EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 76: With Tiga here, everything will be fine [Today 550010000]

"Ikari-san...thank you so much today...

After changing into a rather formal outfit, Mitsuru Tomaki bowed his head nervously towards Shinji Ikari.

Early that morning, Shinji Ikari asked Ryoji Kaji to bring Hikaru Toki and Sakura Suzuhara to the base.

Due to confidentiality regulations, they naturally couldn't tell her the location of the headquarters directly... If it weren't for Ryoji Kaji coming forward, neither of them would be able to stand here smoothly.

"It's okay, it's okay. After all, we're all classmates, and Dongzhi is my friend. I guess he misses you too, so it's only right to help him ease his homesickness."

"What's this about lovesickness... Seriously! Shinji-kun! Stop talking nonsense...!"

Although he was already in a relationship with Suzuhara...it was still too embarrassing for the shy Hikaru Torimura to talk about his sweet and sour student romance in such a formal occasion in front of two adults, Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji.

"Hey, stupid Shinji..."

Asuka realized it belatedly and tugged at the corner of Shinji Ikari's clothes, and spoke in a stealthy whisper.

"—Matsushiro Base, didn't you say there was... danger there?... Letting those two go there wouldn't be good!"

"…ah?"

Shinji Ikari rolled his eyes at Asuka. "Isn't it... wasn't this itinerary already arranged and told to you days ago? You're so stupid! You only realized it right before you left."

"What?! That look of looking at me like I'm stupid...!"

Seeing that Shinji Ikari didn't hide the speechlessness and disgust in his eyes at all, Asuka puffed up her cheeks in hatred.

"It's just a hunch, a hunch... Because that bastard dad called Ayanami over and transferred Makiba back... I had a very bad feeling, so I went with them. By the way, I'll take them to see Suzuhara... It won't be a problem. And - if they really are in danger... Don't we still have you? Asuka, you will protect your friends, right?"

There were certainly risks—but Ikari Shinji inexplicably felt it would be best to take them both along. No matter what happened, as Suzuhara Touji's family and loved ones, they had the right to know what was going on.

If your lover or loved ones are in danger... and you know nothing about it, and only receive a death notice after everything is settled... that would be more heartbreaking than being in danger yourself.

Besides... Suzuhara Touji is no longer an ordinary citizen who has nothing to do with the situation... Ikari Shinji believes in him. Since he chose not to escape and continues to fight... he can protect his lover and family.

With the cooperation of Kaji Ryoji and the Intelligence Department, even if an emergency situation really occurs, securing a retreat shouldn't be a problem.

He nodded to the three burly men in sunglasses and black suits who were silently following behind the others... They were nominally supervising the three pilots, but in reality, they were all Kenzaki Kyoya's confidants...

Kenzaki should have already made arrangements for them. If any emergency occurs, they should all cooperate with Kaji Ryoji and follow Kaji's instructions.

Except for Misato Katsuragi who needs to stay at the headquarters and Kyoya Kenzaki who doesn't want to be exposed too completely...the ones present now are all the fighting forces that Shinji Ikari can trust in NERV.

If this lineup can't protect the two little girls... I don't have to play with Gendou Ikari to show my organizational skills. I can just transform into Tiga and flip the table to smash NERV.

"...What's going on?"

As the departure time approached, Ritsuko Akagi came over with Rei Ayanami, brows furrowed.

Seeing a group of people headed by Shinji Ikari standing next to the plane, he got angry at Misato Katsuragi without hiding his dissatisfaction on his face.

"I remember the commander only told me to take the first qualified candidate to Matsushiro... Why are the second and third qualified candidates here? It seems like they're not just here to see them off."

"we are…"

Shinji Ikari was just about to speak up to smooth things over... but Misato Katsuragi stepped forward first and took the initiative to bear the anger of Ritsuko Akagi.

"Shinji-kun and Asuka have requested leave from me. They'd like to take Touji-kun's family to visit Matsushiro base... I've approved it. Since you and Rei's plane is also going to Matsushiro, we've arranged for them to travel together."

"Ask for leave...!? An EVA pilot asks for leave?! Kazusa Kuzuki! Are you awake?!"

Even the usually calm Ritsuko Akagi raised her voice a few notches. After all, this decision was simply too outrageous.

But - having already made her decision, Misato Katsuragi naturally would not cancel her decision just because of Ritsuko Akagi's dissatisfaction.

"...This is a reasonable decision, considering the Fourth Qualified Person's psychological state. The activation test report from headquarters earlier indicated that the Fourth Qualified Person's current state is very unstable. Today is the activation test of Unit 03... In order to improve the synchronization rate and relieve the Fourth Qualified Person's psychological pressure! I think it is a very valuable action to let her visit as a friend, sister, and lover!"

"That's ridiculous! If Unit 03 can't start, we'll just have to replace the pilot. There's no point separating the two pilots from the EVA! What if an Angel attacks..."

"In the event of an Angel attack, Makiba and Unit 8 are on standby at headquarters! I, Dr. Akagi, am responsible for the management of the pilots... I have made the decision. This is my judgment, and based on my authority... your approval is not necessary. You only need to follow the Commander's orders and take Rei with you!"

