PART II
ACT I
SCENE IV
(Misato's apartment. MISATO, KAJI and TOJI ENTER with great haste.)
MISATO: (Urgently.) ASUKA? (Both KAJI and TOJI grow tense.)
TOJI: (To KAJI.) Suppose she isn't here. What then?
KAJI: We search and pray she is alive.
TOJI: If she isn't here, I'll call Hikari and ask if Asuka is at her place.
MISATO: (She EXITS from the opposite end of the stage, going into ASUKA's room. She then RE-ENTERS, walking over to KAJI and TOJI.) She is here and she is alive, though she doesn't seem to be too talkative. When I opened the door all she did was look at me.
TOJI: How does she look? (ENTER ASUKA.)
ASUKA: You can see for yourself, stooge.
TOJI: Hey, come on! I came here to make sure you are alright! The least you can do is show me some damn respect!
KAJI: (He places a hand on TOJI's shoulder.) Calm down, Toji.
TOJI: (To the audience.) I had never seen anyone's eyes look so red before. How long Asuka had been crying none of us know, at least I don't. An hour, maybe two? As much as I was angry at being called a stooge, I couldn't be angry for long knowing what she had been through... What we had all been through. We had all lost Shinji, I a brother, her the love of her life. Even with Rei's… communication with Shinji, I must admit, I had some doubts. I was optimistic, but not entirely. Maybe ninety percent optimistic. Still, what was I supposed to say? My interactions with Asuka had not always been the best, our first interaction being a highlight, so I doubt saying something along the lines of "Don't worry, the second cousin of the boy you like has recently had a vaguely psychic communication with him saying he will be back" would have helped.
MISATO: How are you feeling, Asuka?
ASUKA: …
KAJI: (A tad worried.) A-Asuka?
ASUKA: (Quietly.) T-This isn't real, is it? Is this a dream? A nightmare?
MISATO: I'm afraid it is, Asuka, but it doesn't have to be a nightmare.
ASUKA: Doesn't have to be a nightmare? Misato, we've lost Shinji… I've lost Shinji… After my… m-my mother died and then…
KAJI: Asuka, Shinji might not be lost.
ASUKA: You saw what happened the same as I did… Everyone did. (She turns her gaze towards TOJI.) You saw it.
TOJI: What are you saying? You can't actually mean it was my fault!
ASUKA: I do! Until you became an Evangelion pilot this sort of thing had never happened before! You and Unit-03 are a curse!
MISATO: Asuka, there is no need for that! Toji came here to make sure you were alright, there is no need to blame him for something that isn't his fault!
KAJI: Besides this was the first time the Fifth Child Kaworu Nagisa had seen deployment. Why do you blame Toji but not him as well?
TOJI: … Because I'm the only one here… And she doesn't want to blame herself. (ASUKA's expression turns sorrowful.) That really is it, isn't? Asuka, you know it isn't anyone's fault, not mine, not yours, definitely not yours! You shouldn't blame yourself for what happened!
ASUKA: Why shouldn't I? With how that Angel was so focused on me why shouldn't I blame myself? If it wasn't for me, Shinji would still be here!
TOJI: Asuka… It is not your fault. If your and Shinji's places were switched, do you think Shinji would be here blaming himself? (He pauses for a moment and realizes what he said.) Okay, maybe he would, but not for long. He would come to realize he isn't at fault! (He realizes what he has said and nods.) Yeah, that's it! He would come to realize that he isn't at fault and in time you will too.
KAJI: (To MISATO.) Not a bad idea. You can't rush things.
MISATO: (To KAJI.) Let's just hope she does come to realize it is not her fault. (To ASUKA.) Asuka, Rei has some sort of communication with Shinji and she says he is trying to find his way back to us.
ASUKA: (She turns her head away from them.) Wondergirl is just hallucinating… S-Shinji was her cousin… The loss of him affects us all… And I do not want false hope.
KAJI: And what if it isn't false, Asuka?
ASUKA: What else can it be, Kaji? It is so unscientific.
TOJI: Oh, come on! With how weird everything is, this is where you draw the line?
ASUKA: (Quietly.) If it was Hikari in Shinji's place, would you be so willing to believe it true?
TOJI: Yes, Asuka! I would! What reason do you have to be so cautious? Because you once hoped your dad would come walking back into— (ASUKA turns her gaze upon him, a half-furious, half-hurt expression upon her countenance. Ultimately, the expression becomes solely fury and ASUKA punches TOJI in the face before returning to her room, slamming the door shut.)
MISATO: ASUKA! (She sighs and turns her attention to TOJI.) Are you alright? (Toji nods in response.) You really touched a nerve there, Toji. Like you said, this will take time… We can only hope it will not take too much time… And that Rei wasn't just hallucinating or she isn't an "Indigo Child". (She sighs once more.) Even with as strange as life can be, I'm not sure if I completely believe it. (EXEUNT.)
END OF PART II ACT I