The dark circles under his eyes were terrible. The moment Ikari Shinji looked in the mirror, he flinched at his own reflection. A purplish shadow clung thickly beneath both eyes. He hadn't slept a wink last night. Of course he hadn't. That voice kept repeating in his head over and over. ――Ayanami. Proceed according to plan. The instant he opened the classroom door, Shinji stopped in his tracks. The classroom gleamed in the morning light. Lace tablecloths were spread across café-style tables, paper cranes hung by the windows. Plum blossoms cut from washi paper lined the blackboard. Things Shinji had finished alone last night. Asuka's German-style lace and Rei's paper cranes fit together strangely well. "[surprised]What's with that face" Souryuu Asuka Langley stood up from her chair and approached. Her red hair swayed. Aqua blue eyes scrutinized Shinji's face. "[sarcastic]You look like a ghost. What are you doing showing up to the first day of the culture festival looking like you're about to die" "Sorry. I couldn't sleep." "[angry]If you're going to apologize, then sleep!" Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Quick ones. Bouncing. "[excited]Shinji-kuuun! The teacher's here! It's the culture festival!" Katsuragi Misato burst through the door. Her purple short bob swayed. In her right hand, she held a small brown bottle. "[excited]Hey hey, Shinji-kun, you don't look so good, do you? Your teacher brought her secret stash of energy drink! Drink this and you'll definitely feel better!" She thrust the small bottle under Shinji's nose. Something was visible inside. The color was a little too brown. "Uh, well…" "[excited]Drink it, drink it! Your teacher guarantees it!" The classmates around them held their breath watching. Asuka stood with her arms crossed, observing from a slight distance. Rei sat quietly at her desk facing forward, but glanced over at him sideways. Don't run away. Shinji took the bottle. He unscrewed the cap. The smell hit his nose directly. Medicinal herbs? No, something more complex. He swallowed it all at once. "――Blech!" He choked. Spectacularly. Tears came out. It was bitter. No, it wasn't just bitter—a strange sweetness came after, then some mysterious sourness, and finally something that tasted like grass. "[angry]Hey! Why are you making that face over your teacher's drink!?" "[sarcastic]…Did you actually intend to guarantee that" Misato tried to slap Shinji's back. He reflexively stepped sideways. Her hand cut through empty air. "[surprised]Oh! I missed!" Laughter erupted. From the whole class. Asuka snorted. Rei's expression didn't change, but her mouth seemed to move just slightly. Shinji wiped his tears and let out a small breath. Don't run away. Today, I won't run. --- From opening, Café Daisan was packed. Regular customers from Namiki Street came in half-skeptical about "a middle schooler's café," and the moment they took one bite of Asuka's Sachertorte, their eyes went wide. Word spread quickly that it was "authentic," and a line formed. Rei's matcha and mochi set came with murmurs of "calming" and "beautiful," creating a quiet line of its own. And Shinji was the waiter. "Table 3, two Sachertortes and one matcha set!" "[scared]Y-yes!" He placed cups and cake on a tray. Heavy. He walked. The table came into view. "Um, is this table 3?" "No, we're table 5." "[scared]I-I'm so sorry!!" He spun around. The tray tilted. The cup slid. "[angry]Ikari!!" Asuka flew over. She gripped the edge of the tray firmly. The cup stopped. It was close. "[angry]What are you doing! Keep the tray level, level!" "S-sorry…" "The correct way to hold it is to keep your elbow close to your body and adjust the angle with your wrist." Ayanami Rei was suddenly beside him. She positioned Shinji's hands correctly. She wasn't using force. But it was certain. "Like this." "Th-thank you." "[excited]Shinji-kun, you're getting better!!" A voice came from the hallway side. Misato was leaning out from somewhere, giving a thumbs up. The classmates laughed. Even the customers laughed. Asuka turned her face away. But her mouth was slightly relaxed. --- A short break before noon. During a lull in orders, Shinji left the classroom. The zelkova tree in the courtyard swayed in the midday light. "[gentle]…Ayanami." Rei turned around. Silver-white hair. Deep crimson eyes. "I need to talk to you. Just for a moment." Silence. But Rei walked toward him. The two of them stood beneath the zelkova tree. "Last night…" His voice trembled slightly. But he continued. "In the basement of Gehirn Square… I overheard Father and you talking." Rei's eyes wavered. "He told you to proceed according to plan." The silence was long. Only the sound of zelkova leaves rustling in the wind. Then Rei opened her mouth. "…The Chairman is my guardian." Her tone was flat. But she was definitely speaking. "I have no parents. I was always alone. The Chairman took me in." Shinji couldn't move. "He taught me how to make bentos. He told me to deliver them. That part is true." There, Rei paused slightly. "…But I chose to continue. That was my will." "What?" Rei looked at Shinji. Directly. "Seeing you eat deliciously… made me happy." Her voice trembled faintly. That was the moment. Light glistened in Rei's eyes. Tears. They didn't fall. But they were definitely there. In those deep crimson eyes, particles of light wavered. Something in Shinji's chest slowly came undone. This girl was about to cry. Ayanami Rei, who barely showed emotion. Shinji knew it was true. Not calculation. Not orders. This girl had chosen to make bentos every morning. That simple fact resonated in his chest. "…Thank you." Those were the only words. But Shinji chose to believe. He thought that believing was harder than doubting, and far more important. --- "[angry]Hey! Don't slack off, get back here——" Asuka came running from the hallway. Her voice cut off midway. The moment she saw the two beneath the zelkova tree, Asuka's expression changed. A look that understood something. Seeing the glimmer in Rei's eyes, the distance between them, reading the air. Asuka's face twisted. A complex expression mixing jealousy, anger, and something else. She clenched her teeth and turned away sharply. "[cold]…Whatever. Do as you like." She walked quickly down the hallway. Her back trembled slightly. One beat. Shinji ran. He caught up with Asuka in the hallway. He grabbed her arm. She spun around. Her aqua blue eyes were red. "[angry]Let go! What——" "I care about all three of you." Asuka's mouth stopped. Shinji continued. His voice was calmer than he expected. He was surprised at himself. "I can't rank you. But I won't run away. I'll face it properly. So… let's see this through together until the end." The hallway was silent. Asuka just looked at Shinji for a while. Then slowly, her face turned completely red. Up to her ears. Down to her neck. "[angry]…Y-you idiot Shinji!!" She stomped the floor. "[angry]If you say something like that, I can't even be mad!!" She stomped once more, then turned around sharply. This time she didn't turn away. Her face was still burning red, her eyes glistening. But Asuka stood there. --- When the afternoon session began, the customers increased even more. A line formed in front of Café Daisan. Class 2-1 had created the longest line in the entire culture festival. Shinji held the tray. It tilted. "[angry]Level!!" Asuka supported the other side. Shouting, but certain. "Wrist angle." Rei corrected him with a single word. "[excited]Shinji-kun, you're so much better than before!!" Misato shouted from a distance. The classmates watched with smiles. The customers smiled too. Shinji kept the tray level as he headed toward the table. All three were there, each in their own way. Asuka shouting. Rei helping with a word. Misato calling out. But they were definitely moving as a team. His chest felt warm. But. ――Proceed according to plan. Gendo's voice grazed his mind again. He had chosen to believe Rei. That was true. But he still couldn't see the whole plan. He believed that continuing the bentos was Rei's will. What came after that, he still didn't know. Shinji placed the tray on the table and bowed to the smiling customers. Behind the smile, a quiet question remained. How far did the "plan" that Gendo mentioned extend?