Line #60 Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_One_I_Love_IS_banner_8978.jpg]]
2	[-[[caption-width-right:350:Choose: Red or Blue? And no, you can not have them both.]]-]
3
4	->''"I'm sorry Asuka. I should have done this a long time ago. But I was afraid. With Rei and you...I no longer felt alone. I thought that if I made a choice, I would lose one of you. I didn't want to lose either of you. So I made you wait. I was so selfish..."''
5	-->-- '''Shinji Ikari'''
6
7	During a test inside Unit-01, Rei realizes she cares for Shinji in a romantic way...and even though Shinji cares about her, his attention had been shifting towards Asuka. Determined to stop that, Rei decides to try to get Shinji's attention back. In turn, her actions force Asuka to drop her denial act and display her real feelings towards Shinji openly.
8
9	All of sudden, Shinji finds himself being in the middle of a war between his dearest persons...while the war against the Angels keeps waging and his personal traumas keep getting worse.
10
11	Written by Alain Gravel/Rakna and described by the author as "A story about how the love of two special girls can change one Ikari Shinji", ''The One I Love Is'' is one of the first classic ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' fanfics.
12
13	It tries to address the following question seriously: "What might have happened if instead of a deconstruction of the EveryoneCanSeeIt trope, a real LoveTriangle would have developed between the three pilots during the course of the series?". However, unlike other shipping/romance fics, it does not neglect the real events of the series proper, and strives to fit the events of the fic in the canon storyline. Most of tragedies and mind-screws that happened in the anime series also happen here; however, due to the changes in relationship dynamics, the characters react differently to those events, and evolve and develop accordingly, leading to Shinji having not only to choose between two girls...but also between saving the world and condemning it.
14
15	It can be found [[http://web.archive.org/web/20120717162230/http://rakna.angelfire.com/toili.htm here]] (together with side-stories, spin-offs and fanart made by other fans), [[http://fanbards.net/stories/12643 here]], and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/209065/1/The_one_I_love_Is here]], along with [[http://web.archive.org/web/20081203132639/http://www.geocities.com/nge_toili/ Rakna/Alain Gravel's old homepage]].
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17	Compare with other alternate universe Eva fanfics like ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'', ''Fanfic/TheChildOfLove'', ''Manga/Evangelion303'', ''Fanfic/HigherLearning'', ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'', ''Fanfic/ChildrenOfAnElderGod'', ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'', ''Fanfic/AGlassOfWine'' or ''Fanfic/{{Read The Fine Print\|Evangelion}}''.
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19	----
20
21	!! Tropes:
22
23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:A-C]]
26
27	* AbortedArc: A fan began a sequel, setting the first episode between the end of episode 12 and the epilogue. Regrettably, that fan never got around to writing more than THAT only episode.
28	* AcePilot: Asuka had trained very hard since she was three to be the best mecha pilot ever. However, her frequent defeats eroded her fragile confidence progressively until her mind snapped. However, she still got to show how good she was when she [[spoiler:ripped the MP-EVAs apart]].
29	* AdaptationNameChange: The author renamed Kaworu as Kaoru when he decided to change Kaworu's sex.
30	* AllForNothing: In one of the side-stories, Gendo admits that all he had done, all the lives he had ruined (including his son's and daughter's), all the blood he had shed...has been for nothing, since [[spoiler:he ultimately failed, having been unable to free his wife, meaning that they will never be together again]].
31	* AllTakeAndNoGive: One of the reasons that [[spoiler:Shinji chose Asuka and not Rei]] was he knew their relationship would become this: she would make him the only goal of her existence, she would do anything for him without asking for anything in return, and he would take everything, all of which would never be fair to [[spoiler:Rei]].
32	* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: In the side-story "Let the World Burn/One Dream at a Time", Gendo explains how he had tried to wipe humankind out, destroyed lives--including those of his son and the girls he loved--and got his hands stained with blood...because he had to free Yui. He loved her, missed her, blamed himself for her getting trapped inside Unit-01, and he had to set her free, no matter what.
33	-->'''Gendo''':''"I should have known. Once you were trapped, I had to set you free."''\
34	'''Yui''':''"And you thought the Third Impact would free me. That doesn't explain why you had to devastate your son's life. SEELE would have given you the Impact."''\
35	'''Gendo''':''"I couldn't let the old men control it. I had to make sure everything happened correctly."''
36	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Shinji was this to Asuka. She trained hard her whole life to become the best mecha pilot ever, only to be beaten every turn by an untrained civilian who--as far as she knew--had been picked up from the streets.
37	* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Most of the story is told from Shinji's point of view, but some scenes and most of the side-stories narrate events from other characters' points of view to flesh the plot out.
38	* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove:
39	** In episode 6:
40	--> '''Asuka''':''"It's okay. I can manage on my own. You be happy with Rei...Shinji...I...I love you..."''
41	** In episode 9:
42	-->'''Shinji''':''"Damn you Asuka! Are you deaf! I love you! I! LOVE! YOU! Is it so hard to understand?! Is it so hard to believe?! I love you! I would have chosen Rei a long time ago if I didn't love you!"''\
43	'''Asuka''':''"You...? You do?"''\
44	'''Shinji''':''"YES! So cut that crap about being worthless! It's not true! You mean a lot to me! A lot! I care more about you than I care about myself!"''
45	* AnythingYouCanDoICanDoBetter: Rei was this to Asuka. In chapter 6, she explained to Shinji that she was terrified of losing him to Rei because Rei gets better grades, is a good cook, keeps her apartment spotless, is nearly more beautiful...whereas she barely can pass tests in school due to her inability to read most kanji, is a slob...and in her mind, she is only good at piloting EVA, and in that she's not even the best anymore.
46	* ApologisesALot: Shinji has a habit of constantly apologizing for nearly every little thing, and it gets Asuka mad. However, her reasoning for this is because she feels that Shinji doesn't apologize for when he feels that he has done something wrong, but because he tries to avoid a scolding, and it drives her nuts that he is unable to stand up for himself.
47	* ArcWords: ''"Some truths can hurt if a person is not ready to hear them."''
48	* ArmorPiercingQuestion: In episode 11, Shinji decides to regard [[spoiler:Kaoru]] as his friend. However, a part of his mind asked:
49	-->'' 'If she's your friend, then why did she leave so suddenly, without a word?' ''
50	* ArmorPiercingResponse:
51	** In chapter 6, "Friends", Asuka is dissing Touji:
52	--->'''Shinji''':''"Hey! Touji's a nice guy!"''\
53	'''Asuka''':''"He's just a pervert like you!"''\
54	'''Shinji''':''"I didn't know you liked perverts..."''
55	** In chapter 11, during a nightmare, a vision of Rei openly says something Shinji had been trying not to think about:
56	--->'''Rei''':''"After the Fifteenth Angel, you swore that you wouldn't let another Angel hurt us, but you failed to protect me and so I had to die."''\
57	'''Shinji''':''"I did all that I could!"''\
58	'''Rei''':''"No, you did not. You could have destroyed it."''\
59	'''Shinji''':''"Attacking it was hurting you!"''\
60	'''Rei''':''"You acted the same way you did with the Thirteenth Angel. You feared to hurt us, so you let us die instead. I was not as lucky as Suzuhara-kun."''
61	* ArtificialLimbs: During the Angel War, Touji loses an arm and a leg, which were replaced with prosthetic limbs. They were pretty good, but they didn't look quite like real appendages, and they did not grant him enhanced physical abilities.
62	-->''I noticed that he also wore black gloves. I was very grateful for that. Even if the advances in bio-robotics had been astonishing these last few years, they hadn't yet managed to make artificial limbs that looked totally like real ones. Touji knew that the sight of his artificial hand tended to make me uneasy. I was over the guilt, but...I just couldn't look at it...''
63	* AttentionWhore: During several conversations, Asuka explains to Shinji why she yearns for being looked at and valued, and reveals she is frightened of being alone and disregarded, as if she were a worthless thing.
64	* AuthorAppeal: After completing the story, Rakna confessed that [[spoiler:Asuka was his favorite character, and that he had always planned for a Shinji/Asuka ending.]] However, he also stated [[spoiler:he started truly liking Rei after writing chapter 3, and he nearly changed his mind]].
65	* AwkwardKiss: In episode 4, Asuka dares Shinji to kiss her during their date. Tired of her taunting, Shinji grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her forcefully. Although they enjoyed it for a bit, their kiss was more awkward than romantic.
