As the secrets surrounding her are revealed to Shinji and Misato, Rei herself becomes increasingly aware of her own identity, and she starts to consider that what she desires might be different from what her creators have planned for her.
She is an Artificial Human one of a series of clones created by Fuyutsuki and Gendō from DNA of Yui Ikari and the Second Angel, Lilith, to act as a vessel for a Soul Fragment from the latter. It is also in the last part of series Rei's origins are revealed. By the end of the story, her attitude toward Gendō has changed dramatically. Later, when Shinji asks Rei about Gendō, she replies that she doesn't know what kind of person he is.
This, plus the aforementioned conversation, deceives Shinji and the audience into thinking that they are close. Rei still keeps the broken glasses that fell from his face during this incident, and is initially very defensive of him, as exemplified when she slaps Shinji for saying negative things about Gendō. After a failed test forces Rei to eject from her Eva, Gendō, in an uncharacteristic panic, is the first to reach her entry plug, burning his hands while forcing it open to retrieve her. Gendō, for his part, appears to care for Rei more than anybody else, even his own son. Shinji once stops to observe a conversation between Rei and Gendō from some distance, and though neither he nor the audience can hear what they're saying, Rei and Gendō are shown smiling at each other. She displays little concern for her own life (see the quote) this takes on seriously creepy layers late in the series.Īt first, her only human relationship is with her commanding officer, Gendō. When asked why she pilots her Eva, she says that it's because she's "bonded" to it, or that it's her bond to humanity, or something like that. She is beautiful, fey, and otherworldly, and has a Mysterious Past that is only partially revealed late in the series. Rei, the First Child, is a Shy Blue-Haired Girl.