Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 during the Spirit Awakening Era

Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 in the era of spiritual energy revival. (Author: Blue Eyes)

"Shinji-kun!"

"Yusuke-san, get to the point!"

"Hmm... While the strange occurrence has indeed been resolved, wasn't the commotion a bit too much?"

"Have it?"

"It does seem quite normal to be able to beat up a 50-meter-tall monster while piloting an 80-meter-tall Unit-01."

“Yujin-san, I’m a little unhappy with what you’re saying. A gang fight against villains, what else can you do? But you guys need to get going! I can already see the police lights flashing at the foot of the mountain. You’ll be in big trouble if Inspector Yakushiji catches your eye. It looks like the Special Vehicle Division 2 is here too.”

"The way you said it gives me a bad feeling. Oh well. I'm off! Oh, by the way, here's this week's coupon! Remember to come visit my store!"

"Oh! A stack of McDonald's coupons? That's a huge help!"

"So, shall we meet at Yukihira Restaurant again later?"

"Okay! I'll leave the cleanup to you. Where did you park the car, Fujiwara-san? We can't shake off those two policewomen without him."

"I'll ride back on Teacher Yingji's motorcycle first!"

"Running away without permission is absolutely unethical!"

Chapter 1: The Star Student of Nakiri Private Junior High School

"Ah...don't worry, Ritsuko, I've done some research. He's an A+ in all subjects, loves sports, and is actively involved in the food club!" A mature woman wearing sunglasses and a black sleeveless dress said with a smile, holding her phone to her ear. "Maybe I can give this big boy a little surprise today!"

"Really! Misato, eat a little more gracefully! After all, he's our biggest hope now, and this era is getting more and more dangerous!" The voice on the other end of the phone was a slightly aloof female voice, but it was clear that the two had a very good relationship, and she was teasing her friend Katsuragi Misato in a way that didn't match her usual image at all.

"Don't worry, as an experienced older sister, I will definitely give this young man a real shock from the adult world!" Misato Katsuragi said with a smile. On the file next to her, there was a boy with his hair combed back, wearing a sports uniform that was easy to move in, and holding a baseball bat with a baseball glove and helmet hanging on it.

“It’s precisely because you’re going that I’m a little worried. Have you told him about you going to pick him up?” Ritsuko Akagi took a sip of coffee and quickly typed out a series of data on the keyboard. After performing a series of matching and calculations, she could only sigh inwardly, “To be honest, I still think it would be better to have Maya make the trip.”

"What?! Are you looking down on me?! A young kid like me! Do you think I can resist the enthusiasm of an older sister?!" Katsuragi Misato, who had just been overtaken by a group of thugs on motorcycles, banged her horn angrily, but only received mocking laughter from the thugs. "Honestly, your words have ruined my mood!"

"No, I just feel that things aren't that simple. His record was too clean in the past, and now... it's too outstanding!" Ritsuko looked at the documents in her hand. "Almost perfect scores in all subjects, all the teachers' praise, current baseball team's starting pitcher, former soccer team's starting forward, former basketball team's starting guard, two-time champion of the school festival's most delicious food stall... What kind of messed up record is this? Is it really true that there's no fabrication? The scholarship from the private school he attended was enough for him to rent an apartment and live on his own, and then he really did live independently for three whole years."

"Honestly, it's hard to believe that Commander Gendo Ikari has such an outstanding son, and that we only found him today when we were screening candidates through the system." Misato Katsuragi said with a smile, and then the car turned a corner and came into view of a rather prosperous-looking town. "Wow, I thought it would be quite rural, but it looks pretty good."

"Perhaps there's some unresolved issue between the father and son. At this time, he might need an older sister to warm his love-starved heart." Ritsuko was clearly being sarcastic towards her friend. Sigh, she practically stole her subordinate's task, driving dozens of kilometers to pick up the most suitable pilot for Unit-01, which the system had selected from the candidate list. There's no one else like her.

"Ritsuko, are you implying something? It's okay, I can bring him back first." Misato Katsuragi teased her college friend in a very unscrupulous way. Compared to herself, who had a boyfriend, Ritsuko's life was much simpler, going back and forth between home and school.