66	* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: At the beginning of the story, Shinji and Asuka argued very often. Things changed when Rei gave Shinji chocolates, making Asuka jealous, which caused her to slap him and storm out of the classroom...which made Shinji feel awful because he had noticed she was crying, and her tears hurt him more than her slap. Later, he found a chocolate heart in his bedroom, made by Asuka.
67	* BabiesEverAfter: In the four-years-later epilogue, it is revealed that Shinji and Asuka are expecting, and [[spoiler:Misato is raising her and Kaji's son, Ryouji]].
68	* BathSuicide: Asuka attempted this right before the final chapter, when she thought that she had lost all what she had and wanted: [[spoiler:her Evangelion and Shinji]].
69	* BattleCouple: Shinji and Asuka. Due to living, working and fighting together, they started to like each other and became extremely close. This closeness kicks the plot off when Rei realizes Shinji is falling for Asuka and decides to actively pursue him.
70	* BeautifulDreamer: After her [[spoiler:MindRape]], Shinji and Asuka sleep together. During the night, Asuka wakes up due to a [[CatapultNightmare nightmare]] and stares at Shinji for a while, thinking of how beautiful he looks and how much she loves him.
71	* BedmateReveal: The night after defeating Leiliel, Shinji woke up and found Asuka sleeping on his bed. He panicked right away, but Asuka told him to shut up and go back to sleep.
72	* BelligerentSexualTension: At the beginning, Shinji and Asuka fought a lot, even though they are clearly drawn to each other. However, Rei starts to actively pursue Shinji and show her affection openly, forcing Asuka to try to show her softer, nicer side openly. As a result of this, their relationship becomes calmer and stronger.
73	* BeneathTheMask: In chapter 6, Shinji finally realizes Asuka's self-assuredness and confidence were masks that covered up her very fragile self-esteem.
74	-->''There before me, from this girl who'd never shown anything but self-assuredness, was a catalogue of failures.''
75	* BerserkButton: Do not even think about hurting or harming Asuka or Rei in some way, shape or form. Or else Shinji…will ''not'' be nice to you.
76	** Zeruel found out the hard way.
77	** And later, [[spoiler:when he saw the MP-Evangelions munching on the last remaining pieces of Unit-02]], he went completely nuts and tore them apart savagely.
78	* TheBerserker: In the FinalBattle, Shinji went completely nuts when he saw [[spoiler:the MP-Evangelions had torn apart and eaten Unit-02 alive, with Asuka inside]]. He fought like a savage beast, roaring "I'LL KILL YOU!" the whole time, and he did not stop until all of them were dead.
79	* BettyAndVeronica: Rei is the Betty to Asuka's Veronica. The former is homely, quiet and feminine. The latter is bold, hot-tempered and sultry.
80	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Shinji is usually nice and meek, to the point of being a doormat. When he gets angry...he is ''scary''. When his father meddled in his love life for his own purposes, he coldly told Gendo that if he interfered again, he would refuse to pilot and the next Robeast could kill everyone as far as he was concerned. (Keep in mind, he is terrified of his father, usually). When an Eldritch Abomination hurt one of the girls he loved, he attacked like an angry berserker. He even lashed out at Rei or Asuka when he was angry (and then regretted it afterwards).
81	* BewareTheQuietOnes: Rei was a quiet and calm EmotionlessGirl, who seldom spoke and obeyed her Commander's orders without question or hesitation. But if something or someone threatened Shinji or her relationship with him, she became hostile and even violent...especially to Asuka, since Shinji was falling for her. Her relationship with Asuka became very strained and belligerent until [[spoiler:they got into a very bitter argument and a pretty virulent CatFight]]. Although that fight ended in a stalemate, Asuka noted how while Rei was normally very quiet, she could be quite savage and hit hard if provoked.
82	* BigDamnHeroes: Shinji performs two instances of this--the first in chapter 7, to save Rei and Asuka from Zeruel; and the second in chapter 12, to [[spoiler:save Asuka from the MP-Evangelions]]. [[spoiler:He arrived too late to save Unit-02, but was just in time to save Asuka's life.]]
83	* BigNo: When Shinji saw that [[spoiler:the MP-Evas had torn Unit-02 to pieces and possibly killed Asuka]], he screamed a very big and anguished "no":
84	-->''I opened my eyes and then saw a scene that will probably haunt me the rest of my life. I saw nine white [=EVAs=], circling around what was left of Headquarters. And in their hands, or even worse, their mouths, they held the remains of what had once been Unit-02.''\
85	''"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"''
86	* BloodKnight: During several conversations, Asuka tells Shinji she likes fighting because she is good at it, and people take notice when she fights. So she worked hard to become the best, because she thought that nobody would care about her otherwise.
87	* BloodLust: When Rei confessed to Shinji that the dummy plug system used her brain patterns, he couldn't believe it, because the dummy plug program fought with a savagery and thirst for blood he could never associated with the demure, quiet, and stoic Rei.
88	-->''This killing frenzy... this hunger for blood and destruction... Rei?''
89	* BonusMaterial: The author includes several lighthearted, humorous omakes at the end of every chapter. They might be about anything, from Franchise/{{Godzilla}} attacking Tokyo-3 to Shinji accidentally discovering his best friend's girlfriend is ''not'' a girl.
90	* BreakTheCutie: In case that seeing your mother dying and being abandoned by your father before your fourth birthday, being blackmailed into piloting a HumongousMecha to fight an alien monster, and being a child forced to fight a war against {{Eldritch Abomination}}s were not traumatic enough, in this story alone, Shinji has to see how the two people he cares the most about fall gradually apart, until one of them loses all her memories after [[spoiler:trying to blow herself up]], and the other attempts to [[spoiler:commit suicide, only to fall into a coma]].
91	* BreakTheHaughty: In this story, Asuka was broken to an even worse degree than in canon. In addition to the long string of traumatic humiliations, beatings, defeats, and MindRape she suffered in the original series, she got to compete with Rei over Shinji's affections. She forced herself to face her feelings, opened up to Shinji (making herself vulnerable despite of all her misgivings and fears)...only to then get depressed and heartbroken because it didn't seem to be enough to win him over, and she felt wanting compared to Rei. That situation increased her insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, and she slowly and gradually fell completely apart, culminating in [[spoiler:her attempting to kill herself]].
92	* BrokenAce: Shinji thinks that Asuka is better than him at everything--she's beautiful, smarter, more sociable, braver, more strong-willed as well as being a better pilot and fighter. Then she gradually reveals how she is utterly broken inwardly, and that she sees herself as a worthless failure.
93	* BrokenBird: In chapter 6, Asuka shows Shinji she has been very, very badly hurt, but she has always tried to overcome it and be a strong-willed, self-reliant girl.
94	-->'''Asuka''':''"Don't worry Shinji. So far, I've lived on my own, by my own, only for me, only for my own values and my own satisfaction. I don't need you, or anyone else for that matter. I... I don't want to be lonely anymore. If I could... I'd rather be with you then be alone. But it's too late now. And besides... half of your heart is not enough. If I can't have you all to myself, then I'd rather not have you at all..."''\
95	'''Shinji''':''"Asuka..."''\
96	'''Asuka''':''"It's okay. I can manage on my own."''
97	* BrotherSisterIncest: Although Shinji likes Asuka, he also likes Rei (and both girls like him back). However, Rei does not want to tell him she is his mother's clone, because she is afraid that it will kill any possibility of having a loving relationship with him. Later, Shinji learns about her origins...[[spoiler:But even then, he does not care about it, because she is still Rei.]]
98	* CallingTheOldManOut:
99	** Shinji called his father out twice:
100	*** In chapter 5, Shinji gets mad because his father's been manipulating Asuka and Rei. So much so, that he marches to his office and warns Gendo against interfering in their lives again, pointing out ''he'' is more expendable than a pilot.
101	---->'''Gendo''':''"You think you can threaten me?"''\
102	'''Shinji''':''"Of course I can. I am the only pilot of Unit-01. You need me to save your life. You know as well as I do that you don't have any spare pilots. And you also know that Rei and Asuka won't be able to fight alone for long. That is, if I don't convince them to stop fighting for you at all. In this whole scenario...you are the only one who is useless."''
103	*** And in chapter 11, Shinji explodes in public:
104	---->'''Shinji''':''"Damn you! You hurt Touji! You let Asuka suffer! You took Rei from me! And now you want me to kill Kaoru? You heartless son of a bitch! If it wasn't my mother's name, I'd be ashamed of being called Ikari!"''
105	* CanNotSpitItOut: Asuka had a very hard time openly confessing her feelings to Shinji. And the fact that Shinji himself also has a very hard time with this is part of what moves the plot forward.
