Chapter 2: A Transfer.
The lights were dim, with the soft glow of the setting sun gently illuminating the surroundings as Shinji found himself immersed in a dream world.
The bus sat empty, its silence broken only by the distant hum of the rails grinding against the tracks.
A voice called out, faint but clear.
"Rei... Ikari."
"Shinji if it's a boy... Rei if it's a girl..."
"Shinji... Ayanami."
"No."
"Rei. Ayanami."
Suddenly, a figure appeared down the hall,
a girl with light blue hair and red eyes. Her ominous presence seemed to darken the space, casting shadows over the warm glow inside the bus.
The lights flickered rapidly, briefly plunging the bus into darkness before snapping back on.
As the sudden light flared, Rei's face materialized, her eyes wide and bulging, a twisted grin spreading across her features as the dream began to slip away into the abyss..
Shinji jolted upright, drenched in a cold sweat.
Panting heavily, he glanced out the window, where the curtains fluttered in the breeze. The faint blue light from the window washed over the room.
"Just... a dream..." he thought, staring down at his arm as he slowly got up from his bed.
Shinji walked down the hospital halls, dressed in a hospital gown, the bright lights harsh against his skin. He glanced out the window, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a nurse pushed a stretcher past him, a bandaged girl lying on it. Her arm was in a cast, and a thick bandages covered one of her eyes.
Shinji's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the familiar face, a young blue haired girl, bandaged and wearing a hospital gown.
She was the same person he had briefly encountered at NERV HQ, the same one from his dream.
"That's the... girl..." he whispered, his breath catching. The girl met his gaze, her expression unreadable, and they remained silent, locked in an intense, wordless moment.
.
.
In the dim, silence of the room, six shadowy figures sat in a tight circle, their outlines barely distinguishable in the low light.
The air was thick with tension, with the faint hum of the fluorescent lights.
At the center of it all, Ikari sat like a stone, his face unreadable, betraying no hint of emotion.
"The acquisition of the Third Child, and the awakening of EVA Unit 1," a voice broke the silence, low and sharp, cutting through the heavy air.
"Remarkable," another voice chimed in, laced with disbelief. "How long it took to find a suitable vessel... After scouting countless children, none have come close."
A third voice sneered, dripping with contempt. "Most are nothing but talentless fools, dreaming of Eva like it's some salvation. It's infuriating to find one worth our time."
"And we're falling behind other branches," the second voice added, its urgency clear. "We need to catch up—before we're eradicated."
A fourth figure leaned forward, his voice icy and menacing. "Any angel remnants? We can't let them fall into the wrong hands."
"We've deployed a cleanup crew," the second voice answered, its tone cold yet unwavering. "They're working around the clock to erase every trace."
The first figure's gaze shifted to Ikari, piercing through the thick atmosphere. "And the intel, Ikari? How are we progressing?"
Ikari's chuckle, soft but unsettling, echoed in the room. "No need for concern," he said, his voice smooth and almost mocking.
With deliberate slowness, his fingers adjusted the red-tinted glasses perched on his nose, his smile widening, dark and filled with promise.
"I'm already devising a plan to eliminate any competition." The words lingered in the air, thick with malice.
"You'd better not disappoint, Ikari," the first voice warned, the command unmistakable. "Your task is to unlock the full potential of the EVA."
"Defeating the angels is just a small part of our goal…"
A second voice, calm yet weighted with significance, spoke up.
"There's something else on the horizon." The final words lingered, filling the air with an ominous presence.
.
.
As Ritsuko drove along the city roadway, Misato chatted with her about the recent events. Misato sighed contentedly, saying, "Ah, nothing beats a cold drink on a scorching Saturday afternoon!"
Misato exclaimed, taking a sip of her cold soda as she relaxed in the passenger seat of the car. Ritsuko sat beside her, one hand on the wheel and the other holding a phone.
"Thank you, bye," Ritsuko said, hanging up and setting the phone down. "Hey, Ritsuko, any updates on Shinji?" Misato asked, her posture suddenly tense.
