Hearts in turmoil again, Kaworu Nagisa prepares to appear, and Asuka's feelings for Huang Zhetian

Night fell, and everyone returned to the apartment building this time. None of them could remember the last time they had eaten together.

Huang Zhetian had prepared dinner early too: the classic four dishes and a soup. Lately, though, no matter how delicious, fragrant, and appetizing his cooking was, the laughter they once shared never returned.

That included Huang Zhetian...

Everyone ate with their heads lowered. Watching the strange atmosphere, Misato opened her mouth, hoping to find something to talk about and ease their gloomy mood. Before she could speak, however, Asuka interrupted her by slamming her chopsticks onto the table.

Pianpian, who had been eating fish beneath the table, was so frightened that he lifted a foot and limped away without daring to make a sound.

"I'm full!" Asuka pushed herself up with both arms. Just as she turned to leave, the landline nearby began to ring.

Misato glanced at the unfinished rice at Asuka's place and couldn't help frowning.

Still, she said nothing and merely tipped her head back to drink her beer. Deep down, she had had enough of Asuka's occasional bouts of rude, unreasonable behavior.

If not for Kaji being responsible for her, along with her status as Unit-02's pilot, Misato would have been tempted to dump Asuka somewhere like the place Rei Ayanami lived.

Swallowing her displeasure, Misato turned to Huang Zhetian with a smile. "Zhetian-kun, could you answer the phone?"

Asuka stopped in her tracks and turned back to demand, "It must be Mr. Kaji calling you, right? Why are you making Zhetian answer instead of doing it yourself?"

At the mention of Kaji, a trace of sorrow appeared in Misato's eyes. "That isn't possible..." she replied softly.

Asuka paid no attention to what those words meant. She simply felt that everyone was hiding