106	* CatFight: Asuka and Rei had three, all of them about Shinji, and all of them happening off-screen:
107	** The first of them happened in chapter 5, while Shinji--the POV character--was trapped into the Sea of Dirac (an void-like dimension). Asuka wanted to hide her growing worry, so she said things she did not mean, and Rei took offense. When Shinji returned, Rei's left cheek was badly bruised and Asuka had a black eye and a cut on her lower lip.
108	** The next happened in chapter 7, during the month Shinji spent absorbed into the core of Unit-01, and it was narrated in the side-story "Friends or Rivals". Asuka went to Rei's apartment and they got into a fight. After beating the crap out of each other, ruining Rei's living room and being taken to NERV's med bay in the process, they realized they had done something very stupid and made up.
109	** The last happened a while before the epilogue. Rei was wasting her life, and Asuka went to her apartment to have a serious talk with her. When Asuka came back to her and Shinji's apartment, she brought Rei along, both girls being bruised and exhausted.
110	* CatapultNightmare: Asuka does this in chapter 9, following a nightmare where she was forced to relive the worst parts of her childhood.
111	-->''The teenage girl woke up with a start, her heart beating so fast that she thought for a moment that it would burst out of her chest. Then, the memories came again, as did the tears, silent, yet present.''
112	* CharacterDevelopment:
113	** Shinji learns to stand up for himself, to stop running away from his problems, and otherwise giving up without trying.
114	** Asuka learns to stop pushing people away, as well as not letting her existence be defined by piloting a HumongousMecha.
115	** Rei learns to acknowledge her emotions, show her feelings, and develop bonds.
116	* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Back when the fic was being written, fans debated whether it was or was not Misato who shot Kaji (shortly after, WordOfGod stated she did not). Rakna was uncertain about how he wanted to handle this, and he even put up a poll on his site. Finally, he decided on [[spoiler:leaving it ambiguous]]. Also, it is interesting pondering how Asuka's portrayal could have been affected by one of the extra scenes added in later versions (the one showed she had wept after kissing Shinji, because she believed he really was not interested in her since he hadn't kissed her back, and he wouldn't even hold her or touch her), or if he would have added the manga event regarding her stepmother to her backstory, and how it would have played out.
117	* CharacterTics: Asuka sometimes clenches and unclenches her fist, like Shinji did. She even mentions it in the “Friends and Rivals” side-story:
118	-->''I didn't really notice it, but I clenched and unclenched my fist, much like Shinji sometimes did.''
119	* ChefOfIron:
120	** Rei is a HumongousMecha pilot and, surprisingly, an excellent cook. When Shinji gets worried because she always eats instant food, he starts to teach her how to cook a few recipes. She learns quickly and she becomes an excellent cook as a result. Asuka even remarks that she cooks like a professional chef.
121	** Shinji is not as good as her, but he is still a very good cook...and is the squad member with the greater number of kills.
122	* ChickMagnet: Shinji goes from believing nobody cares for him to ask--more than once--why girls are interested in him, and what has he done to deserve it. [[http://www.oocities.org/tokyo/teahouse/2236/ The old homepage]] even joked about it, displaying pictures of Asuka, Rei, Misato and Hikari, and asking if they were romantically interested in Shinji.
123	* CluelessChickMagnet: Shinji drew the eyes of girls wherever he went...and he had absolutely no idea about it. He was genuinely shocked and surprised when Rei gave him chocolates, and when Hikari told him that Asuka was in love with him because he was completely oblivious to their feelings and Asuka's hints.
124	* ConvenientComa: Asuka was in a coma twice: after [[spoiler:attempting to kill herself]], and [[spoiler:after being badly wounded in the final battle]].
125	* ConvenientlyAnOrphan: As per canon, all Evangelion pilots [[spoiler:except Kaoru]] are orphans.
126	* ConverseWithTheUnconscious: When [[spoiler:Asuka was in a coma after attempting to kill herself]], Shinji remained by her side the whole time, talking to her every so often, hoping his voice had reached her somehow.
127	-->'''Shinji''':''Physically, she was now fine. She had suffered from a bit of malnutrition, but nothing severe. However, she wouldn't wake up. The doctors had said it was all up to her. She didn't wake up because she didn't want to.''\
128	''So I waited for her to come back.''\
129	''Most of the time, I simply waited in silence. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was exhausting. It reminded me much of my experience inside the Twelfth Angel. There wasn't really anything else I could do but stay put and wait. When I got too bored, I would talk to her, hoping that the sound of my voice could reach her somehow... wherever she was. I spoke of the past, of what I thought when I first saw her on that aircraft carrier, looking so pretty in her yellow dress and how impressed I had been by her air of confidence.''
130	* CooldownHug: It happens a lot of times. Some of them include:
131	** Shinji hugging an upset and furious Asuka in chapter 4, to reassure her after an argument between them;
132	** Shinji also hugging Misato when she was crying her heart out after [[spoiler:Kaji's last phone call]];
133	** Shinji hugging Asuka several times after her MindRape, to comfort her and reassure her that he was there for her;
134	** Asuka embracing Shinji when he collapsed on the floor, sobbing because [[spoiler:Rei had blown herself up to save his life]];
135	** And [[spoiler:Kaoru]] hugging Shinji when he was shivering after having a terrible nightmare and feeling lonely.
136	* CrushBlush: In chapter 9, Shinji blurts out that he loves Asuka to her face, which causes him to blush brightly.
137	-->''As the words sunk in, Asuka's eyes grew wider and wider. I felt myself blushing heavily under her gaze.''
138	* CurbStompBattle: Shinji against [[spoiler:the MP-Evas in the FinalBattle]]. Asuka [[spoiler:was butchering them, when they suddenly gained the upper hand and tore her Unit-02 to pieces]]. Then Shinji arrived, saw what they had done, and went completely berserk, which led to him utterly ''massacring'' them.
139
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:D-F]]
143
144	* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: In the side-story "Let the World Burn / One Dream at a Time" Gendo explains to [[spoiler:Yui]] how he cared about Shinji, but abandoned his son because Shinji scared him. His son loved him and he could not understand why; neither did he think he deserved it. Moreover, Gendo was convinced he would only hurt Shinji if he stayed around.
145	-->'''Gendo''':''"....if all I did was hurt him, it was better that I wasn't there."''\
146	'''Yui''':''"Shinji didn't think so. Or at least up till a certain point."''
147	* DeathEqualsRedemption: Averted with [[spoiler:Gendo]]. In the final moment of his life, he [[spoiler:reunites with Yui]] at last, and he confessed he knew he had done many horrible things [[spoiler:to try to get her back]]; he then said he was sorry for what he had done to his son. [[spoiler: Yui]] then informed him that he had yet to earn his redemption in order to have [[spoiler: her forgiveness]].
148	* DeathGlare: During the first half of the story, Asuka and Rei were very hostile to each other due to being in love with the same boy. They constantly gave each other heated, angry glares. Shinji was also the recipient of many of Asuka's incensed glares. An example of this happened in chapter 5:
149	-->''This was something I had not expected. I had not even chosen yet one of them and Rei was already assuming that I'd ask her to marry me... and with the way Asuka was glaring at me... I probably looked as white as a ghost.''
150	* DeathOfTheHypotenuse: Subverted and explored. [[spoiler: After Rei is seemingly killed, Asuka reflects on how this means she can have Shinji for herself, but feels guilty for even thinking this. It turns out Rei survived anyway.]]
151	* DefrostingIceQueen: Shinji had defrosted both [[{{Tsundere}} Asuka]] and [[EmotionlessGirl Rei]]...and he had no idea that he'd done so until both got jealous and started fighting over him.
152	* DespairEventHorizon:
153	** Asuka experiences this a lot in the story. After several close calls (in chapter 6, when she thought she had lost Shinji; and in chapter 9, after her MindRape), Asuka crosses the line in chapter 10: she has been completely beaten, humiliated and even {{Mind Rape}}d; she knows she will be replaced soon, and regards herself as an utter and completely worthless failure. After [[spoiler:Rei's death]], the only thing keeping her from falling apart is Shinji loving her. But when [[spoiler:it turns out that Rei has survived]], Asuka thinks Shinji has chosen Rei over her, and she cannot bear it anymore. She runs away, leaving a goodbye note, and slits her wrists.
154	** Shinji was on the brink of crossing it after [[spoiler:Kaoru's death]]. Then the [[spoiler:Geofront was invaded, Misato was shot, Asuka's Unit-02 was butchered and eaten by the MP-Evas]], and Shinji thought he had nothing left.
