RL Chapter 24

Chapter 24 – The First Suspect

Resonance 3, Part 2

Novel Title: 共鳴劣情 オメガバース (Resonance Lust: 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 knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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Amane was impressed, though he didn’t show it outwardly.

He had been taught that basic investigation involved gathering information on foot and uncovering physical evidence linked to the crime. However, it seemed that modern rookies had a different approach.

“In Central City, the medical facilities Aya visited were the internal medicine and obstetrics departments at a general hospital near her apartment. She didn’t visit any psychiatric departments. I checked with both departments this morning. But there were no records of sleeping pills being prescribed.”

“There were no over-the-counter drugs in her apartment either. And it wasn’t prescription medication. That means the sleeping pills detected in her hair were most likely brought in from an external source.”

Kouki confirmed with a “Yes.”

“This supports Mizuki’s claim that ‘Aya would never have taken her own life, especially for the sake of her child.’”

Kouki’s pale bluish-grey eyes gleamed with a sharper intensity, probably because the possibility of murder had become more likely. They were the eyes of a hunting dog that had caught the scent of its prey.

As if to restrain the man who looked ready to jump into action, Amane reminded him, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I told you not to make assumptions.” While saying this, he pulled his cell phone from the back pocket of his pants.

“The preparations I made last night should be ready by now.”

“Preparations…?”

At Kouki’s curious murmur, Amane replied, “Last night, I asked Crow to find out the current workplace and contact details of Aya’s former manager.”

Crow was a reliable informant whom Amane trusted as his last resort because of his discretion and accuracy.

Kouki was also aware of Crow’s existence. In the beginning, Kouki had been uptight, saying things like, “Buying information with money is a violation of our code of conduct,” but after seeing Crow’s information lead to the resolution of a case, he stopped complaining.

Even though it skirts the edge of legality, Kouki was flexible enough to accept it if he judged it useful for the investigation. This kind of rationality and adaptability, the ability to deal with both good and bad as the situation demands, is characteristic of an Alpha—a member of the ruling class.

“You mean Shimokawa, the former manager?”

“If Aya was murdered, who would be the most suspicious?”

When Amane threw the question back, Kouki responded with a thoughtful expression.

“It wasn’t a robbery or an assault. If there were any signs of assault, that would have been recorded in the report. Moreover, if it were a random crime, no one would bother with the elaborate step of making it look like a drowning by administering sleeping pills. The foam in her lungs suggests that she wasn’t killed in a struggle, then dumped in the bathtub. This means it was a premeditated act.”

“That’s right. The fact that the neighbours didn’t hear any strange noises or screams also suggests it was done by someone familiar. Because the perpetrator was someone she knew, Aya let them into her room. After that, she lost consciousness from the food or drink the perpetrator brought, which had sleeping pills mixed in. Since there was no solid matter in her stomach, it was probably a drink. The perpetrator undressed the unconscious Aya and placed her in the water-filled bathtub…”

“That narrows down the suspects considerably. Aya’s social circle was extremely limited. Considering who she might let into her room late at night, the prime candidate would be Mizuki. However, she was overseas at Aya’s estimated time of death. Mizuki returned to the country only after Aya was cremated, following her overseas shoot.”

There had never been much chance of Mizuki being the perpetrator. If she were the culprit, she wouldn’t have insisted on reopening the investigation into Aya’s death, which had already been ruled a suicide.

“You can rule Mizuki out.”

Kouki nodded.

“There are no family members left in her hometown. And according to Mizuki, friends from her hometown never visited. She didn’t use social media. Her relationships within the agency were also shallow. After Shimokawa quit, another staff member nominally took over as her manager. But since Aya was on hiatus, it was only in name.”

“Eliminating possibilities like this, the person closest to Aya, after Mizuki, would be Shimokawa.”

“Exactly. As her former manager, Shimokawa is someone Aya would have no issue letting into her room. Additionally, Shimokawa was directly involved in booking Aya as a last-minute replacement at a drinking party after the original cast member dropped out because of the rape drug incident. He might know the identities of the three people at that party.”

“One of those three might be the father of Aya’s child…”

Just as Kouki murmured this, Amane’s phone vibrated with an incoming email.

“It’s here.”

Amane checked the sender on the home screen—it was Crow, as expected.

The email contained Shimokawa’s full name, a photo from his time at ‘Chance Promotions’, and information about his current job.

Due to the short notice, Crow hadn’t managed to find Shimokawa’s address or phone number. But this much was enough. They had his name, face, and workplace, which meant they could now approach him directly.

“I’ve received the information. I’ll transfer your payment as usual.”

With that reply sent, Amane continued operating his phone and transferred Crow’s fee into his online bank account. In less than a minute, he received a confirmation: “Payment received. Awaiting your next request.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

As Amane tucked his phone into his back pocket and stood up, Kouki also steeled his expression and rose from the sofa.

***

After leaving the talent agency ‘Chance Promotions’ four months ago, Shimokawa now worked at an izakaya in a downtown entertainment district. Crow’s email included a map to Shimokawa’s new workplace.

They drove downtown in Kouki’s two-seater, parking at the nearest lot to their destination. From there, they proceeded on foot to the izakaya where Shimokawa worked.

The izakaya where Shimokawa worked was on a back alley, two streets away from the main road of the downtown entertainment district. Although it opened at 5 PM, the preparations seemed to have already begun, with a wooden sign reading “Eagerly Preparing!” propped up at the entrance. But the front door was still locked.

“Let’s go around to the back.”

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*GLOSSARY: 

• Izakaya – Japanese-style pub

Next update: 2025.01.25

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