"You would really allow the victims to continue to suffer, knowing full well that it was your own company's negligence that led to the accidents?" Michiru's voice is ice and she stares at Haruka as though seeing the blonde woman for the first time.
"I'm sorry, Michiru. As bad as I feel about what happened, I can't sacrifice my company or throw any of my employees to the wolves."
"These victims were your customers, Haruka. They paid you. They trusted your product. And now they're dying because of it."
"Let's not exaggerate. Most of the accidents resulted in only minor injuries. The more seriously injured are all recovering, and believe it or not, Tenoh Motors is actually covering those health care costs, even though we don't accept responsibility for what happened."
"You can justify it in your mind all you want, Haruka," the aqua woman spits out, "but I was right about you from the start. You're nothing but a coward."
"You watch yourself," the blonde warns, menace in her voice. "It may have been a little funny when you insulted my integrity the first time, but there's nothing funny about it now."
Michiru lets out a derisive laugh. "I think the joke's on me, Haruka Tenoh. I let you charm me, touch me, fuck me, and for what? Just to have my gut instincts proven after all? What an expensive lesson."
Haruka mouth sets into a hard line and she looks as if she's about to explode when Michiru's phone rings, breaking the tension for a moment.
Glancing at her call display, Michiru frowns and then looks up in wry amusement. "I'm sorry, but I actually have to take this." Stepping into her kitchen, she answers the call. "Michael? What? Really. Oh my god. I'll...I'll be there as soon as I can."
"What's going on?", the blonde woman asks from behind Michiru, all trace of venom gone from her voice.
Michiru's eyes harden to keep herself from crying, and she tells Haruka the truth. "It's my father. He just passed away. I have to get back to New York as soon as I can."
"I'll take you," Haruka offers, stepping closer to the aqua woman.
"No, it's okay. It'll be easy enough to take a red eye. But...thank you."
Haruka steps even closer and takes Michiru's hand into her own. "No, I mean I'll take you there now. In my private jet."
Michiru lets out a small laugh. "Of course you have a private jet," she mutters, and allows herself to surrender into Haruka's warm embrace.