Work Text:
January 30th, 2010
It’s the last night before S.E.E.S.’s final battle with Nyx. Tomorrow, they’re going to make their final stand against the death goddess and ensure humanity gets to live to see another day. Everyone in the group is prepared knowing it’ll be their last battle. Whether or not they’ll live after the fight was not something they wanted to worry about. What matters is that each of them found their reason to live, and it strengthened their resolve to face Nyx at the top of Tartarus.
Makoto Yuki sits on his bed as he stares out into the window and gazes at the moon. The young man has changed a lot this past year. When he first came to Tatsumi Port Island, Makoto was borderline apathetic and wouldn’t have cared if he died one day. He lived most of his life alone and believed he was going to live the rest of his life alone. However, everything changed for Makoto when he awakened his Persona and the power of the Wild Card. Since then, he joined S.E.E.S. to help end the Dark Hour, made friends with all of his teammates, forged genuine bonds with all kinds of people throughout the island, and even fell in love with a girl named Aigis.
It’s because of these experiences that Makoto chose to spare Ryoji. Even though he was given the opportunity to die peacefully ignorant of the Fall, killing Ryoji also meant he would be forgetting everything related to the Dark Hour. Makoto didn’t want to throw away the growth and memories he’s made. He didn’t want to throw away the bonds he made with his friends. He didn’t want to forget Aigis and his love for her. Makoto will protect them, even if it means facing off against death itself. Someone knocks on Makoto’s door.
“Makoto-san, are you awake?” Aigis whispers from the other side of the door. Makoto perks up the moment he hears his girlfriend’s voice and walks over. Opening the door, Makoto finds Aigis standing in her sleepwear with a pillow in her arms. The blonde girl is flustered with a shy expression on her face. Makoto is surprised Aigis is here considering Mitsuru requested everyone to get a good night’s sleep as part of their preparation for the final battle. Then again, he’s not following that request either.
“Hey, Aigis. You couldn’t sleep either?” Makoto asks as he gestures to Aigis to enter inside. As she does, Makoto closes his bedroom door.
“There’s a lot on my mind, so I was wondering if I could talk to you.” Aigis states as she sits on Makoto’s bed with Makoto joining right next to her. “I’m sorry if I’m bothering you.”
“It’s alright. I couldn’t sleep either.” Makoto reassures his girlfriend as he rubs her back. “Mind telling me what’s on your mind, Aigis?”
“It’s about the final battle tomorrow. I know we all decided to fight Nyx together, but I can’t help but feel nervous. There’s a chance that we might fail, and everything will be lost. I’m scared that I might not be strong enough to protect you or our friends. I’m afraid of losing you to Nyx.” Aigis sorrowfully confesses as she tightens her grip on her pillow. Makoto stays silent as he knows his girlfriend has more to say.
“When I first met you at Yakushima, I was a completely different person. All I knew was how to eliminate shadows and that I needed to by your side. I was clueless about the world and myself, but you and the rest of S.E.E.S. changed all that. It was thanks to you that I learned many things about the world and the nature of life and death. You taught me that I’m more than just a living weapon. You taught me that I’m a human being just like you and everyone else.” Aigis continues before turning her head to face Makoto, staring deep into the boy’s eyes.
Aigs isn’t an ordinary human. When she was young, Aigis and countless other girls were experimented on by the Kirijo Group back when Mitsuru’s grandfather Kouetsu Kirijo was still the head of the company. During the experimentations, Aigis and the girls were imbued with Plumes of Dusk and cybernetic enhancements, making them physically superior to the average human. Those who survived the experimentations were molded by the Kirijo Group into being emotionless, obedient soldiers not allowed to think for themselves, dubbing the girls as Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon. After the Kirijo Group accidentally released shadows upon the world and caused the Dark Hour, Aigis became the last known Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon left alive.
“I never expected it would be possible for me to have emotions. I’ve been taught to always suppress my emotions and follow orders with absolute obedience. I lived my life as a weapon for the Kirijo Group, but then you appeared in my life. You showed me what it actually means to live. How to truly live. Thanks to S.E.E.S., I broke free from my shackles and experienced actual human emotions for the first time. Joy. Anger. Fear. Love.” Aigis maintains as tears streak down her cheeks. Despite crying, Aigis lets out a chuckle.
