How Do You Feel? /  A Touch of Reality
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Voice:  WAKE UP!!

Shinji: . . .Nnnnh??

    (A new light--welcome, yet painful-- meets Shinji Ikari's sight as he opens his eyes . . .

    as his vision sharpens, he finally sees, high above him . . .

    a very familiar ceiling . . .)

Asuka: (Shouting) WAKE UP, SHINJI!!!! You Idiot!!

Shinji:  (groggy)  Zzz . . . wh . .Wha?

Asuka:  Stupid, We’re going to be late!!!  AGAIN!!

Shinji:  Oh . . . Asuka . . . it’s you . . .

Asuka:  I came here at 7:00 a.m. to get your lazy butt out of bed, and all you can say is "it’s you Asuka?’’

Shinji:  (turning over) 7:00?  Lemme sleep some more . . .

     (The scene is A well-furnished, albeit messy bedroom . . . at the foot of the bed, a very annoyed
Asuka Soryu stands, dressed in school uniform with bookbag in hand.  Before her, Shinji Ikari lies wrapped
in the sheets, half awake and incoherent . . .

         this, however, is about to change . . .)

Asuka:  Come- ON!!!

     (With this, the girl yanks at the bedsheets, pulling them away with enough force to wake the woozy Ikari a bit further . . .)

Shinji:  . .! !!

     (unfortunately, the action ALSO allows Soryu a generous view of a certain . . bulge . . . in the boy’s shorts . . .)

Asuka:  AAARGH!!!  PERVERT!!!

     (Soryu’s angered shout is enough to finally Rouse the boy . . . as he Quickly sits up, hiding his shame . . .)

Shinji: (panicked) Wh—well what do you want!?  It’s morning! I can’t help it!

     (Now thoroughly Irked, the girl places her fists on her hips, yelling him in the face . . .)

Asuka:  Stupid, Horny little perv!!  Why do I have to deal with this??  Every single time I come
            here to get you up so you’re not late for school!!!

     (Now bright Red in the Face, Shinji crawls back, reaching desperately for his clothes . . .)

Shinji:  I’m Sorry!!  JEEZ, ASUKA!!  Don’t LOOK!!!!! OW!!

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      (meanwhile, in an adjacent room . . . Shinji’s anguished cries can be heard in the kitchen, where his father,
and mother, go about their morning routine . . .

    Gendo sits at the kitchen table, cup of coffee and bowl of soup before him as he thumbs through the
Newspaper . . .

    At the sink, Yui Ikari muses, listening to the two children’s brief exchange . . .)

Yui:  Shinji’s a lazy boy . . . sound’s like he’s becoming a lazy man, though . . .

Gendo:  Hmm?

     (Yui turns, sighing)

Yui:  Put down the paper, dear!  You’re going to be late yourself!

Gendo:  Yes, yes . . .

Yui:  (mumbling) You’re a lot older, but you’re still just a kid like him!

     (raising an eyebrow, Gendo puts down his cup . . )

Gendo:  I hardly think that--

Shinji:  (from the other room)  I’m not going to strip for you!!  Get out so I can change!!

Gendo: . . .

Yui:  If Asuka didn’t wake him up like this, I don’t think he’d ever get to school . . .

Asuka: (from the other room)  Why the hell would I want to see you get naked?!!?

Gendo:  I suppose . . .

Yui:  And If not for me, you’d miss work!

Gendo:  Are you ready?

Yui:  Professor Fuyutsuki always feels the need to confront me whenever you’re late for a meeting . . .

Gendo:  It must be your charm . . .

Yui:  Don’t be silly.  Now go get changed!

Gendo:  Alright, Yui . . .

     (At last, the sounds of quiet shuffling can be heard coming from down the hallway . . .)

Asuka:  Get moving!

Shinji:  OK! Do you have to make so much racket?

Asuka:  I have to, to wake the sleeping dead!

Yui:  Oh, Asuka.  Did you get him up?

Asuka:  Yes ma’am.  We’re going, now . .
 
     (The girl manages a polite smile, while at the same time grabbing Shinji’s arm and pulling him roughly
towards the door . . .)

Yui:  Goodbye!  Be careful!

     (As she gives the children her farewell, Yui Ikari’s eyes fall to the man still sitting at the table . . .)

Yui:  Dear, how long are you going to sit there and read??

Gendo:  Hmmm?  Oh . . . yes . . .

Yui:  Where would you be without me?

    (At this, Ikari grins--placing his hand atop hers from behind . . .)

Gendo:  Nowhere. . .

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     (Several moments later . . . on the street several blocks away . . .)

Asuka:  Honestly!!

Shinji: (annoyed) Will you give it a rest?

Asuka:  Fine . . fine . . .

     (The two are quiet for a moment . . . silent as the cool morning air blows gently to the east . .. )

Shinji:  By . . . by the way . . .how's your eye?

Asuka:  Oh, Dr. Akagi said I wouldn't miss any classes . . . so I guess it's ok . . .

Shinji:  You're only trusting the school physician?

Asuka:  It's good enough for me . . . besides, why so much concern?

Shinji: . . .

