Sokila was sitting in a crouch, looking curiously at him.
"Do you remember why you're here?"
She tilted her head.
"Do you remember why you started this?"
Her neutral expression turned into a frown.
"I..."
The faint haze of blue began to brighten-
xxxx
/Monday: June 8, 2015/
Shinji Ikari slowly opened his eyes. Another unfamiliar ceiling. The digital clock read 05:41. The ambient light from the rising sun - filtering through the windows - was enough for him to get a better look at Misato's apartment. Various beer cans were neatly stacked upon a side board in the kitchen, almost evoking the image of a castle or a palace; besides the sofa were a number of magazines dedicated to automobiles and motorcycles, with a few focusing on firearms interspersed with them. There was a strange sense of chaos being barely contained, yet in an oddly productive manner; he had the strangest impression that it would have been more appropriate if it looked messier. Groaning, the fourteen-year-old slowly rose, glancing toward a bookshelf next to the television set. Aside from some psychological and military reference manuals, the top shelf was cluttered with various knick-knacks, souvenirs, and several photos. A few of them depicted Dr. Akagi and a scruffy-looking man with brown hair tied into a ponytail; however, pride of place was a portrait of a man with dark stubble and short dark hair, wearing the same white cross pendant that he had seen Misato wearing in the Metaverse. If the similar eye color didn't make it clear enough, the hints of a name tag on his left breast pocket in the photo - reading Shiro Katsuragi - said the rest. Is that her father...?
"Morning..."
Shinji turned around, blinking as Misato trudged into the room with a sleepy expression. Clad in a loose yellow tank top and blue pajama bottoms, the woman slowly walked into the kitchen, uncaring for the fact that her shirt revealed just a bit too much. With a flush, Shinji turned around, trying not to look at her. "Um...good morning..."
"Hope you don't mind the mess," murmured Misato, grabbing some cups of instant ramen out of her pantry. "I'm also not much of a cook, but I gotta get you up to the school soon to finalize your enrollment...so instant it is!"
"...er...I can cook...?" he tentatively offered.
"Heh. That's kind of you, but you're currently my guest!" As he heard water begin to boil on the stove, the sounds of rummaging through a refrigerator were heard; he chanced a look behind him, and saw her digging through it and looking for something. The sight of numerous cans of beer lining the side panel did not escape him. "Can't let a kid cook for their host; that's just rude, don'tcha think?" She withdrew from the frigid depths, holding a bottle of curry sauce, a bottle of hot sauce, and two cans of green tea. "Here."
Shinji nearly yelped at the can of tea that was lobbed his way. "Er...thank you."
"Well, it's either that or beer. Or tap water." With a weary sigh, she popped open her own can and took a pop off of it. "Hoo..."
"...you have a lot of beer," he blurted out, if only because the sheer volume of cans he had already seen was ridiculous as it was. The flush returned with a vengeance, because seriously, criticizing your host's drinking habits was just rude! "Um, sorry..."
"Aw, don't apologize. I get how I probably look. Would have probably opened up a beer if I didn't have company." A bitter, yet knowing chuckle escaped her. "Believe it or not, I used to be even worse."
"Eh?!"
His exclamation of shock elicited a laugh from the older woman. "Yeah...that's a story all its own. Still a work in progress, but aren't we all?" She poured the boiling water into both cups of instant ramen, before emptying copious amounts of curry and hot sauce into one of the cups. Her own, presumably. "A breakfast fit for warriors!" she jauntily boasted, setting his normal cup on one side of the kitchen table, and her deathly concoction on the other. "Save for some of your clothes, I arranged for your stuff to be delivered to the Hakone Academy dorms. Hopefully they'll have a room picked out for you by the time today's classes are over."
Those words actually struck Shinji as...atypical. Unusual. His chopsticks had barely delved into his instant ramen. "I'm...not...staying here...?"
Misato eyed him oddly, slurping up some heat-infused noodles before answering, "Between my work with NERV and the Anti-Terror Task Force, I'm barely around as is. NERV's responsible for your custody now, and it would reflect poorly if you were left alone most of the time. Besides, the dorms are close to school, have plenty of security, and you'll at least be around some kids your age, instead of a recovering slob struggling with alcoholism."
