"This mission was full of surprises. But the result? Good enough."
Misato Katsuragi stepped out onto the deck. Watched Unit-02 rise from the water—crimson armor dripping, crane cables groaning under the weight.
The damage wasn't severe. She exhaled.
"I've lived sixty years." The old captain stood beside her, pipe clenched between his teeth. "None of them were like today."
A navy man. His whole career spent thinking about human conflicts. Nation versus nation. Ship versus ship.
But today? Today changed everything.
"Three kids. Fourteen years old. Facing monsters like that." He shook his head. "Not even scared."
"Makes me realize... I'm obsolete. Me and these ships both."
"They're remarkable soldiers." Misato watched the Entry Plug eject. The crane lowered it. Two figures in red plugsuits emerged—teenagers who'd just fought a sea monster and lived.
Rei Ayanami left Unit-00. Walked across the deck to join them.
"Ikari-kun." Rei stopped in front of Shinji. "You're not hurt?"
"Yeah." Shinji smiled. Nodded. "I'm fine."
Fighting together. Watching each other's backs. They were friends now. He was sure of it.
"Good." Rei smiled back.
Asuka watched the exchange. Her eye twitched.
This guy...
Why does everyone like him?
She studied Shinji—the boy she'd marked as her rival before even arriving in Japan.
Personality... hot-blooded idiot. But considerate sometimes.
Looks... not exactly handsome. Passable. Yeah. I win there.
EVA piloting skills... damn it. Turning into a giant? That's cheating. Straight-up cheating.
And popular too. Damn it. Damn it all.
No matter how she calculated it, admitting Shinji was better? Unacceptable.
Wait.
A thought struck her.
Humans can't turn into fifty-meter giants.
Right. This guy's not human.
I'm competing with an alien. Ha. Haha...
Ten expressions in one second. But this new angle? It saved her pride.
Losing to Shinji hurt. But losing to a non-human? That didn't count.
"Asuka." Shinji noticed her face doing gymnastics. "You okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She lifted her chin. Back to that proud stance. "You got ahead of me this time. But human strength isn't weak."
"Next time, I'll show you my real power!"
Shinji's brain produced three question marks.
Did she... misunderstand something again?
The fleet was close to Japan now. Unit-02 had taken damage. Misato decided to let the navy finish the escort mission.
After the three pilots changed into regular clothes, she pulled Shinji aside. A corner of the deck. Away from the others.
Salt wind whipped across the water. Her purple hair danced. Shinji's white shirt rippled.
"Misato-san..." Shinji looked confused. "What did you want to talk about?"
Sending Asuka and Rei away meant something important.
"I'll be direct." Misato crossed her arms. Black dress. Red NERV jacket. Full Operations Director mode. "That giant. What's your relationship with him?"
"Eh?"
The bluntness of it froze him.
"Don't play dumb. You know what I'm asking."
She'd come to confirm her suspicion.
The Third Angel appeared. The giant appeared. Shinji survived an N2 Mine blast.
Unit-01's hangar. Shinji showed superhuman physical ability.
The Fourth Angel. Unit-01 used techniques that shouldn't exist.
The Fifth Angel. The Entry Plug disconnected. The giant appeared again. Saved both Unit-00 and Unit-01.
Today. Unit-02 in danger. The giant appeared. And the cockpit camera caught it—Shinji turning into light.
The evidence was overwhelming.
"You are that mysterious giant."
She watched his face. Needed to see his reaction.
A human transforming into a fifty-meter giant violated every law of physics. She was his guardian. Had to make sure the Shinji in front of her was still Shinji.
"This is..." Shinji's expression twisted. Complex. Where did he even start explaining?
Natsuki spoke instead.
"You're right."
Natsuki's voice echoed in Misato's head.
"Who?" Misato stared at Shinji's unmoving mouth. Looked around. Searching for the source.
"Don't bother looking. I'm in a unified state with Shinji right now. I'm also the giant you mentioned."
"Eh... unified state...?"
Misato's brain stalled.
"It's complicated to explain. But I was planning to talk to your Commander anyway. I'll give you the full story then."
"You can relax. I have no hostile intentions toward you."
Misato's brow furrowed.
This was bigger than she thought.
"Fine." She nodded. "Just... don't hurt Shinji."
The concern in her voice warmed something in Shinji's chest.
Natsuki smiled too. This world had normal people after all.
The fleet docked in Japan. Transferred Unit-02.
The three pilots and Misato returned to Tokyo-3 headquarters first.
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