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Some humans are weak, some others are broken. Sometimes humans are broken because they are weak, or they can also be weak due to breaking. Others have both things happening to them; a chicken or the egg game of suffering.
Fuuta thought there was nothing about it that could be done. Society was fucked, everyone was dumb, and he was, in all honestly, a coward (though he would not dare say it out loud).
All this negativity burning inside him, all the sins he committed to belong in between the flames, it was irrational.
And it was now gone.
Someone had shown him another way.
A future he could reach, the feeling of him finally being saved.
All humans are weak, broken, or both. All of them but one.
And Fuuta would be there at her side to see that New World Order form, finally reborn into something he could be proud of. Become that hero he always dreamt of being.
—
“Ah, there.” The little girl looked like she was doodling something. “Look.”
Fuuta got closer, then kneeled to see the drawing.
It was a simple doodle of him and the kid, featuring new clothes to showcase their mission to spread God’s message.
It was also kind of messy.
“Which one is me?” Fuuta asked.
The girl pointed towards the taller one wearing some kind of… eyepatch fabric over its head. “This one. See, I gave you something to cover your eye.”
Fuuta messed with his hair, effectively covering his damaged eye. “Right. Thanks.”
“You are welcome. Now… I think we just have to take it to the rabbit.”
“Do you think it will work?” Fuuta asked. “I mean, I know this prison is weird, but how will they actually make these clothes?”
“Good question.” She admitted. “I think if the rabbit was okay with bringing those devilish devices for Shidou Kirisaki, then asking for some… clothing manufacturing won’t be an issue.”
The little girl stood up and looked at her surroundings, until finally landing her eyes on him.
“Kajiyama Fuuta.” She gently demanded. “Please, take these to the rabbit.”
“Eh? Weren’t we both going to do that?” He said, mildly annoyed.
“Take it as a test.” She bowed and began to leave Fuuta’s prison cell.
“Tsk. What…” Fuuta started to complain before pausing. “Eh? Where are you going?”
The girl stopped her step. Without looking at him, she responded.
“I… I have something I need to do.”
Fuuta knew he wouldn’t get anything more out of her, so he didn’t press the topic further.
As she left, though, he felt a bit worried about her. She was his savior, but she was also twelve. Even if Kotoko was muzzled up, there was still danger in a literal prison center, no matter how lax its rules were.
He felt the temptation to go look for her, but he’d only get scolded if he did.
How much longer until they left that hellhole and could continue their mission?
—
Amane was praying. This wasn’t uncommon for her to do, but she preferred this particular prayer to be private in her cell.
After all, what kind of leader was she if she showed her worries to her disciple? It would be irresponsible, she convinced herself, so she didn’t.
“Dear God...” She began.
“Please let Fuuta Kajiyama live.”
“No matter what happens, what lies at the end of this dark path… let him live, to not only carry on Your message, but also to be reborn into that New World we both desire.”
“Please,” She repeated. “Let Fuuta Kajiyama live.”
—
Fuuta was alive.
He was pretty sure of it, at least. He was still alive.
His trial had been over for a bit, but the voices he consistently made an effort to ignore were still fighting in his head. Some excused his sins, others aggressively did not.
The verdict for him would be revealed in the next hour or so. Maybe even less. He was nervous, but tried to keep his mind occupied. This led to him playing with the little fabric piece that covered his eye for a couple of minutes while he waited for the results.
For some reason, his savior was nowhere to be seen.
—
Amane was, once again, praying.
Fuuta Kajiyama wasn’t the only one who heard unwanted voices everywhere.
And hers, if right, weren’t exactly optimistic about her disciple’s final verdict. Voices that blamed her for his current personality and beliefs, that made her question if she had even helped save him at all.
She kept praying.
“Please, let Fuuta Kajiyama live.”
“Please. Don’t let my actions be Fuuta Kajiyama’s demise.”
—
Fuuta was getting more and more anxious by the second. The piece of fabric that had been covering his eye had fallen to the floor because of him relentlessly walking in circles.
If he wasn’t sure about his verdict before, now the image was clearer.
And that person was still nowhere to be seen.
Had she realized he was a lost cause, a sinner at heart?
Broken?
Weak?
A coward?
“Kajiyama Fuuta!”
His savior was at his prison cell’s door, though he wasn’t able to catch her expression. He still noticed a hint of desperation in her voice.
Before he could speak, he felt a wave of panic hit him. Voices flooded his head left and right, all accusatory and cruel.
That negativity burning inside him, the flames around him were spreading.
“Kajiyama Fuuta!” his savior brought him back to reality. “We need to have faith that everything will be as God intended, right?” The desperation in her tone was louder than before. “Right? We can’t stop here, right?”
“I…” Fuuta knew the clock was ticking towards a verdict, inching closer and closer towards freedom or death.
Fuuta couldn’t see his surroundings clearly anymore, but he could hear her voice. “Please… live…!”
He knew he wouldn’t live at that point.
His cell burning weren’t only hallucinations anymore, but real fire.
“I…” He tried speaking, but he coughed instead. There was a whole lot of smoke, he realized.
The cell was in flames, the walls of fire closing him off from the rest of the prison. He saw a lot of known faces who were probably alarmed by the sudden fire, confusion and terror in their eyes.
Mikoto was freaking out at his cell’s door. Muu, not too far away from his cell, crying in despair. Kotoko’s eyes were twitching as she looked in horror from the other side of the prison.
In front of them were Kazui and Yuno, the latter trying to help the first one hold a little girl.
His savior.
Amane Momose.
“LET ME GO!” Amane screamed, trying to break free of Kazui’s and Yuno’s arms.
“Amane, dying is not worth it!” Kazui retorted.
“Calm down, Amane! Please!” Yuno asked, slowly failing to maintain her usual composure.
“LET ME…” Amane’s voice faded away as Fuuta’s coughing, the roaring of the flames, and his own thoughts became louder.
All but the voices were present in his final moments.
As he saw the flames close in and multiply around him, he could only say one thing for sure.
All humans are weak, broken, or both. All of them but one.
“Thank… you, Amane…” He said, and began to rest in blissful silence.
—
Amane was sitting in between the ashes.
In the end, she wasn’t able to save him.
Everyone had left now, per her requests. She wanted to be alone, despite Yuno and Kazui’s particular insistence.
Some humans are weak, some others are broken. Some, like Fuuta, were cowards who truly wanted to change.
She could do nothing else but pray.
“Dear God. If you hear any of my requests, let it be this one.”
“Please, let Fuuta Kajiyama rest in peace.”