Moments pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.
- After their Big Damn Kiss, Shinji and Asuka realize together that they are surprisingly alike, and the revelation brings them genuine joy.
- Chapter 3:
- After Unit-02 escapes from Leliel and NERV recovers the Entry Plug, Misato checks inside and gives Asuka a big hug. Asuka is surprised that Misato was so worried about her, but doesn't object. She also tells Shinji (who was nearby with Rei) "I just wanted to see you again" in a way that sounds like she's talking to Misato, but Shinji understands that Asuka meant it for him.
- Later, in the hospital, Rei ruminates to Asuka that the Children have protected each other in battle time and again, asking if she will protect Asuka or vice versa next time. This surprises Asuka, as she doesn't get along with Rei.
- "I love you, Shinji."
- When Asuka learns of Rei's living situation and Akagi-prescribed medications, she's so horrified that she drops all hostility and pleads Rei to at least look up what the drugs do. Rei is stunned that Asuka said "please" to her, so she agrees—and in so doing, puts herself on the road to recovery.
- Asuka also goes out of her way to ensure that Rei gets better lodgings, even the apartment next to theirs. Sure, it does cut into Asuka-and-Shinji time while they're hiding their relationship from Rei, but she never changes her mind about helping the First Child get away from Gendo's grasp.
- Chapter 6:
- One subtle moment during The Reveal that Hikari is the Fourth Child: Rei is the one who initiates Hikari's welcome onto the Pilot team, referring to her by her given name. This is a big deal in Japanese culture, as using given names is reserved for people who are really close to each other.
- Chapter 6 sees Kaji giving Shinji his "People can't understand others completely" speech as he did in canon...except this time, Shinji denounces that argument as defeatist, drawing on his relationship with Asuka as evidence to the contrary (indirectly, obviously).
Kaji: The kanji for 'girlfriend' means 'a woman far away'. For us, women are on the opposite shore of a river wider and deeper than any ocean. We can never truly know them.
Shinji: Bullshit. [...] Until you start talking, you never realize how much you're alike. She can be just as lonely as you, and you'd never know because she doesn't let it show. You have to hear what she's not saying out loud. You can't just let your fears or feeling like you're not worth her stop you, or you'll never know that she feels the same way. And then you have to be worthy of her. [...] 'You have to take that first step, or nothing will change.' Misato-san told me that. You should listen to her, Kaji-san.- From this, Kaji manages to deduce that Shinji is in love with Asuka and vice-versa. After promising that he'll maintain their secret, he decides that if they can make it, there may still be hope for him and Misato after all. Shinji responds by pleading with him to make Misato happy.
- Chapter 7:
- Rei heads to Misato's apartment to give Shinji and Asuka, who have both had a rough few days since Bardiel, clandestine hugs. With Asuka, Rei refutes the notion that Asuka is "useless", pointing out all the good she has accomplished. Also, since they're still hiding their relationship from Misato, Shinji indirectly comforts Asuka by playing the same music piece from the day of their Big Damn Kiss.
- The next morning, Rei confides in Asuka that she's scared of being discovered for her status as "off Akagi's prescribed regimen of drugs", and asks for a hug. Though thrown for a loop, Asuka agrees, later noting that being needed for being Asuka the person, and not merely Asuka the Eva Pilot, is a nice feeling.
- Asuka commending Shinji for his off-the-wall plan to hijack Unit-03, when it succeeds in not only saving the day, but saving Rei as well."Looks like I'm not the only genius."
- Hikari and Touji hugging after the former's return.
- Rei telling Shinji and Asuka that she loves them both, after the trio defeat Zeruel.
- In chapter 8, after revealing their relationship to Misato, Asuka says: "I told you, Misato. This isn't about us wanting to just fuck. This is because when we're lying there together at night, I never feel alone and unloved anymore. He's all I want. I don't need anyone else but him, not even... Kaji." It is a touching speech for several reasons (one of them being how badly she wants Shinji). Strypgia hinted her little pause was because she was about to say "Rei" in lieu of "Kaji". She has gone from hating Rei to loving her nearly as much as she loves Shinji.
- It helps that — in Strypgia's words: "More importantly, Rei is the only other person in her life that's ever told Asuka "I love you" besides Shinji."
- Also in Chapter 8, Rei firmly decides to not go through with Gendo's plot for Instrumentality, to protect Shinji and Asuka.
- Rei getting hugs.
- Asuka and Shinji taking care of Rei after Ritsuko gives her an overdose of emotional suppressants.Asuka: More hugs? Any time you need, Rei. Food can wait. Get over here, Shinji. She needs us.
- Rei coming home to Asuka and Shinji after she had a heart-to-heart with Dr. Akagi.Caught between them, held tight and close, with the care for her she could see and feel pouring off them, Rei closed her eyes again and let herself enjoy the closest thing she had ever experienced to a moment of perfect happiness. For the first time in her short, largely numbed life she understood what 'crying from joy' meant. "I'm home," she whispered to them.
- Asuka and Shinji taking care of Rei after Ritsuko gives her an overdose of emotional suppressants.
- Not only was Rei willing to forgive Ritsuko for constantly drugging her, but she came to her rescue when she was at her absolute lowest, in turn putting her on the road to possible redemption.
