Off to School

"Hey! Zhetian, you idiot! Get up! Didn't Misato say last night that we were going to school with Shinji today? Get up! Aah!" Asuka threw back the covers and smacked Huang Zhetian with a stuffed panda, only to catch sight of something unmentionable (the following content required payment. Want to see it? Sure, but that would cost extra). Then she screamed.

"Are you an idiot?! You pervert! Unbelievable! Unforgivable! You actually sleep naked?!" Her face bright red, Asuka turned away and unleashed a torrent of abuse at the still-groggy Huang Zhetian.

Shinji had been about to go in, but when he heard the words "sleep naked," he quietly packed up the lunches Huang Zhetian had made the night before. He stood outside with Toji and Kensuke...

"Holy fuck?! Fucking hell... Aah!" Huang Zhetian snapped awake and swore in his hometown dialect. Before he could finish, Asuka landed a devastating blow, then stormed out, her orange twin tails swinging. Through gritted teeth, she said, "You're getting another beating when you come out! Hmph! Zhetian, you idiot! Hurry up!"

Fine... my fault. Sleeping naked was his magical trick for a good night's sleep. Cool and comfortable... Ugh, better get cleaned up first.

When Huang Zhetian came out, Shinji and the others looked at him with envy and admiration.

Huang Zhetian opened his mouth to say something, but Asuka shot him a sidelong glare. Her meaning was clear. Don't say anything you shouldn't...

Gulp-

Huang Zhetian swallowed and gave a dry laugh. "Morning, friends. Sorry, I overslept."

"Hehe. It's fine, it's fine... Um, where's Miss Misato?" Toji asked with a sleazy grin.

"She's gone! And here I thought you were going to ask something serious. How should I know?!" Huang Zhetian replied irritably. Then he turned and called to Misato, who was sleeping inside, "Shinji made you breakfast. It's in the microwave, so sort it out yourself. We're leaving."

"Thank you, Shinji, and thank you for that delicious food last night, Zhetian. Have a safe trip, you and Asuka. Mwah~" Misato called sweetly from inside. That last bit was probably a blown kiss...

Slam- The door shut.

Seeing the looks on Toji's and Kensuke's faces, as though they had eaten shit, Huang Zhetian snapped, "What are you staring at? Soryu, Shinji, come on. We're going to be late." He turned and called for Asuka and Shinji to follow.

"Fuck! How can you be so selfish?!"

"What did you all do last night? My heart is breaking!"

Kensuke and Toji cried out in utter anguish.

At school.

"Sell me all your photos. I want exclusive ownership. Hurry up!" Huang Zhetian said casually, holding out his hand.

"Zhetian, why not just buy some? Why do you have to buy them all out? I'll give you a discount?" Kensuke pleaded meekly.

"If you buy them all, I won't have any photos left either, right?" Toji looked pitifully at Huang Zhetian. He had wanted to keep a few good ones and sell them later at a higher price, making a hefty profit.

Asuka was so dazzling that plenty of boys and girls had already been talking about her. These two idiots had seized their chance and secretly taken over a hundred photos, hoping to sell them while the opportunity lasted. But then he had shown up out of nowhere to throw a wrench in their plans...

"Hurry up. I don't have much patience. Sell them to me. If Soryu finds out, neither you nor I will be able to smooth things over," Huang Zhetian said unhurriedly.

"Fine..." Looking as though their parents had died, the two reluctantly took out the negatives. When Huang Zhetian reached for them, they held on so tightly that he couldn't take them. He had to give another tug before they came free.

"Here, take this. It's a high-definition digital camera. Use it to take some flattering pictures of Soryu for me, but only show them to me. If you want to make money, why not photograph Shinji and sell those pictures to the girls? And why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?" Huang Zhetian handed Kensuke the digital camera and asked in confusion.

"We thought we were already pretty shameless... But compared to you, we're amateurs-" Kensuke and Toji said, looking at Huang Zhetian with disgust.

"Just basic stuff, no applause needed. Haha. Don't get caught." With that, Huang Zhetian gathered the photos into a folder and happily returned to the classroom, thinking about shutting his bedroom door once he got home and admiring them at his leisure.

Isn't this better than a figurine? These are actual photos of Asuka, man.

Looking at Asuka again as she interacted "amicably" with the students, Huang Zhetian knew perfectly well: This isn't her...

Although Asuka smiled brightly and chatted happily, her smiles and emotions still looked far too fake to him. Anyone who had spent enough time with her could tell at a glance.

Huh, why does this setting look so familiar? There's a girl with short blue hair sitting on the long bench to the right of the stairs...

"Rei Ayanami?! The pilot of Unit-00..." He turned to look at Asuka and Shinji as they approached.

Asuka must have read Rei Ayanami's file. When the time comes...

Huang Zhetian sat on the nearby railing and took out some orange juice and sunflower seeds-settling in to watch the show...

Let's see how my dear Asuka dishes out the snark, and how Rei Ayanami hits back without changing her expression.