Neon Genesis Evangelion/Ho Yay

Gender cannot stand in the way of love!

• Far less blatant is the open admiration BridgeBunny Maya has towards her superior Ritsuko, though unfortunately for her Ritsuko is far too busy getting banged by Gendo.
  • In End of Evangelion, compared to Shinji's Kaworu, the figure who Maya sees is Ritsuko who types "I need you" on Maya’s laptop with her hands over Maya’s, and then tenderly embraces her, with her knee planted in Maya's groin. Before she's turned into LCL Maya joyfully returns Ritsuko's hug and cries "Sempai! Sempai! Sempai! Sempai!" with a look of ecstasy on her face as tears flow from her eyes.
  • And in Shinji Ikari Raising Project, guess who receives chocolates from Maya for Valentine's day...
  • Ritsuko and Maya get a Crowning Moment of Awesome in episode 13, when they defeat the Eleventh Angel by reprogramming a computer. This being Maya, Ritsuko gets excessively fangirled for her contribution.
• Let's not forget the onsen bath scene with Misato and Asuka. Through suggestive dialogue and giggling it's hinted that Misato was feeling up her mutually naked charge in some rather provocative ways, under the blanket of being "innocent girlie fun."
• Some will also say the relationship between Gendou and Kouzou is loaded with subtext/vibes. Amusing as the idea may be, it's not canon, though you can really imagine what you want with Eva...
• And there's a scene in Rebuild 2.0, Kaji asks Shinji if he wants to go on a date with him. Shinji reminds him that he's a boy and in response Kaji says "No problem. Gender shouldn't get in the way of love" places his hand on Shinji's, gets close to his face, and pretends (?) to try to kiss him and Shinji blushes, letting out an almighty squeal.
  • In episode 17, Kaji inexplicably flirts with Shinji.

Kaji: How about it? Wanna go out for tea? Shinji: You know, I'm a boy.

• • There's a deleted/alternate scene on the 2.22 DVD where Kaji is introduced in a tram car, which ends with him suddenly saying "I love you" to Shinji before ducking out. So if that had been the final version, Kaworu wouldn't have been the first person to say that to him.
• There's also some Les Yay played with in regards to Asuka and Rei in the official art, even though they're far from being on friendly terms in the actual series.
  • Foe Yay? (Seriously though, their interactions in "The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still" actually bordered on a bizarre case of Belligerent Sexual Tension, especially since they made temporary peace with each other in the end.)
    • They grow to be on better terms in Rebuild of Evangelion, though.
      • In Rebuild of Evangelion Asuka later volunteers to pilot Unit 03 so that Rei can bring Shinji and his father closer together. She does this for Rei, who in most incarnations she doesn't care for at all.
  • They're on better terms in Angelic Days as well, once even holding hands.
  • In Neon Genesis Evangelion Gakuen Datenroku there's a very Les Yay scene between Asuka (playing the Virgin Mary) and Rei (playing Gabriel) during the Nativity Play. Quite frankly, it's impossible to miss. Either that or Asuka and Rei were sneakily insinuating that Jesus is Mary and Gabriel's lovechild.
• Hikari and Asuka? Hikari is pretty much Asuka's only friend. And after the battle with Arael, Asuka seeks out Hikari and stays with her for an unspecified time. During a late evening they share a bed and a tearful Asuka breaks down and reveals her inner insecurities to Hikari who comforts her, a testament to their friendship.
  • The second film of the Rebuild series has a scene where Hikari approaches Asuka and shyly asks if she can sit with her at lunch. She's even blushing when asking it.
    • And pretty amusingly, when Misato finds Asuka trying to cook, and naturally correctly assumes that she's trying to do something nice for Shinji, for a change, Asuka flusters and tries to insist that it's for a girl. Alas, neither of them seem to think of the implications through.
• Shinji Ikari Raising Project does this with Asuka/Rei on illustrations and in Shinji's dreams and even in real-life as they become more friendly toward each other late in the series, Maya/Ritsuko, Rei/Misato because Rei obsesses about boobs and can't help touching them, and also Ritsuko/Yui and the terrifying Rei/Yui because Yui has the largest breasts of the whole cast. Also, there is much Shinji/Kaworu to be had and Asuka once jokes about Touji and Shinji having an intimate relationship. And of the more No Yay variety, Gendo simply loves his son Shinji so dearly he wants to bear-hug him from behind or take a bath with him. Look hard and you can probably see some Mana/Asuka too.
• In one of the previews for 3.0 has Misato say that Shinji wakes up next to a mysterious boy.