From the author : Well , Sandalphon is here and our crew goes on a scorching trip
don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion and Akira
Neon Genesis Evangelion belongs to Studio GAINAX and Hideaki Anno
Akira belongs to Kōdansha and Katsuhiro Ōtomo
"this" is speech
'this' is thought
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION HIGHWAY STAR
Chapter 20 : Magma diver
"And that's how things go , it gets more and more boring . If an angel won't strike i will strike myself in the head"-Shinji said as he talked in front of the televideo booth
"So , nothing exciting happening ?"-On the other side of the booth and two prefectures away Kaneda asked as he stared his friend down
"Yep , i just wanna have a break or go on vacation , we have a trip to Okinawa next week . All i can hope for that nothing will cut my and Asuka's plans"-Shinji said as Kaneda's face expression changed to a surprised one
"Whoa whoa , Asuka ? Oh Shin . You finally started using your traits ? Well tell me . How was it ?"-Kaneda asked with a smug grin that contrasted Shinji's blush
"Wha ? W-what do you mean ?"-Shinji asked as Kaneda putted his hands behind his back and bended towards the camera
"What ? The sex of course ! Is she a screamer or does she enjoy the ability to dominate ?"-Kaneda asked as Shinji thought about a bail out card
"Wha ? OH , I'M LATE FOR NERV SEE YA !"-Shinji said as pressed the close call button to finish the call , Shinji took out the card from the booth and wiped his forehead from sweat . 'Oh , that was close . Why do they always think that we are a couple ? Let alone lovers . That would never happen . She is too detached from others . But i can always dream about it like dumb pervert who jacks off to pictures he took during PE'-Shinji thought as he made his way with the grocery bags he was holding
—-
"WHAAAAT ?! WE CAN'T GO ON THE SCHOOL TRIP ?!"-Asuka asked as she bends over the table
"You three are on permanent stand-by , besides . I have access to your grades . And you have to work on correcting them Asuka"-Misato said as Asuka's face showed a frown and pointed her finger at Shinji
"WHAT ABOUT HIM ?!"-Asuka asked as Shinji looked at the finger that was too close to his lips
"Shinji's grades are constantly at the top , but he also has some problems . Mostly ignoring his peers and teachers and sending his fellow students to a hospital"-Misato said as she handed over a folder of papers , mostly showing damages done to students , including the one time where he sended one into a shock state as he putted his head under his tire and turned on the engine. For the sole reason of spitting on him
"Why are you showing me this ? Those fuckers have deserved it"-Shinji said as he putted his legs on the table
"THIS SUUUUUUUUUUCKS WHO THE HELL DECIDED THAT!"-Asuka screamed as she sat down and caught the attention of Rei who left the toilet
"Well , it was me . You are gonna stay here . Asuka will correct her grades , and you as a punishment for putting half of your school and local Bōsōzoku to our hospitals you will help her with learning our language"-Misato said as Shinji's face changed its expression
"OH HELL NO ! I'M NOT GONNA SPEND MY VACATION TUTORING SOME GAIJIN , no offense Asuka , I GET IT ! SHE IS GERMAN BUT SHE ALREADY FINISHED COLLEGE !"-Shinji replied as he lit up a cigarette
"Well , it's either that or writing a letter to everyone you sent to hospital"-Misato counterattacked as Shinji grew more and more annoyed , because she knew that he wasn't the easiest person to say sorry
"Ah ,fine . Whatever you say , i'll become the great teacher onizuka myself"
—-
"And done !"-Shinji proudly said as he looked upon his physics homework , for someone not truly interested in physics a task like terminal expansion would seem hard . But for Shinji who experienced heat and its reaction to cold materials almost everyday it was like learning to walk . Shinji closed the tab and opened another tab . As he opened the file it revealed a bike frame close to Shinji's 900 rr , Shinji pressed the layer button and on the screen of a 90s laptop Shinji watched as all the parts matched before the new engine was completed in front of Shinji's eyes, just as he licked his lips Asuka stood next to him as she looked upon his screen
"And I still wonder why aren't you a prodigy ?"-Asuka asked as Shinji finally noticed her and what she was wearing. 'Oh oh oh OH , that is hot !'-the part of Shinji's mind said as he stared down Asuka's red and white striped bikini.
