"How's the pilot?"
Gendo Ikari stopped at the doorway. Voice low. Gravelly.
Not "son." Not even a name. Just "the pilot."
As if years of blood relation meant nothing. As if the boy was a tool for EVA Unit-01.
Misato Katsuragi caught the distance in his words. Hesitated. Then answered. "Shinji's fine. Actually... better than fine."
"He'll be up and moving once he wakes."
He'd been so close to the battlefield. Caught in the shockwaves. Should've had injuries—minor ones at least. But the medical report shocked her. Not only was Shinji unharmed, he was healthier than most people.
"Understood." Gendo turned to leave. "Transfer him to the base dormitory. Tomorrow morning, he'll participate in Unit-01's activation test."
Cold. No emotion.
"Won't you... go see Shinji?" Misato hesitated before asking.
"No need."
Gendo didn't stop. Didn't look back. Gone.
Misato stood in silence.
Honestly? His attitude pissed her off. But rank was rank. She couldn't voice her frustration.
She pitied Shinji. Her own father had treated her the same way once.
Inside the room.
Shinji sat on the bed. Silent.
After merging with Natsuki, his hearing had sharpened dramatically. He'd heard every word outside.
"Father..." His hand gripped the bedsheet. Face crumbling.
Any kid would be heartbroken hearing their father say that.
Years apart. Gendo's single summons had brought him running. And his father didn't even want to see him.
"Why... then why call me here at all?" Shinji spiraled into self-doubt again. If his father hated him so much, why bring him here?
Deep down, a sliver of hope remained. Maybe his father needed him. Maybe he could help.
"Probably... has something to do with that Unit-01 thing." Natsuki had heard the conversation too. He guessed Shinji's father had summoned him solely to pilot Unit-01.
"Unit-01... what is that?" Shinji asked.
Before coming here, he hadn't known monsters existed. Didn't know what Unit-01 was.
His father had told him nothing.
And he didn't know that according to the original plan, his father would've forced him—with zero experience—to pilot Unit-01 against the Third Angel.
"No idea. Probably some kind of mecha." Natsuki guessed.
He'd come from the Pacific Rim world. Maybe this world had similar machines.
"So... Father called me here to pilot that thing." Shinji understood now.
Knowing he wasn't useless—that his father needed him—lifted his spirits slightly.
This kid... desperately craved his father's approval.
Natsuki watched him. Sighed quietly.
What a tragic fate.
He reached out to pat Shinji's shoulder. His hand passed through.
He tried again. This time, he used telekinesis to simulate the touch.
"It's okay. If you don't want to do it, you don't have to." His voice was gentle.
Shinji's bastard father. Natsuki couldn't stand him.
"Natsuki-san..." Feeling the touch on his shoulder, Shinji turned. A faint smile appeared. "Thank you."
This feeling—being cared for—he'd never felt it from his father.
"Still... I want to see it. What Father calls Unit-01." For some reason, the name pulled at him. An inexplicable attraction.
Like fate tugging at a string.
"Mm." Natsuki nodded. He was curious too.
And he needed more intel on this place before taking action.
The door swung open.
"Huh? Shinji-kun, you're awake?" Misato Katsuragi stepped inside. Seeing Shinji conscious, her face lit up.
Shinji looked at the attractive woman. A postcard flashed through his mind.
"Are you... Misato Katsuragi-san?" he asked.
"Bingo!" Misato grinned.
"I'm the Operations Director of the First Tactical Operations Division at NERV Headquarters, Misato Katsuragi."
"And this place is NERV Headquarters—located beneath Tokyo-3, Japan. We're the organization that fights Angels."
"Oh, and Angels are those giant monsters you saw earlier."
She gave a quick introduction, then studied Shinji's face.
But unexpectedly, his expression barely changed. He looked oddly calm. Almost disinterested.
"Huh? Not the reaction I expected." Misato put her hands on her hips. She'd thought a kid his age would be thrilled about saving the world.
But Shinji was only here because his father needed him. Saving the world? Not really his thing.
And when talking to strangers, he always kept his distance. Never let them see what he was thinking.
Classic low self-esteem.
"It's not that I'm not interested..." Shinji felt rude not responding. He mumbled something awkwardly.
"Whatever." Misato didn't mind. She smiled. "Once you join NERV, you'll understand."
"You're discharged now. I'll take you shopping for daily necessities. From now on, you're living with me."
Shinji's face registered surprise.
"Huh?"
He remembered his father's orders outside—base dormitory.
"Don't be shy. As your direct superior, it's my duty to look after your physical and mental health." Misato pointed at him with one finger.
The base dorms were single-occupancy. Leaving lonely Shinji in a cold room felt too cruel. So she'd decided he'd stay with her.
She had that authority.
"Ah... okay..." Shinji nodded. Let her make the arrangements.
At the same time, he thought about tomorrow's test.
Unit-01.
What was it?
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