Gendo Ikari was speaking on the phone. "Yes, I've already arranged everything with the committee. The cargo left Sasebo yesterday and is coming across the Pacific Ocean."
...
The night wind blew gently through the metal structures of NERV at the base. The moon reflected off the sea, creating a silvery glow on the calm waters, a direct contrast to the intense battle that had taken place hours before.
Kaji and I sat on an observation deck, both exhausted, but silent for a few minutes. Only the distant sound of the waves and the buzzing of the watchtowers filled the air. I stared at the horizon, still digesting everything I had experienced. I no longer knew how many times I had died... and come back.
Kaji broke the silence with a sigh and a slight smile on the corner of his mouth. "You know... when I first met you, I thought you were a problem, like a spy."
I continued to look ahead, without answering immediately.
Kaji continued: "But now… after everything I've seen of everything you've done, I'm starting to think you're the opposite of that. Not only did you defend Anneliese… you prevented a catastrophe. I don't know anyone who would do that with so little."
I lowered my eyes, mumbling: "I only did what I thought was right…"
"Hm…" Kaji said. "But the difference between a coward and a hero is what he does with his own desperation. And you, boy… you saved everyone before the tragedy even happened."
Kaji took out a cigarette, but twirled it in his fingers without lighting it. "You had information that no one else had. And you didn't hesitate to help us, even though I found it strange…"
I turned my face, looking at Kaji for the first time in that conversation. His eyes showed tiredness, but also a strength that hadn't existed before. "I'm not a hero… I want to protect the people I care about."
Kaji chuckled, then replied, "That's more than I can say for half the people who work here. You're an ally, Subaru Natsuki. And I can tell when someone is fighting for others… even if no one else can see it."
The two of us stood there, side by side, without needing to say much more. A silent recognition passed between us. An understanding that, despite everything, they were fighting on the same side.
A few weeks later…
The night was clear, and the sky over NERV was a dark sea dotted with stars. The grass field where I lay swayed slightly in the cold north wind. I gazed silently at the constellations, feeling the weight of time pass. There were only a few hours left until his departure, and soon I would board the United Nations battle group that would take me back to Japan. It was strange to think about it… strange to say goodbye, especially after everything.
As my thoughts came and went, I heard subtle footsteps approaching. When I turned my head, I saw Asuka, with an expression somewhere between curious and reluctant. She was wearing a jacket thrown over her uniform, and was carrying a thermos in her hands.
Without asking for permission, she lay down next to me, resting her arms against me and looking up.
"It's cold here… are you an idiot or did you just forget to bring something to cover yourself up with?" she murmured, without looking directly at me.
"It's just… I wanted to look at the sky one more time before I left…" I replied in a low voice.
Asuka was silent for a few seconds, then held out a cup to me. "Tea. Drink it now, before it gets really cold."
I thanked her quietly. I took a sip and soon felt the heat rise inside my chest, which contrasted with the icy night breeze.
"You always appear when I'm about to collapse…" she said, letting out a nervous laugh. "Maybe you're my guardian angel."
"Shut up, Barusu!" Asuka replied, but without any aggression. "You're just an idiot who keeps getting himself into trouble and still thinks he can handle everything on his own."
A few more seconds of silence. Only the sound of the grass moving and the sea in the distance.
"You're leaving, right?" she asked, finally, in a lower voice.
I turned my face to her, surprised by her tone. It wasn't an angry or proud question. It was… vulnerable. "Yes..."
Asuka looked away, staring hard at the sky, but didn't say anything. She just slowly stretched out her arm until their fingers touched. She didn't pull away, she just left it there, by my side, under the stars.
And so we both stayed, lying side by side in the cold German countryside, with our hearts warm and the unspoken promises pulsing in the silence.
The silence of that cold night persisted like a heavy blanket over the two of them. The sound of the wind rustling through the leaves was the only thing that filled the space between them. The stars, distant and calm, seemed to observe every nuance of that moment.
Asuka was still staring at the sky, but her voice cut through the silence like a thin blade: "That… Rei. Is she your girlfriend?"
The question was direct, but the tone carried something more subtle. It wasn't explicit jealousy, nor anger, it was almost as if she was testing her own courage to hear the answer.
I swallowed hard. That simple question carried an absurd weight. I hesitated for a second, as if the words were jumbled in my throat. Why was it so hard to answer? It was just yes or no, right?
"I... I don't know..." I said, looking up as if the stars could offer her the missing answer. "I mean, I don't think so, but she's important to me. Very important. But we've never said it out loud, you know? Things between us have always been kind of silent."
Asuka turned her face slightly towards me, just enough to see me out of the corner of her eye. There was something indecipherable in her expression, maybe a bit of relief, maybe frustration. Her piercing eyes pierced my heart.
"Silent, huh? So you two just exchange deep glances, bumping into each other in the hallways and feeling things you never talk about? How romantic." she said, with subtle sarcasm, but without any real acidity.
I smiled at the corner of my mouth. "More or less like that. But with a little more tragedy thrown in."
"Hmpf. Typical of you..." she replied, looking back up at the sky. "If you're going to like someone, you should at least have the courage to say so."
"Maybe it's easier to face giant angels than this."
