EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from the Dragon Clan

Chapter 126 124. New Apostle
The conversation in the restaurant is not over yet.

"Hey, what's the important thing?"

Asuka asked.

She is a girl who pays attention to small details, completely different from Ayanami Rei. If Ayanami heard that he had something to do, she would probably be considerate and gentle and not ask anything, like a stone watching over a train tunnel in the night of the snowy country. Sometimes, it is hard to tell who is good and who is bad between the two.

Ikari Shinji hesitated.

Should I take this opportunity to explain something to her?

Is now the time?
After she made it clear, would they no longer be friends? Was she strong enough now? Would she run away from home again? Ikari Shinji sighed suddenly, and this obvious expression immediately scared the German lady away.
"If it's private, then there's no need to say it."

Asuka said with rare consideration.

Could it be something like the anniversary of Shinji's mother's death?

She didn't want to expose other people's scars, so the termination of the date was not a big deal. Although it was bad to ask a girl out on a weekend date and then go home halfway, today's gift was enough. Asuka realized that she had received a gift, but she still didn't bring Shinji's white shirt.

Why don't we return the gift to Shinji later and then return them together.

At this moment, Asuka, who was originally happily holding the model box, looked at the No. 2 machine inside and keenly noticed some small problems. Last time when flowers were sent, everyone got a share, but this time... No, there are only three EVA machines in Japan now, and Shinji must have made them specifically for himself. But there is still an extra No. 0 machine, so could it be that in addition to the No. 2 machine for her, there is also a gift for another girl?

Fortunately.

That puppet-like guy is nothing to worry about.

"Well, it's private...so I can't tell you."

Shinji Ikari thought that if he told Asuka that he was going back to be with Ayanami, he didn't know what expression would appear on Asuka's face. Compared to this, he now wanted to completely resolve the mistakes and misunderstandings that had existed between him and Asuka.

When I get along with Rei Ayanami on a daily basis, I always have to be considerate of her.

Asuka has changed a lot recently. She knows how to cooperate in battles, and her arrogance and stubbornness have been restrained a lot. It seems that Asuka has really tried hard to change herself. I really can't bear to see a girl who would change for his words sad.

But all this must come to an end.

What does he really think of Asuka? Is there any kind of love between a man and a woman?
Will he be moved by the kiss and hug before? But there is no doubt that Ikari Shinji only regards her as a friend. Compared with Asuka, Ayanami Rei is the most important. In the end, he will definitely let down this love. This is something that has been determined for a long time.

Ayanami...

When Deputy Commander Dongyue comes back next week, I will be able to understand Ayanami a little better.

So he suddenly asked:
"Do you still like me now?"

The German lady's face turned slightly red.

What is this person trying to do? Why is he asking a girl in person if she likes him?

Is there any need to think about the answer to this question? Asuka couldn't help but start to guess in her heart, if a man suddenly said this to a couple who had broken up, was he planning to get back together? She still had some confidence, a little bit, that she would no longer treat Shinji as a substitute for her parents. In the end, what a normal relationship was like, Asuka still hadn't figured it out.

It's all Misato's fault.

I clearly wanted to ask her some advice on love last time, but she didn't say anything. This adult is too introverted and doesn't even want to open up.

"of course."

She nodded without hesitation, then asked, "Shinji, why do you ask this all of a sudden? Does it have anything to do with what you're going to do next?"

"sorry."

He began with this apology, and he felt relieved as if he had escaped from a cage.

"There is something I must tell you."

Suddenly Asuka smelled a hint of danger in these words, and a sense of uneasiness surged up in her heart. If it were usual, she would definitely have the patience to listen to what Shinji had to say, but Shinji had just asked her, "Do you still like me now?", and used this sentence as a prelude to his apology. This was undoubtedly a bad sign.

There was something bad in this passage. Every word he said was like the ominous premonitions in his midnight dreams, all coming true.

separate?

No, the two of them had broken up a long time ago. The current situation is more like the classic scene of "Do you still like me now, but I don't like you anymore." Every couple who broke up in their youth, because of the long separation and one of them betrayed, will say this when they meet again a few years later.

But he just gave her a gift. Asuka's mind was confused.

what is this?
How could this happen? Impossible. Was she too tired and confused? All these common sense judgments disappeared from her consciousness. Was it an illusion? However, this thought also sank into the ocean of consciousness like a tiny bubble. Asuka's blue eyes were fixed on Shinji Ikari's lips, and she tried to find something from it.

Although they were face to face, for a moment she felt that Shinji was very far away from her, as if they were in different worlds. Countless thoughts flew through her mind, and the air conditioning in the restaurant made her whole body a little cold. Suddenly, Asuka was a little reluctant to listen to him.

But in the end she still opened her mouth and asked:
"……whats the matter?"

"Remember the stormy night last time? The rain wasn't as heavy as the previous few days. I found you running away from home when I was outside and brought you back to the apartment..."

Shinji Ikari should have followed this momentum and let out all the words he had been accumulating for a long time.

But something unexpected happened and temporarily interrupted the conversation.

The ground shook.

The cups and plates on the table began to shake noticeably.

The two were stunned at the same time. There was only one possibility for this sign in the Third New Tokyo City, that is, the invasion of the Angels. The guests in the restaurant began to take shelter skillfully, and a call from Shinji Ikari immediately confirmed their guess.

It was Miss Misato's voice.

"Shinji-kun, this is the new Apostle. Please come to the headquarters immediately."

"Yes, Miss Misato."

He finished the conversation quickly on the phone.

Next, the two pilots will go to the headquarters to fly the EVA machine to fight, which is their duty as pilots. Ikari Shinji thought that it was really not a good time to choose today to invade, but the arrival of the apostles will not change according to people's wishes.

Asuka was silent over there, still waiting for his next words.

"Let's talk on the way to the headquarters."

He said.

A new January, a fresh start
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(End of this chapter)