"Hmph... Be careful, I have a feeling it might not be that simple. You drive carefully, I have something to report." Ritsuko looked at the documents Maya had sent her, nodded, glanced at them, frowned deeply, gave her best friend some instructions, and then hung up the phone.

"What a volatile woman, huh?" Driving towards Nakiri Private Academy's junior high school section according to the navigation, the music grew louder and louder as she approached, soon erupting into a unified chant from hundreds of people, "We Will! We Will Rock You!"

"Hey, hello, can I ask what's going on here?" Misato Katsuragi, who had parked her car on the side of the road, leaned out of the car and asked a group of middle school boys, "Shouldn't school be over by now?"

"Oh, today is our final match against Toritsu Village Tiandong Middle School! If we win, we can make it to the national tournament!" the student said excitedly.

"Oh! That's amazing!" Misato Katsuragi complimented, "But isn't being this excited a bit..."

"The whole school is here today! He'll definitely lead us back to the national tournament," the student said excitedly. Clearly, he wasn't interested in baseball, but rather in a particular person.

"Hey, Hirata! Hurry up! It's almost his turn!" A girl shouted loudly at the school gate.

"Um! Sorry, I have to go now!" The boy turned and ran without thinking.

"Tsk tsk, what a touching youth." Katsuragi Misato said this with her eyes narrowed, but then the corners of her mouth turned up and a smile appeared on her face. "Then let me see what kind of person you are, who has suddenly become a campus legend!" Katsuragi Misato got out of the car, closed the car, and walked into the unattended school gate. Because today was the baseball team's district preliminaries final, almost the entire city had come, and everyone was watching the game at the baseball field.

The songs shouted by the boys and girls with all their might pointed Misato Katsuragi in the right direction for the school's baseball field. When she arrived at the edge of the field, she realized for the first time that Japan's population seemed to be larger than she had imagined! And the young people were far more energetic than she had expected!

Moreover, looking at the score, it's astonishing that Nakiri Private Academy, which has never been known for its sports, is now leading by a huge margin. Even Misato Katsuragi, who doesn't watch baseball, understands their enormous lead.

"Wow!" Misato Katsuragi exclaimed in surprise, after all... that string of 4s was really a bit too much for her...

"It's up to you, Shinji! There are runners on all bases! Let's get another home run!"

Shinji! It's up to you now!

"Go Shinji-senpai!"

As a player carried a baseball bat onto the field, the atmosphere in the entire stadium instantly ignited. Everyone became excited and shouted a name. Misato Katsuragi adjusted her sunglasses, her eyes narrowing. Without a doubt, this was the person she was looking for: Gendo Ikari, the long-lost son of NERV's Commander, Shinji Ikari, the person NERV needed most at the moment, the pilot with the highest compatibility with EVA Unit-01.

However… even while reviewing the data, Misato Katsuragi was marveling at what a monster this was, a true all-around champion in life. Keep in mind, of the two photos of Shinji Ikari they had, one was a recent photo of the baseball team members, and the other…

It was a photo taken last year when the Nakiri Private Academy Junior High School Basketball Team won the third place in the National Championships. Shinji Ikari, wearing the basketball team uniform, was holding the National Junior High School Basketball MVP medal, and then being surrounded by the school cheerleaders who kissed his cheek like a star! Now that she was there in person, she could finally understand what Shinji Ikari meant by being described as a super popular star on campus in the data. What kind of crazy popularity was this?

A boy who didn't look particularly tall or strong stood on the field carrying a baseball bat. He didn't provoke anyone, didn't say anything, and simply held the bat casually in his hands, ready to swing. However, to Misato Katsuragi, a baseball novice, this posture was very strange. Rather than holding a baseball bat, it was more like... Shinji Ikari was holding a long sword, ready to strike his opponent at any moment.

At that moment, the baseball stadium, which had been humming "We Will Rock You," suddenly fell silent. It took Misato Katsuragi a few seconds to realize that this moment of silence had put immense pressure on everyone! Misato Katsuragi involuntarily took a deep breath.

"Bang!" A crisp sound! The opposing pitcher threw a high-speed ball with all his might, but a clean swing sent the baseball flying in an instant! The baseball soared high into the air, and the catcher behind Shinji Ikari stood up with a look of despair, immediately pulling off his mask. Here we go again! That clumsy form! But it was another clean and decisive home run!

