Chapter 2: Fight for you

"Please come back soon..."

I saw myself as if I were in another place, a space between consciousness and dream. I heard distant voices at first, but they gradually became clearer.

"Subaru... Come home soon."

It was a conversation full of concern, and suddenly, I recognized those voices.

"Do you think he's okay?" a woman's voice echoed, full of anguish.

"I don't know... He would never disappear like that without warning..." a man answered with a firm voice, but with evident tension.

I tried to open my eyes, but my body didn't respond. I felt my heart tighten when I heard those familiar voices, they were my parents.

"We're waiting for you..."

"Do you think he's been kidnapped? Or... or worse?"

"We can't think like that. We have to keep looking!"

I wanted to scream, I wanted to tell them that everything was okay or at least alive. I tried to move my lips, but still nothing happened.

"He's always been so impulsive... Did he run away because of something that happened at school? Some pressure we put on him?"

"It's not your fault. Subaru is strong. He always has been... You know that, don't blame yourself for it."

I felt a wave of guilt and sadness consume me. I remembered all the times I had argued with my parents or made decisions without thinking about how they would affect me.

"I'll find them... I promise..." - I murmured, my voice muffled by the deep sleep.

Suddenly, the voices began to disappear, like a tide slowly receding. The feeling of emptiness enveloped me again, until everything went silent.

When I opened my eyes, back to reality, I was in the NERV medical room. I woke up feeling a gentle touch on my hand. My eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light in the room, and the first thing I saw was Rei. She was sitting on the bed, her face calm, but with her classic expression of indifference, but with a hint of concern.

"You were shaking..." - she said, her voice low and delicate, almost as if she didn't want to disturb me.

I blinked in confusion, trying to remember what had happened. I looked at my hands and realized that, in fact, they were still slightly shaking.

"I-I was?" - I tried to smile, but my expression seemed more tired than I would have liked. - "Oh my... I didn't mean to scare you..."

Rei watched me in silence for a few seconds, her hand still holding mine. The warmth of her touch was comforting, but also unusual, considering her reserved behavior.

"You looked like you were having a nightmare..." - she commented, without looking away.

I let out a sigh, running my free hand through my hair. "It's nothing, it was just a silly dream..."

Rei tilted her head slightly, as if pondering my words. - "Did you dream... about something bad?"

I hesitated, thinking about what to say. I didn't want to burden her with my own problems, especially considering she was still hurt.

"It was just a memory... A memory, that's all." - I looked up at the ceiling. - "I think that's it, you don't have to worry about me, it's okay."

Rei didn't answer right away. Instead, she squeezed my hand lightly, a gesture almost imperceptible, but I noticed.

"Do you miss them?" - she said, more of a statement than a question.

I was confused. - "Them?"

She fixed her gaze on me. - "Your parents... Do you miss them?"

A silence hung over the room.

I started to laugh a little nervously. - "No, no, they're fine. I'm fine. Seriously." - I laughed again.

Rei remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: "You really are strange..."

I raised an eyebrow, confused. - "Strange how?"

"You care about others. About me. Even about people you barely know..." she explained, with disconcerting honesty.

I remained silent for a few seconds, trying to process her words. "You are like that too... If it weren't for me, you would willingly go into that robot even if you were all hurt."

Rei looked at me for a few more seconds, her gaze empty, but somehow deep. "Looking at it that way... No, we fight for the same goal, but for different motivations."

I smiled, this time it was a genuine smile. - "Regardless of our reasons, we are here now, aren't we?"

We both remained silent for a while, only the sound of medical equipment filling the room. I felt tiredness lessen a little, as if the conversation with Rei had relieved some of the weight on my shoulders.

"I guess this is the moment I should say... Thank you..." she said suddenly, her voice so soft I almost didn't hear it.

I stared at her in surprise. - "For what?"

"For doing something I couldn't do..." Rei replied, looking away to the window.

I just stared at her.

Rei didn't answer either, but something in her posture seemed more relaxed. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had made a difference. Even if it was small, it was something and that was enough for now.

The nurses entered the room and gently asked me to walk away as they put Rei in a stretcher to take her to the other room. I watched carefully as she was taken, my look still fixed on the ceiling, calm as usual. Sotle a long breath, feeling powerless, but determined to do something useful.

