Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 during the Spirit Awakening Era

"It's alright, did you sleep well last night, Nagisa-nee?" Shinji Ikari said with a smile.

"You can only say that the Shinji family is truly exceptional; they prepare everything meticulously." Nagase Nagisa said without turning his head, dusting off the bedsheet. "Ryuji went to choose a shop! We might be in trouble for a while!"

"It's alright! We've had this problem before." Shinji Ikari slept at Ryuji Danma's place after his own doghouse was smashed, and besides, there's a whole floor upstairs here. "It'll be more lively with more people! Want some milk tea?"

"Oh! Shinji's making milk tea? No wonder there's so much milk in the fridge!" Nagase Nagase said, clearly delighted. "I'm looking forward to it!"

"It's just the simplest milk tea." Shinji Ikari quickly got to work after going upstairs. The milk tea he made was the simplest style, a very straightforward method. First, he brewed black tea, just a few minutes to bring it to a boil. Since it was a tribute for Himuro Kirie, he used the best Ceylon black tea. To make things easier, he also bought a batch of liquid sugar, saving the process of making syrup. Of course, there was also high-quality vegetable cream, and of course, fresh milk. Then he combined everything together! Shaking the cup to get it going!

Then comes the addition of toppings like pearls, coconut jelly, and pudding, or the addition of cream carvings, or the different details of various nut powders. Shinji Ikari's performance was quite consistent, and he quickly made cups of milk tea, a classic of the Nakiri Private Middle School stall competition.

"It smells so good!" While Shinji Ikari was still busy, the aroma had already attracted the gluttonous cats who were planning to watch Shinji Ikari make offerings.

"Looks like you've finished your meeting?" Shinji Ikari turned his head and glanced around. Had he been busy for a long time? Ritsuko Akagi and the others had already arrived?

"Come and give it a try!" Shinji Ikari simply grabbed someone to be his guinea pig, sprayed cream on the milk tea, and then sprinkled chocolate powder and chopped nuts on it with a net bag.

"Is this the same style? Then I won't be polite!" Looking at Shinji Ikari, the curtains and barrier ropes had already been hung up, and cups of freshly made milk tea were being carefully packaged and placed into a box to be offered.

"Yes, please!" Shinji Ikari said with a smile, then handed them several cups of milk tea, filling Misato Katsuragi's cup with boba pearls, earning her an approving look.

"Gulp... Oh! Siguo! You used this trick to fool your girlfriend, didn't you?"

"To be honest, she can easily beat me when it comes to brewing."

Chapter 35 Perfect Sister

"Oh! Thank you!" Nagase Nagisa took the cups of milk tea, and eagerly scooped out a spoonful of cream sprinkled with nut pieces. The slightly frozen whipped cream was cool and smooth, intertwined with the crunchy nuts, creating a complex and delightful taste. The perfect amount of sweetness made it not cloying at all. Finally, following his habit of sucking from the cream, he took a sip, and the warm milk tea gave him a complex and sweet sensation! "Mmm, so delicious!"

"With this skill, opening a milk tea shop would definitely be a good business." Shinji Ikari's skills received high praise from several women. Shinji Ikari bought enough ingredients because there are only a few basic ingredient options: sugar, milk, soup, tea, cocoa, coffee, chocolate, and toppings such as coconut jelly, pudding, pearls, and grass jelly. He also made some fruit pieces and nut pieces. Different milk tea flavors are simply combinations of different ingredients, and there are only so many relatively delicious combinations.

"If it's delicious, drink more. One cup of milk tea is about the same calories as three cups of cola." Shinji Ikari placed the twenty cups of milk tea on two trays in front of a small shrine, smiled, and turned back to wave, "Nagisa-nee! Let's go!"

"Roger that!" Nagase Nagase nodded as she saw the altar that Shinji Ikari had already set up. She picked up a tray with several cups of milk tea and quickly left. She would taste it whenever she had time. As for Shinji's comment about the high calorie content, she would ask Ryuji to help her get rid of it later. "Shinji, be careful!"