Asuka gave his arm a light shove with her shoulder, almost affectionately. They stayed like that for a few more moments, side by side. "You're a complete idiot, Barusu. But… at least you're honest about it."
I looked at her and, even without a clear answer about Rei.
I said goodbye to Asuka with a timid wave, as if I wanted to prolong that moment a little longer, but at the same time I felt the weight of the farewell approaching. She just crossed her arms, leaning against the dormitory railing, and said with that somewhat mischievous tone that had already become familiar: "Try not to die on the way, idiot."
I smiled tiredly, but sincerely. "Yeah... I'll try. See you later, Asuka-chan."
"Tsk..."
I walked through the silent corridor of the base, where the echoes of my footsteps filled the emptiness of the place. All of that had become almost a second home, no matter how cold, difficult and full of challenges it was. And as much as I wanted to go back to Japan, to the old routine with Shinji, Rei and the others, part of me knew that I was leaving something behind there.
As I entered the room, the metallic sound of the door closing behind me sounded heavier than usual. I slowly took off my jacket, hung it on the back of the chair and stared at the made bed. On the pillow, little Beako, Rei's gift, rested with her ears slightly drooping and her eyes fixed on the void, as if watching her dreams.
"You're still with me, huh?" she murmured, carefully picking up the doll and lying down on the bed with it close to her chest.
The mattress was cold, but I was so tired that it hardly mattered. I stayed there, staring at the ceiling, feeling my own body slowly sink into the comfort of the approaching sleep. The room was dark, lit only by the dim light of the lamp that I didn't bother to turn off.
My thoughts wandered... About Asuka. About Rei. About Sirius. About the deaths. About the pain that accumulated in my soul even as my body healed with each return. There were so many questions, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had taken a small step forward. "Tomorrow... is just another new beginning."
And so, my eyes slowly closed.
The room was plunged into a heavy silence, only the sound of the small fan built into the base system breaking the monotony of the night. I continued to lie on my side, feeling the cold sheet press against my back. The day had been long, and my body begged for rest. I was almost falling asleep when I heard the door open very slowly, followed by light footsteps on the floor.
I frowned, not moving. "Did I forget to lock the door?" I thought.
It was then that I felt a subtle sinking in the mattress, on the opposite side to where I was turned. My breathing automatically slowed down, as if pretending to be asleep was the right move. But soon the low voice, almost a whisper, filled the room.
"Don't you dare turn over. Not a peep, idiot."
I froze. That voice I would recognize even in the midst of the chaos of an angel attack.
It was Asuka.
The girl huffed, as if she was annoyed, and adjusted her body on the covers, lying down carefully, still with her back to him.
"The room here is too cold. Don't worry, I'm lying down, okay? Don't worry about it. I just... I couldn't sleep in my room. That's all."
Lie. I knew that. I knew that defensive tone. That attempt to seem indifferent, when in reality... she just didn't want to be alone.
But he couldn't react properly. His heart was racing as if he were experiencing another death loop. It was too hot, even with the freezing weather of the place.
"And don't act all weird, okay? I told you it's because of the cold." Asuka finished, her voice muffled against the pillow.
I swallowed hard. I wanted to say something, anything, but he was paralyzed. So close to her. The heat of Asuka's body slowly getting closer. The light smell of shampoo escaping from her red hair. All of this was part of a type of closeness he hadn't expected... especially that night.
Minutes passed. The two of us were silent. My heart seemed to be beating too loudly, she could definitely hear it.
Suddenly, Asuka's voice sounded again, lower.
"Barusu... You could have said you were leaving like that. With a decent goodbye. But no... you just went to sleep. Idiot..."
I squeezed my eyes shut. Part of me wanted to turn around, say something sincere. Another part didn't want to break that subtle moment, that invisible barrier of pride and unresolved affection that hung between the two of them.
....
"What kind of man says a goodbye like that to a lady?... You see me like that, don't you?"
....
"It's very mean of you... Subaru-kun."
....
"I'm still here..." was all she could say, her voice hoarse and low.
Asuka gave a light sigh, and for a brief moment, she leaned her knees against his, very lightly, as if it were an accident... but I knew it wasn't.
And that's how they stayed. Two bodies turned back to back, but so close, so aware of each other, that the silence seemed to say more than a thousand words.
The night went on. And even without seeing each other, we knew that, at that moment... we were not alone.
The sun had barely risen, dyeing the German skies with a soft orange tone, when I woke up, Asuka was no longer there. I started to organize my things. It was the day of my departure, a silent farewell to everything that had happened at the European NERV base. I packed my suitcase carefully, folding my clothes, checking little Beako and other personal items, feeling a certain melancholy approaching.
When I finished packing everything, I pulled the suitcase to the courtyard, where the military transport would take them to the port. It was at that moment that I saw Asuka standing next to the vehicle, with her arms crossed and a sullen face, but carrying a backpack as well.
"What...?" My eyes widened. "You... are going with me?"
Asuka snorted, looking away. "Tsk. Of course I will, idiot. Unit 02 was called to Japan. And I'm the pilot, remember? Did they really think they'd leave you alone there? Someone has to watch you."
I blinked a few times, surprised and, secretly, relieved. I wouldn't have to face everything alone.
"I even thought about saying I'd miss you..." he said with a half smile "But I can see that I won't have time."
