2015, at the hot spring inn.
Rei Ayanami was quietly reading a book. The room was very still, save for the rustling sound of paper rubbing against paper. The girl sat like a doll, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, only occasionally looking up at the person across from her.
Asuka, on the other hand, was having a difficult ti. She started out arrogant and high-spirited, but after half an hour her eyes began to twitch. After another hour, her whole body felt sore and aching, and she twisted and turned like a noodle.
Being German, seiza (kneeling) was a form of torture to begin with; having soone's weight pressing down on her legs made it an even more agonizing ordeal.
"Is this guy a pig? How did he fall asleep so fast? Hey, you're not going to sit like that all night, are you? Will you even be able to stand up tomorrow?"
"I can do it. Or rather, this makes feel more comfortable."
Rei didn't even lift her head as she continued reading. It was only when she was called a "masochist" that she glanced up faintly.
"If you can't stand it, you can go rest. Just keep your movents small; do not wake Ikari-kun."
"Who said anything about resting? This is nothing. I've had formal training; I'm not as delicate as your skinny little limbs."
Asuka imdiately stopped squirming, but her heart was screaming.
'You should go rest first! If you don't leave, how can I leave without losing face?
Dammit, just leave already! You must be tired!'
Regardless of how Asuka urged her internally, Rei remained as still and quiet as ever. After a while, Asuka finally resigned herself to her fate.
'Why am I competing with a doll? But this is so boring... if I had known, I would have faced the other way so I could play gas to pass the ti.'
She truly couldn't hold it in any longer; she felt like she was going insane. She was forced to find a topic of conversation: "You're too easy to trick. What 'entering a dream'? He just wants to take advantage of you, doesn't he?"
"I believe Ikari-kun's words."
Rei's answer was simple, causing Asuka's jaw to drop.
'No, you might as well just say you're willing to let him take advantage of you!'
Seeing Asuka's expression, Rei patiently explained: "Ikari-kun said that using this thod allows him to enter a dream. Entering dreams is very important to him; it allows him to recall
vital things, thereby finding his mission. And a mission is the reason for an Astartes' existence."
'Huh? Are you speaking Japanese? Why can't I understand?'
Asuka ruffled her hair. Weren't dreams just remnants of the subconscious? How could they be endowed with such heavy significance? Yet Rei didn't look like she was joking, and having spent so much ti together, Asuka knew that Shinji didn't joke either.
"Regarding that... Emperor?"
"It should be. Ikari-kun didn't elaborate, but it must be very important to him."
"More important than fighting Angels?"
"Yes. That is what he said."
Asuka also beca serious. After a few seconds, she ruffled her hair again, her pupils trembling between her fingers.
'No, no, no... is stupidity contagious? Why am I actually believing this nonsense?'
She realized she had been infected by so kind of virus and was becoming less and less like a normal person, but then she noticed sothing was off.
"Why are you explaining this to ?"
"Because you helped."
Rei put down her book, her gaze earnest, with a faint hint of a smile.
"Asuka, whether in battle or in life, you have helped a lot. If it is beneficial to Ikari-kun, it makes feel very happy."
'Haha, you finally realized how useful I am.'
Asuka imdiately puffed out her chest, but then felt sothing was wrong.
'Why am I so happy? And what's with this "mistress of the house" lecturing tone?'
Feeling a bit awkward, she reached out and poked Shinji's face: "By the way, do you like this guy?"
"Yes. I like Ikari-kun. And I have confird that it is the kind of 'liking' that exists between a man and a woman."
Rei's gaze was very tender, which made the listening Asuka turn red and look away.
"I just asked a casual question. Why are you explaining it so clearly?"
"Are you embarrassed?"
"Pah! This lady has seen it all; I wouldn't get embarrassed."
"Then do you like Ikari-kun?"
"How could I?!"
Asuka countered imdiately. She turned her head, her eyes narrowing into slits. Seeing the serious Rei, she pursed her lips and suddenly switched to German:
"I like him a tiny bit. Just a tiny bit. It's impossible for there to be any more (German)."
"Hmm? What did you say?"
Rei was full of confusion. She could understand the tone, but she didn't understand the content.
"I said it's none of your business! Anyway, how long is this jerk going to sleep—"
Asuka looked down, right into Shinji's eyes. That gaze was nowhere near as sharp as usual; it held the lingering daze of soone who had just woken up.
"I—you—when did you wake up?!"
"Right when you were chatting with Ayanami."
Shinji answered quietly, indeed looking a bit lost. He only saw Asuka's face turn red instantly as she jumped up with a whoosh and ran outside.
This was followed by the sound of soone falling and an "Ouch!" of pain.
'What on earth is she doing?'
Shinji was even more confused. Just as he was about to get up, he was pressed back down by a pair of cool, delicate hands.
"Ikari-kun, did you enter the dream?"
Rei's question brought Shinji back to reality instantly. He nodded heavily, his eyes full of excitent.
He had entered the dream again and rembered so crucial details.
Those hundreds of Astartes kneeling on one knee... the traitor who was obliterated soul and body under his sword... no wonder I like defying authority so much. It turns out the Emperor himself gave a "cheat code" to kill the Chapter Master.
Of course, the most important thing was that he knew where he was going.
"Holy Terra... so I eventually went to Holy Terra? But can I really reach it?"
Shinji held his head. He now knew his destination and knew even better that the damned Chaos would constantly obstruct him. The journey from Aurelia to Holy Terra was vast.
"Holy Terra... is that the planet where the Emperor is?" Rei asked quietly.
"Yes. Actually, it has another na. It is the ho of humanity: Earth."
"Earth? Isn't that here?"
"This Earth is not that Earth, though they are indeed very similar."
Shinji's expression shifted slightly. The era he fought in was the 41st Millennium, but the Blood Ravens loved archaeology and knew more detailed information. For example, the Great Crusade of the 30th Millennium, the Golden Age before that, and the fact that Holy Terra was called Earth—it was roughly the sa size as this place and also had a moon.
He had suspected it before, but after hearing the contents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he was certain it was a bizarre coincidence. Even the Holy Terra of the second millennium could not possibly have things like Adam and Lilith.
He took a light breath, savoring everything that happened on the Omnis Arcanum: the betrayal of the Chapter Master, the gun barrels of his battle-brothers, the near-suicidal charge. He had broken such a dead-end situation in just one day, which was why he didn't take SEELE seriously.
Compared to the dead end he faced then, the troubles before him now were truly nothing.
'So, did I finally reach Holy Terra? Did I go to the Imperial Palace to have an audience with the Emperor?'
Shinji didn't know. He patted the girl's cool hand.
"Go to sleep."
"Don't you need to stay with you?"
"No need. There is much to be done after we return. Get so good rest."
Shinji flashed a smile, but his eyes were as cold as ice.
Ryoji Kaji's appearance had accelerated the plan. There was much to do upon returning.
It was ti to put the moves against SEELE on the agenda.
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