——2016.1.13——

NERV headquarters, special ICU.

Drip, drip, drip.

Shinji Ikari sat astride a chair, flipping through his phone while occasionally glancing at Kirishima Mana lying on the hospital bed.

She was now wrapped tightly in bandages, with only one eye and mouth and nose exposed, making her look like a mummy.

There was nothing she could do about it. Although she didn't understand the terminology used in the emergency department, the image of her face being covered in veins by the "Naji Demon" was still vivid in her mind. Not surprisingly, the skin under the bandage might be a little miserable.

After post-war inspection, it was found that part of the bodies of Unit Zero and Unit 2 that were "eroded" when Unit 3 attacked them were completely necrotic and could only be removed and re-repaired. The real name of Kirishima who was in the insertion bolt of Unit 3...

Generally speaking, the main damage was to the surface skin and mental pollution. Apart from excessive energy consumption, there was no major problem with the body itself. If she wanted to, she could go downstairs after waking up.

Thinking about it now, Ayanami's defeat in the first battle may not have been a deliberate attempt to "fix the match", but to avoid the situation of "no reaction when being corroded".

Perhaps her current human form is as weak as an ordinary girl, and she will be injured even if she inserts a bolt and hits the wall, but if she encounters an attack with a special ability unique to the apostle...

No, it was more than just "no response". The unlucky Thirteenth Apostle was probably going to be corroded in turn.

If the identity of Eve's incarnation is discovered, the EVA pilot's career will be over, and he can only launch a third impact to cover it up.

Hmm... It's a little early to launch the third charge after dad dies. Why don't you discuss with her and change it after your own death?

In that case, I really have to confess to her...

What kind of idiot taught her to just respond "You're a good person" to an overture?

It's me, then it's okay.

Thinking about another girl in front of a girl's hospital bed, you scumbag.

Get trampled to death by Unit 1, you scumbag.

I don't want to die, but you are indeed a scumbag.

Bastards! I've tolerated you for a long time! Be careful, I'll find a psychiatrist and kill you all!

"Um...well..."

As the unknown data on some unknown instruments fluctuated, Kirishima's real name made a low voice.

Shinji Ikari put his phone away subconsciously.

He was originally considering whether to pretend to be asleep and imply that he would stay with her until she fell asleep, but when he thought about it, it seemed that it was not in line with his personality at all and he would not be able to deceive anyone.

"Shinji-san..." Kirishima opened his eyes and stared at Shinji Ikari: "That's great...you're okay..."

Is she still worried that she has never called number 3?

Girl, do you want to take care of yourself first?

"You're awake." Because the scenes were too similar, Shinji Ikari's brain twitched and he blurted out stupid words: "The operation was successful, you are already a boy."

"..." Kirishima Mana blinked, first raised his hand to touch his face, and then touched his upper body, but there was no doubt that all he touched was thick bandages.

When she tried to lift the quilt covering her body, Shinji Ikari hurriedly stopped her.

Although her whole body is now covered with bandages, but...it doesn't feel right no matter how you think about it.

"I'm kidding, how is that possible?" Shinji Ikari put Kirishima's hand back under the quilt, tucked her under the quilt, and then raised the angle of the hospital bed to make it easier for her to speak.

.

"After I woke up...the first thing I saw was Shinji-san..." Kirishima replied in a low voice, "So, no matter what Shinji-san says from now on, I will believe it..."

It seems that she was still conscious when she was invaded by Unit 3. She remembers saying to her, "You will definitely see me next to the bed when you wake up."

If I say to her now, "You are actually dreaming"... No, no, she will really take it seriously.

——

"Are you a fool?" The door of the ward opened, and Asuka, wearing a bright red combat uniform, walked in from the outside with a displeased face: "If he sells you later, will you still count the money for him?"

"If Shinji-san wants to sell me... there must be a reason..." Kirishima Mana looked at Ikari Shinji: "I will accept it..."

Don't accept it!

No, I won’t sell it!

"You are not allowed to respond to any assumption that 'I might be bad for you.'" Shinji Ikari glared at her with a fierce expression.

"Okay." Kirishima's real name narrowed his eyes.

Really, although most of the responsibility for this accident lies with "Future Kirishima Mana", there are also some problems with his own operation. After all, "Present Kirishima Mana" is innocent, why did he lie to her that there was something wrong with her ability?