The brutal character of Misato's self-assessment struck Shinji cold. "...um...that...that seems harsh."
The woman shrugged, giving him a small smile. "Heh. You're a sweet kid, Shinji-kun. But I know what I am. More importantly, I know who I used to be." Her lips twisted into a sly grin. "I'd tease ya about falling for the lovely Misato-chan, but I'd need at least one beer in me for that."
"Grk!"
"Ha! Still gotcha anyway! Now eat up; we gotta leave soon." As the woman began devouring the rest of her instant breakfast with gusto, Shinji tepidly ate the rest of his ramen.
For some reason, the reality that he wouldn't be staying here struck him as...unfortunate. Sad, even.
He wasn't sure why.
xxxx
/Principal's Office, Junior High Branch, Hakone Academy/
"And this should finalize the transfer," said Misato Katsuragi, signing the last of a number of papers dealing with various legal matters. Shinji stood dutifully beside her, looking at the elderly teacher and the even more elderly principal with slight trepidation.
"Completely understandable," said the principal, his voice composed and cultured. Shinji couldn't quite identify the foreign accent. "We will, of course, apply discretion when it comes to all matters related to NERV."
Misato nodded. "You have our gratitude. The arrangements with Rei Ayanami will also hold for Ikari-kun."
"Of course." The principal glanced at Shinji, gesturing towards the teacher that was standing beside his desk. "This will be your homeroom teacher during your tenure at Hakone Academy, at least for the upcoming academic year."
The man - in his twilight years, with a face beginning to develop wrinkles beyond the eyes, yet still bearing a full head of gray hair - said, "I'm Kōzō Fuyutsuki. I would highly recommend acquainting yourself with the school rules as soon as possible, to minimize any difficulties."
Shinji nodded. "Yes, sensei."
The principal cracked a smile, his wrap-around visual visor hiding all hint of his eyes from view. "What a good-mannered child," said Principal Keel Lorenz. "I believe you'll do just fine at Hakone Academy."
xxxx
After bidding farewell to Misato Katsuragi, Shinji followed his new homeroom teacher down the halls of Hakone Academy's administrative building, which split into two wings: the North Wing for classrooms, and the South Wing for physical education and the various extracurricular clubs. A brief glance through the large open windows of the the lobby showed another large set of buildings sitting across an impressively-sized courtyard; that was the Academy branch for high-schoolers, apparently...
"You're awfully quiet, Ikari-kun."
The voice of Kōzō Fuyutsuki startled him. "Oh, um...sorry, Fuyutsuki-sensei. I was just...thinking."
The man - clad in a rather conservative brown suit, completely buttoned up despite the June heat - didn't seem to be offended. "No need to apologize for thinking. I know certain students that could stand to do that." The man chuckled at his own joke, as they ascended the stairs to head up to the second floor for the North Wing. The minutes were ticking down until the first period, and dozens of students were moving about at their own pace. The summer uniforms were all prevalent: short-sleeve dress shirts and dark slacks for the boys, while the girls wore a skirt-overall combo colored sea green, complete with a flowing red necktie over the white dress shirt. An upside-down triangle split down the middle served as a minimalist version of the school emblem, located over the left breast of the students' shirts. The full emblem was still visible nonetheless, for it was painted on the walls in certain locations: the same upside-down triangle, now bearing seven stylized eyes - three on the left side, four on the right - and a stylized ribbon beneath the triangle, bearing the words 'HAKONE ACADEMY' in stylized English font. "I imagine that you'll do just fine. Ayanami-kun's...extracurricular activities have yet to impact her grades, so I imagine you'll do just fine."
"...thank you, sensei." Misato had mentioned certain arrangements regarding Rei Ayanami, back at the principal's office; that meant she also went to school here...but alas, his internal thoughts were halted by the reality that they had made it to his new homeroom, Class 2-A. Various students were already present, but the presence of Fuyutsuki-sensei immediately prompted a number of them to sit down at their seats. Nonetheless, their eyes immediately fell upon him, for he was new and therefore interesting. At least, they must have thought so, because he honestly didn't think he was that interesting. Then again, this was a familiar song and dance when it came to transfer students, wasn't it...?
