An Empty Room

 Why do the strong have to suffer for the weak?

A white room, a ceiling with a lot of natural light, and all white furniture. It wasn't like most hospitals I'd gone to, where there was some warmth to the rooms, some personality to them added by the doctors -- this was more like a surgery room, full of machines and lacking in color. I sat myself and brought both my legs to the side of the bed I was in.

The small tube of the I.V machine which stuck out of my arm bothered me a little too much. It was small, and prickly, and it lightly pulled every time I moved.

It was annoying. I'd say I was dead, that my heart had stopped and this was a perpetual hell made for people who didn't accomplish much throughout their lives, with the exception of one moment where they saved a lot of people. I would say that, but I knew better.

If my hell was anything, it'd be listening to annoying people I hated interrupt me every five seconds as I tried to explain something. That'd be my hell, for sure. This was just a mild annoyance. I grabbed the I.V and took it out of my body. I had been in the hospital before, those things were there to help hydrate, sedate or drug you. I needed none of those, and I'd rather have a doctor come and tell me off than have to keep dragging that thing with me. 

Ripping it off caused my arm to bleed a little. I pressed down with one hand and walked through the hospital. I heard a lot of nurses and doctors look around, but none of them tried to stop me.

"Ikari Shinji, I've been told to come get you when you are better," It was a man, a very formal man. His tone of voice was intimidating to most, but not me! I was not intimidated... well, maybe a little. I turned around, and it was much worse than I expected, he was 183 cm, which in Shinji height is too tall for my neck to enjoy. The Riffle in his hands also didn't help my general uneasiness. 

"Lead the way" I followed the soldier to a small room with Gendo and Katsuragi in it.

It was a room with huge windows on the back and the only furniture was the desk in the middle and the small standing square to the right -- where I assumed was the weird one-man elevator Gendo used.

"Wow, all that budget and you can't get a plant? This place looks dead." The remark was meant to be a jab at Gendo, but his calm demeanor made it hard to get any reaction. He didn't flinch, or show any expression on his face. I caught the mood of the current situation quickly and shut up.

The events of the original were running their course, of course Katsuragi didn't like the idea of me living alone, but I didn't like the idea of living with several women. The thought of being accused of entering the bathroom because there are no door locks -- I asked -- it didn't feel particularly nice.

Katsuragi drove me to my new apartment. I didn't know if it was out of pity or kindness, but I appreciated not having to walk there. The place was surprisingly big for a student residence. It probably had to do with the lack of people living in Tokyo-3. Everything was going to be paid by Nerv, the Electricity, Water and Gas were all included. Unfortunately, furniture was not. 

The place was empty, with only a small corner for a kitchen and a toilet, other than that, there was nothing. No closets, no futon, I bet the door would be missing if it wasn't essential for a house with security. 

"Guess until I get some furniture, I can't really make fun of Commander Ikari," I told myself, looking at the dreadful emptiness that was my room. I probably would have to go shopping for a futon, or a bed, whatever was cheaper was fine, the pillow had to be good quality though. 

"Don't you call him father? Or dad?" Katsuragi made me flinch and jump. I had forgotten she was even there. Too focused on what I should buy to live comfortably to remember her being here. Which was impressive, because her presence made me somewhat uncomfortable.

"Ahem... right... I don't really..." It was an awkward conversation to have. To begin with, he wasn't even my real biological body... Or original biological body. Then there was the fact he didn't speak to Shinji at all, other than at his Mother's grave -- when the day came, that would be one awkward conversation. "It's complicated." That was really the only way to explain it without going into details. 

"Yeah, I can understand..." Katsuragi's face was solemn. Her eyes seemed to almost fog up as she went down memory lane, spacing out in the middle of the empty room. I didn't touch or say anything, just waited for her to realize.

She flinched in surprise and shook her head. "Sorry, spaced out there for a bit." She put both hands in her hips, "Shall we make a small party to welcome your arrival?"

"Sorry, but I can't... I made plans with someone." Those plans were training, that someone was Tokita. I promised him I'd train every day, and on my first two I was knocked out and fought a giant Kaiju. 

"Oh... you're quite the social butterfly," she opened the door behind her, "Is it a girl?" she teased, bumping her elbow on my shoulder. Usually one would do that if they were familiar with the other person, the sudden closeness Katsuragi was showing made me feel a little uncomfortable. 

"I couldn't ask a girl out even if I knew she'd say yes," I tapped Katsuragi's shoulder as I headed outside. It was fate that I reincarnated as Shinji, life must have hated me, -- minus the whole superpowers part -- it must have.