A new plotline

"Ah... that familiar ceiling. Heh..."

Huang Zhetian opened his eyes several times before the blurry scene slowly came into focus. He stared at the ceiling, white as jade...

Hmm, my brain's having trouble keeping up.

This is... the hospital at NERV Headquarters Base, right? Where did Shinji and the others go?

"Beep-Special Unit pilot Huang Zhetian has regained consciousness. His condition is stable." A female voice sounded beside his bed.

Before long, a nurse pushed open the door and came in to check his vitals.

"The Special Unit pilot has no serious issues. All readings are normal." The nurse held a clipboard and wrote on it.

"Excuse me, nurse, where are the other pilots?" Huang Zhetian asked politely.

"Oh, you mean the other pilots? They weren't hospitalized. They just went to the doctor for some medicine..." the nurse answered without looking up.

Great, just me. Now I finally know what it's like to be Shinji. This really doesn't feel good.

Waking up to find himself all alone felt lonely, and a little helpless.

"Zhetian, you're finally awake! You were unconscious all night. Thank goodness you woke up. Does anything feel uncomfortable?" Misato asked with concern as soon as she came in.

Huang Zhetian was flattered. "Miss Misato, thank you for your concern. My body feels fine overall, but my ankle still hurts a little. After all, it felt far too real."

"There's nothing we can do about that. Sometimes, having too high a synchronization rate isn't necessarily a good thing. Shinji and Asuka went to school. Get some rest, and we'll see if you're well enough to go tomorrow. I already asked them to request leave for you." As Misato spoke, she took a lunch box out of her backpack and handed it to Huang Zhetian.

"Oh, right! Shinji made this miso soup, and Asuka made the lunch herself. Asuka said you have to finish it! Look how good she is to you. You three really get along." Misato opened the lunch box for him and handed him the chopsticks.

"Please thank them for me first. I appreciate the thought. Oh, I can already smell it. I never would've guessed Asuka was such a good cook." Huang Zhetian picked up a small piece of sausage, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.

Beside him, Misato poured a small bowl of miso soup and handed it over, smiling with a mother's fondness. "Asuka cut her hands in several places cooking for you. She's wearing bandages now, but she still insisted on making it. That just goes to show... tsk, tsk, tsk. And at such a young age!"

"What an idiot... Only she could have that kind of temper and personality. Never giving up and always pushing herself forward are her strengths, I suppose. She always has to prove herself. Mm." A trace of tenderness flickered in Huang Zhetian's eyes, but he suppressed the warmth in his heart. He picked up another piece of sausage and put it in his mouth.

"By the way, I heard another transfer student is coming. She's pretty good-looking, enough to give Asuka a run for her money." Misato stood and straightened her clothes, adjusting her collar and sleeves as she spoke casually.

"What's her name?"

"Mana Kirishima."

At school.

"You idiot, Shinji! You're such a jerk! Don't you and Rei Ayanami like each other? Why are you getting so close to another girl?" Asuka sounded indignant on behalf of the honor student.

"What? I'm just making friends with Mana. What are you even thinking? Give me a break." Shinji was at a loss and hurried to defend himself.

"All right, Ikari! There's a saying in China-eating from your bowl while eyeing what's in the pot. Honestly... tsk, tsk, tsk. You're such a disappointment, Shinji." Toji fanned the flames from the sidelines.

"Exactly! You sure get along well with this girl. Even your enthusiasm for Soryu and Rei Ayanami combined doesn't match what you show her. She's practically a girlfriend dropped out of the sky." Kensuke and Toji teased Shinji like a comedy duo.

"Huh? What? Stop talking nonsense! I, Shinji Ikari, am a respectable young man. My mind isn't as filthy as yours. Hmph!" Shinji was having trouble holding his own.

"Hahaha, you're so cute, Shinji. Hehe..." Mana covered her mouth and laughed beside him, looking genuinely adorable. But she was the adorable one.

There was no denying that Mana Kirishima was truly cute. Her lively, cheerful personality was different from Asuka's forceful energy.

One made people feel at ease; the other left them feeling helpless.

They were both lively, but fundamentally different.

"All right, all right! Stop giving Shinji a hard time. If you're so capable, try doing what he does. Get back to the classroom. Class is about to start!" The Class Rep, Hikari Horaki, appeared just in time, letting Shinji breathe a sigh of relief.

Asuka's face went through a whole range of expressions. She couldn't stand seeing Shinji happy. Whenever she saw him enjoying himself, she felt inexplicably furious-even more annoyed than when Huang Zhetian laughed and chatted with the girls in their class...

Beep, beep-two phones sounded at the same time.

Asuka and Shinji picked up their phones simultaneously.

They both looked up, glanced at each other, and smiled at the same time.

They held their phones, whose monochrome screens displayed a message in Japanese: "Thank you for the meal. I'm feeling much better. Your food must have done me some good. I'll cook something for you when I get back. Tonight should work."

It's Zhetian. He's awake.

That's not the point!

The point is...

There's going to be delicious food again tonight!!!

Without his cooking last night, the food had tasted like cardboard to all three of them. He had really spoiled their palates... Whose fault was that? Nobody knew.

So freaking awesome!

At the NERV base, Fuyutsuki and Gendo Ikari were talking.

"I never expected us to defeat the Angel at such little cost. But SEELE and the United Nations are both criticizing us. They say this operation was too risky and failed to properly distinguish friend from foe." Fuyutsuki spoke in a low voice, his aged face stern.

"Let them say whatever they want. Until the Angels are wiped out, we call the shots. If they want to stay alive, what can they do to me?" Gendo Ikari still held his gloved hands against his mouth, his glasses reflecting the light as he stated the facts without a care.

"And what if, one day, there are no Angels left?"

"That will be the day I succeed! The day I see Yui again!"

"Huang Zhetian is the most ruthless person I've ever seen. He doesn't even spare himself. Truly... decisive. It seems he doesn't drag his feet when he acts. That's a good thing, too..."

"This will make our scenario progress even better. With his contribution, I believe success can't be far off. We may even achieve it ahead of schedule!" Gendo Ikari clenched his hands...