>>6476198
d100

>>6476198
Welcome back

>>6476198
Saturday, July 3rd, 2015.

"Mr. Date Kurono? Are you home?"

Quickly looking through the peephole on your front door, you see a couple of gentlemen you've never met before. One is a burly man in a trench coat holding a briefcase, while the other is a shorter man wearing sunglasses and holding a camera.

...Who the hell could these people be?
Your mind wanders back to what K told you in his letter as the knocking grows fiercer after a brief pause:
Someone is definitely onto you at this point. Someone other than me...

Whoever these people are, do you really have the time to answer them? Never mind the fact that you rarely have any visitors, or that it's the middle of the evening on a Saturday. You just got a tape that gave you a lot to think about! Adam, Lilith, the Second Impact, the fact that Gendo inadvertently saved your mom from dying when it happened, that she was Yui's mentor for the Eva Project... You'd thought you'd at least get the rest of the night to mull over that information! But suddenly, this camera crew is here, invading the panic-attack-free safe zone you call home.

"We know you're in there, Kurono! The neighbor just told us, open up!" The pudgier man in sunglasses bangs even louder on the door, making you shudder as you cover your mouth to keep yourself from screaming back at them.
"The hell do you think you're doing, Mitsuru?" The second man pulls Mitsuru away after setting his tripod on the floor, not wanting to come across as a complete lunatic. "That's the son of the champ you're talking to. Have some respect!"
"What, and lose the interview? Budget's running short, you know! We can't afford to dillydally from inn to inn while the city gets destroyed!"
"See, this is why I'm usually the one interviewing people while you hold the camera..."

...Reporters? Maybe film students, even? They did mention your father... But can you really take their word for it? Are they really just here for that?

>Open the door to greet them.
>Tell them to come some other time.
>Stay silent and see what they'll do.
>Shoo them away.

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>>6476201
>>6476205
Thank you, good to see you folks too! I got sick for a few days so I had to delay the thread for a bit, but it should be smooth sailing from now on! Hopefully Date's terrible life-work balance isn't contagious!

>>6476216
>>Tell them to come some other time.

>>6476216
>Tell them to come some other time

>>6476216
>Stay silent and see what they'll do.

>>6476216
>Tell them to come some other time.
We are so fucking back

>>6476216
>Tell them to come some other time.
But in the "nice"-way not "mad pit bull terrier"-way. If they are actually nice we could talk to them later. And if they are not, we don`t want to do anything that can be maliciously misinterpreted in press.

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>>6476405

>>6476227
>>6476228
>>6476230
>>6476295
>>6476306
Well, aside from boxing, your father did teach you good manners... What's the harm in at least listening to what they have to say?
Their heads perk up as they hear your keys jingling and the door unlocking, finally allowing them to see you with their own eyes.

"Good evening, gentlemen. How can I help you?" You lean your head out through the doorway as you inquire about their business.

"Ahem." The smaller man of the two clears his throat, proud to introduce himself. "Good evening, Kurono-san! My name is Kyoya Suruga, and this here is my partner, Mitsuru Hawk. We're currently filming a documentary about the fifteen years without the World Boxing Association, as seen through the eyes of the Japanese people. And, well, since you're the only surviving family member of the last Japanese National Champion, it would be an honor to have you in the final segment of the film."

"An interview, huh? Been a while since I've done one of those." You speak with a sigh of relief, realizing that these two blokes are more interested in your dad than in you and your secrets. "So, you folks were fans of my dad?"

"Does a bear shit in the woods?—Ow!" Mitsuru tries to out-sass you before Kyoya elbows him in the liver.

"It's hard to find anyone from our generation who isn't a fan of Dagger Daigo! He was as manly as manly men could get! That's why we'd love to hear more about who he was from the person he raised!"

You give it some thought. Your hair's a mess, you're wearing mismatched clothes, and you still haven't showered since getting home. You doubt these two have a makeup team hiding somewhere in the complex, so even if you felt like complying, the timing couldn't be much worse.

"Can you come back some other time? I'd like to be better prepared for something like this."
"No problem at all! Our budget's a bit tight, so unfortunately, we won't be able to pay you for this."
"It's alright. My time's not worth that much." You fumble around in your pockets for the cigarette you left on the couch.
"It'd be nice if you could give us a timeframe, you know! With angels attacking the city every other day, we don't know if we'll have time to meet before we become Evangelion-related casualties!" Mitsuru grumbles.
"How does this Wednesday sound? I don't really know when the next Angel's showing up either, but that's usually an uneventful day at school."
"Oh, you work at a school? Sounds like a good place to get some stock footage!" Kyoya muses, already thinking about the transitions in his documentary.
"I'll ask my boss about it," you say as you give them your phone number, politely shooing them away so you can close the door and properly reflect on the tape you received.

Now, where were you again? Ah, right! Dealing with alien concepts beyond your comprehension... On second thought, maybe you should've done the interview to take the edge off...

>>6476392
So, to sum up the contents of the tape in a nutshell, your mother worked at an insane asylum and witnessed someone breaking down so badly that they spontaneously refused to remain in their corporeal state, liquefying into LCL. The Nazi experiments and some Mayan rituals also hinted that, before that happened, a huge surge of energy caused people to implode. This proved once and for all that someone's psyche could manifest physically in the material world.

After spending a few years studying this for her master's degree, instead of being booed off campus, Yui Ikari's family provided her with enough money to travel around the globe and test her theories, on the condition that she teach Yui everything she knew. After joining Gehirn and the Eva Project, she used that knowledge to help create an artificial replica of the alien that caused the Second Impact, which would fight against its own kind. This also provided an endless supply of LCL from the being that fought Adam: Lilith, who apparently created us all and is still lying beneath Tokyo-3.

...What the hell are you supposed to do with that information? Is there anything you can do with what's been dumped on you? There's so much information, yet so few conclusions to be drawn, that it might as well be an information hazard!

Since Ritsuko is responsible for everything Eva-related, it's impossible for her not to know all of this already. But you can't exactly just go up to her and ask, "Hey, is the juice that the Eva runs on made out of people?" now, can you?

You did say you would side with Misato, since she's also pretty sketchy about NERV's agenda. And with her being the Major, she can certainly ask around a lot more effectively than you can, but even she's bound to hit some roadblocks.

But since Gendo is wary enough of your work to push Rei away after noticing the changes in her behavior, pushing your luck here might be dangerous.

Urrgh... You hate having to make choices with no leads. Fuck you too, K!
>Tell Misato about Lilith and the tapes.
>Pester Ritsuko about more information about your mother and the LCL.
>Theorize on K's real identity.
>Lay low and try to work as usual for the sake of the third pilot.
>Something else.

>>6476405
Hey can you remind us whats Date's current level of stress?

>>6476415
47/100
A little less stressed than when he came back home thanks to briefly talking to normal people, but still considerably on edge.

