EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 175 Lingbo... You're crying.

"Please, let me talk to that idiot Shinji by myself first! Please!!"

This happened a dozen minutes before Shinji Ikari returned home.

After learning from Kaji that Gendo Ikari had asked Shinji Ikari to go to the NERV branch in Berlin, Germany, through Ritsuko Akagi, Asuka solemnly bowed her head and pleaded with the others.

The proud and arrogant Asuka actually bowed her head to him so solemnly... which made everyone respect her opinion.

"Asuka, don't do anything reckless."

Although she had a bad feeling that letting Asuka talk to Shinji Ikari alone would only lead to bad things, the atmosphere had already been built up to this point, and if Misato Katsuragi insisted on refusing, and really forced Asuka into doing something... it was not something she could bear.

"Alright, alright, let the young people handle their own affairs... We old folks should just obediently create a suitable stage for them."

Seeing that Misato Katsuragi was still hesitating, Ryoji Kaji took the initiative to make the decision for her and pushed her out of the apartment.

"Suzuhara-kun... bring your sister, ah... Toki-kun, and remember to bring Panpan too... otherwise, if a penguin suddenly jumps out and squawks while the two of them are talking, it would be too much of a mood killer."

Kaji Ryoji was quite pleased with Asuka's courageous step forward... He was the one who most supported these girls in launching their offensive against Shinji Ikari.

"Okay! Sakura, let's go..."

"Brother? Where are we going?"

"Uncle Kaji is treating us to barbecue today, let's go together."

To create some alone time for Asuka and Shinji, Ryoji Kaji went so far as to treat everyone in the apartment to a meal out of his own pocket… Well, if that's the case… if all else fails, they could just go to a karaoke bar for four or five hours after the barbecue…

"........."

Amidst the noisy and chaotic atmosphere, only one girl stood out as an oddity…

Rei Ayanami stood quietly at the very edge of the crowd, her silence tinged with loneliness. Her face was devoid of any smile, and she would occasionally glance back at the apartment building behind her, her expression one of intense concern…

"...What's wrong, Ayanami?"

Misato Katsuragi keenly noticed the slight sadness in Rei Ayanami's eyes and took the initiative to ask her about it.

"No... I'm sorry... Ms. Katsuragi, I'm not quite sure either."

I was going to say I was fine, but looking at Misato Katsuragi's concerned face... Rei Ayanami couldn't just brush it off so easily.

"…Give me your blessing! You guys go eat first! I have something to say to Lingbo."

Misato Katsuragi naturally knew what Rei Ayanami was concerned about... She took Rei Ayanami's hand and led her in another direction.

"Misato...!"

Seeing Misato Katsuragi's actions, Ryoji Kaji frowned... He also knew that Rei Ayanami's feelings for Shinji Ikari were definitely no less than Asuka's.

However, Rei Ayanami's personality is too introverted, which makes it impossible for her to force Shinji Ikari to make a decision. If Rei Ayanami were to face Shinji Ikari, she would most likely be brushed off by him.

Therefore, Kaji Ryoji didn't really want Rei Ayanami to get involved in Shinji Ikari and Asuka's date tonight.

"Shut up! When did it become your place to tell me what to do?! You piece of trash!"

But—if we just let Kaji Ryoji take Rei Ayanami away like that, leaving her to wait futilely outside while Shinji Ikari and Asuka are alone together in a room… it would definitely cause considerable harm to the child's heart.

So Misato Katsuragi didn't hesitate to curse at him and forcefully took Rei Ayanami into her car.

"Miss Katsuragi...?"

Rei Ayanami was somewhat at a loss, wondering why Misato Katsuragi had suddenly brought her here alone to spy on him.

"Lingbo...are you...jealous?" "...Jealous?"

Looking at the delicate, porcelain-doll-like smile of this child, Misato Katsuragi simply couldn't bear to stand by and watch... This girl, who neither clearly understood her own feelings nor knew how to face Shinji Ikari...

If I remain silent tonight, it might lead to a huge step forward between Asuka and Shinji Ikari... but it would definitely hurt Rei Ayanami's budding feelings.

and so…

"Yes... I saw it, when Asuka suggested... that she and Shinji spend the night alone together. Although you didn't refuse, you didn't accept either... you just stood silently in the back. Your expression... was very sad."

"Sad...? Me..."

Misato Katsuragi patiently guided and forced her to gradually confront the feelings she had suppressed.

“How could that be… Ikari-kun told me to take good care of Asuka. And Asuka can bring warmth to Ikari-kun… I shouldn’t… have any sadness about me.”

"...!"

Seeing the forced smile on Rei Ayanami's face, a smile more sorrowful than tears, Misato Katsuragi felt a pang of pain mixed with a surge of joy.

Shinji, Shinji... you are a truly heinous man.

If it were the Rei Ayanami I knew before… she would never have shown such a complex range of emotions on her face… she would only nod or shake her head monotonously, and could not be called human at all.

Rei Ayanami is now a completely... infatuated girl.

"Ayanami! Listen carefully, I'm not asking you what Shinji Ikari wants you to do... nor am I asking you whether you should do it or not... you just need to tell me what you truly think! That's what makes you human!"

"...Humans!?"

The sudden words pierced Rei Ayanami's heart—is this... what humanity is...?
This is so painful... It should be a happy thing... My relationship with Ikari and Asuka is getting better and better...

This is the first time I've had a boy I like, and also the first time I've had a friend I feel very comfortable living with...

Even though his own friend had so earnestly bowed his head and pleaded with him, for his and her happiness... he should... pray for them, rejoice for them...

Why--

Just imagining Shinji Ikari and Asuka Shinichi alone together... touching each other... embracing each other...

Deep within my own chest... I felt such a convulsive, such a sharp, agonizing pain...

—It hurts so much, it hurts so much… Is this what it means to be human?

"Lingbo...you're crying."

By the time she realized it, the cool liquid had already dripped down her cheeks and onto the hem of her skirt.

……cry?

Me?
Why... even though I wasn't injured...?

But the pain in my chest was getting worse... my hands and feet were getting colder and colder... and even my throat was starting to choke up...

"Lingbo".

At that moment, Misato Katsuragi warmly grasped Rei Ayanami's hand.

“Let’s go back and tell Shinji how you feel… How could you be so cruel as to abandon you like this?”

(End of this chapter)