Rei sat with me until the evening. Most of the time we listened to music, sharing the drops of headphones from the player between us, and read, sometimes stopping to exchange a couple of remarks. Twice they brought me food, the first time - tasteless, stuck together rice with disgusting fish sticks, the second - an incomprehensible, sour something, soup-like, with small noodles and something like boiled lard. This was definitely the revenge of someone from the staff, I even suspect who, but these attempts only caused an ironic smile in me, and all the food was calmly consumed. True, I did not dare to offer it to Rei, for obvious reasons, so the girl had to be fed with fruits she brought, but I did not notice any displeasure from her about this fact, and she herself refused to go to the local canteen. I was also examined twice and bandaged once. And in the evening Misato showed up and, trying to hide her fatigue with demonstrative enthusiasm, made me happy by discharging myself, which surprised me quite a bit. Although I had agreed with her, I really didn't expect to leave the hospital earlier than in two or three days, but it seems I clearly underestimated the punching ability of the head of the operations department.
Already in the car, an epic poem of the valor of a lone soldier, seasoned with a lot of expression and a complete lack of explanations, was dumped on us with Ayanami, although, nevertheless, first of all on me. Maybe for Misato herself all these names and titles had some meaning and even most likely, but for me, the "imbecile" Aoto Yahi, who was not able to cope with the department of something there on time and independently, that Yahuro Mue, awarded the proud title of "lazy walrus" and again, somewhere there did not have much difference. So, putting on a smart expression on my face, I nodded sympathetically and with complete agreement, not really listening to the girl's monologue and noting only the key moments. I don't know what Rei was doing, but judging by the detached look behind the glass, her thoughts were also not in the car.
Actually, most of Katsuragi's complaints revolved around the research center being built near the Angel's body and all the management activities that she had to carry out in this regard, being a senior NERV officer in the absence of the Commander and his deputy. Here I understood her very well and sympathized more than sincerely, I myself hate all this management activity, and after all, she has to command not just anyone, but people here and there is no opportunity to strike with horror across the squares. By the way, Ritsuko also got it from our cutie captain, what epithets Misato did not award her friend, who immediately took up research and left her to pull all the organizational activities alone ... In general, the outpouring of the soul stopped only on the threshold of the house and I do not undertake to claim that even half of the painful list was voiced.
"Phew..." Misato breathed out after she kicked off her shoes and relaxed her shoulders, throwing her head back and closing her eyes. "Si-i-i-in, you'll cook something tasty for the tired liberating commander, right?"
- Will you let me into the bathroom to rub your back when you go to wash yourself?
Katsuragi's relaxed posture suddenly froze, after which the girl slowly turned to me and said slowly:
- You promised.
- So you don't object to the idea itself?
- You promised, Shinji!
- Misato, you're being paranoid, I was just asking an innocent question, natural for my age. It's not my fault that my body is going through a period of violent hormonal instability, and you have such an impressive appearance.
- A-a... uh-uh... - she clearly wanted to object to me about something, for example about the fact that the question was extremely unnatural for my age, but at the last moment she changed her mind. - Make me some coffee. Please.
- Fine.
- That's wonderful! - and the girl quickly disappeared somewhere in the depths of the apartment. Having seen her off with my eyes, I turned to Ayanami, who had already taken off her shoes and was silently watching the dialogue. Nothing was reflected on the girl's face, except for a barely noticeable bit of expectation in the depths of her eyes.
- Ray, are you hungry?
- A little.
- Then let's go.
Having seated Rei at the table, I quickly fried an egg, brewed tea and made coffee for Misato. It was a bit... problematic to bother with something more substantial, not that the wound on the body was causing much concern, but with burns on the hands, washing, peeling and cutting something was still a bit inconvenient. And suspicious. So when Misato deigned to leave the bath and honor us with her presence, a portion of fried eggs was waiting for her, and we were already sipping tea.
- Hmm-m-m... - With a hint of sadness, the girl drawled, looking at the plate. I don't know what she expected to see there, but clearly something more than just scrambled eggs. You get used to good things quickly. However, Katsuragi had enough sense to remain silent.
While Misato was picking at her plate and blissfully squinting as she sipped the warm, aromatic coffee with milk, my own cup had bottomed out. I was still thirsty, though, so without thinking twice, I got up from the table and went to the teapot. Rei was drinking much more slowly, taking long pauses between sips, and her sips themselves were small, so by the time I returned, she still had about two-thirds of the glass full. Having placed a saucer with a freshly opened cookie in front of the girl, which I had somehow not thought of earlier, I sat down in my place.
- Misato, I have a couple of questions.
- Mm? - Brown eyes looked up at me from the plate and expressively displayed a silent question. The girl's mouth was busy at that moment.
- First, school. - I fell silent. She'll figure out the rest herself.
- Um... - Misato finished chewing and swallowed the piece, after which she spent a few moments collecting her thoughts. - You have a sick leave for two weeks, - and her gaze was so attentive, as if expecting a trick. I, however, did not live up to expectations and only nodded.
- Second, Commander. When he returns, remind him about the promised materials.
- Ah... Son, I...
