Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

"Perhaps in his eyes, killing the apostles and protecting humanity is simply his responsibility. However, he also enjoys it."

"That sounds great." Ritsuko Akagi also downed her drink in one gulp.

"Honestly, I don't know why Commander-in-Chief Gendo is so distant from his son." Perhaps it was the alcohol taking effect, but Misato Katsuragi felt a bit indignant for Shinji Ikari. "The Commander-in-Chief talks to Rei, but he doesn't want to talk to his own son. Isn't that completely upside down?"

"Men these days are too selfish."

"It's tough being a woman, isn't it?"

After the two women shared their sorrows, Ritsuko Akagi gently placed her wine glass on the table and stood up.

"It's time to get back to work," Ritsuko Akagi said simply.

“You only care about work.” Misato Katsuragi simply waved her hand.

However, Ritsuko Akagi did not turn around. Instead, as if she had thought of something, she took a file folder out of her bag and handed it to Misato Katsuragi.

"Oh, right, I also need to submit the inspection report for Unit-00 tonight. Could you give this to Rei for me? Compared to your Shinji, please pay more attention to this child; she's lonely too."

Chapter 18: The Golden Spirit of Chivalry

As Shinji Ikari walked home carrying his fruit basket, he immediately sniffed the strong smell of alcohol. Then, he looked at Misato Katsuragi, who was sprawled on the sofa.

This purple-haired, mature woman was still wearing the leather jacket and denim miniskirt she had worn during the day, with her precious crucifix resting on the ashtray in front of the coffee table. She was sleeping sprawled out, one leg propped up on the sofa, while her other hand was unconsciously slipped under her skirt.

“You’ve been drinking all day; the beer spirit will curse you and give you a hemorrhoid flare-up.” Shinji Ikari put down his bag, frowned, and walked to Misato Katsuragi’s side.

However, Misato Katsuragi, her face flushed, wagged her index finger smugly and said with a smile, "Hehehe, I'm drinking a cocktail, so let the beer fairy go home first. What good stuff did you buy?"

Misato Katsuragi reached for the fruit basket and bouquet that Shinji Ikari was carrying, but Shinji nimbly dodged them and turned around to place a bottle of milk on her head.

"These are fruit baskets and bouquets that my classmates pooled their money to buy for Rei Ayanami. They asked me to go and visit her. Although Japanese people are a group of people who are very formalistic and have a strong sense of ritual, at least they do a good job of putting on a good show."

"You talk like you're not Japanese." Misato Katsuragi sat on the sofa with her legs spread apart, happily drinking her milk, completely unconcerned that her safety shorts were showing under her skirt. "Since you're going to visit Rei, then please take this to her for me. I'm thinking of taking a nap in bed, remember to take your keys when you go out."

As she spoke, Misato Katsuragi headed towards her room, letting out a fart as she walked towards the passing hot spring penguin, Hibiki.

Then he went into the room and winked at Shinji Ikari.

"We won't close, so seize the opportunity."

Shinji Ikari pursed his lips. Why was he, a nobleman with the golden spirit, living with such a vulgar woman? Sometimes he really didn't know who was the master of the house between them.

…………

As the elevator descended, Shinji Ikari's face appeared to shift between light and shadow under the lights.

During physical education class at school during the day, the Hakone mentioned by Nakano was actually a bit unfamiliar to Shinji Ikari, who had just returned.

—Hakone is the underground part of Tokyo Third City.

The statement by Nakano and Hikaru that they couldn't enter Hakone was actually somewhat inaccurate, because most residents of Third New Tokyo also live in this fortified city, including many residents of Hakone itself. What they meant by not being able to enter were certain special wards within Hakone.

Hakone is divided into 23 districts. District 1, where judicial and administrative agencies are concentrated, and District 2, which has a strong heavy industrial character, are areas where non-NERV staff are not allowed to enter.

However, the same applies to districts like the fourth and fifth districts, where entertainment and dining are concentrated, and the fifteenth district, where residential areas are located, where there are naturally no taboos.

Rei Ayanami lives in Ward 6, which is also where she and Misato Katsuragi live. Ward 6 is originally a residential area for NERV staff, and it seems that before she and Misato lived together, their assigned housing was also in this area.

The elevator doors opened, and Shinji Ikari thought he had arrived at his destination. But when he looked up, he was met in the eye by Gendo Ikari, who was standing in the doorway.

"Sorry! Sorry! I was a little late, thank you!"

The male assistant, unaware of what was happening, jogged over from the other side of the corridor to thank Shinji Ikari. He assumed Shinji was pressing the open button in the elevator, but the elevator doors closed a second later.

