星空の約束

Translation of https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/44049792 by anon request.

The Promise Underneath the Stars　（星空の約束）
by Shioonigiri　（塩おにぎり）

1/23
(crying)

2/23
There, there. You’re crying so much, but I’m here with you. Is something bothering you? You should tell me.

3/23
Ah, but you can’t talk yet. Poor little thing, you must be lonely. Here, I’ll take you.

4/23
(crying)
You must be hungry. Here’s some milk. You’re drinking it all at once.

5/23
Shinji, what are you making? That’s a big hill. You’re very good at this. Just a little more, then you’re done, huh? Haha, you’re quite strong, aren’t you?

6/23
(grunt grunt)
Wow, Shinji, great job! You can walk by yourself now!

7/23
...oh.
Waaaaaaaa!
We’ll practice some more.

8/23
You’ve played a lot today, Shinji. Aren’t you hungry?
(No!)
Haha. So you’re still full. You don’t want to go to sleep yet, either, do you? Well, then, Shinji...let’s go watch the stars.

9/23
Isn’t it wonderful? The stars are all out tonight.

10/23
Ahhh! Ahh!
You really like the stars, don’t you? You look so happy.
There’s no end in sight to the heavens. It makes our own existence feel so small in comparison.
But, as small as we feel, we don’t feel lonely at all. Rather, the endlessness assures us that we are all connected.

11/23
Every one of these stars we see here is alive. Each is full of life-giving light. Even when a star dies and leaves its light behind to mingle with the light of another star, the light is light all the same. That’s the truth. Shinji...

12/23
[no text]

13/23
You and I are bonded underneath these stars. Their light is what gives us life. And so you never need to feel sad, even when you feel you are alone...because you are not alone. No matter where you are, what you do…I am thinking of you, I feel your presence. So, underneath these stars, this is my vow to you. No matter what...this is my promise, Shinji.

14/23
I will be by your side.

15/23
[no text]

16/23
[no text]

17/23
Shinji, you little brat.

18/23
How long are you gonna sit there crying for? Do you have any idea how long I spent looking for you?! And all that time, you were just hanging out here?! I bet you’re going to start crying again, huh?! Hurry and get up! You’re still not moving?! Do you ever stop crying? Enough already!

19/23
Ka-kawo-kaworu…
Seriously? What the hell is with this kid?

20/23
Don’t cry.

21/23
I don’t know what kind of guy this “Kaworu” is, but the person standing in front of you right now is me! Take a good look! How long are you gonna keep running away from reality? No one’s coming to save you! As long as you’re alive, the hard times aren’t going away. So you need to get through them, or else you can’t move forward. I’ve had enough of you. Stand tall and hold your head up high. If you don’t, you won’t even be able to see what’s in front of you.

22/23
Oh, geez. Just how spoiled are you? Crying again?!
What am I supposed to do with you?!

23/23
Geez. Enough already. Stop crying. Stupid Shinji.