“Love. I thought it was impossible for me to fall in love. I didn’t think I ever deserved it after what I did to you. All the pain that I caused, yet you reciprocated my feelings. Sometimes I’m still baffled why, but I’m forever happy that you did. I guess that’s why I’m still nervous for our final battle. I’m ready to face Nyx head on, but I’m also afraid of losing the people most important to me. I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?” Aigis remarks self-depreciating manner, sniffling as she wipes away her tears. Makoto wraps his arms around Aigis and pulls her into a tight hug. More tears swell up in his girlfriend’s eyes.
“You’re not being ridiculous. It’s natural for you to feel this way. To tell you the truth, I’m scared too. I don’t want to lose you or the rest of S.E.E.S. either. Everyone in S.E.E.S., including you, helped me remember how to live again, and I don’t want to imagine a world without you all in it. In a way, you and I saved each other. But that’s also why we have to fight Nyx, so we can create a future where humanity can continue to live. A future where you and I can continue being together side by side.” Makoto comforts Aigis as he looks up at him with her eyes stained red from tears.
“Makoto-san…” Aigis mutters softly as her cheeks burn red.
“It’s also one of the reasons why I rejected Ryoji’s offer. If I had killed him on New Year’s Eve like he requested, I would be forced to forget about everything related to the Dark Hour. That includes you, and I would rather die a millions deaths than to ever forget you. I want a future where I can spend the rest of my life with you, Aigis. That’s why I’m ready to fight Nyx even if a part of me is scared because I want to ensure that it becomes a reality.” Makoto declares as his girlfriend is left speechless by his words.
“I… I want that future too, Makoto-san. A future where I can always stay by your side. We’ll graduate from Gekkoukan High, get married, buy a house, start a family, everything! You’re right. Even though it’s natural to feel nervous about tomorrow’s battle, I’m not going to let that fear stop me from fighting. I want to make that future a reality too!” Aigis proclaims as a surge of determination swells up within her. Makoto smiles at the sight of his girlfriend’s resolve, feeling a sense of pride within him.
“Getting married and starting a family, huh?” Makoto teases his girlfriend, who reacts by blushing up a storm and quickly breaks free from his hug.
“W-W-Well… Y-You see… It w-was… a spur of the moment, as they say! That’s it, yes! It was a spur of the moment, you know! I-I mean… I’m not directly opposed to it though… If you’re okay with it then…” Aigis talks over herself as she tries to think up several excuses, which Makoto finds both hilarious and pretty cute.
“Let’s do it.” Makoto agrees, bringing Aigis’ ramblings to a halt as she does a double take and stares at him in shock.
“My apologies, Makoto-san. I must’ve misheard you. Please repeat what you just said.” Aigis requests as she looks at her boyfriend with anticipation. Makoto takes hold of both of Aigis’ hands as he looks his girlfriend in the eye.
“Right after we graduate, let’s get married. We can have a small wedding or a big one, whichever you like. After that, we can easily buy a house using the money I looted from Tartarus. And then later down the line, we’ll start a family and even adopt a pet like a dog or a cat. I know how much you love animals.” Makoto proposes, and Aigis’ eyes widen as she realizes her boyfriend is being serious.
“You really want to do all that with me?” Aigis hesitantly asks, wondering if this is actually real or if she’s just dreaming. However, deep down, Aigis knows this isn’t a dream. She’s here with Makoto in her bedroom having this conversation. This is real.
“Of course. There’s no one else I want to spend my future with.” Makoto confirms, and Aigis begins to tear up again. This time, however, these aren’t tears of sorrow. They’re tears of happiness as Aigis is suddenly overwhelmed with joy. Makoto wipes away his girlfriend’s tears as she smiles brightly at him.
“Yes! Let’s do it!” Aigis shouts excitedly as she nods her head vigorously. Aigis then wraps her arms around Makoto’s neck and pulls him into a passionate kiss. Makoto kisses her back with his arms around her waist. After locking lips for almost a minute, Makoto and Aigis break the kiss panting so both of them can catch their breath.
“I love you, Aigis.” Makoto affirms.
“I love you too, Makoto-san.” Aigis responds back. After a moment of silence passes between the two, Aigis does something Makoto didn’t expect her to do. The blonde girl pushes Makoto onto his bed and climbs on top of him, surprising the blue-haired teen.
“Aigis?” Makoto asks flustered as his girlfriend straddles his waist. Aigis stares down at her boyfriend with a flustered yet determined look on her face.
“I wish to spend the night with you, Makoto-san. I want to face Nyx without any regrets. Will you grant me this one request?” Aigis asks her boyfriend, who looks back at her with awe.
