BEGIN.


"Rei?" Shinji said, a mix of emotions stirring within him.

Rei responded with an inquisitive tone, her voice seeking confirmation. "Shinji Ikari?" she questioned. With a hopeful smile, Shinji approached her, longing for the warmth of their embrace. However, Rei's next words halted him in his tracks.

"You're the new major, aren't you?" she asked, cutting through his anticipation. Confusion washed over Shinji, his smile fading as he struggled to comprehend the situation.

"Wha-...what?" Shinji stammered, searching for words that eluded him.

Rei interrupted his train of thought, her voice laced with curiosity. "Major Shinji Ikari, correct?" Her question lingered in the air, intensifying Shinji's confusion.

"Rei...you, you don't..." he began, but couldn't find the right words to express his thoughts. He stood in silence, captivated by the enigma standing before him.

Breaking the awkward silence, Rei spoke up, dispelling the tension. "I don't see it," she confessed, her voice filled with uncertainty. Shinji sought clarification, asking, "See what?"

She revealed the source of the confusion, explaining, "Kaworu likes to joke around, says that we look alike, calls me your half-sister or something like that." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "But... I don't see it," she admitted. Leaning closer, she examined him briefly. "Well, maybe a little," she teased with a wink. "And you're with Soryu too, I notice."

A small, polite wave accompanied Asuka's greeting. "Been a while, Ayanami," she acknowledged, adding to the complexities of the moment.

It was at that precise moment that Shinji's realization dawned upon him, unfolding slowly but surely. The person standing before him bore a resemblance to Rei, yet she was fundamentally different from the quiet girl he had known. This Rei exuded a free-spirited nature, radiating cheerfulness and expressiveness in stark contrast to her former self.

"Just like Asuka..." Shinji inadvertently muttered aloud, his words slipping out. Confusion registered on Rei's face as she sought to grasp his meaning.

"Huh?" Rei questioned, her curiosity piqued.

Shinji quickly recovered, attempting to mask his slip of words with a fake cough. Despite his efforts, Asuka keenly perceived the wavering in his voice, sensing his inner turmoil.

Rei's suspicion became evident as she inquired about his knowledge of her name. Shinji struggled to find an excuse, his mind racing for an explanation.

"I..." he faltered, desperately trying to come up with a response.

Asuka stepped in to rescue him, swiftly covering for his momentary lapse. "I told him," she interjected, her voice confident. "We work together," she emphasized, reminding him of his duty.

"Rei's raised eyebrow and shifting gaze indicated her curiosity as she processed the revelation. Shinji and Asuka stood before her, the weight of their new alliance hanging in the air.

"Yes, we're a team now," Asuka confirmed, her voice steady despite the inner turmoil she concealed. "It's only fair that he should know about you."

Rei's pout showed a hint of reluctance before she finally relented. "Welcome to Neo-Nerv, Major Ikari. Let's hope you're as skilled as everyone makes you out to be."

The intercom interrupted their conversation, announcing Rei's summons to the briefing room. She acknowledged the call and began to walk away, offering a polite wave to Shinji. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Shinji. Oh, and I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow!" Her words drifted back to him from a distance.

Shinji and Asuka now found themselves alone, standing outside the hangar near the airfield. The fading sun painted the sky with hues of orange and purple, casting a soft glow across the tarmac. Asuka felt a sense of unease, unsure of how to approach Shinji, while he stared up into the darkening sky, lost in his own thoughts.

"Now would've been a nice time for rain, don't you think?" he jested, relying on comedy for relief.

"I…I don't know," Asuka replied, her uncertainty evident in her voice.

He looked back at her; there was a lot Asuka could've read from his expression, but most of all, he looked tired, like he'd done this before, and he didn't want to it anymore.

"Shinji..." Asuka began, her voice filled with urgency. "Listen to me, please."

He let out a sigh and averted his gaze, taking slow steps in the opposite direction. Undeterred, Asuka followed closely behind him.

"Shinji, I can't stress how much-"

"You need me," he interrupted her. "I know."

"Then stay, please…we can do this together, let me help you."

Shinji remained silent, continuing his solitary walk. Frustration and worry seeped into Asuka's voice as she called out to him. "Shinji! Say something, dammit!"

"Shinji" Asuka said, concern and mild frustration in her voice. "Say something, dammit!"

Still, there was no response. Asuka eventually halted, watching him recede into the distance. "You idiot," she muttered under her breath, unsure whether the words were directed at Shinji or herself.


Shinji wasn't sure how long he'd walked or how far he'd gotten, or where he had been going to begin with, but he eventually found himself in what seemed be a train station. He took a seat at the nearest bench he could find and just waited. In the late evening, the white lamps illuminated the open passages, and he could see nothing but the dark blue tiles and feathering whites left by the lights.

