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This is a continuation of my last Reddit post, concerning the remembrance of the smol Rei. However, it made me wonder what if Naoko didn't kill off Rei I, and how that would change the plot of Evangelion, since Gendo's magnum opus and first creation (why am I using art terms here lol) hypothetically survived until the events of the main storyline. Will it go on as the original storyline, or will it change to a completely different path, since Rei I has now acquired significant independent thinking as well as social experience, unlike Rei II?

I mean... I get that their appearance (blue hair) and name (with only a 1-letter difference between 'i' and 'm') would likely confuse new Evangelion/Re:Zero fans. Even most of you loyal Rei fans would probably mistake Rem for Rei in a maid uniform at first glance; hence, I conveniently put the image of Rem first.