People Who Speak in Riddles Are So Annoying

Some of the physiological data in the Eligible's medical reports was classified as top secret.

For example, if the data on Shinji Ikari that Ritsuko Akagi had mentioned got out, it might attract the attention of certain old people who were unreasonable and dangerous to cross.

So even the pilots themselves were forbidden from disclosing any relevant information without authorization.

"Judging by the data, this body shows far less 'wear' than its actual age would suggest. Some unusual factor seems to have counteracted the natural aging process."

That was the final conclusion.

"Sex hormones..." Ritsuko Akagi frowned and glanced at Misato Katsuragi beside her.

"What is it?" Misato Katsuragi leaned over with a goofy look on her face. It was impossible to connect her with the decisive commander they had seen just moments earlier.

"Forget it. You wouldn't listen even if I told you. Stop trying to peek. You don't have clearance. I only got to look because I'm in charge of this."

With a resigned look, Ritsuko Akagi tapped the intruding head with her file, and only then did Misato Katsuragi pull back.

"Simply put, he's very healthy. So healthy it's almost abnormal, in fact. But don't worry. It's the kind of abnormal everyone dreams of."

Ritsuko Akagi glanced at Shinji Ikari. If this continued, he might still look exactly the same when she saw him decades later.

"I don't get it! Do you have to talk like that? People who speak in riddles are so annoying." Misato Katsuragi planted both hands on her hips in displeasure.

"Anyway, it just means there's absolutely nothing wrong with me," Shinji Ikari said with a smile. He was allowed to read his own medical reports because he had specifically requested it.

Every report came with detailed explanations from world-renowned medical experts. He was no professional doctor, but even an ordinary person could understand this stack of reports.

His lifespan was increasing, or rather, his body was aging more slowly.

"No one else can see these results. I'll upload a version that's suitable for others to read. Shinji, if anyone asks, make sure you don't say the wrong thing. Or just say nothing at all. This is for your own good."

Ritsuko Akagi really did have his best interests at heart. It wasn't that there were no people in this world who had reached the age when they should die but refused to accept it. There were plenty.

In the commander-in-chief's office, the entire sprawling floor contained only a desk and two people.

Not a single ceiling light was on. Bright sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrapped around most of the office.

"In the end, your son fulfilled his destined mission after all, though his actions differed slightly from what we expected."

Kozo Fuyutsuki spoke with narrowed eyes, holding a shogi book titled "Yagura Strategy," seemingly absorbed in studying a game.

"But an incorrect method won't earn full marks on a test. And it may ultimately lead to an equally incorrect result."

Kozo Fuyutsuki never took his eyes off the shogi book.

He had learned a great deal from it. He had discovered that serving as deputy commander was much like playing shogi: what mattered was playing every piece well and keeping the situation under his control.

"Everything is under control. A pawn is still a pawn. He has no right to write the script. All he can do is follow the course of fate laid out for him."

Gendo Ikari maintained the same pose everyone must have grown tired of seeing by now. Who knew whether his nose hurt? In any case, his voice remained low.

"Have him spend more time with Rei next. The plan remains unchanged," Gendo Ikari said calmly.

"A script set in motion fourteen years ago, and children whose fates were decided long ago? Isn't that rather cruel?" Kozo Fuyutsuki finally looked up from his book and turned to Gendo Ikari.

At Kozo Fuyutsuki's lament, a faint, cold sneer curled Gendo Ikari's lips:

"This world is cruel to everyone. If you lack the power to change it, then choose to endure it."

Yet you can't do that yourself.

Kozo Fuyutsuki frowned slightly. He was Gendo Ikari's deputy commander, as well as his wife's former teacher. He understood the man, and so, in the end, he could only remain silent.

There was nothing worth saying. This man wouldn't listen anyway.

In Europe, the NERV Hamburg Branch, Germany, was as busy as ever.

The eyes of the entire world were fixed on the Angels and the Third Child, who would determine the world's fate.

The moment Shinji Ikari's new information was uploaded to the MAGI System, it spread rapidly to NERV branches around the globe.

Of course, the focus of everyone's discussion wasn't the falsified medical report. It was the fact that Shinji Ikari had effortlessly crushed the Day Angel in just two minutes and thirty seconds!

"Shikinami, there's more news from headquarters in Japan!"

Beside Unit-02, a young assistant wearing glasses was excitedly calling out to the girl in the distance.

"What?" Asuka, who had been putting in extra training in her red combat suit, had just climbed out of the cockpit.

Behind the young man with glasses, she spotted a smooth, bald head peeking out from the other side of the connecting bridge to look at her. The young man was that bald man's assistant.

"Come take a look!" The young man waved to her excitedly. "The Third Child only took two and a half minutes this time. He just keeps getting better!"

"You people are so annoying! He's only killed two Angels. What's so impressive about that? If it were me, I'd be at least thirty seconds faster. No, a whole minute!"

Standing in front of the lift platform, Asuka folded her arms and raised her chin proudly. But the truth was that she had never seen actual combat. She had only been training all this time.

As though even another second spent looking at that computer would be too much effort, the girl walked straight back to the cockpit without turning around. The young man with glasses looked back at the bald colonel behind him, his face helpless.

The NERV Bethany Branch.

Before the enormous machine stood a black-haired woman in military uniform, holding the same rank of lieutenant colonel as Misato Katsuragi. She watched the girl in front of her checking the machine's condition with electronic equipment.

"Mari, you're slacking off again. Keep this up, and the younger pilots really will overtake you."

"You don't have to spare my feelings, Daphne. Judging by the current situation, he's already overtaken me."

The girl standing before Daphne wore an old-fashioned, dark green combat suit.

She had red-framed glasses, beautiful green eyes, and long brown hair tied into lively low twin tails.

Maki

Mari was only part of her name. Her full name was Mari Makinami Illustrious, and she was one of the earliest Eligible. She didn't even belong to the same generation as the youngsters of today.

However, this Eligible's experience was limited to synchronization tests. She had never actually piloted an EVA.

"Come over and have a look. There's more news about our great hero." Daphne beckoned to her.

"Really? Killing an Angel in two and a half minutes... He's become even more impressive." Even Maki couldn't help feeling surprised as she read the latest news.

"Don't be too discouraged. Once Unit-05's adjustments are finished, you can show those youngsters what their senior can do."

Daphne glanced at the enormous machine beside them as she offered reassurance, then clapped her hands as though she had remembered something.

"Oh, right. A promising new colleague transferred here from Europe today. He's a handsome young man. Want me to introduce you?"

Maki didn't answer. She simply studied the boy's photograph on the computer and remarked meaningfully, "You look more and more like him, Shinji."