"Don't worry, I know Kirie very well." Shinji Ikari smiled and shook his head. He wasn't afraid at all. If Kirie wanted to get rid of him, it would probably only take a moment, and he wouldn't feel any pain.

"As long as we don't film directly, it should be fine, right?" Ritsuko Akagi asked in a low voice, somewhat curious.

"Yes, that's theoretically correct, but everyone who watches the video must undergo regular checks. Although Kirie probably won't crawl out of the TV, she's far more dangerous than someone who could." Shinji Ikari arranged the things: hot food on the left, iced food on the right, several freshly made cups of fruit tea, and some fruit he had bought along with the dishes.

"It's so cold..." When Shinji Ikari opened the shrine and dripped his blood onto the sacred mirror, Misato Katsuragi instinctively shivered. Looking at the sun outside, she was surprised to find that it didn't bring her any warmth at all; instead, it seemed to darken the sky.

"Is this... the feeling of a vengeful god?" Watching the barrier rope slowly unfold like a classic scene from a horror movie, Ritsuko Akagi subconsciously swallowed and then carefully glanced at the camera placed to the side, making sure that it wouldn't directly film the Mirror of the Gods. However, the scene captured on the camera made Ritsuko Akagi's lips twitch.

In the scene, Shinji Ikari seems to be greeting something, and then the barrier rope, like some strange thing, extends and sweeps away all the milk tea and various fruits in front of him. No special effects are needed; it's a perfect scene from a horror movie. Shinji's timid face is perfect for the unlucky guy in a horror movie who gets killed by the first ghost. However, if it were an ordinary ghost, Shinji might be the one to kill it instead.

"No ice! Warm! Hot!" Touching the milk tea in her hand, Himuro Kirie took a sip, glanced at it, and made a new request to Shinji Ikari, "Pudding and pearls." Toppings like coconut jelly, taro balls, and grass jelly seemed to be rejected.

"Okay!" Shinji Ikari took out a pen and paper to write it down, then casually took a tray of cupcakes from the oven next to him. "They're freshly baked, a little hot!"

"Gurgle..." Smelling the milky and sweet aroma in the air, even though it was still a while before mealtime, Ritsuko Akagi and Misato Katsuragi found their stomachs rumbling uncontrollably. The two were instantly embarrassed and glanced at Shinji Ikari. Shinji Ikari gestured to the oven, indicating that they should leave some.

"This guy! He's been keeping this a secret!" Misato Katsuragi stared at Shinji Ikari in shock. If she had known he had this trick up his sleeve, she would have definitely taken advantage of him! He's been here for a week and hasn't done it even once! That's outrageous!

"Hmm..." Himuro Kirie nodded happily, and the barrier rope took away the tray. She had almost watched Shinji Ikari's cooking skills improve! Now he could make cupcakes, and she had to eat them sparingly. Although she knew that Shinji would definitely make them for her if she asked, Himuro Kirie felt a little embarrassed. She couldn't leave the Himuro mansion, so she couldn't help Shinji much usually.

Peeling off the outer paper, Himuro Kirie took a small bite, then gently covered her mouth and chewed slowly. A long-lost rosy hue returned to her face, and her eyes curved into a smile, clearly indicating her great joy.

"How have you been lately? I heard from O-Kuni that the Onmyo-ryo seems to be trying to feed that car, hoping it will stay on the door a little longer?" Shinji Ikari sat cross-legged, opening the window behind him which was already frosty, and said nonchalantly.

"Hmm! It's noisy, but it's good!" Himuro Kirie ate her cupcake in small bites. She didn't like to talk much, and her interactions with Shinji Ikari were already quite a lot.

"Really? Then I'll talk to them and tell them to be more careful next time." Shinji Ikari said with a smile. It seems that the Onmyōryō is really going all out to please Himuro Kirie, but whether she will appreciate it or not is still a question.

"Great depletion of spiritual energy?" Himuro Kirie looked at Shinji Ikari. Even through the Divine Mirror, she could see through Shinji's weakness at a glance.

