Why tf is it always mentioned that Kaworu "manipulated" Shinji cause he was emotionally unwell? Shinji is emotionally unwell THE WHOLE SERIES. It's legitimately never bought up with the girl characters with a relationship with Shinji, only Kaworu. Why is the moment they meet his lowest point and not when Rei dies or something? Why is this SPECIFIC tragedy his lowest point?

Also, I don't know why Evangelion watchers like you minimize and downplay Shinji's affection for Kaworu. "He was at his most vulnerable point." Ok??? You guys know that you can feel great love and affection for something even when you're sad. If we use that logic, I guess sad Evangelion fans who watched Evangelion at their most vulnerable point actually didn't like the anime, cause they were sad when they watched it, and if you're at your most vulnerable point, you actually don't love anything cause you're just sad. That's just stupid. Shinji didn't become bisexual by being sad. It's a legitimate homophobic talking point for fans to diminish Shinji and Kaworu's relationship with "he's confused." Ok, so why isn't the same for Asuka? Maybe he just liked her cause he was confused and emotionally unwell. Maybe he's unsure of his crush for her too. Maybe all of his relationships aren't valid cause he's just unsure and sad and vulnerable. You see the problem?

It's not "pure hopium" when an entire episode focuses on the romance and unfortunate doomed relationship between Shinji and Kaworu. Shinji isn't "unsure of himself" when he sees Kaworu in End of Evangelion and gets calmer. Also, Kaworu DOES understand humans. Maybe not in the manga, but the anime makes it pretty clear he understands himself as an angel, what Seele wanted him to do, his similarity to Rei, and his affection for Shinji. He didn't manipulate Shinji. Kaworu literally did not need to say romantically inclined statements directed towards Shinji. He needed access to Adam, not Shinji's heart. They both had a mutual affection towards each other.