I ponder of something great, my lungs will fill and then deflate-"Heyyy stupid Shinji! Get your scrawny ass over here, ya doofus!" Oh, Asuka appears to be waving me over. Thankfully I can't hear her over my music, currently 21 pilots..."somebody stole, my car radio, and now I just sit in silence," sings the weary- sounding voice. I get up and walk over to The German girl, who has her hands resting on her sassily slanted hips. "Hey, Shinji," she says while pulling out my earbuds. "Y-yes, Asuka?" I asked. "Doll here," she said, leaning on Ayanami's shoulder "Has had her meeting with the college planning counselor, who says that she is on track to becoming a student at Evangelion!" What about yourself, Asuka?" I mumble, trying to avoid eye contact because I'm too tired to really banter with her today. "Well of course, I have a lot of good credits already, you know, thanks to honors and AP...but Shin-chan, I'm concerned about you. This is about you shinji. I know your math grades aren't quite up to par. Sure you could go to the local college but Gendo would never allow it...do you need a tutor, Shinji?" Asuka placed the hand that wasn't in Ayanami's on my shoulder and stares at me with a stern expression. I slide my glance away from her and say I'll be fine...wait, I hear Asuka talking to someone?! What? When I turn back to face her, she's one the phone. "Oh sure Ikari-san. Yes, you know me, you know that I can be an excellent tutor for Shinji-kun. No need for pay either, the counselor, Misato-san, she says It looks good on my college application to have done some community service. You can count on me sir!" The phone beeps with finality after the call. "Sorry, Mr. Sad Turnip, It's a win-win situation I couldn't pass up." I turn to Ayanami for any help, seeing as she's been silent this whole time, but "You mustn't run away from problems, Shinji. Face what you must do head on...Asuka and I have," she says softly, with a sad note at the end of her sentence. My right fist clenches as I bite my inner cheek. "I'm sorry, Ayanami, Asuka." Smile, Shinji. Good. That's better. Smile and people will treat you kindly.