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 - Unit-02, silence — the price of victory is the progression of the curse
The school building after classes was quiet, as if the daytime clamor had been a lie.
The setting sun streaming through the hallway windows dyed Ikari Shinji's messy black hair orange. The shoulder-length strands bounced slightly with each step.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?"
Asuka, walking beside them, swung her twin-tails and glared at Shinji. Her orange-red hair seemed to burn in the sunset. Her blue eyes were sharp, and the mole beneath her left eye made her harsh expression look just a little bit younger.
"Huh—ah, sorry. What was it again?"
Shinji hurriedly looked up. Dressed in a girls' sailor uniform—something they couldn't have imagined even a week ago. But they weren't surprised when they looked in the mirror anymore. Had they gotten used to it? Or was it resignation?
"'What was it again'—are you kidding me?! We're going to NERV on Misato's orders. You need to listen when people talk to you!"
"Oh... right. Unit-02's activation test, right?"
"That's right. You just watch. I'll show you exactly how amazing I am."
Asuka puffed out her chest and smiled triumphantly. Her confidence was genuine. At least, she believed it was.
Shinji gave a vague nod.
(Unit-02... Asuka's Eva.)
They'd ridden Unit-01, been wrapped in rainbow light, and their body had changed. Not even ten days had passed since that day. And yet, the thought that Asuka might be about to experience the same thing made something stir deep in their chest.
"...Asuka."
"What?"
"Um, do you feel... off? Anything strange with your body?"
"Hah? Who do you think I am? I'm Asuka-sama, the genius pilot. I'm not going to get cursed as easily as you."
Asuka snorted. But her fingertips were unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. Shinji saw the gesture and couldn't say anything more.
——
The underground passage leading to NERV HQ was cold and long, as always.
White fluorescent lights lined up at regular intervals, casting the two shadows onto the floor. Inorganic pipes ran along the walls, and the hum of machinery echoed in the distance. The air was cold and damp, and the smell of iron stung their nose.
"Hey, you."
"Hm?"
"What does that curse feel like?"
Shinji thought for a moment.
"...You're wrapped in light, and before you know it, your body's changed. Your voice, your hands, everything. It feels like it doesn't belong to you."
"Huh."
Asuka didn't ask anything more. Only their footsteps echoed rhythmically through the corridor.
Eventually, they stood before a massive blast door.
A plate read "Eva Unit-02 Hangar." Asuka held her ID card up to the authentication device beside the door. An electronic beep sounded, and the doors slowly slid open.
A red giant filled their vision.
"...This is Unit-02."
Shinji caught their breath.
Red armor. Four eyes. A silhouette different from Unit-01—aggressive. The massive body, reaching all the way to the ceiling, gleamed eerily under the hangar lights. Workers moved in tiny motions at its feet, and cranes supported the unit's shoulders.
"Isn't it great? My Unit-02. The most beautiful Eva in the world."
Asuka said it proudly.
"Yeah... it's amazing."
It was an honest reaction.
In the control room on the hangar's upper level, lined with monitoring screens, Misato and Ritsuko could be seen. Misato was waving. Her long purple hair was tied back—Shinji's guardian. Beside her, the blonde Ritsuko was operating a terminal.
"Shinji, Asuka, over here. Are you ready?"
Misato's voice echoed from the speakers.
"I'm always ready. Let's get this started."
Asuka, clad in her red plugsuit, headed for the cockpit via elevator. Shinji watched her go.
(I'm sure it'll be fine... right?)
A bad premonition swirled deep in their chest.
——
"Unit-02, activation sequence start. A10 nerve connection, synchro rate measuring."
Ritsuko's calm voice flowed through the control room.
The monitor showed Asuka's expression inside the cockpit. Serious eyes. Lips pressed tight, hands gripping the controls with force.
"Synchro rate rising. No problems."
Shinji watched the monitor from the corner of the control room. Their heart was beating an unpleasant rhythm.
(Please. Don't let anything happen.)
