Out into a more open space, regardless of how tightly he's holding on to his disbelief, proves to be a much better spot to hear that round of shouts from. A brief murmur ripples out from passers-by, quiet wonders of what the commotion is all about, but more than any of those soft words do the echoes of the shouted ones ring through Shinji's head. Someone is calling his name. That's... that's not just someone.

His mouth is too dry, his throat is too tight, he can't find it in himself to shout back right away. Even this impossible glimmer of hope isn't enough to turn off his survival mode yet, but he sucks in a deep breath and starts running toward where he's certain that shout came from. Is it truly time for Up? Is that figure up there holding some kind of dim beacon overhead? Sort of like... the one in Shinji's own hand, the one he lifts to mirror that one.

Up it is, then. Up those steps with hurried feet. Up with enough frantic speed and counterweighed by his luggage for up... to become down. Down he goes, right on those steps. Though, to be fair, a startled, "Ack-!" is easier to hear than the return calls he didn't make.