EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 78 The Disobedient Bad Boy [Today 1050010000]

"…Excuse me, I'm Akagi."

With a little uneasiness, Ritsuko Akagi led Rei Ayanami and knocked on the door of Commander Tsukasa's command room.

"Come in."

Ikari Gendō's usual indifferent expression without any intonation was heard. Akagi Ritsuko opened the door, but unexpectedly found that... in the command room where Ikari Gendō was supposed to be the only one there, there was actually a guest.

"Hello, Professor Akagi. It's our first time meeting you. I've heard a lot about you, Commander."

The young man in a white researcher's coat sitting in the guest seat... greeted him in a frivolous tone that was completely inconsistent with this serious command room.

…For some reason, deep within this man's right eye… a faint red light seemed to be visible.

"This must be... Dr. Shinya Kabaki of IPEA."

Akagi Ritsuko, with a faint sense of confrontation, knew for sure... that the IPEA doctor would come to NERV to assist in installing new weapons... but he was able to appear so brazenly in Ikari Gendō's command room...

It's only been a few days since Ikari Gendō came to the Matsushiro base... and these two have reached a strategic cooperation... or have they known each other for a long time?

As a fellow researcher, Akagi Ritsuko was the only one who could share the same secret with Ikari Gendō. At this moment, a character with the same attributes as her approached Ikari Gendō.

The sense of crisis that she might be replaced by this man surged uncontrollably in her heart.

"Thank you for your hard work, Dr. Akagi."

There was no emotion in Gendo Ikari's voice... Ritsuko Akagi was very uneasy and had no idea what he meant by asking her to bring Rei Ayanami over.

She had originally planned to report the sneaky behavior of Shinji Ikari and Ryoji Kaji immediately, but... the presence of Shinya Kaburagi made it difficult for Ritsuko Akagi to speak.

"Commander, is there anything you want me to do?"

On the contrary, it was Rei Ayanami who ignored Ritsuko Akagi's uneasiness and Shinya Kaburagi's malicious gaze... and took the initiative to step forward and ask Gendo Ikari.

"Rei. I heard you successfully activated Unit 00. Well done."

"...!"

Unexpectedly, Ikari Gendo, who had originally had a cold face, showed a rare warmth on his face when he saw Ayanami Rei... and praised Ayanami Rei's performance without reservation, which surprised Ayanami Rei.

“…This is what I should do.”

The existence of Ikari Gendo... indeed occupies a very important position in Rei Ayanami's heart... If possible, Rei Ayanami really hopes that Ikari Gendo can live in harmony with Ikari Shinji... After all, no matter what... Ikari Gendo is Shinji Ikari's only blood relative.

Rei Ayanami came this time... just to talk about this matter with Gendo Ikari. Although Shinji Ikari always looks as majestic as a mountain... Rei Ayanami knows very well that the stronger a person is... the more intense the pain accumulated in his heart will be.

However, in order to avoid making the people he protects feel uneasy... he will never show it to himself, Asuka, or Katsuragi Misato... But - if it is his father who is related to him by blood... perhaps it will be different.

Now that his mother has passed away, if he can make Ikari Gendo and Ikari Shinji get along well... perhaps Ikari Shinji will be happier...

"Rei, this time... just stay here. I need your help with something..."

Ikari Gendō's voice rang out, an expected request—if it were before, Ayanami Rei would have been ready to accept it... But now, Ayanami Rei shook her head with bitterness.

"...Commander. I... Ikari-kun and the others have an appointment to go back together... If I don't go back, Ikari-kun will..."

"Don't worry about Shinji."

When Shinji Ikari's name was mentioned, Gendo Ikari's voice returned to its usual suppressed tone.

"I'll have her—return to headquarters with them."

As he spoke, Ikari Gendō gently knocked on the heavy sandalwood table in his office... With a mechanical rustling sound, a door opened where the wall should have been.

A person wearing a black EVA combat suit——Ayanami Rei appeared in front of everyone.

"…!?"

Although... I knew it for sure - but, this was the first time... outside of that room, I came into such close contact with... another "me".

——I am replaceable...

——Even if you die, there are countless replacements.

This is what Rei Ayanami has been taught since she was born, but... when her substitute walked towards her so vividly, Rei Ayanami's heart... was still greatly shocked.

...Am I going to be replaced...?
...Ikari-kun...

Subconsciously, I reached into my pocket. I gripped something that lay quietly inside my pocket.

That was the DAT-DT1 Walkman that Shinji Ikari lent me.

