Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

“But Shinji Ikari is not a god, and we humans are still too weak,” Ritsuko Akagi said.

The universe is based on the concept of time. Originally, time had neither past nor future. Humans depend on this axis; as long as time itself continues to accumulate, even if the order is disrupted, no problem will arise. However—in imaginary space, time does not accumulate.

Although that's what they say, Shinji Ikari doesn't understand at all. He only knows that after spending three hours in the parallel world, returning to his home world will only be a fleeting moment.

It is simply presented in a naked state.

Shinji Ikari didn't seem embarrassed at all. After quickly changing into his casual clothes, he returned to his dormitory. He had also heard about the upcoming dormitory relocation, and to be honest, he was just as reluctant to leave.

However, there's nothing that can be done. The headquarters facilities are severely damaged, but even so, they can still be used if needed. The real problem is that the defense system is now paralyzed, and the twenty-one layers of defense have been completely breached. As a fortress city meant to repel the Apostles, the word "fortress" is no longer applicable.

Back at the dormitory, there was still no movement. Misato Katsuragi was still directing the rescue efforts. Like Ritsuko Akagi, she had too much attachment to Hakone, and even though she was leaving, she still wanted to do her best to save as many lives as possible. Although it could no longer serve as a command post, it was still perfectly adequate as a logistical base. Rei Ayanami seemed to have some other matters to attend to and was temporarily delayed.

Of course, Shinji Ikari knew that Asuka was there, but because the attack on the Angels was carried out by an unknown Fifth Child piloting Unit-02, who even used a special mode that Asuka couldn't activate, it plunged her into unpleasant emotions once again.

After Shinji Ikari, who rarely cooks, called out to him several times without success, he quickly washed up, returned to his room, and closed his eyes.

Half an hour later, he heard rustling sounds, as if someone was approaching his room, or even getting close to him.

155: The Form of the Mind, Self-Awareness

At this moment, it's only Asuka, and only Asuka, otherwise, how could she be the Powerpuff Girls?

Even with his eyes closed, Shinji Ikari could feel Asuka gently pull open the sliding door and stand by his bedside, and he could even clearly feel her gaze sweeping over him.

Just as Shinji Ikari was pondering whether he should pretend to be asleep, or open his eyes in surprise and ask, "What are you doing here?" or grab her with a lewd grin and say, "Little beauty, you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, so don't blame me for being ruthless, hehehe!"

"If you're not asleep, get up now." Asuka kicked Shinji Ikari out of bed and said impatiently.

"Not yet, I'm thinking about something." Now that he didn't have to think about which way to proceed, Shinji Ikari sat up in bed. "How did you know I wasn't asleep yet?"

"I thought you were asleep, but I can't sleep, so I wanted you to keep me company... but I can't sleep either!" Asuka crossed her arms, her face full of impatience.

Shinji Ikari could sense Asuka's inner turmoil, but he didn't point it out. "It's alright. I'm a little excited since I just got back. I'll fall asleep when I get sleepy. It's fine."

Asuka hummed twice but didn't say anything. She was just feeling annoyed at night and wanted to bother Shinji Ikari, but she hadn't decided exactly what she wanted to do.

"Did you bring your controller? I just bought two new game cartridges. Since we can't sleep either... how about we play some games?" After a long silence, Shinji Ikari suggested.

“…Alright.” Asuka agreed without hesitation.

Shinji Ikari put on his pajamas, and the two sat side by side in the room, showing off as they turned on New Super Mario Bros. U, the same scent of shower gel wafting from the side.

Later, Asuka recalled that night when the air conditioning was turned down to the lowest setting, and felt that they hadn't done anything meaningful. Misato Katsuragi was busy in Hakone, Rei Ayanami hadn't returned, and the bespectacled cat girl hadn't arrived either. The two of them were sitting side by side playing the deluxe edition of "New Super Mario Bros." and "Street Fighter."

He sat cross-legged beside her, his attacks ruthless and merciless, showing no mercy to the women, using cover to drag his teammates to their deaths. Sometimes they discussed the game, sometimes they sang songs, from pop music to lame jokes. Sometimes Shinji Ikari would explain the 23 districts of Hakone to Asuka, but she would turn her head away uninterested, mocking that it was destined to become a logistics base anyway, and therefore worthless.

Asuka recalls that sometimes a careless remark she made might actually come true in the future.

As if sensing her presence, she turned her head. At that moment, Shinji Ikari was completely focused on the screen, and he exuded a shower gel scent similar to her own. Naturally, she rested her head on Shinji Ikari's shoulder.

Then the handle slipped from my hand.

Shinji Ikari turned his head to look at the girl leaning on his shoulder, and used his hand to support her head as it slid down. Only then did she realize that the guy who didn't want her to sleep had already fallen asleep.

He straightened her bangs, and the light from the screen shone on her face, making Shinji Ikari almost unable to resist kissing her beautiful lips.

