"...When I arrived here, everything still seemed easy... I didn't know that my father was here, eight years later, calling me to... Exactly, what am I doing here?! I'm fighting Angels and risking my life, and he hasn't even thanked me yet. I'll probably never understand him... My soul is torn between reality and dream. I long for death so much that the very thought of suicide repulses me. I want to leave here, but I can't. Trapped for better or worse in the hell of fate... Life can be truly cruel..." – thought the boy walking to school along the empty sidewalk, above which only a single tree rustled in the spring breeze. He wasn't particularly handsome, but it was his inconspicuous silhouette that caught the eye. Dark, shiny hair and brown eyes... Now he was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and dark pants, and he had a book bag slung over his shoulder.
"Hurry!"
He heard a girl's voice behind him. He looked back and spotted a beautiful girl his age, who, as she reached him, took a deep breath. He had time to study her for a moment. The girl had long hair, a color he couldn't quite pinpoint, a mix of blond and red. Her lush bangs fell loosely over her forehead, and she had sparkling blue eyes. He nodded when she repeated her request, and they both set off toward the concrete school building.
"Do you think Ayanami will come today?"
The boy walked for a moment, remembering the face of the girl his companion had asked about. Rei had short, flowing blue hair that fell in streams around her face and deep, red eyes. She was very strange, in his opinion. He felt uneasy around her because she almost never smiled, and she didn't speak unless asked. In short, she was a very mysterious and inscrutable person. This was all the more strange because the computers had no information about her. Literally nothing that would allow anyone to get to know her. He truly never understood this girl, though Asuka was even worse, because she couldn't stand her. The girl next to him was neither calm nor even-tempered, because she had a temper...
"I don't know..." He replied after a moment. "If she has practice today.
" "If only they could get my Eva back on her feet quickly; she took a real beating after the last fight.
" "Yes, it's good that Rei came then.
" "What do you mean?" Asuka snapped, giving him a nudge in the side.
"Nothing, let's go, classes start soon..."
The students weren't in school yet, and the hallways were empty. As they stepped onto the metal floor, their footsteps echoed hollowly against the walls. "I've never harbored any dreams or ambitions. I've never aspired to a career or profession for the future. Until now, for the first fourteen years of my life, things had always been as they had to be. And everything would most likely continue to be that way. That's why I never really cared if I had an accident or simply died..." He remembered his school report, always reminded himself of it, even against his will, when he found himself in the gloomy school building...
"Misato said we were supposed to report to Nerv after school.
" "I remember,"
Asuka muttered as she climbed the stairs. The two of them weren't on the best of terms, but when it came down to it, they knew how to work together. And as long as they did, everything was fine. Classes started promptly, but the rather uninteresting lecture dragged on endlessly. Shinji unconsciously shifted his gaze to Ayanami's empty seat and left it there. Just a few more minutes and he'd be home. Although the boy had never been fond of calling the place he lived in his home. But he always had the feeling that, despite everything, his father was there... Who didn't love him... No! He didn't want to think that way, even though he felt nothing for him except a filial affection, without any feelings. He stood up, his eyes glued to Rei's empty seat, and began putting his books into his bag, then left. Just like every day. Just like always...
