NERV Staff Dormitory, Misato Katsuragi's home.
Shinji Ikari opened his eyes.
Even though last night had felt like a wonderfully satisfying dream, he knew upon waking that morning that it had all been real.
The girl lying on top of him gave him that answer.
He glanced at the clock beside the bed. Its hands still pointed to seven.
The sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains made it clear that it was morning, not evening.
In Tokyo-3, the sun usually began to set before seven in the evening, and by eight it was completely dark. At night, the neon lights along the streets shone brighter than the sky.
Shinji Ikari had slept well that night. Scientific studies supposedly showed that people who exercised frequently and regularly enjoyed better sleep. That was probably the case for him.
After a night's rest, Shinji Ikari showed no trace of fatigue from overexertion. His mind was perfectly clear.
And now, the skin pressed against him felt so smooth it seemed to have no pores, proof that Rei Ayanami was still nestled against him.
That tangible sensation brought his memories of last night into even sharper focus.
The girl had been very tired before falling asleep last night. She had lain wearily in his arms, and they had closed their eyes and slept in each other's embrace.
As Shinji Ikari recalled it, that had clearly been her first time. She had been inexperienced, but had also shown an assertiveness he had never seen before.
She was no longer letting others dictate her actions, nor was she asking Shinji Ikari what she could or could not do. She simply did what she wanted.
Shinji Ikari had felt no resistance at all. He had merely held the girl in his arms tightly, with enough strength