While treating Rei Ayanami, Hansen used the United Nations' newly developed "Cell Activator" as a cover. In reality, he employed his own [Imaginary Divine Power] to fundamentally repair and complete Rei Ayanami's broken body.
The surging life energy within, containing the principles of creation, instantly healed all her internal and external injuries.
Moreover, it thoroughly compensated for and strengthened her body at the genetic level, which, as a Clone, was inherently fragile with a gene chain on the verge of collapse.
At this moment, Rei Ayanami could clearly feel that the weakness and numbness which had forced her to regularly soak in cold LCL fluid just to sustain her life had completely vanished.
Replacing it was a warm and powerful sense of strength, filling every cell throughout her limbs and body.
This favor, akin to rebirth, was far more profound, direct, and warm than the time Gendo Ikari had saved her from the runaway, Berserk cockpit of eva unit-00.
In her heart, that vague figure representing light had, without her realizing it, completely shifted from Gendo Ikari to the man before her who had given her new life and warmth.
Therefore, for the first time, without anyone's order, driven by her newly sprouted self-will, Rei Ayanami had come here.
However, due to her nearly non-existent social experience over fourteen years, she currently resembled an exquisite doll awaiting instructions.
Hansen naturally didn't mind.
On the other hand, Misato Katsuragi, after the initial shock, immediately leveraged her exceptional social skills and outgoing personality, wrapping an arm around Rei Ayanami's slender shoulders. Rei's body noticeably stiffened for a moment.
"Oh, it's Rei! Perfect timing!"
Misato smiled brightly, taking Rei Ayanami's small hand. "We're just about to have a welcome party, also to celebrate Shinji-kun's victory in his first battle! Rei, you should join us too! The more, the merrier!"
Rei Ayanami still wore her usual expressionless face, unsure how to respond. She instinctively looked toward Hansen.
Seeing her pleading gaze, a pleasant smile curved at the corner of Hansen's mouth. "At times like this, just smile."
"Smile..."
Rei Ayanami repeated the word softly, as if searching for a program that had never been called upon.
She blinked her long Eyelashes, then slowly, with a somewhat stiff motion, lifted the corners of her mouth upward.
A faint smile blossomed on her perpetually ice-cold face.
In that instant, it was as if the ice and snow had begun to melt, giving way to spring's warmth and blooming flowers.
The extreme chill and this sudden warmth intertwined, creating a breathtaking beauty that could stop a heart.
Beside them, the inconspicuous Shinji Ikari stared dumbfounded, his Adam's apple bobbing unconsciously, his eyes filled with the restlessness of adolescence and a longing for the beautiful opposite sex.
Misato Katsuragi was also taken aback for a moment before gently hugging Rei Ayanami. "I never imagined... Rei, when you smile, you look just like an angel."
With that, she pulled Shinji with one hand and kept an arm around Rei Ayanami, bustlingly ushering all three into her messy apartment.
"Welcome to my castle!"
As the door opened, a complex odor—a mix of beer, instant food packaging, and unwashed laundry—assaulted their senses.
Inside the apartment, beer cans and discarded clothes were scattered everywhere. A small mountain of leftover instant noodle cups was piled in the corner of the table, causing Shinji, who had a slight cleanliness obsession, to instantly petrify, his face turning pale.
And when the bathroom door creaked open, a hot-spring penguin wearing a special little vest waddled out, completely ignoring everyone, and let out a hearty "Gwah!" Shinji's worldview shattered.
"Wh-what... what is that?!" he stammered, pointing a trembling finger at the penguin.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is my family, Pen Pen," Misato said nonchalantly, kicking off her high heels and tossing them aside.
Hansen observed this clearly genetically modified new species with great interest, while Rei Ayanami simply tilted her head.
A glimmer of something called curiosity finally flashed within her red eyes.
With the instant food Misato had picked up on the way covering the table, the party officially began in a peculiar atmosphere.
"Come on, come on! To victory, to our heroes, cheers!"
Misato raised a can of ice-cold beer with gusto and downed it first.
Hansen smiled, clinked his glass with hers, and took an elegant sip.
In front of the two minors, Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami, were placed two glasses of orange juice.
Alcohol is the most effective catalyst for adults.
After a few cans of beer, Misato Katsuragi's cheeks were tinged with a charming flush. Her usually sharp, bright eyes grew hazy and unfocused.
Her tongue loosened completely. Shedding the efficient, tough exterior of the Operations Director, she revealed the weariness and vulnerability of a twenty-nine-year-old woman.
Somewhat incoherently, the woman began confiding in Hansen, the only other adult present.
Hansen didn't say much, merely listening quietly like the most faithful audience.
He would refill her beer, encourage her to continue with a gentle gaze when she paused, and occasionally respond with a word or two that always seemed to strike right at the softest spot in her heart.
"Actually... I'm scared too..." Misato mumbled, resting her head on the table, her unfocused eyes fixed on Hansen's distractingly handsome profile. "Sending you kids... who are only fourteen... onto the battlefield... I have nightmares every day..."
"Mr. Hansen... you... aren't you afraid at all?" she asked dreamily.
"Fear doesn't solve problems," Hansen's voice was soft yet carried a reassuring power. "All we can do is choose to do the right thing, even in the face of fear."
Misato was stunned. She looked into the man's deep, starry white-gold eyes.
She felt that the aura of maturity, steadiness, reliability, and warmth emanating from this man was like a vast, gentle whirlpool, threatening to pull her in completely, to let her drown in it and never want to escape.
She thought of her ex-boyfriend, Ryoji Kaji, that equally excellent man who always wore a somewhat frivolous smile.
But soon, she shook that image from her mind.
Although the breakup was due to her own evasion, not because Ryoji had done anything wrong, it was, regardless, in the past.
"Hic..." Misato let out a cute hiccup, swaying as she stood up. "I'll go... get some more... beer..."
Her steps were unsteady, her body swaying like a reed in the wind.
Just as she turned and passed by Hansen, her foot seemed to catch on something. Losing her balance, she stumbled and fell straight into Hansen's arms.
A warm, soft, fragrant jade filled his embrace.
The mature woman's voluptuous, stunningly curvaceous body collided solidly against a firm, warm chest.
The strong scent of alcohol mixed with her intoxicating feminine fragrance, gradually heating the air.
Hansen caught Misato steadily, his strong arms encircling her soft waist.
Feeling the Amazingly hot body temperature and the rapid, drum-like heartbeat of the woman in his arms, a knowing smile finally appeared on his face.
"It seems someone needs to rest."
Then, under the blank, bewildered gazes of Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami, he exerted a slight force with his arms and effortlessly lifted the nearly boneless Misato Katsuragi in a standard princess carry.
"Shinji-kun, I'm entrusting Rei Ayanami to you. You're responsible for seeing her home, understood?"
Shinji responded instinctively, "Ah... yes!"
*Thud—*
The door to Misato's bedroom was gently closed by Hansen's heel. The sound of the door shutting cut off the view from the living room for the two teenagers, seemingly isolating two completely different worlds.
Outside the door were the messy dining table, a flustered boy, and a pensive girl.
Inside the door began a long, amorous night belonging solely to adults.
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