In Nerv, he encountered no surprises, cold walls sheathed in iron and concrete. Endless corridors and announcements from the radio station... Nothing new, nothing interesting. Just some pipes hanging from the ceiling, and someone had just walked through. He must have been in a hurry. Upon reaching the room where they were changing into their pilot uniforms, he saw Asuka's belongings lying on the floor. "She must have arrived already..." he thought, placing his things in the locker. Putting on the uniform wasn't easy, but it was possible to get some practice after a few months. The plug suit was a type of costume that every pilot must wear when piloting an Evangelion. It enhanced the pilot's synchronization with the Eva, and the only thing necessary for piloting was to attach a transmitter to their hair. It resembled hairpins. From behind the metal wall, he heard Asuka talking to Kaji. The man must have been quite nervous to have taken care of her in Germany. Shinji smiled ironically and stepped outside, cast a quick glance their way, and continued on his way. It was there, behind that door, that he controlled... The magnificent Evangelion. Truly, those who had never been here have no idea of all the things that affected his well-being. The door slid open with a soft hum in front of him, and then he saw the Eva's head. It was enormous, somewhat resembling a human face. With a long metal "horn" protruding from its forehead and a long beard. If he remembered correctly... This robot had a body similar to a human, with long, thin arms and legs, and an exceptionally narrow torso. When he first came here and saw this head in the water, or rather, swimming, he was shocked. He was supposed to get into this monster... Him?!... And now he knows that this is "the most powerful multi-purpose weapon ever created by man..." The Evangelion bio-robot, and that it is he, Shinji Ikari, who will pilot it.
"Shinji!" He heard a cheerful cry from a woman behind him.
He turned and looked at Misato, his guardian. She truly was an amazing person, with a magnificent figure, dark hair, and brown eyes. He lived at home with her, and she, even though she was only 29, was never averse to beer. Perhaps that was why he often couldn't talk to her calmly. Although he wasn't sure if he really wanted to...
"Shinji!" she said, standing beside him. "Just starting practice for now, try your best, then...
" "Okay, Mrs. Misato." He nodded, walking up the walkway to the Entry Plug.
He slowly slid inside and sat down at the controls, which resembled two handles. After a few seconds, a fluid began to flow in, a familiar one... He felt strange every time the substance filled his lungs and allowed him to breathe.
"Synchronization rate abnormality 0.89%. Number one is ready..." Maya filled in the data and looked expectantly at Misato.
"Begin."
The woman nodded. Shinji easily entered the room where they always practiced during the quiet hours upstairs. Now he could let off some steam.
"The target is set..."
An Angel appeared on the wall, the one the boy was supposed to shoot at. Slowly, unhurriedly, he aimed and began to attack. He hadn't had any problems with such exercises for several months now, so his guardian praised him profusely for them. And he didn't know if he was doing it for her, for the praise, or for himself...
...Another day, I wasn't at school because they were practicing for the starting exercises for number zero. As I sat in Eva, I thought that if she weren't here, I wouldn't be here... I wouldn't have anything to live for, because I was born for her. I'm a part of her. What a strange feeling, being a part of something so perfect, but am I worthy of such a wonderful job!? Is this my place, by her side? As if it could be any other way, I don't know any other way to be. I live for her, and she's only mine, and even if I died, no one would cry for me, because... Yes, yes... No one knows, but I do, and when I think about it, I want to cry. But can I cry? I can't laugh either, because I don't know the feelings others have. I'm myself, a very strange me...
Rei's room was relatively tidy, or rather, tidy, because only the things she truly needed were there. The mailbox was piled high with unopened letters. Perhaps she didn't need to open them, or perhaps it hadn't occurred to her yet. She didn't live in Nerv; she preferred the huge apartment building with gray windows and walls filled with gray. After returning from the competition rehearsals, she hadn't even had time to make herself a cup of tea; now she'd rest and get a good night's sleep. She'd start school in a few days. Time flies, after all. She didn't know what was happening in politics, even in the city, and she didn't even care, because why? Commander Ikari told her today that she did a great job, even though number zero wasn't syncing as expected. She looked in the mirror and stared at it for a long time. That's when the commander helped her, and now she bears these terrible scars on her hands... back when they lost control of the Evangelion.
