When Hikari glanced at the clock it was almost five thirty. She needed a second to process why this was a problem before she realized aloud, "Ah! I need to get home!"
Shinji snapped to the present also, realizing he had hos own chores to catch up on. "Ah… laundry!"
They both jumped up, recognized that they had, then reflected on the past few hours. Since lunch they had sat and talked. It had been engrossing for Shinji, and liberating for Hikari.
But the day was getting away from both of them.
Shinji followed Hikari into the kitchen while she was saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take up your entire afternoon…"
"It's all right!" Shinji said, making her stop and turn around. "Um… I really enjoyed you coming and staying."
Hikari smiled. "I'm glad then!" She paused, then added, "This has been the best thing to happen to me all week, actually. I'm glad I got to know you."
"S-same, Hikari." Shinji replied with a blush.
Bring that close together in the kitchen, a moment approached. Shinji thought she was cute, Hikari wanted to lean in closer.
But both of them remembered other things keeping them from enjoying the moment. For Hikari, the delay meant further anger from her family. For Shinji, he had no idea when Asuka was coming home or whether he would need to get dinner. They both parted, laughing nervously.
Hikari took her pot carrying most of her cooking utensils. "Well, it's a twenty minute walk to my house from here, so I need to get going." She sighed and added, "My family is going to blame me for dinner being late, or shame me for resorting to fast food. I just know it."
Shinji thought a moment before asking, "Is there anything I can do to help? I'm the reason you stayed longer."
At the door, Hikari set the bowl down and put on her shoes. "I think I can handle it, I always do." She finished pitting on her shoes and stood. She was about to make her farewell when a thought occurred to her and she looked at Shinji. The curious, sensitive boy looked back.
She smiled, then averted her eyes and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "There is one thing…um…" looking at him again she said, "I would like to listen to you play the cello again sometime."
Shinji perked. "Really?"
"Mmh!" Hikari replied, "I like listening to string instruments. I would love to hear you play without the walls in the way next time."
"Okay!" Shinji replied, "I can do that!"
They stood in that entry considering one another. The moment was approaching again, further now but present. They wanted to approach one another in that fleeting moment of privacy they had.
But…
Hikari dispelled it first. Nodding, she said, "I'll see you tomorrow, Shinji."
"H-have a good evening, Hikari."
She stepped outside, the door closed, and Shinji locked it. He started to go back into the apartment but stopped before leaving the entry pad.
He likely had reasons to think he blew it, and that the class rep secretly resented something he did complely unaware. Maybe it would be obvious in the next few days.
For now though? He basked in the happiness he felt, of talking with someone who acknowledged how hard it was to be in his shoes. Someone who understood, and someone he could help with his understanding. It had gotten easier and easier to be open with her, and she hadn't judged him or mocked him.
Most if all she, a girl, felt comfortable enough with him to go on a first name basis. That never happened… at least, not properly. Asuka was different.
He sighed as that girl came to mind. It weighed him down enough to trudge back into the apartment and start catching up on the work he put off.
Hikari felt the doom approaching as she walked towards home. She hugged the pot closer while the evening sun rode the clouds across a violet sky.
She was happy. Elated, even. It wouldn't last.
She sighed with disappointment and came to a stop, then turned around to look back the way she came. She stared for a moment, then sighed and resumed course. She had to.
She was guessing whether Kodama had given up and ordered takeout already when she arrived. "I'm home!"
Nobody answered at first. She slipped off her shoes, stepped into the house, and entered the living room. Nozomi was there, of course. "Kodama needs you." She said as her eyes were glued to the TV.
"Where is she?" Hikari asked as she walked through the house.
Nozomi just pointed up. Hikari glanced at the ceiling and sighed, stopping in the kitchen to drop off the pot before starting to go up the stairs.
Her foot sank into something soggy on the way up. She stopped and looked down, not seeing anything immediately. Then she winced and noticed a glisten to the carpet. "Oh no…" she uttered and reached down to take off her socks. Her feet patted through the wet carpet on the way up.
Sure enough, the upstairs bathroom light was on. Hikari's feet squelched across the carpet. "Kodama, What happened?"
Her older sister sighed from within the bathroom. She was crouched beside the toilet with the weathered family toolbox beside her. Nearly every towel the family owned was in there to sop up the water. "The toilet was flooding. Dad's gone to the hardware store for parts and a fan. I need you to order dinner."
In the following moment Hikari estimated the expenses racking up in her mind and her mouth went agape. "Eating out is expensive! Kodama-"
"Well, if you were here to notice this instead of being off wherever with your friend, then maybe you could have stopped this before it got bad."
Hikari balked. "Dad and Nozomi were home, didn't they notice?"
"Dad needs all the rest he can get, and you know how Nozomi is. You're supposed to be home." She winced, "Why were you gone so l
ong, anyway? What were you doing out?"
"I…." Hikari faltered. "I was… it doesn't matter." Hikari said, defeated. "I'll start ordering dinner."
"No, I'll do it." Nozomi said and started stepping out of the bathroom. "You're right, we need to save cash. I'll order from my restaurant and use my discount."
Hikari wanted to argue further, pointing out that the food at Kodamas' work often gave her heartburn and gas. But she was still stinging from her sister's barb, even if part of her thought it was unfair.
And Hikari knew Kodama hated calling in to the restaurant for various reasons. So Kodama doing this on Hikari's direction made her feel worse.
Once again Hikari was left with disappointment and nobody to help. She sighed and went to her room to change at least.
To be on the safe side Shinji made a big dinner for everyone in case the others got back in time. In all that talking with Hikari he didn't get the cooking tips for dinner that he could have used… but he didn't mind. He still held a little glow from being able to open up to her without it being strange or disappointing.
He ate his soup alone with only Penpen for company. The TV was off as he sat where he did when Hikari was here. The main light was off and he ate with both the light of the kitchen and the dying sunlight behind him.
Penpen ate his fish in the kitchen but peeked beyond the divider when Shinji was finished with his dinner. The boy smirked and asked the penguin, "Who do you think will come home first Penpen? Misato, or Asuka?"
The bird squawked silently and patted out of view, back into the kitchen. Shinji chuckled softly to himself and looked back across the table. He uttered to himself, "I'm reading too much into this. But I don't care. What did she say? We have to hope?"
He heard the door open. Misato's voice sang out, "I'm home!"
"Welcome home!" Shinji called back.
It took a moment for Misato to make it back into the living room, where she flipped the light on casually. "Eating in the dark?" She held a couple of designer bags under her arm while she disappeared into her room.
"I just felt like it. How did your shopping trip go?"
"It went okay!" Misato replied from beyond the door she left open. "Found a lot of things out of my price range. Then I found something that was. Complained about work. Girl stuff."
"Oh." Shinji replied, wondering briefly what "girl stuff" meant. He sighed a dismissal already knowing she would never elaborate.
"Is Asuka in her room?" Misato asked. Shinji caught glances of Misato's swinging legs as she took off her skirt.
"No… uh…" Shinji felt both oddly drawn to see more and incredibly awkward trying, so he shied away this time. "Mr Kaji came by and picked her up. They've been gone most of the day."
"Tsch. He won't return my calls, but takes Asuka?"
"He said he had some errands to-do… for my father. And it had been a while since they spent time together." Shinji decided to turn and face away from the door, confused why he found this time so awkward.
Misato sighed. "That makes sense. Asuka's been saying she hadn't seen him lately." She came out of her room then wearing her home outfit. She glanced at Shinji and then headed to the kitchen to get a beer. "So what did you do all day?"
"Uuhh…." Shinji uttered as he wondered how to explain today. He expected endless teasing from Misato if she learned Shinji brought a girl over without her knowing. "I… uh, learned how to cook better."
It was the truth, and it would hold as long as she didn't ask for elaboration.
"Really?" Misato replied, "That's a good way to spend your time. Maybe you could teach me how to cook too!"
Shinji chuckled nervously. Then he heard the front door open again. Asuka called out, "I'm home!"
"Welcome home!" Shinji and Misato replied. Shinji looked about, wondering suddenly if there was any evidence of Hikari's presence Asuka might find there. He got as far as standing up from the living room table when Asuka entered the kitchen.
Misato quipped, "You have fun out there today?"
Kaji came into the kitchen then. "It was a good day."
Misato winced at him. "What are you doing in here?"
"Came to drop off the kiddo." Kaji replied. He leaned on the door frame as he said to Misato, "How was your day?"
"As if it's any of your business. If you wanted to know, you should have picked up the phone!"
"Work got in the way. It can be pretty demanding as an inspector, you know. I have to concentrate."
Asuka had already left the room, heading around the divider and bound for her room. Shinji, still standing, saw her. "Err…"
Asuka only glanced at him with a neutral expression as she walked down the hall, bags in her own hands as she headed for her room. Then she disappeared from sight, leaving him alone there.
Shinji wasn't sure what was worse then: to be derided and teased, or to be seen without any recognition at all. She had regarded him like a stranger.
It made him feel drained.
Shinji patted his feet out of the living room and into the light of the kitchen where Kaji and Misato were still arguing.
"...saying, you didn't enjoy your chance to catch up with Rits?" Kaji was saying, "I thought you would like a chance to do something besides work."
"That's not the point." Misato said, "You might be a trashy deadbeat, but don't ruin it for Miyuki!"
"What makes you think I don't have something nice to wear already?" Kaji replied.
Shinji looked into the soup, figured that nobody else got any, and decided to put the lid on it.
Misato continued, "A suit jacket doesn't count! Or do you just mean a tie?"
"No, it's a full suit. I'll have it dry cleaned too."
"So why don't I believe you?"
"Maybe you're just predisposed to being critical of me."
Shinji slid the pot into the refrigerator and closed the door. He started to head for his room.
Kaji's voice stopped him when he reached the door. "Hey, Shinji."
"Yes?" Shinji asked, turning to look at the older man.
"I'm sorry I took Asuka away from you this evening. I hope things weren't too dull around here."
"No, it was fine." Shinji replied, "Its nice sometimes."
"I see." Kaji replied, then said, "Have a good night, Shinji."
"You too." Shinji replied and started down the hall. He reached his door and paused beside it to look at Asuka's door, reviewing the sign promising mortal peril if he were to attempt to enter.
He hoped she had a good evening. But a part of him was also aware of the chance that, perhaps, he didn't have to be treated this way by her. He entered his room and closed the door to do some homework before going to bed.
Asuka emerged from her room later to see Kaji off, clinging to his arm and escorting him to the door while Misato stayed in the kitchen. "You'll promise to come back again will you? That was the most fun I've had in ages!"
"Haha, well see kiddo." Kaji replied as he slipped out the door. "I can't make promises, but I'll see what I can do."
"Okay! Bye, Kaji!!" Asuka replied, keeping on her cute face to mask her disappointment. It had been a blissful afternoon being with him, free from these dingy, disappointing surroundings. Even if he did try talking to her about Shinji or something, they didn't matter. She just wish he could make an effort to be around. She closed the door.
When she came back into the kitchen Misato was there, finishing her beer. "I saw you come in with those bags. You know," she said, "If you wanted to go on a shopping spree I could have made an exception and brought you with me."
Asuka stopped at the corner of the table and frowned. "I thought it was just going to be you and Doctor Akagi."
Misato shrugged. "It was, but a couple of times I thought it wouldn't have been bad if you came with me. I might want to do it again sometime. Besides," she winked and leaned closer, "You could hear some stories from me and Ritsuko about Kaji's college days."
Asuka had shown interest on her face until that quip about Kaji, when her brows descended again in a huff. "I have better things to do with my time than listen to ancient gossip!"
Misato shrugged, finished her beer, then set it down and walked to the bathroom. "Suit yourself," she said, "Offer's open anytime, if you change your mind."
Misato disappeared behind the folding door. Asuka harrumphed, then went to the sink for a glass of water. After the last gulp she set the glass down and stared at the spot on the counter where utensils were drying. She picked up a spatula there and stared at it, wondering why it looked unfamiliar.
"Hmm." Asuka grunted, then set Hikari's spatula on the counter and walked to her room. She figured she hardly spent time in the kitchen, so maybe Shinji went out to get another one. She didn't care.
Outside Hikari's door a fan warbled in the hall, desperately trying to dry the carpet. That stale odor of plumbing water still leached through the door into hee bedroom. She hoped she could sleep well tonight, as if that weren't the only thing on her mind.
She tried to distract herself with her own set of colors and sound. Her TV was on and a controller was in her hands.
Hikari had been given a game system as a gift for her 12th birthday. She got a decent amount of use from it; few would suspect she was as good of a gamer as she was. She had been practicing lately in a bid to join in Toji and Kensuke's conversations about these things, but that wasn't on her mind now.
The adventure party she had assembled for Soul Cross was tuned according to the guidebook she got for it. She had memorized the winning strategies already and, with the book beside her, was treading the optimal path. She did this so she could enjoy the story without fear of failure.
She was staring at a fork in the decision tree now though, wondering which path to take.
From here the party was about to descend into the underworld dungeon. It was the beginning of the endgame, because how she resolved the dungeon would determine the powers of the party in the final battle. Inflection was a powerful ability which magnified spells and cleared all debuffs. It would be needed for the last series of bosses- the game was much harder without it. Or so the guidebook claimed.
She pulled up the game map and traced the nodes of cities the game had her follow up until that point. It occurred to her that there was a lot of unvisited territory out there she had never been to. But she also knew, according to the guidebook, completing certain side quests would lock out options in the main one. If she wanted to see the perfect ending- the one where the rapture was averted and the Sorcerer destroyed- she would need to stay on the path.
Hikari stared at the map. She had actually finished this game about… three? Three times before, each time getting more and more comfortable without the guide. The selection toggle pulsed on the screen, demanding her to pick an option.
The controller was warm and sweaty in her hands as she stared at the choice. She had read about the other parts of the game, but never dared to visit them to preserve the power she needed for the endgame. What held her back was the uncertainty of the other endings. Character death was possible if she went her own way.
She had been down the normal route so many times now that it was beginning to feel restrictive. She looked beyond the menus at the characters, debating if she could stand throwing their fates into uncertainty for a mere curiosity.
She was tired of locking herself out of the choice of enjoying herself.
Yes.
She selected the second option and pressed accept. They would not do the underworld this time.
Instead they would go explore the sky palace beyond the thicket of pain. Her journey would take her into the brambles.
End of part 1
a/n: Now the avalanche is starting to tumble. With her selection, Hikari is choosing Shinji.
These last three chapters were originally going to be one until I noticed how long they were and decided to break them up. It also accounts for the speed of which they were posted.
thanks for following along this far, sorry it took so long to get to this point. I hope further chapters are more interesting from here, because now were going to get to more serious obstacles.
Asukas attempt at a kiss is within a week after all.
