A couple weeks after the end of volume 14
She looked all around, frantically scanning the area for her beloved, but he was nowhere in sight. A tap on the shoulder. She spun around to face...
"TÔYA!"
She ran towards him, but he only got further away. "No...come
back, Tôya!" she pleaded desperately. He maintained his
calm and loving disposition as he faded away.
"NO!" Aya yelled as she bolted upright in bed. Tôya, who had been sleeping beside her, jolted as well upon hearing her scream. She was panting and shaking, and she felt as if she might be sick.
"What's wrong?" Tôya asked with a look of utmost concern.
"I—I just had a bad dream...that's all," she stammered. He brushed her bangs from her glistening forehead and kissed it. He then pulled her into his embrace.
A surprised "oh" escaped her mouth as he whispered, "Aya...I wish...this moment could last forever."
"It can't," she said flatly.
Slightly taken aback, he asked, "What?"
"This moment can't last forever: my water just broke." Aya gave him a faint smile as she said this.
Tôya and Aya had experienced a birth once before, but their roles were far different than the ones they were in this time. Tôya had insisted on staying beside her as she gave birth, and she was grateful. He gave his strong hands to her to grip as she brought their daughter into the world. He cut the umbilical cord, and the doctors disappeared briefly to clean the baby.
"Aya," he said, "you did great." He kissed her temple and stroked her cheek, and she smiled weakly at him. Tears filled the eyes of both parents when the doctor brought their daughter back.
"She's so beautiful..." said Tôya. "...just like her mother. Do you know what you want to name her?"
Without pausing, Aya immediately replied, "Chidori." She took baby Chidori into her arms and marveled at their creation. She is beautiful, thought Aya.
Tôya thought he'd never seen Aya look as radiant as she did at this moment, despite the fact that she was drenched in sweat. The happiness in here eyes...it was all worth it to see her finally experience the joys of transcendent bliss. He felt contented and complete somehow...I will die in peace now, he thought.