You yourself had always been a quiet student, didn't help much when you started piloting that EVA, just made you shut down even more, though you weren't alone in that. Rei seemed shut down herself, often just present, seen not heard, like some ghost. Still, you didn't dare talk to her, or anyone, not even Shinji. People thought you were weird anyway, what was the point? none of these people would remember you in the end, why the hell should you care?

Even so, the humans desire to connect still pursued, no matter how hard you tried to shut it down. You hurt, hurt bad due to being an outsider to this world, an outsider to your own kind, you felt alien. Like you were watching the earth spin from the outside, holding it in your grasp as you observed all who existed.

"Do you mind if I sit with you..?"

You were thrust right out of those thoughts when Rei of all people asked to sit next to you in class, this was rare, very rare indeed, she was more closed off than you, yet here she was, making an effort in a way. She stood there, just staring down at you with that blank face as she waited, for a response, any kind of response.