As I walked through the silent corridor of Nerv, lost in my thoughts, I hardly noticed the figure coming towards me. When she looked up, she was: Misato Katsuragi, with her confident posture and the usual penetrating look, but this time there was a more serious expression on her face.

"Ah, Subaru!" - She said, stopping when seeing me. - "Are you wandering alone here?"

I tried to disguise his tiredness with a smile. - "I think so. Just ... trying to understand all this."

Misato crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, analyzing me. "It's a lot to process, isn't it? Angels, Evas, all this madness."

I nodded by running your hair. - "Yes, and it seems that the more I see, the less I understand."

Misato released a short, but not just cheerful laugh. - "Welcome to the club. Believe me, not everyone here completely understands what is happening. We only follow orders and do our best."

I watched her for a moment. I knew there was more behind that confident and relaxed facade, but it was not the time to press it.

"What about you? What were you doing before you meet us?" She asked, her more casual tone now.

I hesitated for a moment, thinking about the best way to answer. - "Well ... I went to see Rei... that's why ..."

Misato narrowed his eyes, curious. "You're a funny guy, Subaru. Few people would have this attitude in such a situation."

"I think it's just because I can't ignore things ..." - I said shrugging. - "If there is anything I can do, I prefer to try than stand still."

Misato smiled, this time a genuine smile. - "This is a good quality. But be careful not to burn trying to carry the weight of the world alone."

I laugh evenly nervously. "Of course, I promise ..."

We both were silent for a moment, walking side by side through the hall. Misato seemed to mean something, but hesitated. Finally, she said:

"You worry about Rei, don't you?"

The question took me by surprise. He stopped for a moment, but soon nodded. "Yes ... she helped me then ... I couldn't help but return the favor."

Misato watched me for a moment, his soft expression. - "Rei is a very serious girl. But maybe her presence makes some difference for her to soften a little."

I smiled grateful for the words. "Do you think?"

Still processing everything that had happened, I turned to Misato as we walked. I knew I needed answers to gather the pieces.

"Misato ..." - I started hesitating a little. - "And the shinji? How is he?"

Misato stopped for a moment, crossing his arms and taking a serious expression. "Shinji is fine, considering everything. He is in the hospital now, recovering."

I was surprised to wide the wide. - "H-hospital? What happened? He got hurt severely? ..."

Misato sighed, running her hand through her hair. - "Well, 'well' is relative, Subaru. Shinji has managed to defeat the angel. Physically speaking, he's fine, he's just a little confused, but nothing that should worry about. It messed with him."

"Did you move with him?" I asked as I remembered the first time I entered that robot. - "What does that mean?"

Misato stopped, leaning his head to me. - "When you pilot an EVA, your mind and body are connected to him. If the EVA suffers pain or damage, the pilot feels it in a way. Shinji endured more than we expected ... But in the end, he entered a one State of Emotional Overload. Something we call 'deep contact'. "

I was silent, trying to absorb the information. I remembered his own experience trying to synchronize with an EVA and how overwhelming it was. I could only imagine what Shinji had faced.

"And ... the angel?" I finally asked.

Misato smiled, though there was a shadow of worry in his eyes. "It was completely destroyed, without anything left. Shinji was able to do what was needed, despite everything. He managed to protect the city ... and all of us."

I lowered my head, his hands closing in fists. I feel a mixture of guilt and admiration. Guilt for not having done it anymore, being unable to help directly, for using Shinji practically as a tool to solve my problem ... and admiration for Shinji, who, despite his doubts and fears, faced something so terrifying And still came out victorious.

"I need to see him." - I said.

Misato nodded. - "You go, but he needs a little rest now. Besides, we have other things to solve here first."

"Other things?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

Misato stared at me, her gaze serious. "You, Subaru. I want to understand exactly who you are and how you fit into all this. It's not common for someone like you to show up out of nowhere and know as much as you do."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. I knew I would need to be careful with what I said from now on. And more importantly, I knew that somehow I had to find a way to keep helping, no matter what.

Misato stopped walking and turned to me, crossing her arms, her expression serious and making me freeze. Silence hung between us. Finally, she spoke, her voice firm but controlled.

"Natsuki Subaru... who are you really?"

The question fell like a stone. I felt my throat dry as I tried to find the right words.

"I already told you!" I answered hesitantly. "I... I just ended up here by chance."