It was so suitable. It probably added 100 points of fatigue on the spot, but the apostle took advantage of it or something...

"Hey..." Asuka put her hands on her forehead and sighed, then walked up to Shinji Ikari, put her hands on her hips, and stared at his face: "If you dare to bully the real name, I will kill you."

"I...well." Kirishima Mana seemed to want to say something, and then raised his hand to cover his mouth - isn't this the assumption that "Shinji Ikari may be detrimental to Kirishima Mana".

Hmm, hmm? What's going on with this genius pilot's attitude? Is it really his own illusion that "she actually likes me"?

"I'm the one taking care of the patient now," Shinji Ikari leaned back to avoid Asuka's glare: "It's you, wearing a driving suit, do you have a mission?"

"Of course I'm cleaning up the mess you left," Asuka straightened up and turned to Kirishima's real name: "You don't know yet, right? This person with connections actually stared at the erosion and deployed the AT force field to reversely neutralize the AT of the Thirteenth Apostle.

The force field was used to solve Unit 3 without destroying it or injuring you - the price was an artificial lake underground."

"Really?!" Kirishima's eyes widened: "Then isn't Shinji-san very dangerous?"

"What you care about...forget it, I shouldn't have come." Asuka rolled her eyes, strode out of the ward and slammed the door.

"I thought that Shinji-san wanted to destroy Unit 3 while avoiding the insertion bolt, so he asked me to disconnect..." Kirishima Mana looked at Shinji Ikari with curiosity in his eyes.

Do you believe me when I say I don’t know how I did it?

Uh, no, she will definitely believe it.

Lying can feel guilty when others take everything you say seriously.

"The pilot can't live without a machine," Shinji Ikari finally said: "What I was thinking at the time was that this No. 3 machine was also built by us with so much hard work. Why should we let the apostles destroy it as soon as it is corroded? What should we really do?

Isn’t it possible to kill the apostles, clear away the erosion, and avoid the possibility of being eroded in the future? That’s what I think, and that’s what I did.”

These words were completely true, but some details were omitted. She would not ask further questions anyway.

"Yeah." Kirishima nodded, and as expected, he didn't pursue the specific method.

"Anyway, Unit 3 is still here for you. You should get well soon. I look forward to the day when I can fight side by side with you," Shinji Ikari said, his mind twitching again: "NERV cannot live without you and

Unit 3 is like a literary club that cannot live without a maid."

"Well, I will try my best, 'senpai'." Kirishima replied by his real name.

We all seem to be of the same age, right? Isn’t this title a bit...

Phew—buzz—the duel disk appeared.

New card [Inheritance of Black Magic].

Hmm? This guy wearing a pointed hat and a black mage robe and teaching the "Dark Magician Girl" seems very handsome. Does he refer to me?

——

Although Kirishima Mana regained consciousness, his spirit was still very weak. After forcing himself to talk to Shinji Ikari for a while, he fell asleep again.

After Shinji Ikari helped her adjust the angle of the hospital bed, he walked out quietly.

Then he met Rei Ayanami head-on.

Wearing a school uniform, she stood in the corridor outside the ward, staring at him with red eyes expressionlessly.

"Ah, this..." Shinji Ikari scratched his head and stopped talking.

Why do I feel like I was caught cheating...

No, I didn’t cheat!

It seems that some idiot is thinking wildly in front of someone who can read minds. I won't say who it is.

You'll be crushed to death by Unit 1, you scumbag.

I don't want to die yet, so I kneel down and admit my mistake now.

We haven’t confirmed our relationship yet!

"I'm here to prepare you for attack," Rei Ayanami handed him a bag containing combat uniforms, and then said, "The fourteenth apostle has appeared."

"What?" Shinji Ikari put away the messy thoughts for the time being: "I remember that I beat the Thirteenth Apostle yesterday, no, just the day before yesterday, right?"

"The Thirteenth Apostle has appeared earlier, but it must parasitize other apostles to exert its power," Rei Ayanami replied: "Although it eroded Unit 3, because it is an artificial apostle, it can only be activated after connecting to the power supply.

, so the wake-up time has been delayed.”

"So weak..." Shinji Ikari commented.

"Unit 0 and Unit 2 will lose their combat effectiveness after being corroded. Only Unit 1 is not affected by that kind of erosion," Rei Ayanami continued: "This is not a fake match."

Her mind-reading range has also expanded...

"It's not mind-reading."
To be continued...