"Yes... he's regained consciousness," Ritsuko replied calmly.
"Woo, what a relief..." Misato sighed, leaning back in her seat in a moment of relief.
But then, she snapped forward, her eyes wide with concern. "His condition? Was there any risk of psychological contamination?"
Ritsuko kept her focus on the road, her voice steady. "His cranial nerves were damaged. Physically, he's fine, though."
"No wonder... we really pushed him to the limit," Misato muttered, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
"The physical damage makes sense. In the transformed state, it doesn't carry over to the human form. But what about his brain... does he have brain damage?"
Ritsuko glanced at her, offering a warm smile. "Don't overthink it too much, alright?"
Misato gazed out the window, lost in thought. "I hope I didn't push him too hard... He's just a kid, after all." Her expression softened as the car continued on its way to an
unknown destination.
.
.
Shinji sat alone in the hospital waiting room, dressed in the same clothes he had worn before the incident.
Misato approached him, gently guiding him out of the room and toward the elevator.
As the doors opened, his father, Ikari, suddenly appeared, making Shinji jump slightly at his presence.
Shinji quickly lowered his head, sweat beading on his forehead as he felt his father's gaze fix on him.
The room fell silent, the only sound the steady rhythm of Ikari's footsteps as he walked away without a word.
Misato waited until Ikari was out of sight before speaking.
"He didn't even say a damn word! Sheesh!" she muttered, glancing at Shinji, whose eyes remained fixed on the floor.
She knelt down to meet his gaze. "Hey... are you alright? Don't worry about your father, okay?"
Misato's grin returned, her voice bright. "Didn't you hear? Nerv's giving you your own private quarters, a whole space to yourself!"
She leaned in, trying to lift his spirits. Shinji looked up briefly but avoided her gaze.
"Yeah... it's alright," he mumbled. Misato's smile faltered, her worry creeping in.
"Or, do you want to be..."
"...with a guardian?" she asked gently.
Shinji shook his head. "Nah. My father wouldn't want me, no one would. I'd rather be alone," he whispered, his voice quivering slightly as tears welled in his eyes.
He began walking away, his steps slow and heavy.
"Shinji..." Misato called softly, but he didn't turn.
"Y'know... maybe your dad's just acting tough..."
"Maybe he just wants the best for you," she offered with a grin.
"He's probably just putting on that tough exterior to keep you on the right path, y'know?"
"It'll be alright," she added, giving his shoulder a pat.
"Just leave me alone!" Shinji snapped, swatting her hand away. "You wouldn't understand any of it!"
Misato was taken aback. "I-I mean, if there's something you want to say..." she started, but Shinji interrupted, his frustration boiling over.
"It's none of your business!" he grumbled, his shoulders rising in defense.
"Fine," she muttered, her voice laced with hurt. She glanced back at Shinji one last time.
"You know what? You can handle this on your own," she snapped, before turning and walking away.
Shinji stood frozen, his anger gradually giving way to guilt as he slowly walked toward the window.
"Stupid..." he muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing as he stared out, lost in thought.
With a heavy sigh, he sank into a seat in the waiting room, his gaze drifting upward. His expression softened, regret washing over him as he whispered,
.
"I'm so stupid..."
.
Misato paced while on the phone, her voice tinged with frustration.
"The kid's lost, y'know! How does he expect to handle everything on his own?" she said, exasperated.
"I understand, but what are you planning to do? His father clearly wants nothing to do with him," Ritsuko replied, concern in her tone.
Misato chuckled, but it quickly faded into determination. "I'll let him stay with me, of course. And don't worry, I won't do anything weird with him."
"What?!" Ritsuko's voice thundered through the phone, causing Misato to recoil slightly from the force of it. "Don't even say things like that, Misato!"
"Geez, Ritsuko, learn to take a joke," Misato sighed, her eyes narrowed and her shoulders slumping.
