PART I
ACT I
SCENE II
(A number of chairs are placed upon the stage as a representation of a classroom. ENTER HIKARI.)
HIKARI: (To the audience.) As Asuka told me, she and Shinji had been neighbours once upon a time. She had been the first girl he had ever met and he had been the first boy she had ever met, so the story goes. They had been four when they had first met, it had been a year after Shinji's father basically gave up on him and left him with an aunt and uncle and Asuka's mother had recently committed suicide, her father later abandoning her. I guess it makes sense those two would have found each other. (Various students begin to enter the scene including SHINJI, ASUKA, REI, TOJI and KENSUKE.) It was a nice Monday morning with everyone waiting for class to start. Kensuke was talking about a conspiracy theory…
KENSUKE: I'm telling you birds and cows are plotting against humanity!
HIKARI: (Rather perplexed.) A particularly weird one… Anyway, Toji was sitting in the back listening to Kensuke, Shinji was doing some checkups on some homework on his laptop, Rei Ayanami was staring out the window while Asuka and I discussed the upcoming dance. (To ASUKA.) So, who are you thinking about going with? Toji has asked me, so I'm going with him. Taketoki seems interested in taking you.
ASUKA: Well, I'm not interested in going with Taketoki. (ASUKA and HIKARI both look over at one of their classmates, TAKETOKI, who smiles and winks at the former.) You'd think someone would get the message after being dumped. Why did I ever agree to go on a date with him?
HIKARI: I asked because he's my sister's friend.
ASUKA: I should have just said no.
HIKARI: Then who would you like to go with?
ASUKA: I have someone in mind. (She looks over at SHINJI, who just keeps doing last minute checks on his homework.)
TOJI: (To the audience.) I've been friends with Kensuke for a while. Shinji, not so much, but I still consider him one of my best friends. They are like my brothers and I want them to be happy. Shinji told me about his past with Asuka and honestly, I'm rooting for them to get together. Anyway, while listening to Kensuke tells us of this bizzarro conspiracy theory involving birds and cows plotting against humanity, I noticed Taketoki smiling and winking at Asuka. With me having asked Hikari to go to the upcoming dance, it just made sense that Taketoki was thinking about asking Asuka. Now, I've never liked Taketoki Ichimonji. As Conn would suggest to me, it may be that I see him as "my reflection in a cracked mirror". That guy has a weird way with words. Anyway, I notice Taketoki smiling and winking and so I just turn to Shinji and ask him: (To Shinji.) So, Shinji, you thinking about going to the dance with anybody? I asked Hikari and she said yes, so what about you? You got someone on your mind?
KENSUKE: Yeah, I asked Mana Kirishima and she said she'd go with me, so who are you going with, Shinji?
SHINJI: (Not looking away from his homework.) I don't know. I might just not go. Dances have never really been my thing. They have always been Asuka's with me just accompanying her.
TOJI: You ever wonder if it has been more than you just accompanying her? Has she ever asked you to dance with her?
SHINJI: (Turns his head slightly to look at TOJI with a small smile.) Yes… Yes, she did.
KENSUKE: And did you?
SHINJI: Yes, we did.
TOJI: Then why don't you go ask her?
(SHINJI looks over at ASUKA, who smiles at him. He smiles back until he notices TAKETOKI staring at her, he begins to slump in his seat.)
TOJI: (Under his breath.) Come on, Shinji!
KENSUKE: Go get her!
(SHINJI stands up only for the OLD TEACHER to enter.)
OLD TEACHER: Time for class, students! Everyone in their seats! (Any students who were not already in their seats immediately sit down in a chair while Shinji just sits back down.)
KENSUKE: Ask her after class, Shinji.
TOJI: If you can remember. This old windbag can make you forget anything, if he doesn't put you to sleep.
SHINJI: (To himself.) Thank goodness for the intranet! (After a few moments, he once again slumps in his seat and looks up at the ceiling.) School's wi-fi is out… Great.
(TAKETOKI hands a note to a neighbouring classmate and whispers something to them. Eventually the note is passed all the way over to ASUKA. TOJI notices, taps SHINJI on the shoulder and then points at what is going on. Staring with wide eyes, SHINJI watches as the note reaches ASUKA. Taking a moment to read the note, ASUKA takes a pencil/pen and checks off a box, then handing the note back until it once again reaches TAKETOKI. Upon reading the note TAKETOKI lets out a loud, exasperated sigh, causing everyone, except the OLD TEACHER to turn and look at him, before returning to whatever it was they were doing.)
NOTES
As this is meant to draw from various parts of the franchise, it is only natural that the portrayals of Shinji and Asuka a childhood friends would be one such element featured, albeit differently, since I still use the tragic elements of Shinji and Asuka's original backstories. I do imagine that they may have been separated for a time, only to meet again on the aircraft carrier.
I imagine this play as being performed minimally. All people would need is costumes, chairs, props, etc.
As you might have guessed from Hikari and Toji speaking to the audience, the role of chorus will be split among a few characters. Originally OC Conn Temujin O'Sullivan was meant to be the sole chorus, until I realized that this would either result in Shinji, Asuka and the rest having diminished roles or Conn presenting information to the audience that he realistically couldn't have known.
Taketoki Ichimonji's name, since I can't remember us ever learning the name of the guy that Hikari set Asuka up with in the fifteenth episode of the original series, is derived from the protagonists of "Throne of Blood" and "Ran": Taketoki Washizu and Hidetori Ichimonji.