Years ago, the white ceiling of Nerv's hospital room was an unfamiliar one. These days, it feels almost as familiar as my own room. Just how many times have I woken up from an Angel battle to find myself lying down in the hospital connected to whatever weird equipment they'd decided to hook me up to?

So, given that I was last conscious at the end of an Angel battle that almost killed me, it comes as a great surprise to find myself somewhere other than Nerv's hospital wing.

"An unfamiliar ceiling…"

"It's Nerv's private dormitory wing." I almost jump out of the bed at the sound of a familiar deadpan voice. Of course, the speaker is none other than my Witch companion who's sitting at a nearby desk reading. She looks at me with a slight smile, "Bet you didn't know this place existed."

She was right, of course. I had no idea that Nerv had a private dormitory. Well, if Lambdadelta can change the Angels then I imagine that she can add entirely new sections to Nerv as she pleases. Thinking about it, it's quite scary…

I look around the room. It is unlike the rest of Nerv's usual green colour. It's a dark black, no, dark blue colour that makes up the general colour scheme of the room. The walls don't seem to be made of metal but I can't say for sure what they are made of.

Aside from the lights set to dim on the ceiling, which is probably because of Bernkastel's gloomy tastes, the only other light source is a desk lamp emitting a soft, yellow light over Bernkastel's book. Opposite the bed (also in a dark blue) are some mechanical wardrobes and against the wall between them is the wooden desk Bernkastel sits at.

To put it in short terms, it's a very dark and gloomy room and pretty unfitting with Nerv's usual design. Thinking about it like that, Lambdadelta was almost certainly the creator of this wing.

"What? Not gonna respond? Have you forgotten how to speak or something?" Bernkastel's sneering voice shakes me from my thoughts. Ahh… I must've been silent for a while without realising.

"Oh, sorry." I immediately apologise. I swear I see a ghost of a smile grace the Witch's lips. I always swear I see it whenever I say sorry but it goes by too fast for me to ever be sure. Well, I suppose if I think I've seen it that many times then she must smile slightly. Is it because she enjoys it or just finds it funny? I don't think I'll ever know.

"At least you're not so out of it that you're unable to pay attention." Bernkastel snaps her book shut and lets it fade into purple mist, "You're a morning person so there's no point in delaying things. Let's talk a bit since we have the opportunity."

I nod at Bernkastel's order.

"There wasn't much point in explaining things since we had an unoriginal Angel to deal with so let's go over exiting the Gameboard.
"All players with pieces on the Gameboard can exit and enter the Gameboard at will. You did so unconsciously when you wanted to speak to Lambda when that shitty Angel appeared. Other players can't force you out of the Gameboard or prevent you from exiting except Lambda herself. Basically, it's down to your choice alone whether you enter or leave."

"Lambdadelta said earlier that exiting the Gameboard allows you to interact with her and take breaks but what's the point in that?" I ask.

"Interacting Lambda doesn't have much point except for clarifying rules and elements of the Gameboard but she'd probably try and manipulate you at the same. That kid likes to pretend to be stupid because she finds it fun but she's just as cunning and ruthless as I am. Interacting with her is a bad idea so just ignore Lambda if she pesters you. If you have something to ask her, get me be the middleman."

"I'll make sure to." Bernkastel smiles at my agreement before returning to her passive expression and continues to explain the whole 'outside the Gameboard' thing.

"As for taking breaks outside the Gameboard, it has the benefit of pausing the game so we can talk and strategize for as long as we want, or rather, as long as Lambda lets us. We won't have to worry about being interrupted by pieces who'd force me to teleport away but the Gameboard only pauses when you leave it so I can come and go as I please."

"Why would someone's presence force you to leave?"

"I'll explain that in a bit." She responds with a slight refusal. I guess she wants to stay on topic. In that case, I'll ask an on topic question.

"...So we can just 'pause' in the middle of an Angel battle? Isn't that really strong? Why'd Lambdadelta let us do that and why didn't you tell me about it."

