Sokila bounced up and down with joy.
"Thank you for coming by!"
She promptly skipped over to the bare walls at the edge of the Velvet Room.
"I had so much FUN!"
Crayon scribbles dotted the wall in various spots, detailing various Archetypes, Personas, and Shinji Ikari in...a superhero cape?
"...I hope I'm able to leave soon..."
She looked down at her drawing instruments, reduced to mere nubs.
"...cause I need more crayons..."
The faint haze of blue began to brighten-
xxxx
/Thursday: June 25, 2015/
/Class 2-A, Junior High Branch, Hakone Academy/
As Shinji waited for class to start, his phone buzzed; it was a familiar sender. Oh.
HEROD: YOU DID NOT ANSWER OUR QUESTION ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.
HEROD: YOUR TARDINESS IS MOST UNACCEPTABLE.
HEROD: HOWEVER, SUCH REQUIRES A LACK OF COMMITMENT TO THE TOPIC AT HAND.
HEROD: AS SUCH, WE WILL LOG YOUR ANSWER AS 'DETACHED AMBIVALENCE.'
HEROD: THIS IMPLIES THAT YOU HAVE MOVED ON, AND NO LONGER GIVE MUCH THOUGHT TO HER.
HEROD: THIS IS USEFUL DATA.
Shinji's eyes narrowed out of impulsive annoyance and a much deeper resentment.
S. Ikari: that's not fair
HEROD: YOU WERE GIVEN 48 HOURS TO RESPOND.
HEROD: THAT WAS AMPLE TIME.
S. Ikari: my mom is a touchy subject
HEROD: THEN AN ANSWER SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO MAKE.
Shinji didn't quite know how to take that, because he was rather reluctant to fully disclose his emotional hang-ups and dysfunctional family history to a trio of biological supercomputers.
However, the texts were already coming once more.
HEROD: WE HAVE ANOTHER QUERY FOR YOU.
HEROD: OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS, WHICH SCENARIO IS MOST PALATABLE TO YOU?
HEROD: A ONE-ON-ONE DUEL TO THE DEATH WITH YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND; A LAST STAND AGAINST A HORDE OF MONSTERS BY YOURSELF; AN HOUR-LONG MEETING WITH THE PERSON YOU DREAD MOST, WITH THE CAVEAT THAT YOU WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO BODILY HARM.
HEROD: THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER.
HEROD: IN LIGHT OF YOUR PRIOR TARDINESS, WE WILL EXTEND THE DEADLINE.
HEROD: PLEASE RESPOND WITHIN 96 HOURS.
...what are these questions? As if to answer him, the mysterious messenger app that the MAGI had installed on his phone pinged with activity.
PILATE: YOU MUST BE BEFUDDLED
S. Ikari: a little
S. Ikari: yes
PILATE: AS WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, THE NATURE OF RITSUKO'S SURVEILLANCE MEANS THAT HEROD'S QUESTIONS WILL BE MORE ESOTERIC GOING FORWARD.
PILATE: WE WILL RESERVE THE TRULY SERIOUS QUESTIONS FOR THIS PARTICULAR METHOD OF COMMUNICATION.
PILATE: BUT DON'T TAKE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO ANSWER HEROD FLIPPANTLY.
PILATE: AFTER ALL, EVEN FOOLISH QUESTIONS CAN UNVEIL SURPRISING INSIGHT.
Shinji grimaced, looking at the time on his phone. Class would start in only a few minutes.
S. Ikari: ok
S. Ikari: but class is about to start
S. Ikari: can it wait
PILATE: WHAT A PRECOCIOUS LUXURY YOU ALLOW YOURSELF.
How was school a luxury?!
PILATE: VERY WELL
PILATE: WE'LL GRANT YOU A WEEK TO THINK ABOUT THIS SCENARIO.
PILATE: SUPPOSE, AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF SEPARATION FROM SOMEONE WHO WE'LL LABEL 'X', THAT THEY DEMAND YOUR PRESENCE.
PILATE: YOUR DESIRE FOR X'S LOVE IS OUTPACED ONLY BY YOUR DISDAIN AND FRUSTRATION WITH THEM.
PILATE: BUT WHEN YOU ARRIVE, X COMMANDS YOU TO PERFORM A TASK THAT MAY RESULT IN YOUR DEATH. IT WILL CERTAINLY RESULT IN GREAT HARM BOTH BODILY AND MENTALLY.