155	--->''All those who had meant something to me, all those I had cared for... they were all dead. I had nothing, nothing left. Nothing to expect. No hope.''
156	* {{Determinator}}: At the end of episode 11, when Shinji is at his lowest, Misato explains why he cannot and must not give up. Thanks to her words, he doesn't give in to his despair, which helps him to [[spoiler:keep fighting during the FinalBattle, even though everything seems lost and he has nothing left; as a result, he defeats nine war the MP-Evas]]. And because he did not give up, [[spoiler:Asuka survived the battle]].
157	* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: During the FinalBattle, Shinji uses Unit-01 to [[spoiler:run the Lance of Longinus through an EldritchAbomination born when Gendo performed the Forbidden Union betweeh Lilith and Adam]].
158	* DistantFinale: The epilogue takes place four years after the FinalBattle, and focuses on [[spoiler: Shinji and Asuka's wedding]]. [[spoiler: During the ceremony, Shinji elaborates on what has happened to the cast in the days that led up to this moment.]]
159	* DontYouDarePityMe: In chapter 9, Asuka is cracking under pressure and going through a severe breakdown, [[spoiler: which her MindRape worsened.]] When Shinji tries to help her, she tells him several times she does not want to be pitied, and that she actually hates being pitied.
160	-->''"Don't give me that look! The last thing I want is your pity, Third Children!"''
161	* DramaticIrony: After [[spoiler:Asuka runs away]], a depressed Shinji notes how ironic it is that he--a self-proclaimed coward and wimp--stood his ground while she (who had always been brave and indomitably stubborn) ran away.
162	* DreamSequence: Shinji had one when he was trapped inside Leiliel, and another when he was stuck in Unit-01 after fighting Zeruel. They consisted of memories and visions intermingling, where his family and friends asked him about his life and helped him reach a resolution.
163	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Asuka had been completely beaten, humiliated and even {{MindRape}}d, after which she knew she would be replaced.]] She regarded herself as an utter, worthless failure, and the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely was Shinji loving her. However, when she thought Shinji had chosen [[spoiler:Rei]] over her, she lost her only remaining reason to live. She wrote a goodbye note, ran away, and slit her wrists. [[spoiler:Fortunately, she was found in time to save her life.]]
164	* DudeShesLikeInAComa: At the beginning of chapter 12, Shinji is watching over a comatose [[spoiler:Asuka]]. Before leaving for a little while he leans over and kisses her lips softly.
165	-->''I bent down (painfully) toward Asuka and gave a soft kiss on the sleeping girl's lips. I almost regretted I did. Those were not the moist and soft lips I knew; they were dry, cracked, and completely unresponsive.''
166	* DyeOrDie: After the FinalBattle [[spoiler:Rei]] dyes her hair brown (and wears contact lenses) so nobody knows [[spoiler:she is still alive.]]
167	* EarlyBirdCameo: Shinji meets Kaworu shortly after the defeat of the Thirteenth Angel. In canon Kaworu came along after the death of the Sixteenth.
168	* EatingTheEyeCandy: Shinji often found himself staring at Asuka and Rei, specially the former. When any of them wears a dress, when Asuka wore a swimsuit in chapter 5... he finds them very attractive.
169	* EldritchAbomination: The Angels -or Messengers-, giant alien monsters sporting all kind of shapes and abilities. Nearly all of them keep their canon selves, but Tabris. He is [[spoiler:a her in this story.]] Adam -the father of the Angels- and Lilith -mother of all life on Earth- also show up. In addition to them [[spoiler:Gendo manages to merge with both Adam and Lilith at the end of the story.]]
170	* ElevatorGoingDown: Subverted. In chapter 9 Maya is waiting for the elevator coming down. When the doors open she sees Asuka kneeled in front of a standing Shinji. She blushes, thinking they have just had sex. However nothing like that had happened.
171	* EmotionlessGirl: Rei starts the story like this, completely emotionless, but she learns to identify and display their emotions and becomes more expressive as she spends time with Shinji and later Asuka. However, when Shinji disappeared for one month [[spoiler:-and later when he chose Asuka over her-]] she reverted to her original behaviour (although Asuka managed to make her snap out of it the second time).
172	* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone could see Asuka liked Shinji and vice versa. Everyone but Shinji, of course. When Hikari told Asuka liked him and she believed that they were a couple he was genuinely shocked.
173	* ExpendableClone: Rei regarded herself as a mere clone and she thought her life was worthless. Shinji and later Asuka worked hard to convince her otherwise.
174	* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:Kaji]] faked his own death to throw SEELE off his trail while he worked to expose them.
175	* FanArt: Many fans drew fanart and even comic pages from the story when it was at the height of its popularity. Unfortunately, it disappeared when the server crashed.
176	* FateWorseThanDeath: After trying to cause Third Impact to reunite with Yui, [[spoiler:Gendo gets trapped in a sort of deserted Limbo, separated from his wife forever... which is his personal vision of Hell.]]
177	* FieryRedhead: Asuka is quite hot-tempered, hot-blooded and emotional. This is visible in her first scene, where she has a jealousy-fueled public meltdown after Rei has given chocolates to Shinji. It is even reinforced by chapter 4's title ("Don't play with fire") which focused on her.
178	* TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest:
179	** In chapter 6 Rei is trying to convince Shinji to get over his feelings towards Asuka and suggests him to talk to Kaji because the older man was in a relationship with Misato and she thinks he will make Shinji understanding he has to move on and forget about the past... not knowing Kaji ''never'' got over Misato.
180	** After the last battle, [[spoiler:Misato and Makoto started dating.]] However Shinji thinks [[spoiler:his guardian]] can not completely love [[spoiler:Makoto]] because she never stopped loving her first lover.
181	* FirstGirlWins: [[spoiler:Averted. Nope. She does not.]]
182	* FirstKiss: In chapter 5 Shinji and Asuka kiss during their first date after Asuka challenged Shinji to kiss her.
183	* ForcefulKiss: In chapter 4 Asuka tries to tease Shinji into kissing her. All of a sudden Shinji grabs her arms, pulls her closer and kisses her.
184	* ForeignCussWord: In chapter 2 Asuka and Rei are having a very heated argument. At one point Asuka yells: "Du... du Hure!"
185	* ForWantOfANail: The nail is Rei watching and feeling several of Shinji's memories during a synch test in Unit 01 and realizing she likes him, but he is falling for Asuka. Rei decides she will not let Asuka have him, and subsequently she gives Shinji a chocolate box in Valentine’s Day. That action unleashes a succession of changes, altering the relationships between the main characters profoundly, and eventually culminating in [[spoiler:averting the end of the world.]]
186	* FreudianExcuse: Most of the story is narrated from Shinji's point of view, so Gendo is treated very unsympathetically most of the time. The "Let the World Burn/One Dream at a Time" side-story explores his personality and motivations. Gendo is depicted as a pathetic, broken shell of a man who always felt lonely and frightened of other people, thinking nobody would ever love him because he was not worth it, and fell utterly apart after his wife's death, sending his only son away because he was scared of Shinji and of hurting him.
187
188	[[/folder]]
189
190	[[folder:G-I]]
191
192	* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: After [[spoiler:killing the last Angel]] Shinji feels more depressed and lonelier than ever and he implies he wants to commit suicide. Misato slaps him -and the slap was worthy of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Bright Noa]]'' himself- and points out that if he dies all hurt his friends went through and all sacrifices they did will be meaningless.
193	-->''"Why am I the one who always stays alive? Why do people have to sacrifice themselves for me? I'm not worth it! My life is not worth so much pain. I should have been the one to die. Maybe there's still time to put an end to the pain."''\
194	''"Shinji!"''\
195	''I gasped as I felt Misato's hand hitting my cheek.''\
196	''"Don't you ever say that, Shinji! Don't even dare think about it! If you die now, then all the sacrifice and suffering your friends went through would become meaningless! Don't disgrace them!"''\
197	''The words hit me even harder than her hand. I had never thought about things this way.''
198	* GenderFlip: In this story [[spoiler:Kaworu Nagisa]] -a character is male in canon- is a girl (and gets a rename: [[spoiler:Kaoru Nagisa]]).
199	* GiantEqualsInvincible: Although he hates fighting, Shinji gets forced to pilot a giant robot because there is nothing else that can damage the [[{{Robeast}} Angels]], and he is the only one can pilot Unit 01.
200	* GoodbyeCruelWorld: In chapter 10 [[spoiler:Asuka]] feels she no longer has a reason to live [[spoiler:after losing her ability to pilot Eva and after losing -or so she thinks- Shinji.]] So she wrote a goodbye note for Shinji and left, intending to kill herself.