"I told you i had other things to do , besides what's fun in chasing around professors for a dumb degree"-Shinji said as Asuka bended over the desk that gave Shinji a good view at her chest and looked at the screen
"Wait , is that your bike ? And mein gott , are . those rocket engines ?"-Asuka asked as she stared down the frame
"Well , I call them "Priss enhancers" , The rocket engines can temporarily boost the bike up to speeds that only I can say . Is that it could smoke any dodge Tomahawk , from what i could count if used correctly more than 720 km/h can be pulled off in a straight line"-Shinji said as Asuka again stood in front of him
"You can design an intricate system and write a program like that and you were in rehabilitation school ? If you took that project to any manufacturer you would get a job on the spot !"-Asuka said as Shinji sighed
"It all started when I was six , I could build a motorcycle with my bare hands . But I wanted it to go faster , so I studied and learned . After digitalization was a thing and I got my laptop I thought about adding more displays on my bike and started to learn programming , but in my heart I'm a punk and always will be. After everything with the angels will be over I'm gonna start a professional career . or i hope i will ,i probably got so good because nobody said that its enough"-Shinji said as he stared down his opus magnum
"How long have you been working on this ?"-Asuka asked as she sat on the second chair standing next to the table
"Since Gaghiel , the next time i was in the Geofront i bribed the guys responsible for the flying platforms , and after that i got schematics for the rocket engines i got to work , in the free time i had for something else i was putting this enhanced R4 into the frame , and finally done it after i finished physics , now it's just bodywork ,software and of course graphics"-Shinji replied as Asuka sighed being reminded of schoolwork she couldn't do thanks to the language barrier
"Well , "Senpai" . Can you show me the homework ?"-Asuka asked as Shinji opened the physics homework
"That's it ? It's just Terminal expansion. Its basics , it's just the damn language"-Asuka said as she got up from the chair and took Shinji's hand
"Come on ! You haven't come to a swimming pool just to do some homework"-Asuka said as Shinji got up
"Well yeah , but it's been sometime since last swimming lesson"-Shinji said as Asuka's face showed a frown
"Ah come on , it will come back on spot , and you are already wearing swimming trunks . Just be Van Halen and jump !"-Asuka said as she pointed at the pool
"Eh , I'm not sure . I was learning to swim in sewer water , i still have some weird memories"-Shinji said as Asuka started to run out of patience
"Look ,Rei is swimming over there . I'm sure you can do it !"-Asuka said as Shinji swallowed air and dashed to the water before taking the jump
"CANNON BALL !"-Shinji screamed in English as he landed in the water . Just as Asuka said it all came back to him and swimmed back to the surface
"See ? I told you !"-Asuka said as she prepared to jump
"WAIT DON'T !"-Shinji screamed as Asuka jumped into the water making it splash on Shinji's face
"Well , now i got you in the water !"-Asuka said as Shinji's face shown an expression that meant he would like a rope and a chair
"And what are we supposed to do now ?"-Shinji asked as Asuka came up with an idea
"We can do some lengths , after that we can do something different , come on !"-Asuka said as they started swimming , for the next 30 minutes Shinji and Asuka were swimming across the pool as they chased each other with childish grins , that was until Asuka stopped
"Hey , how about we do something different now ?"-Asuka asked
"Eh ? What do you mean ?"-Shinji asked as Asuka swimmed and climbed up the ladder
"Give me a minute"-Asuka said as she walked to the nearby closet , after 5 minutes or so she returned with diving equipment
"If we can't dive in Okinawa , we can dive here"-Asuka replied as Shinji's phone started ringing , Shinji got out of the pool and accepted the call
"Ah fine , Angel attack"-Shinji said as Asuka putted down the equipment
"Even during our vacation an Angel has to attack , wait for me and let's go"-Asuka said as Shinji took his laptop and phone and made his way to the changing room and switched to his traditional clothes . As he got out of the changing room he noticed Asuka and Rei
"OK , now let's go to the main base"-Shinji said as next 10 minutes the group spent making their way to the conference room and changing elevators as they finally entered and noticed Maya and Ritsuko
"Well well , so . What do we have to beat up now ?"-Shinji asked as he clutched his fist
"You are not going to destroy it , you are going to catch it"-Ritsuko said as the image of the embryo showed on the conference table
