"A computer based navigation system race machine…the Cyber Formula. It has taken F1's place as the pinnacle of motorsport in the 21st century. Bringing excitement to people all over the world…"
Monte Carlo, Monaco. July 9th 2031. 01:56 AM.
"Someone once said "What kind of person does a job like this? Rebels, Lunatics, Dreamers, People who are desperate to make a mark and are ready to die trying." In which category could I put myself in? And that's the trick question…fuck."-Shinji Ikari said to himself, pressing backspace on his laptop in frustration. 'Who would've known? Mister 'I don't like to brag about my achievements.' Has a problem writing a book describing his achievements.'-he thought to himself. The 31-year old's attention then turning towards the moon. For the first time in so many years he felt so…powerless, not expected from the six-scratch that. Soon to be seven-time Cyber Formula champion. Dressed in the track suit provided to him by NERV, his racing team and the company that one day he would take over. Even though he believed Rei would do a job better then him. At least she knew when to quit. He relaxed his tense body, allowing the night breeze to fly over his face. The only source of light in the patio other than his laptop on the table being the blue lights of the pool. Since the home he lived in was originally constructed as the Ikari summer residence by grandfather it had all what a rich racing clan like his family needed to relax. The one where he lived since he was six, after his father in all wisdom decided to send him to Europe so that his racing career's progress could be accelerated.
"For crying out loud. Why Is this so hard? It seems driving cars going 800 km is easier for me then making sentences."-He said to himself before feeling a pair of warm hands enveloping him from behind. The person's…assets hugging his back. Shinji's grimace rapidly turning to a smile.
"Are you having trouble with your work dear?"-The voice of the woman he loved asked as her short dark red hair tickled his left cheek. His teammate from their days in Formula 3, his rival and later his support driver. But most importantly for him, his lover and bethrowed wife of two years. Mana Ikari, a Cyber Formula world champion as well. Who looked onto the laptop surprised to what her husband was doing.
"Mana…why aren't you sleeping? It's almost second in the morning."-Shinji said taking a look at his wife, who was only wearing a bathrobe over her nightgown. Her VERY see-though nightgown.
"I could ask the same thing Mister Writer. Writing your own biography? Remind you that you still have a season to finish and two days from now we have to be in Tripoli."-Mana said with a cheeky grin to which Shinji sighed, her enthusiasm still strong even after retiring from racing.
"Well, I'm currently on a major writer's block despite only writing a single sentence. Besides, I have every reason to start working on it."-Shinji said to which Mana only tightened her embrace.
"Who knows? Besides me of course."-She asked closing her eyes, Shinji only caressed her cheek smiling.
"Currently? Only you, Rei, Dad, Doc Naoko and Ritsuko and Misato, Hayato doesnt pick up his phone and Asuka is...well Asuka. I do want to keep it silent to the rest of the team for now, although with your new job I wonder why you didn't spread leaks though the internet already? Seven-time world champion calls it quits after reaching the top again? Sounds like a headline material already."-Shinji cheekily teased to which Mana only booped him in the nose, as if for a second they turned fourteen again.
"I'll wait for that until the Libya GPX when you secure your championship. Then it will be more believable, and accurate. Despite being so tired, you win race after race. Sugo, Aoi, Saver, both NERV Europe and America can't catch up with you. Amazing run for someone who few days ago said to me "is tired driving round and round in circles."."-Mana teased to which Shinji's face covered itself with a slight grimace.
"Easy for you to say, you quit after winning your first championship."-Shinji said to which Mana's smile grew larger.
"Hey, you know why I had done that. I won the championship and that was enough for me, yes Marie was angry that NERV America had to run a number 0 but that's life. I proved everyone who doubted me and it was enough. You on the other hand, already seemed like you want to run yourself to the ground."-Mana teased to which Shinji only could give a tired smile.
"Henceforth why I'm stopping after this season. It's time to actually learn how to run a company, get fat, maybe finally go to college and write my biography. Although as you can perfectly see Miss Ikari. I don't even know how and where to start."-Shinji said tiredly earning a laugh from his wife.
