"Well, you can't have all of it!" The reply came back quicler and sharper than Kio had intended. He liked being able to talk to Sou-chan again, that much was obvious. But he didn't like being told what to do. As far as he was concerned, the file was now his and until Soubi came clean, it would stay that way.

His friend's words hurt. But he'd caused the hurt himself. One huge never-ending circle of guilt and hurt. Soon they'd cut each other's arms, give themselves 'goffick' names and dye their hair black. He wondered how his nurse would take to it. "I can't believe in me right now. Those things, they're not quite lies. Sou-chan, I just want to go home." It sounded so whiny. So self-pitying. But if he couldn't be honest with himself, then what?

His wife. Heh. She was something special to him, that much was obvious. But just how special wasn't exactly clear, even to him. "Well, apparently we have a daughter together and I'm ignoring them to play to your delusions. It's all such a mess, Sou-chan. I wish they would have something more creative. I mean, apparently I strive to make people happy. Shouldn't I? Is it that wrong?" Kio knew he was lying between his teeth. But it was all he could do to stop himself from blurting out everything.