"So we are going to kill the baby ? Commander is a bigger bastard than i thought"-Shinji said with a tone that made Ritsuko facepalm
"Only if it's necessary , one of you will dive into mt. Asama and capture the angel . The one who will dive into the will be"-Ritsuko was cutted off by Asuka who lifted her hand
"Me ! I'll dive !"-Asuka enthusiastically jolted as Shinji remembered when he once tested the Type D equipment and a smug grin came on his face
"And Shinji , here are the modifications you asked for Unit 01"-Maya said as she handed him a paper
"Is it fueled up ?"-Shinji asked as he received a nod of confirmation , Shinji simply put a thumbs up
"Asuka , we will send you in Unit 02"-Ritsuko said which resulted in another ecstatic confirmation from Asuka
"What about me ?"-Rei asked in her old robotic voice
"Unit 00 is not compatible with the equipment , you'll be guarding the base"-Ritsuko replied as Shinji patted Rei's head
"Well that's great ! At least you have the 100% chance of survivability"-Shinji replied as Rei turned her head to look upon her brother
"We don't have much time , Shinji . Remember that we hadn't have time for testing the mods , so result to vulcan guns only"-Ritsuko replied as Shinji nodded in agreement
—-
Shinji pressed the button on his plugsuit that made it attach to his body and putted on his goggles and walked out of one the many changing rooms with his bag in hand and noticed Unit 02 dressed in the Type D suit , before he could comment on how stupid it looked something pierced
"AHHH , WHAT THE HELL IS THAT !"-Asuka screamed in a manner that Shinji thought it meant something bad happened , and as he expected he noticed Ritsuko Rei and , Asuka . He felled on the floor and started laughing
"Hahahahaha ! You look ridiculous !"-Shinji laughed as Rei helped him get back on his feet
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY UNIT 02 ?!"-Asuka screamed as she stared down her Eva that was dressed in the White chunky suit
"This is the type D equipment suit"-Ritsuko explained as Shinji stared down Asuka wearing the heat resistant plug suit that made her look like a balloon .
"I'm bailing out ! There is no way I'll allow myself to be seen like that !"-Asuka screamed as Shinji looked at her in her pumped up form as snickering could be heard across the cage , meanwhile on one of balconies a ponytailed man watched the whole situation
"Well that's a shame , I was hoping to see you in action !"-Kaji said as Asuka runned to the doorsill
"Ahh , I don't want Kaji to look at me in this state !"- Asuka shouted , 'and I don't want Shinji to look either !'. Shinji meanwhile grew annoyed with her shenanigans 'think think , Oh bingo !'
"Well Rei , looks like you're gonna take Unit 02"-Shinji said as he notice his provocation started working
"Ahh fine , I'll do it . No offense Rei but i don't want anyone except me in my Unit 02"-Asuka said as Shinji grinned seeing his plan work , after the last explanation Shinji and Rei made their way to the airstrip before they finally stood in front the mobile cage
"Well , this could be the last time i see you little sis"-Shinji said as he looked upon Rei as he tried to make his way to the plane before Rei grabbed him by his shoulder
"Wait , before you go . I wanted to give you this"-Rei said as she put a streak of hair in Shinji's hand
"A hair lock ?"- Shinji asked as he looked at his hand
"It's supposed to be a good luck charm , during the age of the Samurai lovers and siblings would cut a lock as a way to bring them luck on the battlefield"-Rei explained as Shinji putted the lock into his plugsuit pocket
"Gee thanks , I wasn't expecting to receive such a gift . Even if I wait for death everyday I always try to run away from it , I'll call you when the mission will be over"-Shinji said as he entered the plane and noticed the "new" unit 01 . The shoulder pylons were doubled so that there were four in total , all four were bulked up with eight rocket engines that allowed Unit 01 to reach stratosphere or accelerate running , The two additional pylons also received 60mm Vulcan guns for more firepower , since according to Shinji "If every Gundam has one set , why an Eva cant ?". Design of the head unit was also changed with a V-shaped visor protecting the eyes . As he got into the entry plug and noticed the mods he asked to be installed , including the DAT player with a giant "Provided by SONY" sticker next to it , as Shinji heard the plane leave the airstrip Shinji putted in the tape and thanks to his new special mixtape the entry plug was flooded with music before finally flooding the plug with LCL , for the next 30 minutes Shinji listened to music and watched the Japanese air force and fellow mobile cage carrying the type D equipment Unit 02 , Shinji pressed another button on the HUD and a straw showed up before Shinji took a sip of the drink , a just how he wanted it was cold coke zero . And so another few minutes passed before Shinji saw
