Five Years Ago.

Gendo tried to rub the sting out of his eyes once more, but failed. He tamped the rest of the cigarette against the ashtray and scratched the final lines of his most desperate unit test yet. A knock on the door made him look up, but the progress bar on his main monitor was barely halfway through.

"Not yet!"

A frazzled Fuyutsuki opened the door, and the void of the hallway contrasted with the greens and blues of the lab. "Nevermind that, you were right: he's a plant. But why let him in, then?"

Gendo leaned back in his office chair and smiled. "I know his type. He won't be able to resist playing for both teams, so it's in his best interest to keep his mouth shut."

"He knows far too much already."

"It's the only way. By the time they come back looking for more, Rei should be back with us." Fuyutsuki closed the door behind him and walked to Gendo's desk. "Ikari, you can't tell me Akagi meant this little to you."

He stopped writing on the clipboard and looked at him over his glasses. "No, I can't. But there's no time for grief."

The old man clenched his hand inside his coat pocket. He'd many opinions, of which he voiced none. "Is the transfer finally done?"

"Like I said, not yet." He pointed at the progress bar with his pen. "This is a new parameterized configuration by Melchior, but I'm very skeptical."

"Is the system not what was promised?"

Gendo shook his head. "I think it's an interfacing issue. Naoko did most of her work on the low level, no budget or time for decent APIs, and this is simply not my field. We need someone who understands not only her work, but the way she worked, and the way she thought about and solved these problems."

Fuyutsuki closed his eyes and nodded, finishing the thought for him. "We need Ritsuko. I can't say I like it. It's only been a few days."

"You know work can be a great distraction. More importantly, barring extraordinary circumstances, Ritsuko should be the last person we allow in the scenario. Now, please go, and let me know when she's here."

"Understood." He walked back to the door and opened it. It let out a steel creak. "By the way, the restructuring is finally done, Shigemitsu came to tell me himself: We are now officially NERV." He closed the door and his footsteps echoed and faded away.

"About time."

A failed simulation and another cigarette later, Gendo sat on a small bench in the lower terrace looking down at the deeper levels of the rising GeoFront. A caravan of U.N. contractors were in the middle of transporting and installing the great lifts and cranes necessary for the next phase of the Adam Revival Project. The faint machine sounds and dim flood lights surrounding the perimeter were a stark reminder of the forthcoming night. But before the red sunlight had left them completely, Ritsuko arrived. She wore a freshly minted Level-E Access card in a lanyard and a curious expression. She studied his back for a few seconds before letting her presence be known.

"Doctor Ikari, Professor Fuyutsuki told me to report to you but, with all due respect, what he told me was… I think he was joking." She smiled tentatively, but because of his silence, her smile didn't last. Gendo stood and buttoned up his lab coat.

"Come with me."

They took the main elevator down to one of the deepest levels in a prolonged silence—small talk felt inappropriate. They walked down a wide, dimly lit hallway, where enormous industrial pipes pumped the lifeblood of the facility—a translucent orange liquid whose origins were unknown to most and whose applications ranged from lubricant, to solvent, to even corrections in protein synthesis. That such substance was a mere byproduct of whatever they were really researching in this facility filled her with both wonder and dread. They arrived at a large toroidal space with no windows and a high ceiling, and the sparse LED strips on the edges of the floor were her only guide in this particular circle of hell. Gendo pulled down a cabled controller, tampered with the settings and pushed a button.

The floor lit up with phosphorescent gold and the walls streaked with complex chains of red and neon green, and the tightly wound knot of industrial piping hanging from the vault reminded her of an encephalogram. Under this structure, a glass cylinder was filled to the brim with the same orange liquid, and inside it floated the body of a Rei Ayanami that looked slightly older than she remembered.

Ritsuko gasped. "That girl..."

"Was dead. Yes. Her body was a vessel for the soul of the Second Angel."

"A contact experiment?"

"No. A salvage operation in the aftermath of one. We've replicated the process, but the body and soul are now rejecting each other. We don't know why—your job is to find out. With NERV officially in business, my role will become increasingly managerial, so I need someone on the ground floor. Someone I can trust. Will that someone be you, Doctor Akagi?"

Ritsuko's eyes widened. That was her now. She slowly nodded as her shock turned into determination.

The days went by with cruel speed. She would leave only to sleep or to briefly supervise "Project E", and he would move from office to lab and from meeting to test. In his brief moments of respite, he visited the vault where the soul was kept from returning to the Chamber of Guf. To Gendo, the Katsuragi-Bauer Box was the only appreciable thing to come out of that detestable expedition.

