EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 70: Makiba, are you a clone?

Bathed in the bright summer sun and enjoying the scentless breeze... Shinji Ikari gazed into the distance - the Third New Tokyo City.

Even though the city was ravaged by the Eighth Apostle just yesterday... the corrosion and sharp claws left deep claw marks on the city, the people of this city... are still full of vitality... they are all living tenaciously.

...Although for Shinji Ikari...looking at the things he has always protected is his daily routine, but today...there is an unexpected guest.

"Delicious! So delicious! This! Did you really make this, Puppy-kun? This is unbelievable! Isn't this artificial synthetic meat? How can you make that synthetic meat that tastes like jazz wax so delicious!!"

"........."

Shinji Ikari rolled his eyes, speechless as he looked at the energetic bespectacled girl who barged in without a care in the world… and then sat down next to him and ate heartily… Makiwa Marie Irantrias…

For now, let's not talk about why you, who should be at the Matsushiro branch, suddenly came to eat my lunch box next to me... Hakipo, aren't you eating the lunch box I prepared for Ayanami? You stole it, didn't you?
As if sensing the confusion and dissatisfaction in Shinji Ikari's eyes, Makiba swallowed the octopus sausages that were stuffed in her mouth whole and explained to Shinji Ikari with a smile.

"Oh, isn't it because... the First Qualified Person was called by Professor Akagi for an experiment? And the lunch box you prepared for her is right there, still warm and fragrant. It would be such a waste if no one eats it! In line with NERV's principle of frugality, I naturally can't allow such a delicious thing to go to waste! So... target! I'll be responsible for annihilating it! Don't worry! I'll eat it all up, meow~!"

"Alright, alright... Remember to explain everything clearly to Ayanami and thank her properly."

Shinji Ikari wasn't the type to be petty. Besides, she'd already eaten more than half, so he couldn't expect Makiba to spit it out. As long as there wasn't some cheesy, clichéd misunderstanding like Ayanami Rei thinking he hadn't prepared a lunch box for her, that would be enough.

Moreover, why is she eating a bento here? Rather than eating a bento... Shinji Ikari wants to know why she is "here".

"I'm full. Thanks for the treat—ahem. Um... It's Commander Ikari's order... I'm swapping shifts with Unit 1. Unit 8 will probably be sent here tomorrow. Ayanami Rei will be transferred to Matsushiro Base."

After finishing the lunch box... Makiba's attitude became serious... Because according to her understanding... Shinji Ikari would not turn a blind eye to this news. If he told her in advance... She probably wouldn't be able to eat properly.

That's why he waited until he had finished enjoying the lunch box before conveying Ikari Gendo's instructions.

"What? ...Defense switch??"

Shinji Ikari frowned. He had never heard of this... that EVA had rotation. Wasn't the purpose of setting up two bases before... because Unit 03, 04, and 08 had not been tested yet, and they were afraid of accidents during the testing, so they didn't set up the headquarters?

The Angels' attacks were all aimed at Tokyo-3... No one attacked the Matsushiro branch at all. What's the point of switching to Matsushiro?!

If Makiba and Unit 8 were already capable of immediate combat, they should have just been sent to headquarters... What's the point of trading Ayanami away?

I simply can't understand Ikari Gendō's train of thought—the only plausible explanation is that the rotation is bullshit...it's just an excuse to get Rei Ayanami to the Matsushiro branch. As for why he specifically took Rei Ayanami with him...

...Is it because I'm here?

If the purpose is really because Ikari Gendō wants Rei Ayanami to avoid him and do something... then it must be something that I cannot know about, or even... something that I can stop!

The more Shinji Ikari thought about it, the more serious his expression became, his brows furrowed, his teeth clenched... The more he thought about it, the more certain Shinji Ikari became - he must do something... At least he couldn't just watch Rei Ayanami being taken to the base over there in silence.

"...Maki, you know what experiment Ayanami is going to conduct...what are you doing?"

When I looked up from my thoughts and was about to ask for specific details... I found that Makiba, who was a distance away from me just now, was now very close.