"So that's ?"-Shinji said while still having a straw in his mouth as a comelink window with Misato opened next to him
"The very same and - wait is that a straw ?"-Misato asked as Shinji continued sipping his drink
"Well ok , Shinji drop first in about 10 min-"
"You know what Misato ? The rockets need testing , so . Activate the drop sequence !"-Shinji said as he pressed the button and released the safeties before seeing the noon sky before activating the Engines and feeling his synched body with an Eva fly as he checked the timer
"5 minutes ? That's why I asked for the battery change , I'll be there in a minute and half"-Shinji said as he licked his lips and pressed the pedal further . Unit 01 dashed in the sky as he could feel all the air pressed against his body , as Shinji noticed the landing zone for Unit 01 another comling window opened
"Well , at least we tested the rocket engines . Shinji , land . And take the umbilical cable"-Ritsuko said as Shinji started a dive-bomb flight before pressing hard on the brakes and landing on the landing spot . Misato meanwhile stared at Ritsuko
"Rocket engines ? really Rits ?"-Misato asked as Ritsuko unfolded her arms
"Hey , he wanted it and he got it . Besides everything he adds on this thing is designed by him and corrected by me . Kid really takes after his mom in terms of intelligence"-Ritsuko explained as Misato opened another comlink window
"Fine , since you already landed plug the cable and go to your position"-Misato said as Shinji nodded and plugged the cable in , as he noticed that power began already flooding in the batteries he activated the rocket engines and jumped to his position while sending a shockwave across the mockup center . As he landed another comlink window opened
"YOU COULD'VE WORN US !"-Misato screamed as Shinji felt his ears being drilled
"Hey , at least it cutted off some of our time !"-Shinji argued and Misato closed the comelink window
"Ok , me and Maya will go down to the field mockup center before the operation starts"-Ritsuko said as she and Maya left the building , Shinji meanwhile continued to watch the scorching lava for the next 20 minutes as the rest of the planes arrived
"Took you long enough"-Shinji said to the comlink window with Asuka in her inflated form , in the next few minutes Unit 02 was dropped to the ground and was connected to the crane .
"So , is everything set ? I'm getting impatient"-Shinji asked as Misato opened the comlink window
"We have to wait for the green light from the JSSDF to start"-Misato said as Ritsuko and Maya entered the room
"We have the green light"-Maya said as Misato nodded in approval
"Ok , Asuka . Are you ready ?"-Misato asked
"Yes , we can begin"-Asuka replied as the crane started lowering Unit 02
"Look Shinji ! I'm diving in a split !"-Asuka said as Unit 02 disappeared under the lava
"So ? How deep will she dive ?"-Shinji asked as the only answers she received were analytic numbers and calculations that made him feel cringe , Shinji switched the radio signal and connected with Unit 02
"So Asuka ? What do you see ?"-Shinji asked
"Well , I'm gonna quote you "I can't see shit" . It's just 120 meters of sight"-Asuka said as Shinji switched back to the main radio
"Deep level , 400 , 450 , 500 , 550 ,600 ,650 , 700 , 750 , 800 , 850 , 900 , 950 , 1000 , 1020 , lower border . Expected position of the target , 1300 meters"-Maya announced as Shinji watched the cable going lower 'if we won't find it fast she will be scorched'-Shinji fought as he licked his lips with uncertainty
"We don't stop , we continue"-Misato said as Shinji wanted to argue , but he is an mechanic/engineer and not a strategist so he knew she was right for the time being
"1350 , 1400 , crack in Unit 02's wire , 1480 , tolerance border"-Maya announced as Shinji grinded his teeth in disagreement
"We are not stopping , continue lowering . Asuka , how do you feel ?"-Misato asked
"For now, yes , but I would love to take a shower . I hope you will keep the onsen promise !"-Asuka said as Misato silently giggled . Shinji meanwhile listened to the Maya's signals and started to get worried
"Aren't we going too far ? I mean , Asuka lost her Prog knife ?"-Shinji asked across the radio
"Relax , we can continue"-Misato said as Asuka opened another window
"Ah relax ! It's going well !-Asuka said as she showed him a thumbs up
"1780 meters . New expected position of the target"-Maya announced as Asuka noticed the angel
"It's there"-She said as the embryo revealed itself to her
