EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 82 Because I Like Ikari-kun
“…This way.”

In the dark corridor, Rei Ayanami in black was walking ahead on her own.

It was a narrow corridor with no windows or doors...only some unsettling dim emergency lights.

Rei Ayanami followed the figure before her without a word... Through the darkness, she stared at the back of the figure that was similar to her own, yet different from her own.

I have never really thought that there would be a day when I would look at myself with my own eyes.

"…Who are you--?"

Unexpectedly... it was the black Ayanami Rei who took the initiative to speak.

She stopped walking... Ayanami Rei took a deep breath, strengthened her resolve... and looked at herself in front of her.

"Ayanami...Rei."

Not surprised by the answer, the black Ayanami Rei also stopped and slowly turned around.

In those crimson eyes that looked exactly like her own, Rei Ayanami saw a hint of bewilderment and helplessness.

"You are Rei Ayanami... Then, who am I?"

"...!"

This question, which was both reasonable and far beyond her expectations, struck Rei Ayanami's heart deeply.

I——I have always been like a puppet, listening monotonously to… Ikari Gendou's words, and carrying out Ikari Gendou's orders…

When did I start to regard trusting Ikari Gendou as everything in my life?
When did I...put Shinji Ikari above Gendo Ikari?

Faced with the question from her other self, Rei Ayanami thought for a long time and gave an answer.

"I don't know who you are...but I know I'm Rei Ayanami."

"--Why?"

The black Rei walked towards Ayanami Rei... This time, a trace of hatred and resentment filled with jealousy flashed in her steps and eyes.

"Why... can you say so proudly... that you are Rei Ayanami——"

I can already feel the difference... This Ayanami Rei before me is different from me, and from any other puppet born from the incubator...

This Rei Ayanami, the Rei Ayanami who lives next to Shinji Ikari...she can actually demonstrate her existence so decisively.

This alone made the black Rei envious and jealous to the point of madness.

"…because!"

Facing the aura of the black Rei, Ayanami Rei instinctively took a step back... She increased the strength on her wrist a little... and tightly gripped the Walkman in the pocket of her pleated skirt.

Even if the shell of the Walkman was shattered by the excessive force... and the plastic fragments cut her slender fingers... she didn't care.

Because——I felt malice and resentment...

If I cannot recall Shinji Ikari's words in this way... and feel Shinji Ikari's presence - the girl named Ayanami Rei... will truly be completely swallowed up by the black hatred before her.

"Because—Ikari-kun said... I am the one and only, Ayanami Rei."

Rei Ayanami gave a resounding answer... This was the answer the boy gave with all his heart so that he could survive as Rei Ayanami.

“……Is that so…”

In an instant, an expression that changed from anger to jealousy, and then from jealousy to loss flashed across Rei Ayanami's dark face.

Finally, I returned to a calm and peaceful state——

"As expected, it was that boy's affirmation... that allowed you to resist your returning nature in such a strong form... and live as a human beside Ikari Shinji."

"...?"

Ayanami Rei clearly sensed... the aura of the person before her had completely changed... It wasn't just a simple clone of Ayanami Rei, but within the black Ayanami Rei... there was something else...

The black Ayanami Rei... revealed an unpleasant smile. In this dimly lit corridor... a faint, impure red halo could be seen, lingering around the black Ayanami Rei's right eye...

"Then—the vessel of Adam who calls herself Ayanami Rei... let me ask you, if the boy who sustained you...who affirmed you...Ultraman Tiga—was gone...what would your response be?"

Along with the question came a wild laugh filled with malice and anticipation... anticipating the expression that Ayanami Rei would soon reveal.

"What…!?"

Before Rei Ayanami could figure out what the other party was saying——

A massive shockwave, accompanied by a dark red halo that seemed to devour the entire dimension... engulfed everything before Rei Ayanami...

Like the light of annihilation woven by the god of death... it snatched away Rei Ayanami's consciousness—

…………

……

...

When she came to her senses, Rei Ayanami found herself sitting on the train.

The setting sun shines through the cracked glass... onto the empty tram, bringing a touch of bleak loneliness to the empty train.

No, I'm not alone—

Rei Ayanami saw... she didn't know when... the boy sitting opposite her.

Black hair, white shirt, slightly thin figure and handsome face.

"anchor…………?"

The familiar face made her want to excitedly shout out the familiar words "Ikari-kun"... but a slight sense of incongruity made her stop calling out.

The joy on his face from seeing Ikari-kun...turned into confusion and uneasiness.

——That’s not Ikari-kun.

—No, that's Ikari-kun. —No, that's Ikari Shinji... but, that's not the Ikari-kun I'm familiar with...

