After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back-Chapter 204 - 203: The Distortion of the Perfect Person

"Do you know about the theory of original evil?"

"What?"

"It was proposed by the ancient thinker Xunzi from Huaxia to oppose Mencius’s ’theory of original goodness.’ Mencius believed that human nature is inherently good, while Xunzi held a different view. He thought humans had an animal nature, needing to be restrained after birth through education and other means. From the perspective of modern society, Xunzi’s theory is actually closer to reality."

"What’s the point of telling me this now?"

"Nothing in particular, just feeling a bit sentimental. In fact, I also agree with Xunzi’s point of view that humans have an animal nature, humans have desires, and desire is jealousy, which breeds greed, anger, envy, deception, betrayal—in other words, sin. I never thought I would also walk this path. Perhaps from the day I decided to betray a friend two years ago, I was no longer myself."

"..."

"Hey, let me ask you, if a guy is liked by three girls at the same time and owes something to each of them, do you think he would choose one of them as a girlfriend, take all of them into his harem, or choose none at all?"

"Huh?... I guess it depends on the person."

"Right, a rational person would choose the former, someone who can’t see reality would choose the middle, and a pessimist would choose the latter."

"What are you trying to say, can you get to the point already? My time isn’t as plentiful as yours, Motoyo Kohinata."

"Don’t be in such a hurry, Takeuchi Momo Department Head, there’s still half an hour before the play starts."

"... Just remember, Kohinata, the reason I’m following your direction like this is only because I owe President Kiryu a favor. Beyond that, we have no other friendly reasons."

"Eh, why so cautious, did Hina tell you something?"

"President Kiryu isn’t the type to bad-mouth others behind their backs!"

"Yeah, you’re right, my apologies for the slip of tongue."

"Good you understand... Anyway, can you get to the point now, I need to prepare soon too."

"President Takeuchi, I simply wanted to remind you—"

Backstage, Motoyo Kohinata leaned in close to her and whispered a warning, "After this play is over, it’ll be better for you to leave the Drama Club quickly. Chiyoko Ayakoji won’t let you off."

"Ha..... To be pushed to retire by a junior in my second year, how unjust."

"I’m saying this for your good, President Takeuchi. The new Student Council President is much more brutal than Hina, it’s just that she’s pretending to be nice right now."

"Speaking of pretending, you’re no different."

"Me?"

"Everyone thinks you’re the perfect goddess, including those blind fools in the club, a bunch of idiots."

"You didn’t seem to like me much from the first moment you saw me, President Takeuchi, why is that?"

"It’s not about liking or disliking. It’s just that, compared to someone like President Kiryu who’s trying to control themselves, you seem to be naturally like this, and it terrifies me."

"?"

"People like you, who seem naturally pure, would do something truly twisted once they fall, and I can’t even begin to imagine it."

"President Takeuchi, you say you can’t imagine, but haven’t you already seen it with those eyes?"

"Yes, I never thought you’d actually do it. Motoyo Kohinata, you really should see a psychologist. Rarely does someone become so blindly devoted to love and friendship."

"... We are born sinful, desirous beasts, with madness and sanity separated by a single thought, which is why we need shackles. Hikaru and Hina are my shackles. If I need to put on chains, I hope it’s they who do it."

"You’re truly mad."

"Hehe, I think so too."

"So what about Chiyoko Ayakoji, what do you plan to do with her?"

"She’s a bit special, no, dangerous is the correct word... What I feel from her is a different kind of unease than I do from Hina."

"In other words, you’re still scared of getting beaten up, right?"

"Nope, it’s not what I’m talking about. Her possessiveness is a little abnormal."

"I hope you don’t get beaten to death by those fists."

"At that time, Mister Hikaru will protect me."

"Kagura Hikaru, huh... For him to make all three of you fall for him and get so deeply involved, his charm must be a bit abnormal."

"Love is without reason and logic, you know. If President Takeuchi ever falls in love, she’ll understand."

"Tch, I don’t want to understand. Just watching the twisted drama you guys are performing is irritating enough. Let’s go, if we’re not back soon, there’ll probably be another problem."

"President Takeuchi, you actually care about the outcome, don’t you? That’s why you’re so invested in this play."

"Idiot, this is my last performance before I retire, of course I’m invested, not to mention President Kiryu is also involved."

"You’re not very forthcoming. You won’t make friends like that, you know."

"I don’t need friends if they make you weak."

"Sometimes you sound like a guy with a case of ’chuunibyou’, President Takeuchi. Is it the fault of acting in too many plays?"

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"Shut up! Let’s get going already!"

"Fine, fine~"

"Also, after this, I’m counting on you to take care of the Drama Club."

"...Yeah."

...........

Kagura Hikaru was applying makeup.

He was doing his own makeup.

He needed to make himself look more sinister than he currently did, specifically by adding more dark circles under his eyes, deepening his eyebrows, and applying some wrinkles to prove he wasn’t a young man.

And then there was the most important part, the Phantom of the Opera’s disfigured, hideous face; Kagura Hikaru applied a prepared prosthetic piece directly to his face, then covered it with thick flesh-colored makeup.

After finishing, he picked up the mask on the makeup table and slowly put it on his face, securing it with an elastic strap. Your journey continues at novelbuddy

He looked at himself in the mirror.

A black mask covering three-quarters of his face, including the lower half below the nose and the upper half of the left side, fitting so perfectly as if it had grown there.

It was provided by Kohinata Motoyo, made of fine materials, had some weight to it, and wasn’t uncomfortable against the skin. Its design closely matched the image of ’The Phantom of the Opera’, possibly the work of a renowned master again.

And most importantly, it covered Kagura Hikaru’s mouth.

That way, he could use a falsetto to breeze through the segments that required smiling without making the audience feel awkward.

"Are you ready?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko came up behind him, placing her hands on Kagura’s shoulders, looking at him in the mirror.

A masked monster in a black deerskin coat.

At first glance, that’s the only way to describe him; if he walked down the street at night, he’d surely be mistaken for a vampire, only missing the red glow in his eyes.

"Not bad at all. It has a good feel."

Ayakoji Chiyoko’s hands couldn’t stay still as they reached for the mask: "Did Kohinata Motoyo bring this too?"

"The costume for the play was supplied by her as well," said Kagura Hikaru.

"She sure gave you a lot of stuff."

"It’s for everyone."

"She has her heart set on you, it’s clear as day to anyone with eyes."

Seizing a moment when Kagura Hikaru was off guard, Ayakoji Chiyoko suddenly lifted the mask, "Let me see the true face of the Phantom of the Opera."