Three time-harried weeks later, a breakthrough. Gendo opened the doors to the main laboratory. In the dead of night, it was the only sound for miles.

"Our time is short. I need good news."

Ritsuko stood up from her console. "Commander, I've done it. The memory transfer is virtually guaranteed." She hesitated, then kept going as she typed. "There's only one thing... As my mother suspected, the entire cognitive structure is an integrated cluster of heuristic machines. This means we cannot just transpose the muscle memory of her learning how to talk and walk and behave without also mapping her temperament and what we'd consider... less relevant events. She will remember everything up to the point of death."

Gendo nodded, and he skimmed the branching timeline of events that she presented on-screen. "How long will it take?"

"If I start now, maybe by Tuesday."

"It must be earlier."

She furrowed her brow and looked around the room as if the answers lay hidden in one of the corners. "I… guess I could shave a few hours off if I skip the initial diagnostics suite."

Gendo shook his head, and Ritsuko wasn't sure if what she saw in his eyes was remorse or disdain. "You have until Monday."

"But that's impossible! The integration tests, the required observation sessions, there is an upcoming integrity test for Unit-00 and I—"

Gendo removed his glasses and placed them into his chest pocket, and in a number of strides he was close enough for Ritsuko to have to tilt her head to keep eye contact. He grabbed her hands and spoke without hesitation. "I need you to do it, Ritsuko. They will come. You know who I'm talking about. They must not know that Rei can be replaced—It is paramount for our survival. Only you can be trusted with this responsibility."

Ritsuko's mouth moved, but no words came out. Her nod started small and unsure but grew as confident as it ever could, given the circumstances. "I'll do it. I'll start right away."

Gendo peered down through the ribbon window of his office. Recent events had brought certain memories back. He pulled out his phone and speed-dialed a number as he walked back to his desk, where his monitor ran a selection of looping CCTV footage.

"Akagi speaking."

"Is the latest backup finished?"

"Yes, just now."

"Send her to my office."

He flipped his phone closed and set it on the table, then joined his hands in that peculiar fashion as he watched he resumed watching the screen.

Rei gasped for air and a current of coppery cold circulated through her naked body. She opened her eyes and the world went from black to pure orange, and only the faint glow of computer screens promised a world beyond the glass wall.

She hadn't been fully awake yet when her mind was assaulted with years worth of memories in the span of mere seconds: being dressed in an austere room, toddling towards a nice man, being fed with a plastic spoon, a dome saturated with stars, the canopy of the GeoFront's artificial forest, a pair of comfortable arms, a coloring book, the black moon smiling at her, blue birds taking flight on a fresh summer morning, long, gray hallways filled with echoing chatter and artificial light, writing kanji in a notebook, long, sharp needles and surgical instruments, a man calling her name, the cold of a stream around her feet, the graveyard of white giants, a woman calling her name, big hands pressed to her neck, the eyes of a hag, her own trachea cracking, the bulging of her eyeballs, the twitching of her leg as the void reclaimed her, pain, emptiness, something calling her name, nothingness, and then light.

Rei thrashed in this translucent prison in a state between pain and revelation. A woman outside called for her, and an alarm went off. The tube was quickly drained and opened, filling her lungs with air and her stomach with the feeling of freefall until she was caught with a thick, dark green towel.

"Can you hear me? Can you understand what I'm saying?"

Rei tried to talk but instead hacked and sputtered as the residual LCL escaped her lungs. The door to the elevator opened and the Commander rushed in.

"Did it work? Can you hear me, Rei?"

Still in Ritsuko's arms, she observed the man with curiosity, extending a hand to his face, softly patting his unkempt stubble.

"...Ikari."

"Yes, good. What is your name?"

"Rei... Nami."

"Correct, Rei Ayanami. You will be the pilot of Unit-00. I am your creator, and you are to obey me. Everyone requires a purpose, this is yours. Do you understand?"

"I... beev so."

Ritsuko began meticulously drying her off. "She'll stabilize in a few hours. We should keep her in observation until it's time to meet them."

"Yes. Good work, Doctor. I knew I could trust you," he said and stood up, keeping his eyes on Rei the entire time. He went for a new towel from the rack, wiped his face with his back to them and returned it. "After tomorrow's meeting with the committee, come to my office."

