~NOTICE ABOUT GUEST REVIEWS & COMMENTS ON MY WORKS~:

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….

As Zero Two's figure transformed into stone, Kokoro's hand was grasped onto Mitsuru's. The ring on her finger should have felt foreign, but it seemed to fall right into place. The rushing rain that had left them damp was now replaced by growing sunlight and drifting clouds. Kokoro's eyes were still red from crying, though they were drying with the increasing sunlight.

Mitsuru's thumb brushed Kokoro's pale hand. A sharp intake of breath followed from the blonde girl as she was slowly reminded that she wasn't alone anymore. Mitsuru had made sure to make that known during their earlier discussion.

"What do you think it means?" Kokoro asked, looking forward at Zero Two's still figure.

"I don't know, but she must be with Hiro now," Mitsuru guessed.

"Do you think I helped her as best as I could?" Kokoro wondered.

"Of course."

Kokoro nodded, trying to ignore the sting of tears in her eyes. She absentmindedly rubbed her hand over her lower abdomen. She couldn't think of herself as useless anymore. Even if she could no longer be there for Zero Two, she had others that depended on her now.

Mitsuru's hand left hers and tugged on her sleeve.

"It's still wet. Come on. We should go back inside and get you a fresh change of clothes," Mitsuru suggested.

Kokoro nodded, though even as she turned to leave with him, her eyes still wandered toward the stone statue underneath Genista's shadow.

When Kokoro emerged from her room in a pair of fresh clothes, Mitsuru was waiting with a blanket and cup of steaming liquid.

"It's hot chocolate," he said, handing it toward her.

"T-Thank you, Mitsuru-kun," Kokoro said, a slight headache gathering in the center of her forehead. She ignored the pain and sipped on the hot liquid.

The two found a nearby bench to sit on as Kokoro warmed up again. She hugged the blanket close to her body and continued to sip at the hot cocoa all the while Mitsuru sat beside her.

While Mitsuru's presence wasn't as awkward as before, Kokoro still found the silence a bit unsettling. Or rather, she was at a loss for words.

"Do you need to go back and work?" Kokoro asked, finally glancing up at him. "I'll be okay."

"I'll stay with you for a little while," Mitsuru promised.

Kokoro nodded and glanced down at her mug. She slowly swirled it, watching the warm chocolate slip up and down the sides. Without thinking, she let out a sigh.

"Everything okay?" Mitsuru asked, staring at her with those concerned green eyes.

"Oh, I'm fine," Kokoro assured him. "I'm just worried about Zero Two and the others. I-I know my place now in all of this, but a part of me wishes I could still help."

"You're helping just as much as all of them. You're showing the others that there's a future ahead," he said, gently placing his hand over her stomach.

Kokoro's cheeks reddened as she turned her gaze away.

"I'm scared, Mitsuru-kun," she said at last.

"Everyone will be okay. You'll see," he assured her.

She shook her head. "I know everyone will fight well. I'm scared for the future. No one has had a baby in years. I know I wanted one, at least that's what everyone said, and I feel affection towards it, but…"

"We'll conquer the future together," Mitsuru said. "You can lean on me."

A sharp pain shot through Kokoro's skull, and she let out a gasp, pressing her head toward her temple.

"Are you all right?" Mitsuru asked.

The pain subsided not long after, and she slowly nodded.

"I'm sorry. I-I wonder if you said that before to me one time," Kokoro thought.

"I don't remember. I'm sorry."

"I guess it doesn't matter what we do or don't remember anymore. I want to get to know you better," she said, grasping onto Mitsuru's hand.

"Me too," he replied.

Nearly all the hot chocolate had been drained from Kokoro's mug again. She was finally beginning to feel like herself again, and her emotional afternoon was becoming a hazy memory. She suddenly let out a large yawn.

"Should you head off for some rest?" Mitsuru suggested.

"I guess so. Before I start feeling nauseous again."

"Can I bring you anything?" Mitsuru wondered.

"It's okay. You've done enough already," Kokoro told him. "But…can you visit later? I don't feel as lonely when I'm with you."

"Of course. As soon as I finish the chores for the day, I'll visit. We can even eat supper together later."

Kokoro grinned and stood up, ready to retire for a quick nap. Mitsuru escorted her back to her bedroom and smiled with his eyes as he left her to rest.

...

Over the next day or two, Mitsuru finally felt like his world was becoming complete again. It wasn't responsibility that made him feel obligated to remain by Kokoro's side, but something else entirely.

He ate meals with her, brought her anything she needed, and made sure to keep her company as often as possible. They were warming up to each other, presumably again, though he wished he could remember the first time that they had grown close.

One morning, Mitsuru stopped by Kokoro's bedroom so that they could attend breakfast together.

"Oh, I'm almost ready," Kokoro told him as she opened the door. "I just need to get some shoes on."

Mitsuru nodded, glancing around the tiny quarters of her room that were similar to everyone else's. There was a twin size bed, a dresser, a small closet, and an adjoining bathroom. He frowned, wondering how she was eventually going to care for a baby in such a small space.

Kokoro was kneeling on her bed, placing her shoes on, when she suddenly let out a moan and covered her mouth.

"Kokoro-san?" Mitsuru asked, ignoring the pain shooting across his head.

She rushed to the restroom, and moments later, he could hear her gagging. He slowly approached the bathroom door, pushing it aside to find her leaning over the toilet.

"I'm sorry," she coughed before leaning over the toilet again.