>>6476405
Well as much as i'd love to theorize on who K is we simply don't have enough leads and in the wise words of Sana "There's no point in worrying about things you can't fix" so instead

>Lay low and try to work as usual for the sake of the third pilot.
And for shamefull meta gamings sake were gonna need to be mentaly ready to deal with "her"

>>6476405
>Lay low and try to work as usual for the sake of the third pilot.
Let's see about dropping that stress level

>>6476405
>Lay low and try to work as usual for the sake of the third pilot.

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>>6476605 >>6476631 >>6476715

>>6476420
>>6476441
>>6476473
What can you do about this, really? Nothing! It's not like your brain will stop itching just because you ignore it, but, as always, you remind yourself that you're only a lowly school counselor. And despite Gendo Ikari vouching for your importance both inside and outside NERV, you should know better than to overstep your boundaries and risk getting involved in something way beyond your capabilities.

Then again... Isn't that what they hired you for as the therapist of three different child soldiers?

Be that as it may, you want to have a clear mind when the Third Child arrives. If Gendo ever lets you go back to counseling Rei, you'll have to balance the needs of three pilots at once, so you'd better prepare yourself to solve tangible, practical problems instead of chasing the rainbow of solving the Eva conspiracy by yourself.

Being drip-fed information isn't fun, but until you're in a better position to figure out who this K fellow is, you might as well let things be and rest while you can before the workweek starts.

You even manage to exercise enough impulse control to go to bed early, though that only makes you toss and turn in your mattress instead of falling asleep sooner. Maybe being drip-fed a few cans of alcohol would do the trick!

Stress Level:41/100

Monday arrives, bringing with it the usual shenanigans. Shirogane pesters you about whether you'll help him become the next principal, and you once again tell him you'll think about it. You then get ready for the usual routine and head over to the printing room to collect the annual paperwork concerning the students' graduation plans.

Unexpectedly, you come face-to-face with Rei Ayanami, who freezes in place when she sees you.

With Rei being Rei, you're unsure whether she's reacting like a stray cat watching a human approach out of fear or wariness. Gendo might have told her to keep her distance, or she might be doing something she shouldn't.
You glance at the printer she's using as she silently presses the scanning button, stopping it from scanning whatever book she's placed under the lid. The last two pages still come out, but your eyesight isn't good enough to make out the fine print.
Despite her usual sickly appearance and odd training exams, she seems to be as healthy as she can be.

There's no need to put any psychological pressure on her, especially after being told that she could "cease to function" if you push her too hard. Even if you're curious, let's be normal about this, shall we?

>Hello, Rei. Mind if I use the printer?
>Just so you know, I won't be counseling you for a while. Gendo's orders.
>Go ahead, I'm not in a rush.
>What are you printing over there?
>Pirating a book? For shame! That could get you in legal trouble, you know.
>Write-in.

>>6476600
>What are you printing over there?

>>6476600
>Go ahead, I'm not in a rush.
>What are you printing over there?
Out he rat ease, make small talk. She probably already knows about the counselling, since shebseems to the type to monitor her schedule closely.

>>6476631
>Out he rat ease,
Wow auto-correct.

>Put her at ease

>>6476600
>Hello, Rei. Mind if I use the printer?
>Just so you know, I won't be counseling you for a while. Gendo's orders.

Talk about a bait and switch
Welcome back

>>6476605
>>6476631
>>6476715
"Hello, Rei."
"Good morning, Kurono-sensei."
"Mind if I use the printer?"
"This is the only one that works."

"Yeah... We're supposed to have three of them working at all times, but these damn things are so brittle, you'd think they were made out of the paper they print on." You glance at the other two, one of which is out of ink and the other of which is busted. Someone should get this fixed already...

"Go ahead, I'm not in a rush." You gesture toward the working printer, given how she's practically waiting for your permission to continue. She presses the scanning button again, and the laser slowly passes over her book.

Since Rei's not one to talk, and you know you're not supposed to pester her for a while, the muffled whir of the machine is the only thing you hear for a bit as she flips through the few remaining pages on the scanner.

"'Best of H. P. Lovecraft,' huh?" You catch the title of the book as she gathers the printed pages together. "Is that what you're gonna read at the book club?"

Having been found out, Rei hangs her head.

"Am I going to be sent to detention after class?"
"Huh?"
"Our club president, Mayumi, told us we should familiarize ourselves with the Cthulhu Mythos, but we're a few books short. Since she always hands out spare copies from her own collection when the budget is tight, I thought I could return the favor by printing a copy for her of the book I bought from Mari."
"Couldn't you just buy another copy?"
"I... also didn't have enough money for that."

Rei Ayanami. One of Earth's strongest fighters at age fourteen. The sort-of daughter of the most powerful and influential man of all time, besides Jesus Christ himself. Still not given enough allowance to buy the same book twice? Gendo really is the worst.

"She told me it's illegal to make unauthorized copies of copyrighted material, yet I felt it was for a better cause. It also didn't feel the same as stealing from a store. Regardless, I shall face the proper consequences now that I've been caught."

Howard Phillips Lovecraft has been dead and buried for close to a century now. The Cthulhu Mythos was largely expanded upon by his friends and contemporaries, who have also passed away. The only money being stolen is from the poor sap in the editorial department who translated this thing, assuming Rei didn't just use Google Translate.

You don't really want to encourage Reibin Hood to keep stealing by implying it's a good thing, because that could eventually lead her to jail over here, but compared to the potential property damage she could cause with her Unit-00, this seems like a crime without any traceable victims.

>Detention for you.
>Go clean the classroom after the bell rings.
>You can keep the copy, but don't make a habit out of this.
>I can buy the book for you, it shouldn't be too expensive.
>Write-in.

>>6476764
Welcome back!

>Reibin Hood
heh.


>Go clean the classroom after the bell rings.
A slap on the wrist, as much to ease her guilty conscious as mildly discourage her from making a habit of "theft".

>>6476764
>Go clean the classroom after the bell rings.

>>6476764
>You can keep the copy, but don't make a habit out of this.

>>6476764
>Write-in.
And also drop a line to Misato about pilot salaries.

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>>6477300

>>6476800
>>6476871
>>6477031
>>6477034
Meh, you really can't be too hard on her. Putting aside the soft spot you have for the girl, you remember that kids enjoy bending the rules. If your mom caught you smoking and, instead of reprimanding you, taught you how to smoke and recommended a better brand, who are you to say she's going to jail over this?
Still, let's keep up appearances, or else the title of school counselor will be just for show.

"Rei, how about you go clean the classroom after the bell rings?"
"Community service?" She's surprised to get off so easily, wondering if you're going easy on her.
"Yeah, I don't want you to make a habit of this, but it's not your fault you don't have the money to buy another copy. However, there are healthier alternatives to consider."
"But I just said I wouldn't want to steal it from the store." Rei emphasizes her morals.

"I was referring to giving Mayumi your book while keeping the pirated copy for yourself. If she went home with a bootleg, she could get in trouble instead of you, and that's even worse than being caught red-handed by me. Who knows what her parents might think?"

