This is set parallel to chapter 32, during and after the end of the karaoke bar scene.

Kensuke felt cold and dejected. Asuka's message rang loud and clear in his mind. He was not one of them, he would never be, so he should never pretend to understand them. Ashamed, he got up and headed for the door, craving some cool air. As he left, Kaworu and Mana exchanged a concerned look and followed after him. They found him a moment later, sulking in the alley next to the bar.

Mana was the first to speak, unsure of what had just transpired. "Kensuke? Are you alright? What happened back there?"

Kensuke sighed, his body tense. "I did something stupid is what happened. Asuka has been complaining recently that pilots don't get enough respect, so I thought I would choose a song to say how cool and brave you all are." Kensuke faced Kaworu as he said it. "I get it, I know it sucks, I just wanted to say that I appreciate your hard work." He was shaking now. "First Shinji, then Touji and now you. I know that I am not one of you I just wanted to... Fuck!"

He kicked an empty soda can down the alley with a crash. "I'm sorry, I get it's not a game or a joke. I just... First, it was Shinji and that seemed cool. To have a friend that was a mecha pilot. Then Touji joined up because of his sister... Then all that shit happened, and I almost lost my best friend. And now?" He looked at Kaworu, tears forming in his eyes. "Now I have you to worry about you, too. I guess I am just afraid tomorrow some angel is gonna come and take away people I... care about."

Kaworu was torn. He wanted to tell him that it would all be alright, that things would be fine and no one would get hurt. But he knew that was a lie. And even if he could not be fully honest with Kensuke or Mana, he would not lie to them like that. "I cannot promise that nothing bad will happen, Kensuke; piloting brings with it great risks. All I can do is hope to live up to the ideal you have made for me." Kaworu smiled genuinely. "And I want you to know that while you will not be with me physically as I go into battle, the two of you will never leave my mind because… I care about you, too."

"You do?" Kensuke brightened up "So did you like the song?"

Kaworu looked thoughtful. "It was… passionate, I suppose. Not my kind of song, even though my own choice was similar. I admit that since my conversation about music with Asuka the other day I have been interested in widening my horizons. It is a little harsh for my tastes, but I appreciated your enthusiasm. And your intent did resonate with me, Kensuke. I do appreciate it, for what that is worth."

"I kinda liked it," Mana said. "I thought it was kinda sweet."

Kensuke turned his attention to Mana. "I loved your songs, too. Yours was fun. And yours..." He turned to Kaworu. "I don't speak the language, but it was nice. Kinda somber for a party, though."

Mana nodded and blushed. "Thanks, I was a little afraid to go up since this was a NERV thing, but I just looked at you two and mustered myself up."

Kaworu smiled. "I am glad you did, doing new things is great fun with people you like. Though I apologize if my choice of song was not particularly appropriate."

Mana laughed. More genuinely than normally, it seemed. "I didn't mind, parties are supposed to be a place where you enjoy yourself. Same thing with your song, Kensuke, it was something that came from the heart."

Kaworu nodded sagely. "That it did." A sly smile appeared on his face. "I think I should show my thanks for the performance."

Kensuke turned beet red. "I don't know what you mean by–" Kensuke was interrupted by Kaworu leaning forward and kissing him.

It was electric. A surge ran down Kensuke's spine all the way to the tips of his fingers and the soles of his feet. He felt like he was floating. He kissed back eagerly, not hearing the heavy footsteps that suddenlyappeared behind him.

"Kensuke?" Touji Suzuhara looked at his best friend with a look of shock and slight disgust, before turning his attention to his fellow pilot. "What the hell were you doing to him, you freak?" Touji was a very physical person; his actions against Shinji regarding his sister had made that quite apparent. So when he balled up a fist, Kensuke was not surprised, but he was horrified.

"Touji, stop!" Kensuke shouted, but it was too late. Touji swung wide at the gray-haired boy's face. Unlike with Shinji, however, the blow did not connect. Instead, Kaworu had grabbed Touji by the wrist at the last moment, the fist inches from his face. Kensuke looked at the two of them and then to Mana. Touji was angry, practically growling. Kaworu looked... cold, his cheerful, almost whimsical expression replaced by a harsh glare.

