Chapter 3 - Run away.
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"Duck..." Rei muttered calmly as she swiftly leaped after Shinji.
They tumbled across the ground just as a deafening explosion shattered the air nearby, sending debris flying in every direction.
Shinji barely managed to lift his head from the dirt, his gaze drawn to the enormous, hawk-like Angel looming in the distance.
Its blood-red wings stretched wide, and rows of jagged teeth filled its gaping mouth.
"A-An angel..." Shinji whispered in disbelief, but Rei quickly cut him off.
"Shinji. Transform. I know it's inside of you," she urged, her voice both cold and urgent.
Her piercing gaze fixed on his, and she gently placed her steady hand over his rapidly beating heart, the other arm wrapped in bandages.
"But..." Shinji stammered, Toji's angry words echoing in his mind as he looked down, his hands trembling against the cold floor.
"Thanks to you, my little sister's in the hospital!"
Frustration surged through Shinji, his face a mask of inner turmoil. Rei's gaze softened as she gently squeezed his chest, urging him on.
"Quickly," she whispered, her voice laced with worry. "Please..."
Shinji squeezed his eyes shut, his mind spiraling in chaos.
"People will hate me for this..." he thought, as the Angel's roar shook the air.
"But... I have to!"
Its maw began charging a blinding beam of light.
"Hurry!" Rei's voice cracked with urgency.
The beam fired with a deafening screech, rattling the very foundation of the building as the ground trembled beneath them.
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Inside the school, panic erupted.
"Gyaaah! What's going on?!" Hikari screamed, clutching the desk as it rattled beneath her hands. The room was a frenzy, students scrambling in every direction, fear overtaking reason.
"All students, please evacuate to the basement in an orderly fashion," the calm, mechanical voice of the intercom blared, cutting through the chaos.
"I repeat, please evacuate to the basement in an orderly fashion."
"Dude, what the hell is going on?!" Kensuke yelled, his voice rising above the din.
Toji, still standing by the window, stared outside with narrowed eyes, seemingly unfazed by the frenzy around him.
"Let's go!" Kensuke shouted, grabbing at Toji, but he remained still, transfixed by the sight outside, even as the intercom crackled once more.
"Do not run. Please evacuate to the basement located at floor B1."
Hikari froze mid-step, noticing the tension in the boys' expressions. "Guys!" She shouted, her voice laced with panic as the speakers continued.
"Do not use the elevators. Make your way to floor B1 in an orderly fashion."
"He's out there... fighting..." Toji muttered, his voice shaken with disbelief as he clenched his fists.
With a solemn expression, he pointed out the window, his gaze fixed on the battle unfolding outside.
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At Nerv HQ, the reality of the situation was sinking in, and the threat was unmistakable.
"Another angel..." Ritsuko murmured, her gaze fixed on the beeping radio signals as they fluctuated erratically. She turned to the operators at the console before her.
"Engage the protective barricades again, Its a level 2 threat."
Her voice was firm, her arms crossed, and the operators quickly responded, pressing buttons to engage the city's barricades around the buildings.
"Barricade deployment underway, ma'am," an operator reported as the hum of machinery filled the air.
Mechanical gears clicked into motion, and barricades began rising over each building's windows, slowly sealing them off.
"Crap! They're turning on the barricades! We're gonna be trapped in here!"
Kensuke yelped, his voice tight with panic as the sound of massive shutters rising filled the room, a low, grinding roar that sent a ripple of unease through the air.
In a flash, he waved to Toji, pointing at an open window just ahead, the gap rapidly closing as the barriers encroached. "Quick! Let's go!"
"R-Right..." Toji stammered, his skepticism evident on his face as he hesitated for a split second, then followed Kensuke toward the window.
With a collective leap, they tumbled out, landing roughly on the branches of a nearby tree.
They hit the ground with a jarring thud just as the barricades shot up, sealing off the window they had leaped from.