Shinji Ikari, being very respectful, immediately dropped his baseball bat and started running at full speed. He almost overtook his teammates who were lazily running from first base, forcing everyone to start running properly.

"Awesome!" A deafening cheer erupted instantly! Everyone wore a look of fervor.

"Wow!" Perhaps caught up in the atmosphere, Misato Katsuragi also shouted happily. She really didn't expect that the guy she came to find was like this. However, the game was almost over, and this guy would probably celebrate the victory with his teammates later. It looked like she would be waiting in the car for a long time today. Maybe she could find a nice bar and have a few drinks first.

The baseball game ended half an hour later. The Tokyo Metropolitan Higashi Junior High School, which had lost all fighting spirit, continued to be hit with several home runs, completely destroying their confidence. After the players had clearly lost all desire to win, Misato Katsuragi clapped loudly for a while when the game ended.

In the midst of this atmosphere, as the entire stadium erupted in cheers for the victory, Misato Katsuragi was also incredibly excited. However, she tossed her sunglasses aside and prepared to leave, intending to find a nice little restaurant for a few drinks before paying a visit to Shinji Ikari that evening.

"Didn't you say a beautiful older sister was coming to pick me up today? Why are you planning to run away on your own? Won't my father scold you for going back empty-handed?" However, just as Katsuragi Misato started the car, someone knocked on Katsuragi's car window, and then Shinji Ikari's smiling face appeared next to the car window.

"Oh... I'm thinking about where to grab something to eat first, handsome, want to come along?"

"I have a great place to recommend!"

"Get in the car! You give me directions!"

Chapter 2 Yukihira Restaurant

"Welcome!" A boy greeted them with a smile as he opened the door. Because it was a little early, the small shop was almost empty. "Did you sneak out of the celebration again, Shinji? Congratulations! I can hear the cheers from here."

"Hey! Soma, two servings of Yangzhou fried rice, pork tenderloin and vegetable okonomiyaki, two extra-large fried pork cutlets, five chicken skewers, a bottle of beer, and a bottle of cola!" Shinji didn't hesitate at all and ordered very decisively, clearly a regular customer of this restaurant.

"Okay! Coming right away!" Yukihira Soma, the young owner of Yukihira Restaurant, quickly made a note and ran to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients.

"Hey, Shinji! Is the match over? Finally deciding to try something for adults?" A handsome middle-aged man, hearing the noise, walked in from the small courtyard next door and asked as if he had just noticed Misato Katsuragi, "Oh, and this is..."

“Misato Katsuragi is theoretically my temporary guardian! This is the shop owner, Joichiro Yukihira.” Shinji Ikari gave a brief introduction to both sides, and then added, “If you see anything else you want to eat, it’s best to order now, because if there are more people later, the owner may not be able to make it.”

"How could that be! You hit home runs all over the field today without any restraint, didn't you! I'll cook for you, is there anything special you'd like to eat?" Seiichiro Yukihira said with a smile.

"Free?" Shinji Ikari smiled as he looked at the middle-aged man in front of him. To be honest, when he first arrived in this world, his mindset had become numb due to the continuous transmigrations. He was just an ordinary person who had transmigrated into Hell Paratrooper, Spirit Detective, Gundam Martial Artist... What kind of damn rubbish was that? And he had even been killed twice for opposing his master...

So when I woke up for the fourth time, I was in a state of mental breakdown and numbness. But when I passed by this restaurant that day, the uncle seemed to be just an ordinary tout. He called me over and served me a plate of fried rice before I could even order.

But just a simple bowl of fried rice made me realize what it means for a damn life to have infinite possibilities! A bowl of fried rice can move you to tears, making you replay all those memories in your mind...

After calming down, I was strangely relieved that I wasn't confused at all. Numb? Damn it, I've already had a girlfriend for life, what else is there to be unhappy about! Just live each day to the fullest! Fate? Responsibility? We'll deal with that when it comes! After that, I ate at the same time every day whenever I had free time, and I also bought their takeout containers every day to take to school the next day.

"Hahaha..." Seiichiro Yukihira punched Shinji Ikari's head with his fist. "You little brat, always trying to freeload off your Uncle Yukihira!

“Actually… I can pay!” Misato Katsuragi whispered from the side.