Meanwhile, Shinji peeked around the corner, observing the conversation, his eyes darting back and forth to ensure he wasn't seen.
"She's on the phone..." Shinji thought, quickly ducking behind the corner.
Ritsuko's muffled voice broke through. "Anywho, I'll inform headquarters about your living arrangements."
"Alright, see you," Misato replied, ending the call and quickly hanging up.
As Misato turned the corner, she caught sight of Shinji's brown hair peeking out from behind the wall. The moment she looked directly at him, he vanished from view.
"Heh! look who decided to show up...!" she whispered with a grin, walking toward him with a light giggle.
Shinji's heart raced as he tried to dissapear, but he misjudged his movement and bumped right into Misato, sending him stumbling backward.
"You're coming with me!" Misato smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she took Shinji away with her.
.
.
The freshly repaired car hummed steadily down the highway. Misato was driving with carefree energy in her movements.
Meanwhile, Shinji sat in the passenger seat, his arms crossed tightly, and his face scrunched in annoyance as he looked through the car window.
"Why'd you bring me along... I said I wanted to be alone," Shinji muttered, his voice tinged with irritation.
Misato glanced at him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Then why'd you follow me to the booth? Geez, you're strange!" she laughed, noticing the way his cheeks flushed.
"I-I was just—"
She cut him off with a lighthearted tease, her tone infectious. "You didn't wanna leave me! Admit it!"
Shinji's face reddened, and he let out a grumble, unable to find words to protest.
Misato grinned, tapping his shoulder lightly. "Don't worry! I've got chips at my house! We can have a party!"
"Like hell I'd be roommates with you..." Shinji shot back, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Thought you said I needed a guardian!" His gaze locked with hers, irritation clear in his eyes.
"I am your guardian!" Misato said brightly, but the playful sparkle in her eyes was met with a skeptical, condescending stare from Shinji.
He raised an eyebrow and shook his head, a quiet "Nah" slipping from his lips.
The car fell into an awkward silence, the hum of the engine filling the void as Misato steered the car around a bend.
Misato let out a heavy sigh, her breath breaking the silence as she spoke again. "You can't keep going on like this forever... you're going to have to get used to it."
Her grip on the wheel tightened, a fleeting thought crossing her mind.
"Maybe a little detour will help cheer you up..." she murmured, and with a sharp turn of the wheel, the car veered off course, heading toward a balcony that overlooked the city.
The view stretched before them, a desolate, sprawling city bathed in the warm glow of the horizon, the skyline shimmering faintly beneath the golden light.
Shinji's breath caught in his throat. "It's so empty..." he muttered.
Misato glanced at her watch, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "It's time," she said, her voice firm but gentle.
Before Shinji could process her words, the car jolted as massive, damaged barriers around the buildings slowly began to lift, creaking and groaning.
Through the now clear windows, a completely different scene emerged...
Normal, inhabited buildings stretched in every direction, as loudspeakers suddenly blared throughout the city.
"Curfew over! It is now safe to go outside! We repeat, Curfew over!"
Misato looked over at Shinji, a proud smile on her face. "This fortress was built to protect the city.
For some reason, this area is most vulnerable, so strict measures were put in place to deal with the angel attacks at night."
Shinji's eyes widened in awe as he took in the view. The glow of the city beneath the setting sun cast a warm light across his face, his grey eyes sparkling with wonder.
Misato turned toward him, her voice soft but steady. "Isn't that amazing? This is our home."
Shinji barely registered the words, his attention locked on the city's bustling life as it unfolded before him.
The weight of it all slowly dawned on him, and he glanced at Misato with a quiet, almost vulnerable expression.
"This is what it means to be a hero, Shinji." she added, her hand gently resting on his shoulder.
Shinji's heart seemed to stop. "I... was a hero?" he muttered, his voice small and uncertain.
Misato's gaze softened, and she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Yeah..."
"Your power saved these people. Don't ever forget that."
Tears welled in Shinji's eyes as he absorbed her words.
He quickly turned away from her, trying to hide the tears that began to stream down his face, hastily wiping them away.
