Sokila, sitting on the edge of the auditorium's stage, happily kicked her feet as she watched Theodore and Lavenza cook curry according to the recipe of 'Sojiro the Godslayer'. (Or perhaps it should be said they attempted to cook.)

"That was a lot of fun, yesterday...lots and LOTS of fun..."

Her expression was somewhat melancholy, even while Theodore and Lavenza suddenly looked perturbed. (Their concoction was bubbling...)

"...I wish I could do it more...but this place protects me...and a lot of other things..."

A sudden explosion sounded out; Theo and Lavenza were thrown out of the kitchen by the blast, as their attempt at creating Sojiro Sakura's legendary curry evaporated into a skull-shaped cloud.

Pouting, Sokila said, "they need cooking lessons...Mister Igor, do you wanna help them? You're pretty good!"

The enigmatic proprietor of the Velvet Room simply chuckled, rising to his feet (and that always seemed so unnerving). "If you insist, little one."

"Yay!" cheered Sokila as she leapt and latched onto Igor's nose(?!), hanging onto it as though it were a monkey bar at a playground gym. "I'll cheer you on!"

It was a sight that was both adorable yet unspeakably unnatural.

The faint haze of blue began to brighten-

xxxx

/Wednesday: August 12, 2015/

/Sojiro Sakura's Residence, Nishiawakura, Okayama Prefecture/

Shinji Ikari sat up, eyes wide with shock. "...the Nose..."

What a bizarre dream. What had he been imagining?

Sighing, he rose up from his bed, lightly stretching to get all of the kinks out; slipping on a baby blue yukata, he unlatched the sliding door leading outside, allowing him to step out directly onto the engawa. It was raining rather heavily, masking the entirety of the forests and the mountain village of Nishiawakura from view. "Ah..." Looking to his left, he noticed that someone else was sitting on the engawa, watching the rain in silence. "Yamagishi-san?"

"Mm?" hummed Mayumi with a blink, turning towards him with a bewildered expression. She was also wearing the baby blue yukata that had been provided by Sakura-sensei to the many guests staying here. "Ah...morning Ikari-san."

"...is everything okay?" The girl — his friend — sounded more morose than she had yesterday.

"...I think it just hit me that this Friday will be my first new moon outside of Tokyo-3 in years, that's all," she admitted, turning back towards the thick curtains of rainfall. "I'm usually with my parents on that day...it just seems odd."

"I...I guess I understand." This whole trip had been a new experience for not just him, after all. "...do you want to read more of Hamlet with me?"

"...I...I think that would be a nice distraction," she said with a thin smile, rising to her feet. "Shall we?"

xxxx

/2nd Floor, Izanagi Dorms, Hakone Academy, Tokyo-3/

Kaworu Nagisa sighed to himself as he walked through the halls of the dormitory, flexing his neck in therapeutic motions. "What a long trip that was," he murmured to himself. The bus had been delayed and rerouted numerous times, simply due to all of the traffic fleeing Okayama Prefecture during the terrorist attack on Sunday. Needless to say, the relative quiet of the dorms — seeing as how most of the students were out and about with their families during the summer break — was a blessing. "I wonder what else has transpired in my absence..." Unlocking the door to Room 23, he stepped inside.

Sitting on Shinji Ikari's bed, staring sideways at the door, was Rei Ayanami. "Good morning, Nagisa-san."

Kaworu smiled wanly, closing the door behind him. "We simply must stop meeting like this, Rei-chan." He walked towards Aida and Suzuhara's bunk, sitting down on Toji's bed so that he could stare at Ayanami face-to-face. The distant rumble of thunder heralded an approaching rainstorm. "How can I help you?"

"...you took Ikari-kun to an underground fight club run by yakuza," she flatly said.

He chuckled to himself. "Ah...and here I thought you wanted to speak of something serious."

xxxx

Rei Ayanami narrowed her eyes, feeling somewhat irritated by the flippancy of Kaworu's response. "The last time we spoke like this...you told me that you were 'ill-suited' to assist in our battles, this time around."

"And I was telling the truth." He held his hand up, looking at it almost...analytically. "This body...the body of the boy known as Kaworu Nagisa...he has no place on the battlefield, this time."

"Then why involve Ikari-kun in your little foray? Why bring him with you to a yakuza fight club?" Her frown increased. "...were you aware, that Sho Minazuki would be there?"

Kaworu smiled bitterly. "...I did sense his presence, yes. I was...intrigued."

"Do you know who his 'patron' is?" she asked. "Based on Ikari-kun's debrief...I have my suspicions." The way that Shinji had described the vague impressions of a skull, just out of reach and out of sight...who else could it be?

Sure enough, Nagisa confirmed her suspicions. "Zeruel is known for many things. But the Angel of Might, being subtle? That isn't one of them."

"Then why bring Ikari-kun along with you? Why draw Zeruel's attention to him?"

"...you are very optimistic, to think that Zeruel isn't already aware. And I think you know that."

She couldn't help but think of when she had met Phanuel face-to-face.

("After the death of Shamshel, we all can sense who he is," remarked Phanuel. "Most of my kin are...predisposed to desiring his demise." More words had been exchanged. "The Usurper's reign has been long. Too long, for most of my kin." Phanuel sighed, shaking his head. "They have resigned themselves to a miserable fate...content only with petty vengeance.")

Sadly, she couldn't say that Nagisa was wrong.

Judging by his smile, he knew that she had realized that. "Shinji Ikari's presence...is like a beacon, to my kin. As he grows in power, the more he will begin to pull on existence, unwittingly or otherwise. Yet the ontological framework we are all constrained by is a difficult one to get around, so what choice is there but to 'play along' and get creative?"

Rei grimaced; that was an unusual reference that those who weren't aware of the differing timelines would miss. "...I can't disagree. The subconscious demands and expectations of humanity are...a frustrating constant, I will admit." But that was delving into philosophy and metaphysics; her time here was limited as it was. "But knowing all of that, why bring Ikari-kun with you?"

"Because he must become stronger. And you and I both know that the timeframe we have is shorter than we'd like it to be."