It was almost a prayer.
Then—
Rainbow light poured from the unit.
Seven-colored light burst from the gaps in the red armor. It was exactly the same light Shinji had seen with Unit-01. The light spread through the hangar, enveloping Unit-02.
"What is this...?!"
"A Gender Pandemonium reaction. The same rainbow light as Unit-01 has been detected from Unit-02."
Ritsuko's voice wavered slightly.
"Asuka!"
Shinji ran to the monitor.
On screen, Asuka was writhing in pain. Her plugsuit no longer fit her body. The shoulder section was slipping down, and the chest area seemed to be constricting tightly.
"W-what is this...? My body, on its own...!"
Asuka's voice rang from the speakers.
That voice had become just slightly—lower.
"Asuka, calm down. We're retrieving you now."
"How am I supposed to calm down?! What's happening to me?!"
"What's happening to you is the same phenomenon as Shinji. Gender Pandemonium."
"...What? I've been... by that curse...?"
Asuka's voice trembled.
The light slowly faded.
Asuka emerged from the cockpit, staring at her own hands. Her fingers were slightly longer. Her shoulders seemed a little broader.
"What is this...? My body, why...!"
Asuka grabbed the chest of her plugsuit. It didn't fit—the shoulders were digging in. She bit her lip, her face twisting with anger and confusion.
"We'll run tests immediately. Come with me."
Ritsuko placed a hand on Asuka's shoulder.
"Don't touch me! I'm... I'm fine. I'm not going to whine over something like this."
Asuka shook off Ritsuko's hand.
But her hand was trembling faintly.
Shinji couldn't say anything.
(I'm the same.)
That day, when they'd climbed out of Unit-01. Seeing their reflection in the mirror, they couldn't even speak. Asuka was standing in the exact same place Shinji had been.
"Asuka..."
They tried to call out. But their feet wouldn't move.
——
Then the alarm blared.
"Emergency alert! Angel approach detected!"
The control room monitors all turned red at once. Sirens echoed through the hangar.
"An Angel is approaching Tokyo-3. Pattern analysis... blue. This is the real thing."
"Intercept preparations! Shinji, to Unit-01! Asuka, you'll deploy in Unit-02!"
"But Asuka just—"
Shinji turned to look at Asuka.
On the commander's monitor, Ikari Gendou's face appeared. Black hair, black clothes. The same emotionless eyes as always.
"Intercept with Unit-01 and Unit-02."
"Commander, Asuka's condition isn't fully stable after what just happened. Deployment is dangerous."
"Only the Evas can intercept the Angel. Deploy them."
There was no emotion whatsoever in Gendou's voice.
"...Misato, spare me the concern. I'll go."
Asuka stepped forward.
"Asuka, don't push yourself. If you're not feeling well—"
"I don't need your worry! I'll just do my job. You get in Unit-01, now!"
Asuka shouted at Shinji and ran toward the hangar.
Her retreating figure looked smaller than usual.
——
The Angel appeared in the middle of the city.
From beyond the skyscrapers of Tokyo-3, a massive shadow slowly revealed itself. It was a grotesque lifeform with countless tentacle-like arms extending from its body. At its center, a red glowing core was visible.
"The Angel has entered the city. It's begun attacking."
Tentacles mowed down buildings. Glass shattered, concrete crumbled. Screams seemed to echo from far away.
"Unit-01, Unit-02, deploy!"
Two Evas launched from underground.
The purple Unit-01. The red Unit-02.
They landed in the city and faced the Angel.
"Asuka, let's coordinate. I'll take the right, you take the left."
Shinji gripped the controls. Sweat beaded on their palms.
"Don't give me orders! I'm the one fighting here—just stay out of my way!"
Asuka ran Unit-02 forward.
But the unit's movements were dull. The usual sharpness was gone. The curse had destabilized her synchro rate.
"Asuka, look out!"
A tentacle stretched toward Unit-02.
Asuka tried to dodge. But the unit wouldn't respond. The tentacle wrapped around Unit-02's right arm.
