MakoKato

MakoKato is the het ship between Makoto Harada and Saburo Kato from the Space Battleship Yamato fandom.

2199
In 2199 Makoto and Kato meet shortly before the Yamato launches for Iscandar. Kato is in the medical wing after beating up Kodai and Shima. Makoto wraps his hand in bandages and tells him hes all better now, in the manga she tells him "No no no! Your hands are not for punching!" And then he asks what they're for, and she tells him teacups and chopsticks, of course! Another scene in the Manga has Kato saying he doesn't want to take off his bandage because Makoto took care of him and he doesn't want to insult her. Shinohara laughs and says to give it up, because girls never go for him.

Then on the Yamato after Makoto was down on Enceladus with Kodai and Yuki, in a tight situation with some Gamiloids, a cosmo zero comes down to save them. Akira Yamamoto. She stole the ship and flew down. Kato wasn't happy about this, and punched his fist into a locker this time, so Makoto has to bandage his hand up again. When he leaves, she runs after him and tells him to thank whatever pilot saved them on Enceladus. She smiles and blushes.

In the party episode, when they leave the Solar System, Makoto is pranked by Ota into wearing a maid costume, he tells her its tradition to dress up at a line crossing ceremony. Makoto is angry while other laugh, Ota tiptoes out before she can catch him. Kato walks up in the religious robe used by the monks in his family. Although he has left the monastery to join the military, he still observes the tradition and wears the attire to this kind of ceremony, he tells her to relax, and that the outfit looks good on her. She smiles, blushes, and thanks him. She ends up getting VERY drunk and at the end of the episode shes seen hanging up the dress and then happily twirling around, either drunk or...in love?

In the cafeteria, Makoto tells Kato about how sick the captain is, but then stops herself and tells him its confidential and must be their secret, calling him a nickname "Sabu." Kato says that he knows that, then Akira comes up behind him along with Melda and Yurisha; "You can't tell, Sabu!" She says, mocking Makoto's nickname. And then says the secret is safe with her and salutes. Kato says to not get the wrong idea and Makoto looks at him "Hm?! Would it be wrong?" And Kato's just all over the place and embarrassed. Akira comments on the nickname again while sitting down to eat. "She called him Sabu." And then Yurisha asks "Do you not have one then? A person who you love?"

In later episodes, Makoto finds out she is pregnant with Kato's child, which she tells him in a conversation during Yuria Misaki's final radio broadcast, although Yuria is talking, and music is playing, we still know what Makoto and Kato are talking about. Kato shouts something angrily but stops himself, blushes and looks away. Makoto, surprised by his reaction blushes and looks down.

Kodai convinces old fashioned Kato to have a big wedding party, to keep people staying positive on the journey home. Makoto tries on different wedding dresses. Kato wonders if it’s okay to do it, which Makoto mistakenly believes to be a remark about her dress, asking if it doesn’t look good on her. He corrects her, saying that what he meant was if it’s okay for them to be the only ones doing something like having a big party and if they're rubbing it in others faces. Makoto realizes he’s referring to Kodai. Kato says Kodai is forcing himself to act cheerful but in reality he’s falling apart. We see Kodai walking the halls, smiling at passing crew members. Jumping from behind the curtain, Makoto says it doesn’t matter, and they should go ahead with it, in order to share their happiness with him. Kato is left speechless, looking at his beautiful bride. She says that they're staying positive, for Earth, she holds her womb, and for thei little one too. Confirming that she is pregnant and that's what they were talking about last episode. Also, the wedding was most likly a last minute desision beacuse of Makoto's pregnancy. Kato smiles, nods and says she’s right. Makoto tells him to pick which one of the dresses is best. Kato says he wants traditional Japanese kimonos, only to have the idea immediately shot down by her. The scene is observed from next door by Doctor Sado, who comments that new life is born as the old passes away. Analyzer fills his cup of sake and asks who he’s talking about.

Makoto is in the Automatic Pilot Room, checking the instruments and Yuki’s condition. She talks about her upcoming marriage to Kato and how Kodai told them they had to have a party. She laughs as she recalls how mortified Kato was about the idea, but that he ended up agreeing. Inside the capsule, Yuki seems to react to the news as a small twitch in her hand gives way to something else. Makoto says that men are so cute, looking at Yuki. She is shocked when she sees Yuki looking back at her. Kodai is called in and Yuki is dead, Makoto cries and tells him that Yuki wanted to see him. Kodai asks one thing of them, not to tell anyone else on the Yamato. He wants everyone to stay positive.