"...so you intentionally exposed Ikari-kun to Minazuki before Strega's promised action?"

Kaworu blinked. "How would I have been aware of a planned terrorist attack that wasn't made public?"

...a fair enough point, she was forced to admit to herself.

"It was pure coincidence that my boxing tournament was going to be in Okayama; when Minazuki turned out to be another competitor, I grew curious. The yakuza that was trying to recruit the less scrupulous amateur athletes...well, he was simply a serendipitous opportunity, as far as I was concerned. And so I dragged Shinji-kun along, to see how he would fare in a less stressful environment."

"Most people would not consider an illicit fighting arena to be 'less stressful'," she couldn't help but point out.

Kaworu chuckled. "To those like you or I? Like Shinji-kun?"

...again, a fair enough point. "And yet it seems...very blunt, for one in your position."

"...it would seem so, wouldn't it?" Sighing, Kaworu rose to his feet, walking over to his desk. He grabbed an old stress ball, squeezing it as he continued talking. "A delicate balance, it is: deliberate risks and cautious observation...staying aloof, while still maintaining a connection...they are different limitations, than what I am used to dealing with. But they are necessary, nonetheless, if it means I can help Shinji-kun attain to the power he needs."

The rhythmic motion of Kaworu's hand squeezing the stress ball was oddly hypnotic. "...you would not deal with those limitations if you were an active player."

"Acting as Kaworu Nagisa in ways he is known for, hm?" His grin took on a sour tinge. "So many expectations and tropes are associated with my usual roles...to the point where I'm rather predictable. Predictability is fatal. For the timeline where Shinji-kun was going to finally manifest in his fullness...that had to change. It needed to change. So if there are 'unique' frustrations that I must deal with as a consequence...it'll be worth it, by the end."

"...I sincerely hope so," she whispered. Crossing her arms — all but hugging herself — she asked, "I must ask...why boxing? It seems so strange."

"...it is strange," he admitted, squeezing the stress ball all the while. "Kaworu Nagisa and Tabris...two sides of the same coin. And yet Tabris is no longer allied with the Angels, and so his normal place in the narrative is extinguished...and I sometimes wonder if the Usurper is aware or not. What place, then, for Kaworu Nagisa? What place for me?" Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze. "There are unique agonies that I have dealt with, as a result of that. They are unpleasant, and ones that I would not wish upon the likes of you."

"...but you would on your enemies, then?"

"Perhaps," he said with a forced grin. "Perhaps not. But an activity like boxing...it allows for physical catharsis, while still possessing enough finesse and constraint as a sport that I can't become too violent, as would be the case if I tried more versatile martial arts. It is a a perfect seal, allowing me to maintain my existence...for long enough, at least."

Rei sighed, her posture slightly hunched over. "...I suppose so."

"Your current position doesn't allow for such catharsis, I take it?"

"...not the kind that would provide me any release," she forced herself to admit. I am...tired.

Her Other sighed.

"You're always tired."

The Beast tried to hold up the world, even as the foundation beneath them crumbled ever so slowly.

"But the burden we have shouldered...leaves no time for peace."

Such was the nature, of this current world, and how Second Impact in particular had played out. Truly, it had been a long time since she had been involved in combat to such an incessant and monotonous degree. "And the other method...is not one I'm willing to allow myself. Not this time," she said, staring at the face of one who had been an enemy and an ally and a lover so many times over (and often within the same timeline, at that).

Nagisa's red eyes glimmered with knowing. "...a means of keeping antagonistic eyes away from potential romantic partners? Or a means of keeping yourself focused on what matters? A very curious handicap to place upon yourself, given your nature. I wonder...if it's done as a self-imposed penance?"

She sighed deeply. "You understand as well as I do...you have beaten yourself up for how it ended often enough," she murmured, thinking back to the horrible cataclysm that brought the War in Heaven to an end.

"True...but I also must move forward. That...conflict...has been an albatross on the necks of ADAM and LILITH for too long...and so if this is the timeline where it will end...I will do what I must to see it through." For the first time, a hint of frustration leaked through the boy's voice. "...I'm tired of losing."

"...so are we all." Rising to her feet, she slowly tiptoed over towards the enigmatic boy, who did not rise from his bed. He stared up at her, not letting any hint of his thoughts (if they even existed, in this current form) slip by. "...so many regrets," she whispered.

"Awash and adrift in the Sea of Souls of the lilim...is there anyone without regrets?" he replied.

"...a fair point." She lowered her face towards his (wanting so very desperately to go down to his lips, to ravish and be ravished in return, because it would be a simple moment of animalistic release that she'd experienced countless times before but by LILITH it sounded so very tempting), planting a chaste kiss upon his forehead. Gentle, yet sensuous; restrained, yet full of emotion. That Kaworu didn't break down into a puddle of carnal lust (because she could tell just by how much he was squeezing that stress ball that he was holding back) was a testament to his self-control. "...sometimes, I envy you, Kaworu-kun."

The boy (hah, what an unfitting descriptor) sighed. "I am not one to be envied, Rei-chan." He quietly held out the stress ball to her. "Perhaps you need this more than I."

"...perhaps so," she relented, taking the stress ball and holding onto it tightly. "I'll make sure to...give it a new color. It wouldn't do for people to think we are on friendly terms, after all."

Kaworu rolled his eyes. "Because that would just be awful, wouldn't it? Your reputation would surely plummet."

Hah. Reputation. As if either of them cared for such trifles. "...do try and be more circumspect in the future, Nagisa-san," she said, forcing herself back to the formality she was used to.

"...I make no such promises, Ayanami-san," he said with the wiggle of an eyebrow.

Rei rolled her eyes (unable to help the smile that came to her face) as she slowly shifted out of reality, mentally preparing for new missions in Kyushu.

(If only Kaworu's current circumstances rendered him a more active participant.)

(Too many visits would draw the eyes of your enemy, alas...what a shame.)

xxxx

As Rei Ayanami faded away into static, Kaworu Nagisa loosed a deep and rumbling sigh. "...my word," he muttered to himself, a rueful smile on his face. "A little altruism goes a long way..." It was rather sad, what LILITH had been reduced to.

