A moment later.
"Shinji was the first pilot to move in with me."
"And now Asuka's joining us."
Misato and Asuka sat in the living room. Watched Shinji cook. Explained the situation.
EVA pilots were problem children. Easier to supervise them up close.
Though... who was supervising whom remained unclear.
"Eh?"
"I have to live with this idiot?"
Asuka stared at Shinji's back. Her expression cycled through ten emotions.
Then her nose twitched.
A delicious aroma.
This guy... actually had cooking skills.
"Maybe... it's not so bad."
She crossed her arms. Watched Shinji bring out the dishes. Living together suddenly seemed tolerable.
Listening to their conversation, Shinji grabbed a towel. Wiped his hands. Expression helpless.
"Does anyone care what I think?"
They'd decided everything without asking him. He lived here too.
"You... you promised to cook for me, didn't you?"
"This works perfectly."
Asuka stood. Pointed at him. Full tsundere mode.
Shinji stayed silent for two seconds.
"Fine."
"What's with that reluctant face?"
"Living with a beautiful girl is an honor, you know."
Asuka saw his expression hadn't changed. Hands on hips now.
She had absolute confidence in her looks.
Hmph. This guy's lucky.
"Ahem... anyway, welcome."
Shinji looked her up and down. Only now realizing this life was something the old him couldn't have imagined. This princess-like girl was genuinely beautiful.
But Shinji—determined to change this world, protect others' dreams—figured everything else could wait.
"That's more like it."
"Well then... let's eat!"
Seeing Shinji's shy expression, Asuka grinned triumphantly. Sat back down. Picked up chopsticks awkwardly. Mimicked Misato's words.
The apartment had three rooms plus a living area. Originally one master bedroom, one secondary bedroom, and a storage room.
After Asuka moved in, a small dispute arose over who got the secondary bedroom versus the storage room. Resolved by vote.
Two-to-one. Misato—previously in the master bedroom—got moved to storage. Shinji's room stayed unchanged.
Misato protested. Protest denied.
Night fell.
"Misato-san didn't keep asking about Natsuki-san."
Shinji lay in bed. Recalled their dinner conversation. Slightly surprised she hadn't pried more.
She'd been so interested in his secret before.
"Your father probably told her something."
"For her, knowing you're safe and everyone can keep fighting Angels together? Maybe that's enough."
Natsuki sat in a chair. Looked at him.
"I see... Misato-san really is a good person."
Shinji thought back to his experiences since arriving in Tokyo-3.
"Alright."
"Getting late. I need to contact Hikari in advance."
"Shinji, borrowing your body."
Natsuki's phantom drifted back into Shinji's body. Took control.
Sat up in bed. Raised his right hand. Looked at the bracelet on his wrist.
"Hikari-san... that's the blue giant from my dream?"
Shinji asked curiously.
"Correct."
"The universe's greatest scientist."
Natsuki channeled energy with a special frequency into the crystal at the bracelet's center.
Last time, Hikari told him the proper contact method.
No need to use the Eight-Point Light Wheel as a doorbell this time.
Soon, Hikari received the signal. Golden light particles flew from the bracelet. Coalesced into Hikari's form.
"Oh! He appeared!"
Shinji watched this miraculous scene. Exclaimed in Natsuki's mind.
"Yo, Hikari."
Natsuki greeted him.
Been a while since he'd contacted the Land of Light.
"You're...?"
Hikari stared at "Shinji." Froze for a moment.
Hadn't seen him in a while. Why did Natsuki turn into a kid?
"Had a little accident."
Natsuki saw Hikari's confusion. Explained.
"For certain reasons, I unified with this brave young man."
"I see."
Hikari nodded.
A higher life form from an advanced civilization merging with an ordinary human.
Not exactly news in the Land of Light.
The Ultra Brothers basically all did it.
"What's the reason for contacting me?"
Hikari asked.
He knew Natsuki usually didn't reach out without cause.
"Here's the situation. I need you to help me resurrect a human using Life Solidification Technology..."
Natsuki explained everything that happened since arriving in this world. Including today's conversation with Gendo.
At Natsuki's current level, using solidified life to resurrect Yui was challenging. Required precise operation.
Having Hikari assist remotely was clearly the safest approach.
"As payment, I got you this."
Natsuki pulled a briefcase from under the bed.
"Oh?"
Hikari saw Adam's embryo inside. Eyes lit up immediately.
Now that was a rare specimen.
"This life form... truly unique."
The scientist in Hikari ignited.
That thing called an AT Field had serious research value.
"Thank you. This deserves a spot in the Space Science Technology Bureau's collection."
Hikari told Natsuki.
"Don't mention it."
"Just don't forget to help resurrect this kid's mother tomorrow."
"That's simple."
Hikari said. Then remembered something.
"Right. The bracelet's mission system doesn't serve much purpose for you anymore. I'm changing the mandatory system to one you can choose from."
"Skip the mission step. Go straight to training."
The previous forced missions were to prevent Natsuki from treating assignments like vacations. A necessary measure.
But now they all understood this mission's importance. No need for that anymore.
He trusted Natsuki would work hard to recover his power. After all, the threat from the Absolutian clan hadn't disappeared.
Every Ultra Warrior grew on Earth. Seeing Natsuki choose to unify with this boy, Hikari knew he was finding his former self again.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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