PART I
ACT III
SCENE II
(The school roof. SHINJI, TOJI and KENSUKE all sit together, quietly. SHINJI is staring at TOJI patiently while KENSUKE is hunched over, twiddling his thumbs and staring at the rooftop. TOJI stares out into space, at the audience. He opens his mouth, only to close it again and looking SHINJI in the eye. Patiently, SHINJI looks at his friend, waiting for him to speak.)
TOJI: (Sighing.) I-I'm scared.
KENSUKE: Why? If I was chosen to be an Eva pilot I'd feel like the luckiest guy in the world!
TOJI: (Turning to look at KENSUKE.) How? You've seen what Shinji goes through same as me. If it wasn't for promise of my sister Sakura getting better treatment, I wouldn't have accepted. What if lose a limb or worse? If I die, who is going to look after my sister? My dad is busy, my grandpa is busy, neither have the time for her, she is basically going to be alone.
KENSUKE: None of the Children have died yet, Toji!
TOJI: Yeah, yet! If Shinji dies, Misato basically loses a little brother, Ayanami loses a cousin and for all Asuka knows she loses the love of her life! If Asuka dies—
SHINJI: (Quietly.) I lose the love of mine.
TOJI: The only one who doesn't lose anything is Nagisa. We don't know anything about this guy. For all we know he really is a vampire. (Resting his elbows on his knees, TOJI holds his face in his hands and stares out once more at the audience.) I'm just really worried, not just about my sister. If I die, she won't be the only affected.
KENSUKE: Your dad and your grandpa?
TOJI: (Closes his eyes and shakes his head.)
SHINJI: Hikari?
TOJI: (Opens his eyes.) Yeah… Sometimes I think about the future, think about becoming a doctor and I know that sounds weird with me being head of the basketball club, but I can't really see me becoming an athlete. I also think about getting married, coming home to a wife and kids.
SHINJI: When you picture your wife… Is she Hikari?
TOJI: (Smiling.) Yeah… Yeah, she is.
KENSUKE: You are scared about losing everything that could be. (TOJI nods.) I never really thought about that.
(A moment of silence falls over the roof.)
SHINJI: What are you going to say to Hikari?
TOJI: I don't know.
KENSUKE: So… Guess you won't have time to be the head of the basketball club anymore… So, who are you going to choose to replace you? Not Taketoki!
TOJI: (Looking at KENSUKE.) Hell, no! My last act as head of that club's gonna be to kick him out!
SHINJI: I'm glad.
KENSUKE: (Nods in agreement.) I guess I'd have to step down as head of the AV club then if I were to be chosen… Mana would have to step down as head of the music club if she were chosen also.
TOJI: I'd actually like to talk about you and Mana going to the dance together, Kensuke.
KENSUKE: What? Why?
TOJI: You know her and Musashi are pretty on-again off-again. How do you know they aren't going to get back together before the dance?
KENSUKE: They aren't, Toji! They are actually over this time! She's moved on! She is over him!
TOJI: Did she tell you that or is that what you're telling yourself? (KENSUKE looks away, not able to answer his friend.) Kensuke, you and Shinji are like my brothers and I don't want to see either of you get hurt and I'm afraid that is what might happen. You don't know if Mana and Musashi actually are over, you just hope they are.
KENSUKE: I know and hope is all I've got right now. I've asked Mayumi and she's going with Keita, Natsuko and Nene are going with each other, there is just no one else to go with!
SHINJI: Have you tried asking Rei? (TOJI stares at the audience and mouths "Kensuke and Rei?" in confusion.)
KENSUKE: I did, but she just stared at me like I had multiple heads. There is no one else.
TOJI: (Looking at KENSUKE.) No one else? Last I checked there is more girls at this school than just them! What if you meet someone at the dance? You don't need to be going with someone in order for them to be special, you might meet someone special there.
KENSUKE: What if Mana already is that special person? Shinji and Asuka found each other a decade ago, you and Hikari may not have known each other as long, but you've still found each other. You know how old my grandpa was when he met my grandma? Sixty! I'd actually like to meet my someone special while I am still young!
TOJI: (Nodding.) Yeah, okay. I understand that. Just remember, I'm worried about you.
KENSUKE: I know and I'm worried about you too. You be careful when you're piloting your Eva. You are the best friend a guy could ask for, Toji.
TOJI: So are you, Kensuke. You and Shinji.
SHINJI: You really think of us like brothers, Toji?
TOJI: Sure do, Shinji, and remember I've got your back when we're piloting together. (EXEUNT.)