"You did well,"
Misato said quietly, her voice steady despite the crack of emotion behind it.
Shinji's shoulders trembled, his face still turned from her. He swallowed hard, his heart aching with a strange sense of accomplishment that he couldn't fully comprehend.
.
.
.
As they stood outside Misato's condo, surrounded by the quiet shadows of the evening, Misato broke the silence with a cheerful voice.
"Looks like your stuff's here already! Perfect timing!" She clapped her hands together with a grin, glancing at the boxes filled with Shinji's belongings.
Turning to Shinji, who held bags of snacks with a wary expression, she added,
"Make yourself at home! I just moved in too! Takes a while to settle in!" With an inviting smile, she unlocked the door, holding it open for him to step inside.
Shinji hesitated, then slowly followed her in. "This is home... huh?" he thought, rounding a corner into the living room.
The scene that greeted him was a chaotic blend of empty cans, snack bags, bottles, crumpled napkins, and garbage bags.
The clutter sprawled across every available surface, making the space feel cramped and almost suffocating.
"H-Hey... what's with this mess?" he muttered, disappointment heavy in his voice as he took in the disarray.
"Huh?" Misato glanced back with a shrug. "Oh, sorry about that! Just cleaned up yesterday."
She rubbed her head sheepishly and headed into her room, leaving Shinji staring after her, an eyebrow raised.
"What'd it look like before yesterday?" he shuddered at the thought, a chill running down his spine. "Gross... she's such a kid..."
"Hey! Where do I put these snacks?" he called out to Misato who lay in her bedroom.
"Just make it fit!" she replied from the other room.
With a sigh, Shinji opened the fridge door, only to be hit by an avalanche of snack bags and beer cans tumbling out in a chaotic heap.
"Gah!" He flinched, grimacing as he looked down at the mess.
"Chips and beer... how is she even alive?" he muttered, setting the scattered items back on the counter with a look of resignation.
He managed to push the bags in, cramming the food without moving the existing clutter. He shut the door, only to notice a larger fridge nearby.
"Maybe this one's got actual food..." he thought as he tugged it open.
Suddenly, with a loud squawk, a penguin leapt out, flailing and kicking Shinji squarely in the nose as he staggered back in shock, falling onto the floor in fear.
"GAHH!"
"Misato, why's there a penguin in the fridge?!"
Shinji groaned, clutching his nose, immediately startled with wide eyes as a penguin waddled after him. Moments later, Misato strolled in, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Geez, what's with all the commotion?" She blinked, taking in the sight before her with amusement.
The penguin was now waddling after Shinji, who had clambered onto a desk to avoid it, eyes wide with bewildered panic.
"Hahaha! Looks like you and Pen-Pen are hitting it off!" Misato laughed.
"Pen... Pen?" Shinji stared at the penguin, whose beady gaze was fixed on him, sending a shiver down his spine as it squawked, making him flinch.
"This thing's your pet or something? I've never seen a penguin like that!"
he muttered with a mixture of horror and disbelief, watching the bird waddle off nonchalantly, closing the door behind it in a shockingly natural movement.
"What the hell..." Shinji thought as he hopped off the table.
Misato leaned toward him, eyes sparkling with pride. Shinji instinctively recoiled, his face scrunched in discomfort.
"Yup! Isn't he cute? He's a hot springs penguin! Pretty rare these days!"
"Yeah... real cute, alright…" Shinji muttered, an annoyed expression crossing his face as his gaze dropped to the floor.
The two began to enjoy a peaceful meal as they sat together at the dinner table.
"Let's eat!" Misato announced, popping open a can of beer as she plopped onto the table. She set down a can of juice in front of Shinji, along with a bag of chips.
"When you said we were having dinner, I didn't think this is what you meant..." Shinji started, glancing doubtfully at the chips.
Misato waved a finger at him, smirking. "Hey mister! no being picky! If you want a real dinner, you'll have to make it yourself!"
