Shinji Steel 20
Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.
All throughout the outskirts of Tokyo-3, machinery holding balloon duplicates of Unit-01 or rail-mortars are in operation. The purpose? To find just how defensible the 'Fifth Angel' is. On top of that, it had deployed a drill to drill down into the ground. As for Shinji, well…
"Explain yourself, Third Child. You had the option to stand fast before your opponent. Yet you did not do so."
"I don't fucking know about you, 'Commander Dumbass', but I'm not going to just fucking stand idly and fucking wait until a fucking Angel decides to fucking blast me! If you want to fucking see if it'll fucking blast you, be my fucking guest!"
"That's just it, though. How did you know it was going to blast you in the first place? I have the transcripts right here. Feel free to read them if you wish."
"No need. I remember." Shinji's mind goes back to when he heard Berto's warning. Along with Misato's attempt at warning him.
"Shinji! I'm picking up a buildup of energy in the Angel! It seems to know you're coming! Release the stops!" Without debating it, Shinji did so. A split second later, Misato's panicked voice came in.
"SHINJI!" But it was too late for Shinji already know and prepared accordingly.
"Oh, but I insist." Gendo's voice intrudes on his recall as the 'dumbass' goes on. "I'm sure you'll find it most enlightening. Particularly the bridge communications and data tracks."
Shinji 'tentatively' leans over the indicated reports and reads the sections Gendo had mentioned. Sure enough, the bridge comms and data tracks include his actions.
LT Aoba; I'm picking up a buildup of energy on the Angel.
CPT Katsuragi; SHINJI!
Deactivation of catapult 5 top stops by Unit-01's command
LT Ibuki; Unit-01's deactivated the catapult stops!
Sync ratio for Pilot Ikari 98%
LT Hyuga; It's almost as if he's psychic!
Unit-01 executes forward flip and drop-kicks onto target.
Pilot Ikari comments on target being 'An Angel-sized Sherman tank'
Pilot Ikari tries playing 'Operation' on target. Attempt failed.
Pilot Ikari tries 'busting a cap' into target's 'ass'. Attempt failed.
Pilot Ikari requests rifle…
Having read enough, Shinji backs away and waits until Gendo speaks.
"So I ask you again, Third Child, how did you know what was going to happen?"
"It was a hunch, sir. No more, no less."
"You are not to rely on hunches, Third Child. They will only bring negative results. For you and NERV. That is all." Giving Gendo a curt nod, Shinji exits. Once he's exited, Gendo turns to Fuyutsuki and asks, "What do you make of it, Vice-Commander?"
"If anything, his hunch did save us time in making repairs by avoiding serious damage. It'll give us time to formulate a strategy. Captain Katsuragi is working on it as we speak."
As she watches on the monitor, Misato can only frown grimly as the Unit-01 shaped balloon is destroyed on the main thoroughfare. Up next, the rail-mounted mortar pops out from where the first two beams are facing away. Before it can even take aim, blast city.
'I gotta admit, Shinji's gambit did pay off. We now know it can attack at literally any corner. So our best bet is to attack from a spot with no corner. Or at least from concealment.' Out loud, she says, "Hyuga."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I need you to crunch some numbers for me through the MAGI."
"Yes, ma'am!" Three minutes later, Hyuga finishes. "Here are the crunched numbers, ma'am. But they don't look good."
"Let's have 'em." After he tells her, she asks, "That's as high as we'll get?"
"I'm afraid so, ma'am. Shall we run up the 'white flag' now?"
"Hell no! Let's party!" With that, she reports to 'Commander Dumbass' and Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki. "The best chance we have is 15% with a sniper attack using a high-powered positron rifle." Fuyutsuki can't help but be intrigued.
"The MAGI are in concurrence?"
"Yes sir."
"With the odds at 15%, it's a risky proposal at best, Captain."
"I know, Commander, but it's the best we have."
"Approved, Captain. Use any means necessary to ensure victory."
"Yes sir." Giving him a salute, she exits, thinking, 'Now all I need is a shower to get "dumbass" germs off of me! Just being around him makes me feel dumb!'
Back in the office, Fuyutsuki looks down at the younger man before clearing his throat.
"Do you think they'll pull it off, Commander?" Gendo's lips only curl into a cold sneer. Filled with malice.
In the EVA cages, Shinji looks up at Unit-01 until he hears footsteps. Looking toward them, he sees Rei in her plug-suit and gives her a grin.
