EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 71 Look, aren’t the clothes worn properly?
This is undoubtedly double standard... Shinji Ikari knows it very well.

If the person in front of me at this moment was Ayanami Rei or Asuka... I would never have said the clone speculation so easily...

He was afraid - because his appearance was too dazzling in the eyes of Ayanami Rei and Asuka... Shinji Ikari was always careful about his words and actions... to avoid causing any unnecessary stimulation to the two of them.

To put it bluntly... Ikari Shinji was afraid, afraid that because of his inappropriate remarks... the rare smiles on their faces... would disappear.

But it’s different when it comes to Makiba... In order to explore the truth that he is not convenient to dig out from Aya and Asuka, Shinji Ikari can decisively ask questions.

“…It seems so.”

Seeing that Makiba was just sighing without any denial, Shinji Ikari knew that the other party had acknowledged his problem.

And, more importantly, Makiba has both the memories of the original Makiba and the awareness that she is a clone... This is completely different from the current Asuka.

Based on the clone of Rei Ayanami that Ryoji Kaji showed him and the "So-Ryu" he mentioned, it is speculated that Asuka should also have a real body named "So-Ryu Asuka Langley" - but from Asuka's daily behavior... Shinji Ikari can't see this at all.

Unlike Rei Ayanami, who was empty and doll-like at the beginning, Asuka showed the pride and vitality of an ordinary fourteen-year-old girl from the very beginning...

Since the contradiction lies here, let's start from this point.

"...Do all clones possess the original's memories and awareness of being clones? Or are you, Makiba, the only exception?"

"!"

Makiba, who was originally wondering how she would react after Shinji Ikari dug up her secrets after only meeting her twice, heard Shinji Ikari's sharp question... and instantly understood what Shinji Ikari was trying to probe in a roundabout way.

"Shinji-kun, I only promised to answer one question for you~"

"What? You didn't answer the question just now... I changed it to avoid embarrassing you—huh?"

Realizing that Shinji Ikari had taken control of the conversation... Makiba, who was a little angry, frowned, and suddenly had an idea... and pressed his whole body towards Shinji Ikari with revenge.

Since the two of them were already looking at each other within arm's reach, Makiba's sudden forward pressure forced Shinji Ikari directly against the wall he was leaning against.

“…What are you doing all of a sudden?”

Although he didn't know why Makiba suddenly made physical contact, in order to get the answer to his question, Shinji Ikari did not distance himself from her or throw her out, but waited for Makiba to explain her intentions.

At this time, Makiba had already laid her whole body on Shinji Ikari, and her soft and moist lips were leaning over Shinji Ikari and whispering softly.

"Shh—don't you want to know the answer? Then be quiet, meow~"

As if waiting for something interesting to happen, Makiba, with a wicked smile on her face, maintained the posture of throwing Shinji Ikari to the ground, as if in a wall-dong position... while twisting her waist seductively, with her back to the rooftop door... waiting...

"Hey! Stupid Shinji! Are you there—!"

"...!!"

The door swung open with a clang, and Asuka and Hikaru Tomoki appeared at the doorway... Oh my goodness, it turns out Makiba was waiting for them to come up! And he even deliberately made such a pose that could be easily misunderstood!

Shinji Ikari hurriedly grabbed Makiba's arm, intending to throw this troublemaker out with an overhand throw... but Makiba suddenly spoke from his lips next to Shinji Ikari's ear.

"You guessed right, Puppy-kun. The second one, she has no idea she's a clone... How pathetic! Someone has manipulated her memory... She thinks she's the real person... She lives inside a gorgeous, dazzling bubble. I wonder what her expression will be when the bubble bursts?"

"------!"

She spoke at the last moment. If I want to hear what Makiba said... I can't leave her or distance myself from her... I can only maintain this ambiguous posture.

As expected, Asuka and Hikaru Toki witnessed an incredible scene of themselves being pinned to the ground by Makiba.

"ah!!!!"

“You, you, you…what are you doing?!”

Then there was a sharp roar. Asuka, watching Makiba pinning Ikari Shinji down, raised her lunch box and threw it at him without a word. "Wow! Danger! You're going too far, meow!"

Originally, it was just because Shinji Ikari exposed her identity... and used her to investigate Asuka without caring about her own feelings, which made Makiba very unhappy, so she deliberately played a trick on her.

Unexpectedly... Asuka broke through the defense and started a physical attack directly - it must be extremely painful to be hit on the head by the synthetic metal lunch box, Makiba quickly dodged.

"Calm down, Asuka... I just need a favor from Makiba."

Shinji Ikari sighed helplessly and caught the flying lunch box steadily.

"Is there something I need?! But, but, you two... you two... actually did something like this! And you told me to calm down...! How could I possibly calm down! Shinji, you idiot! You playboy! You pervert!"

At this moment, Asuka's face was flushed red, and tears were in her eyes... She was dancing and talking incoherently on the spot, looking for the next object to throw.

"I told you to calm down, idiot! You didn't do anything! Look, your clothes are still on!"

“Oh… ah, really.”

Asuka finally reacted after being touched by Ikari Shinji. Although the posture was very similar to that of Makiba on top and Ikari Shinji on the bottom, both of their clothes were still in good condition and there was no sign of mess.

"So I said calm down - seriously!"

Shinji Ikari scratched his head helplessly, his brain thinking rapidly... At this moment, the best solution he should take is -

"I'm just discussing with Makiba about letting her stay."

"...Stay behind?? Speaking of which, isn't this girl a fifth-qualified person? Why is she here? Shouldn't she be at Matsushiro Base..."

Asuka finally regained her composure, and upon hearing the name Matsushiro Base...Homaki Hikaru also became concerned. After all, Suzuhara Touji was already in Matsushiro.

After seeing Hikaru Tomoki, Shinji Ikari has already thought of emergency measures against the conspiracy that Gendō Ikari is weaving.

"Ah... The class leader is here too. The day after tomorrow is the weekend, right? Do you have time? Do you want to bring Sakura along and go see Suzuhara together?"

"Eh?!"

Dong Muguang was stunned for a moment, then his face was filled with joy.

"Is it possible?!"

It's definitely impossible to do this normally... For a secret organization like NERV, it's okay for married couples... but the girlfriend isn't even considered a family member, so how could they allow Hikaru Tomoki to enter the base to visit relatives?

"It should be fine... Sakura hasn't seen her brother for almost two weeks. He must be missing that idiot Touji."

Since Ikari Gendō intends to separate me and Ayanami, why not just chase after him... I'll use the excuse of accompanying Hikaru Toki and Sakura Suzuhara to visit Touji Suzuhara.

"Stupid Shinji, you're going to take Hikaru and Suzuhara's sister to see Suzuhara-san?"

Asuka was afraid that she would be forgotten, so she nervously opened her mouth to test the waters.

"...Don't act like you're an abandoned puppy. If you want to go, come along. As I said earlier... Makiba and Unit 8 have been added to the base... so let her stay behind."

After hearing Shinji Ikari's judgment, Asuka's inner panic finally disappeared.

"Hmm!! No, that's not right... Who's the puppy? Stupid Shinji!"

"Hey, let's do this—"

Makiba, who remained silent, watched all this with great interest... Well, there was really no need for her to help Gendou eliminate all the uneasy factors. Rather, compared to Gendou's sullen face... Ikari Shinji was definitely more pleasant to look at.

"Okay, I'll stay and look after the house... little dog. I'm looking forward to seeing how far you can go, meow~~"

(End of this chapter)