That day, Kaji and Asuka went shopping.
On the bustling street, Asuka wrapped both hands around Kaji's arm and nestled her head affectionately against his shoulder...
There's no escaping it after all. (Huang Zhetian)
"Mr. Kaji, that ring on your hand is so pretty. Who gave it to you?" Asuka happened to glance at his hand, then looked up and asked.
"Oh? You mean this? I can't tell you, but one day, you'll have a ring like this too." Kaji patted her little head and spoke mysteriously.
Asuka huffed and muttered, "Who cares? Idiot!" Then she let go of his arm and stalked off into the crowd.
"Ugh... I really don't want to babysit. If only he were here." Kaji rubbed his forehead helplessly, feeling a headache coming on. Life as an unmarried man looking after a little girl was such a hassle... Tsk!
The two of them arrived at a swimwear store.
"Ta-da! Mr. Kaji, what do you think of this swimsuit?" Asuka came around from the other side, holding up a red-and-white striped two-piece.
"This might not be a good idea. After all... uh..." Kaji rubbed his chin awkwardly and hesitated.
"Hmph! I'm already an adult, so I can wear whatever swimsuit I want! Why did I even ask..." Asuka rolled her eyes in displeasure.
In the end, they bought it and took it with them anyway.
At the café.
Kaji watched Asuka happily drinking her coffee. He stirred his own with a spoon and asked a question.
"How are you getting along with Huang Zhetian? Hmm?" Kaji took a sip of coffee.
"Hmph! That idiot Zhetian is nothing special. His cooking is decent. Just average." Asuka closed her eyes and spoke indifferently.
"Really? I heard NERV's commander-in-chief is going to have him move in with Unit-00's pilot, Rei Ayanami..." Kaji said leisurely.
"No!!! I won't allow it! If anyone's moving in, it should be me! If that won't work, we can all move in together!" Asuka reacted instantly, slamming her hand on the table as she blurted it out.
Her outburst made Kaji jump, and he nearly lost his grip on his coffee.
"Why are you so worked up, Asuka? Didn't you say you didn't care?" Kaji gave her a roguish smile and teased her.
"I... I... I'm making him take responsibility for me! Yes! That's it! He owes me!" Asuka answered in a panic.
"All right, all right, I'm just teasing. It's rare to see you like this... Ow!" Before Kaji could finish, Asuka interrupted him by throwing a shopping bag at him.
"Idiot! Jerk! Unforgivable! Mr. Kaji is such a jerk! Hmph! It's all that idiot Zhetian's fault!" Asuka's thoughts ran wild the whole way home, and she blamed everything on Huang Zhetian.
Meanwhile, the "culprit," Huang Zhetian, was chatting and laughing with Shinji.
Rei Ayanami sat quietly to one side, reading with an expressionless face.
Bang-slam!
The door was flung open, then slammed shut.
Door: So? You will be like them?
"Idiot Zhetian! Hmph! Come help me." Asuka shouted into the room as soon as she came through the door.
"Coming... my princess." Huang Zhetian handed her a bottle of chilled orange juice.
"Thanks. Phew~ (๑＞＜๑)"
"By the way, there's something I need to tell you," Huang Zhetian said as he sorted through the bags.
"What is it?" Asuka asked, her face flushed as she panted.
"It's about the school trip. Misato told Shinji and me we can't go. We have to stay ready to fight an Angel at any moment."
"What? Are you two even men? Why are you so obedient?" Asuka was exasperated with them. She had already bought a swimsuit, only for Misato to pull this.
"There's nothing we can do. Apparently, Miss Misato is already searching for the Angel. There's no solid information yet..." Huang Zhetian rummaged through a bag of clothes.
"Don't touch that! It's not time yet! You can't see that." Asuka panicked when she saw Huang Zhetian reach for the swimsuit bag.
"All right."
A little later.
"How about going swimming now? We can relax a little. Miss Misato said that whether there's an Angel or not, once this is over, we'll go hiking and then visit a hot spring." Shinji asked Huang Zhetian and the others what they thought.
"No objections here. Whatever works." Huang Zhetian ate his chilled cucumber salad, unbothered.
"Hmph! I suppose I'll go with you, if I must." Asuka folded her arms and glared fiercely at Huang Zhetian.
"Hmm... if Ikari is going, I'll go too." Rei Ayanami finally looked up from her book and answered calmly.
"Then let's go swimming first. Ah, tsk. We should get our swimsuits ready."
Huang Zhetian went into his room and picked up his flute. A little sadly, he said, "I want to play a piece later, but it's rather sad. Would you like to hear it?"
"Just play it. Hmph! Who cares whether it's sad?" Asuka said dismissively.
"Well, it is an instrument you blow into. Want to listen to it first?" Huang Zhetian was serious for once.
"Sure. I'd like to see you perform too, Zhetian." Shinji was full of anticipation. Although he had pieces he played and an instrument of his own, they weren't things he liked... He could never bring himself to enjoy something he hadn't chosen willingly.
"This piece is called 'Thoughts Across Time and Space.'" Huang Zhetian's eyes suddenly filled with sadness. He truly missed his parents-the parents he had left in that other time and space. And his older sister...
The lingering, mournful opening notes slowly began to rise...
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