EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 154 The Happiness of Being a Woman

"...Can you see my face? Can you speak? Do you remember my name? What number is this?"

Upon discovering that Asuka had woken up, Shinji Ikari immediately rushed over and waved two fingers in front of her eyes.

"……!(anger)."

I was hoping to see Shinji Ikari cry his eyes out from worry, and then be overjoyed to see me revive... but this bastard just acted like nothing was wrong, speaking slowly and deliberately...

He even stuck out a finger and waved it in front of me like he was teasing a dog! I stayed here because of you…! You heartless man!!
Asuka, growing angrier the more she thought about it, even though her throat was so hoarse that she could barely utter a word, was determined to... Ugh!

"!?"

Shinji Ikari stared in disbelief as Asuka opened her eyes, and her first reaction was to viciously bite her finger with her cherry-like lips…

Although he felt a sharp pain for a moment, in order not to aggravate Asuka's wound, Shinji Ikari restrained his instinct to pull his finger back and instead gently stroked Asuka's cheek while his finger was being crunched and gnawed.

"That's great, he still has so much energy... he seems to be alright..."

His gentle and tender expression and words made Asuka blush and release her lips in an instant.

"You...cough cough! Cough, cough cough...!"

Asuka opened her mouth to say something, but because her heart and lungs hadn't been used properly for a long time, she was met with a series of rapid coughs.

"I'll go call the doctor—please keep an eye on me..."

Seeing Asuka's condition, Shinji Ikari stood up, said a greeting, and left the ward.

Asuka turned her head with some difficulty and discovered that Suzuhara Toji was still asleep in the bed next to hers, and Hikaru Toki was waiting in front of his bed.

"Xiao Xiang...that's wonderful! That's really wonderful!!"

Seeing Asuka open her eyes... Hikaru Toki, with tears in her eyes, rushed over to her.

"Light...this...is...cough cough! cough!"

"Ah! Xiao Xiang! You're badly injured! Don't force yourself to speak...!! What do you want to know... I'll tell you! Just lie still and listen to me!"

Asuka nodded reluctantly... Hikaru sat down beside her, helping her tidy her messy hair on the pillow as he slowly began to speak.

"The battle with the Eleventh Apostle has lasted four days. You've been running a high fever and unconscious for those four days, and the fever only just broke today... I thought you were going to... you were going to..."

As he spoke, Hikaru felt a lump in his throat and tears welled up in his eyes.

"……fool…"

Asuka gave a bitter smile, as if to say—Idiot, I won't die.

Then, shifting his gaze, he landed on the spot where Shinji Ikari had just been sitting.

"…………he…?"

Hikaru Toki immediately understood and gave a knowing reply.

“Shinji-kun, he has been very worried about you. When you were unconscious, he was basically by your side the whole time... He was here all the time except when there were important matters to deal with. I haven’t been here as long as he has.”

"...!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Asuka's eyes. She hadn't expected... this idiot would actually go to this extent.

"Furthermore, several times when the caregiver wanted to come and relieve him, Shinji refused. Each time he would say..."

When the conversation reached its climax, Hikaru Toki paused with a half-smile, leaving the audience in suspense as if they were just two ordinary high school girls chatting.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it."

"Huh!?! Hmm...!! Ugh!"

However, seeing the unusually strong reaction, wriggling like maggots in protest... Hikaru was afraid that she would cause her own wound to burst open from wriggling, so he obediently answered.

"Shinji said... if Kaori opens her eyes and doesn't see him immediately, she'll throw a tantrum. So he's going to stay here himself—" "...Hmph!"

Upon hearing this, Asuka snorted loudly through her nose, "What do you mean by throwing a tantrum... What does this idiot think she is? Do you think I'm such an unreasonable woman?"

"However, I think... it must be that Shinji wants you to see someone you know when you open your eyes. If you manage to escape death... but when you return, there isn't even a single family member to greet you... wouldn't that be too tragic?"

A flicker of sadness crossed Hikaru's eyes... because this was also the message Shinji Ikari had subtly conveyed to her. He hoped she could stay here and look after Toji Suzuhara.

"……he…?"

Seeing the sadness on Hikaru's face, Asuka looked at Toji Suzuhara on the other side with some concern.

"Ah, Dongzhi-kun is alright... His injuries are much less severe than yours, Xiaoxiang, so he wasn't in any immediate danger... but... but..."

Hikaru's voice grew softer and softer, and his expression became increasingly dejected... Something must have happened.

"Little, light..."

"!?"

Hikaru was startled because... Asuka, who was covered in sores and could barely move a finger, slowly and laboriously reached out and covered his hand with hers as a sign of concern.

I'm such a loser!
Xiao Xiang has become like this…! And I’m still so fragile that I need her to comfort me!!

After taking a deep breath, Hikaru Toki suppressed his vulnerability and showed his strong side.

"It's alright, Kaori. Suzuhara... just injured his arm, it's possible... he won't be able to use it properly anymore."

"...!"

Arm—In an instant, Asuka understood the reason, the battle against the Eleventh Angel… In order to support and assist her Unit-02 in launching a surprise attack, Unit-03's arm was burned away by the Eleventh Angel.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate his next offensive, Suzuhara Toji forcefully instructed Katsuragi Misato not to cut off the nerve flow, so that the excruciating pain that could burn out the nerves would not be reduced in the slightest when it affected the pilot.

That fire and light could melt all the nerves in your arm... It's not surprising.

It's even possible that he might never be able to raise his hand again for the rest of his life... Knowing this, it's understandable that Hikaru was filled with dejection.

Of course, it's just a matter of limited mobility. Compared to Asuka, who was on the verge of death for several days and nights, Suzuhara Toji's situation is naturally better.

"Xiao Xiang... I've made up my mind. If Dongzhi-kun's arm really can't be raised anymore, then for the rest of his life... I will be his arm. I will feed him, help him change his clothes, help him bathe, and help him relieve his physical needs... I don't know why, but thinking about such a life... I don't feel any pain or torment at all. In fact... it makes me feel a little bit of happiness and fulfillment... Maybe I really am a strange woman."

"...!"

Looking at Hikaru's face, radiating happiness as a woman, and as she spoke of her future, Asuka suddenly felt a strange, inexplicable jealousy.

"...How is the situation?"

At that moment, Shinji Ikari rushed in with several doctors in white coats to examine Asuka's condition.

“…This…egg…”

"What, is there anything you need?"

Seeing the large group of bystanders, Asuka could only frown and call out to Shinji Ikari with great dissatisfaction.

Shinji Ikari, though puzzled, obediently did as he was told... prepared to have his ear bitten as he leaned in—

"I feel so sticky... Help me take a bath..."

"!? Then, I'll go call a caregiver..."

"—Of course, you come!!!"

This was the first time Asuka had shouted loudly since waking up.