"Nice work today."
"First time piloting an EVA and you performed like that. Really surprised us all."
Misato Katsuragi drove while smiling at Shinji in the passenger seat.
The Angel's corpse had been recovered. Unit-01 returned to the hangar. Now they were off duty.
UN higher-ups were extremely satisfied with Unit-01's performance. Increased their funding considerably.
"Shinji, look over there." Misato reached a hillside road. Hit the brakes. Pointed out the window.
Sunset had arrived. Golden light spilled across the city.
Battle over, Tokyo-3's defensive structures descended underground. Normal facilities rose up.
Citizens emerged from shelters. The bustling metropolis instantly filled with life.
"That's the city you protected."
"Today, you did something great." Misato smiled and patted Shinji's shoulder.
Shinji listened. Turned his gaze toward the distant city.
Compared to Misato, Shinji's vision was now special. Could see people's expressions from this distance.
They emerged from shelters. Faces showing relief. Talking to each other. Each a living life.
"Protected... I... protected them..." Shinji stared blankly at people on the city streets.
Then pushed open the car door. Stood beside it.
Concentrated and listened carefully. He could even hear students discussing Unit-01. Curious who piloted that robot. Guessing it must be someone amazing.
Staring blankly at the distant city, warmth inexplicably surged through Shinji's heart. Flowed to his limbs.
He experienced this feeling. Thought... perhaps this was pride?
This feeling... really nice.
"Protecting others feels good, doesn't it?" Natsuki's voice echoed in his mind.
Experienced Natsuki could see at a glance—Shinji had the potential to become a hero. Though insecure and weak, with slight guidance, the courage in his heart could be ignited.
"Yes, Natsuki-san." Shinji smiled and nodded. Said internally.
He liked this feeling.
"Shinji, what's your dream?" Natsuki watched the sunset city with him. Asked.
He was guiding this boy. Now—time to set a goal. A goal that could truly change the boy.
"My... dream?" Shinji heard the question. Froze for a moment.
In his fourteen years, he'd never considered dreams.
Dreams—a word full of romantic color.
Nothing to do with someone weak and despised like himself.
If forced to say, Shinji's dream was actually simple.
Gain his father's approval. Just... one word of approval would suffice.
But after arriving in Tokyo-3, his perception of his father changed. His father wasn't just cold—he was cruel.
Treated him completely as a tool.
Without Natsuki-san... he'd definitely experience a very sad time. Maybe right now he'd be running from reality.
But now was different. When making choices, he felt someone supporting him from behind. Treating him as a complete person. Encouraging him.
At this crucial life juncture, Shinji received positive and constructive guidance. His personality was quietly changing.
"My dream... I don't really understand." Shinji said internally.
Then looked at everything in the city. Eyes flickering. "But... right now I feel happy."
Hearing this answer, Natsuki nodded silently.
Though this boy had changed, he still had distance before maturity.
"Then... before finding your true dream."
"Make 'the dream of protecting others' your dream."
"Fight to protect others. Fight to experience happiness like this again, Shinji."
Under the sunset, Natsuki placed his hand on Shinji's shoulder. Looked into the distance together.
"Fight for the dream of protecting others..." Shinji savored these words in his mind.
His first reaction—did he have the qualifications? The ability?
Did he... deserve to save others' dreams?
Then he turned to look at Natsuki's phantom. Thought of those encouraging words.
I...
He took a deep breath. Gaze gradually firmed. Clenched his fist. "Right now I might not be able to."
"But... I'll work hard!"
"Definitely... one day, I'll save others with my own power!"
Shinji Ikari said excitedly internally. This moment—a crack finally opened in his insecure and weak heart.
Natsuki smiled and nodded.
Misato in the car also pushed open the door. Walked out. Watched the boy making promises to the sunset. Thoughts surging internally.
She could clearly feel—this boy was gradually transforming.
Night. After returning to Misato Katsuragi's apartment—
Shinji washed up. Lay in bed.
Looked at the black bangle on his right wrist. Raised his right hand. Examined it carefully.
"Speaking of which... Natsuki-san, what exactly does this bangle do?"
After becoming one with Natsuki, this obsidian-colored bangle appeared on his wrist. Sometimes strange text popped up.
"When you encounter an enemy you can't handle, use this bangle to transform into me." Natsuki's phantom sat in a chair. Explained.
"Transform into Natsuki-san?"
"Like the giant in my dream at the hospital?" Shinji recalled the scene he saw while unconscious.
"Correct." Natsuki nodded.
"But you can only fight on Earth for three minutes. So you must transform at the most critical moment."
Earth's environment was special. Three minutes of activity time was the limit. Of course, three minutes used well could accomplish much.
[Two Choice Tasks Settled]
[Current Hell-Level Mental Space Training Duration: 20 Hours]
[Start Training? Yes/No]
Suddenly, the bangle displayed a training prompt.
The previous two choice tasks—one in the Pacific Rim world choosing to fly to Earth's satellite orbit, one in the hangar choosing to teach Gendo Ikari a lesson.
Two tasks combined had accumulated twenty hours of hell training time.
"Natsuki-san, what's this?" Shinji looked at the text on the semi-transparent screen from the bangle. Confused.
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