The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Is this Ikari Shinji?

Ayanami Rei sat in the cockpit, staring blankly as Unit-01 hacked the Angel into pieces. In her impression, the Fourth Angel was not weak; at the very least, she knew she was no match for it.

Yet, it still had no power to resist. As long as one listens to Ikari Shinji, does everything just become... okay?

She placed her hand over her chest.

’And so, is this what ”peace of mind” feels like?’

The Angel fell silent. Unit-01’s internal power supply expired, and it bowed its head amidst the scattered gore.

The purple armor was stained red, kneeling in the piles of flesh like a post-modern oil painting.

The cockpit fell silent, save for the glow of the emergency power. Shinji sat quietly, slowly raising his palm.

”The same feeling as when I defeated the Third Angel. In that instant, I sensed a Sea of Souls similar to the Warp.”

The last time hadn’t been an illusion. Using the Angel’s core as a medium and pouring psychic power inward could lead to another place—a place both familiar and foreign.

He was certain it wasn’t the Warp. Having done this twice in a row, if it were the Warp, it would have been enough to attract the gaze of a Chaos God. Furthermore, the battle records of his Chapter contained no record of warp-daemons like the Angels.

The two were linked. Could this explain the anomaly between the Third and Fourth Angels? After all, the latter had much stronger combat instincts. It was just a pity he couldn’t maintain the rift to delve deeper into that Sea of Souls.

The Angel, as a medium, would eventually self-destruct; it wouldn’t allow him to continuously pour in psychic power to keep the door open.

”One puzzle after another. Fortunately, my psychic power has grown. Perhaps one day, I will be able to tear open a rift at will.”

He didn’t dwell on it. Even if the timeline had changed, so what? Weak Xenos must die; strong Xenos must die even more. It was nothing more than a minor adjustment.

”I must find a way to integrate human resources and manufacture more Battle-Brothers.”

Ayanami Rei’s cooperative combat had left a very deep impression on him. The Astartes were never known for fighting alone; every mission included at least a squad.

’I am no longer a lone commander.’

Shinji stood up with some relief, twisted the top handle, and manually ejected the entry plug.

He stood on the back of the several-dozen-meter-tall machine, smelling the night air, which was thick with the scent of blood. The surrounding searchlights swept back and forth, and countless support units were rushing in.

Thump, thump, thump.

Heavy footsteps approached. The orange-painted Unit-00 trudged over, dragging its long sniper rifle.

”Do you need help?” Ayanami Rei’s voice came over the loudspeaker.

”No. The post-battle scenery is exquisite.” Shinji enjoyed this stench of blood, shaking his neck until it popped. ”Rei, you did very well this time. You executed every one of my commands perfectly.”

”Is that... praise?” Unit-00 tilted its head slightly.

”Of course it is praise. We have once again protected humanity and slain these damned Xenos.” Shinji clenched his fist and spoke without hesitation. Paired with the blood-stained Unit-01, an aura of iron-blooded discipline radiated from him.

Ayanami Rei blinked, watching the boy on the monitor over and over again. How magnificent he was—as if, even if the sky were falling, he would be the one to hold it back.

’Being praised by him... I feel happy? Hmm? Is this... happiness?’

”So, you are happy?”

”How can one not be happy after slaying a powerful foe? Oh, I see what you mean.” Shinji tapped his forehead and turned to look around.

Large numbers of military vehicles arrived, and exhausted soldiers climbed out. Their casualties had been minimal in this battle, yet they had provided sufficient support. The dense ranks of soldiers stared at the boy on the back of the mecha; he seemed to have become the center of a spotlight.

At his age, he could only be the son of many of these officers, yet his martial prowess was enough to put any of them to shame.

Everyone had seen it. Faced with the terrifying Angel, it was he who struck it down. The whole process lacked anything incomprehensible; it looked more like an ace pilot operating a war machine to defeat a monster.

So fierce and brave—no one dared to treat him as a mere child anymore. If it were them, forget such flowing, artistic slaughter; they would have likely wet themselves in terror long ago.

Swish.

Leading by example, hundreds of soldiers stood in perfect unison and gave a military salute. It was the respect due to the strong.

”Do you see? My joy never stems from expecting someone’s praise. It is only because I did the right thing. As an Angel of the Emperor, I have upheld my oath.” Shinji looked at the solemn soldiers and returned a chest-thumping salute. Truth be told, he wasn’t overly excited.

He had experienced similar things too often. When humanity was in a bitter struggle, when countless Orks were tearing the lines apart, the Emperor’s Angels would descend from the sky and take command of the battlefield beneath their searing gaze.

Though the times and the places had changed, many things remained the same.

”The right thing? What can be called ’right’?” Ayanami asked again, seeking instruction.

”Everyone has a different view on what is right. If you don’t know, just follow your instinct to make a decision. Act first, then look back afterward.” Shinji rubbed his chin. He felt that this Ayanami Rei had started treating him as a teacher. However, Librarians had an educational responsibility, so it didn’t really matter.

”I understand.”

Shinji didn’t care whether she truly understood or not. He looked up toward the road not far from the battlefield, where a massive number of ambulances were wailing past, transporting the wounded to Tokyo-3.

He watched for a long time and frowned slightly. A psyker could feel some of the people dying on the road, their souls disappearing without a trace.

Slowly, he looked up at the night sky. The moon was full.

’Do their souls... have a place to return to?’

.

.

.

”Shin—ji—kun, don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Misato Katsuragi stormed over. Seeing the boy’s stern face, she simply couldn’t bring herself to use her ”correction punch.”

