In 2015, Tokyo-3. Fourteen-year-old Shinji Ikari is summoned by his father Gendo and ordered to pilot the giant mecha Evangelion Unit-01. But the moment he enters the cockpit, a rainbow-colored light bursts from the unit and envelops him. When the light fades, Shinji's body has become that of a girl.
"Wha... what is this... I'm... me...?"
Shinji's pronoun shifts from 'boku' to 'watashi,' and both voice and physique are completely transformed into those of a young girl. Before the panicking Shi
Evangelion: Gender Pandemonium - The Red Devil and the Cello — Me, Now a Girl, and the Genius Pilot Who Came Storming In
Morning light slipped in through a narrow gap in the curtains.
Ikari Shinji lay on the bed, unable to move, staring at the ceiling. The hand resting on their chest looked small and pale, as if it didn't belong to them.
(Three days, then.)
They'd ridden Unit-01, been wrapped in rainbow light, and their body had changed. Only three days since that day. And yet it felt like something from a distant past.
"...School, huh."
Their voice was high. It was their own voice, but it didn't sound right in their ears.
A knock at the door.
"Shinji, are you awake?"
"Ah, yes..."
They got up from the bed. The hem of their sleepwear felt strangely long. The lines of their body were different from before. With every step, hair brushed against their cheek.
Opening the door, they found Misato standing there. Her long purple hair was tied back in a single tail, and she wore a white jacket. In her hand was a paper bag.
"Here, your new uniform. First Municipal Junior High, girls' model."
"...Girls' model."
"Of course. Look at you — you're a girl now, any way you slice it."
Misato pressed the paper bag against Shinji's chest. It was heavy.
"You're transferring in today. Get ready."
"Um... but I..."
"If you run away, who's going to pilot the Eva?"
Shinji was speechless.
Misato's eyes were serious. No joke, no comfort. Just the facts, laid bare.
"...Yes."
Shinji clutched the paper bag and went back to their room.
They took the uniform out of the bag. A navy sailor blouse. A collar with white stripes. A pleated skirt.
(I'm going to wear this.)
They stood before the mirror.
They took off their sleepwear and slipped their arms through the shirt. Buttoned the blouse from the top down. Their fingertips trembled.
They put on the skirt. The waist fit perfectly. Someone must have taken their measurements. Dr. Akagi, or Misato.
Finally, they tied the ribbon.
In the mirror stood a single girl.
Black, slightly wavy semi-long hair. Deep dark-brown eyes. Pale skin. Small lips.
On the left ear, their mother's earring.
"This is... me."
They murmured, then looked away.
They still couldn't bear to look.
——
The morning in Tokyo-3 was quiet.
Rocked by the sway of Misato's car, Shinji gazed out the window. The fortress city's streets streamed past. Tall buildings, well-maintained roads, defense installations visible in the distance.
This city had been built to protect humanity from the Angels. Beneath the ground spread NERV Headquarters, and people lived atop a giant shield.
(And I'm going to become part of that shield.)
"Nervous?"
Misato spoke without taking her hands off the wheel.
"...Yes. A little."
"Well, of course. You suddenly turned into a girl and you're transferring schools."
"...Misato, are you okay with this? With me being like this?"
Misato was silent for a moment.
"I'm not okay with it. But it's not something for you to blame yourself over. Until the curse breaks, I'll take care of you. That's all."
"...Thank you."
"Don't thank me. Just hold your head high at school. You're an Eva pilot."
"...Yes."
Shinji nodded slightly.
Deep in their chest, anxiety churned in circles.
(Hold my head high? As if I could.)
——
The front gate of First Municipal Junior High was bigger than expected.
When they got out of Misato's car, the students on their way in all turned to look at once.
"...Hey, who's that girl?"
"A transfer student? Isn't she cute?"
"Isn't that car NERV's?"
Whispers flew back and forth, deliberately loud enough to be heard.
Shinji looked down. Without thinking, they gripped the hem of their skirt.
"Let's go."
Misato gave a light push to their back.
