EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 121 Mom, please give me the power to save that idiot Shinji!

Holding Asuka's petite body tightly... Shinji Ikari glared angrily... dispelling the nauseating gloom before him.

Shinji Ikari knew very well that the person in front of him was not the real Asuka's prototype, but an unfortunate girl named "Soryu".

…Just like the cowardly Shinji Ikari I just saw… he was nothing more than a shadow of malice hatched from the sorrowful darkness within the Tenth Angel in order to destroy people’s hearts.

By endlessly intensifying the malice surrounding Asuka's past and the truth she is unwilling to face, they aim to destroy Asuka's heart.

"...Is that so...Even now, you still want to protect that doll...How disgusting...!"

Looking at Shinji Ikari's unwavering face... "Soryu"... no, the Tenth Angel knows...

A psychological blow would only work on Asuka... it would be meaningless on Shinji Ikari right now, because...

"...!"

The scenery around us changed once again in the next instant.

After all… this is a world that reads Asuka's memories and delves into the depths of her heart…

Changing the scene would be a piece of cake... but this time it was...

"babble---!"

Hearing Asuka's voice... it was an uncontrollable fear... even with the best efforts to restrain it... the sound of fear still escaped from between her trembling teeth.

This time, the scene... is a dimly lit basement, without any light source or exit... a completely enclosed... farm filled with a thick, damp atmosphere and the stench of blood...

All around were shattered petri dishes... A rust-colored liquid, resembling LCL solution, soaked the ground... giving birth to flowers of calamity.

I saw... Asuka, countless Asuka...

Naked...covered in wounds...covered in rust and blood...a puppet in the shape of Asuka—

Since they couldn't become "Asuka" or "Shikihachi"... the spirits of the past extracted from their memories... staggered and crowded towards Shinji Ikari and Asuka.

"No...! I don't want to see this...! I don't want to see it!!"

As Asuka was on the verge of a breakdown due to this horrifying drawing of hell... even to the point of wanting to gouge out her own pupils with her hands—

"Asuka! Don't be afraid—!"

Shinji Ikari hugged Asuka's petite body tightly once again.

…This is Asuka's battle.

All I can do is encourage, inspire, and accompany her. But I cannot defeat these spirits of the past for Asuka.

No… if we forcibly use Tiga's power, it's not impossible to directly dispel the Tenth Angel's spiritual world with brute force…

But—that would be meaningless except for raising a little girl who…would never be able to escape this shadow for the rest of her life…and could only rely on Tiga…and herself.

...No, Shinji Ikari knew perfectly well—it was a lie.

If the people here were other people, like Hikaru Toki… Maya Ibuki… Sakura Suzuhara… or anyone you don’t know well.

Shinji Ikari would immediately use Ultraman Tiga's power to defeat the Tenth Angel... and grant them salvation...

But—precisely because the person in his arms right now is Asuka… that's why Shinji Ikari has this hope.

That's why I hope... Asuka can rely on her own strength... to stand up, overcome it, and move on.

and so--

"...!"

With a humming sound from the earth... the giant slowly rose from the darkness.

"EVA...no, no...this is...!"

This wasn't the EVA Shinji Ikari was familiar with—a stark white color scheme…wings spreading out on its back…and a gaping, menacing maw without eyes…

Shinji Ikari didn't recognize it... This was a fragment read from Asuka's soul... In a past cycle of reincarnation, it devoured her completely, bringing her endless fear and pain... the mass-produced EVA unit.

At this very moment—as the source and manifestation of Asuka's fears… she has been chosen by the Tenth Angel to be her incarnation and reappear!
"…ah!"

An arm, a symbol of death, reached out towards Asuka's delicate body... as if to crush it in one swift motion.

"Asuka!!"

Shinji Ikari reacted immediately, stepping forward to shield Asuka in his arms behind him... and at the same time, tossing her the contents of his pocket.

He blankly accepted the thing Shinji Ikari threw at him... It was Shinji Ikari's beloved... DAT-DT1 Walkman, which was covered with fine cracks.

