After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back-Chapter 161 - 160: No One Can Save Others, One Can Only Save Oneself

Salvation.

It used to be Kagura Hikaru’s most detested word.

He once came across a passage in a certain light novel, a character’s catchphrase.

"People cannot save others, they can only save themselves."

Helping others.

It sounds good, but in the end, it’s a form of interference.

Whether the outcome of interference is good or bad, the one who interferes cannot take responsibility for it; only the person being helped must bear the consequences.

It’s their life, after all, and what it turns out to be should be for them to decide.

It’s okay to scream for help and let others step in; after all, humans aren’t creatures meant to live alone in this world.

We are social animals; from the moment we are born until we fully mature, we are vulnerable and need others’ protection, which is so-called interference.

When one reaches the age where they can decide their own fate, this privilege disappears.

From child to adult.

From being saved to saving oneself.

"People cannot save others, they can only save themselves."

In a sense, that’s only something adults should heed. Children can’t save themselves; they need someone else to lend a hand.

High school students, in the eyes of the law, aren’t really considered children anymore.

Seventeen-year-olds in their second year of high school are even at the age when they can marry.

Next year, as they enter their third year and turn eighteen, they will officially step into the adult world. They are no different from those working in companies or factories, part of the working society.

High schoolers of this age already have their own judgment.

The universities they want to attend, the careers they hope to pursue, their hobbies—most have some vague ideas or may even have already started taking action.

Such individuals cannot be called children.

If outsiders attempt to interfere with them, they’ll be met with severe judgment, fierce resistance, spit upon, and despised.

The more mature someone is, the more freedom they crave, the right to make their own decisions.

But still.

Even so, Kagura Hikaru wanted to interfere in the life of Kiryu Hina.

People cannot save others, they can only save themselves.

It’s correct, and perhaps in the end, without anyone’s help, Kiryu Hina can attain salvation on her own. She has that ability, and Kagura Hikaru believes this.

One day, she might become aware of the issue, consult a hospital, accept a professional treatment plan, and ultimately recover, returning to society.

But if one just blindly trusts and lets things be, wouldn’t that be negligent?

What if she doesn’t become aware?

What if her self-rescue efforts fail, and she messes up her life, destroying what could have been a fulfilling existence? Would a future Kagura Hikaru, looking back, regret not reaching out to the extent of wanting to kill his current self?

What if...

People cannot save others, they can only save themselves.

Because they cannot bear the responsibility, cannot shoulder the burden of someone else’s life, thus, they have no choice but to bother themselves with self-saving.

Kagura Hikaru, fully aware of this yet still desiring to extend a hand, is no hero.

If there is someone who can be a hero here, it would only be Kohinata Motoyo who, after hearing his words, didn’t express scorn or contempt but instead shared her opinion candidly.

"I understand, I’ll do my part," Kohinata Motoyo said, patting her chest, "Hina’s troubles are my troubles...even though she’d probably prefer I didn’t help."

After speaking, she gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

From her, Kagura Hikaru sensed the scent of truth. Just as before, she wasn’t lying; her offer to help Hina was indeed sincere.

Ever since he gained the ability to distinguish truth from lies through scent, he found himself uncontrollably gathering information from everyone around him.

Some were lying, others were telling the truth; sometimes, both could exist at the same time...

These scents weren’t real in the physical sense and normally wouldn’t affect his actual sense of smell.

But it was different with Kiryu Hina and Kohinata Motoyo.

Whenever he encountered them, he could only detect a singular scent.

From Hina came the smell of lies.

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From Motoyo, the smell of truth.

Although they seemed similar on the surface, their approach to life was starkly different.

Motoyo hardly ever lied, especially when she was with him; her words and actions could be described as cohesive, never hiding anything from Kagura Hikaru, for better or for worse.

Hina, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

Each time he saw her, the scent of lies on her was so strong that he couldn’t perceive anything else.

Every word and action, devoid of her own thoughts, as if she were a puppet—no, worse than a puppet—like someone acting against their own feelings under the lucidity of hypnosis.

Seeing her like that always made Kagura Hikaru feel very afraid. Explore stories on novelbuddy.com

He couldn’t imagine what it was like to live every day drowned in lies.

Yet, Hina had persevered for over a year.

Ordinary compulsions wouldn’t go to such lengths; at most, they’d manifest as uncontrollable frequent hand-washing or constantly straightening items on a table.

But Hina had changed everything about herself from top to bottom.

Such willpower and persistence could only be described as pathological.

"Thank you, that’s a huge help," Kagura Hikaru said. "You don’t need to do anything special, just continue as you are now and help Ayakoji Chiyoko win the Student Council election."

"Why is this, does the Student Council President position have anything to do with Hina’s condition?"

"Hmm, it’s a bit complicated, but to put it simply, it’s a necessary step to let her better expose her true self. Sorry to trouble you."

"No problem at all, I’m doing it for Hina. I can understand your feelings, Kagura," Kohinata Motoyo shook her head, "We’ve both done too much to Hina and want to find ways to make amends."

"That’s a debt we can never fully repay."

"No, it can be repaid. There’s no debt in this world that can’t be settled, it just depends on how high a price you’re willing to pay," Kohinata Motoyo took his hand, fingers interlocking, "If, and I mean if, Hina really forgives us, then invite her to be a bridesmaid at our future wedding ceremony."

Marrying the person you love most, with your best friend by your side, bounding into matrimony amidst everyone’s blessings, was Kohinata Motoyo’s idea of a perfect wedding.

Unfortunately, such a thing was impossible.

Kagura Hikaru placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her slightly away: "Thank you, Motoyo, I’m very happy you think that way."

Her expression turned to ecstatic joy: "Kagura, does this mean you’re willing to..."

"I’m sorry, it’s probably not what you think."

"? What is it then..."

"I’m really happy you’re willing to help Hina, but we can’t continue this way."

Kagura Hikaru sighed and said to her, "I’m sorry, Motoyo, we should break up."