RH Chapter 36

Chapter 36 – Flowers

Resonance 7, Part 1

Novel Title: 共鳴発情 オメガバース (Resonance Heat: Omegaverse)

Author：岩本薫 (Iwamoto Kaoru)

Illustrator: 蓮川愛 (Hasukawa Ai)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 本浄天音 (Honjou Amane) & 苅谷煌騎 (Kariya Kouki) / 首藤煌騎 (Shutou Kouki)

*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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Emails exchanged with Shou were found on the laptop confiscated from Iwaki. Among them was a message in which Iwaki summoned Shou on the night the incident occurred, and Shou had responded with: “I will come to your house around 10 p.m.“

Moreover, since the laptop was synced with Iwaki’s smartphone, several image files of the two together remained in the photo folder (the emails and photos had already been deleted from the phone).

After escorting the suspect, Iwaki, back to the Downtown East Police Station, Amane stayed up all night with Kouki, preparing documents. By morning, they sent them to the prosecutor along with the physical evidence. Iwaki himself was also turned over to the prosecutor’s office. Although Iwaki would likely hire a top-notch lawyer with his money, with this much evidence, there was little doubt that he would be indicted.

Both disobeying his superior’s orders by investigating on his own and involving the rookie Kouki would normally incur severe penalties. But since they managed to send a big shot like Iwaki for prosecution, it seemed like things would blow over. He would probably have to write a report. But if that was all, he’d consider it lucky.

At any rate, for now, Shou’s resentment had been avenged.

(At least losing sleep was worth it…)

Amane, surrendering to the regular waves of drowsiness, was absentmindedly gazing out the passenger seat window when he spotted a flower shop up ahead and spoke up.  

“Hey, stop in front of that flower shop.”

Kouki, in the driver’s seat, complied with the order and pulled over to the side of the road. Amane unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the passenger door, and told Kouki, “I’ll be back in five minutes,” before stepping out of the car.

Rushing into the flower shop, he checked out the colourful flowers lined up at the front and quickly found what he was looking for.

“Three of these. Make it into a simple bouquet,” he instructed the florist.

After having a small bouquet made, he paid for it. Amane, well aware that flowers didn’t suit his image, carried the bouquet back to the car with one hand.

Timing his return, Kouki unlocked the passenger door. There had been a time when Kouki had opened the door as if to escort him, and Amane had scolded him, “Don’t act weird. I can open the door myself.” Apparently, Kouki had remembered. 

(He really does have a good memory…)

Kouki had perfectly memorised the layout of Iwaki’s mansion after only one glance. But it wasn’t just his memory that was remarkable. During the document preparation from last night to this morning, Kouki demonstrated exceptional competence. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he handled most of the paperwork himself, filling in for Amane, who was bad at desk work. Not only was he fast, but he made no mistakes.

(So it’s true what they say about Alphas having high IQs…)

Blessed with a good build and appearance, high abilities, a prestigious background, and of course, wealth.

What a sense of invincibility. Having all that would get on anyone’s nerves. He had tried to find at least one flaw, and the thought occurred to him:

This guy, born into such a privileged class, was voluntarily working as a regular detective at a rundown local station. He was definitely an oddball. A weirdo, even. Might as well call him a freak…

“What is it?”

Kouki asked suspiciously. That question made Amane realise he had been staring intently at this ‘weirdo’ without noticing.

To cover his embarrassment, he snapped back, “It’s nothing,” and climbed into the passenger seat. Kouki, resting his hand on the steering wheel, glanced at the bouquet on Amane’s lap. His gaze then smoothly travelled up to Amane’s face, where it lingered.

“……”

For a moment, Kouki looked at him with heated eyes. He then said, “Beautiful.”

Amane’s shoulder twitched as he got intensely annoyed with himself.

(Idiot! He’s talking about the flowers!)

Aggravated with both Kouki’s suggestive behaviour and his own over-sensitivity, he forcefully turned to face forward.

As he brooded in silence, he sensed a presence beside him wanting to say something. But he stubbornly kept glaring straight ahead until Kouki seemed to give up. He started the engine and muttered, “I’ll drive now.” Amane silently buckled his seatbelt.

Despite being younger, Kouki’s strange composure, and the way he was getting more adept at handling him day by day, irritated Amane.

(I know. I know I’m a difficult person…)

Stubborn, complicated, and prideful. He was well aware he wasn’t the least bit endearing.

It wasn’t like he wanted to be liked by others, either.

He didn’t want to show his weakness. He didn’t want anyone to know his true self.

He didn’t need anyone’s help. He could take care of himself.

That’s why he thought he’d be fine alone for the rest of his life.

But before he knew it, this guy was beside him, offering his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

He would throw himself into danger for Amane, preach to him with infuriating seriousness, and admonish him with a stern expression.

――—You’re not someone who should sell yourself short like that!

――—So what if you’re a Stray Omega?

――—You are my ‘soulmate.’

――—I want…- I want you to appreciate yourself more.

(‘Soulmate’, huh? For an Alpha for fuck’s sake…)

“We’re here.”

A voice cut into his thoughts, bringing him back to reality. Kouki parked in an open space in a coin-operated lot. Amane unbuckled his seatbelt, picked up the bouquet, and got out of the car. Kouki also stepped out from the driver’s seat. The two walked side by side toward their destination from the parking lot.

They went to the place where Shou, who had been pushed off the pedestrian bridge by Iwaki, was found dead. There was a large bouquet of flowers that had been placed by the guardrail of the sidewalk. It might have been offered by the owner of ‘Kamokuriya’ and Sumire.

Shou’s body was to be claimed by the owner of ‘Kamokuriya’. A private funeral would be held with only close relatives in attendance. He would be buried at a temple the owner had connections with. Though Shou had wanted to leave ‘Kamokuriya’, to the owner, who had cared for him since he was a child, Shou might have been like a son.

Amane placed his own bouquet beneath the one that had already been laid there.

“The bouquet offered earlier and the one you brought, Honjou-san, are both hydrangeas,” Kouki noticed the similarity and pointed it out. Amane revealed the reason.

“Shou’s name… in kanji, it’s written as 紫陽 (Shou), which means hydrangea.”

“Is that so?” Kouki nodded in understanding and continued, “Now that you mention it, everyone at ‘Kamokuriya’ seems to have flower-related names.”

“Kanna, Sumire, Shou… Yeah, though they’re just stage names.”

Muttering under his breath, Amane clasped his hands together in prayer toward the hydrangeas. With his eyes closed, he silently spoke to Shou in his heart.

(I’ve done everything I can for now. Whether Iwaki will be indicted or not is still undecided, so you probably can’t rest easy yet. But at least you won’t have to do anything against your will anymore. Up in heaven, read all the books you want…)

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*Translator’s Note: Rest in peace, Shou. -K

Next update: 2024.12.24

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