Chapter 122 154: Right, I Speak German.

The "Drawing King of Yushu" ultimately failed to replicate a set of MK.VIII Power Armor with sugar. However, settling for the next best thing, he eventually drew an Imperial Aquila for Shinji that was about eighty percent accurate. It could barely pass as a guardian spirit.

It was very sweet. Eating it would grant the protection of the guardian spirit—meaning it increased his loyalty. Unfortunately, the artist's skill was insufficient to fulfill the wish perfectly.

Shinji ate it in small bites. He had already learned the technique and could replicate it often in the future. Of course, the true guardian spirit was the Emperor; even if he drew Him, he wouldn't dare eat it—it could only be placed on an altar with an icon.

"I never noticed before that you were such a fan of Chinese food."

Asuka grabbed the edge of Shinji's sleeve, as if afraid this "husky" would disappear the moment she let go.

"Because I didn't have the chance to eat it before, but the flavor is very familiar."

"So what? There are several restaurants in the city. I'll take you some time."

"No. My point is that I've eaten it before, but I can't remember when or where."

Shinji didn't understand why a simple outing had brought him a new puzzle. He didn't dwell on it much, looking at the pizza stall next door and sighing helplessly.

This body's stomach was already full. Had it been his former Astartes body, he could have swept the entire street by himself.

"Full? I can't eat any more either. I'll have to fast for half a month when we get back."

Asuka rubbed her belly, then suddenly remembered something.

"You also speak Chinese?"

"It is part of Low Gothic. Of course I do."

Asuka blinked, suddenly feeling that something was amiss. She asked tentatively: "In that 'Low Gothic' of yours... what other languages are included?"

"Alright, we've eaten enough. Time to head to the summit. The fireworks festival starts in half an hour."

Rei moved the topic along on the spot. Her lips were still slightly red, clearly a result of Asuka's "retaliation."

Interrupted by her, Shinji and Asuka both looked up. It was indeed near dusk, and a surging tide of people was flowing toward the mountaintop.

"Hurry up! We have to snag a good spot."

Asuka bolted forward. She was quite civic-minded, never considering using her status to take an advantage.

Shinji remained at his unhurried pace. Suddenly, his sleeve was tugged. He turned and saw Rei staring at him intently.

"What is it?"

"Ikari-kun... does Low Gothic include German?"

The girl's eyes sparkled, more desperate for the answer than she had ever been.

"Of course. Low Gothic was originally derived from the languages of Holy Terra."

"Then you can understand what Asuka is saying?"

This time, Shinji paused. This was a "beautiful misunderstanding." He had understood her from the very beginning and hadn't intended to hide it, but Asuka had never asked. She frequently liked to use German to voice her inner feelings, making it a bit troublesome for him to admit it now.

Once this secret was revealed, that "Glass Cannon" would likely shatter into dust on the spot.

"The time is not yet right. Do not tell her."

'As expected.'

Rei looked at the fiery figure ahead shouting "Hurry up!", her lips curving up instinctively.

In this moment, the young girl learned the meaning of "Schadenfreude."

.

.

.

Today there were no Angels, no EVAs, and no masterminds of the world. Shinji was like an ordinary person, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with two beautiful girls as they followed the crowd up the summit of Mt. Futago.

This had once been Unit-00's shooting position, but the vast summit showed no sign of the steel giants. Thousands of ordinary people filled the area. The sounds of conversation and laughter rose and fell, and the scents from the food street below wafted up. As Rei had said, even the air had become sweet.

Ultimately, the three failed to snag a prime spot and had to settle for a corner. Shinji sat on the steps, arms around his legs, staring blankly at the noisy crowd. He felt the term "on standby" become extremely foreign in this moment.

Indeed, his impression of being on standby was the rest period before the next slaughter began. But now, every muscle relaxed. What was about to take place wasn't a slaughter, but a beautiful ritual. This beating heart of his maintained a longing for it equal to its longing for battle.

'A mutual journey?'

Shinji rested his chin on his hand. The days since his return had been a mutual journey. The ratio of battle to daily life was converging, nearly reaching a balance. His thoughts and pursuits had added new dimensions.

'Ultimately, as long as one interacts with others, the AT Field—the heart's wall—will develop cracks. Not even I am an exception.'

He shook his head slowly. This was a good thing; there was no need to correct it. He remembered a record in the Blood Ravens' Librarium about a certain Primarch during the Great Crusade. His wish was to protect humanity and, after everything was settled, return to his home world to plant an apple tree.

What a simple and beautiful wish. Unfortunately, cruel fate had not allowed Him to have His way. Truly, the Emperor sending me home is a great grace—the supreme reward for my loyalty.

Look at the peace before my eyes, smell the air full of food, and listen to the whispers at my ear.

"Why have you been smiling this whole time? Tell me, are you planning to prank me?"

"It has nothing to do with you. I just thought of something happy."

"What happy thing? Say it so I can enjoy it too."

"I absolutely cannot tell you."

Well, that last part didn't count; it belonged to the legendary "sweet troubles."

Just as he was thinking this, Asuka pounced over, grabbing his arm. In an instant, she held up the Polaroid. Click. It spat out a photo. Her movements were so fast that even Rei didn't have time to react.

"Haha! This lady finally caught the chance!"

Asuka held the photo triumphantly. She had been planning like a hunter for half the day and finally caught the opportunity.