”Everything was according to plan. The margin of error was within 5 seconds.” Shinji looked up at Unit-01, where many mechanical arms were washing the gore off the armor.

’A margin of error within 5 seconds? Do you think you’re MAGI?’

Misato looked at him suspiciously. This ”stable as a rock” composure didn’t look faked, but before she could speak, he beat her to it.

”What are the casualty figures?”

”Uh... the Self-Defense Force lost two destroyers, over a dozen tanks, maybe a few hundred casualties. This level of loss is already very low... wait, why do you care about that?”

”I have discovered that conventional weapons have their uses. Humanity should not place all its bets on the EVAs.”

”Aside from N2 bombs, they’re just wasting taxpayer money.”

”No. Humanity’s greatest strength is creativity. If the technology reaches a certain level, they can defeat the Angels as well.”

’You’re telling me this, but I don’t run the Self-Defense Force.’

Misato’s eye twitched. She suddenly realized Shinji wasn’t targeting her specifically; he wanted to manage everything, even more than Commander Ikari did.

”Forget it. That work can come later. Is it settled with Dr. Akagi? I have fulfilled my promise.” Shinji rolled his shoulders and suddenly caught a line of sight. He turned his head and saw several men in suits overlooking him from the high-level control room.

Misato didn’t notice this small movement and asked puzzledly: ”Do you really want to join her task force?”

”It is a necessity. I wish to find the answer through science.” Shinji stared at the group of suits until they turned and left.

’The answer?’

Hmm. Understanding the Angels would indeed lead to better ways to defeat them.

Misato didn’t dwell on it, nodding: ”Fine. I’ll talk to Ritsuko, but don’t hold your breath. She doesn’t have the final say.”

This battle hadn’t spread to the city, and the Self-Defense Force losses weren’t massive. Thinking that she wouldn’t have to work overtime for the cleanup, Misato left happily, saying she was going to buy some things to celebrate tonight.

’Probably more frozen food, though.’

Shinji didn’t have any expectations. He preferred to stay with Unit-01. At that moment, amidst the sound of mechanical rotation, Unit-00 was being moved into the hangar, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an old man standing behind him.

”Do you need something?”

Kozo Fuyutsuki had arrived at some point. The two had little interaction. They stood with their hands behind their backs, looking toward Unit-00. After a moment of silence, Fuyutsuki was the one who couldn’t hold it in.

”Well done, Shinji-kun.”

”Thank you for the praise, Vice Commander Fuyutsuki. What mission do you have for me?”

Fuyutsuki’s mouth twitched slightly. As a scholar, he was very ill-equipped for Shinji’s style. It wasn’t hostility, exactly, but it was just so incredibly direct and abrupt.

”It is not an order. I was just making idle conversation. Shinji-kun, have you gotten used to living here?”

”Everything is under control.”

”And school? Any issues?”

”The academic content is extremely low. The school staff poses no threat. However, the surveillance methods of the Intelligence Department agents protecting me from the shadows are substandard. NERV needs to provide them with better training.”

Fuyutsuki, who had been trying to build rapport, didn’t know how to respond. It was true that all EVA pilots were problem children, but this guy’s problems were on another level entirely.

’Should I arrange for a psychologist?’

”You noticed the difference between the Fourth and Third Angels, didn’t you?”

At the mention of official business, Shinji, who had been slightly impatient, suddenly became serious. He nodded: ”The two are indeed different. Not only did the Fourth Angel attack at low altitude in the middle of the night, but it was also far more agile in combat. The Third Angel’s AT Field was stronger, yet it didn’t know how to utilize it.”

He had already run countless mock battles in his head. If he were the Third Angel, he would have bombed from a distance; he wouldn’t have foolishly entered the complex terrain of the city for close-quarters combat.

”Hmm. You mean to say that the Angels possess intelligence?” Fuyutsuki frowned, completely forgetting he was speaking to a child.

”No. The essence of intelligence is creation. I have not yet discovered any such capability in the Angels. It would be more accurate to call it ’combat instinct.’ Something has upgraded their combat instinct.”

Striking directly at the heart of the matter made Fuyutsuki Kozo feel excited. He looked at the boy with approval: ”Then what do you think is the reason?”

”I don’t know. Dealing with an enemy requires detailed intelligence rather than conjecture. However, I estimate it is related to the source of the Angels. That is for you to research.” Shinji gave the old man a cold look, seeing that Unit-00 had been secured and Ayanami Rei, in her white plug suit, was leaving the cockpit.

”Investigate it slowly. I have other matters to attend to. Farewell.”

He gave a slight nod and walked away in a crisp, efficient manner. Fuyutsuki Kozo was left stunned, looking at the straight back, then at the waiting Ayanami Rei in the distance. The girl’s face left him in a trance.

’Yui... you have born a son of iron...’

NERV, Commander’s Office.

The lights were dim. The office spanned hundreds of square meters, yet its only furniture was a black metal desk and a high-backed chair, isolated in the center of the room. The ceiling, painted with the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, made the space feel more like a temple, steeped in religious metaphor.

Kozo Fuyutsuki stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire underground fortress. Behind him, on the desk, a phone on the top-secret line flashed red. Gendo Ikari’s cold voice emanated from it.

”Is that what he said?”

”Yes. Shinji-kun has indeed changed. He seems to have no need for praise or recognition from others. Sometimes, I feel he is more composed than I am.”

Fuyutsuki made a joke, but Gendo did not pick up on it. He didn’t care about Shinji’s psychological changes as long as the boy was useful. And as it stood now, the kid was almost too useful.