(Who was he to talk?)

Still, for however beneficial that conversation had been...it left him in a bit of a pickle. "...now I have to buy a new stress ball," he grumbled, reaching for his phone and pulling up a familiar site.

As the familiar jingle for Tanaka's Portable Commodities began to play, he found himself browsing the current deals available. Hmm...ah, stress balls in the shape of a face...no, that would seem too morbid...ooh, one with a strength rating of 100 PSI. Perfect!

Truly, how would the lilim make ends meet without a Tanaka in their lives?

xxxx

With the rain being so omnipresent in Nishiawakura, there was little to do besides read, play some board games or cards...or watch the television.

(The news channels were completely ignored, because they were still talking about Okayama. There was only so much of the fallout they could focus on...)

As such, everyone was kind of doing their own thing.

xx

Mana Kirishima and Ren Amamiya were busy watching the most current Featherman show that was on the air. Needless to say, Mana was not impressed by Seishin Heitai Featherman. "...why are they acting like second-rate A.T. Agents?"

Ren shrugged. "It's topical."

"But they're not even subtle about it; the Zealots are clearly supposed to be Acolytes, and the Specters are pretty much the same thing as Ghosts. The Featherman outfits don't even look that good."

"...plus, the fight choreography leaves something to be desired."

Mana nodded in agreement. "Featherman Z is much older, right? But it looked much cooler! How could they get that wrong?!"

"Different directors, different staff, different cast...there's a lot of things that go into making a show."

"But still..."

"...that, and passion can go a long way." Adjusting his glasses, Ren added, "and just by what we saw from when those women visited...they had a lot of passion for that show of theirs."

Mana couldn't help but agree.

xx

Toji Suzuhara couldn't help but grimace at what he had been roped into. "Seriously Ken, this feels...silly."

Kensuke Aida huffed. "Oh come on Toji, it's perfectly legitimate training!"

"...feels more like role playing. Or play acting. Whatever you wanna call it."

"And training the mind for combat in the Metaverse is pretty dependent on 'play acting', as you say. I mean, some of the things I recall my mom doing were pretty crazy-"

Toji held up his hand to stop him. "Okay, okay, I get it...do I have to just stand here and take it?"

"Of course not! If you're not dodging, it kind of defeats the point of making this 'feel' real."

"...good."

"But you have to 'die' convincingly if I do hit you."

"...I don't have to make any death yells, do I?"

"I'll accept a muted gurgle."

"Like 'blurgh'?"

"That'll do!"

Inhaling deeply, Toji stood at the long end of the hallway, out of sight of the main entry hall. "All right then...hit me."

Brandishing his mock Pearl Phoenix crossbow, Kensuke Aida pulled back the drawstring and loaded his fake arrows (really nothing more than chopsticks that had their pointy ends blunted with torn up cotton balls). "Prepare to be sniped, foul enemy!"

"...will those things even fly?"

"Sure, the aerodynamics are probably gonna suck, but that's the beauty of it: if I manage to hit you 'crappy' ammo, then there's no way I'll miss with the real thing in the Metaverse!" Kensuke exclaimed. "My logic is foolproof."

At this, Toji could only shrug. "Seems legit." And thus he began dodging Kensuke's 'arrows' as though their lives depended on it.

xx

As Kensuke and Toji's shenanigans ensued in the hallway on the other side of the old ryokan, Shinji was in his room — sitting on his bed — reading the Tragedy of Hamlet alongside Mayumi. After various fits and starts over the past two months, he had finally made it into the third act of the play; King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, concerned by Prince Hamlet's apparent madness, spoke with Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, and Ophelia about its apparent cause. As the others left and Claudius and Polonius went into hiding, Hamlet returned to the scene. Thus came the famous words, at least as far as native English speakers were concerned: "to be, or not to be, that is the question," read Shinji. By now, he had gotten a lot more experience with the particular variety of Japanese characters that the translator had used when rendering the old English words. It was clear in how confident he sounded when reading aloud. "whether it's nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune...or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?" Despite his slight confusion at the turn of phrase, he kept on. "To die...to sleep...no more; and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is...heir to. It's a consummation devoutly...to be wished. To die, to sleep; to sleep: perchance to dream...hey, there's the...rub?" Okay, that one was a bit too odd. "There's the rub?" he repeated.

"It's a saying that refers to an impediment or a problem," explained Mayumi.

"...but what's a rub? How is rubbing a problem?"

Mayumi blinked slowly. "I'm...honestly not sure. I'm certain the etymology is for something different, but I don't know it off the top of my head..."

"...probably." He lingered back over the beginning of Hamlet's soliloquy. "To be...or not to be." What a loaded phrase. "...given everything that Hamlet's gone through so far, it seems like he could choose either of these."

"He's rather conflicted, isn't he?"

Shinji nodded. (At times like this, it was painstakingly obvious as to why his Persona — his original Persona — was Hamlet, even if that made him annoyed at his own failings and weaknesses all the more...which, ironically enough, only solidified the connection.) "...this has been an unusual experience."

"Trying to get through Hamlet?"

"Well...trying to imagine a play in my head isn't like reading a novel. It's almost like I have to force myself to be there...does that make sense?"

Mayumi smiled lightly. "I can see that...an exercise in imagination. Of getting outside of your own head."

"...has it been helping you at all?" he honestly asked. At the girl's confused stare, he elaborated, "Sokila-chan noticed it yesterday...but it seems like you've been in a strange mood lately. Is...everything okay?"

A more impulsive or hot-tempered mind would have immediately jumped to the conclusion that Ikari was making a joke about menstrual cycles and emotional turmoil.

(Little did they know, but on the other side of the world, Asuka Langley-Sohryu suddenly sneezed in her sleep, waking up way earlier than she had wanted to. "Ah, what time is it...not even four in the morning?! Scheiße!")

However, Mayumi knew enough of Shinji's character to realize that he wouldn't be so base. "...I...I'm fine," she said, almost trying to convince herself, it seemed.

