The Trash Returned from Warhammer

With the delivery of EVA Unit-02 to Tokyo-3 and the fall of the Sixth Angel, Gaghiel, everything returned to normal.

If 40K was a never-ending purgatory, this world felt more like a roller coaster—always possessing high peaks, only to drop back into a valley. Because the battle took place on the open sea, the Sixth Angel didn’t even cause a ripple in the city; the ordinary citizens of Tokyo-3 didn’t feel a thing.

Everything returned to a dull daily routine, except for the addition of a haughty, mixed-race girl surrounded by admirers in Class 2-A. If one were to really dig deep, the person whose life had changed the most was actually Rei Ayanami.

”Home. A new home.”

The girl traced the doorplate over and over again, her eyes sparkling. It bore the name ”Ayanami.” Turning back, she saw the golden sunset flooding the corridor.

As an apartment building exclusive to NERV employees, this was on a completely different level from the old urban district where she used to live. The cracks on the walls were gone, the rhythmic thudding of cranes no longer reached her ears, and occasionally, someone would pass by and greet her with a smile.

Rei stood somewhat dazed. She didn’t actually care about her living environment, but standing in the hallway, watching the golden twilight, she placed her hand over her chest.

’But, this is very nice.’

Since getting to know Ikari-kun, her originally pure white life had become colorful. She had experienced many things she used to ignore: visiting someone’s home, shopping, buying gifts, tidying a room, petting a cat, refusing that man for the first time, and even joining a school club. She had developed a longing for a ”home.”

Unlike Gendo Ikari’s deliberate performances, bonds were deepening through these daily trifles. Rei was no fool; she could distinguish between hypocrisy and sincerity.

Given the chance to choose, she would naturally choose sincerity.

Opening her mouth to breathe softly, she caught a scent she identified as freedom. That harsh, dilapidated old apartment had been a cage, and she had now stepped out of it.

”Thank you, Ikari-kun.”

Rei turned her head to look at the room at the end of the corridor, then gently knit her brows.

”What are you looking at?”

A girl with orange-red hair stood at the doorway, huffing and puffing as she moved boxes. Unlike Rei, Asuka had a lot of luggage. She had wanted Shinji to carry it, but that ”idiot” without a shred of gentlemanly grace had told her to do her own work.

’The Second Child.’

Rei stared at her silently, feeling a faint discomfort—as if a tyrannical third party had suddenly barged into the new life she had been looking forward to. She couldn’t help but ask softly, ”Why are you here?”

”Heh, that’s a funny question. If the First Child can live in an apartment, why can’t I?” Asuka leaned against the door and snorted. ”We’re all EVA pilots; we should enjoy the same benefits and treatment.”

”Then why are you living with Ikari-kun?”

The crimson eyes seemed to peel away her defenses. Asuka panicked instantly, waving her hands dismissively.

”Who—who wants to live with him? There weren’t any vacant rooms, alright? I’m staying here temporarily. Yes, temporarily! Anyway, this apartment has three bedrooms.”

”There is a spare room at my place. You can move in.”

”Why would I? You’re like a doll; you can’t squeeze out a single word half the time. I don’t want to!” Asuka shook her head immediately, then added a ”patch” to her previous statement: ”And besides, I moved in because of Miss Misato. It has nothing to do with that idiot who lacks any gentlemanly manners. Absolutely nothing!”

Rei just watched her quietly, witnessing the girl’s clumsy acting. Asuka grew uneasy under that gaze. Ignoring the luggage still in the hallway, she slammed the door shut with a loud thud.

’That doll is really persistent.’

She leaned her back against the door, biting her lip. It had been two days since she arrived in Tokyo-3. After completing the handover procedures for Unit-02, she had transferred to the First Municipal Middle School and moved into Misato’s home.

As for why? Asuka felt a bit lost, raising her fist as if to cheer herself up.

’Hmph. To surpass him, I have to observe him closely. Besides, that idiot was good at flattery the other day; I’m just reluctantly rewarding him.’

Thinking back to being the center of attention that day made her tremble with excitement. This was why she piloted an EVA—for that moment where everyone affirmed her value!

However, in her subconscious, Asuka knew she had benefited from Shinji. Without him, the battle would have gone differently. She couldn’t help but look at the silhouette in the kitchen.

