I love you. You are... [ No, no, they're being honest now. She glances down, not really making eye contact with Sayaka before inhaling, exhaling... ] precious to me. You're not some unchanging doll, I know that, so it is not as if I wish that on you. But that which you are - that is the girl I agreed to be a mother for.

... And so it follows, that girl is not "bad" and is not "evil" or whatever else that follows those conclusions. More to the point, I won't tolerate any more talk of deserving. What does that even mean? Cosmic balance doesn't matter what lick to me, the gods can call drop dead before their judgements. All that matters is what is. And what is, is... my.

... A daughter I never had, by blood.