>>2815933As for what you said about EoE, I'm afraid I can't agree with you.
Fistly, I can't see any kind of "reciprocation" on Asuka's side. She has just returned to real world after Instrumentaliry and after having healed herself. When she emerges from LCL, she's a woman who has already come to understand herself and also that wants to live no matter what.
She doesn't "need" Shinji or anyone anymore, as she has understood her own value. She just doesn't need external validation anymore. Also, Asuka had been through a terrible trauma in her childhood, and during NGE, she was driven to desperation and almost-suicide. But at the very end, she manages to heal herself and decides she wants to return to the world. Not because of Shinji, but because of her own will, that's for sure.
And secondly, I also said I couldn't agree with you because I wouldn't say "Shinji needs her". I know the title of the last chapter of EoE is "I Need You", but it's completely generic, and not referring to any couple at all. It just means humans can't be alone and that interaction is necessary, but it perfectly applies to any character (for instance, Ritsuko and Gendou).
Shinji just wants someone to be with him, to understand him and love him unconditionally (like Kaworu did). But he's selfish and doesn't want to give anything in exchange. He doesn't "need Asuka", but I would rather say he just "needs anyone to be with him".
The end is up to very different interpretations, an I'm sure Anno wanted it to be that open. He even said the end is up to everyone, so fan theories are just that, fan theories. But again, being paranoid about couple shipping is completely absurd and kind of pollutes all the serious debates about NGE.
Nevertheless, since you said that last scene is something that you're obsessed with, I would suggest you to read a couple of very well-written analysis about that matter I found to be excellent:
http://archive.is/i0dwChttps://rereadsandreviews.com/2016/10/09/nge5/ 
