This story deserves note for being the first fic --to my knowledge-- to ask the pertinent question, "Why not the eternal wuss and the cute bridge bunny? Wouldn't they make an adorable couple?"

The answer that is usually given to these questions is something along the lines of, "But I don't think Shigeru Aoba is Shinji's type."

After the required fifty whacks are doled out we move on the question of Ikari Shinji and Ibuki Maya being together. Could it work? Is there enough similarity between them to develop an understanding that could be the basis of a lasting relationship? Sadly we lack an in-depth knowledge of the secondary character Maya to get a good answer. Still, fanfiction is nothing if not making up what you need, and this author tackles this June-December relationship head on.

The question has been asked, and the author supplies his answer. It isn't an answer I'm entirely satisfied with however.

Perhaps the most pressing reason sited for a Shinji-Maya pairing is the fact that both are pretty much wallflowers. One's shyness is due to bashfulness, and the other has withdrawn to keep from being hurt by others. Well, those personality traits die pretty quickly in this story. In fact, for a pair of shy people they leave tread-marks on the plot due to the speed of their falling for each other. One date leads to a whirlwind of confused emotions and feelings, but things move forward with the unstoppable progressive force of the 14th Angel. Within a month they're living together. There isn't much gradual exploration of understanding and discovery between these two; it's mostly, "Wow. I can't believe I love him/her. But I can't wait to see him/her again. It's love." The most progressive relationship actually occurs between Shinji and Asuka. No it's not romantic, but I found their platonic development to be the strongest theme in the work. They're actually working through serious issues of abandonment and what happens to people when they grow up and apart. The conversations between the Second and Third Child are detailed and thoughtful. These two seek out each other for guidance when their souls are in turmoil.

By comparison the main couple's dialogue is loaded with saccharine. In some places violins and rose petals in the background wouldn't be out of place; after all, for most of the first book Shinji and Maya are experiencing soul-searing, full-contact, psyche pumping >LUV<. Later story developments tone down this sugar rush, injecting darker moments of angst and some elements of the series' later brooding, but unfortunately the dialogue still is as full of corn as a farmers' market.

OOCness abounds in this, although it is not an in-your-face kind. But I do question some of the author's choices. I know love can move mountains, but as this takes place after the 13th Angel, I expected Shinji to brood a bit more than he does. Okay, a lot more. He also willingly attacks one of his friends, something I found difficult to justify considering how he was willing to die rather than attack (what he thought was) a stranger in Unit-03. Asuka suffers the 15th Angel's attack, but in the end seems to have made peace with herself rather than fall apart. Neither fault seriously damages the story, but I felt kind of cheated reading it.

And as if Shinji didn't have enough troubles, when the main couple is having communication *issues*, Rei decides to take advantage of the situation and express her long hidden feelings of affection. Into a near train-wreck of a relationship Rei makes her long awaited move on Maya........ I'm kidding. (Although considering Maya's possible preferences, aiming for the bridge bunny might work...[Bad reviewer! Bad boy!]) You have to hand it to Shinji though: not many guys could get two attractive, shy women chasing after them by just standing there looking pathetic.

How well does this all work? It's no worse than many other WAFFY stories out there, even with dialogue as corny as a Staten Island corn dog. It's a bunch of scenes of people thinking, "Wow, we were meant to be together," then scenes of, "It's not working. My world is bleak and empty," followed by, "I can be happy with just love." A classical example of: Things To Do To Make A Relationship Seem Troubled 101.

In the end, its uniqueness with character pairing warrants a look if you're bored with the standard Eva match-ups or 'angst and doom' scenarios. While I can't exactly recommend it, feel free to read it and form your own opinions.
 

Till Instrumentally is needed again...