Hikari had been waiting ever since she got back home from work as she went about chores and tasks. Her eyes always caught him whenever he was in sight, even though it wasn't hard to miss him parked in front of the TV. His wheelchair wasn't small, after all, in an already cramped apartment.

Opportunities came and went with still nothing. She came home to nothing. She settled in to nothing. She had started and laid out dinner to nothing. She was holding out hope that perhaps her boyfriend had something prepared for after dinner, but now her suspicion that Toji utterly forgot her birthday was outstripping her patience.

She leaned out of the small kitchenette. "Dinner, Toji!" She called for the third time.

"Yeah yeah." Toji replied from in front of the TV as the game went on.

Hikari sighed as she paced the kitchen. She reminded herself again that she had to have patience. The boy- the man- she loved had fallen far. His hopes and dreams were crushed on that day he piloted the Eva. He had never been the same since, and he had been eternally grateful for her to be there to support him as his own family hadn't come for him.

So she had been there for him ever since.

She continued to pace the small kitchen, now with her phone in her hand while she tapped it against her palm. She had toyed with the idea of just telling Toji not to worry about any planning and just let her go hang out with her sisters. As the evening went on though, that suggestion was turning into a back up plan. One she was a single moment away from implementing.

But to do so would mean abandoning him. Abandoning poor Toji, who lost his leg only because he wanted to help his sister and friends.

She finally sighed, swung the arm holding the phone idly and sat herself at dinner and started to eat.

Around five minutes after this Toji wheeled his way into their small kitchen. "Hey, great!" He chimed, "Yakitori tonight!"

Hikari watched him silently as he dug in. Her hopes sank like a torpedoed ship as he eagerly ate with no pause of hesitation. "So…" Hikari said slowly, "did the…game go well?"

Toji launched into a rambling explanation with his mouth full. She tried to listen, but she couldn't hear over the sound of her own disappointment rising in her ears. But then, as he reached out his bowl to her to ask for seconds, her heart found purchase on something.

She didn't have to do this.

Her back to him as she got seconds, a scowl appeared on her face. Many times she had become frustrated with Toji but never allowed herself to express those thoughts freely, not when he was hurting. But now-!

She spun and her resolve drained as she saw the distant look in his eyes as he sat there, lost in thought. She could see the missing leg, too. They still couldn't afford a prosthesis to get it remedied. Until then, Toji had to live with this adjustment as best as he could.

Hikari couldn't lay into him. He didn't need a shouting match just because she was feeling selfish about her birthday.

Nothing happened after dinner. Once Toji was asleep, Hikari wrote a concise note on the fridge, then called her sister.

She was out of the apartment right before midnight.

Mend

Norsehound

Hikari 2024 birthday fic

They had all moved away from the giant hole that was once Tokyo-3. Also, like many, they moved away from the south coast's where the otherworldly cadaver of the giant of light slowly decayed out in the Pacific Ocean. The Horakis had now lived in Toyama for the past six years as they and the rest of the world recovered from what was being called "the third impact."

Hikari still had occasional nightmares from the ordeal.

She roused the next morning in her old bedroom and went about starting her day, remembering old routines. As she bound her hair into a ponytail over theer shouldet, she recalled old memories and hopes that she had in this place. She stared at herself in the mirror and silently asked herself what she was doing. Signing, she left to find breakfast, only to smell tea coming from the kitchen. Kodama was waiting there, leaning against the counter with a small book. Seeing Hikari she lowered the book and smiled. "Hi middle train."

Hikari smiled weakly at that nickname. Since they were named for the three trains of the shikaisen, using that nickname was an invitation to have a more comfortable conversation. Hikari needed it now. "Hi, big train."

Kodama got off the stool she was seated on and came to her sister with arms open. Hikari collapsed in to take the hug. Kodama murmured, "Happy birthday, Hikari."

The middle child hugged her sister back. Leaving Tokyo-3 made things better for all of them. Instead of a sketchy waitressing job, Kodama now had a community manager position she gained during the reconstruction. She was a lot happier now.

