EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 160 Would you be willing to believe in humanity one more time, Mr. Fuyutsuki?

After the defeat of the Eleventh Angel... the Third Neo-Tokyo City... has entered a rare period of peace.

As time went by, Asuka's injuries gradually improved... Suzuhara Toji also fully recovered and left the hospital to return home.

Although they haven't openly discussed it, Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji already know... The last two Angels are most likely Kenzaki Kyoya and Nagisa Kaworu...

After a brief moment of disbelief, both of them realized... this meant that if Gendo Ikari and Seele didn't cause any more trouble... the Angels could be considered completely wiped out.

"It's impossible to expect them not to cause trouble...sigh..."

Misato Katsuragi leaned back in the swivel chair in the command room, sighing as it spun around.

"After all, the person who sent EVA Unit-06 to retrieve the Eleventh Angel from the S2 organization must be Commander Ikari... So, he must be plotting something else."

Although Kaji Ryoji was talking to Katsuragi Misato, his eyes kept glancing at the fourth person present—

Besides Misato Katsuragi, Ryoji Kaji, and Shinji Ikari, there was another unexpected guest at the meeting today—the Vice Commander, Kozo Fuyutsuki, who was personally invited by Shinji Ikari to attend the meeting.

"Don't worry, please accept my blessing. I specially invited Vice Commander Fuyutsuki... To be honest, I've wanted to have a good talk with you for a long time, but I haven't had the chance because of the constant contact with the Apostles."

Realizing that both Kaji Misato and Fuyutsuki were maintaining a wary distance, Shinji Ikari spoke up to smooth things over.

"Moreover, Vice Commander Fuyutsuki is also supporting us to some extent, isn't he? Otherwise, neither the negotiations with SEELE nor the transfer of power to Misato-nee would have progressed so smoothly without your approval, Vice Commander."

Naturally, Gendo Ikari has been deeply rooted in NERV for many years... People like Kenzaki before and Ritsuko Akagi now can all be said to be his followers.

If it weren't for Fuyutsuki Kōsaku's tacit approval or even his coordination, Katsuragi Misato wouldn't have been able to so naturally take over the authority of the entire headquarters.

"...Heh, Kaji-kun, Katsuragi-kun...you guys aren't even as perceptive as Shinji-kun. Is it because you've become too complacent now that you have someone to rely on?"

"...Uh..." "As you said, there's no way to refute that."

Faced with Fuyuki's teasing, the two looked at each other, realizing that since they could finally relax and rely on Shinji Ikari, they hadn't been thinking about many things in such detail.

"However, I, an old man, have no right to criticize you..."

Looking into Shinji Ikari's straightforward eyes, Kozo Fuyutsuki instinctively wanted to look away... unwilling to meet those pure and innocent eyes.

"You're already an old man, practically as dust as dirt, yet you don't even have the courage to face a child, and you even have to come to me, Shinji... You're so pathetic."

With that, Fuyutsuki Kozo nodded to Kaji Misato and the other, indicating whether he and Shinji Ikari could speak alone.

"Shinji-kun..."

"It's fine."

After receiving Shinji Ikari's approval, the two bowed and left the conference room. The huge command room returned to its usual state once again... except for Fuyutsuki and Ikari.

However, this Ikari is no longer the same as before...

"...Shinji-kun...that giant of light, the one now referred to as a god in public opinion...Ultraman Tiga...is that you?"

After a long silence, Fuyutsuki Kozo stopped beating around the bush and directly pointed out the question that had been troubling him for a long time.

"Why do you think that?" Shinji Ikari neither affirmed nor denied, his question as calm as still water... and this attitude had already given Kozo Fuyutsuki an answer in his heart.

"...It's really true...?"

The initial guess was simply because Shinji Ikari was nowhere to be found every time Tiga appeared... Later, it was related to Shinji Ikari's personality after arriving in Tokyo-3... which had undergone a very drastic change from before.

"The Deus Ex machina that rendered the Dead Sea Scrolls almost worthless and tore up all the scripts... was actually your child, Yui... Ikari... Now that you know all this, will you cry or laugh?"

Almost relieved, Fuyutsuki Kozo slumped in his chair, muttering to himself as if all his strength had been drained.

"Shinji-kun, what...what is your purpose?"

After a long while, Fuyutsuki Kōzō turned around, his brows furrowed, and solemnly addressed Shinji Ikari.

"That giant's power far surpasses that of EVA and the Angels... Why did you only use it when the Angels attacked..."

"Because Ultraman's power is the power that responds to the courage and will of mankind—nothing more."

What seemed like an ordinary remark to Shinji Ikari exploded like a thunderclap in Kozo Fuyutsuki's ears...

"A response...human courage and will...? Do humans still possess that?"

Watching Fuyutsuki Kōzō mutter to himself, Shinji Ikari didn't refute him... After all, everyone's perspective and understanding of the world are different.

People like Fuyuki Kōzō, Ikari Gendō, and even the old man from SEELE... have subjectively concluded that humanity is beyond redemption, and that's why they crave apostles... crave rituals... crave the foolish thing of evolving all humans into the level of the heart.

Of course, Gendo Ikari has other plans, but we'll leave that aside for now.

However, from Shinji Ikari's perspective... from Ultraman Tiga's perspective...! Even though this world is on the verge of death, humanity is still on this continent... full of vitality, striving to live.

Even if living to see tomorrow mean certain death at the hands of a calamity called the Apostles, we must live each day to the fullest… It is this vibrant life force that has enabled humanity to create its own civilization in a world where the seas are crimson and the earth is parched.

The seawater can no longer nourish humankind... Humankind uses the power of technology to create devices... to purify it.

Angels descended from the sky to destroy humanity... Humanity used the power called civilization to build cities... to fight back against them!
Those in high positions view life as just a number... but they fail to see that every number is proof of a living human being's persistent struggle against fate and the world.

Therefore, those who tirelessly fight on deserve their due reward! This is the reason for Ultraman's existence.

"Is that so... You like humans that much, Shinji-kun... No, you like humans that much, Ultraman?"

The winter moon murmured as it worked, but its eyes, which had been completely barren... seemed to regain a glimmer of light—

Humanity's redemption...

Humanity's struggle.

As long as humanity continues to struggle, humanity... needs no salvation...

"Yes. That's the reason Ultraman exists. So, are you willing to believe in humanity one more time? Vice Commander Fuyutsuki... no, Fuyutsuki-sensei?"

(End of this chapter)