"Shut up and get in the car." Asuka said, but with a slight blush on her face.
A few hours later, already at the military port, I looked in awe at the colossal ship in front of him. It was a huge United Nations destroyer, prepared to carry Unit 02 safely to Japan. The engines roared softly, and the sound of seagulls mixed with the salty sea wind.
As the two of us approached the entrance ramp, a man in a heavy uniform and a dark beret appeared to greet us. He was an elderly gentleman with a neatly trimmed gray beard, a scar on his left eyebrow, and a stern look.
"Are you two bratty pilots?" he asked, frowning.
"Um... yes..." He said, not knowing whether to introduce himself with reverence or run away.
"I am the Captain of this ship. And if you think this ship is a luxury hotel, forget it." he grumbled unceremoniously. "Strict schedules, restricted pilot area. And no running around on deck. If you get lost, no one will come looking for you in the middle of the Pacific."
Asuka crossed her arms, with the same provocative tone as always. "You should be thankful you have NERV's two best pilots on board, you grumpy old man."
"Whatever... Hmph. Just don't forget that I'm the captain here. And this ship is my Eva. Got it?"
Asuka and I nodded quickly, trying to hide our laughter. The captain looked like he had stepped out of an 80s war manga, with that tough, old-fashioned manner, but there was something comforting about his authority.
And so, with a strong wind coming from the sea and the destination pointing to Japan.
-----
A few hours had passed since the ship had set sail for Japan. The sky was clear, and the constant sound of the waves crashing against the hull of the ship mixed with the soft hum of the engines. Asuka and I were on the deck, sitting near the side of the ship, watching the horizon and enjoying the salty ocean breeze.
I was a little distracted, twirling the Beako between my fingers while trying to keep my thoughts calm, when a distant sound began to cut through the sky.
"Can you hear that?" I asked, turning to Asuka.
She was already standing, staring at the dark spot in the sky that was rapidly approaching.
"It's the sound of a helicopter." Asuka said, frowning.
I stood up, unzipping my coat and looking up at the sky curiously. The helicopter painted with the NERV emblem was cutting through the clouds in a fast but controlled approach, as if the visit had been planned, but we didn't know anything.
"I wonder who's coming…?" I muttered, a slight anxiety growing in my chest.
Asuka crossed her arms, her gaze serious. "Whoever it is, they didn't tell us."
The two of us walked to the front of the deck, where some officers and sailors were already organizing a small area for the landing. The helicopter descended with the strong wind shaking everyone's flags and hair, the blades spinning with a deafening sound.
I squinted, trying to see who was inside. The helicopter was finally approaching the metal surface of the ship, its propellers already creating intense turbulence over the deck.
The helicopter landed with a metallic creak and the deafening sound of the spinning propellers. The side door was slid forcefully to the side, and familiar figures emerged from inside. Misato was the first to jump onto the deck with her old purple coat fluttering. Right behind her came Shinji, Rei, Toji and Kensuke, all with backpacks and expressions of surprise at seeing the ship up close.
The wind generated by the propellers was so strong that Toji's black cap flew off his head in an instant.
"Aah! My cap!" Toji shouted, trying to hold on, but it was too late.
The cap flew away like a leaf in the wind and landed right at Asuka's feet, who just slowly lowered her eyes, assessing the object with a bored look.
Without hesitation, she stepped firmly on the cap, looking towards the helicopter with an arched eyebrow.
"Hmph."
Toji, still exiting the helicopter, widened his eyes. "Hey, 'sweetie'! You're stepping on my favorite cap!"
Asuka glared at him coldly and simply said: "Sorry, but it fell on my territory."
Meanwhile, Misato walked with firm steps across the deck, her gaze going straight to Subaru. But when she glanced at Asuka, she stopped, her eyes widening for a moment.
"Wow… so this is Asuka now?"
Asuka turned to her, arms crossed. "And who else would it be?"
Misato let out a light laugh, shaking her head.
"You really have grown… you've gotten even sharper. I'm almost afraid to leave you and Subaru in the same space for more than five minutes."
She then turned to me, smiling softly.
"And you… did you survive Asuka's advances?" She winked. "I missed you, Subaru-kun."
I scratched the back of my neck, a little embarrassed, feeling the weight of the reunion and everyone's presence. I looked at Shinji, who was already waving softly, and at Rei.
"You all… why did you come here?" I asked, still trying to understand the situation.
Misato smiled, her arms crossed now more casually.
"Let's just say that NERV thought it would be prudent to make a… strategic reconnection of forces. And besides… well, someone here couldn't leave without a proper farewell." She looked at Rei, then at Shinji.
Asuka sighed angrily, but at the same time, she was a little satisfied. "Typical. They didn't even tell me they were coming."
Kensuke took a quick picture of the deck with his camera. "Seriously, this looks like a scene from a movie…"
Toji approached carefully, trying to grab his cap that was still under Asuka's foot. He stretched out his arm, almost as if asking permission with his gaze. "Excuse me, German princess… can I get my favorite cap back?"
Asuka didn't even move. "You let it fly. It's all your fault."
As Toji grumbled and Kensuke tried to stifle a laugh, a sudden gust of wind cut across the deck of the ship, strong enough to slightly lift the hem of Asuka's dress.
It was an instant.
Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke froze, their eyes wide as if they had seen a nuclear explosion. The silence lasted only a second, but it was enough for Asuka to notice.
Her face instantly turned red. In the blink of an eye, she turned around with the fury of a thousand suns, and the three of them were slapped and punched almost at the same time.
— PAF! SMACK! THUD!
Toji stumbled backwards, Kensuke fell on his butt, and Shinji was left with a visible mark on his cheek.
"YOU PERVERTS! Do you think this is a free show?!"
She then turned around, her dress still fluttering, her face burning and her fists clenched. She looked over her shoulder and declared, with a victorious smile: "It's the price for the view… it was actually cheap."
I watched everything from a little further away, trying to hold back my laughter as I crossed my arms. Misato let out a whistle, half surprised, half amused. "This girl really doesn't lose her style."
Toji, still on the ground, grumbled: "This time it was an accident…"
"You're all the same!" Asuka retorted, stepping on the cap again before finally kicking it back.
While the others were still recovering, I just nodded, thinking about how good it was to be back… even if the chaos had already begun.
I calmly walked over to Rei, who was watching the sea with her blue hair fluttering slightly in the wind from the deck. I held out the small Beako plush doll, with an expression somewhere between nostalgic and grateful. "Here… Thank you for letting me borrow it."
Rei looked at the doll for a moment. Her eyes fixed on me with that characteristic calm that, somehow, always disarmed me.
"You can keep it…" she answered in a calm voice. "It can still protect you."
I held the doll for a second, surprised. I even tried to insist: "But… you said to give it back."
Rei shook her head slightly. "I changed my mind."
I gave a genuine smile and murmured an almost imperceptible "thank you." Asuka, from afar, saw the scene, the two of us so close, the little doll being passed back to me and for a moment her gaze fixed on it, but she just snorted and crossed her arms, deciding to ignore it.
"Okay… Misato!" Asuka called, with that impatient tone. "Where are the First and Third Child?"
Misato, who was already getting off the helicopter with a smile on her face, pointed with her thumb behind her, where Shinji and Rei were.
"The First Child is right there," she said, indicating Rei. "And this one, Asuka, is the Third."
Shinji, a little embarrassed, waved his hand. "Hi…"
Asuka assessed him up and down with the same critical eye she would use to judge a poorly ironed suit or a poorly calibrated robot.
"Hmph. So you're the Third?" She said, raising her eyebrow slightly. "It doesn't seem like much."
Shinji scratched the back of his neck, not knowing what to say, while I, behind Asuka, just whispered with an amused smile: "Get ready, Shinji… she bites."
Asuka, with her sharp gaze, approached Rei in short steps, crossing her arms confidently. She analyzed her as if she were judging a defective part of some machine from head to toe. The silence lasted for a few seconds while Rei just watched her, expressionless as always.
"So… you're the First Child?" Asuka said, raising an eyebrow.
Rei just nodded slightly.
Asuka leaned in a little, looking deep into her eyes as if searching for some spark of emotion within. But nothing. Then she muttered, so that only she and perhaps I could hear: "Hmph. It doesn't seem like much either. I wonder what Barusu saw in you, huh?"
Rei remained silent, without reacting. And this only made Asuka even more irritated, but she preferred not to dwell on it for now.
Soon after, everyone was called to the lower deck, where the auxiliary control room was, to deal with an important protocol. The ship's Captain, an austere-looking old man with a thick beard and a well-groomed uniform, was waiting for them with an expression of boredom and weariness. He was the kind of man who had seen too many wars to be impressed by teenagers and their mechas.
Misato approached with a tense smile, holding a clipboard with the emergency supply document. "Captain, we just need your signature here. It's a simple protocol to ensure emergency supplies in case a route is cut during transport."
The Captain looked at her for a moment. Then at the document. Then at Misato again. Instead of picking up the pen, he crossed his arms. "These papers are only good for bureaucrats to sleep peacefully. My ship, my rules. I won't sign anything until I'm sure they're not trying to make a fool of me."
The silence fell like a heavy anchor. Toji muttered softly: "This old man is worse than that girl…"
Misato kept her smile, but her forehead was already showing a vein about to pop out. Asuka, in the background, snorted loudly. I just thought: "Of course... nothing can be simple around here."
It seemed that, before the trip was over, they would have to convince more than one stubborn "angel".
The metallic sound of the elevator door opened with a soft ding, and just as everyone was getting ready to board, an unexpected figure appeared at the end of the corridor. It was Kaji.
"Whoa." he said, casual as always, with his hands in his pockets and a slight smile on his face.
Misato's eyes widened when she saw him. "Kaji?! What are you doing here?!"
His tone wasn't exactly happy, there was more surprise and a slight irritation contained in it. Kaji, in turn, just shrugged. "The mission called me. I thought it would be polite not to let you know… to preserve the surprise."
"Surprise, huh?" Misato crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "One day you'll get shot for these surprises."
Before the conversation could get any deeper or explode, Toji was already nudging me, discreetly pointing to the elevator that was already almost full. It was lunchtime and everyone, hungry, decided not to prolong the tense atmosphere between the adults.
The whole group boarded the elevator: Misato, Kaji, Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Toji, Kensuke and me. The space was too small for so many people, and soon they were all crammed together, trying not to touch each other, without much success.