"Ow... damn it!" Toji grunted, his eyes squinted in pain as he staggered to his feet, his gaze drifting up to the towering walls of the rising barricades.
"Close one..." he muttered, still catching his breath.
Kensuke groaned, slowly pushing himself up from the dirt. "Gah... Thought I stuck the landing!" he grumbled,
stretching out his back with a wince, his eyes shut tightly against the sting.
So... now what?" Toji asked, casting a skeptical glance at Kensuke, his arms crossed tightly.
Kensuke's lips curled into a smug grin. "Now for the fun part! Watching Shinji in action!" He lifted his camera, an excited glint in his eye.
"Just imagine everyone's faces when we tell them. They'd never believe us..." Kensuke said with a grin, but as he looked away, Toji's smile slipped, fading into thoughtfulness.
"He's out there... in action, huh..."
Toji's gaze dropped to the ground, lost in thought.
"Toji, look!"
Kensuke's voice snapped him back, and he flinched, quickly meeting Kensuke's eyes as he raised his camera.
"We'll get the footage, though!" Kensuke chuckled.
"Hell yeah!" Toji grinned, meeting Kensuke's high-five as they shared a burst of excitement.
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Meanwhile, in the cold, gray basement beneath the school, Hikari lay among hundreds of anxious students.
Their hushed murmurs and nervous chatter only fueled the unease growing in her chest.
"Where are Kensuke and Toji?" she wondered, the thought gnawing at her as she stared blankly at the concrete walls, the hum of whispered rumors seeping into her mind.
"Hope they're okay..." she thought, her brow furrowing slightly.
Above ground, at NERV HQ, chaos continued to unfold.
"The threat's closing in on the school... but we don't have a clear read on the situation," one operator exclaimed, his voice tight with frustration.
"No surveillance on that area. The threat may be interrupting our signals."
"We got the barriers up in time. No casualties reported so far," another voice chimed in, though the underlying tension in their voices was unmistakable.
Ritsuko shot a quick glance at Misato, her face tight with anxiety. "Shinji's at school today, isn't he?"
"Y-Yes..." Misato's voice faltered, her expression darkening with uncertainty. "Hopefully, he'll fulfill his duty. He should be ready to fight without surveillance."
"Shinji..." Misato's eyes drifted downward, filled with a deep, sorrowful grief. The weight of her thoughts was almost too much to bear.
"Don't think about it..." she whispered to herself, her hands pressed firmly against her chest as she shut her eyes, trying to steady her nerves.
Ritsuko's voice sliced through the tense silence. "Misato."
"You're getting too attached. It's affecting your responsibilities as an officer."
Misato's eyes wavered with a mix of emotions before she gave a reluctant nod. "Yes... I understand," she murmured, exhaling a heavy sigh.
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On the rooftop, Shinji, now towering in his fierce twelve-foot Eva form, leaped from building to building with powerful, fluid strides.
His large frame moved with surprising agility as he gripped Rei's bandaged form securely in one hand.
His powerful leaps sent cracks spidering through the rooftops as he surged across the desolate, barricade ridden cityscape.
Behind him, a large, fifty foot long Angel with blood-red wings pursued, tripling him in size.
Its wings flared wide as it swooped over rooftops, casting dark shadows that stretched across the buildings.
Purple energy crackled along its body, radiating a menacing glow as it unleashed relentless waves of energy blasts in Shinji's direction,
each beam slicing through the air with scorching heat.
"Crap! Can't you transform too?" Shinji's voice rumbled frantically in a monstrous tone, as he glanced down at Rei, her expression impassive despite the chaos.
"Can't. Mine went berserk, they had to destroy the core," she replied coolly, almost indifferent. "I'll be useless..."
Shinji released a low, frustrated growl, pushing forward with renewed determination as purple energy strings whizzed past.
The blasts tore through walls and erupted across the ground beneath his feet, forcing him to stagger as he narrowly dodged each one.
