CONCERT

Chapter 5 - Flashback

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from the Eva series.

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Hikari knocked on the door to the apartment. She was greeted by Misato Katsuragi.

"Hi, Hikari." Misato said, noticing that she was wearing a pair of jean shorts with overalls, a pink t-shirt, and tennis shoes. "Sorry, but Asuka's not here right now."

"I'm actually here to see Shinji." the girl said.

"Oh? Ohhh!" she said with a wink. "Hoping for another kiss are we?"

Hikari blushed at that. "I was...just worried about him." she quickly said.

Misato softened as she stood to the side of the open door. "Well come in. He's still in his room."

"How's his hangover?" Hikari asked as she slipped out of her shoes.

"He's still recovering. But the doctors say he will be fine. Fully recover and the like."

"That's good. That's very good." she said, then quickly looked around. "Uh, where is Asuka?"

"Oh, well, after her little 'transgression', I felt she needed to be punished. So I gave her to Dr Akagi for a hole battery of 'boring-out-of-her-mind' synch tests and the like." the major explained.

"How long?"

"The whole weekend, with more tests after school the whole week."

Hikari didn't seem to impressed. "That's a punishment?"

"Boring-Out-Of-Her-Mind." she said with emphasis.

Hikari wisely said nothing else as the older woman went into the kitchen while she sought out Shinji's room.

"Shinji?" Hikari asked softly as she gently cracked open the door to his room.

"Oh, Hikari! What are you doing here?" the boy groggily asked as he tried to stand up to greet her.

Granted the pair weren't on the best of terms, but the girl was a little shook at that. "You didn't want to see me?"

"No, no, it's good to see you. I just... I just thought you'd be here to see Asuka, and here you are in my room.

"Misato said she was at NERV. I actually came by to see how you were doing...after your little drinking binge."

"Oh." he mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"For drinking too much? It was understandable. At least you didn't try to kill yourself."

I thought about that. "No, I meant...for kissing you."

She blushed. "Oh, well... wait, you remember that?"

"It's almost the only thing I remember." he said with a small laugh as he scratched the back of his head in slight embarrassment.

There was a pause for a minute while the pair just stood in place,

"Did you mean it, Shinji?"

"Mean what? The kiss?"

"Well, yes that. But also what you said about... about me... being pretty?" she asked hesitantly.

Shinji looked at her for a second. Did I really say that? I'm sure Hikari isn't the sort to tease me about that sort of thing. Asuka and Misato would after I had been drinking, but come to think about it... "Yes. You are pretty, Hikari." he blushed fiercely.

Hikari blushed and then went up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Shinji."

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NERV, midday...

"You want me to what?" Asuka asked in shock

"You're going to be fighting Rei in the simulator." Ritsuko said to the girl.

"Without a gun, or a lance, or even my Prog Knife?"

"Correct."

"And this is useful against the Angels, how?"

"As you are probably well aware, Shinji had faced the Third Angel without a weapon, and won." the woman said as she jotted notes on her clipboard. "This is to see how well you do."

Asuka was grumbling already. It was bad enough to have to be at NERV extra early for tests she didn't see as necessary, but now she was going to fight Wondergirl? Talk about dull.

The German redhead got into the Eva simulator and prepped herself. Five minutes later the screen came up and she turned to face the blue, one-eyed Eva. In the corner of the screen, a smaller image popped up with Rei's face on it.

"Ready to go, Wondergirl?" Asuka asked boringly.

"Bring it on, bitch!" the blue-haired girl nearly shouted.

"Eh?" the confused redhead exclaimed.

"You're treatment of Ikari-kun deserves retribution!" she cried as she threw her controls forward and collided with Unit 02.

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"Dr Akagi?"

"Yes, Rei?"

"Why did you insist I insult Pilot Sohryu in such a manner?"

"You didn't think she deserved it?"

"No. Her manipulations of the Third Child warranted such actions. Yet, I do not understand why you insisted I act in the manner I did."

"Because Asuka didn't expect it. People can't predict the unexpected, therefore they can't plan for it and can't counter it in a split second, which can turn the tide of battle in an instant. And you acting with anger is something No One could expect."

Rei nodded and walked away, not letting the doctor see her smile.

"Maya, how's Asuka doing?" Ritsuko asked.

"You mean physically or mentally?" Maya asked in return.

Ritsuko just grinned. "As soon as she wakes up have her scheduled for another synch test. I want the system ready to go as soon as she gets up."

"Another one? Are you sure?"

"I mean to punish this naughty girl, Maya. And I don't plan on stopping until I'm effectively satisfied with my work."

"Yes, sempai."

"Oh, and order a pizza. My treat."

"Sempai?"

"No need for us to suffer while she's taking her punishment."

"Should I order a movie too?" she joked.

"A nice romantic comedy would be good."

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Author's Notes:

Hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I'll have the second part of this flashback weekend up as soon as I can. I also hope that everyone enjoys Rei's little outburst and the reason behind it. I'm sure that it was unexpected for her to do such a thing, even given the fact that she too has feelings for Shinji.

I'm hoping to write up a more interesting version of Shinji and Hikari spending the day together. But right now the kind of touchy feely kind of writing it requires will take a while to create.

Anyway, please read and review.