Shinji was following the girls to school, feeling confused and probably happy.

The confused he was certain about. If there was one emotion Asuka had taught him to recognise it was confusion.

He had no idea what to think about perky-Asuka. He was reasonably sure 'perky' was the correct description. He'd heard a couple of other girls described that way, and Asuka's current behaviour seemed to match. At least she hadn't been quite this cheerful when they woke up. If she had, he'd have been more concerned she had heat stroke from sleeping in his room. She'd come to him, despite the heat, which was unexpected given the last few weeks. He suspected it was some sort of apology for her treatment over the last few days, but this was Asuka, she'd never say that out loud so he was left guessing again. That she'd been nuzzling him and stroking his chest before reluctantly getting up was inexplicable, certainly Asuka hadn't and wasn't going to explain. That was new and not even strange-Asuka behaviour. Especially as she'd been mumbling something about Rei a few waking minutes earlier.

He wasn't sure what they had talked about for so long yesterday, other than that apparently Asuka had been convinced that he and Rei had already had sex during the storm. Which was bizarre enough to be something Asuka would come up with. With the amount she called other people perverts, if it wasn't that the only person she showed any interest at all in was Rei, he'd have started to this she was the one obsessed with it.

Whatever else it had included they had both looked awkward when they met. Hugging Rei had apparently solved that, as it seemed to solve many things for them. Even if Asuka had refused to let go after the allotted two minutes.

So he'd been watching them chatter as they walked. Alright, Asuka chattered and Rei smiled at her. Which had made him want to smile. So he had. Which meant he was probably happy.

Which was the point that Rei had glanced back and noticed. Then smiled at him. She'd nudged Asuka, interrupting whatever she was saying and said something to her. Asuka had frowned, then also looked back at him. Then smiled, and not in that mocking way she had but an actual smile.

So he was almost certain he was happy.