201	* GratuitousGerman: Asuka uses her mother tongue liberally.
202	** In chapter 5 she exclaims "Gott sei Dank!" ("Thank God!") when she sees Shinji is cooking.
203	* GratuitousSpanish: The title of the never-finished sequel is "Que Sera Sera" (meaning -after a fashion- "Whatever happens, happens". Incidentally it is incorrect. It should be written: "Lo Que Será, Será".)
204	* GreenEyedEpiphany:
205	** During a synch test Rei saw Shinji's memories and realized he was drawn to Asuka... and that realization made her angry and anxious. Then she realized she loved him.
206	** The immediate consequence of the abovementioned epiphany was Rei starting flirting with Shinji, which in turn made Asuka very jealous and forced her to admit she also loved Shinji.
207	* GrewASpine: Shinji forces himself to grow a spine AND keeping it intact to protect Asuka and [[BrotherSisterIncest Rei]].
208	* GroinAttack: In chapter 7 Asuka was sleeping on her bed when someone fell on top of her. She woke up, and thinking a pervert was attacking her, kneed his groin. Then someone switched the light on and she saw the intruder was Shinji. Oops.
209	-->''I don't know how she managed, but Asuka ended up on top of me and jammed her fist in my face, followed by her knee in my crotch.''
210	* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:Shinji and Asuka]] got married in the Epilogue after living several years together happily.
211	* HardWorkHardlyWorks: In chapter 9 Asuka complains that she worked hard for one decade to become the best pilot, and she was being beaten by a barely-trained rookie.
212	-->'''Asuka:''' Of course I'm upset! How would you feel, Shinji, if you devoted your whole life to something and it didn't pay off? I've been training to be an Eva pilot for ten years. Ten years, Shinji! I should be the best! I worked at it, damn it! I worked hard for it! But instead, you, who's been piloting for less than a year, can beat me! And you're not even trying! What the hell was I doing, if I can get beaten by some jerk they grabbed off the street?!
213	* HatesBeingAlone: The three Children suffered of this in the original material, but it increases cause the events of the fic. Rei no longer wants to be alone, and Shinji and Asuka (who was good pretending otherwise) hate it now. The former tells he was used to it before, but after being in a LoveTriangle he does not want to be alone again. And the latter sobs to Shinji she is sick of being alone during a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to herself.
214	* HighSchoolSweethearts: Asuka and Rei competed over Shinji when they went to the same school until he [[spoiler:chose Asuka.]] In the epilogue they got married.
215	* HintDropping: During the first half of the story, Asuka teases Shinji, incites him to kiss her, tries to sleep with him... and Shinji didn't got it until she bluntly said she loved him.
216	* HopeSpot: In chapter 7, Shinji has come back to the physical world after spending a month stuck inside his giant robot, Asuka and Rei have become friends, and the three of them and Misato are fine and are relatively happy. In the next chapters [[spoiler:Kaji gets assassinated, Asuka gets mind-raped, Rei blows herself up, Shinji's remaining friends move out, Misato barely comes home, and he gets forced to kill another person who had showed him affection.]]
217	* HotBlooded: Asuka is very emotional and her reactions are often extreme. Often in the story she goes from sheer rage to bitter weeping in a matter of seconds (such like when Rei gave Shinji chocolates and Asuka got beyond mad, stomped towards him, slapped him, and then ran from the classroom so nobody saw her crying). And she is too hasty and rash for her own good.
218	* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: Asuka was [[AcePilot the best Eva pilot]], a genius and a [[FieryRedhead beautiful girl]]. She gloated about it because her very fragile self-esteem depended on being the best at all what she did. However throughout the fic she got routinely beaten by her teammates, defeated by the [[{{Robeast}} Angels]] and the guy she loves is incapable to choose between her and another girl. When she is {{mind Rape}}d, that is the final blow and humiliation and she feels that she is worthless and she has nothing to live for. She even quotes the line verbatim:
219	-->'''Asuka''': "How the mighty have fallen. Look at me... I'm crying... I hate crying... only a weak person cries. I hate Wonder Girl... she showed everyone how pathetic I was. I hate you... you made me cry, now you can see how disgusting I am. I hate everybody... but most of all... I hate myself..."
220	* HumongousMecha: The bio-mechanical Evangelions. Shinji hates them, but after the War [[spoiler:Unit 01 is the only giant robot left and he still has to undergo regular synch tests with it.]]
221	* {{Hypocrite}}: In chapter 6 Shinji calls Rei a hypocrite because she said that she'd never hurt him, but she kept things from him.
222	* IgnoredEpiphany:
223	** Played straight in chapter three. Shinji is making out with Rei. Suddenly he starts thinking about Asuka, and he is unable to go on. If he would have realized that it meant he loved Asuka the most, the LoveTriangle could have been resolved right then, but instead of getting a clue he complained about Asuka mucking things up.
224	** Played straight again one chapter later. Asuka dares Shinji to kiss her because she was bored. Typically clueless, Shinji replies that "You don't kiss a guy because you're bored". Exactly, Shinji. So, ''think'': Why does she want to kiss you?
225	** Averted in a later chapter. Shinji suggests Asuka her parents surely care about her. She lets him know that his father does not give a damn about her and her mother is dead. After few seconds it hit him that she was just like him.
226	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: In chapter 11 Shinji tried to help a brainwashed Rei to remember him. It didn't work.
227	* TheILoveYouStigma: Even though she was competing with Rei to win Shinji over, Asuka was unable to tell him "I love you" for a long time. In the first chapters she was barely capable to admit and tell openly she liked him.
228	* IMissMom: Shinji often misses his mother and wishes she was there with him. He also wonders what his father would be like if he would not have lost her.
229	* ImportantHairAccessory: Asuka always wore her iconic red hair clips. After she [[spoiler:went missing,]] Shinji wore them for a while.
230	* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Shinji used to envy Asuka's boastful arrogance and confidence... and then he saw her berating herself several times and losing her will to live after her MindRape and he realized her confidence was false and she was a very insecure, vulnerable person.
231	* InSpiteOfANail: Although Shinji, Asuka and Rei and their relationship changed a lot throughout the story, most canon tragedies still happened. Their different and improved mindset only changed one thing: [[spoiler:the outcome of the war.]]
232	* InterruptedSuicide: After [[spoiler:running away, Asuka lay down on a tube and slit her wrists.]] However several Section-2 agents found her in time to save her life.
233	* ItsAllMyFault: When Shinji found out that his friend Touji had become a pilot because NERV promised to take care of his sister (who had been accidentally hurt during Shinji's first battle), he blamed himself for his wounds, despite of Rei trying to convince him that he was not responsible:
234	-->''"It's my fault... I failed to take control of the EVA... Father... my hands... he used me to harm Touji. And now... you say he piloted because of his sister? It's... it's all my fault! If I hadn't hurt his sister in the first place, none of this would have happened! Touji wouldn't have piloted! IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"''
235
236	[[/folder]]
237
238	[[folder:J-L]]
239
240	* TheKidWithTheRemoteControl: After being absorbed into Unit 01 and [[spoiler:being told about Rei’s origins]] Shinji realizes he was the only one could pilot Unit 01 despite being a teen with no training because his mother is inside the giant robot.
241	* LastGirlWins: [[spoiler:Rei was the first female character who shows up in the story. Asuka comes along later.]] Shinji fell for both but in the end he chose [[spoiler:Asuka.]]
242	* LateArrivalSpoiler: This fanfic got finished several years ago and became very popular among the fans, so that if someone starts reading the story for first time it's likely that person already knows beforehand whom Shinji chooses.
243	* LatexSpaceSuit: The pilots wear skintight suits called plugsuits when they drive their giant robots. In this story there are two standard models: one for males and another for females. However Asuka's plugsuit is different from Rei's because Asuka is the first production model's pilot and her plugsuit's design is the standard one.
244	* LeaveMeAlone:
245	** In chapter 4 Shinji hurts Asuka and she runs away. Shinji looks for her and when he finds her, she is sitting under a tree and sobbing. As soon as he approaches she screams him leaving her alone.
246	--->''"Go away..."''\
247	''Her voice had barely been stronger than a whisper. It got definitely louder as I continued, as if I hadn't heard her.''\
248	''"Go away!"''\
249	''I continued to ignore her.''\
250	''"You're hurt, Asuka..."''\
251	''"LEAVE ME ALONE!"''\
252	''What stopped me was the look on her face, rather than the words. I had seen her angry before. I had seen her mad before. I had seen her sad before. But this... It was a look of pure hatred.''\
253	''"I don't need you! I don't need anyone! Go away!"''\
254	''This said, she pulled her legs up to her chest, let her chin rest on her knees and then closed her eyes.''\
255	''"Leave me alone... just... leave me alone..."''\
256	''This time, she had said the words between sobs.''
