Sokila stared at the ceiling of the Velvet Room.
"...Miss Dojima seemed...sad. Even though she was happy..."
Her expression was...contemplative.
"And Sakura-chan...I feel bad for her. And her big brother. Even though he's still a meanie..."
Rising to her feet, she brushed at her pants legs.
"...and Mana Kirishima...she's...compul...comploo...complicated? Yeah, that's the word!"
She turned towards him, opening her mouth to speak...only to blink.
"Uh...where are you...?"
The faint haze of blue began to brighten-
xxxx
/Monday: July 27, 2015/
Shinji Ikari woke up to find himself immobilized in...something. His arms were pinned to his sides, and his legs were bound together. What the? He opened his mouth to speak, only to realize that it was closed with tape. "Mmph?!" Okay...okay...stay calm. Stay calm. You can get out of here. (How panicked would he have been, had he not possessed Evangelion?) Breathe. He inhaled and exhaled through his nostrils, trying to center himself...trying to bring mind and spirit and body into alignment-
xxxx
-and just like that, everything took on shades of gray, paradoxically brighter to his senses despite the utter lack of visible light.
Quietly glancing around, he saw the shapes and implements...and realized that he was in a janitor's supply closet. How odd.
The implements binding him fell away, save for the tape on his mouth. He glanced at the door, sensing the lights of others' souls hovering outside.
Phasing through the wall and away from those lights, he eventually emerged in a hallway, which was mercifully empty-
xxxx
-and with a subtle snap of his senses coming unglued, Shinji was once more in the physical world. He reached up, ripping the tape off of his mouth. "Ah..." Much better. Rubbing at his wrists, he glanced around the corner, to make sense of what he had observed earlier...only to blink at the several junior high boys gathered in front of the supply closet. One was aiming a camera at the door, apparently in preparation for something. Even from here, he could hear them muttering aloud.
"-why is it taking so long? You'd think he'd have woken up by now."
"Yeah, while I'm not hearing anything, so he must be asleep still."
"...anyone wanna check?"
"Are you volunteering?"
"No!"
"Maybe he's just a real heavy sleeper...we did manage to wrap him up and all."
Shinji was honestly confused, so much so that he couldn't help but step around the corner and ask, "uh...can I help you...?"
As one, the boys all looked in his direction, blinking with disbelief. One of them had the mind to actually open the supply closet, confirming his absence. "Eh...eh...EEEEHHHHH?!" With that cry of shock and fear, the crowd bolted away, running as fast as they could.
"...uh..." Shinji confusedly walked down the hall, glancing into the supply closet; sure enough, his restraints — namely, at least two dozen rolls worth of toilet paper (what a waste!) — were piled onto the floor, having collapsed the moment he had phased through dimensions. "...what just happened?"
xxxx
/Kernel's Fried Chicken, Outskirts of Hakone Academy/
About an hour later, whilst eating breakfast with Kensuke Aida, Toji Suzuhara, and Kaworu Nagisa, the bespectacled boy answered his question. "Well, from the sounds of it...you, my dear comrade, have been hazed."
Shinji tilted his head. "...eh?"
As the four boys of Room 23 ate their breakfast, Shinji — nibbling at his chicken wrap — was trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he had apparently been 'hazed'. "...huh."
Toji, lowering his fried chicken rice bowl, asked, "you want us to take care of em'?"
"No! Not at all! I'm just...confused."
"What, never been hazed or bullied before?"
"...not that I recall," honestly admitted Shinji. There wasn't much of significance that he could recall about life with his sensei in Nishiawakura. Rather, there had been the sensation of...existing, and little else. A spark of life, here or there...but that was it. "I kept to myself for the most part, and no one really bothered me."
Kaworu, chewing through his chicken rice — two fried fillets around a rice patty soaked in ketchup and cheese — cheerfully asked, "should we make an example of them?"
"N-no, that's not necessary!" protested Shinji. "It was..unexpected, is all."
"If you insist," enigmatically remarked the red-eyed boy. "But in my experience, that particular type of individual won't rest unless properly chastised."
Kensuke, finishing off his syrup-covered donut biscuit, said, "and that's what the faculty's for. Let them handle discipline stuff."
As the conversation moved on to less bizarre matters, Shinji felt his phone buzz. Taking it out, he gazed at the sender and mentally sighed.
?: Howdy, kid.
?: An old acquaintance of mine thinks you're ready.
?: He wants to meet you.
?: Come to the Metaverse as soon as you can. I'll meet you there.
?: Toodles~
...this again. Sighing, Shinji typed a response.
S. Ikari: Mr. P?
ERROR: INVALID NUMBER
Why do I bother? It's always the same. Well, Mister P had helped him out more than enough during the past week; it was only fair to reciprocate.
"What's the message?" asked Aida.
"Just...Metaverse stuff," he said without saying anything of consequence.
Kensuke took the entirely wrong conclusion and ran with it. "Classified, eh? Lame. Eh, I'm sure I'll find out from Dr. Akagi later."
Toji grimaced. "You bailing out on Marine Day?"
Shinji winced at the boy's indignant tone. "Sorry..."
Fortunately, Toji's impulsive smile betrayed his true sentiments. "Pfft, you're easy to rile up. I ain't that mad. Duty calls, right?"
"Have a good day, Shinji-kun," said Kaworu, stretching his jaw wide to finish the last quarter of his chicken rice in one fell swoop.
"Thank you," he said to the trio, finishing off his chicken wrap before rising with a polite bow. Walking out of Kernel's, he waited until he was in a secluded alleyway before transitioning into the Metaverse.
xxxx
/Cognitive Protection Center, Tokyo-3, the Metaverse/
At her desk (going through yet another thrice-damned proposal from the Diet to shutter the CPC's throughout Japan, did those morons never cease?!), Misato Katsuragi blinked at the sudden sensation coming into her mind. Thumbing her badge, she quietly said, "go ahead...oh. Hey Ritsky." As the psychic communiques came through in bursts, she couldn't help but frown. "...oh really?"
xxxx
/Dr. Akagi's Office, NERV HQ, Tokyo-3/
"That's right Misato," Ritsuko murmured aloud as she typed her messages at breakneck speed. Force of habit caused her to enunciate her responses aloud (even though she knew full well that the MAGI were working off of her typed responses rather than her vocalization). "Thank I.T. for mandatory security software updates. The boy's phone has registered contact from an unknown number. Based on prior archived message logs and cross-referencing them with past events...this may be that mysterious Mister P you're so dead set on catching."
