Chapter 2

After having finished cleaning Misato's (and now his) apartment, Shinji settled on the couch with the book Freud had given to him. He found himself excitedly reading each philosophical essay in the book. He didn't really grasp the concepts and ideas that were compiled in the "Corpus Aristotelicum". However, Shinji was determined to read through it all.

Misato, while drinking a can of beer, looked over warily to the young boy. The book he was reading was massive, and I mean MASSIVE. She wondered why Shinji would even show interest in reading something that looked as tedious as that. Could it be a present from a loved one? A girl maybe? No, scratch that. No girl in their right mind would give a boy such a present. Then, where did he get it from?

Shinji had barely started reading when Misato asked, "Say Shinji, where did you get that?"

Despite being a little bit annoyed by his guardian's interruption, he answered with a smile. "Oh! This?" He signaled to the absurdly large book. "Freud gave it to me. I was expecting to read it and then discuss it a little with him!" Shinji said excitedly.

Misato had an expression of disgust on her face. So it had been that old man, eh? Misato had refused to take Shinji to his session with Freud, making up the lazy excuse of being overworked. Instead, she left the task to the much reliable Makoto Hyuga. She hadn't gone to pick him up either, arguing that she was tired. In reality, Misato hadn't done this to slack off her duties, like she normally does. She didn't do it to stay away from Shinji either. She would actually like to spend as much time with him as she can. She just couldn't stand Sigmund Freud.

She chugged what remained of her beer trying to erase the memory of Shinji's psychologist.

Shinji didn't understand why Misato looked so angry. Since she didn't continue with the conversation, he shrugged and went on reading.

Suddenly, the phone started ringing.

Annoyed, for being interrupted again, Shinji went to answer it.

"Hello?" Shinji asked.

"Hello, Shinji?" The voice coming from the phone was Freud's. "How are you doing?"

"Great actually," Shinji answered, his mild annoyance gone.

"I'm glad," Freud said. "Is Miss Katsuragi there with you?"

"She is. Would you like to speak with her?"

"If I may"

Shinji walked over to Misato.

"Misato, Freud is on the phone."

Misato looked mad. "What does the old man want? Tell him I'm not home." She said dismissively.

Shinji chuckled nervously. "I have already told him you're here…"

Silence.

Misato glared at Shinji and he physically cringed. Realizing it wasn't the boy's mistake; she walked over him and ruffled his hair.

"Okay," she said, "I'll go talk to him." She smiled at the confused boy. He smiled, albeit nervously, back.

"Hello?" Misato asked once on the phone.

"Ah! Your voice is like beautiful music to my ears, Miss Katsuragi." Freud said delightedly.

"What do you want?" Misato asked angrily.

"No need to be aggressive, Captain. I was just complementing the lovely voice of a young fine lady like you."

Misato growled. "This guy is unbelievable!" She thought.

"Why are you calling?" Misato asked in a menacing tone.

"Straight to the point, eh?" Freud teased. Misato snorted in response. "Alright, I was calling to talk to you about something. I was meaning to tell you yesterday, but you didn't come to pick up Shinji. Why was that by the way?"

"Shit" Misato thought. Being caught slightly off guard, she stumbled over her words, "Eh… I was… eh… tired? No! I mean I… eh… was… working! In Nerv." She mentally facepalmed.

"Uh-huh," Freud said. She could feel him smirking from the other side.

"Crap!" She thought.

"Anyways, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to the new German restaurant that's opened." Freud calmly stated. "I've heard it's quite delicious…"

He rambled on.

Misato was awe-struck. Was he seriously asking her out? She brushed that thought aside. Maybe he just meant to tell her something serious in person. Sure, the guy was constantly trying to get in her pants (disgusting), but he was a respected psychologist at the end of the day.

"Is this related to Shinji?" She asked.

"Huh?" Freud was confused. "No, I thought we could, you know, get to know each other better, maybe have a few drinks, go to my place after and see what happens from there…"

Misato was expressionless.

"So, would you like to go out with me?" Freud asked.

"Like hell I would." She answered angrily. The nerve of this guy! She thought she'd made it clear the first time they met (a dreadful experience by the way) that she didn't want anything to do with him. And, yet, here he was! Asking her out! Again!

"Still in denial I see," Freud said disappointedly. "Don't feel ashamed to admit your feelings for someone like me. A lot of people like, you know, more mature men…"

Misato was fuming. Her face was red from anger.

