EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 26 Everyone together!
Gazing at the blue sky in the distance, the blonde girl leaned dejectedly on the railing of the rooftop.

Even though the warm spring breeze gently lifted the hem of her sailor uniform, it could not wipe away the sadness in her heart.

"It's dangerous to lean on the railing, Asuka."

It was not until the sudden voice of a young boy came from behind that the girl, who was immersed in her closed inner world, was awakened.

"S-Shinji?!"

Asuka turned around anxiously and looked at Shinji Ikari who was slowly walking towards her with an expression of disbelief.

He simply rushed over in two steps and slapped Shinji Ikari on the face, shoulders and chest.

"He's a living person, right, idiot? Is this true? He didn't die... and turned into a ghost or something..."

"Hey! Who told you I was dead?"

Ikari Shinji wordlessly stopped Asuka's hand movements, and then his eyes naturally fell on Asuka's cheek...

To be precise, it was on those red and swollen eyes.

"……what."

Following Shinji Ikari's gaze, Asuka also noticed that her crying appearance was now completely exposed in front of Shinji Ikari. She turned around shyly, trying to cover her face while answering.

"Because... Misato told me... your condition... was not optimistic. At that time... when we just pulled you out of the plug... you no longer had any... vital signs..."

"Ah, that... well, it's really dangerous. But I won't die that easily, so don't worry."

I realized that Asuka was extremely depressed, with no domineering aura at all, and she looked listless...

Shinji Ikari walked to Asuka's side, said nothing, and just leaned against the railing with her quietly, looking at the bright future.

"...You were just telling me how dangerous it was to lean on the railing... idiot. Why are you here now?"

After discovering that there was really nothing wrong with Shinji Ikari's health, Asuka's mood improved a little and she started to joke around.

"That's when you're alone, idiot. If something isn't strong enough for you, you'll fall and die."

"Tsk! You're talking as if there's any difference between me and you and me..."

"Of course it's different. If I were here, no matter how many times you fall, I would pull you back, Asuka."

"——!?"

The words that did not conceal the deep meaning in the words, coupled with the face that was not the slightest bit false, instantly broke through Asuka's inner defenses.

Asuka suddenly felt a burning sensation on her cheeks and quickly turned her face away, determined not to let Shinji Ikari see the expression on her face.

For a moment, there was a tacit silence between them.

Just standing here, feeling the unchanging spring breeze, feeling each other's presence... actually, made Asuka feel a wave of comfort and redemption.

Even Asuka herself didn't realize... this idiot, just standing next to her, could have such a huge impact on her.

Shinji Ikari didn't take the initiative to talk about anything, and just let Asuka sort out her thoughts.

"...Shinji, I messed up again... It was my fault for being so stubborn and refusing to retreat, but..."

Shinji Ikari frowned slightly and rudely interrupted Asuka's discovery.

"Ah, come to think of it, I haven't apologized to you yet—I'm sorry, Asuka. I didn't think before, so don't take it to heart."

I came all the way here to hear... not Asuka's self-deprecating rants. So I had to interrupt and change the subject.

"Apologize…?"

Asuka's attention was indeed drawn, and she asked with a dull look on her face.

"...Why are you apologizing? What did you say? What do you mean by speaking without thinking..."

"At that time... didn't you ask me if you could do it? I told you that I could definitely do it - did you forget?" "Ah...!"

Asuka blinked, she didn't expect that Shinji Ikari was apologizing for this matter.

All this was because of my own willfulness... I made Shinji Ikari risk his life to cooperate with me, and in the very end... I cowardly begged for Shinji Ikari's affirmation, but the result was still an ugly failure.

Guilt and shame instantly overwhelmed Asuka's heart, leaving her feeling powerless. Her knees gave way and she nearly collapsed...

"!"

However, an arm that looked very thin but was surprisingly strong supported Asuka from the side.

"Oh, you're falling so soon, are you testing whether I can catch you, Asuka?"

Shinji Ikari——without any complaints or blame towards himself, he was right beside him...with that bright smile on his face.

"...Back then, I actually knew... that with our combined strength, it would be impossible to penetrate the Apostle's AT field. But... I still thoughtlessly lied. Even though I knew it was impossible, I still—had hope in you, hoping... that you could surpass my predictions.

I was the one who forced something I couldn't do onto you, and held onto my own expectations. The result was, I put unnecessary pressure on you..."

"...!"

Asuka looked at Shinji Ikari's face in disbelief...

It's obviously my fault.

I have failed this young man...his trust in me.

It was his own willful behavior that caused this young man to wander around the gates of hell countless times.

Why... this idiot, the first thing he did after waking up... was to care about... and comfort me?
cunning--

This is so cunning!
If I do this... wouldn't I really fall in love with this guy...

"Shinji...I always thought...I was special."

…I had already decided this before, and I won’t tell anyone… I will live my life on my own, relying on my own strength.

"Piloting the EVA and defeating the Angels... This is something only I can do. So this is the meaning of my existence..."

…But, being treated so cunningly by this idiot… Even though my body wants to shut up, my heart takes the lead… and pours out these cowardices that I originally planned to abandon forever…

"But—I failed. And I got you hurt... And that big guy who showed up out of nowhere stole my job... I... suddenly didn't know where I was... where I was."

Shinji Ikari supported Asuka's arm and could feel her trembling. This was the cowardice that this girl had decided to seal away forever in the deepest part of her heart.

But, at this moment... she is willing to open her heart and talk to me... This girl has really become a little more frank as she said.

Facing Asuka who had completely opened up her heart, Ikari Shinji just raised his head slightly and spoke casually.

"A place to stay... huh... Oh, right, Asuka. The housing prices in Shinjuku, Tokyo-3, are around 600,000 yen per square meter."

"………………?"

Asuka looked at Shinji Ikari in confusion, not knowing why he suddenly brought this up.

"Miss Misato's new apartment... is about 6000 million yen. And... our annual salary as pilots... corresponding to a senior civil servant, is around 1000 million yen. For the three of us, that's 3000 million yen. Defeat all the apostles..."

It'll take at least two years, right? If you still haven't found your place by then, the three of us can buy that apartment and move in. How about we all move in together?
Oh, and there's a party tonight. Just now, Miss Misato mentioned that it's to celebrate our defeat of the Sixth Angel, our discharge from the hospital and our move-in together, and Miss Misato's promotion—how about we all celebrate together?

Asuka was stunned for a moment...looking at Shinji Ikari's expression which seemed absurd but was actually straightforward.

...You mean you'll stay by my side until I find the answer? Haha... What a complete idiot.

"Everyone together...? Seriously, that's the worst possible answer! Stupid Shinji!"

The golden girl responded to the boy with a smile.

(End of this chapter)