Feelings growing stronger

Some time had passed in the Eva world since the experiment in the Land of Light ended.

Shinji was lying on the couch watching television, enjoying a rare break from training.

In fact, the reason he got to rest instead of training was that a show Zero liked was airing that day.

"Masked Rider Kuuga is so good!" Zero was fired up as he watched the fight on television.

Wearing his glasses, Shinji listened rather speechlessly to Zero's excited cheering. He had never watched shows like this before; Zero had practically dragged him into the fandom.

It was pretty good, but not enough to get him as excited as Zero.

"I heard this series was off the air for over ten years because of the Second Impact! It's great that they brought it back this year, just in time for me to catch it!"

Now I know how Riku felt watching Flashing Hero. Hehe.

"Kuuga is a super-ancient warrior. I know an Ultra Warrior from super-ancient times too, called Ultraman Tiga. Unfortunately, I don't know him very well, but Hikari made his Medal, and Orb has his card too."

Shinji thought to himself, Big Brother Zero really acts like a little kid sometimes...

Oh, as for the glasses on Shinji's face, this was how he had gotten them.

Zero thought it was a hassle for Shinji to either pull the Ultra Glasses from his pocket or summon them from his bracelet every time, so he did something he had wanted to do ever since possessing Dan Moroboshi.

Zero transformed the Ultra Glasses into a pair of glasses with plain lenses. As for why he had never done this with Dan, the reason was simple.

Zero couldn't create lenses that matched Dan's prescription...

After getting Shinji's permission, Zero gave him the glasses to wear.

The glasses could turn back into the Ultra Glasses at any time, according to either Shinji's or Zero's will.

Shinji wearing glasses had caused quite a stir at first. School was easy enough to handle; he simply said he had gotten glasses for nearsightedness.

The base was another matter. A bunch of employees whispered that Shinji was a little Commander.

Kaji even jokingly called Shinji a little Gendo Ikari... Misato and Ritsuko had much the same reaction...

Rei Ayanami showed a rare hint of curiosity when she saw him, while Asuka said he looked a little less impressive like this...

Gendo Ikari had little reaction, but Yui Ikari's was rather strong... She thought Gendo Ikari had been a bad influence on Shinji, and Zero had to come out and explain.

"By the way, how are your preparations for the school trip coming along?" Watching television, Zero suddenly remembered the matter.

"I don't have much to bring. I can get everything ready tonight."

"I'm really looking forward to Okinawa." Shinji was still eager for a chance to go out and have some fun.

"I can take this opportunity to get a proper look at Okinawa too. Last time I went, I was too busy fighting..." Zero recalled those days.

I'd be delighted if this kid ended up in the same group as Asuka~~ Zero thought mischievously, accidentally letting Shinji pick up on it.

"Big Brother Zero... Stop thinking things like that. Asuka and I are just..."

"You have to face your true feelings, Shinji," Zero advised with exaggerated earnestness.

Shinji's face turned bright red again, and he fell silent.

They had endured Zero's inhuman training together, fought together, and even slept together. Now Shinji's feelings for Asuka were growing stronger and stronger.

Why can't my heart settle down whenever I think about Asuka... Shinji felt troubled.

Meanwhile, Asuka was out shopping with Kaji.

The two walked side by side.

"Thank you for coming shopping with me, Mr. Kaji," Asuka said with a smile.

Seeing that Asuka no longer clung to him, and recalling what he had seen that night, Kaji smiled slightly.

That alien's matchmaking really worked.

"Ah! Mr. Kaji, over here!" Asuka led Kaji into a swimwear store.

"Look at this one!"

Asuka picked out a rather revealing swimsuit with red and white stripes and asked Kaji what he thought.

"Uh... Isn't it a little early for a middle schooler to wear that..."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea..." Kaji hesitated.

"You're so behind the times, Mr. Kaji. Wearing a swimsuit like this is perfectly normal these days." Asuka sounded a little scornful.

