Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

Rei Ayanami's physical problems were more serious than Shinji Ikari had anticipated. At the moment of her death, the broken genes seemed to have a domino effect, causing all her tissues to collapse. The bright red liquid dissolved into the orange-yellow water, making it seem as if the incubation chamber behind the glass was filled with the seawater outside, which was bright red and translucent.

Is the red ocean truly the purest ocean? Shinji Ikari recalls the stench he smelled with Ayanami and Soryu on the shore of the Japan Ecosystem Marine Conservation Organization. Perhaps for Earth, that lifeless, primitive state is the purest, but for humans who have not yet become gods, it is still impossible to live freely in this cold universe as an independent individual.

The expanding, high-temperature airflow finally broke through the top of the puppet insertion system, which resembled a brain structure, accompanied by a deep, lingering whistling sound along with Ritsuko Akagi's sobs.

"Go ahead and shoot if you want. No, I'd be happy if you were the one to kill me," Ritsuko Akagi whispered.

Misato Katsuragi glanced at Shinji Ikari; of course, she wouldn't fire. Although she had lost control of her emotions earlier, she knew she had no right to deal with Ritsuko Akagi.

“I don’t know either, let the protagonist decide,” Shinji Ikari said.

Misato Katsuragi stared wide-eyed at the fourth person in the room. The person emerged from the shadows behind Shinji Ikari, wearing the same clothes as during the day, a blue figure.

“…I don’t know,” Rei Ayanami said softly.

The fact that her predecessor was strangled, the puppet insertion system of the Ayanami series, and the destroyed backup didn't evoke much emotion in Rei Ayanami. Shinji Ikari left her to decide, and frankly, Rei didn't know what to do.

However, Rei Ayanami looked at the distraught Professor Akagi and tugged at Shinji Ikari's sleeve.

"Dr. Akagi is very good to me; she is a very important person to me."

Shinji Ikari put his arm around Rei Ayanami's head and rested her forehead on his shoulder. "That's fine."

The tragedy of those entangled with EVA is the same for everyone.

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A black Lexus pulled into the parking space, and Shinji Ikari and his group got out one after another. Misato Katsuragi stood next to Rei Ayanami, holding up a black umbrella. The reason it wasn't a Mazda was because this matter couldn't be covered up. After Ritsuko Akagi destroyed the backup of the Ayanami series puppet system, the alarm had already sounded silently, and the intelligence members belonging to Commander-in-Chief Gendo Ikari had begun their operation.

But Shinji Ikari is an exception. According to Shinji, he would automatically avoid any trouble that comes near him. Misato Katsuragi nodded. To put it bluntly, even the most domineering intelligence agency sees Shinji as a cesspool, and it's best to avoid getting involved with him if possible.

He took out his key and opened the door. The living room was quiet, and there wasn't a single light on in the house. It was already late at night; Asuka should be asleep by now.

Misato Katsuragi waved her hand and returned to her room, utterly exhausted from the night. Shinji Ikari kissed Rei Ayanami's forehead, watching her walk into her room, turning back to look at her every few steps.

After pouring himself a glass of water in the living room and taking out a bottle of milk from the refrigerator to heat it up, Shinji Ikari returned to his room, took off his coat and hung it on the hanger. He then saw the outline of a girl rising up inside his bed.

Although she was sleeping soundly with her back to me, I could tell who she was just by her golden-orange hair.

Shinji Ikari placed the hot milk on the bedside table near Asuka's side, then crawled into bed and wrapped his arms around the girl's waist from behind. Asuka instinctively shifted closer to Shinji.

Shinji Ikari initially had some thoughts, but feeling the quiet body in his arms, his mood gradually calmed down, and he quickly fell asleep while holding her.

Silent all night.

On the morning of the second day, Asuka did not receive news of the last Angel's invasion, but instead saw changes in the development department's personnel.

"Minister Akagi is in trouble!" Asuka held up her phone, showing the screen to the other three. "Look, according to the General Affairs Department Supervisory Committee website: Lieutenant Colonel Ritsuko Akagi, head of the development department, is suspected of serious violations of discipline and law. She has turned herself in and is under disciplinary review and investigation by the General Affairs Department Supervisory Committee!"

An investigation revealed that Ritsuko Akagi violated organizational discipline by engaging in vote-buying activities before the development department's leadership reshuffle and failing to report personal matters as required; violated integrity discipline by using her power and influence to provide assistance to her relatives' business activities and illegally accepting gifts and money; and violated lifestyle discipline by damaging important organizational facilities.

Asuka frowned more and more as she looked at the situation. Although she didn't have much interaction with the head of the development department, it seemed that these accusations had nothing to do with Ritsuko Akagi.

Ritsuko Akagi voluntarily surrendered herself to the authorities, proactively confessed to her disciplinary and legal violations, and voluntarily turned over all of her ill-gotten gains. She sincerely admitted her mistakes and expressed remorse, thus qualifying for leniency. After deliberation by the General Affairs Department and approval by the Commander-in-Chief, it was decided to dismiss Ritsuko Akagi from her position at the Artificial Evolution Research Institute; the General Affairs Department will also demote her to a non-leadership position at the deputy division level; her qualification as head of the development department will be terminated; and her ill-gotten gains will be confiscated.

Asuka was a little confused, but she knew that Misato Katsuragi, as Ritsuko Akagi's friend, would definitely understand. However, the operations officer quietly drank his porridge, only glancing at his screen briefly, as if he had known about Ritsuko Akagi's situation all along.

"Are you guys hiding something from me?" Asuka stared at the group with suspicion. "Speaking of which, you guys only got back in the middle of the night! It's only this late and you're already forming cliques!"

“It’s not that we’re forming a clique, it’s just that you’re not a member of our clique, Soryu-kun,” Misato Katsuragi said slowly. “From the beginning, you’ve lived independently in your own apartment and often came over to freeload. Strictly speaking, we can only be considered neighbors.”

Neighbors?! Asuka glanced at Shinji Ikari, who was also drinking porridge next to her, in shock. I thought that we were so close that even if we weren't engaged, we were at least boyfriend and girlfriend. Now you're telling us we're just neighbors?

"You idiot Shinji, say something!" Asuka kicked Shinji Ikari under the table.

Shinji Ikari didn't stand up for Asuka, and said just as slowly, "We are indeed neighbors. As long as you move into my room, we will be family..." "Dream on! Don't try to take advantage of me before you agree to my conditions! Eat yours!" Before Shinji could finish speaking, Asuka stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth.

Misato Katsuragi smiled as she watched this scene, and then she heard Asuka ask, "What about Captain Akagi?"

"This is already the best possible outcome." Misato Katsuragi glanced at Asuka's still-on phone screen. It was just a demotion and dismissal. Was Gendo Ikari being too lenient?

Misato Katsuragi is unknown.