"Well?" the Commander broke the ringing silence, looking intently at Fuyutsuki, who had just entered the office, habitually hiding the lower part of his face behind his interlaced fingers.
"He was... reserved," the elderly professor smiled slightly, walking up to the table and placing a white folder from his briefcase on it.
"Result?" Gendo said briefly, without moving or even looking at the folder.
"He'll continue to pilot the Eva, if that's what you mean," Fuyutsuki, still with the same slight smile, looked around the dark room with the image of the Sephiroth tree on the floor and returned his gaze to Gendo. "As for how he took the information, I can only guess."
- No reactions?
- He kicked me out almost as soon as he finished reading.
- Practically?
"The only question asked was, 'If I achieve 100% synchronization, will I also dissolve into LCL?' And it was said as if he didn't care about this prospect at all... He simply took note of the information, like... the need to wear a contact suit when piloting." Gendo's fingers trembled slightly, but he showed no other emotion.
- What's wrong with Rey?
- They got along well. Apparently, your son has a strong liking for her... - Kozo paused, looking at the window. There was no longer a smile on his face. - When I arrived, Rei was walking around the apartment wearing his T-shirt... And it seems the purpose of my visit did not leave her indifferent. I would even dare to assume that she did not want Shinji to know about some of the peculiarities of her origin.
- I see... - Ikari Gendo closed his eyes, hidden behind the glasses, and a ringing silence fell over the office. - Did you record the conversation?
- Of course, - a small dictaphone box was placed on the table. - Everything from the moment I rang the doorbell until I walked out.
- Okay. I'll listen later.
- Aren't you afraid of SEELE's reaction? - the professor decided to change the subject. - After the last battle, Eva-01's muscle volume increased again, although only by 5%, and nothing is clear with the S2 engine. They may well decide to take action.
- Now they have no choice, we have nothing to counter the Angels with except Eva-01, and even when Eva-00 enters service, the situation will not change. They will be forced to endure.
- And then they won't be able to find fault, right? - Fuyutsuki's face smiled again. - But what if Eva gets out of control?
- We also have no choice, all that remains is to trust the pilot's talents...
- And his attachments? - The deputy commander continued the thought understandingly.
"Exactly," for the first time since the conversation, a smile appeared on Gendo's face, although it was hidden from prying eyes by his fingers intertwined in front of his face.
***
"Misato, please explain once again to me, a poor thing, why I'm needed there?" I drawled in a tired, mournful tone, sadly contemplating the view outside the window.
"Shinji, don't whine! You're a man!" Katsuragi responded from the driver's seat.
- Formally, I will become one only when I manage to seduce you... or someone else.
- I'll kill you! - The car's wheels made a sharp screech, and I was pressed against the glass. - I'll definitely kill you someday! You perverted bastard! - Now I was pulled in the other direction.
- Don't change the subject. What do you need me for?
- And you can't think about it yourself? - The girl muttered discontentedly, seeing that her driving pirouettes didn't bother me.
- Misato, I asked a question. It's fun to speculate, but I'm interested in facts.
- Tick! Okay... You're our lieutenant now, right?
- Well...
- Not "well", but "Yes sir!" - Katsuragi said instructively, slowing down at a traffic light. - Get used to the statutory terminology. So... - The car moved again. - As you noticed, we don't have many senior officers here, so as a lieutenant, you are one of the second most senior people in the department. In fact, judging only by rank, without the positions you hold, you are right behind me in the operations department. Which means that if some kind of force majeure happens, you can assume command...
"May the Great Darkness protect me from such happiness..." I muttered even more gloomily into the glass, already regretting that I had asked for this title.
- And as your commander, I should at least minimally train you in case of such a situation... Huh? What did you say?
"I said that my whole life I've dreamed of becoming a big boss, growing a beard, wearing glasses and keeping a meaningful silence, intertwining my fingers in front of my face, while my subordinates run around in a panic and solve my problems.