"You will cease this hostility immediately," Kaworu said, all of his usual charm gone.

Touji blanched and let his arm go limp. Kaworu, in turn, let the limb go, letting his fellow pilot rub his wrist in annoyance.

"What is going on, Ken?" Touji looked at his friend angrily. "You didn't let this fruit molest you, did you?"

Kensuke tried to stand tall. "Touji, stop it. Kaworu didn't do anything I didn't want him to." He looked at Mana, who seemed paralyzed, unsure as to how to respond to the situation.

Touji was shocked and hurt. "Why didn't you tell me? I thought I was your best friend."

Kensuke had had enough "Because I was afraid you would be an idiot about it! Something I was obviously right about!"

Touji scowled, but didn't say anything. Instead, he just stomped back into the bar. Kensuke tried to go after him, but Mana put a hand on his shoulder. "Give him some time."

Kensuke sighed. "I'm sorry Kaworu, Touji can be a bit… Well, Touji can be a bit Touji sometimes."

Kaworu looked Kensuke in the eyes. "If he is really your friend, he will understand."

Misato's revelation and Asuka's reaction to it had brought the celebrations to a quick halt. Kensuke felt very awkward bearing witness to Asuka's outburst. He could understand her reaction, but this should probably have stayed a private affair. Asuka stormed off in anger and disgust. Shinji and Rei soon followed, not without the former shooting some very hostile glares towards Misato. The trio left behind a very tense and awkward atmosphere. Nobody spoke, making things even worse.

Eventually, Kensuke, overwhelmed by the situation, excused himself quietly. He was soon followed by Kaworu and Mana. The latter seemed to share his feelings while the former looked confused. Silently, the three walked down the street to the end of the block, trying to put a healthy distance between themselves and ground zero.

It was Mana who broke the silence. "That was… wow." She seemed unsure what to say. "I never thought that it was like that."

Kensuke spoke up next. "So what next? I don't know about you, but I don't want to stick around there."

"If I remember correctly, there is a bus stop a few blocks from here," Mana said. "We can walk over if we don't want to get involved." The others just shrugged in response, and so they began walking in the suggested direction.

It was a cool night, as far as nights in Japan went, with a light breeze running through the streets. With all the closed and shuttered businesses, there was little artificial light other than the street lamps. However, the bright light of the moon made up for it, cascading a cool white light on the sleeping city. They walked in silence for a while, the only noise being a squeak from Kensuke when Mana held his hand.

Kaworu seemed puzzled. "I am unsure why Asuka is in such distress over the test. I was subject to many such examinations in NERV Germany. But I suppose each of us is different." Kaworu smiled. "Even Touji with his bathrobe."

The comment made Kensuke go red. Kaworu had always cime off as a little odd, but walking around naked? Kensuke had to wonder about what went on in NERV Germany. Mana, on the other hand, looked sad at the admission.

Kensuke tried to keep going, blocking out the thoughts Kaworu's words conjured. It made for a nice visual image, but as for the pilots other than Kaworu… "It must suck for them," he commented quietly. "Touji is… he can be sensitive about that stuff, even if he usually doesn't show it outwardly. And Asuka… well, we've seen her reaction."

He heard Mana sucking in a breath, as if wanting to speak, but the girl remained quiet, and kept her gaze down to the pavement.

Kaworu shrugged. "Even though I don't understand their reactions, it is their decision in the end. If they dislike the thought of such a test so much, they should simply not do it."

"But… isn't Major Katsuragi their superior?" Mana asked. "And Dr. Akagi as well?"

"I suppose so," Kaworu answered. "I must admit, I've never really paid attention to these hierarchies, but I think they are. Does that matter?"

"Of course!" Mana exclaimed. "They are their superiors!"

"Yes, we agreed on that," Kaworu conceded. "But does that mean anything?"

This reduced Mana to an incoherent stuttering. She seemed absolutely flabbergasted by Kaworu's attitude.

Kensuke wasn't, but he still looked and sounded doubtful. "That could go really badly for them, though, if they refuse their superiors' orders. Military organizations like NERV can't allow that."

"But they depend on us pilots," Kaworu argued. "So if we all refuse the order… what could they do then?"