“Absolutely.” Makoto answers, and Aigis leans down and kisses him deeply. Tomorrow, Makoto, Aigis, and the rest of S.E.E.S. will face their final battle. Despite being told defeating Nyx would be impossible, none of them will back down. Every single one of S.E.E.S. possess the resolve to stand up and fight, even if it means certain death. All of them are ready because they have each other, and it’s their bonds that allows them to strive forward into the unknown.
March 13th, 2010
S.E.E.S. had won. Despite the impossible odds stacked against them, including Strega’s surprise interference, S.E.E.S. successfully stopped the Fall and saved humanity. During the climax of the battle, Makoto soared into the night sky and pulled off a miracle that prevented Nyx’s descent, ending the Dark Hour once and for all. However, such a miracle required a heavy cost, one that the rest of S.E.E.S. weren’t prepared for.
On Mitsuru’s and Akihiko’s Graduation Day, Makoto and Aigis reunited after spending more than a month apart. The couple remembered everything and decided to wait for their friends at the school’s rooftop. Aigis sat on a stone bench while Makoto laid down with his head resting on his girlfriend’s lap. As they waited for their friends to arrive, Aigis expresses a new path she had given to herself, and that’s to protect Makoto with her life. After a few more touching words from Aigis, Makoto closed his eyes to rest with a peaceful smile on his face. Soon after, their friends arrived on the rooftop after regaining their memories.
It was supposed to be a happy moment. After all, S.E.E.S. had kept their promise and reunited with their memories restored. But even happy moments can’t last forever. Makoto Yuki never woke back up after falling asleep and on the next day, the former leader of S.E.E.S. was declared dead. In the aftermath of their leader’s death, S.E.E.S. was left in shambles. No one knew what could’ve caused Makoto’s untimely demise. Mitsuru and Akihiko deduced it might’ve been due to the miracle he used to stop Nyx, but even they weren’t entirely sure. For days, everyone in S.E.E.S. mourned the loss of their friend but out of all of them, Aigis was dealing with it the worst.
Aigis had just made her promise to Makoto that she will protect him. How can she move on knowing she can never keep her promise? Makoto was everything to Aigis. He was her purpose. Her reason for living, and now he’s gone. After Makoto’s death, Aigis locked herself in her room and shut herself off from the world, only coming out for food or to use the restroom. Junpei, Fuuka, Mitsuru, and Koromaru would often try to talk to Aigis and attempt to coax her out of her room, but she always remained unresponsive to them. Naturally, they were worried about Aigis but couldn’t do anything to help.
Right now, it’s been a week since Makoto’s confirmed death, and Aigis is still inside her room. Or rather, what’s left of it. Aigis’ room looks like it’s been ripped apart by a tornado. Her guns and ammunition are broken and scattered, her clothes are torn to ribbons, framed photos are shattered, her dresser is tossed aside, and her bed is flipped over. Sitting on the floor with her back against the door, Aigis is hugging her legs close to her chest sobbing.
Lying on the floor in front of Aigis is a positive pregnancy test.
Recently, Aigis was experiencing some strange symptoms she couldn’t explain. The blonde girl suddenly found herself extremely exhausted and needed to use the restroom more often than usual despite not eating that much. It was when Aigis vomited at random times of the day that she realized something was wrong. Early in the morning when everyone was still asleep, Aigis snuck out and bought a pregnancy test from a nearby 24-hour pharmacy. Now all the symptoms made sense to Aigis, and it devastated her.
At first, Aigis was angry and trashed her room asunder to vent out the rage built from both Makoto’s death and this pregnancy. After destroying her room, her anger quickly transformed into fear. How can she be a mother when she failed to protect the person most precious to her? Will she also fail to protect her child? Can she even take care of them? How will her friends even react to this news? Does she even deserve to be a mother? All these questions weighed Aigis down, and they left her in tears.
None of her friends came to check up on Aigis due to the fact that they left the dorms before she started trashing her room. The reason why? All of them are attending Makoto’s funeral. Aigis knew it was today, but she chose not to go. From Aigis’ point of view, she didn’t deserve to attend his funeral. Why should she when she failed to save him. How can she even face the others? Even when Fuuka and Junpei pleaded with Aigis to come with them to the funeral, she still remained adamant in staying inside her room. Aigis doesn’t blame her friends if they hate her for not going.
“Why! Why did you leave me! You promised we would spend our future together!” Aigis screams out loud even though there’s no one else in the room, but that didn’t matter to her. “I promised to protect you! I wanted to be by your side! Why did you have to die! I loved you! Makoto-san… please come back!”
