Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

168: Each person's morning, each person's daily routine

"Thanks to everyone's efforts." Shinji Ikari brushed his face with water, without looking up at the other person.

Ritsuko Akagi didn't mind. Instead, she leaned against the sink and quietly gazed at Shinji Ikari. "The successful reversal of the Absolute Territory is a major breakthrough in the research of AT Fields. It may be a technique that you can easily master, but this research data can help NERV's research go further. Perhaps after several simulation experiments, other pilots will also be able to master this technique."

"Actually, you've been paying attention all along, haven't you? Why don't you take charge of this experiment yourself?" Shinji Ikari took the towel Ritsuko Akagi handed him and gently pressed it against his cheek to absorb the moisture.

"Because Ibuki Maya needs this honor more than I do. She's a very talented girl, just a little shy and hesitant to step in front of people. Although she's a bit clumsy, with you here, the experiment won't have any problems."

"Then do me a favor too." Shinji Ikari turned around and took out the portable hard drive from his pocket. "It contains life support technology. I can't explain the technical stuff clearly, but I believe you'll understand after you read it."

"Okay, I'll get back to you tomorrow." Ritsuko Akagi put the portable hard drive into the pocket of her white coat. Although NERV's life support technology was already at the forefront of the world, the fact that Shinji Ikari was able to bring it out for discussion meant that the contents might actually have some value.

Hakone Ward 7, evening, a light drizzle.

The unassuming gray Chevrolet drove through the square and stopped at the executive apartment building. Shinji Ikari got out of the car, opened a transparent umbrella, and waved to Kenzaki Kyoya, who was sitting in the driver's seat, indicating that he could stop here and go back to rest.

Shinji Ikari felt that having such an official as his driver would reinforce others' impression of him as arrogant and domineering.

He took out his keys and opened the door. A fragrant aroma wafted into his nostrils; it was probably from the broth-making process, when Shinji Ikari smelled the bonito flakes. Rei Ayanami, who was on duty today, was preparing dinner in the kitchen. Surprisingly, Misato Katsuragi was also there. She had just finished her work and was sitting cross-legged in the living room, enjoying an ice-cold beer, something she hadn't done in a long time.

"You're back? You didn't even say hello, that's really unacceptable." Misato Katsuragi sat cross-legged in the main seat, drinking beer and shaking her head.

Shinji Ikari took off his coat and hung it on the hanger. He walked to the dining table and reached out to take away the beer that Misato Katsuragi was drinking. "What are you doing?" Misato Katsuragi was surprised and raised her arm to try to take the beer back, but Shinji Ikari slapped her on the head without any mercy.

"I've told you so many times, you need to wash your feet after you take off your shoes when you get back. Don't you know what it feels like to be fermented in those tall boots all day?"

The aroma of broth filling the kitchen was almost unbearable, mixed with the stench of stinky feet. Shinji Ikari downed the rest of his beer in one gulp, then opened the window to find a light drizzle outside.

It feels like I've lived here for quite a while now, and I'm actually a little reluctant to move out. The apartments at the First Command Post are ready, and I've heard they're more luxurious and spacious. Although not all of them will be moving, as qualified individuals and officers, they will definitely be moving to the new command post.

Shinji Ikari opened all the windows and turned around to see Misato Katsuragi still sitting in her seat, raising her left foot to take a deep sniff. "How rude of you to say that a beautiful girl in her early twenties has smelly feet! It doesn't smell at all. Oh well, Asuka is taking over the bathroom right now."

"It's so hot!" The sliding door to the bathroom was suddenly opened from the inside. It was Asuka, whom we just mentioned. She was staring intently at Misato Katsuragi. "Why is the water so hot? Are you all from the Seven Treasure Trees?"

"You're just going to rinse it off, a quick rinse will do. Dinner's almost ready." Misato Katsuragi picked at her ear.

"Even a quick rinse shouldn't be this hot! Luckily I checked the water temperature, it's already 53 degrees Celsius!"

"The one who went in before was Li-chan; she seemed to be very heat-resistant."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Asuka glanced one last time at Shinji Ikari standing by the window, snorted coldly, wrapped the towel tightly around her waist, and closed the sliding door again.