- Hic!.. - Misato froze, then folded herself at the wheel and grunted slightly, but quickly pulled herself together. - Well, that's not what I meant... And anyway, let's not be sarcastic! You know, I don't like putting a fourteen-year-old teenager in a command position, without the slightest preparation. Forgive me, of course...
- Pff... The truth doesn't offend. But did I understand correctly that you'll now constantly drag me around with you for the purpose of, hmm... improving my qualifications?
- Well, you don't go to school now anyway... And isn't it boring to sit within four walls for six days? - Misato's voice changed suspiciously, becoming somehow... ingratiating.
- Eh... Tell me honestly, you just found yourself a tame poodle in me.
- Hee... No, what are you saying, it's not like that at all! Hee-hee...
Watching Misato snicker in the driver's seat, I sighed heavily.
- Okay, I'm clear. But why do you need Rei too? She, a junior lieutenant, certainly won't replace Akagi.
- For company. - The girl responded cheerfully, pressing the gas pedal again. I turned my gaze to Ayanami, who was sitting silently next to me; she was looking out the window and seemed not to care at all about what was happening.
Glancing at her right arm, which had only just been freed from the cast yesterday, I leaned to the side and looked through the windshield. The streets of Tokyo-3, the burning signs along the road, cars, people, I felt like it would take us a long time to get to the research camp...
- Misato, how long will it take us to get there?
- Well... - the captain drawled thoughtfully. - If these DAMN traffic lights keep turning red as soon as I JUST GET APPROACHING - the aforementioned traffic light, as it had been waiting and as soon as our car pulled up, actually turned red, causing a fit of rage in the girl. - then it's only about twenty minutes to the exit, and then about the same amount more. - She finished completely calmly.
- I see... - my gaze returned to Ayanami again. Hmm-m-m... - Rei, do you mind if I lie down?
The girl turned to me, puzzled, and then nodded slowly:
- No, I don't mind.
- Thank you.
- Hey, what are you up to? - A suspicious voice came from the front. But I had already unbuckled my seat belt and shamelessly laid my head on Rey's lap.
Mmm... Soft and comfortable. I wish it were always like this. Except...
- Ray, will you scratch my head?
"Okay," there was slight surprise in the voice and nothing more.
The girl's palms lie on the back of my head and begin to timidly bury themselves in my hair. I close my eyes with pleasure. Now it's complete bliss... A little more and I'll start purring...
- You bastard! - Misato summed up, either indignantly or admiringly, managing to twist around in her chair and look behind her, which made me open my eyes again. - No, how impudent, huh?!
- Misato, don't get distracted, you're driving.
- I'll kill you! I'll definitely kill you! You'll get it! You little pervert, - the girl continued to speak in the same admiringly indignant tone, but at least she returned her gaze to the road.
The rest of the journey was silent, only Misato would occasionally curse someone in a low voice, but all we could hear was an indistinct muttering.
When we finally got to the checkpoint, my head was a real crow's nest. Ayanami got carried away, it seemed that the process of shaking something soft and fluffy was able to touch some strings in her, and I played the role of a house cat quite successfully. These are happy animals after all...
However, my appearance was the last thing on my mind, as were Katsuragi's sly glances, mixed with the nasty giggles with which she accompanied me all the way through the camp. Like a real cat, I was petted, disheveled and well-fed, what else does a man need? Misato understood this perfectly well, or at least guessed, and obviously giggled simply at my condition, periodically throwing very meaningful and satisfied glances at the completely unperturbed Rei. Although Rei was unperturbed only on the outside, I managed to notice that glimmer of embarrassment when she noticed that we had already arrived. Such a very cute glimmer, on her pink cheeks and a quickly averted gaze.
- Okay, stop! - Misato commanded, distracted from her cheerful thoughts about our silent couple. We were just passing by a group of white plywood houses. - Now go in here and get a uniform, you are prohibited from walking around the facility without it.
- What kind of uniform is this?
