EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 56 Ikari Gendō's Ugly Determination

——Shinji

There are some truths you can't escape...

Escaping from reality...relying on others...this is a way to make life very easy...

But... you have to drive the EVA... you have to see with your own eyes... hear with your own ears... and think with your own will.

Because... you are the child of me and Gendou...

As long as you can do it... use your own will to lead others and save the world...

At that time, I will...

…………

……

"…make……"

"commander!"

"!?"

Akagi Ritsuko's call awakened Ikari Gendo, who had fallen into a brief trance.

"…how."

Even though his heart was in turmoil due to the inexplicable surge of thoughts from the past, Ikari Gendo still maintained that cold expression.

"No, it's just that... the simulation plug has been built. Yesterday... while Shinji was in the hospital... I had Rei complete the final personal data synchronization."

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face of Ikari Gendo, Akagi Ritsuko still felt some unspeakable emotions in her heart...

Late at night, the two of them were alone in a laboratory deep underground in the Matsushiro base... The only sound in the entire room was the breath of each other... Just this alone was enough for Ritsuko Akagi to feel a little satisfied.

It's so sad... Even Ritsuko Akagi felt that she was too pitiful - this is the fate of a woman who falls in love with a man she shouldn't love.

"Is that so... Thank you for your hard work."

It was clear that this man had no feelings for her at all, like a mother... a disposable tool... but just hearing him say thank you for your hard work... the fatigue accumulated from days and nights of toil would magically disappear...

"You're deliberately avoiding Shinji, aren't you..."

"Yes. ...Shinji-kun is unusually sharp and decisive right now. If he knew we were building something like this, it might have a negative impact on EVA Unit-01's synchronization rate..."

"It doesn't matter. This is enough."

As he spoke, Ikari Gendō raised his head... and looked at the plug in front of him... marked with "REI-00".

"Digitize the soul... simulate the human mind through data and programming... just trick the EVA into thinking it's being synchronized with a human operator. Prioritize inputting the data into Unit 346 at Matsushiro Base, and strive to complete combat preparations before the next Titan appears."

"I see."

"By the way, I heard IPEA sent some new EVA weapons? That's quite rare..."

"Yes. I heard that the anti-positive particle weapon "D4" was developed by the newly appointed Dr. Kabuki Shinya of IPEA... by analyzing the fragments of the Sixth and Seventh Angels... The specific working principle has not been disclosed due to confidentiality regulations. The Armament Department is still discussing whether to equip the EVA with this unknown and untested weapon..."

"That's fine, equip them. Equip them directly on Units 03 and 06, which will be undergoing combat testing soon... Since these are placebos those old men are eager to use to defeat the unknown lifeform, there's no reason not to give them the medicine and put their minds at ease. —I'll leave it to you."

"I understand. I'll finish it as soon as possible."

Ritsuko Akagi nodded slightly and turned to devote herself to the next stage of tedious work.

"Dr. Akagi..."

"...Excuse me, is there anything else..."

"N-Ritsuko. Good job."

"!?"

——It's so pitiful to be such a woman.

I clearly know... that this man is just using me... I clearly know that he doesn't love anyone else except that person.

However, the moment he called her name... her heart was still... ecstatic, so much so that even if she had to accompany him to the end of hell, it wouldn't matter...

"...as you command."

Akagi Ritsuko's shaky body disappeared through the gate, leaving Ikari Gendo alone... staring at the plug in the air in loneliness and silence.

"Yu... As expected, compared to me... you still chose Shinji's side... huh?..."

In this moment of solitude, Ikari Gendō dropped his usual cold, indifferent facade a bit... his words were filled with bitterness and sorrow. And then—this pain transformed into grief and indignation.

"Then, no matter what means I have to use... I will take you back from Shinji...!"

………………

…………

"Why didn't Dongzhi come to school——!!!"

During lunch break the next day, Shinji Ikari was caught by Kensuke Aida while listening to music on the rooftop.

