After leaving Yamamoto Takehito's estate, Kitazawa Ryota slowly made his way back to NERV.
After all, Ayanami Rei was still there. And as long as she remained, he believed no power would dare threaten NERV—or even harm a single hair on the still-hospitalized Asuka.
When Ryota returned, Ayanami was already fast asleep, her head resting on a desk.
It seemed she had suffered a great deal today—braving storms of bullets and fire just to make it back to NERV. Otherwise, the political battle would likely have turned out very differently.
Watching her sleep so peacefully, Ryota stayed quiet, taking a seat nearby.
Ayanami had never been through something like this before. After so much tension and pressure, the fact that she could fall asleep at all meant her body had reached its limit. Ryota didn't have the heart to wake her.
It was unclear how long had passed when Ayanami slowly awoke.
And the moment she opened her eyes and saw Kitazawa sitting beside her, she was startled. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she lowered her head in embarrassment.
"I didn't expect Kitazawa-kun to be sitting here…" she said softly. "You must've finished your business quickly to be back already."
"Yes," Ryota nodded. "Things are mostly taken care of."
He briefly summarized what had happened after he left NERV—including Asuka's condition. Though her injuries appeared serious, they weren't life-threatening, and with NERV having instructed the hospital to prioritize her treatment, she was expected to recover soon.
After giving a short summary, Ryota looked at Ayanami and offered a faint smile.
"Thank you, Rei. You've been through a lot today."
"It's nothing. As long as everyone's safe, it's all worth it," Ayanami replied quietly, her tone still as cool and composed as ever.
"But this isn't over yet," Ryota continued. "We still have a long road ahead. The military and the cabinet won't let this go easily. Rei, you need to be prepared."
"I understand," she nodded. She didn't know everything, but one thing was certain: if anyone tried to take away what she held dear—she would not hesitate to strike back.
---
Meanwhile, at the Hattori estate.
Behind layers of security, a furious voice roared from within the residence of the Speaker of the Diet.
"What the hell were you all thinking?! I said to take out Kitazawa Ryota—not to make enemies of NERV as well!"
Hattori Kojiro's eyes were bloodshot, his body trembling like an enraged lion as he shouted.
His wife and son, Hattori Narumi, were by his side. Narumi lay in bed, clearly still traumatized.
And who could blame him? Anyone thrown into the ocean by a 47-meter-tall Evangelion would be horrified. Let alone someone like Narumi—raised in luxury, pampered since birth—he had never experienced such a violent shock in his life.
So when they fished him out of the sea, he collapsed straight into a hospital bed.
At this moment, Ishiki Kashimoto stood silently to the side. He wore a cold, unreadable expression as Hattori Kojiro exploded in anger.
Madam Hattori, however, was visibly distraught, holding her trembling son in her arms as she snapped back at her husband:
"And you call yourself a man? Just because you offended NERV, you've lost your spine? Hattori Kojiro, let me make this clear—it was I who gave the order to eliminate NERV's three pilots!"
"You…!" Kojiro was speechless. "Do you not realize that NERV is a UN-sanctioned organization? Do you not understand that every time an Angel has appeared in Japan, NERV was the one who fought them off? Without those three pilots, Japan would've been finished! Foolish—this is completely foolish!"
He slammed his fists on the table in fury.
"Hah! And I must've been blind to ever fall for such a useless man!" Madam Hattori sneered. "You still think you can sit on the fence? The moment you gave the order to punish Kitazawa Ryota, you already crossed the line with NERV. And since that line has been crossed, why not eliminate their entire faction? Or would you rather let them recover and retaliate later? Don't you understand anything?!"
"Foolish—utter foolishness! You stupid woman, always thinking with your emotions!" Kojiro roared again, pounding the table. "Let me ask you this: if those three pilots are gone, and another Angel appears—what then?! I'm the Speaker of the Diet—how can I allow such idiocy to happen under my watch?!"
"Hah. You call yourself a Speaker?" Madam Hattori replied coldly. "Look at our son—lying in bed like this—and you still have the gall to lecture us?"
She sneered again, her tone icy.
"The Earth will keep spinning, no matter who's alive or dead. And don't act like only those three can pilot the Evangelions. I think Major Kashimoto would be a fine choice."
"Heh… Madam flatters me."
Kashimoto finally spoke, his voice polite and controlled. "The role of the military is, after all, to protect the people. NERV possessing such overwhelming weapons without oversight is dangerous. If they were ever to rebel, the military would be powerless. Mr. Speaker, for the sake of Japan's safety, you must see the bigger picture."
At this, Kojiro's face turned dark as iron. His wife and Kashimoto seemed perfectly aligned in their intentions.
"Mom… I'm scared… I'm so scared!"
Narumi suddenly cried out, burying himself in his mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"There, there, Narumi. Don't be afraid. Mommy will make sure you get your revenge. I'll make sure those people die without even a grave to be buried in."
"You people… this is absurd!" Kojiro shouted. "It's true what they say—overindulgent mothers raise ruined sons! Narumi turned out like this because of you! You spoiled him rotten!"
"Hah! And you call yourself a father?" Madam Hattori shot back coldly. "Our son was humiliated, and instead of standing up for him, you choose to scold him? You're nothing but a coward of a man!"
"Enough of the act. You're only thinking about your Prime Minister ambitions. If you won't fight for our son, then I'll rally my entire clan and strike back at NERV myself. Even if it means mutual destruction—I won't hesitate!"
"…Fine! Fine! Have it your way!" Kojiro finally gave in.
Madam Hattori's threat hit home.
Without the support of her family, his bid for Prime Minister was in serious jeopardy. Offending NERV and losing his wife's backing—between the two, he knew which carried the heavier cost.
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