She stood before him, leaning down... her eyes filled with curiosity as she surveyed Ikari Shinji, who sat on the ground lost in thought. So close, Ikari Shinji could clearly feel Makiba's breath on his face.

"No—I was just too rushed last time, and now that I have some time... I simply want to take another good look at your face."

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Makiba's mouth... It was a smile completely different from the ones she wore on Ayanami Rei or Asuka - it was as if she was reminiscing about someone in the distant past through her face.

Ah... Shinji Ikari remembered that she did mention it last time... when this guy appeared in front of him on the rooftop.

"...Do I... look a lot like my mother?"

“…!” Makiba raised his eyebrows, perhaps he had not expected that Shinji Ikari’s intuition would be so accurate. After only two meetings… without even asking him anything, he accurately pointed out the reason why he cared so much about Shinji Ikari.

"Yeah! You're obviously a boy, but you look so much like your senior that it's outrageous... Hey, hey, let me tell you a secret. Since you look so much like your senior... If there's anything you can't handle in NERV in the future... just put on some women's clothes, put on some makeup, and ask Vice Commander Fuyutsuki for help. If you show up in front of Vice Commander Fuyutsuki like that, he'll definitely agree to anything you ask for, nya~"

What the hell are you talking about——!?

"cough…!"

The topic was so explosive that Shinji Ikari's brain almost shut down... But he immediately realized that Makiba's seemingly absurd words... actually contained a lot of information. If her words were true... then it meant...

1. This girl, who looked not much older than himself, knew a lot about his parents and the generation of Fuyutsuki Kozo.

2. Dongyue also has a special relationship with his mother...at least she is not just a simple colleague or the wife of a comrade-in-arms.

As for why this girl knew so much and missed her long-deceased mother so much... it was hard for Shinji Ikari to guess.

Judging from Makiba's tone and attitude... we can tell that she definitely experienced it personally, rather than just hearing about it - but, the age contradiction is too huge... it doesn't match at all.

After all, when her mother died, Makiba was probably only six or seven years old. Even if she had seen her... she shouldn't have had such a strong impression of Ikari Yui... not to mention the title of "senpai"...

No matter how talented he is, Shinji Ikari doesn't believe that Makiba can skip grades in elementary school and enter the same university as his mother... That person is not a human being at all.

So...if everything she said is true and there is no falsehood...and it fits the contradiction of age, then the answer is——

"…!?"

Oh right... Makiba is also an EVA pilot... and Ayanami Rei and Asuka are also pilots... their identities are... could it be that...! ?

Realizing that he was close to the answer, Shinji Ikari felt a shudder that made his scalp tingle... However, he still raised his head, looked directly into Makiba's eyes, and asked for the answer.

"Ms. Makiba...can I ask you a question?"

"Mm~ little dog, it's ok. Just call me Shinkibo. Since you filled me up and reminded me of my senior's face, I'll give you a special offer. I'll tell you anything you ask, meow~ What? Do you want to know my measurements?"

At this time, Makiba was still in high spirits and teased Shinji Ikari with ease.

But——the moment Shinji Ikari asked the question...this sense of calmness and contentment disappeared in an instant.

Because Shinji Ikari's problem is——

"Makiba, are you... a clone? A clone that inherited the original's memories?"

"—!!"

In an instant, the smile on Makiba's face froze...

From a stiff smile, to a face full of shock, then to a grin as if he had said too much and messed up, and finally to a helpless wry smile as if it didn't matter anymore since things have come to this point.

"...Shinji-kun, you...are a boy, and you're too sensitive...so girls won't like you."

This was the first time since Makiba met Shinji Ikari that she used his name... and treated him as a man who could not be ignored.

"It's okay. After all, I already have two roommates who need my attention... If I try to please other girls, I'll be in big trouble."

Shinji Ikari's tone of voice rose involuntarily... Her reaction... was spot on! Her guess was right!!

——Finally, I finally took a crucial step towards the core secret of all problems!
(End of this chapter)