"Hey, Ayanami. Looking forward to finally taking part in this turkey shoot?"
"I am not certain, Ikari." Looking up at his Unit before back to him, she then asks, "How did you know what the Angel was going to do?"
"It was a hunch, Ayanami. That's all."
"A hunch that prevented serious damage to Unit-01. If you had not deactivated your stops, you most likely would have either wound up in the Infirmary or…"
"The morgue, right?"
"Correct." Glancing at his Unit once more, this time without turning back, she asks, "What do you think Takamiya would have done if you had not survived?"
"I think she'd have fallen to pieces. Grieving a future that wouldn't have happened." With that, she turns back to him. Her visage impassive, yet he can see resolve in her blood red eyes.
"I see. I shall protect you, Ikari, to ensure your future comes to fruition." Her voice going so soft, Shinji has to strain his ears to hear her, she murmurs, "You and Takamiya both if need be."
"While you protect us, I'll protect you, Ayanami. No need to worry about that." Stunned that Shinji was able to hear her, Rei only puts it out of her mind before responding.
"There is no need to worry about me. If I die, I can be replaced." Before Shinji can even ask the enigmatic girl what she meant, Misato walks up to them. "Captain Katsuragi."
"Hey, Rei, Shinji." Giving Shinji a smirk, she asks, "Could you leave us be for a bit, please, Shinji? Rei and I have supplies to get."
"Sure, Misato. Supplies for what, though?"
"For 'Operation Yoshima', of course."
"Huh?" Shinji looks over at Rei and sees she's as perplexed as he is. 'At least I'm not alone in not understanding what Misato means. But, what did Rei mean by what she said? "If I die, I can be replaced." What kind of inanely insane nonsense is that?' With that, he moves away, allowing them to work.
"What kind of supplies are needed, Captain?"
"I'm thinking the JSDF prototype positron cannon for starters. Along with a shield for you to use."
"A shield, ma'am?"
"Yes, Rei. Shinji has the highest ratio and is best adept at the rifle. You're to be his protection during this operation."
"Understood."
As Shinji reaches the elevator, he sees the door opening. Allowing him to face Maya.
"Oh, Pilot Ikari. Hello."
"Hello, Lieutenant Ibuki."
"How're you feeling today?"
"Aside from a numb buzzing in my foot, not too bad."
"Oh right. That forward flip and drop kick against the Fifth Angel." Giving him a slight smile, she then asks, "Any chance you can tell me if you've seen Captain Katsuragi?"
"Yeah. She's with Ayanami. They're about to go and get some supplies."
"In that case then, I might as well talk with you."
"Me?" At her nod and cheerful smile, Shinji asks, "Why would you want to talk to me?"
"I'm trying to make sense of your sync ratios. Along with your bio-mechanical harmonics when it comes to the EVA." Shinji has one thought and one thought alone.
'Not good!'
At the Takamiya house, Rits is watching the television when a knock is heard at the door.
"Ritsy, could you get the door please? I've got my hands full here!"
"Okay, Mom!" Getting up from the seat she was sitting in, she walks to the door and opens it to a crack. Allowing her to see a thin reedy man wearing glasses and a blue business suit. "Yes?"
"Is this the Takamiya residence?"
"It is."
"Ah. Am I to understand you are Ritsuko Takamiya, adopted daughter of Deidre Takamiya?"
"You are."
"Most excellent. I hope I didn't come at a bad time. I'm Chadosako Ubatigona. A lawyer with the firm representing the interests of your deceased birth parents, Hoshio and Yuriko Takusona."
"Oh? Just a moment. I need to get my Mother right quick here." Closing the door, Rits walks to the kitchen and says, "It's some lawyer wanting to talk to me about my birth Mom and Dad, Mom."
"Okay. Let him in and have him sit. I'll be there shortly."
"Okay." Going back to the door, she opens it and nods him in. "Mom will join us shortly. Come on in and have a seat, Mr Ubatigona."
"Thank you. I will." As the man sits, he looks around the house and nods. "It's a nice place you have here."
"Thank you." Deidre's voice gets his attention, prompting him to start rising. Only for Deidre to say, "You don't have to stand on my account."
"Very good, Ms Takamiya." Once Deidre's seated, he begins. "As I'm sure Ritsuko has told you, I'm with the firm representing Mr and Mrs Takusona's interests."