"This is way too annoying!" he roared, just as a cluster of purple energy strings ensnared him, coiling tightly around his body and limbs.
He was yanked backward, hurtling through the air with Rei held tightly in his arms.
They slammed into the barricades, denting the steel slightly on impact. "Hang on!" he bellowed, struggling against the bonds.
Rei's hair whipped around her face, a few strands brushing her nose and making her flinch, though her expression stayed blank and unreadable.
With a sudden surge of strength, he ripped through the strings, landing smoothly on the ground... only to face a blazing red energy blast barreling straight toward him.
"Crap..." he muttered, flaring with green aura as he thrust one arm forward to stop the oncoming blast.
The impact sent searing heat across his endoskeleton, his arm trembling from the force.
"Graaaah! Get... away!" he yelled, releasing a fierce wave of green energy from his palm that shattered the blast into a rain of luminous sparks scattering across the ground.
Rei looked up at him, calm as ever. "Ikari, let go. I'll be a burden," she said flatly.
"What? You'll die!" Shinji protested, his voice rising in alarm.
He lunged into a narrow alleyway, the Angel crashing into the walls above them, its massive frame struggling to fit between the buildings.
"Listen, Ikari. Abandon me and your chances increase by sixty percent," she urged, her voice unyielding, but Shinji shook his head, cutting her off.
"We're finding a way out. I told myself I'm not letting anyone die!"
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"That includes you!"
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Her eyes widened, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks as she looked at him, caught off guard by his fierce resolve.
Before she could respond, the Angel's claws tore through the surrounding buildings, concrete and steel crumbling under its sheer force.
In an instant, Shinji leapt upward in a blaze of green energy, the glowing sections on his arms flaring brighter.
"Take this, you monster!" he yelled, his right hand igniting with a surging green energy that condensed into an orb in his palm as he clutched Rei with his other hand.
The Angel reacted, folding its blood-red wings in front of itself as a shield.
With a sudden movement, it caught the green orb, absorbing it within its wings and flinging it back with terrifying speed.
Shinji's white monsterish eyes widened as the redirected blast hurtled toward him.
The blast struck him head-on, hurling his monstrous form backward and slamming him into the school field.
Dust and debris exploded around him, carving a ragged trail into the earth as he finally skidded to a halt. His grip on Rei loosened, sending her tumbling alongside him.
"Ikari... your chances are now at twenty percent," Rei murmured, kneeling beside Shinji as he lay on the ground.
Dust and debris clung to her, but her expression remained unwavering as she extended a hand to his chestplate.
"Quit it! Enough with the numbers!" Shinji spat, straining to rise from the rubble.
"No… your energy is fading. I can feel it," she replied, her fingers pressing against his endoskeleton, sensing the flickering aura beneath. "The purple energy sapped your own…"
Shinji tried to stand, his vision blurring as fatigue overtook him. "How... did you..."
Suddenly, he staggered and fell again, feeling the exhaustion Rei had warned him of.
Above them, the Angel loomed, wings spread as it prepared for another strike.
Nearby, Kensuke and Toji huddled behind a tree, their faces pale and wide-eyed as they watched the fierce battle unfold.
"There he is!" Kensuke whispered in awe, snapping photos frantically with his camera, while Toji watched with a furrowed brow. "But, he's already losing..."
Then, without warning, the Angel's purple energy tendrils shot towards the two boys.
Coiling and twisting, they were ready to ensnare them as their terrified faces reflected the horror bearing down on them.
In an instant, Shinji surged ahead of the two, a vibrant green aura flaring around him, leaving Rei trailing behind.
He propelled himself forward with frantic yet intense speed, his hands gripping the thrashing tendrils with raw strength.
The energy tendrils seared through his flesh, a burning, sharp pain racing up his limbs.
His endoskeleton broke off, as the faint outline of his glowing human-like hands began to emerge beneath the armor.