- Overalls and helmets, - the girl said without turning around as she entered. - No, of course you can just take the helmet, but I don't advise it, you'll get dirty in a moment!
Changing didn't take much time. And there wasn't really any time, since the jumpsuit easily fit over my clothes. Such a regular, orange work jumpsuit... at least without frills and spirals, and the absence of blue boots with open toes is also pleasing. Yes, definitely... The white helmet, with a cross on the forehead, successfully hid my hair.
Rei was dressed like me, and I must admit, she looked quite funny and cute, but Misato, on the contrary, stood out. The jumpsuit jacket was tied around her waist, the helmet was hanging on her back, her hair was fluttering carelessly, and on her torso was a black T-shirt, suspiciously similar to mine. "I don't recommend it," right? Well, well...
- What? I look better this way! - "Who would argue? Although you still have to try hard to find clothes that can actually make you look ugly."
"I was silent," I state indifferently, looking longingly at Katsuragi.
- A-a-a, well, okay...
The journey to Dr. Akagi's den took about seven minutes. And it really was a den. Angel's body was already braided with scaffolding and something like a roof was already being erected, apparently to protect it from precipitation. And in one of these sheltered corners, sitting on the plank floor of the second tier of scaffolding, in the company of two men, the head of the scientific department was discovered, enthusiastically picking either Angel's side or armpit. The men, apparently, were zealously helping her. At least, an indescribable linguistic bouquet poured from above, the kind that only happens in the company of people enthusiastically engaged in their work, a special highlight was given to it by the huge amount of scientific terminology and the almost complete absence of swearing. I was completely captivated by it...
Misato, apparently, also appreciated and was moved by it, after which she awarded Rei and me with a very eloquent look, from the series "God forbid I hear such a thing from you!" and purposefully moved towards her friend. I, having seen her off with my gaze, switched my attention to the Angel. The creature is large, yes, but inside... Coming closer, I put my hand on the unharmed skin. An empty, dead shell, not a drop of spiritual energy, or echoes of reason. Nothing. Only... a chalky taste in my mouth.
"Were you scared?" Ayanami's quiet voice sounded right next to my ear, and her hand lay next to mine. "When you were fighting?"
- A little. But it was more like excitement.
- Passion?
– A sense of risk – danger and the desire to overcome it. Moreover, the latter is usually the most pronounced.
- It's clear.
- What's bothering you? - I lowered my hand and turned to the girl. - You could have asked this question much earlier, what has changed? - The girl was silent for about a minute, but still decided to answer:
- Since I have recovered, the reactivation of Eva-00 should take place soon and there is a possibility that it will be unsuccessful again.
- And you are afraid?
"No..." Rey looked away. "I don't know... I shouldn't... but..."
- Have you been waiting for us?! You can congratulate me, I pulled our mole out of the rubble of research! Isn't it a heroic feat? - A very pleased Katsuragi approached us, followed by an irritated Akagi.
"Misato, what a bad time..."
"What did you call me?" the blonde said menacingly.
- Now, now, don't be angry, I'm only concerned about your health; overexerting yourself is bad for your health.
- Rather, you are simply distracting me from work, and we don't have much time...
- Ritsuko, you promised!
- Okay, okay... - Akagi sighed heavily. - Hello, Shinji, Rei, I understand that this fury forced you too.
- Hey!
"Exactly so," I confirmed, simultaneously with Katsuragi's exclamation.
"Hmm," the doctor chuckled and shot a sly glance at Misato. "Okay, let's go, there's a much better place for conversation."
"What does that mean?" Misato wrinkled her forehead in confusion, looking at the monitor from behind Akagi.
- The same as last time. The material the Angel is made of cannot be analyzed, it is something completely new to us. The only fact that has been precisely established is that, like light, it has both wave and corpuscular properties.
- And that there are no differences from Sakiel?
- How surprising... They exist, but they are within the measurement error, so nothing concrete can be said.