I was cornered between Toji and Rei, my arms glued to my body and my gaze fixed on the ceiling, clearly uncomfortable with the proximity. When the elevator gave a slight jolt, I involuntarily brushed against Rei.
I pulled away immediately and, embarrassed, whispered: "Sorry, Rei-tan... I didn't mean to. This elevator is... really tight."
Rei looked at me with her usual neutral expression. She blinked slowly. "It's okay."
Asuka, who was almost face down on Kaji's chest due to the crowding, grumbled: "This is, by far, the worst elevator in the world. And why did it have to touch Ayanami?!"
I cringed even more.
When the elevator finally reached the cafeteria floor, everyone got out as if they were being freed from a cramped prison. Kaji took advantage of the moment to discreetly approach Misato, who only responded with a sharp look and a tsk.
I let out a sigh of relief and thought to myself:
"I survived the elevator... at least that."
At the cafeteria table, the group was slowly dividing into chairs as the dishes were being served: rice, canned meat and some preserves. It was the standard lunch on board, but after the recent tension, any hot food was welcome.
Kaji, always casual, sat next to Misato, with that carefree air and a slightly provocative smile on his lips. "So, Misato... are you dating anyone lately?"
She choked slightly on her glass of water, looking away as if she hadn't heard.
"Hmph... stupid question." she muttered, crossing her arms and staring at her plate.
Toji let out a discreet chuckle, and Asuka rolled her eyes. Kensuke just whispered: "Classic..."
Kaji, ignoring the reaction, turned to the other side of the table, where Shinji was sitting, still somewhat silent, eating slowly. "You're Shinji Ikari, right?"
Shinji raised his head, confused. "Huh? Yes... it's me. How... do you know who I am?"
Kaji rested his chin on his intertwined fingers. "You're practically a celebrity. You piloted Eva-01 without any kind of training."
Shinji blushed, not knowing where to hide his face. "I just... did what I was told to do."
"And I did it very well, by the way." I said as I ate more calmly. "I was impressed myself when I heard the story."
Shinji just smiled awkwardly and looked at his plate. Asuka, on the other side, gave him a sharp look, but said nothing.
Kaji then smiled, satisfied with the two's response. "Well, it seems that Japan is very well represented... and now Germany too."
He gave a brief glance at Asuka, who crossed her arms and mumbled something like "Of course it is."
Lunch continued, with the conversation gradually dispersing to other subjects, but the mood was now lighter even though, in some silent glances, I felt that something big was yet to come.
After lunch, with the sun shining brightly on the metal deck of the ship, Asuka went out with Kaji towards the deck. She said she needed some air, but it was obvious she wanted a moment alone with him, maybe to vent, maybe to understand why he had been gone for so long.
Meanwhile, I remained with the others inside the cafeteria, where the dishes had already been collected. They were now sitting in a circle in a far corner, near one of the hatches, where natural light from the sea entered through the circular windows.
Shinji leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"So... how was it in Germany?" he asked, with genuine curiosity. "You stayed there for a long time, right?"
I scratched the back of my neck, staring for a moment at the reflection of the sea in the window before answering. "It was tough. A lot of training. Almost every day. Asuka is intense... but I think I learned a lot from her."
I gave a short laugh. "I mean... when she wasn't hitting me with a pillow."
Kensuke laughed. "She seems like that type."
Toji, with his arms crossed, just grumbled: "Too intense, if you ask me."
But the one who caught my attention the most was Rei. She was quiet, as usual, but my eyes were fixed on her attentively. She seemed to be really listening carefully to every word I said, as if she was analyzing something behind the surface.
"You've changed a bit..." she said, calmly, almost as if it were a comment thrown to the wind.
I blinked in surprise. "Really? For the better, I hope..."
Rei didn't answer. She just looked away, but with a slight nod and a small smile on her face.
Shinji smiled. "Maybe I'm just more used to what it means to be a pilot, huh?"
I looked at the ground for a moment, and then back at them. "Used to it might not be the right word... But I think, somehow, I'm starting to accept it."
There was a brief silence. The gentle vibration of the ship's engine filled the background of the conversation. It was as if everyone was slowly maturing... even without realizing it.
The sound of the waves gently crashing against the hull of the ship created a steady, calm rhythm on the deck. Rei and I were there, alone, leaning on the metal railing. The sky was vast and clear, the sea stretching out in every direction like an infinite blue tapestry. I looked at the horizon, while Rei glanced at him.
"You seem calmer out here..." Rei said, her soft voice almost swallowed by the wind.
I smiled sideways. "I think the sea has that effect, right? It's like... a kind of silence that's good for you."
Rei nodded slowly. "Silence can hurt too, sometimes."
I turned slightly to face her, surprised by her introspective speech. But before I could answer, the deck door opened with a metallic thud.
"Barusu!" Asuka called, with that tone that mixed irritation and impatience. She stopped for a moment when she saw him next to Rei, her eyes slightly narrowed.
Turning around, raising an eyebrow. "Hello?"
Asuka crossed her arms and walked towards me. "Is it true what they told me... that Shinji piloted an Eva without any training?"
I nodded calmly. "Yes. He did it on the first day. People were desperate... and he went there, even without knowing exactly what he was doing."