No one answered her cries. Aigis knew it was a wasted effort, but she wanted to see if it was possible for another miracle to happen. She should’ve known that wouldn’t be the case. Aigis sniffles as she lifts her head up and stares at the positive pregnancy test on the floor. She picks up the pregnancy test and examines it. What she wanted most in her future with Makoto is now the biggest source of dread for Aigis, but the irony isn’t lost on her.
Aigis extends her legs and places her hand on her lower abdomen. This child growing inside her is all that she has left of Makoto Yuki. Her last remaining connection to him. Aigis doesn’t want to get rid of the child because of that reason alone, but she also doesn't know if she could be a good mother to said child. She doesn’t know if she could handle the responsibility without Makoto. Aigis brings the pregnancy test close to her chest.
Maybe it was a mistake to have human emotions. This feeling of pain and loss in her heart is probably why she was always instructed to suppress her emotions. Things were so easier back then when she was living as a weapon. If only Aigis could go back. Exhaustion begins to catch up to Aigis from her sobbing. There was one last thought remaining in Aigis’ mind before she drifted off to sleep.
“Makoto-san… please tell me… What should I do?”
March 31st, 2010 (Time loop)
Everything is a mess. That’s how Aigis would describe the current situation. Today is supposed to be her last day in the dorms as she planned on moving back to the Kirijo Labs in Yakushima to raise her child. However, Aigis and her friends found themselves stuck in a time loop caused by an anomaly known as the Abyss of Time. Not only that, they were attacked by someone just like Aigis. A fellow Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon claiming to be Aigis’ sister named Metis. It was during the attack that Aigis’ awakened to Makoto’s persona Orpheus and his power of the Wild Card.
This was too much for Aigis to take in. On top of her pregnancy, she now has to lead S.E.E.S. to find a way to put an end to the Abyss of Time. Due to her now possessing Makoto’s power, Aigis was chosen by her friends to be the group’s new field leader. It wasn’t much of a choice, but Aigis wished that wasn’t the case. Taking over the role of leader means replacing Makoto in her eyes, but Aigis knows she can’t rely on Makoto anymore. He’s dead, and there’s no changing that fact. Aigis reluctantly accepted the role and led her time down the abyss while also making sure her unborn child was safe.
Speaking of her pregnancy, Aigis never got the chance to reveal her pregnancy properly to her friends. Two weeks ago, Fuuka accidentally walked in on Aigis vomiting in the bathroom and alerted everyone in the dorms as she was afraid the blonde girl might’ve been ill. News of Aigis’ pregnancy was met with a rather mixed reaction. Most of her friends were shocked as they didn’t know Makoto and Aigis were dating. The couple had decided to keep their relationship a secret until after they defeated Nyx. Junpei, Fuuka, and Koromaru were the most excited out of the group and gave Aigis words of encouragement to cheer her up. Both Akihiko and Ken gave Aigis their congratulations, though they’re still shocked by the news. Mitsuru was worried but promised Aigis she’ll give her every ounce of support she needs. Then there was Yukari’s reaction.
Aigis knew a rift had formed between her and Yukari after Makoto’s passing. When Fuuka attempted to convince Aigis to come to the funeral with them, the blonde girl had overheard Yukari telling the navigator not to bother and stated that Aigis made her choice. But ever since the pregnancy was revealed, Aigis had noticed Yukari giving her scornful looks and passive aggressive comments. It unnerved the blonde girl and made her feel uneasy. As a result, Aigis did her best to distance herself from Yukari as much as possible and soon enough, Yukari began appearing in the dorms less and less right up until the Abyss of Time had started.
Even with the friction between her and Yukari, Aigis tried her best to lead the team. After battling through countless shadows and learning more about the Abyss of Time, everything seemed to be going well for S.E.E.S. However, all that changed when the group came face to face with a shadow taking the form of their deceased leader. This Shadow Makoto was created by their collective desires to see Makoto Yuki again. While everyone else fought Shadow Makoto, Aigis stood frozen in fear. Even though it wasn’t the real Makoto Yuki, Aigis couldn’t bring herself to fight it.
Instead, Aigis attempted to talk to Shadow Makoto as if it was the real Makoto Yuki. Some could say it was a form of closure for Aigis, a way for her to move on after everything she's been through. The rest of S.E.E.S. watched dumbfounded as Aigis walked towards Shadow Makoto unarmed. She told it how much she loved him and that she misses him so much. Aigis further tells it how much she wants him to come back, so they have the future that they discussed about. She even told it about her pregnancy. Despite her pleading, Shadow Makoto never gave a response. Of course it wouldn’t because it’s not the real Makoto Yuki. Instead, Shadow Makoto attacked Aigis, but Metis was able to save her sister in time.