Rei's pupils dilate as she realizes her mistake.
"Yes, that would have been very irresponsible of me. Though I saw it as a gift, I was giving her an unwanted burden with unforeseen consequences."
"Good thing a responsible adult came along, huh? Some situations might look bad at first glance, but with proper hindsight, they can turn out to be blessings in disguise." You conclude as she removes the book from the scanner, clipping the pages together after checking that they are properly aligned.

"...Thank you, Kurono-sensei. I will keep this personalized copy in my possession only."

She weirdly thanks you, despite having to spend her time cleaning the classroom after everyone else has gone home. Guess she still enjoys the solitude...
"...I am sorry about our interrupted sessions, too. I felt like I had something important to discover that will be harder to do by myself," Rei meekly laments.

"Aw, don't be sad about that, Rei. Therapy is like training wheels on a bike. It's easier to get started with help, but that doesn't mean you can't find your own way forward. Whatever Gendo decides, I'm sure you'll be able to figure things out for yourself."
"But it would be more efficient with you in the equation."
You don't know if she's being objective or if this is her roundabout way of saying she'll miss you. Seems like she's more frustrated with her father figure than with you, so you won't take offense.

After she leaves, you make a note to chastise Misato for not giving the key player in Tokyo-3's safety enough allowance to buy a damn book! Get that phone out and start nagging her the moment she looks at her screen!

Date: Got a minute?
Misato: More than one, actually! Where are you at?

"Date! Don't keep this beautiful lady over here waiting for you!"
Funny. You're not used to friendly visitors at your office.

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>>6477353 >>6477431

>>6477242
"What brought you here today?" you ask, arriving to find Misato dressed in more casual wear, being ogled by the principal.
"Well, your boss told me to bring the paperwork to enroll Asuka in this school sometime next week, so I thought I should get to it sooner rather than later."

"Come on, Date! Away with you! Help her out with what you're useful for." Even if he's infatuated with a woman young enough to be his granddaughter, he still manages to find the right moment to nag at you.
"Right, you can stop trying to get my attention now," Misato snaps back, accompanying you over to your desk as Yamadera grumbles his way back to the teachers' room.

"So, do you think you can do something about Rei's allowance? She told me she barely has enough money to afford a book."
"Oh wow, really?" Misato sounds genuinely surprised, not knowing that's the treatment Rei has been getting. "Shinji's allowance always arrives in my account just fine, so I thought she received the same amount of money."
"And how much does Shinji get?" you inquire.
"I'd... rather not tell you that." She raises an eyebrow, not appreciating the question. Fair enough; she has a right to keep that private, especially if she might be keeping some of that money for the beer nights, and the beer evenings, and the beer twilights...

"Still, I'll see if she can afford something nice, at the very least. It's crazy how she never once complained about it until just now."
"Well, she barely spoke up for herself until just now. It's good she's developing a sense of self-worth," you reply while Misato hands you a few copies of Asuka's documents for registration.
"Yeah, yeah, keep patting yourself on the back, because it's working on Shinji, too!" She smiles back, perhaps unaware that your sessions with Rei have been put on hold.

You decide to stay silent, taking a look at Asuka's ID: a picture of a bubbly, smiling, red-haired girl, accompanied by the standard information for a tween transferring to a new school. Thirteen years old, half-German, half-Japanese, earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of Frankfurt, adoptive mother and father living overseas, estranged from her biological father after her mother's... suicide in 2005.

That's a shame. For once, you know exactly what you're going to be dealing with, thanks to Asuka's background not being nearly as confidential as those of the other Eva pilots. Still, losing a mom at the age of four is something no child should have to deal with. Hopefully, she'll eventually overcome that by—
Wait a damn minute!
"A bachelor's in chemistry at age eleven?" You shout after rereading her papers, realizing that she's actually doing just fine. "What is she doing at this school if she's already smarter than the both of us?"

"Do you really need me to explain your own job to you? She's still a kid, Date. Kids need to be in a safe environment. Plus, it's best for the pilots to stick together and be friendly with each other!"

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>>6477356 >>6477385 >>6477479 >>6477601

>>6477300
>>6477300
"Of course..." You keep your comments to yourself, trying not to think about what a failure you are in comparison. Some people really are born better than others...
You skim her address and the signature of her legal guardian in Japan, which was...
"Pending approval?" You say the words out loud, wondering where Asuka would end up if even Misato hasn't made up her mind yet.
"Yeah, that's the part I was looking for a second opinion on... Or rather, a third opinion." Misato turns around, staring out the window. "I told my therapist about raising Asuka in the same home as Shinji, but for some reason, he told me it wasn't a good idea."

"Really? You're still with the guy I recommended? I'm glad it's working out!" You compliment her on her commitment to therapy.

"Thanks! This is the only real argument I've ever had with him, though. I thought it would be a good idea for them to share a home and get to know each other, but he gave me a list of all the things that could go wrong, given the struggles I'm already having with Shin-chan. But where else am I going to put this girl? She's not going to accept a dingy old apartment provided by public housing like Rei, and she's sure as hell not going to adapt to Japan without throwing a tantrum once or twice. The guy bringing her here will be leaving for another mission, and she didn't bring her parents along, so I'm out of options aside from volunteering."

She knows she's not the best option, but she's the only one she can think of. That's rough...

>What is Asuka like? Do you think she'll bump heads with Shinji?
>You've been doing better with Shinji lately. It'll be a rough few weeks, but I'm sure you can handle Asuka too.
>If it's too much for you, I can look around for any kids at school who have a spare room.
>Can't anyone else at NERV be her guardian? I don't see why you specifically have to take care of them both.
>If Rei can live by herself, I don't see why Asuka can't.
>Why not have her live with Rei? She could use a more energetic roomate.
>...You're not trying to shove the guardianship off to me, are you?
>Write-in.

>>6477353
>What is Asuka like? Do you think she'll bump heads with Shinji?
And maybe ask her what her opinion is about how she'd get on with Rei, too, and suggest:
>Why not have her live with Rei? She could use a more energetic roommate.
Surely our organization can pony up some cash to get them a slightly nicer flat, if they're already saving money by living together?

Wow, this is hard.
If we are to allow Asuka to live with Shinji she could undo at least half of our progress and that being generous.
If we are to allow her to live with Rei it also may end up in disaster, and we were just told, that Rei is very delicate (which is, while this is mostly an excuse, Date has no way of knowing that) so living with her is also a bad idea.
Date as her guardian might unironically be not as bad, but one really shouldn`t be therapist and guardian at the same time. And optics would be insanely bad.
Then again...Who else? Maya?

While we thinking, lets give Date more information before he can decide.
>>6477353
>What is Asuka like? Do you think she'll bump heads with Shinji?

>>6477300
>"A bachelor's in chemistry at age eleven?" You shout after rereading her papers,
Oh hey, that was my reaction as well!

>What is Asuka like? Do you think she'll bump heads with Shinji?
YES
Asuka is fiery, proud, and somewhat abrasive. It's going to be incredibly difficult to find someone she meshes well with. But Date doesn't know that yet.

