Chapter Text
Shinji grew up fairly lonely. It’s not like it was his fault, though. He was just more shy and not as open as other kids. But there was one person that he managed to get attached to as a kid. He can’t remember his name but he does know that he was a bizarre kid, with gray hair and dark red eyes. He was also very very pale. Thinking back, he was probably albino. He was a family friend, his parents were acquainted with Shinji’s, so they would meet often. That was probably the only way Shinji managed to make a friend back then.
They had fun for many years, visiting as much as they could. But one day, Shinji’s parents as well as his friends’ got into a big disagreement and they stopped seeing each other. Shinji was around 9 and was devastated, he hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye.
Now, Shinji is 14 and just started high school. He was put in a slightly familiar class, he knew some of the kids from middle school. He wasn’t really friends with anyone, but at least no one bothered him. He took his seat and put his headphones in, mindlessly staring at the clouds.
“Everyone rise,” the class rep, Hikari, ordered.
He stood up, took a bow, and then sat back down. The teacher gave some announcements about upcoming events, but he didn’t really pay attention. Then a new student walked in, he had gray hair, red eyes, and something about him made Shinji really curious. Have I seen him before?
“Everyone welcome Kaworu Nagisa, he recently transferred here,” the teacher started, “Nagisa, go take a seat next to Shinji over there”.
It seemed as if Kaworu was curious about him too, because he started staring at Shinji, eagerly waiting for a response from him. But he was too impatient to wait so he took initiative.
“Hi, how are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m fine, how are you?” Shinji was really not good at keeping up a conversation.
“I’m doing great, I’m honestly excited to start-,” he began, but Shinji cut him off.
“Have I seen you anywhere before?” he questioned.
“I can’t believe you had to ask me! You seriously don’t remember me all?” He pointed to his eyes and hair. Then it hit him.
“Wait… I do remember you!” Shinji couldn’t believe it. “When did you move back here?”
“Just this summer, I’m surprised I didn’t bump into you earlier!” He looked so happy, his entire face was glowing.
“Why didn’t you come visit then,” Shinji asked, looking slightly hurt.
“No no no, it isn’t like that at all! I had no idea where to start looking for you. No offense, but I couldn’t memorize your address at the age of 10. My parents were also not too fond of the idea of me seeing you again, so I couldn’t really ask them, I'm sorry.”
“It’s fine, I’m just glad-,” he started, but the teacher interrupted.
“Quiet everyone! No talking during my lesson!”
They both looked away from each other, faces red. The teacher continued to ramble on about the topic, but Shinji was too uninterested to pay attention. Then, Kaworu slid him a note.
‘ I have nothing to do later today, want to catch up over a coffee?’
Shinji turned slightly red, He wants to go out for coffee with me? He wrote back on the note ‘ yeah’ . He was sure his mom wouldn’t worry too much about him coming back home a little late. I’ll just text her after school, he thought.
Shinji spent the rest of the school day anxious about their meeting. What am I even going to say? We haven’t seen each other since we were little kids! He paced around the front of the school, waiting for him to finally come out. When he least expected it, Kaworu popped up behind him, grabbing his shoulders.
“You scared me, Nagisa!,” he shouted, “Please never do that again.”
“Nagisa? You can just call me Kaworu! We’ve been friends for a long time after all,” he smiled, proud of himself for that scare.
“Oh, then Shinji’s also fine for me too,” he said shyly. “Anyway, shouldn’t we go?”
“Oh yeah, right!,” he started looking on his phone for directions, “This way!”
Shinji followed in his direction, walking very close next to him. They walked in silence for several minutes until Kaworu decided to break it.
“Do you remember when we broke your dad’s favorite vase?”
“Oh. My. God. Don’t even remind me!” Shinji burst out in a laughing fit, “He was SO mad! I had to do every chore in the house for a month!”
“I felt so bad! But then you came in and took the blame. Sorry about that by the way,”
“No it’s fine,” he said between tears, “The look on his face was worth it.” They exchanged other stories about their shared childhood, the embarrassing moments, the happy ones. As they kept walking the space between them grew smaller. Shinji had never felt this happy since they last saw each other.
Soon, they arrived at the coffee shop. Kaworu walked in front and held the door open saying, “After you, miss,” with a curtsy. Shinji couldn’t help but snort at his act. He immediately regretted that, though, as the poor cashier gave the most disgusted look ever. Looking closer though, it looked like one of their classmates, dragging him into deeper embarrassment.
“Hello, maam,” Kaworu said apologetically, but the cashier just glared at them.
“Yeah whatever new kid and idiot Shinji,” she responded, “Just a table for two then?”
“Yes that would be great, thanks,” Kaworu gave her a smile, but that seemed to make her even more annoyed. Heading to their table, Kaworu suddenly asked, face full of confusion,
“Why did she call you an idiot?”