Asuka snorted, looking at the ground for a moment and then turning her gaze to me. "Tsk... that idiot looks useless...?"
I smiled briefly. "He just needs to believe in himself more."
Rei just watched the two of them, motionless, like a figure oblivious to the tense emotion that was building. Still, there was something in her gaze... something like a spark of attention.
Asuka glanced at him from the corner of her eye and then turned away, muttering: "Hmpf... it's not like I care that much."
But the slight blush that appeared on her face was visible even against the brightness of the sun that was beginning to fall into the sea.
The metal floor of the ship shook beneath everyone's feet. A deep, growing noise echoed through the structures of the vessel, like a muffled thunder that seemed to come from the sea itself. I immediately rose from the railing, attentive, while Asuka clenched her fists with a smile that mixed excitement and a competitive glint in her eyes.
"That tremor..." I looked at the sea, which was beginning to churn with small, uneven waves. "You're thinking the same thing, aren't you?"
Asuka fixed a strand of her hair that the wind was messing up, her smile widening. "Of course. That damn Angel that escaped from us... I knew he hadn't gone away. He was hiding. Coward."
The ship's intercom sounded with an urgent hiss. The captain's voice shouted across the deck: "All crew members on alert! Unidentified presence detected to starboard! Angel pattern detected! I repeat: Angel pattern confirmed!"
I looked at Asuka, who was now gritting her teeth in excitement.
"This is our chance to finish what we started..." she said, her eyes fixed on the horizon where a dark mass was beginning to rise from the water, shrouded in steam.
"Asuka, wait... Eva 02 is in the special hangar, right?"
"Yes! And this time he's fueled up and ready to fight. And so are you, Barusu."
I took a deep breath. The fear and tension were still there... but there was something else now. Determination. The memory of the people I wanted to protect: Anneliese, Rei, Shinji, and even that stubborn girl who was now pulling at his uniform sleeve.
"Let's do this right this time!" I said, standing firm next to her.
Asuka laughed softly. "Just try not to fumble with the plug-suit again, idiot."
The deck was in chaos, but for both of us, the world had narrowed in that instant: there was only the challenge, the Eva... and the end they needed to achieve.
I looked one last time at Rei, who was watching him in silence. The wind was slightly ruffling the girl's blue hair, and although her expression was serene as always, I could sense something behind those quiet eyes.
"Take care of yourself..." she said simply.
"I'll take care of you!" I replied, trying to smile.
But before I could say anything else, Asuka grabbed my hand firmly. "Come on, Barusu! Making sweet goodbyes won't save anyone!"
She pulled me hard, running through the ship's metal corridors until she found a maintenance ladder that led to a relatively isolated side structure. The noise of the sirens and the sea grew more distant as they climbed, until they reached a small room with an emergency closet.
Asuka stopped suddenly and pushed my chest with her index finger. "Here. I'm going to change my uniform now."
I nodded, already a little out of breath from the run. "Okay. I won't look, relax."
Eleo stared for a second, then turned his back, but before disappearing through the side door, he muttered irritably: "You boys are all the same. If you peek, I swear I'll throw you straight into the sea before you even get on the Eva."
I raised my hands as if I was surrendering, turning my back immediately. "I'm a gentleman, okay? Barusu's word."
On the other side of the thin metal wall, I could hear the rapid rustling of fabric being changed, the zipper rising, and Asuka's muffled groans as she complained about the fit of the plug-suit.
As I waited, the entire ship seemed to breathe with more urgency, the tension of the impending battle pulsing through the air. I closed my eyes for a moment. I knew that the fight ahead would not only be against an Angel... but also against fear, failure, and everything I had accumulated since arriving on this world.
Asuka opened the door with a bang. "There! Now it's your turn, slow!"
I turned and nearly tripped when I saw her: the red plug-suit tight to her body, her posture imposing and determined.
I emerged from the changing room wearing the standard crew uniform, but still squaring my shoulders and trying to maintain my composure. When I met Asuka again in the hallway near Eva-02's hangar, I found her holding something in her hands… and with a smile that clearly said: "You're going to hate me for this."
"Here's your suit, Barusu!" she said with a tone of pure provocation, holding the piece up so he could see it… and face reality.
It was a red plug-suit. Not only similar to hers, it was the exact same model. Identical details, cuts, markings… everything. Even the number on the back was altered to match that of a test pilot.
"…You're kidding me…" I said, frozen, my hand extended halfway to the suit.
Asuka turned the suit once with her fingers and held it out firmly, her smile widening. "No way. This is the only one they adjusted for your size. And on the bright side, red suits you."
She winked. "Or did you want a pink one with frills, maybe?"
I took a step back, his eyes wide. "You planned this, didn't you? You talked to the maintenance guys!"
She shrugged innocently, but didn't deny it. "That's beside the point. Now stop being so dramatic and put this on. We have an Angel to crush."
I held the plug-suit in both hands, staring at it with the weight of shame in my eyes. "I'm going to regret this, I'm sure of it…"
Asuka was already climbing onto the Eva-02 access platform when she shouted over her shoulder: "Less whining, more heroism! Come on, Barusu!"
