Defeating the Angel

Back home, Huang Zhetian tied on his apron and started cooking!

His classmates got to enjoy the feast too, and Chinese food won them all over.

"Ah! This is delicious! This fish with pickled mustard greens really packs a punch!" Kensuke exclaimed excitedly as he ate.

"Asuka, with a chef like him around, you never have to worry about meals." Class Rep Hikari Horaki sounded envious.

"Pfft! Of course. I wouldn't eat it if it weren't good!" Asuka picked up a piece of tofu and chewed it, glanced at Huang Zhetian, then haughtily turned her head away.

"Everything's arranged so neatly, and there's both meat and vegetables." Toji enjoyed the hot pot, marveling at the neatly arranged platters.

"Just a few little tricks..." Huang Zhetian replied modestly.

Late that night...

Misato received orders to return to NERV Headquarters. Some documents needed her personal review and approval.

Overtime again... damn it.

After grumbling to herself, she grabbed a few cans of beer from the fridge and drove off.

Before leaving, she told Huang Zhetian, "I won't be home tonight, so don't make breakfast for me tomorrow."

"Got it."

After Misato left, Asuka slowly poked her head around the doorframe and narrowed her eyes at him. "With Misato out, don't try anything funny tonight. Otherwise... mmph!?"

Before she could finish, Huang Zhetian kissed her. The reason was that his foot had slipped...

For a long while, they stared at each other. Wide eyes met narrower eyes, and narrower eyes glared back...

"Ah! Aaaah! Zhetian, you idiot! You! Aah..."

"Ah! Stop, stop! You're going to twist my ear off! Asuka, I didn't mean to! Ow!"

"Idiot! Stupid Zhetian! You... you! You're awful!" Asuka's head was spinning. Once she finally recovered a little, she flushed and fiercely berated Huang Zhetian.

"So this is what you meant by trying something funny? Sorry, I didn't mean to... ow!" Huang Zhetian tried to talk his way out of it, but before he finished, another hard slap landed on his face. Great, now he was just like Toji...

"Hmph! Since dinner was pretty good today, I'll let you off this once. Damn you!" Asuka always had to come out on top. He was lucky she was willing to spare him even once.

I, Huang Zhetian, like to make the first move. (｢･ω･)｢ Hey, you think I wanted that?

"Go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow. Yeah!" Huang Zhetian rubbed his swollen, reddened cheek.

"How about... we sleep together tonight?"

"You're asking for another beating, aren't you? Didn't I hit you enough just now?"

"No, no, no, no! That was enough, that was enough."

"All right, stop talking nonsense."

"Fine..."

Asuka laughed with a cold snort. You think you can take me on? Hmph!

Night...

The two slept a meter apart.

The next morning, men in black woke Huang Zhetian.

The reason-the Angel had arrived!

"It's early. Another change." Huang Zhetian sat in the car with Asuka, watching the scenery race backward outside as he pondered...

They soon arrived at the underground base at NERV Headquarters.

"Huang Zhetian, Asuka. You two have only one minute! You must defeat the Angel within that minute, or else..." Misato said gravely.

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

A moment later...

"Launch! Move out!" Misato gave the order, and the two EVAs were launched to the surface.

The two EVAs rose high into the air, looking down at the Angel below.

Single-leg kick!

The two kicked at the Angel in perfect sync!

Whoosh!

The Angel split into two, each crossing its arms to block.

The EVAs used the impact to flip backward.

Ding! Ding!

Cross-shaped laser blasts fired! But neither hit; Huang Zhetian and Asuka dodged them all.

Splitting off to the left and right, the two raised their machine guns and opened fire.

The Angel merged back into one. Asuka and Huang Zhetian exchanged a glance and nodded to each other.

Throwing away their guns, the two immediately leaped into the air and unleashed a combined Rider Kick!

Bam! Crack!

With a sound like shattering glass, the Angel's core broke apart!

Boom! The Angel exploded!

Just in time!

Both EVAs lost power and collapsed to the ground.

"Stupid Zhetian! You idiot! Why was your form so awful?" Asuka snapped unhappily.

"Blame yourself for hitting me so hard last night. It hurt too much to sleep, and now you're blaming me..." Huang Zhetian tried to argue his way out of it.

"Idiot! Damn you! You... just wait until we get home!" Asuka flushed and scolded him in a fluster. With all these people here... tsk! You've ruined my image! Stupid, rotten Zhetian!

Fuyutsuki and Gendo Ikari both smiled faintly... It had been a long time since things felt this relaxed.

The plan could proceed...

"The old men don't want Unit-01 to have an S² Engine," Fuyutsuki said, turning to Gendo Ikari.

"It doesn't matter. When the time comes, it won't be up to them... A coincidence would work too." Gendo Ikari was the same as ever.

"I hope that plan can move a little faster."

"Let's hope..."