EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 136 Misato Katsuragi's Late-Night Visit

"Aren't you going to tell them?"

On the way home... after confirming that all three members of the intelligence analysis team had made their own decisions... the short dinner naturally came to an end.

The effects of alcohol made Misato Katsuragi and Asuka, who had secretly drunk some alcohol at some point, drowsy, while Rei Ayanami and Mari Makinami each supported one of them.

Bathed in the cool moonlight, Mari calmly asked a question.

"If you tell them, they'll feel much more at ease..."

Shinji Ikari naturally knew what Mari Makinami wanted to express.

"No need. Ultimately, this is a story that belongs to humanity itself... If we feel at ease because of Ultraman's existence, we will become too expectant... even dependent. Humans cannot take Ultraman for granted, or regard him as an omnipotent god... Obviously, they are not ready for that. So there's no need to say anything."

"As always... a rather divine statement. Shinji Ikari—in a sense... you are more distant from humanity than any of us."

Although Mari maintained a faint smile on her lips, there was not a trace of laughter in her eyes... as if she had made a judgment based on her understanding of Shinji Ikari's true nature.

"……maybe."

Shinji Ikari wasn't surprised by Mari's comment.

"Because... I am human, but also light—naturally I cannot place myself solely in the position of being human... Hmm, we've arrived. Leave the rest to me. Thank you for bringing Asuka here... Eh?"

Not wanting to delve into the topic of his own nature with Mari, Shinji Ikari ended the conversation when they reached his doorstep, then gestured for Mari to hand over Asuka, whom she was supporting, to him.

However, Mari didn't obediently listen... Instead, she playfully moved away from Shinji Ikari with light steps, helped Mari walk towards the apartment door, and then knocked on the door.

"……what?"

Shinji Ikari looked completely bewildered. All four people in the apartment were at the door... Who was she expecting to open the door for her? Panpan?
"...They're here!"

The door opened... and the person inside was...

"Dongzhi?! And the class monitor...!? Why are you all...?"

“Ah, Ikari-kun. I’m sorry I haven’t told you yet… Because of the alliance between the Fourth and Fifth Child when the Tenth Angel attacked, and in order to gather the Child as quickly as possible for the next battle, Ms. Misato agreed to gather all the Child in this apartment.”

Rei Ayanami realized that this was the first time she had returned home since Shinji Ikari woke up, and immediately told him about Misato Katsuragi's assessment.

"Yes, that's right, Mr. Shinji."

Suzuhara Toji stepped forward and helped Rei Ayanami support Misato Katsuragi. Unable to contain his happiness, he spoke to Shinji Ikari.

"Please guide me from now on... I still have a lot to learn from you, Mr. Shinji!"

"Ha, you... you brought the whole family along? Where's Sakura?"

"Sakura and I share a room... She's already asleep, Shinji."

The person who answered was Hikari Holoki, who was rather conservative and afraid of rumors that she and Suzuhara had started living together. So she took the initiative to tell them that she would take care of the young Suzuhara Sakura.

"Is that so... It's a bit late to say this now, but still... you're welcome."

Faced with this development, Shinji Ikari naturally did not resist and nodded to the two with a smile.

"Speaking of which... all the qualified individuals live in this apartment, which means..."

Shinji Ikari suddenly glanced at Mari, who had just settled Asuka back in her room.

"YES! Of course I feel the same way! Nice to meet you, meow-chan! Oh! By the way... my room is right next to yours!" "…………That sounds like it'll be noisy."

"How rude of me, Wang-chan! I'm not the kind of wicked woman who makes alluring sounds next door that have some meaning, and then, because of the poor soundproofing, they get into your ears to lure you over, only to find out it was all a misunderstanding, meow."

"...I don't even know where to begin complaining, I should just go to sleep."

It's almost 3 a.m. Although I don't have to go to school tomorrow... I should still rest.

"...Okay, goodnight...Ikari-kun."

Before turning around, Rei Ayanami deliberately held Shinji Ikari's hand... looked him straight in the eyes, said goodnight with tender affection, and then returned to her room.

"...He hasn't been back for five days..."

Back in his bedroom, everything was exactly the same as before Shinji Ikari left… He never imagined that the battle with the Tenth Angel would keep him away from home for five whole days…

"Um…?"

Suddenly, I noticed the only change from five days ago: the Walkman on the table.

The Walkman, which had been gripped tightly by Rei Ayanami in a moment of tension, causing its casing to crack, was now lying perfectly intact in the center of the table.

"This is……!"

Shinji Ikari was slightly taken aback… He knew, in the spiritual world… that he had lent his Walkman to Asuka, and then…

But those should all be illusions created by the Tenth Apostle... Logically speaking, they shouldn't have any impact on reality—but at this moment, the perfectly intact Walkman... is irrefutable proof that the world of consciousness has influenced reality.

"...Are you asleep, Shinji-kun?"

"Ms. Misato?"

The sudden, faint knocking made Shinji Ikari abandon his pursuit of the unresolved question, put his Walkman in the drawer, and turn to open the door.

After Rei Ayanami and Asuka, this time it's Misato Katsuragi who came knocking on the door in the middle of the night... Huh?

The moment the door opened, a rush of warm, steaming water hit me... The person in front of me was Misato Katsuragi, who had just taken a shower.

Wearing only the most basic clothing, simple and unadorned white underwear and a bra, she presented a stark contrast to her pretty and beautiful demeanor.

Her graceful curves, possessing a more mature and alluring charm than Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu, allowed Shinji Ikari to experience the allure of an older sister for the first time…

Wearing wet slippers, her long, damp hair clung to her skin, and beads of water could be seen slowly dripping down her healthy, smooth skin...

The women in this house all seem to like coming to my room to dry their hair after taking a shower... It's such a hassle to dry the water stains on the windows.

"Sorry, there are some things I haven't figured out... so..."

Although she wanted to complain like this,... although the effects of the alcohol hadn't worn off, the worry on Misato Katsuragi's face was genuine...

No, it should be said that... normally, Misato Katsuragi tries her best to be Shinji Ikari's helper, and naturally doesn't want to rely on Shinji too much like Asuka Rei does...

Now, under the influence of alcohol, she has let down her guard... Changing clothes and taking a bath symbolizes her transition from NERV's acting commander, Misato Katsuragi, to an ordinary woman, Misato Katsuragi...

A series of preparations, all so that I could smoothly ask this question—

"Shinji, I know you have obtained a lot of information that I cannot access, so... please tell me the truth about my father's death... the truth about the Second Impact."

(End of this chapter)