Shinji Ikari went to help in the kitchen, ignoring the group of lively girls. However, everything was basically done. Rei Ayanami, holding a towel in each hand, carried the stew pot to the table, while Shinji took the bowls and chopsticks.

Misato Katsuragi had just gone to Asuka's dorm to take a quick shower and eagerly took out her beer from the refrigerator before returning to her seat.

"Oh, Rei-chan, you changed the soup base? That's great!" Misato Katsuragi raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, it’s bonito soup.” Rei Ayanami untied her apron and hung it in the kitchen. “It’s a local specialty that Dr. Akagi gave me. She heard that I’ve been learning to cook recently and was worried that I wouldn’t know how to use it, so she specially included a tool for shaving bonito flakes.”

“Ritsuko has always cared about you,” Misato Katsuragi said with a smile.

"Everyone cares about me." Rei Ayanami nodded, her gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Tch, the taste is really just average." Asuka muttered under her breath, holding her soup dish.

The taste was indeed ordinary, just average for a typical family, but it was a significant improvement compared to Rei Ayanami's previous cooking skills. Before, she would only scoop out a spoonful of miso, wakame seaweed, and soft tofu, then rinse it with boiling water.

"Asuka, do you know that there's a famous saying by Hayao Miyazaki? You're just an ordinary diner. Don't get the illusion that you're a gourmet just because you have the right to comment on the food. As a guest, just quietly enjoy the delicious food your host has prepared."

"I don't need to pick up a pot and be a chef before I can judge whether a dish is good or not. This is also a famous quote by Osamu Dazai."

"Putting aside whether it's a famous quote or not, this line should be from the Seres writer Lu Zhishen, right?" Misato Katsuragi raised an eyebrow. "You, a German who only knows a little about Eastern philosophy, shouldn't talk nonsense!"

"You're all pretty much the same. That was clearly said by Zhou Xun," Shinji Ikari added coldly, holding a black bowl and plate in both hands.

Rei Ayanami almost spoke, wanting to correct her mistake, but ultimately kept quiet.

She quite liked the atmosphere.

The light rain outside the window gradually turned into a downpour. Rei Ayanami remained silent, sitting down at the edge of the dining table, watching them argue and bicker quietly, her heart warming along with the bubbling stew.

Two months ago, she was someone who didn't know the meaning of life and could only seek it from NERV. It's unbelievable that she's been living under the same roof with Misato Katsuragi, Shinji Ikari, and Asuka for so long. So many people, yet it never feels crowded. From the initial serene indifference to the later calm and composed amidst all the changes, it's been so smooth. It's really interesting to think about how people become familiar with each other. You don't know when you start getting used to her presence in your life; there's no special reason, just because you've spent so much time together.

Just like those people in college dormitories, before entering the dormitory, they all called each other "son" and "dad". At night, they always felt that the other person was noisy. Until one day, everyone left, and in the empty dormitory, no one else called you "dad" or asked you to help bring food. Only then did they suddenly realize how big and empty the dormitory was.

Rei Ayanami has gotten used to their presence. It's actually formed by knocking down the walls of three apartments, but it doesn't feel big at all; it's just the right size.

“Let’s go to Okinawa tomorrow,” Shinji Ikari suddenly said.

"Seriously, friend? You've jumped a bit too far with this topic." Misato Katsuragi was dumbfounded. She was just arguing with Asuka about whether the author of the famous quote was Lu Zhishen or Jay Chou, and now she's suddenly talking about traveling in Okinawa.

“The last school trip was canceled because of the interception of the Angels, so let’s make up for it.” Shinji Ikari turned his head to look at Asuka. “I remember you bought your swimsuit back then, it’s a shame you didn’t wear it.”

"Hmph! It's a wonder you still remember me. You should have gone long ago!" Asuka stood up abruptly, hands on her hips.

