"Ryōta-kun, I can tell you've already made up your mind," Rei Ayanami observed calmly.
Ryōta Kitazawa shrugged with a wry smile. "Rei, you're overthinking. I don't have any grand plan. All we can do is wait—for Commander Ikari's orders. He still hasn't spoken, so I'm just staying calm and waiting."
Rei shook her head, maintaining her composed expression. "No, I know you do have a plan. You can fool Kensuke and Toji, but not me. You don't have to tell me what you're doing—I won't ask."
Ryōta chuckled softly, realizing Rei was sharper than she appeared on screens—quiet and reserved, but not foolish. He felt an unfamiliar pressure with such a perceptive comrade beside him.
Suddenly, a strange rustling sound echoed from above. He looked up—and saw a dark speck falling from the sky.
No—it was a person… and falling directly toward him.
"Move! Move!" a panicked female voice screamed.
Rei recognized by instinct: this falling person was headed straight for Ryōta.
"Ryōta-kun! Watch out!" Rei shouted.
In the next instant, Ryōta moved instinctively. Like a magic trick, he darted forward and effortlessly caught the descending figure in his arms. His arms absorbed the fall's impact as if cradling her in slow motion—graceful as a prince.
When he steadied her, they faced each other. The girl's face was pale with shock.
"You're okay, right?" Ryōta said gently, setting her down.
"I…" she stammered, shaken. After a moment, her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Th-thank you…" the girl adjusted her glasses. Her rosy blush made her look irresistibly endearing.
Clearly, the fall had terrified her—but Ryōta had saved her. His perfect catch left an indelible impression.
"Oh dear—my bag!" she suddenly exclaimed, panic returning.
Rei stepped forward holding a schoolbag. "Is this yours?"
The girl's face lit up. "Yes—yes, thank you!" she grabbed it and smiled brightly at Ryōta. "Nice to meet you—my name's Mari Makinami!"
Ryōta offered his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mari. I'm Ryōta Kitazawa."
She looked him over with admiration. "Amazing! I dropped straight into your arms—sorry about that."
Ryōta waved it off. "No problem at all."
Mari's eyes sparkled. "Wow… you're even more impressive in person."
Suddenly, her phone started ringing. She paused. "Sorry… I need to take this." She took the call in English, causing Rei to frown—Mari's accent was unmistakable.
Ryōta seemed amused. Rei asked, "Ryōta-kun, what's she saying?"
Ryōta shrugged with a smile. "She's saying, 'Weren't you ordered to meet me in Japan? I'm safe on a school rooftop now,'" he translated.
Rei's eyes widened. Mari's face darkened. "You… understand English?"
Ryōta nodded. "Not just English—I also know you're from MI6 in the UK, Mari Makinami."
Mari's eyes narrowed, impressed. "I've heard of you, Ryōta Kitazawa. You're the real deal." She tilted her head.
Ryōta smiled. "And you're smart—recognizing you'd slip past me. If you'd been careless, I might not have been so gentle."
Mari breathed out. "I won't act rashly. I came here to gather intel on the EVAs."
Ryōta shook his head. "I don't intend to hurt you. Who knows—maybe we'll be future allies. No need for violence, right?"
Mari nodded. "Yes… you've lived up to your reputation, Ryōta." Her tone was respectful, but alert. "That said, your intelligence gathering might be wasted. The EVAs won't be at NERV base for much longer."
He gestured casually to military vehicles roaring past. That was all he needed to say.
PS: Access advance (40+) chapters at
https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL