Work Text:
Branch: Admissions
Written By Rei Arx
PAGE 1
Panel 1: (Wide shot) Aigis and Makoto enveloped in a kiss from the end of The Calling: Issue #4
Caption - Gekkoukan High School Rooftop
Panel 2: (Close Up/Two Shot) Aigis breaks the kiss, releasing her arms that were holding Makoto in place.
Panel 3: (Two Shot) Aigis steps away from him. Her hands and arms rest at her sides as Makoto catches his breath.
Makoto: “*Huff!* Aigis…!”
Panel 4: (Full Shot) Aigis looks away with her eyes closed. She holds her right hand to her chest.
Aigis: “I-I apologize, Makoto-san! T-That was uncharacteristic of-”
Panel 5: (Full shot) Makoto places a hand up to stow her words with his eyes closed.
Makoto: “Aigis…”
Panel 6: (Close-Up) Makoto opens his eyes and stares ahead.
Makoto: “We need to talk about this.”
Panel 7: (Close-Up) Aigis turns her head forward, with her cyan eyes shifting away.
Aigis: “I…agree.”
PAGE 2
Panel 1-3: (Wide shot - Panels 1 & 2. Two Shot - Panel 3) Aigis and Makoto make their way to the stony benches throughout these 3 panels. They’re sitting together on the benches in the 3rd panel.
Panel 4: (Wide shot) Makoto tucks both of his hands in his hoodie pockets. Aigis rests her hands in her lap, averting her gaze from Makoto. Both of them have their brows lowered as Aigis deeply blushes.
Panel 5: (Two-shot) Aigis turns to the silhouette of Makoto. She gestures with her hand as she speaks.
Aigis: “I can't fathom how unnatural my actions may have felt from your perspective…”
Panel 6: (Medium Shot) Makoto looks forward with a small smile.
Makoto: “It…wasn't what I was expecting, but it’s alright.”
Panel 7: (Medium Shot) Aigis scrunches her eyes closed with a small frown. Her hand is still near her chest.
Aigis: “No. It is far from it. Y-you are my closest friend…the decision to imply anything more should have been yours alone to make.”
PAGE 3
Panel 1: (Full Shot) Aigis looks ahead and covers her waist with her left hand. Her right hand is planted on the bench at her side.
Aigis: “I…these feelings of mine were born from my grief and regrets over your passing. I-I didn’t realize…”
Panel 2: (Close-Up) Makoto places his hand over Aigis’s right hand.
Panel 3: (Medium Shot) Makoto turns his head to her. His eyebrows are slightly raised as he speaks.
Makoto: “Keep going.”
Panel 4: (Medium shot) Aigis turns her head to him with heavy eyes.
Panel 5: (Medium Shot) Aigis looks back down. Her eyes are half-lidded as they sparkle from the burgeoning tears.
Aigis: “For days following your death, I spent every night experiencing dreams. Dreams where I could see you, but never reach you. I chased you…endlessly. I-I wanted you to return…”
Panel 6: (Similar to Panel 4.) Aigis scrunches her eyes closed once more, as her tears begin to swell.
Aigis: “And as I lived inside the reality that you never could, I longed to become a simple machine again to escape my grief. I…disgraced your memory by harboring such a strong desire to cast away my humanity.”
Panel 7: (Two-shot) Makoto shows a look of concern. He grips her hand a bit tighter as Aigis’s tears fall. She struggles to maintain her composure.
Aigis: “Makoto-san, I…I-I…*sob*”
PAGE 4
Panel 1: (Full shot) Makoto turns his head towards her as he reaches over to Aigis with his free hand.
Panel 2: (Makoto POV/Medium Shot) Makoto places a finger below her eyelid as her tears collect on the edges of it.
Panel 3: Similar to Panel 3 - Aigis grabs his hand as she closes her eyes. She wears a small but heavy frown.
Panel 4: (Close-Up) Shot of Makoto’s face as he speaks. He puts on a comforting smile; his bangs hide one of his eyes.
Makoto: “It’s okay…”
Panel 5: (Makoto POV/Medium Shot) Aigis’s eyes are half-lidded as she stares into his eyes. Aigis’ tear stream trickles down her right eye. He cups her cheek with his right hand, with her holding on to it with her left.
Panel 6: (Two Shot) Aigis lowers his right hand with his palm facing up. His finger is covered with tears.
Aigis: “Everyone grieved, but we couldn't gain the will to move forward from your death. It required a considerable amount of effort to face our regrets to do so.”