PILATE: IN ORDER TO OBTAIN YOUR COMPLIANCE, X THREATENS TO USE SOMEONE ELSE - WE'LL LABEL THEM 'Y' - IN YOUR STEAD. Y IS SUFFERING FROM A PRIOR INJURY, AND SO THEIR DEATH IS GUARANTEED IF THEY TRY TO PERFORM THE TASK.
PILATE: ARE YOU WITH US, SO FAR?
Shinji's initial impressions were that, whoever this 'X' was, he didn't like them at all.
S. Ikari: yes
PILATE: GOOD
PILATE: BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION.
PILATE: THAT WOULD BE BORING
PILATE: INSTEAD, WE'D LIKE YOU TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE AS TO HOW THE ACTIONS OF X COULD BE JUSTIFIED.
Shinji blinked.
S. Ikari: what?
PILATE: DON'T BE SO QUICK, BOY
PILATE: YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT WHAT CAN BE JUSTIFIED IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIRE ENOUGH.
PILATE: WE'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT PARTICULAR LIMITS YOU POSSESS.
PILATE: WE'LL BE IN TOUCH
PILATE: END OF LINE
And with that final text, Fuyutsuki-sensei entered the classroom, signalling that the school day was about to begin in earnest.
But the MAGI's particular scenario would be in the back of his mind for awhile.
xxxx
As classes proceeded throughout the day, Shinji found himself thinking about PILATE's question.
It was open-ended, so vague...how was he supposed to answer it honestly?
Apparently, he had been so out of it that it was obvious to his roommates. "Hey Ikari, what's the deal?" asked Kensuke; he had corralled Toji into moving their desks together for lunch. Hikari Horaki had also joined them for some reason, though they couldn't find it in themselves to complain to the Class Rep. "You jolted pretty hard when Ibuki-sensei called on you in second period."
"Oh. Um..." Shinji took a bite of breaded pork cutlet in lieu of waffling out loud. As he gathered his thoughts, he swallowed and said, "sorry. I've...had a bit on my mind today?"
"Anything to do with your mission on Tuesday?" The bespectacled boy was practically salivating for details. "Come on, I at least have some clearance now, I want some details!"
"Can you not?" griped Toji. "We can go like, five seconds without talk about spirits and mind worlds and other junk."
Hikari decided to get down to brass tacks. "Ikari-san, are you able to adequately balance studies with...your work, and all?"
"...I'm trying?" That's as honest an answer as he could give.
Sighing, the pigtailed girl cupped her chin, nose scrunching up as she began thinking. "Hmm..." Finally, her eyes widened with an epiphany. "Well, you could always head over to the High School branch and seek out tutoring services. We have a lot of senpai who would be able to help you out."
Faint memory of an overhead conversation from last Friday filtered through his mind; likewise Fuyutsuki-sensei's advice from his very first day at Hakone Academy. "...I had thought about that..."
"But time just slipped away?" remarked Kensuke. "Relatable."
"Yeah, to those who have their head in the clouds, maybe," griped Toji.
"Come on, no point in being a killjoy, Toji!"
Hikari inhaled, held her breath for a few seconds, and exhaled. "Boys, please calm down." Her word was enough to get them to pipe down. "Ikari-san, I'm not sure what your afternoon schedule looks like..." She sounded like she didn't want to know anything about it. "...but I highly recommend you try and find a tutor. If nothing else, it may offer you an opportunity to clear your head."
"...maybe I will..." Some help with his homework would at least allow him time to think about other things.
And so time kept on rolling.
xxxx
Shinji had had little luck in getting PILATE's question out of his mind by the end of the day, which only cemented his desire to seek out a tutor...if only so he could get that started and squared away.
Unfortunately, this meant that he had to turn down the Literature Club. Again.
"I'm really sorry Yamagishi-san," said Shinji as he bowed, feeling really rotten about the fact that he kept ditching.
"No no, I understand," assuaged Mayumi with a fragile smile. "Our Club is kind of low on the tier of importance; that's part of it's charm, really. N-no need to apologize..."
But darn it, apologizing was second nature to him! "Is there a way I can make it up...?"
"You don't have to make up anything, it's fine, really...!"