Asuka: . . .

Shinji:  Thanks for waking me, Asuka . . .

Asuka:  Well, Shinji, I’m willing to do it for someone who needs it.

Shinji: . . .

Asuka:  I only have one question, Ikari . . .

Shinji:  What?

     (Surprisingly, the girl grins to herself . . )

Asuka:  What were you thinking about last night that made you pitch a tent in your shorts, anyway?  Me?

Shinji:  (embarrassed) Asuka!!

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     (Nearly an hour later . . in a clamorous classroom (IIA) at the local school . . .)

Touji:   New students?  Killer . . .

Kensuke:  I heard one of them is foreign  . . .

Touji:  Alright! Maybe we’ll get one of those French babes . . .

Hikari:  Will you knock it off?  This isn’t the Olympics . . !

Touji:  Someone’s jealous . . .

Hikari:  I am NOT!

Kensuke:  (mumbling) At least she’s not suicidal, Suzihara . . .

     (Touji Suzihara, Kensuke Aida, and Hikari Horaki stand around a grouping of desks in the middle of the room . . .
around them, the boys and girls of IIA chatter away, the teacher’s desk conspicuously empty for the moment . . .)

Hikari:  (quickly) Besides, far be it from you to stop lusting after the teacher!

Touji:  I’m I guy!  That’s what we do . . .

Hikari:  And where do you think you’d get with her? Ha!  She’s twice your age, Touji!!

Kensuke:  She’s right, you know.  Hikari’s the best you’ll ever do, so you’d better be happy . . .Ooow!!!

     (The boy yelps, however, as Horaki grabs his ear, twisting sharply . . .)

Hikari:  Shut up, Aida!!!

     (Finally, Ikari and Soryu enter . . . although Shinji seems more than a bit disshelved, with Asuka behind,
poking him teasingly in the side . . .)

Touji:  look who decided to show . . . hey, Shinji!

Shinji:   . . .!

Hikari:  I thought you two weren’t going to make it on time again . . .

Asuka:  No thanks to sleeping beauty . . .

Touji:  Why do you let her push you around, Ikari?

Shinji:  She does not . ..

Touji:  Oh, Guh--She's got you trained and everything!  Come on, Be a man!

Shinji:  Nnnnnh . ..

Touji:  You're not going to let yourself get beaten, are you??

Kensuke:  Look who’s talking, Touji.  You’re the one who’s going to get beaten . . .

Touji:  Hey, she’s coming!

     (All three boys, at once, seem to swoon as Misato Katsuragi enters . . . )

Hikari:  The three stooges, together at last.

Asuka:  (disgusted)  . . . Morons.

     (It is then, however, that a quiet voice from behind is heard . . )

Rei:  All rise.

     (At once, the children stand behind their desks . . . falling silent as two more figures enter the room, standing
before the class. . .)

Rei: Bow. . . Sit down.

     (Seated comfortably at her desk, Misato smiles at her class .  .  .)

Misato:  Good morning, class!  I’ve got a little surprise for all the ladies in here—Our transfer students
             you’ve been talking so much about! Boys?

     (The first of the two, a tall, fair-skinned child, immediately bows, introducing himself in a gentle tone of voice . . . )

Kowaru:  I am Nagisa Kowaru.  It’s nice to meet you all!

     (The second, a taller, sandy-haired boy, eyes him nervously, managing a bow of his own . . .)

Lyn:  I’m . . um . . . Anouilh Lyn.  It is nice to be meeting all of you.

     (a number of giggles come from the back of the room as the boy says his name (backwards).  )

Misato:  Class rep?

     (As Misato says this, A short haired brunette—Rei Ayanami—stands at her seat)

Rei:  Yes ma’am.  Mr. Kowaru is from Nada High School in Kobe,  and Mr. . .Anouilh is on exchange
         from Hurstpierpoint College in Brighton, England.

Touji: (whispering) Exchange? What did we give them in return?

Kensuke:  (whispering) Maybe they’re finally gonna ship Soryu out . . .

Touji:  (whispering) Are you kidding?  They'd probably see that as an act of war . . .

Hikari:  (annoyed) Shhhhh!!

Misato:  Class, It’s your duty to make our two new students feel welcome. . .

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     (Later that day . . . in the grounds outside the classroom, during lunch . . .)

Asuka:  What do they think this is?  A field trip?

Hikari:  Well, I won’t complain . . . I think they want us to spend some time in the sun, that’s all . . .

Asuka:  (complaining)  It’s not like it was gonna snow forever . . . I’m already too hot . . .

Hikari:  I like the warm weather . . .

     (the girl pauses, shutting her eyes, leaning back with her lunch box in her lap as she takes in the noon sun.)

Hikari:  It would be easy to get used to  . . .

     (As she opens her eyes once more, however, Hikari sees that young Soryu’s gaze is not on the sky . . .

     It is straight ahead. . .)

Hikari: . . .?

     (Following her eyes, she finds that Asuka is looking directly at Shinji Ikari . . .)

     (The boy, oddly enough, sits by himself . . . looking at the small pack lunch in his hands . . .)

