Consequences of Desire

Rin's voice barely rose above a whisper as she spoke, her words laced with a mix of shame and longing. "I don't think I can…do that," she said, not looking at Saki. Her eyes remained fixed on the floor, as if unable to bear the weight of Saki's gaze. Saki's expression remained unreadable, but a hint of disappointment crept into her voice. "You can't take responsibility for your actions, Rin? You can't help me take care of Nozomi and make sure something like this never happens again?" Rin shook her head, her ponytail bobbing slightly as she spoke. "I…like doing it like that…I'm sorry," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. It was as if she had been holding them inside for too long, and they had finally burst free. The air in the room seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken emotions. Saki's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she looked at Rin. "You like doing it like that?" she repeated, her voice low and even. "You mean, you like hurting people? You like causing pain and chaos?" Rin winced, as if Saki's words had struck a chord deep within her. She looked up, her eyes meeting Saki's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Rin's eyes were filled with a mix of shame and longing, while Saki's gaze was cold and detached. "I don't know," Rin said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just…I like it, okay? I'm sorry." Saki's expression softened slightly, and she leaned back in her chair. "I'm not sure I'm ready to forgive you, Rin," she said. "But I do want to understand you. Can you tell me why you like it? Why you feel the need to hurt people?" Rin hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She had never really thought about it before, had never really tried to understand her own desires. But as she looked at Saki, she felt a sense of determination. She would try to explain, try to make Saki understand. "I don't know," she said finally. "It just…feels right, I guess. It feels like what I'm supposed to be doing." Saki's gaze was piercing. "I see," she said. "Well, Rin, I think we have a lot to talk about. And I think we need to start with your feelings, and why you feel the need to hurt people." As Saki spoke, Rin felt a sense of trepidation. She was about to embark on a journey of self-discovery, one that would force her to confront her deepest desires and darkest fears. And she wasn't sure if she was ready.