"I didn't tell you about it because you've got the wrong idea. You couldn't have left the Gameboard. That kid already accounted for it and made a rule so that 'players on the Gameboard cannot leave the Gameboard during an Angel crisis'. When an Angel shows up, our ability to leave the Gameboard is removed until it's defeated, to put it in clearer terms."

"But I left the Gameboard right when Godzilla showed up."

"That was what made Lambda realise that it could make a lot of Angel fights much easier. The rule was implemented right after."

"In that case, would it be possible for us to find any other loopholes in the rules we can exploit?"

"Unfortunately, no. Any kind of exploitation of the rules that goes against Lambda's desires have been dealt with. She was very careful with checking over the rules before and after you accidentally found a loophole. She's the Witch of Certainty so she could Certainly get rid of all such loopholes. You could consider this game's rules a perfect set. As expected from the 1000 year old Witch of Certainty who's played countless Gameboards."

That young girl is 1000? I figured that she was older than she looked but 1000? Does that mean that Bernkastel is centuries or even millennia old? Given how she keeps referring to Lambdadelta as 'that kid', then she must be older than her.

"That's about it for that whole thing." Bernkastel finishes her explanation of the Gameboard.

"What about that thing about other people making you leave?" That's a weird thing for Lambda to put in.

"It's a part of being a Witch. Our existences are fragile and fuelled by human belief. When the gaze of a human that doesn't believe in us reaches us, the anti-magic toxin they emit forces us to disappear. All players on the Gameboard will be able to see me since they believe in me."

"Anti-magic toxin… So anyone who doesn't believe in Witches can't perceive them." Isn't that almost like saying anyone who does believe in a Witch and sees them is delusional? Although I don't think a delusion can explain away everything I've been through, "But other players? Is Lambdadelta also on this Gameboard?"

"Maybe. It all depends on her fancy which could change from game to game. I was more so talking about that annoying pretty boy Angel, Nagisa Kaworu."

"Oh yeah. Kaworu-kun could remember previous games. Does that mean he's a Witch too? No, it would be a Wizard, wouldn't it?"

"*giggle*. An Angel, a Witch?" Bernkastel begins to giggle to herself a bit. When she puts it like that, it does sound a bit stupid, "That boy ascended from the confines of this Gameboard after the original run and became an Inquisitor of Heresy. He frequently takes part in copies of this Gameboard though."

"Inquisitor of Heresy? So he hunts Witches or something?"

"That's the long and short of it. There's some more to it than that but you don't need to know about it. Even if he tried to hunt me, you'd be pretty much useless. All I'll say is that if we start speaking in red and blue then don't say anything at all."

Speaking in red and blue? What? I sigh to myself. These Witches are incomprehensible.

Bernkastel turns her head to the door and stays silent for a few seconds. What is it?

"Is someone coming?"

"Sounds like it. Well, I suppose I should head off now. I'll let you go through whatever scenario Lambda's made." Bernkastel says her farewell and begins to fade out but I interrupt her with a question.

"How do I leave the Gameboard?"

"Just think it." With that simple and vague answer, Bernkastel fades into purple mist and disappears off to wherever she goes when she's not around me.

Seriously? Couldn't she have been more specific?

The metal door slides open to reveal Ritsuko-san. I almost call out her name in surprise. I thought for sure that it would be Misato-san.

"Ahh. I see you're awake." She immediately greets me.

"Good morning, Ritsuko-san."

Instead of replying with a 'good morning', she points to the metal wardrobe and says, "You have some clothes in there. Get dressed and I'll have you meet the other pilots."

I do as she says and I quickly get dressed after she leaves the room. When I open the door, she's standing in front of the door.

"Follow me." She commands and I obediently obey. We walk through the long, green corridors of Nerv, across twists and turns that all look the same in a Labyrinthian mess that even the ones who've been here longest can fail to navigate at times. I certainly haven't gotten the hang of this place outside of essential areas and I doubt I will have much of a better grasp, even if I'm stuck looping for a hundred years.

