Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

"What kind of mess is this?!" Misato Katsuragi covered her face.

But as the Bible says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Although Misato Katsuragi did not believe in God, she also dedicated her body and soul to the cause of revenge. However, on the eve of the final battle with the apostles, she went to the toilet with the little boy she was raising for intimate contact.

After the exchange, I felt refreshed, but when I recalled my own awakening courage and perseverance, I suddenly felt like I had made a joke.

If Ritsuko Akagi knew, she'd tease him about it for at least ten years, maybe even twenty?

But Shinji, he's not exactly a kid, is he? His behavior is more mature than many adults... Misato Katsuragi tried to convince herself, especially the guilt she felt for hurting the little boy, which was almost overwhelming her conscience.

She stroked her lower abdomen, which felt warm and swollen, and she wanted to say something.

But looking at Shinji Ikari, who was completely unaffected, he calmly took out a coin and put it into the vending machine next to him. With a crisp ding, a can of warm eight-treasure porridge fell out from below.

However, Shinji Ikari opened the pull tab on the can and handed it to Misato Katsuragi.

"What you said before couldn't be false, could it?" Misato Katsuragi asked belatedly, holding a bowl of warm eight-treasure porridge.

"You mean confusion, right, fighting for whom, and all that stuff?" Shinji Ikari thought for a moment. "Those are lines I learned from TV, Bungo Stray Dogs, it's pretty good."

They're just Angels, why would Shinji Ikari be afraid? He's killed enough Angels to play mahjong with some left over. They're just empty Angels, elusive moths; Shinji sees them all as nothing more than opportunists.

They'll hit His head and then cook Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

"Damn it, they actually took advantage of my kindness. I'll never be soft-hearted towards you again." Misato Katsuragi gritted her teeth as she drank her eight-treasure porridge, then stood up and stormed off toward the elevator shaft.

"Where are you going?" Shinji Ikari shouted from behind.

"Are you an idiot? Change your clothes!" Misato Katsuragi said, then turned back as if she had thought of something. She sniffed Shinji Ikari and grabbed his wrist. "And you too, come with me and change your clothes! Don't be so smug. This was just an accident. We're still friends. I'm your guardian."

What exactly is Shinji Ikari to her? What value does he hold? Even Misato Katsuragi herself couldn't answer that. She felt as if it were all a dream, a fleeting illusion.

Shinji Ikari watched as Misato Katsuragi couldn't help but straighten his collar, tilting his head slightly. "Does it include love?"

"Including only familial affection."

Misato Katsuragi straightened Shinji Ikari's slightly disheveled collar, reverting to her gentle older sister persona. Looking at the boy before her, still somewhat childish yet with a determined gaze, she couldn't help but sigh. She then ruffled his soft, tousled hair into a mess, scrutinizing it for a moment before finally being satisfied.

"What a troublesome brat."

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Operations Department, Operations Conference Room under the First Section of the Tactical Operations Bureau.

"Huh? A plan to catch it with your hands?" Asuka's drawn-out voice echoed in the room.

“Yes, MAGI has calculated the most likely landing point for the air Angel, and it’s here. We will deploy the EVAs at the designated landing site, and then you will activate the AT field and catch the Angel with your bare hands,” Misato Katsuragi replied.

This battle plan is so absurd that no one would be surprised if you said it was devised by Sun Xiaochuan.

Asuka opened her mouth, her lips moving unconsciously, but she didn't speak. She looked at Shinji Ikari beside her, noticing that he had changed his clothes at some point. A white shirt, a gray suit, a brown scarf, and the NERV fig leaf logo embroidered on his chest. This was the first time Asuka had seen Shinji Ikari in his headquarters uniform, and he looked surprisingly good in it.

The selected individuals all have tailors at headquarters who personally tailor their clothes, carefully measuring their bodies to ensure a perfect fit. However, Shinji Ikari's clothes are replaced the fastest, entirely due to his rapid physical development. His originally slender limbs have developed a muscular outline, and his height, which was originally 1.58 meters, has now grown to 1.65 meters, all in just three months.

Asuka's eyes were glued to Shinji Ikari, but not to anyone else.

"What if the apostle deviates from the intended location?" Rei Ayanami asked calmly.

"Then we're doomed." For some reason, Misato Katsuragi shrugged and smiled, as if the discussion wasn't about her. But Asuka didn't have such a big heart; she immediately followed up with her question after Rei Ayanami asked.

"What if the machine can't withstand the impact pressure?"

“That’s still a disaster,” Misato Katsuragi said with a laugh.

"What are the chances of winning?" Asuka pressed on.