Japanese girls might feel shy if they knew their crush was constantly watching their swimsuits, but Asuka, heavily influenced by American culture, didn't. She proudly puffed out her chest, which wasn't particularly arrogant, "But now is perfect too. Summer is the best time to go to Okinawa. There are traditional processions recreating scenes from the Ryukyu Dynasty, with performers from various regions showcasing their unique skills and crafts. It's a culturally rich event, and there's also a beer festival."

"It wasn't about confronting the Fetal Angels at all; the Fetal Angels hadn't appeared yet. It was just to prevent the Angels from attacking, so the pilots were forbidden from going out!" Misato Katsuragi hurriedly said.

"That has nothing to do with us. Unit-01 and Unit-02 are both frozen. Unit-00 is also under repair... But even so, Misato, you'll still try to restrain us with your own rules, right? Don't forget, I'm the committee member now, and I'm the one who calls the shots." Shinji Ikari wiped his mouth with a damp towel and said lightly.

"I'm a committee member, there's really no solution," Misato Katsuragi pouted. Now, he's second in the leadership of the Institute for Human Evolution, while she's only fifth, meaning she can no longer control him as she used to.

"But what if the Angels attack?" Misato Katsuragi tried to struggle one last time.

"And then there's Unit-06, which is under maintenance. That unit doesn't have a dedicated pilot and is equipped with a puppet system, right? There's also the Fifth Child named Mari. Can't these two units hold out until we get back?" Shinji Ikari raised an eyebrow.

Seeing Misato Katsuragi speechless, Shinji Ikari didn't press the matter further. "Misato, come along too, there's an Oktoberfest. I'll cover the expenses this time, you can drink as much as you want."

"Sorry, I still have a lot of work to do, including moving to the new command post and checking on Units 0, 2, and 6." Misato Katsuragi sighed, probably realizing she couldn't stop them. "Have fun."

"So the honor student is coming too?" Asuka raised an eyebrow. She had thought it would just be her and Shinji Ikari. But that's alright, since Asuka and Rei Ayanami are, to some extent, friends in this world.

“But I’m going to call Hikari-chan, she has to come too,” Asuka said firmly.

"Who is Hikari-chan?" Misato Katsuragi asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It's probably Hikaru Toki, our class president and Asuka's best friend." Shinji Ikari thought for a moment, "Asuka is probably a little shy and needs a good friend by her side to play freely."

"Who's shy?! Baka Shinji! I just don't want to be alone with you, you stinky guy! Don't be so arrogant, you idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot!"

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Hakone, Ward 17.

The 17th ward is located in western Hakone. It is a vast industrial area, mostly consisting of unmanned automated factories, and has an extremely sparse population.

This industrial area is different from the small factories that look like rented warehouses on the street. Here, there are only towering, windowless industrial buildings, arranged with an unusually neat layout, devoid of any sense of life. Although the factories operate 24 hours a day, the soundproofing is so good that you can't hear a thing.

In the parallel world that Shinji Ikari had recently arrived in, even after most of the staff defected with Misato Katsuragi, the place was still operating, continuously producing mass-produced artificial EVAs. However, it hadn't reached that level yet; it was merely an important industrial area for NERV, and also a place for maintaining and repairing the EVAs.

"Unit 2 and Unit 6 have exceeded the limits of cell division and are severely damaged. Unit 2, in particular, activated its hidden Beast Mode to fight the Angel of Power, and its body is no longer intact."

“And then there’s the second Child, Asuka. Her synchronization rate has been very unstable lately too,” Maya Ibuki said.

“You’re being too tactful. It’s no longer just an instability issue; her synchronization rate has dropped to nearly single digits, which is a very dangerous number,” Ritsuko Akagi said.

Because excellent candidates are extremely rare, but there are a great many candidates to choose from. Although it's a matter of one in ten thousand, even the Japanese Self-Defense Forces could field a reinforced company of them.

"This is really a headache, especially at this time of great difficulty. Let's prioritize repairing Unit 0, which has the least damage, followed by Unit 6. We don't have time to repair three EVAs at the same time right now," Ritsuko Akagi ordered.

"But if the second Child finds out, she'll definitely make a scene," Ibuki Maya said with some concern.