Ritsuko-san makes no attempt to speak to me as we walk and I don't start a conversation either. I try to think of something to talk about but it's all either silly or pointless or something I just can't force out of my throat for whatever reason.

It might be better that way, though, since I don't want to say something that I shouldn't know.

Would Lambdadelta give me a pass for that?

Probably not. I don't see why she'd do anything for a piece like me, especially one that doesn't serve her. I'm sure Bernkastel would discard me at a moment's notice if she could. I bet Lambdadelta purposely made me her piece because I'm the worst option for Bernkastel.

Now that I've decided to become your ally, I will give you my full support.

I've broken through a similar dead-end of fate before. I know how it feels.

But…

You've sought out my help and so I've decided to give you some mercy.

I can't lie that…

Congratulations, Shinji. You did well today. I'll reward you later.

Bernkastel has tried to help me and it doesn't seem like she was forced to. She praised me when I beat the 3rd Angel! She understands how it feels to live through this as well. I asked her for help and she gave it willingly.

Who am I kidding? She's probably just like… Father. She's just saying those things to keep me under her leash.

And of course, you killed her! With your own hands! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! That lovely expression of yours is so entertaining! It's just like a kicked puppy!

Did you really think that pushing away a girl like Asuka when she's so obviously in love with you would lead to any other ending? *cackle*cackle*, Kyahahahahahahahahahaah! You really are a stupid kid, aren't you? It's the quiet, shy girls who'll kill you, not the loud ones! Not understanding such a basic trope of these kinds of tragic stories is pathetic. Ahahahahahahaha, ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

I'm pretty sure she once called herself the cruelest Witch in the world. If Lambdadelta wouldn't do anything for me then Bernkastel wouldn't either.

This gameboard'll stave off the boredom for at least a century.

All these Witches care about…

Give it your best and try not to bore me. Understand?

Is finding entertainment in my suffering.

You have committed many sins and it may feel like you're worthless, like you don't deserve to break out of this but know that no matter what happens, I will forgive you. 'Please do not deplore yourself. Even if the world does not forgive you, I will forgive you. Please do not deplore yourself. Even if you do not forgive the world, I will forgive you.'

…

I just can't understand her…

When Ritsuko-san told me that we were going to see Ayanami, how did she phrase it again? I'm pretty sure it was, 'I'll have you meet the other pilots.' wasn't it?

Pilots. Not 'pilot' as in a singular pilot. 'Pilots' as in plural; as in multiple pilots. That was a detail I overlooked and I now stand in front of Ayanami, Asuka and even Kaworu-kun while standing completely still. I imagine I look like an idiot.

"These are our other Evangelion pilots. The First Child, Ayanami Rei, The Second Child, Captain Shikinami Asuka Langley and the 3rd Child, Nagisa Kaworu. You'll all be working together so get along." With that simple statement, Ritsuko-san leaves the room.

Shikinami? The Asuka in front of me is clearly not the Asuka I know. A black eyepatch covers her left eye and it looks like her hair might be a different shade as well. It might just be a trick of the light.

"Hello…" I just about manage to greet my fellow pilots without stuttering as they all stare at me. It's quite awkward.

Asuka narrows her eye and humphs before saying, "You're even worse in person than I thought you'd be."

"Sorry."

"Honestly, what were they thinking in bringing this spineless loser into the ranks of the Eva pilots. Our little Ms. Doll and Mr. Child Molester were bad enough but now this?"

What? Did she just call Kaworu-kun a Child Molester of all things?

"Now, now. There's no need to be so aggressive. He was untrained and still managed to defeat the Angel. I think we should be celebrating his accomplishments instead of insulting him." Kaworu-kun speaks up to defend me which brings a small smile to my face. That smile is soon broken by Asuka's scathing voice.

