My hand falls on the worn metal handle and a second later a bright orange light hits my eyes. Here is the familiar train car. Shinji is here too, only this time he looks a little older, about 10-12 years old, although his clothes haven't changed much, only the T-shirt has a different pattern. And there is no AT field. However, why would it be here? The fusion has already begun...
Walking calmly along the carriage, which was swaying slightly on invisible rails, I sat down opposite the boy and leaned back in my seat.
- Well, hello, Shinji, what did you want to talk about?
- Ah... Uh-uh... I didn't mean to... - the guy was embarrassed, looking down.
- Of course, but I've been watching your itchy curiosity for four hours now, I barely made it to the evening, at least Misato quickly got exhausted and ran away dragging Rei with her and I was able to sleep peacefully. So what's the matter?
- Well... I... Just... Why did you expose yourself to that blow from the Angel?
- Couldn't you have asked right away? - I was genuinely surprised. - Why did you have to arrange the boycott in such a way that I couldn't get through to you? - Shinji lowered his head even more, pouring out waves of shame mixed with embarrassment. - Okay. The option that I accidentally missed it doesn't satisfy you?
- No. - Ikari shook his head. - I saw and felt that you did it on purpose...
- Hmm... - I looked at the guy thoughtfully for a few seconds. - Well... There were several reasons for that... - An effort of will and a glass of cold tea appeared in my hand. I looked at the window and took a sip. - Firstly, I honestly didn't want to participate in the "debriefing" right after I got out of the capsule, but that's just a small thing, - I took another sip. - What was more important was how the situation looked from the outside. You understand that it's weird when some random kid, who hasn't spent even a month training, knocks down an Angel without even getting a scratch?
- But... - Shinji became a little embarrassed under my expectant gaze, but finished. - But you were so evasive... that's also strange...
- True, - I nodded contentedly, creating a second glass in front of Shinji. - But it's one thing to kill an Angel without receiving the slightest damage, and quite another when the pilot is urgently taken to the hospital after the battle, do you feel the difference? The situation itself will be viewed differently, despite all the other circumstances. Plus... - I winked slyly at the guy. - I left a small gift for Akagi's chicks in a black box.
"W-what?" Ikari encouraged me, impatiently and surprised, clutching a glass in his hands.
- Yes, the full set, increased brain activity, adrenaline rush, heartbeat, in general, everything our scientists need to create a coherent, all-explaining theory. He-he... Akagi will be proud of himself.
- A-a-a-a... - Shinji was inspired and hung there for a few seconds, after which he broke into a rather sly smile.
- But that's not even the main thing, after all, I could have created a legend for myself in a dozen other ways, or I could have just spit on legends, it's not the point. The main thing was that I simply needed time to absorb the energy I'd received. Time in a calm environment, without unnecessary stress and distractions. Of course, I slightly miscalculated and the wound turned out to be a little deeper, which I admit and regret, because as a result, the home sick leave waved its hand, but it's not bad anyway, - I again applied myself to the glass, which in no way showed the bottom and, glancing sideways at the thoughtful Shinji, smiled cheerfully. - A week in the hospital and maybe I'll even be able to set up a weak AT-field... Maybe... If I'm really lucky... Probably...
- You're joking right now, right?
- Of course. Any other questions? Go ahead and ask them while you still have the chance.
- Well... - Ikari became embarrassed again. - About Ayanami...
"And what about Ayanami?" I asked, smiling and encouraging.
- Well... - the guy blushed deeply. - You bandaged her... You slept in the same room and anyway... - with each word the voice became quieter, well, and his eyes had been lowered to the floor for a long time.
- Do you want to know what plans I have for her? - Shinji nodded convulsively. - None at all, - the guy perked up and stared at me with extremely surprised eyes. - Why are you looking at me like that? Just don't tell me you didn't sense my emotions, I won't believe you.
- Well, I... don't always understand them... and your thoughts too...
- Really? Hmm... - I thought, looking at the guy carefully. In principle, it is possible, because even I only perceive his emotions, and even then not always, but still, he sits in the inner world and he should have more opportunities. Although... - Okay, - taking a deep breath, I put the glass aside. - Curiosity, you know, is punishable, so hold on, - and without waiting for a reaction, I convey to him the whole bouquet of emotions that I feel for Ayanami.
Shinji froze. Then he hugged himself and began to tremble slightly, completely immersed in himself. He remained in this state for about five minutes, maybe a little more, and then exhaled loudly.
- This... this...
- Difficult? - I prompted. Ikari nodded twitchily, swallowing at the same time. - Ooooh, and you're still asking me for specific answers. Feelings, you know, are such a thing... well, okay. By the way, have you come up with anything new about desires, fantasies, dreams, after all?
- What?
- I ask, have you figured out your dreams? Well, for implementation.
- Uh-uh... No.
"It's a pity," I stated, looking out the window with an empty gaze. "Then let's go, I still have to fix the power system, and there's little time."
- Uh-huh. And uh-uh... thank you... - Shinji became embarrassed again, hiding his eyes in his cup of tea.
- Hm. Contact me...