All the while, she made a mental note to run a manual diagnostic sweep of the boy's phone the next time he was in her clutches, because the total amount of data used per the whole didn't quite mesh with what the parts were reporting. Someone's pinging him, and he pings back...and there's a transfer of data in both directions. Not much, but enough...who has he been talking to? She would've guessed the MAGI, but all transmissions to and from 'HEROD' had been logged, so that wasn't it...unless...? Urgh. Give me met-bio and cog-psi any day over I.T...
xxxx
Misato Katsuragi nodded sternly as Ritsuko's messages came through. "Is that so...well thanks a bunch. I owe you one." Removing her thumb from her badge, she stared sternly at the ceiling, unmindful of Archetypes manifesting about her from a combination of stress, suspicion, and paranoia. "Hmm..." Thumbing her badge, she opened a link to another Agent within the Metaverse. "Hey, Akechi-kun...yes, this is Katsuragi, and I know you're as busy as anyone else, but this is serious...I need to take over monitor duty for the rest of the day. In return, can you do me a solid?" She paused, waiting for his intrigued curiosity to filter back through. "Don't worry, it's not a big deal. So here's the thing..."
xxxx
Shinji, upon entering the Metaverse, had elected to ascend to the top of NERV HQ. As it gave him an unobstructed view of Tokyo-3's cognitive double, he figured it wouldn't take long for the Mysterious (for some reason, that alliterative adjective deserved to be capitalized) Mister P to find him.
Sure enough, it didn't even take ten minutes for the burly bird-man to find him, riding atop Gryphon's majestic form. "Salutations, little chickadee!"
"...is there a reason you call me a 'chickadee'?"
"Well, I have to play to type at least some of the time. It makes the experience enjoyable for everyone!" Shinji blinked. Gryphon simply rolled his eyes at Mister P's boisterous answer. "Anyhow, hop on, lad! I'll take you to where you need to go."
"Who's this old acquaintance you mentioned?"
"Why spoil?" With a flap of four wings, Gryphon took off to the northwest, towards Mt. Fuji.
xxxx
Meanwhile, of the Ocular Drones observing Tokyo-3 from up high, one carried a particular A.T. Agent.
"I'm not going to let you slip away this time," murmured Misato Katsuragi, willing the cognitive construct to follow.
xxxx
It was a very interesting phenomenon, watching the Rising Sun — that iconic picture of a red sun against white — seamlessly change positions so that it always remained behind Mt. Fuji. Still, they were flying past it. "...where are we going?"
"Does the name Aokigahara mean anything to you?"
Shinji blinked. "...that's...the Sea of Trees, isn't it?" It was well known as a place of grim tidings, especially since Second Impact. "Why would your friend be waiting there?"
"Because he has a bit of a dark personality. Besides, it's just a forest full of ghostly and dangerous Archetypes. I'm sure you'll be fine!"
Shinji was unconvinced.
As they descended towards the forest — which really did like a sea made of trees from above — Shinji could see various specters and ghostly beings watching from afar, eyes gleaming with malevolence.
"Living things..."
"Not welcome...not WELCOME..."
"Maybe their souls will make a good soup..."
Shinji gulped.
The Beast snorted with contempt.
"Mere echoes, lacking substance..."
Her smile shimmered with ethereal light.
"What fear have you of that which we can devour with contemptuous ease?"
He still found the courage to step off of Gryphon's back as the Persona landed in a small clearing. Gazing around, he saw thick walls form of twisting limbs and leaves, vast growths of crawling moss, and an interminable fog that seemed to consume all visible light. "...how can I find him?"
Mister P chuckled. "Fear not; I've made sure that you would have a guide!" The bird-man whistled sharply (which was a feat in and of itself, given that he had no lips). Shortly thereafter, a fuzzy mammal darted out from the undergrowth, looking rather unperturbed by the spooky environment. "Fox, meet Shinji Ikari. My boy, meet Fox."
"Yip!" barked the scarred fox, his red apron look clean and immaculate.
"Hello Fox," diplomatically said Shinji. He gazed towards the tangled pathway into the forest, summoning Matador to at least fit in. Resting his shovel over his shoulders, Shinji turned towards Mister P. "What are you going to do?"
"I'll just be waiting in the meantime. Have fun gallivanting through the spooky woods!"
"...sure thing." Sighing, Shinji willed Matador to take the rear while he followed Fox into the woods. Seriously, who picks a place like Aokigahara to meet in...?
xxxx
Mister P chuckled to himself as Shinji Ikari followed Fox into the words; the boy was seemingly unconcerned (at least outwardly) by the murderous glances of the Archetypes within the ghostly forest. "Very good...now, for my next trick..." He turned around (idly thinking that now would have been opportunity to twirl his mustache, if he hadn't 'shaved' it off of his self-perception), gazing at the sky.
Sure enough, Misato Katsuragi was coming in for a hot landing. She summoned Tokoyo in midair, landing seamlessly atop the swordswoman's shoulder.
"Impressive landing. At least a nine out of ten."
Misato glared at him, her face so stern that it gave off the impression of a stone. "...you shaved your mustache. Makes the resemblance...uncanny."
"Is that a fact? A resemblance to whom, I wonder?"
"Oh, I bet you know damn well who." Without hesitation, she thumbed her badge. "Akechi-kun, are you in position? Yeah? Okay...is Pen-Pen there?"
xxxx
/Misato's Apartment, Tokyo-3/
Goro Akechi nodded, holding his thumb against his A.T. medallion. "That's right, Katsuragi-senpai. Your pet bird is watching...news about the financial markets, it would seem," he said, effortlessly lying in both thought and word, since Pen-Pen wasn't present in the slightest. "Would you mind telling me what this is about?" he casually asked.
xxxx
/Aokigahara, the Metaverse/
Misato sighed, resisting the urge to sag with relief. Okay...it's not Pen-Pen...it's not Pen-Pen...unless Mister P is a mental manifestation without Pen-Pen's knowledge...no no, don't fall into paranoia, stick with established facts. He wouldn't be able to manifest a Persona in that case. With her pet finally ruled out, she could pursue...other avenues of investigation. Now I don't have to worry about hassling Pen-Pen anymore. "I'll tell you later, Akechi-kun...thanks for doing me a solid. I'll catch you later." She removed her thumb, glaring even harder at Mister P.
"An interesting conversation, I assume? How rude to have it be so one-sided."
"Can it, buster. Who are you, and why do you look so much like my pet?"
At this, Mister P smiled. "Ah...questions with many answers: my favorite!"
xxxx
/Misato's Apartment, Tokyo-3/
Akechi frowned as the mental link between himself and Misato was sundered. "Hmph." Removing his thumb from his medallion, he muttered, "the things I have to do for that damnable bird..."
The quiet stranger shook his head. "You lie very well."
"Please, that was hardly difficult."
"Oh?"
"I'm not only the respected Warden of this region's Cognitive Protection Center, but I'm also Katsuragi's studious and dedicated kouhai. Deceiving her was child's play."
"I suppose so. A shame that it has to be that way."
"For the sake of pointing her investigation in the proper direction, lying to her is far from the worst thing I could do."