"We've been discovered!" Shinji Ikari scratched his head awkwardly. How could it not be? He had just been almost completely taken advantage of by Rei Ayanami. Even Lilith before her awakening was terrifying. "It's nothing serious, I just need to rest!"

"Okay! Take a rest! Those of you over there, don't tire Shinji out!" Himuro Kirie was very concerned about Shinji Ikari, who was like her younger brother. Just like when she warned the Onmyōryō, she warned Akagi Ritsuko and Katsuragi Misato, who dared not come closer. Then she put away the barrier rope, wrapped the sacred mirror again, and closed the small door of the shrine.

Himuro Kirie proactively severed her connection with Shinji Ikari. Although she bore most of the burden, Shinji still had to make some sacrifices. Upon discovering that Shinji's spiritual energy was being depleted, she decisively cut off the communication to prevent him from getting tired. This older sister deserves full marks.

"Hoo..." Although they didn't face it directly, and didn't even see the appearance of the Divine Mirror, the moment Himuro Kirie warned them, Akagi Ritsuko and Katsuragi Misato were instantly plunged into great fear, as if the coldness that erupted from the depths of their hearts almost froze them.

"Wake up, come back to your senses, she's gone!" Shinji Ikari snapped his fingers in front of the two terrified women, bringing them back to their senses. It wasn't surprising; back then, he himself was quite audacious, relying on his skills to run away whenever things went wrong. It took him an entire summer of painstaking effort to seal the Gate to the Underworld beneath the Himuro Mansion for a short while, allowing Himuro Kirie to regain her sanity. After that, he would occasionally choose a lucky criminal to throw in and tie Himuro Kirie to the gate.

"This is... the evil god?" Ritsuko Akagi leaned against the table beside her, almost unable to stand.

"That's why she's called a god. Although I asked Kirie, she's not a god, just exceptionally strong," Shinji Ikari said with a smile, taking the remaining cupcakes out of the oven. "Izumo no Okuni, now that you're here, don't hide anymore, I've even prepared milk tea for you!"

"I knew you were the best, Shinji!" Izumo no Okuni, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, jumped to the edge of the kitchen, picked out an Oreo milk tea from the row of milk teas on the table, and then walked over and snatched a cupcake from Shinji's tray. He took a bite, and needless to say, the freshly baked cake was sweet and soft, but it was a bit hot. Izumo no Okuni fanned himself with his fan, making a whooshing sound.

"Uh..." Taking the cupcake from Shinji Ikari, she mechanically put it in her mouth, but the next moment, she felt the coldness on her body being dispelled. Misato Katsuragi looked at Shinji Ikari in surprise, "No wonder you learned from Nakiri School."

"Still a long way off..." Shinji Ikari shook his head. Compared to someone who never grew tall, his pastry skills were terrible.

"Arno, you two, thank you for taking care of my Shinji every day!" After finishing the cake, Izumo no Okuni rolled his eyes and bowed very formally to Katsuragi Misato and Akagi Ritsuko, exuding the aura of a Yamato Nadeshiko.

"Get lost! You're always trying to trick me, what the hell is this 'Shinji' thing! I'm not Izumo, and you're not Ikari! Stop trying to trick me all the time!" Shinji slapped himself in the face, looking speechless. Trickster! Last time you tricked me, it took me two days to finally appease my girlfriend! And now you're doing it again!

"Pfft..." Ritsuko Akagi was amused. To be honest, Shinji Ikari's cake was really delicious. After eating it, I felt all warm and cozy. It was so nice. She was starting to believe what Misato Katsuragi had gone through before. She cried during the meal. "Shinji, it tastes great. Thank you so much for the hospitality today. It's just that I probably won't dare to face my scale tomorrow."

"It's alright, a little exercise will burn it off," Shinji Ikari said with a smile, then slapped away Izumo Okuni's hand that was reaching for the last cupcake.

"What? You're such a cheapskate! You don't even eat it yourself, so why are you keeping the last one?" Izumo no Okuni complained.