He couldn’t find any opportunity to assert his presence as a father at all. None of his planned psychological gambits—playing for sympathy or using reverse psychology—worked. As for the ”avoidance” he remembered—

Please. This was a warrior facing destiny head-on, a hero who had proactively taken up the burden of human survival.

”Ikari, I feel as though Shinji has become a different person.” Fuyutsuki turned serious. The change was too vast—vast enough that even a blind man would find it abnormal.

”I know. But Unit-01 did not reject him. Therefore, Ikari Shinji is still Ikari Shinji, at least on a soulful level.” Gendo shook his head. As for anything beyond the soul, he couldn’t fathom it.

”In terms of dealing with the Angels, his actions aren’t wrong. It’s just that I feel the script has deviated.”

”You mean the mutation of the Angels? The script has no specific description of that, and I can’t find any evidence linking it to Shinji-kun for now.” Fuyutsuki shook his head and followed up: ”Since you feel there’s a deviation, when will you return to correct it?”

The other end of the line fell silent. In a snow-covered research facility, Gendo Ikari’s face darkened as he looked through the thick glass at the bustling construction site outside.

On one side lay the corpse of the Third Angel; on the other stood a giant that was gradually taking shape.

He could have returned, but SEELE had issued a new order, demanding he remain at the Arctic branch to oversee the construction of EVA Unit-05.

This Unit-05 was the product of a special budget. Originally, there were no plans to build it, but now it seemed they wanted a ”hidden hand” outside of NERV Headquarters—after all, America also had two EVAs nearing completion.

Quantity wasn’t the issue; resources and international distrust were the keys restricting EVA mass production. After all, letting 14-year-olds pilot robots to fight Angels didn’t exactly seem ”reliable” to any world leader.

However, after Unit-01’s battle with the Third Angel, even the most fastidious head of state had to admit:

’Truly, he is too damn reliable.’

’Is this a backup plan, or a warning to me?’

SEELE was merely the mastermind behind the scenes, not the direct controller of every nation. Now that the various countries no longer opposed expanding the EVA scale, it provided them with an opportunity.

Gendo thought deeper, saying coldly: ”SEELE is questioning why I had no combat data for the first fight, and why there is none for the second either. What exactly is Ritsuko Akagi doing?”

Unit-01 was vital. Shinji’s anomaly had triggered a crisis of loyalty, and this crisis was magnifying. SEELE could not tolerate too many unknowns regarding their sharpest blade.

They found it difficult to suspect a fourteen-year-old boy of plotting, so they naturally targeted Gendo Ikari as the suspect.

”Dr. Akagi is troubleshooting the malfunctions, but everything shows as normal.” Fuyutsuki pursed his lips, knowing Gendo was being set up, yet he didn’t suspect Shinji either.

A pilot couldn’t sabotage the monitoring system, and there was no reason to do so.

”Perhaps it is Unit-01’s own will?”

”That is the only explanation, but I don’t understand why Unit-01 would do this. It has never displayed such a will before.” Gendo rubbed his throbbing brow, knowing this was impossible to verify.

”Oh, one more thing. The Security Department has swapped out some personnel.”

”That was to be expected. SEELE doubts my loyalty, so they will naturally arrange for their own people. Don’t worry about them.” Gendo knew he couldn’t stop it and shouldn’t try. No matter how smart he was, he was still just a mortal.

If he acted out now, he’d end up with a hole in his head.

”Understood. However, they are very interested in Shinji-kun. They might think to use him as a breakthrough point to investigate you. Do I need to make any arrangements?” Fuyutsuki couldn’t help but ask. In SEELE’s eyes, Unit-01 was important; the Third Child, less so.

Gendo’s mind stirred—not out of concern for his son’s change, but because he knew he was being watched. As the actual person in charge of the plan, the NERV Commander had to be absolutely loyal.

No matter what method SEELE used to contact Shinji, the truth would eventually come out. Once his trust was regained, he could return to his throne and adjust the script.

”Do not interfere. Let them investigate. On my end, I am pushing for the Second Child and EVA Unit-02 to be sent to headquarters. The Angels have only just begun to appear; SEELE needs my strength.” Gendo paused, as if remembering something, and ordered:

”Tell Rei she doesn’t need to continue contacting him. It’s meaningless. I’ll talk to Shinji myself when I return.

I think... he will understand me.”

Fuyutsuki’s expression shifted slightly. Before he could speak, he saw the red light on the phone go out. He stood in the cold, silent room.

After a long time, he let out a heavy sigh.

-

-

-

”To our winning streak! Cheers!!”

In the tidy dining room, Misato took a massive swig of beer, her previous irritation long forgotten.

So what if he didn’t follow orders? The invincible Shinji-sama could handle anything.

”Hehe, the Fourth Angel is down, losses were minimal, I don’t have to work overtime, and I might even get a promotion and a raise. I’ve really hitched my wagon to a massive star.” Misato swayed her head happily, looking at the girl across from her with a gossipy expression.

”I didn’t expect Rei to come, too. You couldn’t possibly be interested in Shinji, could you? Not that it matters—reliable boys are always full of charm.”

Ayanami Rei sat opposite her, holding a glass of sparkling water, her eyes blinking as if she didn’t understand Misato’s words.

”Ikari-kun invited me. He said I also performed meritoriously during the battle and that we should celebrate together.”

She didn’t understand at all why defeating an Angel required a celebration, but her intuition told her she should come, so she came.

”Hehe, you’re already calling him ’Ikari-kun.’ That’s pretty intimate for someone who claims they aren’t interested.” Misato felt her inner schoolgirl fluttering. This was that Ayanami, and she had actually shown up.

”Why? He ordered me to call him by his name. He said ’Third Child’ was too long and inconvenient for communication.”

