Oh! He's been caught! Just by a hair, really, but that's enough to keep him from slipping right back down.

A heave and a ho, even by those noodly, untoned childe arms, is enough to get Shinji's hands to a point where he can grasp that branch a little more solidly.

"I - I think I got it?"

Huzzah? Huzzah! Give him a second to make sure his hold is gonna stay nice and tight before he manages to catch some purchase on the trunk with his feet, and with that, scramble his way up to the top of that branch.