In the end, she bought it anyway.

The two went to a café and sat down for coffee.

Kaji decided to tease Asuka a little.

"How have you been getting along with Shinji Ikari lately? Oh, and that alien called Zero."

Asuka blushed slightly, but still said with affected disdain, "That idiot doesn't have much going for him besides his cooking... and a few special powers..." Her expression as she spoke gave her away to Kaji.

"As for that alien... He's a total pervert and a bastard!"

(Zero: Who's bad-mouthing me? Never mind. I have far too many enemies across all those universes...)

"Oh dear, I heard Zero say he's going to take Shinji to live in another world, on another Earth. He said he'd find Shinji a good family, and they'd never come back." Kaji held back his laughter.

"Huh?! What?!" Asuka jumped to her feet in alarm.

She immediately tried to rush home. "Zero, you bastard! I'm going to finish you off, you alien!"

Kaji stopped Asuka. "Why are you in such a hurry? I thought you didn't care?"

"I-I... I just don't want that idiot Zero kidnapping Shinji and taking him to some other world to hand him over to some good family! He still has to cook for me!" Asuka hurriedly searched for an excuse for her agitation.

Seeing her reaction, Kaji suppressed his laughter and clarified, "Actually, Zero said he'd only do that if anyone dared to do something that would harm Shinji. He isn't really planning to take Shinji away."

With that, Kaji burst out laughing, only to end up in a headlock courtesy of Asuka...

"You've gone too far, Mr. Kaji!" Asuka shouted angrily.

"Easy, easy. I was wrong." Kaji laughed awkwardly as he apologized.

"It's all that idiot Shinji's fault, and that idiot Zero's!"

But as she thought back over all the little moments she had shared with Shinji, Asuka felt something she had never experienced before...

Why... did I fall for that idiot... Asuka's thoughts ran wild.

Back home, Shinji was cooking.

"That smells good enough to carry for miles, Shinji. Your cooking keeps getting better~~" The aroma made Zero want a few bites.

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

"Didn't she go shopping with Kaji? Why did she come back looking so angry?" Zero was puzzled.

"Welcome home, Asuka," Shinji and Zero said together.

With a huff, Asuka tossed her swimsuit onto the couch and sat down to sulk.

Zero stole a glance at the swimsuit and spoke without thinking.

"Did you buy one that's too small?"

Asuka was surprised at first, but that quickly turned to anger.

"How do you know my measurements?! Are you a pervert?!"

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Zero hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean anything by it. The swimsuit just looked a little tight."

"Who would believe you?!" Asuka's face flushed red with anger. She picked things up and threw them at Zero's projection, but he caught them with psychokinesis and set them down gently.

Shinji hurried out of the kitchen to stop Asuka. "Asuka, calm down. Big Brother Zero didn't mean it."

"Get out of the way, Shinji! I'm teaching that perverted alien a lesson today!" Asuka glared fiercely.

Unable to stop her, Shinji impulsively wrapped his arms around Asuka. Held in his embrace, she quieted down, her face growing even redder.

Zero's projection took the opportunity to slip away, muttering, "It was just a joke. Did she really have to get that angry?"

Looking at Asuka in his arms, Shinji realized what he had done, but managed to calm himself and gently coaxed her, "Don't be angry. Big Brother Zero just said the wrong thing by accident."

Asuka turned her head away and said quietly, "Who asked you to get involved? Let go of me already." Yet she made no attempt to pull away.

After a while, Asuka said softly, "Shinji, don't let Zero take you to another world. I won't let those people do anything to you..."

Shinji froze for a moment, then smiled. "Why would I leave? There are so many people here I cherish."

Hearing that, Zero understood why Asuka had been so angry.

"Kaji... You really are a secret agent!"

Just then, Misato came home from work and saw the two embracing.

She grinned mischievously. "What's going on with you two lovebirds?"

"You're so annoying!" ×2