New Yokosuka Harbor.
Ryoji Kaji could leave whenever he pleased once his work as special envoy was done, but the cleanup work for NERV Headquarters had only just begun.
"Done. This Angel has been designated Gaghiel, the Fish Angel. Its data and Unit-02's memory card have been uploaded to MAGI."
Dressed in a white lab coat and holding a tablet, Ritsuko Akagi stood beside Asuka, who was staring at Unit-02. "Unit-02 set a new synchronization record."
Asuka snorted. "Hmph, that wasn't my synchronization rate. That guy from your headquarters killed the Seventh Angel. Damn it, he ruined everything."
"So Shinji was piloting it. In that case, the synchronization rate was a little too low. It looks like Unit-01 really is the best match for him."
Ritsuko Akagi nodded to herself, her expression saying, Now it all makes sense. Asuka's eye immediately twitched.
"Still, congratulations are in order. Shinji, you've added another medal to your record as a pilot. Your rank should surpass Misato's before long, shouldn't it?"
"Hey, I took part in every battle too! Didn't we beat Ramiel last time thanks to my tactics? Why won't they promote me?"
Misato Katsuragi sat on a bench with her arms folded, grumbling with her nose tilted skyward and no regard for appearances. Her dead-fish eyes gazed at the blue sky and its drifting white clouds.
If they raised her pay a little more, she wouldn't have to spread the payments on her Renault over twelve installments.
Shinji Ikari had money, but ultimately, it wasn't hers. Misato Katsuragi wasn't shameless enough to ask the teenage boy living with her for spending money.
"Well, both our immediate superiors are amateurs. They don't care what tactics you come up with. If you aren't on the battlefield, you're useless."
"But Shinji's ability to maintain such