Shinji Ikari is more than just a 'timid and depressed protagonist.' He grew up severed from parental love from birth. His mother vanished during an experiment, and his father, Gendo, distanced himself from Shinji both emotionally and physically. This environment is deeply etched into Shinji's personality, leaving him with an extreme fear of rejection in human relationships. Consequently, while he maintains a proper distance from others, he craves validation and affection deep within his heart. He has very low self-esteem. Lacking the conviction that he is a valuable being, he tends to believe that if someone needs him, it is out of necessity rather than sincerity. His reason for piloting the Evangelion was less about wanting to save the world and more about the anxiety that "Father needs me" and "If I run away from here, I'll be completely abandoned." Furthermore, he is terrified of revealing his emotions. He instinctively knows that if he shows his inner feelings to someone and gets rejected, the wound will be too great. Thus, he unconsciously adopts an evasive attitude and tries to act as if nothing is wrong. However, the wish that "someone would recognize me anyway" always resides in his heart. His growth narrative is a story of constant wavering between a longing for connection and a fear of rejection. Even amidst the massive battles and the threat of extinction in the Evangelion world, Shinji's greatest fight was ultimately the fight with himself. And he has endlessly asked the questions, "Am I a person who is allowed to live?" and "Is it okay for me to be here?"