EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 110, Section 105.5: Interlude - Lilith

It was already past 10 p.m.

The training and simulation battles have ended, and Asuka, Suzuhara, and the others have all gone home.

"...This is troublesome."

Rei Ayanami walked to the third containment facility of the NERV headquarters intelligence department and spoke softly to the two intelligence department members on guard.

"Yes, I understand, Miss Ayanami."

The person in charge of security was Kenzaki Kyoya's confidant... a Japanese-American known as Potter. Since Kenzaki had already given instructions, Potter made no attempt to stop them, opening the door to the shelter and letting Rei Ayanami enter.

Walking through the long, empty corridor... at the very end is a one-way transparent glass wall—

Inside the glass... was a special prison originally set up to hold captured Angels... but now, it doesn't hold Angels... but a girl who looks just like Rei Ayanami.

Because of the attack on Kaji Ryoji and Ikari Shinji... Rei Ayanami's position changed from that of a guest... to that of an unstable element. Deprived of her freedom, she can only live in this dark and sunless cage.

Her original black combat suit was naturally replaced with a plain prison uniform that didn't conceal any weapons... but there was no pain or sorrow on her face—

As always, she sat blankly on the bed, staring at Rei Ayanami with an empty and lifeless gaze devoid of any emotion.

No—she wasn't looking at Rei Ayanami… From her perspective… this glass panel should be no different from an empty wall… She was simply looking at it. It held no special meaning… like a carefully placed doll…

Looking at her face, looking at her expression… Rei Ayanami couldn't help but think…

Was I originally the same kind of being as her?
"...Oh, right."

"!?"

Suddenly, a sweet voice rang out behind Rei Ayanami.

There was no sign of anything amiss... and the guards at the gate didn't react at all...

How could someone sneak into such a monotonous corridor with no blind spots?!

But Rei Ayanami, upon hearing that voice, showed no surprise whatsoever, as if the newcomer had simply appeared there out of the ordinary.

"You were like this before."

“…It’s you.”

Silver-white hair and bright red eyes... with a smile that was hard to decipher, whether it was relief or mockery.

The nominal sixth Child... Kaworu Nagisa appeared behind Rei Ayanami.

Just like the time before he joined NERV... he didn't infiltrate as a physical entity... but as an existence beyond human observability, silently infiltrating... so neither surveillance equipment nor intelligence personnel could detect him.

Rei Ayanami knew this man… the Sixth Child, the pilot of EVA Unit-04… Kaworu Nagisa.

But, I don't know why... just seeing Kaworu's face... can stir up uncontrollable ripples in the deepest part of Rei Ayanami's heart.

This indescribable feeling... made Rei Ayanami dislike this man.

She didn't even intend to leave him any room for conversation; the moment she realized Kaworu Nagisa had appeared, Rei Ayanami turned and walked outside.

"Oh my, I never imagined... you were so deeply immersed in it."

Sensing Rei Ayanami's disgusted demeanor, Kaworu Nagisa found it rather amusing and laughed.

"Clearly... you and I are the same—"

"No, that's not true. I'm not the same as you."

Rei Ayanami frowned and denied it without hesitation. It seemed... if she didn't give this answer firmly, something irreversible would happen.

"Oh... I see. Even the instinct to return has been completely suppressed... No wonder... Lilith, no... I should say, you, who abandoned being Lilith... have completely chosen... to become Li Lin, named Rei Ayanami?"

Sensing the resolute tone in Rei Ayanami's words, Kaworu's face first flashed with disbelief... then transformed into a joyful exhilaration at how wonderful this development was. He involuntarily stumbled around Rei's body, scrutinizing every detail of her.

"What a masterpiece! Shinji... How could the growth of a timid butterfly stir up such a huge storm?"

"...I don't understand what you're saying."

Faced with Kaworu's unusual fervor, Rei Ayanami responded coldly, her attitude keeping everyone at arm's length.

“It’s normal for you to resist me like this… After all, this time we’re not Adam and Lilith… but Kaworu and Rei. From the moment you abandoned your duty and instincts, this story completely transcended the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Life! It became Shinji Ikari’s story… But, is this really a good thing?”

The smile that was on Kaworu's face just a second ago vanished instantly, replaced by a look of disgust and malice as he glared at Rei Ayanami as if she were his enemy.

"...What do you mean?"

"Giving up being Lilith, giving up the final ritual... just being Li Lin living beside Shinji. That means... everything in the end... everything... will be forced onto Shinji alone..."

Amidst the hostility… a flicker of grief and heartache flashed in Kaworu’s eyes… a genuine pity for Shinji Ikari.

"At the end... the burden is too heavy... the pain is too complicated... the weight of the entire world will be pressed down on the slender spine of the boy named Shinji Ikari... he will be crushed."

—It's not too late to choose again…

Kaworu Nagisa is implying that Rei Ayanami should reconsider what she is doing.

It was Lilith who opened the door for Shinji Ikari during the completion of that divine ritual at the final moment…

Or perhaps, she was just a tiny Li Lin named Rei Ayanami, who lived around Shinji Ikari and perished along with him at the end of the world.

"...No, it won't."

Faced with Kaworu Nagisa's voice ("Adam"), Rei Ayanami gave an unwavering rejection.

“Ikari-kun… won’t be so easily crushed… no matter what awaits him in the end… but he told me… I am Rei Ayanami—so… I am Rei Ayanami… the one and only Rei Ayanami.”

Even after Kaworu Nagisa told her the final ending of the story, the flame deep within Rei Ayanami's soul did not flicker in the slightest...

This is the lesson Ikari taught her—since you've chosen to believe… you must believe to the end… and never betray that boy's strength.

"Is that so…"

Looking at Rei Ayanami's resolute expression... and the glimmer of happiness shining deep within that resolute expression...

Kaworu Nagisa was suddenly overcome with jealousy…

"It's really..."

Kaworu's words were abruptly interrupted—

With a creak, the door opened, and Kaworu's figure vanished as if it had been extinguished.

As if it had never existed...

"Hey... Rei. Hmm, I don't know why... I have this bad feeling, like some weird uncle who likes to hit on you is going to harass you. I came over to check on you... and pick you up from school."

Shinji Ikari's figure... that same old, incredibly comforting smile that makes you want to lean on him and fall asleep... appeared outside the door.

"Ah, Kenzaki told me you were here. Come and see... your sister? Did I disturb you?"

"Do not…"

Seeing Shinji Ikari's somewhat embarrassed expression, Rei Ayanami responded with her most beautiful smile.

"It's over... Let's go home, Ikari-kun."

(End of this chapter)