The Third Character
In the Case of Rei Ayanami

- Who am I?
- Rei Ayanami.
- Who are you?
- Rei Ayanami
- You're also Rei Ayanami?
- Yes, I am the thing that is called Rei Ayanami. We are all things that are called Rei Ayanami. How can we all be me?
- Because everybody calls us Rei Ayanami.
- Why do you possess a false heart and body?
- They are not false, because I am me.
- No, you are a person whose false soul was created by the human named Gendo Ikari. You're nothing but an object living a lie, pretending to be a person. See? There's a dark part of your heart inside you that you can see nothing of, that you know nothing of. That's where the real you is.
- I am me. Because I became who I am through the time I've spent and the connections I've made with other people. The current me has been molded through contact with other people. Contact with people and the passage of time change the shape of my heart.
| Is that what ties are? |
- Yes, the things that have created the me called Rei Ayanami so far... The things that will continue to shape me...
| That is what ties are |
- But the real you is somewhere else.
- You just don't know it. Because you don't want to see it. You're just avoiding it without realizing it.
| Because you're afraid |
- Because it may not be human in form. Because the person that I have been so far may cease to exist.
| You are afraid |
- You're afraid of ceasing to exist. You're afraid of being erased from everyone's hearts.
- Afraid? I don't understand.
- Your own individual world will also cease to exist.
| It frightens you, doesn't it? |
- ou will cease to exist.
| It frightens you, doesn't it? |
- No, it makes me happy. Because I want to die. What I desire is despair. I want to return to nothingness.
- But I can't.
- I cannot return to nothingness. He won't let me return. He won't let me go back yet. I existed because he needed me. But it's over now. He's not going to need me anymore. He's going to abandon me. I thought I had wished for that day to come, but... Now, I am afraid.
IKARI:“Come, let us go. You have existed for this day”
IKARI:“today, Rei.”
- Yes!
| And then... |
| The instrumentality of mankind begins |

⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠋⣠⡌⢥⣌⠁⠀⠀⠀⡐⠠⣍⠒⠤⢿⠷⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣤⣷⣌⠀⣤⣀⡤⢀⣀⣀⣀⣀⡀⢀⣀⣈⣼
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠃⢀⣐⢰⠾⠋⢠⣤⡴⠞⣛⡛⠀⠸⣷⣾⣿⣿⣦⡑⠈⢿⡿⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡯⣿⣿⣿⣥⣥⣿⣈⣽⣸⣭⣭⣬
⠀⠈⠉⠉⠉⠉⠁⠉⠉⠉⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣏⣿⠿⠖⣡⠟⣩⣴⣿⣿⡿⠗⠀⠿⣿⠿⣿⣿⠿⣌⡂⠘⠦⣰⣶⣶⣶⣶⣶⡄⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠛⢡⡆⠀⠂⠀⠡⣾⠿⠿⢋⣥⠆⠀⣶⡀⠹⣆⢻⣿⣷⡜⣿⣷⣄⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⠀⣀⣀⢀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⣤⣄⡀⠀⣀⡙⠓⠀⠁⠀⠀⣠⣤⠀⢠⣶⠟⠋⢀⣼⣿⠃⡄⣿⡆⢻⣿⣷⡸⣿⣿⡄⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⢠⣿⠀⠆⠀⠆⠀⣰⡟⠀⣤⡤⠀⢀⣀⣚⡛⠛⣰⣿⢸⣿⠘⣿⣿⡇⢹⣿⡄⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⣸⢋⡶⠀⣤⡀⣀⡿⠁⠐⠒⠶⣶⣟⣛⣻⡟⢠⣿⠏⣾⡏⠀⣹⣿⡇⢸⣿⡇⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢀⣿⣸⠃⢸⣿⣧⡿⢧⣷⠠⠀⠀⠀⢌⠙⣿⡇⣿⡿⢠⡿⠁⠆⣿⣿⢣⣾⣿⠇⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠃⠃⠈⣿⣿⠀⠘⣏⠻⠀⠸⣿⣷⣿⣿⣷⣶⣿⣿⣧⠘⢁⣿⠀⠞⣸⡿⢃⡼⣿⣿⠀⠀⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⠛⣻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣶⣶⡶⠶⣶⡀⠀⠸⢻⠀⡀⣌⠛⢇⢱⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢨⠀⠀⣾⠟⣡⡿⢣⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⢻⣿⣤⣾⣿⣷⡆⠀⠈⠣⠀⢸⣧⠘⢾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⡼⠋⣰⠞⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⠠⠀⠀⣄⡾⢁⠎⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⢠⠀⠀⠘⢿⡇⠀⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠀⠀⣀⣠⣶⣿⠀⠑⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⡆⠀⣰⣿⣷⣟⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣴⡀⠀⠀⠈⠇⢸⣷⣌⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⢀⣤⣾⣿⣿⡿⣿⣇⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⡇⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠛⠛⠀⠂⠀⠀⣸⣿⣿⣷⣄⣙⠻⠿⠿⠟⠛⣉⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡈⣿⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⣡⣶⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣄⡀⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡆⠀⠿⠾⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⡇⣿⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣁⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢁⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣤⣭⣝⣛⣻⠇⢐⣒⣂⣤⣴⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣄⡙⠇⢘⣀⠀⢸⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⠺⢛⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣶⣤⣬⣙⠻⢿⣿⣟⣣⣭⣭⣭⣝⣛⡄⠈⠛⢷⣬⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣌⡙⠇⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡀⢈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣌⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⢦⠘⠿⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⡌⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣦⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣇⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠛⠁⠀⡘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⠐⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠀⠀⠠⠁⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⣉⣴⣷⣦⡹⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢠⡀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠄⠠⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⢳⣬⣙⠛⠛⠛⠛⣛⣛⣩⣥⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡟⢁⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡄⠛⠛⢋⣡⣴⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⢁⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⢰⣶⣿⣿⣿⡄⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢹⣿⣿⡇⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⡀⠁⠛⢋⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣾⣿⣿⣷⠀⠙⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡘⢿⣿⡇⣿⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠀⠈⠂⠀⠀⢀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⠏⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡙⠇⢸⣿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄⠀⠀⠂⠠⣦⣉⢸⣿⣿⣿⠏⣸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⡘⢿⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿
⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⢸⣃⣰⡷⠉⠁⠈⣿⣿⡏⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿�