EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 151 Misato-nee, your question sounds like you're being coquettish.

When Shinji Ikari returned to NERV headquarters, only Misato Katsuragi was waiting for him in the command room.

"...Ms. Misato?"

Hearing the unsurprising voice, Misato Katsuragi turned around and spoke to Shinji Ikari with a slightly complicated expression.

"Asuka and the others are still in the medical ward... Their condition is not very good, and they need to be observed and treated for a longer period of time."

Shinji Ikari noticed that Misato Katsuragi had a furrowed brow and was answering his questions calmly, but there seemed to be a hint of resentment in her expression.

"Oh, I see, I'll go check..."

Hey! Wait a minute!

Seeing Shinji Ikari turn around and leave without saying a word, Misato Katsuragi could no longer suppress her displeasure.

This big jerk, is he really planning to stay silent all this time?!

"Shinji-kun... isn't there something you should have said to me, but you forgot?"

"talk…?"

Shinji Ikari scratched his head blankly—had he... made any promise to Misato Katsuragi that he had forgotten...?

The two of them only talked last night... Shinji Ikari only explained the background of his father to Misato Katsuragi, and he has no memory of promising to tell her anything?

Ah, could it be... Ms. Katsuragi Misato, who is such a grown-up... is actually just being cute??

...It seems...not surprising...After all, from a human perspective, the eleventh apostle is already vastly different in strength from the previous apostles, and was even transformed into a chimera by Cerebro...If I hadn't transformed into Tiga, humanity would probably have been destroyed by Him.

After such a brush with death, it's understandable that Misato Katsuragi would be a little scared and act coquettish, especially since there were no other onlookers nearby...

Yes, yes! That must be it... Really, Ms. Misato, you're still a child at heart.

Shinji Ikari, seemingly certain of something, walked toward Misato Katsuragi, who had a resentful look on her face, with a playful smile.

"Shinji-kun, what are you doing now... Hey!? What are you doing?!"

With a serious expression, Katsuragi Misato was about to walk towards her with a bright and cheerful smile, and then... gently reached out, stood on tiptoe... and began to stroke Katsuragi Misato's hair.

"Thanks to you, Misato-nee... Were you scared? That apostle was indeed very strong... But don't worry, I'll protect you. It's because you're guarding the rear that I can fight bravely on the front lines without any worries. Thanks to you, Misato-nee..."

From attitude to how he addressed her, everything changed dramatically... Shinji Ikari's sudden attack struck right into Misato Katsuragi's heart.

It wasn't just shyness or embarrassment anymore; she screamed and jumped back like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Of course... NERV's command center didn't have that much space for Katsuragi to spread his wings...

"Waaaaaaah!?"

As a result, when she jumped backward, she stepped on the tactical command chair behind her, lost her balance, and fell backward flat on her back...

"Danger!"

Of course, it won't happen that he survives being killed by the apostles but instead dies from a fall and hitting his head—a plot straight out of O. Henry.

Just as Misato Katsuragi's head was about to hit the ground, Shinji Ikari, whose reaction speed and dynamic vision far surpassed those of humans, reacted with lightning speed and grabbed Misato Katsuragi's slender waist.

"Ah... thank you..."

Misato Katsuragi, realizing that she had almost sent him away, completely lost her edge and could only awkwardly apologize in the arms of Shinji Ikari, who was a whole size younger than her.

"It's alright, don't worry, Misato-nee... I'll definitely protect you—"

"No way!!! Who told you to say that!!"

Realizing that Shinji Ikari had completely misunderstood her, Misato Katsuragi screamed hysterically... her face turning red to the roots of her ears.

"Wait...? Weren't you going to act cute?"

Shinji Ikari blinked, looking completely innocent.

"Don't be shy, Mari and Asuka always come to me for comfort when they're scared or confused..." "Don't lump me in with some fourteen-year-old girl! Seriously!! I mean—your status!!"

Misato Katsuragi, excitedly gesturing wildly, directly stated what she wanted to say to avoid the topic being swayed by Shinji Ikari again.

Everyone else is dying inside the EVA units, awaiting rescue…! Only Unit-01's insertion plug is empty! And the time you disappeared perfectly matches the time Ultraman Tiga appeared!! Don't tell me this is a coincidence!!!

Faced with Misato Katsuragi's questioning, Shinji Ikari was stunned for a moment before cautiously probing...

“…Miss Katsuragi.”

"I won't allow you to get away with this without giving me a proper explanation!"

"So... you're only finding out now?"

"………………ha?"

Why...why would Shinji Ikari react like this? Wasn't I the first one to notice?

"I thought I had hinted at it clearly enough... no, I should say I had made it explicit."

Shinji Ikari scratched his head awkwardly... In the past, he would at least put on an act and have Kenzaki cover for him.

Ever since Gendo Ikari failed to eliminate him using the Ninth Angel and left the base... Shinji Ikari has stopped even pretending.

As it turns out, this woman only just... wait, no one told her?
"That blessing...didn't I tell you about it??"

"Kagaji already knows?!?"

Misato Katsuragi was utterly stunned, as if struck by lightning... Could it be that everyone else...

"Yes, Kaji, Kenzaki, Ayanami, Mari... they all know. Asuka, although I didn't tell her directly, I guess she's already figured it out."

Shinji Ikari scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. The things he had said to Misato Katsuragi before, including the promise to protect her, were half from Shinji's perspective and half from Ultraman's perspective.

As it turns out, this woman didn't even realize she was Ultraman... From her perspective, wasn't she just a little kid having a fit of chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur)?
For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence... the atmosphere was so awkward it felt like they wanted to die.

"Um... I'll go check on Ayanami and the others..."

Even Shinji Ikari couldn't stand the atmosphere and made up an excuse to run away.

"Shinji-kun!!!"

But he had only taken one step when he heard Misato Katsuragi shout.

"……Hi?"

"........."

Turning around, she saw Misato Katsuragi blushing deeply, tears of embarrassment welling up in her eyes… She gritted her teeth, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her…

She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but at this moment, there was only one question she could ask:

"Shinji-kun, you...you're still Shinji-kun, right?"

“………………Of course, Misato-nee.”

"Is that so...that's good then."

Yes, as long as this young man is still that straightforward, dashing, gentle, and heroic young man, no further words are needed.

"Shinji-kun!"

"...What now??"

"Welcome back--"

'

(End of this chapter)