We handed her off to that therapist for a reason, and if he weighs against it, I'll back his recommendation.
That does leave her somewhat in a lurch though.

>>6477353
>What is Asuka like? Do you think she'll bump heads with Shinji?
>If it's too much for you, I can look around for any kids at school who have a spare room.

>>6477353
>>What is Asuka like? Do you think she'll bump heads with Shinji?

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>>6477744 >>6477797

>>6477356
>>6477385
>>6477431
>>6477479
>>6477601
"What is Asuka like? I can't really make a decision without knowing much about her. Is the problem that she'll butt heads with Shinji, or is it something more extreme?" You tilt your head, wondering what the real issue is.

"Well, not with Shinji specifically. Asuka is jus— How do I put it...? She's got a strong personality, and being a bit of a go-getter, she might have trouble getting along with people who are more passive or sensitive."
"Yeah, graduating in Frankfurt might have given away the fact that she's a prodigy with high standards. She's more what I would expect from a trained professional soldier, only, you know, a few years younger." You offer your humble opinion to Misato. "If she's that much of a smart cookie, she should adapt to Japan just fine. Your apartment is pretty big and cozy, and Shinji isn't one to pry, so at worst, he'll just get annoyed with her and keep it to himself."
"And that's the problem, isn't it? He's done so much to come out of his shell and become a regular schoolboy, and then we'll throw someone who's his complete opposite into the mix just as he's gotten comfortable with how things are."

"If we can trust him with an Eva, I don't see why we can't trust him to learn how to be the bigger person in a squabble. He turned a potential bully into his best friend a few weeks ago. He's got potential when it comes to diplomacy."
"That's cool and all, but..." Misato pauses.
She did say her therapist was worried that she specifically might not be able to handle it, so there must be something on her mind to warrant this reaction.

"What if I'm not there for either of them? I feel like I barely do anything for Shinji beyond giving him a roof over his head and some orders, y'know? I'm trying to get promoted to major this year, so I've gotta double my efforts, but that means neglecting him. I want to believe they'll be there for each other, but that won't just magically happen because I wish it would. At best, they'll just stay out of each other's way."

And with that, Misato is slowly accepting the role of a responsible mother figure. It's progress, at the very least.

"Are there any other reasons you're anxious about this?" you venture, fishing for more information. She concedes, trusting you enough to open up.
"...Yeah, someone else is coming along with Asuka. He's been taking care of her for a while on the boat. His name is Kaji... Gendo Ikari's errand boy... and my ex-boyfriend from a few years back."
Weird. Gendo has one of those? Well, if Ritsuko can have one, you don't see why he can't...

"I was really hoping he could take Asuka in, since she loves the guy, but he's even more of a nomad than I am. One day he's here, the next he's sleeping all the way over in China without so much as an explanation. A guy like that can't even keep a woman in his life, so what's he gonna do with a girl, y'know?"
Mixed feelings about a returning ex. Got it...

>>6477727
"I bet him leaving will give Asuka another reason to stress out, huh?"

"That's the thing about Asuka: she has trouble listening to authority in general, especially when it comes to men. Not that I can blame her for it, but that's definitely going to be a hurdle for you. Kaji's the only one who gets a free pass, but with him never being around and me not really talking to him... I guess I'll just have to count him out of the equation."

"Yeah, I can see why you'd be sulking over who gets custody of her..."

"It's why I forced myself to come here today. I couldn't just hand you the paperwork without telling you where she'd be living and who her guardian would be, right?" She picks up a nearby pen, stopping a mere inch above the paper. She pauses dramatically, still hesitating to sign.

What a drama queen... A simple "What do you think, Date?" would do just fine.

>You'll do fine as Asuka's guardian, Misato. You've done plenty for Shinji, so no need to doubt yourself over it.
>Leave the paperwork here, you can come some other time when you're sure about it.
>I'll look for an available parent here at school, don't worry.
>Have you tried actually talking to Kaji about this?
>Try to have her at her own apartment, maybe it'd do her good.
>Have her live with Rei, instead. She could use the company.
>There are plenty of people at NERV, surely somebody else can take care of her.
>Write-in.

>>6477744
>Have you tried actually talking to Kaji about this?
>There are plenty of people at NERV, surely somebody else can take care of her.
>I'll look for an available parent here at school, don't worry.
The live with Rei option tempts me

>>6477385
Honestly I'm kinda glad I didn't leave this to the last bits of thread #2, this is the sort of big playing decision that's worth discussing right at the start

>>6477744
>Have you tried actually talking to Kaji about this?
>There are plenty of people at NERV, surely somebody else can take care of her.
>I'll look for an available parent here at school, don't worry.
Alright, >>6477385 convinced me. let's not push her and Rei together without trying other options.

>>6477744
+1 to >>6477745
Basically, let`s make deciding this as carefully as possible our first priority for the next couple of days. Both Date and Misato should really look into all available options in depth, because for now we don`t even know for sure what our options are.
Maybe Ritsuko always wanted to have 13-years old chemistry bachelor as a foster daughter! (Yeah, I trying not to laugh out loud at the idea).

>>6477727
>I'm trying to get promoted to major this year
Side tangent: Are there any openings further up the chain? She already has overall command of the city defense, and is the top commissioned officer wherever she goes. "Major" is usually low on the commissioned branch's totem-pole, but as far as I'm aware, the only people over her are the overall NERV commander and his XO.

>>6477744
>Have you tried actually talking to Kaji about this?
Kaji is bad news. He's a stereotypical womanizer and heartbreaker. But Date doesn't know that, so it's reasonable to ask.
>I'll look for an available parent here at school, don't worry.
>There are plenty of people at NERV, surely somebody else can take care of her.
NERV is a huge org, and the pilots are incredibly important. It can't be that hard to rustle up someone at least moderately competent and willing.
This feel like one of the more impactful changes we can make to the timeline. It's worth taking the time to see the full scope of our options.

I'm not a fan of the Rei option. It would be funny, but many of the same reasons that make Asuka & Shinji a poor matchup also hold true to her and Rei.
We could always ask Mari... What could go wrong?

>>6477744
>Try to have her at her own apartment, maybe it'd do her good.
She is a teenager that wants to be independent. Let her try.

>>6477745
>>6477764
>>6477766
>>6477797
>>6477826
"Have you tried talking to Kaji about this?"

"What? No. I don't think it's even stupid to ask him to take care of Asuka after being her babysitter for 40 days or so."

"Not about Asuka. I think we've crossed that out already. More about... whatever you're hung up on in general. If we're gonna work with him, we're gonna have to put those feelings aside, or at least save them for the weekend."

"Oh, I doubt he'll care anyway. It's exactly because we have bigger things to worry about that I'd rather not waste my time talking about it."

"Well then, so long as it doesn't take up any space in your noggin, you do you." You decide not to pry any further, instead offering her an alternative involving something you can actually do something about without being too nosy. "Can you hold off on writing down that name?"

"Until the end of the week, I think."