"...are you sure?" With the passage of time, he had come to understand more about her. Memories of past conversations slowly filtered through.

(June the 18th: after elaborating on the characters and plot of Kokoro, Mayumi explained her thoughts on the story — of a young man learning from an older sensei, and their struggles of adapting to the changes affecting Japan in the early 20th century — as a whole. "It's kind of sad...a little depressing...but kind of cathartic, I guess...I suppose...I kind of...identify with the main characters, in a certain way...but that's not really worth talking about.")

(July the 3rd: Mayumi had asked why he revealed so much of what he had experienced as an Evangelion-user. After explaining that she had just seemed normal to him, she seemed conflicted by that answer: her pained smile said plenty. "That's...rather flattering for you to say.")

(July the 14th: it had been an honest slip of the tongue, calling Mayumi a friend. She had inquired as to why he called her that, and when he started thinking of her in that. "Is that normal? For a friendship to begin so casually?" It was a strange question, because what about his life was casual?)

(August the 3rd: at the local village library, Mayumi's brief explanation of the folktale Hachikazuki had diverted into areas that seemed rather personal, in retrospect. "...the idea of being someone worthwhile, of having value for who you are, and not for what you outwardly seem to be...I just wished it was that easy to change, in reality...but I guess we both know that's not the case, isn't it?" He wondered aloud at what she could possibly be referring to. Her smile in response to his words...was painful, and melancholy. "I wouldn't want to bother you. I don't think it's anything you can help with, anyway.")

A picture was beginning to form, but he had no idea what it was depicting. "Yamagishi-san...if there's something you need help with, you can tell me. And I'm sure the others would be willing to help too-"

"Please stop."

Her words were quiet, muted by the falling rain...and yet, echoed in his mind like a thunderclap. "I'm...sorry?"

"...you've already given me more than enough. Asking for more...would be selfish..."

"...selfish?" Shinji was honestly confused. "What are you talking about? You haven't been selfish at all-"

Without another word, Mayumi got to her feet and walked away, eyes cast down at the floor.

Shinji was too stunned and bewildered to follow her. What...what did I say?

xxxx

Mayumi quickly locked herself in one of the bathrooms, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Removing her glasses, she peered intently at the image of her face: that of a normal Japanese girl, and nothing more.

Yet...feeling normal...what did that even mean?

(Her presence would seemingly repulse people after long enough. Her parents were of no help, having been proverbial husks for as long as she could remember. Retreating into the world of imagination, crafted and forged by the literary tales she had acquired...those were a balm on her soul, and a shield against the stares of others...because what harm could a dorky bookworm be to anyone?)

She glared at her reflection, feeling almost unnaturally petulant. Why are you crying? You have no reason to cry.

(Then, as if by chance, Shinji Ikari had joined the Literature Club. He was strange...yet also someone of importance. The fact he was willing to converse with her about things other than literature was blessing enough, because her other Club members were not exactly known for being chatterboxes. Then...he had actually invited her on a summer vacation. Her!)

Fleeting attraction was something she could not deny; both to Shinji Ikari (he opened a new world to you without even realizing it) and, surprisingly, Kensuke Aida (an intellectual challenge...one who isn't afraid of you, inured as he is by his own experiences). Yet that wasn't the reason for the sharpness she suddenly felt inside her heart, pricking at her emotions until they threatened to overflow.

(She didn't deserve any of the kindness shown to her.)

(You know it won't last.)

...why can't I stop...? Mayumi let the tears flow, unable to explain how or why; it was all she could do to reduce her sobbing such that no one could hear her. Almost without thinking, she began to draw a bath so that she could soak and relax and just distract herself from the reality of what she couldn't see coming, yet knew was barreling toward her at top speed. I...I wish there was more time...

The lone cat stared at the coiling beast, which had consumed almost the entirety of the fields in which she had lived.

Mayumi was unable to articulate how or why she felt the sudden grip of despair...

The beast slowly began to transform into her. "We-are-all-imprisoned-by-pain...and-your-pain-shall-beckon-Ikari-to-us..."

...but deep down, she knew that she was doomed.

(But there was a small part that didn't want to be.)

(You finally want to live...)

xxxx

Within the Metaverse of Nishiawakura, four A.T. Agents and a Cognitive Freelancer had convened at a proverbial roundtable; through judicious use of their Personas' techniques, they had blasted away part of the sandy ridge on the western edge of the village, forming a recess in which they were taking shelter from the rain; apparently, the cognition of the locals translated summer monsoons into literal sheets of water falling from the sky in the Metaverse.

"Seriously, why the hell couldn't we have met up somewhere in town?" griped Junpei. "Or heck, even at Sakura's place on the back porch!"

"Less chance of getting eavesdropped on," answered Misato. "Plus, with the rain being how it is, there's really no chance of the kids going anywhere."

"Sure, all fine and dandy...at the cost of getting SOAKED!"

Ken Amada huffed, glancing towards the opening; Kala-Nemi, Valjean, Tokoyo, and Seiten Taisei were standing in staggered formation in case of any nosy interlopers. Trismegistus, on the other hand...well, as the one with Fire Skills, Junpei's Persona served as both their portable dryer and living light source. "It's not that big of a deal, Junpei."

"Can we get on with this?" asked Zenkichi, looking somewhat annoyed. "The unregistered Shadows around here have been feeling really antsy since Sunday; have to get back to work once the rain lets up." Under his breath, he grumbled, "just my luck that the rainy season is running long this year..."

"Fair enough," remarked Ryuji, turning towards Misato. "So...what have you been hearing? As the liaison to NERV HQ, you probably have more detailed knowledge about the big picture than we do."

Misato nodded grimly. "That's putting it mildly." This week has been awful so far, she couldn't help but muse. She could only hope and pray that the upcoming new moon would be...manageable. "Got a message from Ritsuko yesterday that one of PubSec's Paranormal goons was conducting interviews of staff at NERV. Guy by the name of Hirofumi Kurosawa." The name elicited frowns from Sakamoto, Iori, and Amada. "You know of him?"