After defeating Shadow Makoto, each member of S.E.E.S. was given a key. Metis explained that once combined, the keys would allow them to move forward or travel back in time. This created a dilemma that pushed the growing friction within the group over the edge. During the discussion over the keys, factions were formed over how to use the keys. Akihiko and Ken wanted to respect Makoto’s sacrifice and move forward, Junpei and Koromaru wanted to stop the infighting and questioned if they could even beat Nyx again, and Yukari and Mitsuru wanted to go back and save Makoto. As for Aigis, she was confused on what to do. It was then that Yukari let out her true feelings.
Yukari lashed at her friends for wanting to “throw away” their only opportunity of saving Makoto, accusing them of being selfish and cowards. The archer then declares that the best way to settle their dispute is to take each other’s keys by force. When Aigis reveals her indecision over what to do with the keys, Yukari snapped at her.
Yukari accused Aigis of running away, calling the blonde girl out for not attending Makoto’s funeral. Yukari further stated that despite Aigis getting to hear Makoto’s last words and making a promise to him, she’s still choosing to run away. The archer demanded why the blonde girl got to have Makoto’s power despite being so indecisive, but she didn’t stop there. With a glare, Yukari then said something that broke Aigis.
“If you truly love Makoto, then you should do everything you can to save him! Otherwise, it’s your fault your child won’t get to see their father!” Yukari scathes, shocking everyone in the room. Instead of giving any form of response, Aigis turns around and runs out of the room with tears in her eyes. The blonde girl hears her friends shouting and arguing, but she keeps on running. She’s done with it all. Afterwards, Aigis locks herself in her bedroom and cries on her bed.
“I’m a failure. Why did I even think I could be a leader like Makoto-san? Everything is falling apart, and it’s all my fault. I should’ve been the one that died, not him.”
After what felt like a lifetime, Aigis sits up on her bed and looks down at her stomach. A baby bump has barely begun to form. Aigis rests a hand on the bump as she wonders if Yukari has a point. How can she look her child in the eye and tell them she had the opportunity to save their father but chose not to. However, Aigis is still hesitant to agree with Yukari’s decision for some reason. Before she could ponder more, someone knocks on Aigis’ bedroom door.
“Sister? Are you there?” Metis asks from the other side of the door. Aigis wordlessly gets up from her bed and opens the door, and Metis worried expression turns hopeful at the sight of her sister. “Can I come inside?”
Aigis nods as she widens the door for Metis to enter. The younger sister observes the state of Aigis’ room. Most of it has been repaired so far thanks to Mitsuru, who wanted to make sure Aigis could live comfortably now that she’s pregnant. Both sisters silently take a seat on Aigis’ bed.
“Are you okay, Sister?” Metis asks as she stares at Aigis in concern, and the blonde girl shakes her head in response.
“How can I be? I was entrusted with the role of leader. I was supposed to guide them. Everyone placed their trust in me, and I failed them! What kind of leader lets their team argue and fight each other? I don’t know what to do, Metis. I’m scared that I’ll just make everything worse.” Aigis rants as more tears stream down her face.
“I wish I could’ve done better to help you, Aigis.” Metis apologizes and hugs Aigis to console her.
“It’s not your fault, Metis. All I can do now is fight.” Aigis laments as Metis lets go of her sister and stares at her in shock.
“Are you really going to fight? What about the baby? You’re going up against other Persona users! Don’t you know how bad that is?!” Metis frets as she stares down at the tiny baby bump.
“It’s not like I have much of a choice. Besides, I’m still in the early stages of my pregnancy, and my body is far more durable than a regular human’s. The Kirijo Group made sure of that.” Aigis explains with a bit of venom in her voice when she spoke that last sentence.
“But you do have a choice! Allow me to fight in your stead! I’ll do my best to win the keys for you! Promise!” Metis requests, but Aigis shakes her head.
“I can’t let you fight alone, Metis. If I do, then I’ll just be proving Yukari-san right.” Aigis counters even though Metis still looks unsure.
“Do you know what you want to do with the keys?” Metis hesitantly asks, and Aigis shakes her head.
“Admittedly, I still don’t, but that doesn’t mean I should back down. I’ll figure it out once the fighting is over.” Aigis promises, placing her hand on the barely formed baby bump once more.