"Ritsy only mentioned you're here about them, but she didn't go into detail."
"Then perhaps I can clarify. This has to do with her inheritance. The conditions of which are very iron-clad. It can only be released to her when she comes of age or an urgent matter comes up." Shrugging, he adds, "In this case, it's the latter."
"Oh?" Both ladies blink before turning to each other and back to him. Deidre taking it.
"In what way is the urgent matter justification for bringing this up?"
"I'll tell you later. For now, though, the contents of her inheritance are within this documentation here." Bringing his briefcase up, he opens it and brings out a folded document. "Your Parents' Will."
Tentatively, Rits accepts the document and opens it. Her brown eyes going over the wording carefully until they bolt open at the contents.
"My parents were rich?"
"Yes. Although they'd preferred keeping it quiet. You would not believe how many people came to your Father looking for loans or handouts. Your Mother was a social butterfly to be certain, yet she was also quite solitary at times."
"You knew them, Mr Ubatigona?"
"Oh yes. Your Father was an investment broker, yet he wanted to be absolutely sure about future investments before he'd invest for his clients. So, he'd ask me to look into them. Sometimes if they looked promising, I'd give him a nod. If not, I'd advise him against it. In turn, he'd advise them against it."
"That must've pissed some of them off."
"Not really. Your Father had an excellent reputation in the financial community." Smiling fondly, he adds, "He also had a hobby of restoring old boats. His pride and joy of them all was 'Perseus'. It was his thirtieth boat of restoration."
"When I found Ritsy, in that little life-pod, that was the name of the boat I'd seen on the bow. But it was separated from the rest." Curious, Deidre then asks, "Just how good was he at restoring them?"
"He was so dedicated to restoring them, he'd gone beyond the standards for safety. Every single one was painstakingly and meticulously brought up to beyond the standards. That's why I am stunned to hear about it having been found in that state from your lips, Ms Takamiya."
"So there's no possible way it could've shattered from a wave like one from Second Impact?"
"Indeed. At most, 'Perseus' would've just rolled over three or four times before coming upright again. Then again, he didn't exactly figure on an explosive force before Second Impact." His comment can't help but bring a sad smile to Rits' lips before he goes on. "In fact, before the ill-fated voyage for 'Perseus', he'd just gotten done restoring a small cabin cruiser. He named it 'Mihke', intending to leave it for his unborn child."
"Where is it at?"
"At your parents' home in Hokkaido. They lived in a big, yet modest, house on the beach. The boats he'd restored were often for business associates or old friends from his high school days. But, 'Perseus' and 'Mihke' he'd kept as they were abandoned wrecks when he found them." Deidre can't help but smile fondly before sighing.
"While this is all very fascinating, I'd really like to discuss the urgent matter that prompted your visit, Mr Ubatigona."
"Oh, right." Reaching into his briefcase again, he asks, "Are you familiar with the name Kyusuke Tokisona?"
"Yeah. He's the quack that implanted Ritsy with a BCI without authorization from me."
"He's also her Grandfather, Ms Takamiya."
"Wait. Let me get this straight. You're telling us the guy we're suing is my Grandfather?"
"Correct, Miss Takamiya. Or should I address you as Miss Takusona?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"We checked the records regarding your adoption of her, Ms Takamiya. Problem is, there are no records." The man has a smarmy smirk grow onto his face as he goes on. "As such, Ritsuko's Grandfather has filed a suit for sole custody of her. Although he did say if you would drop your lawsuit against him, he would withdraw his suit in light of you providing her with as happy a home-life as possible."
"Blackmail, huh?"
"Not 'blackmail', please. It's such a ghastly word. I like to think of it as more like friendly to semi-hostile persuasion."
"You can call it what you like. I'll call it as it is. And I don't take kindly to blackmail under any terms you tack onto it to cover it by."
"Oh? And just what're you going to do about it?" He soon wishes he hadn't asked that in light of the scary glint in her eyes.
"Ritsy, why don't you find something to occupy yourself?"
"How about if I clean the van's interior up? Will that do, Mom?"
"Sure, baby. It has been looking like a packrat's nest lately."
"Okay."
Making a beeline for the door, picking up a trash can along the way, Rits can clearly hear knuckles cracking. Deidre chuckling sinisterly just as the door closes behind her. As she walks toward the van, she can hear crashing and screams. Most of the screams coming from the Lawyer.