At that moment, Asuka suddenly opened her eyes. What surfaced in her eyes was displeasure, anxiety, confusion, and—anger.

“As expected, I’m still different from that top student. She’s different, she’s one of a kind, right?” Asuka stared straight into Shinji Ikari’s eyes.

What's wrong now? Why are we suddenly talking about Rei Ayanami? Shinji Ikari was taken aback. He'd dated quite a few girls, but he'd never met one as easily startled as Asuka. But instinct made him gently stroke Asuka's hair. "But Asuka is unique too."

However, Asuka wasn't buying it at all. After breaking free from his embrace, she turned and left.

After carefully exiting the game, Shinji Ikari rushed upstairs, only to find that Asuka had already returned to her room and the door was tightly closed.

He looked at Misato Katsuragi, who was leaning against the refrigerator cabinet, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. She had just opened a can of ice-cold beer. He didn't know when she had returned or how long she had been looking at it.

“People always take what they have for granted.” Misato Katsuragi sighed softly, feigning profundity, then handed an empty beer bottle to Shinji Ikari. “You, too, are blinded by your own involvement.”

"What do you mean?" Shinji Ikari was a little confused.

“What else can I say?” Misato Katsuragi gave Shinji Ikari a deep look. “It’s obvious that the conflict stems from the mismatch in the positions of the relatives.”

As for Asuka, she desires the familial care that Shinji Ikari shows Rei Ayanami, rather than purely lustful desires stemming from her body. Conversely, Rei Ayanami craves the simple, pure, and materialistic kiss that Shinji gives Asuka.

Misato Katsuragi had been busy all day and was too lazy to explain to Shinji Ikari. She believed that with Shinji's intelligence, he would definitely figure things out once he sobered up. She decided to go to sleep first.

Curled up in bed, Asuka looked out the window and made up her mind that once she moved to the new dormitory, she would leave behind the annoying Misato, the annoying number one girl, and the annoying idiot Shinji.

Asuka is Asuka; she doesn't need to rely on anyone. Clutching the doll covered in stitches, she made up her mind once again.

She heard rustling sounds behind her, as if someone was approaching her room. Without a doubt, it was Shinji Ikari who had caught up with her.

Even with her eyes closed, Asuka could feel Shinji Ikari gently pull open the sliding door and stand by her bedside, and she could even clearly feel his gaze sweeping over her.

But unlike Shinji Ikari, Asuka wouldn't overthink things; she decided to ignore him. These experiences made her realize that Shinji was the root of her pain, and she finally made up her mind.

But he didn't call out to her; instead, he simply lay down next to her and fell asleep. Asuka was a little annoyed and turned around, unable to resist kicking him. "Go back to your room if you want to sleep! It stinks!" Just as Asuka complained like this, the boy opposite her suddenly opened his eyes.

When their eyes met, she was speechless again. Seeing this, Shinji Ikari gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

Sometimes, coaxing a girl is as simple as coaxing a sow: either you give her a whack to quiet her down, or you can just hold her down, or you can offer her warmth. Of course, this is a multiple-choice question.

Asuka squirmed a few times in Shinji Ikari's arms, but finally resigned herself to her fate and lay still in his embrace. Shinji knew that Asuka's tsundere-like coyness was sometimes just a way for her to hide her true feelings.

He resisted the urge to move his hands around, and still managed to fall asleep first.

Asuka, who had been waiting for a long time, heard the boy next to her snoring softly. She moved closer to Shinji Ikari with a blank expression, intending to pinch his nose to wake him up again, but ultimately gave up on the idea.

She thought for a moment, then ultimately chose to sit in front of Shinji Ikari and slowly remove her clothes. Biting her lip, she revealed a victorious expression.

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Beneath the azure surface lies the pure ocean, devoid of any form.

There were no living creatures, only floating blue and white combat suits, drifting slowly on the water with the waves, as if they had lost their owners.

"Where is this?" Shinji Ikari wondered, looking at the scene before him.

"This is the ocean, this is my combat suit, and this is Li's combat suit. It's supposed to be my world, but I've never seen it before. It feels like it's from somewhere else?"

As Shinji Ikari became aware of his presence, his vision quickly shifted from the seabed to a third-person perspective of the beach. The azure waves pounded against the shore with the tides, and the original sandy beach rapidly changed shape, displaying starry skies, human cross-sections, the interior of a volcano, a meteor shower, and the surface of the moon.

Then came a series of familiar faces: Asuka Langley Soryu, Misato Katsuragi, Ryoji Kaji, Ritsuko Akagi, Kosuke Fuyutsuki, Suzuhara, Hikaru Toki, Kirishima, Mr. Yamanaka, Mr. Maya Ibuki, Satsuki Oi, Aoi Mogami, Sakura Suzuhara... Rei Ayanami with blue hair, Rei Ayanami with pink hair, Rei Ayanami with short silver hair.