"Tell you what, then. I'll look for an available parent here at school. Try to find someone at NERV, if you can. Surely you're not the only one who has to take care of her there."

"It's not exactly an enviable position. Think about it. Why is it that only the Commander and I are in charge of Shinji and Rei?"

Because the two of you potentially know the secrets of the Evangelions that others aren't privy to?

Surely, you won't say that part out loud, but Misato takes your silence as an invitation to keep talking.

"Because no one wants the pressure! Imagine if we left Asuka with just about any schmoe who thinks he can handle her. Even if they're the best guardian in the world, the moment anything goes wrong with the pilot, be it her death or underperformance, the blame is all going to fall on them."
"Makes sense. If they're strict with me, I can't imagine what they'd do to you," you say, though you're not too sure about that, given how lenient she can afford to be with Shinji. Her military rank already implies that she's pretty trustworthy, even to people who don't know her personally. "Still, ask around. If at least one person volunteers and seems competent enough to look after the girl, that's one more option in our pool."

"...No point in arguing there." Misato drops the pen on the desk, striding toward the exit as she searches for potential contacts on her phone.
And there it is: the practical, solvable problem you were looking for yesterday. Time to call around and consider every possible parent on board.
For starters, we know Asuka is a bit of a misandrist, so she probably wouldn't get along well with Toji. We can cross Rei off the list, too. Not because she's too masculine, but for the same reasons we crossed out Shinji. That still leaves quite a few people...

>>6478090
Kensuke Aida is a big tech nerd, and given the toys you've seen him bringing home from the military, having a child soldier as a roommate would be a wet dream for a war aficionado. The downside? He lives by himself, and given that his father leaves all his NERV-related paraphernalia at home, Kensuke spends more time camping outside than actually being there.

Unless you wanna kill the kid with bug bites, cross him off the list, too.

How about Hikari Horaki, the class president from 2-A? You heard in the last meeting that her older sister had graduated and moved away at the start of the semester, leaving a free room in the already crowded family home. You'd have to ask her if she'd really be willing to take another person in, but it's pretty much an all-girl household, and as the middle child, Hikari is one of the most responsible girls Asuka could stay with. If there's one thing Asuka respects, it's efficiency, so they'd make a perfect match. Hikari is always sticking her neck out to ask if you need any help with anything concerning her class. She's got a lot on her shoulders for a non-pilot, but she's a good fit for what you're looking for.

You could just go for Mari if you're desperate. Lord knows she's equally desperate to feel useful to you, as though she owes you something she needs to pay back. She's responsible in her work and probably in her personal life, too. And being a friend of Rei's, she could also help break the ice between the two female pilots. Though, given how nosy she's been about finding out what the citizens of Tokyo-3 think about the Angel attacks, her big mouth will probably annoy Asuka, too.

After briefing a few people in the teachers' lounge on the situation, some were quick to offer their opinions.

"Why are you looking at me for? Like I don't see plenty of these whippersnappers here already..."
You don't even know why you bothered looking at Yamadera.

"I'm sorry, Date. I really wish I could help you, but I'm already dealing with plenty of troubles at home. Even if I could use the training in being a mom, my family is always coming and going, and that would probably do more harm than good, especially once my baby gets bigger and I'll need help around the house."
Natsuhi hangs her head low, letting you know her hands are tied, and that eventually Asuka would babysit her more than her babysit Asuka.

"I live in a two-story house protected by the underground blocks. It's just me and the wife, and while we don't have kids, I'd love to have a young'un around... If you helped me out later on, of course."
Shirogane, being the opportunist he is, wouldn't leave Asuka by herself. And given that his wifeguy tendencies likely mean he gets pushed around by his wife, having another woman boss him around wouldn't do him much harm. But from the way he puts it, he'll only accept the favor if you acknowledge that you'll owe him one down the line, when he tries to become principal.

And you hate owing people things...

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>>6478131 >>6478140 >>6478153 >>6478155 >>6478199

>>6478120
The following day, you wake up to find a missed call from Misato. After calling her back, she tells you something very surprising.

"Spoke to everyone I knew. I even talked to Ritsuko about using the MAGI system to find the most suitable employee for the job, and after bugging her about it, the MAGI found someone!"
"Wow, can that computer really do that on a whim for you?"
"Of course not! That's why I said I bothered Ritsuko about it!" She laughs. "Anyways, do you know Kaede Agano? She takes care of MAGI's Casper sector."
"I think Ritsuko briefed me about the MAGI girls when I first arrived here, but I don't know much about her specifically. What's so good about her?"
"Well, Kaede has a minor in chemistry, lives close to the beach, and drives a motorcycle, so she won't have any trouble with traffic when taking Asuka wherever she needs to go. Plus, she was the oldest child in a family of five siblings, so she knows a lot about housekeeping and babysitting."
Sounds too good to be true, honestly.

"What's the downside?" you ask, already knowing there has to be one.
"Well... she's half-Russian. And with Asuka being half-German..."
"Really? Asuka wasn't even a fetus when the Berlin Wall came down." You brush Misato's concerns about a possible rivalry over their nationalities aside.
"No, that's not it. It's just that she's more Russian than Japanese, since she spent quite a few years at the Russian branch of NERV, so her Japanese is... pretty rough."
"How rough we are talking about?"
"Rough to communicate good enough for child." Misato mimics her speech over the phone.

Is stilted communication really that big of a problem? Unless Asuka is such a whiny brat that she can't stand having a conversation with someone she can understand just because of a rough accent, there's no reason to expect World War III to break out in their household. The MAGI system is responsible for running simulations to train the Evas to fight real Angels. If it chose an adult to take care of a kid, there's not much point in doubting its judgment, is there?

"What about you, Date? Did you find anyone interesting?"
"Yeah, I made a little list, and out of all of them, I think I found a good candidate for Asuka's guardianship."

>Send her to Hikari's house
>Send her to Mari's house
>Send her to Shirogane's house
>Send her to Kaede's house

>>6478125
>Send her to Hikari's house
Socialization is good. Never alone tho

>>6478125
>Send her to Kaede's house

>>6478125
>Send her to Kaede's house
They both probably know English enough for it to be a crutch with any communication difficulties.
In fact, they can even bond over being half Japanese if Asuka can be...not that much of an Asuka. So, probably not(.

>>6478125
>Send her to Hikari's house
They got along

>>6478140
+1 to Rusko Japan roommate
Controversial suggestion: couldn’t we just have an audio translation app on both people’s phones?

The QM has implied cell phone tech is pretty close to modern

>>6478125
>>Send her to Hikari's house
With Kaede as the backup if she isn't able. Hikari has a good head on her shoulders, and a busy (and hopefully) warm environment like that will hopefully blunt the worst of her abrasiveness.
If Asuka wasn't so difficult, Kaede would have been my first choice. But there's pretty good odds the language/culture barrier would cause quite a bit of friction.

