An impromptu outing causes the sutdents of class 2-A to learn the truth - that they're being groomed as pilots of enormous artificial beings called Evangelion. Before the day is through, two of these students will have to don their plugsuits and use the Evangelion in the first of many battles to come. But that's nothing compared to the angst that's in the air as Asuka and Rei grapple with their feelings for Shinji. - from cover.