The old home
Asuka smugly took out the Game Console and handed it to Huang Zhetian to show off. "See? I beat your high score-[100000]! Pretty impressive, right?"
Huang Zhetian smiled, nodded, and gave her a thumbs-up. "Top marks. Not bad. I hope you keep that same mindset in battle. You have to decide quickly what you can afford to give up and what you can't."
Asuka scoffed. "Hmph, I've been doing that for ages, okay? You're only telling me now?"
"It's fine. Just a reminder. No matter what happens, stay as calm and composed as you were when you got that high score."
With that, he patted Asuka's head and sorted through the luggage he had brought back from the training grounds.
"Oh, right. The Prototype Ayanami came by, looking for the big shot's son. Where did he go?"
Asuka came up behind Huang Zhetian to smooth his hair, giving his back a massage while she was at it.
"Him? He went to find her."
"Huh?"
Huang Zhetian smiled faintly and turned toward the window, watching the running figure grow smaller and smaller until he disappeared.
The morning sunlight fell on Black Rei, warming her. It felt even better than soaking in the LCL at NERV Headquarters.
Just as Black Rei shouldered her basket, ready to begin another day's work, a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Ayanami, I'm back."
Black Rei froze at those words, then slowly turned to look behind her.
Shinji Ikari stood in the direction of the rising sun, its rays falling directly onto his head.
After his training, Shinji Ikari seemed more confident and composed.
His youthful fourteen-year-old face now carried a maturity usually found only in adults.
"I came back for you, Ayanami."
Black Rei lowered the basket from her back, took the