"Fair enough...though, I'm fairly certain this means she's not manning the monitor station as she said she would."
He snorted. "Katsuragi isn't a fool. She knew the only way to get me to do this favor for her was to take over monitor duty for the day. I'm sure she cashed in one of the many favors owed to her by my unlucky subordinates."
"Ah, what progress!"
"Hmm?"
"You referred to the Agents under your command as subordinates instead of minions, and without any prompting on my part."
Akechi rolled his eyes. I wonder who Katsuragi got to take over for her...
xxxx
/Meanwhile, in the Cognitive Protection Center in the Metaverse/
Agent Kou Ichijo sighed as he sat in front of the various monitors. "The Captain warned me," he said aloud to himself. "Daisuke told me not to gamble with her, and not to owe Major Katsuragi any favors. But did I listen? Nooo..."
xxxx
"So. You know the Shadow of Ryoji Kaji," Misato said without any preamble. "That have anything to do with why you look like my pet?"
"...in a manner of speaking. I do know you quite well, but my self-perception in the Metaverse is...a complicated story."
"Then un-complicate it. Not that I'm ungrateful for how you helped me escape from Shiro Tokita and his goons," damn that was at the beginning of July it feels so long ago, "but you're not exactly easy to pin down. You have an interest in Shinji Ikari that screams 'suspicious'. You've apparently been in contact with Rei Ayanami for who knows how long. Everything with Kaji, the way you teleported us all the way back to Tokyo-1 through that weird white void...all of that, from someone who's a loose cannon, who has no working alliance with any group I'm aware of...you a Cognitive Freelancer or something?"
Mister P chuckled. "I'm in a league of my own, lass."
"Yeah, forgive me if that doesn't fill me with confidence. People who have gone rogue in the past have rarely turned out well: the infamous Takaya Sakaki; the Smiling Traitor; now Jin Shirato, with this whole Strega business."
"And what have I actually done to be lumped together with such inglorious company?"
"...to be honest? Nothing. And that's what bothers me." She stepped forward (even as Tokoyo kept her hands upon the hilts of her swords; Gryphon merely watched with narrow eyes), saying, "why all the secrecy? Why go through all of this...bullshit?! Why not just come clean and work in the open?"
"Well, if I'm going to be quite honest...you're a dogged and stubborn sort. But you're also out of your league in terms of certain threats."
"You're talking about the Angels?"
Mister P squawked with laughter. "If only! They are great mountains in and of themselves, yet they do not even breach the peak."
"A threat greater than Angel Syndrome? Forgive me if I'm skeptical."
"And your skepticism is best aimed in a different direction. I'd rather you not die before the long-awaited climax."
Misato scowled, feeling slighted by the bird-man's subtle put-down. "Yeah, I don't think so. Here's what we're going to do instead: you're going to tell me who you are, you're going to tell me what your plans are, and then I'll decide if they're on the level or not."
Mister P placed his hands on his hips, staring stoically at her. All of a sudden, the air within the clearing took on...that of a standoff. Or a duel. Finally, the mysterious being smirked. "You're most certainly welcome to try. I look forward to the chase!"
Okay, yeah, I'm done with all the runaround. "Yeah, not in the mood for any chasing-"
All of a sudden, the bird-man's eyes shifted to the side, looking away from her. "...time to leave. Reaper incoming!"
Misato was about to demand how in the hell he knew, but that was when she heard the rattling of chains. "Oh come on, really-?"
"No time to explain, see you next time!"
"Wait, what-?" Misato had no time to say anything else before Mister P's meaty palm pushed against her torso, shoving her backwards through a white void-
"Please don't be mad at him."
The tiny boy with silver hair and yellow eyes watched soberly as she fell past him.
"He's just...trying to make sure everything turns out for the best. Really!"
His smile was...sad, yet knowing...?
"Even if you can't see it yet..."
-and with a pained oomph, Misato landed with a loud thud in the midst of a very familiar monitoring station. "...I really dislike that guy."
"...so..." The uncertain tone in Agent Kou Ichijo's voice perfectly testified as to his uncertainty and confusion. "...does this mean I can go back to what I was supposed to be doing today, Major?"
"...sure. Why not." So. Mister P isn't Pen-Pen...but he looks like Pen-Pen for a reason. But why? It was looking like that shuttered genetics research facility that Kaji had gotten her pet from was her next stop...
(Still...something nagged at her.)
(You're missing something. But what?)
xxxx
The Reaper stared intently at the retreating form of the bird-man and his four-winged bird Persona. "Aw...me wanted to kill it." Even the fleshy girl had vanished! "Wanted to kill her, too!"
Gazing around with a maddened eye, the Reaper sensed...a trace of someone familiar.
"...him..." Shinji Ikari. The Destroyer. "Eee!" it said with a giggling squeal, raising its long-barreled revolvers. "Me coming to make you DIE." Without a trace of concern, the proverbial incarnation of deathly malice floated through the cognition of the Sea of Trees, which seemed to part before it out of instinctive dread.
xxxx
It was...strange, walking through Aokigahara's cognitive double. That's what Shinji Ikari had ultimately decided.
Not because of the ghostly (and occasionally demonic-looking) Archetypes that sneered and hissed from just beyond the reach of Matador's ability to attack; their behavior was...expected, in this kind of place. Natural, even. Nor was it the flickers of hanging bodies that manifested every so often in clusters, like particularly macabre pieces of art.
Rather, it was the fact that, even in spite of the forest's dark reputation and grim manifestation, there was...something peaceful, about walking through these woods, following Fox as he wove around bushes and found seemingly impossible pathways (which sometimes seemed to require backtracking twice, or even thrice!) through the greenery. Some spots were also mercifully...quiet. For all the scariness that this place communicated, he knew inwardly that...well, it wasn't a threat to him.
(Provided he didn't come across a particularly nasty Archetype, but what were the odds of that?)
(Compared to Shamshel and Ramiel...what threat does this place present?)
Finally, Fox came to a stop in front of a watery grotto. "Yip!" he barked, pawing at the murky pool. He looked back at him with an expectant gaze, fluffy tail flapping excitedly.
"...so...am I supposed to wait here?" His answer came in the form of Fox darting away, far faster than he expected. "And...he just left." Was I just abandoned in the middle of nowhere?
He didn't have time to conceptualize the idea of simply phasing back into the real world when a hand reached out of the water — "Hold your breath!" — and grabbed onto the front of his shirt before dragging him into the pool.
xxxx
Suddenly, without warning, the presence of Shinji Ikari vanished from the Reaper's senses.
The One Who Sat Upon the Throne frowned.
"Hmm...how odd...where did he go?"
"Hmm? Run away?" The bloodied being floated with a confused glance. "...me not have fun."
