Chapter Text
Belphegor glares daggers at her, a manically desperate glaze in his eyes. It's the most animated she's ever seen him.
"Why are you hesitating?! You hate me, don't you?! Vote me! What the hell are you waiting for?!"
Saruwatari is trembling, hands barely holding onto the voting tablet.
...isn't this unfair?
Why is it up to her? Why does it have to be up to her?
She doesn't want to choose. She can't choose.
She can't have someone's blood on her hands again.
She can't do this. She can't– she can't ch–
"Saruwatari." A calm voice brings her back down to earth, sudden, but not unwelcome.
She turns to see it was Satan, a gentle, almost soft look in his eyes before it was replaced with something firm. Resolute.
"Whatever you choose, we'll stand by it. There's a reason we left this up to you."
Saruwatari's eyes widen. Swallowing, she looks at everyone, one by one, all of them staring at her in turn with varying levels of panic, fear, sadness... and guilt.
This was all up to her now. They trusted her enough to leave it to her. All of them trusted Saruwatari to make the right decision.
Red eyes meet purple, and it's the saddest she's ever seen it.
Kasai's gaze is desperate, even pleading, but he's silent. He's trusting her to make the right decision.
Something burns inside of Saruwatari. The grief and pain and the whirlwind of emotions inside of her steel into something stronger. The will to choose.
Slowly, she turns to face Belphegor, who'd been pulling at his hair in anxiety and anticipation of her decision.
She smiles, gentle, kind... apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Belphegor."
Her finger touches orange on the voting tablet.
Violet eyes widen, he shakes his head.
Beelzebub stares at her, stunned, before turning to look at his twin.
"D... does that mean, you're safe, Belphie?"
Belphegor heaves, tears welling up in his eyes.
This can't be happening. This can't be. This has to be a joke. A hoax. She can't have–
Belphegor turns to look at her, rage swirling in his eyes.
"Why would you do that?" He asks lowly.
Saruwatari's eyes are firm now, but he can see the storm of despair behind it.
"I'm sorry." Was all she replied with.