>>6478163
>couldn’t we just have an audio translation app on both people’s phones? The QM has implied cell phone tech is pretty close to modern

Audio translation was somewhat shoddy at 2015 compared to today, but it was definitely useable, but knowing Asuka, just having that hindrance because of a bad accent is already plenty bothersome when everyone else can speak just fine.
>>6477797
>Side tangent
Good question! She doesn't care that much about the promotion when it happens in the anime, but aside from better pay and bragging rights, NERV does have better relations with the JSSDF here, and that will give her some more influence in case she needs it later down the line...

Anyway, onto the update already.

>>6478140
>>6478153
>>6478163

"There's this girl, Hikari. She's the class president and has a large family, so she's used to sibling-related responsibilities. You think Asuka would like having a big sister around?"

"Hm... Maybe... You think Ritsuko can put that girl's info into the MAGI System so we could factor her family into the equation?" Misato asks, half-jokingly.
"It's ok if you prefer Kaede," you inform her, though after all the effort you went through digging around, you kind of feel like you haven't done much to help if she's still leaning toward her first choice. "I'm just saying that if something goes awry with Agano-san, there's still a Plan B."
"Alright, then! Glad that's sorted out. I'll inform the staff at NERV about it. Do you need to go to your school, too?"
"No need. I'll sign the paperwork on my end when I get to school."

Ending the call, you promptly get ready for another uneventful workday. Though the ever-looming threat of the Angels is always present, the armed guards and the underground safety zone in the school theater mean you don't have much to worry about when it comes to evacuations.
A few hours into the afternoon, you're informed that Kyoya and Mitsuru are entering the school gates. You meet them as they're making small talk with the armed guards.

"Hey there! Hope the guns didn't scare you."
"Nah, we're fine. We've covered wars, you know," Mitsuru boasts.
"Really?" You try to think of the most recent international conflict a couple of college-age students could have gotten involved in, only for Kyoya to burst your bubble.
"What he means is, 'We've used some footage of wars that were broadcast by the company that's funding us.'"
"Editors... Always wanting to cut me off at my best moments," he groans as you hold back a laugh.

"Anyway, what do you folks need from me here? I don't think I can show you much footage of my work without compromising the privacy of the kids here, but I can always pretend to do more paperwork than I've actually got."
"We were thinking of getting some stock footage of the school grounds here. At most, you'll have to pose for a bit here and there."

Really? You've seen a few photoshoots involving your dad, but you've never been the one in front of the camera! Hopefully, there's nothing stuck in your teeth from lunch...

Your short conversation is interrupted by an alarm going off on one of the JSSDF soldiers' watches. After signaling his squad, a couple of soldiers rush inside, seemingly heading for Shinji's classroom.

"Did something happen?" you ask the guard wearing the alarm watch. With no sirens blaring and all the buildings still standing, it doesn't seem like an Angel attack.

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>>6478446 >>6478484 >>6478675 >>6479189 >>6479230

>>6478387
"We haven't been briefed on the situation yet, but Captain Katsuragi needs Ikari-san in his Unit 01 ASAP," he responds, already aware of your affiliations.
"And not Unit 00?"
"Not yet, anyway. The containment operation seems to require only one pilot for now."
Containment operation? Not a full-scale combat scenario? That's a first... What else would they need the Eva pilots for? PR management?
"...Does that mean we won't be interviewing you today?" Kyoya asks, almost in a pleading tone.

>Hold on, I'd like to know more about the operation.
>It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview.

>>6478396
>It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview.
If it was Angels proper the full alarms would be going off, so I'm not too worried.
We should add a caveat that we might have to cut things short if a problem arises.

>>6478396
>It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview.

>>6478396
>It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview.

>>6478396
>It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview.
We aren't technically needed for these ops, usually...

>>6478396
>>It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview.
Let's chat

Sorry for the delay, wife got the cold I was recovering from and she had a worse reaction than I did so I had to spend a few days off, time for the update now!

>>6478446
>>6478484
>>6478675
>>6479189
>>6479230
"It's fine, I'll find us a good room for the interview." You try to brush off the Defense Force's operation, since you have no obligation to contribute until you're officially called upon, your curiosity be damned.

After getting a key to the AV room from the teacher who'd just used it to let the kids in 2-B watch Barefoot Gen, you bring the camera crew inside, where they set up some blindingly bright lights and adjust their camera filters.

"Okay, so where should we start—"
"Sorry, you've got a pimple here." Kyoya points to your right cheek, making you feel the bump on your face. "Would you like to apply some makeup?"
"Uh... No, thanks. I don't do makeup," you politely refuse.
"There's no problem with wearing makeup, dude. All male actors use it all the time, and no one thinks less of them. It's very subtle stuff that'll make you look better. You won't even notice it after the editing."
"I'm good, man. There's no need for it," you insist, just as Mitsuru takes out his pocket mirror, revealing the redness caused by an ingrown beard hair.
"Fine... Just don't overdo it." You roll your eyes, hoping they don't change the shape of your face to make you look even more like your dad.

A few brushes across your face later, Kyoya sits across from you, framing you in the shot as you sit behind the desk. You're usually the one asking personal questions, so this should be a fun change of pace from your job.

Kyoya and Mitsuru make an effort to stay out of frame as the former pulls out a sheet of paper to properly interview you.
"Many knew Dagger Daigo and were ecstatic to see him on-screen, but you're one of the few who could say you knew Daigo Kurono personally, and the only one with the unique perspective of being his son. What was your relationship with him like?"

Strong opening. Not a hard question, either. Maybe you should take notes for the kids.

>How could I not be a fan of Dagger Daigo, right? I was there in the crowd with every fight he had!
>I couldn't have a better father even if I tried, He gave me everything I could wish for and then some.
> I honor him every day with the kindness I give for the children I work with. If anything, I respect him more as a man than a boxer, or even a father.
>Just like the fans, I miss him every day. Life just isn't the same without him by my side.
>Write-in.

>>6479794
>I couldn't have a better father even if I tried, He gave me everything I could wish for and then some.

>>6479794
>Just like the fans, I miss him every day. Life just isn't the same without him by my side.

>>6479794
>Just like the fans, I miss him every day. Life just isn't the same without him by my side.

>>6479794
>>I couldn't have a better father even if I tried, He gave me everything I could wish for and then some.

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>>6480003 >>6480038

>>6479824
>>6479858
>>6479877
>>6479890
"I couldn't have asked for a better father if I tried. He gave me everything I could wish for as a son, and then some. And I bet that, just like his fans, I'll miss him every day. Life just isn't the same without Dad."

You try to convey your feelings without sounding too sad about his untimely death, but it's written all over your face, and your voice grows heavier with each passing sentence.

"Dad knew I was a bit of a sensitive kid. Mom wasn't around a whole lot since she worked overseas, but whenever he wasn't doing interviews, shooting commercials, or training for his next fight, he made sure to spend all the free time he had with me. We watched several of his favorite old Westerns, and he'd always put me to sleep by pretending to wrestle with me on the mattress. It's a good thing he was so high-energy. It helped balance the mood at home, since Mom and I were both a lot more lethargic."