"NO!"
"STAY STILL DAMMIT!"
"PLEASE! I'M SORRY!"
"NOT BY A LONG SHOT!"
"NO! THE LEG DOES NOT BEND THAT WAY!"
"IT DOES NOW, JACKOFF!"
"AHH!"
With that, the door flies open and a clearly beaten man exits the house, screaming out loud.
"Start the car! Start it! Start it!" As he hobbles his way to the car parked on the curb, an angry Deidre steps into the doorway. Menace on her face.
"Tell your friends that if they come here, wanting us to drop our lawsuit, to be ready for what you got! And then some!"
By the time she'd gotten the last word out, the car's peeling away from the curb. Deidre then sighs before looking over at a frightened Ritsuko. In all the years she'd lived with her, Ritsuko had never seen Deidre so livid before.
"Mommy?" Rits' frightened query causes Deidre to snap out of her angered fugue. Causing her to sigh.
"Sorry you had to hear that, baby." Trying to give her a soft smile, but failing, Deidre adds, "I'm going to take a bath to calm myself back down. We'll talk later. Okay, Ritsy?"
"Okay, Mom." Rits sees Deidre succeed in smiling before smiling back to her. As the woman goes back into the house, Rits shudders and murmurs, "Note to self; Don't make Mom that angry!"
With that, she sets about to cleaning the detritus from the van. Starting with the back where most of the trash is. Lightly humming as she picks up the trash, Rits makes quick work of it as she makes her way to the front. When she reaches the front, however, and looks under the seats, she sees a small black and gold gym bag under the passenger seat.
'What could that be?' Gently tugging it out from under the seat, she opens the zipper and sees a gold headdress and a black and gold bodysuit. 'I hadn't seen Mom wear this before. Not even on Halloween!' Looking around to ensure no one's watching, she brings it out and places it against her form. 'Other than looking like it'll be a little big on me, it looks like it might fit me. No. Bad Ritsuko! Bad!'
Stuffing it back into the bag, along with the headdress, she decides to keep the discovery a secret from Deidre. As it's highly likely that Deidre doesn't know about it. Until she sees a newspaper clipping dangling down from the headdress.
"What's this here?" Reading the clipping, she murmurs, "'Industrial spy Dragonelle presumed dead after Second Impact'." When she looks at the picture, her fingers go numb in shock, yet they don't go loose. "Oh my God. Mom's Dragonelle?"
At the JSDF Research base, Misato is producing a document for the foreman of the cannon project.
"As a duly-appointed representative of NERV, I'm here to pick up your prototype cannon."
"But, Captain Katsuragi…"
"Look, I know it's the only one you have. NERV will make every attempt to return it the way it was when the operation's over."
"All right. As long as you try though."
"Thank you." At that, the roof lifts away, revealing an orange head with a solitary eye. "Okay, Rei! Take it away!" As the orange Evangelion hoists it up, Misato adds, "Be gentle with it! It's a fragile prototype after all!" With that, the EVA moves away, with Hyuga coming up behind her.
"Okay. We've got the prototype from the JSDF. But where are we going to get the juice to power it from?"
"Where do you think?" Misato can't help but smile playfully at the bespectacled Lieutenant. "All over Japan."
The next six hours are frenzied as the crews practically burn the midnight oil. Toiling to ready the weapon and shield for the EVAs. While this is going on, Shinji is in the EVA cages, hoping that Maya had bought his feeble explanation.
"So, Shinji, just how did your harmonics mesh with Unit-01 so well, anyway?"
"Something Berto told me when it came to operating machinery. Be the machinery. Merge with it and you'll succeed in operating it."
"But your bio-mechanical sync was coming from you. No amount of 'that' would make it possible." Shinji could only shrug at that, frustrating Maya to no end.
'I hated telling her like that, but I couldn't just tell her about the probes! She'd likely tell Doctor Akagi and she'd tell "Commander Dumbass" about them! He'd then want them extracted, ignoring that they'd integrated with me and that they'd self-destruct if extracted forcefully!'
"Pilot Ikari." At Ayanami's soft voice, Shinji turns and sees the blue-haired girl. "A question, if I may."
"Sure. Go ahead."
"How did you and Takamiya meet?"
