"Too bad, Shinji," Asuka proclaims, "it is decided."
She snatches the last mochi from his plate, and places it smartly in front of Rei.
"It's her favorite, after all," Asuka states.
It's strawberry, and it is indeed Rei's favorite. Rei smiles like a child, pressing her hands together.
"It's my favorite too…" Shinji pouts.
"The Princess has spoken," intones Mari, biting into her vanilla mochi.
"What is this, now?" Tohji protests. "Shinji and I only get two?"
Hikari had taken his chocolate one.
"You're married," Asuka says by way of explanation.
Tohji huffs. "Don't you think you should leave that between me and my wife?" he grumbles.
Hikari seems pleased enough.
"Kensuke," Tohji complains, "help me out here!"
Kensuke shrugs apologetically. "Eh… it is decided."
Asuka makes an expression that says 'that's right,' popping her last mochi into her mouth.
Rei is aglow inside. She loves spending time with her friends. They are a welcome interlude to her solitary writing. Always. And Asuka's return to her old self makes her happiest of all.
It has been almost two months now, since the Waking. Asuka had worried them all, and then she had had her episode… Rei had been terrified, to be honest. But then… Asuka just bounced back. Like never before, almost. It had given Rei immeasurable relief.
It must have had something to do with her writer's block as well, because after that, she'd written like never before. The novel she'd expected to spend the next half year working on had been finished in less than a month. Now she's well into the next one.
They leave the cafe in Kawasaki in the late morning. It's a beautiful Summer Sunday. The sun is not too hot yet. It's another perfect day.
"Hey!" says Tohji suddenly, "All Night in Towara is playing at Toho! I think there's a noon showing–"
Asuka shoots an immutable finger into the air. "Ah ah! We girls have plans, or did you forget?"
Tohji huffs again. "Plans, always plans! It's a perfect day to–"
"Nope!" says Asuka. "We're taking Rei to Azalea to do a little shopping. She needs something other than a Kimono to wear out on the town. Isn't that right?" Asuka asks Rei.
Rei smiles. She loves her kimonos. She feels so womanly in them. But they are old fashioned. Asuka plied her to come along shopping, and Rei had happily agreed. She nods.
"Ah…" says Tohji.
"It's so bad, is it?" Kensuke asks. "Spending time with the guys?"
"Ah, you guys are boring," Tohji says. "How about a little variety? When I go without Hikari, all the women think I'm single…"
Hikari assumes a fighting stance and punches him in the shoulder.
"Ow…" he pretends to be hurt.
"Oh, poor Tohji…" coos Mari.
"Come now, Tohji," says Kaworu, putting his arm around his shoulder, "don't you know without the girls, we can wax philosophical without complaint? Deep, manly discussions."
Tohji considers this, nodding sagely. "Mm, true, true… after all, there is much to discuss about All Night in Towara."
Asuka rolls her eyes performatively, moving toward the crosswalk where they will part ways.
What a special day. Not only is Rei with her friends, treasured Asuka is taking her on a mission. It makes her feel special. She grins broadly.
She skips ahead of Asuka, just off the curb. "I'm excited! I know what I want, it's something in yellow–"
There's a loud roar and something of great of great force comes upon Rei. She hears the screeching of tires. She finds herself spinning, and suddenly she's on the ground.
There are gasps.
"Rei!" Shinji cries.
Shocked, Rei looks down at her hands.
Suddenly Asuka is there, and all bluster has gone as her blue eyes search Rei urgently, her hands squeezing her shoulders.
The sports car stopped a few meters from them. The door opens and a man dressed in slacks and expensive sunglasses steps out, surprise on his face.
"What are you doing?" he questions them, stunned as well.
Rei is sitting in the street she realizes. She must have crossed too soon.
"What are you doing, you maniac?" Tohji starts. "You–"
Asuka isn't flustered, she's reeling. "Rei, are you in pain?" she asks.
Rei looks down. She sees her legs, her belly. She's not hurting anywhere that she can feel. She meets Asuka's eyes. "I think I'm fine."
Asuka lets out a breath of relief.
"What am I doing?" the well-dressed man asks, indignant, "what are you doing running in the street–"
Something hot seems to pour into Asuka, and she rounds on the man, inflating to her whole fury.
"Do you have any idea how precious this woman is?" she bellows.
A feeling Rei has never felt fills her from her head to her toes.
The man is gobsmacked. He reels back, at a loss for words.
"Come on," says Asuka, "stand."
She pulls on Rei's hands, and she stands up. She seems to be okay. It was a near miss, is all.
"Let's go," says Asuka, without another look at the man. She takes Rei's hand and leads her across the crosswalk, which now has the 'please walk,' sign flashing.
Rei is thinking about Asuka's hand in hers. It's not close enough, so she pulls Asuka and wraps both of her arms around Asuka's, holding it to her torso. She smiles like she can't help it.
"It's okay, Asuka. I'm safe with you."
Asuka looks over her shoulder. A little scared, a little embarrassed. She bends her arm so she can hold Rei's forearm as well.
"Yes, you are, Star Child. Yes, you are."