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At the beginning of _Nisemonogatari_ before the opening, [we
see](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbR-L4rf7_Q) Araragi chained and
handcuffed in the cram school with Senjōgahara being the perpetrator. At one
point, Araragi said that he would be enjoying the moment more if it wasn't for
the Evangelion reference.

What is the reference he was talking about? I didn't see anything which hinted
at an Evangelion reference.


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monogatari-series neon-genesis-evangelion
What is the Evangelion reference Araragi was talking about?


This is referencing the conversation between Shinji and Rei in episode 6 while
preparing to engage Ramiel. At least that's the best I could think of and
evageeks
[agrees](http://wiki.evageeks.org/Tributes_to_Neon_Genesis_Evangelion_in_other_Anime_and_Manga#Nisemonogatari_.28.E5.81.BD.E7.89.A9.E8.AA.9E.29).

Click the image below, for the full sequence.

[![Rei's "I'll protect you in episode
6"](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4FPNz.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zrNSN.jpg)


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Adding onto the other answer, the exact thing that gets interpreted as an EVA
reference is Senjougahara's line:

> You won't die. [ _Short break._ ] You won't die. Because I'll protect you.

It is clear that this is probably the content of the "reference", as Araragi
makes the comment about wanting "no unnecessary Evangelion references" right
after this line.

This is nearly identical to a line between Shinji and Rei in episode 6 of the
EVA anime, as [mivilar](https://anime.stackexchange.com/users/34/mivilar) has
pointed out. In that episode, there is an Angel attacking NERV, which has so
far repelled the attacks against it. The solution is to use a very high-power
rifle against the Angel from a distance, with Rei acting as a back-up or
shield for Shinji.

Prior to the start of the mission, Shinji is worried, and asks Rei if she is
scared. In response, she tells him that he shouldn't be scared, that "you
won't die; I'll protect you." (The exact wording probably depends on the
subtitle set.)

* * *

**Aside:** Naturally, this suggests that the EVA line is rather notable
(something which did not occur to me when I first watched EVA). I would
suspect that it has become so partly because of the pacing of the specific
scene. Perhaps it's also easier to catch the mirroring of words in Japanese,
as this is not a line with very idiosyncratic vocabulary. (Compare to
Senjougahara's reference to _Fullmetal Alchemist_ in _Bakemonogatari_ , where
the exact ordering or wording of "X kilos of A, Y grams of B, . . ." doesn't
matter too much in terms of the ability of a watcher to catch the reference.)


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