Having come to understand himself, the world, and interpersonal relationships, Shinji Ikari finally anchored his existence, abruptly awakening from the sea. "This is my world, but why do I feel like an outsider? I hate this feeling. What haven't I accomplished? Oh right! There are still enemies!"

The images flashed before Shinji Ikari's eyes once more, but this time they showed the figures from the Water Angel to the final Power Angel, enemies bearing the name of angels, enemies of Misato's father, enemies of all mankind. Shinji repeatedly confirmed his enemies, and eventually the images flashed faster and faster, even interspersed with Asuka's disdainful face, Misato Katsuragi's pitying gaze, Rei Ayanami's indifferent expression, and those figures appearing more and more frequently.

With a deafening roar, the beach and the sea collapsed, and Shinji Ikari fell into a crimson world. He did not run away, because a gaunt man wearing sunglasses was standing right in front of him, very close, pushing up his glasses with an expression that was neither happy nor angry.

"Are you going to run away again? Then get lost, you're useless." The man uttered those long-unheard words once more.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it, enemy, enemy, enemy..." Shinji Ikari really wanted to run away, but when the man in front of him looked down at him, his blood seemed to freeze, and he couldn't move an inch. "Damn it! This is my world! You are the enemy! You damned bastard! How dare you hurt Asuka, how dare you kill Mom!"

But Gendo Ikari, standing before him, merely adjusted his glasses, and the light reflected from those frames plunged Shinji into despair. He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, but could not bring himself to throw a punch.

Gendo Ikari made a soft nasal sound, as if he were scoffing, or perhaps he felt that Shinji Ikari's reaction was always within his expectations. Until the next second, time froze, and an identical figure walked out from behind Shinji Ikari. He walked straight to Shinji Ikari's side, a cold, deadpan smile on his lips.

Before he could do anything, the trembling boy standing before him clenched his fist and viciously swung it toward his jaw. There was no tactile sensation of flesh hitting flesh, nor the expected scene of blood and gore flying. After Shinji Ikari bravely swung his first fist, he fearfully raised his arms, awaiting the storm of blows from the other side.

There was nothing there, only the ocean and beach from the beginning, and two combat suits washed ashore by the waves. One was his own, and the other was Rei Ayanami's.

As if sensing something, Shinji Ikari suddenly turned around and looked to the side, but his original self had vanished.

Or perhaps he always had. Shinji Ikari had always been searching for a reason why he hadn't lost himself. But only now did he realize that the reason had always existed within his own heart.

“The words from your painful past are essentially irrelevant to you,” Shinji Ikari said softly.

Shinji Ikari gazed at the vast blue sea before him, so different from his own century, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether he was Shinji Ikari of the New World or Shinji Ikari of the Empire's vanguard.

Whoever it is, they are all aspects of Shinji Ikari's soul.

He turned his head to look at the combat uniform next to him, the one that belonged to Li. As the waves gradually rose, he was worried that it would be swept away by the waves, so he hugged it in his arms.

When Shinji Ikari opened his eyes again, he was on the ceiling of Asuka's room.

He sensed something was different, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. As he tried to recall, many things he had never experienced surfaced in his mind. But Shinji Ikari didn't panic, because these were indeed Shinji's memories, just things he hadn't experienced himself.

There's no need to organize memories, because they're already his own. Shinji Ikari lowered his eyes. In Asuka's room, he once again felt the warm, smooth touch of skin pressed tightly against his chest and thighs.

This time, however, there was no need to confirm the girl's identity. Asuka was clinging to her waist like an octopus, her legs tightly wrapped around her left leg.

Shinji Ikari had no idea what had happened last night under these circumstances.

But nothing must have happened, Shinji Ikari thought. He wasn't sure if he trusted his own willpower, but Asuka wouldn't allow him to hug her, would she?

But I don't know why, maybe it's because the air conditioning has been stuffy for too long, but the room always smells weird.

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P.S.: I'd like to recommend a friend's new book.

London, England.

Su Ling has been interning at this mental hospital for three months.

All the patients there are talented people, and their bragging is so funny that it sounds as if it's all true.

Bed number five is a girl who claims to be a "magical girl who has defeated the big devil", but in fact she is a 13-year-old middle school girl who simply doesn't want to go to school.

Bed number 12 is occupied by a girl suffering from severe depression. She claims to be the king of fallen angels and is courting death every day. She wants to die and return to hell so that she can wage war on heaven.

In the deepest part, there is an extremely dangerous and sinister queen imprisoned. She claims to be the Red Queen Nanoe Samedi, the messenger of the King of Gods. She will grant eternal life to anyone who is given a little fun...

……

Su Ling always smiled at the hysteria of these patients.

Until one day, Su Ling discovered that what these mentally ill patients said was actually true.

Even more terrifying was that one day she saw a file and discovered that she was also a patient in this mental hospital...

156: The Fruit of Life Belonging to Humanity

In the dimly lit room, only five seats were lit.