"Ha, only God probably knows the answer to this kind of thing, but given what we've done, it's unlikely that God would give us any divine guidance." Misato Katsuragi waved her hand.

"If it can succeed like this, it would be a miracle," Asuka couldn't help but complain.

"But we are doing something that creates miracles. If human civilization can continue, perhaps it will be passed down to future generations, and we might even become mythical figures."

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I did finish writing this chapter this morning, but I want to combine the two chapters and post them together.

But then I thought about it again and realized this chapter was too risky. If it got taken down, I'd have to spend half a day revising over four thousand words. I'll just post it as normal.

Chapter 84: Brave Ayanami, Unafraid of Difficulties

Myths don't matter; Asuka won't be fooled by such nice-sounding words.

"So you just raise the problems and expect us to solve them!" Asuka was quite displeased with Misato Katsuragi's nonchalant expression, though she didn't know the source of her displeasure. "This can't be called a battle plan! It's child's play!"

"I'm sorry, there's no other way. So if any of you are dissatisfied, you can resign now," Misato Katsuragi said calmly.

After the words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent. After all, everyone has their reasons for piloting the EVA. Even Asuka's complaints were just her usual refrain; her life revolved around piloting the EVA.

Asuka instinctively looked at Shinji Ikari standing on her right. The so-called strongest pilot smiled faintly, as if he didn't think it was a matter of life and death.

One could even say... refreshed?

"I'm sorry, that's the situation right now. Since no one has any objections, I'll inform you of the specific battle plan over the channel when we head to the cockpit later. Now, according to regulations, it's time to leave your wills."

"I don't need it," Asuka said coldly.

"I don't need that either. Being with Shinji Ikari is enough." Rei Ayanami spoke indifferently, but her words made Asuka's eyes widen, and she muttered under her breath, "Shameless."

However, what she didn't realize was that Rei Ayanami's attitude had been somewhat strange ever since Misato Katsuragi and Shinji Ikari came to the command room together.

Some well-hidden secrets may remain unknown, but there are always connections that transcend physical boundaries, allowing people to perceive them. Some call it intuition, others call it perception.

Misato Katsuragi ignored Shinji Ikari and smiled at the three of them as usual, clasping her hands together with a sly smile. "I'm sorry, but I'll treat everyone to steak after the war is over."

"Hmm, in that case, I'm going to have a big meal and get ready to feel the pinch on my wallet!"

As the somber atmosphere was broken, everyone smiled broadly, but that rare smile quickly froze back on Asuka's face.

Due to the radio interference released by the apostle, countries around the world were unable to detect the apostle's current location. However, although the exact location could not be determined, the powerful Three Sages system was still able to deduce the approximate landing site by observing its coordinates revealed several times.

But when Asuka actually saw the map displayed on the screen, her eyes widened.

"Such a large area, you're really not kidding?!"

Asuka originally thought that although the operation was very dangerous, she would just stay at headquarters. However, the map directly encompassed most of the area of ​​the three new Tokyo cities, and even extended to the Yachiyo countryside in the east and the Fuji Five Lakes in the west.

"Because if the target deploys an AT field, precise positioning isn't necessary. Within this range, no matter where it lands, it can uproot the headquarters. That's why we need to deploy EVAs in these three locations." At this point, Misato Katsuragi smiled at Asuka beside her. "After Shinji Ikari confronted the Angel of the Tail, didn't you always say he was too cunning? This time, I'm giving you a chance to run at full speed and see if you can break the speed of sound."

"Of course, I'm the strongest! Anything Shinji can do, I can do too!" Asuka said, head held high.

Ritsuko Akagi stared at the three coordinates on the screen without speaking, because the wide range of the Sky Apostle's falling locations could be explained by the large area of ​​its descent attack. But in reality, it also meant that the Sky Apostle couldn't achieve overly precise attacks.

Based on His previous attempts at divine punishment bomb attacks and subsequent adjustments, it's clear that accurately locking onto a target at an altitude of 25000 kilometers is extremely difficult for Him. Among the Apostles, only the Thunder Apostle is currently capable of such precise operations. Although the Sky Apostle is coming with great force, like His predecessors, His calculations are only at a normal level.

It could be considered a weakness, but it is a weakness nonetheless, since the attack coverage area of ​​420,000 meters is enough to cover up any problem.

As the elevator shaft ascended, the three people who had been silently inside the elevator arrived at the exit. Just as Asuka had adjusted her mindset and was striding confidently toward the EVA elevator platform with her head held high, she saw Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami walking in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going? The elevator is over here!" Asuka shouted from where she stood.

Shinji Ikari waved his hand. "Go change into your combat uniform."

Asuka stood there, stunned. She was the only one who had changed into her combat uniform beforehand. There seemed to be nothing wrong with them changing into their uniforms, but something still felt off.