Parting, Kodama said, "I've cleared my morning, do you want to go out for breakfast?"

Hikari's eyes bulged with grateful surprise.

Though Toyama sat on the northern coastline of Japan, it was also set against a backdrop of impressive snow covered mountains to the south. As Hikari stared at these it occurred to her that they hid the lands either south quite well. The cadaver was out of sight here, so was the way that went back to Tokyo-3.

Kodama interrupted her ruminating to say, "It's on me. Order what you want."

Hikari spent another minute thinking, but couldn't focus on food. She blurted out, "Do you think I made a mistake?"

Kodama looked over the menu at her sister. "It depends," she answered, "in what, specifically?"

Hikari tried to narrow it down, but it was hard to do so. "All of it."

"I think moving out did you a world of good."

"And Toji lives with me." Hikari replied, unable to stop the acid tinge to her tone.

Kodama didn't respond right away, but then said, "Suzuhara needed a place to stay, and you couldn't trust anyone else to care for him."

Hikari sighed and said as she stared into the past, "I thought it was the right thing to do. For us. But…"

Kodama filled the pause, "You don't feel valued in the relationship."

"Its… it's lots of things." Hikari said.

"You've taken care of everyone but yourself." Kodama said.

Hikari blinked back to the present and looked at her sister. Kodama folded the menu over, "Its a thought I've had for a while now, Hikari."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

Kodana's eyes widened a little. "Because when you moved out i thought that energy would turn out differently. I thought you would help Suzuhara on his feet and the two of you could help each other." Kodama relaxed in her seat, "But that's not what happened. And now im realizing just how much you're still doing for everyone around you. Nothing changed. Not from the third impact, not from the move…"

Hikari turned her head to look out the window at the distant snow covered peaks. Kodama looked with her to gather strength of her own before speaking, "I knew how much you were overworked, back then. But… I couldn't say anything, because I couldn't fix it. And if I couldn't fix it then I didn't want to bring your hopes up for nothing. Im… I'm sorry."

Hikari only nodded at first. Then she said, "thank you."

Kodama nodded once, then said, "Getting back to you though, you need to give yourself permission to do things for yourself."

Hikari shook her head. "He needs me, Kodama."

"He really doesn't." Kodama said. Hikari turned her expression back to her sister who went on, "he's only missing a leg, he's not a paraplegic. He can fend for himself for a time while you figure out what you need."

Hikari shook her head. "But there are things he can't reach. Things he can't do. He-"

"Hikari, stop." Kodama said. When Hikari looked at her sister, Kodama said, "You don't need to make excuses for him, Suzuhara isn't a child either. For your sake, stop coddling him!"

Kodama sipped at her water, then said, "I hate to say this but sometimes I wonder if he's taking advantage of you." When Hikari blinked her eyes into an upset look, Kodama went on, "Oh I know he's disabled and doesn't have family… but you wouldn't be here if he treated you better."

"I keep telling you, Someone has to take care of him." Hikari said.

"Why does that someone have to be you?'' Kodama said, "Hikari, you're his girlfriend, not his wife. You have the freedom to find your own happiness!"

Hikari said nothing but only stared, miffed and conflicted.

Kodama stared a moment then sighed forcefully and said, "The last thing I'll say is this, Hikari. Unless you want to be doing this for the rest of your life, you need to make a change. Ask yourself if he never will- are you going to be happy with that? How long will you be taking care of Suzuhara? You don't want to marry him and live with this, do you?"

Hikari didn't say anything at first, then said, "He wasn't always like this."

"But he is now." Kodama replied, "And how do you think he will change back, if he ever will, from trauma like that?"

"He needs someone. He needs help."

"But not at the sacrifice of your life." Kodama said. To Hijari's own astonished eyes she continued, "You've already sacrificed so much, and you deserve so much better. You deserve someone who can grow, too."

A waiter came by then to take their order. The point was lost over the discussion of breakfast meals.