”Aww, anyway, the relationship between you two is definitely unusual!” Misato said with conviction, though she couldn’t quite explain what it was.

These were two eccentrics: one who knew nothing like a blank sheet of paper, and as for the other...

She turned to look toward the kitchen. The boy was cooking, but his method was bizarre.

He was holding a stopwatch, pouring in ingredients like a robot. The frequency of his stirring was perfectly consistent, and he was even muttering something under his breath.

’This guy makes cooking look like... well, cooking. Can he actually hit on girls? Still, it smells pretty good.’

She licked her lips and filled Rei’s glass with cola. Seeing the girl stick out her tongue to take tiny, dainty sips like a kitten drinking water made Misato daze for a moment.

Rei had changed a bit, hadn’t she? And so had Shinji. Before, he would never have hosted guests; even the Security Department agents were afraid of him.

But still, it was a good thing for problem children to change. Ultimately, she looked toward the kitchen.

Sometimes, being too reliable could be frightening in its own way.

Soon, the room was filled with the aroma of food.

Misato was in a good mood. Over these past few days, she felt that Ikari Shinji was no longer acting like a fourteen-year-old boy; in fact, he hardly seemed like a human from Earth anymore.

Seeing him behave in a normal way now, she was greatly relieved and proactively ran to the kitchen to carry out the plates.

”Is this pan-seared steak? Wow! You can even make tempura? When did you learn this?” Misato’s appetite was whetted. She cut off a piece of steak and popped it into her mouth; the meat juices flooded her palate. ”Delicious! The flavor is literally textbook perfect.”

”Following the steps in the book and calibrating the heat to the exact second—it is not difficult.” Shinji remained as calm as ever. Before the woman could tease him, he said softly, ”Delicious food makes me feel pleasant. As long as one practices restraint, one will not fall into Chaos corruption or become fuel for the flames of battle.”

’He’s saying things I don’t understand again.’

Misato was long used to it. She cracked open another beer and sat cross-legged on her chair. ”You didn’t talk like that before, you know. You used to say food was just a necessity to sustain life.”

”When conditions permit, supplementing nutrition with fresh food never does any harm.” Shinji took a bite of the steak, feeling the rich flavor, and narrowed his eyes.

An Astartes is not an ascetic monk. Since fine food can make one feel pleasant, there is no harm in trying it.

”Fine, fine. I can never win an argument with you anyway. But what’s up with Rei?”

”If I didn’t invite her, you would have just gorged yourself under the guise of celebrating anyway. Is there a problem with one more person bathing in the glory of victory?” Shinji said quietly.

’There is a problem! I’m trying to be your wingman here, can’t you say something nice?’

Misato clutched her forehead, feeling the guy was beyond saving. She glanced at Ayanami Rei, who was sipping her cola in tiny mouthfuls, and felt even more of a headache.

”Rei, you’ve already had three glasses. Did you come all the way over here just to satisfy your cola addiction?”

Ayanami Rei looked up blankly, staring at the bubbling black liquid in her glass, and it took a long while before she answered. ”An unfamiliar taste, but it’s not bad.”

”Then eat some food! Try this guy’s cooking.”

Misato picked up a piece of tempura to put in Rei’s bowl, but suddenly remembering the girl was a vegetarian, she swapped it for a piece of roasted eggplant.

Rei picked up her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and her red eyes widened slightly.

The outer skin was crispy, the inside soft and tender. Savory and sweet flavors intertwined, along with a spiciness that felt almost like a sharp pain.

An even more unfamiliar taste. Hmm, it was more delicious than whole-wheat bread.

’Delicious? Is this what ”tasty” feels like?’

She looked to the side. The boy was focused intently on his meal, eyes fixed straight ahead. This time, without waiting for Misato to ask, she whispered to herself:

”Delicious.”

With Shinji and Ayanami Rei present, the celebration couldn’t exactly become rowdy. The former didn’t place much importance on the event, and the latter was unfamiliar with everything and was busy trying to learn.

Before long, dinner was finished. The table was covered in empty plates and beer cans. Misato leaned back in her chair, continuously rubbing her stomach, which was bulging from the meal.

”It’s been so long since I’ve eaten this comfortably. Frozen food is trash; the NERV canteen is trash, too. Shinji, I never expected you to have this skill.

The house is cleaned until it sparkles, you can cook, and you get a promotion and a raise just for doing your job... you’re so reliable I almost want to marry you.”

Misato’s face was flushed red, her entire demeanor drunken. Shinji looked at her with disdain, warning himself once more that this was the end result of indulgence.

’It’s too decadent. If we were in 40K, Miss Misato would be corrupted by Slaanesh sooner or later.’

Shinji was already accustomed to Misato’s personality. As long as she didn’t screw up in battle, he wouldn’t object. While gathering the plates, he glanced to the side.

The ice-blue-haired girl was crouching in a corner of the living room, hugging her knees, watching the penguin eat fish without blinking. Her gaze was as pure as an infant’s.

”It’s called Pen-Pen. Miss Misato’s pet.”

”Pet?”

”It’s an animal that makes people feel pleasant. You can touch it.”

Rei hesitantly reached out her hand. The penguin didn’t dodge; instead, it shivered in delight. Feeling the soft sensation under her hand, she suddenly understood.

”I am very happy. You were right.”

Shinji pulled up a stool and sat down, quietly watching the emotionless girl. He observed every one of her movements, seeing her snow-white skin reflecting the soft lamp light.

She was an exquisite porcelain doll, yet a brief trace of doubt appeared on Shinji’s face.

’Why did I ask her to come?’