Ritsuko's delayed response was garbled, fading, as Rei's exhaustion claimed her.

The chime of the elevator brought her back to the present. She tugged at the hem of her skirt in an attempt to ground herself. The hallucinatory memories were a common side effect of the brain-state upload process, but it always took all Rei had to not vomit in the middle of some random hallway whenever Doctor Akagi let her go. The only thing worse than ambulating in such sickly state would be to be sent back to the cold table to be prodded and scrutinized until her condition was deemed acceptable, so she'd just have to deal with the feeling. Lately, it'd become a relief whenever a session with the Doctor was over. She feared that her less-than-miserable last couple of months would be discovered by Doctor Akagi and her endless brain scan printouts, like an oracle divining her happiness from some mystical scroll. And with the Commander's office as her current destination, she knew it was already a possibility. Navigating the complex was such second nature to her that the tall black door was in front of her before she realized. She knocked twice.

"Enter, Rei."

She slowly opened the door and stepped in, then closed it behind her with a click.

"Commander." There was a pregnant pause.

"Come."

She realized she was still by the door, then paced forward until she was at the customary distance from his desk. Gendo stared at her for a long while, and for a moment she behaved as if the true purpose of this habit of his was mere intimidation. But Rei knew better: something weighed heavily in his mind, and this demonstrated how careful he was being about it.

"Tell me, what happened in my absence?"

"We identified and defeated the Eleventh Angel. Colonel Katsuragi executed an unorthodox plan of her own that succeeded despite Magi projections."

Gendo nodded. "Her erratic methods have come in handy. And how are the Eva units?"

"Unit-00 sustained minimal surface damage during the attack and has already been restored to optimal condition. Unit-01 sustained moderate amounts of armor and tissue deterioration in most of its head, torso and feet, as well as complete plate loss in both arms below the elbow. However, the corresponding tissue was regenerated. Unit-02 was not sortied."

"Indeed, Doctor Akagi's report claims Unit-01 went berserk. How would you describe that event?"

"Unit-01 behaved similarly than during the fight against the Third Angel. It broke its facial restraints and engaged in combat on its own. Pilot Ikari was seemingly unconscious for most of it."

"Seemingly?"

"Unit-01's entry plug becomes unresponsive while the Unit is in this state, at least when pinged from Unit-00's interface."

"Right." Gendo nodded again, then grabbed an overstuffed folder from his desk and flipped through several pages before continuing. "It has come to my attention that, in his incoherent state, my son repeatedly called for his mother."

"Commander?" Rei fought to keep the rhythm of her breathing even. She was staring at a basilisk.

"Before and after two of his latest medical interventions, he claimed to be in her presence and repeatedly pleaded for her help. He became aggressive and ultimately had to be heavily sedated." Gendo's eyes travelled down the sheet. "Doctor Akagi ordered all records regarding that particular aspect of his admittance to be deleted, except for this copy."

He set the folder down and closed it, then looked up to her and interlaced his fingers in front of him. "Surveillance footage in NERV's extended care hospital shows you in his room when he regained consciousness. Did he mention this incident to you?"

"No. But he did bring up the subject of Yui Ikari."

Something about saying that name felt wrong, but Rei didn't have the time to think too much about it. The Commander tensed. "What about her?"

"He was under the impression that he'd heard her, at least during the fight, but maybe also afterwards. Though I initially did not plan to, I... lied to him: I suggested it was a hallucination, a product of his injuries."

A brief pause. "Why?"

"Doctor Akagi has not yet disclosed the nature of Unit-01's core to Colonel Katsuragi. For Pilot Ikari to discover this information, it could jeopardize the scenario."

"That is correct. And what will you do about him?"

"It would be best for him not to know."

"That's not what I'm talking about, Rei."

"Then, what—" she began, but then stopped. His glare, she'd only ever seen it when his disagreements with the Vice Commander or Doctor Akagi escalated to almost violence. He already knew, of course he did. This conversation was her last chance to confess. Rei's shoulders raised slightly.

"I... wish to be closer to Pilot Ikari."

The Commander placed his hands at the near edge of his desk, drumming his fingers silently on the surface. He stood up, then motioned Rei to follow him to the window before putting his hands in his pockets. She slowly caught up with him, and he kept quiet for a long time, enough for Rei's eyes to wander. It reminded her of just how tall he was compared to her. Yet, in this moment, his stature did not seem it. He looked tired.