257	** In chapter 11, Kaoru asks Shinji to hang out with him. Unfortunately, Shinji is so frightened of getting hurt that he asks her leave him alone.
258	---> I looked at that warm smile. Loneliness... I didn't want to be lonely anymore... but I didn't want to be hurt again...\
259	"No. Just leave me alone..."\
260	The girl left without a word, disappointment clearly showing on her face. It was a clear contrast to her usual cheerful smile. Some part of me felt bad about that. But I tried to ignore it.\
261	I would not be hurt again...
262	* LetsWaitAWhile: Subverted. In an early chapter, Rei wants to have sex with Shinji but he backs out because [[spoiler:he can not stop to think about Asuka.]] Not wanting to hurt Rei he lies, saying he stopped because he wants to make sure things don't go too fast.
263	* LighterAndSofter: A bit lighter than canon thanks to the LoveTriangle between the three pilots which led to them finding some happiness and [[spoiler:Third Impact being averted.]]
264	* LoveConfession: Rei blurted out she loved Shinji in presence of everybody during a celebratory party in Misato's home. Asuka said Shinji she liked him several weeks later when they were alone and sharing bedding space, but due to her fear to be vulnerable she did not say she loved him until she thought she had lost him. Shinji admitted he cared about both girls early on, but it was when [[spoiler:Asuka got {{Mind Rape}}d by Arael when he dared to tell her he loved her.]]
265	* LoveEpiphany:
266	** Shinji has three: when he realizes [[spoiler:he has fallen in love with Rei]], when he understands he [[spoiler:cares for Asuka]] because he is in love with her, and finally when he realizes it is [[spoiler:Asuka the one he loves the most.]]
267	** Rei has hers in the Prologue: during a sync test in Unit 01 she accidentally sees Shinji's memories, realizes he has feelings towards Asuka and herself and gets afraid of losing him to Asuka. Then she realizes she likes him.
268	** Asuka has hers when she sees Rei giving chocolates to Shinji.
269	* LoveHurts:
270	** Shinji had been alone since he was a kid and he was resigned to it. Then he met Asuka and Rei and he fell for them. However [[spoiler:Rei blew herself up to stop Armisael and Asuka ran away and slit her wrists because she thought she had lost him.]] Shinji was alone again [[spoiler:for a while]] and he felt loneliness was unbearable now.
271	** Asuka fell for Shinji and it hurt her knowing he had feelings not only for her but also for Rei. After her MindRape she felt he was the only thing she had left. Thinking she had lost him too was the final blow to her mental stability. She [[spoiler:ran away and attempted to kill herself.]]
272	* LoveInterest: Shinji is Asuka and Rei's love interest. He loves both girls [[spoiler:and finally he chooses Asuka.]]
273	* LovelyAngels: Asuka and Rei were part of a team of HumongousMecha pilots. Unfortunately, due to their different personalities and being fighting over the same boy their teamwork was pretty ineffective.
274	* LoveMakesYouEvil:
275	** Gendo specifically tells that his hands are blood-stained because he thought it would be the only way to reunite with his wife.
276	** In an alternate ending [[spoiler:Shinji is so determined to get Asuka back that he is following on his father's steps.]]
277	* LoveRevelationEpiphany: In chapter 1 Rei gave Shinji chocolates. In reaction Asuka got beyond mad, yelled at him and slapped him. Then she cried and ran out of the class. And Shinji had absolutely no idea of why. Later Hikari yelled him he was a blind, thick-headed idiot and told him that Asuka loved him. Shinji was shocked because he liked Asuka but he could not believe she was interested in him.
278	* LoveTriangle: The Asuka/Shinji/Rei love triangle drives the plot. Rei realizes she likes Shinji and he likes her... but he is falling for Asuka. Since she does not want to lose him to the other girl she starts to express her feelings openly, in turn forcing Asuka to acknowledge and display she loves Shinji openly. Meanwhile Shinji likes both girls and he is afraid of hurting either of them.
279	* LovingAShadow: Asuka had a crush on Kaji because he was handsome and manly. Later on, she admits that he wasn't the person that she believed that he was.
280	* LuminescentBlush: In chapter 9 Shinji blurts out that he loves Asuka to her face. Then he blushes brigthly.
281	-->''As the words sunk in, Asuka's eyes grew wider and wider. I felt myself blushing heavily under her gaze.''
282
283	[[/folder]]
284
285	[[folder:M-O]]
286
287	* MamaBear: Yui Ikari went berserker every time her son was in danger... and when [[spoiler: Misato said she did not want to die because she was pregnant]] she activated Unit 01. Shinji -who had refused to sortie until then- realized his mother wanted to protect [[spoiler:Misato's]] baby as well, and he reluctantly agreed to fight.
288	* MindRape:
289	** When Shinji fell into Leliel, the Angel entered his mind to try understand the human mind. However Shinji did not realize what was happening, and he attributed the visions he got to a hallucination.
290	** On the other hand, when Arael burst into Asuka's mind, forcing her to relive her worst memories, she was ''painfully'' aware what was happening. She screamed and even begged for it stopping and leaving her alone.
291	--->''"My mind has been sullied. Shinji... it's polluted. What should I do? My mind has been polluted... I... I want to die..."''
292	* MindScrew: There was at least three: the first in chapter 5 Shinji falls into Leliel trap and sees an image of his younger self asking what he loves and what people think of him; in chapter 7 when Shinji is absorbed into his giant robot and wades through a bunch of hallucinations; and in chapter 12's side-story when [[spoiler:Gendo merges with Adam and Lilith. He and Unit 01 grab the Lance at the same time and all of the sudden we see Gendo and Yui are in some kind of Eldritch Location. They talk, Gendo explains his actions, Yui and Kaoru lecture him about his mistakes, and Yui tells she will set him free because he was willing to do anything to save her... and maybe after a long while she will forgive him.]]
293	* MirrorCharacter: In the false epilogue it was shown what Shinji might have turned into if [[spoiler:Asuka would have never awoken from her coma:]] He would become eerily cold and driven, and his obsession with saving the woman he loved would lead him to try to bring about Instrumentality, manipulating everyone around him and treating them like tools to achieve that goal. In a nutshell, he would turn into his father. As a reader put told, the scariest thing of that alternate epilogue is it feels right.
294	* MissingMom: In chapter 9, Asuka reveals Shinji her mother was dead. Shocked, Shinji realizes she is just like him.
295	* NightmareSequence: In chapter 11 Shinji has a nightmare where he relives his worst failures: first he sees Unit-00 fighting Armisael and blowing up. Then Rei appears and says that he let her die before bursting into flame. Right after Asuka shows up, accuses him of never having loved her and betraying her trust, and then slits her wrist. When Shinji tries to touch her, her body erupts in a shower of blood, covering him whole. Shinji screams and then he wakes up.
296	* NoodleIncident: Shinji spent one month absorbed into Unit 01. After getting pulled out of the giant robot, he found Asuka and Rei were now friends and were living together. Shinji asked Misato what had happened between them, and his guardian mentioned off-handily a CatFight, but she did not provide further details (a side-story written later by another author narrated what happened that month, though).
297	* NoSocialSkills:
298	** Shinji knew he was not good with people, but he thought Asuka was more sociable. However he slowly realizes he is very, very wrong: Asuka is popular but she has never dated anybody, has very few real friends and has a hard time opening up.
299	** Rei is lonely and asocial at the beginning. After opening up to Shinji she gets better and she even makes some friends (she eventually befriends Asuka).
300	* NotSoDifferentRemark: Shinji notes several times throughout how alike he and Asuka are, to the point of considering it eerie.
301	-->''I'd thought once before that she was a lot like me, by pushing people away... but I'd never imagined this. It was distressing to find out how much we really were alike.''
302	* NotWhatItLooksLike: In chapter 9 Shinji and Asuka argue as riding an elevator. Asuka loses her temper for a second and slaps him. Shinji falls on his back and Asuka gets horrified and kneels down. Shinji stands and reaches a hand down to help her up when the elevator stops and Maya walks in on them. She blushes and Shinji does not want to know what she thought was happening.
303	* ObliviousToHints: Shinji never got all hints Asuka had constantly dropped at his direction. Not even when she said she wanted to kiss him in chapter 4 he thought she might like him. She had to resort to blurt her feelings out blatantly.