Oh, Evangelion, just her... What would she do without him, would she be here, would she even be alive?! These questions constantly swirled in her head, every time she saw the commander's broken glasses. There's another story connected to those glasses... That time when Shinji came to me and brought me a renewed ID card. And me? I was just getting out of the shower... And I didn't react, I was the same as always, and then... He dropped the glasses to the ground, and I went to pick them up, and Shinji fell on top of me... It was a very strange feeling. Although I didn't experience it the same way Ikari did. He acted somehow... I don't know... I have no opinion on it, although he probably does. I wonder what he thought of me. It was all quite unexpected... Rei put the glasses on the table and took off her shirt to change. She wasn't going to wash them as long as nothing was happening in the city, no one would come to see her. That's how it always was. First of all, no one knew how to talk to her or behave around her. And she didn't exactly seek out company. Even though she was a very introverted girl, she waited for someone to melt the ice around her. You could say I have some rather strange thoughts for a fourteen-year-old. Besides, it probably wouldn't have changed anything, and it doesn't... She sat on the windowsill of the wide window, which she never opened, so as not to hear the roar of cars passing nearby... I was selected based on the Marduk Institute's report as the first test subject, the "first children." And yet, I should be proud of that. Yet somehow I can't and don't want to be proud. I only feel grateful that Evangelion gave me purpose for my miserable life. Because it only exists when I'm needed to save humanity. But it doesn't matter to me anyway, I'll do what they tell me, because Commander Ikari gives the orders... "In this world, I only trust Commander Ikari..." She thought, a strange feeling filling her heart. Okay, maybe I'm an introvert and don't show my feelings outwardly, but that really shouldn't matter to anyone... Or maybe? Ayanami rested her forehead on her knees and pondered. "This body, this is me... This, this shape that makes me. But I feel as if I'm not myself... Very strange..." They should be pleased with me, after all, I've never disobeyed anyone, I've always followed their orders. Oh, let it be true, let them praise her... She missed this so much... My Eva, my dear Evangelion, to whom I owe my existence. A huge, human-like figure, yet in reality, a bio-robot, part of the whole. Her Evangelion looked very much like Shinji's, only with a different head. Because her robot had one round eye and the same deviating shape of a human face. The eye was therefore protected by a long, pointed visor. And the similarities werethat, just like in number one, number zero had a long beard. Rei liked her, Eva, because she was her only friend in life...
The days passed very quickly, so she decided to go back to school and finally change her thoughts. Everything was starting to get too complicated. When she got there, she noticed a strange commotion in the classroom...
"Did you hear that!? Toji's going to pilot an Evangelion!
" "Impossible!
" "That's right! He told me himself today!" Kensuke shouted excitedly, standing on his desk.
"I don't believe you!
" "But when is that? He's not at school today because he stayed for the launch tests and went to Nerv, can you imagine!?"
Rei sat with her back to them, but she listened to their conversation with interest. She hadn't known Toji would be accepted so quickly... Sure, the commander had mentioned something to her, but she didn't want to believe that he... It seemed unlikely. But if they were to become friends, she wouldn't mind. Not her! And anyway, I wonder how he's doing back at Nerv. After all, number four had never been tried before. And when there were exercises with number zero, there were terrible problems, even though she was promised it wouldn't happen again... And that was indeed the case, but with number four, there's no telling what will happen, hopefully nothing as terrible as she'd experienced... A violent silence fell, so Rei decided to pull herself together and finally gather her scattered thoughts, although it wasn't all that easy... Toji, will we ever meet again? She thought about it rather strangely, because she couldn't even imagine what tragedy would unfold in the near future...
How much longer do we have to sit here? I don't want to anymore... How boring is this, it's impossible to listen to such nonsense... They could start talking sense... I wonder what Shinji is doing again, he's not at school again, and I'm sitting here instead of going for lemonade with Mr. Kaji, it's so hot...
The professor was lecturing on the history of the Second Impact, which changed the course of human history.
In the final year of the 20th century, a massive meteorite struck Antarctica. In an instant, the icy continent melted, causing sea levels to rise by as much as 20 meters. Weather anomalies began to occur around the world, and an economic crisis ensued...
