In a certain Japanese town, Third New Tokyo City, middle schooler Shinji Ikari wakes up to find things a little strange. After all, the comrades he fought alongside to save the world last year are all living peacefully in his neighborhood.
First, red-haired Asuka barges into Shinji's room in the morning, yelling 'Are you still sleeping?!' It seems she's ended up living with him. Shinji's father, Gendo Ikari, while saying 'Everything is going according to plan,' is baking sweets in the kitchen w
Nerv's Shinji-kun, Awaiting Retorts Today Too - A Peaceful Morning, Suddenly—The Mascot Contest Begins!
[angry]Are you still sleeping?! How many times do I have to wake you up, you idiot Shinji!
The futon was yanked off with force. Morning sunlight stabbed through the backs of his eyelids. At the same time, long, beautiful red hair filled his vision. The hair tied into twin tails swayed and trembled with anger. Burning crimson eyes glared intently at Shinji. Height: 157 centimeters. A little taller than him. Even though it was morning, this person was already at full throttle.
"…Fine. I'm getting up."
Ikari Shinji sat up, still half-asleep. Rubbing his deep brown eyes, he glanced sideways at the old S-DAT player placed by his pillow. His slightly overgrown black bangs fell over his eyes. On his slender, delicate frame, his pajamas looked a little too big.
[angry]"Fine," nothing! You said the same thing yesterday and ended up falling back asleep anyway!
"That time was… well, yesterday's science experiment was rough."
Even as he made excuses, Shinji sighed inwardly.
(Every single morning, it's this. This person, there's gotta be a better way to wake someone up…)
But, why was it? In this routine of being yelled awake, he also felt a strange sense of comfort. It was a morning where he could hardly believe that, until a year ago, he had been fighting to save the world.
[serious]Hey, Shinji. Your collar's bent.
Asuka said it brusquely, then straightened the collar of his pajamas. Even though she'd been so angry just moments ago. Her touch was surprisingly gentle.
(That side of her, it's kind of unfair…)
Was she just good at taking care of people, or was she just a busybody? Shinji couldn't decide. But, at the very least, it didn't feel bad.
---
When he went down to the living room, it was already a battlefield. Or rather, should he call it a kitchen?
A large man in a black apron was peering silently into the oven. Ikari Gendo. Shinji's father, and the man who was once the Supreme Commander of the special agency Nerv. Now, for some reason, he was devoting himself to making sweets in his own kitchen.
[cold]Done.
Expressionless, Gendo held out a plate of madeleines. The sweet scent of butter and sugar spread through the room. They looked perfectly browned. But, being offered them in silence made his stomach feel heavy.
[sarcastic]You baked again? Well, they don't taste bad, so whatever.
Even as she complained, Asuka took two madeleines. No hesitation. Then she opened the fridge and, without a moment's doubt, reached for Shinji's pudding.
"Ah, that's my—"
[excited]What, it's because you weren't eating it, right? The expiration date is today.
Those crimson eyes flashed sharply again. He'd lost. He couldn't muster the energy to argue back. Shinji muttered inwardly, again.
(Why is it always my pudding that gets targeted…)
Click. The sound of the front door unlocking.
[gentle]Good morning. Shinji-kun, you're alive today too. That's admirable.
Turning around, a girl with a short, bluish bob stood there. Her smooth hair was translucent in the morning light. Clear crimson eyes, impossible to read any emotion in, looked straight at Shinji. Height: 152 centimeters, a little shorter than him. It was Ayanami Rei, who lived in the next room.
[surprised]R-Rei. I really think that kind of thing is a bit off.
[serious]It's not off. Being alive is a wonderful thing.
Rei tilted her head. She was a girl of few words, but what she said was always essential, and it touched the softest parts of his heart directly.
[laughing]Alright, alright, no philosophy first thing in the morning! Here, Rei, you eat some too. Madeleines from this unsociable chef.
Asuka thrust the plate forward. Rei quietly took one and nibbled on it a little, like a small animal.
"…It's good."
At Rei's small murmur, Gendo's mouth softened for just a moment. Shinji didn't miss it.
(Dad, he just smiled, didn't he…)
As he thought, this house was chaos.
---
The three of them walked to school. Tokyo-3, the city that once fought threats called Angels, was now utterly peaceful. Having overcome the chaos of Second Impact, this planned city built around Lake Ashi in the Hakone area had a population of about 38,000. The underground Geofront, site of the former Nerv Headquarters, was now partially open as a nature park.
