RL Chapter 52

Chapter 52 – More Paperwork

Resonance 7, 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*

֍֍֍

Still, lowering his pride and bowing seemed to work. He was finally allowed to accompany Amane. Looking back now, it was that moment of relief that led to his downfall.

“Damn it…! You already knew that’s the kind of person he was, didn’t you?!”

Unable to contain his frustration, Kouki kicked the hallway wall. Though it was against regulations to damage public property built with taxpayers’ money, he couldn’t hold back.

Facing the brutal reality that, despite his attachment, Amane didn’t need him, Kouki’s heart churned with anguish.

Was he really that much of a hindrance? Did Amane want to avoid being with him so badly that he had to deceive him and run away?

When it came to Amane, it was always a one-sided struggle. Amane never even acknowledged him.

No matter how much Kouki cared, his feelings never got through. If anything, it was all in vain.

The more he tried to hold on, the more Amane slipped through his fingers and drifted further away…

As the initial wave of anger began to subside, it was replaced by a deep sense of emptiness. Maybe it was because he hadn’t slept since the day before, but Kouki’s mental state continued to plummet…

(Should I just… give up?)

If he was hated that much, maybe it would be best to really dissolve their partnership…

Caught in a swirl of negative emotions, Kouki stood there in a daze until a voice called out from down the hallway, “Ah, there you are, Kariya-kun!”

Running up to him was Seo, the only female detective in the department and the senior closest in age to him. Her usually cheerful face was now slightly tense.

“Hey, do you know where Honjou-san is?”

Seo asked the very question Kouki had been asking others earlier. With a frustrated shake of his head, Kouki replied, “No idea.”

“I searched the entire building. But he’s nowhere to be found. He’s not answering his phone either.”

Seo sighed deeply. “Haa… did he leave already? This morning, I reminded him, ‘The deadline to submit the investigation documents is by tomorrow morning’. But when I stepped away from my desk, he disappeared.”

It was easy to imagine that Amane’s mind was so occupied with Aya’s case that Seo’s reminder had probably gone in one ear and out the other.

“…What should we do?” 

Seeing her genuinely troubled expression, Kouki asked, “Which investigation documents are you talking about?”

“A case from before you joined us, Kariya-kun. Normally, the paperwork should be filed and signed off by the Squad Commander as soon as the investigation wraps up, and then uploaded to the database. But Honjou-san isn’t great with desk work, so it’s been piling up.”

“…I see.”

The police central database, accessible to all officers, contained a vast archive of past criminal cases.

A case doesn’t end with the suspect’s arrest and indictment. The investigation’s details must be written up and submitted to the leader for approval, evidence must be catalogued, and everything must be stored. In the past, that was the end of it. But now, with digitalization, officers are also required to upload digital versions of the documents and evidence photos to the database. However, many detectives, especially field-focused ones like Amane, loathe this paperwork.

Kouki understands that it’s a hassle. But considering that the accumulation of this data could later open avenues for solving crimes, one should fulfil their duties as an investigator properly. From the user’s perspective, a database that allows someone to search for similar cases with a single query is much more effective and efficient than flipping through paper files one by one.

In fact, even in this case involving Aya, the investigation documents from Midtown South Police Station were a huge help.

“Honjou-san have been habitually leaving post-case paperwork unfinished, missing deadlines every time and having to write apologies to get by. But it seems like he’s really at his limit this time. It’s seriously bad.”

“Bad, how?”

“Well, he’s already on the higher-ups’ radar… It’d be lucky if it ends with a warning or pay cut. But there’s a real chance he might be suspended this time.”

Hearing the word ‘suspension’, Kouki furrowed his eyebrows.

It’s the inevitable consequence of constantly avoiding necessary task. Kouki thought Amane should accept the warning and take a pay cut without complaint. But suspension was another story.

The thought of what kind of reckless behaviour Amane might resort to if his job was taken away made Kouki’s stomach turn.

“Yeah… that does sound pretty bad.”

“Under orders from the Squad Commander, I was in charge of keeping him on track with the desk work. But… ever since ‘Beast Tamer’ Kariya-kun showed up, I let my guard down a bit. I figured it’d be fine this morning since I was busy. But that was way too naïve of me…”

Slightly slumping in defeat, Seo looked pitiful. So Kouki tried to comfort her. “It’s not your fault, Seo-san.”

“…Thanks. But I already promised the Squad Commander I’d have Honjou-san submit everything first thing tomorrow morning… I’ll do whatever I can.”

“Wait… are you going to do Honjou-san’s paperwork for him?”

“Honjou-san may seem rough, but he’s got a kind side. When I made a pretty big mistake as a rookie, he secretly backed me up so the higher-ups wouldn’t find out.”

“…I see.”

Kouki wasn’t surprised. Amane was always on the side of the vulnerable, especially being kind to women and children.

(Yeah, that’s how he is…)

While his methods were chaotic, and he could be violent and self-centred, Amane never acted out of self-interest. He always moved for someone in trouble, never for himself.

(Just like now. Even though there’s no benefit to him in uncovering the truth behind Aya’s case, he’s been burning himself out to get to the bottom of it.)

Kouki glanced at his wristwatch. It’s seven-thirty.

For now, he decided to message Amane once more. All he could do was hope Amane would come around and finally get back to him.

“Understood. I’ll help too.”

Seo’s head snapped up. “Wait… really?!”

Now that Kouki knew the situation, he couldn’t leave it to Seo to clean up alone.

“As Honjou-san’s partner, helping him with the aftermath is also part of my job.”

Kouki said it as if to remind himself.

“If we work together, we can finish it quickly. Let’s get started.”

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: Ayyy Honjou-san really needs this partner, okay? -K

Next update: 2025.02.22

֍֍֍