At ten that night, only Sakayanagi, Hashimoto, Gu Heng, and Ayanokoji by the door remained in the rooftop conference room.
Sakayanagi did not ask Hashimoto to leave.
"I said this was a private inquiry. Hashimoto is responsible for keeping records."
Gu Heng glanced at the record sheet. "Then it isn't entirely private."
"You may refuse."
"What I agreed to was an inquiry with a witness."
Sakayanagi smiled and placed the first card on the table.
"Why didn't you list yourself as Class D's representative?"
"Because a representative can submit the results, but shouldn't automatically possess everyone's choices."
"Is that your principle, or are you afraid of being overturned by others?"
Gu Heng did not activate Weight Vision.
"Both."
Sakayanagi's fingers paused atop the card.
She clearly had not expected Gu Heng to admit his fear. A second weight briefly surfaced: verification, reassessment.
"You're afraid of becoming someone like Ayanokoji."
Ayanokoji, standing by the door, did not look up.
Gu Heng looked at him, certain Sakayanagi had not learned the source of those words from him.
"What I'm afraid of is everyone eventually getting used to letting me choose for them."
"What if they willingly hand their choices to you?"
"Then I need to make sure they know what they're giving up first."
Sakayanagi turned over the second card.
"Do you think Ayanokoji would hand his choices to someone else?"
"I don't know."
"Haven't you worked together many times?"
"Working together doesn't mean laying everything bare."
Ayanokoji finally spoke. "Does that answer help you?"
Sakayanagi looked at him. "What's interesting is that neither of you is willing to testify for the other."
Gu Heng did not respond.
Sakayanagi then produced Class A's observation records on Class D, listing several of Gu Heng's public proposals from the Uninhabited Island, the cruise ship,