Synced Hearts: A Tale of Pilots and Angels

Jealousy and Longing: Navigating Rumours And trouble in paradise

As they walked to school, Kaworu kept chatting excitedly about his new classmates and what he had heard about them. Shinji couldn't help but smile at how enthusiastic Kaworu was, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy as he talked about the other students, especially the other boys in their class.

As they entered the classroom, Shinji noticed that some of the other pilots were already there. Asuka was sitting at her desk, flipping through a magazine, and Rei was sitting quietly at hers, reading a book. Shinji and Kaworu took their seats, and Kaworu continued to chatter excitedly about everything he was seeing.

As class began, Shinji tried to focus on the lesson, but he couldn't help glancing over at Kaworu every few minutes, watching as he eagerly took notes and asked questions. Shinji couldn't believe how much he had come to care for this boy in such a short amount of time.

As the day went on, Shinji noticed that some of the other students seemed to be giving Kaworu strange looks or whispering behind his back. He couldn't understand why anyone would want to be mean to someone as kind and friendly as Kaworu.

At lunchtime, Shinji and Kaworu sat together in the courtyard, eating their lunches and talking about their day. Kaworu seemed to be having a great time, but Shinji couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

As they walked home from school, Shinji finally couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. "Kaworu, have you noticed that some of the other students seem to be giving you strange looks?" he asked tentatively.

Kaworu's face fell a little, and he nodded. "Yes, I have," he admitted. "But I don't really understand why. I've never done anything to them."

Shinji put his arm around Kaworu's shoulders. "Don't worry about them," he said. "You're an amazing person, and anyone who can't see that is just blind."

Kaworu smiled up at him, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. Shinji knew that he wanted to protect Kaworu and keep him safe, no matter what anyone else might say or do.

As Shinji entered the classroom, he couldn't help but notice how his classmates' gazes shifted from him to Kaworu. They were whispering among themselves, giggling and blushing, and Shinji could feel his anxiety rising. He approached his friend, who was sitting at his desk with a soft smile on his face, seemingly unaware of the attention he was getting.

"Hey, Kaworu," Shinji said, taking a seat next to him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Shinji," Kaworu replied, turning to face him.

"I've been hearing some rumours about you," Shinji said, trying to keep his tone casual. "They're not really bad, but they're... strange."

Kaworu tilted his head, his expression curious. "What kind of rumours?"

Shinji took a deep breath. "People are talking about how good-looking you are, and... how you seem almost otherworldly. Like you're not really human."

Kaworu's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't seem offended or surprised. "I see. Well, I suppose I can understand why they might think that way. I do look a bit... different, don't I?"

Shinji felt a pang of jealousy as he watched some of his classmates stealing glances at Kaworu. He had always thought of him as a friend, but now he couldn't help but see him in a different light. He wondered if he was the only one feeling this way, or if everyone in the class had a crush on him.

"But I assure you, Shinji, I'm as human as anyone else," Kaworu said, his hand resting gently on Shinji's shoulder. "I just happen to have a unique appearance, that's all."

Shinji nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. He realized that he was being foolish for feeling jealous, and that he should be happy for Kaworu for being so admired. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was different about him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

As the class began, Shinji tried to focus on the lessons, but his mind kept wandering back to Kaworu. He couldn't help but steal glances at him every now and then, noticing the way his hair caught the light, or the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled. He wondered if he was the only one who saw him that way, or if he was just another admirer among many.