His words to Misato earlier weren’t the whole reason. Watching Ayanami Rei and enjoying the brief tranquility, his rigid tone softened slightly.

”Hmm, I am happy, too.”

An Astartes never limits themselves. When not necessary, he would not seal himself off. Adapting to various environments was the instinct of a powerful warrior.

After a month back in his hometown, Shinji was gradually adjusting to the rhythm of this world.

The enemies weren’t particularly strong, and the frequency of attacks was low. This world didn’t have the suffocating despair found in the 40K universe.

There was no Inquisition, no Chaos corruption. Sometimes, it felt as beautiful as heaven.

This place was too foreign; it would be enough to leave other Astartes bewildered. But Shinji was different—after all, this was his home.

Memories buried for hundreds of years were slowly awakening. It turned out he, too, like Kensuke Aida and the others, had been an ordinary person living a peaceful life every day—no mission, no oath, not even daring to kill a chicken.

”But in the end, I can never go back. The memories of the Dark Galaxy are already etched deep into my genes.”

Shinji sat straight in his chair with a complex expression. Being thrown from a desperate galaxy back to one’s hometown—this fragmentation brought extreme pain.

’The Emperor protects. Guided by You, I shall face this cruel destiny.’

Shinji took a deep breath, casting the distracting thoughts to the back of his mind. Ritsuko Akagi had once said that psychological issues might increase the strength of an AT Field; in this world, there was perhaps no one with bigger problems than himself.

Sitting in the pitch-black living room, the dining table acted like a boundary line. On the other side, the light shone through the frosted glass of the bathroom.

Rei had been forcibly kept behind by the drunken Misato, who had said some inexplicable things like ”I’m giving you a chance” and ”Don’t you dare peek!” before stumbling off to her room to snore.

Click.

Just as Shinji was ”judging” Misato’s behavior, the bathroom door opened. He saw a pair of fair, slender calves with crystalline water droplets trickling down the curves of her legs.

His gaze moved upward—a flat abdomen and modest, delicate curves. Her skin was slightly flushed from the water temperature. Rei draped a bath towel over herself. Her ice-blue short hair was still dripping, and her red eyes remained pure and flawless. The mist spreading from the bathroom seemed to drape a veil over her.

It was silent. Rei looked at Shinji, and Shinji looked at Rei. There was no screaming or blushing like in a shoujo manga.

Rei was bewildered and innocent; Shinji was as firm as steel.

”Miss Misato did not leave me a change of clothes,” Rei said quietly.

”That is her style,” Shinji said with a helpless shake of his head. He took a white T-shirt from his room and draped it over Rei’s shoulders.

His fingers touched her soft, warm skin, feeling not even a hint of chill.

Shinji instinctively muttered ”The Emperor protects,” and his instinctively accelerating heartbeat instantly calmed.

”Wear mine.”

”Hmm.” Rei nodded. She dropped the towel and reached out to pull on the T-shirt; in that brief moment, her perfect form was revealed.

White, blue, red, pink.

With an Astartes’ power of observation, Shinji captured the vibrant colors. He didn’t become flustered like an ordinary teenager; he simply, quietly, closed his eyes.

’Truly beautiful.’

Opening my eyes is an act of appreciation; closing them is a matter of decorum. Yet, that scene lingered in my mind, and it wasn’t until I silently recited ”The Emperor Protects” ten times that I buried it deep within my memory.

At this moment, Shinji realized another issue.

He hurried to Misato Katsuragi’s room and pushed open the door, only to find the woman sprawled out in a starfish position, occupying the entire bed.

So, where was he supposed to sleep tonight?

There was another room in the apartment, but it was piled high with clutter; it was too late to clean it up now. He turned around and saw Ayanami Rei following him.

The girl wore an oversized T-shirt, revealing her delicate collarbones and a pair of fair legs. Shinji pondered for a moment.

”You sleep in my room.”

”And you?”

”Naturally, we will sleep together. That room is large enough; it is more than sufficient for the two of us.”

If this were an ordinary girl, she might suspect this guy had impure motives, but Ayanami Rei simply blinked and nodded gently.

”Okay.”

The two walked back down the hallway. The room was not large, typical of a Japanese style. Shinji turned on the air conditioning and spread out a futon on the floor, feeling sleepiness growing more pronounced.

A Blood Raven Astartes originally never needed to sleep, but after a month, Shinji had grown accustomed to this feeling of fatigue.

”Sleep.”

”Hmm.”

With a rustling sound, they tucked themselves into the bedding. Amidst the whirring of the air conditioner, Shinji suddenly found he wasn’t quite as sleepy as before.

Having someone nearby felt very unnatural. There was a faint scent in the air, and Rei was only a palm’s width away; each of her breaths sent a slight, tingling sensation across the back of his neck. He turned over, looking at the girl lying on her side.

Her ice-blue hair hung down, and her red eyes reflected his own face.

”Can’t sleep?”

”Hmm. I’m not used to having someone next to me, but it will be fine in a moment.” Ayanami Rei blinked slowly, her small mouth slightly parted. ”I don’t understand.”

”About what?”

”I don’t understand many things. I don’t know why I had to come tonight, why I had to eat that delicious food, why I had to tease that penguin, or why I am sleeping here.”

She spoke softly, and she saw a look of confusion appear in Shinji’s eyes too.

”I am the same as you. I don’t quite understand, either. These things are clearly not necessary, and yet they cause trouble.” As Shinji spoke, he suddenly understood why he felt close to Ayanami.

Ultimately, both of them had too many things they couldn’t grasp. They were like two ghosts, drifting outside of this world.

”Then, did you feel happy doing these things?” Ayanami Rei was not an answerer; she was more of a seeker.