With a chuckle, she tossed a chip into her mouth and reached over to tousle his hair, causing Shinji to duck reflexively.
"Just kidding..." she added with a grin. "We'll cook something tomorrow. Tonight, just make yourself comfortable!"
Shinji looked up, a flicker of surprise lighting up his face. "Seriously?"
"Yeah! Wash up, get comfy, and loosen up a little, alright? Can't stay so uptight forever!" She took another long sip of her beer, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. "Ahhh..."
Shinji rolled his eyes, muttering, "Yeah... whatever that's supposed to mean..."
His gaze drifted to the window, where the dark, quiet night contrasted against the soft fluorescent glow filling the room.
There was an oddly comforting ambiance, a stillness that settled in his chest as the quiet sounds of the night filtered in.
"Maybe... I could get used to this," he thought, a small, reluctant smile tugging at his lips.
.
In the quiet of the building, Ikari stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkened sky outside.
The room was silent as Ritsuko approached him, her steps soft against the floor.
"How was Rei?" she asked, her voice gentle yet probing. "You visited her this afternoon, didn't you?"
At the mention of Rei, Ikari hesitated, his expression faltering briefly. "Getting Unit 0's sync rates in check is more important," he replied, his voice faintly trembling.
"These children are being pushed far too hard…" Ritsuko murmured, her brow furrowing in quiet concern.
"It's necessary. They're the only ones capable of becoming EVAs." Ikari's tone hardened as he turned to her, his expression firm.
"As long as they're alive… this is what they're meant to do."
Elsewhere, Misato sat alone in her bath, the warmth of the water rising around her as she reflected on the events of the day before.
"He's already been through so much… I don't know if he can do it again," she whispered, her voice soft with worry.
The steam drifted around her, clouding her view as she leaned forward, a deep frown creasing her face.
"How can I face him…" She took a shuddering breath, lowering her head into her hands. "...and ask him to go into combat again?"
Her thoughts turned heavy as she let out a sigh, her frown deepening. "it's inevitable..."
Lifting her head, Misato stared up at the ceiling, her gaze unfocused.
"I've worked so hard toward this, toward defeating the angels.. I should feel relieved. Happy, even."
But a weight sat heavy on her chest. "Stop thinking about it," she muttered, shaking her head as if to cast away her feelings.
She pressed her fist against her cheek, as if the gesture alone could still her thoughts.
"Don't get attached. Don't think about it... this is your duty!" She lifted her gaze to the ceiling, her expression hardening with determination.
.
.
The teacher droned on in front of the class. "The Second Impact... that massive meteor strike in Antarctica. It obliterated the continent's ice and caused sea levels to rise dramatically."
"Afterward, the world was ravaged by droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions... and a cascade of other natural disasters."
He glanced around the room, but most students were only half-listening, Shinji among them.
The cool breeze drifted in from the open windows, ruffling papers and brushing against his face.
Shinji absently tapped his mechanical pencil's eraser on the desk, letting the lead pop out while his other hand supported his chin.
"Hey, did you hear?" a brown haired girl near him whispered, stealing a glance his way. "The kid who transferred yesterday? He got into Nerv, he can transform into an EVA!"
"Seriously?" her blonde haired friend gasped, not quite keeping her voice low enough. The teacher's glare silenced her, and the two girls looked down, faces flushed.
Behind them, a dirty blonde haired boy chuckled under his breath, adjusting his glasses with an amused smirk. "You two are way too loud…" he muttered.
"Shut up, Kensuke!" they hissed back in unison, shooting him irritated looks before turning back to their hushed gossip.
"Anyway," the teacher continued, casting one last stern glance at the group, "we've come a long way. In just 15 years, technology has advanced dramatically…"
But his voice faded into the background for Shinji. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure by the window, the girl with short blue hair, wrapped in bandages.
Her gaze was unfocused, her expression tinged with a faint frustration.
Shinji's breath hitched, and a soft blush spread across his cheeks as he quickly averted his eyes back to the front.
