Before they got home, Zero had Shinji find a secluded corner with no people or surveillance cameras.
"Let me borrow your body."
Zero took control of Shinji's body, gathered his power, and reached toward the sky. An Ultra Sign shot upward.
"You'll be able to see your mom the day after tomorrow, Shinji."
"Really...?" Even after witnessing Zero's power, he still hardly dared hope he could see his mother alive again.
"When have I ever lied to you, Shinji? If I say she can live, she can live. Even if all that's left is her soul, the Land of Light has ways," Zero said confidently.
"I just wonder who they'll send..."
Zero glanced at the Adam Embryo in his Dimensional Backpack.
"I'm not sure how strong this thing's true form is, but it should still be twenty thousand years too early to take me on." Zero proudly rubbed his nose.
"It definitely can't be as strong as that fused monster you fought in my dream, Zero," Shinji agreed.
"This kid really knows what to say."
"Hikari will definitely be interested in this thing."
Strictly speaking, this thing could even count as a creator, having created life-forms like the Angels. This discovery might turn the Universe Technology Bureau on its head.
"And something this rare ended up in my hands."
In another universe, in the Land of Light.
Father of Ultra and the Ultra Brothers saw Zero's Ultra Sign.
Zoffy said, "Supreme Commander, you really had foresight, sending Ultraseven out on a mission at a time like this."
The original Ultraman, Jack, Ace, and Taro had all been in terrible moods since learning about the Human Instrumentality Project. None of them spoke.
Father of Ultra slowly said, "King told me he won't tell Leo about this for now."
Zoffy froze. "Does King intend to intervene too?"
Father of Ultra did not answer his question.
"It seems Zero has already obtained the crucial Adam Embryo."
"And he wants us to bring a life over. It looks like he's reached some kind of agreement with Gendo Ikari."
"Our gamble paid off. That boy Zero pulled it off."
"I'll go notify Hikari right away."
At the Universe Technology Bureau, Hikari was conducting an experiment.
Suddenly, he noticed all the Blue Tribe scientists in front of him salute in unison.
Then a familiar figure appeared.
"Zoffy, you're here about that matter with Zero from last time, right?" Hikari extended his hand to Zoffy.
The two had been friends for years and were among the few Ultramen in the Land of Light who wore medals on their bodies.
"You guessed it." Zoffy shook Hikari's hand.
"All right. I'll get ready and set out shortly."
"By the way, are the others holding up all right?"
"Ah, I've done my best to talk them down. They're all upset and furious, but they've mostly managed to restrain themselves. I'm just worried Ultraseven will find out."
"To be honest, I'm having trouble resisting the urge to go help Zero myself. But as the eldest Ultra Brother and captain of the Space Garrison, I have to lead by example."
The two were close, so Zoffy could speak openly to Hikari about certain things.
Hikari waved his hand, and the Arb Armor flew out and fitted itself onto him.
"You still decided to bring that armor?"
"I think they'd want to save lives with me too." Hikari gently stroked the armor.
Zoffy patted Hikari's shoulder.
"Don't burden yourself like you did last time."
"This heart, saved by Mebius and the humans of Earth, won't lose its way again."
Hikari put on the Knight Brace and picked up the Life Solidifier. It contained one life.
"Limings, please bring that thing over."
A Blue Tribe Ultraman approached carrying two boxes and a strange object.
"Everything is ready."
Zoffy smiled slightly at the things in Hikari's hands. "Looks like you're planning a surprise for Zero."
"Yes. I'm off!" Hikari flew toward space.
"Give Zero my regards!"
Hikari flew into space, opened a portal to Zero's coordinates, and flew through it.
Back in Shinji's world.
"I'm home!"
Shinji pushed the door open.
"Whoa! Misato, are you planning to move?!"
Looking at all the cardboard boxes and luggage before him, Shinji wondered if he had walked through the wrong door.
"How rude. That's my luggage."
Asuka appeared behind him, holding a bottle of orange juice.
"Why are you here?"
"As of today, you're kicked out. I'm living with Misato."
"What did you say?!" Zero's spectral form sprang out.
"All right, Asuka, stop teasing him." Misato's voice rang out.
"You're both going to live here from now on."
"Ah... I'm going to become a high-end babysitter without a salary..." Shinji was speechless.
"Looking after one sloppy older woman was enough trouble... Now there's another little tyrant... Shinji, I really feel for you. This is so unfair." Zero was speechless too.
"Why are Japanese rooms so small?"
"And don't Japanese people have any sense of danger? How can they live in rooms without locks?"
"What's the big deal...? Even the core of the Plasma Spark Tower in the Land of Light isn't locked..." Zero knew that all too well.