"Silly, it's obvious where to start. Start from the beginning. What you consider the beginning is the tricky question."-She said before giving her husband a kiss on the cheek. Making Shinji freeze before walking back towards the glass door.
"I'm going back to bed. Please don't stay up too late ok? I don't want to go grey from worry in my thirties."-Mana said before walking back into the house leaving her husband alone with his thoughts. 'Beginning huh?'-Shinji thought to himself before taking his laptop and passing through the glass door. Letting out another sigh before turning his attention towards a certain wall in his home.
"Lights."-Shinji commanded, the smart home technology listening before the large modernist household to reveal what just 15 years ago Shinji viewed as his crown achievement. Around a specially built cabinet there resided a NERVJ-13F3 Evo II Mugen powered Formula 3 car painted in turquoise with orange and grey details with sponsoring from the Strasberg corporation in the front wing and the front of the back wing. The colours of the T-RIDEN-T team, his last team before being driving for the family company. Shinji couldn't help but smile seeing his name written on the monocoque in a font that heavily paid homage to the 1970s. 'I'll never stop thanking Auntie Claire for securing me that test.'-he thought before his attention shifted towards the cabinet that contained his entire junior career. Beginning from carts while he was still a five-year old in Japan, to French championship, to European championship. To French Formula Junior Championship, to euro championship and finally his Formula 3 days, his performance allowing him to get his first actual world championship. His eyes then shifted towards his crown achievement sitting in the centre of the cabinet. The trophy from the 2015 Macau Grand Prix. One that he won, and lead the T-RIDEN-T team to a 1-2-3 finish. The car was really outdated by today's standards, lacking a Halo leaving the driver's head exposed. Still Shinji couldn't help to smile at the view. There was a reason that before parting ways with T-RIDEN-T he negotiated to let him keep the car.
"Old-timer, despite you carrying my butt though my junior career. I still can't find the answer, lights."-Shinji commanded making the room turn dark again. Letting out a yawn he then walked through his residence before reaching towards the house's elevator door. He walked inside and pressed the button leading the elevator down. Beforehand this place was used as a second garage. But with Shinji moving to live in Monaco permanently, he decided to reconvert it into a private man cave. The elevator opened allowing Shinji to step out.
"Lights."-He commanded making the pitch black darkness vanish in an instant. Allowing Shinji to see the car that sent him on his journey in a sport he originally never wanted to drive in. The car which prototype had killed his mother a decade before NERV actually entered Cyber Formula. Despite being a 15-year old design the car itself was still eye-catching and its design philosophies much like the 2015 champion car Super Asurada and its younger siblings inspired the look of a modern Cyber Formula car, which wasn't surprising considering both cars were designed by old college friends. Painted in the iconic Neon Green and Dark Purple complementing the carbon fibre body. Streamlined and aerodynamic yet really angular aggressive body shape with a large transforming front wing with a green number two on the left side, meaning it was the first Evo model he used in the 2017 season before totalling it half-way though. What was the car's second most interesting feature was that it utilised an 8-wheel drive, four smaller wheels in the front and four regular wheels in the back. Shinji's eyes travelled further, from the aggressively-designed side pods to the rear. It was quite the shock when the car was first revealed. Lacking a rear wing and instead utilising to rectangular-shaped pylons that were connected to the cooling radiators enveloping the back wheels. Shinji's hand sliding though the carbon fibre, before feeling the polished underneath his hand. It finally landing on what resided in the centre of back. To someone not knowing they would think it was a jet nozzle. Which looked exactly like it. A cylinder like shape that was reaching towards the power unit and being hidden under the bodywork. The Absolute Terror Field Generator. Discovered and utilised by his mother, FICCY's greatest nightmare and what allowed NERV to get to the top so quickly. It being supported by two additional smaller generators in the pylons made in its day easily the most advanced car in the world. The Evangelion 01, the car his mother wanted to build, and the car that helped him reach the top.
"Can't believe it's been 15 years already."-Shinji said to himself caressing the nozzle of the generator.