- Asuka and Misato comforting Shinji when he finds out the truth about his family and SEELE.
- Asuka's 15th birthday party, especially Shinji composing a concerto for her.She put her head back, closed her eyes, and fought a losing battle to hold in her tears. Only once, in the aftermath of speaking to her Mama, had she let herself cry in public in ten years. Shinji’s music blasted right through her walls. When she could not hold in the joyful tears anymore, she opened her eyes again and locked her gaze on Shinji. When he met her eyes, she mouthed ‘I love you’ to him, and smiled as she cried. She didn’t mind. He was crying too.
- There's also this speech he gives her as they're dancing afterwards about how having her in his life has given him something Worth Living For:Shinji: "I love you, Asuka. I loved getting to do all this, to make you this happy, […] And… I… Asuka, something I’m only starting to realize is… I'd never been happy before, not like this. I had nice days, and some moments growing up, but… I was never really happy, just… there. I was so empty I didn’t even know what I was missing. And then… you. Some days when I wake up, if you weren’t lying there next to me, I’d think this was all some wild dream made up by a lonely boy. Now I feel… alive. I’m… actually excited about the future, about having a future, being able to fight for one. You kind of saved my life, Asuka. I owe you a hundred birthdays like this."
- There's also this speech he gives her as they're dancing afterwards about how having her in his life has given him something Worth Living For:
- An unexpected but delightful reveal to the fans of a certain popular pairing from another series:
- Sayaka and Kyoko were now slowly dancing and holding each other close. Kensuke watched from the side, smiling gently at them. His smile only grew warmer when Sayaka gently nudged Kyoko’s chin up and kissed her.
- The fact that Kensuke respects the relationship between his girlfriends and engages in it amiably, while keeping it a secret from everyone.Asuka: "I… got to give Geek-Stooge credit. He hasn’t blabbed about it in public, hasn’t acted like any kind of horndog, and actually been… pretty respectable about it.”
- According to Word of God, the girls went for Kensuke initially as The Beard during his popularity's peak, yet things resolved due Kensuke's compassionate, tolerant personality:
Strygpia: But yes, part of the reason the girls approached Kensuke was as a beard... but then he proved to be nicer than they expected, never pushed, and when they revealed they were also into each other, Ken just accepted it. He won a lot of points from them just by not either freaking out, or blabbing it to the world.
- Hikari's reunion with her mother in her Synch Test.
- Likewise, Asuka's reunion with her mom is very touching too; even if it takes a turn for the horrifying later on, those first few moments are just adorable.
- Rei's comforting of Kaworu when he breaks down crying over his constant struggle with his Angelic nature. The progression of her going from seeing him from an enemy she needs to kill to another friend, and potentially something more, is really nice overall.
- Ritsuko's budding relationship with Maya. After her abusive relationship with Gendo, Ritsuko practically seems overwhelmed by being with someone who genuinely loves her.
- Shinji's eternal loyalty to Asuka manages to make Kyoko Soryu's divided soul speak in unison, if only for a single sentence."I'm hers until she makes me go. She's what makes my life worth living. If she wants me to go beyond death for her, I'll try."
For the first time, both voices were silent. A moment later they answered in unison. "Good boy." - During the countdown for New Years, Asuka wants to follow the tradition that at the stroke of midnight you are doing what you want to do for the next year. For her and Shinji, it obviously means they'll be kissing, but then we get to Rei and Kaworu...The countdown reached the final seconds. Rei looked him right in the eye. "Live," she ordered.
He blinked for a second, then smiled. "Yes."
They both leaned forward.
Midnight struck. - Rei finally regaining all her memories of Kaworu during the group date to the movies, capped off by her giving him a kiss.
- After the attempted assassination of the Pilots, Kaworu has trouble controlling his Call and asks Ritsuko to kill him. She refuses, for the same reasons Rei talked her out of her own suicide. Followed by Rei showing up and making it clear that no matter what, she's still not giving up on him.
- Asuka's reaction to Rei's reveal about her and Kaworu's true nature. Sure, she's shocked that Rei's a clone and that Kaworu's an Angel, but none of it changes her view of Rei in any way, and she's perfectly willing to give Kaworu the benefit of the doubt due to him having taken a bullet for Shinji not even a day earlier and Rei admitting to be in love with him.
- Asuka and Shinji working together as an effective power couple in general.
- The two of them successfully setting up Toji and Hikari earlier than in canon, because they know of the two being in love with each other.
- Following the fight with Bardiel, Gendo has Shinji and Asuka detained for insubordination. Asuka starts desperately fighting off a panic attack as a result of being locked in a dimly-lit cell alone...until she hears Shinji tapping on the wall in the cell next to hers to the beat they did their synchronization training to. This instantly calms her down, as it reminds her that she's not alone.
- When Toji is having a breakdown over Hikari being MIA after the Bardiel battle, Asuka, using entirely non-verbal cues, tries to convenience Shinji that he should overcome his reservations and try to physically comfort his friend. Shinji picks up on the hint and places a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder.
- Shinji's response to the truth about Kaworu: he forgives him, makes it clear they're still friends, and expresses his determination to find a way out of the looming apocalypse without having to kill him.Asuka: Didn't I tell you? My sweet baka, the Buddha of Tokyo-3!