"This world is full of suffering, Rei. Those people out there, they are nothing like us, they don't understand. They open their heart, and it destroys them thoroughly."

She followed his line of sight and looked down at the hundreds of scientists and technicians moving around the various levels of the facility, scarcely more than moving dots at this height. "No matter their polite bows and their obsequiousness, a slight push is all it takes for the most virtuous to stab one another." He turned to her and their eyes met. "To be fully aware of this reality means not to hope it won't happen, but to accept it, and to be ready when it does." He lifted a hand and caressed her face, causing her to stiffen. "Will you?"

It was the most intimate and caring he'd ever been with her, yet his hand felt too large and too cold. She focused on the question over the sensation. She said, "I will," quietly but clearly, and as soon as she did, his hand returned to his pocket. He walked back to the large desk and his expression returned to hewn stone. "Your scan and upload has been postponed to next Friday. You are dismissed."

Rei followed him with her eyes as he sat down, stored the folder in his desk drawer, then returned to work on his computer. When she looked at the Vice Commander behind him, she found him staring back. She put her feet together, bowed respectfully, and left.

Soon after the door was closed, Fuyutsuki stepped forward and simply asked, "Why?" and there was disgust in his voice.

Gendo didn't stop typing. "I'm merely following your advice."

"You play a dangerous game, Ikari," he growled, but no response came. After a while, the old man stepped back. He sighed gravely. "I guess no good deed goes unpunished."

"Hey, Rei. Ready to go?"

"Yes, Colonel."

Rei entered the blue car on the passenger's side and put on her seatbelt, then turned to the seat behind Misato's with a timid smile. "Hello."

"Hi, Rei." Shinji waved timidly. The backseats weren't as spacious as the front, so he had to lift his knees to fit properly.

"Ooh, so it's 'Rei' now?" Misato said. She adjusted the rear-view mirror to better enjoy the incoming reaction.

"Misato, don't!" His shoulders hiked up instinctively, and she couldn't hold her grin. "Fine! But I'm saving them up, and you're not gonna like it." She shifted gears and drove toward the exit ramp. "We're gonna pick up Asuka and then it's dinner time! Do you guys know where you wanna go yet?"

"Asuka's the one who knows the place. Where is she, by the way?"

"I assume she's back at the apartment. Ritsuko forbade her from coming to NERV until she's fully recovered. Unless there's another attack, of course."

Shinji cringed. "Please, none of that. And knowing Asuka, she's probably super bored by now."

Misato threw her hand as if halfheartedly swatting a fly. "She's fine! There's tons of stuff on TV... Wait, scratch that. The last angel blew up two of the media broadcasting satellites. Okay, now I'm a bit worried." She dialed her number on the car's phone and picked it up. It took a while for her to answer, and her voice barely made it over the roar of the engine and the windows rolled half down.

"Hello?"

"Hey, we're gonna pick you up for dinner." She heard lively conversation in the background. "Where are you right now?"

"I'm at Hikari's."

"With whose permission, Asuka? And how did you get there?"

"Oh, come on! Her sister picked us up after school. You do remember we're supposed to go to school, right? It's not my fault those two keep missing it!"

"Okay, okay, I get it. Did you at least lock up the apartment?"

"Yeah, I always do."

"What about the balcony? The last thing we need is PenPen escaping."

"Oh, God forbid," she said quietly.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Listen, let me just give you Hikari's address, it's on the way to the place we're going anyway, kinda."

Shinji wanted out of the conversation, even just listening. He tapped Rei's shoulder to get her attention.

"Yes, Ikari?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. If you're letting me call you Rei, you should call me by my first name too."

She smiled and quietly said between them, "Yes, Shinji."

He looked away for a moment. "Hehe... Yeah. Anyway, have you talked to Asuka at school recently? I think she's ignoring my messages."

Rei shook her head. "She's only willing to converse with Miss Horaki. I tried to talk to her but, as you know, I'm not very good at it."

"Don't worry, I know she doesn't make it any easier. Let's just see how today goes." He offered her a tentative smile.

Rei nodded. Misato finished her conversation and set the headpiece back down, then grabbed the wheel tightly. "Asuka says that Horaki warned her that if her dad makes it home from work before she leaves, he's gonna aggressively invite her to stay for dinner, so you guys better hang on to your butts!"