Mana looked at him wide-eyed, as if he were speaking some great new revelation. Meanwhile, Kensuke just asked: "You'd do that? I thought you had no problem with the test."

"I don't," Kaworu confirmed, "But I'm also not invested in it happening. And if people require my help, I will give it."

"Even to Asuka?" Kensuke asked with a broad smirk on his face.

Kaworu mirrored that with an ironic smile. "Even to her. And to Suzuhara and Shinji."

Kensuke scoffed, but he sounded amused. "Thanks for helping Touji and Shinji then. I'm glad you take care of them. But Asuka? Man, I still can't believe she had the gall to sing that song about the 'Mythical East'."

"I think she was just trying to annoy Suzuhara," Kaworu observed.

"Well, yeah," Kensuke agreed. "But she should have been mindful of her audience besides him."

"I think people put far too much weight in flags and borders," Kaworu commented. "If Second Impact taught the world anything, it was how all of humanity shares the same home and the same fate."

Finally, Mana was speaking up again. It sounded slightly subdued and lost in thought. "You seem to be very humanist."

Kaworu took it as a compliment. The more he interacted with humanity – True humanity, not SEELE, not sterile technicians or despair addled cultists – the more he gained an appreciation for them. The three of them continued to walk, not caring for the hour or the dangers that might await them..

Mana was unsure how she would explain tonight to her Captain. So far her strategy had been to present her actions as a deliberate strategy: She could closer to Shinji by getting closer to his friends, like Kensuke, and fellow pilots, like Kaworu. But that explanation would only go so far. Shinji was her mark; the others were supposed to be just tools to get to him.

At least Kaworu was a pilot as well. However, the insight she had gleaned from him about the pilot program had been minimal, as he was never very straight forward or forthcoming. And Kensuke? She couldn't even find justifications for him. He had little value to her mission. But the boy made Mana feel something she thought she had forgotten: normal.

It was a wonderful feeling; after so many years, it was good to be able to pretend. Mana blushed. Not that what I'm doing with them is normal. The three walked hand in hand along the deserted streets, hearts light. Until, out of the corner of her hearing, Mana heard something. It was a hard sound coming from a nearby alley. Sensing danger, she immediately snapped to attention. "What was that?"

Kensuke seemed oblivious to the noise. "What do you mean?"

Kaworu, on the other hand, seemed to notice something as well. "Maybe it was just an animal?"

Mana shook her head. "Animals don't wear boots."

From the shadows of the alley, two figures emerged: Two young men, both wearing tracksuits, each with a great deal of tattoos and jewelry. The smaller one of the two stepped forward. He was wearing, as Mana had guessed, a pair of stylish black boots, and in his hand he held a small blade. "And such nice boots indeed." He laughed "Took a lot of stupid kids like you to pay for these things." He laughed towards his larger companion. The taller man simply grunted.

A realization passed over the three of them. They were being mugged. Kensuke began to freak out, thinking of all the squishy parts of his body he didn't want stabbed. Kaworu was paralyzed in thought. He could dispatch the two with a thought, but that would reveal himself to Mana and Kensuke, and then what would they think of him? To think nothing of if he was discovered by NERV. Mana, on the other hand, simply smirked.

"Why don't you let us go? Then there won't be any trouble." Mana tried to be diplomatic first. There was no need to hurt them unless they forced her to.

That made the two laugh. "Trouble? I like trouble, especially from pretty little school girls like you."

Kensuke spoke up, trying to deflect his attention "Hey! Leave her alone, you asshole."

Mana sighed. Oh Kensuke, you adorable idiot. She watched as his answer got exactly the response she had expected. The two thugs stopped laughing and closed in. The bigger one of the two spoke up for the first time. "Enough talk – hand over your wallets or we'll have some fun."

Mana suppressed a smirk as she positioned herself in front of the small one, careful to keep him between his comrade and her exposed flank. The only one about to have fun is me. Lowering her stance, she prepared herself.