He was left awkwardly facing Gendo Ikari, who had also been left behind.

Shinji Ikari took the elevator to 808V, Type B, Sector 6, and suddenly felt a bit cheerful. The boy rang the doorbell, but oh, it wouldn't ring.

The doorbell seems to be broken.

Shinji Ikari tried ringing the doorbell every five seconds, and after the third time there was still no response, he turned his gaze to the decorative gold wire with the fruit basket attached.

As a knight, one would naturally not trespass into a house without informing the homeowner. However, ringing the doorbell was considered notification. Noble knights have always maintained a fairly flexible standard of chivalry.

Just like in ancient times, those stubborn noble lords would often beat each other over the slightest disagreement. In the eyes of modern knights, that was extremely impolite. As time passed, these knightly families also realized that this was inconsistent with the elegance and restraint of nobility. Therefore, they asked their family clergy, or those who preserved the mysterious technology known as the Sacristans, to arbitrate between the knightly families.

Through ritualized concepts of responsibility, honor, and courage, these still-stubborn noblemen ensured that they wouldn't assault another nobleman in the heat of a dispute. At the very least, they would inform the other party beforehand. As these concepts were embraced, the knights termed it—the Golden Spirit.

And this chivalrous spirit, as brilliant as gold, has been passed down from generation to generation.

He probed the wire into the lock cylinder, making rustling noises. After two attempts, there was a click, and the lock opened automatically.

The dim light made Shinji Ikari a little wary, and he carefully examined the room. At the entrance was a sink piled high with greasy dishes. The curtains in the living room were drawn, but their curves suggested no possibility of a normal adult human being hiding there. Looking around, there was no furniture, which slightly eased Shinji's anxiety.

The room had its own central air conditioning vents, a simple white washing machine with clean dishes and chopsticks, and a girl's underwear hanging by the window. There was even a faint smell of blood mixed with disinfectant in the room. But for some reason, in this dimly lit room, Shinji Ikari felt a sense of calm.

Rei Ayanami was curled up on the only bed in the room, covered with a thin gray blanket. She was peacefully asleep.

It is said that babies float in the amniotic fluid in a curled-up position in the womb, which is also a sleeping posture that has the dual meaning of stability and solitude.

Shinji Ikari sat on the edge of the bed without waking her. He stroked the girl's neatly folded clothes and suddenly felt something hidden under them. He pulled out a bracelet.

It's called a bracelet, but it should actually be called a rose rosary. Of course, you can also call it a rose crown or a charm.

It is called a rosary because the name is a metaphor for a series of prayers, as fragrant as roses, offered before the most holy and majestic emperor. The rosary is a way of venerating the emperor, and the prayers inscribed on the beads encompass the emperor's history of salvation.

Of course, this rosary isn't the kind of amulet that can withstand an explosive arrow head-on. It's simply a tool for paying homage to the Emperor, and naturally, it belongs to Shinji Ikari.

However, it was accidentally dropped when she detached from the cockpit; you could even see that the rosary beads, which were originally strung together, were broken into a single strand. But somehow, Rei Ayanami found it and took it home.

Shinji Ikari gazed at the sleeping girl, looking at her somewhat pale face, and felt a sense of familiarity.

It feels like we've known each other for a very long time, well over a century.

Chapter Nineteen: The Apostles Attack

Rei Ayanami slowly opened her eyes. It was the familiar color of the ceiling. But the clothes rack hanging from the ceiling was empty; the clothes that used to be clipped to it were gone. The incandescent light above her head was on. Perhaps because she had been lying down for too long and her bones were a little stiff, she felt as if she had slept for a very long time.

The smell of disinfectant in the air had faded considerably, clearly indicating that someone had opened the window for ventilation. A boy with neat, straight hair sat beside his bed, but unlike the arrogant boy he had seen in the testing field, he wasn't haughty at all. Wearing a school white shirt, he looked like an older or younger brother waiting for him to have dinner.

"You're awake," Shinji Ikari said.

"Shinji Ikari?" Rei Ayanami sat up expressionlessly, rubbing her less injured left arm. Even this small movement made her face contort in pain. But soon, he noticed what the other was holding.

It was a string of prayer beads engraved with special runes, but due to the material, it had broken in the middle.

"Legend has it that when an emperor appeared, he promised: 'Turning the rosary will grant you everything you ask of me. Whoever spreads the rosary will receive my help in times of trouble. All Primarchs are granted this special favor: whoever spreads its meaning will be able to return to the Golden Throne upon his death.'"

