Of course, Mari's piloting was superb. Aside from the great cloud of dust kicked up, Unit-10 settled steadily before the two men.
"Cough—hey, Mari, next time maybe take it a little slower? That dust is choking me."
Kaji held a hand to his nose, wearing a bitter smile.
"Alright, alright, got it. Now hurry up and get on—I can't wait to take off again!"
She spread out the EVA's massive hands, gesturing for Kitazawa Ryōta and Kaji to climb aboard.
Held aloft in Unit-10's palms, soaring across the sea toward Matsushiro—such a reckless and daring plan could only have come from Kitazawa Ryōta. No one else would ever have thought of it.
Already, the sound of fighter jets echoed overhead. China's air support was closing in.
There wasn't much time left.
The two wasted no hesitation and clambered up, Ryōta especially consumed with anxiety. He knew too well: if they didn't make it quickly, the activation experiment at Matsushiro would begin without him.
A moment later, Unit-10's great engines roared to life once more, flames bursting from its thrusters as it shot into the sky, racing eastward at tremendous speed.
Japan. Matsushiro.
Before Second Impact, Matsushiro had been a small city. Afterward, it was reduced to ruin like so many other places.
Later, NERV personnel arrived and, atop the wreckage, constructed an immense test facility.
The Matsushiro Test Site was built for a single purpose: to conduct experiments with Evangelions and the latest advances in bio-neural technology.
Only such a massive facility could host trials for beings the size of EVAs.
Now, within Matsushiro, preparations were underway in a tense, urgent rhythm.
At the center of it all stood a towering, jet-black Evangelion.
Unit-03. Transported across the ocean from the United States to Japan's Matsushiro—its purpose, to find a suitable pilot.
Misato Katsuragi gazed at Unit-03 from a distance, lost in thought.
After the Carson incident, America had grown wary of safeguarding its EVA technology. That was the real reason they had insisted Unit-03 be delivered into Japanese hands.
Misato didn't think too deeply on it. With Unit-02 sealed away and soon to be returned to Europe, Unit-03 would naturally become NERV's primary combat unit.
Yet the truth was, not even Ritsuko Akagi understood all of Unit-03's systems.
It had been built in America. Critical details of its construction and technology remained jealously guarded—even from NERV HQ.
That was why the activation experiment at Matsushiro was being carried out with such care and urgency.
"Report, Major Katsuragi! All systems on Unit-03 have been checked. No irregularities found!"
A technician ran up at full sprint, shouting his report.
"Good. Thank you." Misato gave a short nod. Everything was in place. The test was about to begin.
Inside the changing room.
Asuka slowly slipped into her plugsuit.
A crimson bodysuit, with a central clasp—press it, and the suit sealed itself across the body. Designed specifically for piloting Evangelions.
Its function was to optimize fusion with the LCL, improving synchronization with the EVA.
But Asuka wasn't smiling.
Her face showed no trace of happiness.
After all, Unit-02 had been her home—her sanctuary.
Now that it had been recalled, it was as though half her soul had been torn away. How could she possibly feel joy?
She changed at a sluggish pace, unhurried, almost reluctant.
Footsteps approached behind her.
"Asuka, the activation experiment is ready. All data checks are complete. Everything's waiting on you now…"
The voice belonged to Misato. She looked at Asuka's slow movements and spoke softly.
"Misato… if I end up liking Unit-03, do you think they'll let me paint it bright red?"
Asuka gave a faint smile, speaking lightly while keeping her back turned.
"Of course. I promise you. That won't be a problem." Misato nodded. She understood all too well what Asuka was going through.
To have one's battle partner taken away—no heart could bear it easily.
"Stupid Ryōta… Where the hell did that idiot run off to at a time like this? Going off to Russia with Kaji-san, getting himself wanted across an entire country… he really is such a baka Ryōta!"
Asuka muttered under her breath.
More than anything, she wanted Ryōta to be here now. To stand beside her, to support her, to encourage her.
But that idiot was still in Russia, caught up in who-knew-what.
"Heh… I want to know too. But if he's with Kaji Ryōji, I doubt he's in much danger." Misato smiled faintly. She knew Kaji's true nature—his skills, his identity. And besides, with Kitazawa Ryōta's abilities, no ordinary enemy could ever hope to harm him.
Her confidence in him was absolute.
"Anyway, it's time. Everything's ready. Give it your best, Asuka." Misato smiled again, offering encouragement.
"…Yeah."
Even without Ryōta here, Asuka had to climb into Unit-03. Piloting Evangelions was her destiny. Wasn't it?
"All units, prepare for activation! Final data check!"
"All data confirmed. No issues!"
The intercom echoed with reports. Misato gave a nod, then stepped out of the changing room.
The moment of Unit-03's activation had finally arrived.
Asuka followed slowly behind Misato, emerging into the world outside. Dozens upon dozens of NERV staff awaited her, standing ready as she approached the elevator that would lift her into Unit-03's entry plug.
"Commence preparations for experiment!"
"Beginning final countdown. T-minus five minutes."
"Pilot, please enter the entry plug and await synchronization."
Commands echoed one after another. Sitting on the rising platform, Asuka wore a bitter smile.
"Well… Unit-03, Unit-02… it's only a difference of one number. Asuka, you'll learn to like Unit-03."
She whispered to herself, forcing a smile as her gaze rose toward the looming figure of Unit-03.
Please drop some power stones supper me at my
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