The ML asks why the MC saved him (even after he ran away and committed su*cide). The MC then thinks about this and had a flashback to when she was younger on a snowy day. She went to a bus stop to wait and saw a scene of gang r*pe against an omega across the street. There was already a crowd observing and even commenting on the live action performance as they too waited for the bus. Some laughed and some pitied, but no one went forward to help the omega. The rapists walked away and no one stopped them or called the police. The atmosphere of the scene was only one step away from victim blaming. The MC walked up to this omega who trembled and said they couldn’t take anymore. The MC gave them their scarf and said they should look for shelter from the snow. The omega was startled and thanked her. The MC left. The next day the MC found out from the news that this person was found dead in a pavilion with signs of further assault.

The MC took this rather personally. She wondered if the omega might have been safer if she had not interfered. If the omega would not have gained hope and let down their guard due to her show of kindness the next time an alpha approached. Tbh, she should have realized that irresponsible kindness that is shown only halfway is not wrong but also not right. The omega might have been fine if she had personally led them to a safer location than a park pavilion. Where in her society is actually safe? Many comments show how normal and even expected this behavior is in her society. Would the police even prosecute such an incident?

This scene highlights the innate cruelness around the MC’s growing environment. She is a rather decent adult despite not having any life mentors and her lacking parental guidance. She has little desire to commit such actions to innocent omega herself despite alpha nature and the normalcy of such crime. She admits her excitement at the concept of bondage, but does not act on such impulses. She is not a hero nor a villain.

The MC reflects that she is not sure why she stepped forward into that alley to save the MC. She is certain in retrospect that she is not a kind enough person to do such a thing on a normal day, but she does not regret picking him up even once. She panics and misses him when he disappears. She internally labels him like a possession, but externally treats him well. She respects his emotional boundaries and his personal will. She does nothing to restrain him despite accepting him somewhat one sidedly as her omega. She is realistic that he needs time and may not accept her back. She is inevitably hurt when he rejects her, even if his intent was to protect her. She doesn’t once do anything to hurt him. At the same time, she keeps a proper distance from other omega. She does not accept any ambiguity from her omega coworker.