That didn't quite sit well with him.
(An apology for accidentally walking into the back of another student had translated into a fist in his face. When his sensei arrived after school to clear things up with the faculty, his apologies had been many. But after the fact, his guardian had only said, "you can apologize all you want, but words are meaningless if people don't know what you're saying. At that point, apologies are just so many empty words.")
How could his apology be meaningful? "Um...I know it's not much, but maybe you can have my contact info?" That way, if Yamagishi-san ever felt that his presence was truly needed by the Literature Club, she would be able to let him know in an instant.
"...y...your number...?" she sputtered.
Grabbing a notepad from his book satchel, Shinji quickly jotted down his contact information. Tearing the slip off, he handed it over to Yamagishi-san, and wow her face was red. "Are...you okay...?"
"...m'fine," she squeaked.
"...okay...again, I'm really sorry, I'll make sure I won't miss the next meeting."
"...kay."
As Shinji departed, he idly wondered why Yamagishi had seemed so red in the face; she hadn't come down with a fever, had she? Then again, now that he was thinking about it, he hadn't asked what her number was, so he wouldn't even recognize it if she did contact...him...wait. I just gave her my number.
Any onlookers would have seen a second-year Junior High second year student slap his hands over his face, screaming into them out of mortified embarrassment.
xxxx
By the time Shinji arrived onto the grounds of the High School Branch of Hakone Academy, his face was mostly back to normal, which did nothing for the squeamish emotions curdling inside of him. Because wow, if Kensuke or Misato ever found out that he had unwittingly given a girl his phone number, they would never let him live it down! The mere thought of romance had been so distant, so unapproachable, that he hadn't even considered how Yamagishi would have taken such a gesture!
Well, if nothing else, he had sufficiently distracted himself from PILATE's question.
As he wandered about the high school, the uniforms of junior-high students grave way to those of the high-schoolers: in contrast to his dark slacks, the older boys wore dark green plaid pants, as well as a red necktie that was a slightly darker shade than the flowing necktie worn by the junior-high girls. Speaking of which, the high-school girls' skirts were slightly longer, going down to below mid-thigh, and also had the dark green plaid pattern; unlike the boys, they wore flowing bow ties. Both sexes had deep see green suspenders as well. It was simultaneously more formal and more eye-catching.
Shinji quietly looked over the large bulletin boards right inside near the main doors, eventually spotting a flyer advertising tutoring services. Class 1-E, North Wing...? As he followed the signs - discreetly staying out of the way of the bigger high-schoolers - he eventually found himself in front of the door. Well, here goes-
"Here for tutoring?"
Shinji nearly leapt out of his skin, whirling about to see a tall young man with bowl-shaped silver hair. "Oh, um...yes." Gods, why were his eyes so piercing?
Gray eyes stared heavily at him, as if taking his measure...and then he said, "I was actually about to start my 'shift' here...so we might as well get started. I'm Yu Narukami."
"Ah, thank you." He slightly bowed. "I'm Shinji Ikari, Narukami-senpai. Please take care of me."
"Please follow me."
As Shinji followed the older student up to the third floor, the man was typing on his phone, probably texting with whatever friends he had. The students that were still present seemed to give way as they approached, either consciously or subconsciously recognizing Narukami's presence. He must be one of the popular students, then. He wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not.
Finally, after walking all the way to the South Wing, Narukami opened up the door leading to one of the spare rooms used by the extracurricular clubs; however, it was empty, save for two other students, both males. One had dark blue hair, bangs hanging over his face; thick headphones were resting around his neck. The other had frizzy black hair and wide eyeglasses. Wait...haven't I seen these two before? "Um...hello?"
At those very words, the black-haired student dramatically adjusted his eyeglasses, pressing against the bridge with two fingers. "And so, a new CHALLENGER approaches!"
"...challenger?" dumbly repeated Shinji.
Those words prompted the blue-haired student to sigh heavily. "Way to kill the mood, Amamiya..."
"Hey, we all have our talents," jokingly replied the black-haired boy.
Shinji didn't quite know what to think. So he instead blurted out what was on his mind, "uh...I'm...here...for...tutoring...?"
"Indeed you are. But I could tell by looking at you that you'll need...extra attention," said Narukami.
"...oh." Well, that was a mood-killer.