“Then I’ll stay by your side and fight alongside you. My highest priority is to protect you and your baby.” Metis vows as she places her hand over Aigis’ hand. Familiarity washes over Aigis as Metis’ oath reminds her of the similar vows she would make to Makoto.
“Thank you, Metis. Hearing that makes me happy.” Aigis responds back smiling. Aigis then looks down and lets out a horrified gasp. “Metis, your hand!”
While Metis’ left hand is perfectly fine, the same can’t be said about her right hand. The knuckles of Metis’ right hand is bloodied and bruised as if the girl had punched some really hard. Metis shrugs nonchalantly, wondering why her sister is so concerned about her hand.
“It’s only a minor injury, Sister. It doesn’t even hurt.” Metis reassures Aigis, but the latter isn’t having it.
“How did that even happen?” Aigis asks in a concerned tone, and Metis looks away in shame. Her sister’s reaction causes Aigis to frown. “Metis…”
“…After you left because of what Yukari said, I threw a punch at her and ended up hitting the wall. I was angry at her for making you cry.” Metis admits as she’s scared to look Aigis in the eye.
“Metis, that was very wrong of you to do! You shouldn’t have done that, young lady!” Aigis scolds, causing Metis to wince from her sister’s stern tone.
“I’m sorry, Aigis! Please don’t be mad at me!” Metis pleads while on the verge of tears. Aigis sighs and wipes the tears from her sister’s eyes to stop them from forming.
“I’m not mad at you. I understand you did it for my sake, but you can’t react violently like that. You’ll just end up getting yourself and others hurt.” Aigis lectures as she examines Metis’ bloodied hand.
“But you can just heal me with one of your personas.” Metis points out, but Aigis shakes her head.
“We need to save our power for the battle. Come with me. I’ll treat your wound.” Aigis instructs as she takes Metis by hand and leads her out of her room towards the bathroom. Once inside, Aigis cleans Metis’ hand with water and sprays the wound with disinfectant. Metis winces from the pain but keeps watch of the process. After that step, Aigis bandages Metis’ hand and smiles. “There. All done.”
“You’ll be a great mom, Aigis.” Metis states, surprising the blonde girl. At first, Aigis wanted to deny that claim, but the blonde girl’s curiosity got the better of her instead.
“What makes you say that?” Aigis hesitantly asks, and Metis smiles brightly at her sister.
“Because even though this all started with me attacking your friends, you still went out of your way to take care of me. You kept me safe and taught me everything about the world and being human. You made me food, healed my wounds, and even read me a bedtime story that one time. Isn’t that everything a mother does for their child?” Metis wonders, and it takes a moment for Aigis to process it all.
Metis isn’t wrong. After Metis had joined the group, Aigis would look after her because of Metis’ strong attachment to her. However, looking back at it now, Aigis definitely sees the parallels now. Though she has to wonder if that’s really enough.
“You are correct, but me looking after you is much different than taking care of a baby.” Aigis points out, to which Metis doesn’t deny.
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean you should doubt yourself. There’s still a lot that I don’t know, but what I do know is that you’re going to be a wonderful mom to your child because I believe in you, Aigis.” Metis declares as hope begins to swell up in Aigis’ chest.
“You’re right. If I continue to let my fear and doubt consume me, then how can I call myself a mother? I need to be strong for the sake of my child. Thank you, Metis.” Aigis affirms as she hugs her sister with Metis hugging her back. Aigis doesn’t care anymore if she failed as a leader or not. None of that matters now. What does matter is make sure this time loop ends so her child gets to live. And for that to happen, Aigis needs to win those keys and settle things once and for all. After gaining her new resolve, Aigis couldn’t help but wonder what Makoto would think of her now.
November 7th, 2010
Aigis lets out a gasp of pain as her body gets hit with another contraction. She lost count how many it's been after the number went into double digits. The blonde girl is lying on a hospital bed inside a Kirijo Group sponsored hospital as her baby has chosen today to be their birthday, which Aigis is thankful for because it’s a Sunday. Aigis would’ve felt humiliated if she went into labor while at school. Then again, Aigis was given two weeks off from school when it became close to her due date. A sharp cry escapes from Aigis as another contraction hits her body.
Aside from the Kirijo Group’s experiments she endured as a child, Aigis has never felt this level of pain before. Even the attacks she endured from Nyx’s avatar during the final battle couldn’t hold a candle to the pain that Aigis is currently going through. Makoto is lucky he’s preventing Erebus from reaching Nyx because otherwise Aigis would’ve pulled him out of the great seal and strangled him for making her go through this much pain.