Of course, there's nothing strange about it.

In the pilot's changing room, Shinji Ikari sat on a red bench, taking off his coat. But then he felt a weight on his shoulder as a pair of straight, pale, chopstick-like legs draped over it. Warm yellow light shone down from above, illuminating the thin white cotton socks hanging down and the slender, almost transparent legs.

There was only her and me here, and the only sound was the quiet of our heartbeats.

But Rei Ayanami remained silent.

"Rei?" Shinji Ikari asked tentatively.

He didn't know when it started, but Shinji Ikari began calling Rei Ayanami by her first name. Just a month ago, he had politely addressed her as "Ayanami-kun," but perhaps it was the morning hug, or perhaps it just happened naturally. Shinji looked up at the girl standing in front of him and realized that Rei seemed a little off today.

"Shinji, help me get dressed."

Rei Ayanami spoke softly, and Shinji Ikari didn't ask any questions, but simply quietly helped her remove her black leather shoes. The soft socks, still warm from Rei's body, had a silky smooth texture that was incredibly soothing.

Shinji Ikari has been a knight to many girls, faithfully protecting each sincere love. But he has never encountered the kind of alluring fragrance that only appears in novels and anime. Speaking of which, the most exquisitely beautiful girl he has ever met is Asuka, who is of German and Japanese descent, but her legs still ached, at most with the faint scent of body lotion applied to her skin.

But Rei Ayanami was different; she had a cool, ghostly aura that even in summer. To put it more literally, she had almost no body odor. The moment Shinji Ikari took off his black loafers, the scent of leather mingled with the fragrance of a virgin and a hint of sweat, filling the air.

The feet are light and delicate, easily held in one hand. The smooth instep curves gently, and the five rounded toes are quietly bound in white mid-calf socks. Through the tiny gaps in the cotton socks at close range, you can vaguely see the crystal-clear toes inside.

At this moment, the warm yellow light above their heads swayed slowly up and down, and the interlacing light and shadow seemed to reflect their wavering emotions.

Chapter 85: Angels, please bind humanity together!

The warm yellow light gently bathed the two of them, seemingly giving even their fair legs a warm glow. Through the hazy white mid-calf socks, the delicate outline of their toes was clearly visible, complementing their slender legs with a unique girlish beauty. Perhaps feeling a little shy being watched like this, Rei Ayanami crossed her ankles and gently rubbed them together.

The delicate fragrance of a virgin lingered around his nose, intertwining with the sensation in his palm, stimulating his emotions. Shinji Ikari hooked the white sock with his index finger, removing the last barrier from Rei Ayanami's feet.

Seemingly touched by Shinji Ikari's gaze, Rei Ayanami involuntarily wiggled her toes, her five toes involuntarily curling into a ball. Shinji Ikari gently lifted her heel with his hand; her soft, warm foot was only a handful.

However, Shinji Ikari did not make any further moves. Instead, he turned around and looked at Rei Ayanami, who was sitting on the shoe cabinet and was almost half a head taller than him. At this moment, the two finally faced each other.

"My girl, you look so beautiful today. Is something on your mind?" Shinji Ikari gently placed the girl's foot on his thigh.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to see you..." Rei Ayanami said softly, sounding very obedient.

She was sitting on top of the shoe cabinet, clutching her combat uniform—no wonder she could drape her legs over her shoulders. But her expression was somewhat forlorn, like a lost puppy.

Normally, Rei Ayanami wouldn't be considered particularly stunning, even lacking a ghostly presence. But now, she seemed gentle to Shinji Ikari, as if a gust of wind could carry her away. Her face was bloodless, her beautiful short blue hair was casually scattered, her skin was as white as snow, and her eyes exuded a calming power as she met Shinji's gaze.

Shinji Ikari's actions just now were, frankly, rather rough, but Rei Ayanami showed no displeasure or annoyance. Or rather, she offered no resistance to Shinji, accepting whatever he did to her.

So she silently waited for Shinji Ikari to make his move, and in an instant—

Shinji Ikari reached out from below and firmly grasped Rei Ayanami's hand, which was resting on her knee. His hand was fair, long, warm, and strong.

Their hands remained clasped together for a long time before Rei Ayanami finally spoke, "Will we still be able to wake up together in the future?"

"Why would you think that?" Shinji Ikari seemed to vaguely sense something.

“Because you are Misato now,” Rei Ayanami whispered.

"Is the perception really that exaggerated?" Shinji Ikari raised an eyebrow. He felt he had underestimated the almost impenetrable barrier between himself and Rei Ayanami. But he didn't immediately agree to anything.