Chapter 3
He is alone and afraid, somewhere intimately familiar, and at the same time utterly alien. He doesn't know where he is, or how he got there, only that he had been there for too long. Far longer than he was meant to be.
Snippets of memory came and went. A flash of red hair, and of blue, a towering man glaring down at him, his own wilting form reflected in the man's glasses. He…he feels like he should know these people. Recognize them. He thinks that he did, once…but it was becoming harder and harder to remember.
Understanding came to him, and he gasped.
His eyes shot open, staring up into an all too familiar ceiling.
Shinji. His name was Shinji Ikari, Third Children and pilot of Evangelion Unit 01.
Terror flashed through him at the thought of his Eva. He hated it. Hated it almost as much as he hated his father for forcing him to pilot. How many times had he almost died because of it? How many had he almost killed because of it?
Unbidden, the image of Unit 01's hands caked in blood came to him. Not Angel's blood, or its own, but from Unit 03. From Toji, his friend. His friend who had screamed as Unit 01 tore his Eva apart, devouring it. Who had lost his leg, and nearly his life, because his father had activated the Dummy Plug system.
No. No, that was only an excuse. It was because he had been too cowardly to fight in the first place. He hadn't wanted to hurt his friend, refused to…and in the end, he wound up hurting him anyway.
It seemed that was all piloting was good for. Pain. Pain for him, or Ayanami, or Asuka, or his friends.
He just wanted it all to stop. It wasn't fair it had to happen to him. He had never asked to pilot Eva, never wanted it. But it had still been expected of him, and he had gone along with it. What other choice did he have? He couldn't leave Ayanami and Asuka to fight against the Angel's themselves. It wouldn't be right, not if he could do something about it.
But that didn't make it any less painful to pilot.
His memory was still a jumbled mess. With a light groan, he sat up in his hospital bed…
…Only to look out into his room in Misato's apartment. He blinked, and his bed was his own. "I don't understand…" He muttered softly, getting out of bed.
He placed a hand on the door to his room, and before he could talk himself out of it, stepped through the threshold, and into the empty classroom of class 2-A. He quickly looked behind him, his heart beginning to race, but the door he had stepped through was gone. He was not entirely sure it had ever been there in the first place.
"Shinji?" A voice called softly.
He turned, his eyes widening in surprise. "A-Ayanami?" She had not been there a moment ago.
Rei took a step forward, and smiled lightly. It was…wrong, somehow. It was warm, but it wasn't Rei's smile. Rei's smile was different. Special. "It is good to see you. I've been trying to speak with you…for so, so long now."
He shook his head, taking a step back. It was wrong, all wrong! Her voice, her smile, her words. It was all Rei…but it wasn't. It was her face, but not her smile. Her voice, but not her cadence. And the longing in her voice…it was nothing like Rei. "You…you're not Ayanami!" He accused, stepping back fearfully. "What are you? An Angel? And where are we?"
Rei's smile fell. "Hm. You are upset. Then maybe…"
The ground fell beneath him, and Rei and the classroom both disappeared as he shrieked in terror. He was falling, and falling, and falling, deep into a black void, until quite suddenly, he wasn't.
Carefully, he opened a single eye, and his voice caught in his throat. He was back home, at Misato's apartment.
"Well?" Asuka called impatiently from behind him. "Are we going to school, or are you going to stand there all day? Let's go."
He glanced down, realizing he was holding his school bag. He was sure he hadn't been only moments ago, but…
…but he couldn't remember. What had he been doing? "Shinji!" Asuka called again.
He shook his head. He was probably just getting ready for school. It didn't matter, it would come to him later.
Shinji followed Asuka out the door, letting her lead as they walked to school. He enjoyed this. Walking with her. It was nice, quiet, a pleasant change of pace from her usual yelling and jeering. It felt good, walking by her side. He wasn't alone anymore. He had someone, and even if they didn't really get along that well, it was better than walking by himself.