Panel 7: (Close-Up) Makoto’s open right hand in Aigis’s left hand.
Aigis: “And…I awakened to your power to achieve this with everyone.”
PAGE 5
Panel 1: (Close-Up) Makoto’s hand covering Aigis’s hand on the bench. His fingers curve into her palm.
Aigis: “We ascertained soon after what you had truly sacrificed your life for. I strengthened my resolve then with everyone to continue my mission and fight to protect you, but…”
Panel 2: Similar to Panel 1 - Aigis’s hand fully embraces Makoto’s.
Panel 3: (Over Shoulder Shot) The sun is in view as Aigis speaks.
Aigis: “Do you…recall the photograph we took together after we returned to the dorms?”
Panel 4: (Medium Shot) Makoto looks downwards. His hair hangs low.
Panel 5: Similar to Panel 4 - Makoto turns his head to Aigis with a small smile. His eyebrows are slightly raised as he speaks.
Makoto: “I remember. It sucked that it was the only picture of us we could take then. I knew you wanted more.”
Panel 6: (Medium Shot) Aigis hangs her head downwards and closes her eyes.
Aigis: “I did. So, I elected to preserve that memory within my video data if I were ever to lose the image. I…treasured that moment.”
Panel 7: (Medium Shot) Makoto smiles as he closes his eyes and grooms his bangs with his free hand.
Makoto: “It was one of my favorite memories, too. We had no idea what would happen when we faced Nyx. I felt a little guilty that I couldn’t spend more time with everyone else then.”
PAGE 6
Panel 1: (Bird’s-Eye View) Makoto places his free hand on his neck and begins to rub it.
Makoto: “We were all nervous the night before. That’s also why it never bothered me when you asked me to…”
Panel 2: (Close-Up) Aigis closes her eyes. Her brows are slightly lowered.
Aigis: “Yes…”
Panel 3: (Medium Shot) Makoto shifts his eyes to the left as he holds his hand out. He speaks.
Makoto: “I think I’m starting to understand now.”
Panel 4: (Medium Shot) Aigis fully turns to him with a hesitant demeanor. Her brows are raised as she speaks.
Aigis: “So, may I ask you…? Did you ever realize that…?”
Panel 5: (Close-Up) Makoto smiles and closes his eyes.
Makoto: “Hm. I think you made it pretty clear when you said that your connection to me is your reason for living.”
Panel 6: (Close-Up) Aigis deeply blushes as her eyes are half-lidded.
Panel 7: (Medium Shot) Aigis turns to Makoto. She gestures with her hand as she speaks.
Aigis: “For as uncharacteristic as my actions were earlier, it was even more so then to request such a thing from you.”
PAGE 7
Panel 1: (Bird’s-Eye View/Two Shot) Makoto stands up as he lets go of Aigis’s hand.
Panel 2: (Long Shot) Makoto turns around to Aigis.
Panel 3: (Worm’s-Eye View) Makoto leans over slightly as he presents an open hand to Aigis.
Makoto: “I can’t be upset at you for being honest.”
Panel 4: (Makoto POV Shot) Aigis looks up at him blankly. Her cyan eyes sparkle as she raises her right hand to meet his.
Panel 5: (Close-Up) Aigis puts her right hand into his.
PAGE 8
Panel 1: (Long Shot) Makoto and Aigis walk their way to the center of the roof. Hand-in-Hand.
Panel 2: (Close-Up) Makoto and Aigis holding hands.
Panel 3: (Two Shot) Makoto puts his free hand inside his pocket. Aigis’s free hand rests at her side as she speaks.
Aigis: “I felt that I needed irrefutable proof of our bond, beyond a simple picture. If we had failed in our mission to stop Nyx, then…”
Panel 4: (Close-Up) Makoto turns his head to Aigis. His eyes are half-lidded with a small frown.
Makoto: “I know. We had no way of knowing if you would survive the Fall.”
Panel 5: (Medium Shot) Aigis holds her free hand up to her heart as she speaks. Her brows are raised with her eyes half-lidded in sorrow.
Aigis: “Even still, had I survived the event, my very future would’ve been filled with endless pain and regret. The only comfort I’d have is the connections I’ve shared with everyone.”
Panel 6: (Close-Up) Makoto’s finger wedges in between the gap of Aigis’s hand as he begins to intertwine their fingers together.