"All right class, settle down." Fuyutsuki-sensei's voice was authoritative, prompting the students to pipe down.
The rest was handled by a girl with brown hair tied into pigtails, who stood up and barked, "STAND! BOW! SIT!" Her actions were obeyed with military precision by the rest of the class.
...she's scary, thought Shinji with what he hoped was a subtle gulp.
Fuyutsuki-sensei nodded. "Thank you, Horaki-kun. We have ourselves an unexpected transfer student, from the Aida District of Okayama Prefecture; please, introduce yourself to your peers."
Shinji dutifully wrote his name on the blackboard, in katakana first - 碇 シンジ - with precise strokes, and then the romanized equivalent underneath - Ikari Shinji - with slightly more hesitant scribbles. He then turned to the class, bowing politely. "Hello. My name is Shinji Ikari. Please take care of me."
"Very good, Ikari-kun. Please take the empty seat down the middle row."
Shinji slowly walked down towards the empty seat, but not before he caught a flicker of blue and red in his peripheral vision. Lo and behold, sitting by the window was Rei Ayanami herself...and she was staring quietly at him. Well...this is...great...? Nothing like being in close proximity to the girl that had almost knocked him out with a punch to the diaphragm. Maybe if I ignore her, she won't hit me again...?
As he sat down, the boy in the desk adjacent to him - a brown-haired youth with large eyeglasses - looked intently at his direction. "So...a mysterious transfer student has arrived..." he whispered, dramatically adjusting his glasses.
"...um...I don't think I'm mysterious...?"
"That's what someone mysterious would say..."
"...uh..."
"Quiet down, Aida!" commanded the authoritative girl - Horaki, apparently - somehow zeroing in on his whispers from the front of the room.
Fuyutsuki-sensei took the brief interruption in stride, leaning on the teacher's podium. "You'll all have plenty of time to acquaint yourself with Ikari-kun after school. Class is now in session."
And so began the familiar educational routine, which Shinji gladly threw himself into, if only so he could ignore the fact everyone else was whispering about him.
xxxx
The first half of the day had gone by with predictable swiftness, and now kyuushoku was in-progress. Desks were dutifully rearranged to give Class 2-A's students some room, while a few stood behind the rolling carts to serve their fellows. The Horaki girl was among them, clad in a white serving gown, apron, gloves, face mask, and hair net. "Enjoy!" she said with what appeared to be genuine cheer.
All told, the meal looked good, made with higher-quality ingredients than he could recall from his prior school: a bowl of rice coated in various peppers and what appeared to be some kind of chili sauce, one breaded pork cutlet, a slice of watermelon, a small cup of seaweed salad, and the ubiquitous carton of milk.
He quietly took a seat at one of the desks that hadn't been rearranged into long rows, wanting to eat by himself. It's not that he disliked his new classmates, but...
"He's sitting by himself?"
"Kinda comes off as a loner..."
"Wonder why he transferred now instead of in April? He didn't really say when I asked..."
"Maybe he got in trouble at his previous school, and they kicked him out."
"...looks too shy to be a troublemaker. You think he's one of those types?"
"Eh, I'll give him a week. He'll open up eventually."
"You think?"
"Just wait for sensei to work his magic. Can I have your watermelon?"
"What? You already have one! If you want more food-"
...well, idle chatter and gossip were hardly his favorite things. Noncommittal answers, short sentences, few words: truly, they were the arsenal of someone who didn't feel like talking. Apparently, the others had gotten the message. Interestingly, Ayanami was also sitting alone, though none of the gossip involved her. She apparently had a reputation already. I wonder if I'll have one as well...
Alas, he was not going to be left alone for long. A desk was slid in front of his, courtesy of the lone adult in the room. "I trust you won't mind," said Kōzō Fuyutsuki, his other hand holding his own tray of food.
"Um, no sir. Er, sensei," he babbled, wondering if he had done something wrong.
"Don't look frightened, Ikari-kun," assuaged his homeroom teacher. "I did this with a few of the students who transferred in at the beginning of the year. To help break the ice, ask them how they were doing. You're not in any sort of trouble."