Besides…Asuka was an Eva pilot. One of only three in the world…or four, with Toji. Even if she actually enjoyed piloting, she still understood how painful it could be. She understood. For that alone, he was more comfortable in her presence.
"Hey, Shinji…" Asuka spoke up, breaking their usual silence.
He blinked in surprise. "Er…yes, Asuka?"
"Slow down a minute," She said, slowing down her own steps as she waited for him to catch up to her. "I wanted to talk for a second."
Shinji frowned. "Are…are you feeling alright, Asuka?" Why would she want to talk to him? In the middle of their walk to school, no less? And Asuka would never have asked him in the first place. If she had something to say, she would have just said it.
"You need to focus," She said, her voice becoming much more serious. It didn't sound anything like her, even though the voice itself was exactly the same. "Remember. It's hard enough to reach out to you as it is. I…I wanted to speak with you, but you were never meant to be here so long. You need to go back…"
Shinj winced, falling to the ground in pain, clutching his head. He remembered, then. The last angel…Unit 01, going berserk and devouring it, ripping it apart with its bare hands…eating it.
But something happened after. Something that had brought him here, wherever here was.
He glanced up, and saw blood staining Asuka's mouth, exactly where it had been on Unit 01. "I'm sorry, Shinji. But this isn't working. Not now. You're still too unstable."
"Wait!" He called out. "Where am I? What happened? Who are you?"
"I'll try again later, Shinji," Asuka sighed. "Goodbye."
He screamed out in protest, but the ground fell away once more, and Asuka disappeared, along with the streets of Tokyo-3.
He was alone again. Back in the dull darkness, where he had no sense of self, no sense of existing.
He was alone. And he was afraid.
Asuka furrowed her brow, trying her hardest to ignore them as she walked.
They think they're so discreet, don't they? Damn those assholes in Section 2. Weren't they supposed to be NERV's best? She shouldn't be able to pick them out from a distance as they followed her.
But even so, she did. A man standing in a telephone booth as she walked by, his lips never moving as his head ever slowly slightly turned to follow her. Another leaning up against the wall of a closed record store, taking a drag of a cigarette. He tried to lounge around, as if he were at ease, but he moved his eyes too much, scanning the surrounding area for any potential threat.
And then there was the lady who would have to stop and tie her shoe every day at the exact same spot. Seriously, how did they think she wouldn't catch on?
Probably because I didn't, She was forced to admit to herself. Not for a long time now. Not until Shinji disappeared. Before then, even when they walked in silence, his presence alone was enough to distract her. It allowed her to pretend, if even for a few minutes, that the two of them were normal kids on their way to school.
But now she was alone, and there was nothing left to distract her. She couldn't pretend things were normal, or that she enjoyed wasting her time at that stupid school. And she couldn't help but notice Section 2.
She tried to tell herself it was a good thing. It proved she was important, that they needed her if they went through so much trouble just to keep her safe. It did little to soothe her irritation, but what did it matter, really? It was as much a part of her life as piloting was. All she could do was try to ignore it.
The rest of her walk was as dull as it ever had been the last few weeks. The minutes ticked by in agonizingly boring silence. It wasn't much better when she finally reached school, except maybe for the fact that she wouldn't have to deal with Section 2 anymore. Not until school ended, at any rate.
She ignored most of the idiots she was forced to spend the day around, trying to get to class as soon as possible. None of them mattered, and she had more important things to do at the moment.
Like finding Rei.
They hadn't spoken since the day they had agreed to get Shinji back together. Wasn't the whole point that Rei didn't want to wait? Didn't she need Asuka to help her specifically? Two days, and not a word from her.
Tch. It was all the same to her. Rei was probably just waiting for an opportunity. She had said the Commander was watching her. They would need to be careful if they were going to do this right.
Her eyes fell on the familiar mop of blue hair as she entered classroom 2-A. She was staring out the window, off into the city as she usually was, oblivious to Asuka's entrance.