Later, Kodai holds his glass up high as streamers and confetti fly through the air. He lowers it as he looks at the stage in one of the observation domes, where the crew applauds the newlywed couple. Kodai climbs to the stage to congratulate Makoto and Kato. Kato says that Mori will be fine. Makoto, fully aware of her husbands verbal misstep, grabs him and stops him from going any farther. Poor unknowing Kato, unaware of how deep his foot has gone into his mouth, is puzzled. Without giving anything away and still smiling, Kodai tells Kato to make Makoto happy.

At the end of the season, as all the crew see Earth that will be soon saved, all the couples stand together. Kodai and Yuki, Yuria and Hoshina, and of course, Makoto and Kato. Makoto with her head on his chest blushing.

2202
In 2202, Makoto and Kato have their child, Tsubasa Kato who is now 2 and a half years old. It's not all nice happy family for them though, Tsubasa is deathly ill, with planetary bomb syndrome. Kato needs to take time off of work to be there for Tsubasa, no piloting for him lately. Just imagine being in Makoto’s position here. Having to deal with potentially losing her son every day, the guilt of keeping her husband away from work, and the strain of putting on a happy face. Tsubasa is playing with his toy ships, Makoto laughing along with him, but she stops and looks over to see Kato looking upset. Breaking the news of Yamato’s rebellion, Makoto tries to comfort Kato. Visibly frustrated, he has received a subpoena from the Bureau of Defense to testify. But what really troubles him is the feeling of being left out of the crew’s decision, as if abandoned on the Moon. Kato is definitely struggling, torn between his responsibilities as a father and his duty to Yamato. Hes angered they didn't tell him that Yamato was launching. She punches his fists against the wall and Makoto hugs him from behind.

Tsubasa is sweating in his sleep and his breathing is labored. His parents watch over him while Makoto provides her opinion on Yamato’s reason for launching again. She states that the hand of salvation, which Iscandar selflessly reached out to Earth, is a debt that needs to be repaid through helping the one behind the voice from space. “It’s our turn,” she states. What mattered most during the last war wasn’t to win, but that they were granted the strength and choice to fight in order to pursue their goal of survival. Her tears well up as she starts losing her voice, and she pleads with Kato to join Yamato’s crew in their rebellion. For her sake and for Tsubasa’s sake. “Go be a cool dad.” Makoto’s suffering too, not because she wants to keep Kato with her, but because she knows that he wants to do the right thing, to help those in need. That’s the kind of man she fell in love with, and her love is on full display. To keep him here would be to destroy her husband’s spirit. Makoto’s smile breaks through her sad expression as she embraces him, knowing full well that she might never see him again when she lets him go.

Throughout the season, there are scenes of Makoto back at the planet bomb syndrome treatment center on the Moon with Tsubasa, as one of those tragedies caused by love starts to bloom. Having been taken to the highest peak at the center, Tsubasa is suffering. His mother Makoto gently holds his tiny hand, telling him his Dad’s coming home soon. Tsubasa’s struggling to the point where he’s unresponsive. With tears in her eyes, Makoto tells him to make his dad carry him on his shoulders when he gets home. He’ll say “Boy, you’ve gotten so big! Surprise him,” she says, before bursting into tears. It cuts to a scene of Kato punching a punching bag, before stopping and falling to the ground. Asking to please let Tsubasa live, hes only 2 years old.

Kato finds a message, ''“There is a way to save your son. Contact Toko Katsuragi for details.”''

Dr. Sado is analyzing a capsule brought to him by Kato to determine its effectiveness against Planet Bomb Syndrome. Sado is amazed and tries to ask Kato where he acquired the pill, but Kato is frantic and violent, grabbing at the doctor and demanding that he confirm the drug’s efficacy. Sado explains that his test was not as complex as it would be on a human being, but he believes that it will indeed work. Kato is calmed by the notion that his son will get better, but after repeating that to himself anxiety spreads across his face, making Sado suspicious. Kato asks him if the capsule can be mass produced. Unfortunately, the doctor is unable to replicate the formula. Sado asks him once again where he got the capsule, but Kato flees the medical bay with no time to answer.

As the pipe organ drones on, a downcast Kato trudges through Yamato’s corridors, deep in thought about the secret decision Toko has forced upon him. “Tsubasa,” he says to himself. There is a haunted look on his face and Keyman’s anti-Wave-Motion lattice device is in his hand. Kato’s forced to wait for the opportune moment to activate the anti-Wave-Motion lattice, no other choice presenting itself to him as a father.