"Because it's for me!" A female voice came from the doorway. The red-haired girl took off her shoes and greeted the group. "Nice to meet you all. Thank you so much for taking care of my Shinji."

"Was the journey smooth?"

"Not bad, with such a thick layer of frost, has Kirie already left?"

"Yes, Ryoko."

Chapter 36 Why don't you go then!

"Looks like I'm a little late, Shinji. You're so rude to invite a guest in with the room all messed up!" A beautiful girl about Shinji's age walked in with a smile, carrying two sealed bottles. She took the last cupcake from Shinji and, under the watchful eyes of Misato Katsuragi, Ritsuko Akagi, and Okuni Izumo, began to eat it with a smile.

"This is your girlfriend, Ryoko Sakaki?" Misato Katsuragi tilted her head. Although they had already investigated and found that Shinji Ikari had been in frequent contact with a girl recently, and the intelligence department, which had been despised by various people, had indeed changed its previous lax attitude, they had already received information about Ryoko Sakaki before the higher-ups had even said anything.

This is Shinji Ikari's former classmate. The two were rumored to be dating a year ago, which was said to be a "major event" that made all the girls in Nakiri Private Middle School burst into tears! As for Ryoko Sakaki herself, although she is not considered a top student, Totsuki Academy is not entered based on credits. Her excellent brewing and fermentation skills are amazing and she can basically be considered to have been admitted to Totsuki Academy without taking the entrance exam.

"Hello, you must be Katsuragi Misato-nee, right? Thank you for your kindness!" Sakaki Ryoko greeted Katsuragi Misato politely, and Ikari Shinji took out a cup of milk tea that looked very simple with toppings from the side and handed it to Sakaki Ryoko.

"Oh! Shinji has already introduced me to you?" Misato Katsuragi was pleasantly surprised. Her curiosity was immediately piqued. How did that little rascal Shinji usually describe himself?

“Oh my, a very proactive (completely reckless), unconventional (incredibly sloppy), and outstanding career woman (29 years old and single, probably never to get married)!” Ryoko Sakaki said with a smile.

"Huh?!" Misato Katsuragi looked at Shinji Ikari beside her with surprise. "You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you?" Shinji silently lowered his head and drank his milk tea, avoiding Misato's gaze. "Girls really can outwit me with their language skills." "Shinji, I've changed my opinion of you!"

Ritsuko Akagi, busy checking the recording equipment, didn't have time to pay attention to these things. Shinji Ikari's milk tea was delicious, and the small cakes were also tasty, but after eating them, she felt a little full. She estimated that she would only need to eat a little bit tonight. As for Shinji's girlfriend, the intelligence department had investigated quite thoroughly this time, but she wasn't very interested in Shinji's private life. Of course, if Ryoko Sakaki was willing to cooperate with the investigation, she wouldn't mind doing some small experiments.

"This recipe is great! I really like it!" Ryoko Sakaki tilted her head and said to Shinji Ikari. The light tea aroma, rich milk flavor, and the combination of pearls and coconut jelly added to the rich texture. As a chef who aspires to enter Totsuki Culinary Academy, Ryoko Sakaki appreciated Shinji Ikari's skills, although she could only think of it because the ingredients available here were of this quality, and she couldn't go any further.

However, Ryoko Sakaki quickly tossed her long hair, looked at Izumo no Okuni who was grumbling and blowing bubbles in her milk tea, and carefully examined her. There was nothing else wrong with her, except that she was very big! But she was quite confident in that aspect. "This must be Izumo no Okuni-neechan. I was very rude last time. I hope you won't take offense."

"Oh~" Izumo no Okuni glared at Shinji Ikari. Ha! He actually didn't manage to trick you this time. "It's alright, little sister, we'll get closer in the future." She grinned and took Ryoko Sakaki's hand, saying that if Shinji wanted to live a peaceful life with this little sister, Izumo no Okuni was determined to make him pay! The grudge of being called an old woman! It's not something that can be resolved with a simple bow!