“You good, Ai-chan?” Junpei asks as he tries to flash a smile from under his medical mask. Almost every member of S.E.E.S. is here in the hospital room with Aigis to help with the delivery. Fuuka, Ken, and Koromaru are the only ones not present as the three are currently in the waiting room. Right now, Mitsuru is barking orders at doctors and nurses as she tries to maintain control of the situation.
“I'm peachy, as they say.” Aigis sarcastically grits out as she sends a piercing glare towards Junpei’s direction. Yukari slaps Junpei’s arm, earning a yelp from her friend.
“Take this seriously, Stupei! Can’t you see Aigis is under a lot of pain and pressure?! This is no time for jokes!” Yukari scolds while Junpei rubs his arm from the slap.
“I’m just trying to lighten up the mood, Yuka-tan! I’m actually freaking out right now.” Junpei admits, causing Yukari to roll her eyes.
“You dolt! I’m freaking out too, but you don’t see me messing around!” Yukari retorts while Aigis’ face twists in pain from another contraction.
“Will you two knock it off! Your bickering isn’t helping Aigis, so either quit arguing or take it outside.” Akihiko reprimands Junpei and Yukari, both of whom immediately mutter an apology for their actions.
“We’re about to begin the delivery. Everyone, get into position.” Mitsuru orders the group as she’s flanked by Akihiko and one of the hospital’s head doctors to help deliver the baby. Yukari attends with the nurses while Junpei remains at Aigis’ bedside. “Okay, Aigis. Take deep breaths. Iori, offer Aigis your hand for support.”
“Oh, sure thi-owowowowow.” Junpei cries out and falls to his knees as Aigis tightly grips his hand, unable to hold back her strength as she breathes heavily as instructed. After half a day of her being in labor, it’s finally time for Aigis to see her baby.
“Now push!”
Aigis lets out an ear-piercing scream as she starts the delivery. Her body wracked with unimaginable pain as she tries to bring her child out into the world. Despite the overwhelming pain, Aigis is determined to keep on going. She did not fight Nyx and Erebus just to give up now. Even though Makoto is no longer with her, Aigis still has her friends by her side helping her. Taking another deep breath, Aigis lets out another scream as she makes her second attempt at pushing while unintentionally crushing Junpei’s hand. The latter collapses onto the floor as he passes out from the pain.
“Keep going, Aigis! Push!”
The delivery lasted for more than two hours, though it felt like an eternity for Aigis. The more time went on, the more unbearable the pain had become. Her body was starting to feel tired and weak, but the blonde girl still pushed on through. During the process, Yukari and Akihiko gave words of encouragement to Aigis as a way to motivate her to keep going while Mitsuru and the doctor remained focused on the delivery as they gave Aigis timely instructions to ensure the procedure remains successful.
“You’re almost there, Aigis! Just a little bit more!”
“I-I can’t anymore. It hurts too much!” Aigis cries out as tears start to fall from her eyes. As much as she wants to complete the delivery, the pain is becoming too much for her to handle. Aigis weeps as her fears and insecurities of failure from the Nyx battle and Abyss of Time begin to resurface. She doesn’t know why she thought she could do this, and now she’s going to fail her child right when they need her the most. If only Makoto was here.
“Don’t give up, Aigis! I’m not ashamed to admit that you’re the strongest out of us all. If there’s anyone who can beat this, it’s you! You can’t quit now!” Akihiko attests with Mitsuru nodding in agreement.
“He’s right, Aigis. I know I can’t make up for the suffering my family caused you, and I will accept full responsibility for their actions. Despite enduring so much throughout your life, you’ve always persisted without resistance. I’ve seen you stand side by side with our leader and even after his passing, I’ve witnessed you carry his will even when all hope seems lost. You aren’t a failure, Aigis!” Mitsuru declares as Yukari rushes over to Aigis’ side and takes her hand.
“Aigis, look at me. Everything’s going to be alright, okay. I know it hurts a lot, but you’re almost there. You have to keep pushing so your baby can be in your arms. I know you can do it.” Yukari pleads to Aigis as the blonde girl turns to face her. After ending the Abyss of Time, Aigis and Yukari repaired their friendship and even became roommates during their third year with Yukari providing the most support towards Aigis’ pregnancy. “You’re my best friend, Aigis. You deserve to have a happy life with your baby, so that’s all the more reason why you can’t give up. Makoto wouldn’t want you to give up either, not when you’re so close. He’ll want you to be happy just like the rest of us do. Please, Aigis. Push!”
