"Shinji Ikari, set your worries and troubles aside for now. Every man goes through a time like this."
Toji Suzuhara's father-in-law drank a small cup of liquor, let out a contented breath, and patted Shinji Ikari on the shoulder.
Shinji Ikari stared at his reflection in the liquor. All he saw in his reflected eyes was loneliness and a forced resolve.
"Thank you, everyone. I'll do my best."
He left the liquor untouched and instead picked up his seaweed and egg-drop soup, draining it in one go.
The old man didn't mind. A man didn't necessarily need alcohol to drown his sorrows, but he needed to eat something to briefly distract himself from the gloom inside.
Huang Zhetian set down his chopsticks and told Shinji Ikari, "From now on, Shinji, you'll stay with me. And... you need to give her a name. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you somewhere to meet someone."
Shinji Ikari didn't feel like saying much either. He simply nodded and ate in silence.
Inside the bedroom
Hikari Horaki unfastened her sleeve and breastfed Yan, who lay cradled in her arms.
Black Rei was puzzled and fascinated. "What are you doing?"
Asuka looked at Black Rei in utter shock. It seemed Huang Zhetian had been right: Black Rei was nothing more than a tool who only knew how to obey orders.
She knew nothing about everyday life and was curious about everything. When it came to anything outside combat, she was completely clueless.
Hikari Horaki didn't mind. She patiently explained to Black Rei, "Babies slowly grow up by drinking their mother's milk."
Understanding dawned on Black Rei's face. She touched her breasts with both hands and kneaded them. Nothing happened. Was her technique wrong? She kneaded them again.
Seeing Black Rei imitate her, Hikari Horaki burst out laughing.