The post impact world had, by now, rebounded from the disaster of the third impact. For a long time it had been bartering and scavenging time which Hikari was grateful to have passed her. Though as she perused the shopping aisles with her sister a part of her would never forget seeing the vacant, looted buildings of the past.

She blinked as she realized Kodama was handing her something. She looked up.

Kodama smiled. "I thought you might want to try this on, if you were willing to feel a little nostalgic."

Hikari took the dress and saw what she meant. The blue skirt went up into overall latches over her shoulders, but with the white shirt she wore now, it reminded her if her old Tokyo-3 uniform. She stared at it and herself for a moment, and wondered what happened to everyone.

Apart from Toji and seeing Aida across a street once, she had no idea what happened to any of her classmates. She wondered how they were doing.

Later, she was carrying the dress as she and her sister boarded the light rail car to go home. Kodama asked her, "Do you think you're ready to go home yet?"

Hikari grabbed the overhead strap and said while the doors closed, "No, I don't think so. I don't feel ready jus-"

Hikari trailed off and stopped as her eyes bugged out of her head. She knew the young man in the seat in front of her.

It was Shinji.

Ikari was wearing a yellow safety vest with reflective tape over casual clothes, head down as a walkman played in his ears. He looked up just then and saw Hikari looking at him. He blinked and looked away quickly as Hikari stared, startled, that she recognized this boy.

Before Hikari looked away she saw recognition dawn on Shinji's face, and he slowly looked at her.

In that moment both of them thought about Toji and what happened in the Evangelion.

Kodama asked, "So, how long did you-"

Hikari turned away from Shinji. "Maybe we can visit another place. I'll be done after lunch."

Thinking nothing of it, Kodama ssid, "Okay." And rotated with her sister, but cast a glance on this side of the car to see what Hikari had turned away from. Not recognizing anything, she faced forward again.

Shinji stared at Hikari's back.

Kodama toned, "We're being followed." When Hikari looked back, Kodama grunted, "Don't look, don't give him attention."

Hikari confirmed with her glance what she suspected. She took a breath and tried to steady her nerves as she came to a stop. Kodama slowed and stopped with her, glancing at their stalker and then at Hikari. She considered why Hikari would stop, then guessed, "You know him?"

"Did I ever tell you about Shinji Ikari?" Hikari asked.

Kodama tried to remember, then shook her head. "No."

Hikari uttered, "He's the reason why Suzuhara is missing his leg."

Kodama looked up. Shinji had stopped some paces away, staring in their direction. Being noticed, he blinked and averted his gaze.

Kodama said, "I thought you told me it was when he piloted the Eva. How does Ikari have anything to do with that?"

"Ikari was the pilot of the Eva that destroyed the Eva piloted by Suzuhara."

Kodama glanced at Shinji again and then asked Hikari, "Do you want me to tell him to get lost?'

Hikari thought about it for a moment. She closed her eyes, then turned around to open them and look at Shinji. "No. I need to see what he wants."

As Shinji stared back at her, Kodama said, "You don't have to."

Hikari started walking. Kodama let her pace ahead, then started to follow.

Shinji looked up when Hikari's feet trudged to a stop. She stared at him to confirm that this was Shinji and this was readily apparent. Six years had chiseled his features and made him taller, and his eyes were just as evasive. They focused on her now, though.

"It is you, isn't it, Ikari?" She asked.

"Yes." Shinji replied, and bobbed his head, "class representative Horaki."

Hikari stared at him a few seconds while she decided what kind of encounter she wanted to have. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. "Why are you following me?"

That seemed to catch him by surprise. "I… uh… well…" a few seconds lingered as he struggled to find something to say. Hikari gave him those seconds for him to say, "I… wanted… to say that I was sorry."

Hikari stared. Then, "For Suzuhara?"

Shinji lowered his head. "I wasn't… I wasn't strong enough to defeat my father. I didn't want to hurt him… but my father…"

An epiphany hit Hikari she never considered before. She didn't actually know what happened that day. All she had learned, from Asuka mostly, that Shinji destroyed the unit Toji was piloting after being taken over by one of those monsters- the Angels. But perhaps there was a part of the story she didn't know. Perhaps something that could help Toji.