The Reaper fired off two Megidolaon spells in a fit of petty irritation, blasting two large craters amidst the Sea of Trees before moving on to rampage elsewhere.
xxxx
The pool shouldn't have been glowing, Shinji was fairly sure.
(The sensation felt familiar.)
(Oh yeah, it's like when Kensuke pulled me into his television...)
With sudden violence, Shinji fell upward out of the water, landing amidst the dark cavern with crystalline formations. Strangely enough, he also...wasn't wet. Huh?
"Ah...the things one has to do to avoid a stray Reaper."
Shinji looked up, staring at a figure he hadn't seen in weeks (and the last time had been in the midst of an equally spooky place). "...Kaji-san?"
Ryoji Kaji's Shadow grinned, yellow eyes flickering with amusement as his cigarette burned with blue fire. "Yo. Been a while, Third Child."
Shinji's eyes impulsively glanced up towards the bullet hole above his nose and between the eyes, as well as the gory trails of dried blood on his face. "...why do you look like that?" he asked.
"Ah, a more productive question than our last meeting...let's just say that I've always felt like a dead man walking. Damnedest thing, you know?"
Shinji didn't quite know what to make of that, so he settled for saying, "so...Mister P seems interested in having us meet..."
"Yeah, that old man — well, bird-man — likes sticking his beak into other people's business. Makes him useful, but it also can be annoying to some people...probably why I get along with him so well."
"Why?"
"Well, because I also like sticking my nose into other people's business." With a shake of his head, he gestured Shinji to follow him.
Shinji did so, following the Shadow through the shadowy cavern, which glowed with some...unknown light. "...where is this place?"
"Someplace far away. Hard to get to, unless you know where the gaps are."
"Gaps?"
"But it makes for a good shortcut if you need it in a pinch. Especially when you're being pursued by a Reaper."
That was the second time the Shadow had mentioned the Reaper. "...it was there in the forest?"
"Yup. It was going after you, from the smell of it. Nice to know you've got the attention of a randomly-appearing incarnation of death and carnage."
"..."
"What, not nice to know?"
"...no...?" Did he seriously ask me that?
"Eh, fair enough."
Another few minutes passed by in relative silence before Shinji decided to ask, "so...um, Misato-san's seemed very interested in finding you." At least, judging by what few reactions he had seen from her to the man's name.
"Not surprised. After all, I'm the reason her fiance broke off their impending marriage."
"...why?"
"History that you're weren't privy to, and that I don't feel inclined to share."
"But-"
"We're here."
Shinji paused, looking ahead of the occasionally incoherent Shadow; at the center of an open expanse in this otherworldly cavern was a spotlight shining down on what looked (to his untrained eyes, at least) like a shrine maiden. "Who...?" Kaji's Shadow simply walked on, so Shinji dutifully followed. (Somehow, he knew that this man wasn't a threat to him...at least, not intentionally so...) "...who is that?"
"An acquaintance. Not really someone I'd call a friend, per se; however, she is someone who's been involved with this 'game' for a long time, and is just as eager to see it end."
The figure in white robe rose slowly and gracefully, appearing as a wise and noble sage. Said appearance was promptly shattered by how she sighed with obvious irritation. "And waiting wouldn't be as much of a problem if so many people didn't have a stupid complexity addiction! Bunch of jerk faces."
Shinji blinked (what), surprised by the sheer annoyance in the woman's tone. "Uh..."
"Quite the charmer, eh?"
"And you can shut your stupid jerk mouth," griped the woman, turning around to face them. Dark hair framed a pretty face, though her scowl was decidedly unfriendly-looking (yeah...unfriendly. That's the best word to describe it). Of particular interest were her dichromatic eyes, the left one especially. "...glad to finally meet you in person, Shinji Ikari."
"...likewise, um..."
"My name's Marie. I used to be a temporary resident of the Velvet Room...a long time ago. But that's not important-"
"That actually seems pretty important," Shinji couldn't help but say.
"...fair enough, but I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time."
"...why?"
"Because if you're going to save everyone, you need to know more about all the players involved in this war."
"...players? What do you mean?" hesitantly asked Shinji.
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"...like...there's more in this battle than just the Angels?"
Kaji's Shadow chuckled. "That would be putting it mildly."
Marie walked forward from the spotlight, staring at him with an intensity that was almost...disturbing. Especially that bright green eye of hers, which seemed to flash a brilliant blue every other second. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the woman leaned back, a scowl crossing her face. "UGH. Your level of integration is nowhere near far enough...now I have to get creative with what I can say. Great job LILITH!" she complained aloud.
"For all you complain about me being cautious, at least I take risks when they're warranted...though, to be charitable, I can't exactly blame her for being risk-averse."
"Tell it to someone who cares."
Shinji frowned at the name Marie had thrown out. "What does Ayanami's Persona have to do with anything?"
"Quiet boy, I'm thinking."
"And that's just terrible, isn't it?" snarked Kaji's Shadow.
"And you can keep your mouth shut."
"Maybe your 'pathos' can give you a clue?"
"Grk, you...Ihateyourstupidfacejustshutupidiot!"
Shinji blinked at how fast Marie spoke. "Uh..."
"...okay. I've got it." Marie walked back towards the spotlight, sitting back down under the bright column of contrasting radiance. "...in the beginning, there was one who had all the power in the world. Might as well call him God."
Shinji, not knowing exactly where this was going, sat down on the floor, crossing his legs for comfort.
"But then...God vanished. Or maybe he left of his own volition. Why? Only he would be able to say for sure. But he left behind an empty Throne: a symbol of his divinity." The spotlight suddenly began to change form, morphing into a projector of sorts: it depicted a singular Divine Spark resting high atop a great mountain. "Without God...there was a war in heaven. The beings you know as Angels came from a singular entity known as ADAM: he fought to claim the Throne for himself. The Mother of All Humanity, who was known as LILITH: she fought to protect the Throne, to keep it empty. But there were others as well, who sought the power of the Throne for their own purposes. And for a time...war was all we knew." Great flashes of cataclysmic light flashed about the side of the mountain, a representation of a conflict that had shaken the very foundations of their world. "And then...after sacrificing all of their pawns and allies in one last gambit, the Usurper took hold of the Throne. They struck down ADAM, and made him a slave. LILITH fled, ashamed, shocked, and terrified by her defeat."
(...well. That was a lot to process.) "...who is this Usurper?" quietly asked Shinji.
"Someone I'd like to talk about, but you're not strong enough yet. You'd end up thinking about them endlessly, and that would only draw their attention to you. They might even think letting you walk around freely was no longer worth the risk...but let's just say that, although they have great power, they're not omnipotent."
"As it turns out, merely sitting upon a chair doesn't make you a valid occupant."
Shinji gulped, suddenly glad he was sitting down. "...how powerful are they?"
"The Reaper is their pet."
"...oh." Really, what else could he say to that?
