Chapter 120: You're Rei Ayana

When Shinji and Rei returned home, it was already evening, and the two of them, who didn't seem to have much to do, took nearly a day because of this operation. On the way home, the two of them didn't say a word, Shinji was very simple and didn't speak, while Rei didn't dare to speak because she was afraid.

After returning home, Shinji went straight back to his room because he was a little tired, and Rei also went back to her bed early to rest because of her inner turmoil. But when Rei sat on her bed and tried to calm down, she found that her original uneasiness became stronger. Holding the little future next to the pillow, Li's eyes flashed. After all, his identity is already fully known to Shinji. Although Shinji gave himself a promise, but until now, Rei still can't let go, as for the reason, don't say it.

In this way, Li sat on the bed blankly with the little future in her arms, for an hour, two hours, the evening sunset had already set, and the stars in the sky seemed to tell the girl's heart. The room was unusually quiet, but also unusually dark. In the faint moonlight, all that could be seen clearly was the tranquil moonlight and the clear and flickering red pupils. Time passed minute by minute, I don't know how long it took, the faint moonlight suddenly became brighter, if the soft light sprinkled into the room, Li's delicate eyelashes trembled slightly, and the little future in her arms was gently lifted, looking at the bear's honest and cute appearance, Li's face raised a touch of tenderness. Putting Miku aside, Rei slowly sat up from the bed. Reaching out and caressing the crystal necklace on his chest, he let out a long breath, and a touch of perseverance appeared in his red eyes. Yes, she was going to have a good talk with Shinji, no matter what the outcome was. Having made up her mind, Leigh strode to the door of her room.

Knock knock.

I just walked to the door before I could open the door. There was a knock on his door. Gently opening the door, he found that Shinji was already standing in front of him.

"Huh? What a fast door opening. Shinji was slightly surprised.

"Because it's just about to come out." Leigh replied softly. "What's wrong? Shinji. ”

"Ah, it's time to eat, Leigh."

"Huh?" A simple sentence made Li's heart tremble slightly. Yes, it's too simple. Because Shinji says this sentence every day, and today is no exception on this special day. It's as if nothing had happened.

"Huh? What's wrong? Shinji looked at Rei, who was in a daze, and wondered.

"Nope. It's nothing. Shaking her head slightly, Rei followed Shinji out of the room, and after washing her hands, Rei sat down at the table, and Shinji served the last dish just as she had done as usual. With four dishes and one soup, the two people seem to have returned to their once peaceful life, or continue their calm but warm life.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Li's eyes were a little moist. When a family sits together. Shinji always has a table full of tricks, including Misato and Asuka's favorite meats, as well as his favorite vegetables. Five dishes or even six dishes and one soup. Shinji can make it repetition at all every day, however, when he is alone with Shinji, the four dishes and one soup are all vegetarian for himself. And in the face of the vegetarian food on the table, Shinji seems to be indifferent, always thinking about how to make himself eat more delicious vegetarian food. He doesn't think about whether he wants to eat meat or something like that at this meal. In this regard, there is always a deep emotion in Rei's eyes. And on this special day, Leigh is once again relieved by this daily happiness.

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The time after the meal is always relaxed, Shinji is humming a little tune in the kitchen as usual and brushing the dishes, while on the other side, Rei is sitting at the table with some restraint, ready to have a good talk with Shinji. But it was interrupted by Shinji's dinner incident. The courage that he had finally mustered up was defeated again.

"Leigh." Just as Rei was hesitating, Shinji called softly from the kitchen.

"Huh?"

"Give Misato-sama a call." Shinji said as he brushed the bowl.

"Hmm." In a simple response, Leigh got up and walked to the phone in the corner. "Sister Misato, it's me...... Hmm, how is Asuka doing now...... Is that so? Well. Yes. Okay, please wait. After a brief chat, Rei walked over to Shinji with the phone. Shinji. ”

"Ah, help me put it on my ear." Shinji brushed the dishes while holding the phone between his ears and shoulders. "Misato-san, it's me, Shinji."

"Well, Shinji, is there anything to call me?" On the phone, Misato asked lightly.

"Well...... It's not like I'm wondering about Asuka's condition yet. Shinji said helplessly.

"Ah, Asuka is in good condition now, and all physiological indicators are stable, but, only one brainwave ......" At the hospital, Misato frowned a little when she looked at Asuka who was still on the oxygen machine. Brainwaves have been reduced to the limit. There is no sign of recovery at all. Shinji, I'm sorry, if we had paid more attention before the experiment, Asuka might not have been what it is now, I'm sorry, it's all my responsibility. ”

"No, if I have to say responsibility, it should be my fault." Shinji's gaze darkened for a moment. "Don't talk about this, it's so late, Sister Misato, have you eaten?"

"Well, I've eaten it, and the blessing lord helped me get it."

"Hey...... Looks like you're recovering well. Shinji laughed. What about Mr. Blessing now? ”

"After bringing me dinner, he left." Misato said softly. "What's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing, I'll go over with Li early tomorrow morning to change shifts for you. By the way, bring breakfast. So I'm going to trouble you tonight, Misato-san. Shinji put down the last plate and wiped his hands.

"Stinky little ghost, what are you so polite to me." Misato sneered. "Then we'll see you in the hospital tomorrow."