“Of course, after all, my Shinji still has to do missions at the Onmyōryō! Our Totsuki clan is expensive when it comes to materials. If it weren’t for Shinji’s help, I probably wouldn’t have so many good materials to use.” Ryoko Sakaki puffed out her chest slightly and smiled as she confronted the pillar of the Onmyōryō head-on.

"Ritsuko, such a wonderful show, aren't you going to watch?" Katsuragi Misato, who was watching from the side, was watching with great interest. This little girl in front of her immediately put on the attitude of the hostess. It really is... youth is so beautiful.

"What's so interesting? Shinji, thank you so much for your hospitality! I'll apply for a bonus for you! Oh, by the way, since it was Himuro Kirie's request, I'll get your leave slip ready for tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend." Akagi Ritsuko walked to the shrine, clasped her hands in prayer, and silently thanked Himuro Kirie for sparing her life. Then she turned to return to the base. Today's experience of witnessing a fierce god had deeply moved her.

Although Ritsuko Akagi felt as if she had just walked through the gates of hell, after experiencing it firsthand, her mind seemed to have become much clearer. Many questions that she hadn't been able to figure out before now seemed to have some strange answers. It has to be said that having a friendly evil god is really great. Perhaps sometime she should ask Shinji Ikari to take her to the Himuro mansion to make a personal offering. Maybe she would gain even more then.

If Ritsuko Akagi were to voice her thoughts on the spot, Izumo no Okabe would probably freeze for a moment before frantically fanning the flames: "Go! Go now! If you're so eager to send her away, then go now!" Even the strongest members of the Onmyōryō wouldn't dare to personally confront a fierce god. Even if they knew this fierce god was quite peaceful and didn't seem to have any particularly strong intentions to attack, they still had to wait outside for her to withdraw her power before daring to enter the room.

It was Shinji Ikari, that fearless darer, who dared to trespass into the Himuro Mansion and actually succeed! After learning that the Himuro Mansion had been successfully stabilized, many people from various factions, thinking they could do the same, entered the mansion one after another, each with their own motives, trying to get close to Himuro Kirie! Although the risks were great, if they succeeded, she would be a demon god! What did a few deaths matter! Even if they couldn't control her, even just borrowing a little bit of her power was incredibly appealing.

And then? The reason why the evil god is evil, and why Himuro Kirie is worshipped as an ancestor by the Onmyōryō, is because none of these guys are weak. They were all hung in front of the Yomi Gate by the barrier rope as human stakes to seal the gate. Otherwise, do you really think that the few vengeful spirits, evil spirits, and cursed spirits that Shinji Ikari captured for Himuro Kirie could have made her come down and watch dozens of TV dramas in one summer?

Meeting Himuro Kirie? Have you lived long enough? One glance from this fierce goddess and ten years of your lifespan will evaporate! A gentle tap and you'll be bedridden with serious illness for the rest of your life! How Shinji Ikari successfully awakened Himuro Kirie's intelligence remains a mystery to the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang). To this day, all the offerings the Onmyōryō provides to Himuro Kirie are placed on the first floor of the Himuro mansion; they dare not go down there. As for the vengeful spirits captured to feed the carts, they are simply brought before the barrier rope.

Easy to talk to! That's for Shinji Ikari, the little brother of Himuro Kirie! Only this idiot would dare to give the Divine Mirror to a fierce god to live-stream a TV drama, making the whole building not have air conditioning all summer. Look at the frost melting on the windows now, who dares to say it's not cool?

And if too many people from the Onmyodo go there, they'll still be looked down upon. The barrier rope seals the door, and they've been turned away more than once or twice. You NERV people want to meet Himuro Kirie? Go! Don't hesitate, go now! Send as many people as possible!

We also want to know the specifics of Himuro Kirie and Yomi no Men! Hurry up! As long as we share information, that's fine! The Onmyoji will not stop you, we'll even provide transportation and help you choose a burial plot!