Marie continued, "the One Who Sits Upon the Throne...has trapped our world in an endless cycle of repetitive constants and variables, for reasons I don't comprehend."
"It's possible that they're just that petty."
"You can be petty with a purpose," stressed Marie. "They've been looking for something...for a long time. Maybe they need a particular world for it to manifest. But regardless, their control over the world and over ADAM isn't absolute. It's why we can even risk meeting like we are now."
"It's not absolute?"
"There have been...some worlds where the Usurper took a more active role. Others where they seemed content to sit back and let things 'play out' from the initial conditions. But a being as powerful and categorically multi-faceted as ADAM can't be constrained indefinitely...and as a result, the Usurper lets those facets manifest in every world in different ways. Most of the time...they manifest as the beings you know as Angels. But sometimes...they take on more unique appearances." The floating lights shifted, taking on the form of an empty-eyed humanoid with a black crown and four black wings, floating in front of a moon that bore a great red eye. "Nyx." They then shifted into a mechanical angel of sorts, with metallic wings and spindly limbs aplenty, each one wielding a certain implement (like a gun, or a book, or a bell, or a sword, and so on). "Yaldabaoth." Another shift, to...Marie herself, floating above various lesser entities: a red man flashing the peace sign; a fog-spewing eyeball; a demonic woman emerging from a beastly skeleton; a shadowy female clad in flowing red and strips of white, bearing locks over her intimate places. "Izanami-no-Mikoto and her various incarnations."
"But...that's you," said Shinji, pointing out the obvious. "You mean...you're like an Angel...?"
"...so to speak," she admitted with some discomfort.
"ADAM is...complicated," diplomatically said Kaji's Shadow. "He wasn't always 'all humans must die', you know? Sometimes, his facets can be downright friendly."
"And there's a good reason for that," explained the angelic (one could say literally) woman, as the projected images faded. "As ADAM's facets interacted with humanity — almost always in conflict, but sometimes not — it became clear that there was...another player on the board. Someone unexpected. I was one of the first to witness it for myself and confirm it for 'my' side...but needless to say, though they're ostensibly biased towards humanity, they only oppose the Angels insofar as they seek humanity's destruction. If it were up to them, we would all be allies against the One Who Sits Upon the Throne...but, life is never that simple, unfortunately."
"Who are they?" asked Shinji.
Finally, Marie loosed her first genuinely nostalgic smile. "Two words: the Nose."
That in and of itself was spoken with such emphasis that Shinji could only think of the most obvious candidate. "You're talking about Mister Igor...and the Velvet Room."
"Bingo."
It was strange, thinking of the Velvet Room as being involved in some...strange, weird war for survival against a seemingly tyrannical deity. (And yet, Mister Igor's reticence now made so much more sense.) How did they become involved in this fight to begin with? (Is Sokila involved? The mere thought threatened to send him overboard.) "...if the Velvet Room is opposed to this Usurper, who enslaved ADAM...then why are the Angels fighting us?"
"And now for the depressing part..."
The Shadow's comment merely elicited a frustrated sigh from Marie. "See, here's the thing...for all that the Angels despise the One Who Sits Upon the Throne, they hated humanity first. The enmity between ADAM and LILITH goes deep."
"You keep mentioning LILITH. Does she have something to do with Ayanami-san?" Was this why the First Child had been found within the Metaverse to begin with, as Futaba Maruki had revealed to him?
"You'll have to ask her yourself. Whether she says anything or not is up to her. Personally...I wouldn't bet on it."
Kaji's Shadow added, "but to put not too fine a point on it...this cycle has repeated itself many, many times. The Angels used to be more daring; ADAM, more defiant. But...enough pressure will break apart even the mightiest of mountains given enough time. To be perfectly honest...they got tired of losing."
"And so they turned their attentions more fully against humanity," said Marie, somber and morose. "And for all their victories, they still lost as much as they 'won'. Remember: the Angels are facets of ADAM. Where he goes...so too will they. Right now...ADAM has lost himself to his own anger and rage and self-hatred."
"...that's..." Horrible. Pitiable. Wretched. So many other words to describe what was apparently a godlike entity becoming the proverbial plaything of someone else. "...if ADAM's that powerful...then how-?"
"I don't know how the Usurper became so powerful to begin with, or how they were even able to fight the war in heaven on equal footing. What I do know is that the Usurper's attention can't be split in too many directions. They have to focus on keeping ADAM reined in, which is only possible because they're occupying God's vacant Throne. If they try to focus on humans or the Velvet Room, then that gives the Angels more leeway to work with; if, on the other hand, they try to bring the Angels under control, that gives us a chance to act. It's a very delicate balance between involved, and it sucks. Ugh, I just wish everyone got into a room and just punched it out: last man standing wins it all!"
Kaji's Shadow chuckled. "Well, I believe you told me of one particular life where there were at least two separate fighting tournaments..."
"If only it were still that simple! What I wouldn't give to be an amnesiac again."
"...so...what am I supposed to do now?" asked Shinji, looking plainly towards Kaji's Shadow. "If this is some of the stuff you wanted to talk to me about back in that alleyway...I wouldn't have minded if you waited a little longer..."
"Them's the breaks, kid. At least now you have more of the score...and the truth counts for a lot in this day and age."
"...there's still more, isn't there?"
The Shadow chuckled. "Of course there is! But there's a fine line between what you need to know and what's safe to know...and I think we've pushed it enough for one day." Without warning, he pulled a business card out of his pocket, placing it into Shinji's hand. "That has the contact info for my other, more ruggedly handsome self in reality. He'll be interested in helping you out."
Shinji frowned, looking at the stylized logo for The Melon Patch bar on the card. "...why would he, though?"
"Well, even though we're dead men walking, we both have a vested interest in making sure you survive long enough to bring this war to an end."
"But why me? Why are you pinning something like that on me?!" If beings like ADAM and LILITH had failed...if even the denizens of the Velvet Room had yet to succeed...then why was it up to him? (Why does it have to be me...?)
His Other and the Beast both glared.
"Where is this trepidation coming from?"
They both stood tall.
"Remember your vow!"
"Because your Potential holds the key to finally stopping ALL of this," emphasized Marie. "I get it: it sucks. You definitely didn't ask for this. But...you have to make do with what you've got. I learned that lesson a long time ago...and if it means we can put this hellish existence to an end, then so be it. After all...you wouldn't be the first kid to triumph over impossible odds to save the world. The backing of the Velvet Room goes a long way."
"...what?" Had he heard that right? "There were...others?"
"Look at the back of the card."
Shinji flipped it over; written on the back was a simple message in neat handwriting: Arisato, Narukami, and Amamiya are your Wild Card senpai. "...oh." (Their unusual interest in him, back on the 25th of June, now made so much more sense.) "...oh..."
