"Has it already started? But the battlefield's been split up. No one except Ayanami can get to Asuka."
Shinji Ikari and Unit-01 had only just emerged from underground. The other units had deployed at the same time as him.
Given their units' capabilities, they should have arrived to provide support by now.
He was communicating with Ritsuko Akagi and Misato Katsuragi through the interactive display inside the cockpit, watching Yomotsu Hirasaka slowly descend from the distant sky.
"I know you're headstrong, but don't go running off this time. They appeared specifically to intercept you, which means Almaloz is afraid of you interfering too," Ritsuko Akagi said.
"Since you chose to send them onto the battlefield, trust their abilities. Stop thinking you have to handle everything yourself."
"Of course I trust you." Shinji Ikari merely smiled at them through the screen.
He held Ritsuko Akagi's gaze, offering the frowning woman a little reassurance.
Then, just as Shinji Ikari finished speaking, Misato Katsuragi, who should have been directing the battle, suddenly popped in from the side.
"You don't look nervous at all. Good, very good. Keep that mindset. Don't let anything affect the coming battle," Misato Katsuragi teased.
"You look a little nervous yourself. Shouldn't you be in commander mode by now?" Shinji Ikari said with a smile.
This was the first time Misato Katsuragi had found time to joke with them during an operation.
Misato Katsuragi caught the boy's teasing tone but didn't mind. "That's right, I'm pretty nervous. I can't help it. Things are different this time."
The situation was more critical than ever before.
So much so that even with Shinji Ikari already deployed in Unit-01, she couldn't help feeling nervous.
Misato Katsuragi cautiously glanced at everyone below her in the control room. Fortunately, they were all busy with