In the photo, the orange-haired girl's arm was threaded under the boy's arm, leaning her whole body against his shoulder with a brilliant smile. Unfortunately, the boy's wooden expression made the photo look quite uncoordinated.

"You idiot! Can't you just smile?"

"I am not very good at smiling."

Shinji had grown used to taking the blame.

'You launch a surprise attack and then blame me?'

"You ate so much today and bought so many strange trinkets. Aren't you happy? Don't you always say that humans should know how to control their desires and be content?"

Only magic can defeat magic. Shinji thought for a moment and nodded.

"You are right."

"Then smile! Using a smile to express pleasure is basic etiquette!"

Asuka covered her forehead. The group photo at school last time was a freak show; she was smiling brilliantly while this idiot looked like he wanted to hack the photographer to death.

It wasn't that Shinji hadn't smiled before, but those were subconscious mental activities. Being reminded to do it felt very unnatural. He sat stiffly for several seconds, trying to control the muscles at the corners of his mouth.

"Right, right, pull them up. Don't give me a fake smile! Express the emotions in your heart. Good, keep it like that."

Asuka seized the moment, taking the camera and turning the lens with a speed more agile than when she piloted Unit-02.

Click.

A white-bordered photo spat out. Asuka saw herself leaning back, making a "heart" gesture. She told herself she was indeed the prettiest. Then she saw Shinji's slightly stiff smile and thought it was "passable"—making this idiot follow orders was already a great achievement. But then she saw a head appear next to Shinji, and her smile vanished.

"Ayanami! Are you a ghost? Why are you photobombing again!"

"You never said I wasn't allowed to join. It's Ikari-kun's first time cooperating; of course I have to take the chance."

Rei spoke tonelessly, then pointed to the corner of the photo. "And I'm not the only one photobombing."

Asuka looked closely. Sure enough, there was another head in the top-right corner. She whipped her head around.

"Misato! When did you get here!?"

"Just now, just now! I saw you taking a picture and ran over."

Katsuragi Misato giggled, her forehead covered in sweat. Meeting Shinji's gaze, she quickly explained: "I brought the stuff back. I wasn't slacking off."

"What stuff?"

Asuka was very curious, but saw Misato look at Shinji in confusion.

"You didn't tell her? You two are pilots after all, you should care a bit more about work. Forget it, today is a day off. You'll know when you go to Headquarters tomorrow."

Misato kept work and life very separate, sitting down beside them.

"You should all thank me. I suggested this event to the city council, and I'm the one who gave those UN troops their day off."

"Is the defense okay?"

"It's all arranged. Don't say such mood-killing things."

Misato laughed sheepishly and tried to scoot closer to Shinji, but Rei stood in the way, forcibly blocking her.

Stare—

That look made Misato feel very guilty, and she didn't dare move. Asuka, seeing this, spoke up for her.

"Ayanami, if you won't thank Misato, fine, but why block her out? Misato, come over here and sit by me."

'Is this what the books mean by 'inviting the wolf into the house'? You idiot.'

Rei borrowed Asuka's catchphrase in her mind. Misato didn't move; sitting there would be too inhumane. Just as Asuka was feeling puzzled...

Boom!

A muffled thud, and a brilliant firework exploded in the air, lighting up the just-darkened night sky. Everyone stopped talking, watching firework after firework explode in the air like thousands of flowers suddenly blooming.

"It started! So beautiful!"

After a brief silence, the atmosphere became noisy again. Applause and screams were everywhere. Children ran around excitedly. Shinji didn't speak, listening to the rhythmic thuds of the explosions, his pupils reflecting the fleeting blossoms of fire.

He had seen many scenes a hundred times more magnificent—the heavy artillery barrage before a Krieg regiment's assault, or looking down from a drop pod and seeing a planet that looked like it was on fire.

Equally bright, equally magnificent, but fundamentally different. Those spectacular scenes represented destruction, whereas this fleeting light was filled with beautiful expectations for the future.

A new year, a new beginning, a new hope.

"What are you all staring for? Make a wish!"

Asuka shouted in his ear, her voice sounding intermittent amidst the firework explosions, yet she bowed her head, muttering something.

Rei and Misato froze for a second before quickly mimicking her, making their wishes in low voices. Amidst the boom-boom sounds, no one could hear their wishes—well, except for Shinji.

"I hope this idiot wakes up and stops making me angry all day. After all, I do like him just a tiny bit."

That was Asuka's wish.

"I like Ikari-kun. I hope the confession goes smoothly, but I don't want to hurt Asuka. I hope there is a way to have both."

That was Rei's conflict.

"Asuka... forgive me for being insatiable. After all, Shinji is a man who can replace my father."

That was Katsuragi Misato's "criminal declaration."

Shinji pursed his lips, thinking that humans were truly troublesome—needing the roar of fireworks to mask their inner feelings.

He looked around and saw the dense crowd all looking much the same.

Heads held high, eyes reflecting the brilliant yet brief fireworks, whispering to themselves, making beautiful wishes for the new year.

"I hope for world peace."

"In the new year, I hope we can defeat those monsters so our family can be safe and sound."

"May the gods protect me and help me find a new job so I can stay in Tokyo-3."

"I wish to find a partner."

Shinji watched them. The intense emotional expression of humanity formed a resonance. He thought for a moment, mimicked Asuka's posture, and placed his hand over his chest.

"I hope that I remain loyal from now on, fulfill my oaths, and complete my mission."

He spoke quietly, then paused, lowered his hand, and spoke in an even softer voice.

"I hope that this moment... can be eternal."

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