EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 23: Just an Ordinary Lunch [Please Read]

—I, believe that He is the light of mankind—

After hearing Shinji Ikari's answer, Misato Katsuragi stared at him thoughtfully.

It was a look that made Shinji Ikari feel unfamiliar—neither the look of a NERV officer looking at a subordinate, nor the look of an older sister looking at a younger brother.

But in the true sense, he treated Shinji Ikari as an independent human being... and carefully analyzed the answers given by Shinji Ikari as if chewing them.

"...I see. I see. Thank you, Shinji-kun. Your answer is very valuable."

After a while, Misato Katsuragi's eyes switched back to the look of a doting sister looking at her mischievous brother.

"Come to think of it—in that previous battle… you could have dodged it, right? Even Asuka was able to dodge a direct hit from the particle cannon with Unit 2. With your higher precision, there's no reason you couldn't."

"Oh, I just thought I succeeded, but I relaxed for a while and didn't react."

Shinji Ikari scratched his head and laughed.

"Liar. You really are a bad man who likes to deceive women - Shinji-kun. You noticed that there was a shelter in this area behind you, and to protect the more than 200 citizens in the shelter, you used your body as a shield and took the responsibility head-on."

Although as a pilot, such behavior is definitely not worth promoting - after all, if all EVAs are destroyed... and no one defeats the apostles, two thousand, twenty thousand, or even two hundred million people will die.

But...Misato Katsuragi didn't want to blame Shinji Ikari at all, she just tapped him lightly on the forehead.

"Next time, don't act so recklessly. To protect others, you must first protect yourself—"

With that, Katsuragi Misato stood up and prepared to leave. After all, Ikari Shinji had just regained consciousness and needed to recuperate for a while.

"You've been unconscious all day, so you must be hungry. I'll bring the lunch box over later. What do you want to eat... Oh my."

Misato Katsuragi opened the door of the ward, only to find the unexpected aqua-blue girl standing there quietly, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

Does that mean that if I don't leave... this child will just stand here and not come in until I leave?
"Rei? What are you doing here...Ah, are you here to visit the patient?"

Misato Katsuragi raised her eyebrows in surprise, and immediately noticed the lunch box in Ayanami Rei's hand. She instantly gave Shinji Ikari a smile that said, "You're a very capable boy."

"Well, I won't mingle with you young people... I'll just go have lunch alone."

With that, Katsuragi Misato was about to leave——

"Miss Misato, if you're looking for someone to dine with, why not go see Mr. Kaji? He might be...free."

Shinji Ikari's unexpected remarks attracted Misato Katsuragi back, who had already left.

"Eh! Why am I with that guy... Hey, why are you assisting him? Are you being bribed?"

Misato Katsuragi looked at Shinji Ikari with a wary look, but all she got in return was a carefree and sincere smile.

"Isn't it because... you are the one who can't let go of Mr. Kaji, Miss Misato?"

"You kid...don't tease adults...!"

It was clearly just a child's joke - but, spoken with such a straightforward look, it made Katsuragi Misato examine her own heart... and then she fled in panic.

The originally noisy room suddenly became quiet, leaving only Shinji Ikari lying on the bed and Rei Ayanami who was holding her lunch box without saying a word.

"..."

"..."

No one spoke first, they just stared at each other, and both of them fell into a tacit silence.

"…………Have a meal."

In the end, it was Rei Ayanami who broke the deadlock.

He skillfully opened the lunch box in his hand and placed the dishes inside on the hospital plate one by one.

That's... a pretty assembly-line bento.

Nutritionally balanced chicken breast and broccoli... mashed potatoes and fried eggs that seem to have no taste, paired with whole wheat bread and skim milk.

If Rei Ayanami hadn't taken it out of the lunch box herself, Ikari Shinji would have thought it was just a hospital meal...

However, on Rei Ayanami's fingers, one could see, though few in number...then very noticeable, wounds and bandages. Looking at the imperfectly cut vegetables and meat before him, the origins of those wounds became clear at a glance.

“…Not to your liking?”

"No, I won't."

Although her look, expression, and eyes hadn't changed - Shinji Ikari could feel a hint of panic from Ayanami Rei's cautious questioning.

And after getting the answer from Shinji Ikari, the slight fear turned into relief and relief.

...I don't know what happened to this child - but compared to the last time I talked to her...her emotions are much smoother.

The meal was quiet - Shinji Ikari ate silently, and Rei Ayanami just sat quietly by the bed.

Apart from helping Shinji Ikari pour the milk into the glass, Rei Ayanami did nothing else.

Just sitting there and staring—

The crimson eyes stared intently at Shinji Ikari's every smile and every move.

"………………Um, Miss Ayanami Rei…?"

Even Shinji Ikari would feel uncomfortable being stared at by a stalker-level person like Rei Ayanami.

"Do you have something to say? Just looking at me like that is kind of creepy."

"?"

But Rei Ayanami just tilted her little head cutely, with big question marks written in her crimson eyes.

"No, I don't have anything special... that I want to say to Ikari-kun."

"Then why are you looking at me like that..."

"I simply wanted to see Ikari-kun's face. To be more precise, I wanted to see how he eats."

Shinji Ikari scratched his head with a wry smile.

"Well, eating might not be that interesting..."

"No!"

Unexpectedly, Shinji Ikari was interrupted decisively by Rei Ayanami just as he opened his mouth.

This tough style was the first time Shinji Ikari had seen it.

It should be said... this seemed to be the first time that this girl showed such strong emotions in front of him.

"Watching Ikari-kun eat is quite rewarding."

"Very rewarding...huh?"

Shinji Ikari laughed awkwardly a few times, speechless.

I can't imagine that eating by myself can make Rei Ayanami gain something from it.

"Well, it's very rewarding."

Rei Ayanami nodded obediently, and then began to explain -

"Ikari-kun, I prefer meat to broccoli. I like fried eggs, so I ate them first. I don't like mashed potatoes... I only drink milk like water when it chokes, so I don't particularly like it... Well, knowing this will be very useful next time I make it, so it's quite rewarding."

"...!"

It was clearly just a lunch that couldn't be more ordinary, and it was clearly just some homely conversation that couldn't be more ordinary.

But - when Ayanami Rei explained all this... a subtle smile that came from the heart appeared on her face.

However, it brought a huge impact to Shinji Ikari that was no less than the attack of the apostles.

(End of this chapter)