To call it a throw would be an exaggeration—Ryota Kitazawa had simply used a bit of clever maneuvering to gently push Asuka out of the room. That would be more accurate.
"You… Ryota Kitazawa, you're the worst!"
Standing outside the room, Asuka was completely helpless. This guy—he had absolutely no sympathy for girls!
"That's called might makes right," Ryota said with a slight smile, then calmly shut the door in her face.
"RYOTA KITAZAWA!! I'm not done with you!" came Asuka's furious scream from the hallway.
Of course, with the door shut firmly in her face, all she could do was drag her bedding over to the room next door.
…Which didn't even have a bed. She had no choice but to sleep on the floor.
"Damn it, Ryota Kitazawa. I swear I'll get back at you!" Asuka muttered bitterly, gripping her bedding like it was a weapon.
Before long, the sound of running water came from the bathroom in the Katsuragi household.
Given how compact Japanese homes were, the sound echoed easily through the house.
"Kitazawa-kun! Can you bring me my change of clothes?"
A gentle, almost sweet-sounding voice called out from the bathroom—it was Asuka.
"…Huh?"
The request made Misato Katsuragi's ears perk up, alert and suspicious.
Change of clothes? She's clearly trying to lure Kitazawa in!
"Get them yourself," Ryota called out calmly from his spot on the sofa.
"Really? You want a girl to come out without clothes and get them herself?" Asuka's voice turned even more delicate, almost coy.
"I'll go," Misato said at once, standing up with a smile and heading toward Asuka's room.
"Kitazawa-kun! I forgot my shampoo too, could you grab that for me?"
Asuka's sugary voice rang out again from the bathroom.
Moments later, the shower curtain was suddenly pulled open—and Ryota was standing right there.
Asuka's eyes went wide in disbelief, staring at him in shock.
"Here. Your shampoo," Ryota said with an innocent smile, holding it out.
"WHY DID YOU OPEN THE CURTAIN?!"
Asuka completely lost it. She had called him in—but she hadn't said anything about pulling the curtain open! Now he'd seen… everything!
"Okay, I'm leaving," Ryota said casually, walking out as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, Misato came storming out of Asuka's room—her face stone cold.
"RYOTA KITAZAWA!! YOU'RE DEAD!!"
Her thunderous roar shook the apartment walls—and likely echoed down the entire building.
---
Night fell quietly.
But Misato was tossing and turning on her futon, unable to sleep.
Her mind kept replaying the events of the day.
She had only intended to push Asuka into leaving on her own, but everything had spiraled into chaos—especially the bathroom incident. Now things had become awkward for everyone.
She felt uneasy.
And ever since that night, she'd been waiting for Ryota to say something—anything. But nothing had come. His silence was driving her crazy.
Kitazawa-kun, do you… feel anything for me at all?
Agitated, Misato got up and quietly padded toward Ryota's room.
But at that same moment…
"Tch… Damn you, Ryota Kitazawa! Tonight, I swear I'll give you a taste of your own medicine!"
Inside her room, Asuka clenched her fists, muttering in frustration.
She had finally made up her mind. She couldn't take being humiliated by Ryota any longer.
She had always been the best, the brightest—how could she keep losing to this guy?
So, tonight, she would execute her master plan.
A drastic plan.
If she wanted to chase him out, she'd have to go all-in. She would sacrifice her pride.
Offer herself up on a silver platter, then scream that he had taken advantage of her.
There'd be no way for him to stay after that.
"Don't blame me, Ryota Kitazawa. You brought this on yourself," she whispered, steeling herself.
Quietly, she crept to the door and opened it.
But to her surprise, she saw Misato, also sneaking toward Ryota's room—wearing only a thin nightgown.
At this hour?!
Asuka froze in place, stunned.
Then she silently followed, pressing herself to the door to eavesdrop.
Inside the room, a very different scene was unfolding.
Misato was now lying beside Ryota.
And Ryota, as if expecting her, turned and gently pulled her into his arms.
A startled gasp.
Then, just like that, the two fell into a world of passion and warmth…
Outside the door, Asuka's face was—complicated, to say the least.
She hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected that.
To think… there was already that kind of relationship between them?
Her entire face flushed red.
Oh my god… this is insane!
But when she looked at Misato's face—filled with affection—and Ryota's calm tenderness…
She finally realized it.
So that's what's been going on…
Even Misato had fallen for him.
Is Ryota Kitazawa… really that special?
For a long moment, Asuka just stood there, stunned.
---
At night, the Earth becomes a world divided—half asleep, half awake.
While the Northern Hemisphere sleeps, the Southern Hemisphere greets the day.
And presiding over it all is the moon.
The moon lit up the night sky, its pale light giving clarity to the darkness below.
But the moon held secrets of its own.
Above its surface, a massive orbital cruiser silently drifted across the void.
Below it, row upon row of towering lunar structures passed by its observation windows.
Human figures moved between the buildings.
This was the Moon Base—a secret stronghold constructed by humanity.
"Now that the operation to recover the Angel has entered full swing, it seems SEELE is finally beginning to act."
Strangely enough, Kouzou Fuyutsuki and Gendo Ikari were aboard the cruiser, gazing silently out at the surface of the moon.
Fuyutsuki spoke softly, his voice echoing slightly in the sterile, pressurized air.
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