Aigis nods her head as she realizes her friends are right. She can’t give up now, not when her child is this close to being born. Aigis is tired of letting her fear of failure consume her, especially when her child’s life is on the line. Taking another deep breath, Aigis screams out loud once again as she channels her energy and gives another push while Mitsuru returns her focus back towards the delivery. Meanwhile, Junpei wakes up on the floor and stands back up with his head in a daze.
“Ugh, what happened? And why can’t I feel my hand?” Junpei groans as he slowly wobbles around.
“I can see the head! You’re doing great, Aigis!” Mitsuru reports while the blonde girl in question kept pushing.
“Ooo! Can I see!” Junpei asks as he dashes over to where Mitsuru, Akihiko, and the doctor are at. Junpei takes a look and immediately collapses to the floor, fainting. Akihiko rolls his eyes as he picks up the unconscious Junpei and carries him out of the room.
As Aigis continues to focus her body on the delivery, she suddenly hears all the voices of the personas within her soul urging her not to give up. Orpheus. Athena. Psyche. Messiah. All of them are telling Aigis that she’s very close to meeting her child. Hearing the support of her personas was a surprise to the blonde girl, but what surprised her more was hearing the voice of her sister Metis for the first time since March.
“I believe in you, Sister. You’re almost there.”
Aigis releases another scream as she makes another attempt to deliver her baby while ignoring the pain skyrocketing in her body. Yukari winces as she feels her hand getting crushed by her best friend, but she doesn’t care. Nothing’s gonna stop her from supporting Aigis. The nurses attempt to help Yukari, but she stops them. The archer needs to be there for her best friend.
“One more push!”
Aigis nods her head in understanding as she pants from exhaustion. Sniffling, Aigis wipes her eyes clean as she mentally prepares for her last attempt. Right as she’s about to take in another deep breath, Aigis hears a familiar voice in her head. A voice belonging to someone she hasn’t heard in almost a year. The voice of Makoto Yuki.
“Our child is about to be born. I’m very proud of you, Aigis.”
Aigis doesn’t know if that was actually him or a self-induced hallucination, but hearing Makoto’s voice again gave the blonde girl the strength she needed to make her final push. After a couple of seconds, Aigis’ scream is soon replaced by the loud sound of a baby’s crying.
“Congratulations, Miss Aigis. You’ve successfully given birth to a healthy baby boy.” The doctor announces as Aigis is left speechless by the news. She can’t believe it. Her baby’s finally here. It takes all of Aigis’ remaining strength to stop herself from bursting into tears.
“You did it, Aigis!” Yukari cheers as she hugs Aigis to congratulate her. Mitsuru walks over to the other side of Aigis’ bed and places a hand on the blonde girl’s shoulder.
“You have my congrats, Aigis. Makoto would be so proud of you.” Mitsuru tells the new mother. Aigis keeps herself from smirking as the Kirijo head doesn’t know how true her statement is. The doctor brings to Aigis her son, now fully cleaned and wrapped up in a blue blanket. Aigis takes her baby and cradles him gently in her arms. Her baby is still crying, scared of the new world that he’s in. Aigis understands her child’s fear all too well.
“Don’t cry, my baby. You’re safe now. Your mama is right by your side, here to protect you forevermore. I promise I will never leave you by yourself.” Aigis whispers as she gently rocks her child to soothe him. Soon enough, her son begins to calm down as he stares up at his mother, revealing to have light blue eyes just like her. Aigis smiles at just how beautiful her son is. Even though she doesn't know how she can tell, Aigis knows that Makoto is watching as well.
“Aww, he’s so cute. He looks just like Makoto, but he also has your eyes,” Yukari coos as she tries to get a closer look at the baby. She’s right. Along with having light blue eyes like Aigis, the baby also has Makoto’s dark blue hair and skin tone. Aigis kisses her baby on the forehead as he tries to reach his hands towards her face.
“Have you already decided on a name for him, Aigis?” Mitsuru asks as the baby begins to look around at his surroundings.
“Indeed I have, Mitsuru-san. My son carries the will of both of his parents inside him, so that’ll be his name. Will.” Aigis confirms as she smiles at her newborn. Even though this isn’t the exact future she discussed with Makoto back during that January night, Aigis is happy this is the future she fought for. While Makoto is no longer alive, that doesn’t mean he’s gone. Aigis carries a part of him with her, and now their son Will does too. A son she wouldn’t be able to have if she hadn't met Makoto. Aigis will make sure Will lives a happy life full of love and support from those who care about him. A future she made possible. “I love you, my son.”