- So you've been threatening to make me happy with a revelation about the true nature of Angels for a whole week, but as soon as I brought in the audience, you claim that you don't know anything? You couldn't tell me earlier?
- Don't be so categorical, especially since I didn't promise any revelations. - The blonde retorted, taking a drag on her cigarette and sipping coffee from a plastic cup. - I said that we could learn a lot of new things, but I didn't guarantee that it would happen immediately after the equipment was launched. Besides, comparing the existing samples is far from a quick process, and there's not much left of Sakiel for us.
"Be grateful there's at least something left," Katsuragi pouted. "If Shinji hadn't cut off his mask at the start of the fight, it would have probably exploded along with everything else."
- By the way, yes! - the doctor perked up and turned to me. - Thank you, Shinji, that mask was very valuable material for research.
- Contact me... - I echoed, flipping through the pages of my palmtop. The day before yesterday I found "The Lord of the Rings" in Japanese on the Internet and-and-and... in general, Akagi's scientific work interested me less. Plus, reading is a good way to clear and structure your thoughts, and I had something to think about.
The fact is that the girl standing next to me, concentrating on something, is afraid of the prospect of reactivating Eva-00, even if she denies it. In canon, everything went well, but there were completely different conditions. Before Rey's eyes was the completely unheroic image of Shinji, whom she could see almost daily, but who had no effect on her life at all. I remember that at first, she did not even consider him worthy of the title of pilot, clearly considering herself better, and his victories did not really contribute to changing this point of view. Now everything is completely different, one might even say - radically different. And in the new conditions, Ayanami's confidence in her abilities can be greatly shaken, I would even say - obliged. And something needs to be done about this, since I definitely do not need another accident.
"Of course," Ritsuko smiled and turned to Misato. "And why are you slandering him, such a good boy..."
The brunette glanced at me and met mine, in which I tried to reflect everything I thought about my supposed "goodness". I felt she was in complete solidarity with me.
- Don't start, okay?
- Okay, okay. - Akagi, still amused, raised her hands, clearly seeing our glances. - Shinji, you better tell me, do you have any questions? Because I'm supposed to be here to introduce you to management work. - Another sly smile and a slow drag. After staring at the corner of the tablet for a couple more seconds, I finally emerged from my thoughts and nodded.
- I have a question. Can those Angel whips be somehow attached to Eve?
- Hmm... - Akagi took a sip of coffee. - An interesting question... But no, that's impossible.
- Really?
"Yes," the doctor jerked her head and, closing her eyes, took a drag.
- It's sad... And what about the Angels' beam weapon, is it possible to reproduce it on Eva?
- Mmm... Not yet. Although I can't guarantee that it's possible in principle, but right now we don't even have a sample. Sakiel was destroyed, and Samsiel didn't have such a device or organ, so if we have an intact sample...
- Got it, let's get to work.
"Shinji, you are the perfect pilot," Akagi smiled, then cast a rather triumphant glance at Misato.
- You got along, right? - she didn't stay in the dog. - So you got along with her, but you tyrannize over me? Well, just you wait, I'll give you some more endurance training!
- Misato, you're scaring me. I didn't expect such vulgar promises from you, and in front of witnesses too...
- What? - The girl blinked. - What "vulgar"?
- Well... Actually, he's right, - Akagi cut in, slyly looking away somewhere. - You promised him "endurance" training... - the blonde emphasized the last word with her voice.
- WHAT?! - Oh, she got it. How lovely. - Have you really lost your nerve?! It's not enough for me to have Shinji, now my best friend is betraying me! - Katsuragi indignantly announced to the world. Ritsuko couldn't help but laugh.
- Yeah... Now I understand how you get along.
"Traitor!" the captain frowned proudly.
"Well, it wasn't me who pulled your tongue," another drag and a sly smile.
"By the way," I decided to interrupt the nascent skirmish. "How soon are you planning to reactivate Unit-00?" Three pairs of surprised eyes turned to me, even Rey interrupted her thoughts, although the surprise in her gaze, perhaps, could only be replaced by me.
