Rei Ikari

Interlude, Do (Not) Come In.

"Dude, are you sure about this?" Toji was nervous as hell, not used to going to anyone's place but Kensuke's "how did you even get her address?"

"Prez had an emergency with one of her sisters, she let me know that she's been coming in the last couple of days to drop the info packages at the mailbox; gave me the address and all."

Walking through the apartment complex was a little awkward with how wet their clothes are. Looking up at the respective number, Kensuke raised his fist to knock getting closer and closer.

"Can I help you boys?" A voice startled them before they could've knock. They both looked at the ring bell box, a speaker and camera lens right there.

"He, hello sir, we're Ikari's classmates" Toji can feel sweat drop on his back, standing rigidly "we came here to leave her homework, sir."

"Ah, Suzuhara Toji and Aida Kensuke, no?"

"Yes sir!" They both chorused.

"Nice to meet you, my name's Ryoji Kaji, Rei-chan's guardian. You can just leave the package on the mailbox, I'll pass it on."

"Actually, sir" Kensuke interrupted "we also wanted to talk to Ikari."

"We need to apologize to her for last time."

"Do you mean the shove or the risking your lives stupidly?" Ouch, they both thought.

"Both, really" Toji answered quietly.

A beat of silence followed, both boys held their breath.

"Well" Mr. Kaji's voice startled them "go ahead and knock then. I can't guarantee that she'll forgive you though."

This time Toji was the one to knock on the door. And once again a couple of seconds later.

"One more thing guys" they both looked at the lens, Mr. Kaji's tone severe "there's security cameras inside, no funny business alright?"

With no time for them to answer, the mic disconnected the audio and shuffling could be heard in the apartment. Silence reigned for a minute.

"Ikari?"

The door opened slightly, stopping because of a chain lock. They could partially see their classmate peeking at them. Her one visible eye looked dull.

''Homework delivery!'' Kensuke lifted the package in his hands with an enthusiastic smile.

''Oh'' Rei just looked at them.

''We also'' Toji paused ''we wanted to talk to you for a moment, right here is fine if you want, just, just please let me do it?'' he trailed off at the end, doubfull.

Rei considered them, how the rain calmed a little outside but their hair was plastered down and dripping slowly, yet the papers were dry as a bone ''Um, give me a second'' she closed the door and ran to get her phone, calling Kaji quickly, he picked up on the first ring.

''Rei-chan!'' he said animately ''what's up?''

''There's two classmates that brought me my homework outside, is it ok if I bring them in to your apartment?'' she closed her eyes ready for the rejection, but she only heard a chuckle.

''Rei-chan, that's your place too'' her heart fluttered for a moment, feeling silly how easily he said that ''you can invite guest whenever you want, BUT I do apreciate a heads up. Get them in, let them dry up and have some snacks from the cupboard  ok?''

''Yes, thank you Kaji-san'' for everything so far, she couldn't bring herself to add in her thoughts.

''Just wait to party until I'm back so I can make sure you guys are ok~''

A small smile, a warm familial feeling in her chest ''You're so silly Kaji-san. See you later.''

''Bye bye Rei-chan. Have fun!''

Running again, this time to the bathroom cabinet to get a couple of towels; Rei is now back at the entrance and unlocks the door. Looking at her confused classmates, she extends the towels for them.

''Please, come in'' She gave them a small smile once they did and took their respective towel.

All three teenagers felt akward, but Rei guided them to the small livingroom ''Please take a seat, do you guys want tea?'' she honestly was trying to be a nice host, having no experience and all.

''Sure'' Kensuke was looking everywhere, getting comftable on the floor in front of the coffee table ''So you live here with your guardian?'' he tried breaking the ice.

''Yes, Kaji-san was so kind taking me in once he learned that Nerv set me up to live alone in the issued apartments.''

''Wait'' Kensuke sat straighter while Toji looked at his excitement ''Kaji-san works on Nerv?''

''Yes, he's a consultant but works close to my dad in headquarters.''

''Dude, that's like so manly! Your dad too?''

''Why wouldn't you live with him then?'' Toji startled at Kensuke's slight kick to his chin, the look the eyeglass wearer shot at him told him he messed up.

Everything went quiet for a few seconds until Kensuke continued like Toji said nothing ''Hey Ikari, speaking of Nerv, how did they selected you to be a pilot?''

Rei turned around with the cups and pot in a tray, settling them down carefully, considering the question ''I'm actually not sure, I asked Dr. Akagi once about it; she just said 'You were the one most compatible with it by nature' whatever that means.''

''Weird'' Toji said, noticing how delicately Rei served the tea, and her little nod of agreement.

''I'm just so jealous, let them know that I would be happy to try it out for them ok?''

''Sure, I can tell them'' Rei shot a side smirk, playful ''they would probably remember you as the one who did all that three days ago'' her voice went quieter as she continued. Another beat of silence, all three of them in their own version of memory lane from three days ago.

''Ikari'' Toji started ''I want to say sorry about that'' Rei looked at him in the eyes, he actually arranged himself to sit on his knees and putting his forehead on the floor in a dogeza pose so hard, Rei actually jumped for the noise he made when he did that, looking at Kensuke, he also was in that position ''I'm sorry that I pushed you on your first day, I get now that fighting those things is hard on you too. And then we were in the way for the other one and it hurt you because of us, so, we are so sorry, I'm willing to let you do anything to make us even.''

''Um'' Rei started ''I don't need anything for us to be even'' Both boys raised their heads and Toji opened his mouth to protest, but she didn't give them the chance ''You said that your sister was hurt in the first fight, I forgot how it felt to be worried for someone important to you'' she thought of the emptiness of this couple of days, not knowing why ''so I understand why once you knew I caused that pain on her and on you that you wanted to fight me, I don't blame you for being curious about the angels either.''

''Ikari, you might not blame us, blame me'' Toji straightened up, still sitting in his knees ''but one day, I'll make sure we're even'' Seeing the determination on his eyes, Rei left it at that.

''Well'' Kensuke took a sip of his cup ''now that that's taken care of, should we do our homework since we're here?''

''Yeah! By the way'' both boys were paying attention at her only ''what are your names again?'' Laughter and introductions ensued.

Rei felt a little  more normal, doing her school work and catching up on her classes. She is happy she's got good grades and understands the material though, because she was the one who ended explaining thing to the boys. No one in that apartment noticed that after three straight days, the rain stopped falling so rapidly, until it calmed down completely.