Author's note

Hey people……..I'm back. Sorry if I've been gone for so long. This new chapter is about a character in the series which was given only little importance. I don't mean to offend anyone in saying so. I hope that you like this…….

NGE Retold

Chapter 4: Hikari's Decision

"Thank you sir! Please come again." The man tightened his grip on his coat as the wind blew lightly at him. It felt nice to feel the soft breeze in your face after a good supper.

"Hikari come inside quickly. We have a lot of costumers tonight," Hikari's mother said and without another word, she turned about and reentered the small restaurant. 'This isn't going to be easy,' Hikari thought as she slowly walked in the crowded restaurant.

Some minutes later, Hikari was in her apron handing out ordered meals and drinks here and there. His father, the chef is at the kitchen as usual preparing the dishes. Again, she had said 'arigato' for the a hundredth time bowing her head politely as another one of their faithful costumers left satisfied and happy as shown by the large take-out bag she was carrying home.

'Probably to her family,' Hikari thought with a smile. For years she has been working in their family business when she is not studying. Though she wanted to be in the kitchen cooking, her parents thought that she is more needed outside serving. And serving she did. And by doing so, she met many people, most of which are hard-working and breadwinners of their own family.

"Our breadwinner will be Hikari very soon," Her mother had once said aloud to one of their friend and costumer while his father nodded with pure conviction. Hikari was shy and somewhat embarrassed about that as she realized that they are expecting much from her. This gave her both joy and sadness.

They were never rich. Yet, she has never suffered hunger or thirst during her whole life. "As long as you can eat three decent meals a day and drink enough water to ease your thirst, there is nothing more you should ask for," Hikari remembered her dad saying this to her when she asked for an expensive doll. Hikari didn't really understand what her father said but she kept it in her head until now. Now that she can understand what it really meant. Though his father said these words to her, Hikari found a package four days later containing the doll.

'Why do I remember these things?' Hikari has snapped out of her trance and found herself staring blankly at the door where the costumer has passed through some time ago.

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"Angel attacks…… Do these 'angels' really exsist?" Hikari heard her father's voice said from the room of her parents with its door left ajar open.

"I don't know dear. I've never seen such beings," her mother answered slightly frowning as she gave another neat stitch to the blanket that she was mending.

"Surely, if these things are really putting our lives in danger like what they say, the government would keep this information discreet…… You know, to keep the people from panicking," he said closing the broadsheet that he was reading. "And all those funds and man power they're spending for NERV…. Honestly, if they want to continue with what they are doing they got to tell us what's going on," he added.

"More explaining…. That's what we need. But what we need more right now is money. Our daughter is slowly finishing high school and before we know it, she'll be in college." Hikari's mom was folding the mended blanket.

"Mom? Dad?" Hikari called out her head at the door of her parents' bedroom. They were a bit startled but smiled pleasantly al the same.

"Yes dear?" Hikari slowly entered the door.

"This morning at school, a woman came. She was from NERV," Hikari said staring at them both.

"What did she want?" Her father asked staring intently at his daughter.

"Well……she is the head of the Marduk Institute. She said I can become an Eva pilot if I like along with some other classmates."

Silence. Hikari's parents turned to look at each other, worried. Yes. Hikari could see their faces becoming tense his father's hand curling into a fist. The room fell silent for several minutes.

"So? What do you say?" Hikari said finally unable to control herself.

Her parents rose from their seats. Her mother clung to her father's arms as he went towards them. He had put his other arm to her to give comfort. "What do you say?" He said.

"Me?" Hikari was smiling, something she always does when she doesn't feel like smiling at all.

Her father gestured for her to come near and sit with them on the bed. Hikari came and sat down before her father spoke again. "Yes you Hikari. I think your mom will agree with me if I say that before we make any decisions, we must know what you think….what you say."

There was silence again. It took a long while before Hikari answered. "I don't really know," she said truthfully. She considered the situation carefully before starting again. "Misato told us a lot of things about how great the danger the human race is facing. She was very kind; Misato and she did not make it sound like it's our obligation or anything to save the people from these attacks. But I can't help but think that it is. But I can't also help but feel afraid….. for myself," Hikari said her eyes almost in tears.

Hikari's mother took her daughter in her arms. Hikari felt very comforted at that moment with her mom patting her back and his dad just being near. What did she want?

Hikari doesn't live in a palace and doesn't own much expensive things, in fact her most priced possession is a scientific calculator which her parents had bought for her because of necessity in school. She doesn't have much but she does have everything her heart could ever want.

Is she willing to leave all this to become an Eva pilot? To become someone whom she doesn't know? The possibility of dying is too great. Is she ready to die? All these thoughts circled Hikari's mind like a cyclone. She was still lost in thought when her mother suddenly spoke.

"This decision is too big for you. Don't feel like the world is your responsibility. You can say 'no' to all these. You don't have to be a pilot if you don't want to."

Hikari stared at her mother then at his father. They care about her, much.

"Your mother is right you know," he added.

Silence again. Why do this hard decision have to come now?

"Hmmm…Why don't you just try to be a pilot? Just for some time. See if it is what you want," Hikari's father finally said.

It is around 12:00 in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Horaki are already in deep slumber but their child is not. In her room, Hikari sat on her bed while holding a certain doll. She smiled, put the doll beside her on her bed and turned the lamp off.

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No, I didn't die. Sorry for the late update.

To those great people who gave their reviews:

To entropic angel – Thanks for the review. I really don't hate Asuka because I like all the characters of NGE. They're all great

To Blue-Eyes White Knight-BEWK – Thanks a lot! I hope I would be able to find time to read that fanfic too.

To Ieatfeet – Thank you.