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Shinji awoke to an increasingly familiar ceiling. The sunlight of early dawn filtered through the window, alongside the cries of the cicadas, illuminating Rei as she turned her head to watch him. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear a voice from a TV, or maybe a radio.
He sat up, memories of the previous night still hazy from sleep, but sure nonetheless that there was stuff that needed doing. There had been an Angel, hadn’t there? Had it been defeated? Was he still needed?
“You can stay in bed today,” she said in her usual soft monotone, rising from her seat. “We’ll take care of the rest.”
“Thanks, but I’m okay now,” he muttered timidly, glancing away.
“Oh,” she said, with the barest beginnings of a smile, “I’m glad to hear it.”
Shinji gasped, not expecting the hint of concern. He watched her measured footsteps as she walked away, and opened the sliding door of his room.
He spotted Asuka on the other side, though she quickly jumped back and made like she was never there. He still did not fully understand Asuka or the things she said, but he giggled at her antics anyway.
He paused suddenly, having caught a hint of the scent lingering on his hand. He collapsed back down on the cold hospital bed. “It’s still there. The smell of blood,” he whispered to himself. He stared at the ceiling above him without truly seeing it, and started to process the events of those sixteen hours.
After being discharged the next morning, Shinji gathered the few personal items that had been left in his hospital room. It really did feel like his room at this point, almost as much as the room at Major Katsuragi’s house did.
Rei was waiting for him outside the hospital, head bowed and hands clasped around the handle of her bag. “Good morning, Ayanami-san,” he greeted her with a soft smile.
She looked up upon hearing his voice and attempted to respond with a smile of her own. “Shinji-kun,” she responded. He waited for her to continue, but it seemed that was all she was going to say.
“Are you two just gonna stand there all day?” He heard Asuka’s voice shouting from a small distance away, and looked up to watch her stomping over to them.
“Sorry,” he replied instinctively. Rei didn’t respond.
“Again with the ‘Sorry’ nonsense,” she grouched at him, placing one hand on her hip and the other jabbing at his chest. “Grow up already!”
“Sorry,” he replied again, and she sighed. Rei continued to not respond.
“Oh, whatever.” Asuka muttered, then clapped her hands together and threw a bright smile onto her face. “Let’s get a move on, then.” She spun around and started marching off.
Shinji hurried after her, brow furrowed slightly. “I thought Major Katsuragi wasn’t expecting us until later this afternoon.”
“And? We should get there early.” She shrugged with a confidence that Shinji slightly envied. “Or do you not want to get any better?”
“I do,” Shinji stammered, “But-” He glanced to his side where he expected Rei to be following them, and did not see her. Turning around, he saw she was still stood at the entrance to the hospital, watching them leave. “Ayanami-san?” He stopped.
“Geez, Shinji,” Asuka griped. She grabbed Shinji by the arm and pulled, and he stumbled a few steps alongside her.
“But-” He tried to tell her they should wait, but he was interrupted.
“Forget her!” She yelled at him. “Who cares if-” But she cut herself off when she saw Rei start to run towards them.
Shinji tried to think back to if he’d ever seen Rei run before, but came up with nothing. It was an awkward run, as if she weren’t sure what to do with her arms. He wondered why she cared to today. It was only a few moments before she caught up to them. However, instead of slowing down like Shinji expected, she ran right up to him and placed her lips on his.
The kiss was shorter than the one he’d shared with Asuka. Shorter even than Asuka’s undignified gasp. And yet, Shinji felt breathless as the heat rose to his face all the same.
“What was that!” Asuka screeched, throwing her arms to her sides. Just as quickly as she had approached, Rei had run off ahead of them. “You little-!” Asuka quickly followed suit.
Shinji watched as Rei turned into the park ahead of them, and followed after at a walk. He touched the place where her lips had met his and wondered what it meant. After all, he knew Rei could respond to things in the oddest of ways.
He reached the edge of the park in time to see Rei dodge behind the climbing frame. The park was deserted as all the normal kids were at school, but no more quiet as Asuka shouted insults and threats in Rei’s direction. When she came around the other side, Rei saw him.
She was smiling. Shinji smiled back. Whatever was wrong with EVAs, whatever was wrong with his father, it could wait. He had an impromptu game of tag to join.