"And , GOT IT ! See Shinji ? Nothing to worry about "-Asuka said as she caught the angel in the cage and the cable started to go up , that was until the angel started to hatch and the alarm sound echoed in Unit 01's entry plug
"I TOLD YOU SO ! FUCK THIS IM GOING IN AND TAKE HER OUT !"-Shinji screamed as he prepared the engine starting sequence
"NO ! You are gonna burn to death ! Stay in your position and throw Asuka your prog knife !"-Misato argued
"He removed them , his only small scale progressive weapon is the throwing karambit but it wont dive in the lava"-Ritsuko explained
"See ? At least Unit 01 will pull through without me and I'll save Asuka , Consider this a Kamikaze attack !"-Shinji said as Unit 01 flew into the air abandoning the giant sword-mace on the ground , As he saw he was in the position to dive he took out the hair lock Rei gave to him and clenched it to the controls as he went to head dive inside the volcano
"Unit 01 went in ! Synch ratio increased to 150 %"-Maya screamed as the main video feed switched to Unit 01's main camera as it was showing Shinji dashing through the volcano . Shinji meanwhile started feeling the lack of protection as he went deeper and felt like he was nakedly attached to a radiator on a desert , but he didnt stopped and pressed further as the alert light on the hud was playing a cacophony of sounds compared to nails screeching a chalktable
"SHUT UP !"-Shinji screamed as he punched the light , Misato meanwhile ripped her hair out her head
"SHINJI ! BAIL OUT ! YOU WON'T PULL THOUGH FOR THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES !"-Misato screamed as Shinji finally noticed the spaceman looking Eva and the angel
"ASUKA !"
"Shinji ? You idiot !? You are gonna die if you wont fly ou-"
"I CARE SHIT IF I DIE ! CATCH !"-Shinji screamed as he threw the karambit to Asuka who grabbed it and tried to attack the angel
"It was born here and it got used to the heat ! But-"-Shinji was cutted off by Asuka
"THERMAL EXPANSION !"-Asuka screamed as she used the karambit and cutted on one of the wires
"EAT THIS ! GET ALL THE COOLING TO WIRE THREE !"-Asuka screamed as she smashed her hand inside the Angel's mouth and all the cooling started flooding . As a last ditch effort the angel cut the last of the wires connecting it to the crane before it finally destroyed itself
"C-come on , im g-getting you out"-Shinji said as he grabbed Asuka's hand and pressed hard on the boosters when they both made their way towards the surface , Shinji started to feel everything buzz out as he finally blasted through the lava holding Unit 02 in his hand before he started passing out with the hair lock clenched in his hand
FEW HOURS LATER
"Ahh , thank something in the sky that the onsen has baths like that !"-Shinji said as he chilled in the cold water , after the battle with the Angel designated as Sendalphon he couldn't remember the most , the only things he remembered were some flashbacks . Mostly him getting out of Unit 01 and plugsuit , and what catched him off guard . Asuka trying to wake him up. And after he woke up he remembered his talk with Misato
"70% percent of Unit 01's armor was burned . Do you have any explanation ?"
"I did what i thought was right"
"ALMOST DYING WAS RIGHT ?! AND WHY DO YOU THINK ASUKA IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU ?!"
"Silly , because i love her"
'I know i do' . Shinji thought as he remembered this conversation . If he didnt love her he wouldn't jump into that volcano , but he grew a bit sad that Asuka didn't talk to him after he got up. Apparently she was doing the pilot report from the mission before going to the onsen. Shinji got out of the tub and touched one of the burns as he could notice they started to fade away. He putted on his bathrobe and grabbed his bag before walking out on the balcony , he took out his SDAT and put in the Megamix #2 as track #7 started playing in his ears
"Fly me to the moon , and let me play among stars"
Shinji focused on the music before he felt a tap on his shoulder . As he turned around he noticed Asuka wearing a bathrobe
"Oh , hey"-Shinji tried to start the conversation
"Why ? Just why did you jump into that volcano ? You were just a teeny tiny step from death and you walked off ?"-Asuka asked as Shinji just smiled
"the reason number 1 is that i care for you and i don't want to see you die , the reason number 2 is because i love you"-Shinji said as he noticed Asuka blush , for the next few minutes the stood in front of each other
"You mean it ?"
"Yes i do"
"So do i"-Asuka finished as she jumped his arms before kissing him
A/N : Well another chapter done . And all asushippers got what they wanted . Shinji and Asuka are finally together and now the Shinji will have to share the spotlight of a main character with her
NEXT TIME ON HIGHWAY STAR : Shinji and Asuka fight their worst enemy , teenage hormones