"Oh...okay."
As the student and teacher slowly ate, the older man took the opportunity to ask, "I hope the lesson plans aren't too jarring compared to what you left behind in Okayama?"
"No, sensei."
"I imagine Horaki-kun would be more than happy to provide you any notes to cover any gaps; best to cover them now, before we move on further. Of course, there are also quite a few of your senpai from the high school branch who serve as tutors throughout the week. They would be more than willing to help you."
"Yes, sensei." More silence, punctuated by eating. Fuyutsuki-sensei's gaze was quiet; knowing; the man was evaluating 'Shinji Ikari' within his mind. "Um...?"
"...far be it from me to inquire and ask intrusive questions, but from my understanding, your situation is similar to Ayanami-kun's. Though, given your surname, it wouldn't take too much digging to find out that you're related to the head of NERV."
A distinctly unpleasant feeling curdled in Shinji's stomach. "...so...you know my father?"
"By proxy, for the most part. Our professional associations were few and far between, though you'll forgive me if I'm not inclined to share my opinions of him."
"Of course, sensei." His father seemed like the kind of person to have an unpleasant reputation. I guess his reputation will pass on to me...
"The only reason I learned of him to begin with was because of your mother."
"...my...my mother?" he whispered, resisting the urge to shout.
(His sensei gazed upon him wearily, and spoke honestly. "I suppose you're old enough to learn now...but basically, through some various connections, your old man essentially decided that I would be a suitable guardian, after your mother's...disappearance." A pause. "He...wanted you out of his life. I'm sorry.")
Fuyutsuki-sensei nodded. "Yui-kun was my kouhai at the university I used to work at, and I was her mentor. I have plenty of stories."
"...can...can I hear some...?" Anything, to fill that void that sat within, that hollow expanse that had been a quiet part of his life for as long as he could recall.
"Of course...but on one condition."
"Yes, sensei?"
"Try not to isolate yourself on purpose." There was a hint of sternness in his gaze, yet it was mitigated by...age? Experience? A tired wisdom? "I don't know how long you'll be here in Hakone, but from my experience with Ayanami-kun, I know just enough about the kind of...work...that you'll be doing."
"...like what?"
"Enough to know that it can be unpleasant, and that it is something ill-suited for children, regardless of the necessity of it all. Even if you aren't allowed to divulge too many details...I would still recommend that you at least make some friends while you're here. After all, life is short enough as it is...so try and enjoy it, while you can."
It may have seemed trite or cliche, but Fuyutsuki-sensei's advice was still honest. Perhaps that was why he was willing to accept it. Or maybe it was simply because he wanted information about his mother that much. "...okay, sensei. I'll try."
xxxx
And all the while, on a subconscious level, in words he had no way of knowing...a familiar voice spoke, within the depths of his being:
I am thou, thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new bond.
It shall lead thou to the truth
that parts the seas of depravity.
Take hold of the Hierophant Arcana,
and let it guide you
to a new Promised Land...
xxxx
He bowed his head forward, unable to do more while sitting. "Thank you."
"It was no problem, Ikari-kun," replied Fuyutsuki-sensei.
Before they knew it, lunchtime was over, and the school day resumed.
xxxx
Shinji's first day as a student of Hakone Academy had come to an end, with nothing particularly noteworthy happening. As the final homeroom period ended and students began to disperse, the authoritative Horaki girl - who bore the title of 'Class Representative', judging by the occasional whispers he had heard - walked towards his desk. "How was your first day, Ikari-san?"
"...it was okay, Horaki-san."
The girl nodded, briefly shooting a glance at two boys who thought about jousting with a broom and a mop. Satisfied that they were suitably cowed, she then introduced herself. "I'm Hikari Horaki. I hope you'll enjoy your time here at Hakone Academy." There was a hint of routine in her words; this was an old song and dance that she had apparently done before. 'Welcome the new student!' 'Ask how they're doing!'
Shinji treated it with the same level of apparent care. "...I'll try."
"Were you able to keep up with the lessons?"
"For the most part..."
