EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 94 Welcome Home Everyone [Third Update 60008000]

"Eh…?"

Faced with Asuka's resentment, Ayanami Rei was stunned at first.

I wasn't surprised by Asuka's words, but I was shocked by her frank attitude——

So... this child can already express his emotions to me so frankly?

"I said... sneaking off! Forbidden...!! Sorry, Ali... I know... this was just my own willfulness. Logically... no matter what happened between you and that idiot, I shouldn't have stopped you. I should even... cheer you on... But... but... but, I...!"

"I see."

"...!"

Looking at Asuka who was choking with sobs and almost crying... Ayanami Rei once again, just like before in the darkness... gently stroked Asuka's hair with her hand, gently, considerately... like a mother... and let her head rest gently on her chest.

"I understand, Asuka... Don't worry. I'll wait for you, Ikari-kun—I'll definitely wait for you too. So... don't worry, just take your time... slowly, slowly... sort yourself out."

"…………Thanks."

...Asuka has always thought that she is special.

So...it doesn't matter if you're alone...you can complete the task and live on with strength alone.

But - he is not that special... On his own, he cannot defeat a single Angel... In terms of abilities, he cannot be compared with Shinji Ikari.

But... maybe, I am not special... so it doesn't matter?
It doesn’t matter if I can’t survive alone?

Mother…

Mom...can I believe it?
I believe these two idiots can always stay with me...

…If I were allowed to hope once more…

"Hey, you two... where are you going?! You're running too far! Idiots!!"

Shinji Ikari's voice came from afar. He was standing at the door of the apartment, looking at Asuka who was running away in silence... It turned out that he was so excited that he actually pulled Rei Ayanami past the door of his house.

"No! No way! Idiot!! I know, of course I know too much! I wanted to... yes! I have a secret between girls that I want to tell! I don't want you, an idiot, to hear it! That's why I came here on purpose! You don't understand girls' minds...!"

He wiped away some of the crystals on his face and roared back with a tone that he knew was unreasonable.

"Okay, okay! Let's get back home after we finish talking about girls... I'm exhausted today, so I'm going to take a nice bath and sleep."

"Really? How can a gentleman rush a lady? If you're really sleepy, just go inside first!"

Despite saying so, Asuka still returned obediently with Rei Ayanami.

"That won't do—"

Shinji Ikari suddenly stopped teasing and answered righteously.

"How could I possibly go in alone? We already agreed that we must go back together! No one can be left behind!"

“…What an idiot!”

"Yeah...I understand, Ikari-kun."

Even though their reactions were different, both girls felt the determination contained in Shinji Ikari's words... A great sense of security and happiness instantly enveloped and nourished the souls of the two girls.

When the three of them gathered, they all grabbed the door handle of the apartment.

"I'm back…!!"

——It’s amazing.

It's clearly... just a plain, unremarkable house... but - the moment you step into the entrance... it brings immense comfort and relaxation to this tired and bloated body...

“Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!!!”

Before I even turned on the light in the entrance hall, a hoarse and rapid howl came from far away.

Along with that voice, the big sister, Misato Katsuragi, appeared, holding a hot spring penguin in her arms.

"Ms. Misato..." The lights in the room were not on, and Misato Katsuragi had not changed her clothes... She was still wearing that cool and beautiful red jacket, paired with a black turtleneck leather jacket.

Moreover... she didn't even take off the red beret on her head, and her face was full of fatigue and hard work... It was obvious at a glance that Shinji Ikari's arrangement of asking her to fight for the right to speak... put a huge pressure on her.

After returning home from the base, he collapsed directly on the sofa - he didn't go to sleep... but waited for the others to return.

"Shinji-kun."

It was not until this moment that the weariness on Misato Katsuragi's face slowly dissipated...and her originally dull expression turned into a warm smile.

"Ms. Misato, I..."

Shinji Ikari was about to say something when Misato Katsuragi stopped him with her hand and walked towards the three people.

Her kind eyes swept over the faces of the three people one by one, confirming over and over again that they were all standing before her in good health and without any abnormality. Then, Misato Katsuragi suddenly spread her wide arms.

“Wow!” “Huh?” “…”

He directly and reluctantly took Shinji Ikari, Asuka and Ayanami Rei into his arms at the same time.

"...Everyone, welcome home."

"Ah... I'm back." "I'm back, Miss Misato." "I'm back."

"Quack quack quack!!"

With a hoarse cry of panpan, the hot spring penguin jumped up in dissatisfaction and landed steadily on Shinji Ikari's head.

For a moment... the four people and the bird could truly feel each other's breath... and each other's body temperature...

Even if we are immersed in darkness, even if there is no hot food... just feeling each other's presence can comfort our hearts.

This is what humans look like, this is what the human mind should be like...

Perhaps, you can't tell from the outside... but Shinji Ikari feels very happy now.

——Very happy.

Therefore, he once again clearly understood... the meaning of his return from Tiga was to protect... this moment before him.

........................

…………

...

"Dr. Akagi! The excavation is complete!!"

At the same time, NERV Matsushiro Second Branch.

Due to the lack of heavy equipment, it had to be deployed from a distant construction site, and the excavation and cleaning of the collapsed command platform lasted until late at night.

And Ritsuko Akagi...spent the entire day without eating or drinking, personally sitting at the front line and directing the rescue and relief work.

"...How's it going?! Did you find it?!"

Akagi Ritsuko found her voice trembling uncontrollably... She couldn't understand what she was feeling at that moment... What if, from beneath the rubble, she really did dig up Ikari Gendō's bloody corpse... what would the meaning of her existence be?

"Dr. Akagi, there's no sign of the Commander. Only...his cell phone."

"Telephone…?"

When she heard that Ikari Gendō was not crushed to death, Akagi Ritsuko breathed a sigh of relief. But——

"Om-!!"

As if everything had been prepared...the moment the engineering staff handed the phone to Ritsuko Akagi, the phone rang.

Ritsuko Akagi took the call solemnly, hesitated for a long time... and pressed the answer button.

"…Hey…Commander Ikari?!?!"

(End of this chapter)