By the time her sentence was over, they were already pressed against the seats, and despite her stoic expression, Rei was holding the ceiling handle tightly. After a few minutes and a brief but polite exchange with the Horakis, Asuka walked to the car and called shotgun. By now her limp was only noticeable if one was actively looking for it. Rei ceded her seat without reproach and sat in the back beside Shinji, then Asuka entered the passenger side, shut the door, and had to be reminded to put on her seatbelt.

"Hey, your leg's much better now!" Shinji said.

"No thanks to you." She turned briefly to him and then rested her right elbow on the door and her cheek on her hand.

"I guess you're right," he muttered while looking down. He felt a cool and soft hand on top of his, and looked at it and then up to find Rei giving him a concerned look. Shinji felt the butterflies in his stomach burst into flames as he caught Asuka in the rear-view mirror, staring daggers at him. He quickly retrieved his hand, but by the time he looked back at the reflection, Asuka looked disinterestedly out the window.

Though Misato could feel the silent tension, she knew better than to make light of it, so instead she turned on a radio show and for once, the kids seemed to appreciate the distraction. The comedic double act even got a few reluctant laughs out of Asuka and prompted Rei to ask for clarifications on social etiquette.

'Teenagers,' Misato thought.

"So, we're almost there. Are you guys sure this is the place? it's kinda... bare." The car took one last exit and slowed down near a low transit area. In it, the lot-turned-park had a small ramen stand tucked between a traditionally styled gazebo and the inner corner made by the other buildings.

"Yep. We know things have been tough on the budgetary side, so don't sweat it!" Asuka said. "Besides, Miss Perfect here said she'd come if we went out for ramen. Now, come on!" She opened the door and stretched loudly, then closed it and walked to the stand.

Misato turned to Rei and Shinji with a smile. "Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. Oh, Rei, the recliner lever is to the right. Yep, right there."

"No problem, Misato," Shinji said. "Just make sure to thank Asuka as well."

"Yeah, of course."

They joined Asuka at the row of stools and placed their order: garlic for Rei, shark fin and roast pork for Asuka, boiled eggs and radish for Misato, and beef for Shinji. Though the dish made Misato slightly nostalgic, she focused on enjoying the moment. They helped themselves as soon as each bowl arrived. Asuka split her chopsticks with gusto and plucked a piece of pork with them. "So, when the hell are you guys coming back to school?"

"Tomorrow, actually," Shinji said with a reluctant smile. "Though, I'm surprised you're the one bringing up school."

"It jusso minenuming!" She said before swallowing. "At the very least I know you two. And, it'll make that knucklehead stop asking me about you."

"You mean Toji? Is he okay?"

"Yeah. It seems everybody from 2-A made it."

"That's good."

"When will you return to NERV?"

Everybody turned to Rei. Asuka slurped the noodles into her mouth. "A few days, tops. What's it to you?"

"Shinji was worried you might die of boredom."

Asuka's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Well, I'm sure he didn't mean it literally." She mocked, "You do know the difference, right?"

Rei shrugged. "I don't suppose it matters."

"Hmm. Regardless, I know the idiot's been busy being unconscious, but why aren't you going to school, Miss Perfect? You're even wearing the uniform." She clicked her teeth, craned her head, and whispered excitedly, "Don't tell me you've been playing hooky!"

Her response was guarded. "I'm unfamiliar with that game. I wear the uniform because it's sufficient."

"Sufficient? The color's awful and the cut is so antiquated and, I don't know, unsightly! It looks like a kindergartener's! And who the hell wears their uniform on a day off?"

Rei ate some of her noodles. "That wouldn't make it insufficient. I believe you're outnumbered as Shinji also wears his uniform exclusively."

"It's a good look for me, okay?" He chimed in, then grumbled, "I don't know why this is a big deal."

Asuka pointed at him with her chopsticks while keeping her attention on Rei. "Yeah, but he's a boob with no fashion sense, and I swear I've seen him wear something else at least once!" Asuka saw her take another bite, so she pressed on, "This is definitely weirdo behavior. Misato, back me up here!" She looked at Misato, but her smirk faded when she saw the way she stared back at them.

"Rei, would you mind if we visit your apartment after this?"

"As you wish, Colonel."

"Rei..."

"I apologize. Misato."

Her expression softened. "That's okay, Rei. What were you asking, Asuka?"

"Never mind, you okay there?" Asuka said, and Misato looked at her with wistful eyes.

"Me? Yeah, I'm okay. There's something I need to tell you guys. It's not really a bad thing, but let's wait until we get back to the apartment." She perked up and said, "Hey, these hard-boiled eggs are really good! Want some?"