Horaki's expression slightly dimmed; it was then that he realized that she had freckles on her cheeks. "...well, if you ever have any difficulty, there are plenty of resources you can turn to. I'm sure Fuyutsuki-sensei advised you appropriately?"
"He did."
"And have you been assigned to a dorm room yet?"
He looked down at the packet of papers he had accrued throughout the day: a combination of homework, notes, and various pamphlets he had been provided by Fuyutsuki-sensei and some of the other teachers. "I...think so?"
With experience, Horaki pulled out a blue pamphlet, holding it up. "This is what you'll need. Would you like some directions?"
"...yes, please." Because he really wanted to just get his things and rest.
Little did he know, Rei Ayanami was quietly observing him, even as she cleaned the class windows.
xxxx
/2nd Floor, Izanagi Dorms, Hakone Academy/
Representative Horaki's directions had been perfect, Shinji couldn't help but muse. She must know this school like the back of her hand. He gazed at the door marked '23', and swiped the card provided in the blue pamphlet. With a small 'beep', the door unlocked, allowing him entry.
All told, it seemed...fairly standard. Two bunk beds sat on opposite sides, with each corner of the room having a desk and chest drawers. One for each student, presumably. The corridor that connected the room to the dorm hallway was also lined with a closet and another door that presumably led to a bathroom...one with at least a shower, judging by the sounds coming from within. Does each dorm have their own washroom? This Academy must have had quite the budget...
Three corners of the room were filled with signs of life and usage by people: on the right side of the room, one desk had a TV and various sports paraphernalia, while the other had a computer, various manga, copious notebooks and scattered pencils...and a camera? On the left side, one desk had some neatly stacked textbooks, a stress ball, and...a violin case? The fourth desk was completely bare. I guess that's mine by default. Fortunately, 'his' chest drawers were laden with his meager luggage and boxes that contained his belongings; it looks Misato - or NERV, at least - had come through when it came to getting his things delivered. Well...time to unpack...
The door to the bathroom opened, impulsively prompting Shinji to turn, and he immediately backed away and closed his eyes because that person was naked!
"Ah. My apologies. I had thought my other roommates wouldn't be back until later...I suppose you must be our new transfer student?"
"...yes," hesitantly replied Shinji, still not opening his eyes. The other boy sounded rather gentle, at least. And easygoing. That was a plus, right?
There was the sound of drawers opening, and rustling clothes. Finally, after a solid minute, he heard, "I am, how would you say, decent?"
Shinji opened his eyes, looking at his new roommate: a rather slender young man, wearing only a white shirt and dark sweatpants, still drying off his hair with a towel...and then he removed said towel.
Honestly, Shinji's first thought was: he's pretty. Not handsome, not good-looking, not masculine: pretty. He had the strangest impression that sparkling motes of light would not have been out of place with his new roommate. The term bishounen would actually be fitting.
Strangest of all, and most striking, however...were his red eyes. Red like Ayanami's.
The silver-haired youth looked at him with a placid smile. "My name is Kaworu Nagisa."
"...my name is Shinji Ikari."
The smile became imperceptibly wider. "Welcome to Hakone Academy, Shinji-kun," he said, apparently not caring for how forward that sounded. "It is my sincerest wish that you enjoy your time here."
"...uh..." He gulped. "Thank you...?" Well...at least he's friendly?
Nagisa simply sat at his desk, turning around in his chair with a smooth motion. "My roommates and I had been curious about whose belongings these were. You see, Hakone Academy is in such high demand, that we normally don't get transfers in at this time of year."
"...I see." He tried to inconspicuously look at the bottom bunk on the left side of the room. "Then...?"
"Why didn't we have a fourth roommate?" asked Kaworu, anticipating his question. "...unfortunately, there was an incident of Angel Syndrome two weeks ago, around Lake Ashi. Our roommate was...one of the casualties."
"...oh..." Shinji gulped, feeling like a heel. "I'm sorry..."
"You would take the blame? A curious sentiment." Kaworu maintained his cherubic smile, folding his hands under his chin. "But it is one that I've observed from many other humans: that desire to be guilty for various offenses they had no part in, while ignoring things they are truly at fault for...are you the same, I wonder?"