"GWAAAAAAH!" Shinji screamed, his white eyes widening in agony as he cast a desperate glance back at the two boys, their faces locked in frozen horror.
"Run... damn it! Why are you two just standing there?!" His voice trembled with frustration, the words strained and desperate. Rei's voice cut through the chaos.
"Over here, quickly!" Rei called, pointing toward the bridge where they could take refuge.
In swift unison, Kensuke and Toji sprinted toward her, the monstrous creature hot on their heels, its immense wings beating the air with terrifying force.
Shinji's white eyes softened in agony as he fell to the ground again, coughing up blood.
Rei watched from a distance, her expression tight with concern.
"His energy is almost depleted... he'll desync soon," she thought, her heart tightening for a brief moment. "His chances... just five percent."
In the frantic chaos, Shinji's thoughts flashed back to the other day.
"Shinji," Misato had called out, the two sitting on a bench just outside headquarters.
"Yes?" he had answered, his head turning toward her.
"If you ever expend your energy to the point of coughing blood... withdraw, immediately," she had urged, her voice firm and steady.
"B-But why?" Shinji had asked, confusion etching his face. "If I do that... I'd be running away."
"If you push yourself past those limits, your body could suffer irreversible damage," Misato had explained, her voice trembling slightly. "Rei... she's been through it..."
Shinji's mind raced, but he interrupted her. "You told me about Ayanami, I just don't understand why I have to run away."
"What if someone's in trouble? What then?" he had asked, desperate for an answer.
"Shinji, listen to me," Misato had insisted, her hands on his shoulders, her grip firm. "Do it for me, okay?"
Shinji had looked down, avoiding her gaze, but the softness in her voice reached him. "I care about you..."
He'd hesitated, his expression faltering for a moment, then finally relented.
"Okay... I'll listen."
His voice had been quiet, reluctant, filled with the weight of uncertainty.
Shinji stood in the present, his thoughts heavy. "Sorry, Misato... but I can't follow your orders,"
he resolved, his body rising with newfound determination, his alien muscles tensing with a surge of resolve.
"I can't run... I have to save them!" His monstrous, pupil-less eyes blazed with intensity, veins bulging against his endoskeleton as he steeled himself for what was coming.
"It's going to kill us, Toji!" Kensuke gasped, his voice strained with fear.
His footing betrayed him, and he slipped on a loose rock, collapsing to the ground with a desperate thud.
"Kensuke!" Toji shouted, panic flickering across his face as he skidded to a halt, looking back at his fallen friend.
The Angel's roar split the air, its unearthly sound sending shockwaves that rattled the earth beneath them.
Kensuke squeezed his eyes shut, accepting the inevitable, while Toji scrambled to his side.
Toji's gaze was already locked on the approaching Angel, its ominous presence looming overhead.
"Ikari… you have 30 seconds before your power wanes," Rei thoughts grew cold and calculating.
Her eyes flickered up to the Angel, now charging a massive red beam aimed at the two below.
"It's over..." Rei thought, her mind cold and distant.
"We're going to die!" Kensuke shouted, his voice trembling with despair, as Toji clutched him tightly, eyes wide with terror.
The monster drew nearer, its shadow enveloping them, thickening the air as the orb of energy swelled, unleashing a fierce gust that whipped across the field, stinging the boys' faces.
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...Suddenly.
In an instant, Shinji shot into the sky, catching everyone off guard, including Rei, whose eyes briefly flickered in surprise.
His body trailed with vibrant green energy as he propelled himself upward.
He landed on the Angel's massive, hawk-like form, gripping the beast's energy ball with both hands, his skin burning as he strained to control its destructive force.
"This... needs to go up into the sky!" Shinji roared, his voice raw with exertion, as he struggled to push the ball upward.
The Angel thrashed beneath him, its body writhing with violent strength as it shrieked and howled in a demonic fury, desperately trying to throw him off.
