Apartment Complex

"Except the biggest issue with that is that we don't even know where here is." Kurisu replied.

"For all we know it could be a different planet or a different dimension or a different universe there's just not enough to know yet to safely build a teleportation device that won't just make our situation worse."

Daru stopped typing and chewed on the end of a pen.

"It sounds like we're going to have to just scout until we find something to work with," said Daru. He clicked through the computer again looking for important files. "Seems like the only thing not bought for us was a car, so we'll probably need to do that for ourselves."

"I guess we'll leave that too Kurisu," Okabe said. "She's the only one with a license. And I'd rather avoid the DMV."

"So we have to find out where we are before we can teleport home?" Mayuri repeated. "How do we do that?"

Okabe patted Mayuri's shoulder. "That's the difficult part. We'll have to investigate this mysterious lost city and find out its secrets. We'll have to play by their rules for now until we can get more information."

Mayuri managed a nervous smile. "Sounds like an anime."

Kumo had the sickening feeling that he was in way over his head. He'd barely understood a word out of anyone's mouth in the last five minutes. "So we're just gonna.... live here?"

"For the time being... We don't have much of a choice," Okabe shrugged. "You're welcome to say here. We could use all the help we can get to figure things out."

Daru sighed. "You know, if we're living here, we might as well stock the fridges." He got up from the computer chair with a loud creak, taking one of the cards. "I'll try and find a store nearby, maybe they have a map or something."

"Can I help?" asked Shinji. "I...I know how to cook, if that means anything-"

"You can cook?!" exclaimed Daru, inches away from Shinji's face, who jumped slightly like a cat.

"Y-yeah, I c-cooked for my..."

That was a grown-up kiss. We'll do the rest when you get back.

He twitched involuntarily, a shudder at that touch. He'd felt absolutely uncomfortable.

"...F-foster M-mother, so I know it pretty well-"

"Oh thank god!" Said Daru, he grabbed Shinji and with a surprising amount of strength raised Shinji who seemed confused by the praise. "We have someone who can cook! We're saved!"

"What does that mean..." Kurisu mumbled, being once again reminded of how no one appreciated her cooking around here. She really didn't get what was so bad about it but Okabe and Daru were both terrified of her cooking.

"We all appreciate your contributions, Christina," Okabe said diplomatically. "But if Shinji's offering to cook I see no reason not to allow it."

"Mayushii cooks too," Muyuri interjected. "Well... Only microwaved foods though."

Kurisu sighed in reply to that.

"Fine Okabe if you insist." The scientist said in reply.

"I'm sure Shinji's cooking will taste great though." She continued, directing a smile to the boy.

Shinji shied back a bit, hiding a bit in his metaphorical shell, he almost wish he hadn't said he could cook, because there were a lot of eyes on them and they already had expectations from him.

"W-well, i-if you don't like it, y-you don't have to keep me around."

"Even if we didn't like it we wouldn't just get rid of you." Kurisu said, the soft smile disappearing.

"We wouldn't just throw someone out over something like that."

Shinji glanced away, and underneath his cheeks ground his teeth.

"Bad idea," he muttered barely audible. He was only going to be bring them down, these people seemed like incredible scientists and geniuses and he was just going to cook for them? That was it?

He heard a specter speak in his head...in her voice.

You're going to let them down, just like you did your father, just like you did Touji, like Misato, like me.