EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 50 Chapter 48.5 Interlude: His name is Tiga

"...Is that so? Shinji-kun's condition isn't serious, is it?"

Misato Katsuragi lay tiredly on her desk, listening to the physical examination report of Shinji Ikari given to her by Ritsuko Akagi.

"No—it's only when there's nothing serious that one is afraid."

But Akagi Ritsuko's twists and turns always make Katsuragi Misato terrified... Can't this old witch say something good?
"According to the medical examination report... Shinji-kun's electrolyte and hemoglobin parameters are extremely low... and there is obvious inflammation throughout the body - these indicators indicate that Shinji Ikari is in a state of extreme fatigue... and may even faint from overwork.

But we can't find any external injuries or malnutrition as the cause... The most difficult thing is not being able to find the pathology... It's very likely that it's due to the unknown effects of the apostle's contact."

"I understand... I'll leave Shinji-kun to you... Please give him a more detailed examination."

After hanging up the phone——another long sigh...

What if Shinji Ikari really collapses due to health problems... can he still support the several pilots of NERV?
When she thought of this... Katsuragi Misato felt a darkness in front of her eyes...

At this moment, the familiar sound of footsteps and the smell of cigarettes once again entered Katsuragi Misato's nostrils...

"You look exhausted, Katsuragi... Oh my!"

Ryoji Kaji once again tried to hug Misato Katsuragi from behind... but he found that not only did he miss, but a dark and cold pistol was pointed at his forehead.

“That’s really passionate~”

Jiaji smiled bitterly and opened his arms to indicate that he was not holding any weapons.

"Now we have time—Jiaji, tell me everything you know... You should be able to feel it. I'm not kidding you."

Misato Katsuragi's expression was solemn... Ever since Ryoji Kaji returned from the European branch... she could not see through this man, her partner of two years... who was so unfamiliar at this moment.

"I understand... Don't worry, Katsuragi... There's no need to be so nervous. Since I came to find you, I won't run away."

As he spoke, Kaji Ryoji signaled Katsuragi to put down the gun, took out a cigarette from his arms... After leisurely puffing on it for a while, he slowly spoke.

"————Katsuragi, do you like watching superhero movies?"

"…ha?!"

The unexpected and bizarre development made Misato Katsuragi furious, and she thought Ryoji Kaji was making fun of her.

"…I don't like it. Not at all."

But - judging from the pain on Kaji Ryoji's face that could almost be described as unforgettable... he was not talking nonsense to himself.

"Because, I can't imagine... If there really is a superhero who can save everything, why has he only appeared now... Why hasn't he been stopped at the source of all the disasters... the Second Impact?"

"...!"

Even though she thought she had gotten over it, Misato Katsuragi found that she had overestimated herself - just hearing the name... would make her breathe faster.

“…Why are you telling me this?”

"Why... Maybe I just wanted to tell you."

The pain on Jiaji's face...disappeared as if relieved.

"Tiga—that little girl... the younger sister of the Fourth Qualified Person, Suzuhara Touji, or the name Suzuhara Sakura gave to that unknown life form... That little girl, unfortunately and fortunately... was caught in the attacks of the Fourth and Sixth Angels, and was saved by the Titans in both cases.

When the Sixth Angel attacked, she claimed to have heard the voice of a giant... His name was Tiga.

"Tiga..."

I couldn't help but repeat the name of light.

Such important information... Katsuragi Misato knew nothing about it... This man, as expected, was secretly investigating this...

"It's the Commander's order. So the results of the investigation will be reported directly to Commander Ikari. It's only natural that you don't know..."

"That night, you and Shinji-kun's spies were also investigating this matter?"

Of course, what Misato Katsuragi was referring to was the celebration party that day. After everyone went to bed, Ryoji Kaji took Shinji Ikari out together.

"What? You're still awake?"

Jiachi smiled bitterly, it turned out that he had not concealed it.

"No... that time, Shinji-kun had a favor to ask of me." "...a favor to you?"

"After the Sixth Angel incident, weren't the photos of Suzuhara Sakura and Tiga spread by the media? Shinji-kun is such a cautious young man. I admire his thoughtfulness...

He realized that because of that photo, there might be extreme fanatics or ostracists who would come to trouble Suzuhara Sakura, so he asked me to use NERV's authority to ensure that the daily lives of the Suzuhara family would not be disrupted.

Of course, Ryoji Kaji omitted this... Shinji Ikari hinted that he already knew that it was Ryoji Kaji who made Suzuhara Sakura famous, so of course he had to take responsibility to protect Suzuhara Sakura's daily life from being disturbed... otherwise Shinji Ikari would be angry.

"yes…!"

Katsuragi Misato realized it later... After the Second Impact and the attack of the Angels, humanity's fear of alien life forms has become deeply rooted... At this time, it was revealed that Suzuhara Sakura seemed to have a special connection with Tiga...

Who knows if some extremists will do something? Suzuhara Sakura is just an elementary school girl... What if she really gets kidnapped on the way to school...

As the commander responsible for ensuring Suzuhara Touji's mental health, I hadn't even considered this before. If Ikari Shinji hadn't asked for help, who knows what would have happened...

"Well, that's all I have to say."

After explaining the origin of the name Tiga and what he had been secretly investigating... Ryoji Kaji prepared to leave.

"…Wait! Help!"

"What's wrong?"

Katsuragi Misato's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, then she withdrew it in frustration...

She was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to ask this increasingly unfamiliar man, but she had a premonition... that she couldn't just let him go, otherwise... she might never see him again.

Finally, Katsuragi Misato... for some unknown reason, said something -

"You don't actually hate...superhero movies, do you?"

"...!"

This question was completely beyond imagination, leaving Kaji Ryoji stunned...

Afterwards, he didn't answer... He just smiled a bitter smile that said, "It's too late," and turned away without looking back...

……

...

In the conversation between Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji...

At the same time that Shinji Ikari was undergoing a physical examination at Ritsuko Akagi's place—

"Be careful... this stuff is very corrosive!"

The fragments of the Seventh Angel that exploded after being shattered by Tiga did not all burn up in the atmosphere.

Some larger debris can still maintain its structural integrity and land on the ground...

A group of NERV grassroots employees wearing fully enclosed protective suits are carrying out the debris recycling work in an orderly manner.

"Hey! You guys... come and help! This piece is too heavy! Lift it to the car together!"

At the call of their companions, almost all NERV grassroots personnel gathered at a huge piece of wreckage.

There was only one person... He saw that everyone else had gone and felt that there was no need for him to go... It was a good opportunity to take a break.

But if the squad leader saw him slacking off, he would definitely be scolded... So the young staff member deliberately went around to the back of the mountain, and sat down on the ground while no one was noticing.

"I'm so exhausted... I was told I was a high-ranking civil servant when I came here, but who knew I'd be doing this kind of hard labor...?!"

Before he could even finish his complaint... something suddenly leaped up from the wreckage of the Seventh Angel and pounced unhindered on the poor, lonely staff member...

After a while, the team leader who had finished the moving work started calling out.

"Hey! Newbie! What are you doing?! Why are you lying on the ground?! Did you fall?"

The "staff member" slowly stood up and gave the squad leader a strange smile.

"I feel fine now—"

(End of this chapter)