"I was just gonna ask him to pick Betray right from the start," said Heiji. "Figured he wouldn't trust me, and I didn't really trust him, either, after what he did to Clive and Hershel. Heck, that Clive's still steamed, and I can understand why. Wouldn't even explain why he overrode Hershel's vote like that, till Hershel went and begged him." Heiji shook his head.

"But Hershel wanted to go with Ally. Heck, he was promising all this stuff if I'd just agree with him this round. I don't really know how to explain this part, but..." He paused, trying to figure out how to articulate the decision. "He had his line of reasonin', and I had mine. To be honest, I think it really could've gone either way. But y'know when someone gets that look in their eye, like 'I really wanna do this, and I won't regret it no matter what happens'? That's the kind of look he had. Besides, I wanted to see where his deductions were going to lead."

He fell silent for a moment or two -- and then, apropos of nothing, he gave Ema a cheeky grin. "Y'know, you're pretty cute for an older lady."