At midnight, rain and mist shrouded Tokyo-3. Only the cold glow of emergency lights remained in the corridors of the NERV ANIMA dormitory, like tear tracks that had yet to dry.
Shinji Ikari stared at the ceiling. The headphones beneath his pillow still held the lingering strains of "Come, Sweet Death."
He was waiting for someone. To others, the dormitory was a place to rest, but he rarely had a moment of peace.
At the knock, Shinji Ikari rose, walked to the entryway, and opened the door, making out the figure in the corridor light.
It was Rei Ayanami.
He was not remotely surprised. Anyone might come to his room at this hour.
He stepped aside and tilted his head, looking past her into the hallway.
Behind Ayanami stood a whole group of Rei Ayanamis.
That still failed to surprise him. This was hardly his first time facing the Ayanami Army alone.
"You don't look very comfortable."
"You're confused."
The Ayanami nearest the front spoke first, her voice as flat as if she were reciting experimental data.
"It seems the experiments Dr. Akagi is conducting have been affecting us."
"So you came because you don't want to feel this bad?" Shinji Ikari asked.
His words were exactly what Rei Ayanami had hoped to hear. Realizing what was about to happen, she flushed so deeply she looked ready to give off steam.
"Yes..." Rei Ayanami hesitated for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "Yes! If Mr. Ikari doesn't want to, though..."
"It's not that I don't want to," Shinji Ikari said bluntly. "I just think you'll feel even worse."
"We won't, because that feeling is very warm." Rei Ayanami kept her gaze steady, only flicking a glance at her sisters behind her.
The Ayanamis shared their thoughts. Their only concern was that