"You call that a victory? He won on pure luck and made some stupid rookie mistakes. Covering the Angel in smoke and not watching for its head? Honestly, what an idiot."

"Sorry." I reply on reflex. Asuka glares at me and I almost take a step back. She then begins to march towards me and I know that she's going to slap me. There's no way she won't. I upset her like an idiot as always and now I'll…?

The slap I anticipated never comes. The door behind me opens and closes and Asuka is gone from the room. At some point, Ayanami left too, leaving only Kaworu-kun and I.

Naturally, Kaworu-kun is the first to speak up, "It's been a while, Shinji-kun."

"Been a while?" What does he mean by tha- He remembers? Why am I even surprised? He remembered me in the previous game so why wouldn't he here? I just had a conversation with Bernkastel about that.

"That's right. I believe Lady Bernkastel told you that I was an Inquisitor of Heresy. I'm just like those Witches, a piece with knowledge of the higher plane."

"Does that mean you're still an Angel?" I ask with a faint, naïve hope.

"Of course. It is my role to be the final messenger. I hope we can get along as fellow pilots. I'll see you later." Kaworu-kun gives his goodbye and begins to leave the room.

I move forwards to say something but the words get caught in my throat and I let him leave.

Once again, I am alone.

"You better not do anything naïve like trying to convince him to back off from his role." Bernkastel's cold voice almost makes me jump. I turn around and see her standing behind me.

"...What are you talking about?"

"You wanted to say something like, 'Kaworu-kun, why don't you forsake being an Angel and help us out instead? You don't have to kill all of mankind.' didn't you?"

"Sorry."

"You don't seem to understand so I'll be blunt about it. Nagisa Kaworu is an Angel. All Angels are Lambda's pieces, Tabris included. He may be an Inquisitor of Heresy but he can't go against the Game Master here. Letting him abandon the goal of all the Angels would only harm her interests in stopping us from winning."

"So you want me to treat someone as nice as him as an enemy?"

"Of course. He is your natural enemy." Her cold and blunt response makes me clench my fists. Natural enemy? Don't be ridiculous.

"How could someone like him be my natural enemy?"

Bernkastel sighs and turns away from me, "Forget about it. You won't listen to my words, will you?"

I'm surprised she gave up so easily. Well, she is right.

"Kaworu-kun is a nice person, nicer than me. Nothing you say will change that. I'm sure I can do something…" I speak with every ounce of resolve I can muster.

"See? *giggle*giggle*. Well, you'll understand my words one day and you'll regret not listening to them when you do. The look on your face will ease my boredom for a long time. Just thinking about it is entertaining." Bernkastel fades into purple mist and disappears into the air while cackling to herself.

Her ominous words send a chill down my spine but I push it all out. She's a Witch so I understand why she'd be reluctant to come around to Kaworu-kun, an Angel who hunts Witches but if she did I know she'd think the same way I do.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!?" The familiar shrill screech is roared with enough force to shatter windows a mile away (or so it feels like), "What do you mean 'He'll be living with us'? You're letting a pervert like him live with us? What the hell are you thinking?"

"Commander's orders," Misato-san coolly replies, "and it's not like he's a pervert anyway." Misato-san looks at me with a smile, "Do you think such an innocent face could do any wrong?"

"Yes." Asuka's blunt answer leaves her mouth at exactly the moment Misato-san asks.

I only lower my head at Asuka's accusations. Trying to do anything that would get myself noticed would only make her snap directly at me instead of just complaining to Misato-san.

Besides… She isn't wrong…

"I doubt someone like him will do anything and, if he does, we'll deal with it appropriately. Okay?" Misato-san calmly assured Asuka who grumbled something to herself in response.

The three of us were standing in Nerv's car park next to Misato's car (I believe it's an Alpine but I don't know anything about cars) and Misato and Asuka have been arguing about the fact that I'll be living with the two of them.

Apparently, Father was the one who ordered it but it was probably Lambdadelta who actually set this all up.