Kyoya and Mitsuru seem to respond more positively to your humorous comment. Maybe that's more along the lines of what they were looking for. You can't really tell what they'll use or cut until the documentary comes out, so you might as well keep talking.

"Plenty of people thought he was playing a character for the cameras. Was he really always that high-energy?" Kyoya asks, mildly impressed.
"Oh, he was like a rabbit. One moment he was sleeping soundly; the next, his eyes would snap open, and he'd start doing crunches and singing his own theme song. He was my alarm clock for the longest time. I'd wake up to the sound of him singing 'Dagger Daigo, slice and dice'... It's like it never left me."

You gesture and lower your voice into a gruff imitation of his, doing your best to mimic him nostalgically. Your performance earns more positive reactions from the duo.

"Did you ever think it was too much?"
"Not really. He was never particularly narcissistic about it. It was more his way of showing how grateful he was for all the support he received, whether it came from home or from the people he met on the streets. He grew up poor, after all, and made sure never to forget his roots."

Mitsuru gives Kyoya a thumbs-up from behind the camera, signaling that they'll probably use that as voiceover.

"The PR team he had really made him look invincible. Was there anything he was bad at?"
"Anything unrelated to talking or boxing. The few times I saw him try to surf, he swallowed more water and ate more sand than the clams. He knew he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He was just gifted with a good pair of fists, and he wanted to see how much he could give to the world with them. Just being alive was enough to keep him happy. And that's a very enviable quality these days, isn't it?"

"20-0 is an impressive record, but plenty of people were starting to criticize his fights toward the end of his career. Do you think his coach wanted to pad his record to keep him as a money fighter, or was that Daigo's own decision?"

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>>6480038 >>6480043 >>6480070

>>6480000
"Why do you say that?"

"Well, the press always hyped him up as Japan's best boxer at the time, but boxers tend to pursue other titles. They switch between weight divisions, relinquish their belts to go after world titles or the OPBF title. It took him quite a few years to even consider fighting Long Zhao at the Tokyo Dome. Meanwhile, Takanori Hatakeyama won the WBA belt and became the last Japanese lightweight champion. And that's because he started out as a super-featherweight. Had he started out as a lightweight and gone for the Japanese title from the beginning, he might have ended up fighting Dagger Daigo. Some shows at the time hyped them up as rivals, but they never actually faced each other in the ring. Why do you think that is?"

Ah, you remember Takanori. Daigo was actually pretty interested in fighting him, though his coach never managed to arrange so much as a sparring match between the two. You think Takanori is still alive today, and no doubt they'll try to get his perspective on Dagger Daigo if they have the budget for it. But is it really worth fanning the flames of a rivalry whose outcome no one will ever know?

Your dad had the technique. Every match, every move, every counter felt perfectly choreographed. Not because his fights were staged, of course. He had several opportunities to give up the belt and pursue a wrestling career, where he could have stuck to fighting jobbers if all he wanted was an easy payday, but he never did. Still, holding onto the belt through so many title defenses over the years probably made him unpopular in certain circles of the boxing world.

Of course, you're going to defend your father for the cameras. But having a world champion like Takanori receive international recognition while your father was busy with his umpteenth title defense is probably something you'll have to address carefully. You can't really answer that question for him...

Or can you?

>The family came first. He didn't want to risk a serious injury and lose out on what he had.
>I didn't want him to leave Japan. He couldn't take me overseas with him and that meant I'd be home alone for a long time.
>Boxing is also about marketing and making a name for yourself, there's nothing wrong with staying where he was at.
>He was too generous with money. He would rather donate it to charities, us or his boxing gym before investing in international deals.
>He went for the OPBF, didn't he? He knew when to go for higher ceilings, at least. Maybe he was just waiting for the right moment.
>Of course Takanori dodged my father to get the super-featherweight belt. He knew he'd lose.
>I don't know, he never really told me the reason, and it would feel wrong to answer that in his place.
>Write-in.

>>6480000
nice quad 0s.

>>6480003
Things are going well so far.
I'm thinking it makes the most sense to avoid stirring up trouble, especially on behalf of those long since passed on.
>The family came first. He didn't want to risk a serious injury and lose out on what he had.

>>6480003
>I didn't want him to leave Japan. He couldn't take me overseas with him and that meant I'd be home alone for a long time.

Flows out of
>Dad knew I was a bit of a sensitive kid. Mom wasn't around a whole lot since she worked overseas...

>>6480003
>The family came first. He didn't want to risk a serious injury and lose out on what he had.
We were just a kid. We can't take all the blame.

>>6480038
>>6480043
>>6480070
"The family came first. He didn't want to risk a serious injury and lose out on what he had." You reveal to the press-to-be.
"Really? But he barely got any scratches when he fought."
"He was just that careful about CTE. If he suffered a serious injury, he'd risk losing what he valued most."
"So he wasn't lying in those interviews, then. He really was as much of a family man as he made himself out to be." Kyoya smiles.

"Yep! He was just as funny back home, too."
"Do you have any personal anecdotes, then?"
"Yeah, of course. People always double-check my name, since Date Kurono sounds like I have two last names. When I asked him why, he told me it was because he wanted my name to sound as powerful and intimidating as his. And what's better than a dagger? A sword. What's better than a sword? A swordsman. And what's better than a swordsman? One of the greatest samurai in Japanese history: Masamune Date."
"Why not call you Masamune, or even Botenmaru?"

"I asked him the same thing, but he said Botenmaru sounded like a lame name, and naming me after an actual sword would be too on the nose. So he gave me two last names instead. I never changed it, though. Daigo and Date roll off the tongue pretty well, so it's hard to hate it as an adult."

So far, this interview has been very pleasant. You've gotten to relive some cool little anecdotes about him, and even though they might not sound particularly revealing, the editing can complement your earnestness and make for a compelling segment, provided you come across as genuine.

"Do you think Daigo would have gone for the world title if it weren't for... the accident?"
"Hard to say... I've never seen him really hit a wall in his progress. Maybe age would have caught up with him once he tried to go for the world title, but he definitely could have won the OPBF title match if it weren't for that..."

You mourn the international champion that never came to be, and seeing the potential for a good scoop, Kyoya latches onto it.

"Daigo really laid low after losing his leg and the Second Impact. He refused interviews, was rarely seen outside the house, and whenever he did go out, he tried to hide from the cameras. Don't you think a prominent figure like him would have done well to say something to Japan, so people could feel his support during such a dark period in human history?"

Since you dodged the political implications of the World Boxing Association, Kyoya assumes you don't know much about the subject and is now attempting to tug at your heartstrings. Not a bad idea, and he's not exactly asking a loaded question, but it's definitely something difficult to answer without choking up a bit.

>>6480175
>Daigo had a right to his privacy. At the end of the day, he was a boxer, not a politician.
>The Second Impact took his leg, home town, his entire family, friend group and his coach, I think anyone would be depressed. It was a miracle he bounced back at all.
>He was a family man, and when he needed the most, he returned to his family to reinvent himself.
>I'm the one who convinced him to stay away from the press. I didn't want people to see the old Dagger Daigo in such a disheveled state.
>I would rather not answer that.
>Write-in.

