I’ve never seen Evangelion, but wow, reading the description, they are hella alike.
“Ahhhh!” The teenager doubles over, wincing as memory after memory engulfs him.
“What’s wrong?” Kaneki hurries across Anteiku to help their strange new visitor.
“N – nothing.” The kid snaps back to reality. He’s here. In a Tokyo he doesn’t recognize. Mom is gone.
“I’m Kaneki Ken. What’s your name?” The eyepatched man holds out a hand, smiling nervously.
“I’m Shinji Ikari.”
“Well then, Shinji, can I buy you a cup of coffee?”
Five minutes later, Shinji and Kaneki are sitting across from each other, both clutching coffee. Shinji’s is full of milk and sugar that turns Kaneki’s stomach.
“I sometimes have nightmares,” Shinji says slowly. “When I’m awake. I’m sorry…to scare you.”
“No, it’s really okay. Do you need to talk about it?” Kaneki asks.
“I remember my mom dying wen I was young. That’s all. It’s okay.” Shinji squirms.
Kaneki’s smile fades. “Oh. I see.”
There’s an awkward pause.
You’re the adult. Speak, dammit. Kaneki sighs. “My mom died young, too.”
“Do you miss her?” Shinji hesitates.
Kaneki nods.
“I’m here because I’m a coward. Because I’m running away from the people who love me.” Shinji stares at his hands. “Because I don’t ever want to experience the pain of losing Mom again.”
“Me either.” Kaneki swallows.
“Do you – do you think – that if we let ourselves risk love, we’d be happier?” Shinji’s eyes are bright with tears. “Because I’m not very happy, Mr. Kaneki.”
“Neither am I, Shinji,” Kaneki says. “But at least you’re not alone. At Anteiku, we help each other out.” He pauses. “Maybe not being alone is the key. In which case, you are doing just fine, Shinji Ikari.”
The teenager grins at him.
Mercy and Magic 