"Don't get too arrogant!"
Asuka roared in her heart, her pearly teeth biting her lower lip so hard she tasted a hint of blood.
She relentlessly squeezed every cell in her body for oxygen, her thigh muscles tensing to the extreme.
The edge of her tight gymnastics shorts dug into her tender thigh flesh, outlining leg lines that combined strength and beauty, as she attempted a final sprint.
However, no matter how much she burst forward and accelerated, that slender figure remained like a shadow.
What made Asuka even more distraught was that on the other side, Rei Ayanami, who had been silent all along, also caught up.
Rei Ayanami, the girl with light blue short hair and a delicate face, was running with a transcendent posture at this moment.
Her petite body was encased in a form-fitting gymnastics uniform, outlining the unique slenderness and grace of a young girl, with the perfect rise and fall of her chest rhythmically moving with her breathing.
Her crimson eyes gazed calmly forward, and her feet landed impossibly lightly with each step.
This wasn't a race; this was clearly a stroll through her own backyard!
Hansen was not surprised by this result at all.
Although the two still looked like slim young boys and girls, one had undergone his rigorous training, and the other had, on top of that, used divine power to complete genetic-level defects.
It's no exaggeration to say that Asuka was currently facing two hidden max-level humans!
But Asuka didn't know that!
—Wha... what kind of joke is this?!
At this moment, the tsundere ace from Europe was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
The last hundred meters.
Shinji Ikari even had time to glance at Asuka beside him, hesitating whether to go easy on her.
But Hansen's teaching appeared in his mind—
If you don't give it your all, it's an insult to your opponent.
So, he decided to give Asuka the greatest respect.
—Sorry, Shikinami-san.
Shinji's eyes instantly sharpened, and the airflow through his nose and mouth suddenly became turbulent, faintly emitting a sharp whistle like a blade cutting through the air—
That was the sound of high-pressure gas being instantly expelled from his lungs.
Total Concentration: Water Breathing Technique!
Thump!
The plastic track beneath his feet seemed to let out a muffled groan of unbearable weight, and a puff of dust exploded.
Under Asuka's shocked gaze, Shinji's speed suddenly surged, and he transformed into an afterimage, instantly widening the gap until he crossed the finish line!
Closely following was Rei Ayanami, who, after surpassing Asuka and crossing the line, even had enough energy to stop immediately and lightly.
She wasn't even out of breath, appearing exceptionally at ease.
Meanwhile, Asuka, who had given her all, could only take third place.
"Hoo... hoo... hoo..."
Asuka propped herself on her knees, gasping for air.
Sweat trickled down the girl's beautiful cheeks, dripping into the dust.
Her lungs burned, but what hurt more was her pride.
She lost.
Completely, utterly lost.
And it was a loss in the most basic physical fitness.
"Is this the strength of the European ace?" Hansen said with a teasing tone, stopwatch in hand. "If this is all you've got, you still need more practice."
Boom—!
These words were like a heavy hammer, striking Asuka's heart fiercely.
She abruptly looked up, her eyes slightly red, staring intently at Hansen: "Again! Shot put, long jump, pull-ups... I refuse to believe I'll lose every single event!"
"As you wish." Hansen shrugged.
The next hour was hellish torture for Asuka.
Shot put. Shinji casually tossed it, and the iron ball arced in a perfect parabola, landing outside the sandpit. Asuka gave her all but was still two meters short of him.
Long jump. Rei Ayanami leaped lightly, as if gravity didn't exist, easily breaking the school record. Asuka ran, jumped, and landed perfectly, but the distance... was still not enough.
No matter the event.
She was completely and utterly crushed by these two seemingly ordinary individuals!
Shinji could even memorize vocabulary while doing sit-ups!
This was simply unscientific!
The school bell rang.
Students left the sports field in twos and threes, leaving Asuka alone on the steps, tightly clutching a bottle of mineral water, its body deformed from her grip.
The setting sun cast her shadow long, making her appear particularly forlorn.
"Are you unwilling to accept defeat?"
A voice came from above.
Asuka looked up and saw Shinji Ikari standing against the light, offering her a clean towel.
"None of your business! Are you here to mock me?" Asuka slapped his hand away, like an angry kitten.
Shinji wasn't angry; he simply withdrew his hand and calmly said, "Teacher Hansen said that acknowledging the strength of others is also part of becoming stronger."
"Don't use that annoying guy's words to lecture me!" Asuka gritted her teeth. "How... how did you two do it? That breathing method is definitely not an ordinary running technique!"
Though arrogant, she wasn't stupid.
She keenly noticed the abnormality in Shinji and Rei's movements during exercise—that special breathing rhythm, that absolute control over their body muscles.
"That's a 'Breathing Technique,'" Shinji didn't hide it. "Teacher Hansen taught us."
"Breathing Technique?" Asuka was startled.
"Yes, through special breathing methods, it strengthens cardiorespiratory function, fills the blood with oxygen, and allows one to unleash power beyond human limits in a short time," Shinji explained. "Rei and I go to Teacher's apartment every evening for special training."
Special training... no wonder!
Asuka's expression instantly changed.
So it wasn't that these two were exceptionally gifted; it was that man who gave them a cheat!
If it's a technique, then that means—I can learn it too!
Asuka suddenly stood up, patted the dust off her bottom, and the despondency in her eyes vanished, replaced by a burning fighting spirit.
"Where is that annoying guy now?"
"He should be back at his apartment."
"Very good." Asuka grabbed her schoolbag, a determined smile playing on her lips. "As a supervisor, he has an obligation to improve the strength of all pilots."
"He wants to keep such a good thing to himself? No way!"
Watching Asuka's aggressive retreating figure, Shinji Ikari scratched his head.
"Uh... did I cause trouble for Teacher?"
...Tokyo-3, NERV high-rise apartment complex.
Hansen had just finished showering and changed into loose loungewear, ready to enjoy some rare tranquility.
Ding-dong—Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang incessantly, indicating the impatience and persistence of the person ringing it.
Hansen raised an eyebrow, probably guessing who the visitor was.
He opened the door.
Sure enough, Shikinami Asuka Langley was standing at the doorway.
She had changed back into her signature yellow dress, hands on her hips, glaring at Hansen indignantly, like a small tiger ready to demand an explanation.
"Oh, isn't this the European ace?" Hansen leaned against the doorframe, a faint smile playing on his lips. "If I'm not mistaken, you should live next door, right?"
"What are you doing here?"
Stung by the remark, Asuka's cheeks instantly flushed, but she stiffened her neck and said, "I'm here to apply for special training!"
"Special training?"
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