EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 43: Longing is the furthest distance from understanding

"..."

"Varied…!"

"Why!? I don't agree!"

After hearing Ikari Gendō's order, Ikari Shinji, Asuka, Suzuhara Touji... reacted completely differently.

Shinji Ikari was as calm as ever, suppressing all his emotions...not revealing any information on his face.

Asuka's face was full of surprise. After all, she was also saved by Tiga... but under the authority of the commander-in-chief, she could only remain silent.

The most straightforward one was Suzuhara Touji. After all, he was rescued once... and his sister Suzuhara Sakura was also rescued once. Tiga was equivalent to the benefactor who saved his life twice, so naturally he would not admit it.

"You seem to have some misunderstanding, Fourth Qualified Person. This is an order, a so-called order... I don't need to explain it to you, let alone ask for your consent."

But, even the hot-blooded Suzuhara Touji... after all, he is only a fourteen-year-old boy, lacking experience and awareness.

Ikari Gendō, who had seen countless lives and deaths, completely overwhelmed Suzuhara with just a single glance.

"If you can't do it, get out. I'll let the Marduk Agency choose your successor, that's all."

"Okay! Then I'll..."

Before Suzuhara Touji could make the situation worse, Ikari Shinji patted him on the shoulder and told him to calm down.

"It's alright, Commander. I'll work on the pilot's thinking. Please continue."

It is undoubtedly unrealistic to go against the decision of Gendo Ikari, the king of NERV, within the NERV system... Shinji Ikari knew this premise from the beginning.

So he didn't ask for reasons or try to object... these actions would only make his position more difficult by undermining the Commander-in-Chief's authority.

"........."

Ikari Gendo glanced at Ikari Shinji coldly... As a pilot, Ikari Shinji's performance was too good, so good that he could not predict it at all.

However, as the commander-in-chief, he cannot punish his subordinates for their good performance, as that would mean he would lose control over the grassroots... Although he was unwilling, he could only nod and agree to Ikari Shinji's proposal and continue speaking.

"Although the unknown life form's wavelength isn't that of an apostle, it's undoubtedly not something humans can understand... If we let our guard down just because it hasn't harmed humans yet, by the time something truly happens, it will be too late.

This is the common consciousness of all mankind. Since the apostles and unknown life forms have only appeared in Japan... Therefore, EVAs from all over the world have been deployed to Japan in order to gather the power of all mankind and eliminate the apostles and unknown life forms. "

Although Ikari Gendō tried to speak passionately, these words were only enough to incite the lower-level employees of NERV...it was a bit ridiculous to be so high-sounding in front of the pilots.

Ikari Gendō seemed to realize this as well, and he didn't expect any reaction from the crowd, so he continued speaking decisively.

"Units 03 and 04 have already arrived at the Second Branch, and Unit 08 is also on its way... To balance the combat capabilities of the headquarters and branches and facilitate the allocation of resources... Qualified individuals 4, 5, and 6 will follow me to the Second Branch.

Conduct startup tests for EVA units 3, 4, and 8 there. Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki will be stationed at headquarters. If there are no questions, proceed with preparations. Qualified personnel 4, 5, and 6 will take off in 20 minutes.

Having said that, Ikari Gendou turned around and went about his own business, completely disregarding whether the driver had any questions or not.

"Hey, wait for me..."

Realizing that he would have no chance if he didn't raise an objection, Suzuhara Touji mustered up the courage to go forward, but was pulled back by Shinji Ikari by his collar.

"Go away, idiot."

After leaving the command room and going all the way to the lounge in the corner, Shinji Ikari let him go.

"Mr. Shinji, why are you stopping me...! I can't just sit there and watch my savior get attacked!"

"You idiot! If you were driving the EVA... if something really happened, you could still handle it accordingly. If you continue to make a scene, you'll be fired, and he'll just find an obedient driver to replace you... Your antics won't lead to anything except you going home to sleep."

Listening to Shinji Ikari's scolding and Suzuhara Touji filling the pancakes with the pot, he opened his mouth wide and made a few "Aba" sounds before he woke up from his dream.

"Oh, yes! You're right! As expected of Mr. Shinji! You're so thoughtful!"

Looking at Suzuhara who was looking at him happily with intelligent eyes, Shinji Ikari could only smile bitterly and hold his forehead.