She owed it to Shinji to hear him out.

Clutching her bag to her chest, Hikari said, "Lets sit down and talk. I want you to tell me what you remember."

They found a coffee shop nearby to have lunch. Kodama sat away from them, looking at her phone, to give Shinji and Hikari some privacy. Hikari watched her former classmate ate. They hadn't said much yet.

Hikari turned various questions in her head about what to ask him. Where was he for the last six years? What did he remember of that day of the Third Impact? Why couldn't he stop it piloting the eva?

She started with something innocuous. "So… you work in construction?"

Shinji shook his head. "No. I'm a traffic guard, though I've been in construction. I just take whatever job I can find."

"You're not in school?"

"No."

Hikari winced with some curiosity. "Because you don't want to be… or…?"

Shinji shrugged. He still hasn't looked at her. "I can't afford it."

Pleasantries aside, Hikari was ready to dive at the heart of the matter. One question kept getting in the way, though. "Where's Asuka?"

Shinji slowed his chewing and stared into space for a few seconds. Then his eyes looked at her when he decided to answer, "She's gone."

Hikari's neck hairs bristled. "Dead?"

"No. Just gone." Shinji replied and sipped his drink. Placing it, he went on, "She flew to Germany, she's there now. I don't think she's going to come back."

Hikari stared for a moment. Her first thought was relief that hers wasn't the only connection from high school to be on the rocks. The next was concern for the girl she once called friend. "What happened?"

Shinji stared for a moment. His head jerked slightly, then he said, "We were living together since… for a long time. It was fine. We made it work even before Miss Misato found us, but it wasn't the same. We were living on our own again before long. It was…. It was fine. She'd get angry with me, I apologized, and things remained okay."

Shinji looked out the window. Hikari glanced with him, but seeing nothing, she looked back at his face. There was something off about his retelling, as if he himself was recognizing what he was describing wasn't normal.

Shinji's head jerked just before he resumed, almost as if he was changing tracks. "She became angry with me again one day, It was over groceries… I didn't bring the sausage she wanted. I… I told her then… she could get them herself if she wanted. I had a long day of chores and trying to find work and she got mad as she usually did. But this time I… I decided I wasn't going to take it. I stopped her, fought back. She left. When she was gone for longer than a week I… I figured… that was it."

Shinji's head dipped a little, as if his body deflated a bit after airing the story to someone else. He went on, "The only way I was able to find out was when I asked Misato after a month if she had seen her. That's why I know she's never coming back. She didn't leave any clues for me like she's done before."

Hikari couldn't help the hushed horror in her voice. "She's done this to you before?"

"Whenever she was really mad with me, she would leave. She always came back though, or I would be able to find her. Not this time though. I haven't seen her in two years." His eyes swept the table. "I've been trying to decide ever since then whether it was a good thing if I should have fought back or not after all. I've lived on my own since."

Hikari didn't know what to say to any of that, it was the first time she came close to witnessing the kinds of domestic abuse she only heard about from others. "Shinji… how she treated you sounds horrible! Why did you put up with it?"

Shinji shrugged. "We're the same… we both have trouble letting people get close. She forgave my lack of communication, I forgave her… outbursts. I knew she regretted it when it happened, but she's still too proud to say sorry. She would tell me in other ways, it was fine."

He sighed again and his face dipped a little. "She can't help the way she is, so I had to forgive her. She had nobody else, I thought."

Hikari blinked. Glancing at Kodana, who was on the phone now, Hikari asked, "Do you have somebody to turn to, for help? Miss Misato?"

Shinji shrugged a little. "I don't want to bother her. I'm fine."

Hikari stared at him. Something was moving her towards accepting Shinji… something wanting to help him. More to that there was something similar about the situation. "I can take you to see Toj… Suzuhara."

Shinji looked up. "You know where he is?"

"He's been living with me. Ill take you back to my apartment."