Misato narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced. - "It's not that simple. I talked to Ritsuko and we asked the technicians to investigate you. Check your identity, your family, any records of you. Do you know what we found?"

I remained silent, my heart racing.

"Nothing." she continued, her gaze piercing. "There is no Subaru Natsuki in any database. No birth records, no address, no school... absolutely nothing. It's like you're not from this world."

The words hit me like a blow. Misato wasn't joking; she was serious, and I knew there was nowhere to run, much less how to answer that question.

"So, I'll ask you again..." - she said, taking a step towards her. - "Who are you and what do you want with Rei?"

I took a step back, raising my hands defensively. I knew there was no way I could keep lying or making excuses. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves and tell her what I knew.

"I... I don't know how to explain..." - I began, avoiding her gaze. - "But I'm not from here. I have no idea how I ended up here or why. All I know is that since I arrived in this city, nothing has made sense. I've never seen these future structures and I've never heard of this Tokyo-03 thing in my life, I'm completely lost."

I looked at Misato, showing the sincerity of my words.

"I know it sounds crazy, but that's all I know... Isn't there any information about me and my parents? You must not have looked properly, my father's name is Kenichi Natsuki and my mother's is Nahoko Natsuki! We live near the Saitama region."

Misato could see the desperation in my eyes. - "Hm... We can try looking again, since we now know your parents' names. But this is all very strange, Subaru, you know that."

"And as for Rei..." - I continued with my voice trembling a little. - "I don't want anything from her other than to help her. She saved my life... in a way that even I can't explain. And ever since then, I've felt it's my responsibility to repay her. To protect her, and that's what I did."

Misato watched me closely, evaluating every word, every movement. Her gaze remained hard, but there was a shadow of understanding in her eyes.

"Well, you did help us in some way... but you have to admit..." - she said finally, relaxing a little. - "this all sounds very suspicious. And the last thing we need right now is something that puts NERV or the people here in danger."

"I know..." - I answered quickly. - "And you have no reason to trust me, but I'm not here to hurt anyone, I don't even have that ability either... I just want... to go home."

Misato sighed, finally lowering her arms. - "This is a lot to take in, Subaru. I still don't know if I completely believe you, but... for now, I'll leave this aside... For now, go find Shinji, he should be alone now."

I nodded, relieved, but also aware that I would need to prove my intentions. I knew that, to Misato and everyone there, my every action would be closely watched.

A few minutes later...

I walked through the hallways of NERV with hesitant steps. The silence was thick, and the echoes of my own footsteps seemed louder than they should have been. Misato's recommendation still echoed in my mind: "Go find Shinji." I knew that something was weighing on the boy's shoulders, and perhaps it was my responsibility to try to help him, even without knowing exactly what to say.

When I finally reached the door of the room where Shinji was. The door was ajar, allowing me to see the boy standing next to a chair near the window. Shinji's gaze was fixed on the outside world, but he didn't seem to be really observing what was out there. He seemed to be lost in thought.

I walked in slowly, trying not to make any noise. But before I could say anything, I noticed Shinji looking down, observing his own hand. He squeezed and released it repeatedly, as if he wanted to confirm that it was still there. When I got closer, I saw that Shinji was also looking at his arm, moving it slowly, as if he was trying to feel something.

"Shinji?" - I finally said, breaking the silence.

The boy didn't answer right away, but his shoulders tensed slightly, indicating that he had heard. After a few seconds, Shinji turned his head to look at me, but didn't say anything.

"I... thought you might want company..." - I continued trying to sound casual.

Shinji looked back at his arm. - "Do you think it was easy?" - He finally asked, his voice low and full of emotion.

I blinked in surprise at the question. - "What?"

"Fighting that... angel." - Shinji continued, still looking at his arm. - "I... I felt everything. Every impact, every pain... It was like I was Eva." He paused, clenching his fists. "And yet, I managed to win. But why? Why did I have to do this? Why didn't he talk to me? Why did I..."

I remained silent, absorbing the words. I understood, at least in part, what Shinji was feeling. That weight of being thrown into a situation with no choice, no preparation, but with enormous responsibilities.

"I don't know..." - I finally answered with a sincere voice. - "I don't know why things have to be this way... But Shinji, you saved everyone!"

Shinji laughed, but without humor. - "Save? I don't even know what I'm doing. My father only threw me into that machine because he needed someone. And now... I can't even look at his face."