Blush to the roots of his hair, he walked resignedly to the changing booth, muttering: "This is going to haunt me until the end of my days…"
But even with the embarrassment, I couldn't deny it: Asuka seemed lighter, closer. And in that mischievous smile there was something that made him forget, for a moment, all the dangers lurking. Maybe, just maybe, he could handle a little humiliation… if it was by her side.
As soon as Asuka and I sat down, he noticed a striking difference in the interior of Eva 02's Entry Plug. It was no longer like before, a single central seat with the two of us squeezed like sardines. Now there were two seats, side by side, perfectly adapted for dual pilots.
I blinked a few times. "...Did they do this for us?"
I glanced discreetly at Asuka. She kept her eyes fixed on the controls, with the most neutral expression in the world, as if it were nothing serious. But the slight blush on her cheek and the way she sat with her arms crossed, feigning disinterest, gave it all away.
I bit the corner of my mouth, holding back the urge to comment. "She asked for this… she had to ask for this. It's… cute. But if I say anything, she'll kill me."
The plug filled with LCL liquid, the visor lit up, and the internal systems began to vibrate with energy. My heart beat faster, and Asuka took a deep breath beside him.
"Eva Unit 02, synchronization confirmed. Initiating activation process. Stability level: within parameters."
The mechanical voice of NERV headquarters echoed inside the capsule.
Misato's face appeared on the communication visor shortly after. Her expression was tense but determined. "Asuka, Subaru… you two are the first line of defense now."
She narrowed her eyes for a moment, then smiled slightly. "We trust you two. Now go! Go for it!"
Asuka smiled with the corner of her mouth. "Let's put on a show, Barusu."
I nodded, my eyes fixed on the panel. "Let's end this."
Eva 02 was ejected by the underwater catapult, breaking through the waters with force. The ocean roared around them, but the two knew exactly what to do and this time, they were together from the start.
With Eva 02 already activated and powered, the front display reflected the deep ocean and the fleet of ships lined up in defensive formation. In the cockpit, Asuka snapped her fingers with a smug little smile on her face. She rolled her shoulders as if she were warming up. "Time to play hopscotch."
I slowly turned my face to her. "Wh… what?"
Before I could finish understanding, Asuka pressed the controls, and Eva 02 moved with absurd agility, almost impossible for something that size. She pulled a lever, and the thermal mantle wrapped around the Eva was thrown aside like a torn cloak, revealing the unit's flaming red in its entirety.
My eyes widened at the scene. "You planned this, didn't you?!"
"Of course. Style is half the battle, Barusu!"
Eva 02 jumped towards the first ship, causing it to sink slightly upon impact. The sailors were nearly thrown to the ground. I shouted into the plug: "Asuka, you're going to sink the fleet!"
"Hopscotch, Barusu. Have you ever played that in Japan?" she replied mockingly, with a gleam of pure adrenaline in her eyes.
The second jump came next, with the Eva landing on a smaller cruiser. The steel of the deck groaned under the weight, but did not break. Asuka made another jump, with the same precision as a child playing, except that the "squares" were warships weighing thousands of tons.
"You know this is insane, right?" I said, gripping the backrest tightly.
"Then close your eyes and pray. I'm in control now!"
Finally, in the distance, the water began to bubble, and I felt a chill. NERV's radar flashed with a new reading. The angel was beginning to emerge from the depths.
Asuka pointed with her finger: "There he is! Let's make this fish learn who's boss in this ocean!"
And Eva 02, still jumping with destructive grace from ship to ship, prepared for a direct attack on the sea monster that rose with glowing eyes and a jaw ready to destroy.
After one last acrobatic leap, Eva 02 landed with a deafening crash on the deck of the largest ship in the fleet, making the structure tremble under the impact. The metal floor creaked, but held. I barely had time to recover when the alarms started going off inside the plug.
"Asuka! He's coming at high speed!" I shouted as my eyes were glued to the monitoring screen that showed the Angel advancing under the water like a colossal torpedo, opening a trail of violent foam behind it.
"I see it!" she replied, already activating the weapons compartment lock. With a quick and precise movement, she pulled out the progressive weapon, a sonic vibration blade shaped like a double-edged bayonet.
The sound of metal vibrating at a deadly frequency filled the plug, and Asuka kept her gaze firmly ahead. "Be careful, Barusu. He's going to try to sink us."
The water exploded like a bomb as the Angel jumped with all its strength, its titanic mass emerging from the sea like a primitive predator. Its open mouth, full of rows of teeth, was heading straight for them or rather, for the entire ship.
"He's going to fall right here!" I shouted, grabbing the support of the bench.
And then…
BOOOOOM!
The impact was catastrophic. Gaghiel fell from the watery sky and crashed with enormous force onto the deck where Eva-02 was. The ship nearly split in half from the impact. A colossal wave rose up around it, throwing sailors into the sea and covering everything with a flash of salt water.
But Eva-02 remained standing.
With a roar that almost sounded human, Asuka shouted:
"NOW, BARUSU!!"
She plunged the progressive weapon straight into the Angel's lateral neck, trying to push the blade through the grotesque and resistant skin. I felt the pressure on the Eva's joints, the hydraulic motors vibrating to their maximum.
"More force! It's resisting!" she shouted, trying to control the stability limiters.
The Angel writhed, struggling on the deck, making the ship creak and almost break apart. It was a battle of titans over a structure that clearly couldn't hold much longer.