     (without looking back at her friend, Asuka stands . . .)

Asuka:  Hikari . . . is it Ok if I—

     (Horaki, though, simply smiles)

Hikari:  Yeah.

     (nodding, Soryu picks up her lunch . . . making her way over to the spot where young Shinji sits .  .)

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    (Elsewhere . . . in a place far removed from the rest of the children . . .

    Lyn Anouilh is seated, thumbing quietly through the pages of a small, new-looking Kanji and
Japanese Dialogue dictionary . . .

    The child mumbles quietly to himself . . . trying to remember a multitude of words and phrases as they pass
before his eyes . . .)

Lyn: . . .??!

     (He pauses, though, as something reaches around from behind to cover them—it takes a moment for the boy to
realize it is a pair of hands, as he hears a gentle voice eventually follow . . .)

Voice:  Tell me a nice boy like you doesn’t study ALL the time . . .

Lyn:  huh?

     (the hands pull away, and he turns—

     to see a bright faced, blue-eyed girl, with short hair and a pretty smile looking back at him . . .)

Lyn: . . H . . hello . . .

     (The girl puts her hands on her knees, leaning forward--)

Girl:  So, you’re the foreign one everyone’s been talking about?

Lyn: (shyly) I suppose . . .
 

Girl:  (pouting) Why are you all alone, here?

Lyn:  errr  . .

    (Anouilh scratches the back of his head in embarrassment, hesitating . . .)

Lyn:  I’m kinda . . . I’m having a hard time understanding everyone else . . . what they are saying . . .

     (to his slight amazement, the girl takes a seat next to him--)

Girl:  (coyly) Well, if you want . .. I’ll help you.

Lyn:  (stammering) Oh?  You--You don’t have to do that—

Girl:  I want to.  Remember what our teacher said?  You’re like our guest here . . .

     (Oddly, as Lyn looks at her again, as if sensing something . . .an odd feeling . . .

     One, however, that quickly fades . . .)

Lyn:  Thank you . . .

Girl:  You’re welcome . . .

Lyn:  By the way –what is your name?

Girl:  It’s 'Aoi.'

Lyn:  Ahh . . ahh-oee?

Aoi:  (giggling) Right first time . . .

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Rei:  I have heard of Nada . . . it is a very prestigious school . . . why did your decide to come here?

Kowaru:  My parents work for the government.  Because the capital is going to be moved here next
               year, they were both transferred. . .

Rei:  It must have been . . .difficult . . .

    (In the hallways inside the schoolbuilding, Rei Ayanami walks with the second of the transfer students . . .)

Kowaru:  A bit.  It's far more open, here . . .

Rei:  You will adjust.  you'll have to.

Kowaru:  Why are you so interested in my . . .?

Rei:  It's my duty.  Besides, I have been in your position before . . .

Kowaru:  Really . . .?

Rei:  Yes. . .

Kowaru: . . . ?

Rei: (smiling)  Someone such as yourself should get along very well.

    (grinning to himself, Nagisa brushes his bangs aside, looking down . . .)

Kowaru:  What . . . kind of music do you like, Rei? . . .

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Shinji: . . ?

     (Shinji Ikari intones to himself, surprised as a shadow descends over him.  He seems to hesitate, for an
instant, before looking up . . .

. . only to find Asuka standing over him, the sunlight casting a radiant halo about her . . .)

Asuka:  Where are your . . . cronies?

Shinji:  T . .Touji and Kensuke went to see if they could catch Misato and Kaji-sensei together. .uhm
        . . . what? what is it?

 (Oddly enough, Asuka indicates her lunch .  .)

Asuka:  Can . .  Do you mind if I sit with you?

Shinji:  (stammering) Um . . .No.  Go . . go ahead . . .

Asuka:  Thank you.

     (Sighing, she takes a seat next to him.

     Nearly a moment passes before he looks up again,

     only to find her looking directly at him . ..

     their faces are so close that, for an instant, Ikari finds himself looking into her azure eyes . . .

    where, strangely, he can see his Reflection—curved and distorted—looking back at him . . .)

     (Almost a minute passes before he shakes it off, blushing)
 
Shinji:  Uhm . .  Asuka?  have you Ever . . .

Asuka:  what, Shinji?

Shinji: . . .

Asuka:  Are you feeling ok?

Shinji:  Yeah .  .  .

     (Grinning, Soryu nudges him in the side—drawing a weak laugh from the child . . .)

Asuka:  Well, At least it’s not morning.

Shinji: !!!

Asuka:  Oh, I’m sorry, Shinji.

Shinji:  No ..  don’t be. It's ok. Really, I . . .

Asuka: . . .?

    (looking vacantly into the distance for a second, Ikari then turns back to her . . . a sense of calm present
throughout his gaze. . .

and almost serene smile on his face . . .)

Shinji: . . . I feel fine.

    (The girl eyes him for a second, then turns her gaze down  . . . placing her hand over his,

    shaking her head . . .)

Asuka:  (laughingly) Whatever . . .

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Final Theme, "Touch of Reality" © 1999 By Sasha Arnkoff
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Fin