I took a few steps closer, putting a hand on Shinji's shoulder. - "I won't pretend to know what that's like, because I don't. But what I see here, right now, is someone who faced something impossible and came out victorious. Even with fear, even with doubt... you did it. And, Shinji, that matters."

For a moment, silence fell again. Shinji finally looked up, meeting Subaru's gaze. - "You talk like you understand everything. But what about you? What are you doing here? Why do you seem so interested in me, and that girl, and all of this?"

I hesitated. I knew I couldn't tell him everything, but I also knew that Shinji deserved something real.

"I... It really seems like I'm a 'know-it-all', but I'm nobody, believe me. Nothing! I just... I don't like to see anyone sad. That's why I always try to put a smile on the faces of everyone I meet." Subaru said slowly. "I'm not from here, and honestly, I don't know how I ended up here. Oh, and Rei isn't my girlfriend, but she helped me, she saved my life..."

Shinji blinked, clearly confused, but before he could question further, I gave a slight smile. "I wish I was you, Subaru..."

Shinji looked at the window again, but this time, he seemed a little less lost. "I don't know if I can do this again... Get into that robot." he admitted in a whisper.

"You're not alone, Shinji. You know that whole nonsense about the porcupine dilemma?" - I replied.

Shinji looks at me. - "That story where on cold days, they get close to each other to warm up, but they get hurt by each other's quills, but when they move away, they die of cold?"

"Yes, it's an interesting dilemma... But I don't like her very much, human beings are complex, but at the same time they're not... But if I were a porcupine, I would do everything so that the other porcupine wouldn't suffer the cold I suffered... Even if I had to bleed or remove all my quills to be able to be by his side, I would do everything so that no one would suffer the cold... That's how I think."

Shinji laughed lightly. - "You're quite intense, aren't you?"

A few minutes later...

The two of us fell silent again, but there was something different in the air, for a moment, that was enough.

We were sitting on a bench near the window, still silent, when Misato finally appeared, her expression was more normal, but she seemed more relaxed than when I last saw her. Maybe the weight of the situation was starting to dissipate a little, although the tension in the air was undeniable.

"You two, shall we go?" Misato began, calling their attention with a direct tone. "We need to resolve some things."

I stood up quickly, feeling the tension growing in my body. Shinji followed me more reluctantly, still visibly dejected, but trying to keep up a brave front. Then we followed Misato down the hallway, towards the elevator, where the atmosphere, now with more people, seemed even denser, as if everyone was waiting for something big to happen.

When we reached the elevator, Misato pressed the button that would take them to a deeper floor in NERV. The silence between the three of us was heavy, broken only by the sound of the elevator rising. I looked at Shinji, who was standing next to me, his eyes fixed on the floor. There were no more words to be said, only a feeling of inevitability.

The atmosphere inside the elevator became heavy as soon as the doors opened. The figure of Shinji's father appeared before us, interrupting the brief moment of silence. His presence, marked by his rigid posture and cold gaze, seemed to envelop the space in an inescapable tension. Shinji, upon seeing him, immediately turned his face away, as if trying to hide any trace of emotion that could betray what he felt for him. The silence was deadly. The relationship between them was complex and fraught, but no one there needed words to understand the depth of the problem.

Misato, who was beside me, seemed to ignore his presence, maintaining her composure, but it was obvious that the weight of the situation was not lost on her. The man, without saying a word, just looked at the two of us before the door closed, without any sign of affection or concern. He seemed to move with a frightening calm, as if he was so used to the heartbreak he caused that he no longer cared.

After the elevator doors closed, before the silence became complete again, I felt a curiosity and caution, I asked in a low voice, almost like a whisper: "Misato, what is Shinji's father's name?"

Misato looked at me for a moment, the seriousness on her face did not hide the fact that she already knew what I wanted to understand. She took a deep breath and, with a controlled voice, answered: "His name is Gendo Ikari."

I frowned, absorbing her words. Gendo was the type of person who didn't need to say anything to impose his authority. There was something imposing in her posture, something that left no room for questioning.

The elevator finally reached its destination, and the doors opened again, but the weight of that conversation still hung in the air. Shinji beside me looked even more uncomfortable, almost as if he were trying to avoid the conversation that would inevitably come. But for now, we continued in silence.