However, Ritsuko Akagi did not say anything on the spot, nor did she leave any opportunity for Okuni Izumo to cause trouble. Instead, Ritsuko Akagi's actions made Okuni Izumo think about it and follow suit. Although one should be timid when meeting someone, if bowing a few times could gain some goodwill, it would be worth it!

"We'll head back now, so as not to disturb your time alone!" After doing all this, Ritsuko Akagi put the camera back into her special bag. Although it was just a recording, the personal experience was still very important data, and she wanted to record it as soon as possible. Of course, it seemed that Shinji Ikari and his girlfriend hadn't seen each other for a while, so why should she, as a third wheel, shine here?

"It's not appropriate to go back so early. Who knows when we'll get another chance to see such a fun scene?" Misato Katsuragi, who clearly wanted to watch the show a little longer, was pulled down by Ritsuko Akagi. Shinji Ikari usually seemed very mature, but his girlfriend was actually quite interesting. It would be a huge loss to miss out on such a good show.

“If we don’t leave, Izumo no Okuni won’t leave either. There’s no need to let her linger around Shinji Ikari for too long.” Ritsuko Akagi stood next to Misato Izuka’s sports car with a mocking smile on her face. When Shinji Ikari was communicating with Himuro Kirie just now, he didn’t even have the courage to be there. But Ritsuko Akagi clearly felt that Izumo no Okuni in front of her had some kind of intention towards Shinji Ikari.

"So, you came down here because of me?" Izumo no Okuni came down from upstairs. With Katsuragi Misato and Akagi Ritsuko gone, and having drunk the milk tea and eaten the cake, Izumo no Okuni really didn't have a good reason to stay, so he had no choice but to come down. Now he crossed his arms and looked at Akagi Ritsuko in front of him with a sidelong glance.

“Yes.” Ritsuko Akagi made no attempt to hide it. “Shinji Ikari did me a huge favor today, so it seems nice to help him out a little bit!”

"So you NERV people really aren't very likable." Izumo no Okuni sighed and waved his hand. There are many mysteries surrounding Shinji Ikari. I've never heard of him having a master. But to be fair, the lineage he inherited is from the most elite group I've ever seen in the Onmyōryō. Otherwise, how could he have been able to move around freely in the Himuro mansion? He would have died there long ago.

“We all understand, but if I can use someone else to win over Shinji’s favor, why wouldn’t I?” After saying that, Ritsuko Akagi got into the car, Misato Katsuragi pulled at the corner of her eye, made a face at Okuni Izumo, and then stepped on the gas and drove off.

“No…you simply don’t understand! How special Shinji is!” Izumo no Okuni smiled slightly as he watched the sports car drive away.

Chapter 37 Girlfriend's Arrival Day

"Oh! Ryoko, you're here." Nagase Nagisa, who had changed into long sleeves, came downstairs as if she had heard the car drive away. She was pleasantly surprised to see Sakaki Ryoko washing kitchen utensils with Ikari Shinji. "What brings you here today?"

"Isn't it because I'm worried about Shinji's situation here? Otherwise, I wouldn't want to bother with this idiot!" Ryoko Sakaki pretended to hit Shinji with the spoon she had just washed! Shinji jumped aside, stood on one leg, and then assumed a stance reminiscent of the Invincible East style, successfully making Ryoko Sakaki laugh. "Nagisa-nee, I was wondering why Ryuji's shop was closed today. Did you guys come here to play?"

"No! Thanks to Shinji's help, Ryuji secured investment to open a Suzuki motorcycle dealership. However, they want us to open the store here, and they need to include some of the investors." Nagase Nagisa didn't elaborate, simply stating their current decision.

"Oh! Is that so? Then congratulations!" Ryoko Sakaki said with a smile to Nagase Nagase. Because of Shinji Ikari, the two of them had a very good relationship with Ryuji Danma and his wife. Occasionally, Ryoko Sakaki would bring Ryuji Danma her homemade "rice juice" to taste, and Ryuji Danma liked Ryoko Sakaki's "rice juice" very much.

