[He sees that reaction coming a mile off. Sousuke really doesn't want to submit to that label, but it's staring him--and every other shinki--in the face no matter what they say.]

Most gods say they don't view shinki that way. I want to believe them.

["Want" being the operative term there, but it's clear that at the moment, Sousuke doesn't believe them. His experience has colored that darkly.]

Unless something changes, we are whatever the gods want us to be.