RH Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Meds

Prologue, Part 2

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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It was in front of the entrance to a dilapidated mixed-use building that looked almost like a ruin. By this point, the noise from the main street could no longer be heard. The only sounds were the clattering of mahjong tiles coming from a room on an upper floor of the building, and the hollow laughter from a TV in someone’s room. Mixed with these was the rustling of paper trash being blown around by the night wind. Though it was May, the night wind was still chilly. Somewhere, a stray cat meowed softly.

After checking that no one was around, Amane began descending the narrow staircase of the building into the basement. The concrete stairs, covered in graffiti and cracked in places, led down to a dimly lit hallway. It was faintly illuminated by a bare light bulb. On the right side of the hallway, iron doors were spaced evenly apart. Amane walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the third door. There was no nameplate on the door.

He knocked on the rusty door. After waiting for a while, he sensed someone peering at him through a small round peephole. Immediately after, the sound of a lock turning echoed, and the door opened from the inside.

As the door creaked open. There was an old man with white hair and a white beard standing on the other side. He wore a stand-collar shirt and matching pants, with his feet clad in geta sandals. His pale shins, visible beneath the hem of his pants, were as thin as chicken bones, with veins protruding. The sunken eyes behind his reading glasses glared at Amane.

“Come in.”

With a warm voice urging him, he followed the old man who turned his back and retreated further inside. Passing by an old kitchen, he stepped into a room overflowing with clutter. To the right, a simple bed was set against the wall, a glass cabinet stood in front, and a desk and chair were placed against the left wall. Empty plastic bottles, cans, and glass bottles were scattered carelessly across the floor. The desk was so cluttered with objects and papers that its surface was completely obscured.

“What do you need today?”

The old man, who had sat down on the chair, asked brusquely.

“I’m out of meds.”

When Amane answered concisely, the old man mumbled something under his breath.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Lately, the crackdowns have been tough. It’s not easy to get hold of anything.”

“And?”

“Pay a little extra.”

Annoyed by the greedy old man’s request, Amane clicked his tongue and growled in a low voice, “Hey.”

“Don’t forget that I’m letting you run your illegal doctor’s business. Your medical licence was revoked ages ago.”

“You need this illegal doctor, don’t you?”

Lifting his slipping glasses with a withered finger, the old doctor looked up at him with a sly gaze. Amane glared at the old man’s shrewd eyes for about ten seconds, then casually reached into the pocket of his mod coat.

He pulled out a wallet, yanked out some bills, and tossed them roughly onto the old doctor’s lap. The old man hurriedly gathered up the bills scattered on the floor, his slightly trembling hands counting the collected money. Amane, growing impatient, demanded sharply.

“Hurry up and hand it over.”

Satisfied with the amount, the old doctor smiled, revealing a gap in his teeth. He stood up and walked over to the cabinet. He chose a box from among the many paper boxes lined up, and opened the lid. From inside, he pulled out a bundle of silver pill sheets.

“Here, three months’ worth.”

Amane snatched the bundle of pill sheets the old doctor handed over, stuffed it into his pocket, and immediately turned his back as if to signal he had no further business there. But just before reaching the front door, he looked back.

“Don’t overdo it with the booze.”

He pointed to a half-empty bottle of distilled liquor sitting on the desk as he spoke his warning.

“Oh… are you worried about me?”

“No way. If you kick the bucket, I’ll be in trouble too.”

With that low remark, Amane left the old doctor’s clinic-cum-residence.

“…Greedy old drunk.”

He cursed behind the closed door. He then shoved his hands into his coat pockets and retraced his steps down the hallway. As he walked, he pulled a cigarette pack from his right pocket and stuck one between his lips.

Reaching into his pocket again to find a lighter, his hand brushed against the pills he had just acquired. Feeling the thickness within the pill sheets, a thin sigh of relief escaped him.

It was frustrating to be gouged like that. But at least, this would last him three months…

He stopped at the top of the stairs, pulled out his lighter, and clicked it to light the tip of his cigarette. He inhaled the smoke deeply into his lungs and exhaled slowly. Holding the cigarette between his thumb and index finger, Amane began to slowly climb the dingy concrete stairs.

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Next update: 2024.11.20

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