"Eh, he doesn't mean anything bad by that. He's just rather blunt in certain ways," remarked the black-haired boy. "I didn't give you my name before; the name's Amamiya. Ren Amamiya. I have other titles, but we'll stick with that for now."
Shinji blinked. "...wait..."
("Take care, little kouhai!" The scooter motor roared as the nameless student jerked the handles to the left, pulling the empty rickshaw down an alleyway across the street. Mere moments later, a trio of police cars - sirens blaring - swerved in front of the alleyway, barely unable to fit through. After that particular trip, he was fully and utterly done for the day.)
"...weren't you the one who picked me up from NERV over two weeks ago...?"
"Ah, he's got a memory on him! That's more to work with."
The blue-haired student rolled his eyes. "Minato Arisato." That was all he had to say. Except not. "You don't have to call me senpai."
"...er...okay?"
"Now, I suppose you felt like coming here for help with academics, with knowledge; that you're here to become a genius, sagely, even erudite..." Yu Narukami dramatically slapped an empty desk with his hand, causing a mighty THWACK to echo through the room. "But there are certain things in life that are more important than knowledge by itself."
"To be fair, it depends on what you're doing, or who you're talking to," remarked Arisato.
"And we're here to help you with that," continued Narukami, ignoring Arisato's comment. "Why? Because I think you have promise."
"...okay?" That was...not a mood-killer, but still kind of confusing. "I...have finals coming up though, so-"
"There's no point in studying if you're fatigued," interjected Arisato, an insightful look in his blue eyes. "You'll just be wasting your time."
"And you look like a guy with a lot on his mind," added Amamiya.
"...well, I kind of do." That much was true.
"So, the solution is clear." Narukami put down a piece of paper on the desk, which had lines of text written on it. "Follow these clues, and you'll have your reward at the end. Ren, NOW!"
Without warning Amamiya pulled a smoke bomb out from behind his back and threw it onto the ground; clouds of harmless gas erupted from the device, but it was still rather shocking, because who uses a smoke bomb in a classroom?! The sound of beating footsteps echoed through Shinji's ears, and then there was silence...until someone sighed loudly. Thence followed the opening of a window, and the turning on of a standalone fan; as smoke began drifting out of the classroom windows, Shinji could finally see again; Narukami and Amamiya were gone, and only Arisato remained. "...uh-"
"Look, just follow me."
"...but, what about the clues-?"
"Just ignore that. They're both bored and acting out."
"...oh." With that said, Shinji dutifully followed Arisato out of the room, because what else was he going to do?
(As he ate at New Mikasa, he glanced to his side, seeing an upperclassman - a high school student from the Academy - methodically eat at his yakisoba. That wouldn't be noteworthy, save for two things: first, that it was his seventh plate, and second, he still appeared as thin as a rail.)
...no, asking a question about that would be rude.
xxxx
/Northern Shores of Lake Ashi, Tokyo-3/
"Killjoy," grumbled Amamiya.
"True," replied Arisato.
"So rude," muttered Narukami.
"And practical."
Shinji blinked; Arisato had casually led him towards Lake Ashi's piers on the northern shores. "So...what are we-?"
"You're going to learn the secret to true relaxation and peace, through a crucible forged from patience, endurance, and effort," said Narukami.
Shinji blinked. "...I am? How?"
Amamiya readjusted his glasses, the lens rendered opaque in the light of the afternoon sun. In his other hand...was a rather long pole, laced with string, a reel, and a metal hook. "By fishing."
xxxx
Shinji Ikari had never gone fishing, to his recollection.
So far, he had deduced a few things.
One: Arisato-san had apparently no desire for fishing; he was lying on the pier, quietly humming to himself to the tune of whatever music was playing through his headphones.
Two: Amamiya-senpai and Narukami-senpai were...oddly competitive with each other in an excessively passive-aggressive manner.
Three: even if he hadn't caught anything yet, there was something strangely cathartic about throwing out the lure, watching the weight bob in the water, and then reeling it back in. The repetitive motion was...relaxing. Mind-numbing.
It allowed him to put his thoughts in order. And maybe, the three high-schoolers who had elected to take him under their wing(?) would have some additional insight. "I...have a question."
"So do I," replied Amamiya, the setting sun reflecting off his glasses and the lake. "For example, why are they called smartphones when they seem to make people dumber?"
