"I'll walk you there."

"You don't have to."

"I do."

Yui smiled and started walking at a leisurely pace. "He's nothing at all like you think."

Gendo remained silent.

"He's not some old lech who just works with pretty girls. He's intelligent and dedicated, and knows we don't have time to play games like that."

"Why don't you have time? Graduation?"

Knowing she had made a mistake, Yui shook her head and tried to shift the conversation. "Not graduation. Actually, I was offered to continue on the research project after graduation, getting paid and everything."

"With Fuyutsuki?"

"Yes. And some others. It's an excellent opportunity." She paused, waiting for him to say something, but he remained silent. "Aren't you going to say anything about that?"

"No."

"And why not?"

"Would it do any good?"

"None at all. But I never thought you'd be one to keep quiet like this."

Gendo shrugged. "What am I supposed to say?"

In direct contrast to his dark mood, Yui smiled and hugged his arm. "Nothing. Besides, I like walking quietly like this."

"Do you think you have me figured out?" he asked, curious.

"No," she responded, laughing lightly.

"Good, because I don't have you figured out at all."

"Here it is." Yui stopped in front of a door and faced Gendo.

"Should I pick you up tonight?"

"If you'd like. I wouldn't mind." She looked at her watch. "Six hours. I'm not going to work myself into the ground today."

"I'll be here." He stepped forward, not letting Yui escape his show of affection.

She tried to avoid it at first, not wanting to be doing such a thing right in front of where she worked, but Gendo grabbed her arm gently and pulled her forward.

Before she could turn her head and take the kiss on the cheek, he darted his head forward and proceeded to kiss her with everything he could muster.

"I hope I'm not... interrupting anything."

Yui pushed Gendo away. "Professor! I was just..."

"Celebrating," Gendo said emotionlessly.

Fuyutsuki raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" His level gaze met Gendo's practiced disinterested one. There was immediate disliking between the two of them.

"Professor, this is Gendo Rokubungi, who I told you about," Yui said nervously, expecting to get a reprimand later for such behavior. She gestured to the older man. "This is Professor Fuyutsuki."

"So I gathered."

Looking between the two men and hearing the tone in Gendo's voice, Yui decided to be merciful and put an end to the meeting. She took Gendo's hand, turning his attention to her. "Six hours. I'll be waiting for you."

"I'll be here," he answered, but there was still that cold, emotionless quality to his voice.

"I'm looking forward to it." She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss. "Bye." His hands slowly slid out of his as she retreated into the lab.

Fuyutsuki remained though, looking at Gendo critically. "She's quite lovely," he stated.

"She is. And she's mine."

"That was quite a demonstration." His voice was flat, unimpressed. Looking at Gendo for another moment first, Fuyutsuki returned to the lab as well.