ElMariachi wrote:I agree that Kaji revealing what happened 14 years ago would be thematically logical. Other characters could do it though, like Asuka : she has both the opportunity(since they're stranded in the desert for the days to come) and it would be thematically fitting(she would represent the character that grew-up and learned about how the world works(ie SEELE and Gendo's machinations), in opposition to the ignorant child that Shinji is still)
There is a very real chance that Asuka will be unable to tell the whole story from first-hand experience, since it is unclear when exactly she awakened from her Angel-induced coma. She could have missed the entire aftermath of Near-Third Impact, and may not even know the particulars of what Shinji has done (i.e. wanting to save Rei from the Angel, because he already lost Asuka) until Shinji actually tells her in person (in FINAL). This might even influence her opinion of Shinji.
My general point here, though, is that Asuka's account of what happened has a large chance to be either incomplete or second-hand (i.e. filtered by Misato's strong emotions on the topic).
If we're looking at character who could fill Shinji in on what happened during his absence, we immediately see that many can already be eliminated:
- Ritsuko has already had her turn when she explained what the DSS Choker was for. I got the distinct impression that she was not interested in volunteering any more information than what was strictly necessary to convince him that he was of no use to WILLE. (In fact, she did not even bother to tell him that she no longer worked for NERV. Misato told him that, and only after Shinji drew the conclusion for himself.)
- Misato could still have a heart-to-heart conversation with Shinji, if given the opportunity. However, it is more likely that Misato does not have her facts straight due to strong emotional bias, and I believe Shinji may more likely have to convince her of the purity of his intentions, than passively listen to Misato's side of the story.
- Fuyutsuki already had his turn of enlightening Shinji. Little good came of it.
- Kaworu's recounting of recent history arguably helped Shinji even less, although it did make him understand Misato's reaction to him. But Kaworu is gone for now. He had his turn.
- Sakura still has something to tell Shinji. Her own perspective of Third Impact would be sketchy at best (because she was still a child at the time), but she would at least be able to divulge Toji's fate.
- Mari is not a talker. And if she does, she will assume Shinji already knows everything she does. Expect no explanations from her, except maybe (just maybe) about her own personal history. Although both Kaji and Asuka are more likely candidates for that.
- Rei (either incarnation) is even less of a talker and knows even less than Shinji.
- Gendo and Shinji talking is a thing of the past. If they will even have another confrontation, it will be a (final) battle of wills. If it happens at all.
And, in full agreement with ElMariachi, that leaves Kaji by process of elimination. Kaji is knowledgeable about what happened in the world, detached from both NERV and Second Impact (unlike Misato), and has already shown himself to be a positive influence on Shinji. He has also been seen to have taken a liking to Shinji (although some of the innuendo suggests a dubious nature to this).
Also, recall that Kaji (both in NGE and Rebuild 2.0) has been depicted as someone who propagates that people (and Shinji in particular) should devote themselves to (a simple) life on earth, to the here-and-now, instead of chasing lofty higher cosmological orders, which marks him as an opponent of both the Angels and the Evangelion project.
This could go both ways in his relationship to WILLE: either he is their founder and leader, or he is a reclusive hermit who despises WILLE for using AAA Wunder as a weapon (instead of destroying it). If it is the latter, Asuka could very well be going to see him, with Shinji and Rei Q in tow.
), something that seemingly caused that damage, meaning it wasn't Shinji.
