RH Chapter 18

Chapter 18 – Casanova

Resonance 3, Part 5

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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“If… it really was murder, but they cover it up as an accident or suicide so the culprit can go on living without punishment… Shou, who had his will taken away, must be so resentful.”

Biting her lip, Sumire let out a pained groan. “I can’t forgive that.”

“That’s how we feel as well. We want to resolve Shou’s resentment, if possible. And for that, we need your cooperation.”

“…………”

“Sumire, will you cooperate with us? If we can get Shou’s customer list, we can reach out to everyone he had contact with and check their alibis. Sooner or later, we might be able to identify the culprit.”

Sumire gradually lowered her gaze. Her profile displayed her inner turmoil.

Of course. This would mean betraying her boss. If it was discovered, the consequences wouldn’t be light. And she likely felt a sense of obligation after the madam had provided for her housing and livelihood all this time.

Brothels not only provide room and board for their hostesses. But they also strictly manage things like mandatory condom use to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs, protecting the hostesses’ bodies. As a former hostess herself, it was understandable that Sumire would feel a debt of gratitude toward the madam, who had essentially acted as a parental figure.

Suddenly, Kouki grasped Sumire’s hand, gripping it firmly. It was as if he was trying to dispel her anguish. Locking eyes with her unwavering gaze, he pleaded, “Please.”

“For Shou’s sake, please cooperate with us.”

After staring transfixed at Kouki’s refined features for a moment, Sumire’s shoulders slumped.

“Understood. …I’d want to avenge Shou too, if he was really killed. I’ll somehow get the customer list.”

“We’ll keep the list strictly confidential and make sure there’s no trouble for you,” Kouki vowed solemnly, tightening his grip on her hand. “Thank you.”

Sumire’s cheeks flushed faintly.

“This is my email address.”

Taking the card Kouki offered, Sumire carefully tucked it into her tote bag.

“…I should get going. The madam asked me to run an errand.”

Bowing her head, she also gave a slight nod to Amane, who was standing a distance away. She then hurried off.

Watching her retreating figure, Kouki approached Amane, smartphone in hand. Amane knew this was the time to give praise. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it wholeheartedly. He only asked bluntly, “What made you think you could pull that off?”

―――Can you let me handle this?

That’s what Kouki had said earlier. From his expression and tone then, Amane had sensed a subtle confidence in him. And indeed, Kouki had managed to sway Sumire.

“I didn’t have full confidence. But when the madam and Honjou-san were talking, I noticed her glancing at me a few times. I had a personal intuition that she might have some feelings about Shou’s death. And after learning she was also a Stray Omega…-“

“-So you figured you could leverage that to get her to cooperate.”

“…It’s not exactly a laudable method.”

Calling her by name to create familiarity, showing her the photo of the body to shock her, leaking the information that they were trying to sweep it under the rug as an accident or suicide because Shou was a Stray Omega – Amane could see how Kouki had skillfully manipulated Sumire’s indignation as a fellow omega.

(This guy is pretty cunning.)

But the real clincher was probably gripping her hand while looking into her eyes. Amane suspected Sumire had been stealing glances at Kouki back in the madam’s room, already harbouring some interest in him.

And Kouki had shamelessly taken advantage of that.

Only a man blessed with exceptional looks and experience dealing with women could pull off a trick like that.

This guy must really know how to make women cry.

“…Casanova,” Amane muttered under his breath.

Apparently not hearing it clearly, Kouki asked, “Pardon?”

“I was complimenting you.”

The sweet, killer smile on Kouki’s face shone brilliantly. It was almost dazzlingly so.

“Could you please say that again? I didn’t catch it.”

Amane coldly rebuffed Kouki’s eager request.

“The list isn’t in our hands yet. We can’t let our guard down until it arrives.”

***

True to the promise, Kouki’s phone buzzed with an email from Sumire a little over 3 hours later, around 4 PM.

After leaving Kamokuriya, Amane and Kouki had returned to the site of Shou’s death, splitting up to conduct another round of interviews in the surrounding area.

Revisiting the stores and mixed-use buildings they had found unoccupied earlier, they asked if anyone had heard any suspicious noises or screams, or seen any suspicious persons, around the estimated time of death.

However, with it being the early morning hours of 4 AM, they still couldn’t gather any noteworthy information.

Feeling a bit deflated by the fruitless effort, Kouki stood still at the building’s entrance. 

Now that he thought about it, they had been constantly on the move since early morning, with hardly a moment to catch their breath. Aside from the occasional mineral water to rehydrate, they hadn’t even had a proper meal. It was no wonder he was feeling drained.

Just then, his phone buzzed. The long-awaited email from Sumire contained a photo – a page from what seemed to be a customer ledger, with names and contact information visible.

Quickly sending Sumire a thank-you message, Kouki called Amane, who had split off.

“Sumire sent the list.”

“Good, I’m heading to the parking lot now. Let’s meet up in the car.”

“Understood.”

Ending the call and tucking his phone away, Kouki started walking toward the parking lot where he had left the car. His previously heavy steps now felt a bit lighter – not just because of the list, but perhaps also due to a subtle shift in his relationship with Amane.

Compared to their disastrous first meeting the day before yesterday, and Amane’s cold shoulder treatment yesterday, this was definitely progress.

Of course, Kouki knew there was still a long way to go. Like a wild mountain cat, Amane would likely bristle and hiss in warning at the slightest encroachment on his territory. With his sharp fangs and claws, Kouki couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

At first, he had cursed his fate at being saddled with such a partner.

Violent, foul-mouthed, erratic, and utterly lacking in cooperation or social skills – the only redeeming quality was Amane’s looks.

Enduring Amane’s endless insults of ‘brat’ and ‘dead weight’, and being bluntly told he wouldn’t last three days, Kouki had felt both frustration and a stubborn determination to prove him wrong.

After all, the higher the hurdle, the more fiercely he tended to burn.

Someday, he would make Amane acknowledge him as a partner, no matter what.

While secretly stoking that ambition, the case had fallen into their laps on the third day.

It seemed to be the first real case for the rookie Kouki.

The discovered body was that of a 17-year-old boy working at a brothel in the red-light district. The cause of death was a fall from a pedestrian bridge.

Accident, homicide, or suicide – before it could be determined, Kouki sensed the higher-ups were already leaning toward ruling it an accident.

Suspicious, he had investigated on his own. He learned the deceased boy was a ‘Stray Omega’.

Kouki knew of the existence of such people in theory. But this was his first time actually encountering one.

In the car, Kouki was shocked to hear Amane explain the negative cycle surrounding ‘Stray Omegas’.

Kouki had lived without giving much thought to the caste system in society, complacent in his status as an alpha. But now he realised that was just arrogance. If he had remained in an alpha-centric society, he may have never understood.

Even that realisation alone made him feel his decision to become a detective was not a mistake.

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Next update: 2024.12.06

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