EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 170 Please sacrifice your looks... Shinji-kun
"Okay, I understand... Thank you for your hard work, Miri-nee. Let's get in the car and go."

"Eh, are you leaving already?"

Seeing Shinji Ikari already heading to open the car door, Misato Katsuragi quickly stopped him.

"Ah, Ritsuko Akagi, isn't this all there is to it? Once you're done talking, just leave... Or are you really going to practice kissing with me?"

“No, that’s not it!”

Misato Katsuragi let out a strange cry: "How can this guy be so calm?"

"You...you're not angry—? And don't you want to know anything else? Like why I met with Ritsuko...what's the relationship between Ritsuko and your father...how they communicate...these things?"

Misato Katsuragi was mentally prepared to be taken to the intelligence department for interrogation by Kenzaki, but why didn't Shinji Ikari do anything?

"Huh? Aren't you two best friends... It's perfectly normal for best friends to go out for drinks together, what do you take me for, to meddle in this—do you think I'm some kind of old man from the Showa era?"

Looking at Misato Katsuragi's expression, Shinji Ikari realized that this woman really thought he would be furious if he found out she had met with Ritsuko Akagi without permission... He was speechless. What kind of image do you guys have of me?
"But...but...Ritsuko is on your father's side..."

"It doesn't matter who she likes... The key is what she does. As long as she doesn't do anything to hurt anyone, I naturally won't do anything to her... Otherwise, why do you think I let her wander around headquarters every day without locking her up? At most, I'll have the guys from the intelligence department secretly monitor her."

Listening to Shinji Ikari's irrefutable and justifiable arguments, Misato Katsuragi really couldn't find a single fault with him...

"Of course, it's a different story if you want to tell me on your own initiative... Sister Misato, what information do you know that you think I need to know... just tell me."

"........."

Hearing Shinji Ikari's sincere and trusting words, Misato Katsuragi felt a little embarrassed... because not only had she failed to obtain any information, but she had also been making unreasonable demands of Shinji...

"Shinji-kun, I have a question... could you... save Ritsuko?"

After all, Ritsuko Akagi was one of Misato Katsuragi's closest friends... During their years as colleagues, she was also the only friend Misato could confide in and pour out her inner negativity to...

Seeing that they were already drifting further and further apart, Misato Katsuragi, even though she knew that her request was absurd, still couldn't help but plead with Shinji Ikari.

"How can I save him...?"

Shinji Ikari could only shrug helplessly.

“Miri-nee, I don’t know if you know this… but what drove Akagi Ritsuko to the brink was her own feelings… She deeply loved Ikari Gendo, even knowing that she was just being used by him… and that he would abandon her once she was no longer of use… yet she served him without complaint. This self-destructive spirit of sacrifice… how can anyone else save her?”

If it were Gendo Ikari's deception, that would be one thing, but Ritsuko Akagi knew perfectly well that Gendo Ikari would never fall in love with her.

The only person Gendo Ikari could dedicate his life to was Shinji Ikari's birth mother... the only one.

The rest, whether it's Naoko Akagi or Ritsuko Akagi, are just convenient and easy-to-use tools.

Even if they embraced each other as they wished, it would only be a case of sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams... Using Gendo Ikari's body to exchange for Ritsuko Akagi and Naoko Akagi's loyalty... that's all.

“…Misato, you are a woman too…you should know better than I do.”

Ikari's sharp revelation of the root of Ritsuko Akagi's current predicament left Misato Katsuragi speechless. As a woman… to be blinded by love… in such a situation, is there really anyone who can save her?

"No...Shinji! I don't think so."

"...Tell me about it?"

“Yesterday! Ritsuko came to see me… When she mentioned Commander Ikari, her face definitely didn’t show the happiness of a woman! Instead, it was the expression of an utterly exhausted… pitiful person on the verge of collapse! This is definitely not the expression of someone who, as you said… actively chose to fall in love with Commander Ikari and was willing to die for him! Maybe, at first it was like that… but something changed later… Oh right! Ritsuko said… Commander Ikari has changed! Changed to the point that she doesn’t know what to do anymore.” “Celebro…!”

"Sai...what?"

"It's nothing, sorry... I'll think about it."

—That is indeed possible.

Even though Cerebro has taken over Gendo Ikari's body and can use his influence and resources in SEELE, a personality cannot be so easily imitated.

Especially for a woman like Ritsuko Akagi... who has shared a bed and had intimate relations with Gendo Ikari countless times.

Even in remote communication, after just a few more words... Ritsuko Akagi would be able to sense the change in Gendo Ikari's personality... which is why she seems so bewildered and helpless.

"If that's the case, perhaps it's not impossible to try and help Ritsuko Akagi."

"Huh?! Shinji-kun, you agreed!?"

Misato Katsuragi was both surprised and delighted... after all, she never expected Shinji Ikari to agree to her proposal.

"Well, she's not an enemy... Since there's a possibility of helping her escape her suffering... then go for it."

"…………what?"

Misato Katsuragi blinked blankly, seemingly not understanding for a moment.

"Go and have a good talk with her, see what she needs... help her if you can."

"Wait?! Why me—shouldn't it be you!?"

"No... Sister Miri, you're her best friend, if you don't go, who will? You should be asking why you thought I was going?"

Misato Katsuragi blushed, but spoke with utmost seriousness.

"Because you are Commander Ikari's son! If it were you, perhaps you would have a similar temperament to Commander Ikari. With your heroic figure, you could make Ritsuko's affections shift from the Commander to you. After all, I can't understand Ritsuko's taste... Commander Ikari's charm is worlds apart from yours, Shinji-kun...!"

Listening to Misato Katsuragi's drunken-sounding remarks, Shinji Ikari could only say...

Are you awake?

"For Ritsuko's sake, please sacrifice your looks... Shinji! Your harem is already huge, one more older sister won't hurt..."

"I'm sorry, I refuse."

Sensing the change in atmosphere... and absolutely not joking, Shinji Ikari firmly rejected Misato Katsuragi's absurd proposal.

"It might be a bit childish... but I dislike Ritsuko Akagi and Naoko Akagi... so I reject your suggestion. If it's really necessary, let Kenzaki or Kaji do it."

"Can I... ask for the reason...?"

Judging from Shinji Ikari's attitude, Misato Katsuragi could sense that something was definitely happening that made someone like Shinji so openly express his disgust and malice.

"—Because they killed Rei, that's why I hate them… Isn't that reason enough?"

(End of this chapter)