Ikari Shinji is referred to as the 'Third Child', the third chosen to pilot an Evangelion. Shinji's father, Gendou is the Supreme Commander of NERV. They lived apart for almost ten years, after he abandoned Shinji after his wife, Yui died. When Shinji arrived in Tokyo-3, they elected to live apart, seeing as they act as though they hate eachother. Misato thought it would be bad for Shinji to live alone, so she volunteered to become his guardian. They get along quite well together, almost as if Misato was his mother. Shinji seems perpetually depressed, and is not very confident about his relationships with other people. He beleives everyone hates him, and only respect him when he pilots Eva. He feels manipulated by his father, and twice decides never to pilot again, and resigns. The first time, he just couldn't leave, and the second time, Rei and Asuka failed in battle, and he was convinced to go back by Kaji Ryouji, to kill the Angel.