These aren't my characters, so please don't sue.


Friends?
--------

Lunchtime, again,  for a certain school in Tokyo-3. I looks like a 
normal school, but if anyone were to look around, they would see an 
abnormal number of security cameras and black limo's passing the 
school... as well as a few distinct students.

The students split up into their normal groups for lunch- those groups 
being Hikari and Asuka, Shinji, Touji and Kensuke, and Rei Ayanami. 

"What's up?" Hikari asked Asuka, inbetween bites of an apple.

"Eh?"

"Between you and Rei. Between ALL of you and Rei. You don't speak much, 
y'know? But lately, it's been like she's been avoiding you lot unless 
necessary."

"Ah, well, wonder girl's always been weird. I mean, look at her hair! 
It's natural, you know."

"Asuka! It's not nice to say things like that. Maybe she just can't do 
anything about that. But still, you always pick on her."

"Because she's wonder girl. She gets everything right first time. She 
couldn't fail at anything. I mean..."

*****

Under the shade of her favourite tree, Rei flinched, almost 
imperceptibly, as Asuka's strident voice carried across the field.

*****

"Damn, she's fine!"

Kensuke had his camcorder out again, and was filming all the girls he 
could- surreptitiously, of course. But now his camera remained on Rei.

"That she is..." Touji followed the mechanical gaze of the camcorder, 
watching Rei take another bite of the sandwich she held. "She's a bit... 
cold, though,isn't she?"

"I suppose. Hey! Shinji!"

"Mmm?"

"What's Rei like when she's piloting, or in NERV for tests?"

"Pretty much the same. Just as... distant."

"Is it just me, or is she getting worse?"

Shinji looked up at Touji. "Yeah... I suppose. A bit."

Under the scrutiny of the camera, Rei's face was practically scowling as 
she looked at the people around her.

*****

As normal, Rei walked home. Alone.

She didn't think about it much.

She opened her door, and entered the apartment, heading straight to the 
kitchenette. She pulled out a package from the freezer, and placed it in 
the microwave, setting the timer.

Then she sat down to wait.

*****

Much later, she climbed into her bed, resting against the comfortingly 
rough pad of dried blood on her pillow.

Today had been the same as any other. She'd been to school, eaten, done 
her homework, and returned home. 

She had spoken to less than six people that whole day.

True, she had a phone... which never rang unless someone wanted her for 
some reason.

She had a door; noone ever knocked on it for any reason.

Were Shinji and Asuka friends?

Possibly. Shinji more than Asuka. Shinji never tried to insult her.

But he never said anything nice about her either.

Commander Ikari?

He complimented her, sometimes. But he would throw her life away at a 
moment's notice.


No true Friends.

*****

And anyone passing the apartment would hear a small sob, as Rei Ayanami 
performed her nightly ritual of deploring her life.



Personal experience.

Don't ask.

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