Panel 7: Similar to Panel 5 - Aigis closes her eyes with a heavy frown.
Aigis: “Regardless, given our success, how I felt then before your passing had changed significantly over time as I cherished the moments I’ve spent with you.”
PAGE 9
Panel 1: (Close-Up) Aigis and Makoto’s fingers are now intertwined as they hold hands.
Panel 2: (Two Shot) Aigis turns her head to Makoto as he stares through the gated fence.
Aigis: “With your return, my wish is to remain as your closest friend, but in turn, I still want to be closer to you than anyone else. My desires…”
Panel 3: Similar to Panel 2 - Makoto turns his head to Aigis as they stare into each other’s eyes.
Aigis: “They…conflict in meaning. Though I struggle to understand this, I want to believe that it is a part of my ever-developing human emotions. My feelings for you are difficult to describe in words, but they are, in fact, my true feelings.”
Panel 4: (Close-Up) Makoto shifts his eyes away from her. He lowers his eyelids and brows.
Panel 5: (Medium Shot) Makoto turns his sights to the gated fence.
Caption - Makoto: “I think I know what she wants to say, but I need to be careful with my words here.”
Panel 6: (Medium Shot) Makoto puts a hand back in his pocket.
Caption - Makoto: “Though maybe…”
Panel 7: (Two-Shot) Makoto fully turns to face Aigis as he holds her hand. Aigis looks up at him with a blank stare.
Makoto: “Maybe your desires mean the same thing.”
PAGE 10
Panel 1: (Medium Shot) Aigis raises her eyebrows in surprise. She slightly lifts her free hand as she speaks.
Aigis: “They are similar in meaning?”
Panel 2: (Close-Up) Makoto closes his eyes and speaks.
Makoto: “Yeah. You want both things, and…*Sigh* Aigis…”
Panel 3: (Medium Shot) Makoto places his free hand back in his hoodie pocket. He speaks as he peers into Aigis’s eyes.
Makoto: “You’re already my best friend. After I left my fingerprint on your heart the night before…I felt something more than that, too, but I didn’t say anything because I wanted everyone to walk out of that dorm on the Promised Day without any regrets, especially you. That’s why we made that promise.”
Panel 4: (Medium Shot) Makoto looks away from Aigis as he places his free hand on the back of his neck.
Makoto: “And…you were the reason why I fought just as hard that night. Our promise wasn’t the only thing keeping me alive for that long. After I sacrificed myself, all I thought about was how you were gonna live on with everyone else, even though I knew my time was running out.”
Panel 5: (Two Shot) Aigis closes the small gap between them as she places a hand on Makoto’s chest. Makoto’s free hand is on Aigis’s shoulder. Aigis’s eyes are half-lidded in this shot.
Aigis: “Makoto-san…”
PAGE 11
Panel 1: (Flashback/Makoto’s POV) Makoto stares up at Aigis. Her facial expressions are heavily detailed as the tears form in her eyes.
Makoto: “When I was dying in your arms, you said you’d realized what it meant to live. It was then that you accepted what you already were in my eyes…”
Panel 2: (Flashback/Makoto’s POV) Makoto’s vision blurs.
Panel 3: (Flashback/Makoto’s POV) Makoto’s vision clears. Aigis is now a fully fleshed human.
Makoto: “You’re a human.”
Panel 4: (Flashback ends/Two Shot) The pair gaze into each other's eyes. Makoto speaks.
Makoto: “And you learned that it comes with so many feelings and emotions to navigate through. You had 7 years without me to experience all of this for yourself, but now?”
Panel 5: (Close-Up) Makoto takes her free hand into his.
Makoto: “I’m here. You won’t have to be without me anymore.”
PAGE 12
Panel 1: (Makoto’s POV/Close-Up Shot) Aigis stares up at Makoto. Her eyes are heavily detailed as her brows raise slightly.
Caption - Aigis: “I…”
Panel 2: (Aigis’ POV Shot) Makoto softly smiles with his eyebrows slightly lowered. The backdrop of the pinkish sky is in view as he tilts his head slightly to the left.
Yukari’s Voice: “I don’t think he loved anyone as hard as he loved you…”
Panel 3: (Extreme Close-Up) Aigis’s eyes are half-lidded. Parts of her hair can be seen in this frame.
Caption - Aigis: “...I comprehend.”
Panel 4: (Two Shot/Bird’s-Eye View) Aigis steps back and begins to turn away from Makoto.