The small one advanced, blade in hand "Listen chicky, why don't you drop this idiot and come with us, we can–" He did not have time to respond as Mana rushed forward, grabbing the assailant by the wrist and twisting it sharply, eliciting a cry of pain as he let go of the weapon. Still staggering from the attack, the man was unprepared for Mana's next strike: A harsh punch to the bridge of his nose. A wet crunch rang out in the street as he dropped to his knees, clutching his face in pain.

Mana almost felt bad for him. Had she been almost anyone else, he would have had an easy mark. The thugs were expecting normal middle school students; instead what they were getting was someone trained extensively in close quarter combat by the JSSDF. She didn't like what the JSSDF had done with her. She would have liked to have lived a normal life, or at least one of freedom. But at least this, this was easy and straightforward. She didn't need to feel guilty for manipulating people, as she had with Shinji. She didn't need to be terrified as she had about her interactions with Kaworu and Kensuke these past days. Their warm touches and kind words delighted her, but had also thrown her into doubt and confusion. In contrast, here, she simply needed to step forwards and act. That was almost a relief.

The heavy man swore as he charged at Mana, his arms outstretched, poised to grab her. This simply gave her more room to move. Turning slightly to the side, she grabbed one of his meaty arms as she tripped him, throwing him down onto the concrete street. The thug landed in a crumpled heap. So as to not leave any doubts, Mana kicked the fallen man's ribs hard, before walking back to her friends.

"Let's get out of here," She said, backing away from the two fallen men with ragged breath. The two nodded. Mana turned and the trio walked away at a brisk pace.

As they neared the end of the street, they heard a voice. The smaller of the two thugs had risen to one knee and was now addressing them. "You're gonna be sorry when we tell our boys about you!"

That made Mana laugh. She turned back to respond "Tell them what? That two big gangsters got beat down by a school girl?" When he offered no response, Mana turned and left, flanked on both sides by Kensuke and Kaworu. She sighed softly. "I thought not."

Mana felt oddly satisfied. All the uncertainties of the past days, all her guilt and shame about her mission… those things didn't matter in physical combat. In truth, she felt like she had probably vented them at the guys. She would have felt bad about that if not for the fact that those thugs had just tried to mug them.

When they were far enough away, Kensuke turned to Mana, amazed and quite embarrassed. "Holy shit! That was amazing! Where did you learn to fight like that?" He half wanted to accuse Kaworu of being unhelpful, but he quickly realized he had done no better and decided to forgo the avenue.

Mana shrugged. "My uncle got me self-defense lessons last year," She said, returning to her bubbly state. "I guess they really paid off." She smiled and wrung her hands, the action calling Kensuke's attention to her now bruised and cut knuckles.

"Are you okay? You're not in pain are you?" Kaworu asked guiltily. He felt terrible. His indecision had caused harm to someone he cared about. Internally, he regretted not simply killing the two on the spot.

Mana tried to smile. "It's alright, I have had worse." She said so in a way that did not invite further inquiry. Instead, she looked down the street and pointed. "Look, there's the bus shelter. I knew we weren't far."

The three followed Mana to the pick-up area. Kensuke was still in a daze from the experience, Kaworu still melancholy over his inaction. Sensing this, Mana looked at the two. "Cheer up guys, it's okay. None of us are hurt, right?" She remembered the marks on her hands. "Much."

The two seemed to accept that, but still seemed very uncomfortable about the situation. In an attempt to change the mood, Mana thought of something Kensuke had mentioned earlier. "So you tried to call us on Sunday, Kensuke?"

Kensuke seemed to snap out of his funk when called upon, remembering his attempts to contact the other two. "Oh yeah, I did."

Mana smiled. "Would you like our numbers now? So we can call each other when we get home, to let each other know we are okay."

Kensuke smiled at that, taking out his phone "Alright then, let's see..." Kensuke swore as he saw that his phone had run out of battery. "Sorry, I'm out. You have a piece of paper?"

Mana shook her head, but smiled. "No, but I do have a pen. And you have some skin, don't you?"

Kensuke understood, pulling down his sleeve to reveal a pale freckled arm. Mana pulled the aforementioned black pen from her purse and began to carefully inscribe her number onto Kensuke's arm. The boy blushed at the surprisingly intimate act. After she was down, she turned to see Kaworu smiling, patiently waiting for his turn. "Me next?"