Conversation

In the command room, Misato and Kaji seemed to be having an unpleasant conversation. Or rather, Misato seemed to be the only one finding it unpleasant.

"What are you doing here?" Misato asked, her face stiff.

"I didn't invite him," the Captain said, distancing himself from the matter.

"I accompanied Asuka here on a business trip from Germany," Kaji said unhurriedly, his eyes narrowed.

"I let my guard down. I should have thought of this beforehand." Misato looked at Kaji with a complicated expression.

"Save your reminiscing for later, Girl Scout Leader. I can sign your paperwork. But unless there's an emergency, command remains with us. Understood?" the Captain told Misato. That was the greatest concession he could make.

The Captain's words brought Misato back to her senses. She turned and bowed to him in thanks. "Thank you for understanding, Captain. In an emergency, supreme operational command will pass to us at NERV." I didn't expect this to go so smoothly, Misato thought.

"Don't mistake me for a pushover. I made my decision based on the actual circumstances. That boy from China showed me the relevant information, and I can understand the situation. You have to consider the facts in everything. I'm not some stubborn old fossil," the Captain said expressionlessly.

"The boy from China? Do you mean the Special Unit's pilot?" Misato asked the Captain in confusion.

The Captain replied, "If I hadn't seen the information, I'd have had a hard time imagining a monster like that. Conventional weapons can't hurt it. An Angel, they call it. Tch."

"Then I won't disturb you any longer, Captain." Having heard his explanation, Misato took her leave. With that bastard Kaji here, she felt uncomfortable all over, as though all her secrets had been exposed...

"All right. Go get some rest." With that, the Captain turned his chair toward the operations console, putting his back to everyone. Seeing this, Misato left the command room with the others.

Huang Zhetian arrived at the elevator doors, hesitation flickering in his eyes. He was debating whether to go inside.

Kaji gave Huang Zhetian a mischievous grin. "Zhetian, get in. Don't keep us waiting. There are people behind you."

"Exactly! You think helping Misato out is enough? Hmph! I could've done it too if I'd been there." Asuka swept past Huang Zhetian as she spoke. He caught the scent unique to a young girl, and his mind briefly went blank. Asuka glanced at him, tossed her head with a snort, and went inside. Her orange hair flicked across Huang Zhetian's face, snapping him out of it. Fuck! I let my guard down. How embarrassing. (ﾉಥ益ಥ)

"Kid, you're getting an early start~ Haha." Having seen the whole thing clearly from the side, Kaji teased him and stepped into the elevator as well. Asuka brightened when Kaji entered. She hugged his arm and chatted with him about something. Kaji looked at Huang Zhetian and shrugged helplessly. Huang Zhetian smiled back and shook his head.

Asuka soon became unhappy, because the elevator was too small. Or rather, there were too many people. There had originally been six people in this scene, but now Huang Zhetian had joined them. His presence made the already cramped elevator even more crowded.

"Stop moving around!" (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡) Misato and Asuka shouted together.

"What can we do about it?" (｢･ω･)｢ Hey, those two old perverts, Kaji and Toji, could only complain helplessly.

Meanwhile, Huang Zhetian was suffering and enjoying himself at the same time. Those who knew, knew, right? At that moment, Huang Zhetian also began to wonder whether that guy Kaji was doing this on purpose.

In the lounge, everyone sat in two rows. Huang Zhetian sat at the middle of the end of the table, looking left and right at the strange atmosphere.

Eventually, Kaji broke the awkward silence. He first asked Misato, "Do you have a boyfriend these days?" Beneath the table, his foot restlessly nudged hers.

Misato turned her face away in disgust and folded her arms. "What's it to you?"

But Kaji merely leaned back in his chair, unbothered, took a sip of his drink, and drawled, "Why so cold?"

Then he turned to Shinji and asked, "I hear you're living with Katsuragi?"

"Huh? Yeah," Shinji answered vaguely.

Kaji clasped his hands near his face and asked Shinji with a charming smile, "Has she gotten any better about how she sleeps?"

Huang Zhetian covered his face and sighed. "What the hell am I supposed to do with you..." (In Cantonese.)

The kids were all stunned... That was just way too much.

Sure enough, Misato got flustered. She really did. How could she not? Who wouldn't get worked up when someone brought up their embarrassing secrets?

Misato slapped her hand on the table, her face red, and shouted at Kaji, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Kaji glanced at Misato, then turned his face toward Shinji. "So she still hasn't fixed her sleeping habits, Shinji Ikari?"

This Shinji really is something. Can't you see Misato looking at you so desperately? And you're still answering? I finally understand why Shinji gets on people's nerves sometimes. There's a reason for it.

Shinji kept confirming it, too. Honestly... Huang Zhetian leisurely sipped his orange juice and ate melon seeds. In his previous life, he could only watch through a screen, but now he was right here in person.