Germany side—evening. Japan side—still deep night.
After experiencing tonight's intense battle, Shinji returning to the apartment originally wanted to rest directly. But seeing Misato Katsuragi preparing to eat instant noodles again, still sighed. Walked toward the fridge.
"Misato-san, don't always eat these. Can't supplement the nutrition your body needs at all." Shinji searched for ingredients in the fridge while speaking.
Hearing this, Misato Katsuragi—the guardian yet holding a cup of instant noodles—guiltily shrank.
"Okay..."
Clearly she was the guardian... but recently how did life feel like she was the one being taken care of...
Was this right?
Shinji already found ingredients. Put on an apron. Skillfully prepared to stir-fry two dishes.
And Misato Katsuragi leaned back in the chair behind her. Chugged beer. Tried to use alcohol to ease embarrassment.
Gaze drifted. Looked toward the fridge direction.
Watched the fridge door slowly open by itself without anyone touching it.
Misato Katsuragi: "!!!"
"Shinji!"
"The... the fridge!"
Supernatural phenomena happening in her own home. She completely couldn't believe the scene before her eyes. Couldn't be that two cans of beer made her drunk and hallucinating?
Shinji, cutting vegetables, heard the voice. Turned around. Saw Natsuki's phantom searching for ingredients in the fridge. Simultaneously told him in his mind to stir-fry two more dishes.
Shinji Ikari: "Uh..."
He stiffly explained: "It's fine, Misato-san. Just the fridge door wasn't closed properly."
"I'll stir-fry two more dishes in a bit."
After eating and washing dishes, Shinji Ikari simply washed up. Returned to his room.
Lay on the bed. Stared at the familiar ceiling.
Suddenly vision drifted to a familiar object placed at the bedside. Black retro Walkman. Headphones already somewhat paint-chipped from his use wrapped around the Walkman.
Speaking of which... already several days since he used it.
Shinji reached out. Picked up the Walkman. Looked at it.
In the past, when encountering things he didn't want to face, he'd always put on headphones. Listen to music in the Walkman. Isolate himself from this world.
This was something Father gave him before. Also his spiritual comfort these years.
But current him—seemed to no longer need it.
He would no longer escape this world. But open his arms. Embrace this world.
And causing all this...
Shinji turned his body. Looked at Natsuki sitting in the chair flipping through history books.
After meeting Natsuki-san, his life was completely changed.
"Natsuki-san, thank you." Shinji spoke. Tone mixed with gratitude.
Hearing his words, Natsuki put down the book in hand.
"Why suddenly thank me?" He asked.
"Uh... this, because Natsuki-san helped me. Let me have my current happy life." Shinji honestly responded. "If I hadn't met Natsuki-san... I should be living a very painful life now."
Past Shinji always thought the world was cold. People couldn't possibly achieve mutual understanding.
But now, after personally experiencing encouragement and support, his life outlook already underwent some transformation.
"Actually... the one you should thank most isn't me."
"But yourself who made the choice to protect others when disaster occurred." Natsuki looked at him. Said seriously.
In these years at the Space Garrison, whenever Natsuki saw excellent juniors, he'd find ways to give them some care. He was that kind of person.
This point—whether young or now—never changed.
"Natsuki-san... really is a gentle person." After hearing this, Shinji said the same words as those Space Garrison juniors.
Natsuki smiled. Didn't answer.
At this moment, Shinji remembered the previous dream.
"Speaking of which... what I saw in the dream before, was that Natsuki-san's memories from when you were young?" Shinji asked curiously.
Last time because Natsuki needed to train, he couldn't ask immediately.
"That..." Because of being one, Natsuki instantly reacted to which memory Shinji meant.
"Correct. That time just finished executing a mission from a distant galaxy. After returning to the Land of Light, was developing a forbidden technique with Ace. Just happened to catch Hikari encountering an accident during external investigation." Natsuki said while recalling.
Shinji listened.
Continued: "In the dream, the Natsuki-san I saw was full of confidence. Also full of energy."
"But I could also feel—when Natsuki-san mentions the past, a sad emotion is produced... why is this?"
Hearing this question, Natsuki also knew this topic couldn't be avoided.
In the state of being one, both sides could sense each other's emotions.
This youth wasn't intentionally prying into his past. But wanted to comfort him. Limited by experience, causing expression methods to be somewhat different.
"Because it already changed." Natsuki slowly raised his head. Looked at the moon outside the window. Sighed. Said.
"Even if I can recover power again now. Can pull myself together again... still can't be completely like the past."
With Hikari's help, Natsuki saw hope of recovering strength again. Also willing to add a contribution in the upcoming war. So now would put all thoughts on the mission.
But the past was the past. Things that already happened couldn't be changed.
"Natsuki-san... is it because you encountered an undefeatable enemy that you suffered setbacks?" Shinji felt Natsuki's dejected emotion. Continued asking. Words leaving his mouth, felt saying this might be somewhat inappropriate.
Added: "I don't mean to mock Natsuki-san. Just... want to understand Natsuki-san a bit more."
"I... want to help you."
"Just like Natsuki-san helped me." The youth said firmly.
Hearing this, Natsuki understood he really didn't misjudge this person.
This was a kind youth.
"Being defeated by a strong enemy can't even be called a setback." Natsuki said with complex emotions. "For a qualified warrior, after being defeated, the thing that must be thought about is standing up again."
"These years, the defeats I've experienced aren't few at all."
"And what truly makes me feel dejected—is not obtaining recognition."
"Recognition? Whose recognition?" Shinji asked.
Speaking of this, Natsuki slowly closed his eyes. The Land of Light's glazed buildings surfaced in his mind. Everything there he was incomparably familiar with. Among them most brilliant—a tower that appeared exceptionally tall even from his perspective.
"Light."
"What I failed to obtain was... Light's recognition."
In a past battle, he thought he could use that Light's power. But the final result was... he became his current state.
Forcibly using power that didn't belong to him. In the end could only obtain unfortunate results.
Also after that time, he understood—fate existed in this world.
He long ago wasn't suitable to continue standing on stage. The world afterward—belonged to young people.
"Alright, it's getting late."
"Tomorrow don't you still have to wake early to go with Misato-san to welcome Unit-02 and its pilot?"
"If young people stay up late, it'll cause poor physical development." Speaking of this, Natsuki waved to pull the curtains closed. Room fell into darkness. Reminded Shinji it was time to sleep.
Though Shinji still wanted to hear stories about Natsuki-san, now the time was indeed very late.
"Good night, Natsuki-san."
"Good night."
After exchanging good nights, Shinji closed his eyes. Fell deeply asleep.
Time—unknown how long passed.
In a blur, Shinji felt he seemed to wake again.
He felt himself running. Ran into a hollow blue tower's interior. Several figures "he" felt familiar lay on the ground.
Tower interior center—an extremely brilliant Light.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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