Shinji gripped its body tightly, refusing to let go.
Desperation surged through Shinji's veins as the creature shot purple threads from its body, attempting to ensnare him once again.
With reckless speed, he dodged atop it, narrowly evading the crackling threads that sliced through the air.
The monster's body lurched downward, its frantic, erratic movements throwing Shinji off balance as he fought to stay steady.
Shinji jumped and landed hard onto a building, his legs shaking as he sprinted across its surface.
The threads snapped toward him like guided missiles, sapping at his strength with every close call. Each leap felt heavier, his body growing weaker with each step.
"I feel... faint..." Shinji groaned, sweat stinging his eyes, his breath ragged.
"Keep going!" he yelled at himself, the words echoing in his mind, driving him forward.
He rounded the corner just as the monster slammed into the wall, its massive body crashing with a deafening roar.
Its speed had slowed, the threads now wrapped around it like heavy shackles.
"Gotcha!" Shinji's tone radiated confidence despite the pain wracking his body.
He grabbed the threads, and yanked with everything he had. The monster struggled, its movements wild and erratic, but Shinji held on.
With a grunt of effort, he jumped up and swung the creature violently into the ground with a crash that reverberated through the streets.
"GRAAAAH!" he screamed, the threads draining him of his remaining strength, but he refused to stop.
He released one final surge of green energy, the blast racing down the threads. "Die!" he roared, his monstrous voice cracking with exhaustion and pain.
The monster convulsed as the energy coursed through it, its form writhing in agony.
The explosion that followed was deafening, the air thick with the sound of tearing flesh and rupturing organs.
When the smoke cleared, Shinji lay motionless on the ground, face down. His body had reverted to its human form, unconscious amidst a field of scattered, bloody remnants of the Angel.
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.Hours after the fight, in the sterile, dimly lit hospital waiting room, Toji and Kensuke sat together in tense silence.
"He saved our lives... this is all we can do," Kensuke murmured, his voice trembling as he glanced at Toji, who was staring blankly ahead, his jaw clenched in frustration.
"I can't believe I..."
"...had the nerve to punch him," Toji muttered bitterly, his hand covering his face as he fought back a wave of guilt.
"What's wrong with me?! How am I supposed to face him after everything he did for us?" Toji groaned, his grip tightening on his face, his fingers digging into his skin.
"Dude... don't beat yourself up," Kensuke said quietly, his voice barely audible. "He hurt your sister, remember? He's kind of at fault, too."
Toji snapped his head toward Kensuke, his face twisted in anguish. "Now look at him! He's just like her, because he tried to save us, Kensuke!"
His voice cracked as he pounded his fist into his thigh, the frustration and anger surging through him. "If we'd stayed in school, he wouldn't be here right now!"
Kensuke watched him, a frown tugging at his lips, his fingers anxiously twisting together. "Yeah, hope he comes out soon..."
Just then, Shinji appeared in the hallway, walking slowly with his head bowed, his face shadowed. Misato was by his side, her expression dark with anger as she stormed past the two boys.
"There he is!" Kensuke exclaimed, pointing. Both of them jumped to their feet and rushed toward Shinji.
"Shinji!" they called out in unison, but he didn't respond. Misato, however, shoved past them without a second glance, her grip tight on Shinji's arm.
"We're going to have a talk," she said sharply, glancing back at the two, her tone leaving no room for argument as she continued down the hall.
Toji and Kensuke stood frozen in shock, still processing what had just happened.
"What the hell is her problem?!" Toji yelled, throwing his fist in the air in frustration. Kensuke stared at him, wide-eyed, caught off guard by his outburst.
In a nearby, oppressive quiet of a room, Misato's voice sliced through the silence as she turned to face Shinji.
He sat there, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor, his posture stiff, as if trying to make himself invisible.
"Why'd you disregard my orders, Shinji?" Her words came out sharp, demanding.