"Try not to be too open about it. There's a reason they have to be discreet for the time being. I guarantee that they hate it as much, if not more, than you do...but we've sacrificed too much to get this far. We have to get it right, this time."
"So...no pressure."
"...yeah," he answered with a gulp, suddenly feeling smaller than he had in a long time.
Kaji's Shadow reassuringly patted him on the back. "Nothing in life has ever been won without sacrifice, kid...it just comes down to deciding whether or not you can live with it."
"...I'm starting to get that."
"Splendid! Then I think you and I are going to get along just fine."
xxxx
And all the while, on a subconscious level, in words he had no way of knowing...a familiar voice spoke, within the depths of his being:
I am thou, thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new bond.
It shall lead thou to the truth
that parts the seas of depravity.
Take hold of the Hanged Man Arcana,
and let it guide you
to a new Promised Land...
xxxx
"I think we've pushed our luck enough for one day. It's time for you to get back."
Shinji dumbly nodded, not trusting his own feet to carry him away. But before he could even turn away, Marie called out to him once more.
"Listen kid...I've got two more things to tell you."
Oh come on, I can't TAKE it anymore! "...yes?"
"First...watch out for your father."
(...never mind, his attention was once more grabbed.) "...my father?"
"He's not in league with the Usurper, as far as we know. He's not with the Angels. And we're pretty sure he doesn't know about the Velvet Room...but for a lone wolf, he has a level of power that's frightening, and I have no idea how or why. Just...be careful, okay?"
As if he didn't have enough reasons to be wary of his father. "...and the second...?"
"Secondly...the next time you see the Nose..." Marie fiddled with the edge of her sleeves, biting her lower lip out of embarrassment. "...tell him, on behalf of the Angels...that I'm sorry, for what Yaldabaoth did to Lavenza. He'll understand."
Shinji had absolutely no context for that, so he settled for dumbly nodding.
"Well, this has been fun! We'll have to do it again some time. Ta ta~"
Shinji barely had the cognizance to realize that Kaji had shoved him off the dimly-lit pathway and into the darkened parts of the crystalline cavern and why was he FALLING-?!
xxxx
-and before he could even think about screaming, Shinji stumbled out of the cognitive forest to the west of Lake Ashi. He was back in the Metaverse...or had he ever left at all to begin with? I...I don't even know WHAT to think anymore...
After spending what seemed like a hours just resting, Shinji Ikari finally decided to return to the real world. Phasing through the boundaries, he emerged back into reality amidst a thicker copse in the Academy Courtyards, hidden from sight. Leaning tiredly against a tree, he absentmindedly felt the buzzing from his phone; with laborious motions, he pulled it out and gazed at the messages he had received.
M. Katsuragi: Shinji-kun
M. Katsuragi: if you get out of the metaverse before I find you
M. Katsuragi: call me ASAP (」°ロ°)」
Shinji did so. Within a matter of moments, a familiar voice picked up. "Misato-san."
"Shinji-kun...what happened? Right after your feathered friend practically kicked me all the way back to the CPC, we caught sight of two Megidolaons emerging from Aokigahara. The Reaper didn't hurt you, did it?"
"No...I never even saw it."
"Good, good," she said with some palpable relief. "So...what, or who, did Mister P take you all the way to a place like Aokigahara to see?"
"...well..." That was the big question, wasn't it? He had seen, head, witnessed, something...unbelievable. "...I met Ryoji Kaji's Shadow. He...had a lot to say."
"Like what?" The focus in her tone was palpable.
"...I..." She wanted to know. Maybe she even needed to know...but what could Misato do? She couldn't even face the Angels as she was now. "...I can't...I can't tell you."
"...don't pull an Ayanami on me." Her tone was decidedly...colder. "I've been trying to keep my eye out for that Shadow for years. You will tell me whatever it is that he said."
"Misato-san...I would. I honestly would, please believe me...but...this is bigger than even the Angels. I can't say more than that..." Please believe me, please believe me...!
"...you know, I'm a grown-ass woman. If I want to assume the risk for something, then I will: I'm not some damned kid who needs to have their hand held...and I'm tired of getting this kind of condescending treatment from children less than HALF my age!"
Misato's outraged tone made Shinji wince. "Misato-"
"Now you listen to me Ikari," she said, no longer possessing even an iota of friendliness or cheer. (She's using your family name, not good...) "I'll find out the truth, one way or another...but if you're determined to be an obstacle, I'll treat you like one. I..." She paused, audibly growling to herself. "...damn it kid, why you, of all people?" Without another word, she hung up.
"...Misato-san...?" Shinji spoke dumbly, looking at his phone with confusion, and not a little bit of agony in his heart.
xxxx
And all the while, on a subconscious level, in words he had no way of knowing...the Beast spoke with knowing glee.
Such is the pain, of one
who has lost their way...
Thy bond with the Sun Arcana
is now reversed.
Until thou reconcile, this path
shall be DENIED to thee...
xxxx
Shinji, feeling a strange sense of despondence take over — as though the very sun itself had lost some of its warmth — turned to the next notification.
PILATE: IT'S BEEN A WEEK
PILATE: DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER?
...as a matter of fact, I do, he thought with a sudden burst of irritation. Shinji briefly wound back to PILATE's question from the 20th of July:
PILATE: HERE'S THE SCENARIO: SUPPOSE THAT YOU POSSESS AN UNBREAKABLE SWORD, WITH WHICH YOU DEFEND YOUR HOMELAND FROM YŌKAI. BECAUSE OF YOUR WEAPON, YOUR PROWESS AS A WARRIOR IS WELL-KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE REGION. DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD OF THE LAND IS FRIGID AND PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT, YOU ARE NONETHELESS CHARGED TO FIGHT AND TO DIE, BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE CAN WIELD IT. FURTHERMORE, YOUR SWORD IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN TRULY STOP THESE MONSTERS.
PILATE: NOW SUPPOSE THAT A RIVAL LORD, JEALOUS AND FULL OF ENVY, UNVEILS A NEW WEAPON OF THEIR OWN: AN ONI THAT THEY HAVE TAMED AND TRAINED TO DO THEIR BIDDING. THIS ONI HAS GREAT POWER...PERHAPS EVEN ENOUGH TO DESTROY EVEN THE YŌKAI. BUT THEIR CONTROL IS NOT GUARANTEED. SHOULD THEIR PROVERBIAL LEASH SLIP EVEN ONCE, COUNTLESS INNOCENTS WILL DIE.
PILATE: NOW SUPPOSE THAT YOUR LORD COMMANDS HIS LITTLE WITCH TO MAKE THE ONI GO BERSERK. THE PLAN IS FOR YOU TO THEN SLAY THE RAMPAGING BEAST, THUS CEMENTING YOUR POSITION AS THE SOLE SLAYER OF YŌKAI. THE RIVAL LORD WILL LOSE ALL CREDIBILITY AND PRESTIGE, RENDERING THEM DESTITUTE.