"Are you in mood for memories Shinji?"-Suddenly a voice spoke up from Shinji's watch.
"Zinc…no. I'm trying to write my own biography, and I don't know where to start from."-Shinji explained to his Cyber Formula partner, his attention then turning towards the cabinet containing Shinji's Cyber Formula trophies from 2016 onwards. With them there were several photos and newspaper clippings from "the good old days.". When he and others like Kazami, Randoll, Shinjyo, Kaga, Soryu, Strasberg and Kirishima were portrayed as modern day gladiators. Now most of them were retired, even someone as prideful as Soryu Asuka von Langley. Now there was only him and a bunch of kids on the track, the cars getting much faster and him getting older.
"Then why are you here?"-Zinc, or actually SynchAI as that was her real name asked. Shinji sighing in defeat.
"I was hoping that coming here would help open some gaps in my head."-Shinji said defeated. Before suddenly the hatch of the car opened much Shinji's surprise, and a near heart attack.
"Well, then maybe getting inside will help you?"-Zinc asked, to which Shinji nodded in agreement. Despite the main AI being transferred to his newest car, she still could interface remotely with the older car's systems due to it still being operational yet lacking any fuel. He snuggled himself into the car, barely fitting inside. 'Damn, this was built for the 16-year old Shinji and not the 31-year old veteran.'-he thought to himself before feeling his head…clear. Shinji closed his eyes, reaching out for the button making the hatch close. His thoughts now being sharpened like when he was a rookie, his ears filled with the sound of the NERV V10, upshift, corner, downshift. His hands gripped the steering wheel and his eyes opened looking at the dormant instruments and buttons. Him remembering the start-up sequence even if he would have lost eyesight. In a blink of an eye all of the instruments lit up, illuminating in Shinji's cobalt eyes. His attention then turning to the ignition button. In a blink of an eye he was back. Brazil 2016, the Campo Grande circuit. Him getting ready for his first practice run.
"Shinji-kun, you're clear to drive. Fire up"-The voice of Misato ringed in his ears as Shinji caressed the ignition button…
Before pressing it.
A/N: Whaaaat!? Another Evangelion crossover!? Well yes, although this is more of an AU rather than a full-fledged crossover. This only serves more as a prologue. Since I wanted to write a story where I could showcase my love for motorsport and show Shinji as a professional driver. With the Highway Star being on a hiatus due to me feeling that I ran myself into a corner with that story. So here I'll get a second shot to do it. Some of you may wonder why this isn't tagged as a crossover? Well the problem is that doesn't have the universal Cyber Formula tag or at least tag for Cyber Formula double one. I'll try to finally post something on AO3 and hope that will work. If that works, then maybe I'll make this story an AO3 exclusive. Regarding the idea itself and how it came to be…it just did. I'm a fan of both franchises. (Hell the wings of Helios on the Barbatos Eden/Incarnate in Gundam Demon Incarnate are supposed to reference Cyber Formula, hell the entire sport MS series is inspired by that series.) If you want to know what I planned, then if you are a fan of Cyber Formula then you would pick up some references and the universes merging. If you never seen it, THEN GO WATCH IT! Seriously it's really good, done by the same guy who later made Gundam SEED. Now regarding the tag, why Manashin? Well two reasons actually, one is that I wanted to write a story about those two, and from what I written in my notes, I hope that the story written between them will be interesting enough for you to keep you occupied. And two, while I understand Asuka is really popular and most stories even AU's are Asushin tagged, here her arc simply doesn't fit a romance pairing, at least not yet. This story won't be a retrospective. In fact, this is set far after the epilogue. This more or less will be a story focused on Shinji, his career as a driver, his family life, his love affair and the relationship first with his teammates and then his Cyber Formula rivals as he gets involved with events starting from the 11th World Grand Prix onwards. But this is my weekend story, one I will update from time to time. And after posting here I'll to post in AO3, so until now take care! And obligatory comment, I don't own either Evangelion or Future GPX Cyber Formula, those belong to Studio Khara and Sunrise.