Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Between the Fiery Mind and Cold Heart ❯ A Usual School Day ( Prologue )

Between the Fiery Mind and Cold Heart

Author's Disclaimer: All properties of Evangelion are owned by GAINAX and are off-limits in ownership to everybody else.

Note: I decided to turn Gendo into the father figure that Shinji wanted, although he doesn't show his caring side openly like Yui.

Prologue - Another Usual School Day

<TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK>

"Zzzz…"

<TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK>

"Ahhmmm… zzzz…"

<RI----------NG>

"Huh? Muuuwwwaaahh…."

Thus, an alarm clock started another day in the life of Shinji Ikari.

Damn, 6 AM already… oh well, time to get ready for school, he thought. He groggily grabbed the alarm clock and threw it on the floor, turning it off. He slowly woke up from his bed and stretched his arms while rubbing off sleep from his eyes by his hands. Leaving his bed, he went in his bathroom and showered up, after which he changed into his school uniform consisting of a jacket, polo with a tie, black pants and leather shoes.

"Hmm, looks like breakfast's being made… better hurry up."

An aroma of cooked breakfast breezed through his room. Carrying his school bag around his right shoulder, he went downstairs to the dining room and eagerly waited for breakfast being served.

"Finally you're up, son. Guess your mom's cooking never fails to wake you," said his father, Gendo Ikari. Wearing his traditional red-tinted glasses, he was reading the daily newspaper.

"Of course, otousan," answered Shinji. 'Breakfast' consisted of a simple dish of scrambled eggs, fried rice, Caesar's salad, and sliced sausage, it never cease to satisfy the young boy's stomach on the first part of the day.

"Breakfast is served!" exclaimed his mother, Yui Ikari, while carefully laying down the cooked dishes down on the dinner table. After finishing breakfast, Yui cleared up the dishes and settled them in the kitchen sink. Shinji lend a hand to help her wash the dishes.

"Breakfast's great as always, okasan, thanks! Sayonara!" he said, after washing his hands and giving his mom a kiss on the cheek.

Yui smiled after he closed the front door of their residence. He's so adorable and caring, she thought.

"I'm leaving now dear, take care," said Gendo, kissing her on the cheek also before leaving.

"Have a good day at work dear," she replied.

Another boring day at school, hmm, I wonder what Kensuke and Touji are up to, thought Shinji, as he walked his usual route to Tokyo-3 High. As he went near the gate, he spotted the two stooges who greeted him.

"Hey Shin-man, morning!" Touji greeted.

"Hey there, Shinji. Looks like another usual day at school, huh?" Kensuke asked.

"Yeah. What about you two? Anything you've done lately to kill the boredom?"

"Nope, just the usual stuff --- checking into the school's files, playing war-games, and surfing around the Internet," the otaku replied.

"Figures."

The school bell rang and the trio proceeded into their respective classroom. As the class took their seats, the Class Rep, Hikari Horaki, did her duties, "Rise, bow, and sit" and the professor started a lecture about English.

Just great… well at least it's not Physics; a lecture of it will instantly make me asleep, thought Shinji. He looked around and saw the quiet and mysterious figure of Rei Ayanami seated to the classroom side, her face peering out into the window as always. Why is she always like that? I can't seem to get anything out of her personality, he thought. Within each passing day he found himself attracted to her and admired her beauty --- her delicate, clear, fair skin, crimson eyes, blue, short-cut hair --- but decided not to take any action. He wasn't a coward, but the problem was he never found the courage to strike up a conversation with her.

Just then, his school laptop emitted a flashing, quiet beep, indicating an online chat being started. He logged in the chat room and found Asuka as well.

================================================================ ==========================================

TOKYO-3 HIGH

Welcome! Class section 2-1 Online Chat

================================================================ ==========================================

[Classtud has logged in]

<Redbabe> Hey there, baka. Why are you staring at Wondergirl? Pervert!

<Classtud> What? What's the problem of me staring at her? I'm not being a pervert!

<Redbabe> Oh sure, as if!

