Shinji didn’t sleep at all that night, and he spent the next day trying not to feel insanely hurt that Kippei ignored all of his attempts to get his attention and stayed curled up miserably in bed. He didn’t manage any sleep during the day, making tea and trying to get Kippei to drink it, [...]

It was a little more than a day before Shinji felt awareness of touch returning. At some point during the night he’d almost choked on the breathing tube, relieved when they removed it and he was breathing on his own again, but still annoyed by his complete inability to function like a normal human being. [...]