Shinji shook his head. "I don't want to intrude-"

"I insist." Hikari said, finding herself clenching her gusts gently. Noticing this, she relaxed. "I… I think it would do both some good to visit him. You … it'll become apparent when you see him. You both sound like you need a friend."

"Doesnt he have you?" Shinji asked.

"I… it's different " Hikari said. "There are some things I can't help Suzuhara with."

The words rang in her own ears as Shinji nodded to that. She never would have admitted being unable to help Toji with all she did for him, but, perhaps that was true after all.

But maybe with Shinji there… something could change. Finally. For the better.

Hikari didn't need to ask her sister for her opinion to know there was some disapproval, but she couldn't talk openly in front of Shinji. Hikari would have to apologize later.

As they walked down Hikari's street, Kodana said, "I got a call from the office, I need to go over right away."

Hikari said, "You can't come in even to say hello to Toji?"

"No, I need to go quick. I'm sorry." They were in front of Hikari's townhouse apartment then, Kodana turned to Shinji to viw politely. "It was nice meeting you, Ikari."

"L-likewise." Shinji replied and bowed back.

Kodana left with a waive, and a moment later Hikari was opening the door. She took a breath before opening the door and entering. "I'm home!" She called into the apartment.

"You took your time, where have you been?" Toji's voice responded inside.

Hikari's eyes flicked to Shinji. He was looking at her with a neutral expression. She turned and answered Toji, "I brought a guest! An old friend!"

The pause was just a tad awkward as she and Shinji took off their shoes. Toji answered, "Aida! My man, how have you been!"

They both turned to see Toji wheeling out of the living room. Hikari was saying, "No Toji, it's Shinji…" she trailed off, because she saw the incredulous look on her boyfriend's face. It was gone in a flash, replaced by pleasantry. "Shinji! It's been ages man, how have you been!" he wheeled closer.

"Toji…" Shinji said with a kind of relieved sigh, then nodded. "I-its good to see you."

Hikari, moving beside them, said, "Toji, why don't you let Shinji have a seat. I'll change and make tea while you two catch up." She remembered Shinji's order from the coffee shop and would set out to make it. As the men left the hall to go into Hikari's small living room, she went upstairs to get changed into something more comfortable. As she did, she tried to wonder why Toji had such a shocked look on his face.

She brushed her hair and touched up her makeup before moving to put away her new dress. She paused to look at it in full, thinking back to those early days in Tokyo-3 when she was merely a class rep.

Shinji was timid then, too. She had left well enough alone, especially after Asuka entered the scene, but a small part of her always wondered about him. It was easy enough to believe he carelessly injured Toji but .. what did happen? She hasn't asked.

Absently she bounded her hair in pigtails again. Then she went downstairs, wearing a purple and white casual dress.

Hikari descended the stairs and headed into the kitchen, pairing to listen to the conversation between the boys. Shinji was saying then, "...I have a hard time forgetting sometimes. I know for other people it was quick, but I still have nightmares about it. Sometimes… it's bad enough I don't sleep well."

"What did Soryu remember?"

"Her experience was… different. I don't think she would want me to share it. I've learned everyone's experiences with it all feel kind of personal."

That made Hikari self conscious that she was eavesdropping, so she moved off to make tea. She caught sight of the note she had left Toji last night, just before ducking out to go to her sister's.

It looked like it hadn't been touched. Maybe she was imagining it.

Hikari took her time making tea while ruminating on what she was going to say to Toji. He obviously was miffed she was gone last night, and had it not been for company she wasn't sure what she would be doing with Toji now. He probably would be chewing out for leaving him so suddenly, making him struggle to make breakfast on his own. Then again, he hadn't called…

The kettle whistled. She poured the tea for the three of them, and resumed ruminating over the past day. She looked around the kitchen and realized just how much she did in here. How often she used these things. How beholden she was to them… on top of her job. Corporate receptionist may not be a glamorous job, but it has its own demands, and Hikari had to return home to even more with the domestic work. By herself.

She sighed.

She gathered the tea and prepared to return to the conversation between the boys. They had been speaking for about a half hour at this point, it would be okay for her to join them now.