"Then let her prove herself. There are still many people waiting to become EVA pilots in the Third New Tokyo National Middle School and the Self-Defense Forces. After several operational defeats, there aren't many opportunities left for the second child pilot."

[The cell division process in the left arm of Unit 0 is complete; cell necrosis is now less than 0.05%.]

[The zero-unit configuration system remains unchanged. The isolation device should be connected to the second signal; prepare for the next operation.]

Although Ritsuko Akagi wanted to give Asuka a chance, the interests of all humanity had to come first. Thinking of Shinji Ikari, who had taken them on their trip, Ritsuko pondered, remembering that she hadn't yet looked at the external hard drive he had given her yesterday.

169: Asuka's Complete Plan

"I'll go back and check on it after work today," Ritsuko Akagi thought to herself. Turning her head, she saw Misato Katsuragi beside her, staring intently at Unit-00 being repaired.

But what's hard to imagine is that her eyes revealed very complex emotional changes.

“I still can’t completely trust this Evangelion series derived from Adam,” Misato Katsuragi suddenly said. “But if we don’t continue to use this culprit of the Second Impact, we can’t defeat the Angels. On the contrary, in order to survive, we can even use things that would otherwise destroy us. That’s human nature.”

"Why are we suddenly talking about this?" Ritsuko Akagi squeezed espresso into the milk and stirred it.

“Perhaps it’s because I’ve calmed down and started thinking about things from the past.” Misato Katsuragi lowered her eyes. “Perhaps I also harbor some hatred for Him, a hatred stemming from my father.”

“EVA is an Evangelion who is absolutely on the side of humanity. You don’t need to worry at all. Unit-03 is just an isolated case.” After stirring her milk and coffee, Ritsuko Akagi took a sip and felt much refreshed.

"Why are you so sure? What are you and Gendo Ikari hiding?" Misato Katsuragi turned her head to look at her.

"Instead of asking me, you should ask Shinji Ikari. You might get some unexpected insights," Ritsuko Akagi said calmly.

“Shinji Ikari? He’s just a brat.” Misato Katsuragi waved her hand dismissively.

“He’s just a brat in front of you.” Ritsuko Akagi took off her glasses and leaned half of her buttocks against the desk. “Miri, you’re too close to him, so you can’t see his full outline. Shinji Ikari, the second seat of the Evolution Laboratory, the most outstanding pilot, should command your respect just from his status, but you only see him as a brat. Perhaps one day the brat you’re talking about will kill me.”

Misato Katsuragi was not intimidated by her words, her expression remaining indifferent. "Shinji Ikari will not kill anyone without a reason, unless you know that what you are doing might provoke his murderous intent. That is why you should have told me, instead of colluding with Gendo Ikari."

"Go along with the crowd?" Ritsuko Akagi chuckled. "Are you really sure your side is righteous? When it comes to choosing the future path of humanity, making judgments too early is nothing but ignorant arrogance."

"I just don't want to be on the opposite side of you one day."

"Don't talk about such serious topics, it's scary. Let's grab a drink after work, it's been so long since we got together. We can invite Kaji and Kenzaki Kyoya too, and treat it as a reunion of old classmates."

Misato Katsuragi nodded. She didn't want to strain her relationship with her best friend because of men, especially since the two men were father and son, which made her feel a little strange.

But when Ritsuko Akagi dialed the number, both of her old classmates, Ryoji Kaji and Kyoya Kenzaki, received an out-of-service message.

"Miss Katsuragi." A familiar figure appeared at the door.

Misato Katsuragi nodded to Ritsuko Akagi, then turned and walked towards the door.

Hakone, the underground world.

Along the roadside, which winds through a vast birch forest, lies a yellow double-sided bench—one of the few remaining groves of birch trees. Misato Katsuragi lies on the bench, gazing at the distant pyramids, from where she can see the urgent construction and repairs underway at their summit.

"Construction of EVA Unit-13 is nearing completion," the young man said softly, unfolding a newspaper on the other side of the bench.

“Construction is nearing completion? How is that possible? I hadn’t heard anything about it before,” Katsuragi Misato was still shocked by the news, even though she was trying to control her emotions.