>>6480178
>The Second Impact took his leg, home town, his entire family, friend group and his coach, I think anyone would be depressed. It was a miracle he bounced back at all.
>He was a family man, and when he needed the most, he returned to his family to reinvent himself.

>>6480178
>He was a family man, and when he needed the most, he returned to his family to reinvent himself.
Doubling down on the family aspect.


It's foolish, but I hope he's tactful enough to stay away from talking about the end.

>>6480178
>The Second Impact took his leg, home town, his entire family, friend group and his coach, I think anyone would be depressed. It was a miracle he bounced back at all.
>He was a family man, and when he needed the most, he returned to his family to reinvent himself.

OP, are familiar with Thom Jones' short stories? I figure the mixture of boxing and dysfunction is appropriate for this thread.

>>6480178
>The Second Impact took his leg, home town, his entire family, friend group and his coach, I think anyone would be depressed. It was a miracle he bounced back at all.
>He was a family man, and when he needed the most, he returned to his family to reinvent himself

>>6480178
>The Second Impact took his leg, home town, his entire family, friend group and his coach, I think anyone would be depressed. It was a miracle he bounced back at all.
>He was a family man, and when he needed the most, he returned to his family to reinvent himself.

>>6480202
They will for sure ask about the murder-suicide. How could they not?

>>6480290
I was writing it more from a Hajime No Ippo perspective, but Dreams of a Pugilist sounds like a good recommendation, haven't read it before so I'll give it a look later anyway.

>>6480180
>>6480202
>>6480290
>>6480291
>>6480541
"The Second Impact took his leg, home town, his entire family, friend group and his coach, I think anyone would be depressed. It was a miracle he bounced back at all." You reafirmed your father's strength. He might not have been knocked out in the ring, but when life knocked him down, he showed how resilient he is by not letting the bell ring when he was on the ground."

"Was Dagger Daigo still alive when he retired, or did he just became Daigo Kurono?"
Now it feels like they're talking about him like he's Spider Man, and not a real person... He was always both, no?
"He was a family man first. When he needed us the most, he returned to go back to the drawing born. I thank him for it. I didn't expect that I could help him in any way, I was just a 14 year old boy. What did I know about life that he didn't, right? But when I saw him at the hospital, bleeding out his leg from having his side of the car crushed... Mom told me to take care of him, begged me, really. We didn't know what kind of man would come out of the emergency room."

"What did you see when you arrive home?"
You gulp, dramatically pausing as you explained your father's broken spirit manifesting in physical form.
"Despite seeing him in rock bottom, that day was exactly what pushed me into the career I have today. There was Daigo Kurono... Dagger Daigo if you will... The world's strongest man, as far as I knew, staring at the ceiling, not saying a word. The loudmouth that always made some noise to cheer us up, or just for the sake of it... Dead silent. I didn't know what to say, so I just stuck with him on the couch the entire time in case he needed anything. But that's when I heard him say something."

"Date... It hurts."
"Where, Dad? Do you need anything? Where does it hurt? I can bring some more painkillers-"
"No, Date... It hurts... Everywhere. From deep within to the outside world... Everything hurts." He didn't flinch, didn't grit his teeth, just kept staring up, without so much as blinking. His hand moved to his stump, trying to feel the leg he didn't have, and then he finally covered his face.

"I wanted so bad to say something, but it was like it was stuck in my throat. I felt so powerless... If he didn't know what to do, then neither did anyone else..."

"Oh God... They're all dead, aren't they?" He pulled at his face. "The coach, your grandparents, your school buddies... Everything... It's gone, Date... What's going on in the world? Why did it happen? This is a nightmare I feel like I can't wake up from."

Your eyes were puffing up as you held back your tears, you didn't want to show him weakness when he was so vulnerable, waiting for you to be strong like him, you wanted it so bad, but nothing came out!

>>6480605
"Something was telling me I should hurry up... That time was catching up to me and I wouldn't make it if I didn't go for the world before my body gave out... It's like I knew something would happen, just a random bad feeling I had that flared up with every title defense... I should have fought the Pacific Champion sooner... I wanted to bring that belt home so bad..."

"And why didn't you go for it, Dad?" You finally replied, though it wasn't anything awe inspiring.

"...I was afraid... I'd miss out on your best years. Your graduation... Your first girlfriend... Your 18 year old birthday... Those are important events that you can never take back... If I got a concussion, what would your mother think? What good would a belt be if I had to be carried in a wheelchair for the rest of my life by you, without so much as being able to talk or move properly? I didn't want to weigh you down..."

You sniffled. Those words hurt more than any punch he could have given you. Your hero was experiencing an ego death the likes of which you've never seen before... You couldn't take it anymore, you started crying right there and then. Not because of yourself and the loss of your friends, but because if even Dagger Daigo felt no hope, then there was no point in looking for it yourself...

"... I wish I could cry... Maybe it would help me out a little bit."
"Y-You can cry, Dad. I won't judge."
"No... I just... Can't cry. I've learned not to. It's all in the facial muscles. You learn how to clench those up when fighting. If you don't want them out, they won't come out... Where I've grown up, crying was a sign of weakness. You can't show fragility in the ring, even if it hurts... But if you do that, you learn that crying is unnecessary. You don't need to cry in order to suffer.

"And that experience is what made you become a child counselor?
"No, it's what I said to him after that. The way he instantly felt better after I did was something I couldn't believe in myself, but if words could have such positive impact on people, I felt like I discovered a talent too good to only use on one person.
"Well, what did you say to him?" Kyoya asks.

>You have nothing to be scared of, Dad. I'm here with you, and I'll do my best to help you, as much as you've helped me.
>You'd never be my dead weight, Dad. You're the glue that held everything together in my life. Mom's too.
>You'll always be the world champion. In this house, and in my heart.
>It's ok to cry sometimes, Dad. Every muscle needs to relax, even the ones on your face. No one will see it anyway, it'll be our secret.
>I'll start working tomorrow morning. I'll buy you a prosthetic leg. You'll walk again soon, Dad, with me. I promise you that.
>Man up, damn it! You're Dagger Daigo, that's not the champion I knew my entire life!
>Write-in.

>>6480607
>You'd never be my dead weight, Dad. You're the glue that held everything together in my life. Mom's too.

Haha tragic

>>6480607
>You'll always be the world champion. In this house, and in my heart.
This doesn't even need to be true. It could be >>6480729. But it's what the people watching that documentary really need to hear. As a counselor, we must udnerstand our patients. This time, our patients are Dad's fans, whose spits are suffering in his absence. He would want them to feel triumphant, hopeful, and to strive. I think as Dagger Daigo's son, we would also want them to grant themselves grace if they fail or fall.

>>6480607
>You have nothing to be scared of, Dad. I'm here with you, and I'll do my best to help you, as much as you've helped me.

Agreed that >>6480794 is what the TV producers want to hear.