Asuka rolled her eyes in irritation. I'll have a chance to talk to her later, She thought. If Ayanami wanted to keep things the same in case the Commander was watching, that was fine with her. But if she wanted her help, then she was damn well going to get some answers!
Tearing her gaze away from her fellow pilot, she realized with a start there was another familiar face in class today. Her eyes widened in surprise, and a genuine smile lit up her face. "Hikari!" She greeted. "You're back!" Finally, a breath of fresh air. Someone she actually enjoyed being around. The last week of her absence had left Asuka without anyone to talk to, at school or otherwise. At least, outside of the one conversation with Rei, and a few biting interactions with Misato.
Hikari looked over to her nervously, brushing a strand of hair out of her face, but refusing to meet her eyes. "H-Hello, Asuka. It's good to see you. I'm sorry I haven't been around, I was sick for a few days."
"I know," Asuka said cheerfully. "I asked the teacher, and he told me." She frowned, realizing what she said. "A few days?" She repeated. "You were gone for over a week!"
Hikari's face fell, and she cleared her throat. "I…I was also visiting Suzuhara and his sister."
Asuka paled, her stomach dropping. Oh. Guilt poured over her in an overwhelming wave. Of course she would. So had Aida, Shinji's other friend, and most of the class as well. Except for Rei. Except for her. "And..h-how is he?" She asked for Hikari's sake, her voice uncharacteristically shaky.
"Better," Hikari said with a sniffle, rubbing her eyes. Asuka felt a pang in her stomach. I shouldn't have said anything. "It's still too early to start physical therapy, but the doctors say he'll be fine, eventually. And he's getting a bit more cheerful, too. Kensuke stops by pretty often to bring him more movies to watch, and I come around whenever I can." She paused, almost afraid to go on. "He keeps asking after Shinji, too."
Asuka flinched. This again. She tried to mask her guilt, and her hurt, and replace it with a scowl. "I told you and all the rest, Ayanami and I aren't allowed-"
"I know you aren't!" Hikari said quickly. "I…I'm not asking for myself. I know you can't talk to civilians, but…Toji was an Evangelion pilot, even if it was only for a short while. He lost his leg because he was an Eva pilot. Surely he at least deserves an answer? He won't tell a soul, I promise!"
"Hikari…"
"He just wants Shinji to know he doesn't blame him," Hikari said. "That's all. He knows how Shinji is…he only wants to make sure he doesn't do something stupid. Please, can you at least visit him? Tell him you'll pass it along to Shinji? For me?" She added after a moment.
Asuka's stomach twisted in indecisiveness. She couldn't even escape from Shinji's absence at school, with Hikari, her only real friend. Why did she care so much? A week away, and the first thing she asks is to speak to Shinji instead of her. Because why would she matter, when the invincible Shini was clearly so much more important!
She realized she was clenching her fists, and let go, shaking her head. "I…I…" Why was it so hard to just spit it out? She never had a problem speaking her mind before. But before, you weren't risking anything. Not anything you cared about. Hikari is your best friend, and if you tell her no she'll just leave you. Because that's what people always do, when you stop being useful to them. They leave. "I…"
"We will stop by the hospital Suzuhara and his sister are being treated after school," Rei announced, cutting in. Asuka jumped back in surprise. When did she get up? "A sync test has been scheduled at NERV later today. It would not be much of a delay to reassure Suzuhara."
Hikari's shoulders fell, and she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Ayanami. I really appreciate it."
Rei didn't bother to answer, only returning quietly to her seat and once more glancing out the window. Asuka's eye twitched in anger. Who does she think she is, agreeing on my behalf? And why the hell does she want to go?
She was forced out of her brooding when Hikari crashed into her, wrapping her into a hug. "It really is good to see you, Asuka," She repeated. "How've you been?"
A nagging voice told her she was only asking now that she had gotten what she wanted, but Asuka pushed it aside, along with her irritation at Ayanami. She scoffed, trying to regain some semblance of control, of normalcy. "Are you kidding? I've been fine!"