He gripped it so tightly, with such force, that it even caused some cracks on the corners of the Walkman - but it didn't matter!
…Just by feeling the presence of the Walkman, the words that Shinji Ikari said a long time ago will once again appear vividly in my ears.

——You are you, the one and only you——

I have to go back... Yes, I have to go back. I borrowed Ikari-kun's favorite Walkman... And I broke it... I have to go back and apologize!
I feel much calmer... Yes, as long as I hold it and recall the boy's words... the anxiety and fear in my heart will be swept away like magic.

"Commander, I—"

After calming herself down, Rei Ayanami stopped avoiding... and faced the confused self in front of her... who was exactly the same as herself in the past, but was now completely different.

"I'm sorry, if you have any orders... I will follow them, but after completing them... I still want to go back with Ikari-kun and the others. So... please give me any orders."

"…Korea?!"

Ikari Gendō's pupils dilated in surprise, a rare occurrence. Akagi Ritsuko was even more astonished beyond words.

——This child, actually… disobeyed orders… of his own accord!?
Shouldn't she just be...Adam's vessel, a puppet without a self?!

"... "

Even Rei Ayanami, dressed in black, showed shock at her resolute attitude... She looked at this face that was identical to her own yet completely different.

It seemed as if she was wondering...why...even though she was - [Ayanami Rei]...she could display such a dazzling expression.

"This is really~this is really~perfect! Perfect! This is what makes it valuable!"

Only Kaburagi Shinya... was laughing and clapping his hands... no one knew what he was cheering for.

"…Dr. Kaburagi wants your cooperation in some research on EVA synchronization rates. I'm afraid it will take some time, so…"

Ikari Gendō was still trying to say something, but this time it was Kaburagi Shinya who took the initiative to speak.

"Ah, it's okay, it's okay! Since Rei-chan wants to go back with us, then let's go back together... Yeah! What I need to do... will be done in a moment."

"Dr. Kaburagi!?"

Ikari Gendo curled his lips. This is not what we agreed on.

Ayanami Rei is now no longer fit to continue her story... A third Rei must be used to reset the faulty No. 2 Rei, allowing the obedient No. 3 Rei to set the story straight. The No. 2 Rei, which needs to be destroyed, will be given to Kabuki Shinya to exchange for the D4 weapon installed on Unit 348...

It was supposed to be a win-win situation... Why did Kaburagi Shinya change his mind at this moment!?

"It's okay, it's okay. Rei-chan just needs to come with me to complete one experiment. So it can be done in one day. Speaking of which, Commander... and Professor Akagi, isn't it time to go to the test platform outside? The actual start-up test of Unit 03... seems to be almost time."

"…Yeah."

Ikari Gendō took a deep breath and changed his attitude... Since Kaburagi Shinya meant not to continue discussing this topic right now, let's take a look at Unit 03 first.

"Unit 03's startup test...!?"

"Yes... Dr. Akagi, that's why I asked you to come this time. This time, Unit 03 is carrying the D4 mechanism provided by Dr. Kaburagi for the first time for an EVA combat experiment... So, I wanted both you, the EVA expert, and Dr. Kaburagi, the D4 expert, to be present. Let's go..."

With that, Ikari Gendō took Akagi and Kaburagi and walked outside... Ayanami Rei, who was left behind, was about to follow, but was stopped by another Ayanami.

"…Why?"

Rei Ayanami looked at her other self... looked at the self that appeared to abolish herself and replace herself... and showed a rejection that she herself had not expected.

...Is that so? So I...left with such disgust...

Even at the beginning... when I knew that I would be replaced by other versions of myself... that I would just be a discarded part at any time... I was completely indifferent...

At this moment, I am so resistant to separation——

Ha ha…

In my heart, I can't help but feel a little sweet.

This is all your fault... Ikari-kun. You made me... a bad boy who disobeyed the Commander.

"…Come."

The black Rei Ayanami was exactly the same as the original Rei Ayanami... He didn't say anything extra, just gestured for Rei Ayanami to follow him, and then walked towards the depths of the darkness.

That was the secret door that the black Rei Ayanami came out of when she was called by Gendo Ikari.

The black Rei Ayanami didn't even turn around... He just walked forward on his own, with no intention of checking whether Rei Ayanami was catching up.

After a brief thought... Rei Ayanami decided to follow... although she didn't know what was waiting for her in the darkness ahead.

But - if I just run back in shame now... even if I can run back to Shinji Ikari, I can only hide behind him... and cannot be his help.

I want to help him——so...

Ayanami Rei followed resolutely -

(End of this chapter)