Watching the two women chatting and laughing happily, Shinji Ikari smiled. According to his guess, even if Ryuji Danma returned tonight, he would be late. Undoubtedly, finding a good spot would not be easy. It's true that the riders are the consumer group, but all the shops near that area are basically expensive. Not to mention, for Ryuji Danma, the shop space he needs is not small.

Therefore, the balance between cost, business opportunities, and total investment became what Ryuji Danma needed to consider. In a sense, without NERV's support, Ryuji Danma would not have been able to open a dedicated Suzuki motorcycle dealership here without twenty years of accumulation. And he is only 22 years old this year, and he is already very close to this dream. This is a good thing that neither Nagase Nagisa nor Ryuji Danma had ever thought of.

"So you're staying upstairs now?" After chatting for a while, Ryoko Sakaki seemed quite happy when she heard Nagase mention that they might be staying here. "Then you'll have to keep a close eye on Shinji Ikari for me. That guy is a troublemaker wherever he goes."

"Don't worry, Ryuji and I will keep an eye on him. But Shinji isn't the type to flirt. You know, when I was pregnant, it was Shinji who provided the chocolates." Nagase Nagisa said with a smile. If Shinji Ikari were a bad boy, he would probably have a ton of girlfriends. After all, Shinji is good-looking and athletic, and he's popular like a hero in the academy.

"Then I'll have to leave it to Nagisa-nee!" Sakaki Ryoko said with a smile, then glanced at Ikari Shinji, who had already started opening the refrigerator and taking out a series of vegetables and meats. "Shinji, are you starting to prepare dinner?"

“Yes, it’s rare that you’ve made such good dark soy sauce. I have to cook something with it and see how it compares.” Shinji Ikari said with a smile. How could ordinary soy sauce be compared to the one his girlfriend specially brewed? Shinji Ikari looked at Ryoko Sakaki, his smile carrying a hint of nostalgia.

Shinji Ikari and Ryoko Sakaki officially became a couple because Ryoko made a bowl of soy sauce ramen at a stall during the school festival. Shinji was amazed and ate three bowls in one go. Then he shamelessly begged for the recipe! Ryoko rolled her eyes at him and said that if he helped make the noodles, she would give him the recipe.

The previous year, I had worked with Soma Yukihira, spending an entire day trying to secure the most popular stall at the so-called school festival. I had a rather painful realization! Although this isn't exactly Totsuki Academy!

However, the campus of Nakiri Private Middle School is full of hidden talents, and I foolishly spent several days here without even taking a bite! What a waste!

So, Shinji Ikari, who had originally decided to eat his fill the following year, was unexpectedly drawn to a bowl of soy sauce noodles by Ryoko Sakaki. Upon hearing Ryoko Sakaki's request, he jumped into the kitchen almost without hesitation.

Ryoko Sakaki felt a little embarrassed. Her original partner had something come up and couldn't come to work with her, so Ryoko Sakaki had to prepare the noodles herself. If she used store-bought noodles, she would undoubtedly be outdone by the other students' stalls.

Ryoko Sakaki was absolutely unwilling to accept this, so as a result, she had to start by preparing noodles and was extremely busy, but she didn't have any good solutions. Originally, she said this only as a subconscious rejection of Shinji Ikari's unreasonable demands, but she never expected that Shinji Ikari would agree.

"No problem! I'll knead the dough!" Although Shinji Ikari's talent lies mainly in Western-style pastries, he still enjoys kneading dough every day. And most importantly, Shinji Ikari has the strength to knead the dough until it forms clumps, then knead it repeatedly until it's smooth, then let it rest, and then repeat the previous steps to prepare the next dough.

After preparing four or five dough balls, the first dough ball was cut into several pieces, and then it was quickly stretched into long strips. After being oiled, the strips were coiled up on a plate, one noodle per bowl.