"Oh? I was just about to ask, Shinji, is this beautiful older sister your biological sister?" Seiichiro Yukihira asked with a smile.

"No...no! My sister would be even younger." Shinji Ikari raised his hand and waved it in front of him, speaking without any politeness.

"Hey! Are you calling someone old, you brat?!" Misato Katsuragi suddenly flew into a rage, grabbed Shinji Ikari's head, and then punched him hard.

“Sigh…” Shinji Ikari, clutching his head, had a contorted expression. This woman was really going all out. “These days, people who tell the truth are easily hurt.”

"Hahahaha... So, what would you like to eat today?" Seiichiro Yukihira said with a laugh, as he reached out and took off his belt from the hook and tied it around his waist.

"The food has already been ordered... Why don't you take things a little more seriously today, Uncle Yukihira?" Shinji Ikari leaned back in his seat, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at the handsome man.

"Want to get serious?" A can of chilled beer and a can of cola were placed in front of the two of them. "Okay, let's get serious then." Seiichiro Yukihira said with a smile, then turned and walked to the stove. "Are you all ready, Soma?" His son gave him a thumbs up to indicate that everything was done.

"What do you mean by 'a little more serious' here?" Misato Katsuragi asked Shinji Ikari with a suspicious laugh, seemingly oblivious to the embarrassment of having just beaten him up.

"Drugs... um, I mean the club should use more drugs." Shinji Ikari answered Misato Katsuragi's question with a smile.

"Oh? Really?" Misato Katsuragi looked at Shinji Ikari with some suspicion, because their conversation was really suspicious. What did he mean by "be more serious when cooking"? Did this shop owner just cook casually before?

"Yeah! I eat here every day. Didn't you see it in the documents you're looking at?" Shinji Ikari glanced at Misato Katsuragi, took a sip of his iced cola, and his face clearly said, "You guys are the worst intelligence organization I've ever seen."

"...I wrote it down. Is the food here really that good? I haven't seen you go anywhere else." Misato Katsuragi was taken aback. It was indeed true. After finishing his schoolwork every day, Shinji Ikari would come here to eat very regularly, then return to his residence, spend two hours finishing his homework, then spend an hour previewing and reviewing his homework, and then draw the curtains, turn off the lights, and go to sleep. His routine was as regular as that of an elderly person.

"Because I'm not planning to move until I've tried all of Uncle's signature dishes! It's just that he's never really willing to cook." Shinji Ikari took the small dish of pickled vegetables that Soma handed him and gave it to Misato Katsuragi, who was opening a beer next to him, as a snack with her beer.

"Oh... thank you! Then I'll make my own way!" Katsuragi Misato broke apart her chopsticks, clasped her hands together, and said with a smile. Then she picked up a piece of spicy and sour radish and put it in her mouth, her eyes widening in surprise. "What brand is this radish...?"

"I made it myself, and it was served to the guests as a snack with drinks. It was quite popular," Soma Yukihira said with a smile. His father was already engrossed in cooking, so his cutting board and stove were his fortress and his battlefield. Soma Yukihira couldn't get involved at all, so he just came out to serve the guests.

"Really! It's been a long time since I've had such delicious side dishes." Misato Katsuragi glanced at Shinji Ikari, who was shaking a can of cola next to him with a half-smile on his face. She actually saw a maturity beyond his years in this little brat?! What? He's just a kid who talks nonsense and criticizes adults!

"Alright! Let's see if your skills have gotten worse." With the stove turned off, the meal, which could be considered a set meal, was finished and served to Shinji Ikari and the others.

"It smells so good!" Misato Katsuragi, who had just taken the plate, looked on with obvious enjoyment. She instantly understood why Shinji Ikari was staring at this restaurant. Just the aroma alone proved that the owner's cooking skills and the generous use of ingredients were absolutely top-notch. Then she put a spoonful of fried rice into her mouth and chewed it slightly...

"Hey..." Shinji Ikari, having eaten here so often, had developed some resistance to Seiichiro Yukihira's drugging. His eyes glazed over for a moment, then quickly returned to normal, feeling a warm sensation spreading throughout his body. He happily started eating his second spoonful, and even took a skewer of chicken from Misato Katsuragi's plate—a snack meant for her to have with her drinks—and secretly hid the skewer under Misato's fried rice plate after finishing it.

