The front seat beneath me creaked slightly with leather and I closed the door with a quiet slam, after which I began to slowly buckle up.
The training, if you can call it that, is over. Of course, I wasn't against remembering the very distant years of my childhood and feeling a little nostalgic, but still, in my time, computer shooters were more dynamic... Here, the action is purely stationary, the only difference is that the Angels appear in different places of the front hemisphere, and that you feel the weight of the rifle. However, as a shooting gallery, this simulator was not bad, and a thirteen-year-old kid doesn't need more. At least at the initial stage.
Misato plopped down next to him, slamming the door loudly. She sighed in relief, leaned back in her seat for a few seconds, and automatically pulled on her driving gloves.
- So what should I do with you? You're a homegrown innovator, - the girl finally asked, sluggishly raising her head and turning to me.
"I have some ideas, but I'd better leave them unvoiced, otherwise you'll be offended," I turned to the window and rested my chin on the outstretched fist of my right hand.
"What's that for?" Misato narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
- Well, how can I tell you... - I glanced at her thoughtfully and after a second of thought, I demonstratively looked at the girl's figure. - My ideas are not the kind that are usually voiced in polite society, - and to top it off, I smiled impudently and sarcastically.
It took Misato exactly three seconds to get distracted from the fact that my face had suddenly shown emotion and to process what had been said. After that, the girl's face suddenly turned purple, and her eyes, wide open in surprise, bulged, but this time in a fit of extreme indignation.
- Oh, you... - she choked on air, trying to find the words and reflexively began to pull up her gloves. - You bastard!... - a dangerous grin appeared on Katsuragi's face, which an ignorant and not very smart person could have mistaken for a smile.
- By the way, - I interrupted the girl impolitely, - I've always wondered why women get angry in such cases? After all, logically, they should be happy...
- I'll be happy to see you! - the captain's right hand grabbed me by the neck and pulled me closer, and his left hand, having first clenched into a fist, rested on the top of my head, starting to rub it stubbornly. - I'll be so happy to see you now! You'll remember me forever! You little bastard! I'll... you!
I happily ignored the rest of the lecture, which was certainly full of lively expression and sparkling inspiration, distancing myself from the painful sensations that the top of my head was transmitting and completely concentrating on the sensation of a woman's breast under my cheek, oh hormones, hormones... What should I do with you?... Rei is injured, Misato herself is not ready, I wish Asuka would come sooner, although... I wonder if there is a red light district in Tokyo-3?
I addressed the last question to Shinji, and in response I received a wave of embarrassment, shame, indecision, and timid hope. After all, the guy wasn't completely lost, he could work. Chuckling internally, I returned to the sensations of the surrounding world and decided to speak up:
- Misato, by the way, what you're doing now is quite painful and our relationship is not yet so warm that I would be ready to endure such inconveniences for the sake of your whim... - the girl froze. - Although I must admit, lying on your chest is very pleasant, no wonder you rub the top of my head...
- I'll kill you! - I was thrown back into the chair, which I didn't resist at all. Having adjusted my disheveled hair, I looked with mild interest at Katsuragi, whose face was burning red.
- And still, why are you angry? I warned you about the possibility of such moments before moving into your apartment.
- You... You... You... Parasite! Impossible, obsessive parasite!
- Mmm-mmm-mmm... - I thoughtfully turned my gaze to the front window. - You are incredibly perceptive...
- You bastard! - a muffled hiss from the driver's seat sounded like a verdict.
On the way, as usual, we stopped at the store. While I was picking up the usual groceries, Misato, offended by life, was buying additional cans of beer and all sorts of dried snacks to go with it. At the same time, not forgetting to demonstratively glare at me with a look promising a quick and "sweet" "revenge". During another glare, I could not resist and threw a pack of condoms into the cart, from a very conveniently turned up shelf, after which I met Misato's gaze and depicted a shadow of thoughtfulness on my face, carefully studying the girl's figure. A few moments later, I nodded slightly, as if having come to some decision and turning to the shelf, threw another pack into the cart. The girl choked on air and turned purple, and without waiting for her to find her voice, I quickly slid into the next department. However, as expected, retribution overtook me quickly:
"What are you doing, you bastard!?" Katsuragi hissed under her breath, twisting my ear between the shelves with flour products on one side and canned goods on the other.
"I'm choosing pasta," I answered calmly, throwing the package of noodles into the cart and completely ignoring the torment of my long-suffering ear.
- That's not what I mean!
- What about? - I portrayed "the most honest look". Shinji burst out laughing inside.
"I'm talking about condoms, you bastard!" she hissed even more furiously, after casting a quick glance around.
- Do you think I took too little? - My face took on a thoughtful and deeply concerned expression. - Well, I don't know... My body is still quite young, my endurance is lousy... - Shinji was hysterical, I agreed with him, but I had to keep a straight face, so I endured. But Misato seemed ready to kill me, and it was not a fact whether it was more because of anger or embarrassment. Nevertheless, the brave captain still restrained herself from this rash act and only hoarsely, with notes of doom and sincere hatred, exhaled:
- Bastard!
"I love you too, Misato," I smiled. "If you only knew how cute you look when you're angry."
"If the Angels don't kill you, I will!" the girl promised gloomily, freeing my ear.
- Oh, why is it always like this, you give a girl a couple of compliments, and she immediately screams "I'll kill you"... - I rubbed the injured organ, feigning slight sadness. - Only Rey is a saint...
- Listen, Shinji... - Katsuragi narrowed her eyes suspiciously. - Do you by any chance know a person named Kaji?
- Hmm... - an interesting turn of events. - Kaji Yadomaru, was in my class at my previous school, - I answered the pure truth, quickly running through Shinji's memory. - What is it?
"Oh, nothing," Misato turned away, clearly thinking about something...
We were met at home by silence and a penguin's condemning gaze, which smoothly flowed from our faces to the shopping bags, after which a slight hint of madness appeared in it. Kicking off my shoes and grabbing the bags with one hand, I went into the kitchen. Pen-Pen followed me with a greedy look. Misato, muttering something about a shower and that I shouldn't dare peek, went the other way.
As soon as I turned away to put fresh milk in the refrigerator, a wild penguin began to furiously plunder one of the bags and before I could close the refrigerator door, he was already cruising speed with his loot and disappearing into the corridor.
- Stop! Feathered monster! - My voice only made the thief run faster down the corridor. Glancing at the bag, I noticed the absence of Misato's favorite smoked sausages. - Give me back the sausage! I will forgive everything!
Alas, the same answer awaited me as the unforgettable Great Schemer, in a similar situation. However, unlike him, I could catch up with the kidnapper, which I did with due efficiency. Pen-Pen disappeared into Misato's room, where, sitting on her... well, let it be bed, he had already pulled out the first sausage and even started to eat it.
- Give it here, shameless animal, - I tore the package from the tenacious claws, ignoring the indignant croaking, although I still left the already expropriated sausage and, casting a sad glance around the room, went out into the corridor. At that moment, a disheveled Ayanami came out of the door of my room and, carefully closing the door, looked at me expectantly.
- Hi Ray. Did we wake you up?
"No," the girl blinked and, looking over my figure again, added: "I was just thinking."
- I see, - I smiled. She can think for hours lying in one position and barely reacting to external stimuli. Especially if these same stimuli are not observed in the vicinity. - Do you want some tea? I'll brew it now.
- Yes.
- Then let's go, - I smiled again. The girl nodded silently...