Opening my eyes, I lay there for a few seconds, contemplating the dark ward. A pale light from the night lighting was pouring in from the window, and the hospital was silent. The clock on my mobile phone showed four thirty-five in the morning. I didn't feel like sleeping at all, and I had no time. Putting my mobile phone back on the chair, I lay on my back, closed my eyes again, and immersed myself in work. Before they brought me breakfast, or decided to arrange a morning examination, I had to finish at least with the main damage to the energy shell, and no matter how you look at it, this was not a quick matter.
The next three and a half hours were spent in desperate attempts to hold on to the Angel's spiritual energy "slipping through my fingers" and only when the doctor entered the room at nine o'clock five did I have to stop. However, after the examination, which smoothly turned into breakfast, the work continued.
In general, a hospital is a wonderful place, if of course you have such luxury as a private room. No one bothers you, no one bothers you over trifles, there is no one to even talk to, not to mention the absence of such distractions as a computer, TV or radio. Just lie there and think. Reflect on your life, make plans, fantasize... Beauty! Ideal conditions for quiet and unnoticeable work on subtle matters...
"Hi, Ray," I said quietly, without opening my eyes.
The girl came into the ward at one o'clock in the afternoon, which surprised me a little. Well, not quite so, I felt her approach about thirty seconds ago and had already managed to wrap up all the work with the energy shell, but still her appearance was unexpected, because classes at school last until three. There was no destruction in the city as a result of the battle with the Angel, therefore the school should be open, and Rey is not the kind of person who will shirk his duties at the first desire.
"Hello, Shinji," came the equally quiet and calm reply. "How did you know it was me?"
"By the sound of footsteps," I couldn't tell the girl about partially returning perception, and I really could distinguish her steps from the others, I didn't even notice how I started doing it.
"I see..." the girl stood next to the bed, not daring to come closer.
- Why aren't you at school?
- Misato told me not to go, but to visit you. Here... - I opened my eyes and saw how Ayanami, slightly embarrassed, which was expressed only in the direction of her gaze, showed a bag of some fruits she was holding in her hand.
- Have you been to the store?
- Yes.
- Where is Misato?
– She went to her office and said she would come in in half an hour.
- I see... - I smiled slightly. - Don't stand there, sit down, - I nod towards the chair.
- Fine.
The girl came closer and stopped again. For a few seconds she carefully examined the chair, the bed and the area closest to them, as if looking for something, then, having made some decision, she turned around, walked around the bed and, putting the bag there, returned back and silently sat down on the chair. The gaze of her ruby eye, concentrated and at the same time detached, stopped on my face.
We remain silent.
- Ayanami...
The girl blinked.
- What?.. - a short pause. - Ikari...
- You're lovely, - now her face really showed surprise, even her eyebrow went up. It's a pity that the other eye can't be seen because of the bandage, but never mind, I'll have time to admire it.
However, the girl's face quickly returned to its normal state and the question was not long in coming:
- What did you mean?
– Are you unfamiliar with the term "charm"?
- I know. But why do you use it in relation to me? - I thought. It wasn't that the question baffled me... but there was definitely something close to it in it. And then there was that look... demanding, expectant, and with a hint of academic interest... And all of this in the very depths of the eyes, on an absolutely emotionless face. One word - charming!
- Hmm... I suppose because it most accurately describes the feelings I experience.
- I don't understand. The charm is one of the flavors in the quark model, carried by the b-quark... - wow, how neglected it all is...
Something must have shown on my face, because Rey fell silent.
"Flavor is..." I paused for a moment, digging up physics materials in my memory, "if I'm not mistaken, symmetry in particle physics?"
Nod.
"I will kill Gendo. I will definitely kill Gendo. Honestly, I swear I will finish him off!!! Okay, calm down. Take a deep breath. Breathe through your nose. Close your eyes. Breathe. Keep breathing. Ignore the laughter from your inner world. Ignore it, I said! Phew... Now that seems to have let up."
- Rei... - I open my eyes and meet the girl's uncomprehending gaze, - you're great. Just smart, - my hand reached for the bag. - Do you want some fruit? - Ayanami's gaze changed subtly and she turned it to the bag.
- Yes...
- Hello, lovebirds! Are you cooing? - a furious whirlwind called Katsuragi burst into the ward, and he began to fill the hospital walls with enthusiasm even before he opened the door.
"We're discussing the terminology for denoting symmetries in particle physics," I responded, chewing a piece of apple.
- Huh?... - the girl froze and disappeared behind the door for a moment. - You didn't get the wrong room... Shinji, admit it, Ritsuko didn't bite you?!
- It is possible, but unlikely.
- Phew... I was already scared, - Misato clasped her hands dramatically. - Well, seriously? Admit it, they were cooing, - and a sly smile.
Instead of answering, I silently chewed the apple, looking neutrally at the captain. Rey agreed with me and, working her jaws in the same way, drilled the girl with her signature look. Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, we even started to bite off in sync.
A minute later, Misato's expression turned sour.
