EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 90: A Fool Acts Like a Fool [Third Update 750010000]

"...!"

Looking back at when God came, my ears were already filled with the sound of the tide.

The nose was filled with a pungent smell of salt and fish... waves and blood... the two merged into one - as if a deep red sea had swallowed up the sky and the earth.

Unable to move...

Can't open my eyes...

Consciousness and spirit were swallowed by endless coldness and confusion...

I'm suffocating—

It's not a metaphor... it's an intuitive feeling...

In a trance, I felt the pain of someone pinching my neck tightly... the burning heat in my lungs as my breathing was suppressed... and the sorrow in the form of salty and fishy tears... dripping down my cheeks.

A pair of cold hands were pinching his throat... Shinji Ikari could clearly feel the power coming from these hands... driven by endless hatred and resentment.

die--

I'm going to die—huh?

Am I going to be strangled to death in this endless sea of ​​scarlet by the owner of these cold hands?
"...!"

How could he die like this, you bastard...!
The burst of mental power, from the trance and confusion, took back the control of the body...

His eyes widened as he simultaneously raised his fists... With the skill of muscle memory, his left hand aimed at the joint of the arm that was currently gripping his throat, and his right fist aimed at the jaw of the assailant.

It was supposed to be a combo that would definitely help him escape... but when he saw the assailant's face clearly, the powerful combination of punches stopped.

Because—I saw the fiery red battle uniform…the golden tips of her hair…and the face of a girl covered in wounds and tears…

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, fragrance...!"

The throat, which was blocked from breathing, uttered the girl's name with difficulty.

"It's really, really annoying—"

The girl, with her tearful expression...weaves a curse of hatred and resentment.

"Why…"

"Why…!"

Both of them expressed their doubts from the bottom of their hearts at the same time.

Why--?
All around was a dead silence, a crimson ocean that merged into one...

"Why... If you can save me so easily... then why can't I be the one saved...?!"

Asuka's tears flooded Shinji Ikari's eyes.

Suffocation had taken Shinji Ikari's life... leaving him unable to ask any questions or give any answers...

At the last moment, he could only use his dying hand to gently stroke Asuka's cheek...

………………

…………

...

“…Shin-kun…”

"Shinji-kun..."

"Ikari Shinji-kun!!!"

"…ah?!"

Rapid shouting and shaking woke Shinji Ikari from his nightmare.

"Ahem...what's wrong?"

I coughed twice subconsciously to confirm that my breathing was comfortable - well, no one was pinching my throat or stagnate my heart and lungs.

"...No, it's just that Shinji-kun...fell asleep. But, your face looked very unnatural, and your body even started to tremble. I was afraid something was wrong, so I woke you up."

Seeing that Shinji Ikari had woken up and returned to normal with no mental abnormalities, Kenzaki Kyoya breathed a sigh of relief.

"Asleep...? Oh, oh... I see. Sorry... Um, I had a nightmare."

Still in Kenzaki Kyoya's off-road vehicle, on the way back to the Third New Tokyo City - no, it should be that they have already entered the city... The surrounding scenery is no longer wild mountains and rice fields... but is full of vitality, bustling crowds of people and buildings.

"Mr. Shinji, is it okay? You look so pale!"

Even Suzuhara Touji, who was sitting in the back, leaned over with concern and asked about Shinji Ikari's health.

"It's okay, it's just a nightmare."

Of course I have to comfort this idiot like this, I can't let him continue to panic... But - is it really just a nightmare?
I subconsciously touched my neck with my hand... Well, of course I couldn't feel any bruises or anything like that... But the suffocating feeling filled with the breath of death was still in my mind... and it couldn't go away for a long time.

Could it be that——that Asuka…is that Soryu?

"Really... You don't even give me a break..."

I just brought Rei Ayanami's clone home, and now Asuka's side is showing up?
"…arrive."

Kenzaki did not drive the car directly into NERV's headquarters, but instead parked it in the parking lot of a nondescript office building nearby.

"This is the headquarters of the Intelligence Department's field operations."

While explaining, Kenzaki used his cell phone to open a secret door hidden behind the fire escape.

"Ah! You're back...! As expected of Kenzaki! You're always efficient at doing things."

As soon as the door opened, Kaji Ryoji's voice came over.

After all, it was an armored vehicle that was "borrowed" from the Second Branch without permission, and there would be many institutional problems if it was driven into the base openly... Ryoji Kaji simply parked the car here for the time being.

Of course—along with the car, there’s also…

“Suzuhara-san…!!”

"elder brother!!!"

Two excited voices rang out, and two pretty figures rushed towards Suzuhara Touji who had just gotten out of the car, one in front and one behind.

"Hikari! Sakura...!"

The lover he had been thinking about day and night finally met his sister... Suzuhara Touji was so excited that he almost cried. He opened his arms and took a step forward... He wanted to feel the body temperature of the two with his arms.

But - the pain that flashed deep in his eyes made Suzuhara Touji control his inner feelings... and he looked at Ikari Shinji anxiously.

"A fool acts like a fool—don't overthink it... Go ahead."

Seeing the reassuring smile of Ikari Shinji... and being gently patted on the shoulder by Ikari Shinji, Suzuhara Touji ran towards Tomoki Hikaru again, hugging her tightly as if he wanted to merge that delicate body into his own flesh and blood.

“That’s great… Really, that’s great—!!”

Mitsuru Toki also shed tears of excitement... The originally shy and conservative girl did not care about the eyes of others... and responded enthusiastically to Touji Suzuhara's hug. Only by feeling the presence and body temperature of her lover... could she completely soothe her inner anxiety.

Even though they didn't know the details...they both felt that being able to see each other again...was already a miraculous happiness.

"elder brother…!"

Only Suzuhara Sakura was very angry because she was not picked up, and she pulled Suzuhara Touji's hand...but she could not hide the joy in her eyes.

"...Don't disturb them, Sakura~"

Asuka walked over with a teasing look on her face, took Suzuhara Sakura's hand, and led her away from Suzuhara Touji.

"...Asuka."

Seeing Asuka's face... the scene in the nightmare, the face full of hatred and grief strangling her own neck... couldn't help but emerge in Ikari Makoto's mind.

"Stupid Shinji...what's wrong with you..."

Asuka looked at Shinji Ikari walking towards her in confusion, his face looking terribly gloomy...for a moment she began to wonder if she had done something wrong.

Until Shinji Ikari stopped in front of him—leaning down with a frown...staring straight at his face...looking into his eyes.

"W-What are you doing...!! Don't do anything weird! Stupid Shinji!!"

Asuka, who couldn't bear Shinji Ikari's passionate gaze at all and whose face turned red instantly, hummed and turned her head away, avoiding Shinji Ikari's sight.

"Hmm...very good!"

“…What’s good?”

"Your face, still that dishonest, stinky face... is really good."

"Ha!? Are you praising me?! Are you just kidding me?! Stupid Shinji!"

Shinji Ikari's gaze was to confirm Asuka's attitude.

I confirmed that Asuka's attitude had not changed...it seemed that the nightmare just now really only affected me.

Second, confirm your status...

That's great. Even if Asuka strangles me to death once in a dream... I won't show a bad attitude towards Asuka because of those inexplicable illusions. That's all.

Hmm... my mental strength is still online... huh?
Just when Shinji Ikari was feeling quite proud... he felt a soft body that was trembling.

Asuka actually opened her arms and... gave me a hug?

"……what?"

What's going on with this child?
"You are a piece of shit!!"

(End of this chapter)