EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 137 The Truth of the Second Impact
"...Please sit down."

Shinji Ikari wanted to tell her to go back and get dressed before coming back, but seeing Misato Katsuragi's almost tearful expression, he decided against it.

He pulled out a chair for Misato Katsuragi to sit down, while he sat on the bed himself... Should he consider adding a guest chair to his room?
I have a feeling that these kinds of incidents, like women knocking on the door in the middle of the night, will happen more and more frequently in the future…

"...Shinji, please tell me...what was the truth about the Second Impact fifteen years ago?"

Looking at Misato Katsuragi's face, Shinji Ikari took a deep breath.

"Before that, let me ask you something... Miss Misato, I remember you told me that you and your father didn't get along well—and later, when you wanted to ease the tension... it was too late. So you hoped that I could have a good talk with my father while I can still speak to him..."

Upon hearing this, Misato Katsuragi's expression became visibly embarrassed... after all, the development of the situation had completely exceeded Misato Katsuragi's expectations.

“…That, that is…”

"Miss Misato, you joined NERV... and you're so determined to defeat all the Angels. Is it... to avenge your father?"

"...Huh?"

This direct and unambiguous revelation of the truth that Misato Katsuragi was unwilling to admit caused her to bite her lip hard, her face contorted in distress... She bit her lip until it was almost bleeding before finally giving a somewhat dejected reply.

"Perhaps... I myself am not entirely sure... but..."

"But you feel you should do something for your deceased father, right? You feel you're burdened by the sins of your father's life, and you don't deserve happiness alone... is that right?"

"........."

Misato Katsuragi did not answer, but simply nodded with a dim look in her eyes.

"Fool."

He sighed and gently tapped Misato Katsuragi's head with his fist to express his dissatisfaction with her foolish idea.

"You two are really close... you make the exact same stupid mistakes."

"two…?"

Misato Katsuragi looked up at Shinji Ikari with a puzzled expression... For a moment, she didn't know who he was talking about.

"And there's another idiot, your classmate... You carry the burden of your father's fate, while he carries the burden of his younger brother's and childhood friends' fates..."

"Ah...! So he told you everything."

Misato Katsuragi realized that Shinji Ikari was talking about Ryoji Kaji... and then realized that the guy had already confessed and repented for all his past sins to Shinji before she could.

"Of course... He told me that you two dated for a while, and you were really inseparable during that time."

"...Why are you saying all this?"

Guided by Shinji Ikari, Misato Katsuragi also recalled that time... during her university years, when she was young and reckless... she even tried staying in bed with him for three whole days...

Her face flushed red; for Misato Katsuragi at this moment… it could only be described as an extremely embarrassing and shameful past. “Later, you two broke up… no, it should be said that Ryoji Kaji unilaterally dumped you—do you know why?”

"........."

Misato Katsuragi initially felt disgusted and wanted to yell back, "Who cares what that idiot is thinking?"... But looking at Shinji Ikari's serious expression, Misato knew he was talking about something very serious, so she could only shake her head blankly.

"Because he felt he was too happy, and burdened by his brother's sins, he didn't deserve to enjoy this happiness... So, like a masochistic fanatic, he actively distanced himself from his happiness in order to atone for his sins."

"How could this be...so stupid..."

Misato Katsuragi felt a pang of pain in her heart... Even though they had broken up, she still hoped that the man she once loved could be happy. But now... it was clear that he had chosen a path that would never lead to happiness.

"Is it foolish of you to say that you're talking about Kaji Ryoji?"

"Of course! No matter how much he tortures himself... his brother will not come back to life. Why would he do such a stupid thing for such a foolish reason... Ah!"

Seeing Shinji Ikari's ambiguous smile... Misato Katsuragi finally realized what was going on.

Yes, isn't my current situation exactly the same as Kaji Ryoji's?

It's all because of the loved ones who have passed away in the past... that they feel guilty and ashamed about the happiness they are enjoying now.

But he is the younger brother, and I am the father... Why is it that such a simple path... I can see it clearly when it's applied to Kaji Ryoji, but when it's applied to myself... I just can't understand it at all?
"Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. This is an unchanging truth about human nature—Miss Misato... You can only see things clearly because of Mr. Kaji, but you can't understand them when it comes to yourself."

"Heh... Now, I'm too ashamed to even mention that idiot..."

Exhausted, Misato Katsuragi slumped back into the chair, a bitter, relieved smile on her face…

So, all along, I've been facing such simple things?
"The living are the continuation of the dead. And the dead are the proof of the living's existence... Do not let past sins or the past affect your current choices or your future happiness."

Shinji Ikari saw that Misato Katsuragi had almost finished thinking and began to answer her questions.

"Is this how you persuade that idiot Kaji, Shinji-kun?"

"More or less, but he's much dumber than you, so I had to say a lot more things to cheer him up."

They exchanged a glance and smiled simultaneously... It seems that the two have reached a consensus on the fact that Kaji Ryoji is stupid.

“I understand—Shinji! I will no longer dwell on my father's affairs… Instead, I will make my own judgment based on Misato Katsuragi's own character… and choose what I should do. Tell me… the truth about the Second Impact fifteen years ago.”

Seeing Katsuragi Misato's expression brighten and her eyes regain a glimmer of light...

Shinji Ikari nodded in satisfaction, and then revealed the truth that Misato Katsuragi had already guessed.

"SEELE did this... You should know that they are an organization that attempts to unify all of humanity... the Human Instrumentality Project. And to achieve this supernatural grand ambition, the power of the Angels is indispensable... Fifteen years ago, at the Katsuragi Research Base in Antarctica, when the First Angel Adam was unearthed... and the Dead Sea Scrolls that recorded the Human Instrumentality Project... SEELE's plan had already begun."

In order to summon the thirteen apostles and thus carry out their plan, they deliberately triggered the Second Impact!

(End of this chapter)