"Kurosawa...that name's come up recently," said Ryuji. "Back on the 2nd...when we were all trying to make heads or tails of that disaster on the Ai, Ikari said that that was the Agent he was supposed to meet in Tokushima, if he agreed to cooperate with PubSec."

...well, that's just great. "Explains why his interviews apparently focused a lot on Shinji-kun, then."

"Sounds like he's pursuing the Third Child through another avenue," observed Ken. "It only makes sense that the government wouldn't rest so easily..."

Zenkichi blinked. "...even after the carnage on the ferry? The sanitized version you told me about was still enough to make me queasy."

"Sunk Cost Fallacy, probably," murmured Amada. "They're not going to let the possibility of control over an Evangelion-user go...and, paradoxically, the lost of so many personnel might have only galvanized them. They're just trying to be more subtle about it."

"And with the international fallout from how the Olympics ended, the fact that Ikari was caught on video having it out with Minazuki would only make them more determined." Sakamoto sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Gah...it's all a damn mess."

Junpei couldn't help but scoff. "I'm honestly surprised we haven't had anyone call us off of our little 'chaperone' mission by now."

"Mission contracts are extremely important," said Zenkichi, as if reciting some training material from memory. "It'd take at least the authority of a Superintendent to revoke them, and it'd have to be with cause, or because of a pressing emergency that resulted in a mandatory reassignment."

"And with how the kids helped stop Minazuki, we at least have Superintendent Iwai to give a good word, right?" offered Junpei.

"...maybe," said Ryuji.

Misato saw his hesitation and pounced on it. "What's bugging you?"

"...just have this odd feeling that the world is gettin' more and more complicated." As he spoke, he held up one finger. "Ikari's strange powers are one thing." Then a second finger. "Then there's the fact that Angel Syndrome is caused by entities with a murder-boner for humanity that still found the time to ally with some real pieces of work in Strega." A third finger. "The fact that there's apparently independent entities in the Metaverse like Sokila, who may have powers and agendas we have no idea about it...which reminds me," up went a fourth finger, "of whoever Mana-san sensed on the Ai ferry that killed Agent Saori Hasegawa, which kicked off that whole disaster to begin with."

Misato frowned, recalling how Ryuji had relayed the story to her over a week ago.

(August the 2nd: her blood felt as cold as ice as Sakamoto relayed the harrowing details of the Ferry Incident. "Mana-san said she felt something 'malicious', right before Agent Hasegawa died. I honestly have no idea what to make of it, other than the fact that someone wanted things on the ferry to go to hell.")

"...you saying that Sokila may be related to whoever kicked off the carnage on the Ai?"

Ryuji shook his head. "Not necessarily. Only that there may be more players involved that we ain't aware of."

"As if life isn't difficult enough already," grumbled Junpei.

"Anyhow..." holding up his thumb, that made five digits in total for Ryuji. "...that brings me to the fifth thing: the kid's high school senpai."

"...wait, Ren Amamiya?" Misato couldn't help but blink dumbly. "What's he done?"

"First of all, his explanation for the stuff he pulled off on the Ai in the Metaverse never quite sat right with me. I mean: the telepathic communication? His piss-poor attempt at lying to our faces about what happened on the Car Deck?"

"...wait, Amamiya lied?" said Junpei with wide eyes.

Ryuji stared flatly at his old subordinate. "...for real?"

"It was kind of obvious," said Ken, crossing his arms. "But he wasn't being antagonistic, and we were more focused on trying to escape at the time. It's why the Captain had me keep an eye on Amamiya when we were all training here on the 4th...not that he demonstrated any unusual abilities."

Misato couldn't help but feel the uncertainty and anxiety that she had come to associate with Mister P and Ryoji Kaji, slowly shimmying up her spine. "...but it sounds like he's done something else to catch your eye?"

Ryuji nodded. "It was when we were saying farewell to Sokila yesterday. She summoned something that none of us could see, but she and Ikari could...and judging by Amamiya's reaction, he saw whatever it was as well."

"...maybe he's just gifted with certain cognitive and metaphysical abilities?" offered Zenkichi.

"I'd be more okay with it if he didn't immediately try to hide the fact that he had seen whatever it was," groused Ryuji. In the dim yet fiery light emanating from the red gem in Trismegistus's helm, Sakamoto's expression could be characterized as 'fiercely grumpy.' "He knows more than he's let on...but given what I've observed of his personality, I have no idea why he'd keep it quiet. And that doesn't sit well with me."

As the rain continued to pour down outside, Zenkichi crossed his arms. "So...it seems you have sufficient cause to at least question him. So why haven't you?"

Ryuji shrugged. "Just some slight concern on my part. Also got the strange impression that he's kind of flighty, so I don't want to frighten him into fleeing."

"You make him sound like a deer," snarked Junpei.

"Nah, more like I'm not exactly the investigative type. If anything, I'm more the 'bad cop'," joked Sakamoto.

"Technically, our jurisdiction is limited to Shadows, and even then our ability to interfere with them in matters of law enforcement is restricted to the bounds of a given warrant," reminded Ken. "We still have to do things the right way, Captain."

"...eh, fair point. Guess I've been a Freelancer for a long time now..." Ryuji then looked in Misato's direction. "Well, you're the one who's local to Tokyo-3."

She blinked, wondering what his angle was. "What are you getting at?"

"Just saying that if anyone would have the means to dig into Amamiya's business, it'd probably be you. The whole situation is so shady that it feels wrong to just let it lie, you know?"

...admittedly, she couldn't help but relent. And the prospect of a high school student with apparent cognitive powers that had slipped under the A.T. Task Force's eyes? NERV's eyes? (She couldn't help but think of Ayanami's connection to Mister P, even as she ruthlessly stamped out the impulse of paranoia.) "...maybe...but you'll have to get someone else to look into it."

Sakamoto looked genuinely surprised by her refusal. "F'real?"