I guess a railway must be connected to this facility, he thought. Nerv…Neo-Nerv... He let out a deep sigh. "What am I doing?" he he murmured aloud "What am I going to do?"

"So, you're our new Major, huh?" Abruptly, a voice pierced the silence, catching Shinji off guard. He raised his gaze and found himself face to face with a boy of average height, sporting purple hair and a slight tan.

"I'm guessing you must be a pilot?" Shinji asked him.

"Yeah, I guess I am," Lee responded. The boy's presence evoked memories of Toji, a mix of tough exterior and underlying kindness.

"Shinji Ikari," Lee said, scoffing at the very sound of his it. "I've heard that name more times than I'd like to today." He approached him slowly, walking to the bench. "You know, Mana couldn't stop talking about you. Shinji this, Ikari that...it was kinda annoying. " As he drew nearer his footsteps became louder. "But you know what got me the most was what she said last…" He finally reached Shinji, and his final step echoed across the station passage. "She said, 'With Shinji Ikari here, things might change for the better…I can feel it, he might actually save us…he's like our hero'."

Shinji remained silent.

"So are you gonna save us hero?…You here to help us, or are we just lab rats to you, Major Ikari?" Lee posed rather rudely.

Shinji let out a deep breath before answering. "My whole life, I've fought for others. I've put my own life on the line for them, even when I didn't want to…it was when I learned to settle matters for myself, to fight for my own happiness that I… that I became truly happy."

"Even at the cost of the happiness of others?" Lee spat out, annoyed.

"No, but…," Shinji replied. "I can't compromise my own happiness, my own joy and livelihood, just to please others, otherwise I'm never truly living. At least this way…at least this way, I can accept whatever comes my way, no matter the consequences."

"Tch, you really piss me off, old man." Musashi was beyond annoyed now, his fists clenched tightly, like he was ready for a fight. Shinji noticed this and shook his head.

"I'm not about to fight a kid," Shinji answered back calmly. "And I don't expect you to understand where I'm coming from… but I do expect you to reason it out for yourself. I have my truth and you have yours, that's all there is to it."

"Yeah," Lee said while turning back. "I'm not gonna agree with you, but I guess I'll have to tell Mana she was wrong." He began to walk away. "Y'know, I actually thought I could get you to stay, at least for Mana's sake, but now…" Lee stopped and turned to face him one last time. "I hope we never meet again, Shinji Ikari." Those were his final words as the wind blew across the station.

"I'm sor-" Shinji started to say, only to stop mid-way. Musashi's footsteps began to fade, and the silence hit him. "What will you do now, Shinji Ikari?" Those words echoed in his head, and for reasons unknown to him, sounded as if they came from Kaworu. This is for the best, he told himself. I'm doing what's right.

Shinji rose from the bench and resumed his solitary journey, navigating through the bustling crowd of workers and civilians with a detached air. The vibrant neon lights and the hum of machinery faded into the background as his mind plunged into its own depths. Amidst the cacophony of sights and sounds, he retreated into a world of contemplation, his inner voice repeating like a mantra.

I'm doing the right thing, this is for the best, I'm doing the right thing, this is for the best...

Passing by without registering the ordinary scenes around him, Shinji pressed forward until he reached the exit. Stepping outside, he found himself in the familiar parking lot where his paths had intersected with others. It was here that he had first encountered Mana, where Asuka had once driven him home, where Kaworu had provided guidance, and where Mari had taken him under her wing. Standing still, he turned his gaze back towards the facility that held so many memories.

A surge of thoughts rushed through his mind, intermingling with the gust of wind that swept through the surroundings.

Asuka is going to tell Kaworu... Asuka is... Kaworu and Mari...

The weight of these interconnected relationships weighed heavily on him, their implications echoing through his being.

With a resolute determination, Shinji recommenced his journey. The wind, now silent, accompanied his steps as he ventured into the unknown, propelled by his conviction and an uncertain yet unwavering belief in his chosen path.


Kaworu found solace on the rooftop, his gaze fixed upon the vast expanse of stars that adorned the night sky. The tranquillity of the moment was interrupted as Mari and Asuka joined him, their presence stirring curiosity within him.

"Hey," Mari began, her voice tinged with a hint of awkwardness. "We've got something to tell you."

Kaworu turned his attention towards them, his demeanour relaxed. "What is it?" he inquired, eager to understand the reason for their peculiar behaviour.

Mari hesitated, emitting an uneasy laugh. Asuka, sensing her struggle, took it upon herself to convey the message. Her annoyance was palpable as she gathered her thoughts.

