Chapter 70: A Journey to Hot Springs (Part I)

After parting with Misato in the hallway, Shinji came to the living room and knocked on Asuka's door.

Knock knock.

"Asuka, it's my Shinji, are you there?"

Pedal, pedal. Hula.

The door was opened. Asuka with an unusual expression appeared in front of Shinji.

"That...... I am back. Asuka. Shinji was also slightly stunned when he saw Asuka running out to open the door for him, and the words he had prepared were scattered by this sudden expression. After staring at each other for a few seconds, Shinji embarrassedly spat out a completely thoughtless sentence.

"Huan...... Welcome back. Asuka was also so embarrassed that she didn't even think that she would rush over after hearing Shinji's voice. Thereupon...... The two men are at an impasse again after a brief conversation.

"The ......"

"The ......"

There was a tacit understanding, and the two of them spoke at the same time. But at the same time, he closed his mouth. "Let's talk about it first." Asuka smiled wryly.

"Hmm...... That one. Things about hot springs. If you can, let's discuss the time together in the evening, and since I promised you to go to the hot springs, I will definitely arrange it. Shinji smiled awkwardly as well.

"Hmm. No problem, in fact, I was going to talk about this just now. Asuka hurriedly took over. I've already chosen the location, and there is a nice hot spring near Mt. Asama where the apostle appeared last time, so let's go there. As for the time. I've had time lately. ”

"Okay, I'll talk to Liz over there. Then let's go together when Misato-san is resting. ”

"Hmm."

"......" embarrassment. The atmosphere was very awkward, and the two had lived together for a long time. But such an embarrassing situation is the first time the two have encountered it.

"I'm sorry, Asuka, actually. What happened to the last summer festival...... I'm sorry, but I didn't know at the time that the kimono meant a marriage proposal. I'm really sorry for the trouble. You...... Can you forgive me? After thinking about it, Shinji still voiced the worry that had been hidden in his heart for a long time.

"It doesn't matter. I didn't know at the time anyway, otherwise I would never have accepted it. Hearing this, Asuka once again put on a proud and yearning posture. Eh...... How nice it would be if it was a blessing from a senior. ”

"Hehe, that's what I said." Shinji smiled reluctantly, "Anyway, I'm really sorry. ”

"It's okay, I don't care at all. It's just a misunderstanding. Asuka replied with a smile.

"Well, if you don't mind."

"By the way, last time...... Thank you for saving me. When the words came to her lips, Asuka still blushed and thanked Shinji.

"Huh?" Shinji was surprised by this. "Ah, no, I'm going to ask Asuka not to blame me for disturbing your fight." Shinji scratched his head and smiled stupidly. "That'...... I'll go back first. Seeing that there was no longer anything to say, Shinji took the lead in retreating.

"Well, take care of your injuries, stupid Shinji, you can't wear a bandage on your face when you go on a trip to the hot springs together." Asuka smiled at Shinji.

"Ah, you have to rest well, Asuka too, I'll make something to eat for you tonight."

"Eun, I can't stand eating Misato's fast food these days. So you have to hurry up and show your good craft. "Ah, I will." ……

Brush...... Boom.

After a brief conversation, Asuka closed the door to her bedroom. The door is closed. Shinji stood at the door of the room, but didn't take a step away. Long...... Shinji smiled miserably. "It's been explained. She didn't care about the kimono at all...... But what's going on with this inexplicable sense of loss? At the same time as Shinji laughed miserably, he didn't know. On the other side of the door. The orange drift of the sea blocked the side of Asuka's pretty face. No one could see her expression.

"Asuka, what's wrong with you?" At the door of the room, Asuka leaned against the door and slowly sat on the ground. With his head down, his ice-blue eyes looked a little dim at the moment. "That idiot has already explained. I don't care about the kimono anymore. We can still live as we did before...... But why do I have this inexplicable sense of loss? ”

Inside the room, the girl sat on one side of the door. Outside the room, the boy leaned against the other side of the door. One is gloomy, the other is confused...... Time seems to have stopped for the sake of two children who are tasked with the future of humanity. Nobody knows. At this moment, what is Shinji and Asuka thinking in their hearts.

The person she likes is obviously a blessing, but this inexplicable sense of loss ...... Do I really like her? ”

The person he likes is obviously Ayana, but this inexplicable sense of loss ...... Do I really like him? ”

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This weekend happened to be Misato's day off, and the wound on Shinji's face was almost healed, and after a few days of treatment and help from Dr. Ritsuko, there was no trace of the wound on Shinji's face, which also made Ritsuko, whom Shinji specially invited for this purpose, to come to the hot springs together. However, Ritsuko shirked the excuse that she had just obtained the number of successful localization of the second machine, A.T. Field, and needed to be studied. Thereupon. Shinji brought a family of three beauties to the hot spring inn with Pianpin, and there were blessings with them, but in fact, the blessings were also wanted to get rid of them. It's just that I had to give in due to the double invitation of Shinji and Asuka. So the group got on Shinji's Renault and went to the hot spring inn. In the car, Rei sat in the co-pilot with Pianpian, Misato sat on the far left, Blessing sat on the right, and Asuka chose the middle.

