if (predecessors != null) {
      checkState(predecessors.remove(node));
    }
    return node;
  }

  @Override
  public N removeOutEdge(E edge) {
    N node = super.removeOutEdge(edge);
    Multiset<N> successors = getReference(successorsReference);
    if (successors != null) {
      checkState(successors.remove(node));
    }
    return node;
  }