Panel 5: (Medium Shot) Aigis is fully turned around.
Aigis: “I mustn’t hesitate any longer.”
PAGE 13
Panel 1: (Medium Shot) Makoto slightly lowers his brows as he waits in anticipation.
Panel 2: (Full Shot) Aigis turns halfway as she hangs her head downward.
Aigis: “If this is what it means to be loved, then…these are my true feelings.”
Panel 3: (Medium Shot) Makoto puts both of his hands in his pockets. He speaks.
Makoto: “Aigis…?”
Panel 4: (Full Shot) Aigis fully turns to him and holds her hand near her waist. She speaks with her blush ever present on her face.
Aigis: “I…I love you...”
Panel 5: (Close-Up) Makoto widens his eyes at the declaration.
PAGE 14
Panel 1: (Medium Shot) Aigis turns her head to the left. She closes her eyes.
Aigis: “Over these 7 years, all I could see or think about was you. I couldn’t help it!”
Panel 2: (Two Shot) Aigis’s head is turned to us as Makoto keeps his sights on her.
Aigis: “I loved you so much…that I felt as if I were going to break down somehow…”
Panel 3: (Medium Shot) Aigis turns her head back to him as her cheeks redden further.
Aigis: “My desire to protect you…my desire for you to leave a part of yourself within my heart…our relationship means everything to me and so much more.”
Panel 4: (Close-Up) Aigis’s burgeoning tears swell as she speaks.
Aigis: “I was there for you at the end, but now...I-I want to be by your side again.”
PAGE 15
Panel 1: (Two-Shot/Bird’s-Eye View) Makoto walks towards her.
Panel 2: (Two Shot) Makoto slightly raises and spreads his arms to embrace Aigis.
Panel 3: (Two Shot/Rear Shot of Aigis) Makoto’s arms envelop Aigis. His right arm embraces her upper back, while his left arm pulls her waist close.
Aigis: “*Ah!*...”
Panel 4: (Close-Up/Two Shot) Makoto’s head is over her shoulder. His eyes are closed with his brows lowered as he speaks.
Makoto: “You were always by my side, Aigis. I love you, too.”
Panel 5: (Close-Up) Aigis scrunches her eyes closed. Her tears blossom but never fall.
Aigis: “*Hah!*....”
Panel 6: (Close-Up) Aigis’s fans within her audio receptors whir.
Panel 7: (Full/Two Shot) Aigis buries her head into Makoto’s chest.
PAGE 16
Panel 1: (Medium Two Shot) Aigis’s hands are huddled up against his chest as she leans further into his embrace.
Aigis: “Thank you for everything, Makoto.”
Panel 2: (Medium Two Shot) The duo creates a small gap in their embrace as they stare into each other’s eyes.
Panel 3: (Close-Up) Makoto forms a small smile.
Makoto: “Yeah, but uh…I think we kept the others waiting long enough. We should go.”
Panel 4: (Close-Up) Aigis looks away briefly. Her eyes are half-lidded.
Aigis: “I agree, but…”
Panel 5: Similar to Panel 4 - Aigis turns her head back to him with a small smile. Her eyes are fully open.
Aigis: “It is an optional request, but I would like to take a blood sample before we leave. I have to determine the nature of your fever.”
PAGE 17
Panel 1: (Close-Up) Makoto raises an eyebrow in curiosity as he stares at her.
Makoto: “You can do that?”
Panel 2: (Full Two Shot) Aigis takes a small step back from Makoto as they release from their embrace.
Panel 3: (Full Shot) Aigis interlocks her fingers together as they keep within close distance to each other.
Aigis: “Indeed. Among many other features, performing on-site nursery care is one of my many functions as a primary healthcare unit.”
Panel 4: (Medium Shot) His brows are slightly raised as Makoto widens his eyes and smiles.
Makoto: “Wow, well…yeah. Then let’s not waste any time. If anything, this gives me a chance to learn about what else you can do.”
Panel 5: (Close-Up) Aigis gives Makoto a small smile.
Aigis: “I will be more than willing to educate you, Makoto-san. However, I suspect that all of my newer functionalities are difficult, in nature, to understand.”
Panel 6: (Medium Shot) Makoto extends his hand out to Aigis.
Makoto: “Doesn’t really matter to me. I have all the time in the world to learn, right?”
Panel 7: (Two Shot) Aigis and Makoto holding hands.
Aigis: “Indeed, Makoto-san.”
END BRANCH