As we walked through the hallways of NERV, the silence between the three of us was interrupted by the ringing of Misato's cell phone. She paused for a moment, picking up the phone and quickly answering it. Shinji and I waited, although it was clear that Misato seemed uncomfortable with the content of the call.

"I understand..." - she said, with an expression of slight frustration. - "Yes, get everything ready. I'll take care of it."

As she hung up, Misato sighed deeply before looking at Shinji. Her expression seemed softer than usual, but it still carried a certain weight. - "Shinji, I just received confirmation about where you'll be staying. Your father has arranged a place for you to live alone."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I looked at Shinji, waiting for some reaction. However, the boy remained impassive, as if the news didn't affect him at all. Shinji just gave a slight, joyless smile and said in an indifferent tone, "It's okay. I'm used to it."

His answer made the atmosphere even heavier. I felt a tightness in my chest. - "Used to it?" - I thought, trying to imagine what Shinji meant by that. How many times had he been treated with this kind of mongrelism? How many times had he had to accept it as something normal? I imagined that the relationship between Shinji and his father was not the best, but hearing that so coldly simply bothered me.

Misato seemed to hesitate for a moment. Shinji just nodded in agreement, but his expression still showed that he was not completely convinced.

As we walked, Misato suddenly stopped in the hallway and took her cell phone out of her pocket. - "Wait a minute..." - she said to Shinji and Subaru, before dialing a number.

She put the phone to her ear and waited. When the call was answered, Misato was direct: "Ritsuko?..... Um hum.... So, Shinji and Subaru are going to live with me."

On the other end of the line, a muffled voice answered, but I couldn't make out what was being said. However, from Misato's expression, it seemed like the person on the other end, Ritsuko, probably wasn't happy at all.

"Oh, stop complaining..." Misato said, rolling her eyes. "It'll be fine! I'll take care of everything. Besides..." She looked at Shinji and me with a mischievous smile before continuing. "...I'm not going to hit on them or anything."

There was a break, and then came a loud and sharp sound that I could even hear, even though I was not calling. It was evident that Ritsuko was screaming with anger. Misato just pushed the ear from the ear for a moment, waiting for the verbal attack to end, before sighing and continuing with his playful tone: "Creed, no one here has a sense of humor? Ok, ok, I understand. Relax! But it's already determined, it saw?"

She hung up the phone with a satisfied smile, but seemed to have enjoyed provoking Ritsuko. I, on the other hand, looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and concern. I knew Misato had a relaxed way, but it seemed more complicated than she made it seem.

"So that's it. You two will live with me. "

I couldn't hide

The surprise. - "Wait, Misato. Don't you think this can be a problem? It seems that you have made that decision halfway through nowhere."

Misato crossed her arms and looked at me, smiling, but there was something firm in her one when she replied. "Subaru, I know you probably don't have a place to stay, right? Also, I need to keep an eye on you. We don't know anything about you, and it worries me. "

I swallowed. Misato was more observant than I imagined. Despite the light tone, there was a seriousness in her words that I couldn't ignore.

"What about me?" - Shinji asked, a little hesitant. - "Are you sure you want me to stay with you? Wouldn't it be easier to leave me in the apartment my father arranged?"

Misato shook her head. "Shinji, you've been through a lot, and I think it would be good to have someone around. Living alone now will only make you more isolated. I know I'm not the best choice, but I promise I'm going to do my best."

There was a brief silence between us before Shinji gave a slight nod, accepting Misato's decision without arguing.

I, however, still seemed skeptical. - "Misato, I really thank, but ... why do that? You barely know me. "

She stared at him with a look that mixed determination and lightness. "Maybe I'm a little crazy, Subaru, but I won't let someone who saved a little girl's life and is trying to make a difference if she lost around. So, end of chat. That's it or you will live in the street. "

I opened my mouth to answer. - "How do you? ..." - There was no way to argue against it. I sighed and shook my head, resigned.

"We saw in security cameras, you were very brave." - Misato said smiling.

"O -Thanks ..." - Said more seriously now.

Misato just smiled. - "No problem. Now let's go, we still have to look for your things."

The three of us followed together, and for the first time since they arrived at Nerv, I felt a small spark of relief. Perhaps, living with Misato was the beginning of something different.

A few minutes later ....

