The Others

It is not all about Asuka and Shinji. Before meeting each other, Asuka and Shinji met other people who had, and still have, an influence on their actions. Please note, these couples aren’t necessarily shippers/rivals to Asuka and Shinji’s, just characters that play an important role in their lives.

Asuka/Kaji

Ryoji Kaji became Asuka’s supervisor when Misato came back to Japan (at that time Asuka was still in Germany). Asuka really likes Kaji and she doesn’t hide it. Kaji was the first person who cared for her, he was the only person she could trust. Indeed during her mind-rape, Asuka turns to him and asks for his help.

Some people say that the reason of this attachment stems from a resemblance between Asuka’s father and Kaji. Basically Asuka, like Misato, would see in Kaji her father. I disagree. Asuka’s father spent little time with her, plus he abandoned Asuka when she was four years old. She hardly has any good memories of him and actually, he isn’t a positive figure. I think it would be more correct to say that Kaji is, sort of father to Asuka. Kaji also tries to make Asuka understand that she is still a child, to point of hijacking her seduction’s attempts toward other boys (namely Shinji) i.

Whilst Asuka displays feelings for both Kaji and Shinji, they convey two different meanings. Kaji is a tool to show she is a woman, and the kind of woman with all the right characteristics to be Kaji’s girlfriend (mature, attractive, strong…). That is the reason why she tries to seduce him, he serves her to reinforce her “I’m an adult” façade. Shinji instead is what her inner persona wants; someone who can love her and take care of her.

Shinji/Misato

Similarly to the case of Asuka and Kaji, Misato is really fond of Shinji. He becomes her family and she treats him as if he was her own son. This fact is confirmed several times in the series, indeed Misato herself admits it q. She does her best to be the mother Shinji never had.

No matter how hard she tries to be professional, she cannot hide her feelings for the boy. On two distinct occasions Shinji’s life is put in great danger and on both occasions Misato gets mad when she is told his survival is not a priority. She cries while hugging Shinji’s plugsuit after he is absorbed by Unit 01 (episode 20) and she is the first to rush toward Unit 01 after she emerges from the Sea of Dirak (episode 16).

Shinji/Rei

Shinji is certainly intrigued by Rei. But being intrigued isn’t a synonym for being in love. Even saying that Shinji has a crush on Rei wouldn’t be entirely correct because there isn’t that kind of (romantic) interest. Initially, what tickles Shinji’s curiosity is Rei’s relationship with his father. Shinji states he hates Gendo, yet he would like to establish a relationship, be considered, or at least understand the behaviour of his estranged father.

Rei is a key figure in Shinji’s development, especially at the beginning of the series. Shinji’s world changes overnight. He is thrown in an unfamiliar environment and burdened with responsibilities that would shock even people more stable and secure than him. He feels the need to find someone to share what’s happening to him; that someone is Rei.

Even if Shinji and Asuka share the same apartment and go to school together, Shinji is actually more in confidence with Rei than how he is with Asuka. However, despite a crescendo of confidence, Shinji will always stay in awe of Rei and keep his distance. When they talk, there is no physical and little visual contact (they often do not look in each other’s eyes). All these elements, together with the topics of their conversations, reinforce the perception of Rei acting as Shinji’s conscience.