- You are simply impossible... - the head of the operations department, sadly hanging her head, walked over to the bed and, having pulled the bag off my lap, began to rummage around in it. Finally, after a few seconds of rustling, a pear was pulled out of the bag, and the bag was returned. - So here's how it is. Yum... The Eva is undamaged. That's one. How you managed to restore the armor, we don't know, Ritsuko is going crazy. That's two. Yum... There is no destruction in the city. Yum... The Commander is arriving tomorrow. Yum... And five - training will begin next week, they found you instructors... A delicious pear... So, what did I forget?
- Money, - short and succinct. The last piece of apple went into the stomach.
- Yes! You've already been paid, everything's in the account.
- How many?
- One and a half million.
- Miserly people.
- That's y-e-e-e... - Misato said sadly, sighing. It seemed that she herself was upset that I didn't get three million like last time. - But it's okay! You still have a whopping four and a half million! Not bad for your age! - the girl "reassured" me with exaggerated cheerfulness.
"By the way... since we're talking about money, I had a great idea..." Katsuragi suddenly tensed up, had she really learned to sense dirty tricks from me? "Do you think I saved NERV a lot of money by preventing the destruction of the city and repairing the Eva during the battle?"
- No!.. I mean no! I mean, don't even think about it!
"Why? It's a good idea," a slight shadow of an anticipatory smile appeared at the corners of my lips.
- No, Sin, this is a bad idea. A very bad idea! Especially since you are supposed to do it by your job title!
"Fix Eve too?" I raised an eyebrow, maintaining a calm expression on my face.
"N-no," the girl hesitated. "But to avoid destruction in the city – yes!"
- Where?
- What "where"?
– Where exactly in my contract is the clause about avoiding destruction in the city written?
- What contract? - Misato blinked her eyes in confusion.
- Really, what kind? - the sarcasm in my voice was dripping, and my gaze rose to the ceiling. - Rei, did you sign a contract with NERV?
"No," the girl said laconically.
- And I didn't conclude...
- So! Stop! Shut up! I don't want to hear anything! My work is stressful enough as it is, and now you're here! And don't raise an eyebrow at me! Found out, you half-baked shogun!
- Misato...
- Quiet! Quiet, I said! I'm a weak girl, I need to be pitied and protected, not have my brain and nerves permanently blown out!
- Misato...
- Son, shut up! I'm warning you, I'm warning you nicely! If you mention money now, I'll lay down my life, but Eva and your jumpsuit will be repainted a soft pink color with green butterflies on it!
I thought about it. The threat was... strong. A picture appeared before my mind's eye... A soft pink Evangelion with poisonous green butterflies... Brrr...
- Well... You have quite an imagination... - I finally broke the silence, tearing myself away from contemplating the imaginary picture. - But actually I wanted to say something else.
"So what?" Misato narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You are a flavor in the quark model, carried by the b-quark," I say with an imperturbable face.
- Huh?... - Cover and hit. The girl was really stuck. "Oh... what a touching expression... I'm in nirvana..."
- You're a darling, I say.
- Huh?... - Katsuragi continued to blink in confusion, then shook her head sharply and an unkind flame lit up in her eyes. - So, I know for sure that you are making fun of me now...
"But you don't understand how," I state indifferently, taking another apple out of the bag.
– Arrrrr!!! Brat! Vile... little... bastard...
"I propose a deal," I interrupted the crimson and actively aroused girl. How is she still able to restrain herself? A heroic woman!
Misato snorted, looking at me very "affectionately" with her narrowed eyes, but she still restrained herself and after about a minute, almost calmly asked:
- What's the deal?
- You organize my discharge home, and I will stop purposefully doing those things that irritate you so much.
Katsuragi thought.
- Why such generosity? - I was given an extremely suspicious look.
– Hospital food is Evil.
- What's the catch?
– The contract is valid until the next Angel appears.
- Hmm-m-m... - the girl drawled thoughtfully. - And if you end up in a hospital bed again, it can be extended? - the captain quickly figured out the gist, and her eyes flashed unkindly.
"It depends on the circumstances," it was extremely difficult not to see the hint in my gaze and voice.
- Hmm... - the hint was understood, the unhealthy sparkle in the eyes went out. - It's coming! But remember, you promised!
- Of course.
Misato ran away. I wonder if she'll soon realize that nothing has changed. After all, a sudden impulse of the soul is not a purposeful and planned action. But okay, this is really getting annoying, so I'll leave the captain alone... for a while.
"Why do you want to leave the hospital quickly?" Ayanami broke the silence, a few minutes after Misato had fled.
– Because I feel more comfortable at home.
- But injuries need to be treated under the supervision of specialists, otherwise complications are possible. - Ayanami said evenly, carefully studying my face. Today she is somehow suspiciously talkative. Even pleasantly.
"You're right. But frankly speaking, I don't care about the state of my body," Rey's gaze changed slightly, and after a few moments she lowered it to my chest.
"That's reckless," the girl quietly remarked a minute later.
- Perhaps, - a slightly sad smile appeared on my face. - But let's leave this topic. Do you want to listen to music?
- Music?
In response, I simply picked up the player.