I'm happy that I'll get a sense of normalcy in this messed up game.

With Asuka's lack of objection, Misato-san herded us in the car so she could drive us all into the apartment. Asuka made absolutely sure to sit in the front passenger seat away from me in the back.

We drive along in silence as I gaze out of the windows at the familiar scenery of Tokyo-3. Again, the familiarity is comforting. Over these last 12? fragments, Tokyo-3 has become my home whether I wanted it to or not.

Fighting Angels, walking around this city, going to school…

All of it has become so familiar that, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if I could go back to the life I had before the Eva.

What was it even like?

"By the way, I need to go to the shop to get some things," Misato-san's voice shook me away from my thoughts, "You don't mind, do you?"

"No…"

"Hey idiot." Asuka then calls out to me unexpectedly.

"W-what?"

"Can you cook?" She asks. I nod in response before realising that she's not looking at me so she wouldn't even see it.

"...Yes."

"Good. I don't feel like doing it today so you'll cook."

"Asuka." Misato-san sternly interjects, "You can't just force that on to him after everything that happened yesterday."

"I'm not gonna let that perverted idiot freeload and there's no way I'll eat your shitty dinner." Asuka and Bernkastel can be pretty similar at times, can't they? That's the kind of thing I could see Bernkastel saying as well, minus the 'perverted' part. The Witch would be much more ruthless.

"Of course I'll make him do chores around the house but it's his first day staying here. He needs to relax."

"I-it's fine… Misato-san. I don't mind." I tell her. She looks at me through the rear view mirror for a second before giving up. To be honest, being occupied with cooking would be more relaxing for me than resting in bed. Asuka won't cook if she doesn't want to as well and I'd rather not eat Misato-san's dinner if I can help it.

In the end, we went to the shop and bought food, beer and whatever Misato-san thought I'd need before heading straight to the apartment. This time around, we didn't stop at the side of the road in the evening to watch the buildings rise from the ground at sunset like we did in the games before.

I cooked dinner, ate dinner, took a bath, unpacked some of my things and I now rest on the bed in the former storage closet listening to music on my SDAT.

"Shikinami…?" That name slips out of my mouth. She's… different from the Asuka I'm familiar with. A biting tongue and red-hot temper but in a less proud and more withdrawn state (although she did snap at me for not calling her 'Captain Shikinami'). She was playing on a handheld gaming device quite a bit instead of interacting with me.

Whenever we first meet, Asuka's always eager to boast immediately but here she just insulted me. No grand speech about how Unit 02 was better or about how she was the elite pilot. She just saw me as an incompetent new pilot who got lucky enough to be the pilot of the only functioning Evangelion Unit and who got lucky enough to not die in their first battle.

Isn't that how Asuka usually sees me though?

For some reason, it just doesn't feel quite right. There's something different that I can't put my finger on.

Who is Shikinami Asuka Langley?

What makes her different from Soryu Asuka Langley?

I'm surprised that I managed to get this out. It's usually these sorts of chapters where nothing happens that kill my stories. I just don't have the patience for them but I really wish I did since I prefer longer stories that have a healthy chunk of slice-of-life content to flesh the characters out like pretty much all Visual Novels.

Part of the reason this took so long to get out is that I stopped writing for a time since I began to doubt if the ending I had planned was actually a good finale for the story. In the end I decided it was a good ending so I went on to continue writing. I didn't want to set up things that would lead to an ending that never happened.

I apologise for the longer than previous wait for an ultimately shorter chapter. The quality in this first game probably won't be as good as in later games but that's partly because there's not a lot of cards I can reveal this early into it which really makes me respect Ryukishi for managing to make such engaging first arcs.

I am stuck with the restriction that I can't deviate too far from Evangelion's core lore while also trying to make mysteries which Ryukishi didn't have to deal with when making his original works which probably helped him out.

What a pain.

See you again. Have a nice day.