RL Chapter 59

Chapter 59 – Can’t Give Up

Resonance 8, Part 1

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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Kouki dialled the cell phone number he had obtained from the business card on the spot. However, Kourogi didn’t answer. After eight rings, the call switched to voicemail.

Waiting for the beep, he left a message: “Is this Kourogi-san’s cell phone number? My name is Kariya from the Downtown East Police Department. I’m calling regarding Aya-san, the talent who used to be affiliated with your agency, ‘Chance Promotions’. Could you please return my call? Anytime is fine. I’ll be waiting.”

All Kouki could do now was hope that Kourogi would react to the mention of ‘Aya’ and return the call.

According to the former manager Shimokawa, it was Kourogi who ordered Aya to be cast for the drinking party. As the president of the company, he should naturally be aware of the death of Aya, who was under his management. Given that the police were calling regarding Aya, Kourogi would be curious about the content. Kouki was confident that after listening to the voicemail, Kourogi would contact him.

Kourogi’s business card only had the company name, his title, name, and cell number. Without knowing his address, visiting his home wasn’t an option. All Kouki could do now was wait for Kourogi to reach out.

“Haa…” Letting out a heavy sigh, Kouki checked the time on his phone’s home screen after hanging up the call.

12:35 a.m.

It had been over six hours since Amane disappeared from the police station. But there was still no word from him and he hadn’t returned home.

(I hope he hasn’t gotten caught up in any trouble…)

Kouki paced restlessly around the living room with his phone in hand, waiting for contact from either Kourogi or Amane. Perhaps he should be conserving his strength, but he couldn’t sit still. The thought of Amane possibly being in danger at that very moment made his chest tighten with anxiety. He couldn’t remain still for even a second. His inability to do anything felt frustrating and pathetic…

(If only I had asked Amane for Crow’s contact information…)

If he had, Crow, the information broker, might have been able to use his underground network to find out where Kourogi lived. Gripped with regret, Kouki clenched his phone tightly.

When he first learned that Amane had been purchasing information from Crow in exchange for money, he had reprimanded him for violating the code of conduct. Using rigid rules as a shield, Kouki had scolded Amane with self-righteousness. But Amane had coldly rebuked him.

―――If you stay up on your high horse, you’ll never understand the people you’re supposed to protect. Come down here and dirty your fancy shoes.

Amane’s words, which cut to the core of things, made Kouki realise that he was still standing ‘above’. Amane had taught him that there were perspectives he couldn’t see from up there.

He never imagined that moment, when his relentless partner dragged him deep into the underbelly of downtown, would be a turning point in his life. But that was when he started to change.

Now—if it were to save Amane, Kouki would even be willing to dirty his own hands, even if it meant breaking the law. He wouldn’t hesitate to turn the whole world against him.

Looking back, before meeting Amane, Kouki had been embarrassingly ignorant. He thought he understood how the world worked. But in reality, he knew nothing.

If he hadn’t met Amane, he would have remained complacent with his shallow understanding of Stray Omegas who had fallen through the cracks of the safety net. He wouldn’t have bothered to learn more deeply.

He also wouldn’t have known the true meaning of loving someone.

Since his early teens, Kouki had always had a romantic partner. And he prided himself on his wealth of experience.

But now, looking back, he realised that none of those relationships had been genuine. That’s why none of them had lasted. He had always been able to part ways without much conflict, quickly forgetting them once they were out of his life.

True love, however, was agonising.

Even though he knew chasing after someone would only make them run, he couldn’t stop himself.

When they were apart, he felt a hollow emptiness. It was as if a part of his heart had been torn away.

A physical connection alone wasn’t enough.

Even when they embraced, something still felt missing. He found himself endlessly craving more, desperately trying to fill the void.

Every gesture, every word from Amane, stirred his emotions. He found himself irrationally upset over little things, wounded like a teenager in love, unable to control his obsession. He exposed the ugliest sides of himself and fell into self-loathing. Even spending sleepless nights over it.

Nothing went the way he wanted. Nothing worked out.

Now that he had experienced true love, Kouki realised just how uncool, small, and far removed he was from the kind of big-hearted person he had always aspired to be.

Yet, even so, he couldn’t give up.

He knew, in his head, that cutting ties would bring him peace.

(But… I just can’t give up…)

Two months ago, when Kouki first met Amane, he could never have imagined that he would feel such passionate emotions toward him one day.

Even though this very moment was painful, he had no desire to return to the person he was before he met his ‘soulmate’.

He didn’t want to go back to that time when, never having experienced failure, he had an inflated sense of self-worth, thinking it was only natural for others to accept him.

…Rrrrring… Piririririri…

Lost in thought as he had stopped pacing, Kouki didn’t immediately realise what the sound he was hearing was.

Piririririri… Piririririri…

Jolted back to reality by the persistent ringing notification, Kouki looked down at his phone. Kourogi’s name appeared on the once-black home screen.

(A call from Kourogi!)

Hurriedly, he tapped the answer button. He took a deep breath and pressed the phone to his ear.

“Hello?”

“…”

There was no immediate reply. After a few seconds of silence, a doubtful voice inquired,

“…I’m returning your call from the voicemail message… Are you really with the police?”

It was Kourogi’s voice. Kouki clenched his fist in silent triumph.

“My name is Kariya, from the First Squad of the Downtown East Police Station. I apologise for leaving a message at such a late hour.”

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*Translator’s Note: Your honey is in trouble, Kariya-kun… -K

Next update: 2025.03.01

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