.
.
"Gwaaah! So the rumors are true!" The blonde-haired girl squealed, her face lighting up as she leaned toward him.
The teacher had just left, and now the entire class was zeroed in on him.
"Y-Yeah..." Shinji muttered, sinking into his seat as a trickle of sweat rolled down his neck. "You got me..."
"Can you guys... move...?" Shinji whispered, but was swiftly interjected.
"That's so cool!" her brown-haired friend chimed in, her excitement adding to the buzz of murmurs and whispers surrounding him.
"Hey, dude! What was it like, transforming into that insane monster?" A boy perched himself on the edge of Shinji's desk, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Um.. well.." Shinji started, but another student quickly cut him off.
"Did it hurt? The orb, I mean?" a girl asked, her head tilted as she studied him.
"Were you scared?" Another girl appeared on his other side, her gaze intent as Shinji leaned back, forcing an uneasy smile. "Y-Yeah..."
"Do you have any special moves?" A boy clasped his hands together, mimicking the pose of firing a beam. "Like this?"
"Erm..." Shinji mumbled, his voice barely audible.
"Can they just... leave me alone?" he thought, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as his eyes darted around in search of an escape.
His gaze landed on a boy in a purple jumpsuit sitting a few rows back.
He looked older than the others, his short brown hair framing a tense, focused expression.
The boy's gaze was sharp, his hands clenched into fists as he watched Shinji with an unblinking glare. Shinji quickly looked away, feeling the intensity of that stare.
"That guy looks like trouble..." Shinji thought, burying his head in his arms with a groan.
"Maybe we should, like, give him some space?" a boy suggested, speaking up.
Kensuke, seated next to him, raised an eyebrow as he noticed the older boy's fixed stare. "Toji… you alright?"
Toji's voice was a low, angry mutter. "I'm gonna mess that kid up… acting so casual after the damage he did…"
"Hey!" The sudden slap of a hand on Shinji's desk jolted him, and he looked up to see a girl with pigtails glaring down at him, her voice firm.
"We want to know… what was that creature?"
"Uh… I'm not sure," Shinji stammered, rubbing his head as he recalled an earlier conversation with Misato.
"f I remember right, they're called Angels?" He shrugged uncertainly.
"HEY!" Toji's voice boomed across the classroom as he stomped over, fists clenched and eyes locked on Shinji. The pigtailed girl, Hikari, stood by with a worried expression.
"Move, Hikari. I'm teaching this kid a lesson!"
"Toji, wait—!" Hikari tried to hold him back, but Toji's voice drowned her out as he towered over Shinji's nervous expression.
"Step outside. NOW."
.
.
The empty courtyard echoed with Toji's footsteps as he circled Shinji, his face dark with anger. Kensuke lingered behind a corner, watching with bated breath.
"He's really going to mess up the new kid…" he thought, nervously keeping his distance.
Toji's voice cut through the quiet, laced with rage. "Do you know what you did? Thanks to you, my little sister's in the hospital!"
His glare bore down on Shinji, who stood silent, eyes downcast.
"I... I didn't mean to..." Shinji murmured, barely lifting his gaze.
Toji grabbed a fistful of Shinji's shirt, pulling him closer. "Say it louder, punk! Everybody's all over ya, and you seem to get the wrong idea! You think you're all that, huh?"
Toji's fist raised, clenched and trembling with restrained fury. "This'll teach you!"
Shinji winced, bracing for the hit, but Kensuke sprang forward, gripping Toji's arm. "T-Toji, stop it, man! That's enough!" he urged, his voice a frantic plea.
"Let go of me! That punk deserves it!" Toji shouted, veins bulging as he fought against Kensuke's grip. Shinji looked up, a calm defiance settling in his eyes.
"For what?" Shinji's voice was low but steady. "For doing my job? You think I chose this?"
Before he could finish, Toji's fist met his face, sending Shinji sprawling onto the cold ground.