With an expression of disbelief, Kensuke Aida threw himself directly onto Shinji Ikari, hugged Shinji Ikari's thighs tightly and began to howl.

"No way! No way—! I was already suspicious the last time you guys had a party together! But I couldn't believe it! No way... Dongzhi wouldn't really be chosen as the pilot! No way!"

“…You’re so noisy…”

Shinji Ikari shook his thigh in disgust, but he didn't expect that this guy would hold on to him tightly like a dog-skin plaster and couldn't get rid of it no matter how hard he tried.

"... Didn't the teacher say that Dongzhi would be on sick leave this week?"

I tried to brush it off with diplomatic rhetoric with a bitter face... This guy, even with headphones, couldn't block out his cries... He clearly has no direct connection with NERV... Why does he have to get involved?

"You're lying! I've already looked through my father's files! I looked at them secretly while he was sleeping! Don't try to lie to me again, Shinji! Ahhh! Dongzhi... Dongzhi... Dongzhi was chosen as the pilot of Unit 03! ​​Damn it! Why not me? Damn it! Damn it!!"

"..."

Shinji Ikari grinned speechlessly and glanced at the rooftop gate out of the corner of his eye... the person from the Intelligence Department... Kyoya Kenzaki's subordinate, the person who was in charge of supervising him today... seemed to be called Potter?

Anyway, the spy in the black suit and black sunglasses is lurking behind the door right now... His job is to record his every word and action... so naturally he will also record what this idiot says.

...bringing confidential documents home without permission and not respecting confidentiality regulations, allowing children to easily peek at them...

Kensuke Aida may not realize that his words may cause his father to lose his job. Even if he doesn't lose his job... at least he will be kicked out of the core department and do completely unimportant cleaning work or something like that.

...Do you want to go say hello to Kenzaki?
Never mind, it's his own problem after all... Besides, letting his father leave the core department will save him from inquiring about inside information every day, which is also a good thing for him.

Shinji Ikari knew without even thinking about it... there was an unfathomable darkness hidden inside NERV... but Shinji Ikari did not have the ability to eradicate it completely.

If I really want to do it, I can only transform into Tiga and raise it physically...

But if the system and the framework are intact, and the base is destroyed and rebuilt no matter how many times it is destroyed... it is meaningless.

Therefore, whether it is contact with Kaji Ryoji or Kenzaki Kyoya...

Shinji Ikari is always looking for a way to infiltrate the core of NERV's huge system...

I can only stay inside NERV as a pilot and figure out its true purpose...

And the hostility and fear shown towards Tiga...why?

Then, he supported the forces he could trust and waited for the critical moment to completely destroy this organization...

"Shinji! Go talk to your dad! Let me be the pilot too! Okay? Okay!"

"How can it be…"

"How is that possible! You huge idiot--!!"

Before Shinji Ikari could finish his words, a golden figure rushed in from the door with a stern aura... and then kicked Kensuke Aida on the back without any mercy.

“Wa ...!”

Thanks to Shinji Ikari's quick hands and eyes, he was caught and Asuka kicked him off the rooftop...

"Asuka, what's the matter with you? Huh? And the squad leader?"

Behind the panting Asuka, there was Mitsuru Toraki who still looked unhappy... looking at Shinji Ikari with complicated eyes.

"Xiao Guang wants to tell you something—leave this idiot to me! I'll show him that not every worthless person is qualified to be a pilot."

"Wow! Shinji! Save me...!!"

Having said that, Asuka grabbed Kensuke's collar and disappeared down the stairs, ignoring his cries... It seemed that Kensuke's screams could still be heard occasionally.

Under normal circumstances, Shinji Ikari might have tried to stop him, but... right now, Hikaru Tomura must have something important to discuss with him.

Kensuke can only be the punching bag for a while...it's his fault for saying something that offends Asuka.

"So, what's going on, squad leader?"

(End of this chapter)