"
-informal population surveys conducted since the fall of Tokyo-2 indicate that the largest population outflows from Nagano Prefecture have been to Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tokyo-3..."
xxxx
At Kanamin Kitchen's Tokyo-3 location, a rather large party of educational professionals celebrated their last night of relative 'freedom'; tomorrow, classes would resume.
Keel Lorenz listened, for the most part; it was an exercise of charity (though some would say largesse) on his account, to pay for the entire party, consisting of the faculty for both the High School and Junior High School branches for Hakone Academy. Even so, he put in his two cents as appropriate. "We seem to have a surprising number of last-minute transfers," he remarked, sipping from a glass of red wine.
"Please don't remind me," grumbled Sadayo Kawakami.
Sumire Yoshizawa gently rubbed the shoulders of her fellow teacher. "There there, Kawakami-sensei..."
Kasumi Yoshizawa finished chewing a rather large chunk of roast lamb before adding, "A challenge is simply that: a
challenge. We'll make sure those newcomers are brought up to speed immediately!"
"Your workload is kind of ludicrous," murmured Ichiko Ohya, the 'newbie' amongst the High School faculty. "If it weren't for the higher-than-average pay, I'd be tempted to just hitch a ride out of this city..."
"Excellence is its own reward, but I also believe in paying
well for it," observed the Principal of Hakone Academy. "There is no expense too great to ensure a brighter future."
"I'll drink to that," agreed Kawakami.
Keel Lorenz made his rounds, eventually hovering closer towards a table containing a number of teachers for the Junior High branch's second year. "I trust you're all enjoying yourselves," he stated without asking.
Maya Ibuki, Makoto Hyuga, and Shigeru Aoba each raised their own glasses of beer. Kōzō Fuyutsuki slightly raised a small cup of warm saké. "Enjoying your generosity, kōchō
-sensei"
"You'd best. You and the others in your year have the unique privilege of teaching
all three Evangelion-users."
Aoba all but slumped in his chair. "Don't remind us..."
"It'll be fine. Definitely fine. No need to panic," muttered Ibuki, the mousey woman repeating the words like a mantra.
Hyuga robotically ate from his gourmet rice, opting for the better path known as 'silence'.
Fuyutsuki couldn't help but chuckle. "At least Ayanami-kun and Ikari-kun aren't troublemakers...I can't speak for the third one, however. Sohryu-kun, was it?"
"The Second Child is a bit of a spitfire, and definitely more in line with
gaijin stereotypes," remarked the Principal, even as he quietly enjoyed the music of the live band. "But I'm sure everything will go swimmingly, so long as we do our best."
xxxx
"
-when broached about recent rumors regarding a rebuffed attempt to reorganize NERV into a government-owned corporation, the Governor of Kanagawa had no comment..."
xxxx
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxNBdY8u610
For once, Gendo Ikari was not in his office, languishing in the dark.
Rather, he stood upon the rooftop of NERV Headquarters. With the waning crescent moon yet to rise above the horizon for a few more hours yet, the sky seemed somewhat oppressive; though empty of clouds, the ambient light pollution of the city choked out the starlight, leaving only the perception of darkness.
How fitting, in the grand scheme of things.
"So many people act according to their own whims, their own plans, their own desires," he mused, hands stuffed into his pockets. Despite the blowing wind, he seemed paradoxically untouched by it. "Yet, once they get what they want...rare is the man who is finally satisfied." After having experienced so much, he doubted such an individual existed; the world they lived in had no patience, nor any desire, for saints. "Such is our lot." His eyes, hidden by orange shades, quietly gazed into the abyss above; even now, he wondered if
she could see him. "I wonder...if you're the exception...I wonder if you're satisfied...Yui."
He remained there for some time, content with the loneliness of his position.
(It was a balm for the rancid spite that otherwise motivated him.)
xxxx
"
-since it's a new week, it's time for the weekly 'Cooler than Cognition' popularity survey! Recently, the First Child has been observed operating all over Japan as of late. Given the relative newness and scandals surrounding the Third Child, one wonders if the stoic girl's stability and reliability will earn her more fans, in spite of Evangelion's negative reputation of late..."
xxxx
Within the Izanami Dorms, Rei Ayanami looked around her room in silence. It was not unexpected for Hikari Horaki and Mayumi Yamagishi to be absent...but the lack of Asuka Langley-Sohryu was admittedly a bit surprising.
