Spoilers Off applies to all Tear Jerker pages, so all spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
Tear-Jerker moments in RE-TAKE:
- Asuka blowing herself up to destroy Armisael and save Shinji.
- Ritsuko crying while cradling Gendo's corpse.
- Volume 1:
- Rei becoming desperate to win over Shinji that she starts copying Asuka from wearing blue contact lens, pouring red paint over her head and copying Asuka's catchphrase only for Shinji to confess that he'll only love Asuka with Asuka eavesdropping.
Shinji: "I... Love Asuka. There's nothing that can replace her".- Rei being so depressed when she realizes that she lost Shinji she committed suicide. When Shinji discovers her body, he remembers a moment with her that shows their developing feelings for him.
Rei: "The first time I touched [Shinji's hands], I felt nothing. The second time... It was a bit unpleasant? The third time, they were warm... The fourth time, I was happy... May I... Touch them again?" - Volume 2:
- Asuka trying to become friends with Rei by calling her by her name for once. Rei coldly tells Asuka to stop as it's irritating for her.
- Asuka losing the right to pilot Unit-2 and crying that she's lost her place in life.
- Shinji's argument with Ghost-Asuka, where he declares that he can't be hers and strongly disagrees.
Shinji: "I will fight to protect this moment... to protect this 'now'...".- Asuka's Heroic Sacrifice as she tells Rei to stop Shinji from interfering as Shinji is begging anyone to save her even telling that Asuka is pregnant.
Asuka: "I received something precious from you...that i'll never forget...I'm sorry" (Asuka's last words to Shinji) - Volume 3:
- After finding out that Asuka miraculously survived her Heroic Sacrifice, Shinji and Asuka happily return home only for him to find that it was a trick by Ghost-Asuka. He when starts searching for Asuka only to find an empty apartment as he screams her name.
- The realization that Shinji is an Angel and therefore he can never be with Asuka.
- Misato seeing Shinji using an AT field and breaking down.
- Volume 4: This entire volume is one entire tear-jerker for Ghost Asuka. The worst/best moments are:
- How bitter Ghost-Asuka is towards Shinji, unable to believe that he truly loves her.
- When Ghost-Asuka enters Shinji's unconsciousness: "I saw it when i entered...Shinji's psyche...Shinji's Dream... Shinji's wish (among the most heartbreakingly sweet image follows...).
- Ghost Asuka's unsaid reaction to Shinji's move to sacrifice himself for his friends... "So Stop! So don't say anything! So don't leave me! Please...Don't Make Me..."
- Her realization that part of the reason for her and Shinji's failed relationship was her fault, that a future where they were happy together was possible. Her despair that even if she learned her lesson, she can't change the past causing her to breakdown as Asuka pats her head.
- Volume 5: The largest collection of Tear-Jerkers ever...
- Rei demanding to fight to save Shinji, when asked why she states, "I won't let...Shinji...die... I made a promise... with Asuka...".
- When Shinji is overwhelmed and a shot saves him, he happily thanks Rei only to see the Eva Series eating her Eva. But she continues to shoot the enemies attacking Shinji "Center...the...target".
- Ghost-Asuka's massive explanation to 'God'/Young Asuka as to why she hates Shinji... is just too long and sad, ending with "It's just proof than for him, anyone will do", followed by God's response "No. He just loves you." Shattering Ghost-Asuka's argument.
- "I forgive you", these words are repeated twice each time allow someone to move on. The first is Ghost-Asuka forgiving Shinji for 'killing' her, before this story began allowing Shinji to marry Asuka. The other is Shinji to Misato in response to her self-hatred over the fate of her Arctic Expedition, allowing her to fight for a future with Kaji.
- Shinji shattering the alternate reality which contained his dream of raising a family with Asuka. Deciding to stay with Ghost-Asuka instead. When asked why he says "Because if i stayed, you'd always be alone". Then there is the entire last part of volume 5, with Shinji and Asuka by the Red Sea...
- Then finally is the last volume... Re-take After... which is set when the events of the last volume cause both Shinji and Asuka to forget their love, and return to fighting... This part has several Tear Jerkers/Crowning Moments Of Awesome ...:
- One is Asuka breaking up as she admits to Kaji that she doesn't want to return to Germany, but wants to stay in Japan.
- The next at the airport "Bye bye, Shinji".
- And the best, which is the ending vow from Asuka to Shinji, after they have finally regained their love... I'm going to quote the whole thing, because it is so beautiful... (it was originally in German, but i've got the translated version. Also, please remember this is ASUKA SPEAKING!) "I promise you... until i die, i will touch no man except for you... until i die, i will talk with no man, except for you... from now on, i am yours. From the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Every single bit of me, with nothing left out... I can't remember the days we spent together, but it doesn't matter...I don't know anything about the thing called love... But if 'love' means keeping this promise until the day i die... then i promise to always love you, and nobody else but you, for as long as i live... By the honor of Soryu Asuka Langley" It is the best, most beautiful ending to the series imaginable, as the love circle has finally come around, as Shinji made the same oath to Asuka in volume 1... I really can't say how brilliantly sad and happy this series made me feel... It is just great... Perfect...
- Most of the above can be found here
. It's a four part youtube series of four the saddest Re-Take moments, with music. It isn't great, the music is occasionally off sync, but normally it is well done, especially the choice of songs. The quality isn't 100% (more like 95%) either, so it helps to know what is going on... Not everyone will agree on the choice of moments, also, especially Rei fans. But the scenes (s)he chose were good choices, for A/S fans, anyway.
