Chapter 1148
Gendo Ikari: What did you call her?!
A moment of silence followed. Misato leaned back in her seat, gazing at the rapidly receding street scene outside the car window. She sighed heavily, her tone filled with helplessness and lament: "Alas, so many disasters." First, the apostles appeared frequently, disrupting the world's peace. Now, they were about to face creatures even more terrifying than the apostles. She couldn't help but sigh.
"Indeed, it has been a time of many disasters." Cui Ming echoed softly, his gaze still steadily fixed on the road. The car slowly came to a stop at the university gate. He turned to look at the two people in the back seat and solemnly reminded them again, "If anything happens, remember to call me immediately. Please be careful and don't be reckless."
"Mm." Misato and Ritsuko nodded in unison, their tone becoming more serious. They got out of the car and watched Choi Myung's car slowly start moving until it disappeared into the traffic before turning their attention away.
But the next second, Ritsuko suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Misato's wrist tightly, her eyes firm and her tone leaving no room for refusal: "Miri, I need an explanation." What she wanted was all of Choi Myung's secrets—the battlefield in his dreams, his instinctive defenses while asleep, the creature more terrifying than the Apostles, and his past that he could not hide.
Misato froze, startled by the grip, then raised an eyebrow, her seriousness instantly replaced by anger, and turned the tables on her: "I think you also need to explain. Is it comfortable to hold my man?" Just thinking about how Ritsuko deliberately leaned close to Choi Myung last night and teased her made her furious.
Upon hearing this, Ritsuko showed no panic. Instead, she raised an eyebrow slightly and teased with a hint of nonchalance, "You know what, it really is quite reassuring." The feeling of being enveloped in security was something she had never experienced before, and even knowing that Choi Myung was Misato's man, she couldn't help but be honest.
"Ritsuko!!!!" Misato instantly bristled, reaching out to tickle Ritsuko, her tone full of coquettishness and possessiveness, "You dare say that! He's my man! You're not allowed to even think about him!" Ritsuko laughed and dodged, and the two instantly started wrestling. The tense atmosphere from before was dispelled by this sudden playful fight, leaving only the little tiff and intimacy between the girls, attracting frequent glances from passing students.
Meanwhile, Cui Ming had already driven away from the vicinity of the university and headed towards the research institute. That research institute, hidden on the edge of the city, was his current workplace. It seemed peaceful on the surface, but in reality, it concealed many unknown secrets and served as his temporary base for observing anomalies in the world.
However, Cui Ming's face showed a hint of barely perceptible headache—he knew that once he arrived at the research institute, he would most likely encounter that junior who had caused him so much trouble again. The car came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the research institute. He opened the door and got out. As soon as he stepped into the lobby, a gentle yet slightly shy voice came from behind him: "Senior."
Cui Ming paused, slowly turning around to see Ikari Yui standing not far away, wearing a clean white lab coat, looking at him with longing in her eyes. He nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Ikari, what is it?"
Yui Ikari, his junior, graduated from Kyoto University and volunteered to work at his research institute after graduation. From beginning to end, she harbored deep admiration and longing for Choi Myung, a passion that constantly gave him a headache. He repeatedly tried to recall what he had done to deserve such devotion; the only thing he could think of was once helping her out on the street when a group of thugs surrounded her with malicious intent.
Cui Ming really didn't understand how a simple act of helping out could make her so devoted to him.
Perhaps, the idea of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress is just too impactful, too easy to inspire dependence and admiration. He sighed inwardly, feeling helpless. After all, being so openly and passionately admired was indeed a troublesome thing for someone like him who was used to keeping a low profile—moreover, he had rescued so many people that he had long since lost count of how many others like Yui Ikari he had helped.
Upon hearing Choi Myung's response, Yui's cheeks flushed slightly, and the longing in her eyes deepened. She lowered her head slightly, her voice soft yet expectant, and cautiously asked, "Um, senior, please call me Yui, okay?" Rather than the unfamiliar "Ikari," she preferred to hear Choi Myung call her by her name, even just two simple words would fill her with joy.
Looking at her shy yet earnest expression, Cui Ming had no reason to refuse. He could only shake his head helplessly, his tone still calm, but less distant than before: "Alright, Wei."
"Snap—"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a crisp cracking sound of knuckles came from the corner of the hall. The sound was not loud, but it carried an extreme sense of suppression, like a prelude to someone's sanity about to break down and about to go berserk.
Choi Myung's eyes narrowed slightly, and he subconsciously looked toward the source of the sound. He saw Rokubungi Gendo standing in the shadows, radiating a chilling aura. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his eyes were filled with suppressed anger and rage as he stared intently at Choi Myung and Ikari Yui. The air around him seemed to freeze.
Rokubun Gigendo. Choi Myeong's gaze lingered on him, a fleeting, almost imperceptible, understanding and wariness flashing in his eyes. Or perhaps, in that shattered world, he had another name—Ikari Gendo.
Cui Ming clearly remembered that this man was one of the culprits who ultimately led to the destruction of the world he once belonged to. During that catastrophe that swept across the entire world, his hands were stained with blood and sin; he was ruthless and ambitious. Now, he had appeared in this world, and even in this research institute—this was no coincidence.
Yui Ikari also sensed something was wrong. She looked up and followed Choi Myung's gaze. When she saw Rokubungi Gendo's eyes, which were practically spitting fire, the blush on her cheeks instantly faded. She subconsciously shrank back behind Choi Myung, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic: "Rokubungi-sensei."
Rokubungi Gendo remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Choi Myung, the hostility in his eyes undisguised, as if he wanted to devour him alive. His suppressed rage continued to rise; the moment he heard Choi Myung call Ikari Yui "Yui," his pent-up emotions nearly exploded—Ikari Yui was the person he held dearest, his last remaining obsession, and he would not allow anyone to covet her, not even Choi Myung.
Choi Myung noticed Ikari's subtle movements, and without making a sound, he stepped forward half a step, blocking her path. His gaze calmly met the anger of the Six-Part Yiyuan Hall, and his tone remained indifferent, yet carried an unassailable aura: "Don't cause trouble here." (End of Chapter)