- Hm. It was originally planned to be done in four or five days, but it might be later. It depends on how quickly we can prepare Eva, - Ritsuko answered thoroughly, looking at me with curiosity.
- Why such interest, Sin?
- If I'm not mistaken, there was an accident last time, what were the reasons? - I continued asking, not paying attention to Misato's question.
- Well, actually, it's classified information, although we don't have any facts, only guesses, - the doctor took a new cigarette out of the pack. - But roughly speaking, the reason was that Rey couldn't overcome the second stage of synchronization, and due to a break in the circuit at the peak level, the Eva shorted out.
- And you're just going to repeat the experiment, hoping for luck?
- Do you have any other suggestions?
- Yes, why not perform a preliminary synchronization with Eva-01?
"So you're suggesting that instead of one Eva, we put Rei in another?" Ritsuko raised an eyebrow skeptically, exhaling a stream of smoke.
"Not exactly, I'm suggesting a joint synchronization, so that Rey and I are in the capsule at the same time," a stunned silence fell over the room.
- Double synchronization, you say? Interesting... - Ritsuko thought. - Risky, but interesting...
"Are you serious?!" Misato was alarmed, looking at her friend with genuine, uh... surprise.
- Yes, this will be a great experiment! - the half-smoked cigarette went into the ashtray, and the cup of coffee was emptied in one gulp. - This can really work! With your level, you will definitely be able to synchronize and Rey will not be a hindrance, at the same time for Rey this will be an excellent training, so to speak, under the supervision of an instructor. Brilliant! If everything works out... No! Even if it doesn't work out... We need to calculate everything immediately!
- Shinji, what have you done? - Katsuragi hissed, looking with horror at her friend raping the keyboard. To be honest, I was also a little surprised, I didn't think that Akagi would grasp the essence so quickly, I thought I would have to explain. But the doctor managed to pleasantly surprise... Although, she is a genius of science, and the experiment with double synchronization itself probably interested her too.
- Did you voluntarily sign up for the position of a lab rabbit?
- Um... It looks like it.
- Well... And the day started off so well, - although it's still going well. My gaze slid over to Ayanami. If when I had just started talking about Eva-00 and the accident, her whole posture simply screamed anxious tension, now the girl was confused and obviously didn't know how to react. But there was definitely no hostility or anger in her. It's a pity we're not alone now...
We were returning home late. Despite the fact that Akagi was loaded with a new idea, no one cancelled the "cultural program" and after lamenting for ten minutes over her friend who had "gone to the astral plane", Misato dragged us "to have some fun". The fun mostly consisted of following the captain and being there while he worked. She didn't burden us too much and only asked me seven times if I understood what we were talking about and four times she demanded that I reproduce the central question of the conversation. Sadist...
After wandering around the construction site for about three hours, and the research camp was really being built at a Stakhanovite pace, periodically arguing on the phone with some Somers and Miura, who, judging by the context, belonged to NERV officers, as well as with three other addressees, who clearly did not belong to NERV employees, Misato finally ran out of steam and, gloomily waving her hand, drove us to headquarters. Of course, this was preceded by another visit to Akagi, but it did not bring results, except that we were politely, without taking our eyes off the screen, asked to pass Maya "this folder", which was immediately handed to me "as a man!" exactly like that, with an exclamation mark.
Already in the headquarters building, Misato confiscated the "valuable documents" and literally kicked us into the common dining room, with the order to eat, take a walk and not to bother her for at least two hours. She herself refused to go, citing the presence of a coffee maker in the office. Poor thing... And she also looked with such despair at the table littered with waste paper dated today...
- Well, finally alone... - I sighed, having walked about ten meters along the corridors from Katsuragi's office. - You're not offended?
- For what?
- About my stunt with the idea of reactivating Eva. - I look at the girl walking next to me.
