\'Hey Shinji, you wanna...\'

With great exertion, Shinji hauled himself and his kit-bag towards the door to Misato’s apartment. Abandoning his luggage he opened the door, pausing for breath on the threshold. Asuka looked up from her magazine.

‘Guten abend, Shinji!’

‘Guten...huff...abend.’

With greater effort than he thought possible, Shinji poured every last ounce of energy in to his wiry frame, hauling his stuff in to the flat before practically collapsing in to the couch. He wheezed and panted from the effort of an afternoons sports, followed by the long walk home. Asuka, being Asuka, had been given the day off for extra synch-testing. The reason, so she said, was unknown to her. Shinji glanced at his watch. It was 7 pm.

‘Well what a surprise, the fabled third child is a mere mortal after all!’

Asuka’s tone was triumphal, but there was an edge of humour and even affection in there also. Shinji thought he knew the reason. It was only his quick-thinking that had saved Asuka from an untimely death when trying to capture the latest angel in its embryonic stage. Since then Asuka had been typically bombastic, yes, but also kinder, and even embarrassed around Shinji. Shinji’s heart had practically leapt out of his mouth when Asuka had helped him in a test a couple of days back, winking as she filled in the answer for him whilst the teachers back was turned. Now however, he was too exhausted to even think about it.

‘You just missed Misato. She’ll be out all evening with Ritsuko...and probably Kaji too!’
She scowled.

‘...Anyway, I invited wondergirl over for some pizza.’

Shinji did a double take.

‘Rei!?’

Asuka looked affronted.

‘Yeah Rei! You do like her don’t you?’

‘Ah, yes, but I didn’t know... you... spoke to her.’

Asuka turned quickly away, tossing her flaming hair.

‘I only did it for you, idiot.’

‘Me... why?’

‘Well? You like her don’t you?’

‘Of course I like her... as a friend.’

Shinji saw Asuka’s body freeze.

‘JUST... a friend?’

‘Y-Yeah...’

A pause. Then Asuka turned back towards Shinji, beaming broadly.

‘Well then there’s no harm is there, dummkopf!’

Then she leapt to her feet, stretched, and headed off in the direction of her bedroom. Shinji remained seated, eyebrows raised. Before Asuka’s door slammed shut, he heard her call back at him.

‘She’ll be here at 8, we’ll order when she gets here.’

The door slammed. That was more like Asuka. Butterflies danced in Shinji’s stomach. Had he just imagined it? He hardly dared to indulge his fantasies. He had accustomed himself quite quickly to the fact that Asuka, though attractive, was definitely not girlfriend material, not least because she seemed to spend most of her time loathing him with a vengeance. But here she was, giggling like a schoolgirl for a change, and bridging gaps with old enemies. Had she turned over a new leaf? Shinji was too nervous at the prospect to be certain he enjoyed it. But this is precisely what Misato had talked about: socialising, making friends, talking, experiencing. These things were important. With Touji and Kensuke he’d started to enjoy everyday life again. He smiled to himself.

‘I guess tonight... could be...fun after all!’

He had no idea just how much fun it was going to be...
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Stay tuned.