Shinji laughed in response. “Oh, that’s just her. It became my new nickname after we were partnered for a project and kept messing it up. It kinda stuck ever since.” They ordered their drinks and the mood suddenly became very awkward.
“Uhh, so, what have you been doing all this time?” Shinji asked, desperate to break the silence.
“Me? Not much to be honest. I have to admit life got a little dull without you around, I really missed you. But I did start some new hobbies! I play the piano and violin now,” Kaworu responded.
“Wow! I didn’t know you were so interested in music! What’s your favorite composer?” Shinji eagerly continued, though his face was now a light red thinking about the statement Kaworu made about him.
“Definitely Beethoven! Ode to Joy is my favorite song, but I like other composers like Rachmaninoff and Strauss,” Kaworu had a look on his face, “Oh, Mozart and Chopin are great too! I should make you a tape or CD sometime!”
“Aww, you’re too nice! I should return the favor then,” Shinji said shyly.
“Deal! We can exchange them during midterms,” Kaworu agreed. Their drinks came, Kaworu got a hot chocolate (even though it was 80 degrees outside) and Shinji had hibiscus tea.
“Oh your’s looks so good! Can I try?” Kaworu asked, already reaching over for Shinji’s drink.
“Sure, but why did you get a hot chocolate anyway?” Shinji reluctantly handed it over. Do NOT think of it as an indirect kiss!
“I really like sweet things, I will have anything loaded with sugar!” Kaworu was somehow passionate about this topic. Shinji made a mental note to bake him really sweet things in the future. As a friend would of course! “Anyway, your tea is really good, we should come back here again. I wanna get it next time”
“Yeah of course,” Shinji said. Next time??! He didn’t understand why he was acting so nervous now, when everything had gone so smoothly.
They finished their drinks and started to walk back home, this time they were so close their hands were brushing against each other.
“Wait, so where do you even live?” Shinji asked out of curiosity.
“I live around 10 minutes from the school, and around 15 minutes from here, what about you?” He asked in return.
“Oh that’s funny, I also live 15 minutes away,” he responded.
“Great, so do you live that way?” Kaworu pointed in the opposite direction.
“No, I live the way we’re going now,” Shinji replied.
“What a coincidence!” he said. They kept walking, still talking about their memories as kids and catching up. Soon they made a stop at an apartment building.
“I live right here,” Kaworu pointed.
“Really? I do too,” Shinji said blankly. “How did we not see each other earlier, then?”
“That’s so strange, I went out almost every day this summer,” Kaworu looked confused.
“Ohhh that’s actually my bad, I did the complete opposite,” Shinji said, embarrassed. “I don’t really like going outside much.”
“Well that's gonna change now!” Kaworu dragged Shinji by the arm. “Which room?”
“Room 221,” he replied, shocked by the contact.
“Perfect! I’m in 132, I’ll escort you to yours, though,” Kaworu started running up the stairs, dragging Shinji along. When they reached the second floor, Shinji had to take a moment to catch his breath.
“Anyway you have to let me see your parents! I’m sure Mrs. Yui misses me so much!” Kaworu exclaimed, his face bright with anticipation. Shinji reluctantly opened the door, but was dragged in by a furious mom.
“WHERE WERE YOU? I called a million times but you never answered!” Shinji’s mom confronted him with an angry look.
Oh.
Shinji forgot to text his mom and let her know he was going out. He immediately regretted this and tried to apologize, but was cut off by his mom.
“Oh my goodness! Kaworu I can’t believe it’s you! I haven’t seen you in forever, you’ve grown so big and you look so nice!!” She came out and wrapped him in a big hug. I wish she would greet me like that, Shinji thought sourly.
“Oh you have to come in for dinner! I made the best soup ever!” Yui insisted.
“Thank you very much for the offer Mrs. Yui, but I’m sure my parents are worried now too,” Kaworu politely declined.
“Aww maybe next time then!” Yui waved goodbye. Before Kaworu left, he gave Shinji a big hug and whispered,
“I’m so glad I got to meet you again.”
Shinji turned a deep red and awkwardly waved goodbye as he closed the door. His mom noticed this and immediately started teasing,
“Awwww look at you too! You guys look so cute together!”
“WHAT! NO WAY!” Shinji denied, even redder. He ran to his room and jumped on his bed, screaming into his pillow. He was soon called out for dinner, one with a horrible awkward silence. His dad spoke up though,
“So that Nagisa kid is back then? How are you two getting along?”
“Oh, umm, we get along well. I missed him,” Shinji said stiffly. His dad usually doesn’t ask about his life.
“Good then, I agree with your mother though, we should invite them for dinner,” Gendo said gruffly.
“Oh definitely! It would be so nice to see the Nagisas’ again. It’s been ages since we had dinner with them,” Yui agreed. The rest of the dinner was silent, and Shinji got up to take a shower and go to bed.
He looked up at his ceiling, contemplating everything that happened today.
What’s the deal with me and Kaworu??