For the second time that day, Shinji stood in front of his apartment’s door, unsure of what to do. With no other real options, he stepped inside.

  “I’m home.”

  No response.

  Off to a bad start… But no surprises there, I guess.

  He stepped forward, testing the waters. The apartment was disturbingly silent. Only when he put his head against Misato’s door could he hear frantic typing and whispered muttering. When he simirly checked Asuka’s door, there was nothing at all. Disappointed, he turned to make his way to his room when he ended up face to face with her. A scowl deeply engraved on her face, she stood motionless, arms crossed.

  “Why didn’t you reject her?”

  Shinji, still reeling from seeing Asuka in front of him, stammered.

  “I- uh, she-”

  “WHY.”

  Shinji composed himself.

  “Because she was hurting. So, so badly. Couldn’t you tell? She was about to colpse. I couldn’t just hurt her like that.”

  “By doing what? Giving her false hope?”

  She stepped toward him menacingly.

  “Or is it not false? Huh? You had your fun with me, didn’t you? Now that a shiny new model is in front of you, new car smell and all, you’re gonna throw me away like your dirty kleenex?”

  Shinji backed into the dining room table, Asuka leaning over him.

  “No, Asuka, I don’t want to throw you away-”

  She spped him. Hard. He could taste blood, as his lip had split from the force.

  Asuka immediately felt blistering shame and regret.

  Why do I always hurt him? I wanted to talk this out. I wanted to hear what he had to say. I was ready to listen. Why am I so angry now that he’s here? Why is it that every time I see him, I have to hurt him?

  Well why didn’t he just shove that bitch off?

  Why did he cuddle with Misato?

  WHY DID HE HAVE TO LEAVE ME ALL ALONE?

  WHY?

  W H Y ?

  Asuka was in so much pain, but she adamantly refused to cry.

  Never again will I show weakness in front of him. Never. Again. I’m stronger than him. I’m stronger than anyone here.

  “Asuka, please…”

  You fucking piece of shit. Why? Why does your pathetic voice defeat me?

  “I wasn’t lying-”

  “Shut up.”

  “I don’t want to lose you-”

  “Shut up!”

  “I’m not picking Rei over you, I swear, I-”

  “ S H U T  U P ! “

  “…”

  “Shut up.”

  “…”

  “I’m not ready to talk tonight. I won’t-”

  She cut her words off and shook her head violently, letting loose just a few droplets.

  “…”

  “Goodnight…

  …

  …Third.”

  She leaned back, turned away from him, and slowly walked to her room, closing the door very gently behind her.

  “Ah-sssss”

  Shinji moved his mouth, as if to call out to her, but the pain in his lip fred as he stretched apart the wound, sending a small bead of blood down onto his chin.

  I guess it’ll take a little more than some sweet words and a kiss on the cheek for her.

  It seems she’s already chosen the route of letting the wound rest to heal at its own rate.

  God, I hope that’s soon. I don’t know how many days we have before the next angel attack.

  Aida Kensuke was in the elevator at Shinji’s apartment complex, waiting impatiently.

  I know I saw the doors moving when I walked up. I must have just barely missed him.

  Man, I’ve never seen Ikari react like that to anything. Even when he fought that angel, his anger was…

  …Not like that. Then, it was more instinctual, like a fighting spirit. Here, though, it was just bitter. Bitter and angry, like he hated the world. God. I can only imagine what messed up shit he saw floating in that goop for an entire month…

  The elevator stopped, and Kensuke quickly walked to Shinji’s door. As he raised his hand to knock, however, he could make out a voice. More yelling. Poor Shinji. And it was Asuka again.

  At first, the vibration through the walls sounded a bit distorted, but he pced his ear closer to the door.

  “—oouu hadd yourrr fun with me, didn’t you? Now that a shiny new model is in front of you, new car smell and all, you’re gonna throw me away like your dirty kleenex?”

  Ew. Geez, that’s a low blow. But what was that she said about a new model? Like a… sex toy?

  Ew.

  EEEWWWWWW.

  Ah, man, I did not need to know that about Ikari.

  “No, Asuka, I don’t want to throw you away-”

  A loud smack.

  Kensuke put his hand over his mouth in surprise.

  Jesus Christ. Oh my God, that poor kid.

  Realization came to Kensuke all at once.

  “This is none of my business. I shouldn’t have heard any of this. Oh, geez, I can’t believe I spied on them like that. I need to get out of here.”

  What the hell am I gonna say next time I see him? How can I face him again after something like that?

  Kensuke, getting more than he bargained for, yet again, went home even more upset, and even more worried for Shinji’s mental state than before.