Realizing these things almost instinctively... Rei Ayanami slowly approached the timid boy in front of her who was hugging his knees and almost curling himself up into a ball.

"...I told you...it wouldn't be any good..."

It's impossible to tell whether he's talking to Rei Ayanami... or just talking to himself.

As Ayanami Rei approached, she heard "Ikari Shinji" muttering dejected words without any dominance.

"Whether we fight...or not...the result will be the same..."

"Rather than agreeing to do something and then being blamed...it's better not to do anything in the first place. Don't say anything."

"It would be better if I just didn't do anything... Then it wouldn't be so painful... It hurts so much, it hurts so much, Mom... Why... do I have to bear all this..."

"Everyone is counting on me or something... It's impossible! I... I... I just want..."

The unfinished words were drowned out by sobs...

Looking at the "Ikari Shinji" in front of her... Rei Ayanami frowned. He was indeed Shinji Ikari... but he was so familiar, yet so strange.

As if echoing the words of "Ikari Shinji"... while sobbing and crying... a giant collapsed to the ground outside the window.

Following that giant figure, Rei Ayanami saw Ultraman Tiga, an unknown life form listed as dangerous by NERV.

But——Tiga at this moment was no longer the heroic figure who could easily annihilate the apostles before...

That tall and majestic body had now fallen down powerlessly.

The eyes that were once bright and shining - now they are dimmed... the holy light has been extinguished.

The red crystal on the chest that used to flash... is now dead silent.

Moreover - Tiga's skin... was covered with shocking wounds... and one could even see the remnants of black and red rolling thunder moving across Tiga's body.

Every flash brought with it a faint cracking sound... the disaster ray from the evil Yabo people from another dimension, which could destroy even dimensions and time and space... actually devoured the little light left of Tiga.

Like the thunder of destruction... swallowing up this world...

The dusk outside the car window turned into a pitch-black night—a chaotic and dim night in which even the moonlight and starlight were extinguished.

Cut off all light—

Even Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari were shrouded in darkness... Rei Ayanami felt that her existence was being submerged bit by bit in this endless eternal night.

…so scary.

I want to be comforted by Ikari-kun...

I want to feel Ikari-kun's presence...

But——Ikari-kun…isn't here.

All I could hear was the familiar yet unfamiliar "Ikari Shinji"...silent sobbing.

Is it--

That's it.

"Ikari-kun."

"...?"

Noticing Rei Ayanami's voice... "Ikari Shinji" slowly raised his head and waited for Rei Ayanami's words with a frustrated look.

But - in the darkness, Rei Ayanami... was not looking in the direction of "Ikari Shinji"... but was looking through the darkened car window... at the place where the giant had fallen just now.

"I'm so sorry. I... didn't know the pain you've endured, Ikari-kun... the heavy burden you've carried, and I didn't know... the battles you've fought in places unknown to us."

This was not only a message to Shinji Ikari, but also a confession to Rei Ayanami herself—

Realizing that everything in this world is about to end in the dark red thunder... Rei Ayanami seizes the last opportunity and tells every detail of her deepest heart.

"But—I don't think... whether I do it or not... the result will be the same. Because... your words have truly changed me."

"If it weren't for your words, there wouldn't be Rei Ayanami here right now... It was you who showed me the way forward... It was you who gave me the motivation to keep living... It was you who... affirmed my existence."

It seemed as if a faint light flickered.

From inside Ayanami Rei's pocket... the cracked Walkman flickered with a faint, inconspicuous light...

But in this eternal night of silence, these few fireflies... are the only light.

"Thank you... Ikari-kun. Thank you for what you are willing to do for me, thank you for what you are willing to say for me, thank you... for the promise you are willing to make with me--"

When I realized it... the crystal liquid had already fallen on the Walkman... Am I crying?

Why are these tears being shed——?
Rei Ayanami didn't know the answer...but she knew that she had to confess her feelings.

"So, Ikari-kun... if you're really tired, I'm willing to sleep here with you... but, if possible, I still want to eat ramen with Asuka, with Misato-san, and with you... and live together."

"Because—I like Ikari-kun…so—!"

Realizing that her last bit of strength was about to fade... Ayanami Rei pressed the switch on her Walkman.

That was the promise I made to Ikari-kun long ago... the promise of a song. A vow for the future—!
just now…

It was as if I heard the oath of this song, as if I heard the most sincere call of the girl——

The melodious and stirring music seemed to inject vitality...filling the entire world.

Tiga - her eyes and the colorful timer on her chest...

Together they ignited the most dazzling light!
[Like sunlight, breaking through the darkness——!]

(End of this chapter)