RL Chapter 31

Chapter 31 – A Gift

Resonance 3, Part 9

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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“If you add an elegant touch to the inherent seductive charm that Honjou-san possesses, it would be truly invincible. I thought it was a beauty beyond compare, but… it’s surprisingly beyond my imagination.”

“I get it. That’s why I can’t quit this job.”

Mizutani, satisfied with himself, turned to Kouki and asked, “So, can I adjust this combination?”

“Please do.”

As soon as Mizutani received that response, he swiftly pulled out the measuring tape hanging around his neck and began measuring Amane’s body, standing in front of the fitting room with practised ease.

“The shoulders are a perfect fit. Hmm. It’s like it was washed. For the jacket sleeve length, I think it’s better to shorten the left by fifteen millimetres and the right by ten millimetres… As for the trouser length…”

Mizutani bent down, folding the excess hem inside, checking the balance from a distance, then coming back to make minute adjustments by millimetres—a persistent motion he repeated.

“Okay. I’ll finish this length with a single style.”

Having finally settled on something, Mizutani jotted down the measured numbers in his notebook. Amane asked, “Can I take this off now?” to which he replied, “That’s fine.”

Amane entered the fitting room and closed the door. After taking off the unfamiliar clothes, he felt relieved to be back in his usual t-shirt and bottoms. These were definitely more comfortable on his body.

Just thinking about wearing this again made him feel disheartened. But it was for the sake of conquering Kourogi.

(I can’t help it...)

He opened the door and handed the clothes he had just taken off to Mizutani. Mizutani, receiving them, asked Kouki, “Once the adjustments are done, should I contact you?”

“Yes, if you could call my cell, that’d be great. I will come to pick it up.”

“Got it. Honjou-san, thank you for your fitting. Kouki-kun, it was great to see you and chat after a long time. Let me see you out.”

Mizutani stepped outside first, smiling as he expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you for visiting today. Please come again with both of you. Kouki-kun, I’ll contact you once everything is ready.”

“I look forward to your call. See you then.”

Kouki smiled back and Amane gave a slight bow.

“The tuxedo really suited you. We made the right choice by leaving it to Mizutani-san.”

As Kouki walked over to his beloved car parked in front of the store, he unlocked it with his keyless entry. It was only after Amane climbed into the passenger seat that he realised something was off.

“Hey, what about the payment?”

When he asked Kouki in the driver’s seat, Kouki nodded while fastening his seatbelt and replied, “Oh, that.”

“There’s basically no cash register system at this type of shop.”

“What do you mean? Are you saying we don’t pay?” Amane, unable to accept Kouki’s answer, pressed further with his questions.

“It’s a kind of trust-based business. The store knows the identities of the people shopping here, and it’s rare for random customers to use it. Therefore, there’s no need for monetary transactions on-site. It’s like a charge account; you receive an invoice on the due date, and the accounting person handles it each time.”

Finally, Amane understood. That was why there weren’t any price tags.

In other words, was the tuxedo earlier just a matter of whatever they decided to charge?

(No way…)

He felt a chill at the thought of an outrageous amount listed on the invoice. But given his seniority, he couldn’t bring himself to say he wouldn’t pay now.

“I see. Then when the invoice arrives, let me know the amount. I’ll pay you according to the invoice, and you can have it transferred to the Shutou family’s accounting. That works, right?”

Kouki turned to Amane, who was trying to mask his inner turmoil with a calm demeanour. 

“Honjou-san,” Kouki addressed him in a formal tone.

“Regarding the payment, I said from the beginning not to worry. I’m the one who brought you here without confirming your willingness, so I will cover the cost of the tuxedo.”

Amane felt a surge of annoyance at Kouki’s condescending tone and retorted.

“Why should you pay?”

“The matter with Aya was originally a case I took on. Besides, since I’ve involved you, it’s only natural for me to cover the necessary expenses to meet Kourogi.”

“………”

It wasn’t that he had been dragged into anything. It was precisely him who had intrusively gotten involved in Aya’s case.

So Kouki didn’t need to feel any obligation. But given the situation, it was clear that he wouldn’t easily agree to any requests for the invoice amount. And if the amount remained unknown, Amane wouldn’t be able to pay anyway.

“……Fine. I’ll leave the payment to you.”

Kouki’s face lit up with relief.

“That’s good—”

“However, the tuxedo must be returned after use.”

“Eh…?” Kouki froze, caught off guard by that statement.

“If you’re paying for it, then it’s yours, right?”

“No… I’d be in trouble if you returned it. That tuxedo is tailored specifically to fit Honjou-san’s physique.”

“I’d be in trouble too if you just forced a tuxedo on me. I have no use for it.”

“Please accept it as a gift.”

“A gift?” Amane reacted sharply to that remark, and Kouki’s expression shifted to one of regret. Amane pressed him, sensing the awkward silence.

“Hey, what do you mean by a gift?”

“……..”

“I’m not accepting something like that. I have no reason to.”

As he emphasised his point, Kouki shot him a defiant look.

“What? Do you have a problem with that?”

For a while, Kouki glared at Amane with a face that showed his dissatisfaction. But eventually, as if cutting through his internal conflict, he broke the eye contact and faced forward. Staring at the windshield, he spoke in a low voice, suppressing his emotions.

“―――I have no complaints.”

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*Translator’s Note: He’s really treating Honjou-san like he is his woman but yoooo Honjou-san doesn’t like that. -K

*GLOSSARY: 

• Garment-washing means post-production washing. It softens the material and colour, and fades the seams and edges. Importantly, the garments are made a little on the large size, and the garment-washing allows the size to be adjusted to your true size to avoid any future possible shrinkage. When Mizutani said ‘it’s like it was washed’, it means it fitted Amane perfectly like it had already been washed to fit his size.

Next update: 2025.02.01

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