Shinji didn't respond. His gaze fixated on the ground, his body tense, sweat beading along his neck.
"Shinji!" Misato's voice cracked like a whip, her command snapping through the air.
He flinched but slowly raised his eyes, still avoiding hers.
"Eyes up here," she barked, her voice rising, harsh and demanding. His eyes reluctantly met hers.
"Answer me..." Her voice softened, her brows furrowed in frustration.
"I..." Shinji began, his voice barely a whisper, but Misato's fury exploded, drowning him out.
"Weren't my warnings about you suffering irreversible damage enough?" Her words lashed out, sharp and unforgiving.
She leaned in close, her breath coming faster, her face dangerously near his.
"Listen... if you hadn't defeated it, you would've reverted back."
"That thing would've ripped you apart until there was nothing left! Do you understand?"
Shinji's breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening.
But something in him snapped, his teeth ground together, and a surge of anger coursed through him, lifting his head as he stood up, his eyes burning with frustration.
"S-So, you're telling me I should've just run and left those kids to die?" His voice shook with rage.
Misato's eyes widened in disbelief, her jaw clenched as she shot back,
"Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to? I'm your operations supervisor! You're obligated to follow my orders!"
Shinji's chest heaved as he glared at her.
"That just proves it then," he muttered bitterly. "I can't believe I actually thought you cared about me."
Misato froze, her anger faltering for a split second, her eyes widening in shock. Her mouth hung open, her face slowly shifting from rage to something far more vulnerable.
"What... what are you saying?"
"You just wanted us to live together so you could keep tabs on me," Shinji continued, his voice growing colder, more cutting.
"Control. I don't mean anything to you."
Before he could finish, Misato's hand shot out, grabbing his gown in a furious grip, her fingers trembling.
"How dare you..." Her voice wavered, but before she could lash out further, she stopped herself, her breath shaking as she let go of him.
She took a long, shuddering breath, her face going hard again. "Enough of this..."
She stepped back, her tone softer now, almost defeated. "Go home and get some rest," she muttered, her words lost in the heavy silence between them.
Shinji nodded stiffly, his voice distant. "Yes, ma'am," he replied flatly, before turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him with a force that shook the walls.
Misato stood there for a moment, her chest rising and falling as her emotions swirled within her.
She glanced at the door, her face now a mask of sorrow, and with a frustrated sound, she slammed her fist against the wall.
She turned slowly and walked out, her shoulders slumped, leaving the door open behind her.
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As Shinji sat on the train, now dressed, he sat for hours. People passing and going by as the train stopped at various destinations.
"So... they're really are using me..." He thought, frowning from the thought.
"...I'm really doing this so they feel satisfaction out of using me..."
He thought as various chatters drowned out around him.
His hearing was blocked by his headphones, muffling the sounds of the bustling passsengers, leaving him alone in a sea of noise, trapped in his own head.
"I'm just a tool to them..." he thought, a frown tugging at his lips as the realization settled deeper.
The world outside blurred as his thoughts circled, each one tightening around him like a vice.
"Nobody really cares about me... they only care when they can get use out of me..."
He gripped the armrest, the weight of the thought suffocating.
His gaze remained fixed on nothing, the passengers around him mere shadows in his peripheral vision.
The muffled chatter of conversations seemed distant, his mind, however, was sharp and unyielding.
"They don't care if people die..." His chest tightened, the words sinking deep into him.
"If my life as a tool is at risk... they'll do anything to keep me alive, to use me even more."
The ringing of his cellphone sliced through the haze of his thoughts, each jarring buzz a painful reminder.
He glanced at the screen. Multiple missed calls from Misato, but he wasn't interested.
His grip tightened around the phone, his knuckles white, his pulse quickening as he imagined his father's cold, unfeeling stare.
"Father..."
The thought burned, raw and bitter. "He's behind all of this..." Shinji's teeth clenched, his fist curled so tight his nails bit into his palm.