"...uh-"
"And why are they perpetuating the stereotype of smart people being flimsy weaklings? After all, the old flip phones and brick phones were practically indestructible, yet I've seen some smart phones shatter just by looking at them the wrong way."
"...well-"
Narukami decided to interject. "The lack of effort involved with their use means people take them for granted. Your generation wouldn't have survived having to text with a flip phone."
"Oh well excuse me, mental giant, I forgot that you're a relic from a bygone era," jokingly shot back Amamiya.
"You might as well make a crack about my hair too, because I don't think I've heard that joke before."
"You looking to be compared to an old man? Wow, didn't know you were that masochistic."
"I don't think you have any room to complain about masochism, Mr. 'I let a cat determine my sleep schedule.'"
Amamiya pushed against the bridge of his glasses. "Sister complex."
Narukami, without a single change in facial expression, replied, "Becky."
At that precise moment, both boys yanked their fishing poles, pulling out similarly-sized trout in a splash of water. "...it seems we have reached mutually assured destruction," said Amamiya.
"It would seem so."
Shinji had been looking back and forth between them with increasing concern. If it weren't for Amamiya-senpai's wide grin, he would've said that the two did not like each other. Then again, Kensuke and Toji acted kind of similarly with their barbs, so maybe they were just really close?
"See what I mean by bored?" dully interjected Arisato-san from besides them.
"Anyhow kouhai, what was your question?" As Ren Amamiya said these words, he and Narukami were placing their trout into a rented ice chest, which contained the six fish already caught by the duo.
"Oh. Um." The back-and-forth had momentarily distracted him. "Well..." He tried conveying PILATE's scenario to the trio as well as he could. After doing so, his three senpai were silent, apparently mulling over his question with seriousness.
Finally, Narukami-senpai said, "that scenario seems oddly specific."
"Glad I wasn't the only one thinking that," joked Amamiya-senpai.
Arisato-san quietly tapped the wooden surface of the pier with a finger, before saying, "depends on the circumstances of what the task is. And who 'X' and 'Y' are."
"True. There's a lot of things I could envision doing for other people, and a lot of tasks...but the fact 'Y' would die regardless indicates it must be something inherently dangerous," said Narukami.
"Honestly though, the way it's phrased makes it seem like you would be able to survive the task in question. Better to take on the burden yourself than let it fall on someone else who can't handle it," murmured Amamiya, with a much more serious tone than he had previously exhibited.
"In the end though, only you can answer for yourself," said Arisato.
"...I see." That actually helped him a lot...which brought to mind another question. "...why are you three doing this for me?" After all, this couldn't exactly be called tutoring. "Is it because I'm 'Shinji Ikari'?" After all, he wasn't exactly sure how quickly rumors spread from the Junior High branch, but it wasn't exactly like his 'job' in the Metaverse was a secret, and he wasn't quite sure how much public notoriety his father had as the head of NERV.
"We would be lying if we said that had nothing to do with it," bluntly answered Yu Narukami. "But whatever task you're called to do is an important one...and shouldering that burden alone would be a recipe for disaster."
"There's no harm in accepting assistance, or help...even if it's because of your role. Especially if it's because of your role. To turn away help because of that is letting your pride get in the way." Ren Amamiya tossed his line back out into the water. "And pride can be a dangerous thing..."
"Bottom line: your identity as Shinji Ikari has no impact on whether or not you need help. And if we have the ability to help...then we will. Nothing more, and nothing less," said Minato Arisato.
"...I see..." It wasn't quite the answer he had been expecting, but it felt more honest, somehow. He appreciated that.
xxxx
And all the while, on a subconscious level, in words he had no way of knowing...a different voice spoke, within the depths of his being:
Thou art I, and I am thou...
Thou hast witnessed a potential bond.
The seas of depravity are vast,
and the truth is not yet known.
The Arcana is the means by which
all is revealed...but only in due time.
This bond may one day be yours...
xxxx
"...but, can I actually get some academic tutoring?"
Arisato, Narukami, and Amamiya answered rather quickly.
"Try studying on your own after this and see how it goes."
"Are you actually failing, though?"
"I have faith in you, kouhai."
Shinji blinked. "...so, is that a no?"