"You see, he kinda..." Asuka trailed off, finding it difficult to articulate the words that weighed upon her.

Confusion crept into Kaworu's expression. "He what?" he probed, seeking clarification.

"He..." Asuka's voice faltered, her frustration apparent.

Kaworu, sensing the unease, interjected with genuine concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, noting their unusual behaviour.

"Shinji-"

Before Asuka could utter the truth, a sudden interruption startled them. Shinji appeared, holding a canned coffee in his hand, oblivious to the tension that hung in the air.

"Hey Kaworu, I couldn't figure out which drink to get you, so Is canned coffee..." Shinji's words trailed off as he noticed the shocked expressions on Mari and Asuka's faces.

"What?" Shinji asked, perplexed by the tension in the air.

"You... you-" Asuka struggled to find the right words, her frustration and disbelief colliding within her.

"I'll take whatever you intended for yourself," Kaworu graciously accepted the beverage, maintaining his composure. "You can have the canned coffee."

Mari, intrigued by the unfolding dynamics, couldn't help but express her amusement. "This is a surprise," she remarked, observing the group dynamics.

"I just had to take a walk to clear my head," he said, passing them by in order to give Kaworu his drink

"Understood." Kaworu acknowledged, accepting his beverage. "You see Shinji here wanted to know how soon he can begin working... He's very eager."

"Tomorrow," Mari swiftly replied, her gaze darting between Shinji and Kaworu, conveying a hidden understanding.

"Well, there you have it," Kaworu declared, raising his glass in a toast.

Asuka, fuelled by a mix of frustration and affection, approached Shinji slowly, her words laced with both fury and vulnerability.

"Ich schwöre, du wirst den nächsten Tag deines Lebens nicht erleben, du Narr!"

Shinji, aware of the repercussions, braced himself for what was to come.

"Now you've done it," Mari warned, her head shaking slightly as she observed the unfolding drama.

Asuka's fury erupted, the outburst triggering laughter from Kaworu and Mari, while Shinji could only feel the sting of his actions.

"I kind of deserved that," Shinji groaned, mustering the strength to rise from the floor.

"You're damn right, you did," Asuka replied, her frustration tinged with a hint of affection, her voice mirroring the complex nature of their partnership.

Later...

Kaworu skillfully maneuvered the vehicle as he drove alongside Mari, their destination a secluded section deep beneath the facility's surface. In the midst of their journey, Mari broke the silence with a question that piqued Kaworu's interest.

"Hey," she began, her voice laced with curiosity. "Did you know?"

Kaworu maintained his composure, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. The only response he offered was a subtle turn of his face, adorned with his signature gentle smile.

"How could I possibly?" he replied, his tone serene. "But if I had to venture a guess... I'd attribute it to Soryu."

Curiosity tugging at her, Mari pressed further. "Why's that?"

"Call it a hunch," Kaworu mused, his voice carrying a hint of mystery. As their descent took them deeper into the underground labyrinth, the dimly lit tunnel eventually gave way to a spacious opening, revealing a breath-taking sight in the distance.

"Would you look at that," Mari exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mixture of wonder and awe.

"It has begun," Kaworu stated, his own voice filled with a sense of reverence, as they both stood captivated by the sight unfolding before them. The colossal machines loomed in the distance, a testament to the magnitude of the event taking place.


Morning...

It was an easy afternoon, with the sun shining through the trees and the buzzing of cicadas being heard from all around. Mana sat in her homeroom, watching as her mother polished her father's cello. At the time, she'd felt like this short moment of bliss could be lived out for an eternity, but it wasn't until a strange sound echoed across the village that everything changed. Mana's mother put the cello down and ran towards the door...only to never come back. Mana stayed inside for a while, silently playing with her toys. The silence continued for a while and nothing could be heard. Confused, she decided to stand up and call out towards her parents.

"Mom! Dad!" she said walking to the door. "Mommy! Daddy!" She opened the door and…

With a deep exhale Mana woke up in her room, breathing heavily with her vision blurred. She bent over to the side and looked at the time, which was 3:00 in the morning. Her body trembled as she tried to move her hands, and then she felt the sweat-only, the liquids perspiring through her hands had a strange, orange hue. What the hell is going on? Mana wondered.


A few moments earlier...

Shinji continued onwards and saw that his car was in the parking lot. He approached it and saw a letter taped on the door. On opening it, he saw that it was from Asuka.

Hey, had this sent to the best to mechanic I know. Feels like they weren't doing you right when you were sent it, so by the time you read this she should be good as new. Also, welcome to the team. Can't wait to work with you.

Asuka.

"Man," Shinji said, holding back his tears, "I really am an idiot."

END.