"Why... am I crying!" Katsuragi Misato, finally regaining her senses, suddenly realized that tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably. However, she didn't feel sad; instead, a warm feeling of gratitude welled up inside her. "This is... food?"

"Yes, don't ask, just eat!" Shinji Ikari said with a smile. He had asked the older man a few questions after he finished eating, but the man ignored him. So he was reminding Misato Katsuragi that the man in front of him had a story, so don't ask, or you won't get any more food!

"Is that so?" Misato Katsuragi took a deep breath, picked up a piece of fried pork cutlet, dipped it lightly in the sauce, and put it in her mouth. The crispy skin burst open in her mouth, and Misato felt as if she were hugging a warm bundle of flesh, and then an adorable little pig was playing happily with her, filling her with joy! All her worries left her in that instant!

When she came to her senses... she was shocked to find that she had finished eating everything. She still vaguely remembered the fried rice and fried pork chop; the taste was still lingering in her mouth. However, she had absolutely no recollection of when she had eaten the chicken skewers...

"I apologize for the poor hospitality! Thank you, it was 4600 yen, but since you won the match today, it's 10% off, so it's 4500." Looking at Shinji Ikari picking his teeth, he shook his head. This kid really wasn't polite at all; he hadn't left a single chicken skewer for the pretty lady he'd brought along, finishing it all while she was distracted…

"Huh?" As an elite member of NERV, Misato Katsuragi didn't think 4600 yen was expensive. On the contrary, for this experience, to be honest, even if you added zeros or even two zeros, she would still think it was worth it! After finishing the meal, she was overjoyed, but what was going on with the math?

"Uncle Yukihira's arithmetic method: first round to the nearest whole number, then apply a discount, so it's 5000 yen at 5% off. That's right, here you go!" Soma Yukihira explained as he took out his wallet and paid Shinji Ikari. After receiving the money, Soma Yukihira took five 100-yen coins from the cash register and gave them to Shinji.

"Take care!" As a classmate, Soma Yukihira escorted Shinji Ikari to the door, watched Shinji get into the car, and then greeted the guests who had just started to come in with a warm "Welcome!" After leading them inside, he quickly asked them what they wanted to eat. Since they were all regular customers, Yukihira actually knew roughly what they wanted to eat the moment they walked in. Asking was just a way of respecting the majority of customers' right to choose.

"The order's here, Father! Hey! Shinji Ikari's lunchbox's here! Did he forget to take it? I'll bring it to him in a bit! Let's make him a set meal." Soma Yukihira saw the lunchbox in the corner, paused for a moment, and quickly said. Shinji Ikari had been a regular customer of their meals for years, so every day after washing the lunchbox, he would leave it here. Seiichiro Yukihira would cook for him depending on his mood, and occasionally he would also ask Shinji to help with his unusual dishes.

“No, because he probably won’t need this tomorrow.” Seiichiro chuckled as he took a sip of tea, listening to the sound of a car starting outside. It seemed the little guy wasn’t going to stay in this small place any longer.

"Huh? Tomorrow isn't the weekend!" Soma Yukihira was a little incredulous. Shinji Ikari, the top student at Nakiri Private Middle School, would skip class? That doesn't make sense. As Shinji's friend, Soma Yukihira simply didn't believe his father's nonsense.

“We have a guest! Soma.” Seiichiro didn’t answer, but pointed to the door that had been opened again, picked up the menu and put it on the stove to cook, as if talking to himself, “And today is that day of the year again! That brat… how did he end up with NERV?”

Chapter 3 I still need to see someone.

"Thank you for treating me to this meal, but the chef here..." Misato Katsuragi looked at Shinji Ikari with a complicated expression. The chef at this small restaurant was no ordinary person.

Misato Katsuragi, as a member of NERV, knew very well that humans truly cycle between life and death. After the Second Impact more than a decade ago, it was as if some kind of boundary had been opened, and the whole world had become unfamiliar to humans. Demons existed, and there were also yokai that grew up from the spiritual energy of the wild! There were even races that specifically fed on human flesh and blood!

