EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 173 Don't worry about anything, leave it to me
"...Is this a good idea?"

In the shooting training room, watching Shinji Ikari intently holding his rifle, Kenzaki Kyoya hesitated for a long time before finally raising his question.

Originally, as Shinji Ikari's loyal right-hand man, Kenzaki Kyouya thought he should act like he did when he served Gendo Ikari, doing all the dirty and tiring work. No matter what orders Shinji Ikari gave him, he should not have any questions and should just faithfully carry them out like a tool.

But—faced with the orders Shinji Ikari gave him at this moment, which once again gave this silent man the courage to question them…

"oh…?"

A rather unexpected sound, accompanied by a burst of rapid gunfire.

The moment the trigger was pulled… the hard feel of the trigger on my finger, the throbbing recoil in my shoulder… and the smell of gunpowder in the air…

Each one is vastly different from the rifle used when piloting an EVA... After all, EVA was created to fight against Angels... while what he holds in his hand now is the crystallization of slaughter, created by humanity to kill its own compatriots with maximum efficiency.

What are you worth?

Smiling, he put the training rifle back in its place and turned to answer Kenzaki Kyoya's question.

"...Your order to only have a minimum number of drivers accompany you to the Berlin branch...I simply cannot accept that."

“Kenzaki, are you mistaken about something… I’m not going to destroy or occupy the Berlin branch this time. It’s just that the child received an invitation from his father and naturally has to accept it.”

—Would anyone believe such an explanation? I doubt you could even fool those naive girls, which is why you're unwilling to tell them.

"...If you insist on keeping only the minimum staff, then...please let me, Kenzaki, serve as the driver and attendant."

"No."

"Why... when it comes to driving transport planes and trucks, no one in the entire intelligence department is better than me..."

"Nonsense, it's not a technical issue, it's just that the situation in Berlin is still unclear... I don't want you to go, understand?"

Realizing Shinji Ikari's words had a deeper meaning, Kenzaki Kyoya's eyes dimmed slightly.

"Because my current wavelength is still blue... Could it be because of the Twelfth Apostle?"

"Huh...? What nonsense are you talking about... How could it be because of that?"

As a result, his guess was ruthlessly rejected by Shinji Ikari.

"Of course it's because I don't want you to die there for no reason... You usually obey my orders without question... but when it really comes down to it, you'll definitely disobey. If I find a regular driver to come with me, and we encounter danger, I can tell him to run and he'll run away without a word, relieving me of any worries... But—you can't do that, can you?"

"...I will carry out the order!"

"Even if I were to die in front of you... could you guarantee to execute my plan flawlessly? Even if it means you would stand by and watch me die."

"...!"

Faced with Shinji Ikari's aggressive questioning, Kenzaki Kyouya remained silent... and this silence already provided the answer—Shinji Ikari smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s right, Kenzaki… If you’re the kind of person who would stand by and watch me die, then… you should continue to serve Gendo Ikari.”

When you left Gendo Ikari to join us simply because of such a vague and grand reason as… wanting to do something for this world, to make future generations happier… I knew then that you weren't an emotionless tool—you made your own judgments based on your own will. Therefore, I cannot take you with me.”

Kenzaki Kyouya sighed... Since Shinji Ikari had already said so much... it would probably be pointless for him to say anything more.

"...Yes, I understand." Shinji Ikari laughed and scolded Kenzaki Kyoya, who had a bitter look on his face.

"Hey, don't look like you're about to cry! It's like I'm really going to my death... I'm not that easy to die."

"So... Mr. Shinji, when do you plan to depart?"

"I'll leave once I've finished dealing with things here... I won't feel at ease leaving if there's no progress here."

"Over here...?"

Kenzaki Kyouya looked slightly puzzled. After the Eleventh Angel was defeated, the entire Third New Tokyo City entered a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere as if everything had ended. Even the emergency drills that were originally held once a week were changed to once a month.

Under Kaji Ryoji's deliberate instruction, Katsuragi Misato repeatedly conveyed to the Japanese government of Tokyo-2 that the Angels should have been eliminated, allowing them to spread the word and reassure the public so they could resume their daily lives and production.

"Excuse me, is there anything else that might happen here?"

"Maybe we'll need Tiga to reappear once more—let's see how Kaji arranges it."

Because of Ultraman Tiga's appearance... his life has undergone such a dramatic transformation... This is the operational theme of Kaji Ryoji, who is in charge of public opinion management.

There's no need to deliberately emphasize how bravely Tiga fought against the Angels after his appearance... all we need to do is let all humanity see Tiga's existence and then find their lives subtly becoming more peaceful and prosperous...

Those guys will etch this achievement onto Tiga themselves.

"To reappear once more... but if there are no apostles, to appear is to..."

Kenzaki Kyou couldn't fathom... why Shinji Ikari would transform into Ultraman Tiga when there were no enemies... was it to gain public favor by using Ultraman's form to help rebuild buildings or something...?

"Shinji-sensei?! Could it be that you intend to..."

Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through Kenzaki Kyoya's mind... Could it be that this boy... really decided to use the power of Ultraman to suppress the nearby Self-Defense Force division...?

Shinji Ikari did not answer Kenzaki Kyoya's question, nor did he turn around... he simply spoke softly.

"Kenzaki... don't worry—you don't need to worry about anything... leave it to me."

"…………yes."

Yes--

This is no longer something I need to care about... All I need to do is continue to follow this man's back... That's enough.

He will definitely lead me to achieve my wishes.

Shinji Ikari had already left the training room… Only then did Kyoya Kenzaki remember to turn back… and look at the target Shinji had just shot at during his shooting practice…

"…………Eh?"

He initially thought it was undoubtedly a perfect score... but Kenzaki found himself unable to find it...

There were no bullet holes found on the entire target paper.

Missing the target... No, it's not that simple... because the walls around the target are also clean and intact, with no craters visible.

(End of this chapter)