Though, I suppose she is enjoying her last vestige of 'freedom' before being forced to live here. The fiery redhead had always had colorful opinions regarding such...trivialities.
Without another word, the First Child quietly took a shower, relishing the silence of the empty room.
Such quiet peace would become all too valuable a commodity in the days to come...
xxxx
"
However, viewers have also spoken of sightings of the Second Child, who was officially supposed to arrive in Japan by the beginning of September. Given how many missions she's been on per available statistics, the fiery foreigner has wasted no time ingratiating herself with her new hosts..."
xxxx
Sister Mary Makinami sensed Asuka's approach before she knocked on the door. With a knowing smile, she opened the door to her private residence. "Shouldn't you be turning in at your dorm, Miss Sohryu?"
Asuka gave a tired roll of the eyes. "Ha ha."
"Have you already eaten?"
Asuka shook her head. "I've been in Hokkaido for most of the day. Last had a snack several hours ago."
Sister Mary shook her head at her habitual stubbornness. "Honestly, you're going to be the death of
yourself one of these days, if not me!"
The Second Child snorted, pulling up a chair at the small kitchen table. "Like you
wouldn't jump for joy to finally be rid of me," she snarked, opting for gallows humor as a way to get under her skin.
Mari didn't take the bait. "Looking forward to death is fine and dandy if you think you're in a good spot...but most people want as much time as possible to make the most of their lives." With a knowing expression, she said, "Do you think you're gifted enough to be one of those lucky few, who are satisfied that they've done all they could?"
Asuka, wisely,
also didn't take the bait.
A simple but filling meal of eggs with stir-fried noodles was accompanied by brief chatter. "I actually had a visit from Shinji Ikari today." When Asuka looked at her with bewildered eyes, Mari laughed. "Ghost attack. He was quite impressed by one of my longer prayers."
"I'm sure," she groused. "What, was he that useless that you had to hold his hand?"
"You've fought alongside him once before," she lightly chided. "You know better...which means you're being envious again. Or perhaps it's jealousy...?"
Asuka rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to take a shower. You still have spares of my things?"
"I always do," acknowledged the nun. Mari shook her head as the younger teenager headed to the bathroom. "So prickly~" The religious quietly cleaned the dishes, performed some brief stretches and prayers, and switched into her loose yet modest nightgown. Right as she finished preparing a futon on the floor, Asuka emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas. "You can take the bed, Miss Sohryu-"
"Nope." Asuka promptly rolled the blanket over, rolling into the futon. "'Night."
"...well, if you're going to be
that stubborn about it," murmured Sister Mary as she accepted Asuka's act of generosity, hopping into her bed. "Sleep well."
(It would be no surprise to her, that, later that evening, Asuka would end up slipping into the bed.)
(Mari would make no mention of it; simply embracing the younger girl from behind, she would rest her chin in Asuka's hair.)
("You don't have to act tough all the time," she would whisper, as an elder sister would to her younger sibling. Asuka wouldn't answer, committed as she was to her own particular pride.)
(Come the next day, Asuka would say nothing about it, and Mari wouldn't poke fun at her. Some things didn't need to be said out loud.)
xxxx
"
But as far as others go, a lot of viewers have come to appreciate the rugged looks of Munehisa Iwai-"
"This part of the news is always boring," said a childish voice.
Hikari Horaki couldn't help but agree. However, the pragmatic part of her replied, "Well Nozomi-chan, it can be helpful at times to think about how others are perceived."
"I guess," muttered the younger girl.
"Did you finish washing up?"
"Yes."
"Did you brush your teeth-?"
"
Yes," grumbled the child, pouting and crossing her arms. "M'not little, sis."
"I know. But school starts back tomorrow, so you need to get back in the groove of things." Looking over towards the easy chair, Hikari asked, "Otousan..."
Bunzaemon Hikari slightly waved his hand. keeping his eyes on the newscast. "You have school as well...I'll be turning in before long."
(School. A place where she could actually accomplish something tangible.)
"...okay." Hikari quietly tiptoed over, squeezing his shoulder and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Sleep well, father."
"I will," he promised.
(Hikari would wake up later that evening to see that her father had fallen asleep in the chair, the television still running mindlessly.)
(Out of habit, she placed a small pillow behind his head, covered him in a blanket, and kicked in the recliner so he could at least lean back.)
(
If only you could do more...)