Hikari frowned at her in concern. "Asuka…"
"I've been fine," She insisted, with a little more force behind her words.
Hikari sighed. "If you say so. I'm only worried, you know."
"Please," Asuka brushed her off lightly. "What have you got to be worried about? I'm the best Evangelion pilot in the world, remember?"
"That's why I worry," Hikari muttered, before shaking her head. "But anyways…I'm glad you're at least feeling like normal. Come on, class is about to begin!"
Asuka took her seat, bowed monotonously with the rest of the class when their ancient teacher arrived, and promptly went back to ignoring the rest of the world until school was over. Or at least until she had another chance to speak to Hikari. For as much as she enjoyed Hikari's company, the girl would never dream of doing something she thought of as disrespectful, like talking in class.
As her mind was slowly whittled away by the numbing repetition of Tokyo-3's abysmal education, she was snapped out of her trance-like state by a small symbol in the corner of her screen signalling she had received a message.
Asuka frowned. Who the hell…? It couldn't be Hikari. The class rep would never, not while the teacher was giving a lecture. Curious, and glad for any distraction from her so far dull day, she clicked on the notification, frowning as she realized who it was from.
It never ends, does it? She thought with a scowl. If it wasn't one of the idiots from school bugging her about Shinji, it was another.
She looked back with a glare at the last of Shinji's friends still in school, that annoying nerd Kensuke. Normally, he was the more tolerable of the two. At least he recognized the beauty of Eva's, while Suzuhara was…was…
Her mouth suddenly dried, as she found herself unable to think anything insulting about Suzuhara. Not…not now.
Instead, she shot a glare at Kensuke, hoping he'd wither under her gaze and quit bugging her. He winced at her attention, but held firm and adjusted his glasses. Well? He mouthed in question to her.
Asuka made a growling noise at the back of her throat, whipping back around to the screen in front of her.
What happened to Shinji? He had asked.
None of your business, She replied. There was a brief pause, and behind her she could faintly hear the clicking of keys.
No one in school has heard a thing about Shinji in over a month, came the eventual reply. You, Ayanami, Miss Misato…no one at NERV is willing to speak about him. Toji is as clueless as I am, despite having been a pilot himself. Ayanami's been acting even odder than usual, which I didn't think was possible, and you've been even more volatile. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Before she had a chance to snap out an angry retort, the rest of Aida's message came through. Shinji's my friend. And sure, he can be a private guy sometimes, and I know there's plenty of stuff NERV can't talk about. But if something happened to him…I have a right to know. So do the rest of the class. And if none of us do, then at least tell Toji. He was a pilot himself.
Asuka clenched her fists, restraining herself from bursting out. Idiot, She thought furiously. She put her life on the line every time an Angel attacked, spent nearly every minute of her life training to protect the world, and all of a sudden he thinks he deserves answers because he was the idiot's friend?
He wasn't owed anything. Not from her. But still the brat felt he deserved answers, like there weren't a million more important things in her life at the moment! She shouldn't be wasting her time in this stupid school, she should be looking for a way to get Rei into Unit 01 and free Shinji, or at least be at NERV preparing for the next Angel attack.
A little late for that, She typed irritably. Rei already told Hikari we're visiting Suzuhara after class, and we'll fill him in then. You know, because he was an actual Eva pilot, who at least tried to help out the world, and not a nosy entitled moron who doesn't know what he's talking about, or what he's asking.
She turned around to see a genuinely surprised expression on Aida's face, and she delighted in watching him squirm.
He never sent another reply, and she was content to go back to ignoring the teacher's lecture, counting the minutes as they ticked away.
Let him feel guilty, She thought smugly. He should feel guilty. Didn't he realize how busy their lives already were? She had enough on her plate without dealing with his badgering.
Still…there was a nagging sense of unease nestling inside her. Ugh. Why did she care? It wasn't her fault he was a nosy jerk.