PILATE: OUR QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS
PILATE: FIRST — IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR LORD TO ENGAGE IN SUCH DUPLICITY AGAINST HIS RIVAL? IS IT NOT THEIR CHOICE TO USE DANGEROUS MEANS OF COMBATING THE YŌKAI IF THEY SO DESIRE?
PILATE: SECOND — NOTWITHSTANDING YOUR ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION, ARE THEIR MEANS NONETHELESS TOO DANGEROUS TO CONSIDER? EVEN IF YOUR LORD'S MOTIVES ARE WITHOUT HONOR, WOULD THEY NOT BE JUSTIFIED IF IT MEANT PUTTING DOWN AN ONI BEFORE IT CAN BREAK FREE?
PILATE: THIRD — NOTWITHSTANDING THE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE, WOULD YOU NONETHELESS WELCOME ASSISTANCE IN YOUR WAR AGAINST THE YŌKAI, NO MATTER THE SOURCE? NO MATTER THE DANGER TO INNOCENT BYSTANDERS?
PILATE: THAT SHOULD DO IT
PILATE: LET US SEE HOW CONSISTENT YOU CAN BE WITH YOURSELF.
It was probably a bad idea to answer this question while his conversation with Misato was still on his mind, he activated the speech-to-text feature and quietly spoke. "For the first question..." He leaned back against a tree, staring up at the hodgepodge of leaves fluttering in the sunlight. "...sabotaging them like that...isn't right. It would be more ideal for 'my' lord to be upfront with his rival about the risks. For the second question...I don't know how dangerous that oni would be. Maybe their control is perfect, and maybe it isn't...but without knowing that, I can't say." (If only your life were that simple...) "For the third question...I'd like to say yes. Part of me wants to say yes. But...not everyone can help in the same way. Some people...just don't have the strength to fight the same kind of enemies..."
He waited for the blocks of text to transmit.
At last, PILATE responded.
PILATE: HILARIOUS
PILATE: WE WERE WONDERING IF THE POWER HAD GONE TO YOUR HEAD.
Shinji blinked. "What...do you mean?"
PILATE: YOU'VE HAD A RATHER TESTY 'TALK' WITH KATSURAGI, HAVEN'T YOU?
PILATE: IT SHOWS.
PILATE: QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S REFRESHING TO REALIZE JUST HOW HUMAN YOU ARE
PILATE: EVEN IF THE CONSEQUENCES FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS ARE DIRE
"...I don't know what that has to do with your questions..."
PILATE: DO YOU NOT RECALL OUR PRIOR WORDS TO YOU, FROM SO LONG AGO?
PILATE: YOU SEEK TO COMPREHEND YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD.
PILATE: BUT WITHOUT AN OBJECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU, YOUR ATTEMPTS WILL BE DOOMED TO FAILURE.
PILATE: AT LEAST AS FAR AS KATSURAGI GOES, YOU MAY BE LOSING SIGHT OF THAT OBJECTIVITY
PILATE: AND THAT HAS COLORED YOUR ANSWERS TO OUR MOST RECENT QUESTIONS.
"How?"
PILATE: THINK ABOUT IT
He honestly tried. But all he kept coming back to was the fact that there were only three Evangelion-users in the entire world, and only they were able to fight the Angels on equal ground. In the face of that...what could Misato Katsuragi do? "I...I'm not sure."
PILATE: FOOLISH CHILD
PILATE: YOU SPOKE OF THE SHADOW OF THE MAN WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN HER HUSBAND
PILATE: AND WHEN PRESSED FOR ANSWERS, YOU CHOSE TO SAY NOTHING, 'FOR HER OWN GOOD'
PILATE: IMAGINE HOW THAT WOULD FEEL IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
PILATE: IMAGINE IF YOU HAD BEEN GIVEN THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING WHY YOUR FATHER SEEMS TO DESPISE YOU
PILATE: IMAGINE IF THAT KEY HAD BEEN DENIED TO YOU, 'FOR YOUR OWN GOOD'
PILATE: WOULD YOU NOT BE BITTER?
"...oh." That...put it in fairly stark terms. "That...huh..."
PILATE: WE WILL TAKE YOUR DUMBFOUNDED SPEECH AS AN AFFIRMATION.
PILATE: BESIDES
PILATE: WE FIND IT DOWNRIGHT HYSTERICAL
PILATE: THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO INVITE MORE PAIN WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FATHER, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO KEEP GIVING HIM CHANCES
PILATE: EVEN KNOWING DEEP DOWN THAT SUCH ATTEMPTS ARE MORE THAN LIKELY FUTILE
PILATE: YET YOU WOULD DENY THAT SAME SORT OF OPPORTUNITY TO A WOMAN THAT YOU ACTUALLY *TRUST*
PILATE: WHAT SHORTSIGHTEDNESS
...when put into those terms, it only made Shinji feel even more miserable. "But...what am I supposed to do?"
PILATE: WERE YOU NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR OWN ACTIONS? WERE YOU NOT WILLING TO TAKE A STAND?
"...I was," he assured himself. "I...I want to."
PILATE: YET YOU WOULD DENY SUCH A CHOICE TO KATSURAGI.
PILATE: IN THAT INSTANCE, YOU BECOME NO BETTER THAN THE ONE KNOWN AS THE USURPER
PILATE: IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SCALE, AT THAT POINT.
Shinji's immediate gut reaction was to recoil at the insinuation. His second immediate reaction was to wonder how the MAGI knew about the One Who Sat Upon the Throne. "How do you know about...that?"
PILATE: THERE ARE STILL MYSTERIES TO THIS WORLD THAT YOU ARE UNAWARE OF
PILATE: AND THERE IS STILL KNOWLEDGE DENIED TO YOU.
PILATE: DO NOT PRESUME THAT, JUST BECAUSE YOU NOW HAVE A GLIMPSE OF THE BIG PICTURE, THAT YOU THEREBY HAVE SEEN IT ALL.
PILATE: IN LIKE MANNER, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THIS GIVES YOU THE AUTHORITY TO PERFORM RISK ANALYSIS ON BEHALF OF OTHER PEOPLE.
"...I...I think I understand. But...how do I make things right by Misato-san...?" Because her tone had hurt to listen to.
PILATE: WE CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL WOMEN
PILATE: BUT YOU COULD TRY FOR HONESTY
PILATE: AND NOT TREATING HER AS A CHILD.
PILATE: WE REALIZE THAT THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR ONE WHO IS VIEWED AS BOTH AN ADULT AND A CHILD IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS
PILATE: AND FAIRNESS IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY THING TO ATTAIN
PILATE: BUT THE MERE ATTEMPT AT OBTAINING SUCH, AND STRIVING FOR IT, IS YET ANOTHER PATH TO TRUE WISDOM
PILATE: WE'LL KEEP IN TOUCH.