- Just remind me. You'll meet him anyway, but I can't count on it in the next two weeks and I have no desire to find out in practice whether he'll go somewhere again, exactly one day before my discharge.
- I see... I understand you. - Katsuragi cast a slightly confused glance at Rei, but she found nothing on her face, although she was looking.
- Relax, Misato. All you have to do is report that I brought it up, nothing more. You have to report on me anyway.
"I didn't!..." Katsuragi jumped up, looking at me in shock and amazement.
- Misato, - I interrupted the girl, adding a note of irony to my voice and allowing a slight smile to appear on my face. - Think about what you just wanted to say and whether I will believe it, - the girl deflated. It seemed that she herself understood perfectly well how assurances from her direct superior that he does not report to the top about the actions of his subordinates would look.
"How did you know?" The words clearly came with difficulty to her.
"It was obvious," I shrug and take a sip of tea. "It simply couldn't be any other way."
- So you...
- If you're wondering if I've been rummaging through your things looking for evidence, then no. And why would I need it?
- Shinji, if you think... - Misato sucked in a breath. - I'm not the kind of person to live with a stranger just because of work! That is, without personal sympathy... And I don't!...
I sigh expressively, interrupting the girl again.
- I already told you, relax. For me, none of this matters, after all, the fact that my life will not remain without constant control was obvious from the moment I signed up to participate in this theater of the absurd with the protection of the world. There is no point in talking about it. Anyway, neither you nor I are capable of changing the situation now, so relax and don't worry. And in general, you should be happy, no need to strain yourself.
- Damn... - the girl collapsed tiredly onto a chair. - Why is it always like this with you? I almost died of fear... Are you sure you're not angry?
- Are my feelings so important to you?
- Shinji!
- Yes, exactly, exactly. You better finish eating, or it will get completely cold.
Misato snorted, but obeyed. In general, her manner of climbing up on a chair with her feet and sitting on it cross-legged makes me very happy. It looks so cute and comical, and the girl sits so casually, and sometimes even spins quite actively, I am simply amazed that she has never fallen over. And now Katsuragi herself probably didn't notice how she assumed this pose, which caused a wave of affection in me.
An empty glass landed on the table to my right, almost silently. Glancing sideways at Ayanami, I saw the girl calmly lower her hands to her knees and, looking at the half-empty plate of cookies, froze, waiting for something. She seemed to like the cookies, I'll have to remember the brand.
- Ray, are you finished?
- Yes.
- Do you want anything else?
- No.
Nodding slightly, I finished my tea in one gulp and stood up from the table.
The night air pleasantly blew on my face, and the view of the sleeping city brought calm. Having left the kitchen, I went to the balcony and now, leaning on the railing, looked at the landscape that opened up. A click of the player button and the album "Holiday" began to sound in my ears again, and specifically the composition "Send me an angel". Very symbolic.
Feeling movement behind me, I didn't turn around, as expected, Rey decided to keep me company. It probably wasn't very polite of me to leave silently, but I also didn't want to call her to follow me like some kind of obedient pet. Precisely because she would go. So, it's better this way.
Silently handing her the earphone from my left ear, I was pleased to note the moment of hesitant surprise on her face. However, the girl quickly understood everything and took the earphone, silently inserting it into her ear.
We stand. We are silent. We listen. We look at the city. We do not pay attention to Misato's curious nose that has already flashed twice in the doorway. Good...
Ayanami moved, but I didn't look at what she was doing, continuing to look at the black sky. Several long moments passed and cool fingers touched my sleeve, demandingly squeezing the material and pulling slightly. Obeying the girl's obvious desire, I turned to her and met the attentive gaze of two serious ruby eyes.
A click of a button and the melody stops. Silence. Rey's left hand clenches slightly, crushing the bandage removed from her head. It seems my little angel is quite nervous...
"Ikari..." A pause, during which she peers carefully into my eyes. "Why are you piloting the Eva?"
"You know the answer," the girl's head tilted slightly to the side, and her gaze became even more focused.
- You hate humanity, you hate your father. Then why do you protect them?
- Does this matter to you?
Nod.
- It's simple - I protect myself. I don't care about humanity, but I have my own goals, interests and desires, and it so happened that by killing Angels I will be able to realize them. The ideas of "saving the world", "protecting humanity", "a great mission" are just pompous and loud words for me, which really mean nothing. In reality, I only care about my own fate and the fate of those who are truly dear to me. However, until recently, such people did not exist in this world. Now... they may have appeared. But I still don't care about the rest. Even if this is not a particularly attractive reason, and also completely selfish, but that's who I am. Did I answer your question?
"Yes," Ayanami looked down and thought.
"I hope..." I said quietly, turning back to the railing. "I really hope so, my little ruby-eyed angel..."
Rei moved again. The wire swayed. Someone lightly brushed my shoulder. And a moment later, cool fingers lay on top of my hand on the player and pressed the power button. A moment of curiosity, a turn of the head and I managed to notice a hastily averted gaze, and also to discern, barely noticeable in the semi-darkness of the balcony, a pink tint on her cheeks. How cute she is after all... Ayanami...