Osiris was not in a hurry to establish an overly close personal connection with Shinji Ikari or Rei Ayanami.
He knew well that too much is as bad as too little, especially in the pervasive surveillance environment of NERV.
It was another weekend afternoon, and the sunlight poured through the massive polymer dome, scattering shimmering light onto the azure water surface.
Shinji Ikari once again came to the Marine Ecosystem Restoration Zone by himself.
He seemed to have become accustomed to the tranquility here, familiar with the route as he passed through the public viewing area towards the observation corridors reserved for specific personnel.
Osiris was currently recording data beside one of the breeding tanks and happened to look up just as he saw the slightly frail, somewhat hesitant figure.
He closed the data pad in his hand, whispered a few words of instruction to Tanaka beside him, and then walked towards Shinji Ikari.
"Shinji-kun, you had time to drop by today?" Osiris' voice was gentle, carrying a barely detectable hint of welcome.
Shinji Ikari paused, turned around, and nodded a little awkwardly, "Dr. Chen, Osiris—I apologize for the disturbance."
"No disturbance at all." Osiris walked to his side and stood with him by the observation window.
Inside the window was a simulated coral reef environment, where several newly introduced tropical fish darted through the vibrant coral clusters: "As it happens, a batch of new coral polyps arrived a few days ago, and their condition is better than expected. Want to take a look?"
Shinji Ikari's gaze was drawn by the brilliant colors, and he softly "Mhm'd" in agreement.
The two walked slowly along the corridor.
Osiris didn't try to force a conversation but occasionally pointed things out and introduced them: "That's staghorn coral; it grows very slowly but demands extremely high water quality. The fact that they can make a home here means our foundational work wasn't wasted."
"Look under that rock over there, there's a group of clownfish hiding. They're very timid, but once they get used to the environment, they become quite lively."
His words consistently revolved around the life right before them, his tone steady, as if stating facts, yet also sharing a quiet joy.
Shinji Ikari listened silently, his tense shoulders relaxing somewhat without him realizing it.
They reached a relatively secluded corner where there was an independent, enclosed pool. Swimming inside were several larger, eel-like creatures, their bodies silvery-white, moving gracefully and slowly.
"These are Silver Moon Eels," Osiris stopped and explained. "They are the only population rescued from a nearby ocean trench that was almost completely contaminated. We only had three left when they were brought here, and we all thought they wouldn't make it.
But look, not only did they survive, but they also successfully reproduced naturally last month."
Shinji Ikari watched the creatures leisurely gliding through the deep blue water. Their smooth skin reflected a soft luster under the lights, radiating the beauty that comes from the resilience of life.
He remained silent for a long time before asking in a low voice, "It must have been... very difficult for them?"
Osiris turned his head to glance at the young boy, catching a flash of complex emotion in his eyes—there was concern, sympathy, and perhaps even a hint of shared suffering.
"It was indeed difficult," Osiris' gaze returned to the pool, his voice slowing further. "A drastic change in environment, the destruction of their home, the loss of companions—any one of those could be fatal.
But they grasped the small opportunity we provided, choosing to try hard to adapt, to try hard to live.
Life itself possesses a power we can scarcely imagine."
He paused, his tone becoming gentler, yet carrying a firm strength: "Shinji-kun, repairing this world is like repairing this ocean. It takes time, patience, it will face countless failures, and there will be many losses that seem irreparable, just like these.
But the important thing is that we are still trying, still pouring life into it, instead of letting it die completely.
Your fight in the EVA, isn't that also about securing more time and possibilities for this world?
What you are protecting includes not only the people who are alive now but also the life that might once again flourish across the oceans and the land in the future."
Osiris spoke these words extremely naturally, as if they were just heartfelt sentiments inspired by the scene.
He did not look at Shinji Ikari, giving the other person space to digest what was said.
Shinji Ikari lowered his head, his hands unconsciously tightening their grip on the railing.
He didn't answer, but Osiris could feel that the young boy's presence, which had been somewhat restless and suppressed, seemed to have calmed down slightly.
After a long while, Shinji Ikari finally spoke in an almost inaudible voice: "Thank you, Doctor."
"No need to thank me." Osiris patted his shoulder, a perfectly appropriate gesture to show encouragement rather than excessive intimacy. "You're welcome here anytime. Next time you visit, perhaps I can show you the intertidal zone ecological simulation area we just set up. Crabs and shellfish are starting to settle there; it's a pleasant surprise."
Shinji Ikari looked up, a very faint, but genuine, smile appearing on his face for the first time, and he nodded gently.
This brief exchange, like the previous ones, began and ended peacefully.
But as Shinji Ikari left, he glanced back at the azure water and the nascent corals, his eyes seeming to hold a little more weak light than when he arrived.
Osiris, meanwhile, continued to play the role of the scientist dedicated to repairing the world, only a cold calculation of success flashed across the depths of his eyes as he turned back to record data.
He knew the seed had been sown and was slowly taking root in suitable soil. And all he needed to do was continue patiently watering and waiting.
This change naturally caught the attention of the relevant NERV departments, which constantly monitored the psychological state of the pilots.
For them, an external factor that could effectively stabilize the emotional state of the Unit-01 pilot, and whose method completely aligned with the politically correct slogan of 'for the future of humanity,' was something worth encouraging and even utilizing.
As long as the contact was kept under control and supervision, there was no harm in it.
In fact, one official from a department directly under Gendo Ikari, responsible for psychological evaluation, even subtly hinted to Osiris during an informal communication: "Dr. Osiris, you seem to have a very positive influence on Shinji-kun.
If it's convenient, such—exchanges and encouragement could be increased appropriately. After all, the mental stability of the pilots concerns the fate of all humanity."
Osiris humbly accepted this 'task,' his mind remaining perfectly calm.
He had successfully created the image of a harmless and useful external helper for himself and gained NERV's tacit approval, or even encouragement, to contact and influence a key target.
He continued to carefully maintain this balance, like a skilled gardener, neither forcing the growth nor letting it run wild, but patiently watering and waiting for the 'fruit' he needed to ripen at the right moment.
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Author posted only one chap? I guess December really is coming