Asuka was pushed aside... and as a result, Shinji Ikari was grabbed by the mass-produced EVA as a replacement. Instantly... a sharp pain, as if every bone in Shinji's body was being broken, swept through every nerve in his body.

But—this is the world of the spirit…no matter the excruciating pain or the torment…as long as the heart does not give up…the flame of life will not be extinguished.

If I don't die... I'll just wait, wait... Asuka!

He did not transform into Ultraman Tiga... and did not rely on Ultraman's power to win.

Because... this is a stage for humans... a stage for Asuka!
Therefore... I must not steal the spotlight... I must not disrespect Asuka!
"Unit 2...!! Get Unit 2!!"

Shinji Ikari, who was being held tightly, roared at Asuka.

It was only after Shinji Ikari reminded her that Asuka noticed…

No, to be precise... it appeared because Asuka's attention was diverted... Unit 2 and the insertion plug—were right behind Asuka, very close... waiting for her to enter.

"Shinji-kun...!!"

Hearing the creaking sound of Shinji Ikari's bones shattering as he was being tightly gripped... Asuka felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her heart... Clutching her Walkman, her petite body staggered into the insertion plug...

"Hurry...hurry, hurry...we need to be quick...get Shinji...ah—!!"

Unexpectedly... just as I entered the insertion plug... there was Asuka—the remains of the past Asuka... already waiting inside.

Asuka's clone... those who failed to become Shikiha... the resentment of being eliminated and destroyed...

Hundreds and thousands... countless resentments and jealousies... surrounded Asuka.

"...I'm so envious..." "Why...is it you..." "Why only you!"

"You think... you can be happy alone...?" "How cunning... how cunning...!"

"----don't want!!!"

Surrounded by layers of manifested fear and curses... Asuka's heart was once again pushed to its limit, but...

"no…"

Clenching his teeth... trying to struggle—

Because… that idiot Shinji… is still waiting for me to save him… so—

"...Woo!"

It's already inside the insertion plug...

However, she was hindered by these replicated ghosts, whose resentment etched one shocking wound after another on Asuka's young and tender skin.

But—young Asuka…despite being terrified to the extreme…still inching closer and closer to the EVA's cockpit…

Even though each step forward was tormented by these ghosts until their skin was torn and bleeding, they never stopped moving forward.

"...Mom, um..."

He vomited blood from his throat…

His mind was already clouded by the pain…

But we must still move forward... even if it's just one step... even if it's an ugly crawl...

because------

"Mom... perhaps you didn't bring me into this world out of love, but... I... have always missed you..."

Just a little bit more, just a little bit more... I was about to touch EVA's control panel...

"Oh, right, Mom... I haven't told you yet... I've found... a boy I like..."

Oh no—I can't see anymore…and my hands have no strength left…

"He... is a... idiot... even though he's... more... capable than anyone else... he gets hurt because he... cares about those around him... he's a... complete idiot who... suffers for others... and doesn't think about himself at all..."

Great… I touched it! …It's a seat, I need to sit down… I need to start Unit 2…

"I'm sorry... Mom, when I saw that idiot... I knew... I wasn't anything special—just... an ordinary... utterly ordinary... weak, afraid of being alone little girl... That's why... I fell for that idiot—"

Unit-02... Activate! Activate... I'm going to save... Shinji...

“He told me… that someone like me… even if I disappoint you… even if I only have a borrowed identity… a manufactured body… a false heart… can still… find happiness… Is this true? Mom… if this is… true… then…”

Move it! Move it! Unit 2…! Please… start it up!

"Please... Mom! Even if it's just now, give me... the power to save that idiot Shinji... and protect my own happiness!"

Please… Unit-02! Even if it's just now, give me… the power to save that idiot Shinji… and protect my own happiness!
"…………Asuka…"

"——!!!"

In an instant—the darkness before my eyes vanished.

I saw…a heart-warming light…and…my mother's figure…

"Mother--!"

In an instant—all the souls of the dead… were purified… all the darkness… was dispelled…

In the girl's eyes... there was only her mother, whose smile was warmer than the sun and more benevolent than the earth.

"Mom...so you were here!"

...The pain disappeared.

...The fear has vanished.