EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from the Dragon Clan

Chapter 197 195. Stagnant locker room

"Katsuragi."

"Ritsuko, how is Asuka?"

"Looks like a good guy."

Misato Katsuragi, who had just arrived, was watching everything in front of her.

As the director of the Operations Department, she didn't have to keep an eye on the pilots' simulation training all the time, but when she heard Asuka was back, she came over immediately. After confirming that Asuka was now in high spirits, the depression on the girl's face was swept away, and Misato Katsuragi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that Shinji-kun successfully brought Asuka back.

It still depends on people of the same age to come.

As Asuka's temporary guardian, I feel like I have completely failed. How can I explain this? Is it the generation gap between different age groups? As she thought about it, she and Ritsuko Akagi looked at the various data displayed by the instrument that detects the EVA body.

The instrument is working.

Asuka and Unit-02's new synchronization rate was soon revealed.

Huh? Is the display wrong?

"This number... is almost close to Shinji-kun."

They both thought at the same time.

The instrument was not wrong, which meant that Asuka's high synchronization rate with Unit 2 was genuine. From almost failing to drive Unit 2's synchronization rate to the current high synchronization rate, I really don't know how Asuka did it, it's simply a miracle.

After training.

Three drivers came to the office.

Katsuragi Misato, who had been waiting, met Asuka, but she had no intention of scolding Asuka at this time. After all, Ikari Shinji had said this before. Instead, she said guiltily:

"Asuka..."

"…I'm sorry, Misato." Asuka apologized first.

"No, I'm glad you're okay. I'm the one who should say sorry." Katsuragi Misato said embarrassedly, and looked at Ikari Shinji beside her, "Thank you, Shinji-kun."

Ritsuko Akagi narrowed her eyes beside her.

It seems that something happened between these people after Asuka ran away from home these days.

Even Katsuragi knew about it, but she didn't know.

Is there such an unfair thing?

but.

…Shinji-kun really helped Asuka.

For the first time, Ritsuko Akagi felt a sense of achievement.

I thought the vegetable was going to wither, but it grew stronger and stronger. What a pleasant surprise! While thinking this, she did not stop working. Asuka was chatting with Misato Katsuragi, and the office was still collecting data after the simulation training.

After the chat.

The data collection is almost complete.

At this time, Asuka looked at the fiery red machine shown in the closed-circuit surveillance. The giant monster was staying in the pool of the hangar as usual, and her mother's soul was in it. After accepting Unit 2, the synchronization rate will increase, which is the best proof of the truth of Shinji's words.

Shinji was right.

Asuka thought.

Even if you know that the identity of the driver is already determined, you have to keep trying.

It is worth noting that during today's training, Asuka, who was in the cockpit of Unit 2, always felt that something inexplicably inside the unit was calling her. That feeling was a bit tempting, making people feel itchy and unable to help but get close to it, but also a bit distant.

Like there's a layer of something in between?
"Be careful with the dissolution."

When she described this feeling to Shinji Ikari.

He said:
"It's the same kind of accident as the last body swap experiment. If you accept it, you might be completely dissolved in the LCL liquid. I dissolved it once, but like you, I can't explain the paradoxical feeling."

"How did Shinji come back?" she asked.

"It's vague, but as long as I think about reality and keep wanting to go back, I seem to be able to resist that dissolution."

Ikari Shinji recalled carefully.

At this moment, both of them were in the hangar of Unit 2.

After the training, they were supposed to rest for a while and then leave the headquarters. But Asuka pulled him over to talk in public, not noticing that next to him was Rei Ayanami, who was always sticking to him. After all, this was Asuka's first time driving after returning, and Shinji Ikari also wanted to ask about the situation.

"Think about reality..."

Asuka thought about it. Suddenly the girl glanced at him, and soon stopped caring about this aspect.

At this moment, she suddenly stood up straight with her hands on her hips, looking up at the fiery red machine in front of her, with a fierce aura. The close-fitting combat uniform showed off her soft figure very well. Asuka took a deep breath, her chest heaving slightly, and she cleared her throat, as cautious as if she was preparing to negotiate with the police outside like a robber robbing a bank.

The accomplice Ikari Shinji couldn't help but ask her:

"Wait, Asuka, what are you going to do?"

"Then you still need to ask?"

Of course, she wanted to see if she could make Unit 2 jump up and down as well. Asuka looked at Unit 2 in front of her, eager to try.

Being too energetic is not a good thing sometimes...

Ikari Shinji thought.

Looking at her, she seemed eager to shout out the name of mother to wake up Unit 2.

If Unit 2 were to start working here, the staff at the headquarters would have to work overtime again. Of course, this was not the point. Shinji Ikari remembered that her mother had survived the experiment and had developed mental illness. He was skeptical about whether she could wake up Unit 2, but he did not stop her. Asuka was mentally prepared. After holding it in for a long time, she whispered "Mom".

You can hear it.

Her tone was very stiff when she said mom.

Even though she had solved a knot that had been in her heart since she was a child, Asuka still felt an inexplicable sense of shame when she really faced it, especially when she shouted this in front of Shinji Ikari. However, Unit 2 did not respond to her call and remained quietly in the pool of the hangar. She waited for a long time, and at one point Asuka even thought she had missed something crucial.

But the pool remained calm.

Was my shouting in vain?
"Oh, no response."

she thought.

Or was it because I shouted too softly?
No reaction... No, Shinji Ikari was keenly aware that Unit 2's eyes were looking at Asuka, but the power of this gaze was so weak, it was completely incomparable to Unit 01, not to mention moving. He only discovered this by relying on his intuition.

——Unit 2’s eyes are fixed here.

"It's watching you Asuka."

"is it?"

Asuka looked around Unit 2 suspiciously, but she didn't notice anything, not even the eyes of Unit 2. Stupid Shinji, is he trying to comfort me? When she thought about this, she suddenly shuddered a little and vaguely felt someone's eyes on her, but it seemed to be just an illusion caused by Shinji Ikari's words.

Please, what kind of horror movie is this?

Even if you are a mother, don't scare yourself like this.

but.

For some reason, even though her body was cold, Asuka felt a warmth welling up in her heart.

She carefully looked at the machine that had accompanied her since she was a child. Perhaps for the first time, she looked at Unit 2 with eyes other than those of an "obedient tool" but rather of a "mother". It wasn't that bad, was it? Just knowing this was enough.

"Hey stupid Shinji, let's go."

"Won't you look at it a little longer?"

Asuka shook her head.

At this time, Shinji Ikari also reacted.
"Yes, you can come and watch it anytime you want."

"Do you think I'm some kid who needs his mother's praise?" Asuka was a little unhappy.

"Didn't you just..."

"Don't tell anyone about this!"

The two walked out of Unit 2's hangar amidst the noise, ready to leave the headquarters and go home.

But he hadn't changed out of his combat uniform yet.

Shinji Ikari walked towards the men's locker room.

Asuka stood there waiting for a while, not knowing who she was waiting for. When she saw Rei Ayanami, she and her went to the women's locker room one after the other. On the way, Asuka was preparing to say something. The two girls took off their combat uniforms in the locker room, revealing their smooth bodies. When Rei Ayanami was about to change into her regular clothes, Asuka suddenly shouted:
"Hey, honor student."

Rei Ayanami stopped and turned her head.

The two girls stared at each other.

"..."

A certain stagnant atmosphere suddenly appeared, but Ayanami Rei remained calm. She did not ask Asuka why she suddenly called her, but just waited quietly for Asuka to speak.

The two of them stayed in silence in the locker room.

(End of this chapter)