He's only worried about Shinji.
She gritted her teeth, annoyed at her own thoughts betraying her. And so am I. Except Aida's a troublesome brat, while I can actually do something to help. Once she finally had a chance to speak with Rei alone, of course.
The second the bell rang, Asuka was out of her seat and hurrying out the door.
She stood impatiently by the school gate, her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently against the concrete as she waited for Rei to emerge. When she finally did, she greeted Asuka with the lightest of frowns. "You…waited for me," She said slowly, having trouble believing her own eyes. "You do not normally wait."
"I don't normally take trips to the hospital either to visit Hikari's boyfriend, but then I'm not the one who roped us into that, am I?"
Rei's confusion cleared, and her expression returned to the usual calm. "Oh. I understand now."
"Really? Cause I don't," Asuka said with a twinge of irritation. "I thought we were supposed to avoid drawing the Commander's attention. You don't think the two of us visiting Suzuhara in the hospital together will get noticed? We aren't exactly chummy, you know."
"It is a necessary risk," Rei insisted. "The walk will afford us an opportunity to speak privately. If interrogated, we can simply say Horaki asked us both to greet him, as a way to show our thanks for his sacrifice." She paused. "It is a plausible excuse, and if spoken to I am sure both Horaki and Suzuhara will readily agree to the story."
Asuka snorted, shaking her head. "Look at you, already coming up with alibi's. They grow up so fast…" If she didn't watch herself, Rei was gonna start seeming like an actually normal girl.
"I don't understand," Rei said. "My growth rate-"
Asuka rolled her eyes. "Okay, enough!" She sighed, throwing her arms out and stopping in her tracks. Rei followed suit without question. Asuka placed her hands on her hips. "Look, if we're going to do this thing and get Shinji back, we're going to be forced to be around each other a lot more than I think either of us want to deal with. But I'm going to tell you right now, I am not going to deal with having to explain every little joke or saying to you."
Rei paused. "Then…if you say something I do not understand, am I to just keep quiet?"
"No, that's not gonna solve anything." Besides what if Rei needed to know something actually important, and wound up dismissing it as some sort of joke? Asuka shook her head. "Just…use a bit of common sense."
Rei opened her mouth to speak, but Asuka cut her off. "Tell me you aren't about to ask me what common sense is," She pleaded.
"I understand perfectly the concept of common sense," Rei said to her relief. "Although I am not certain I fully grasp all of its applications."
Asuka blinked. "You're fucking with me."
"I am not sure what you mean."
Asuka squinted. "Are you fucking with me?" She asked, genuinely unsure. Rei's voice almost always lacked inflection, making it difficult at the best of times to discern the intent behind her words.
"I know what common sense is, but I am not sure how exactly to relate it to situations regarding when you are joking or not," Rei clarified.
Asuka sighed in relief. At least she's not completely hopeless. "Well, start paying attention. You gotta figure it out sooner or later."
"It doesn't seem urgent to me," Rei observed. "It is a skill I have not cultivated, yet I have survived this long."
Asuka harrumphed. "Yeah, well, we've established you aren't exactly the baseline for normal." Then again, neither was she. "Look, give it a rest for now. You'll pick up on it eventually. Besides, it's not like it's your fault you don't have a basic understanding of social cues."
Rei darkened, lowering her head. "No. I suppose it is not."
Asuka frowned, but let it be. Rei wasn't exactly a talkative person, and she was going to wind up shutting her down by prying too much. They still needed to work together, for a little while at least.
"The scheduled synchronization test is in two hours," Rei said suddenly. "If we are to stop by the Suzuhara's as planned, we should keep going."
She nodded in agreement, willing to let the subject be changed. "Then let's go."
The hospital Suzuhara and his sister were being treated at wasn't too far from NERV, thankfully, on account of being the main treatment center for victims of Angel attacks that didn't have to be transferred out of the city.