Alone in a corridor, a deeply troubled Kato holds the anti-Wave-Motion lattice device in a trembling hand as he thinks back to the birth of his son. The words of his wife Makoto come back to him. “When Tsubasa was born, I think I understood for the first time why I was born. This world really is full of suffering.” Tears stream down Kato’s cheeks as Yamato stands face to face with the White Comet, the TWMG charging up. “But this child was born. I’m sure it doesn’t matter what the reason is. I mean, it makes me happy. Happy I met you, and happy we had this child. We don’t need a reason for being happy.” “I’m sorry,” Kato sobs as Yamato prepares to fire. “Daddy’s… going to hell.” A minute turn of his finger activates the device and Yamato’s Wave-Motion Engine grinds to a halt amid a flurry of pink light. The energy build-up vanishes as Yamato loses all propulsion and goes spinning down into the void. “Wave-Motion Engine has gone silent!” Tokugawa yells out. Sanada is stunned. “It can’t be! The Anti-Wave Motion Lattice is out of control?!”

On board Ginga, Kato wakes up and overhears the Cosmo Marines discussing how Saito, Nagakura, Kodai, Yuki and “the Gami” (referring to Klaus) never managed to evacuate. When the horror of his actions dawns on Kato, his face twists into an anguished cry as he reaches for his sidearm in an attempt to take his own life, but he is stopped by Masaru Kurata of the Space Cavalry. “What the hell are you doing?!” he yells at him. Kato then begs over and over to be allowed to die.

Later, Megumi explains that unmanned fighters will be launched, each one carrying a large amount of mass-produced miniaturized Wave-Motion Core bombs. They will be scattered throughout the enemy fleet, and Ginga’s Cosmo Reverse will amplify their resonance to cause a meltdown. Sanada realises what this means; “The interference waves will render the Gatlantis fleet inoperable…” As Sanada points out, however, even Ginga’s cutting edge AI cannot possibly get the Black Birds to breach the center of the Gatlantis fleet. They will have to be led by a highly capable human pilot. “Correct,” Megumi answers. “A skilled pilot volunteered to lead the way.” “Don’t tell me, it’s Kato…?!” Shima says. “It’s suicide,” Kiryu adds. “He’ll be attacked from all directions once he leaves the warp interference area!” Which is why Kato has volunteered for this mission.

Kato is flying in his fighter, "Please, why won't you let me die!!!"

Makoto and Tsubasa have to end up evacuating the moon because of the war.

Episode 25, Kato flies in his fighter with a photo of Makoto and Tsubasa next to him, looking at it. He has a speech, he couldn't die this time, like in the original 70s series could he..?

"I refuse to run anymore, right now I want to live so bad it might just kill me. I want to see Makoto's face...see Tsubasa healthy, to carry him on my shoulders! I want to do everything for them. All that I couldn't do before, I will make it back alive! I swear it!"

He finally wanted to live, he had something to live for. After episodes of saying he wanted to die, but no, now he wanted to live, more than anything. But not even a second after finishing his sentence a disturbing amount of blood splatters across the console, totally obscuring the photo. Kato, seemingly uninjured, glances up at the hole in his cockpit, then down at his off-screen injury. His eyes begin to water, his expression going cold. "So that's it huh...pathetic." He says with tearful eyes. Then says hes not dead yet and will fight till the very end. In an evacuation ship on its way back to Earth from the Moon, Makoto sits with her son resting in her lap. “Did you know, Tsubasa? Your dad’s a real life hero.” The boy smiles in his sleep as she strokes his cheek. She looks up from him, to the sky, (but really the ceiling of the ship.)

In the end, Kato is dead.

Its now once again Captain Okita's memorial day, at that same mamorial are also the names of everyone who died in the war with Gatlantis. Its zooms in to Makoto with a sad look on her face as Kato's name scrolls by, then to Tsubasa tolding tightly to his mother, also with a sad face.

2205
Kato is dead, but his memory still lives on. As the Yamato takes off once more, Makoto and 5 year old healthy Tsubasa watch it from the grass.

"Look, Tsubasa...Yamato, dad's ship is leaving."

It is also confirmed that Makoto never misses a memorial service at hero's hill on the anniversary of Kato's death.

Fanon
The fandom was saddened by Kato's death. It was written extremely well. Although some fans may not agree. Some people think that he shouldn't have done what he did to save his son. As for Makoto, many people in the fandom feel sad for her, espescially after it was confirmed she goes to Hero's Hill on every anniversary of Kato's death.

Fandom
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