Asuka glanced at Rei and then at Shinji, who shrugged. "I guess... but I'm not giving you any of my shark, okay?"

"Fine by me."

Misato turned the engine off and Rei immediately got out of the car and walked to the entrance of the apartment complex. Shinji reached for the recliner lever, but Misato gestured for him to stop.

"Shinji, Asuka, please wait here. I won't be long." Misato unbuckled her seat belt and reached to the glove box for her NERV-issued semi-automatic pistol. She confirmed that it was loaded and holstered it under her jacket. She exited the vehicle and looked at Shinji's dreadful expression.

"It'll be alright, don't worry."

As they climbed up the stairs, Misato pulled out her phone and speed-dialed a number.

"Good Evening, Colonel. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Hey, Mister Kamiya. Can you get me whoever's in charge of West Block C0?"

"Let me check... Yeah, it's Ogata, he covers C0 through 10 this month. Want me to put you through?"

"Yes, please."

A particularly rancid smell pulled her attention to the floor. Shinji was really on the mark about this pigsty. The soles of her boots were already sticky, and the beer cans in that corner didn't look as old as the rest of the trash.

"Hello? This is Ogata."

"Yes, hi, Katsuragi here. I'm currently heading to the First Child's apartment. I want you all to pull out of the building for a few minutes."

"I'm... not sure I can comply with that request, Colonel."

"Don't worry, Commander Ikari knows I'm here."

"With all due respect, Miss Katsuragi, would you mind if I corroborated that before proceeding?"

"You can do as you please, but I don't imagine you want to bother Mister Yamamoto on his day off, do you?"

"Well... No, I guess not. Give me five minutes."

"Take your time," she said cheerily and hung up.

At the end of several flights of stairs and a long hallway, Misato reached the apartment door first and stopped to examine it. She scoffed in disbelief at the busted lock, then slowly pushed it open. After a quick peek inside, she turned to the hallway, sidestepped and looked over the railing and counted half a dozen agents gathering in the parking lot. Only after they returned to their cars did she follow Rei inside. Misato suppressed a gasp at the decrepit interior. A pile of bandages caked with blood sat folded inside a cardboard box by a small fridge, the top of which was littered with pills and bottles and a beaker filled with water. The bed was austere with clean and tight sheets, and a wide reading lamp clamped onto its simple metal frame. It was more like a prison cot than a teenage girl's bed. The lack of plants, the large bare panel walls, and the closed-off navy blue curtains made her remember the days of her "evaluations" just after Second Impact. Rei stood with her back to her, holding a small case with both hands. Misato walked to the folding chair in the middle of the room and sat on it.

"We need to talk," Misato said. Her throat felt dry. "Ritsuko told me what you are."

Rei turned to her, slowly. She placed the case gently on the drawer then walked to the edge of her bed and sat down. She noticed the grip of Misato's handgun peering out of her jacket.

"If that's the case, then you know I can be replaced."

Misato nodded grimly. "I know. I remember when I first came to NERV-Japan. Nobody knew where you came from, or who your parents were, or how long you'd been training for. When Ritsuko told me what she and the Commander did down in Terminal Dogma... it all made so much sense. The hair, the eyes, the pale skin. 'Made out of angel flesh, molded like clay'. How insane does that sound? But Ritsuko is not one to mess around, and I heard as much as she was allegedly allowed to tell me. Now, I don't know what kind of relationship you have with her, but she was as blunt and clinical as you'd expect: 'She's a vessel for the Second Angel, her social development is stunted', something about light-wave matter, et cetera, et cetera. If I went only by her explanation, I'd probably be trying something harsh right now. Nothing personal."

Rei smiled mirthlessly, waiting for the worst.

"But you know what? I don't believe her. Not that I think she's lying, mind you. I think she's either not paying attention, or you've been hiding from her, and maybe even from the Commander too. Am I wrong?"

Rei just stared. While Misato waited for a response, the chair proved a tad uncomfortable, so she crossed her legs and put her hands together. "It was Shinji who first put you on my radar, and I immediately noticed the way you guys interacted; I saw the way he talks to you, the way you look at him when he boards the Eva, the way you behave when he's around, and the way you do when he's not. And I noticed the same about him."

Nothing. She grew irritated. "Rei, I need you to work with me, please. Say something." She looked up to face the girl and was surprised to see her a little shaken.

Her voice was tiny. "I am not an angel."

"What are you, then?"