As we walked through the narrow corridors of the convenience store. The familiar smell of plastic and processed foods hit him as a nostalgic wave. I looked at the shelves loaded with snacks, drinks and essential items, but my mind was elsewhere.

I remembered vividly the last time I entered a store like this the same night I left my house, hastily and without even saying goodbye to my mother. The memory was a weight that carried, and now, in that strange cycle of events, it seemed more poignant than ever.

While Shinji took some items with a kind of apathetic expression and Misato played about choosing the most expensive things just to "punish the nerve", I got lost in my thoughts. I walked slowly to the beverage refrigerator, looking at the reflection of my face tired on the glass.

In the store, muffled conversations were heard. Some people discussed what was happening in the city.

"Did you see that ... that thing?" a woman said with a trembling voice.

"Yes. And now? What do we do? We can no longer live here. Is becoming a war field. "

"Yes, but where are we going? It's not like we have options ... "

I listened in silence as I held a bottle of iced tea. I wanted to ignore the voices, but it was impossible. The restlessness of those people was palpable, and I felt a strange fault, as if they were responsible for something.

"Subaru?" Misato called me, interrupting my thoughts.

I blinked a few times before I turned to her. She held a bag of snacks in her hand and arched an eyebrow. - "Are you okay? It looks a little out of orbit. Is it because of Rei? She'll be fine."

I forced a smile and shook my head. "Yes, I was just thinking ... I hope she's okay."

Misato shrugged and went back to something on the shelf. Shinji, who watched the interaction from afar, seemed equally uncomfortable, but said nothing.

As we walked to the checkout, I took one last look at the people in the store. Many of them had expressions of fear or despair. I felt a knot form in my stomach. It wasn't just NERV or the Evas. There was a bigger weight at play here, something I could barely comprehend.

I clutched the bottle in my hand and muttered to myself, low enough so no one could hear, "This time, I'm going to do it differently."

As we left the store, the artificial lights faded, and I realized that night had already fallen. Misato led the way to the car, joking about how she would probably need a second job to support the two of us. (Which was a lie.) Shinji just followed her in silence.

I, however, looked up at the sky for a brief moment, feeling the weight of what was to come. A question echoed in my head like a mantra: "Do I still have this ability to come back from death? Or was that just a coincidence... something beyond my control?"

I thought about the weight of that possibility. If I could really come back from death, what would it mean? Would it be a blessing or a curse? Still, the weight of death... I felt all that pain, all of it was real.

Misato stopped in front of a door, took her keys out of her pocket, and with a carefree smile, unlocked it. She opened the door, looked at the two of us, and said with a laugh:

"Welcome home! Make yourself comfortable... just ignore the mess."

"Mess" was an understatement.

As soon as Shinji and I walked through the door, we were greeted by an almost catastrophic sight. Empty beer bottles were scattered across the table, instant food containers piled in the corners, clothes thrown on chairs, and pizza boxes forgotten on the floor. A slightly sour smell hung in the air, and the distant sound of a wall clock broke the silence.

I looked around with a mixture of surprise and discomfort. My room wasn't the most organized in the world, but this was... another level. Shinji, on the other hand, just sighed, as if he was already used to not expecting much from the people around him. But he smiled. - "I'm here..."

"Well, it's not a five-star hotel, but it's functional!" - Misato said, throwing her bag on the couch and stretching. "Oh, before I forget..." She turned to the two, pointing with a finger: "Here are the basic rules of the house: number one, I'm not your maid. If you make a mess, clean it up. Number two, stay away from my beer. And number three..."

"You could at least try to follow the second rule..." - I thought to myself.

She looked at the two of us with a mischievous look and continued:

"Don't expect me to cook for you. I can barely fry an egg without making a mess."

I smiled trying to hide her discomfort with the mess. I discreetly placed the shopping bag in a corner, thinking that maybe I could help somehow later. "Well... it seems like a cozy place. In your way, of course." - He said, trying to sound diplomatic.

Misato laughed loudly and patted Subaru on the shoulder. "That's the spirit! You'll do well here, kid."

Shinji walked over to the window, looking out at the illuminated city on the horizon. His expression was no longer as melancholy as before. I watched him for a moment, wanting to say something but not knowing how to approach the boy. Instead, I turned back to Misato.

"So, where are we staying?"

