EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 98 I am Tiga [The third 65006000]

Shinji Ikari remembers very clearly...that night, the night when Asuka doubted herself because she couldn't defeat the Angel alone.

The doll Asuka left in her room... the one with the name "Asuka" on it... was given to her by her mother. He had heard Asuka mention that her mother was a proud researcher... who gave birth to her through a sperm bank and then went crazy...

"Those are... Soryu's memories. After Asuka's princess selection was complete... the last Asuka developed severe mental problems. By that time... the Angel had already arrived. Because of the appearance of the unknown life form you call Tiga... NERV didn't have time to complete Asuka's mental treatment step by step... They could only use simple methods to directly overwrite her memories of being a clone."

"Hah...I see."

No wonder... Asuka's mind has been in an unstable state - if it weren't for Tiga disrupting SEELE's deployment... Asuka would not have rushed to the Third New Tokyo City so quickly, but would have undergone a treatment called brainwashing... and only after her mind was extremely stable would she be sent here.

Because of the appearance of Tiga... SEELE had to hastily gather troops to eliminate this alien creature that was not recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls... In order to take advantage of the situation, they covered up the part about the clones killing each other... Only the last Asuka was left with the memory that she should be the one and only Soryu...

"Then, Asuka's mother and aunt..."

"Of course... that doesn't exist either. After all, it's just a fabricated memory, a spare tool born in a NERV petri dish... How could I possibly have the luxury of having blood relatives... meow!! That hurts, meow! I'm wrong, meow!"

Faced with Makiba's sarcastic words, Shinji Ikari reached out with a dark face... and pulled the flesh on Makiba's cheek two centimeters away, causing her to meow in pain.

He sighed... Although he knew that it was pointless to dwell on the past... Shinji Ikari still felt that he couldn't accept it so easily.

And... luckily Asuka didn't know this... otherwise, even Ikari Shinji wouldn't know how to comfort her and make her accept it... If Asuka knew that everything she had was fake...

Just sensing the presence wasn't enough, so Shinji Ikari ran to the stairs and looked around... only to confirm that no one was eavesdropping before returning to continue talking.

If she really knew about this, the consequences would be disastrous.

"So...what about the original Soryu?"

"........."

Makiba shook her head...this was no longer a core issue that she could touch upon.

...It is said that the NERV Third Branch in Berlin...is the branch that came up with the Asuka cloning plan...While cloning Asuka, they are also carrying out the next-generation EVA development plan.

According to rumors... that EVA is not a regular series... but a unique one that belongs only to the SEELE construction sequence... the 13th unit.

And the original...Soryu Asuka Langley...was sealed forever in Unit 13.

Just like the soul of Shinji Ikari's mother, Yui Ikari, is inside Unit-01, and the soul of Asuka's mother, Kyoko Soryu Zeppelin, is inside Unit-02...

The soul of Sōryu Asuka Langley—sealed forever within EVA Unit 13... a victim of Ikari Gendō and SEELE's foul desires.

But... Makiba won't tell Ikari Shinji about this... After all, these are just groundless rumors without any basis, and he has no evidence to prove the authenticity of these information...

If Shinji Ikari doesn't believe it, he might think that I'm trying to sow discord... What's worse is that if Shinji Ikari believes it, completely loses trust in NERV and leaves... then Unit 01 will be without a pilot, and my sin will be huge.

So... although I feel a little sorry, Makiba still kept the news about the new form of EVA produced by the Berlin branch.

"Alright... Oh, I'm sorry, Makiba."

Shinji Ikari didn't notice that Makiba was hiding something... or maybe... he had already noticed it... but since Makiba was unwilling to reveal it, he wouldn't force it.

"Eh... sorry? Why is Wang-chan apologizing to me?"

"Because—at first, I thought… since Ikari Gendō wasn't around… as long as our lives weren't affected… it wouldn't matter if other branches took over this place. But after listening to you… my dislike for NERV as an organization has deepened… and I won't help you with your espionage activities anymore."

"Ahh... that, that's nothing. I'm not a good girl anyway... Don't worry about it, don't worry about it."

The bell rang—the overly stressful lunch hour was finally over… Ikari Shinji and Makiba packed up their lunch boxes and prepared to return to the school building. Just as they were about to leave…

Makiba couldn't help but speak.

Because she knew... Shinji Ikari's position... It was not easy for him to open up to her... Today at noon was a rare opportunity... If she had anything to say, now was the time.

"Shinji-kun."

"Hmm, what's going on... Oh, right, I forgot... In return, I have to answer your question as well."

Of course, it's not that he forgot - but... if Makiba had no intention of continuing to step into his world... Shinji Ikari would definitely not force her to have anything to do with him.

Shinji Ikari—had to wait for Makiba to speak first.

"Shinji-kun...what is it that you want to do?"

"...What a general question. Now I want to get back to class... The first class this afternoon is modern history, and I know nothing about modern history after the Second Impact. I need to go back and take notes."

"Of course not—Shinji-kun… you shouldn't be so active. Your personality… your judgment… should have you just curl up in a corner, hiding behind your headphones, and letting things unfold as they are! But now… you're rushing to Matsushiro Base to bring back the first qualified candidate… and investigating the second qualified candidate… you've gotten too involved! There's no turning back!!"

Makiba's words were filled with sincerity... because she really didn't want her beloved senior's child to die because of being involved in something inexplicable.

No matter how important Ikari Shinji's role in the plan is...if he continues to disrupt SEELE's arrangements...he will become a thorn in the eyes and flesh of those powerful elders.

Even with the protection of EVA Unit-01... as a human being, Shinji Ikari cannot fight against SEELE, who has the highest power in the world!
"You've already said enough. We also need to save the Fourth Qualified Person who was possessed by the Ninth Apostle... and now convince the Fifth Qualified Person who looks like he's about to cry."

"...!"

Seeing Makiba's serious face... and tearful expression, Ikari Shinji smiled. His smile was like a child's, pure and bright.

"As for me... I just want everyone to be happy. It's not about status or position... I just want everyone who works hard to live in this terrible world... to be rewarded and happy."

“…I can’t do that.”

There was a hint of reluctance in Makiba's voice... That was something she had once wished for... But, this world - was already terminally ill.

Even if all the apostles are destroyed... the fate that awaits humanity will not be a happy ending where everyone is happy, but only a final ceremony called the replacement of humanity...

"You can do it... As long as you don't give up, as long as humanity doesn't give up... Humanity won't lose. Humanity... the strong desire not to lose to fate will surely be answered by a miracle."

Leaving behind these last poetic words... Shinji Ikari turned and left.

"……wait…!"

She was unwilling to end the conversation just like that...her inner hope was still there...but the heaviness of reality made the girl feel at a loss.

Facing the girl's confused call.

"Ah, I promised to tell you a secret you didn't know—"

The boy turned around—and smiled...

That smile is the reward bestowed by miracles upon humans who refuse to yield... and refuse to give up.

"—I am Tiga."

(End of this chapter)