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Amane Momose has been hearing tiny footsteps trailing behind her for, what, fifteen minutes now? She sighs to herself as she walks down the corridor, every movement being echoed hollowly by the cold floor. She knows exactly who the footsteps belong to, there’s only one prisoner who’s young enough to have those light and quick steps.
Mukuhara Kazui has been following her around for a while now, she’s noticed. But every time she spots him, he gets all skittish and either apologises and says it was nothing or just runs away.
How very odd.
She sighs as she pauses her trek and runs a hand through her green hair. Perhaps she should cut it shorter. It would probably be easier to maintain in a place like this (and remind her less of a certain sinner).
The footsteps behind her cease as well, and Amane decides to finally say something. “Do you need something, Mukuhara?” She sighs as she turns around to face him.
Mukuhara Kazui is a very strange prisoner. He’s the youngest of all the prisoners, being only twelve, and while Amane’s first ever thought upon seeing him was “How can someone this young be deemed a murderer?” she quickly remembered the lack of faith she had at his age, and how often she would break the rules. (And for what? Measly entertainment? A beating from mother and father?) It’s something she has to constantly remind herself, that anyone at any age could commit a violation of principles.
Another thing she has noticed about Mukuhara Kazui is that he seems to be hiding…something. The problem is, she can’t exactly figure out what. She’s noticed, during conversations with other prisoners, sometimes Mukuhara will go on an excited ramble about a friend he has named ‘Ryousuke’. Then, after speaking for a while, he’ll catch himself, and look almost worried or embarrassed, and sheepishly apologise and drop the conversation.
The small boy in front of her blinks, then flashes a wobbly smile as he tugs his arms close to his chest. “A-ah, Miss-” He furrows his brows as he clears his throat. “Miss Momose. Hi.”
Amane tilts her head to the side as he continues to stare. Is he going to say anything, or just stand there? Perhaps she should start the conversation. Maybe that will make him less…nervous around her. Amane doesn’t try to seem like a scary person, but perhaps with her being the oldest prisoner at thirty-nine, she comes off as intimidating. “Your interrogation with the Warden is next, right?” She asks him.
Mukuhara blinks and nods, and Amane notices as he shifts his arms so his hands are clasped together in front of him. He’s trying to look…respectful, maybe? What a strange boy.
“Yeah…” Mukuhara’s eyes dart around for a moment. “I’m a bit scared-” He catches himself. “But! I talked to Miss Shiina after hers was finished, and she said there was nothing to be worried about, so I’m sure it’s fine.” He takes a deep breath in after he’s finished.
“It’s perfectly fine to be nervous, Mukuhara.” Amane lets out a small laugh. “I’m honestly a bit uneasy myself.” Which is ridiculous, because she has nothing to be afraid of. She’s not a sinner, and if the Warden’s judgement shines correct, she’ll be forgiven. Not that she mentions any of this, of course.
“A-ah, I guess, it’s just not…” He trails off. “O-oh! You can call me Kazui. It’s fine!” He flashes a wobbly smile. Why is this boy so nervous? Is he just always like that?
Still, Amane nods. “If you insist, Kazui.”
Silence envelops them both. Kazui still looks nervous, and he isn’t saying anything, so Amane doesn’t really know what to think.
…
After a few more seconds of awkward silence, she sighs, and is about to turn around and either go back to her cell or walk to the cafeteria when-
“Miss Momose?” Kazui asks, voice quiet. “Could I ask something?” He stares up at her, and she tilts her head. So he did want to talk to her. Maybe this is what he was following her around for.
She hums, signalling for him to continue. Kazui takes a deep breath and shifts his eyes to the floor. “You know- your, uh, religion, right?” Amane nods in response. Where is this going? Perhaps he’s interested in her beliefs. She’s more than happy to educate someone willing to walk the path.
“What are its views on-” He coughs. “-love?” His face is slightly pink, and he is still staring at the floor.
Amane blinks, and furrows her brow. “Love?” ...That’s very vague, isn’t it? “What, specifically, about love?” Kazui could be referring to a number of things. She has no idea what’s going in that brain of his.
“Uhm!” Kazui’s face heats up even more. “As in…like, who can get married, and stuff, and what genders can…” he trails off, and seemingly stiffens as he wraps his arms tightly around each other.
…
Hm. Amane considers him for a moment. This is definitely causing Kazui some distress, but she’s unsure why he would ask her. They don’t speak much at all, let alone about something as serious as this.
How should she word this?
“...When it comes to relationships,” she starts. “Our faith believes there should be no discrimination between genders.” Kazui looks up at that, eyes flickering in the general area of Amane’s face, still visibly nervous. She continues. “A woman can love a man, a woman can love a woman, a man can love a man. There are factors to consider, of course, such as if a same-sex couple will be happy without biological children, but those are all down to personal preferences and vary for each person. We believe love itself is a thing to be celebrated, not frowned upon.”
“...Oh,” Kazui squeaks out. “So- it’s like, uhm-” he stutters alot, doesn’t he? “Like ‘love is love’?”
Amane blinks. “...Sure. ‘Love is love’.” She runs a hand through her hair. “What’s the reason for asking all of this?” Although, she does have a pretty good idea by now. He wouldn’t be so nervous if he was asking on behalf of someone else. She’d certainly met kids of rather ’old-fashioned’ parents when she was in school. Nobody in her religion, of course. From a young age, everyone is taught to be open-minded to the experiences of strangers, and to welcome people into the religion with wide arms.
“I was just, ah-” Kazui stutters, and Amane sighs to herself once again.
“Don’t worry about it.” She offers him a half-smile. “If you are interested in any more of our teachings, you can come talk to me.”
Kazui returns the smile nervously, and nods. “I’ll…keep that in mind.” Then, he blinks, and “Okay wow look at the time I’m going to go now byemissmomose!” And runs away faster than Amane can even say ‘goodbye’.
She blinks a few times. What a strange conversation that was. Still, maybe Kazui is interested in her beliefs. Maybe she can offer salvation to him, and help him with…whatever is going on in his head. Guilt from his murder, internalised homophobia, who knows.
But, there will be time for that on another day. For now, she begins walking back to her cell, thinking silently.