She loaded the tray and started for the living room. She left the kitchen, and entering the hall she heard Toji speaking. "...since you know, this is my life now since you couldn't do anything."

"Sorry." Shinji uttered.

Hikari slowed again, in spite of herself, drawn to eavesdropping on thoughts Toji never said to her face.

"I mean, not that I can blame you much. You were the pilot after all. It's not like you could pull the punches as your robot was trying to pummel me to death. Or like, gone easier in general."

"Sorry…"

"Ah." Toji must have swiped dismissively. "You were the best pilot, what can you do? You were crushing it in every battle before, what's telling your old man to stuff it just so you could save a life? How hard was that, huh? Now I'm living life as a cripple, burdening my girlfriend, all because you couldn't get your act together when it mattered."

"Sorry…." Shinji's tone was tinged with crying.

A pause, then Hikari heard, low, "Maybe I shoulda smacked some sense into you back then so you'd actually man up when it mattered."

In Hikari's mins a synapse connected Shinji being hit with the way Asuka treated him.

And, in turn, how Hikari allowed herself to be abused through Toji's indulgence and neglect.

A switch snapped in Hikari's head. All the thanklessness, all the presumption and victimhood, and all the things Toji had taken from her with no return all crashed in on her at once. Saying these things to Shinji- who wanted to come to make amends- was the final straw to break the spell.

She dropped the tray. As it crashed on the floor, her old senses as class rep returned with a crash into her face. She stormed into the living room to see the raising faces of the boys. Shinji's eyes were moist, his expression mournful. Toji's eyes held that lazy, half-lidded expression of underlying menace she had seen a few times before. When he was most caddy and backhandedly cruel, while in pain..

Sympathy for his condition wasn't going to save Toji this time. Hikari had to confront the troll he had become from marinating in her kindness which she realized now had not helped him at all.

She breathed, then fired, "Do NOT speak to my guest that way, Suzuhara!"

The boys reacted, Shinji saying meekly, "No, I deseve-"

Hikari interrupted him, pointing at Shinji. "You came here to apologize!" She turned her finger to Toji, "You will accept his apology and stop with the antagonism, now!"

Toji shook his head, trying to wear a conciliatory mask. "Hey baby, I was just-"

"No, I don't want to hear it!" She crossed her arms, "I'm trying very hard not to kick you out right now!"

Toji, wincing, asked with harsh incredulousness, "What's gotten into you?"

Hikari took another breath. "You've lived here for four years, FOUR years Toji, and you've made NO progress towards," she ticked off her fingers, "Getting employment, securing housing, or even finding your family! You just squat in front of my TV and eat my food. You don't even clean up after yourself. The LEAST you can do is be kind to my guest!"

Toji adjusted his seat in his wheelchair. "Since when is Shinji a friend of yours?"

"Since he came to me, timid as hell, to ask forgiveness for a thing he did years ago that he feels terrible about!"

"Um…" Shinji said, trying to hold up a finger to interrupt the pair. It was ignored in the brewing storm, neither of them notice him leave his seat to answer the front door.

Toji's face assumed the canted eyes and disagreeable frown. Hikari had also seldomly seen this look, one she was quick to remedy because she was His Girlfriend. The juxtaposition with Shinji there helped her get past it. Toji, continued, "So you think I should just get over the fact that he ruined my life?" He pointed at the stump off his torso, "How am I supposed to play pro with this?"

"You Grow up, and you find something else to do, like an adult!"Hikari replied. It was then that she realized what her sister meant earlier that day: she was coddling him. This challenge was long overdue.

Toji trying crooning. "Babe, I need your help-"

Hikari blasted, "MY BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY TOJI, DID YOU EVEN NOTICE?!" Tears were in her eyes, and her voice hitched as she said, "I can't do it anymore, you need to leave!"

Toji swung his attitude again, indignant now. "You can't kick me out, I live here! Where am I supposed to go?"

A new voice, female and high, entered the room as its owner did. "Toji? Are you in here?"