"That's because Japanese people are considerate of others," Misato said.
"Dinner's in your hands, Shinji." Misato pressed her palms together as she asked him.
"I can't believe this..." Shinji staggered into the kitchen.
While Shinji cooked, Zero kept suggesting terrible ideas, like throwing all of Asuka's luggage out.
"I never thought I'd have to live with this idiot."
"Don't say that, Asuka. At least Shinji's cooking is good," Misato said in his defense.
An enticing aroma drifted over, and Asuka fell silent. Shinji brought dinner out.
"It's actually pretty good... Stupid Shinji..."
After dinner, Misato took a phone call, then left, saying she had work to do.
Asuka said, "Looks like it's just the two of us tonight."
"Oh, no, there's also stupid Zero!"
"Ah... I can't take this anymore..." Flames began rising from Zero's head.
Very few people dared call him an idiot.
Those who had called him an idiot before had ended up in miserable shape.
"Come on, Zero, there's no need..." Shinji began calming Zero down again.
Once Shinji, his personal anger diffuser, spoke up, Zero's anger subsided.
Asuka carried her pillow and blanket into the next room and told Shinji,
"These are the impenetrable Walls of Jericho. Cross the line, and you're finished!"
"That goes for you too, alien!"
"Kids shouldn't stay up late. Go to bed!"
"Aren't you a kid too?! Who are you to talk!" Shinji shot back.
"Exactly! Did you have to say that?" Zero was angry too.
Asuka slammed the door shut.
"How can a girl act like that? She's really something else."
"Exactly. She's clearly a kid, but she acts like an adult."
"You're much more mature, Zero."
"Huh? I... I'm only 5,900 years old myself..." Zero's face reddened slightly.
"All right, go to sleep, Shinji. Staying up late really is bad for you."
Shinji drifted into a light sleep.
Maybe this girl had a tragic childhood too... Zero looked toward Asuka's room.
Before Shinji had fully fallen asleep, a groggy Asuka went to the bathroom.
Then she walked into Shinji's room and lay down beside him.
The movement startled Shinji awake, and he stared in surprise at the girl lying before him.
Asuka really was a beautiful girl, and Shinji's face had already turned red.
He gazed dazedly at the girl before him, who looked especially beautiful in the moonlight.
Shinji found it hard to resist and slowly leaned his lips closer...
"Hey, taking advantage of someone like that isn't right," warned Zero, who had been watching them the whole time.
Shinji abruptly came to his senses and immediately pulled away from Asuka's face.
"Fallen for her?"
"No, I haven't..."
The two heard soft sobbing.
Tears trickled from Asuka's eyes.
Asuka was crying.
"Mom..." Asuka murmured softly.
"I really did guess right. This girl must have had it rough too."
"She's only a kid herself..." Shinji began to feel sorry for her.
With that in mind, Zero decided to use that ability again.
"Shinji, I want to look at Asuka's memories. Want to come along?"
"Mm... All right." Shinji wanted to help Asuka.
It was time to begin. Zero took control of Shinji and placed his hand on Asuka's forehead.
"Three, two, one."
The two entered Asuka's memories.
"Uh... This is a much more normal length of memories..."
Zero and Shinji saw that after a certain experiment, Asuka's mother had become a completely different person. She treated a doll as her child and even wanted to take Asuka with her in death.
Asuka's father was scum too, having an affair with her mother's attending physician right in front of little Asuka.
After those horrifying memories ended, they saw Asuka's mother cast Asuka aside like garbage.
A crying little Asuka appeared before them.
"Why... Mom...?"
This was probably the source of her nightmares.
Shinji hugged little Asuka, filled with deep sympathy for her.
"This poor girl really has suffered."
Zero hugged Asuka too.
"Don't be afraid. You still have us. We're always here."
Zero's body began glowing, healing little Asuka's heart.
Little Asuka smiled through her tears. "The light... It's so warm."
"Thank you, big brother, and glowing giant."
The human and the Ultra left Asuka's dream.
Asuka stopped crying and murmured peacefully in her sleep, "Glowing... giant."
Shinji hugged Asuka from behind, gently patting her back to soothe her.
A faint blush spread across the boy's cheeks.
"These two might have a chance." Zero watched from the side with a fond, knowing smile.
The next day, Asuka woke up.
"I actually dreamed about stupid Shinji and that stupid alien..."
"But... it wasn't bad..."
A faint blush rose to the girl's cheeks.
Then she realized she was lying in Shinji's room.
"STUPID! SHINJI!"
"I shouldn't have helped her." Zero shook his head as he watched Shinji take a kick from Asuka.
Before you continue