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March 5… Graduation Day. From the rooftop, the pink cherry blossoms that line the campus’ entrance can be seen - eager to take flight with the wind.
Aigis wonders if anyone remembers the promise. Fears well up inside of her. She’d observed the rest of SEES this past month as they mindlessly went about their daily lives, utterly oblivious to their harmonious defiance of the Fall. Utterly oblivious to the miracle he performed. She wonders if even Makoto himself remembers.
Unbeknownst to them, including Aigis, they’re - understandably - oblivious to the price tagged to the miracle… the sacrifice of oneself for the sake of others. Only a year ago would Makoto Yuki not even consider such an undertaking.
The bonds he developed, of course, changed his mind.
He was afraid of attachment. All things are destined to end, after all. Why bother with something that is ultimately pointless? He witnessed this fact of life firsthand almost eleven years ago on that fateful night. It took the forced cooperation with SEES and the necessity of social links - as Igor would have it - to experience the grandeur in relationships.
Yes, this was followed by stumbles along the way, as one may expect. But ultimately, he did the impossible and saved the world. No, more than that - he saved his friends. And he would have it no other way. Even though he will lose the bonds he worked so hard to establish, he knows that it won’t be in vain. He loves his friends - each and every one of them. You could say that this is unfair, given his circumstances and what future previously awaited him. But he would have it no other way.
Ryoji stressed how mortifying their ‘last’ days would be in the lead up to the Promised Day. The terror in knowing the exact time that death awaits and the ugly truth that there’s no preventing it was said to be unbearable. Now though, Makoto can say that Ryoji was wrong. He can feel it in his bones, he can feel it in every ragged breath, he can feel it in the strenuous culmination of energy to even exist, that he’s going to die. Living is a constant reminder of the fate that awaits. His death is long overdue. And... the only terror Makoto feels is failure to uphold his last promise.
He’s so close. His sight slips frequently to the floor. The feet he walks with are chained by the shackles of Death. The feat in climbing the few flights of stairs is comparable to the hundreds he ran up in Tartarus.
Finally, he stands atop of the stairs and leans against the door to the rooftop. His fears climax.
What if none of them are through this door?
…He doesn’t have time to spare. It’s been a draining month of those fears circulating in what remains of his conscience. He has to open the door.
And after pushing his weight against the crash bar, he does.
The bloom of the vibrant blue sky blinds his sight. His senses are overwhelmed by a dreamy wave of ecstasy. And, to his fortune…
Aigis turns behind her as the metal clang of the door intercepts her wandering mind. The one who swung the door open was none other than Makoto.
Even though it was insensible to believe that he would forget, a crashing wave of relief washes over her.
He’s bent over, exhausted. In spite of this, he barely rectifies his stance.
“We meet again, Makoto-san.”
His tense shoulders ease and his worrying face is replaced with a soft gaze as his head tilts a bit to the side. His lips tug at the upper corners, revealing a rare smile that jitters Aigis’ heart.
Makoto starts moving at a gingerly pace. Aigis matches it. The two absorb every bit of each other’s faces, until Makoto’s legs buckle under his weight.
Aigis reflexes, rushing to Makoto before he can take the full impact of the fall. She wraps her arms around him and props her chin on his left shoulder. “Welcome back, Makoto.”
He doesn’t say anything in response. He doesn’t need to. They enjoy the blissful embrace.
It’s strange. No one, not even herself, expected to develop such emotions. Never did she expect to discover and experience the essence of being human. Least of all, she never expected to yearn for the one feeling she could never quite describe…
Love.
Such a mysterious and omnipotent feeling. It’s not tangible, yet influences everyone in their thoughts and actions. It compels everyone to act in particular ways for the sake of achieving that high. Only a month ago did Aigis comprehend her feelings towards Makoto. The nervous but warm and empowering feeling. Of course, she knew that she wanted to protect him. But, she didn’t just want to protect him. She wanted to be with him. To truly be in his life. She didn’t want to just love; she wanted to be loved.
And one month ago, she was delighted to find that the prospect she so fondly fantasised - that is, that he reciprocated her feelings - was more than just a fantasy. It was how he truly felt. In fact, even now she doesn’t realise the extent of it. He’s not that good at expressing how he feels, but within, he’s indebted to her. She was the only one that could - and did - save him when he was in the darkest period of his life.
“Ah, sitting on the floor like this might not be so comfortable.” Aigis takes one shoulder and prepares to help him up. He hums in response.
The two reach the benches. Makoto tries to sit up, but his efforts go in vain.
“Please, lay down.” She gestures towards her lap, to which he gently hoists himself down.
The mechanical maiden disables her HUD as intrusive signals are parsed. She refuses to pay them any heed.
