"Hmm—"
"I warned you from the start, Estrange, that what I was going to say would not be easy to swallow."
I swallowed slowly, but as Sasakawa predicted, the bullet did not pass; it remained stuck somewhere in between.
"I know, I know," I sighed. "It's my fault. I lowered my guard." I was shifting my feet and biting my lip. "How is this possible? I found his behavior strange after seeing him in Paris recently. And then, just when I thought he had left, he returned."
I gave him a black look.
"I told you that I don't know if he did it by instinct, one he didn't even know about for that matter. Anyway, I am sure that his vicinity disturbs you. Perhaps the feeling of friendship that binds you to him prevents you from seeing clearly. For you, he is just a friend, and as you usually are not wary of your friends, you've never suspected him. You're too confident! The mist comes from him and not Alma, I know. Well, not in the same way, I mean."