Walking confidently into the lobby, Asuka promptly froze. "...Rei?" She asked tentatively.
"Yes?"
"...do you have any idea what room Suzuhara's actually in?"
Rei paused. "I do not recall the class representative mentioning it, no."
"And you never thought to ask, considering you're the one who volunteered us to visit?" She asked, more forcefully.
Rei shrugged. "I have mainly been in hospitals as a patient. The only person I have ever visited in a hospital was Shinji, and I was provided with his location. I did not think to ask Horaki for details."
"Great," Asuka grumbled. She brushed a strand of hair out of her face and sighed. "Let's just get this over with."
Asuka marched past the line, right up to the attendant desk. She planted her hands on her hips, tapping her foot as she waited.
The useless desk attendant finally looked up. "Er…can I help you, young lady?" She asked with a puzzled look.
"We're here to visit Toji Suzuhara," Asuka announced confidently. "What room is he staying in?"
The desk attendant frowned. "I'll have to get your names to see if you're approved for visitation before I can give you his room number."
"That's ridiculous!" Asuka insisted. "We're friends of his!" Friends of friends, at least. "And I know you've let others see him."
"Everyone who has visited the Suzuhara's has been pre approved," The attendant said patiently. "They're rooms specifically are placed under NERV security, so unless you have special clearance, you need to file-"
"Are you blind?" Asuka asked in disbelief. "The two of us are Eva pilots! Don't tell us we aren't allowed past NERV security!"
For a moment, Asuka allowed herself to be outraged. Between her, Rei and Shinji, they had saved the world a dozen times fighting against the Angels. The least people could do was act a little grateful. Instead, they hadn't even recognized her and Rei. After everything they had done, and all they had risked and lost, nobody even knew who they were. I don't matter to them.
It was then she realized the lobby had gone quiet, and nearly every set of eyes had turned to her. Some with wonder, some with confusion, and to her shock, she even saw bitterness, and fear written in their faces.
Scared…they're scared of us, Asuka realized. And most of those who aren't, hate us. Of course they did. Suzuhara was here specifically because this hospital treated mostly victims of Angel attacks. Victims that were there, at least in part, either because Asuka and the other pilots had failed to prevent collateral damage, or had been careless in fighting the Angels.
Asuka wilted under their stares, not used to such blatant hostility. She was uncomfortable, offset…and she hated it.
The urge to stand her ground and challenge them flared, and she scowled, opening her mouth to chew them out.
The attendant standing behind the desk spoke first, clearing her throat. "Well…I'm…not sure how to proceed," She said with a frown. "You're technically NERV personnel, but…"
Once more, before Asuka could complain about referring to her and Rei as technically with NERV, someone interrupted her.
"Hang on!" The panting voice of Kensuke called out.
Asuka spun around in surprise to find him hunched over, resting his hands on his knees, obviously recovering from an exhausting run. "You can…let them see Toji," He said through heavy breaths. "They're guests of mine. I should be approved on the visitors list, under Aida Kensuke."
"Aida…" The attendant murmured, scrolling through her computer. She nodded. "You're approved, yes. And if you want to bring them as guests, you may, though please be mindful this is a hospital, and some of the patients here can't handle too much…excitement."
Kensuke nodded furiously. "We'll be careful!" He promised. Adjusting his glasses, he gestured for her and Rei to follow him. "Come on, I'll take you to Toji!"
Rei followed as soon as he began to walk, and Asuka followed soon after, though not without reservation.
Before she had a chance to demand answers, Kensuke offered up an explanation. "Sorry about…earlier," He apologized sheepishly. "I was just worried about Shinji. I mean, it's been over a month now and still no word about him. I-I know you guys have more important things going on, your Eva pilots after all…but Shinji's my friend." He shook his head. "Anyways…I'm glad you're at least paying Toji a visit. If anyone outside of NERV deserves to know, it's him."
Kensuke paused, taking a second to clean his glasses. "And besides, he'll be happy to see you regardless of what you tell him."