"We met on the beach last year during break." Smiling fondly, he recounts how shy he was when it came to her. Along with one other detail. "Some time later, we became official. I was her boyfriend and she was my girlfriend. We still are, too. Much to the point where I'm thinking about looking at rings."
"I understand the context, yet not the emotion between you two. Most perplexing."
"Yeah, well, that's the world for you. One big old cornucopia of perplexing things and concepts." Curious, he asks, "What'd you mean by what you said earlier? 'If I die, I can be replaced.'? What's that all about?"
"Simply that."
"I don't buy that one bit. Even if they clone you, it just wouldn't be the same. You are you. Nothing can take that away. Not this turkey shoot or any other thing. Never forget that, Ayanami. Please."
"I will consider it." Looking back at the cages before Shinji, she asks, "Do you think your 'code' as you called it applies to what we are doing, Ikari?"
"Yeah." Clenching his left fist, he murmurs, "Abso-fucking-lutely."
"In that case, then, I have the battle plan for 'Operation Yoshima' with me." Reading the timelines to him, along with seeing a nod of acknowledgement, she asks, "Any questions or other concerns to address?"
"Not really. But since it's almost time to head out, let's do so. I'll probably think of something to address with you while we're at it."
"Yes."
Fifteen minutes later, after the EVAs are in position, the sniper rifle completed ahead of schedule, Akagi fills Rei and Shinji in on the final details.
"We figure that with a solid charge of energy, Pilot Ikari can bring down the Fifth Angel for the count. The best place to target is any one of the corners you can get locked onto."
"Based on…"
"The beams the Angel fires out originates from them, Pilot Ikari. Thing is, if you have to take more than one shot, you have to let the rifle cool and recharge."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Ayanami? Your role's still the same as planned. If that Angel fires, you're to shield Pilot Ikari until he can fire."
"Understood."
An hour later, Shinji and Rei are seated side-by-side as they look out over Tokyo-3. The Fifth Angel drilling steadily into the ground. Shinji then finds himself with a question.
"Ayanami, why do you pilot Evangelion?"
"It's my bond."
"With Evangelion?"
"To all people."
"You're very strong."
"As are you, Ikari, yet you choose not to show it unless you need to."
"Yeah, well, that's me for you, I guess."
"So it would seem. In any case, it is all I have."
"You shouldn't really believe that, Ayanami." Making like she didn't hear him, Rei stands up. Shinji following suit. "I meant what I said just now, Ayanami."
"It is time. Good-bye." With that, the pale girl gets into her entry plug, causing Shinji to shake his head.
"Someone's thinking a little darkly tonight." Berto's voice gets a soft and sad smile from Shinji before going on. "We're watching you from the sidelines, Shinji. We're also well clear of Mt Futago. Any info I can get, you'll be the next one to know." Shinji gives a slight nod before stretching out his arms.
"Let's do this." Getting into 01's entry plug and closing the hatch, he sees the LCL coming up to his face. Causing him to mutter, "I don't think I'll ever get used to this."
"I understand, Shinji." Misato's warm voice brings a smile to his face as she adds, "But without LCL, you can't sync with the Evangelion."
"Enough with the pep talk." Kat's voice gets a bigger smile onto Shinji's face as she goes on. "Go out there and whack that Angel, Shinji!"
From her position in the command trailer, Akagi can't help but notice Shinji's smile.
'What's he smiling about?'
"Doctor Akagi!"
"What is it, Maya?"
"The Third's sync ratio is at 110%!"
'That can't be right! It's not even going "Berserker" on us!'
"Well, as long as he's got sync, that's the main thing. Shinji, we're entrusting Japan's electricity to you!"
"Roger. Loading fuse now." Upon hearing Aoba confirm fuse loading, Misato nods.
"Squeeze out some high quality D/C!"
In his plug, Shinji summons the targeting hood, intent on ending the Fifth Angel's bid to start Third Impact. Thinking of those he cares for, those who care for him. Along with thoughts of one person he wants to spend the rest of his life with, he can't help but grit his teeth.
'You're not touching any one of them, you filthy piece of shit.' Listening intently as the buildup of energy into the rifle is called out, Shinji can't help but feel gentle fingers going through his hair. 'This feels nice. Though I wish it's Rits doing it right now.' Upon feeling a hand gently cupping his cheek, he can't help but feel warm all over.
Back in the Command Trailer, Maya notices his sync rising up to 120% and calls out again.
