Dinner was a quiet affair at the Katsuragi appartment this evening. The three roommates and penguin were sitting at the table, silently eating the food Shinji had hastily prepared. For some reason, no one seemed inclined to talk much.
The silence and tension in the room were starting to grate on Asuka's already frayed nerves. Misato and Shinji were making her feel like an intruder tonight. She saw it in their faces and body language. She was sure their guardian would rather be alone with Shinji (and vice versa) for whatever reason she ignored. With all the stolen glances between them, the nervous looks directed at her and the failed attempts at starting a conversation, one could think they were lovers afraid of being caught red-handed.
She snorted. The idea of Misato and Shinji together like that? Preposterous! Ridiculous! Impossible! Asuka knew that Shinji was Misato's favorite. She probably wanted some private time with Shinji to comfort the baka about the incident and didn't want her nearby.
Asuka had had enough with the silent treatment "Hey, Misato... Do you think NERV could recreate what happened to Shinji today with me and Unit-02 instead?"
//Asuka's mindscape
Mature-looking Asuka is posing sexily in a revealing version of her yellow sundress. The boys from school are all around her, worshipping her beauty. Soon Kaji appears and kneels before her. The older man then declares his undying love for her, to Mature Asuka's joy.
Misato looked at Asuka like she was crazy "Whatever gave you that ridiculous idea? Don't you realize Shinji nearly died in that accident!?!"
Asuka looked at a blinking Shinji and shrugged "Doesn't look dead or majorly hurt to me. You gotta admit he's way better than before... Physically, that is" *Still the same wimp inside however, pity...* she added as an afterthought.
"It doesn't matter. NERV has cancelled the research on the new internal battery so no growth spurt for you, young lady!"
Mature Asuka deflates like a balloon full of hot air and becomes the normal teenage Asuka again. Kaji promptly leaves, calling for his Misato-chan. The other boys walk away, grumbling in disappointment
"Too bad..." *Umph! Baka Shinji gets all the Luck! It's unfair! He does nothing and becomes all buff and attractive because of this fluke! I should have been the one to do the experiment anyway! Not a scratch, the opposite in fact, and Misato fawns over him. Me? Nothing... Not that I need this kind of childish attention! I wonder if we'll have another naked synchronization test soon...* She shook her head to banish the last thought *What was THAT?*
Shinji's mood turns somber. Misato's words reminded him that he had been VERY lucky indeed to come out of the accident unscathed, the obvious bonus of his fast growing nonwithstanding.
Misato put a reassuring hand on Shinji's shoulder "It's all right, Shinji-kun. You'll get through this" *I'm with you* were her unspoken last words.
Asuka couldn't help but add her two cents "Of course, he will... I don't see the baka resenting his new body that much..." *Neither do I... BAD thought there... Stop it, Asuka!* "I'm sure he will be the newest sensation at school tomorrow"
"School...?" asked Shinji. He hadn't thought of that since waking up.
"Well, despite appearances, you're still fourteen, Shinji-kun. That means going to school" answered Misato "You don't want to miss on your education, so you?"
"But... But... I can't go there looking like this... Everybody'll ask questions" Shinji's main worry was that with his new appearance, he will stand out even more. The young Ikari was still afraid of attention.
"Tell them the truth. You've got authorization from NERV command" No lies could cover convincingly what happened anyway.
Asuka smirked. Time for a little teasing of the dumbkopf "You should be happy to go to class, Baka-Shinji. I'm sure all the girls will be mooning over the new you in no time"
Misato's smile grew strained at the thought of HER Shin-chan hounded by horny schoolgirls who don't take no for an answer "Oh... You think so, Asuka? Even you?"
"WHAT!? Get real! Even if Shinji's better looking, he's still a perverted little boy!" Her outburst was immediate and so vehement one could guess that 'the lady doeth protest too much'.
Asuka tries to get Stud Shinji's attention but he's surrounded by all the school's female population (Rei and Hikari included!). He completely ignores her, too busy with his new admirers.
Shinji was in the middle of drinking when Asuka made her latest declaration. He coughed in surprise (and guilt), water splurting out of his mouth and nose. A few taps on his back courtesy of Misato saved him from further embarassment. Then he panicked. He couldn't go back to school! He wasn't ready! He had to find a way to dodge that particular bullet fast!
"Misato-san... I can't go to school... I..." *Think, Shinji, think!* "I... don't have a school uniform my size!"
Misato grew thoughtful then nodded "You know, Shinji-kun, you have a point there. In fact, All your old clothes musn't fit anymore, do they?" She smiled wickedly "I know! You and me are going SHOPPING tomorrow! I'm sure NERV will galdly pay the bill!"
"Shopping?" Asuka's interest was picked "Can I come too? The baka really needs fashion advice" Always white shirts and black pants... She was sure she could find more flattering trendy clothes for Shinji.
"Oh no, Asuka... You have school tomorrow and you won't miss a day for that. Besides, we'll shopping for Shinji, not for you"
Asuka is at her school desk, bored out of her mind, while in the background, Shinji and Misato have fun in town. The major has even the gall of sticking her tongue out at her, snuggling to Shinji the whole time.
"Fine, go have fun together, I don't care..." She stood abruptly and stormed out of the living room. Another proof that Shinji was really Misato's pet.
Shinji sighed in defeat and Misato shrugged. Only one of Pen Pen's "Wark!" broke the silence.
See other episodes by Jamil Nate
(Posted Mon, 10 Jan 2005 18:37)
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