EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 138 You must walk your own path; you're an adult now.
“…!!”

Even if it was already expected...

Even if you already knew it in your heart...

But to actually hear—the boy before me utter the name SEELE… and reveal the truth about his father's death…

In an instant, Misato Katsuragi seemed to be transported back... back to that blood-red night—

Beneath that suffocating crimson glow… beneath that giant of light, so unlike Ultraman, shrouded in an aura of destruction…

The stench of rust and decay, the stench of death... once again filled my nostrils with an overwhelming intensity.

"...You must live...Miri..."

The voice, which she hadn't wanted to hear again, kept echoing uncontrollably in her mind, as if whipping Misato Katsuragi's sins.

The man she once hated most, at the final boundary between life and death…

The only hope for survival was entrusted to Misato Katsuragi.

I couldn't help but tremble...!
I couldn't help but tremble...!
The rhythm of breathing had become completely disordered, and the body, which had just cooled down, overheated again due to mental confusion and shock.

Her rapid and irregular breathing caused Misato Katsuragi's heart and lungs to rise and fall as if in spasm...

A hint of sorrow appeared in Shinji Ikari's eyes, because he could empathize with Misato Katsuragi's grief at this moment.

"Miss Misato..."

Human hearts are so fragile, so fragile that... in times like these, simply offering a reliable, mountain-like arm to a woman on the verge of collapse is enough to make her utterly succumb.

At this moment, all I need to do is hold her in my arms, and this beautiful woman, full of mature charm, will live on forever, regarding me as her pillar of support.

But... no.

“Cheer up. Misato...you're already moving forward, aren't you?”

The human heart is truly strong, so strong that even in such times, as long as a ray of light is pointed out in the boundless darkness, telling her that her perseverance will ultimately be rewarded...

"…Hahaha…………"

Shinji Ikari's hand gently and delicately stroked Misato Katsuragi's back, helping her to regulate her breathing slowly and smoothly, telling her—

“Ms. Misato. I am so grateful to you. Whatever your inner motivation may be... you are the irreplaceable family I have fought for until now—when I came to this city alone and was forced to shoulder the heavy responsibility of saving the world... you were always thinking about how to alleviate my stress and lighten my burden…”

His breathing gradually calmed down.

The images in my mind began to distort, obscuring my entire consciousness... the spirits of the past, my father's voice... the distorted giant of light...

Gradually, I was enveloped in life in the Third New Tokyo City... the little moments of everyone living together in the apartment... and those smiles that radiated from the depths of my heart.

"Thank you... Shinji-kun."

When Misato Katsuragi opened her tightly closed eyes again, the confusion and sadness in them had vanished.

…The girl who passed away was forever trapped with her father in the blood-red permafrost of Antarctica.

The one who opened her eyes again was NERV's trustworthy, our eldest sister... Acting Commander Misato Katsuragi.

"Sorry for visiting so late at night... I'm so pathetic for making you talk to me for so long."

"...No, if this kind of chatting can cheer you up, Miss Misato, then I'll do it as many times as I want."

Faced with Shinji Ikari's composure, Misato Katsuragi smiled faintly and shook her head.

"No way... I'm an older adult, it would be so pathetic of me to rely on a child like you all the time. How am I supposed to move forward if that's the case?"

Whether it's her breathing or her expression... she has returned to her usual self, Misato Katsuragi.

"...Goodnight, Shinji-kun."

Suddenly, she brought her face close, maintaining a distance where they could feel each other's warm breath... "You child, you're really not cute."

Seeing that Shinji Ikari showed neither shyness nor panic... but simply looked at her with a calm expression, Misato Katsuragi smiled slightly disappointedly and turned away.

"See you tomorrow…"

"Ah, goodnight...Miss Misato."

Perhaps... Misato Katsuragi was hoping that Shinji Ikari would say or do something... but all Shinji could give her was a blessing that would allow her to continue moving forward with her own strength!

In Misato Katsuragi's eyes, there seemed to be a fleeting disappointment because Shinji Ikari had done nothing, not even wavered in the slightest... and she left the room.

That's good... Yes, that's good.

Shinji Ikari lay exhausted on the bed... He couldn't afford to add any more unnecessary ties.

Shinji Ikari is unwilling to give up on anyone... especially those with whom he has formed deep bonds.

So… Sister Misato, please, you walk that path yourself…

You're an adult now, aren't you?

—The long night has finally come to an end.

The next bright and cheerful dawn has arrived.

…………

"...Hikaru! Please help me!!"

At noon on the second day, Shinji Ikari was enjoying the breeze on the rooftop as usual…

Asuka, once again, pulled Rei Ayanami along and surrounded Hikaru Toki like a star.

"Hikaru! We really can only ask you for help this time!!!"

"Eh!?"

Hikaru Toki, who was about to go find Suzuhara Toji with his bento box, was suddenly startled by Asuka's sudden appearance.

He never expected Asuka to bow so extravagantly to him, as if to beg him.

"No, please don't do this! Hikaru! We're family and friends, you can just tell me if you need anything... Although, I don't know how I can help you."

Hikaru Toki waved his hand, flattered... After all, the person in front of him was a great genius from Germany, an EVA pilot who skipped grades and completed university at the age of fourteen, and whose social status far surpassed his own...

"What I want to ask is..."

"Ah, what's wrong? Hikaru, my lunch... Waaaaah!!"

At the most inopportune moment, Suzuhara Toji tried to take his lunch... only to be immediately punished by Asuka with an iron fist!

"Take your lunchbox! Go upstairs and eat! Go find that idiot Shinji...! Didn't you want to learn from him?! Get out of here, get out of here!"

What are you doing?!

He was inexplicably beaten by Asuka and had to run away with his head in his hands... but considering Asuka's murderous aura just now, Suzuhara Toji didn't dare to say anything more.

He could only sheepishly slink to the rooftop to find Shinji Ikari...

After confirming that Suzuhara Toji had left, Asuka took a deep breath, readjusted her rhythm, and then solemnly bowed again.

Even Rei Ayanami, who was standing next to her, bowed.

"Please, Hikaru! Please teach me... no, please teach us! How to interact with boys?!"

"…………Eh?!"

(End of this chapter)