The Trash Returned from Warhammer

”Because... I need you.”

When a man of iron and blood speaks those words with a profoundly serious expression, it hits like a spiritual impact.

’What?’

Asuka thought she had misheard. What kind of nonsense was he spouting all of a sudden?

”What did you just say?”

”I said the reason I’m taking care of you is simple: because you are very important.”

Shinji looked directly into her eyes, his tone still deadly serious.

There were only three Pilots in total. He had never heard of a Chapter being so pitiable—how could his only two battle-brothers not be important?

’Wait, what? Is he confessing to me out of the blue?’

Asuka blinked repeatedly. She wasn’t an idiot; having spent so much time with Shinji, she realized the sentence probably didn’t mean what she thought it meant, but still—

’Strangely... I’m happy.’

She had received countless love letters and heard countless cheesy confessions, all of which she had dismissed as the babblings of little brats. But Shinji’s words didn’t provoke disgust; instead, they brought a joy she rarely felt.

Perhaps it was the sincerity in his expression. Perhaps it was because he was different from those kids—he didn’t have any ulterior motives. Or perhaps he was just so powerful, on such a different level, that he held the authority to validate her existence. And he had just validated her value.

’No, wait! Why should I be happy because of his validation? Who is he? No one has the right to judge me!’

Asuka shook her head, tossing the embarrassing thought away. She avoided his serious gaze and turned her head aside.

”Hmph! Saying such nonsensical things... do you think saying stuff like that will make me happy?”

”I am merely stating facts.”

”So stupid. Fine, I’m a tiny bit happy.” Asuka squeezed the words through her teeth, wagging a finger. ”But don’t go saying such misleading things to others in the future, or else...”

Asuka turned her head back, but her voice instantly cut out.

Her gaze swept past Shinji and landed on the doorway. A young girl with short, icy-blue hair was standing there, one hand resting on the doorframe.

Rei Ayanami was expressionless, her red eyes fixed on the dim room. Under that gaze, the usually lawless Asuka wilted a little, looking guilty. As Rei’s gaze shifted downward, she saw Asuka tightly gripping Shinji’s hand.

’Oh, boy...’

Asuka scrambled to let go, her face turning crimson. She wanted to dive back under the covers but then felt something was wrong.

’Wait, why am I acting like a mistress caught by the wife? That idiot isn’t even panicking, so why am I?’

Shinji indeed wasn’t panicking. As an Astartes, maintaining constant vigilance was a basic requirement. The moment Rei entered the apartment, her hurried footsteps had been captured by his senses.

As for panic? Rei wasn’t aiming a bolter at his back or hurling a psychic lightning bolt, so why should he be flustered?

”You’re back?”

He rose calmly and looked at the girl, noting that her eyes seemed even colder than usual.

”I wanted to come back, so I did,” Rei said quietly, her expression complex.

”Is it a bad time?”

”No, you’ve arrived at exactly the right time.”

’Holy crap, are you really that brave? I’m impressed.’

Asuka watched, stunned, her brain a chaotic mess. She watched Shinji walk over and place a bottle of rubbing alcohol in Rei’s hands.

”She has a fever. Physical cooling methods can be used, but as a male, it’s inconvenient for me to do it myself. You should do it.”

’Huh? You were planning to strip me?! Wait a minute, how did you measure my temperature earlier?’

Asuka felt like she was becoming a part of some weird play, but before she could explode, Shinji had already walked out.

”Take good care of her.”

Thud.

The door closed. The room became dim and silent once again.

Rei Ayanami held the alcohol with a look of total confusion, her usual airheaded self returning.

She was indeed in a daze, lost in philosophical self-questioning: ’Who am I? Why did I come back? Should I be angry?’

Asuka’s face remained flushed, her mouth slightly agape. Ten thousand sentences were stuck in her throat, yet she couldn’t utter a single word.

’No, wait! You just escaped the storm perfectly and left all the awkwardness to me?! Didn’t you see that this girl looked like she was ready to eat someone?

Oh... right. Rei is so spacey, she probably can’t even tell.’

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

The two girls on the bed and at the door reacted simultaneously. When their eyes met, Rei maintained her ”Type-0” emotionless look, while Asuka’s brain went into overdrive.

’Should I apologize? No, wait! I’m the victim here, why should I apologize!’

She felt that having a cold was a hundred times more mentally taxing than usual. Shyness, embarrassment, and bewilderment were intertwined with a hint of fear. It was impossible to compete with Rei’s strategic stoicism; a silent standoff only made her scalp tingle. Since things had come to this—

She might as well take a sip of water.

Asuka picked up her glass and peeked at Rei out of the corner of her eye, saying nonchalantly, ”Rehearsal finished early today?”

”No. I just felt like something wasn’t right, so I came back early.”

Rei walked slowly toward the bed. Asuka instinctively shrank back, as if Rei weren’t holding alcohol, but a hatchet.

”Ha! So stupid. What could be ’not right’? First of all, I never asked that idiot to take care of me. As for what he said, it’s definitely because...”