Mitsuru quickly grasped her long blonde hair and held it behind her as she finished expelling the remaining contents in her stomach. It ached him to see her in pain, though by now, she appeared to be used to it.

He slowly rubbed her back as she finished coughing.

"Can I get you some water?" he asked, reaching for the cup near the sink.

She nodded, and a moment later, she was quietly slurping on cold water while sitting on the cold tile of the bathroom floor.

"You're still getting sick?" Mitsuru wondered.

"It's a side effect of the pregnancy. It's been better though. I haven't gotten sick in a while," she explained.

Mitsuru stared at her with concern. He supposed pregnancy was a lot more difficult than it seemed. He just wished she would stop getting sick so he could end his constant worry over her.

"I'm fine, Mitsuru-kun," she promised, noticing the concern in his eyes.

"I suppose this means no breakfast now," Mitsuru realized.

"I'm sorry. My stomach is still a little upset. I think I'll lie down a little bit. You go on without me."

"Okay, but I'll be back later to check on you, all right?"

"Mm…" Kokoro nodded and finally rose again, heading back over to her bed.

...

The day was as long and hot as ever for Mitsuru as he worked in the fields. He used his orange towel to wipe the sweat that had gathered across his face from a hard day's work. He still worried about Kokoro, especially when he knew she wasn't feeling well, but he knew chores still had to come first. After all, if new generations were to inherit the earth, they had to make sure there was enough food.

Large echoes sounded across the sky, and when Mitsuru glanced up, he realized with surprise that the Franxx were returning back to earth. He gasped and dropped his tools, rushing up toward the landing dock.

As he rounded the corner, he nearly collided into Kokoro. The blonde let out a gasp and became unbalanced until Mitsuru's firm grip steadied her.

"I thought you were resting," he spoke sternly. He hadn't meant to become angry with her, but he didn't want her to strain herself.

"I-I heard the rockets," she explained.

Mitsuru turned his head, realizing that only three had returned with Strelizia nowhere in sight. His heart sank a little. He had hoped that Zero Two and Hiro were safe and sound.

Ichigo and Goro were the first to descend from their robots.

"Hey, it looks like we have a proper welcome," Goro called to Ichigo as he approached Kokoro and Mitsuru.

"Where's…" Kokoro's voice trailed off as she glanced at the missing robots.

"The Nines are dead," Ichigo explained as the others began to approach Kokoro and Mitsuru.

"And Zero Two and Hiro?" Mitsuru wondered.

"They went through the gate to another solar system. VIRM isn't defeated just yet," said Goro.

"We can only safely pray for their return," Ichigo said, her voice a bit more unenthusiastic than normal.

"Oi! We fought aliens!" Zorome shouted as he approached the two.

"Kokoro-chan!" Futoshi exclaimed. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm doing well," Kokoro said.

Futoshi's eyes fell down to Kokoro's hands, then they rapidly shot to Mitsuru's before he let out a gasp.

"Oh, you two are wearing rings again," Ikuno realized.

"It looks like you two were fighting just as hard back here," Ichigo said, beginning to smile again.

Both Mitsuru and Kokoro exchanged a glance before nodding.

...

"I'm tired," Miku complained as she sat on Kokoro's bed.

"I would expect so. After all, you just came back from a space battle," Kokoro told her. She'd spent the entire afternoon hearing all the details of their adventure while she and Mitsuru had given somewhat of an explanation of what had occurred between them in the time they had been gone.

"I hope Zero Two and Hiro will be okay," Ichigo said quietly from the chair on the other side of Kokoro's room.

"Hey, Kokoro, can I just sleep right here?" Miku asked, glancing upward at her friend. "I'm too tired to walk back to my room."

"Miku, she needs to rest too," Ikuno warned. "It can't be easy carrying another human inside you."

"I'm feeling better," Kokoro promised.

"I'm glad you and Mitsuru are wearing your rings again," Ichigo said, grinning at the soon-to-be mother.

"Me too," Kokoro spoke quietly. "I-I'm surprised he kept it."

"Ugh, it's so romantic! I wish I could be as much in love as you two are," Miku complained.

"Love…" The word still felt foreign on Kokoro's tongue. She was still having trouble comprehending the unique feeling. She supposed she must have felt it at some point, but those memories were far gone from her mind. But it must be something special, a truly deep bond. She knew that Zero Two and Hiro were in love, but she wasn't sure what truly constituted it just yet.

"I'm going to bed," Ichigo said, lifting her arms and heading toward the door.

"Come on, Miku," Ikuno called.

The red-headed girl let out a moan and slowly stood up. "See you later, Kokoro," she said, following the others.

"Oh, Kokoro, Mitsuru is here," Ichigo noted as they headed out.

"O-Oh," she stammered, pulling her covers over her. She was only wearing her nightgown. She knew Mitsuru must have seen her in a nightgown in the past, but every time she tried to remember such a time, there was only inky darkness.

"I was just saying good-night," he said, standing in the doorframe.

"Oh, good night, Mitsuru-kun," she spoke quietly. "Hey, now that the others are back, you can spend less time worrying about me."

Mitsuru grinned. "I think I'll still worry, but at least there will be more people looking after you. Have a good sleep."

"Oh, you too," she said.

As she rested her head on her pillow, she reached her hand out into the blank space of her room. A surge of heat flooded through her as she possibly remembered a time when someone had been near her in bed.

But the air was quickly cold again, and she pulled her hand back inside the covers. She knew her bed would be rather small for two human beings, yet why did she feel that someone was meant to beside her?