Asuka growled through her teeth: "Either he sinks… or we make sushi out of him before that."
The combined weight of Eva-02 and the Angel became unbearable for the ship, which finally broke in two with a crash of steel and water, dragging both straight to the bottom of the sea. The Eva was pulled by the violent currents, still clinging to the body of the Angel, who thrashed in blind fury.
Inside the entry pod, I felt my body tremble with the pressure, the alarms flashing red and the sounds of the sea drowning out everything.
"Damn it… we won't last long down here!" I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to gather strength. "I need to do something… something…"
I closed my eyes, concentrating with everything I had. I tried to summon Petelgeuse's Authority of Sloth, that invisible force that helped him grasp the impossible, but something inside me burned differently.
Suddenly, a wave of heat ran through my arms, and the Eva's hands, still holding the Angel by the sides, began to glow an intense red. The metal of his palms seemed to burn, almost as if they were melting from the inside out. "What is this…? This isn't the Sloth factor…" I thought
Asuka realized it at the same moment. A cold sweat ran down her forehead, even with the cold plug.
"Barusu, what are you doing?! The Eva's hands are… burning?!"
It was Wrath.
The Authority of Wrath, linked to Sirius, was manifesting itself in a distorted way, not with love, but with a passionate fury, an incandescent emotional energy. The Eva's hands were on fire, but they were not falling apart, on the contrary, they seemed to gain more strength, as if all the pilot's energy was being channeled by a single desire:
> Destroy. Protect. Fight back.
I screamed with a mixture of pain and focus: "This is not how I wanted to use this... but it's good enough!!"
I pushed the Angel with full force, my burning hands melting the monstrous flesh of the Angel, who roared underwater with a muffled and terrifying sound. The water around it bubbled as if they were inside a boiler. Asuka's eyes widened: "You're going to fry the Eva with this, idiot!"
But I didn't stop. The anger I felt, for the deaths, for the loops, for the impotence, for the fear of losing everyone, was fueling that fire. "We will win, Asuka! Even if I burn with him!!"
And Eva 02, with his hands wrapped in ethereal flames, pushed the Angel even deeper, beginning the final attack with all that was left of the core's energy.
The ocean floor trembled. The battle was far from over, but the monster was beginning to give in.
The scorching heat of Eva 02's hands began to char the Angel's thick, armored skin. The sea currents swirled around us like a hellish whirlpool, and I screamed inside the plug suit: "Hold on tight, Asuka! His mouth is going to open!"
The creature finally reacted to the pain, and with an underwater roar, opened its colossal jaws in a desperate reflex. The lights inside the Eva flickered, and the pressure of the water nearly caused everything to collapse.
But at that moment…
"Now!!" Asuka screamed.
She drew the Progressive Knife, the vibrating knife, and held it tightly. With a fluid, determined movement, she threw it straight into the Angel's mouth, the space revealing a pulsating orange glow. The core.
"Die quickly, you damned fish!" Asuka roared, plunging the knife straight into the monster's vital point.
The blade pierced the core, which cracked with an echoing crack even under the water. Red and orange lights exploded from within the Angel's body, and the beast convulsed, slowly stopping its movement.
I felt the Eva's spiritual connection vibrate.
"It's over…"
The Angel's body began to slowly sink, disintegrating into ethereal particles that scattered like fiery ash.
Inside the cockpit, silence replaced the sound of combat. Their breathing was all that could be heard, heavy and labored.
"Subaru..." Asuka said, exhausted, but with a slight smile on her lips. "You're a complete idiot... but you did well."
I just laughed, panting. "Yeah... I'm still trying to figure out what's inside me."
Eva-02's power was starting to fail, systems shutting down one by one.
"We're going to need rescue soon..." Asuka muttered, leaning back in her seat. "But this time... we won."
The two of us there, immersed in the sea, exhausted, but alive. And victorious.
With a metallic crack and the heavy creak of tons of steel and polymer, Eva-02 emerged from the sea like a staggering titan. Its joints were releasing steam, and its feet sank briefly into the wet deck of the warship. Water dripped from his limbs as if he were bleeding the ocean.
Asuka, with her eyes half closed, muttered. "Push a little harder, big guy…"
But the Eva could barely stay upright. Its shoulders hunched, and with a final roar of the auxiliary engines, Eva-02 collapsed to its knees, releasing a hollow thunder over the deck. The nearby NERV soldiers and technicians instinctively recoiled.
Asuka and I were panting in the cockpit. The cabin was filled with mist from the hydraulic system and the lights flashing red from a complete shutdown.
"The… Eva…" I whispered, leaning my head back against the seat. "It can't go any further."
"The Eva gave it his all. Just like us…" Asuka finished, and for the first time, her voice sounded… gentle.
The post-battle silence was broken only by the sound of splashing water and the external communication trying to make contact: "This is the bridge! Zero energy reading. Eva-02 completely offline. Extraction team, prepare for immediate removal of pilots!"
As the magnetic claws began to move to remove the entry pod, the sky began to open, revealing the first stars of the night, as if the world were thanking us for the victory.
Inside, Asuka and I remained quiet, exhausted, dirty, wet and… alive.
And for me, that was enough. At least for now.
End of Chapter 14