"Let go of me, you—!"
Asuka swung Unit-02's arm wildly. The tentacle tore off, and the Angel let out a scream-like sound.
"Now, Shinji! You attack too!"
"R-right!"
Shinji moved Unit-01 forward.
But their body wouldn't move.
(I'm scared. I'm—again—)
Unit-01's feet stopped.
The Angel's tentacles now stretched toward Unit-01.
"...!"
They couldn't move. They closed their eyes.
Then—
"What are you doing, you idiot!"
Unit-02 jumped in front of Unit-01.
Asuka had thrown herself in harm's way to shield Shinji.
The tentacle pierced Unit-02's abdomen.
"Agh...!"
Asuka's pained voice came through the comms.
"Asuka! Asuka!"
Unit-02 dropped to its knees. A blood-like liquid gushed from its abdomen. Sparks scattered across the unit, and armor peeled away.
"Not... here... not me...!"
Unit-02 stopped moving entirely.
"Unit-02, functionality stopped! Pilot's vitals are faint!"
"Asuka... Asuka!"
The Angel closed in to finish Unit-02 off. Its tentacles rose slowly toward the defenseless unit.
Shinji was trembling inside Unit-01.
(Because I ran. Because I couldn't move.)
Tears streamed down their cheeks.
(Asuka protected me...)
Then—
Asuka's voice came through the comms.
Hoarse, weak, but unmistakably filled with rage.
"Don't you dare run... If you run, I die...!"
Shinji's body jolted.
"You're supposed to... protect me, aren't you?! So protect me... You're the one who has to protect me!"
Those words pierced Shinji's chest.
(Protect? Me?)
Could they really do something like that?
(But Asuka protected me.)
In that moment, Asuka hadn't hesitated.
(So I won't hesitate either.)
Shinji gripped the controls again.
"I'm going to protect Asuka!"
Unit-01 moved.
By their own will.
Unit-01's armor glowed red. Its eyes shifted from green to red. The unit let out a roar.
"Unit-01 has exceeded its operational limit! This is—!"
"Shinji!"
Unit-01 grabbed the Angel's tentacles with its bare hands.
And tore them off.
The tentacles snapped with a sound. The Angel let out a cry of agony.
"Don't you... touch Asuka!"
Shinji's voice echoed through the comms.
Unit-01 charged toward the Angel's core.
One step, then another. The ground caved under the unit's weight.
"UAAAAAAAH!!"
Unit-01's fist pierced the Angel's core.
BOOOOOM!!!
A shockwave ripped through the city. Building windows shattered all at once, raining down in fragments.
The Angel's body crumbled, wrapped in light.
Its core shattered, its tentacles fading like ash.
And then—silence.
"...Angel confirmed eliminated."
"We did it... You did it, Shinji."
Unit-01 stood motionless on the spot.
Shinji, still gripping the controls, breathed raggedly.
(We won... I protected her...)
But their heart wouldn't clear.
——
After the battle, Asuka was carried out of Unit-02's cockpit.
She collapsed the moment she stepped out of the plug.
"Asuka!"
Shinji climbed out of Unit-01 and ran to her.
And caught their breath.
Part of Asuka's hair had turned white. Just one lock on the left side of her orange-red twin-tails—white as snow.
"Asuka, your hair..."
"Don't look at me...!"
Asuka grabbed her hair and hid it.
Her voice had dropped even lower than before.
"To the medical room, immediately. We're running tests."
Ritsuko supported Asuka's body.
"Shinji, you come too. We need your data as well."
"...Okay."
Shinji couldn't take their eyes off Asuka's white hair.
——
Under the white lights of the medical room, Ritsuko operated a terminal.
"Asuka's curse is progressing faster than Shinji's case."
"Faster...?"
"It's not just physical changes. Vocal cords, skeletal structure, hormonal balance. Everything is changing dramatically in a short period. At this rate—"
Ritsuko stopped mid-senten
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