The truth is, I have no emotional attachment to Rei at all.

In the midst of making Eva, I suddenly realized that I had forgotten her. Her very existence. For example, in episode seven, I remembered and added one shot with Rei. I had no attachment to her at all. I think that was okay, because in episode eight, she didn't appear. Not even in a single shot.

Episode 6 was too early.

At the end Rei says "I don't know what to do," and Shinji says, "I think you should smile," and Rei smiles. ... Afterwards, when I thought about it, I cursed. In short, if she and Shinji completely "communicated" there, then isn't she over with? At that moment, Rei, for me, was finished.

When she smiled, she was already finished, this character.

I am meowing at the top of my lungs

No one is saying it is a crime. But it is easily proven as wrong even if its not a crime. You see just a human or an ant what is wrong with killing you, from an higher perspective this can be justification if you take that mindset. Imaginary things do not exist? They do, not in the exact way you think they do though. But electric charges/photos do travel through your nerves, they leave marks and traces of their voyage. Look at the stars, maybe they are neurons of a very very big brain and your ancestors were brought to this extension of Solar neuron by a big charged sphere very very long ago. anyway don't under estimate imagination.

Also, the intention matters, what is your intention for killing even if it's "just imaginary? Are you aware that you might as well be the product of imagination of a greater mind?

iliketolieinthegrassandwatchtheantsandwishiwereoneofthemintheirundergroundmazesosafefromthedarknessofpeople

the sun is about to sink below the horizon

sunset