The wind picks up, and the cherry blossoms finally bloom. Their eyes follow the petals that dance in the cool breeze of Spring.
Aigis holds up her hand. “The wind feels so nice. This is my first time experiencing Spring.”
He found it difficult to say anything. His state of being is dissipating as his sight shows him an impossibly breathtaking sight of the season. He’ll certainly cherish the cherry blossoms.
“But… this season will eventually pass.” She sets her eyes back to Makoto, now stroking his hair.
Her lap feels warm. Humanly warm. Actually, now taking a better look at Aigis… she looks… human. The bridge of her headphones holds onto her neck. The vinyl that encapsulated her body was replaced with human skin.
I must be delirious.
Aigis grasps Makoto’s intertwined hands. “After fighting alongside you and facing the world’s end, I finally began to understand what it means to live…
“Thinking for yourself… not running away… accepting the inevitable…” She looks up into the sky, still caressing his hands. “All things eventually come to an end. Every living thing will one day disappear.”
And that is a fact of life. Yet, Makoto now knows that said fact isn’t a reason to avoid others. No, instead it is a driving force to press on, to participate in life and live it to the fullest. Life is a precious gift, and one unwise to squander.
“Only by accepting this can one discover what they truly want. What the meaning of their life will be…
“I understand now why I was so tormented by my lack of strength. Protecting others became more than just an order I had to obey. I wanted to do it for my own reasons.” As Aigis says this, she gazes intently into Makoto’s dull, grey orbs. “I realised this once I decided to try and prevent the Fall. When I thought that I might never see you again, something else became clear to me - what I wanted most…”
Her lips part to unveil a blinding smile that skips a heartbeat.
“And so, I made up my mind. I decided that I would continue to protect you.” Tears began to swell up in Aigis’ eyes. Her grip on his hands tightens. Her voice cracks and chokes. “I want to be your strength… I know I’m not the only one who can do this, but that’s okay. My life will be worth living if it’s for this reason…”
Her resolve stings Makoto’s heart. He doesn’t have any regrets… but knowing that her very purpose for being will falter when he leaves…
She’s strong. She’ll carry on, no matter how hard it hits.
Tears finally splash on his face, though he doesn’t flinch. “Thank you…”
One last surge of energy pulses through his body. He cups Aigis’ cheek, wiping away her tears with his thumb. “It’ll be… okay…”
She takes a hand to hold Makoto’s. “You’re right… what am I doing? I understand now, so I should be happy…”
She stifles some more sobs. Deep down, she knows. Deep down, she sees that he’s dying, and there’s nothing she can do about it. Her conscience is averting her mind from the truth she mentioned earlier: all things eventually come to an end.
“Heyyyy!” a familiar voice yells out. It’s followed by voices that bleed with one another, yet are distinct.
However, he doesn’t have much longer to see everyone else.
But… that’s okay.
“Everyone…!” Aigis turns to the doorway, and then faces Makoto once more. “I realise now that I have friends as well.”
Makoto turns his head to Aigis, now leaning in the corner between her thighs and torso.
“You don’t have to save the world to find meaning in life… sometimes, all you need is something simple, like someone to take care of.”
A sharper pang courses throughout his chest. He’d do this all again if he had to, but it’s only so comforting in knowing that all she’ll have left are memories of him.
“I’ll keep on living, no matter what, so that I can protect you.”
He turns his head away to let his eyes flick between the petals that continue to flow like a river. All of his muscles are relaxed and frozen, and his eyelids are slowly sliding shut like sand in an hourglass.
Aigis’ words sound distant. “Thank you… for everything. You must be tired…”
They look into each other’s eyes for what might be the last time. “Please, get some rest. I’ll stay right here with you…”
The clattering sounds of shoes against concrete draw in closer.
“Soon, all your friends will be here by your side.”
All… my friends…
His eyes take in one last glimpse of the school and the season of Spring. Everything looks so vibrant and colourful. Everything feels so gleeful and warm. It’s as if this is a dream.
He wants to say more. He wishes he could stay longer. Only a few more seconds, and he could see all his friends one last time.
However, he barely has the energy to even think straight. His thoughts are dishevelled, incoherent and nonsensical.
Just before his eyes shut, memories of his life - particularly those of the past year - resurface. Arriving in Tatsumi Port Island, first summoning a Persona, meeting new people and developing bonds, meeting Aigis… and even the bad memories. He couldn’t forget his lowest moment, escaped only with the help of Aigis. He couldn't forget everyone’s testimony to living what was thought to be their last days to the fullest in total acknowledgement of how absolute Death is…
The last of his grip to reality rests to where he is now - in Aigis’ lap in a loving embrace.
At last, he lets go.