"...I've already got my hands full with not just making sure Mana-chan's okay," and boy that was an affair all on its own, "but there's a personal investigation of my own that I have to focus on." Kaji...his Shadow...Mister P...their connection with Ayanami...whatever designs they have on Shinji...and the resemblance Mister P has to Pen-Pen. She had already received assurance from Akechi that Pen-Pen couldn't possibly be Mister P (yet she still couldn't shake the resemblance, why couldn't she let it go?!), but she still needed to make some headway soon. Otherwise, she was going to drive herself to madness. "...so...don't have the time to add another one onto my plate. Sorry." Knowing my luck, Amamiya would somehow be involved with Ayanami or Mister P...

Her Other shook her head.

"Your paranoia is unbecoming."

She lightly slapped the back of her head.

"It almost backfired in your interactions with Sokila...so keep a cool head."

Inhaling, Misato centered herself once more before offering Sakamoto a weary smile. "Looks like you'll have to hire a detective, then."

Ryuji snorted. "Gee, thanks for that." The older man glanced towards the opening of their recess, eyes widening. "...looks like the rain's finally letting up."

"Finally," griped Junpei, an easy grin on his face. "So...notwithstanding all of our potential concerns with PubSec, Amamiya, and all that...what's the plan for the next few days?"

"Make sure nothing goes wrong during the new moon, and deploy Ikari to the location of the nearest Pattern Blue," immediately remarked Amada.

"...well, if nothing else, at least this town will be well-protected," said Zenkichi with a grateful smile. "The more, the merrier."

"We'll just have to make sure our little caravan's civilians stay out of trouble," said Ryuji with frown. "Is there a specific shelter around here?"

"Probably nothing as fancy as what's in Tokyo-3," explained Hasegawa. "Everyone gathers at the Village Hall or the Community Center. We've even made a bit of a festival out of it, to keep people's spirits up. Plus, with everyone being in one place...it'll be easier to make sure the civvies don't slip away."

"...we'll make sure the local cops know to keep an eye out for Amamiya, then," said Amada with a determined nod. "If he stays put on the new moon, then he stays out of harm's way...and if he tries anything, then he won't have any excuses to hide anything, if he in fact is."

Junpei sighed explosively. "Geez, you'd almost wish that all of our tykes had cognitive powers so we could just drag them into the Metaverse with us and keep them in our sight."

"...not exactly the most responsible thing to say, but I think I can get the sentiment," muttered Zenkichi.

Misato couldn't help but snort as she rose to her feet. "At least Yamagishi seems well-behaved, neh?"

Ryuji nodded sharply. "Seriously, she's been the most normal part of this whole shebang. Though that comes with its own difficulties, at least we don't have to worry about any craziness coming from her."

Small mercies, thought Misato. At least there was one silver lining to be found...

xxxx

/Meanwhile, back in Tokyo-3.../

Agent Hirofumi Kurosawa blinked, dumbfounded at what the Cognitive Protection Center's Chief Warden had just told him. "...I'm sorry Akechi-san, but what do you mean you can't find the Yamagishis' Shadows?"

Goro Akechi's stare could have been called 'mulish' were he just a bit older; with his relatively youthful features, the young A.T. Agent simply came off as 'pouty' instead. "I don't know exactly what to tell you, Kurosawa-san. The Shadows of Mayumi Yamagishi, Kyōko Yamagishi, and Mahiro Yamagishi are not registered in the Panopticon."

Kurosawa inhaled sharply, privately grateful that the Chief Warden had agreed to meet him in private within a cell of isolated cognition aboard the CPC; standing as they were on a literal square amidst empty space, the necessity for discretion was minimized. "...and what of the unregistered Shadows?"

"You know that I can't divulge that information. Their identities are classified precisely to keep third parties with an axe to grind away from them."

"And I don't need to know where they are. Don't be obtuse," he growled. "Randomized ID classifications or not, it's not exactly an open secret that the Chief Warden would have some method of keeping track of which randomized ID tag corresponds to which individual. Otherwise, performing welfare checks would be made needlessly difficult."

Akechi crossed his arms, the motion causing his manacles to jingle. "Then be precise with your question, Kurosawa-san."

"I officially requested a welfare check on their Shadows through the Mission Board; I specifically asked for you so that there would be minimal fuss and legwork. So I just need to know...is something wrong with them?"

After several seconds of silence, Akechi finally answered, "I can't give you an answer."

"...because their Shadows aren't around, are they?"

"That would be correct."

"That's absurd."

"And why would it be absurd?" inquired Akechi with a raised eyebrow.

"Because after my interview with Mr. and Mrs. Yamagishi on Monday, I did a little digging. They and their daughter have lived in the Hakone region since before this place was designated as Tokyo-3, so the possibility that their Shadows' Realms are in a different region is miniscule. So the only other rational explanation as to why you have no record of them — registered or unregistered — would be utter incompetence on the part of every single Agent that works in this region...which I don't buy in the least."

"...and why, exactly, do you have such interest in the Yamagishi family, might I ask?"

"The more I dig into the lives of those around the Third Child, the more uncertainties I uncover...and if you had talked to Kyōko and Mahiro Yamagishi as I have, you'd understand my concerns."

"Perhaps. Though what you do next is beyond my concern." With an act of will, the isolated cell took on the normal dimensions of an empty office, bereft of all decor save a single light fixture in the ceiling and a closed door leading outside. "Captain Daisuke Nagase will escort you out."

"...before I leave, I must ask: what are your thoughts on the Third Child? On Shinji Ikari, specifically?"

To the young man's credit, he didn't have a flippant response at the ready; without letting his true thoughts or feelings play out across his face, Akechi simply answered, "he's a young and somewhat naive child that's been cursed with power that no one should possess...so if the government had any sense, they would stop trying to antagonize him. After all," he said, with a self-deprecating smirk, "the sons aren't supposed to share in the sins of the fathers."

Kurosawa frowned, not showing his reaction to the Chief Warden's words one way or another. (Even though thinking about Gendo Ikari made him nervous, for some reason.) "...thank you for your time, Akechi-san," he finally said, bowing slightly in acknowledgement. As he exited the room and let the muscular Daisuke lead him through the labyrinthine expanse of the Tokyo-3 CPC, he couldn't help but think about his next steps. I could try and see if I could try and interview the boy's third roommate...but that would require getting permission from Nagisa's legal guardian. For some reason, trying to get a hold of the custodian assigned to the orphan had been inordinately difficult, so short of stumbling across the boy himself (and he doubted he'd be welcome back to the Academy grounds after Principal Lorenz's rather firm dismissal), his options there were limited. I guess it's time to bite the bullet, then.