It's unclear whether it was Shinji Ikari's aura as a star trainee or the fact that many Japanese people who enjoy so-called Japanese ramen had never seen noodles like this before, but as a result, a lot of people gathered around Ryoko Sakaki's stall, watching Shinji Ikari's busy work with curiosity. Ryoko Sakaki, standing nearby, was also watching with interest. She had never seen noodles like this before. They were so thick, could they even be eaten?

Of course not. A dozen minutes later, the pile of dough gradually turned into a pile of noodles in a bowl. At this time, Ryoko Sakaki also prepared her soup. Shinji Ikari and she exchanged a few glances. Shinji Ikari began to stretch the thick noodles into thinner ones and shake them directly into the soup pot. Ryoko Sakaki then scooped out the soup ingredients and scooped out the noodles. Each bowl contained one noodle, which amazed the students watching.

This immediately piqued the interest of the students, who all took out their money to try the taste. Indeed, because Sakaki Ryoko had prepared everything, and the soy sauce she used to season the broth was specially made by her, coupled with the chewy noodles, it instantly won over the taste buds of the Nakiri Academy students!

Finally, at the end of the several-day school festival, Ryoko Sakaki won the title of Best Food Stall of the year! Upon receiving the award, Ryoko, who longed for Totsuki Academy, happily hugged Shinji Ikari, who was covered in flour. When Shinji awkwardly reminded her that everyone was watching, Ryoko didn't shy away like other girls. Instead, she turned around and cheerfully flashed a V-sign to the students around her in celebration!

Naturally, the next day, rumors spread throughout the school that the all-around superstar, Shinji Ikari, had a girlfriend! Especially since Shinji had gone to see Ryoko Sakaki the following day and called her out of the classroom. The whole corridor was filled with heads! Of course, they had no idea that Shinji actually wanted Ryoko's soy sauce ramen recipe…

"No way!" Ryoko Sakaki was a little annoyed! They were all in the same class, even sitting next to each other at the same desk, so they were familiar with each other. It was not uncommon for Shinji Ikari to flirt with her occasionally! They were practically friends, otherwise, why would Shinji Ikari have asked her for the formula? But she was shocked by what Shinji Ikari showed her yesterday, and she was genuinely happy to have won the best award, which is why she did what she did!

But when this blockhead called her out of the classroom, Ryoko Sakaki's heart was pounding! And this is it?! "You came here just to ask me for the recipe?"

“Yeah…” Shinji Ikari was a little dumbfounded. Apart from when he was working at ODST, he had a lot of contact with girls, but because of the special circumstances on the battlefield, where there was no tomorrow, if there was mutual affection, the confession process could be skipped. Most of them would not refuse, and some steps could even be skipped and fast-forwarded to the close-range interaction.

In his next two lives, he was busy practicing martial arts and exorcising demons. Anyway... after several lifetimes, although Shinji Ikari had experienced love, he still hadn't had a proper romance. Understanding women's hearts? That's out of the question!

"Hmph! No way!" Ryoko Sakaki smiled and gave Shinji Ikari a sidelong glance before turning away. But before taking a step, she turned back and said, "If you want some, I'll make it for you."

"Uh..." If Shinji Ikari still doesn't understand after this point, he might as well go and hang himself with a noodle.

"So you're planning to make some stir-fried pork and then stew it?" Ryoko Sakaki glanced at the dishes Shinji Ikari had taken out and immediately understood his plan.

Ryoko Sakaki knew Shinji Ikari's habits well; he had a penchant for Chinese cuisine, and she had learned quite a few Chinese dishes herself. When she took the preliminary exam at Totsuki Academy, with the help of her own brewed sake and various sauces, her Chinese dishes greatly satisfied the examiners, and she passed without any problems. She could directly enter Totsuki next year.

"Yes, is there anything you'd like to eat?" Shinji Ikari nodded. He wasn't a big drinker, but he was really craving Ryoko Sakaki's various homemade sauces. Since leaving Yukihira's restaurant, he'd basically only been able to eat thanks to Ryoko's homemade sauces…

"I'll help!" Ryoko Sakaki picked up an apron from the side, rolled up her sleeves, tied up her long hair, and walked over with a grin.