After finishing the paperwork in the staff room, they headed for the classroom. With every step down the hallway, students they passed turned to look.
(They're watching. Everyone's watching me.)
Their heart pounded an unpleasant rhythm.
——
The moment the classroom door opened, the murmuring stopped.
The homeroom teacher, a man, stood at the podium.
"Er, starting today, we have a transfer student joining this class — Ikari Shinji."
Shinji stood beside the podium.
They couldn't lift their face.
"I'm Ikari. Nice to meet you."
Their voice trembled.
Silence.
Then the classroom erupted at once.
"Wait, she was a guy?"
"No way, she's super cute."
"Seriously? That's the Eva pilot?"
"She's a girl. What do you mean, a guy?"
Laughter rose from all corners.
Curious stares pierced their skin.
(No. I was originally a boy, and—)
They couldn't talk back. They couldn't make excuses.
The teacher pointed to an empty seat.
"Ikari, your seat is the one in the back row, by the window."
Shinji, head still down, walked toward the assigned seat.
With every step, the stares followed.
"Hey, is that girl for real?"
"They say she rode the Eva and turned into a girl."
"Gross. What is that?"
They sat down.
The seat next to them was empty.
No — not just next to them. The students at the surrounding desks had subtly pulled their desks away.
(Nobody will sit beside me.)
Shinji stared fixedly at the surface of the desk.
The wood grain blurred.
(Am I even allowed to be here?)
——
First period ended.
Even when break came, no one spoke to Shinji.
Only the sound of whispers from a distance.
"Hey, that girl used to be a boy."
"They say she rode the Eva and turned into a girl."
"What is that, a curse?"
"Kyahaha, isn't it hilarious?"
Laughter.
Shinji looked out the window.
Blue sky. White clouds.
(The sky hasn't changed at all.)
That was when it happened.
Bang!
The classroom door flew open.
Every gaze in the room snapped to the entrance.
Standing there was—
Vivid orange-red long hair. Twin tails tied at the sides. Clear sky-blue eyes. A mole beneath the left eye.
And a red plugsuit.
A combat suit for Eva pilots, clinging tight to the body.
"You! You're Ikari Shinji, aren't you!"
The girl shouted in a voice that rang through the entire classroom.
Shinji thought their heart would stop.
"Why are you a girl?! Don't mess with me!"
Asuka strode into the classroom.
The students parted to make way.
"Uh, ah, yes... when I rode the Eva..."
"You rode the Eva and turned into a girl?! What is that?! Nobody told me!"
Asuka stood in front of Shinji's desk.
Hands on her hips, feet planted wide.
"You're the pilot? I can't believe a scrawny thing like you is riding Unit-01!"
"S-sorry..."
"Don't apologize! And anyway, are you really Ikari Shinji? The Ikari Shinji I know is more—"
Asuka cut herself off there.
She stared hard at Shinji's face.
"...What's with that face?"
"Huh...?"
"Why are you so cute?! It pisses me off!"
Shinji couldn't say a word.
They were completely overwhelmed by Asuka's intensity.
The whole class watched with bated breath.
"Hey, what are you all staring at?! I'm not a spectacle!"
Asuka shouted across the room.
The students all looked away at once.
"Honestly, what is with this school? Nothing but rubberneckers."
Just then, footsteps came from the hallway.
"Asuka! What do you think you're doing?!"
Misato came rushing into the classroom.
"You! First meeting and you pull this?! And you — why are you even here?!"
"I've been officially assigned by NERV! Not that I have any intention of taking orders from you!"
Asuka puffed out her chest.
Misato clutched her head.
"...Honestly, why does everything turn out like this?"
"You do something about Ikari Shinji! I wasn't told the Eva pilot turned into a girl!"
"I wasn't told either! But it already happened, so there's nothing to be done!"
"This isn't something you just shrug off! A pilot's body changing is unprecedented!"
"That's why NERV is investigating! You cooperate too!"
"Why should I?! I came here to pilot the Eva! I don't know anything about investigations!"
The two of them shouted back and forth, filling the classroom.
Shinji shrank behind their desk.