It was time for a trip to Okayama Prefecture.

xxxx

Goro Akechi waited a few minutes until after Hirofumi Kurosawa had left before he decided to leave. All the while, he was 'thinking.'

The quiet stranger sighed. "A shame, that so many things tend to rhyme...suspicion, paranoia, and unwarranted antagonism..."

"Such is the nature of man."

"...perhaps for a fraction. But I can't believe that to be the case for the totality. That would be quite the unpleasant world, would it not?"

"...do you think Ikari and his little gaggle can handle what's coming?"

"I have faith in them. As should you."

"It took long enough for someone to dig into the Yamagishi family. It would have been simpler if the girl's...celestial parasite...had been discovered sooner."

"Simpler? Maybe. Better? I'm not so sure."

"Your optimism is vexing."

"And that cantankerous attitude is but one of many reasons why you were chosen."

As he walked down the halls, his eyes caught sight of blue hair and red eyes. "Ah, perfect timing, Ayanami-san."

"The mission you submitted indicated that it was urgent," she calmly replied. "Though I am unsure as to why I was requested for Shadow pacification."

"To put it simply, a good chunk of my subordinates have been temporarily reassigned in the wake of Strega's attack on Sunday. With the new moon occurring in two days, I need as many of our residents pacified as possible, to make our own job that day less stressful. After how many Acolytes managed to get inside on July 16, I'd rather avoid a repeat of that."

"...I am still unsure as to why you requested me, specifically."

Akechi couldn't help but snort at the girl's intentional obliviousness. "Well, you do happen to have a rather unique connection with every single member of Homo sapiens."

Rei narrowed her eyes indignantly. "...that is an aspect of myself I prefer not to draw upon without necessity. And you'd be kind not to talk so openly about it."

"And against utter strangers with nothing in the way of meaningful power, you wouldn't have to do too much. I'd wager that most of our residents would listen without question."

"...very well." She still sounded upset, which was fine by him.

"Agent Ayane Matsunaga will tell you which block to begin with in the Panopticon." As the girl stiffly nodded before turning away, he couldn't help but indulge his curiosity. "By the way...I've heard some rumors that the Third Child's roommate was involved in the events leading to his fight club encounter with Sho Minazuki. Kaworu Nagisa, was it?"

The girl had paused in her steps, not turning to face him.

"...can he be trusted?"

Tense silence hung over them like a foul stench; Ayanami's subsequent words cleared it away. "Not by everyone. His methods would likely be a matter of contention."

"...then do you trust him?"

Slowly, the girl turned back to look at him with solemn eyes. "...I would trust Nagisa with my life." With one last nod, the First Child turned away.

The quiet stranger chuckled. "My my...perhaps the existence of Kaworu Nagisa is more of a fixed point than I gave it credit for."

"Is that a problem?"

"As I've told you before: if Ayanami does not believe him to be a concern, I don't see why we should burden ourselves unnecessarily. It allows us to keep our focus on more important things."

"...good." At least there was one silver lining to be had.

"...I must say though, you were awfully cheeky and demanding with her."

"And why shouldn't I be?"

"As the one who bears the essence of Mankind's Mother, it wouldn't hurt if you were more respectful."

"The only mother I care for is dead and buried; as far as I'm concerned, LILITH is basically an absentee parent."

"...that seems unnecessarily harsh."

"I'm entitled to my own opinion."

There wasn't another word from his companion, which suited Akechi just fine. After all, based on what he had been told of prior events in lives and times that had long passed away, the vast majority of the 'gods' that humanity either fought or conjured into existence tended to be either evil, antagonistic, or at cross purposes with mankind's protectors.

As far as he was concerned, he was just keeping up the streak.

xxxx

The rain storms let up ever more gradually, to the point there were only some sprinkles as evening rolled around in Nishiawakura; with Sojiro and Ren coordinating to help make dinner for everyone (because why ruin a good partnership?), everyone was passing the time by playing cards in the main living room.

xx

As the current dealer, Ken laid down the fifth card onto the wooden floor; during this current round, all but Junpei, Mana, and Toji had folded. Misato, in a spectacular display of bad luck, had been the first player to lose all of her chips. "And to the river we go," he said, staring at the Three of Clubs, King of Spades, King of Clubs, Queen of Diamonds, and Seven of Spades.

Junpei grinned. "I'll raise by three hundred!" he exclaimed, pushing more chips in.

Toji frowned, looking at his own meager pile. "...can't match that...I'm out."

"...I guess I'll stay in," admitted Mana, matching Junpei's bet.

The older A.T. Agent slapped down his cards: the Queen of Spades and Queen of Clubs. "Full house, Queens and Kings! Beat that!"

Mana promptly lowered her two cards: the King of Diamonds and King of Hearts. "Four of a kind beats a full house, right?" she asked honestly.

Junpei's face fell as Ryuji, Kensuke, and Toji crowed over his defeat.

"...I guess it does," said Mana, raking in the results of her victory.

(Sojiro, busy searing some beef in a pan, shook his head at the raucous shouting. "Everyone's so damn loud.")

(Ren shrugged as he spiced a pot full of broth. "Eh, I think you'll get over it.")

("Cheeky brat.")

xx

Everyone, that is, except for Mayumi...

xx

Yamagishi had retired early, claiming that the gloomy weather had drained her. She had also dissuaded concerns about her appetite, saying that she simply wasn't that hungry.

(In truth, her appetite seemed completely secondary to everything else she felt.)

(The strange hollowness within her seemed to increase by the hour.)

"We-will-stop-the-loneliness-you-feel."

Mayumi curled in on herself, bereft of tears.

"Your-suffering...our-suffering...will-soon-end..."

(She wanted it to stop.)

