EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 92: Maybe it's called Ayanami 10032 [First update 20008000]

Watching Kenzaki driving away with Suzuhara Touji and his family of three, Shinji Ikari breathed a sigh of relief... Finally, there was a feeling that the dust had settled.

"...Thank you for your hard work, Ikari-kun."

As if she had caught the tiredness that inadvertently flowed through Shinji Ikari... Rei Ayanami walked up to him obediently and virtuously, and softly gave Shinji Ikari comfort and affirmation.

"…Thanks, I'm a little tired indeed. But after hearing what you said, I feel a lot more relaxed…"

Just when Shinji Ikari was about to say something with a loving look on his face, Asuka's extremely unhappy voice interrupted him.

"Look, you two... flirting isn't wrong—but... you should explain to me! What's going on?!"

Asuka waited obediently until the "outsiders" like Suzuhara Touji and Doki Hikaru, who seemed a little distant, left the scene... and finally lost her temper, pointing at the black Ayanami Rei who was still unconscious in the back seat of the armored vehicle, and roared word by word.

"what…"

Shinji Ikari then remembered that from Asuka's perspective... she really didn't know anything, she just knew that when he brought Ayanami Rei back, he brought back another Ayanami Rei.

But, this thing... is really hard to explain...? Ikari Shinji scratched his head in distress and spoke tentatively.

"Um, Ms. Asuka? ...If I tell you...that this child is Rei Ayanami's long-lost twin sister, what will you do..."

Asuka restrained the arrogance and willfulness on her face... She looked calmly into Shinji Ikari's eyes, even changing the way she addressed him, and spoke in a very serious tone.

"Shinji... normally I wouldn't say anything if you two were to play around, but - if you were to just brush it off like this and leave me out... I'd be really sad."

"OK OK - I'm so sorry, it's my fault."

Asuka has said this much... Shinji Ikari can only admit his mistake and surrender... he has no other choice.

And I didn't mean to hide it from Asuka... It's just that the topic of "cloning" is too sensitive... especially for Asuka.

"Hmm... you might have guessed it. This child is a clone of Rei Ayanami... created by NERV, probably the work of Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. This time, that old ghost Ikari Gendo called Ayanami here... to replace the Rei Ayanami we know."

"really…!"

Even though she had prepared herself mentally, the worst possible outcome she had guessed perfectly matched the answer... which still made Asuka turn pale and bite her lips tightly.

"And then—of course I couldn't just sit there and watch that happen... So, in the chaos of the battle, I took advantage of the situation and brought Ayanami out. Because Unit 04's monstrous weapon had crippled the entire base... If we'd left this child there alone, she'd definitely have died. After all, she's the same person as Ayanami, so I couldn't just stand by and watch her die. So, we brought her back with us."

Except for some minor details... such as the fact that he was Tiga, was hit by the D4 ray and was almost dying... and was able to stand up again thanks to Rei Ayanami's call... these do not affect the facts, and it seems that they are just showing off their love.

Shinji Ikari chose to tell Asuka everything without hiding anything.

"Ah."

Ayanami Rei also nodded in agreement, looking at Asuka with sincere eyes, indicating that neither she nor Shinji Ikari was lying.

"………I see."

After accepting Ikari Shinji's words... Asuka breathed a long sigh of relief. As if she had released a heavy burden from her heart... The suppressed expression on her face returned to her usual cheerful smile.

"...Thank you for telling me this, stupid Shinji... stupid Ali."

It was clearly what she said...but it made her blush and Asuka turned around and ran outside as if she was running for her life.

"Alright! It's late... Stupid Misato is still waiting for us at home! Let's go back!"

It was only a few kilometers from here to their apartment, so there was no need for transportation; they could just walk home. "...Let's go, Ayanami."

Shinji Ikari gestured for Rei Ayanami to follow, but Rei Ayanami looked back at the black Rei Ayanami still in the car with some concern - for her own clone... for the existence created to replace her...

Rei Ayanami still doesn't know how to face her "sisters".

"It's okay, leave her affairs to Mr. Kaji."

Ryoji Kaji has known about Rei Ayanami's clones for a long time. He has been diligently digging into the secrets of NERV and SEELE... He is probably the guy who knows the most about the cloning plan besides Gendo Ikari and Ritsuko Akagi.

If something abnormal happens to the clone Rei Ayanami's body... apart from Ritsuko Akagi, only Ryoji Kaji can think of a solution.

"Ah... leave it to me."

In order to reassure Rei Ayanami, Ryoji Kaji walked out with a smile on his face.

He'd just been trying to connect to the MAGI system at NERV headquarters... With Ikari Gendo and Akagi Ritsuko away, extracting the data from MAGI wasn't impossible...

If I could get hold of the information of both MAGI and Rei Ayanami's clones, I might be able to touch the deepest truth of NERV again!
"Ah."

Rei Ayanami nodded... choosing to trust, not Kaji Ryoji, but Shinji Ikari's judgment. Since Shinji Ikari had entrusted these to Kaji Ryoji, there would definitely be no problems.

"...Hey! You two! Hurry up...it's cold at night!"

Asuka's voice came from outside the door, and Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami hurried over.

"...Shinji-kun."

"Ok?"

Ayanami Rei, who was walking behind him, suddenly changed her tone... It was a weak and uneasy tone that the girl only showed to Shinji Ikari.

"I'm Rei Ayanami—right?"

"Ah, yes...isn't that natural?"

She longs for Shinji Ikari's affirmation - only in this way... can she live in the present as Rei Ayanami's "human being".

"Then, who... is she?"

She - knew that she was the clone in the car, the black Ayanami Rei.

"Who knows, maybe she's called Ayanami 10032."

Shinji Ikari shrugged casually and made up a story...indicating that there was no way he could know such a thing.

"I don't know her... Just like I told you before. It was you who made the promise with me, it was you who held my hand, and it was still you who lived with me.

I only know you, Rei Ayanami, the one and only Rei Ayanami. Even if someone named Rei Ayanami who looks just like you appears... I still don't know her. Or—you don't think I can't even find you, do you? Ayanami—there's only you."

"........."

Rei Ayanami didn't answer.

Under the bright moonlight...the girl's faint smile is worth a thousand words.

(End of this chapter)