”No. You are very important to him,” Rei interrupted her explanation, her expression serious. ”I am also very important to him.”

Asuka’s lip twitched as she hurriedly took another sip of water. ”But you should know what those words mean. It’s... it’s... it’s unrelated to personal feelings.”

”I know that, of course.”

’Then why were you looking like you were catching us in the act! You’re messing with me on purpose!’

Just as Asuka was about to use this as an opening for a full explanation, she saw Rei tilt her head slightly, her gaze icy. Asuka immediately shut her mouth.

”Ikari-kun is very gentle. He will tear apart every enemy equally, and he will care for every comrade equally. So, the key is what you think.

Asuka Langley Soryu... do you like Ikari-kun?”

Pfft!

Asuka sprayed water everywhere on the spot. Ignoring her coughing fit, she lunged forward with several times her usual speed to cover Rei’s mouth.

”What nonsense are you talking about?! How could I possibly like him? That guy is as stiff as a steel plate, has zero gentlemanly manners—anyone who likes him is doomed! He’s totally not my type!

I like men who are mature, reliable, and provide a sense of security. That’s right—like Kaji!”

’Lies.’

Who could be more mature than Shinji? Who could provide more security?

’Ryoji Kaji... you haven’t even looked for him in a long time.’

Rei’s mouth was covered, but her eyes remained bright. Of course, in this area, she was also a beginner—at the ”grade-schooler level” Ibuki had mentioned. she didn’t know how to argue back, nor did she know if she should feel secretly happy.

”Don’t you dare say such nonsense again! And don’t you dare mention it in front of that idiot! Otherwise... otherwise, I’ll shut your mouth forever!”

Asuka threatened fiercely, but she didn’t look frightening at all.

Rei nodded gently. Only then did she feel the hand over her mouth loosen. Under Asuka’s vigilant gaze, she said plainly: ”Are you being sincere?”

”Of course! I would rather starve to death or jump off this apartment than ever like that idiot! You can rest easy!”

This guarantee was pale and hollow.

Rei pursed her lips. Seeing Asuka’s ”if you say another word I’ll fight you to the death” look, she knew the Second Child was at her limit.

Things hadn’t reached the point of a life-or-death struggle yet.

”Lie down. I’m going to rub you with alcohol. This is an order from Ikari-kun.”

”No need! After that scare from you, I’m practically cured.” Asuka tugged at her clothes, realizing she was drenched in sweat.

”Lie down!”

Absolute dominance. Asuka, who claimed to be the team’s number one, was stunned. Looking at Rei’s cold face, for some reason—like a flame being doused by cold water—her arrogance vanished completely.

’Fine, I’ll lie down. No need to be so fierce.’

.

.

.

No Xenos appeared; it was another peaceful day.

In the living room, Shinji held his teacup, looking at the sunset outside the window. A love triangle? It didn’t exist. Or rather, the ”love triangles” in his memory were nothing like what just happened.

Those involved all his teammates being killed, being alone against dozens of Chaos Space Marines, his power armor smashed to bits, while the dark gods of the Warp watched greedily—an end more terrifying than death itself.

As for just now? Well, Rei’s gaze was a bit scary, and Asuka’s dissatisfaction was obvious, but again:

The former wasn’t blocking the door with a bolter, and the latter hadn’t pulled a power sword for a backstab. So, why should I be flustered?

Creak—

The door pushed open and Rei walked out. For some reason, seeing Shinji calmly drinking tea made her feel a twinge of annoyance, but she wasn’t like Asuka—she couldn’t express it bluntly.

”How is Asuka?”

”She’s already asleep. It seems she was very tired.”

”She’s so energetic even while sick; it’s a wonder she isn’t tired.”

Shinji had the expression of a tired father looking at an unruly daughter. Just as he set down his teacup, Rei appeared in front of him like a ghost.

The girl crouched beside him, resting her chin on her hands and looking up. Her clear red eyes reflected the dark-haired boy. Her lips were pursed, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

”Speak your mind.”

”I want to hear it one more time.”

”Hear what?”

Rei was silent for a few seconds, as if she had made a grand resolution. Her slender fingers touched her lips, and her voice was like soft rain.

”I want to hear what you said to Asuka.”

Shinji froze, then understood immediately.

He spoke on the spot: ”Rei, I need you.”

It was like the dawn breaking through the night. As the words fell, Shinji clearly saw the girl’s face, flushed by the sunset, rapidly become vivid. Her smile was ten times more radiant than the one he had seen last time.

”Mmh. I need you too.”

A few meters away, Asuka—who was supposed to be fast asleep—leaned against her door, hidden in the shadows. She bit her lip gently.

’I see. No wonder she was so tense.

Hmph. Who wants to fight you over an idiot anyway?’

She threw herself onto the bed, expertly grabbed the doll by her pillow, and rolled over. She held it high. Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, shining on her face.

”Asuka doesn’t need any pity. I can solve everything alone. Stupid Shinji is just an opponent. I don’t care about his concern at all!”

The girl grumbled and complained, but suddenly stopped.

Her eyes turned somber.

”Right... Mama?”

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