(What do I do? They're fighting because of me.)
"Enough! Shinji, Asuka — both of you, we're going home!"
"Huh? Why me?!"
"Starting today, you're living with Shinji at my apartment."
"Whaaaat?!"
Asuka's voice cracked.
"It's a NERV decision. For pilot safety management."
"Safety management?! Me, in your apartment?! And with him?!"
Asuka pointed at Shinji.
"That's right. If you have complaints, take them to NERV."
"You're NERV's Operations Director! I'm talking to you!"
"Yes, yes. Anyway, we're leaving."
Misato grabbed Asuka's arm.
"Hey, let go! I can walk on my own!"
"Shinji, let's go."
"Y-yes..."
Shinji hurried to their feet.
As they left the classroom, laughter came from behind.
"Who is that girl?"
"There are two Eva pilots? Isn't that amazing?"
"But a guy turning into a girl — that's messed up, right?"
Shinji bit their lip.
——
They arrived at Misato's apartment.
"Asuka, your room is next to Shinji's. Your things will arrive later."
"Why am I stuck in a cramped apartment like this..."
"No complaining. Come on, Shinji, show her to her room."
"Huh, me...?"
"Yes. It's next to yours."
Shinji timidly looked at Asuka.
Asuka was still angry.
"Um... this way."
"I know."
They walked down the hallway.
Past Shinji's room, to the door of the next one. Shinji opened it.
"Here. Until your things arrive, make yourself comfortable."
"'Make myself comfortable' — there's nothing here."
"I told you, it'll arrive later."
Misato left it at that and went back to the living room.
Asuka looked around the empty room.
"Honestly, this is the worst. Why do I have to put up with this?"
Shinji stood in front of their own door.
"Um... if you need anything..."
"I don't need anything! I'm not going to owe you anything!"
Slam!
The door was shut in their face.
Shinji went into their own room.
They sat on the bed and hugged their knees.
(Asuka was angry. Because I turned into a girl.)
The hem of the skirt spread across the floor.
(Because of me, I'm causing trouble for everyone.)
——
In the evening, Asuka's belongings arrived.
Box after box was carried in.
"What are you doing standing there? Help me!"
Asuka opened Shinji's door and said.
"Y-yes..."
Shinji scrambled to their feet.
They carried boxes into Asuka's room.
"That one goes over there. Don't handle it roughly."
"Sorry..."
"Stop apologizing for everything! It's irritating!"
"...I'm sorry."
"That's the same thing!"
Shinji shut their mouth.
When the boxes were done, Asuka barged into Shinji's room.
"Let me see your room."
"Huh, um..."
"We're living together. Checking each other's rooms is only natural."
Asuka strode inside.
She eyed the cello case leaning against the wall.
"What's this? A cello? You play the cello?"
"...My mother used to play. It's a keepsake."
"Huh. What a girly hobby."
Shinji couldn't say anything.
Asuka looked at the desk next.
A small box sat there.
"What's this?"
Asuka picked up the small box.
"Ah, that's..."
"What, a shabby little box. What's inside?"
Asuka started to open it.
"Please stop! That's... my mother's keepsake!"
For the first time, Shinji raised their voice.
They snatched the box back from Asuka's hand.
Asuka looked momentarily startled.
Then she turned away.
"Hmph. If it's that important, put a lock on it."
Asuka left the room.
Shinji held the small box to their chest.
Their heart was pounding.
(Mother...)
Inside the small box was their mother's earring.
The matching half of the one now on their left ear.
——
Night came.
Shinji sat in their room with the cello.
Outside the window, the moon was out.
Moonlight poured pale blue into the room.
They set the bow to the strings.
Bach's unaccompanied cello suite.
The piece their mother used to play.
The first note.
A low, deep sound resonated through the room.
Second note, third note.
Fingers slid along the strings.
The bow moved slowly.
The sound made the air tremble.
(Mother... what should I do?)
Shinji closed their eyes.
A single tear traced down their cheek.
The music didn't stop.
Grief, anxiety — all of it, carried on the sound.
——
In the next
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