"ASHAMED!" She shrieked so loudly that Freud, in surprise, fell from the chair he had been sitting on.

Shinji, who had been reading during the exchange, suddenly rushed next to Misato.

"Misato, what's wrong?" Shinji asked worriedly. Misato glared at him. Shinji fidgeted. However, when he saw Misato's red face, he got worried and asked, "Misato are you feeling well? Your face is all red…"

"Is it now?" Freud said from the other side of the line, trying to get back in his chair.

"He heard that?" Misato was shocked. "SHUT UP!" she shouted, hanging up the phone.

She was heavily breathing. Her hands clenched the counter with such force that they became pale white. Her face was completely red. Her purple hair dripped over her it.

Horrified, Shinji fled the scene. He took his book and got into his bedroom.

Misato, on the other hand, stormed into her own room, her face red and cursing the psychologist all the way through.

As night settled in, the Katsuragi household calmed down. Misato was deep asleep while Shinji was intently reading his book. However, the young boy couldn't fully concentrate as his mind kept going back to the dreaded thought of starting school the next day.

Shinji didn't know what to do. What would happen? Would the other kids like him?

He was nervous. Realizing reading was currently useless; he closed the book and lied on his bed facing the ceiling. What should he do? He was unsure, and that scared him. He tossed and turned on his bed, but sleep wouldn't come to him.

He got out of bed dressed only in a white shirt and underwear. Slowly but steadily, he made his way towards the phone. He hesitated one second before grabbing it and dialing the number of his (apparently perverted) psychologist.

Waiting for Freud to pick up, Shinji wondered if this was a good idea. He was having second thoughts and was about to hang up when he heard Freud from the other side of the line say, "Hello?"

"H-Hello, Freud," Shinji stuttered. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No! Of course not!" Freud lied. "What is on your mind Shinji?"

"Well…" Shinji hesitated, "You know how tomorrow I'm starting school?"

"Yes…"

Shinji took a deep breath and said, "I'm kind of nervous…"

"Uh-huh."

"What will the other kids think of me? What if nobody likes me? I don't really feel like going…" Shinji's voice faded. "I'm such a coward," he thought. "I know it's stupid…"

"It isn't," Freud interrupted. His voice was firm and deeply serious, far from the perverted Freud from a few hours ago. "I understand your worries, Shinji."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I do." Freud nodded on the other side of the line. "You can't really know for sure what they'll think of you. However, let me ask you this: how will you know what they think of you if you don't even attend school? I know it seems safer and less risky to just avoid the confrontation and keep to you, hiding from the world." Freud paused, "but that is just the short term. Trust me when I tell you Shinji that, if you constantly just avoid life's problems, you'll be tortured by what ifs and, in the long term, you'll wish you had made a different choice."

There was a moment of silence as Freud allowed that last thought to sink in.

"Now, tell me, what is the worst thing that could happen?" Freud asked.

Shinji took a moment to consider and then said, "They could all laugh at me and I'd be publically ridiculed… or maybe I could be made fun of behind my back… I'd be alone…" Shinji started becoming discouraged.

"Well," started Freud, "if none of that happens, then the day would be a success, wouldn't it?"

Shinji hummed in agreement.

"Now, what is the real probability that any of this happens? Do you really think that the other kids are so evil, so cold-hearted that they'd go out of their way to make you feel bad? What would prompt any of these behaviors? Huh? They don't know you, so why would they make fun of you? What makes you think that there aren't other kids who might want to become friends with you?" Freud asked.

Shinji thought about all these questions. Freud was right. He was being overly pessimistic. Why hadn't he realized before?

With renewed happiness, Shinji said "You're right. I'm overreacting. I'll go to sleep now. I got to be ready for tomorrow."

Freud smiled, "good call Shinji."

"Thank you and goodnight Freud," Shinji said with a smile of his own.

"Goodnight Shinji."

Having said this, Freud hanged up. Shinji went to sleep. Freud lit a cigar.

They both wore smiles on their faces.

A/N:Thanks so much for all the reviews. I know that I took a real while to update this story and I apologize for that. I won't really make any excuses for myself and I'll try to update more regularly from now on. I would like to note, though, how the reviews you guys wrote are what really encouraged me to finally update. I can't stress enough how much it helps to see encouraging reviews.

See you next chapter!