He watched her as the sun shone through the window, periodically interrupted by the buildings they passed. "Yui," he said, his voice seeming like it was coming from somewhere outside of himself.

Yui turned her head to look at him, moving like she was in slow motion, a smile on her lips. Her mouth opened and she spoke, but he couldn't hear what she said.

"It's... nothing," he replied shakily, not even sure what he had been meaning to say. He turned his head away, thanking silently whatever had made the strange feeling pass.

Smiling slightly, Yui just shook her head, then turned her gaze back out the window of the train.

"Have you always had this wandering eye?"

The woman disappeared around a corner and Gendo returned his attention to Yui. "Hm?"

"I'll take that as a yes. I certainly feel special on this date."

"What?"

Yui couldn't help but laugh. "Sometimes you are so adorably thick-headed. But really, could you at least try not to look while we're out on a date?"

Her meaning finally caught up to him. "Oh, right. Sorry. Habit."

"One I hope you grow out of soon enough, at least long enough to hold an uninterrupted conversation." Yui gave Gendo a look that was sure to leave him no doubt that she meant business.

His reply was to completely change the subject. "I'm just surprised you could get this evening off on such short notice."

Yui smiled knowingly. "Whatever you think of the professor, he's not a slave driver. I just said I'd make up the time over the rest of the week."

"When is this going to stop, Yui? When will you be able to cut back your hours?"

"Probably not for a while. And I've cut them back once already. Isn't that enough?"

"No," Gendo answered, frowning. "When will I get more time? I thought that was what you wanted, for us to be together."

"It sounds like what you want is to have me all to yourself. Don't be so selfish. Someone has to support us."

That stung, and they both knew it. Gendo looked away, ashamed. "Well excuse me for being in love with you. Next time I'll just keep quiet."

"Damn it. You know I've cut back as much as I can. Things aren't getting easier; they're getting more... urgent. And this is already a long-term project. You just don't have any idea," lectured Yui.

"I don't understand because you don't tell me. You talk about this project every day, how important it is, but never give any details. Like you're going to take over the world or something." Gendo paused, finding the courage to say the words he had been dreading. "If it's Fuyutsuki, tell me now. Don't spare me."

"It's nothing like that! I thought we were beyond this. I can't tell you about the work, and you keep refusing the offer for a job. Even Professor Fuyutsuki said he wouldn't mind," Yui said, confused and a little desperate. This was not how she wanted to spend the evening.

Unwilling to fight over it, Gendo just sighed. "That's not the point and you know it. And it's not about keeping track of you either. You're just gone so much."

Yui stroked his cheek. "I'm doing the best I can. This is the most important thing right now, after you, but... It needs my attention."

"I need your attention."

"And you have it, but... work is work. And this is the most important thing I've ever done."

Gendo just looked at her, still frowning. 'So far,' he thought to himself.