SENSATION
The Commander and Ikari-kun were coming to dinner. As Rei cleaned her apartment, boiled the water, and laid out the dishes, she felt a crawling sensation in her stomach. It grew as she chopped the vegetables, but her hands remained still. Long practice and superficial cuts had taught her well. Was this nervousness? Excitement? She was learning of emotions, but she couldn't name hers.
There was a knock on the door. She glanced at the clock. They were early. The sensation spiked. Rei opened the door…
The Commander and Ikari-kun were not coming to dinner.
The sensation fell away.