Shinji Ikari
The Third Child - Shinji Ikari
Quotes: "The Reason Why I Pilot Eva is to hear those words from him..."
Shinji Ikari is son of two scientists, Yui and Gendo Ikari. Both of them worked for NERV. His mother mysteriously disappeared during an experiment and his father abandoned him. Ever since an early age, Shinji has been living with his teachers. When he reached age 14, however, his father summoned him to NERV. But Shinji found that his father, Gendo, had summoned him only to use him as the pilot of a giant humanoid robot called Eva Shogoki. Shinji refused at first, but then seeing how severely wounded Rei Ayanami after the last battle against an Angel, Shinji agreed. Sachiel, the Third Angel, attacked and caused a minor quake, which made the ceiling collapse and fall towards Shinji. However, Eva Shogoki mysteriously activated itself and protected Shinji.
Shinji moved in with captain Misato Katsuragi and started school. After some misunderstandings, Shinji became friends with Kensuke and Toji Suzuhara.
Shinji suffered of what can be called "The Hedgehog Dilemma". He didn't want to get too close to somebody, 'cause one or both of them could end up hurt. However, this caused him to always feel pain and loneliness in his heart.
Shinji never had an easy life. He always had to battle Angels, risking his own life, and his feelings were in turmoil. He felt like nobody really cared for him after the death of his mother, Yui, until he one day met a boy his age, Kaworu Nagisa, Kaworu Of The Seashore. It turned out that Kaworu was also the Fifth Child. The two became close friends over only a couple of hours and took a shower together after a Sync. Test. Shinji started opening up to Kaworu and opened up even more when he slept over at Kaworu's. Kaworu taught Shinji how to love again.
Just like Asuka, Shinji had difficulty to show his true feelings about someone. For example, whenever he felt strong loving emotions towards someone, he'd simply blush and keep quiet. He also hid into a corner and cried for himself whenever he was upset, careful so that no one ever saw him.
Shinji thought that he was someone when he piloted Eva. Before she came to NERV, he had no real friends. But when he started piloting Eva, he was popular in school for a short time and after some difficulties became friends with Kensuke and Toji Suzuhara. He got congratulations from adults, i.e. Misato, Ritsuko and even his father. That was the main reason why he started piloting Eva, to get to hear his father say "Congratulaions".
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