"...I'm worried about the rest of the squad leader's life..." However, even if we retain Suzuhara Touji as our own to pilot the EVA, the situation is still very dire.

Although he didn't raise any objections... but Shinji Ikari knew that if EVA really targeted him, his actions would be restricted... Even when he was on the Victory Team, he had no experience of fighting monsters while being attacked by the Victory Team!

And... why? What's the reason?
It would be fine if it was Gendō Ikari's arbitrary decision... but the fact that he was able to mobilize such a huge amount of resources for the fight against Tiga... shows that viewing Tiga as an enemy is a consensus among the entire human leadership.

However, Tiga poses no threat to humans. Furthermore, thanks to Kaji Ryoji's dissemination of information, the public is already hearing that Tiga is humanity's guardian deity. Forcibly ordering an attack on Tiga would only negatively impact NERV's public opinion.

Why do they do this? I should say...what are they afraid of?
What are they afraid of... Tiga?
"—Maybe it's the fear of the unknown."

A cheerful voice suddenly came, causing Shinji Ikari to frown...

This guy, naturally, answered his inner thoughts. The feeling of having one's mind seen through was truly unpleasant.

"What? You're suddenly talking to me... You're the sixth qualified person, right? What's going on?"

Seeing Kaworu Nagisa walking towards them casually, Suzuhara Touji immediately stepped forward and stopped Kaworu Nagisa like a bodyguard.

"Oh my, what a good relationship you have. It makes me jealous."

Nagisa Kaworu's face, which is too beautiful for a man, and his cynical and ethereal smile, are as unpredictable as ever.

Shinji Ikari glanced at him and answered unhappily.

"Oh, nice to meet you. Thank you for your guidance, Sixth Qualified Person."

Facing Ikari Shinji's attitude, the smile that always stayed on Nagisa Kaworu's face disappeared... Although he knew that Ikari Shinji was deliberately ignoring the fact that he had not communicated with him in human form before...

From a normal person's perspective, this was the first day the two of them met, and he had at least introduced himself... but this guy still called himself the Sixth Qualified Person, clearly seeking revenge for the prank he had played on him with Unit-00.

However... this dissatisfaction only lasted for a moment and then disappeared in a flash... because Shinji Ikari's attitude actually showed that in his heart he was different from others.

Realizing this, Nagisa Kaworu returned a happy smile.

"I'm so glad... You still remember what I told you. If you could remember my name... I'd be happy too. That's why you deliberately retaliated by calling me something other than my name... What a cute way of acting, Shinji-kun."

As she spoke, Nagisa Kaworu took light but swift steps... and with a slight turn, she bypassed the blocking Suzuhara and came to the side of Ikari Shinji... and held Ikari Shinji's hand affectionately.

"Come on, Shinji-kun. You can act like a spoiled child to me as you please~"

But of course Shinji Ikari couldn't just let himself be held like this... He simply retracted his hand, avoiding Kaworu Nagisa's intimate behavior, and seemed to have gotten used to his greasy tone, grinning.

"You really like to add drama to yourself."

"What is this guy?! Why does he feel so disgusting..."

Suzuhara stared blankly at Nagisa Kaworu's almost danmei-style speech, feeling as if ants were crawling all over her body.

"Touji, go get ready. I don't know how long you'll be gone in Matsushiro this time. Your sister... go explain the situation to Miss Misato. She'll make the arrangements, and then contact the squad leader and Sakura."

"Oh... Yeah!"

Suzuhara Touji finally realized... he was actually going on a business trip. And it was to Matsushiro, hundreds of kilometers from Tokyo! It was only his first day at NERV... What about school? He had to tell Sakura quickly...

Suzuhara Touji, who had just woken up from a dream, didn't even have time to say goodbye and ran to make a phone call in a hurry.

Looking at Suzuhara's departing back, with no one else around, Nagisa Kaworu's tone changed.

"...That boy, clearly full of respect and admiration for you, Shinji-kun. Yet, he simply cannot understand a single iota of your inner thoughts. Truly, a pathetic existence... Li Lin."

Shinji Ikari smiled but said nothing.

"That's normal. A middle-aged man who stood on the sky once said a famous saying: so-called longing is the farthest distance from understanding.

...Okay, stop the rambling. You deliberately entered NERV in a mortal body, not to chat with me... Tell me your purpose, Sixth Qualified Person.

(End of this chapter)