Misato pointed to a small hallway. "There are two rooms over there. Choose whichever you want, as long as you don't touch my things. Oh, and the bathroom is right there. The door with the rubber duck hanging from it."

I nodded, thanking her. I picked up the bag and started walking toward the rooms, but not before taking another look around the room. Despite the mess, there was something cozy there, a kind of human warmth that I hadn't felt since I left my home.

As I put my things in my room, I allowed myself a moment to reflect. I took a deep breath, arranging my things in a corner of the empty room, ready for whatever came next.

I returned to the living room after packing my things, and found Shinji in the kitchen, standing in front of the open refrigerator. He was trying to organize some food packages that Misato had bought at the convenience store, but seemed to be having difficulty.

I walked closer and noticed that the refrigerator was almost completely filled with cans and bottles of beer. Shinji sighed, looking exasperated, and muttered to himself,

"What kind of life does she lead...?"

The comment made me let out a low laugh, taking Shinji by surprise. - "Yeah... I guess Misato likes to live life to the fullest..." - I commented, putting my hands in my pockets and observing everything with an amused smile.

Shinji shook his head, clearly unsure of how to react to the chaos that was Misato's life. He tried to push the drinks aside, making room for the food containers, but it was practically impossible. Seeing Shinji's struggle, I decided to help.

"Wait a minute, let me take a look..." - I said, leaning over to examine the situation. I began to rearrange some cans in the back of the refrigerator, trying to make room. As I did so, I noticed that there was another refrigerator next to it.

"Hey, there's another refrigerator here..." - I commented, pointing to the appliance next to it. - "Maybe this one is less... crowded?"

Misato, who was sitting on the couch, took a sip of her drink and laughed out loud. "Oh, this refrigerator? He's probably sleeping right now."

Shinji and I stopped in mid-motion and spoke at the same time. - "He?"

Misato looked at me with an enigmatic smile, but didn't answer directly. Instead, she took another sip and raised her hand nonchalantly.

The answer only made me more curious, but I decided not to insist. I exchanged a glance with Shinji, who seemed as confused as I was. We went back to arranging the food, using the same refrigerator.

A few minutes later...

The table was set, and dinner was nothing spectacular – just a mix of ready-made dishes and quick snacks that Misato had bought. Still, it was enough for Shinji and I, who ate in silence, while Misato, with a carefree expression, was already on her second can of beer.

"You guys have to learn to relax!" - Misato commented, raising the can as if in a toast. - "Life is too short for you to sit around relaxing."

I looked at her, raising an eyebrow. - "Is that seriously what you consider 'relaxing'?"

Misato laughed, nonchalantly. - "If not now, when? Cheers!"

After eating, Shinji announced that he was going to take a shower. As he stood up and grabbed a towel.

I stood at the table, watching Misato open another can of beer and take a long swig, before looking at me with a mischievous smile. I was about to ask about the "he" that Misato mentioned earlier, but a high-pitched scream from the bathroom interrupted my thoughts.

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

Shinji ran out of the bathroom, still holding the towel. "T-T-THERE'S A P-P-P-P-P-P-P-PENGUIN!"

Before I could process what Shinji was trying to say, Misato started laughing out loud. "Oh, you just met Pen-Pen, huh?" she said, casually standing up and walking to the bathroom door.

Out came a penguin, walking with a snobbish air, as if he owned the house. He was more peculiar than I could have imagined: a small penguin with black and white feathers, a ruff of red feathers around his neck and... a pair of intelligent, expressive eyes that seemed to judge everyone in the room.

My mouth fell open. - "That... What is a penguin doing in your house?!"

"Pen-Pen is my roommate." Misato replied with a mischievous smile. - "He's an advanced model, a thermal penguin. Very practical on hot days."

Before anyone could say anything else, Pen-Pen walked over to the extra refrigerator, pressed a button with the tip of his wing, and calmly entered, as if he had his own private suite.

I was shocked. - "Ah... So this refrigerator is his..."

Misato shrugged, sitting down again. - "Of course. He deserves comfort. It's normal."

Shinji, still confused, looked at me. - "Normal?"

I shook my head. "Definitely not."

As Pen-Pen disappeared into the fridge, Shinji went back to the bathroom, still muttering about how weird this place was. I slumped down on the couch, rubbing my temples. - "I thought I was starting to figure this place out...

But no. I'm not even close."

End of Chapter 2