"I'm not coming back there," he muttered under his breath, the words a quiet vow, almost a whisper of defiance, as the train continued on its journey.
The world outside moved on, but Shinji remained locked in a cage of his own making.
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Back in the classroom, the hum of chatter filled the air as students shuffled in their seats, the low murmur of voices punctuated by the rustle of papers.
Toji sat with his gaze drifting toward the empty chair by the window, the spot where Shinji would normally sit.
His brows furrowed in concern, the silence of the seat unsettling him. "Where is he...?" Toji mumbled, his chest tightening slightly as he glanced around the room.
Kensuke leaned back in his chair, sighing deeply, the frustration evident in his voice. "He didn't show? This is the second time... He's been gone for two days!"
His words hung heavy in the air as Hikari glanced over from her desk, the faint click of her pen against the paper the only sound she made as she regarded the others.
Across the room, Rei sat silently.
Her wounds had healed, though the white eyepatch over her eye and the smaller cast on her arm gave her a faintly fragile appearance.
She stared out the window, the dull sky casting a pale light across her features, her face unreadable.
"Ikari..." she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, as if speaking the name of someone lost in the depths of her own thoughts.
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Outside, the night was heavy with the scent of rain, the soft patter against the pavement a rhythmic beat in the stillness.
Shinji walked through the darkened streets, his uniform soaked through, each drop of water sinking into his skin like cold needles.
His body shivered in the wet night air, his steps slow, purposeful, but heavy with fatigue. He found a small tunnel, offering shelter from the relentless rain.
He sank to the ground, his back against the cool, damp concrete, the rough surface pressing into his skin. "This'll work... for the night,"
he muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper as his face contorted in pain. "Alone..." The word echoed in his mind, suffocating him.
Tears stung the corners of his eyes, but he blinked them away.
He shut his eyes tightly, trying to sleep. The cold seeped into his bones as memories of Misato drifted unbidden to the forefront of his mind.
"Forget about her... She's just trying to use you," his mind scolded, but the thought quickly faltered, his heart softening.
Her laughter, warm and vibrant, echoed in his mind, her soft words lingering with vivid clarity.
"I'm your guardian now!"
"We'll cook something tomorrow. Tonight, just make yourself comfortable!"
"This is what it means to be a hero, Shinji."
His throat tightened as his vision blurred with tears, the memories crashing over him.
"You did well."
"I care about you..."
He couldn't hold back anymore.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he curled into a ball, the rain outside in rhythm with his quiet sobs.
But suddenly, the bright of headlights cut through the darkness, blinding him as he swiftly covered the blinding lights with his hands as he jerked his eyes toward it.
The screech of tires on wet pavement pierced the air, and a voice crackled over a speaker, sending a chill down his spine.
"Is this Ikari? It appears we've found him." The voice was cold, detached, as a figure in a tailored suit stepped into the light, his shadow stretching long across the pavement.
Shinji's heart pounded wildly, his breath hitching, as a cold wave of dread washed over him.
"Who are you!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the tunnel as he began to scramble backward, his palms scraping against the rough concrete.
Two more figures emerged from the car, stepping into the dim glow of the headlights beside the first man.
"Nerv Public Safety and Intelligence Bureau," the man said, his tone flat and unfeeling.
Shinji's eyes widened, his body going rigid as the realization set in. "They found me..."
"We are here to escort you to headquarters immediately," the agent stated, his gaze locked onto Shinji.
"Escort... me?" The words echoed in Shinji's mind, his breaths coming in quick, shallow bursts as his eyes darted around, seeking any possible way out.
But his body felt paralyzed, as if the decision itself were too heavy to bear.
He hovered in the agonizing space between two choices: return to HQ or run into hiding once more.
The weight of it hung heavy, like the shadows pressing in around him, demanding an answer he wasn't ready to give.