The tree outside the school is her usual haunt, as she sits cross
legged underneath it, enjoying the shade against the unseasonal heat
and types away at her laptop. Mother sent her over more synch test
results, now that Uri is getting his ratio higher and higher up.
Nothing like what he had against Tamiel, but still, the results are
promising.
She purses her lips. Scrunches her forehead.
She stayed in Mari's bedroom, last night. Lots of books on the
bookshelf. Lots of things, like little trinkets and souvenirs from
Germany. The clothes she had filled up an entire dresser and then
the closet, and even though her father offered to put the stuff in
storage, Asuka was fine living out of her suitcase.
The knapsack drops next to her, and she looks up just in time to see
Mana plop down next to her under the shade.
“Hey,” she says, “Been a while. I mean, since we talked.”
Asuka blinks, staring at Mana. It has, she thinks. Well, since
Mana tried to steal her boyfriend, and that whole fight thing between
them. True, they haven't talked much. And Asuka still can't think
of anything to say, so she-
“I found out my parents are dead,” Mana says.
She sits down next to Asuka, legs out, hands folded on her lap. Her
face like a mask, her jaw set.
“Kaji's been looking into legal channels,” she continues, “He
didn't tell me, but he's looking to adopt me. So, he was trying to
find out about any living family. Found out my folks died in a bomb
blast a yeah after I got sold. He sat me down and gave me the news.
I mean, I figured Iruel'd use that to f___ with my mind, so I figured
they'd still be breathing if anything.”
She can see the wetness in Mana's eyes. She says nothing, her hands
still hovering over her keyboard.
“I mean, they sold me,” Mana says, “They needed to f___ing eat
and I was the only thing they could barter with. I mean, it's not
like I hated them, it's just...I don't remember enough about them to
hate them. Y'know?”
A snort, and Mana wipes her nose, running her sleeve over her eyes.
“Anyway, that's what I got,” she says, “Kaji's gone over to
Germany to help out Kei. Uri's busy with Shinji's cousin and we were
never good and close. So that's kinda leaving just you 'til Legs
gets out of the hospital.”
She pats Asuka on the shoulder, climbing to her feet.
And without another word, she walks away.
legged underneath it, enjoying the shade against the unseasonal heat
and types away at her laptop. Mother sent her over more synch test
results, now that Uri is getting his ratio higher and higher up.
Nothing like what he had against Tamiel, but still, the results are
promising.
She purses her lips. Scrunches her forehead.
She stayed in Mari's bedroom, last night. Lots of books on the
bookshelf. Lots of things, like little trinkets and souvenirs from
Germany. The clothes she had filled up an entire dresser and then
the closet, and even though her father offered to put the stuff in
storage, Asuka was fine living out of her suitcase.
The knapsack drops next to her, and she looks up just in time to see
Mana plop down next to her under the shade.
“Hey,” she says, “Been a while. I mean, since we talked.”
Asuka blinks, staring at Mana. It has, she thinks. Well, since
Mana tried to steal her boyfriend, and that whole fight thing between
them. True, they haven't talked much. And Asuka still can't think
of anything to say, so she-
“I found out my parents are dead,” Mana says.
She sits down next to Asuka, legs out, hands folded on her lap. Her
face like a mask, her jaw set.
“Kaji's been looking into legal channels,” she continues, “He
didn't tell me, but he's looking to adopt me. So, he was trying to
find out about any living family. Found out my folks died in a bomb
blast a yeah after I got sold. He sat me down and gave me the news.
I mean, I figured Iruel'd use that to f___ with my mind, so I figured
they'd still be breathing if anything.”
She can see the wetness in Mana's eyes. She says nothing, her hands
still hovering over her keyboard.
“I mean, they sold me,” Mana says, “They needed to f___ing eat
and I was the only thing they could barter with. I mean, it's not
like I hated them, it's just...I don't remember enough about them to
hate them. Y'know?”
A snort, and Mana wipes her nose, running her sleeve over her eyes.
“Anyway, that's what I got,” she says, “Kaji's gone over to
Germany to help out Kei. Uri's busy with Shinji's cousin and we were
never good and close. So that's kinda leaving just you 'til Legs
gets out of the hospital.”
She pats Asuka on the shoulder, climbing to her feet.
And without another word, she walks away.