”Of course. It brings me a kind of psychological comfort.” Shinji nodded solemnly and asked in turn: ”What about you? Even if you don’t understand it, can you feel that psychological comfort?”

”Yes. I have felt a strange sensation recently.”

”What kind of sensation?” Shinji grew interested.

Ayanami Rei thought for a long time, recalling the bread every noon, remembering the two of them standing side-by-side against the Angels, recalling the reverent gazes of the soldiers, recalling the food from earlier, the warmth of the bath, and finally landing on this present moment.

The black-haired boy was looking at her earnestly. She could sense his breath and feel a warmth emanating through the futon.

Her red eyes blinked repeatedly, and she spoke with a touch of uncertainty: ”Hmm... a feeling of living in this world?”

’A feeling of living?’

Shinji was noticeably stunned. That question was far too luxurious in the Dark Galaxy. Under the shadow of despair, no one would think to contemplate what such a thing was—or rather, for an Astartes, it wasn’t something to dwell on.

’To live is to fight for the Emperor! Until the gene-seed is extinguished!’

That belief was unshakable. He watched the girl close her eyes, her breathing leveling off as she clearly drifted into a deep sleep, and he suddenly understood the core of her contradiction.

’Is she seeking bonds amidst her constraints, and constantly moving forward while wandering?’

Shinji withdrew his gaze, couldn’t help but turn over, stare at the pitch-black ceiling, and close his own eyes.

Perhaps, beyond fulfilling his oath, there were other things that held meaning.

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.

.

Just as the sun always stubbornly rises, when night breaks, everything returns to normal.

Very few knew of the Fourth Angel’s anomalies. To the citizens of Tokyo-3, they felt the Angel was nothing special—it hadn’t even set foot in the city this time. They had evacuated for one night, and the next day was just another peaceful one.

Under Misato Katsuragi’s knowing, ambiguous gaze, Shinji and Ayanami rose early. After breakfast, those who had to go to school went to school; those who had work went to work.

The Angel felt like a dream, leaving few traces in reality. The two walked side-by-side, silent as usual, yet the distance between them had closed significantly; they no longer looked like strangers traveling together.

As they crossed the pedestrian bridge, Ayanami Rei saw a small cat in the flowerbed. Recalling the sensation from the night before, she crouched down to observe it quietly. She seemed to have a natural affinity for animals, and the tabby cat actually ran over on its own, rubbing against her ankles.

Shinji stood quietly to the side, watching the girl pet the cat with somewhat clumsy movements. The passing students all looked over, but their gazes weren’t as strange as usual.

’Has this bizarre couple finally become a bit more normal?’

Stepping into the classroom just as the bell rang, another boring day of lessons began. But this time, Shinji didn’t resist much; he was significantly more attentive.

Although these courses were simplistic, they were enough to pass the time.

Ayanami Rei didn’t stare out the window as she had before, but began to listen quietly. This left many people in a state of shock—everyone knew she was the ”ghost” of the class, drifting outside of the world.

She remained icy and stoic, yet like a goddess descending to the mortal realm, she was beginning to absorb more knowledge.

”Is this my credit?”

Ikari Shinji couldn’t be certain. He didn’t feel he had done anything special, and he wasn’t good at preaching—that was the job of a Ministorum Priest, and he didn’t know how to do that anyway.

’The texture of living.’

He thought back to the words from last night. This ”texture” wasn’t just breathing, eating, and sleeping; it involved many more complex things. What they were specifically, even he couldn’t answer.

”Shinji, Shinji! Why did you come to school with Ayanami this morning?”

As soon as the morning class ended, Toji Suzuhara rushed over impatiently. He had seen Shinji and Rei walking together that morning, and the latter had even been teasing a cat. He had rubbed his eyes several times to confirm it really was Ayanami.

”It’s quite simple, because we lived together last night,” Shinji said casually. He suddenly noticed the silence in the room and looked around, eyebrow raised.

Toji Suzuhara, Kensuke Aida, and many other classmates whose names he didn’t know were all staring at him blankly. The girls were blushing, the boys were dumbfounded.

”Is there a problem with that?”

’There’s a huge problem, alright! That’s Ayanami Rei! Do you know how much trouble it is to get even one word out of her? Do you know how many broken hearts are in front of her?

You beast! You’ve only transferred here for a few days and you’ve already taken down this high-mountain flower!’

If not for the fact that Ikari Shinji had single-handedly fought the third-year students, Toji Suzuhara would have wanted to find a cross to burn him at the stake. At that thought, his expression changed drastically.

Thump.

He dropped to his knees, tears and snot mixing together. ”Sensei! I want to fall in love!”

’Unaccountable.’

Shinji was full of question marks. He didn’t understand what this brat was doing. He took two lunch boxes out of his bag—leftovers from last night.

”Rei, come get your lunch.”

”Hmm.” Rei stood up. She had already grown used to this daily feeding, though she felt the surrounding gazes were strange.

She couldn’t read such complex expressions. She took the lunch box and walked back to her seat, where the blushing Hikari Horaki was already waiting.

”Rei, don’t do anything... impure! We girls have to learn to protect ourselves!” Hikari quickly lowered her voice; she always felt Rei was too naive and easily taken advantage of.

”What is an ’impure’ thing?” Rei asked with a confused look.

”Uhh—well, didn’t you attend health class?”

”What is a health class?”

Hikari was going crazy. There were too many things Rei didn’t understand; how could she possibly teach her everything? First health class, then love? She didn’t understand that herself!

”Rei, why don’t you read more books when you’re free? Read all kinds of books; that way you can learn a lot.”

