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He felt a sense of completion as the feeling of Aigis’ thighs behind his head slowly drifted away, leaving him with an almost floating sensation, as though he flew on a butterfly’s wings. After what felt like either an eternity or a small fraction of a second, he was in a library. A huge, complex, seemingly endless library. Sitting across from him was a man etched into his memory, ingrained so deeply that even the concept of questioning who it could have been seemed laughable. Shoulder-length grey hair, a loose, striped shirt and a smile as beautiful as it had always been, legs crossed and book in hand. “You’re finally here, I see. I’ve been waiting for you ever since that day the moon met the earth, the day you gave your life for your friends. You started as a faint silhouette, barely recognisable, and your spirit has been collecting here since that day. Welcome to the afterlife, Makoto Yuki.”
Makoto Yuki, the man who seemingly never cared, in the end, may have been the one who cared the most. Just as Akinari had done before him, he had found the meaning to his life, even if it was while held in death’s gentle embrace. He slowly got out of the armchair he was seated in, taking slow steps forward as Akinari got up not long after him. Akinari held out his arms, still smiling, though tears began to pool in the corners of his eyes. Makoto eventually stood just an arm’s length away from him, reaching out a finger to feel. He didn’t know what he had expected, but was met with overwhelming relief as his fingertip made contact with the soft cotton of Akinari’s shirt. He pulled his hand back then stepped closer, closer, until they were just centimetres apart. Makoto looked up, meeting the now blurry gaze filled with tears that threatened to spill at any moment. He took Akinari’s open arms as the invitation that they were, and pulled him in close, revelling in the familiar warmth he hadn’t had the chance to properly feel back in that park.
Makoto, ever the silent character, did not say a word as he felt warm tears roll down his cheeks, though he couldn’t tell whose tears they were. Makoto, so familiar with death, was surprised to find that the afterlife was not as he was expecting. He could feel himself fading away in the days that lead up to their graduation, after his battle with Nyx, though he did not imagine he would be fading to such peace. After living in the folds of darkness, finding solace in the shared blindness of the night, hiding away in the silence of the front of not caring he had always held, he did not expect to be showered in such a gentle light, in the arms of someone he didn’t realise until now he had so dearly missed. Akinari pulled away first after however long it had been, for time was no longer relevant. Makoto looked up, and though he did not smile, Akinari knew he was not upset. He could understand without the verbal confirmation that Makoto was content. He was happy, even. He was at peace.
“Ah, Makoto, my dearest friend. I once mentioned that I could not ever frolic in a flower field, no matter how hard I wished I could, for my illness prevented any kind of extraneous movement. Well, if it wasn’t clear enough already, the shackles of my weakened body no longer hold me down. How would you like to enjoy a nice summer field together?” He asked, though he knew the answer. Makoto nodded, looking towards the door at the end of the library that had just appeared. Akinari’s gaze followed his as he held out his hand invitingly, which Makoto took without a second thought, interlacing their fingers and holding on tight, almost as though he was worried Akinari might float away again. Akinari, sensing this, squeezed his hand with a reassuring smile and led them towards the door. Makoto let himself be led, glad that the friend who once could not laugh too hard for fear of injury was now strong enough to pull him, laughing as loudly as he wanted.
As the door opened silently, Makoto was suddenly hit with a gentle wash of sound, of birds tweeting and insects chirping and of water flowing steadily. Makoto took a moment to stand in the doorway and absorb the sweet smell of flowers blooming, the explosion of colours. He stared, stared, stared, and Akinari waited. After a while, Akinari turned to him, knowing he would not voice his surprise. “Yes, you’re correct. This is a view based on my storybook, the pink alligator. For the importance of his death, the pink alligator himself is not here. His imprint remains, as it did in the story, but now we are free to enjoy it,” was his summary, and Makoto nodded. They then turned to face the flower field next to the bank in unison, basking in the sunlight that shone upon them, though in an environment such as the pink alligator’s, that shouldn’t have been possible. Makoto disregarded it.
They walked together, hands still firmly held together. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Makoto promised himself he would visit Shinji eventually. Not now, though. Eventually, the pair found themselves in the middle of the flower field. Makoto wondered how strong Akinari’s imagination had to be to create such a wondrous view. He decided the best way to appreciate it was to immerse himself in it. He stopped them, feeling the flower petals tickle his ankles and hearing the flapping of wings as birds flew ahead. He let go of Akinari’s hand, turning to face him, then did what he had wished he could have done many months ago. In one fell motion, Makoto picked Akinari up by the legs, supporting his weight under his thighs and hoisting his legs over his hips. “A-Ahh! Makoto, warn me!” He cried out, though he was smiling. Makoto smiled back, albeit a small smile. Akinari noticed, of course. He always did. Makoto walked, his friend in his arms, and he closed his eyes as he felt the comfortable weight of Akinari sitting in his arms.
The man’s silvery hair blew in the wind, not quite hiding his bright smile. His golden laughter rang out clearly as Makoto began to run, the sudden movement causing Akinari to double over, completely covering Makoto’s vision. Makoto just kept moving, and somehow he knew that whatever happened, it would not hurt. He knew deep down that the suffering they had been through when they were living, both shared and separate, was far away. That if he was to go tumbling down a hill, Akinari in his arms, they would feel nothing but the soft grass on their skin and the wind in their clothes. He realised he was grateful for it, in spite of it all. His journey was plagued with death, as though it was a shadow that hung over him, accompanying him on his treacherous path of life. He had learned to accept it for the better half of his life, holding its hand rather than wallowing in his own despair. The hand he held onto for all those years was now lost with the suffering of his past, and a new hand reached out to him, which he gratefully accepted.
Makoto realised with a start that he had run down a hill, almost as predicted, and the duo were sent flying down in a tumbling roll as the steepness overpowered his ability to run. They were nothing but a flurry of limbs as they eventually found themselves covered in grass and flower petals, laughing uncontrollably and out of breath. They lay next to each other in the fluffy grass, and Makoto lay his hand out next to Akinari’s. Akinari took it again, still laughing. Makoto savoured the sound, putting all else to the back of his mind to indulge in the present. Akinari eventually stopped laughing, sighing with contentment. “Yes, I’ve waited for this moment to finally ‘frolic’ with you, Makoto. While I can’t say I’m happy you’re not down there, I’m unbelievably lucky to have you here with me now. I was bound to pass away early anyway, so I’m glad to at least have my closest friend here with me now that I can truly enjoy our time together.”
Akinari did not expect a response, though he could feel his words were acknowledged. Despite this, Makoto squeezed his hand and turned to face him, smiling wider than he’d smiled in a while.
“Yeah, I’m glad what I did was worth it. Both for my friends down there and for my friends up here. I don’t regret it and I never will.”
If Akinari was surprised, even temporarily, it wasn’t shown on his face. He rolled onto his side, smiling ever wider, feeling his eyelids get droopy in the warm sunlight. This time, though, he knew he’d wake up with someone by his side.