The next day, early morning.
Tokyo-3 Second Municipal Middle School, Class 2-A.
"I am Shikinami Asuka Langley."
On the podium, the girl stood with her hands on her hips, her fair, delicate chin held high, like a proud peacock surveying its territory.
Her fiery, dazzling orange hair was tied into two vibrant twin tails, tracing wild arcs in the air as she glared down at the class.
Her form-fitting school uniform outlined a graceful figure far exceeding her peers, existing between the awkwardness of a girl and the fullness of a mature woman, exuding astonishing hormones.
She neither bowed nor showed shyness, her blue eyes scanning the entire class with a gaze like a troop inspection.
Just a bunch of unremarkable humans.
"Although it's regrettable that I have to breathe the same air as you mediocre people in the same classroom, since it's a mission assignment, I will reluctantly accept. Furthermore—"
Her gaze precisely locked onto Shinji Ikari in the corner, and a provocative smile curved her lips.
"Certain people who got in through backdoors using connections, you'd better not drag me down."
"If you don't want to die on the battlefield, then just obediently watch my back."
The whole class fell silent.
Immediately, an uncontrollable burst of whispers and gasps erupted.
"S-so cute!" Suzuhara Touji's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Even though her attitude stinks, her face is absolutely top-tier!"
"That look, it feels like she's looking at trash, but I love it ♦!"
Aida Kensuke:???
"You actually like that kind of vibe? That's the so-called 'Queen' attribute, isn't it!"
"Don't even mention it, as expected of the ace from Europe, she's really strong-willed!"
He pushed up his reflective glasses, shot a disdainful look at his friend who had exposed his M-tendencies, and excitedly recorded something in his notebook.
"Now our class has gathered three EVA pilots; it's practically an All-Star lineup!"
Asuka was long accustomed to the surrounding chatter.
She was a genius, the strongest one finally selected through brutal competition, and enjoying the feeling of being watched was only natural.
She strode quickly toward the empty seat next to Shinji, slamming her school bag heavily onto the desk with a "bang."
Shinji was reviewing his lessons. Startled, he looked up and met Asuka's aggressive blue eyes.
"What? Not welcoming me?" Asuka raised an eyebrow.
"No, please sit, Shikinami-dono." Shinji politely moved his chair.
"Hmph, boring." Asuka curled her lip and sat down.
Her gaze crossed over Shinji to look at Rei Ayanami on the other side.
The girl with light blue short hair was staring blankly out the window, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
Asuka tagged her two teammates in her mind: Idiot Shinji, Doll Rei.
For a team like this, it looks like this Miss has to carry them!
...Afternoon, Physical Education Class.
The afternoon sun was somewhat scorching, pouring unhindered onto the plastic track of Tokyo-3 Second Municipal Middle School, generating a hot, dry scent mixed with rubber and dust.
"Today's lesson is simple: comprehensive physical fitness testing."
The physical education teacher... no, it should be NERV special supervisor Hansen, wearing a dark blue tracksuit, holding a timer, and standing casually beside the starting line.
Hansen, acting as the temporary P.E. teacher, wore a dark blue, fitted tracksuit and stood casually by the starting line.
He held a stopwatch. Even just standing there casually, his impeccably handsome appearance and model-like tall stature made him stand out among the balding, overweight middle-aged teachers.
This caused the surrounding adolescent female students to constantly glance his way, their blushing, heart-pounding whispers continuous.
"Teacher Hansen is so handsome... his figure is amazing..."
"I heard he's a big shot at NERV! Handsome and capable, simply perfect!"
"I wonder if the teacher has a girlfriend... Ah, what am I thinking!"
Asuka was warming up her wrists and ankles nearby, giving a disdainful snort at the infatuated comments.
She had changed into a bright red sports vest and matching ultra-short shorts; the fiery color complemented her flamboyant personality perfectly.
Sweat slightly dampened her vest, clinging to the girl's lithe waist and outlining astonishing curves.
Her beautiful legs, made even fairer and longer by the red shorts, had smooth, taut muscle lines, full of astonishing explosive power. Every inch demonstrated the caliber represented by the word 'Ace'.
Listening to these infatuated comments, she snorted disdainfully.
Although that guy certainly looked decent and his strength was unfathomable, his undisguised aura of a powerful expert irritated her.
Someday, I will make you look at me with new respect!
"First event: 1000-meter long-distance run." Hansen blew his whistle, the sound clearly reaching everyone's ears. "Everyone, prepare."
Asuka warmed up her wrists and ankles, walking confidently to the starting line.
As the most perfect product of the "Shikinami Series," she received the most rigorous military training from the European Branch.
Whether it was explosive power, endurance, or coordination, she was confident she could crush these ordinary high school students.
Even EVA pilots, without systematic training, were just slightly stronger ordinary people.
"Hey, Idiot Shinji." Asuka lowered her voice and spoke to the boy beside her. "Dare to compete? The loser has to buy the winner breakfast for a week."
Shinji Ikari was stunned, then gave a wry smile: "Shikinami-dono, this is just a regular P.E. class..."
"Stop talking nonsense! Are you scared?" Asuka was aggressive. "If you don't even have this much courage, how can you pilot an EVA?"
Shinji sighed, his eyes becoming helpless yet serious: "Fine, if that's what you want."
"Hmph, get ready to queue up at the commissary!" Asuka's lips curved upward, showing a confident, winning smile.
At this moment, the perpetually silent Rei Ayanami also quietly stood at the starting line, her crimson eyes briefly resting on Asuka for half a second.
"On your marks—"
Hansen's voice sounded lazily as he raised his hand.
"Go!"
Bang!
The moment the starting pistol fired, Asuka shot out instantly like a swift leopard!
Her perfect starting posture, textbook arm swing, combined with the formidable explosive power and core strength gained from long-term training, allowed her to pull ten meters ahead of the main group right at the start.
The wind whistled past her ears; this feeling of leaving everything behind captivated her.
This is the difference in strength!
I am the chosen elite, the most special among all my peers!
A genius unreachable by mortals!
Asuka felt the rhythm of her muscles, her heart filled with exhilaration.
She looked back, wanting to enjoy the sight of Idiot Shinji eating dust.
However, the scene caught by the corner of her eye made her pupils suddenly contract the next second.
He hadn't been left behind.
In fact... he was right beside her!
He didn't have the strained expression of someone giving their all, nor the distress of gasping for oxygen with his mouth wide open.
Shinji Ikari's breathing was frighteningly steady, his chest rising and falling with a strange rhythm, and faint blue airflow was faintly visible being inhaled and exhaled through his nose and mouth.
Inhale—Exhale—
Accompanied by a strange sense of rhythm.
Although Shinji Ikari's chest movements were pronounced, every breath was like pulling a bellows, pumping vast amounts of oxygen into his blood and delivering it to every cell in his body.
His steps were incredibly light, making almost no sound on the ground, yet generating tremendous propulsion.
All sounds were almost completely masked by the strong wind and whistling, so much so that even the highly trained Asuka failed to notice it immediately.
—Is... is this an illusion?
—How is this possible?!
A storm raged in Asuka's heart. She immediately bit down hard, forcibly suppressed her shock, and frantically accelerated again.
How could I possibly lose to a second-generation official who only listens to his father!
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
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