304	* ObliviousToLove: Shinji had no freaking idea that Asuka and Rei liked him. He was utterly clueless. So that when Rei gave him chocolates in episode 1 he was surprised. When Asuka got mad with jealousy he was incredulous. When Hikari told Asuka liked him he was shocked and amazed. Then in episode 2 they argued, shouting (Asuka) and snarling (Rei) at each other that he was hers and Shinji finally got a clue. Finally.
305	* OfficialCouple: Shinji and [[spoiler:Asuka.]]
306	* OfficialKiss: In chapter 4, after an awkward TestKiss, a fight, an argument and a long talk, [[spoiler:Asuka and Shinji]] kissed under the shade of a tree in the middle of a wood.
307	* OldFlame: Misato and Kaji got back together during the story, but [[spoiler:he had to fake his death to expose SEELE.]]
308	* OrphansOrdeal: Shinji had led a crappy life after his mother Yui's demise, and he thought Asuka was way more strong-willed and brave than him. However he gradually discovered Asuka was another orphan with a very fragile self-esteem regarded herself as a catalogue of failures.
309
310	[[/folder]]
311
312	[[folder:P-R]]
313
314	* ParentalAbandonment: In chapter 9, as Asuka is going through a terrible break-down, Shinji finds out her mother died and her father does not care about her... and he realizes she is just like him.
315	* ParentalNeglect: Misato cared dearly for her wards Shinji and Asuka, but after [[spoiler:Kaji's death,]] she was so wrapped into her grief, rage and thirst for revenge that she completely neglected them while they were going through a break-down. She never helped Asuka while she was going through a severe emotional turmoil or after she got mind-raped, and she was not there for Shinji when he was depressed because everyone [[spoiler:were dying or leaving him.]] Shinji even mentioned she was barely in home those days.
316	* ParentalSubstitute: Misato took Shinji and Asuka in when they were summoned to Tokyo-3. Shinji also looks up to Kaji and often goes to him for help, advice or counseling. Several times He has wished that Kaji was his real father.
317	* PlaguedByNightmares:
318	** Asuka suffers frequent nightmares, especially after [[spoiler:getting raped by Arael.]] Usually they revolved around her mother's insanity and craziness. During a conversation with Rei, Shinji says they are getting so bad he is worried about Asuka.
319	** Shinji also had bad dreams after [[spoiler:Rei blew herself up and Asuka ran away.]] Often he sees [[spoiler:his Eva tearing his best friend apart, Rei exploding and Asuka killing herself while he does nothing to prevent it.]]
320	* PleaseDontLeaveMe: In chapter 11, Shinji says Kaoru those words after having a terrible nightmare.
321	-->'''Shinji:''' "Don't leave me alone. Please... I'm scared... I don't want to be alone...
322	* PregnantBadass: [[spoiler:Misato]] was pregnant during the final part of the Angel War. She still [[spoiler:commanded her troops in battle and shot down an entire squad of soldiers that was about to execute Shinji.]]
323	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Done several times by Asuka to HERSELF as a horrified Shinji watches how she –someone whom he admired for her courage and confidence- tears herself apart.
324	** In chapter 6:
325	--->'''Asuka''':''"Do you realize how much it hurts?!" she continued, slightly shaking as if she were about to burst into tears. "Do you know how it feels to hold you, at night, knowing that the next day you'll hold her in your arms instead of me?! Do you know how I feel when we're eating together at school and that you look at HER instead of me?! I... I... I was desperate... I knew that... in the long run... I'd lose you. I'm only good at piloting EVA... That's the only thing I can do and I'm not even the best at that anymore. Her... she cooks like a chef... while I barely know how to make instant. She cleans, does the laundry, her apartment always sparkles... here, I expect you to do all those chores and my room is a mess. She's good at school... do you know that she's our class's top student, even though she misses half the classes? I can barely keep up because I can't understand all the kanji... me... a college graduate... how pathetic..."''
326	* RecursiveFanfiction: Several fans wrote a bunch of side stories, parodies, and even an authorized -sadly unfinished- sequel ("Que Sera Sera").
327	* RedIsHeroic: Asuka is a redhead, wears a red plugsuit and drives a red robot. And if you ask her, she will say red is the best color.
328	-->'''Asuka''':''White or red are much more sexy colors.''
329	* RedOniBlueOni: Asuka -HotBlooded, hot-headed, angry, loud- and Rei -emotionless, detached, calm, quiet-. Their relationship greatly evolves throughout the story. At the beginning Asuka detests Rei and Rei ignores Asuka. Later, when they start competing over Shinji, they can not stand each other. Finally, after a violent fight, they make up, call a truce, and they gradually become friends.
330	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: At the final chapter, Shinji makes it to the battlefield... and realizes he is too late: [[spoiler:the MP-Evas have torn into pieces and eaten Unit 02, apparently killing Asuka.]] After the initial shock and horror Shinji decides his only single goal in life is making them paying with blood. Burning with rage he goes berserker, attacks and slaughters brutally all of them. He practically channelled ''[[Anime/MazingerZ Kouji]]'' ''[[Manga/ShinMazingerZero Kabuto]]'' in that scene.
331	-->'''Shinji''':''"Die... die... die... die! Die! Die! You monsters! You killed Asuka! I'll kill you! Kill you! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"''
332	* {{Robeast}}: The Angels -or Messengers-, giant alien monsters sporting all kind of shapes and abilities. Nearly all of them keep their canon selves, but Tabris. He is [[spoiler:a her in this story.]]
333	* RunningGag: Shinji is constantly falling on top of women in increasingly embarrassing situations -and positions-. Rei, Asuka... When he falls on top of Misato in chapter 8 he is wondering whether it is some kind of curse.
334	-->''However I didn't plan on Misato walking on a beer can and, with her already unsteady balance, falling on the said bed, dragging me along with her. The outcome of this... I had fallen on top of a female... again! Surely, it was a curse!''
335
336	[[/folder]]
337
338	[[folder:S-U]]
339
340	* SacredFirstKiss: During their first date Asuka (not entirely) jokingly accuses Shinji of completely ruining her first kiss. He agreed, feeling pretty guilty about it. In all hindsight, [[spoiler:[[ForcefulKiss kissing her forcefully]] as she was teasing him, admitting he had kissed Rei before their date and then yelling it was nothing of her bussiness whom he kissed]] was probably not a good idea.
341	* ScarsAreForever: The epilogue happens four years after the FinalBattle. Asuka still sports the scars from her last battle.
342	* SexForSolace: Shinji ends up having sex with [[spoiler: Asuka to comfort her after Arael's mental attack. PlayedForDrama in that she becomes emotionally dependent on him afterwards, and attempts suicide when she thinks she's lost him]].
343	* ShellShockedVeteran: Although Shinji, Asuka and Rei survived the War and their relationship made them slightly psychologically stronger they were still traumatized. Several years later Shinji still felt guilty for his friends' pain, Asuka was afraid of having children, and Rei regressed and became emotionless again for a while.
344	* ShipSinking: The last scene of the second-to-last chapter sinks [[spoiler:Shinji/Rei. At the end Shinji chooses Asuka and says a relationship between Rei and him would be bad because he would take everything, giving nothing back, and Rei would never complain or protest. He would be using her to run from reality again, and it would be unfair to her.]]
345	* ShipTease: There is huge amounts of teasing between Shinji and Asuka and Shinji and Rei throughout the whole story. It starts off with Rei recalling old battles, times where Shinji had risked his life to save her or Asuka... and concluding that he cares about the German girl and herself. Later each girl gives Shinji a box of chocolates.
346	* ShutUpKiss: In episode 5 Shinji does this to Asuka to shut her up after she dares him to kiss her.
347	* SoProudOfYou: After the FinalBattle, [[spoiler:Fuyutsuki tells Shinji that his mother would be proud of him for what he had done.]]
348	-->''"Your mother would be proud of you."''
349	* SourOutsideSadInside: Shinji used to think Asuka was a brave, bold, self-assured girll to the point of being obnoxious although he had seen some glimpses showed Asuka was weaker than she looked. Then in chapter 6 she started tearing herself apart and he was shocked because she was so fragile and insecure and frightened as him.
350	* TheStationsOfTheCanon: The story starts halfpoint through the series and it follows the order of battles and main events closely. However it introduces little gradual changes that alter the outcome radically.
351	* SuggestiveCollision: Shinji colliding with other woman and falling on top of her happens so many times that it is a RunningGag. Shinji had fallen on top of Rei before the beginning of the story, he fell on top of Asuka when she was asleep and lying on her bed and he tripped and fell over Misato when he was helping her to go to her bedroom. All accidents are highly embarrassing to him.
