Stage 58 - Rejection

Cover: Shinji and Kaworu in school uniforms

Scene: School classroom before class -- The teacher is not present yet,
and most of the desks are empty. Hikari stares absently out the window,
and Kensuke fiddles alone at his desk with a model VTOL aircraft.
Kensuke (thinking): The number of students in this class has dropped...
Ikari didn't come again today, and even though that's normal for
Ayanami, Souryuu is also absent... I guess this just isn't the time for
school... (glances sadly over at Hikari) I wonder if Class Rep knows why
Touji stopped coming to school...
Hikari (noticing something out the window): Ah-
Kensuke (goes over and looks out window): What is it?
Hikari: Isn't that Ikari?
(Shinji and Kaworu stand talking on the street below)
Kensuke: You're right. But who is the other guy? I've never seen him
before. It looks like they're arguing about something.
(Shinji looks up and notices Hikari and Kensuke watching them. He
quickly turns his head and runs away.)
Kensuke: Oh- he ran away. That's strange...
Hikari: Thank goodness...
Kensuke: Huh?
Hikari (sadly but gently): After all, even if Ikari came back to class,
I don't think everyone could just be friends like before...
(Kensuke stares at Hikari for a moment, then lowers his gaze to notice
Kaworu looking up at them with an enigmatic smile. Kaworu turns and
walks away in the direction that Shinji ran off.)
Hikari: I wonder if he is a transfer? He's wearing our school uniform,
though...
Kensuke (thinking): Weird... I wonder if he's human...

Scene: Kaworu catches up to Shinji on a city street
Kaworu: Hey! Why aren't you going to school?
Shinji (trying to leave Kaworu behind): It's none of your business. You
should hurry to school yourself.
Kaworu: If you're not going, then I'm not either.
Shinji (shouting): Huh!? What do you mean? And after I took you there
and all...
Kaworu (places hand on Shinji's shoulder in a familiar manner): No
problem. Don't worry about it.
Shinji (thinking): What's with this guy? And what's with the physical
proximity?)
Kaworu: Why don't you take me to Nerv instead?
Shinji: Wha-!?
Kaworu: I think my official posting will take a bit more time, but I
want to meet it as soon as possible -- my Evangelion.

Scene: Asuka in test plug; Ritsuko, Maya and Misato in control room
Maya: Synchrograph minus 12.8. It's barely at the activation level.
Ritsuko: That's terrible. It's even worse than yesterday.
Misato: Asuka's not feeling well today. It's her second day...
Ritsuko: The synchro rate isn't affected by superficial physical
disorders. The problem is in her deeper consciousness. (on intercom)
Asuka, you can come out now.
Misato: Asuka's pride is in tatters.
Ritsuko: ..... We may have to change Eva-02's core.
Misato: Hm? What do you mean?
Ritsuko: The Fifth Children will be arriving shortly.
Misato: What the-  Isn't the timing a bit too convenient?
Ritsuko: This child was sent directly from the Committee. (holds up a
disk) Want to see?
Misato (reaching for disk): Absolutely.

Scene: Shinji searching for Kaworu inside nerv headquarters
Shinji (calling out): Hey! (small voice) What was his name again? (loud
voice) Nagisaaaa! Where the heck did you go?
Shinji (thinking): I'm in trouble. It's enough of a problem to bring an
unauthorized person into headquarters, but then to have him disappear
somewhere...)
Shinji (calling out): Hey! Where are you!?

Scene: Asuka bending over sink with running water in girls restroom
Asuka (sickly): Uuuunnhh... Why do I have to go through this just
because I'm a girl, even though I absolutely don't want children...
(looks at self in mirror) Why...? Why? Why did my performance drop so
suddenly? I was able to synchronize okay until just recently...
(In the mirror, Asuka notices Kaworu peeking into the girls restroom at
her and whirls around angrily.)
Asuka (shouting): Who are you!? A molester!?
Kaworu: What do you mean, molester?
Asuka (still shouting): A molester is a molester! Or maybe you're just a
pervert, peeping into the girls restroom like that!
Kaworu (calmly): Sure I looked in, but that was because I heard you
talking to yourself. (enigmatic smile) If you don't open your heart, the
Eva won't move (for you).
(Asuka stops short and stares at Kaworu)
Asuka (quietly): What... did you just say? (louder) How the hell could
you know that? (shouting) And how the hell can you open your heart to a
doll?
Kaworu: The Eva is not a doll. It has a heart. And if you cannot
synchronize with it, then it means that you have closed your heart away.

(Asuka = shocked but angry, clenching fists)
Asuka: Who are you to talk to me like that... Why do I have to be told
that by a pervert I've just met? Aren't I the pilot? (shouting) You
don't know anything! And if you keep talking to me that way you're gonna
pay for it!
(Shinji hears Asuka blowing her top and rushes into the restroom,
jumping between Asuka and Kaworu and pushing them apart.)
Shinji: Stop! Stop! Stop it, Asuka!!
(Shinji grabs Asuka's wrists and restrains her)
Asuka (struggling): What's your problem, Shinji!? Do you know this
pervert? Were you the one who brought him here!?
Shinji: Uh... well, y... yes, but... Uh...
Asuka (shouting): Why are you grabbing my hands! Let me go so that I can
belt him one!
Shinji (shouting back): Because that would be bad, Asuka!
Asuka: Let go! (pulls arm from Shinji's grip) I don't want to be touched
by you!!
(Shinji stops stunned, and just then Misato appears)
Misato (shouting): What are you doing!? (small voice) In the girls
restroom...
Asuka: Ah...
(The three turn in surprise, and then Asuka wobbles and collapses into
Shinji's arms)
Shinji (catching Asuka): Asuka!?
(Misato moves over and cradles Asuka, Kaworu stands back and watches
calmly with his arms folded)
Misato: It looks like she's suffering from anemia. I'll take her to the
medical room.
Shinji: Let me help.
Misato: No, I can handle it. (looks up to see Kaworu with his normal
composure) You're Nagisa Kaworu, right?
Kaworu: Yes.
(Misato places Asuka's arm over her shoulders and stands up)
Misato: You're still an outsider. I want you to leave here at once.
(turns to leave, half-carrying Asuka) Shinji, show him the way out.
Shinji (to Kaworu): Sorry.
Kaworu: Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who made you bring me here.

Misato (thinking): Nagisa Kaworu... (computer screen showing Kaworu's
file) Past history deleted, date of birth the same day as Second Impact,
all other details unknown. A child sent directly from the Committee.
Certainly not just a child. There has to be something more.
Asuka: Misato, you can let go of me now. I can walk by myself.
Misato: No, you're still pale!
Asuka: I said let go! (rips arm from Misato's grasp)
Misato: Asuka-
Asuka: I said I was okay! (slumps to hands and knees in corridor) I
can't let myself be beaten by something as trivial as this...
Misato: Asuka?
(Suddenly an alarm starts sounding)
Announcement: General Quarters! Class 1 Battle Stations! Prepare for
aerial interception!
Asuka: An Angel!? Another one's come?

Scene: Command Center
Announcement: Target holding steady in satellite orbit. We have visual
confirmation.
Shigeru: Setting maximum magnification!
Ritsuko (shocked): What is...
(Arael appears above the curved Earth's surface)

- End Stage 58