Though this guy was rigid, unreasonable, and lacked manners, he was indeed strong—and quite sincere. Her feelings toward Shinji were complex: a mix of jealousy and unwillingness, yet an admission that he possessed a unique aura. He lacked any of the immaturity of their peers. He was extremely mature—so mature he didn’t even seem like a normal human from Earth.

”I don’t hate that part of him, at least,” Asuka muttered. She hated ”little kids” the most.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock came from the door behind her. Asuka didn’t need to look to know it was Rei. She didn’t have many thoughts about the First Child, other than her being another ”non-human” weirdo who acted like a doll, which sparked Asuka’s competitive spirit.

’I might not beat that idiot, but I can definitely suppress you. Otherwise, where would my pride go?’

”Why are you blocking the door? Open up,” Shinji said, turning around to see the boxes of various sizes in the entryway. ”And when are you going to finish organizing your luggage? You’ve been stalling for a long time.”

”Mind your own business! Who do you think you are?”

”In this house, I have the responsibility of managing internal affairs. You have fifteen minutes. If it’s not organized before dinner, I’m throwing it all into the trash bin downstairs.”

Shinji didn’t understand the concept of ”being soft on a pretty girl,” nor was he a ”simp.”

He was completely immune to pouting or tantrums. Asuka’s face flushed with anger. This ”idiot” was truly a man of his word, and he was completely impervious to either soft or hard approaches.

Asuka gnashed her teeth in frustration. She knew that if Shinji said it, he would do it. She had tried acting cute, which was useless; she had tried direct confrontation, but before she could even make a move, she was intimidated by his fierce gaze.

”Miss Misato, say something to him! Isn’t this your house?”

Misato Katsuragi sat cross-legged on a chair, swaying her beer can. She looked up at the ceiling as if she hadn’t heard a word.

She was barely hanging on herself; her ”beer freedom” had already been revoked.

’Dammit, is there nobody who can keep him in check? I must be cursed to have moved in here and suffered like this!’

”Rücksichtslos (Thoughtless)!” Asuka regretted her choice, but her intense pride made it impossible for her to flee. She continued the difficult move. Shinji wouldn’t give up his room, so she had to move into the side room.

She was full of resentment. Shinji naturally understood her, but he pretended not to. After these two days together, he found the Second Child had many minor flaws, but as a precious combat asset, these were tolerable. If she wanted to vent, let her vent; since she had moved in, all actions had to follow orders.

He went to open the door himself. As expected, Rei was standing there. The girl looked a bit confused.

”Are you lecturing the Second Child?”

”I wouldn’t call it a lecture, just a correction. Asuka is a valuable combatant, but she has many minor faults. Though, I don’t particularly care.” Shinji only cared about loyalty, combat effectiveness, psychological fortitude, and team atmosphere—the things that were the domain of an Imperial Guard Commissar.

”Yes. The Class Rep also says she is difficult to get along with.” Rei looked past him. For some reason, seeing the girl huffing while carrying boxes made her feel slightly pleased. ”Do you need my help?”

”Better not. She has immense pride. Before you earn her recognition, helping will only be counterproductive.”

”Have you earned her recognition?” Rei raised an eyebrow.

”More or less. I know what she likes.” Shinji didn’t think much of it. A child like Asuka was easy to read; her core was seeking validation. Just rub her fur the right way, and she wouldn’t turn against you.

”Then, Ikari-kun... do you know what I like?”

The question suddenly hung in the air. Shinji turned back in surprise. He actually didn’t have an answer, but he considered it seriously for a moment.

”Learning new and strange things?”

”Wrong.” Rei’s expression turned instantly cold, and she walked into the room.

’Hehehe, is this a ’shura field’ (love triangle mess)?’

Misato didn’t even care about her beer anymore, her face full of amusement. She looked at the confused Shinji, then at the cold Rei, and then at Asuka, who had a look of ”Why are you so gentle to her?”

’Two women make a play. Young man, you’re seeking your own death.’

However... she caught sight of Shinji’s suddenly stern gaze and watched Asuka immediately scurry back to work.

In front of this boy, her tyrannical temper simply couldn’t manifest.

’Uh, well, then again, maybe not?’

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