EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 159 People who share the same aspirations are comrades
"Kenzaki——"

Pushing open the door to the intelligence department's office, I saw Kenzaki Kyoya still working late into the night.

"Shinji-kun...!"

The man in the suit, who never took off his sunglasses even indoors at night, showed a hint of surprise when he saw Shinji Ikari arrive, and quickly got up to greet him.

"They actually came to our door on their own initiative... What happened?"

"It's okay, don't worry, it's just that it feels like it's been a long time since we talked."

Shinji Ikari waved to Kenzaki Kyoya, signaling him to sit down, and casually sat down in the chair opposite him.

"...How are you? Still so busy?"

He casually picked up a thick stack of documents on his desk, all of which were training reports from the SWAT divisions stationed near NERV, as well as reconnaissance reports from other NERV branches.

From the start of new live-fire exercises by the Self-Defense Forces to the NERV branch in Paris ordering pizzas for hundreds of people in the middle of the night—who knows what he was busy with in the middle of the night… this man can only be described as meticulous.

"I apologize, because the other party hasn't shown any obvious movements lately, I can only infer their actions from these minor details, so I haven't been able to submit a timely and effective summary report to you..."

"Don't apologize, don't apologize, you've done enough. If it were me or Kaji Misato... even if the three of us worked ourselves to the bone, we still wouldn't have done as well as you alone... to be able to organize this behemoth of NERV's intelligence department so well, you really are the most reliable adult here."

"The most reliable adult... yeah... that sounds ironic..."

This uncommon form of address brought a wry smile to Kenzaki Kyoya's face. After all... in NERV, there was a fundamental difference between adults and minors...

It seems that at some point, an unspoken rule was adopted by everyone: only minors who have suffered emotional trauma are qualified to pilot EVA.

When it was first developed, the Strategic Self-Defense Force naturally wouldn't allow this next-generation combat weapon to be used as a toy by the mere intelligence agency NERV. They repeatedly dispatched elite special forces, strong and well-trained, to try to activate the EVA...

As a result, naturally, they returned empty-handed... There were even cases where not only could they not start the EVA, but they were also swallowed up by the EVA... completely disappearing inside the insertion plug.

After sacrificing double-digit lives in vain... with the successful activation of Unit-02 at the Paris branch by fourteen-year-old Asuka... the military high command finally gave up on the idea and could only accept the absurd and ridiculous rule that adults cannot activate EVA.

"...It's really a lot of guilt for me, Kaji, and Misato that we can only let you minors fight on the front lines."

It is this gap between adults and minors that makes the praise of being a reliable adult sound so jarring to Kenzaki Kyoya.

"So, Kenzaki, do you want to pilot an EVA?"

"…………ha?!"

Kenzaki Kyouya stared blankly at Shinji Ikari in front of him... What was he saying?
Adults cannot activate EVA; this should already be a consensus among all NERV branches... Why did Shinji Ikari suddenly bring this up?

Moreover... although Shinji Ikari had a smile on his face, his eyes were very serious... and he didn't seem to be joking at all.

"What's the meaning…?"

"It's nothing, it just means what it says—because...you should be able to open it now."

Upon hearing the word "now," Kenzaki Kyouya suddenly understood something and realized why Shinji Ikari, who was usually so busy and spent his free time with Rei and Asuka, would suddenly come to chat with him.

"What...did something happen to me?"

"Ah, your wavelength is blue now... Although I can't be sure you're the Twelfth Angel, you're definitely very different from ordinary humans. That bastard Kaworu was right."

"I see..."

Upon hearing Shinji Ikari's reply, Kenzaki Kyoya's eyes widened in complete astonishment... After a moment, he looked up with a sense of relief, gazing at the pristine white ceiling, before slumping back in his chair. "...Was it...that Potter and the others who reported it?"

“I don’t know. I just asked Jiazhi to find a few people to observe you and report to me if anything unusual happened—and that’s how I got this news.”

Shinji Ikari shrugged... As always, he only focused on strategic planning in the big picture, and he generally didn't get involved in how his subordinates implemented and executed the plans, or who would carry them out.

After all, everyone has their own expertise, and the more important the action, the more taboo it is for laymen to instruct experts.

"...Is that so? They've really graduated...I didn't even realize I was being watched."

"What's wrong? Are you angry?"

"No—how could that be… After all, when I confessed to you, Shinji, that I was an Angel… I was prepared to be eliminated on the spot. I didn’t resent you then, so how could I be dissatisfied now… It’s just that I’m still a little shocked."

Clearly, Kenzaki Kyoya's inner state wasn't as calm as his outward appearance suggested... In fact, he had been in a state of utter turmoil lately because the Eleventh Angel had already been defeated, and he himself was the Twelfth Angel...

Otherwise, he would have been completely unaware that the intelligence department was monitoring him.

"So, Shinji-kun... what will happen to me? Will I go to that black Rei Ayanami detention cell from before?"

Kenzaki Kyouya asked Shinji Ikari with a self-deprecating tone, only to be met with a big eye roll in return.

"What are you talking about? I came to ask if you want EVA to hurry up. Unit 4 is available because Kaworu went to pilot Unit 6, so you can fill the gap."

"…………ah?"

"Previously, adults couldn't activate EVAs because the Wall of the Heart was too thick... making it impossible to resonate with an EVA. Now that you've been confirmed to have the genes of an Angel... it's not difficult for you to resonate directly with an EVA. It just so happens that Unit-04 is available now, so I'm asking if you're interested, that's all."

Shinji Ikari reiterated his conclusion: even if it is confirmed that Kenzaki Kyou is the Twelfth Angel... he will not do anything to Kenzaki because of this.

"Why...shouldn't you...even if you don't destroy me, at least..."

"Oh? Mr. Kenzaki? You're teaching me how to do things?"

"No, no... I was just... excuse my rudeness."

Sensing Shinji Ikari's subtle anger, Kenzaki Kyoya immediately withdrew his suggestion.

"I've said the same thing before, and I don't want to repeat myself... As long as you share the same aspirations as me, whether you're human, an Angel, a monster, or an alien... anyone who shares the same aspirations is my comrade. So this time, I'm simply asking you if you want to pilot Unit-04, because I see you're quite interested in this thing..."

Realizing he had said enough, Shinji Ikari stood up, ready to let Kyoya Kenzaki think it over himself.

"Aren't you afraid... that I, the Apostle, will use Unit 4... to go directly to the Final Dogma area to meet Adam... and trigger the Final Impact?"

Seeing that Shinji Ikari was actually preparing to leave, Kenzaki Kyoya quickly stood up and asked the question he had always wanted to ask but didn't know how to bring it up.

Shinji Ikari's response, as always, was strong and arrogant, yet irresistibly... making one want to rely on him.

"You can try—considering how much we've been through together, I won't transform into Ultraman... but will use Unit-01 to stop you myself and then kill you."

"...Waaah, how scary..."

Although he said it was terrifying, Kenzaki Kyouya felt Shinji Ikari's straightforward and clear killing intent... and he truly felt relieved and found relief from his long-standing worry about being an Angel.

(End of this chapter)