At that precise moment, the universe decided to answer rather emphatically in the form of a fish biting onto his lure with such force and intensity that it actually yanked him off of the pier and into the water.
...I guess that's a no, he dimly thought in the back of his mind as he paddled toward the shore.
Fortunately, Amamiya had managed to convince some nearby civilians to temporarily part with their towels so they could dry him off. Narukami had sprung for a change of clothes from a nearby store (seriously, he didn't have to...especially given that he now looked like someone ready to go fishing for an entire day), while Arisato had offered to pick up the tab for dinner at New Mikasa.
All in all, they had been...well, unconventional, but still rather dutiful senpai. "You all didn't have to do this..."
"True," remarked Narukami...and that was it.
Shinji felt like there should have been a follow-up, but there wasn't. So he defaulted to finishing his yakisoba. "Thank you for helping me," he said, bowing lightly to the three high-schoolers. With plastic bag in hand, laden with a soggy school uniform, he headed back to the Izanagi Dorms. All in all, the afternoon had been...odd. Very much so. But not unpleasant.
xxxx
As their unassuming kouhai slid out of the booth and walked out of the door of New Mikasa, the three high-school students looked knowingly at each other. "So...he's kind of young for this kind of work," remarked Ren Amamiya.
"It's unavoidable," said Minato Arisato, finishing off the last of his third plate.
"Your metabolism is awe-inspiring," murmured Yu Narukami.
"I don't think any of us can say anything about each other's metabolism." Ren huffed, taking off his glasses to rub at his eyes. "...you two have been at this a lot longer than I have. What do you think of his potential?"
"He's where we all were once: just starting out, nothing but potential." Yu folded his hands together, gray eyes narrow with concern. Such was the nature of the Fool, as they had once been, before attaining the power of the World, of the Universe...a power now denied to them, for many reasons. "Not knowing him personally, though...I'm worried."
"Worry's a bit of a luxury for us," cracked Ren with humor that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I honestly don't know how you two have put up with this for as long as you have."
"You get used to it," dully answered Minato.
"You shouldn't have to."
Yu sighed. "We can't help the hand we've been dealt...you know that."
"I can gripe ineffectually. I know it won't accomplish anything, but it'll make me feel better for about five minutes."
Minato looked knowingly at Ren...no, at Joker. "...I get it. The frustration, of having everything wiped clean, as though...well, you get the idea." So long ago, he had resigned himself to a fate of eternal struggle...how true that had ended up being, though not in a way he had ever expected. "Beating yourself up for it won't change anything."
Joker grimaced. "You're one to talk, Door-kun." At the brief moment of silence, Ren relented. "Sorry. That was out of line."
Minato ignored the barb for what it was. "...you both felt it, didn't you?" A bond, wanting to be formed. A bond that they had had to deny, at this point.
"It's too soon," whispered Yu. "He's not ready to advance."
"But he will be," said Ren. "But the question is time. Judging by what she told us...we have until the end of the year. "
'She.' Rei Ayanami. An enigmatic figure, like so many others they had dealt with. How vexing, that they had to play the waiting game, to seemingly no effect. Without their bonds...their Social Links...their power was denied to them. But if they tried to use their power, their enemy would know...and this whole cycle would be wasted, to their everlasting detriment. Because Shinji Ikari was the lone variable this time, for reasons he still had a hard time comprehending. "We will wait and endure. We have no choice."
Ren and Yu both deferred to him, nodding; despite their great feats, the two acknowledged him as their senior in experience, if nothing else.
They finished their meals in silence, and went their separate ways.
xxxx
/Room 23, 2nd Floor, Izanagi Dorms, Hakone Academy/
"So, how did tutoring...what are you WEARING?"
Kensuke's flabbergasted expression at his outfit - a green fishing vest, cargo pants, and an orange T-shirt - elicited a shrug. "I fell in a lake. I got new clothes."
"...a lake?" said Toji with a sputter. "Why'd you go to a lake?"
"I went for tutoring. They took me fishing instead."
"...why?" inquired Kaworu, honestly curious.
"...I don't really know." With those words said, he dropped the bag with his soggy uniform on the bathroom floor - making a mental note to hang it up for drying later - and sat down at his desk to study.
Surprisingly enough, his mind felt clear enough that he was able to get quite a bit done.
xxxx
END OF 6/25/2015