Shinji was honestly a little dumbstruck by the question. "I...I was just trying to...make you feel better..."
"The intent is certainly understood. I was merely...pondering. But such things can be discussed at a later time. I, however, am curious about the events that inspired you to transfer here."
The silence that followed cued Shinji in that he was supposed to answer. "Oh. Um...well...my father told me to come here, to Tokyo-3...so I did."
"Fascinating..." The strange thing was, Kaworu legitimately sounded intrigued by his answer. "And why did your father ask you to come here? Did you live with your mother before this?"
"...uh..." The intrusive curiosity was honestly kind of overwhelming. "I...um..."
"If you do not wish to answer, you do not have to. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to become better...acquainted."
So great was Shinji's gratitude that he physically deflated, the subconscious tension leaking away. "...thank you." He thought about asking Nagisa some questions, of returning the favor when it came to introductions...but he honestly didn't want to. There was something off-putting about the silver-haired teenager. Maybe it was the red eyes? "I'm...going to unpack, now."
"But of course, Shinji-kun. I'll be doing my homework." And so did he turn around, pulling out a history textbook and opening up a notebook filled with neat handwriting. All the while, he was humming under his breath, a tune that seemed very familiar...yet one that Shinji couldn't quite place.
The humming served as rather pleasant background music for him, as he unpacked his things and began putting them away. Clothes...a few meager books...his SDAT player...and a cell phone? Wait, where'd this come from? Shinji confusedly turned it on, feeling even more out of place as the logo of NERV popped up. What? The main screen flashed into being, and a single file sat prominently by itself above the main dashboard, labelled 'READ ME.'
Shinji did so.
Hi, Shinji-kun!
Didn't have a chance to get this to you yesterday, but we were SO busy, so I had to arrange for this to get delivered with your things. Hope Hakone Academy's been treating you well!
Basically, this phone will serve as the primary means by which NERV will contact you regarding missions, training, and things of that nature. It'll also let you know whenever the MAGI have detected any Ghosts or Acolytes, so keep it on you at all times!
Fortunately, I do have some pull, so I managed to arrange for you to at least have a few days to just...well, be a kid. (Thumbs up for being buddies with the head of Project E! :D )
Make sure to make it count, because it'll be Go Time sooner rather than later! I also wouldn't put it past Ayanami-kun to simply abduct you if you miss training, so no goofing off too much~
Take care of yourself! (b^_^)b
-The Magnificent Misato-chan, Loveliest of them All!
P.S. If the person reading this phone is not Shinji Ikari, I'll be straight with you: NERV already knows who you are, and they have no problem prosecuting you to the fullest extent of the law. Have fun with that! :3
...so, I have a phone now. That was a first. More importantly, Misato had apparently cared enough to give him a heads-up; her character seemed to shine through the message, seeking to reassure him in her own small way. It was honestly worth a smile.
Unfortunately, said smile was interrupted by the phone buzzing, as an envelope icon popped up on the main dashboard. Is...someone texting me already? Maybe it was Misato?
As it turned out, it was not Misato.
RA: This is Rei Ayanami.
...how did she get my number?
RA: Major Katsuragi gave me your number, for logistical and operational continuance purposes.
...oh.
RA: Please confirm with a response.
Numbly, he slowly typed out a reply.
SI: hello
RA: Hello.
SI: hi
RA: You already said hello.
...I don't know how to text. Maybe Nagisa would know? He seemed like a talented guy...nah, he wouldn't bother him over something as silly as this.
RA: Are you still having difficulty remembering the events on the train?
Shinji froze.
SI: what do you mean
RA: Calling upon the Evangelion is not something to be done lightly.
RA: Do you understand what it means, to open up your heart?
SI: i dont know what you mean
Shinji briefly cringed at the typo. I sound like an idiot...or write like one. Type like one. Gah!
RA: Then you have yet to face your Shadow in its fullness.
RA: It will be inevitable.
RA: Please prepare yourself accordingly.
RA: Good night.
And then there were no more texts.