Though, that didn't have much to do with Shinji. Once he got to school and sat at his desk, it was just everyday life.
[gentle]Shinji, you've got it rough as always, huh.
The voice belonged to Suzuhara Toji. A classmate with an athlete's build and a good-natured guy. Next to him was Aida Kensuke, wearing glasses.
[excited]Sandwiched between that red one and the blue one, don't you get tired every single day?
[sad]I do get tired… really.
[laughing]But still, having three former Eva pilots in the same class, this school really is something else.
Shinji couldn't help but hold his breath. Former Evangelion pilots, the special title of so-called "Children." Treated as heroes, only a handful of whom existed in the world. But Shinji and the others themselves didn't like this special treatment.
(I just want to be a normal middle schooler…)
He muttered it in his heart. Once class started, they were all the same students. That's how it should have been.
---
Before first period started, the hallway was unusually noisy. When Shinji poked his head out, Katsuragi Misato-sensei, the teacher in charge of the infirmary, came staggering out. Her glossy black hair, which fell to her shoulders, was tied up carelessly in a rare ponytail today. Her large eyes usually sparkled mischievously, but now they were half-dead.
[sad]Ahh, Shinji-kun… my head hurts…
[surprised]Misato-san, don't tell me you're hungover?
[whispers]I drank a little too much last night… ah, but I have a staff meeting later, so I can't just sleep…
The former Nerv Operations Director was now a school nurse staggering through the hallways. She had a strong sense of responsibility and acted as a guardian for Shinji and the others, but this person was way too sloppy in her personal life.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an explosion rang out from the science lab.
[excited]Oh my, I did it again. But it's fine, explosions are the flower of science!
Ritsuko-sensei, in a lab coat, was coolly picking up a beaker that was emitting smoke. An average of 2.3 lab accidents per month. It was practically a regular event by now.
(This school, the teachers are way more problematic…)
Shinji let out a deep sigh.
---
At the end of lunch break, an emergency all-school assembly was called. Standing before the students gathered in the gymnasium was Misato-sensei, who had been half-dead just a short while ago.
[excited]Everyone, thanks for waiting! Today, I have some exciting news for you all!
The listless state from earlier was completely gone. Her large, mischievously sparkling eyes were gleaming.
[excited]We'll be holding the traditional Nerv Tokyo-3 Yuru-Chara Contest!
The gymnasium buzzed. Shinji had nothing but a bad feeling about this.
[excited]Everyone will make cute, fluffy mascot costumes and compete against each other! The grand prize is—
Misato paused for a moment, as if drawing out the suspense.
[excited]A year's supply of all-you-can-eat premium instant ramen rights!
A burst of laughter erupted. At the same time, the eyes of several students turned dead serious. Especially the crimson eyes of Asuka, right next to Shinji, which shone with a dangerous light.
[excited]That, that, that! I'm doing it, I'm absolutely doing it! You're doing it too, Shinji!
[scared]Huh, wait a min—
Before he could escape, Asuka's hand clamped firmly onto Shinji's arm.
[serious]If it's Shinji-kun, he'll be fine.
Before he knew it, Rei was standing beside him too. Expressionless, but for some reason, she looked at Shinji with a voice full of conviction.
[sad]No, but, I—
[angry]Enough! It's decided! You're teaming up with me and Rei!
Shinji screamed inside his heart.
(Why, why does it always turn out like this…!)
Ever since he was a child, he'd been bad at deciding things for himself. Told what to do by someone, going with the flow, and before he knew it, he was dragged into troublesome things. This time was the same.
But.
[gentle]"…Alright. I'll do it."
Asuka's hand was still gripping his arm. That warmth, somehow, he thought it wasn't so bad.
[excited]Alright, well said! Then after school, right away, we're buying materials at the craft store on Muse Street!
Asuka tugged sharply on Shinji's arm. Her usual forcefulness. But her face, somehow, looked happy.
(Man, I'm in trouble…)
Through the gymnasium window, he could see the surface of Lake Ashi glittering. In a world without battle, these stupid, ridiculous days spent with the people he cared about.
Shinji secretly gripped the earphones of his S-DAT player.
The next battle, it seemed, was yuru-chara. His stomach was starting to churn, but well, maybe it would work out somehow.
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.