Talk:Episode 21/@comment-26567684-20190331200411

I wonder about MitsuKoko in this episode; before saying each other’s names, Kokoro seemed troubled with her erased memories and she seemed perplexed by her wedding ring whereas Mitsuru didn’t seem to care and made it clear he didn’t want anything to do with her other than a squadmate partnership. Then, after saying each other’s names, it’s like the roles reversed - Kokoro became distant with Mitsuru and didn’t want anything to do with him at all whereas Mitsuru seemed troubled by her coldness towards him and he started to worry about her.

Although they didn’t remember anything and it was a painful headache, I think by saying her name, Mitsuru felt something that was the equivalence of love - a desire to protect and be there for her, which is why he was always staring at her with a worrisome look when she was willing to die. He obviously felt love, but didn’t understand it, but he felt it. Kokoro just felt confusion and fear, as she didn’t know what she remembered was real or fake, and her way of coping was to push him away. With the baby, she felt she lost all reason for living and was willing to go as far as putting her unborn baby in harm’s way to be useful, which speaks how despaired she felt that the only way of life she ever knew was crumbling.

If Mitsuru hadn’t found out about the baby, there’s no telling what Kokoro what have chosen to do because she was recommended to abort if she wanted to pilot again. It’s good that he was able to pour his feelings out to her when she was despairing to comfort her and assure her that he truly cares about her and wants them to raise the child together with a chance to start over. I can’t get over how cute MitsuKoko are as parents, and how Mitsuru dotes on his daughter.

Hopefully the manga will omit the memory erasure but I’m dying to see how their relationship plays out in the manga version.