The Collection of The End

——2015.8.22——】

Third New Tokyo City, Katsuragi House.

"Dear spectators, this is the finals of the Summer Koshien. The rivals are the Meisei Academy Team and the Sumi Industrial Team. The score between the two sides is very tight!]"

“The next direct battle between star pitcher Kazuya Uesugi and star hitter Akio Nitta will take place. If Uesugi can strike out Nitta, or if Nitta hits a home run, the result of the game will become clear instantly. What will happen?】"

Hmm... I always feel like everything outside New Tokyo City is living in peace, and high school students actually hold baseball games in August.

Shinji Ikari sat cross-legged on the sofa, watching the baseball game on TV with a layman's attitude.

However, because the host has a strong ability to stir up the atmosphere, he also became a little curious about the outcome of the game.

What is a strikeout or a home run? To be dramatic, shouldn't it be that the ball was caught by the batter after the home run and was blocked directly when he was about to run to fourth base?

Didi——Didi——

Shinji Ikari lowered his head and looked at his phone, then put it to his ear and connected it: "Hello——"

"Get ready to go!]" Asuka shouted on the phone.

"Huh?" Shinji Ikari looked at the clock on the wall: "It's only four o'clock now. The stalls for the summer festival haven't been set up yet, right?"

"I just want to go early and visit all the stalls before everyone else," Asuka replied: "I didn't have much fun at Bon Festival last time!"

Who is to blame? Why are you following Kaji Ryoji and Katsuragi Misato if you have nothing to do?

state! "Home run——!]"

On the TV, the batter hit a long ball that flew high, and the host also started shouting in cooperation.

"Are you still watching TV?]" Asuka obviously heard it, and her voice instantly raised an octave: "Hurry up and gather! If you arrive, I haven't arrived yet! Just wait! If I arrive, you haven't arrived yet! You just Wait!】"

"...?" Shinji Ikari looked at the end-of-call message on his phone in confusion: "What did she just say?"

"Catcher Tatsuya Uesugi caught a home run! He completed the game-winner just as Arata was about to reach fourth base!]"

Well? Got it right? I am quite gifted as a prophet.

Shinji Ikari blinked, raised his hand to turn off the TV, turned to the back room and shouted: "Sister Misato? Asuka called me to go out. If there is no suitable kimono, I can wear casual clothes."

"Wait - right now -" Katsuragi Misato's voice came muffled.

Out of respect for single women, Shinji Ikari rarely comes to Katsuragi Misato's house. This time he came to ask her to help prepare clothes for the summer festival.

Although he should normally go to Ikari Gendo to ask for it, he was rejected when he called him. A moment later, Misato Katsuragi from next door knocked on the door and asked to choose a celebration outfit for him.

Say he is a good father, but he refuses to answer the phone, say no, and he knows exactly why he is calling, tsk...

With a crash, the bathroom door was opened, and a penguin waddled out with a towel on his head.

"Hi, penpen," Shinji Ikari waved to greet Katsuragi's pet.

Because Antarctica was hit by a meteorite, penguins became a tropical species...it's outrageous.

"..." When the penguin named Katakian passed by Shinji Ikari lying on the edge of the sofa, he tilted his head and looked at it. Suddenly his eyes glowed red and he uttered words: "Don't worry, Asuka hasn't gone out yet."

Bang! Shinji Ikari fell off the sofa.

The penguin's speech is not outrageous, but what is outrageous is that it is speaking in Rei Ayanami's voice.

Uh... Thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem so outrageous...

"Are you an apostle?" Shinji Ikari reached out and hugged the penguin and lifted it up.

"Huh?" The red light in Penguin's eyes disappeared, revealing an innocent expression.

Click.

"Here, put on your yukata and try it on." Misato Katsuragi walked out carrying a yukata with white and black as the main colors: "I didn't have the chance to give it to that bastard Kaji, so I thought it would be a waste."

"..." Others have blown themselves up, so it's better not to ask for details. Shinji Ikari put down the penguin, stood up and took the yukata, and then looked at Misato Katsuragi, who was wearing a straight military uniform: "Uh, sister Misato, do you have any other missions today?"

"I'm not as laid-back as you. Before the apostle comes, all kinds of preparations have to be done." Misato Katsuragi tidied her hair: "But this time, we may not have to wait for the apostle to attack us. .”

"We want to take the initiative to attack the apostles?" Shinji Ikari asked doubtfully.

"That Ritsuko guy, although annoying, does have some skills. This time he actually found an apostle that was hatching," Misato Katsuragi replied: "We have to step up the investigation and determine the plan, whether to kill it in advance or capture it. At present, It’s biased toward capturing, after all, we haven’t captured a living apostle yet.”

...Dad did a really good job of keeping it secret.

However, Ayanami's situation is a special case. There will not be a second "Information Integration Thought Body" to help the apostle maintain his human form. This capture operation was already confirmed to have failed before it was implemented.

"I'm going to the underground fortress first. You guys don't want to play too late."

"Well, be careful on the road."

——

Third New Tokyo City, Shopping Street.

When the members of the literary club gathered at the appointed place, the air was quiet for a while.

Although the boys and girls all wear kimono and yukata that fit beautifully, the color scheme is...

Shinji Ikari, white with black decoration, Asuka, red with green decoration, Rei Ayanami, white with blue decoration, Kirishima's real name, foundation with white decoration.

Four people have three sets of driving suits, which can be regarded as matching uniforms in a sense.

Of course, the only ones who were embarrassed were Asuka and Ikari Shinji. Rei Ayanami didn't react at all, and Kirishima Mana obviously didn't understand the reason for their glare.

"You two, can you be a little creative?!" Asuka preemptively struck.

"Are you embarrassed to talk about us?" Shinji Ikari retorted.

"This was chosen by Commander Ikari." Ayanami Rei replied calmly.

"I like the color red! So Unit 2 is red both inside and outside! I have no problem wearing red! Look, are the colors of your clothes the same as the mecha?" Asuka put her hands on her hips.

Damn it, she actually took advantage of her...

"Ah, well, the festival is about to start, and we don't have time to change clothes, so let's just wear something different next time..." Kirishima's real name said weakly.

"Really, forget it, this talented pilot is not as experienced as you, so this time -"

In the middle of speaking, Asuka suddenly opened her eyes and dragged Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami to the side of the road.

Come again? But didn’t Sister Misato work overtime?

Shinji Ikari looked in the direction pointed by Asuka, and then saw Ryoji Kaji in a red and black yukata and Ritsuko Akagi in a gold and blue yukata. One was tall and handsome, and the other was a cute little bird.

Hiss...tsk.

——2015.8.31——】

Literary Society.

"Ayanami, can you sense the apostle embryo discovered by Nerv? When will it mature and launch an attack?"

"September 1st."

"Huh? Tomorrow? No, right? The vacation has just ended. Can you delay its hatching time?"

"It's okay this time."

"……this time?"

——2015.8.12——】

The gathering garden, the swimming pool.

Bangsha!

"Hmm..." Shinji Ikari turned his head and looked, "The bright red swimsuit doesn't match Ayanami's temperament very well."