"yes, okay." After that, Shinji hung up the phone. At the same time, he said to Li, who was beside him. "Leigh, we'll go to the hospital early tomorrow morning, so let's go to bed early tonight."

“…… Hmm," Leigh didn't retort. But a hint of loss flashed in his eyes. "That'...... I went to take a shower first. ”

"Ah, I'm going to clean up the living room. Then go to the bathroom on the other side. ”

Call......

The plug in the tub is unplugged. The water in the tank was constantly flowing with a small whirlpool, and Li, who was standing in front of the bathtub, didn't care about her delicate ketone body being exposed to the air, just quietly watched the water slowly descend.

Today, the conversation between Rei and Shinji is simple and ordinary, not much different from the conversation between the two of them on a normal day. But. The calmer she is, the more Li's heart fluctuates. She didn't understand why Shinji was so calm, and she didn't know why he didn't blame herself from beginning to end, perhaps, now that Shinji was standing in front of her and scolding herself, maybe she would feel better, and when she thought of Asuka's current state, Rei's heart trembled fiercely. Thinking about her own affairs again, Li's heart was even more confused. After two long breaths, Rei decided anyway. Let's talk to Shinji tonight.

After paying attention, Rei's movements sped up a lot, wiping off the water droplets on her body, putting on the pale blue pajamas that were placed in the bathroom hallway, and Rei walked softly to Shinji's door. I wanted to knock on the door, but I found that Shinji's door was not closed, and I walked inside, only to see Shinji after taking a shower. Lying comfortably on his bed, flipping through his phone.

"Leigh. Can I help you? Seeing the shadow next to his bed, Shinji was misplaced inside. Leave a place for Leigh. And Rei also lay directly in, leaning into Shinji's arms. And Shinji saw Rei's movements, and he also put down his phone and reached out to hug the girl into his arms.

"Shinji. I'm sorry......" After a short period of comfort, Liz finally opened her mouth.

"Huh? Sorry what? Shinji wondered.

"Today. You already know about me, so if you can't accept me, then I can ......"

"I already knew."

"Huh?" Rei's red eyes were full of surprise.

"Remember the last body exchange experiment?" Shinji pinched Rei's little face. "That time, I read a part of the story about you in machine zero. Things that start when you are born. It's just a scattered fragment, but I know it. ”

"How, how could it be ......"

"Do you know, Leigh, about the reason for the last time Zero went berserk." Shinji said slowly. "Machine Zero has become a bond with you, carrying your memories. And after I sat in, the zero machine automatically instilled your memories into me, trying to assimilate me into you, so the rampage happened. ”

"Machine Zero ......"

"Yes. So about you, I knew about it a long time ago. I went to Dr. Ritsuko today, just to find out the truth about the puppet system. ”

"But, why. Even if you know my identity, ......"

"So what, does that matter?"

"Huh?"

"Isn't it you who is with me now? In that case, why should I think about anything else? ”

"That's different! You don't understand at all! Tears welled up in Leigh's eyes. I'm not a human, I'm just a puppet, just a puppet with human life characteristics, but no human ability! At this moment, Leigh's grief exploded. My body does not belong to me, my soul is detached from the other me, I am nothing, just a pawn in the human plan, I have no freedom, no ability to be human. I...... It's an apostle! For the first time, a tearing cry erupted from the mouth of a girl who had always been gentle and calm. Let this hazy night be embellished with a touch of desolation.

“…… Fool. "It's been a long time, like a century. When Li's heart was not yet at peace, a gentle voice crashed into Li's ears.

"What puppet, what soul, what chess piece, what apostle......" Shinji chuckled and nodded the tip of Li's nose. The puppet will not disobey orders to come to my rescue when I am in danger. The soul is a spiritual substance, but your existence is something I can touch. Chess pieces, that's objects that are manipulated, and you have your own consciousness. As for the apostles...... That's Lilith, and you're Rei Ayana. ”

"Shinji ......" tears had already wet Rei's eyes. But before the tears fell, they were gently kissed away by Shinji.

"You're Rei Ayana, the living Rei Ayaami, the one who blushes when she's alone with me, the one who gets sad when she sees the fish because they don't have a lot of space to swim, the one who stays by my side to take care of me day and night when I'm hurt. It is Rei Ayanami who is willing to perform on stage because of her dreams. At the same time, you are also the Ayanami Rei I love, and I am willing to protect Ayanami with my life. You may not believe it, but the bonds between us have been connected since the last life. Liz, you have to remember that I will keep the warmth you want to last. So, just be yourself, and tomorrow, we'll go to visit Asuka together. ”

At this point, Shinji doesn't have to say anything. The girl in her arms had long been crying, and her tears kept falling. Wetting Shinji's clothes, he also moistened his soul. Touched, perhaps it is no longer enough to express Li's mood at this moment, because Shinji's embrace, from beginning to end, is so warm.

Finally, Rei's crying faded away in Shinji's arms. All that was left was hope in the crimson pupils. "Shinji...... Would you like to become one with me? ”

“…… Fool. Reaching out and caressing the girl's quiet cheeks, Shinji gently lifted Rei's sharp chin, aimed at Rei's cherry lips, and kissed it gently. Suddenly, the moonlight gently sprinkled the room, leaving only a blur, the crisp jingle of the two crystal pendants. (To be continued......)