The door opened, and the light outside spilled into the apartment's dark hallway.
"All right, we're here. Hang in there!" Kaji supported the drunken Misato, looking somewhat helpless.
After her emotional outburst, Misato had slipped into a drowsy stupor.
"Ugh..." Misato answered him groggily, then immediately tried to flop down and sleep, only for Kaji to prop her up again.
Hearing the commotion, Shinji opened his door and came out.
"Mr. Kaji..." Shinji spotted the two of them as soon as he opened the door and looked pleasantly surprised to see Kaji.
After all, Kaji's guidance was second only to Misato's.
Asuka, who had been in her room, heard that Kaji had arrived and ran out with a delighted cry. "What? Mr. Kaji?"
Huang Zhetian finished bandaging his arm and came out as well. Seeing Misato's condition, he understood what had happened.
Kaji signaled to Huang Zhetian with his eyes. Huang Zhetian paused in surprise, but agreed.
They helped Misato back to her room.
Misato's room was a complete mess, no better than a kennel.
Clothes and underwear lay scattered everywhere, along with cans, drink bottles, and cigarette butts...
Taking in everything in Misato's room, Kaji was filled with mixed emotions. The way she had lived over the past eight years was plain to see.
Once Misato lay sprawled on her futon, fast asleep, Kaji shut the door and prepared to leave.
"Well, I'll be heading back." Kaji addressed the three children in front of him, though his eyes still flicked toward Huang Zhetian...
"Why don't you stay here tonight, Mr. Kaji?" Asuka seemed to have forgotten what had happened that evening, gazing at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
Smiling, Kaji straightened his clothes and gestured for Asuka to look. "If I turn up at work looking like this tomorrow,