Shinji had felt out of his element before...but it was at that moment where it truly struck him: he was completely unprepared and ill-suited for all of this. Why am I even here...?
xxx
"You know why..."
xxxx
Shinji let his thoughts swirl about themselves, finally opting to lie down on the bottom bunk and simply collapse in a boneless heap. The calm humming of Kaworu Nagisa served as a strangely relaxing balm, accompanied by the staccato strokes of pencil against paper.
xxxx
"Yo."
Kaworu Nagisa's humming - ongoing for the past few hours - finally came to an end. "Welcome back, Toji-kun. I trust the track team is well?"
"Same as always," grunted the taller boy, his short yet full head of dark hair matted with sweat. Withdrawing some sleeping clothes, he began peeling off his matted track suit while asking, "has Ken shown up yet?"
"I have not seen Kensuke-kun since this morning."
"Eh, he's probably taking a quick trip to his old man's place. He's always griping about our Internet speed..." Toji's voice trailed off, prompting Kaworu to turn around; the jock was staring quietly at the slumbering form of Shinji Ikari. "That our new roommate?"
"Yes."
"...he's the new transfer student that was in our homeroom."
"Ah, how fortunate for you. What was Shinji-kun like?"
Toji huffed, sitting down with an exaggerated sigh on his lower bunk. "Quiet. Kinda reserved...just kinda 'there', if you get my meaning." A pause. "Should'a figured he'd be replacing Tomochika."
Kaworu's smile took on a slightly melancholic quality. "Kenji-kun's death wasn't your fault."
"...and yet here we are with a new roommate, less than a month later, like Tomochika never existed at all..." The boy leaned back on his bed, crossing his arms behind his head. "Makes me sick."
Kaworu merely shrugged, turning back to his homework. Humans could be so strange, sometimes.
xxxx
Meanwhile, within one of the residential apartments sitting to the west of Lake Ashi, Kensuke Aida quietly entered his old room.
It was one of the strange tidbits about life at Hakone Academy; although everyone was required to have their own room within the dorms on campus, it wasn't mandatory that they actually stay there on a 24/7 basis. This was especially useful for those who still enjoyed time with their families. It was one of the strange aspects of teenage life: wanting to escape the nest, to stand on one's own feet, yet still yearning for the comfort of home in the midst of the strange and bizarre world of junior high school.
For Kensuke, he liked home because it meant less people snooping around...and also because the dorm's WiFi was legitimately awful. But seriously, there were perks to his father being a workaholic...such as, for example, the fact that his father normally wasn't home.
He quietly entered his room, locking his door and blocking it. Door, check. The thick curtains over his windows, specifically weighted to block ambient light. Windows, check. He turned towards his topsy-turvy tangle of technological trinkets: various computers and laptops and circuit boards that had been disassembled and reassembled over the years, a testament to his engineering 'hobby'. At least, his dad believed it to be a hobby.
The various posters and action figures dedicated to the Anti-Terror Task Force hinted at his true ambition.
"Tonight's the night...tonight will finally be the night." Kensuke readjusted his eyeglasses, putting the finishing touches on a large fifty-inch flat screen television that bore various attachments and doodads. Their effects were myriad and ineffectual, in isolation...but combined? Maybe...just maybe...well, actions would speak louder than words.
And so he tinkered, and worked...until, with a hesitant gulp, he finally flicked the switch, turning his modded television monitor on.
Its screen was glowing bright and white, with no gradient in color or brightness. From its speakers, a distorted yet feminine voice whispered, "Cognitive tunneling: permitted."
A rapturous grin split across his face. "Sweet," he whispered. "Now...to commence testing!" He gingerly reached for the television surface, pressing at it and his arm was going through it like water-
One minute later, the television was turned off, all of the room lights were off, and Kensuke was on the verge of hyperventilating. "Holy shit holy shit holy shit I've got a door to the Metaverse in my ROOM it's real it's real it's frickin' REAL..."
Clearly, testing would have to wait for another day.
xxxx
END OF 6/8/2015
xxxx
/Fuyutsuki as a Hierophant?
/Kaworu Nagisa as a roommate??
/Keel Lorenz as the school principal?
/THE AU MADNESS HAS GONE CRAZY