The kids gathered here will surely believe such fairy tales, but I don't. It's completely different! "Because fifteen years ago, a human-shaped object was discovered at the South Pole—the first 'angel,' as they called it. While it was being studied, for unknown reasons, a huge explosion occurred, and this is the truth about the second impact"... And not some nonsense... When will this finally end? I want to go home, I have to endure these stupid ten minutes... Ayanami came today. I wonder if her launch tests were successful, but it's best not to talk to her, she's terribly strange. Sigh... Finally, Kensuke! Where did he go again?
- Kensuke! Come here!
- What's the matter, Asuka?
- Can you lend me a diskette for tomorrow?
- You didn't write?
- That's none of your business! Will you give it to me?!
- Yeah... Yeah...
Now, let's go home. I can't imagine sitting here for a few more hours. I've already graduated from a German university, and now I have to deal with such trivial matters. Well, for a fourteen-year-old, I'm very intelligent, and number two is completely under my control. Mr. Kaji already praised me so much after I came here to Japan. It's true, I was sad to leave my former country, but it's not so bad here, and finally something is happening... Heh, heh... Shinji will probably jump out of his pants when he finds out I've moved to Misato. Besides, it won't be too much of a surprise to him anyway; I'm one of them, a pilot... And I hope Kaji isn't with that nanny of ours, after all, he promised me we'd go out for ice cream. Oh, if only I knew what he was doing. I should hurry; I still have to check on my Evangelion. If only they'd take good care of him; he should be well rested after such a trip. I didn't expect an attack at sea, but that Angel was very easy to defeat. Especially with my abilities. After all, I'm the most intelligent of the three of us, and they'd like to equal me. They won't be able to wait! It won't be that easy for them. I still remember their faces when I took out those guys in front of the arcade the first time we met. I showed them what I could do then, and it wasn't that hard at all, because they barely put up a fight, and I was exceptionally furious... Heh, heh... But I'll never forget when I revealed my secret to Shinji. I don't know why I did it, but it slipped my mind so easily, and now I don't regret it... We were about to go to bed, and the conversation turned to talking about his father, and then about me... After all, I don't have a father; my mother only bought someone else's sperm from a bank, because I'm a test-tube baby... A test-tube baby... The bank my father sold the sperm to conducts very rigorous donor testing—checking if you qualify—education and character... And then I have to be someone chosen and special, I can't be like Shinji or Rei... I was chosen from among many to become an Evangelion pilot. When I defeat Angels in battle and earn the recognition of others, I'm happy. We have that in common, Shinji and I, even though that dimwitted boy doesn't want to admit it... I was called the second child, chosen to fight... Everyone admires me and is proud of me. Although I've had some unfortunate fights, too, in which I had some real problems. But it wasn't my fault! It was Shinji! It was the first time it happened to me with him, and it wasn't my fault. But no! Everyone immediately jumped at me, because it shouldn't be happening to me. And Shinji!? Well, that's my life, and it's probably not much different from other girls' lives... Except I'm special, chosen... But I like this life.If it weren't for my past, which I can't seem to come to terms with, I'd certainly be even better off here... Oh yes, my past... I guess no one knows about it, and no one should know either. Let them recognize me exactly as they met me, let nothing change...
"Miss Misato!"
Asuka shouted into the depths of their guardian's apartment.
"She just left with Kaji...
" Shinji suddenly appeared in the doorway of his room.
"With Kaji!?" Asuka screamed. "He was supposed to go for ice cream with me!!!"
"He told me to apologize..."
Shinji muttered.
"Oh, that's right..."
The girl entered with a spring in her step and, throwing herself into an armchair, began playing with her curls.
"I see you're moving in with us.
" "Yes.
" "Oh no..." The boy groaned in horror.
"What?! Is there something you don't like?!"
"No, no... I didn't say anything.
" "I hope so.
" "I'm getting more and more afraid of you every day..." the boy thought as he entered his room.
Brak komentarzy:
Prześlij komentarz