"ACH MEIN GOTT!" Sasha screams, darting towards an unsuspecting Kaworu. "Your friend Shinji invented a totally new way of cooking potatoes and it's delicious!"

An awestruck crowd is gathered around Shinji as he explains the method. "You cut them into strips, like this… and then, you add oil, and… fries, I believe they're called."

"We cook potato in so many different ways back in our world!" Asuka proclaims loudly. "Crisps, fritters, hash browns, tater tots, you name it! Can't believe you bakas needed Shinji to even learn about fries!"

"Oh, Kaworu!" Eren greets the Angel after hurriedly swallowing his last bite. "I think this might just be my new favourite food!"

"I'm glad you like it," Kaworu replies, collecting fries onto his plate.

Eren takes another mouthful in. "What's your favourite food, Kaworu?" he asks, still munching.

"Mmm, I think it might be apples. Come to think of it, we don't get a lot of fruit or vegetables around here. Times must be hard."

Granted, Kaworu was not given the best feed by Seele, but vegetables were a regular occurrence on the dinner plate. He was allowed fruit once a week, no more. The one time he was caught with an apple he was not supposed to be eating, he was given the worst punishment he has ever received. So horrid that his brain refuses to remember a single detail. But he remembers the sweetness of the apple, how it tempted him, so sweet it was perhaps worth whatever punishment it bestowed upon him. Here, potato and cabbage comprise most of the vegetables feeding the Survey Corps, the carrot being an odd fancy. As for fruit, he only ever saw the tiniest, scraggiest pears, and there were never enough for every soldier, so he always gave up the opportunity for others. On the two occasions the Corps got hold of some citrus fruits, the first time oranges and the second time lemons, they opted to flavour the communal potato stew pot so that everybody can have a taste.

"Congratulations on being promoted to Head Chef, Shinji-kun!" Armin is ecstatic as he wraps his arm around Shinji. "Where are you going now?"

"To see Rei. I heard she finally woke up. Wanna come with?"

The two head to the medical room, smiling as they greet the girl who just awoke from coma. They simply sit and watch the sunset together for a while, enjoying this rare moment of peace and quiet before Rei breaks the silence. "What do you want to talk about?" she asks in her usual cool, calm voice.

"Well, I wonder where the others from our world have ended up," Shinji says. "I wonder where Misato is. I wonder where my father is. Hopefully not in a world where monsters eat people."

Meanwhile, the members of Nerv are lucky to have fallen into an alternate timeline where the Second Impact never happened, in a prosperous mid-2010s Tokyo – about the same era it was back in their world. However, the city is infested by ghouls – human-like beings who can only eat human flesh to survive. Fortunately, most of the senior Nerv members – namely Misato Katsuragi, Ritsuko Akagi, Gendo Ikari, Kozo Fuyutsuki, Maya Ibuki, Shigeru Aoba, Makoto Hyuga – have found employment at the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG) due to their excellent scientific aptitude. Well-trained in combat, Misato even became a frontline Ghoul Investigator. Tonight, she is to undertake her first mission, targeting a white-haired ghoul known as "Eye Patch". As she heads out and sees the stars reflect on her brand new quinque, she wonders about Shinji and the other Children. "Wherever you happen to be, Shinji, I hope it isn't somewhere humans fear getting eaten."

In the courtyard, Kaworu is taking a leisurely stroll after dinner. Maybe I'll get some coffee with extra sugar for dessert, he thinks to himself. I'd like to stay up and practise my reading and writing, now that I'm confident at speaking German.

"Kaworu!"

He is interrupted by a sudden yell. "Eren?"

He turns around to Eren smiling at him, before noticing what he holds in his palms. An apple, though not the biggest, bright red and perfectly round.

"It's for you, Kaworu!" Eren announces.

"Thank you, Eren." Kaworu reaches out tentatively, still shocked. As he holds Eren's gift to him in his own hand and gazes at it, a smile lights up on his face.

Is this gratefulness? Yes, this is gratefulness. Really, thank you, Eren.

"Are you going to eat it?" asks Eren.

Kaworu looks up, beholding Eren in his sparkling green eyes, still smiling. "Of course, but not before I share it with you."