Before answering, Rey was silent for a moment, looking ahead.
- It was unexpected. But I'm not offended.
- Are you sure? - "And why are you so clearly avoiding looking me in the eye right now?"
- Yes.
"But something still worries you," I didn't ask, but stated.
Ayanami walked a little further and stopped. I also stop, but she is silent. I stand in front of her, but the girl's gaze still looks away. Silence.
- If... - a quiet, barely audible voice interrupts the tense silence... Scarlet eyes are still looking somewhere down to the right of me. - If there is another accident, you too could get hurt...
I close my eyes.
"The Rubicon has been crossed, huh?" "Well, I've been waiting for this for a long time."
- You are so funny. - And ignoring the surprised look that turned to me again, I lightly ruffle her blue hair, slightly drawing the girl closer to me. - There will be no accident and you will succeed. After all, you were ready to get into Eve, barely breathing in a hospital wheelchair, and now you are afraid to do it with me, knowing for sure that I can easily achieve almost one hundred percent synchronization. Aren't you a silly girl? - I lean down so that our faces are on the same level and, smiling warmly, look into her eyes. - Isn't that so?
"Yes..." was the quiet answer of the girl, who was actually blushing for the first time.
- Then relax and let's go. I still need to feed you.
Rey nodded a little slowly, but didn't move from her spot. Frankly enjoying the situation, I carefully took her hand and pulled her forward. There were no objections.
Until the very entrance to the dining room, she never once tried to free her hand, and I myself, not being a fool, did not even think of letting go. The dining room itself was a large, bright room with many tables for four or six people. I had been here before, you could say it was one of the key rooms that Misato introduced me to back in the first week, but I had never had the chance to eat here. Which, however, I have never regretted.
There were few people, and there was no line at all. Having finally let Ayanami go and with an inner smile noting her thoughtful gaze following my hand, I took the tray and went to look at the available assortment. It did not exactly please me, but it did not cause any obvious disgust either. Rice, fish, meat, salads, all in different configurations, but with one constant attribute - Rei did not eat almost everything lying on the counter.
It's as if the recipes were specially selected, honestly. If there's a salad, then it's definitely with tomatoes, and if there aren't any tomatoes, then beets are a must, meat, sausages, cutlets, no comments here, fish, ALL OF IT, in a suspicious-looking reddish gravy, only variations of rice are left - crumbly ali onigiri and the last two, forlornly lying in the tray, halves of a boiled egg. That's how joyful and positive it is.
About five minutes later, when we had taken a four-seater table, I, under the surprised gaze of ruby eyes, thoughtfully fished out tomato pieces from the salad I had taken and transferred them to my plate. The process had been going on for about a minute and was close to completion, although I must admit that I had managed to compose many kind words for those cooks who had cut the unfortunate vegetable so finely. Finally, the last red piece left the bowl and I moved it to Ayanami.
- Eat.
- Thank you...
"You're welcome," I smile slightly and start eating myself. Ray watches me for a bit longer, but then, as if waking up, he closes his eyes for a second, and when he opens them, he no longer looks at me and picks up a fork.
We finished lunch pretty quickly, thanks to the three-hour marathon around the construction site, after that it's hard to complain about a lack of appetite. We sat for a bit longer over tea, just savoring the taste of the drink and relaxing. There was nowhere to go. Through the thickness of space I could feel my Eve, sleeping and peaceful. But there was no point in going to her. I didn't feel Lilith, and I couldn't have. Well, I didn't feel like just wandering around the headquarters. However, the tea ran out and I had to get up. While I was carrying the dishes and both trays, I caught the curious glances of several technicians who had just come in, judging by their uniforms, the guys were from the headquarters operators, although their faces were unfamiliar. Word of mouth again, or were they simply surprised by the presence of a child in civilian clothes at the base? Anyway, what difference does it make?
"How do you feel about going to the shooting range?" I asked the girl as we were leaving the dining room. The idea was really no worse than the others and even useful, but it all depended on Ayanami's wishes, since I frankly didn't care where and how to while away the time.
- I'm for it.
– Do you like shooting?
- No, but I need to get back in shape and it calms me down.
- Reassuring? - I raised my eyebrows. No, I'm not arguing at all, that's true, but I didn't expect a girl to hold such views, even one as special as Rey.
"Yes," she nodded and immediately turned to me. "Is that strange?"
"A little," I smile. "For a girl."
- And for a man?
- Quite naturally. You could say that our love for shooting and weapons is genetically ingrained in us.
"I see," she turned back to the corridor.
Misato pulled us out of the shooting range towards evening. Surprisingly, the process was fascinating, not so much the ventilating of the targets, but the comparison of different types of weapons. Souma, the same sergeant-gunsmith, tried hard and showed off his assortment, so that even Rei became interested and by the end managed to try out seven models of pistols and four rifles, so thoughtfully, thoroughly, I was just amazed. But we still greeted Misato's arrival with relief, because my hands, personally, were already shaking and although Rei was less, hmm... active, I think she also managed to get tired.
"Sin, you're impossible," the girl sighed dejectedly as we walked from the shooting range to her office.
- What's wrong again?
- Nothing. Nothing at all. Except that you're a completely reckless psycho! Why did you take that machine gun!?
"Which one? The Belgian Minimi, or our NTK-62?" I asked calmly, which caused Misato to give me the classic "hand-to-face" move.
- Both... - how much melancholy in the voice...
- Well, the German Heckler & Koch-21 was clearly too heavy for me, but there was no other choice.
- Idiot... Shinji! You're wounded! Your chest is ripped open from shoulder to waist, why the hell did you even pick up a machine gun?!
- Did you want to shoot?
- Ooooh-oooh-oooh-oooh-hm-hm-hm! - Misato howled. - Rei, at least tell him something, he only listens to you.
"What should I tell him?" the girl turned to the captain.
- That he is irresponsible about his life and health!
- Shinji, you are irresponsible with your life and health.
- I know.
- He knows, Captain Katsuragi. - "Rei... Ayanami... Darling... I adore you! I just hope I don't burst out laughing! I just hope I don't burst out laughing! Damn, how beautifully she did that... I'll never believe it was an accident!"
The "hand-face" exercise was repeated, only now the girl was also quietly mumbling something into her palm. After which, having taken several deep breaths in and out, she continued her attempt at an offensive:
- Shinji...
"Relax," I interrupted the exhausted boss. "My wound has almost healed, and I didn't shoot from the hip. Better tell me, did you eat anything, or were you just sitting there on coffee?"
- Pfft... You know how to change the subject. No, I didn't eat, you saw how much work had piled up. So we'll eat at home, not for the first time, - the girl's shoulders slumped and she scratched her forehead, ruffling her bangs at the same time. - Now Hyuga has to bring the analysts' last reports and then we can go home. Damn, how I want a normal quartermaster?! I'm the head of the operations department, why should I deal with all this nonsense with estimates and deliveries?
- Sorry.
- Come on...
We spent about an hour more in Katsuragi's office, first Hyuga ran in with a stack of papers, then they sorted them out and finally Misato said "Sha!" The finished stacks of documents went to the commander's desk, and we went to the car. It was getting dark...
Once inside, another surprise awaited me. As soon as we went up the central elevator and moved a little away from the entrance, Rey tore her gaze away from the window and turned to me:
- Shinji?
- What?
- Did you like it when I scratched your head in the morning? - "Um... Interesting question..."
- Yes.
- Then... - she unbuckled her seat belt and calmly lay her head on my lap. - Scratch me too.
- Hic!.. - Misato voiced my feelings from the front, staring into the rearview mirror with such big, wide-open eyes.
- As you say... - and I buried my hand in his thick, blue hair. The cloudy sky was ablaze in the rays of the sunset, we were returning home.