"I found you in the water, and I was going to wash you clean and return you to you," Rei Ayanami replied.

"Since the prayer beads have passed through your hands, I'll give them to you if you like them."

Although rose rosaries are often used as positional amulets, they are ultimately a ceremonial object used to pay homage to the Emperor. Once they change hands, they cannot be taken back.

Moreover, this was just an ordinary rosary; in comparison, Shinji Ikari would have preferred to have a new one made.

Rei Ayanami didn't know that if it weren't for Shinji Ikari, her injuries would have been far more severe than they were this time. She simply put away the rose rosary silently.

“Your classmates asked me to visit you and bring you some things,” Shinji Ikari said. “They all care about you. This is a fruit basket and a bouquet that the class pooled their money to buy. Class representative Hikari Toki said she can lend you her class notes if you need them. Everyone cares about you.”

"...How are you?" Rei Ayanami suddenly remembered.

"Do you think I'm some kind of pushover? I was just suppressing Unit-00 in its berserk state; I didn't need to get injured." Shinji Ikari's lips curled up slightly.

He was just moments ago as gentle as a preaching priest, but in the blink of an eye, he transformed into the arrogant strongest pilot. However, Rei Ayanami wasn't angry, because she vaguely sensed that Shinji Ikari was deliberately being sarcastic towards her.

"Perhaps it's natural for a genius pilot like him, with such exceptional talent, to discriminate against a weak pilot like myself," Rei Ayanami thought.

"Now that the goods have been delivered, I'll go to the fourth district to get something to eat," Shinji Ikari said.

Rei Ayanami remained unresponsive, like a puppet, and did not get up to see him off. However, she suddenly spoke from behind Shinji Ikari as he reached the door.

"Actually, I've seen you before, in my dreams. Before we first met at NERV."

Shinji Ikari, his hand resting on the doorknob, turned to look at Rei Ayanami, this time without uttering a sarcastic remark. His dark eyes were fixed on the girl lying on the hospital bed who resembled him.

Shinji Ikari pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Do you believe in gravity?

…………

…………

"Of or suggestive of a dog; doggish. (Regarding dogs, like a dog. Speaking of which, the teacher's favorite animal is the dog, because it allows him to openly see OO.)"

At this moment, the classroom was completely silent, except for Mr. Yokoshima, who was lecturing with great enthusiasm.

The first period in the morning is Ms. Yokoshima's foreign language class. As the homeroom teacher, she has been removed and is now just an ordinary foreign language teacher.

This was entirely because her true nature was revealed. She was originally a graduate of a Tokyo municipal high school. But in essence, she was a lewd person who was good at sexual fantasies. Last week, she was dismissed from her homeroom teacher because the principal happened to be passing by and heard her telling a vulgar English joke in class.

However, Shinji Ikari believed that if she didn't curb her true nature, her time as a teacher wouldn't last long.

Next came Ms. Yamanaka's music class and Ms. Koyama Rika's home economics class.

Shinji Ikari absentmindedly flipped the steak over with one hand. Although he didn't dislike this peaceful routine, he always felt that something was missing.

Shinji Ikari recalled the thrill of tearing apart the Water Angel's arm when he first piloted Unit-01, and the exhilarating feeling of his soul ascending when he cleaved the crimson core of the Light Wheel.

That pure joy was something that no amount of mock tests or beating up the class bullies from other classes could bring him. At that moment, he instinctively gripped his newly carved rose rosary.

"Holy Emperor, hear my prayer. Grant me the strength to fulfill my duties and strike down all who try to stop me."

What was merely a routine prayer, in this very moment—

Rather than calling it a coincidence, it seemed more like some kind of fate at work, as he suddenly turned around and looked towards the southwest.

The sea was calm and still, without any ripples. But he alone suddenly sensed a sacred rhythm in the distance, as if it were roaring across the heavens and earth.

It was a melody that transcended the laws of physics, a rhythm that only those drawn to it could sense. It was practically a divine rebirth, like an angel, despairing of the world, descending upon humanity to sound the horn of destruction.

But Shinji Ikari wore an incredibly bright smile.

"Oh, my great Emperor, look upon me with your benevolence, watch over your servants and warriors, protect me in this danger. Overcome all obstacles and achieve victory."

Even when the aliens attacked, he still turned the prayer beads around once, recited the prayer carefully, and then put them back in his pocket.

The classmates watching Shinji Ikari were surprised to find that, in just a moment, the previously listless Shinji suddenly became radiant as he grilled his steak. Just as the steak was plated and garnished with cherry tomatoes, his cell phone rang.