Aigis nodded, her frown deepening a bit more at hearing Rei had been gone longer than she had suspected. "This comrade of yours. Do you believe he or she might possibly know anything?" It was unlikely, but every route needed to be pursued.

Aigis paused, her head tilting to the side at Rei's own inquiry. "Investigation is something that I do." It was difficult to describe how she and her friends went about searching for clues as to when and where the Shadows would appear. Investigation was what they called it. Perhaps it was not quite that but Aigis wouldn't know. "It is the only thing I can do in this situation."

Perhaps she was wrong, though. Aigis subconsciously breathed out a puff of air, her eyes sliding away from Rei for the first time as she began to doubt. "If we cannot find out, I do not suppose it will change things. But it was... difficult, thinking they had changed your memories. Made you into... someone who is not you, Ayanami-san."

She brightened again but only slightly. Not quite to the level she had been at when their eyes had first met this shift. "I suppose I should be thankful. You are still you. They did not alter your memories." You still remember me.