Shinji was somewhat revealed to see Ayanami at her desk when he arrived. She had been "unavailable" for the mission to stop the runaway robot and he'd been worried she was hurt again. Of course no one would tell him anything when he asked, except for Misato making unreasonable and impossible comments that told him nothing.

Toji would be disappointed, he'd had an extra lunch every day Ayanami had been missing from school. He wondered what trouble Toji had managed to get in already as the Class Rep was standing by their desks. He really hoped Kensuke was over talking about the robot, yesterday had been an endless stream of questions, most of which he couldn't answer.

"Hey Shin-man!"

The three of them looked at him as he sat at his desk. He was about to say something, he wasn't quite sure what when their corner of the classroom fell silent.

"Pilot Ikari, please see me at lunch."

He hadn't even noticed her approaching, the weird looks his friends had been giving him had been distracting. Ayanami looked fine, no new bandages or other visible signs of injury. That didn't necessarily mean she wasn't hurt though, and she called him Pilot so it was probably some Nerv related thing she couldn't discuss in class.

"Is something wrong Ayanami?"

She shook her head, her expression as unreadable as ever, "I require physical contact with you."

He blinked, "Uh. Alright." but he was already talking to her back as she walked away. What on earth was that about? If she wanted a hug she'd have said so wouldn't she? She had no problem asking on the mornings she met him on the way to school, even if she was always formal about it.

He was still watching her as she sat down and went back to staring out the window as usual, as if nothing had happened.

"Take good care of her, Ikari" He looked up at the Class Rep, she was smiling and blushing faintly. He had no idea what that meant either, of course he would take care of Ayanami to the extent she would allow, but there was something in the Class Rep's expression he was missing, but had gone back to her desk before he could work out how to ask.

"Congratulations Shinji," Kensuke was grinning too. Fortunately Toji looked as lost as he felt.

"For what?"

"Ayanami just asked you on a lunch date, with 'physical contact'," he didn't understand the tone Kensuke used either, but it was uncomfortably like the one Misato used some times.

He shook his head, a date? He didn't think of Ayanami like that, there was no way she thought of him like that. They might possibly be friends eventually, but all they shared outside of Nerv were hugs, embarrassment and the occasional awkward conversation. Well, his embarrassment, if she felt anything towards him the only thing he'd ever seen was that slight smile and the annoyance when she'd slapped him.

"Maybe she just wants to slap me again."

"Again? What'd you do this time?" Toji asked.

"I've no idea at all," Ayanami had told him enough times that his apology was unnecessary that he'd stopped trying. She'd still accepted the lunches from him that he'd brought as an apology though, so at least he could do that much.

Then the bell rang, and he was left with his confusion and uncertainty.

It had taken him a few minutes to find her. She'd left the classroom as soon as the bell rang without even stopping to ask him to come with her, but she'd asked to see him, so he needed to at least look. If it were Nerv business he'd be in trouble if he didn't.

She was sitting under a tree in a quiet corner that was often popular with some of the older students. He wasn't going to think about why that was or why she'd chosen this particular spot, that would lead towards thinking maybe Kensuke was right, and that was impossible. It had to be, he had absolutely no idea what to do if Ayanami liked him.

He approached cautiously, "Hello Ayanami, I brought your lunch."

She took it as calmly as ever, "Thank you Ikari" as always, and started to eat. Slowly. As if every bite was an effort. Was she hurt? Did he manage to screw up lunch so badly it was inedible? He sat nearby and opened his own bento, the food looked fine, it tasted fine too. They ate together in silence, then he sat next to her in increasingly uncomfortable silence until eventually she finished eating.

"Was it alright?" he eventually managed to ask.

"Yes," there was a pause, "The flavours were different."

He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, but she did not seem upset although he wasn't sure he could tell if she was.

"So," he asked cautiously, if there was a punishment coming he'd rather get it over with. "Why did you want to see me?"

"It has been three days, four hours and thirteen minutes since we have been in physical contact. Doctor Akagi touched me yesterday. It did not feel the same even when the pressure was identical. I require an additional point of comparison."

"Uh? Um. Do you mean you need a hug?" Ayanami didn't say much and was often confusing when she did, but she had been very clear previously when she wanted a hug in the morning. He really hoped it was a hug, if she'd undergone a medical examination... he tried to imagine Misato's reaction if he dyed PenPen orange, it didn't help much.

There was a long pause.

"A hug would be acceptable."

Shinji closed his empty bento, put it down on the side away from Ayanami and stood. He'd either need to move over to her or she'd need to stand.

After a moment Rei did the same. Carefully placing the closed bento away from where she might step on it. She stood and looked at Ikari.
It was now three days, four hours and fifteen minutes since she had last felt his arms around her. This was unacceptable. She did not understand why. She stepped towards him until her chest touched his. Then she put her head on his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him and waited. She could hear his heartbeat. It was faster than normal. It did not match her own. She did not know why. His arms were placed around her very slowly. She wanted him to be quicker. He was done before she could formulate the request in a way that would communicate her requirements clearly.

She tightened her arms to apply the correct pressure. She waited for him to do the same. Perhaps he needed guidance. He was very imprecise. She could wait. This was a pleasant experience. It did not answer her question. Doctor Akagi would never hold her in this way.
She listened to his heartbeat. It had increased when she hugged him. Her own had slowed by a few beats. She would investigate that later.
A small area of their arms were touching. His bare skin was warm. She was not permitted to be naked outside of designated areas.

"Place your hand on my upper arm." That was where Doctor Akagi had gripped her.

"Under my sleave," She had been naked at the time. Direct skin contact was necessary to reproduce the stimulus. His hands were warmer than Doctor Akagi's. They were softer. She would have to take into account body and air temperature. The Geofront was much cooler. The shade of the tree did not sufficiently reduce the temperature.

"Apply another twenty-seven newtons of pressure."

"Umm. Ayanami? How much is that? I don't want to hurt you." She could see the side of his face turning a redder shade.

She lets go of him with one arm. There is a slight tightening sensation in her chest. She ignores it and places her hand on his arm in the correct position. His skin is smooth as she positions her hand. She tightens her grip until she reaches the correct pressure. She can feel his muscles tense under her fingers. She can see the muscles in his face tighten.

"Er. Are you sure about this, Ayanami?"

She is no longer certain. The way his forearm is resting on her upper arm is similar to how it was when he fell on her. She did not wish to cause him distress. It would make their interactions difficult in ways she did not understand. She requires the information. He had asked if she was sure.

"Yes."

He applies pressure to her arm. He stops before reaching the required pressure. It is enough. It is not enough. She does not understand why.

"Stop."

She lifts her head, lets go and steps back out of his arms. The bell will ring in another sixty seven seconds. It is time to return to the classroom. She picks up her school bag and walks in the correct direction. Ikari does not follow her.