RH Chapter 40

My Real Name -END-

Posted by April Fox, ? Views, Released on December 27, 2024

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Chapter 40 – My Real Name -END-

Resonance 7, Part 6

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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Click.

Lighting a cigarette, Amane inhaled deeply, savouring the post-coital indulgence.

During the act, he’d been too absorbed to notice. But the rain still seemed to be pouring, the steady patter was audible.

Sitting on the sofa in just his t-shirt and shorts, Amane exhaled a plume of smoke as Kouki returned from the kitchen with a bottle of mineral water in hand. The bathrobe he’d shed during their tryst was now back in place.

Though the overwhelming alpha pheromones had receded for now, the languid, post-climactic Kouki still exuded a different sort of allure that was hard to ignore.

“Would you like some?” Kouki offered the bottle.

Amane shook his head. “I’m good. You drink it.”

“…Itadakimasu.” Twisting off the cap, Kouki tipped the bottle back, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

Watching the rugged profile, Amane suddenly recalled something. “By the way, you were praying at the crime scene this morning for quite a while.”

Nodding as he screwed the cap back on, Kouki replied, “Yes, I was reporting to the departed on how hard I’ve been working the case.”

Frowning, Amane took another drag of his cigarette. “Don’t go doing unnecessary things.”

“It’s not unnecessary. The victim deserves to know the progress of the investigation,” Kouki argued reasonably, then added, “I figured you wouldn’t share the details yourself.”

“Because you’re shy, right?”

Amane’s eyebrows furrowed deeper at the implication that Kouki thought he knew everything about him. It seemed he needed to set some clear boundaries.

Grinding the cigarette’s tip firmly into the ashtray on the coffee table, Amane declared, “Let me make one thing clear – no more physical contact from here on out.”

“Eh…?”

Kouki’s voice wavered in dismay.

“If we keep setting each other off with the slightest touch, we’ll never get any work done. That’s the condition of us being partners.”

As Amane laid out his terms, Kouki’s expression darkened.

“That’s a pretty underhanded bargain.”

“Underhanded, huh? That’s the best compliment I could give you.”

Amane’s boast was met with a piercing glare from Kouki. Even baring his emotions so openly, the alpha’s innate composure never faltered.

After nearly a minute of wrestling with his expression, Kouki exhaled heavily. “…Understood.”

“In return, I’d like to hear your answer.”

“Answer?”

“Don’t play dumb. About my confession earlier.”

Suddenly, Kouki’s heated words from before resounded in Amane’s mind.

――—I like you.

――—It doesn’t matter if you’re an alpha or omega. I just like you.

“…….”

With the intense resonance between their heat and rut, it was understandable that the young Kouki might have mistaken that for genuine romantic feelings.

But was it truly love, or just carnal desire?

The line between sexual urges and emotional attachment was so blurred, it was hard for anyone to discern the difference with certainty.

It was true that earlier, Amane had desperately wanted Kouki – to be connected, to possess him. But was that merely the physical craving of heat, or something more?

Even now, Amane couldn’t say for sure.

“…You’re right. We may be destined ‘soulmates’,” Amane began slowly. “But just because our bodies resonate, doesn’t mean our hearts do as well.”

“So you’re admitting we’re ‘soulmates’?” Kouki confirmed cautiously.

“…Can’t be helped, I guess. Our bodies proved that, not just once, but twice.” Amane reluctantly affirmed. But then he held up a warning hand as Kouki’s face lit up. “However, even if we’re ‘soulmates’, we’re both free. I have no intention of being bound to anyone, and I won’t bind you to me either.”

“In other words, you have no plans to be my lover?” Kouki asked, his expression crestfallen.

Shrugging, Amane replied, “That’s right.”

“…So I’ve been rejected.” Kouki’s voice was tinged with anguish.

“This is the most I’m willing to concede. If you can abide by the no-touching rule, then I’ll agree to be your partner.”

Kouki studied Amane’s lofty proposal pensively for a moment, then finally nodded. “I accept those terms.”

Though he agreed outwardly, the gloom on Kouki’s face betrayed his inner turmoil. Amane figured the young man was likely shocked at being turned down – a rejection like this didn’t come around often for him.

“Hey, lend me your ear for a sec.”

Beckoning Kouki with a crooked finger, Amane waited as the other man leaned in close. Cupping his hand around Kouki’s shapely ear, Amane murmured something softly.

Withdrawing, Amane watched Kouki’s eyes widen progressively. Dropping to his knees on the rug, Kouki peered intently into Amane’s face.

“Wait, so that just now… Was that your real name?”

