EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from the Dragon Clan

Chapter 186 184. First we can rule out Shinji Ikari

In the command room, busy staff were recording the driver training data in detail. The data kept flashing on the computer screen, giving a sense of déjà vu of a science fiction blockbuster. But looking at the data displayed on the instrument, Ritsuko Akagi frowned rarely.

"Ms. Ritsuko, don't you want to continue the test?"

"I was just distracted for a moment, Shinji-kun, it's your turn."

Responded to Shinji Ikari's question in the communication channel.

Ritsuko Akagi's heart was tense.

Is the instrument broken? Among the synchronization data of the three pilots, Asuka and Unit 2 have an abnormally low synchronization rate.

This synchronization rate.

It's almost impossible to pilot Unit 2.

It's the kind of synchronization rate that doesn't even allow the machine to move when sitting in the cockpit. What happened to this kid recently? He was listless even in training. Is it because he was corrupted by the apostle? But Shinji-kun is fine.

Ritsuko Akagi wanted to ask right now.

But if Asuka told this in front of the other two pilots, her proud self-esteem would be further damaged.

We also need to take care of the mental health of these children occasionally.

After thinking about it, she decided to wait until the training was over before talking to Asuka alone.

The training didn’t take long.

After the end, Ritsuko Akagi quickly found Asuka and called her to the office, "Asuka, take a look at today's synchronization rate data... Is it not in good condition recently?"

"..."

Asuka took the document and flipped through it, her face immediately turned pale. Her thick golden hair was scattered on her white neck, her face was pale, but she tried to keep a calm expression. The girl's soft and warm body was shaking slightly, thin and fragile, as if it would break at the touch.

There was just silence.

Silence, silence, and more silence. Looking at the stubborn girl with her head down, Akagi Ritsuko didn't know what to say, so she could only say comfortingly:
"No more training for the next two days. Take a good rest for a few days."

One or two days is ok.

But if they don't train, everyone will know about it soon. And as the person in charge, she has to report this to the commander. But Commander Ikari probably won't care too much about this, after all, it's just a mass-produced Unit-02, not the crucial Unit-01.

It doesn’t matter even if there isn’t one.

In short.

If Asuka doesn't recover soon...

Sighing in her heart, watching the girl leave in silence, Ritsuko Akagi couldn't help but feel a little worried. She was like a hardworking cabbage farmer who thought she would have a good harvest after working hard for a whole year, but the cabbage became wilted and looked like it was about to die, with a thick layer of frost on it, but she couldn't even find the reason.

what happened?

So many opportunities have been arranged, and Asuka seems very happy... Ritsuko Akagi deliberately glanced at Shinji Ikari when he left the headquarters.

Shinji Ikari was worried about Asuka, who was in a bad state. After all, this proud girl was now emitting a fragile feeling of glass, as if telling everyone that I was desperate now, don't get close to me, or I will die in front of you. It was a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation. At this time, he only needed to give her some candy to lure her home, but if he really did so, what awaited him would only be a thunderous slap from Asuka.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled by the look in Ms. Ritsuko's eyes.

Why are you looking at me like that?
He hasn't done anything harmful recently, and he has even done some good things. Everyone knows that he is very helpful.

"Katsuragi, do you know what's wrong with Asuka recently?"

Ritsuko Akagi approached her good friend.

Living with Asuka and being her temporary guardian, Katsuragi Misato should know something. But she soon realized that she was overthinking. She really couldn't trust Katsuragi, a careless guy. Since college, Katsuragi was only reliable when it came to serious matters.

"Asuka? What happened to her?"

"..."

Katsuragi Misato's concern was genuine, but Akagi Ritsuko knew at a glance that even this guy didn't know why Asuka's synchronization rate dropped. She hesitated for a moment, but still handed over the file of Asuka's low synchronization rate.

After all, Misato Katsuragi will find out sooner or later.

"This... the synchronization rate is so low..."

Misato Katsuragi was stunned.

She wondered why Asuka suddenly had an accident since nothing had happened recently.

The female major felt like she was in trouble. Everything had been going smoothly during this period... No! If you think about it carefully, there are signs of some things.

"Could it be due to the erosion of the Angel? It seems that this has been happening since Asuka was hospitalized." she asked.

"It has little to do with this aspect..."

Katsuragi Misato thought so. Seeing that Shinji was still alive and kicking, it could only be Asuka's personal problem. If she wasn't physically injured, was there something wrong with her mentally? Thinking of the news that the German branch had disappeared a few days ago, she thought that this might be the reason.

Does that mean Asuka hasn't gotten over it? Is she too sad or something?

