Nemz wrote: Any romantic interest on her part for him is likely born out of her one-sided rivalry with Rei, the frustration he creates by resisting her charms, and Asuka's own quiet desperation to justify to herself that she has value through external means.
Uhh...
Asuka in Episode 22' wrote:What are YOU doing there?! You won't do anything! You won't help me! You won't even hold me!
Also, there's the EoE lip lick and her saying if she can't have all of him she wants nothing. Clearly she's interested in him romantically.
Destinii Haruya wrote:, when in fact she, by the end, hated him.
Then why upon returning from the LCL sea--after everything she went through with him through Instrumentality--did she lay by his side? Also, I don't think she'd tenderly caress his cheek when Shinji was attempting to kill her if she REALLY hated him at that point, instead, she'd fight back or react in a more typical manner. (Just because Asuka had those bandages on doesn't mean she was injured still.) I'd say she still has some mixed feelings.
Baz wrote:he was probably stuck in the fallacy that friendship needs to precede any romantic attachment.
Even with Shinji having friends, he still has his problems. The thing is he and the rest of the cast need to get their shit together before pursuing much of anything.
Also, EoE in the coffee scene, Shinji says to Asuka (although Manga screws up this translation): "I want to help you somehow. I want to be with you forever." That to me has romantic overtones instead of just wanting friendship from Asuka.