352	* TalkingInBed: Shinji has several talks with Asuka and Rei when he shares a bed with either of them. Asuka often opens up to him in those times.
353	* TeenPregnancy: After the war Shinji gets [[spoiler:Asuka]] pregnant when she is seventeen. They never used protection because they thought they did not need because her injuries were too severe. After finding out she was pregnant they got married.
354	* TestKiss: In chapter 4 while they are going on a date, Shinji and Asuka have a test kiss. Asuka wanted to kiss him but she was frightened of being rejected so she taunted him, and Shinji reacted to her goading by grabbing her and kissing her forcefully. Then they had a fight before making up.
355	* ThanksForTheMammary: In chapter 7 Shinji falls on top of Asuka and accidentally gropes her left breast:
356	-->''This took me out of my brief daze. I soon realized that Asuka wasn't looking at me anymore but rather lower, toward her chest. I followed her gaze to realize that my right hand was... right on top of her breast.''
357	* ThatDidntHappen: When Misato collapses over the floor after [[spoiler:listening to Kaji's last call]] Shinji hurries to hug her, try to console her and help her to walk to her bed. Accidentally they tripped and Shinji fell on top of her. Misato kissed him before both of them fell asleep. The next morning both are embarrassed and agree to never talk about it again.
358	* ThatWasNotADream: In chapter 9 Arael's MindRape leaves Asuka in a catatonic state. When Asuka wakes up she looks around confusedly and realizes it was not a dream.
359	-->'''Asuka''':''"It wasn't a dream."''
360	* TheirFirstTime: [[spoiler:Rei]] has her first time with Shinji when she sees him crestfallen and tries to comfort him. Several months later [[spoiler:Asuka]] is the one is distraught after [[spoiler:her MindRape]] and asks Shinji loving her and making her forget the pain for one night.
361	* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Shinji felt awful and borderline suicidal after having been forced to kill Kaoru.
362	* TitleDrop: It happens sometimes.
363	* TookALevelInBadass: Shinji tried to become more badass throughout the war to protect people he loved. As a result of it, in the FinalBattle [[spoiler:he broke synch records and utterly destroyed the MP-Evas.]]
364	* TookALevelInCheerfulness: Rei, Asuka and Shinji had several setbacks and much angst as the former two fought over the latter, but on the whole their LoveTriangle made them happier and more emotionally stable.
365	* TookALevelInIdealism: Through the story Shinji, Asuka and Rei often get depressed, sad or even hopeless, but ultimately they try to overcome their troubles, open up to other people and gain a more positive mindset.
366	* TookALevelInJerkass: Shinji. Several times. When [[spoiler:Asuka tried -clumsily- to seduce him he thought -for absolutely NO reason- she was just trying to screw Rei, so that he slapped her, called her names and treated her like dirt during several days.]] Later he [[spoiler:insulted Rei and made her crying because she had not told him who was the Fourth Child.]] In his defense, he later admitted he behaved like an ass and apologized to both girls.
367	* TookALevelInKindness: Rei and Asuka start fighting over Shinji, forcing the latter girl to acknowledge and display her feelings openly. Since she has to stop pushing him away, Asuka starts being nicer and less harsh. In chapter 6 Shinji notes she is really kinder now.
368	* TrashOfTheTitans: Misato and Rei's apartments seem war zones because of the amount of trash, garbage and dirt littering the floor and furniture. Rei made an effort to become tidier, but when [[spoiler:Shinji got absorbed into Unit 01]] she reverted to her old ways. When Asuka visited her apartment in the "Friends and Rivals" side-story she was surprised when she saw the mess because she thought Rei was tidier than her.
369	-->''I entered her apartment. It looked like a mess. A rather strange sight, in fact. I always heard that Ayanami was a tidy girl, unlike me. But as I saw the state of her apartment... I realized that Shinji must have been doing all the chores in there...''
370	* TroubledFetalPosition: In chapter 4 Shinji hurts Asuka and she runs away. Shinji looks for her and when he finds her, she is sobbing and sitting under a tree, her legs pulled up her chest.
371	-->''"I don't need you! I don't need anyone! Go away!"''\
372	''This said, she pulled her legs up to her chest, let her chin rest on her knees and then closed her eyes.''\
373	''"Leave me alone... just... leave me alone..."''\
374	''This time, she had said the words between sobs.''
375	* {{Tsundere}}: Asuka hid her softer side under an intentionally harsh side because she was afraid of other people due to her childhood trauma. Thus, although she fell for Shinji, she was reluctant to show her feelings openly, restricting herself to drop hints he never got. When Rei started to pursue Shinji, though, she had no option but dropping her façade and displaying her feelings and her nicer side in plain, honest fashion.
376	* UnbrokenVigil: [[spoiler:When Asuka was in a coma]] Shinji was by her side the whole time, talking to her and praying for her waking up. He only left the hospital room when the nurses needed to take care of her. In an alternate epilogue [[spoiler:where she does not wake up after the FinalBattle,]] she spent fifteen years comatose, and there was not a single day Shinji did not visit her.
377	* UndyingLoyalty: When Asuka [[spoiler:falls in a coma after the FinalBattle]] Shinjij promises he will always wait for her, not matter what.
378	-->''"I'll wait for you, Asuka. Even if it means waiting all my life..."''
379	* UnresolvedSexualTension: Before the beginning of the story there was unresolved tension between Shinji and Asuka because Shinji was frightened of showing openly he liked Asuka, Asuka did not want to admit she liked Shinji, and Rei had not realized yet what she liked Shinji. Later there was tension because Shinji cared about both girls but he was unable to choose whom he loved the most.
380
381	[[/folder]]
382
383	[[folder:V-Z]]
384
385	* ValentinesDayEpisodes: The story begins during Valentine's Day. As Asuka is trying to work up the nerve to give Shinji some home-made chocolates, Rei gives Shinji a chocolate box, earning Asuka's wrath and kick-starting the plot.
386	* WeddingFinale: Shinji and [[spoiler:Asuka]] get married in the epilogue. The whole episode covers their wedding until they go on a honeymoon.
387	* WhamLine:
388	-->[[spoiler:'''Misato''':]]''"I don't want to die... because... because... I'm... I'm pregnant..."''
389	* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: In chapter 6 "Friends" Asuka tells Shinji her best friend has a huge crush on his best friend... and she has no idea of why she likes that pervert idiot:
390	-->'''Shinji''':''"Are you really sure she likes him?"''\
391	'''Asuka''':''"Sure! I asked her. I don't know why, but she has the biggest crush on that baka. Personally, I think she deserves better, but if she wants him that bad..."''
392	* WhenSheSmiles: After spending several chapters angry and trying to not crying, Shinji asks Asuka out. In answer she smiles, and he thinks she is gorgeous when she smiles sincerely instead of seeming mad, smug or depressed:
393	-->''She gave me her most beautiful smile, before reverting to her arrogant self. If I had not been seated on my bed, I might have fallen on the floor. For that brief moment, she had really been the most gorgeous person I had ever seen.''
394	* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The epilogue chapter happens several years after the FinalBattle: [[spoiler:Shinji and Asuka get married and their friends and co-workers attend their wedding. During the ceremony Shinji explains what everyone has been doing during the past years: he and Asuka still work for NERV, are living together and expecting a baby; Rei dealt with depression for a while but got better and was experimenting with all kind of jobs; Touji and Hikari are still together; Misato started dating Makoto...]]
395	* WrongNameOutburst: At the end of chapter 5, Shinji notices that a girl is sleeping in his bed, and he mutters “Rei?”. Asuka was NOT amused:
396	-->"Rei-chan?" I groaned, still half asleep.\
397	"Wrong girl, you baka."
398	* YoureNotMyFather: When Gendo is trying to force him to [[spoiler:fight and kill the last Angel]] Shinji calls him out on all he has done to Asuka and Rei and screams he would be ashamed of calling himself "Ikari" if it was not his mother's surname.
399	* {{Zeerust}}: Averted in an unintentional -and ironically funny- way. In a chapter, Misato plays a DVD for Shinji. Alain told in the author notes he guessed in 2015 there would be more advanced technology than DVD technology, but he didn't feel like making something up. Nearly in 2015, DVD and Blu-Rays keep being the most widespread information-storing technology.
400
401	[[/folder]]
402
403	----
404	->''"I won't make the same mistake this time. I won't wait for one of you to leave me. I... I had a lot of time to think. About a choice..."''

Context Fanfic / TheOneILoveIs