Asuka - Love's Third Impact

Chapter 2 - Hardships

A bright early morning sun shines on the rising buildings of Tokyo-3. Asuka is woken up by the light shining from her blinds. She sees the clock reads 8:00 am.

"Damn, I'm late".

She gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom to get cleaned up and ready for the day. She walks past Shinji's room and notices he's still asleep.

"BAKA! Get up already!"

"5 more minutes" Shinji hides under the covers.

"You tell me that every day and I will not be late because of an idiot like you" Asuka shoots him a dirty look. She is annoyed now and is ready to throw him out of bed.

Asuka takes hold of the covers and begins to pull.

" Asuka wait!" Shinji says frantically.

She doesn't care. Part of her smiles inside, Shinji annoys her of course, but it's fun to mess with him.

"I SAID GET UP!!!" Asuka rips off the sheets and stops, her face goes red. She turns around, thinking of what to say, but nothing comes out. "Baka, I'm... I'm sorry- I should've-"

Surprisingly Shinji isn't mad, rather he begins laughing. He gets out of bed and comes up behind her.

Asuka feels his breath against her face. Shinji's arms wrap around her and she holds on.

"B-baka... I..."

"Shhhhh" Shinji whispers in her ear. "We should get ready, but standing, holding you near, it's just so warm, warmer than any sheets could be"

Asuka has a tingling sensation in her stomach. She is surprised by how forward Shinji is acting right now. It was only last week that Misato and Kaji walked in on  them. When we were... god what am I thinking. Her feelings towards Shinji are still a complicated mess.

Asuka lets go of Shinji's arms and begins to walk away. "I-I should get ready, we'll be late".

***

A bell rings throughout the school marking the beginning of homeroom class. Students enter their classrooms and Asuka and Shinji take their seats. Asuka next to Hikari, Shinji next to Aida and Tōji.

Hikari notices Asuka's conflicted expression but is used to it by now. She knows Asuka's feelings and has been trying to guide her. Hikari has been dealing with her own emotions as well. She's been making lunch for Suzuhara every day. While they aren't dating, pretty much everyone knows how these two "lovebirds" act around each other.

At lunch, Asuka sits with Hikari. Asuka pulls out the bento lunch Shinji packed for her (as he does every day). This time, however, Shinji packed something different today, it wasn't the food that shocked her, but rather a little note attached to the lid of the bento. She reads it:

Asuka, while making this, I thought of you- no, of us. When I cut your rolled omelet into hearts, it reminded me of how you've "cut" into my heart and made it your home. I hope you have a good day!

PS: Yes I know it's cringe, but hey, you're the one eating my lunch!

Asuka, beet red, shakes her head back and forth, trying to clear her mind. That idiot...

"Hikari, have you and Suzuhara ever gone on a date?"

"A date!?" Hikari looks surprised. "I- I mean, we went to dinner a few times, but that's it".

"So you guys didn't-"

"NO!"

Asuka giggles. "You guys are so adorable together. I sometimes envy that, I mean, I've always felt alone. Even when I met Shinji and Miss Misato, I never felt like I truly had a family. Can I ask you something Hikari? I need some advice about Shinji".