<Classtud> Oh boy… what do you want?

[Jock has logged in]

<Jock> Hey there, Shin-man, what's going on? O great, it's the red demon…

<Redbabe> Why you stooge, how dare you insult me!

<Jock> Hah! Quit picking on Shinji you German bitch, and let him be!

<Redbabe> Grrr… just you wait until I get my hands on you!

<Classtud> O_O

[Section-1 has logged in]

<Section-1> Hey Shinji, how about we go to the arcades at the mall after school?

<Classtud> Nah… sorry, decided to stay home anyway, I need some time by myself.

<Section-1> Oh man. Well, alright. :-(

[Section-1 has signed off]

[Classrep has logged in]

<Classrep> SUZUHURA!

<Jock> Yikes! H-Hikari! This red demon is pestering Shinji as usual!

<Classrep> Asuka, c'mon, what did Shinji do wrong this time?

<Redbabe> I caught him staring pervertly at Wondergirl! His eyes were glued at her from top to bottom!

<Classtud> Sheesh, Asuka, I was just OBSERVING Ayanami… Why do you care?

<Redbabe> Uh, b-because, I thought you were being a pervert like the stooges, that's all!

[Signing off]

===============================================================

Shinji let out a small sigh as he closed his laptop. Sheesh, what's up with her? Why does she always seem like to pick a bone with me? She's like a time bomb waiting to explode, he thought. To him, Asuka was that of a fiery volcano erupting at usual intervals whenever she minded his business. She always had that ego-boost to show off her greatness. But she had an attractive body indeed; having appealing curves showing off her figure --- blue eyes, fiery red, long hair, and a love-hate attitude. As to Rei, aside from her physical assets, an air of mystery seemed to loom over her, sparking Shinji's curiosity and interest.

As the clock in the classroom struck at 12 PM in the afternoon, the bell rang, signaling lunchtime. All the students rushed to the cafeteria, gathering their lunch, and went outside to eat in their favorite spots. Shinji carried his tray of cafeteria food and looked for his best friends, namely the two stooges. He found them sitting under the lonesome, sakura cherry blossom tree and joined them.

"Finally, food! Ah, my favorite, spicy tempura! Mom's the best as always," said Touji, as he was chewing down his meal.

"Yours maybe delicious, but mine's twice as packed!" exclaimed Kensuke, readying a beef jerky sandwich and onigiri (packed Japanese rice) from his obento.

"Ha, ha, you guys… always describable when it comes to food. You two got any plans after school?" Shinji asked.

"Hmm, me and Kensuke are going to the arcades at the mall," replied Touji. "why don't you join with us, Shin-man?"

"Sounds fun, but I'll just be staying home. Like I said in our short chat before, I need some time by myself."

"Man, you're sometimes such a party pooper, dude," the jock said dejectedly.

After an hour, the trio finished their lunches, and went back to the school, finishing the last of their classes. As the school bell rang for the last time, indicating dismissal, all the students went scurrying about to their homes. Another usual school day, thought Shinji. As he was walking his route to his house, he was deep in thought of the two girls who bore opposite elements to each other. Like fire and ice, where as Asuka's too hot to handle, and Rei's cold to respond. Asuka doesn't look like the type to make a lot of friends because of her damn ego. As to Rei, she's unaware of her surroundings around her, as if nothing's important for her to matter with. I just wish that I could get her to notice me at least. I wish that Asuka not become too focused on herself, he thought. A throb wept over in his head.

"Ugh… best not to think about them now, and get a dose of music from my SDAT," he said, taking out the music player out from his bag and listening to the compelling, soothing music coming within. With that, he proceeded to his home.

So ends another usual school day in Tokyo-3.

Author's Note: Yep, it's another usual school day in the life of Shinji Ikari. Sounds so routine and boring, huh? Well, it's just a start. Changes will come about in the next following chapters. Those of you readers who wish to personally send in your reviews, opinions, etc. on this story, I listed my e-mail in the disclaimer. Refer to there.