"Doctor Akagi!" When the fake blond turns to her, Maya goes on. "Shinji's score just went up another ten percent!"
"Rifle's almost fully charged!" Hyuga's voice is calm, yet excited at the same time. "No sign of buildup from the Angel yet."
"Do you suppose it knows what's coming?"
"No chance in Hell, Aoba. If it did, it'd be building up as well." At the tone and green light, Hyuga adds, "Full power!" All of a sudden, his panel picks up a buildup from the Angel. "I've got buildup and firing from the target!"
"Firing."
As the rifle fires, they all see the beam fire right out toward the Angel and plow right through its beam. Which has an interesting effect on the Angel. Namely in melting its shaft before the final armor layer can be penetrated.
"Drill shaft destroyed!"
"Shinji! Hurry! Change the fuse!"
"Roger!" Once the fuse is changed, the cool-down and recharge begins. Leaving very little time for Shinji to use. "How's our charge time looking?"
"Not good, Shinji. Two more minutes before recharge is complete. You've got one more shot at this before doom happens."
"It ain't going to get us." Shinji's voice is so serene, yet strong, Misato can't help but smile softly.
'Do it, Shinji. Do it for Rits.'
Back in his plug, Shinji smirks as he says, "My girlfriend asked me to give you and your buddies something, 'Fifth Angel'. So, I'm giving you a case of death. How does that strike ya?" With that, the Angel starts building up again. Just as Rei's Unit steps in front of him, shuttle-shield in hand.
"The Angel is about to fire, Pilot Ikari. I will shield you until you fire."
With that, the Angel fires, its beam striking the shield. The escaping heat from around the edges of the shield beginning to melt the armor.
"Ayanami!" Upon seeing the charge is complete, Shinji snarls out, "Now you die!" Pulling the trigger, Shinji's snarl is still present. Along with a sinister smirk on his face. "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker!"
This time, the beam from the rifle bores right into one of the Angel's firing points and out the other side. As the Angel falls dead to the ground, Shinji ejects his plug after getting Misato to eject 00's plug. Running toward it, he can't help but yell out.
"Ayanami! Rei!" His hands making contact with the hatch handles, he ignores the burning sensation as best he can while prying the handles to the 'open' position. "Please be alright!" When he gets the hatch open, he's greeted by a flood of LCL but holds on tight. Once it's ebbed away, he calls out again.
"Ayanami!" Looking inside, he sees the girl awake and aware before going on. Ignoring the tears on his face. "Don't ever say good-bye before a mission! It's just too sad and not right! Much like you shouldn't say EVA is all you have! You have me and Rits too, after all!" Rei only sits up and takes in Shinji's visage before looking away and giving her reply.
"I am sorry. I do not know what is appropriate for something like this."
"Why don't you try smiling?" Rei looks back and sees Shinji with a soft expression on his face. One she'd seen on Gendo before when he'd saved her life. In return, she gives him a soft smile.
At their observation point, Josh, Kat and Berto share a massive sigh of relief.
"He did it."
"He sure did, hermano. He sure did." Watching Shinji as he helps Rei out of the slightly-melted plug, Berto adds, "Along with possibly saving a sibling's life."
"So you think the girl's Shinji's sister, Berto?"
"It's possible, Kat. But I need to check her genetic structure first. Then compare it with Shinji's. I mean, there has to be a reason Rei Ayanami looks like Shinji's Mom." The others give Berto a nod before they all get into the 'Roadcruiser'. Little do they realize they were not alone.
Up in the trees, a feminine figure clad in a black and gold outfit looks down at the scene and grimaces.
'Okay. No need to make a big deal of it. He was just checking to ensure she was safe. Much like I was checking to ensure he was safe.' Jumping down from the trees, she verbally says, "Despite me being a little small, it's actually a good fit."
"It's good to see you in your outfit again, 'Nelle." The sudden voice behind her causes her to turn around and come face-to-face with Psycho. Only for Psycho to add, "You're not 'Nelle." Blinking, he then asks, "Ritsy?" Ritsuko Takamiya has only one proper response for it. She faints dead away into Psycho's arms. Causing him to pick the unconscious girl up into his arms.
As he holds her close, he murmurs, "This ain't gonna end well. For her or me. 'Nelle is so going to bust a vein when she sees Ritsy in my arms. With Ritsy wearing her old outfit, no less."