That’s all I have to say…Misato Katsuragi turned around and left the tarmac.

"Katsugi Isa...!"

Akagi Ritsuko wanted to say something, but was stopped by Kaji Ryoji who opened his hands and smiled apologetically.

"Alright, alright, Ritsu-chan... you should know that Katsuragi... is a very gentle person at heart. Seeing Suzuhara-san alone over there with no one to rely on, it's only natural that she wants him to see his family and friends."

Akagi Ritsuko didn't buy Kaji Ryoji's smile... and spoke with great dissatisfaction.

"One plays the good cop and the other plays the bad cop... You two are really back to normal." Seeing that Akagi Ritsuko still wanted to argue, Kaji stopped smiling... and replaced it with a sharp smile that revealed his edge.

"It would be great if we could reconcile, just like... you and Commander Ikari. There's no need to be so scared, Ritsu-chan... Commander Ikari wouldn't scold you for such trivial matters."

"...!"

Ritsuko Akagi glared at Ryoji Kaji fiercely... but this time she didn't say anything. She didn't want people to continue discussing the private affairs between her and Gendo Ikari in public...

"...You guys take care of yourself."

After leaving these harsh words, he planned to take Rei Ayanami onto the plane.

But Rei Ayanami, who had been following behind him obediently, had already quietly walked to Shinji Ikari's side when Shinji Ikari and Asuka came.

"…cut!"

This time, Ritsuko Akagi didn't even say anything harsh, she just turned around with a look of disgust on her face... and boarded the plane alone.

"...Isn't that too much? Stupid Shinji..."

Asuka asked with a little uneasiness only after Ritsuko Akagi had completely entered the cabin.

"I'm sorry... Shinji-kun... It's all because of us that you're unhappy..."

Hikaru Toki, who had been too frightened to speak due to the tense atmosphere, now stepped forward to apologize to Shinji Ikari when the atmosphere eased a little.

Not knowing the whole story, she thought that Ritsuko Akagi was angry because Shinji Ikari wanted to bring two unrelated people with him.

"fine…"

Shinji Ikari just waved his hand casually, indicating that they don't need to worry too much... After all, Akagi Ritsuko was not the one Shinji Ikari intended to pursue from the very beginning.

Based on the information provided by Kaji Ryoji... Shinji Ikari knew that both Akagi Ritsuko... and her mother Akagi Naoko, were women who harbored a twisted love for Ikari Gendō.

Love is the most selfless, selfish, and incredible feeling in the world... Since it is their choice, Shinji Ikari will not make any comments on it.

Ritsuko Akagi has made it clear that she is on Gendou Ikari's side, so he doesn't need to worry about whether he will completely offend her.

...However, from now on, Ayanami Rei's physical examinations...will definitely need to be monitored by the brothers in the Intelligence Department.

"Everyone, get on the plane, get ready for takeoff... ah?"

Just as Shinji Ikari was calling everyone to prepare to set off, a tender little hand reached out to him.

"What's wrong, Sakura?"

"Shinji-nii... I'm a little, scared..."

"Ah...is this your first time on a plane?"

"Um…………"

I don’t know if it was because it was her first time on a plane, or because she was frightened by the tense atmosphere just now... Suzuhara Sakura raised her head with tears in her eyes, her little hands feeling uneasy and not knowing where to put them.

She wanted to touch Shinji Ikari's hand, but was afraid of disgusting him, so she nervously waved it in the air.

Looking at Sakura Suzuhara like this, Shinji Ikari took a deep breath... adjusted his expression and demeanor, gently held Sakura Suzuhara's hand... bent down and kept his eye level with the child.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine... You miss me too, right? Oh?"

Suddenly, Shinji Ikari's eyes were attracted by Sakura's chest. Because she was wearing a coat before... and Sakura was relatively short, when he squatted down, he saw... on Sakura's chest, there was a necklace that looked like a Tiga head, carved out of cardboard... which could only be described as shoddy.

“…This is…”

"Ah! This is what we made yesterday in...art class! The teacher said we could make anything...so I made this!"

Realizing that Shinji Ikari was talking about the necklace she made, the uneasiness in Suzuhara Sakura's eyes disappeared, and she puffed out her little chest proudly and boasted to Shinji Ikari.

"Teacher said, 'He' is an unknown life form... But, I told the teacher, his name is Tiga! But the teacher said I was talking nonsense! Obviously, I wasn't talking nonsense... Tiga saved me, saved my brother and, Toruki-san... So I brought him with me! Toruki-san said... that way, my brother wouldn't be in danger! Right, Shinji-san?"

Looking at the innocent and pure eyes of Suzuhara Sakura in front of him, Shinji Ikari felt a long-lost throbbing... The flame of light that seemed to have been extinguished since he came here... seemed to be pulsating again in the deepest part of the abyss of his soul.

"Ah…yeah…you're right, Sakura."

Reaching out and gently stroking the Tiga necklace carved by Suzuhara Sakura, Shinji Ikari spoke with a gentle smile.

"So, don't worry... With Tiga here, everything... will be fine!"

(End of this chapter)