However, these hunts are being carried out by specialized personnel reorganized from organizations that seemed to have disappeared in the past. These include unofficial organizations such as the Spirit Detective Agency, the Sorcerer Association, and the Onmyoji Bureau, among others. These private societies have received official recognition and support. Of course, the official authorities have also established a series of agencies, with NERV being one of them.

More than a decade later, the fact that humanity was able to suppress these monsters and demons signifies that humanity has rapidly adapted to this era. Human society has also given rise to some extraordinary individuals, such as chefs who go to great lengths to create the ultimate delicious food...

The most typical characteristic of these chefs is that the food they cook has tremendous health benefits. Claims of prolonging life, curing diseases, and strengthening the body are not just empty words; they can even exorcise evil spirits! And clearly, the chef who just prepared a meal with such dedication is at least one of the best. The fact that he felt warm and comfortable after just a simple meal, without any fatigue, is the best proof!

"A handsome older man with a story, but he doesn't plan to share his wine with you!" Shinji Ikari climbed into the car. Don't tell me you didn't know, I didn't know either. Until the end of the manga, the backstory of Joichiro Yukihira and the story between Soma Yukihira and his mother were not filled in. Instead, the plot hole about Erina Nakiri's mother was filled in, which is quite speechless.

"Okay, so...where to next?" Misato Katsuragi asked expectantly. This meal would be something she and Ritsuko could brag about for ages, and even if they came again, the chef might not agree to cook for them again. He was clearly only cooking for Shinji Ikari! This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Legend has it that a single meal from these legendary chefs costs millions of yen! Take it or leave it! You can't force them, or Totsuki Academy and the Nakiri Group behind them will teach you a lesson: you can't afford to offend a chef!

"Come to my house!" Shinji Ikari blinked. Misato Katsuragi, did you really eat something that made you dizzy?

"Oh~ to your place!" Misato Katsuragi grinned mischievously at Shinji Ikari, leaning her elbow on the steering wheel, smoothing her long hair, and said playfully, "Isn't that a bit too direct~"

"What are you thinking! Didn't you come to pick me up to go to New Tokyo? My luggage is all packed at home... I can't possibly move empty-handed." Shinji Ikari gave Misato Katsuragi a disdainful look! That older sister who only knows how to tease minors and then stands them up! Ha! Don't think I don't know!

"Hey! How can you look at an adult with such disdain!" Misato Katsuragi's forehead instantly bulged with a cross-shaped vein.

"Hey! I haven't fastened my seatbelt yet!" As soon as Shinji Ikari sat down, someone immediately stepped on the gas, completely disregarding whether Shinji was properly seated! Shinji almost hit his forehead directly on the car window.

"Kids who don't understand the difference between adults should just die!" Misato Katsuragi angrily drove her car in an S-shape, trying to make Shinji Ikari beg for mercy.

"Women who lose their temper easily get wrinkles!" Shinji Ikari chuckled and quickly adjusted his posture, wedged his feet to steady himself, and then swiftly pulled the seatbelt to secure himself!

"You brat, you're really annoying! You'll never find a girlfriend!" Misato Katsuragi said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, I'll share some chocolate with you later! They're all gifts from others, handmade chocolates." Shinji Ikari said with a smile. He's the ultimate social butterfly in his life, a super school idol level. Girlfriend? If he wanted, he could easily become a weekly magazine star! It's just that Makoto Itou is a role model for him, and he's busy with his own things, so he doesn't want to burden anyone.

"Tch!" Katsuragi Misato said with a disgruntled expression, slamming on the brakes and drifting, then flooring the gas pedal, before finally drifting into a parking space in front of a group of rental apartments. "You live here?"

"The rent is 20% cheaper than other places. The only downside is that the neighbors are too noisy and we can hear them!" Shinji Ikari shrugged, opened the car door and got in, then pushed open the door directly in front of him at the bottom of the stairs.

“You shouldn’t be short of money, so why are you staying in such a cheap place…” Katsuragi Misato looked at Shinji Ikari’s small house with surprise. It was a neatly arranged one-bedroom, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom house! It fully reflected the characteristic of small land area in Japan, but the fact that Shinji Ikari kept it so tidy made Katsuragi Misato feel very good about it! However, after walking in, she was slightly surprised to find that there were no Japanese tatami mats at all, and all the furniture was tables and chairs.