”Books? Can they let me know how to live?” Rei looked quietly at the kindhearted girl.

”Of course! They can let you understand everything! Wait, I’ll bring you the one I’ve been reading lately.”

Soon, a thick novel appeared in Ayanami Rei’s hands. As she stroked the textured leather cover, a sensation known as ”craving” surged in her heart.

”Thank you. I will finish it.”

”Tch, the class rep is ruining your good fortune again. Aren’t you afraid she’s going to lead Ayanami astray?”

A few meters away, Toji Suzuhara pouted, feeling very annoyed at this meddlesome class representative.

”Hikari Horaki poses no threat. In some ways, she is better suited to guide Ayanami than I am. By the way, when are you all going to get up?” Shinji looked at the boys around him, feeling a sense of sacrilege. What right did he have to be worshipped? At that moment, his shoulder was tapped lightly. He turned to find Kensuke Aida.

The boy adjusted his glasses and asked in a slightly fanatical voice: ”Shinji, has your sudden warmth with Ayanami also been due to the guidance of the Holy Emperor?”

Shinji paused. He had paid attention to Ayanami Rei because she was his Battle-Brother, and it was precisely because of that that everything else followed.

”Of course.”

Thump.

Kensuke Aida knelt down on the spot, imitating Shinji’s gesture: hands crossed over his chest, left fist against his heart, right hand covering it.

”Praise the Emperor!”

The days passed calmly, and life gained a few extra splashes of color.

Both had undergone subtle changes. For instance, when Hikari Horaki invited Ayanami Rei to lunch, she was no longer perpetually silent; occasionally, she could manage a few words in response. Under the class representative’s encouragement, she had even begun to enjoy reading.

Shinji was no longer so unapproachable. Other students in the class could finally strike up a conversation with him. They would sit around him, listening with faces full of admiration as he recounted battles, or listening with confused awe as he praised the Emperor.

Kensuke Aida was the first convert. After witnessing that fluid, artistic combat, he began to believe that the Emperor had bestowed Shinji with his power. After all, they were all the same age; why else was the gap so enormous?

Shinji felt that these people’s faith was impure, but he was not, after all, a Ministorum Priest. If people were chanting the Emperor’s name, His Majesty would likely be quite pleased.

As an Astartes, he did not forget his mission. As his relationships with these peers deepened, he inadvertently discovered a secret.

The students of Class 2-A possessed an extremely high resistance to psychic influence. After defeating the Fourth Angel, Shinji’s psychic powers had strengthened considerably; ordinary people should have been unable to resist his mental suggestions. Yet, these classmates showed no signs of training and had simple minds, yet their resistance was remarkably high.

This was highly abnormal. It was as if they had been artificially gathered. Sure enough, an invisible hand was manipulating everything.

Shinji kept this in his heart but did not rush to investigate. Some things will find you even if you don’t go looking for them. For example, the truth about the Second Impact and the First Angel—secrets absolutely classified for ordinary citizens—were told to him by Ritsuko Akagi after he joined NERV.

It had nothing to do with a meteorite. Fifteen years ago, humanity discovered a mysterious biological entity in Antarctica. A massive explosion was triggered during the investigation, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. This was the Second Impact, caused by the First Angel.

This was, of course, a high-level secret. If the world learned the truth—that their friends and family died because of humanity’s own meddling—the situation would explode instantly.

Currently, the First Angel was being kept beneath NERV. Shinji’s mission was to prevent the other Angels from making contact with it, which would trigger the Third Impact.

Yes, the main objective was that simple and brutal.

Life continued. He occasionally invited Ayanami Rei to his home for dinner, growing accustomed to her cool scent and Misato Katsuragi’s gossipy expressions.

Every morning on the way to school, the cold girl would always be waiting by the second bench on the pedestrian bridge. Upon seeing Shinji approach, she would close her book and follow him in silence. Once they crossed the bridge, Kensuke Aida and the others would inevitably swarm around them.

Without noticing when it happened, the journey had changed from being a lone individual to being surrounded by a group. If one were to elect the ”boss” of Municipal Middle School No. 1, it would undoubtedly be Shinji. This allowed the Security Department, monitoring from the shadows, to breathe a sigh of relief.

’That’s more like it. We thought this kid attended an assassin’s school before transferring. Now it seems that no matter how weird he is, he’s still just a brat.’

As for Misato Katsuragi, beyond feeling relieved, she felt her whole body relax.

”Shinji-kun has changed quite a bit! It’s all thanks to me. Hehe, I told you there’d be no problem with me as his guardian.”

She spun around, holding the back of her chair, her joy plain to see. Life lately had indeed been fantastic.

A promotion, a raise, no overtime, and she got to watch two eccentrics interact with a doting auntie’s smile.

”You certainly have had it good lately. You get home on time and dinner is ready, someone prepares breakfast for you, and the room is kept sparkling clean.” Ritsuko looked at her with resentment as she stubbed out her cigarette. She had worked overtime for seven straight days.

”I think Shinji-kun is more like your guardian. Are you finding a sense of fatherly love from him?”

’Wait, actually, yes.’

Misato shook her head. At first, Shinji-kun was like a strict father, making her feel high-pressure at home. Lately, the ”strict father” had mellowed out and become more approachable.

”I’ve never met someone so reliable, even if he is over a decade younger than me.”

”Hey, are you having some... dangerous thoughts?”

”How is that possible? Impossible, impossible!” Misato scratched her head. Seeing Ritsuko’s entirely skeptical look, she quickly changed the subject. ”By the way, when is Commander Ikari coming back? The transport mission was finished long ago, wasn’t it?”

