User blog comment:Genista882/Mitsuru and Kokoro/@comment-38094676-20190506114119

''However, her holding her stomach, in my opinion, reflects her indecision on abortion or giving birth. Plus, she never spoke of a decision and the fact that she didn’t go to the battle in space is because she still hadn’t made a decision. When she was talking to a catatonic 02 and she rubbed her stomach, I think that was because she was mourning her not being a parasite because of the pregnancy. She looked so gloomy and depressed from the moment she learned she was pregnant to when she and Mitsuru reconciled. Also, in the thunderstorm scene, she broke down to Mitsuru and admitted she believed she had no purpose in life if she couldn’t be a parasite, which to me shows she struggled to feel a bond with the baby and the baby wasn’t enough of a reason to live for her at that time.''

I don't disagree with what you said here, it could very well be as you say, however I view that scene differently. To me, Kokoro was struggling with self-worth. This is also why she refused Mitsuru when he told her it's his responsibility, she didn't want to be a burden, to impose him or anyone. She can't pilot, they probably prohibited her from working in the fields, she has nothing else she can give but to take care of 02 and so she gave it her all.

I have no personal experience with abortion and so have limited knowledge about such topic, so my views could very well be skewed lol. But I like to think that Kokoro has already bonded with her child, because if she didn't, she would have grabbed the opportunity to abort it the moment New Nana offered that option. I mean, what's there to think about? Without her memory, there are more reasons why it's 'best' to abort the child than to keep it - can't pilot, can't work and it's making her physically ill. On top of that, there's a food shortage, low energy supply, a baby would be another mouth to feed, and she probably had already decided Mitsuru will want nothing to do with her because of the erased memories. So yeah, there's nothing to hold her back from choosing abortion, except perhaps a bond with her child. An instinct to protect the new life. At least, that's how I see it. :)

I'm going to be really sappy here, because of the way I think, but I truly believe that Kokoro kept the child out of love, whether or not Mitsuru will support her.

When he said that it's not about responsibility, and he doesn't know what love is, his emotions got through. Why would love and not a sense of responsibility make such a difference to Kokoro? Technically, it changes nothing, it doesn't make her a contributing member, and yet when Mitsuru opened up his feelings, she was able to accept him.

I like to think that she recognized his love as it's similar to how she felt for her child, the need to protect it. In her eyes, she and the baby were probably the same, 'worthless', no value to the new society, and yet Mitsuru loved her regardless whether she can give back or not. Love isn't about being worthy or useful, but the need to protect and provide for this person. And if Kokoro could love her child unconditionally, it's easier to accept Mitsuru's love for them as well. Love begets love. :)