Analysis

Same classroom, same doldrums. The end of White Day, time for gifts and general awkwardness.

Rei never understood the politics of human interaction. The give-and-take mentality that governed everyone, from infants to the elderly. One-to-one interactions were small plays, and always played to win. In some ways, it was like watching microcosms of the predatory world. Other times like watching some strange, prosey enigma that made as much sense as herself.

Even gift-giving bereft of the cherished patina older books talk about-warmth. Usually.

Rei sat in back of the class today, studiously avoiding the three-ring social circus up front. She had given no chocolate out last month. Not one gilded chocolate ducat. As much as she nurtured the possibility of perhaps talking again with her peers, she wanted none of this attention. So, she watched.

Watched colonies of white chocolate line up on the desks of compassionate girls like Representative Horaki.

Pierced the obligated viselike smiles multiplying all around. A certain lack of esprit in these normally vibrant people.

Saw Aida Kensuke dandy his time away at his kiosk, never looking up once, his camcorder slumbering ignored in its nest of nylon, zippers, and straps. Distraction through electronics.

Watched Yamato Aki stare at the back of Kawada Shogo's head with naked longing and something dangerously approaching upset at the distinct lack of Shogo-choco on her desk. There had been honmei laid out on his desk Valentine's Day. No gifts, not even well-wishing graced her's.

Followed Suzuhara's stare to Horaki's white-choco mountain and saw the curious shock there.

Inspected Nanahara and Nakagawa sitting beside one another, talking in low voices, only the little finger of his right hand and her left hand linked together between their desks.

Perceived Yamato's envious looks at such open displays of affection.

Observed Maejima tear into a proudly offensive-to-the-eyes Sanrio giftbag and pull out a small silvery chain penduluming a heavy heart-shaped locket. Rei heard the soft 'oohs' and jealous rumbling from other girls all around the room. Saw the instant constellation of girls appear as if by 'ooh shiny!' magic. Seto Kenichi's face turned an interesting plum shade when Maejima vaulted into him full-glomp.

Noticed a few disgusted males weasel out the door in ones and twos. One boy three-pointed his small parcel of white-choco, simply shaking his head dejectedly.

Watched Kirishima Mana coo over a typical fluffy white 'please-go-out-with-me' bear. She gave heartfelt thanks to Sho, standing there like a totem, and favored him a gentle smile that cut out pretense. He left.

Tracked Aida as he shoveled things into his bag, carefully plucking out a small blue package before closing the flap. Placed it quietly on Yamato's desk on his way out.

Watched the distant look on Yamato's face take the tram back to reality, stop at the corner of befuddlement. Those charcoal black eyes inscrutable. A moment later, reflected glossy overhead light, suddenly shining. Blink blink. Small smile. She sat there a long time. Wiped discreetly at her eye.

Gazed at Ikari Shinji rubbernecking, sudden confusion setting his face in an awkward gawk. He rose, walked back to her.

"Ayanami? Why...why are you sitting back here?" He asked.

"I am well." Rei said.

"Oh. Well, don't you want to come up? Maejima's going nuts over her locket."

"I am fine here."

"You sat back here on Valentine's Day too."

She looked at him and regretted the sudden wave of nervousness she saw in his face. I make him nervous, she thought. Unacceptable.

"I did."

"I guess I'll leave you be-"

"No."

"Oh, 'kay." Shrugging and looking around as if oddly forgetting he was surrounded by chairs. Sheepishly, he sat down alongside her at the rear of the room. Out of the corner of her eye, Rei watched him. Watched him settle. Watched him relax and breathe easy. He couldn't do this at NERV, in a Plug. He couldn't do relaxing much at all, she noticed. It wasn't in him much as it wasn't in her, though the circumstances differed.

The happy nothings from the front of the room faded. She listened to the sound of the clock on the far wall and observed him. Soon realizing he, too, watched her with little trepidation.

And for a little while, that's what they did.

Rei watched him watching her.

A/N: I know, it's Valentine's Day, not White Day, but this seemed so much more effective. Rei getting chocolate from a secret admirer just wouldn't work out. Girl'd would outright ignore it lest I really wanted to rev up the OOC. So, observation. It's something she does remarkably well, if ham-fistedly. Wait, that's just my poor writing.

Mashadar's and Sideris's Alternate Ending!

Rei carried few visible cues upon her face, having little need to express her thoughts. But from long observances, she knew the signs upon the Third's face. A sign that was rapidly becoming a prediction of a gale preceded by a red-headed stormfront.

"THIRD! Where's my chocolate?"

Rei sighed.