She clenched her fist, pulling slightly on the fabric of her skirt. "I am Rei Ayanami. Is that not enough?"

"I wish it was that simple."

There was a pause, and Rei seemed to calm down.

"Why did you recall Section 2? You don't plan to hurt me."

"True, but we can't have them knowing about your background, can we? Actually, there's another reason. I lied to Agent Ogata, Commander Ikari doesn't know I'm here. Do you know why I lied to him?

"Perhaps you want to see if the Commander trusts you?"

Misato nodded. "You could say that. It all depends on what you tell him. After speaking with Ritsuko, I believe the only person Ikari really trusts is you."

"I find that hard to believe."

"I'll guess we'll have to find out together. I have a favor to ask."

"A favor?"

Misato straigthened in the chair and crossed her arms. "Yes. This is not an order, so feel free to refuse. See, I'm leaving Japan for a few weeks. The Commander needs me elsewhere for... Nevermind, it's not important. But that would usually mean I need to find someone else in NERV to take over as Shinji and Asuka's guardian, or at least have them move to the GeoFront. But I don't think that would be good for them, and especially not for you. Commander Ikari, however, is very suspicious of my and Kaji's intentions, and I can't say I blame him. But if you're there, I think that'd give us more of a chance to get away with it. And of course, you'd get to be near Shinji more often. So it's a win-win, right? What do you think?"

"I cannot lie to the Commander."

"I'm not asking you to lie. Tell him whatever he needs to know. Just... remember what I told you about regret, okay?"

"I see." Rei thought for a moment. She looked at the kitchenette, then the fridge, then the beaker. Whatever moonlight was able to make its way to it was refracted into a soothing arc of colors. She turned to Misato and said simply, "I accept."

Misato stood up and walked towards Rei, and her face was serious but without malice. She placed a hand on her shoulder. "That's great. And if you truly want to be Rei Ayanami, then show me—prove Ritsuko wrong. I care about those kids, but I think I'd bring more danger to them by staying."

She was about to remove her hand, but Rei put hers on top of it. "About Shinji."

"Yes?"

Rei looked up at her. "Being what I am, it's not enjoyable. My schedule is tedious and my freedom is scarce. But Shinji, he makes the pain go away. I don't know if that means I love him, but I would like to find out. I'm not deceiving him."

Misato smiled at her. "Come on, let's pack your stuff."

When Misato and Rei returned, each carrying a large cardboard box, they found Shinji and Asuka resting lazily on the car's hood. Misato peered over the box she was carrying and asked, "What are you two doing?"

"Nothing, it's just too damn hot inside the car." Asuka said.

"Well, you better get off. We need to use the trunk. It's in the front."

Asuka hopped off in one leap, while Shinji was more methodical. "What's that stuff anyway?"

"Guys, I had a little chat with Rei and she's agreed to move into the apartment with us."

"What?!" Shinji and Asuka shouted, but their tone was of surprise and anger, respectively. "Are you out of your mind, Misato? There's absolutely no way I'm sharing a bathroom with three people and the penguin. And where the hell is she even going to sleep? I'm not sharing my room!"

As she rolled off her list of complaints, everyone took their seats and Misato started the engine. "Alright, Asuka. So would you rather she sleep with Shinji, then?"

"Misato!" Shinji protested, and his sudden blush reached the tips of his ears. Rei was confused, yet intrigued. Misato shifted gears and drove them out of the parking lot. She gave him a toothy grin. "I told you I was saving them up, Shinji. I mean, can I really trust you alone with these two?"

Asuka cried, "Oh my God, you're such an indecent woman!"

Misato laughed heartily. "Alright, I lied, sorry. That's not actually happening. Listen, there's an apartment right below ours that's recently became available, so Rei will take it. I want you guys to be near each other because I need to leave town for a few weeks."

"You're leaving? And who's gonna take care of us?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, let me just call Ibuki, I didn't think you'd want a babysitter." She winked at her grumbling and continued. "You guys know what you're doing. Rei's been living by herself for a while, and Shinji can cook and clean. You can do my chores and you'll be just fine. You're Eva pilots, I'm sure you can handle going to school and coming back home. Plus, Section 2 will still be around. But this means I'm trusting you guys, so don't make me regret it."

"By that logic, can I borrow your car?"

"Hey, don't push it, lady."

"Okay, okay. Any other vehicle?"

"Nope."

Asuka blew a raspberry at her.