While these two adult women were guessing why Asuka's synchronization rate was so low, Asuka, who had just finished training and left the headquarters, was also thinking about this. The sun was blazing in the sky.

The clouds were pushed away by the hot wind and the sun was shining brightly. It seemed that the entire Third New Tokyo City was shrouded in golden light. Asuka tried her best to walk in the shade, but she still sweated a lot.

The synchronization rate is so low... Her beautiful eyelashes fluttered.

This time.

There is nothing left.

Unit 2, the identity of the pilot, the truth... Asuka only felt that her breathing was so heavy, perhaps because she had been exposed to the sun for too long, she felt her stomach churning and her mouth was filled with acid. She had to cover her mouth, and her heart was twitching and contracting from time to time.

She placed her hand on her chest and regulated her breathing.

Hate it, so hate it.

Miri's apartment is right in front of us.

I just need to open the door and go back to my room. But when Misato comes back at night, she will definitely ask me what happened, right? Asuka felt that she didn't even have the strength to speak. Just imagining that scene made her feel suffocated. Why not not go back today and go directly to my friend Hikaru's place. Asuka thought to herself in despair.

Do it when you think of it.

Once away from the apartment, Asuka felt her breathing become easier.

Her steps became faster and faster.

So when Katsuragi Misato returned home at night, she saw a pitch-black apartment. Since Asuka came to Tokyo, her apartment rarely looked like this. When Asuka was hospitalized for half a month, the apartment was also so dark, as if it wanted to swallow up people's warm hearts.

Misato Katsuragi didn't say it on the surface, but she couldn't help feeling lonely in her heart.

There still needs to be someone talented in the family.

She turned on the light.

There was no air conditioner turned on at high power, and no television turned on.

The apartment was bright and everything was intact, except Asuka. The penguin PENPEN came up to him aggrievedly, complaining about not having dinner - because Katsuragi Misato came back late, Asuka usually prepared dinner for him. But this time Asuka didn't come back, and he's been hungry until now.

"Did this child run away from home?"

Misato Katsuragi sighed.

She quickly put food on the table for the penguin and was about to rush to the headquarters to ask the intelligence department for help in finding Asuka when the landline phone in the apartment rang.

"Ah Hikaru, is Asuka there with you? Okay, okay."

Misato Katsuragi reluctantly felt relieved.

What she feared the most was that Asuka would just find a random place to hide, and no one could find her. If you want to know why, it was because when Misato Katsuragi had a conflict with her mother when she was a child, she did the same thing. Everyone has stupid pasts, and now Misato Katsuragi wants to go back and beat her old self to death. Thinking of this, Asuka is still very worry-free, and she even knows to go to her friend's house.

"Did something happen to Asuka?" asked Mitsuru Tomu on the other end of the phone.

"I'm not sure either." Katsuragi Misato sighed, "It would be great if you could help and communicate with Asuka."

As for going there directly to pick up Asuka now, Misato Katsuragi knew clearly that this was not a good idea.

I guess this kid doesn't want to see me now.

She herself had done such things in the past, so she naturally understood Asuka's mentality. Damn it, I didn't do anything, is this also a mistake? Katsuragi Misato couldn't help but think to herself.

"Yeah, I'll try."

Dong Muguang hung up the phone worriedly.

She returned to the living room.

Asuka, wearing a cool vest, was casually playing a game on TV.

No matter whether the screen shows victory or defeat, the girl's expression does not change much, revealing an inexplicable sense of alienation from the world. Obviously, for Asuka, the game is just a toy to kill time.

What happened to Asuka?
Hikaru Tomoki was also very worried. He wanted to communicate with this best friend, but he was afraid of irritating Asuka. Really, did someone provoke Asuka? Well, first of all, we can rule out the suspicion that Ikari provoked Asuka. But Asuka was fine a while ago, talking and laughing with Ikari, why did she suddenly become so autistic?
As for comforting others, she has never tried it before.

"Asuka?" she asked cautiously.

"Are you going to bed?"

Asuka obviously misunderstood something. She probably thought it was time to go to bed, so Toki Hikaru came to remind her. Seeing this, Toki Hikaru was naturally embarrassed to say that you misunderstood.

The two of them slept in the same bed.

Asuka's head was against the wall, her posture like a porcupine curled up to protect itself. The two of them were covered with the same quilt. Torumi Mitsuru lay flat on his back looking at the ceiling, trying to think of some comforting words, but he felt that those words were so pale and powerless.

"I'm sorry, I must have disturbed you by coming to stay here suddenly."

Asuka suddenly said.

(End of this chapter)