"then what was it?" suguru says. "what was it that was so bad that truly convinced you i was evil. if it wasn't the mass murder, or the extortion, or the terrorism."
"your girls," satoru says.
geto jerks, staring at satoru like he's suddenly a stranger. he runs a hand through his hair and pulls on the roots so hard it hurts.
"...excuse me? satoru, you- you can't be serious. them? satoru, out of everything, you have to at least see that they were the best thing i ever did. i- you, of all people, have to understand that."
satoru still won't fucking look at him. he just exhales slowly through his nose, like he's trying to keep himself calm. like you have any right to be angry here, suguru thinks.
satoru's head shakes. he doesn't look up.
"you were a cult leader, suguru. do you really think you didn't indoctrinate your kids?"
"indoctrinate?" suguru feels like he's going to chip a tooth with how hard he's biting down. "satoru, i saved them."
satoru straightens, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, and turns to leave. not once in their entire conversation did he even glance at suguru.
"yeah, well."
the light from the window turns his hair into spun glass. turned away like this, suguru can't see his expression.
"out of the frying pan, into the fire."
the door softly clicks closed behind him.