"Misato, will you be alright?" Shinji asked, and his tone was far from cheerful.

"Yes, Shinji. This is just bureaucrat stuff, it comes with the rank. I'm actually more worried about you guys. While I'm gone, the Commander will take over operations in the event of an angel attack."

"Oh, great," Shinji grumbled.

They bantered and haggled about their living arrangements, and Rei fell silent, enjoying the animated conversation. They arrived back at Misato's apartment complex and entered the elevator, with Shinji and Rei each carrying a box. As they ascended, Misato pulled out her key card and offered it to Asuka.

"Here, while we help Rei get set up, go prepare the bath and hopefully you'll be out by the time we return."

"Oh, don't mind if I do!"

The elevator dinged and Misato, Rei and Shinji stepped out. The walk to Rei's new apartment was uncannily similar to the one to Misato's, with the only difference being the numbered plaques beside each entrance door, and a small room for cleaning supplies.

"I was planning on having Rei move through the week, but considering how little she's bringing over and her... peculiar living space, I think even a barely furnished apartment here is a marked improvement."

"See? I was telling the truth," Shinji said.

"Never doubted you, kid." Misato produced another card and opened the door, and the damp, warm air that escaped from inside made her frown. "That's... worse than I thought."

She turned on the lights and they all removed their shoes before following Misato to the kitchen. Shinji placed both boxes on the kitchen counter. It was the exact same as Misato's apartment sans most of the furniture.

"Okay, I need to make sure the fridge and the plumbing and the bath are all working. Why don't you give Rei a little tour?"

Shinji showed her the master bedroom and the terrace, where he pointed to the locations of nearby stores and the nearest train station. They returned inside and he showed her the living room, the storage room, and would finish with the second bedroom. Given the size of the apartment, it only took a few minutes.

He slid the door open and walked in. "...And this is the equivalent of Asuka's room, though it's not as big as the master bedroom."

She followed him in and looked around. "I like this one better. It feels comfortable, somehow."

"You mean cozy?"

"Yes, that seems accurate."

"Well, that's pretty much it." He gestured to his left. "Oh, and that's the closet, but I hope yours is a bit better because the doors get stuck sometimes in ours..."

Rei watched Shinji raptly as he explained. They were finally alone and she knew exactly what she needed to say. Yet, the dread kept her in place, and her hands were cold and clammy. It was frustrating in a way she wasn't used to. By all logic, nothing stopped them from resuming their friendship if he refused her, but the possibility still evoked scenes of melodramatic catastrophe in her imagination. She felt the hairs on her neck raise at the risk of being discovered by his guardian. Her thumb explored the side of her fingers and some of her fringe stuck to her forehead in the stifling heat.

He was asking her something that she didn't hear—time was up. She inhaled shallowly and stepped forward, reaching with her hand and taking his, and it was warm and comfortably bigger than hers.

That got his full attention, and he asked, "Rei? What is it?"

She closed the distance and kissed him gently on the cheek. She could hear his him gasp, and her blue bangs were soft and itchy on his nose and temple. As her lips brushed against his face, she felt their AT-Fields enveloping upon each other, producing sparks of unseen light wherever they most deeply intersected. The same feelings that fueled the kaleidoscope between them manifested in the physical world as the pink tinge in her cheeks and the hitching of his breath.

As she pulled away from him, she whispered, "Thank you," in a voice so sweet it made Shinji's knees weak. Her excitement could not be contained and she swayed demurely to-and-fro with her skirt flowing along.

"For what?" He stammered.

"For being you, and for the 'little tour'. Let's return to Colonel Katsuragi."

"Uh, sure," he replied with a silly smile. They walked to the living room and waited for Misato to join them. Whenever Rei searched for his eyes, he looked away, but somehow things didn't feel wrong for her.

"Good news, save for a few lights in the balcony, it seems everything's working as it should. Did you pick a room yet?"

"Yes I did. It's cozy. I think I'll like it."

Misato gave her a thumbs up. "Great! Hey, it's getting kinda late now and you guys are going back to school tomorrow." She walked back to the entrance and the kids followed her. Misato and Shinji put their shoes back on. "Call me or Shinji if you need anything, okay? I'll be around until the weekend."

Rei bowed respectfully and waved them goodbye as they left. The jumble of sensations in her stomach was even stronger than before, but they felt different, pleasant, exciting. She hadn't expressed herself fully yet, but it felt good enough for now. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, hoping for this new arrangement to last as long as it could.