EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 55 The Promise of the Second Song

"Ultra...Man?"

Asuka blinked her big eyes and savored the word that brought the light of hope to Shinji Ikari's mouth, as if chewing it carefully.

Superman? Superman? Anime character? ...is this seemingly modern guy actually a hidden manga geek?

…Anyway, let's go back and search which work this Ultraman is from.

Only then did Asuka realize that the frustration and sorrow that she had been unable to express in her heart... had been slowly consumed by Shinji Ikari's lovely story... and now it was gone.

"What? I was just lying next to him, listening to him talk to me... I just heard a boring story after visiting him... How can it be so easy to deal with him?!"

A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face, but his heart was filled with uncontrollable joy.

"Asuka...?"

"Shut up! Didn't I tell you not to look over here—!"

“Hah!? At a time like this…!?”

I put my hands on Shinji Ikari's head, forcing him to turn his head away.

She was so frank when I turned my head just now, why is she suddenly being unreasonable again!?

The reason is very simple... The initial resistance was the grief on her face that was almost like crying... She didn't want to be seen by Shinji Ikari, and she didn't want to be pitied by Shinji Ikari.

And now... I don't want Shinji Ikari to see... the corners of my mouth that are unable to be suppressed and are slightly raised... I don't want him to think that I am just a convenient woman who can be coaxed casually.

pat-

During the joyful playfulness...something fell to the ground beside Shinji Ikari's bed.

"Ah… sorry."

Asuka even found it incredible to herself...she could now easily say sorry to Shinji Ikari and then help him pick it up.

It's a Walkman.

The DAT-DT1 Walkman has a simple design and is an old model... It has been used by Gendo Ikari since his student days and is still used today.

"Ah... this..."

In a flash, Asuka thought of something... and said to Shinji Ikari with a cunning smile.

"Hey! Stupid Shinji, you don't think... you can cheer a girl up by just telling her a story, right? Try harder... boy!"

—But, you seem to be in a good mood now? Haven't you cheered up?

Of course... I think so, but I definitely won't say it... I finally got Asuka's mental state back to normal, so there's no need to mess with her anymore... Just follow the topic.

"Then, how can the boy coax the girl into submission?"

"I want to hear this too—!"

Asuka's smile faded and she pointed solemnly at the Walkman.

"You want to listen...wait, also??"

Instantly, Ikari Shinji understood what Asuka meant by "also"... There was no doubt that she knew about Rei Ayanami's visit to his room last time, and... Given Rei Ayanami's personality, it was impossible for her to go to Asuka to show off on her own. That meant -

"Asuka...you wouldn't..."

I showed an expression of disbelief. This guy... couldn't he be such a nymphomaniac stalker...

"Humph!"

As if she had realized Shinji Ikari's guess, Asuka snorted with a guilty look and turned her head away.

"It's just... I just happened to hear it when I went to the bathroom. After all, the voice of the First Qualified Person... Ayanami's voice coming from your room would definitely attract attention! I was afraid that you would not be able to suppress your animal desires and do something unspeakable to Ayanami! I came in in time to stop you, so..."

"So that's why you were eavesdropping on the door, right? Really! What can I say to you? No matter how close the relationship is, there are things you can and can't do. You should understand that, right? Asuka?" "Yes..."

He looked at Asuka with a teasing look on his face. Asuka knew that she had done something wrong and lowered her head guiltily, not daring to look up.

Shinji Ikari also reflected on himself internally... He was really too relaxed in his room. He didn't even notice that this little girl was lying on the door panel and eavesdropping on his conversation.

"What's the answer?"

"sorry----"

For a moment, Asuka actually felt this feeling... It was really good, and she seemed to vaguely understand why Misato deliberately indulged herself and made a mess of housework... and then waited for Shinji Ikari to clean up and criticize her.

This kind of accusation, which is based on care and protection... and does not contain a trace of malice, but is purely well-intentioned... really warms people's hearts.

"Really, every one of them is so worrying..."

Shinji sighed and handed the Walkman to Asuka. A slap in the face is always a sweet treat. Today's goal isn't to reprimand her, but to cheer her up.

"Do you want to listen to it? I just recorded it and no one else has heard it yet. Give it a listen and tell me how it feels... It hurts! What are you doing?"

"How can this be possible! Stupid Shinji!!"

After hearing what Shinji Ikari said, Asuka immediately became furious and reached out to pinch Shinji Ikari's face.

"This song! You prepared it for Ayanami, right? How could you let someone else hear it first? If Ayanami knew about it, she would definitely be very disappointed! Very depressed!"

"Huh?! This is also possible?!"

Shinji Ikari was speechless... He just wanted to get other people's objective opinions before showing it to Rei Ayanami... so that he could see what needed to be revised... No...

Hey...wait a minute! Didn't you want to hear it, Asuka? Now I'm telling you and you're not happy...Hakika! You idiot!
Shinji Ikari slapped Asuka's hand away and glared at her to express his dissatisfaction.

"Stupid Shinji—you really don't understand a girl's feelings!"

This time it was Shinji Ikari who was in the wrong and Asuka herself was in the right, so Asuka glared back without showing any weakness - well, at least that's what Asuka thought.

"Of course what I mean is, since you can sing! I want to hear you sing too! You can't just use the song you prepared for Ayanami... I, I, I also want you to prepare a song for me... just for me... Is that not okay?"

At first, her voice was aggressive, but it got softer and softer as she spoke, and her face got redder and redder... In the end, there was even a hint of pleading in her voice, and her eyes were full of fear and uneasiness about Shinji Ikari's rejection.

...hiss——Is this guy so cute?
Shinji Ikari couldn't utter the word "no" no matter how hard he tried, as Asuka pleaded with him in that tone... and with that look in his eyes.

"Okay, I get it... As for other songs... I really need to think about it...?!"

While Shinji Ikari was thinking, he found that after hearing Shinji Ikari's affirmation, Asuka's face was instantly filled with joy, and she stretched her head directly towards Shinji Ikari.

In an instant... a breath with a slightly sweet and sour taste like fruit blew on Shinji Ikari's face.

The sudden change caused Shinji Ikari's brain to almost shut down instantly, and he waited in a daze for Asuka's move...

Asuka, on the other hand, seemed to want to kiss him with her soft lips like a chick pecking at rice and then run away, but when the two of them were really close to each other... both of them could only see the tension overflowing in each other's eyes.

"...Song, I'm really looking forward to it!"

Finally, the sudden kiss...turned into a whisper in the ear.

Then he turned around and ran away stiffly.

"Asuka...! Your doll!"

Then Shinji Ikari discovered...the plain doll with Asuka's name on it was still in his room.

"I'm giving it to you! I don't need it anymore!"

There was no looking back, but Shinji Ikari could hear a resolute farewell in Asuka's voice.

"—Treat her well, and cherish her, just like you would treat me."

(End of this chapter)