”He won’t be back for a short while. I heard he’s at the Arctic Base overseeing the construction of EVA Unit-05. It’s a special budget added by the UN.” A certain glow flashed across Ritsuko’s face as she explained, ”The whole world saw Unit-01’s battle with the Third Angel. They’ve started taking this project seriously. I heard the funding for that JA Project has actually been cut.”

This was a butterfly effect brought about by Ikari Shinji. Originally, the various nations looked down on the EVAs—they were expensive, couldn’t be mass-produced, and even if they were built, selecting pilots was even more troublesome. Furthermore, the right to select pilots wasn’t in the hands of the nations.

They placed more importance on the JA Project—simply put, using pure machinery to deal with Angels. In a sense, it was a competitor to the EVA.

Misato nodded. She also knew about the JA Project and wore a somewhat mocking expression:

”The Angels aren’t even dealt with yet, and the big shots are already worrying about future affairs. Wasn’t the warfare at the start of the 21st century intense enough for them?”

”That is human nature. Even with the Vatican Treaty in place, the EVAs are products controlled by NERV. World governments don’t want to spend massive resources without getting some benefit.”

”Then why did they change their minds?”

Ritsuko lit another cigarette and let out a cold snort. ”Because the EVAs are unimaginably powerful, and far more reliable than they expected.”

If Unit-01 had gone berserk, the nations would have lowered their expectations; after all, an uncontrollable weapon has no value. However, the two battles had been exceptionally brilliant and remained within the scope of science they could understand. Compared to that, JA looked like a giant toy.

”But you still haven’t said why Commander Ikari isn’t coming back. EVA manufacturing is mature now; it doesn’t need him personally watching it, does it?”

”That matter... involves other reasons.” Ritsuko couldn’t speak freely; it involved internal power struggles within NERV, and it was better for Misato not to know. ”By the way, tell Shinji-kun that the research on the Fourth Angel is mostly done. If he’s interested, he can come find me.”

This was a pre-arranged deal. Misato Katsuragi immediately grew excited, as if she had fulfilled an elder’s trust. Just as she was about to leave, she happened to see a figure pass by in the hallway outside the window.

”Oh, why is Rei here? Is there a startup test today?”

On a normal day, Ayanami Rei should have been reading near the pedestrian bridge, waiting to go to school with Shinji.

”There are no tests today.”

Ritsuko exhaled a smoke ring, looking outside through the hazy mist, her eyes complex.

”Misato, I understand how you feel, but Ayanami and Shinji aren’t ordinary children after all. That peaceful life is precious to them, and they don’t even have the power to choose it.”

Misato didn’t quite understand. Isn’t the time before an Angel attack just a preparation period? What was wrong with living some peaceful days? It wouldn’t affect combat.

Beep, beep, beep.

The phone rang. After she answered it, her expression instantly turned stern.

”Major Katsuragi, this is the Security Intelligence Department. Under authorization Z332, we will be meeting with the Third Child alongside the Special Oversight Department.”

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.

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”Come in.”

Kozo Fuyutsuki turned around to see Ayanami Rei standing quietly at the door. He had recently finished dealing with SEELE’s probing and finally had time to fulfill Gendo Ikari’s instructions.

He glanced at the doll-like girl, feeling that something was slightly off. His gaze fell upon the book in the girl’s arms.

”Walden. This work is quite deep. Can you understand it?” Fuyutsuki’s tone was very kind, like an old man playing chess in a park.

”I do not understand it. But I can remember the contents. Perhaps at some point, I will suddenly understand. According to the class representative, this is the pleasure of reading.”

’Pleasure?’

Fuyutsuki raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected to hear that word from Ayanami Rei. It hadn’t been that long, but this doll had already changed—changed to the point where she was somewhat foreign to him.

”Why did you suddenly want to read?”

”Shinji said that if one wants to feel the texture of living, one should have hobbies. It is a shortcut. I wanted to find a hobby, and reading is... good.”

Fuyutsuki suddenly remembered what Gendo Ikari had originally sent this doll to do. He asked curiously, ”And what about Shinji-kun’s hobbies?”

”Combat and slaughter,” Ayanami Rei replied immediately.

’That... truly is an unexpected hobby.’

He had sent Rei to probe and influence that boy—how had she ended up being influenced instead? This made no sense.

Fuyutsuki’s eye twitched, and he stopped beating around the bush. ”Rei, Ikari has sent a new instruction.”

At the mention of Gendo Ikari’s name, Rei’s eyes brightened, and her whole being became slightly more vivid.

”The contact with Ikari Shinji can end. Return to your previous lifestyle and wait for my return.”

The message was delivered. The brightness on the girl instantly faded, and she stood silently on the spot like a hollow doll.

It was an order. But the life of this recent period...

She hugged her book tightly, feeling her mind in a muddle, as if two voices were in conflict—the past entangled with her current life. Two faces flashed back and forth.

One was Commander Ikari; he was prying open the scorching cockpit, looking at her with a gaze of concern.

The other was Shinji; he was close at hand, taking her to do many unfamiliar and interesting things.

”Rei, what is your answer?”

Fuyutsuki was inquiring. This hesitation was very strange.

”I do not know.” Ayanami Rei shook her head slightly. This answer was meaningless. Somehow, Shinji’s words surfaced in her mind.

’When you don’t know how to decide, follow your intuition.’

’My intuition... intuition? Intuition. Intuition.’

Countless scenes replayed, finally turning into the life of these past few days.

The delicious food, the enthusiastic class representative, the interesting books, and the feeling of following behind him.

Her heart stirred, and she met Kozo Fuyutsuki’s strange gaze.

”I wish to continue.”