“Yes, that’s my….. real name.”

Kouki’s expression was one of disbelief at first. But then his face lit up with realisation.

“Don’t tell anyone. Don’t even say it out loud.”

“Of course, I understand. …Am I the only one who knows this name of yours?”

“You’re my partner, after all.”

The moment Amane acknowledged it, Kouki’s face shone with delight, and he lunged to embrace him. “Honjou-san!”

“Ugh-!”

A jolt of electricity seemed to course through Amane’s entire body. He firmly shoved Kouki away.

“I told you not to cling to me, didn’t I?”

Amane snapped angrily. Though Kouki apologised, the smile on his face at being accepted as Amane’s partner never wavered, even as he was pushed back.

“Just being your partner is more than enough for now.”

The stunningly handsome alpha murmured, savouring the joy of it. But then his expression turned defiant.

“However… I’ll definitely make you see me as your true ‘soulmate’ in both heart and body.”

Kouki proclaimed boldly, and Amane responded with a coy, provocative smile.

“Try it if you can.”

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*Author’s Postscript:

Thank you very much for picking up this ‘Resonance Heat: Omegaverse’ work. This is my first time writing in the Omegaverse genre. I’m more nervous than usual… (laughs)

Let me take a moment to share the background on how I came to write an Omegaverse story.

On a personal note, this year marks my 20th anniversary as a novelist. I’ve been able to continue this writing work thanks to the support of all the industry professionals and readers who have supported me. So for this milestone 20th year, I wanted to create something that readers had been asking for. I put out a Twitter poll asking “What kind of new work would you like me to write?” And the overwhelming response was for an Omegaverse story. It was a landslide victory! (laughs)

However, at that point, I was quite ignorant about the Omegaverse – I knew it was an incredibly popular genre. But I wasn’t sure if I could actually write one myself. But after researching it, I found that as long as you have the basic setup down, there’s a lot of creative freedom. And once I started plotting, I found myself enjoying it more and more, feeling a fresh sense of opening a new door. No matter how old you get, the spirit of challenge is so important. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me!

And that’s how this work was born. I took the Omegaverse setting and added my beloved ‘soulmate’ element. And it’s been a while since I’ve written a younger seme. I got so caught up in the fun of it that my editor had to rein me in, telling me to “Tone down the puppy-ness a bit.” And my omega Amane ended up a little too feral, so my editor had to “Reign that in” as well. (laughs) But I had such a great time. I hope readers will enjoy the partner duo of Kouki and Amane.

Moving on, the illustrator for this work is the wonderful Hasukawa Ai-sensei. And it turns out this was Hasukawa-sensei’s first time tackling the Omegaverse as well! The beauty of the colour illustrations is as stunning as always, but this time they’re just so erotic! Seeing the colour art, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Thank you, Omegaverse!” I’m so happy to have Hasukawa-sensei’s Omegaverse debut.

And in fact, I’ve also been entrusted with the original work for a manga adaptation in the same universe. The artist is Yukimura Kanae-sensei. I’m really looking forward to exploring the Omegaverse through the unique manga expression. So please look forward to it! I’ll provide more details as the announcement timing gets closer.

So it seems the Omegaverse will be continuing for a while. As a beginner just stepping into this deep world, I’ll be exploring it tentatively but joyfully. I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

📝 Iwamoto Kaoru

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*Translator’s Note: I will translate volume 2, 3, and 4 of this series as well. But before moving on to volume 2, I’m gonna translate another novel first (it’s another incest novel that I really like between blood brothers). I’m just writing this out here as a declaration of my interest (date of today is 2024.12.27). If another translator decides to pick them up, go ahead. I don’t mind. But,… don’t be surprised if I also pick them up at probably the same time as you. And please don’t come to my page bombarding me with ‘hey, another translator is already working on this novel’ shit. See the date up there? I already declared it here. So regardless if anyone decides to translate the next volumes, just know that I will also be translating them. But I’m not stopping anyone from doing so. Okay? Just don’t stop me when the time comes. I’m sick of that shit and I won’t be polite if you come at me like that again. I’m traumatised enough already. I guess somehow I’m still bitter (and careful) about this. But meh. I’m a human being. I have feelings and I’m allowed to feel bitter about it until my death. -K

*P/S: Volume 2 will be published on 1st Jan 2025. Anticipate that!

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You can read these other translations by me on Knoxt. The (🟥) with Red-flag Seme/Gong, (🟩) with Green-flag Seme/Gong, and (🟨) with you-don’t-know-if-it’s-good-or-bad Seme/Semes until later in the story: