Fun For the Family - Chapter 3
Written By: RadinRMZ TaxEvasionIsFun
The gaming session continued with enthusiasm. The three individuals, Misato and her two wards, were deeply immersed in the game's virtual world. The screen was a tapestry of colors, showcasing their characters fighting enemies, dodging all sorts of hazards, fighting all sorts of big monsters, and saving the day, all thanks to their teamwork. Misato found herself genuinely enjoying this gaming experience, rekindling her long-lost passion for video games. But alongside the feelings of satisfaction and pride, Misato felt nostalgic, it had been 16 years since the last time she touched a game controller, since the last time she felt the excitement and thrill of playing video games. And now she was feeling it again, this time she was enjoying it with her wards, who were surprised to discover that their guardian used to be such a 'gaming geek' in the past.
Asuka, always fiercely competitive, was determined to prove her gaming prowess. She grabbed the controller and swiftly demonstrated her skills, showcasing her agility in controlling the characters and conquering challenging levels. Misato watched her with admiration, her respect for Asuka growing even more. The hot-headed redhead herself was shocked when she saw the amount of skill Misato had in 2D platformers, as she observed her beat the first level of a Mario game in less than a minute. She never thought that the beer-obsessed commander of a private organization could be so efficient at something like this.
Unlike Misato and Asuka, once Shinji grabbed the controller, due to his lack of prior experience with games, he pretty much wanted to give up before he even pressed a single button, and so Misato, being the responsible parent, took time to explain and teach him all the basic controls. He was now getting the hang of it, thanks to Misato's patient guidance. He was no longer just a participant; he was becoming a true team player. Even after that, Shinji would still get stuck in certain parts every once in a while, but his guardian was always there to assist him in whatever problem he was facing. Misato was delighted to see his confidence gradually grow, just as a smile graced his face when they overcame a particularly tricky level. It was a rare sight to see Shinji genuinely happy, and this simple video game was achieving that.
Misato's mind was racing as she played with her wards. Misato never thought that one day she'd sit down and teach a teen something that she used to do as a kid almost 16 years ago. It surely made her feel like she'd aged a lot.
The more she thought about it, one thing became clear. Still, this was an opportunity, and opportunity to bridge the gap that had existed for so long. She couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for not doing this sooner.
Up to that point, there really hadn't been a situation, not even once, that Misato, the guardian, had sat down with her ward, Shinji, to try and teach him something, anything that he could even slightly benefit from. Whether it'd be a skill, a specific kind of activity, or anything, she had never done anything like that. The same applied to Asuka, although considering the fiery German girl's ego and confidence in all of her abilities, she might've had to try harder with her. But that was the point, she never tried, with any of them. She'd never tried to do one of the most common things a parent does for their child. And she blamed herself every time for it whenever the thought crossed her mind. She always berated herself for failing as a parent. They were more than just soldiers, pilots, and a guardian. They were a family, and it was high time they started acting like one.
"Um, Misato-san? I'm stuck here. What should I do?" Shinji's voice cut through her thoughts.
Misato refocused, offering a reassuring smile. She leaned in to guide Shinji, holding his hands to make it easier for him to follow her instructions. As they navigated Mario through the game, Shinji's eyes darted between the TV screen and the controller, observing Misato's every move. With a press of a button, the character descended into a green pipe.
Asuka seized the opportunity to add a sardonic remark. "Oh, come on. That's his signature move! Don't tell me you didn't even know THAT, Baka Shinji."
Misato interjected, "I don't blame him. He's never been into these things, so it's fine."
But beneath the joy and laughter, Misato couldn't shake off the weight of her responsibilities. She couldn't ignore the dangers that loomed outside their home, the imminent return of the Angels, and the constant pressure of NERV's expectations. However, for this brief moment, she pushed those worries aside, focusing on the happiness and unity they were experiencing.
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As the hours passed and the levels were conquered, Asuka eventually excused herself and retreated to her room, the competitive spirit temporarily sealed. Shinji and Misato, on the other hand, continued their gaming adventure. The quiet of the living room was now accompanied by the sounds of their cooperative gameplay, the occasional victory shouts, as the guardian helped her ward in the more difficult bits of the levels.
As for Shinji, he didn't know why, but he found that nice, it comforted him in a way, seeing someone help him through something even as simple as that made him feel like they cared about him. He also enjoyed solving all the co-operative puzzles that the two of them faced in every level. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all. He was having fun after all. And so was Misato. Or so he thought.
Misato hid her sense of guilt and sadness behind a cheerful smile. She didn't wish to spoil the mood. As she reminded herself, today was about relaxing, having fun. Her ward seemed to be enjoying himself at the moment, he rightfully deserved it, and that was enough for her. She only knew so much about all the trauma he went through as a kid. And shoving him inside a giant machine and giving him the responsibility of protecting the entire world from giant, menacing creatures didn't help him heal from those.
Considering this, the least she could've done for them as a guardian was to be there for them, talk to them, help them. But it seemed like both sides were always trying to avoid each other. But then again, wasn't that why she set up all this? She wanted to bond with them, to connect with them. So what was she waiting for now?
"Misato-san? You look down.. Is something wrong? We can play later if you don't feel well right now. I'm sorry." Shinji seemed to catch wind of the situation as he instinctively apologized.
"Huh- What? Oh, no no, don't apologize, I'm fine, really. I just zoned out for a moment."
"If you feel like it's enough for today, then we can stop right here, and we just saved not too long ago. So it's fine."
"Shinji, I'm telling you, l'm fine. Neither of us have anything else to do tonight. So we might as well keep enjoying ourselves for now."
"Okay... I'm sorry."
"Stop"
"What?"
"Stop that. I don't mean to sound like Asuka but you don't have to apologize for everything like that."
"Sorry, l'm just used to it-.. I mean-." He replied, followed by a sigh.
They stayed silent for a while, as they focused on the game. During a break between levels, as they sat on the couch, Shinji gathered his courage to ask a question that had been on his mind for a while. "Um, Misato-san, can we... talk?"
Misato replied as she adjusted herself on the couch, shifting her mood to a warmer one. "Of course, Shinji. About what?"
Shinji hesitated for a moment, then asked, "About this. Why did you do all this for us?"
Misato took a deep breath and considered her response carefully. "I told you before. This is the least I can do for the both of you. I want you two to be happy at least when you're home. I want you two to have fun. You have to pilot a giant machine and save the world with it every week. That is beyond stressful, and I understand that. Having so much responsibility like that, and not being able to talk about it with anyone, since they don't understand what you're going through, that's painful. And I want to try to at least take some of that pain away, for the both of you."
…
Shinji's voice trembled as he replied, "But you don't have to. I'm getting used to it anyway."
Misato's expression turned serious as she responded, "Don't say that! That is nothing someone, especially someone your age, can get used to like it's no big deal! Shinji, I don't care what your father thinks, but risking your life every week fighting huge monsters isn't something neither you or Asuka can just shrug off and say 'Oh well, it's typical.' And I don't know if you're trying to force yourself to believe that because Asuka always makes it seem like it's nothing for her, but she's wrong for thinking and acting that way."
The tension in the room was palpable as Shinji struggled to find his words, but managed to answer, "Why do you care so much? It's all fine for everybody as long as I pilot it. That's what everybody wants, right? They don't care any more than that. You don't have to care about me either."
Shinji was cut off as Misato brought herself closer, her hands gently resting on his shoulders, her eyes locked onto his. Her voice was a mix of fury and concern as she declared, "I do care about you! I don't care if you're supposed to be a soldier at work and I a Major! In my home, you are Shinji! and at work you are still Shinji to me! And I don't want any of you to look at me as Major Katsuragi or Major or anything like that at home. I don't care if we don't talk regularly or spend time with each other. If any of you disappeared one day, or something happened, or worse, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night, I'd look in every single corner of every single street in Tokyo-3 just to find you! And I won't do that just to bring you back to NERV or to make you pilot the EVA again. I do that because I CARE about you two! Hell, I am your guardian for Christ's sake! I won't be able to forgive myself if anything happens to the children who live with me under the same roof!"
Misato had managed to hold back tears, but her words had struck a deep chord with Shinji. He didn't know how to react, until he felt a tear drop from his eye as he was still staring at her in shock. he felt more tears drop. Without a word, Misato pulled him into a warm, comforting hug. Shinji clung to her tightly, crying, while Misato ran her hand through his hair to soothe him.
"Thank you, Misato." although his voice was shaky and low, it was still enough for his guardian to hear.
"Anytime, Shinji," Misato replied with a warm smile.
As they pulled away from the hug, Misato reminded him, "Never hesitate to talk to me when you're feeling down, okay?"
"I won't," Shinji replied, his smile now matching hers.
"Now, go get some rest for tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Misato," Shinji said as he got up from the couch.
"Goodnight, Shinji."