Asuka scoffed. "Please. No need to butter me up, I already told you we're going to tell him."
Kensuke shook his head. "I'm telling you the truth."
"I know you and Suzuhara both can't stand me," She growled. "What's that stupid nickname of yours? The Red Devil?"
"That was then," Kensuke said quietly as they turned a corner. "Before Shinji disappeared. Before…before Toji became a pilot."
"So?" Asuka huffed. "It isn't as if that changes anything."
"Doesn't it?" Kensuke asked. "I don't know, maybe not…but it just seems so childish now. I know…I knew it was serious before. Toji and I were in Shinji's Entry Plug during his second fight against an Angel. We saw how it affected him, but still…it all felt like something out of a cartoon. Like the two of you and Shinji were all superheroes fighting back the evil Angels." His voice fell almost to a whisper. "I never took it seriously. Not when Toji's sister was hurt, or when we were with Shinji during the fight. But then Toji lost his leg, and Shinji stopped showing up…and it feels like everything's changed, even though nothing really has. I guess I just…stopped pretending."
Asuka's throat grew dry, any reply dying in her throat. Kensuke cleared his own. "I guess what I mean to say is sorry. For pushing you earlier…and for never taking any of this seriously before."
Inwardly, Asuka fought the urge to scream. Once again, everyone else around you is moving on. She tried to ignore the venomous voice inside of her head, but it pressed on, heedless of what she wanted. Misato ignores you. You aren't needed by anyone at NERV unless an Angel shows up, and even then they have Wondergirl. Speaking of, the Doll's finally showing some initiative! And look at that, she had to all but twist your arm in order to get you to help Shinji.
Asuka winced. That wasn't…she had agreed-
You agreed after Ayanami taunted you into it, The voice inside her head said, slicing through any illusions she had. Don't pretend otherwise. Isn't that something? He saved your life, and even then you still needed to be convinced to help him. All because of your pride. How pathetic. How childish. Even that brat Kensuke's starting to act more mature than you…while all you can do is the same you've always done. Bully, and insult, and complain. Like a child.
She clenched her first, forcing the unwanted thoughts out of her mind, but the damage was done. After all, how could she ignore it? It wasn't as if she could lie to herself forever. She was right.
No matter how she acted, or how much she tried to pretend, she was still just a child. A miserable, rude, lonely-
"We're here," Kensuke announced, coming to a sudden stop and tearing Asuka away from her thoughts. "Room A32." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "I can't go in, obviously. Not if you're talking to Toji about Shinji. Sakura's in the next room over, though. I'll check in on her, and come back out to wait for you two."
"Thank you for your direction, Aida," Rei thanked with a nod of her head. "And for your intervention at the front office. It is appreciated. Without your assistance, it would have been…more complicated than desired."
He waved them off with a shrug. "No problem. It's for Shinji, isn't it? I'll let the hospital clear you for any future visits too, so you don't have to deal with that again." He frowned. "Although…maybe don't be so quick to tell everyone you guys are Eva pilots. A lot of people are glad for what you're doing…but a lot aren't. And in a hospital that mainly treats victims of Angel attacks, it's easy to get angry at you two when you're right there in front of them."
"We will take your advice into consideration for the future," Rei said. "For now, we must speak with Suzuhara." She turned to Asuka. "Are you ready now?"
Not in the slightest. Asuka hadn't seen Suzuhara since the battle.
Still…Rei had roped the two of them into this, and she had agreed. May as well get it over with so they could get to the Geofront in time for the synchronization test.
Asuka nodded, walking past Rei and opening the door to Suzuhara's room.
Bit of a longer wait this time, but I DID say I'd be writing this in the background. That still applies, and it may be a longer wait for the next chapter. It also might not. It really does just depend.
Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed, or have any questions that won't spoil the fic, leave a comment! I read them all, even if I don't reply to every one.
Next Chapter: No clue.