"Naa. Stupid Shinji, do you think there will be mixed bathing in the hot springs here? "In the car. Asuka's eyes kept shining with stars.

"Uh...... Probably not, right? Although the hot spring is in a single bath, it is separate for men and women, and there is a bamboo partition in the middle. Driving the car, Shinji replied lightly.

"Hey...... In this way, Asuka who heard the words couldn't help but be a little disappointed. "I wanted to take a hot spring with Mr. Blessing." Asuka turned around and said sweetly as she took her blessed arm. I can only respond with a sneering smile.

In the week that Shinji came back, although the relationship between him and Asuka became a little delicate, but, after all, they had lived together for so long, and it only took two days of hard work for the two of them to tacitly return to their normal habits. Asuka is still screaming every day as a stupid manji as a stupid man. Shinji also occasionally treats Asuka as a queen, and every day the queen and princess shout. The atmosphere was restored to its former harmony.

The journey was not too far, and it only took one morning for the group to reach their destination. (Shinji: Damn!) Isn't that far? Author: Forehead ...... It's okay. It's just a few hours. Shinji: Please, I've been driving all morning! Author:...... ）

Got out of the car. The first person to run into the hotel was none other than Pianpian, who had been excited.

"Quack......" The little guy ran to the hot spring excitedly despite anyone's resistance, of course, the innkeeper must not compete with the penguin who has not been able to speak. What's more, my own shop was already booked by today's customers three days ago.

"Is that Mr. Shinji Ikati?" The boss asked habitually with a smile.

"Ahh Yes. I had already made an appointment three days ago. Shinji smiled politely at the boss.

"Okay, thank you for your patronage Mr. Shinji Ikari, bathrobes and towels for bathing in the hot springs and various toiletries are ready. Your schedule has been prepared, and it is now close to noon according to the plan of the hot spring inn, so we will open the indoor hot spring for everyone to rest, and then we will prepare a good lunch for you at the inn. In the afternoon, you can rest freely, and there is a billiard game (Japanese billiards referred to as table tennis) for you to enjoy. Of course, there are also cards, shogi, and mahjong for everyone's entertainment indoors, and the outdoor hot spring will open around 5 p.m. In the evening, there will be a sumptuous dinner, and in the evening the outdoor hot spring will be open until 5 a.m. the next day. Please enjoy yourself. The boss bowed slightly, smiled and welcomed the group in.

"Well, now that it's here. Then let's go our separate ways and have a good soaking in the hot springs. After that, it's free to move around. "Along the way, Misato was unhappy because of the blessing of the zài, and it was only after arriving at the hotel that she was completely liberated.

"Hehe, I heard that the sake here is very good, Sister Miri, I have already called you to the hot spring. Soaking in the hot springs while drinking a drink is a pleasure. Shinji said with a grin at Beauty.

"Eun, what a good boy, I know my sister's heart too well, then, Li, Asuka, let's go." Hearing that there was wine, Misato seemed to become like Pianpiao, and pulled the two little beauties and ran to the hot spring on the other side. Shinji smiled helplessly, and then walked with the blessing to the door that Pian Pian had just entered......

"Huh......" After entering the hot spring, the blessing exhaled deeply. Sure enough, soaking in hot springs is the most relaxing thing to do. ”

"Whew...... It's really exhausting after a morning drive. Shinji also soaked in the hot springs. I heard that the hot springs here are closer to the volcano, and the minerals in the spring water are richer, so the healing and fatigue relief effects of the spring water are also better. Shinji put a towel on his head and leaned back on the edge of the hot spring pool to enjoy the comfort of the water.

"yes, it's been a long time since I've had a job like this."

"Quack ......" fluttered her little paws in the hot spring, signaling her own storage.

"That's right, say work. Mr. Blessing, I've been here for so long, and I don't even know what you've been up to. Can you tell me about it? Shinji said lightly to the blessing. Originally, Shinji was just talking to the blessing in the form of an ordinary chat, but unexpectedly, Shinji saw a hint in the blessing's eyes, although in this relaxed environment, the blessing's pupils with fine light shrank slightly did not escape Shinji's eyes.

"Hehe, I'm just an ordinary prosecutor. It was through the fame of Ritsuko and Misato that I came to work at NERV. ”

"That's right. Hehe, it looks like I'm asking a question that shouldn't be asked. Shinji smiled slightly.

"Where, Shinji-kun. You can continue to wash here, I'll go out for a bite to eat, I haven't even eaten breakfast for today's trip. With that, the blessing stood up and left the bath with a wide bath towel.

"Chief Prosecutor, Blessing Good Governance ......" After the blessing is gone. Shinji had a look of confusion in his eyes. "What kind of being are you?" However, that doubt was only fleeting, after all, it was true that the blessing and Sister Misato knew each other. So don't worry at all.

"I'm worried about myself...... Shinji smiled self-deprecatingly, and then buried his whole body in the pool anew. I closed my eyes. He let out a long breath.