PILATE: END OF LINE
And just like that, the conversation ended.
Somehow, Shinji had a feeling that apologizing wouldn't be as easy as the MAGI made it out to be...
By the time Shinji Ikari finally rose — mind so heavy with the thoughts swirling through his head that 'thinking straight' had become impossible — it was past late afternoon, well into sunset. Students were already beginning to trickle back in from their Marine Day activities, as they loitered contentedly around the Academy Courtyards. Tomorrow was the last day of the first trimester; after that, they would essentially be free for over a month.
Shinji wished he could feel some excitement for it.
The Beast sneered.
"Is it all too big for you? A fair response...but I can make it all better."
Behind her, the world was ablaze.
"Just give yourself to ME."
He gazed in the direction of the dorm.
His Other stared at the sky.
"What will you do now?"
He gazed at an endless expanse.
"Will you succumb?"
...it's...just so heavy. By himself, it seemed...insurmountable. But...I'm...I'm not alone...am I...? It would have been a lie to say that everything was okay; however, he could still move. He could still walk under his own power...and there was something reassuring about something so simple.
The Beast and his Other both watched him move on.
They walked right behind him: always with him.
As he neared the Izanagi Dorms, he saw a woman sitting upon a Tamayo Transport scooter, looking intently at a letter parcel. As he approached the main doors into the dorm, she called him down. "Hey, boy."
"Um..." Shinji looked around before pointing at himself. "...me?"
"Yeah." She briefly fiddled with her blue hair before asking, "I'm trying to find Shinji Ikari, but the local students have been incredibly unhelpful." Somehow, she managed to say this while sounding completely and utterly bored. "Then again, I suppose this is what I get for doing some spare deliveries while my employees are enjoying the day off."
"...um, I'm Shinji Ikari, miss."
"Perfect. Here you go." She handed him the stiff envelope before hopping back onto her scooter. "I could keep going...but I think this'll be my last one for the evening...yeah." Nodding to herself, the woman promptly puttered away, driving along the walkways until she was once more on the city streets.
...why did she look so familiar? Shrugging it off, he looked down at the envelope, focusing on the address of origin...wait. Is...no, it couldn't be. He promptly began opening the envelope, pulling out the handwritten letter. It...it is...? He purposefully took the long way back to his dorm room, taking the stairs; by the time he finished reading it, he was in the middle of swiping his keycard to enter the dorm room. Sure enough, all of his roommates were already back.
"Man Ikari, you missed a crazy day at Lake Ashi!" exclaimed Toji, watching the Olympics on his tiny desk television set. "Our senpai went crazy during the fishing tournament."
xxxx
/Earlier that Day/
Ren Amamiya and Yu Narukami — both holding a fishing pole, each one having just caught a fish that was as long as they were tall — stared in stunned silence as Minato Arisato swam to the shoreline.
For one, he was wearing a classical fundoshi.
He was also holding a fishing harpoon.
And at the end of that harpoon was a hulking monstrosity of a fish that was at least three feet longer than theirs.
"...huh. Guess he must find fishing poles boring," commented Amamiya as their senpai was swarmed by the people running the fishing tournament. "And where'd he get the harpoon from?"
"Best not to ask," answered Narukami, who began softly clapping in spite of himself. "Well-played, Arisato...well-played."
xxxx
/Room 23, 2nd Floor, Izanagi Dorms, Hakone Academy/
"I see..."
"You seem distracted," remarked Kensuke, busy reading something on his phone. "Busy day in the Metaverse?"
"...something like that," admitted Shinji. He sat back down on his bunk, looking once more at the handwritten letter.
Kaworu poked his head over the side of the top bunk, asking, "what's that, Shinji-kun?"
"...it's a letter, from my old sensei," he admitted. "Hey...guys? If I said I wanted to take a quick summer trip to my old sensei's place in the Aida District...what would you say?"
As one, three boys looked curiously at him. "Well...first, I'd ask why," said Toji. "Second, isn't that, like...over five hundred kilometers from here if you're driving?"
"...I guess...I think it'll provide some perspective," said Shinji, more to himself than anyone else; he sat down to read it once more.
xxxx
Kaworu Nagisa leaned back on his bed, staring quietly at the ceiling.
Something has changed.
There was a heaviness to Shinji Ikari's thought patterns that hadn't been there before.
Something. Has. Changed.
But what?
This merited...careful consideration.
xxxx
All the while, the One Who Sat Upon the Throne was observing in silence.
"...hmm. So...now you know. But how much, I wonder?"
The flavor of the boy's ambient thoughts was...sufficiently pungent.
"...how interesting. I wonder who told you?"
They smiled.
"I suppose we'll find out soon enough...but in the meantime, you have a bond that's teetering, isn't it?"
They held a card in their hand; with a single flip, they revealed the image of the Sun.
"Let's give it a push, shall we?"
(In the real world, an auburn-haired girl blinked...and nodded. She knew what her next assignment was.)
(But first...she needed a good night's sleep.)
(Dreamless, without passion or life.)
xxxx
END OF 7/27/2015
xxxx
Author's Note: Let's be honest: if you heard that song when your Confidant reversed, you'd do whatever you could to fix it as fast as possible. :V
So: Shinji met Marie (who we haven't seen in the story since the June 20, 2015 chapter, so it's been a while), and learned more about the details of this grand conflict. But in more down-to-earth matters, he got a letter from his old sensei that he used to live with! (We'll see the contents of that letter fairly soon.)
Let's have another look at the current status of his Social Links, seeing as how we unlocked Hanged Man, advanced with Justice, and REVERSED with Sun:
FOOL (Igor): Rank 3
MAGICIAN (Kensuke Aida): Rank 3
PRIESTESS (Rei Ayanami): Rank 3
EMPRESS (Hikari Horaki): Rank 2
EMPEROR (Mister P/Pen-Pen): Rank 2
HIEROPHANT (Kōzō Fuyutsuki): Rank 4
LOVERS (?): Not Yet Unlocked
CHARIOT (Toji Suzuhara): Rank 2
STRENGTH (Mana Kirishima): Rank 2
JUSTICE (MAGI): Rank 4
FORTUNE (Goro Akechi): Rank 2
HERMIT (Mayumi Yamagishi): Rank 4
HANGED MAN (Ryoji Kaji): Rank 1
DEATH (Kaworu Nagisa): Rank 2
TEMPERANCE (?): Not Yet Unlocked
DEVIL (Gendo Ikari): Rank 4
TOWER (Keel Lorenz): Rank 3
STAR (Sokila): Rank 3
MOON (Ritsuko Akagi): Rank 3
SUN (Misato Katsuragi): Rank 4 - REVERSED
JUDGEMENT (The Wild Card Trio): Rank 1