(You have to take a stand.)

xx

...and Shinji, sitting as he was on the engawa, staring at the golden twilight cast upon the forested hills and mountains surrounding Nishiawakura. It was peaceful, even beautiful...perfect weather for him to lightly pluck at a guitar. So why didn't he feel any consolation?

"How are you doing?"

Shinji glanced over his shoulder, watching Misato take a seat beside him. Her legs hung over the edge of the porch, feet lightly brushing against the ground. "Misato-san...?"

"You don't have to stop on my account."

Frowning, he returned to his idle picking and strumming.

As he did so, he asked, "...I thought you were playing cards with the others."

"Eh, I bombed out. Plus, it's hard to get motivated when there's no actual money on the line."

"...aren't Kensuke, Suzuhara-san, and Kirishima-san also playing?" Why would money be involved if they were playing with minors?

"You know what I mean." Sighing, Misato leaned forward, looking with a detached air at a couple of stray cats play-fighting in the grass. "...it's been a crazy summer break, hasn't it?"

"...yes. It has," he said, almost worried that being sarcastic or sardonic would get Misato upset (because honestly, this whole vacation had turned out to be a lot more than he had bargained for, back in those waning days of July).

"Have you had any unusual contact with anyone suspicious?"

Shinji blinked. "...suspicious how? Like with Minazuki?"

"Nah, he was a bad guy, and you've already talked about him enough. I'm talking about...certain other parties. Like Mister P. Or Kaji's Shadow. Or anyone else, for that matter."

He briefly fidgeted, wondering where she was going with this. "...not that I can recall." (The frank conversations he had with Ren Amamiya regarding their roles as Wild Cards completely slipped his mind, because why would it be suspicious?) "...is this still about Sokila-chan?"

"Nah, I've learned my lesson," she said, holding her hands up in defense. "Though...you think there's anything to what she said? About her father being a god? Or big-g 'God'?"

"I honestly don't know," he admitted after several seconds of reflection. The subject of the parentage of the Velvet Room's residents was one he hadn't put much thought to, seeing as how he had other things on his mind. "I'm...just trying to make it through each day as it comes." Because what else could he do? The concept of preparing for the future seemed outlandish, in light of how chaotic his life was at the moment. "...I just know that she's not a threat."

"To you, you mean?"

"I don't see her being a threat to anyone, personally."

Misato huffed, blowing some loose bangs away from her face. "...it's hard to know what to believe. And it's keeping me from doing my job...and my duty."

"Being an A.T. Agent?"

"Among other things." There was an almost wistful quality to Misato's tone that he couldn't quite identify. "But then I start thinking about everything I've been through, and I can't help but wonder if I'm being a damn hypocrite."

"...what do you mean?"

Adjusting the red beret on her head, she replied, "there are answers out there to questions I've had, and they're just dangling out of my reach...and as time passes, I just keep getting more questions. It gets tiresome, after a while. Almost makes me wonder if all the pain is worth it."

"...but you're so strong, Misato-san."

The woman snorted. "You can have all the power in the world; won't matter if you're not worth a crap as a person." She watched as one of the play-fighting cats bit too hard on the shoulder, eliciting a yowl from the unfortunate tabby; an older and gruffer calico stepped towards them, intimidating them into more peaceful behavior. "...I honestly don't like the way I acted. But damn it all, what else am I supposed to do?"

Shinji pondered the words, and pondered the woman saying them: her character, her motives, and her form of employment. Despite being a hardy warrior in her own right, it wasn't easy to forget the woman as well: optimistic and caring to a level that he honestly didn't deserve (even if their interactions weren't so constant). "...well...saying 'sorry' seems to work."

"A lot of people would say that apologies don't count for much."

"And if you followed up on them?"

"...not many people do that."

"Well...I'd like to think I'm trying..."

Misato chuckled with amusement. "Yeah...more than most, I'd say." Smiling, she asked, "any chance you're in the mood to tell me what Kaji's Shadow talked to you about, way back when?"

Shinji immediately clammed up (and worried about the fact he had clammed up, given how disastrous a turn their relationship had subsequently taken during that short period from July 27th through July 28th).

"Heh. Still playing hard to get, huh?"

"Sorry..."

"...must be some really heavy stuff for you to be this stubborn. I am an adult, you know? I'm supposed to be someone you can rely on."

If only it were that simple.

She apparently took his silence rather well, judging by her wry smile. "Eh...I guess I'll just have to keep at it. You'll crack and tell me one day. After all, who could deny this adorable face?"

Shinji resisted the urge to snort at the overly cutesy wink she gave. (He mostly failed.) "Sometimes...I wish I could believe in myself that easily..."

"Well...it's hard for anyone to believe in you if you won't believe in yourself. Learned that lesson a long time ago." Rising to her feet, she held out a hand towards him. "Come on kid. I think dinner should be ready by now."

With a small nod, he reached up and clutched Misato's hand.

The rest of the evening proceeded in a similarly pleasant, if not cathartic manner.

(Little did they know...oh how little did they know...)

xxxx

As the night rolled on, the essence of Armisael slowly permeated the spiritual and cognitive landscape of Nishiawakura...

(Mana Kirishima tossed and turned that night, unsettled for reasons she couldn't identify; for the oddest reason, she dreamed of her sisters watching in terror as a coiling beast rose from the depths of the earth...a beast that wore the face of her friend...?)

...and as this happened, the dimensions separating these realms became closer...yet thinner...

(Within the Metaverse, a smiling figure hissed with glee, feeling the trace cognitions of her next victim become closer and louder. Soon...soon...!)

The day to come would be quite eventful.

xxxx

END OF 8/12/2015

xxxx

Author's Note: One day left...and then the new moon.

- Sun is now at Rank 5.
- We have more interaction between Rei and Kaworu, following up to a similar conversation os sorts from 7/19.
- Misato, Ryuji, Junpei, Ken, and Zenkichi (being adults and not idiots) try and reconcile some of the oddities they've had to deal with.
- Kurosawa keeps finding out unusual things about the Yamagishis.
- And...Armisael is affecting the local reality. I'm sure this will have no negative repercussions.