're up against me..." The Imperial laughed. "I don't even think luck could help you out there. But fear not, I'll be gentle."
The redhead snorted at that.
"Well I won't. You're going down, Third, down into the ficking ground. Just because you're the Commander's son, doesn't mean you're getting any special treatment from me." She wagged a threatening finger at him, giving the boy every indication she'd see to carrying through this promise.
"I don't get special treatment..." Shinji felt an almost irresistible urge to shrink into nothingness, as many pairs of eyes had been drawn to his predicament, and the overly loud westerners.
Asuka did not let up however, looming over him even more.
"If you think giving me puppy eyes is going to work, you're sadly mistaken." Her tone became harsher.
"But I'm not-" He flinched as she raised her hand.
"Nein. There's no pulling the hood over my eyes, Shinji. Only an Idiot would try that...but it was a nice attempt. Don't worry, I, the great Asuka Zeppelin Soryu, will not hurt you too badly. Holle, I might even give you a free hit." Her grin broadened as he turned pale.
"Th-thank you...Soryu-san..." he stammered.
"Nicht zu danken, dummkopf." Asuka mockingly patted Shinji's brown hair.
Samuel watched, amused.
"Are you quite finished with turning his pants brown?" He asked.
The freckled girl laughed.
"Oh...I haven't even started."
"...somehow I believe that."
5:45pm, NERV Central
Shinji knew this route quite well now, and to his slight amusement his new colleagues actually ending up following himself and Rei for a part of the journey. Said amusement had swiftly faded upon further thought on what they were here for.
I might be used to having the snot beaten out of me...that doesn't mean I enjoy it.
Rei meanwhile, seemed completely undisturbed by the task ahead of them. Although that was because she was far braver than him in oh so many ways. He might be counting on her help to stand any chance at all.
"Have you done any combat simulations before, Ayanami-san?" He asked.
"Three. They were against replicas of Unit 00, as we had no data on how the Seraphim fought." The bluehead said, dwelling on what was to come.
I have been given their files, but I do not know how the Second and Fourth child perform. This should be...an intriguing exercise.
She'd never been a suspicious person, but she did suspect this was going to be "one hell of a fight" as normal humans put it.
"So...what's our chances?" Shinji said with some humour.
"...I do not wish to make such calculations." Rei put bluntly.
The boy quietly laughed at that.
"Fair enough. We'll watch out for each other."
"Indeed. My promise is still valid."
That sent shivers down his spine.
That promise. The one made before the battle with the 6th Angel, was one the meek young man could scarcely forget. A promise that when the time came, she would die to protect him. He hoped he could talk her out of that one day, or at the very least...not let it come to that.
Meanwhile, behind them, the children of two Empires, those of Germany and Britain, were merrily chatting away to each other. All while giving the occasional look at the more experienced Pilots.
"So what do you think, which one's going to be the bigger problem?" Samuel asked.
"Hmm...the Third knows what he's doing, but loses control way too easily. As for the First...from what you've said she's one to watch." Asuka thoroughly analysed the other girl, a little part of her, the scientific part, being utterly fascinated with what she was.
That had been topic for a conversation which lasted almost an hour between herself and Samuel.
It had been the day after they defeated the 7th Seraph, and arrived in Japan. Sub Commander Ritsuko Akagi and Combat operations director Misato Katsuragi, had filled them in on need to know things. Such as the fact that Rei Ayanami was a clone, and the only one of her kind. Almost immediately, Asuka had asked who the template was, only to be told that was classified. The Imperial officer had then gone off in a huff about "what else is bloody classified?"
But even he could not help but be intrigued by the artificial human.
Must have been bred for war. That's why she's so calm. Was the thought on both their minds.
Although Asuka did find herself questioning the necessity of blue hair, red eyes, and alabaster skin. Granted, it did provide some sort of ethereal...beauty...but it was ultimately unsettling. The clone's almost lifeless expression, her limited and wooden vocabulary, reminded the redhead of some sort of doll...
Samuel meanwhile, had found himself slightly respecting the other two Pilots. Rei, for carrying out the duty for which she was born with unfaltering professionalism, and Shinji, for being a timid and cowardly individual who carried out his charge nonetheless. Not that he truly liked them, in fact between the boy's wimpy nature, and the Plank's, attitude towards the universe, he was somewhat annoyed.
But he wasn't here to make friends. He was here to secure the Empire's survival, and win it and himself glory beyond imagining. It was more of the latter in Asuka's case, but he was fully aware she meant well.
"So...who's going to win?" The redhead in question said knowingly at her Imperial counterpart.
"Oh come off it, Asuka, it's always a fifty, fifty thing between us. If I can keep you at a distance, I do well. If I don't, I get annihilated." He said dismissively.
"Uh...I'll give you 25% chance. And that's me being generous." They both began to smile at that,
"That sounds like fighting talk, Hauptmann Soryu. It seems that once again the continentals must be shown their place."
"Then it's time the Empire was reminded it's not invincible..."
The four finally arrived at the divergence in the corridor, one path leading to the men's changing room, and the other leading to the women's. Shinji sighed with reluctance, almost sensing he was about to be on the receiving end of a legendary beating.
As the group split up, he called after Rei.
"Good luck, Ayanami-chan."
She looked back, and gave a quick nod.
"Good luck, Ikari-kun."
Asuka and Samuel watched the little exchange with some humour and raised eyebrows.
"Well, Third, I'll see you in a few minutes. Enjoy them while you can..." The freckled girl laughed a little before disappearing off into the changing rooms with Rei. The Imperial meanwhile just patted him on the shoulder.
"I'd tell you to worry about that one...but you'll be in the same scenario as me so it doesn't really matter. Now, let's have some fun." He grinned a fearsome grin.
Shinji numbly made his way into the changing room, walking over to his locker whilst desperately fighting off the urge to shiver.
Spirits have mercy, they're going to be the death of me...
And then he realised he'd stripped naked with another boy in the room. His cheeks swiftly turned beetroot red as he froze, whilst Samuel undressed in a totally undisturbed manner, hardly paying him any mind whatsoever. At least until, noticing his comrade's discomfort, the Imperial tilted his head.
"What? This is a men's changing room, what more do you expect?" He slowly angled his gaze downward, the other boy doing the same.
"Envious are you?" He smirked.
Shinji's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish for a few moments, his hands fumbling as they swiftly moved to cover his exposed manhood.
"To be fair chum, there isn't much to hide." Samuel started laughing, as his brain started chastising.
How was it the homeland of the Samurai produced ilk such as you? Beware your ancestors don't start haunting you for your...shameful display...my god, I think I've seen some insects bigger than that...
He stopped himself there.
Actually that's not entirely fair. Some of the ones I saw in South America were big buggers.