He lay there, hand pressed to his cheek, expression blank as Toji stormed off. Kensuke cast a final worried glance back at Shinji, hesitating before hurrying after Toji.
As Shinji sat up slowly, Misato's words echoed in his mind. "Your power saved these people. Don't ever forget that." He clenched his fists, a frown shadowing his face.
"But my power… hurt people, too…"
.
.
At Nerv HQ, the team in the surveillance room observed Shinji's training with a meticulous eye as he faced a simulated course designed to push his limits.
In his monstrous form, Shinji stood eerily still, his gaze fixed ahead, waiting for instruction.
Misato's voice broke through the silence, echoing over the speakers. "Ready for more training, Shinji?"
Shinji's voice, now distorted and chilling, answered without hesitation. "Yes…"
"Focus on targeting the angel cores, Shinji," Ritsuko reminded, her tone sharp.
"Understood," Shinji replied flatly. "We'll work on absorbing the artificial energy blasts, mimicking the angels' attacks."
With a slow, deliberate movement, Shinji raised his hand.
Energy surged around his arm, crackling with an intense green glow as a hologram of the Angel that had nearly killed him days before stood before him.
VSHHH!
A ball of green energy swirled around his hand, casting a sickly light over his monstrous form.
Ritsuko's eyes widened, and she shot up from her chair. "What? Impossible! He's generating energy already...! he wasn't close to this level yesterday!"
"Die…" Shinji muttered as he fired the beam, aiming straight for the angel's core.
The simulated angel dodged, but Shinji leaped into the air, unleashing another blast that caught it mid move.
The holographic angel flickered under the assault as the team stared in shock.
"His progress is… unreal," an operator whispered, eyes fixed on Shinji as he obliterated the hologram with a final, decisive blast. "What's motivating him?" The operator asked.
Ritsuko watched with a calculating gaze, a shadow of pity flashing in her eyes.
"Maybe this is all he feels he has left. If he ran away, he'd lose everything he's built... even that fragile connection with his father."
"It just might be," Misato replied, her expression turning solemn. "It's been a week, and his uncle's family still hasn't reached out…"
"I wonder… why haven't they?" Ritsuko murmured, closing her eyes in thought as Misato's gaze drifted to Shinji's monstrous, motionless form.
"Shinji…" she thought, her eyes softening with empathy.
.
.
As the school day began, Shinji lay sprawled on the courtyard ground where Toji had left him, his headphones in, eyes fixed on the sky above.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed the soft crunch of footsteps approaching until a shadow crossed his view.
The girl wrapped in bandages, the blue-haired one from earlier, was standing over him.
"Hey," she muttered.
Engrossed in his music, Shinji didn't respond.
"Hey," she repeated, this time stomping her foot against the ground to grab his attention.
Startled, Shinji quickly lifted his head, pulling an earbud from his ear. "Huh?"
A flicker of recognition hit him. "Wait… aren't you the girl from my—uh, I mean..." he trailed off, blushing slightly as her unreadable gaze held his.
Shinji's mind flashed back to the haunting memory of cradling her, her blood on his hands. "Are your... injuries okay?" he stammered, fumbling for words.
"I'm fine," she replied coolly, the breeze flowing her light blue skirt as she continued to watch him, unblinking.
"I sensed an Angel nearby. That's why I came."
"What?" Shinji looked around, seeing nothing but the skyline against the dimming sky. "You... you can sense them?" he asked, his gaze meeting her piercing red eye.
Rei shifted slightly, the faintest blush coloring her cheeks. "You're staring... a bit too much..."
But before Shinji could respond, a shadow crossed the sky.
A massive, hawk-like Angel with blood-red wings and rows of jagged teeth.
The creature's jaws stretched wide, releasing a thunderous roar as saliva dripped menacingly to the ground. Its predatory gaze fixed on the two unsuspecting children below as it began charging a vibrant, crackling energy blast.
Shinji's face twisted in horror at the sight of the monstrous figure before him, while the girl stood eerily calm.
How could they possibly stand against such a terrifying force looming above?