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Shinji had been staring at the ceiling unable to catch a wink of sleep. He had always been prone to having nightmares and last night was no exception. He would wake up in the middle of the night sweating profusely with his heart pounding against his chest, his lungs heaving heavily as though he finished running a marathon, his thoughts racing in his head and his fears plaguing his state of mind. Despite his efforts, he couldn't shake off the uneasiness that always settled over him like a dark cloud.

He had days where he was lucky enough to have restful nights without any nightmares waiting to haunt him in his sleep. Keyword: lucky.

As soon as he heard his alarm go off, he knew that it was time for him to get up and get ready for work. Despite barely getting any sleep, Shinji knew he couldn't let his job suffer due to his personal struggles. Plus, he had bills and rent to pay.

So, he forced himself out of his bed and started his morning routine.

First, Shinji made his bed, straightening the sheet and blankets and fluffing the pillows on his twin-sized bed. It was a small and simple task to do, but it gave him a sense of control that he solely needed over his environment. Next, he took care of his apartment, clearing it of any clutter or messes from the night before.

After that, he stepped into the shower. The hot water helped in clearing the fogginess that clouded his mind and calmed his nerves a little. As soon as he stepped out of the shower, he quickly got dressed into his work clothes, put on his spectacles and looked himself in the mirror.

"If I hadn't developed eye problems at eighteen, I wouldn't have to wear these things," he bemoaned. "I look so much like a father." With a bitter smile tugging his lips, he exited his room and made his way to the kitchen.

"Pen Pen! Come get breakfast!" he called out as he took out and opened a can of shrimp. On cue, an erect-crested penguin wobbled its way into the kitchen and took a seat on the kitchen island. Shinji placed the plate of shrimp in front of the bird and went to make his own breakfast. Pen Pen let out a squawk, demanding more shrimp.

Shinji just laughed as he opened another can of shrimp and added more to his plate. The little bird-like creature always managed to brighten up his mornings and put a smile on his face. But gaddamn, that penguin had an appetite.

"How Misato had the patience to take care of you will forever be a mystery to me." He shook his head.

His smile faltered into a frown at the thought of his former guardian, but he quickly grabbed his satchel and made his way to the door. "I'm leaving." He said before closing and locking the door behind me. He plugged his wireless earphones in and began to listen to "Chateau" by Angus and Julia Stone. The cool morning air helped to wake him up a bit more.

The walk to the train station was a blur and before he knew it, he was staring at the train tracks, waiting until the train arrived.

The lyrics and melodies along with the scenery of the world outside as the train moved provided him with a much-needed distraction from his thoughts until Shinji arrived at work.

Shinji settled down at his desk, ready to dive into his work. Just as he was about to begin, a pair of hands covered his eyes, and a mischievous voice asked, "Who is it?"

A smile formed on Shinji's face as he recognized the playful tone. "Gorgeous girl with big boobs?" he replied with a hint of amusement.

Removing her hands, Mari grinned mischievously. "Bingo!" she exclaimed, clearly pleased with his response.

Shinji chuckled. "You never fail to make an entrance, Mari," he remarked, teasingly.

Mari playfully pouted. "Hey, it's my trademark," she quipped, feigning offence. "Gotta keep you on your toes, Shinji."

Shinji couldn't help but smile at her antics. "Well, you certainly succeed at that," he admitted, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

"Enough about that. Notice anything different?"

Shinji studied her for a moment before shrugging nonchalantly. "Other than the quirkiness, nothing really."

Mari pouted and huffed. "You're not even looking properly!"

"What exactly am I supposed to notice?"

"The glasses that are absent from my eyes, obviously."

Shinji took a closer look and realized that the red-framed spectacles that usually adorned her eyes were conspicuously absent from her face. "Okay, in my defence, I've seen you without your glasses."

"Oh, please! You wouldn't have noticed even if I dyed my hair blonde," she shook her head. "I mean, I admire the dedication to work, but I'm offended at the lack of attention to detail towards your work colleagues."

Shinji smiled apologetically. "Will a compliment on how amazing your makeup is make up for my negligence?"

Mari playfully glared at him and hummed sceptically.

"And your outfit." He added.

Mari beamed. "See, that wasn't so hard now. Was it?"

Shinji shook his head and laughed. "You're so shameless."

Mari's observant eyes caught sight of the slight dark circles under Shinji's eyes. Concern etched on her face, she gently asked, "Hey, Shinji, you look tired. What's been keeping you up?"

Shinji hesitated for a moment, knowing Mari's perceptive nature. "Oh, you know, the usual insomnia," he replied vaguely, not wanting to delve into the depths of his dreams. "But don't worry, I'm managing it."

Mari raised an eyebrow, a hint of scepticism in her expression. She was well aware that there was more to it than just insomnia. However, out of respect for Shinji's privacy, she decided not to press further.

"Alright, if you say so," she said, her voice tinged with understanding. "Just remember to take care of yourself, Shinji. You can't help others if you're not well-rested."

Shinji nodded appreciatively, grateful for her concern. "I know, Mari. I'll do my best," he assured her, the weariness in his voice tempered by determination.

Mari's expression softened, and she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That's the spirit, Shinji. Now, before you dive into work, I wanted to remind you that you have an appointment with a client soon."

Shinji straightened up, ready to fulfil his responsibilities. "Right, thank you for reminding me," he replied, a sense of purpose in his voice.

With a warm smile, Mari encouraged him, "You've got this, Shinji. Make a difference out there, one person at a time."

"As always, your support is much appreciated," he smiled at her.