Toji turned his head, uttering, "Sakura?"

A girl entered the room from the hall. She first looked at Hikari, and then at Toji. "I heard shouting…. There you are! The lady at City Hall said you'd be here. Why are you yelling?"

Toji said to his sister, "Sakura, I-"

Hikari interrupted him. "You're his sister?"

"Yes!"

Hikari, staring at Sakura, nodded at Toji. "Please take him out of my house."

Sakura looked at Hikari, then at Toji as he said, "I'm not leaving without my stuff!"

"Pick it up tomorrow!"

"I'm not leaving!"

Hikari took a step forward. "Do you want me to call the police?"

"Are you serious? Are you serious?" Toji repeated.

Hikari looked at Sakura. "Take him out of here or I'll call the police."

Sakura looked from Hikari to Toji. "Brother, let's go."

Toji crossed his arms and glared at Hikari as Sakura went to his wheelchair and started taking him from the house. The two went out the door, Toji shouting, "Thanks for nothing!"

Hikari slammed the door and locked it, heaved a sob, then turned to fly down the hall, upstairs, and into the bedroom. She threw herself in the bed to start crying into the pillows.

When she was next aware, the smell of curry was strong in the house. She stirred and pulled herself away from the sheets, unaware how long she was out fir. She remembered the, having just kicked Toji out, who had been cooking downstairs?

It must have been Kodama. Just as she was wondering how Kodama would have gotten a key, she stopped in the doorway to see a man standing in her kitchen. The utility table had been deployed in the room, and a finished, packaged dinner was placed on top of it.

Shinji looked up from the final plate he was wrapping with cling wrap.. "Oh, Class rep… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…." He started taking off the apron he used to cook with.

Hikari looked from him to the finished dinner, then up again. She asked, "Did you make dinner?" Was it really that late? Had he been here the whole time?

"I… uh…" Shinji looked about the kitchen. "I felt bad for causing your breakup with Suzuhara on your birthday. I also just called your sister a moment ago, she's on her way now. I thought I would make this for you both also, out of thanks."

Hikari was a little creeped out by this man using her kitchen to make food… he was technically a guest and nearly a stranger. But it didn't go amiss that, for once, someone made her meal without ordering out. Her eyes also flicked to the trash can in the room and saw the remains of the teacups destroyed when she dropped the tray. He cooked and cleaned for her.

Shinji nodded to the meal. "I was going to see myself out after I had finished. I'm glad I had the chance to thank you personally. I'll go now."

Still stupified by his actions, she allowed him to pass her to enter the hall. He reached the font door when Hikari said, "Ikari?"

Shinji looked back and Hikari was looking at him. "When my sister gets here… you can stay, if you wanted. You don't have to leave."

"I don't want to impose." Shinji turned to face her. "I've caused enough damage already."

"Shinji…" Hikari took a step towards him. "What was said … what was said needed to be said. I loved Toji but… he was taking advantage of me, whether either of us knew it or not. There was no future for him or I if he wasn't going to grow up, and I wasn't pushing him to change. Your story about Asuka… helped me realize that I didn't have to live this way any longer. I could be honest with what he was doing to us .. to me. He had to go, and it wouldn't have happened if you didn't come when you did."

"I'm glad." Shinji said with a weak smile.

Hikari considered him a little more, and on a guess stepped forward again. "Please stay for dinner. If you took the trouble to make it, you might as well stay and eat it."

"But… I only made enough for you and your sister."

"Then while we wait I can make some more rice." She smiled, "while I do, tell me about the jobs you've had."

Shinji hesitated. "Is this what you want?" He asked.

"Yes." She said. Somehow, she was willing to put her heart into this guess.

"Okay." Shinji said, then started to come back down the hall to her.

Three years later, almost to the day, their wedding photo was hanging on one of the walls.

Fin.

Happy birthday Hikari.

a/n: its been a while. i started this fic in 2022- three years ago! I decided not to let another year go by with it unfinished , so i slammed it into completion over the past two days. I hope its an enjoyable read, thank you for your attention and please review!