RP Chapter 29

Chapter 29 – Looking Around

Volume 3, Resonance 4, Part 2

Novel Title: 共鳴熱情 オメガバース (Resonance Passion: Omegaverse)

Author：岩本薫 (Iwamoto Kaoru)

Illustrator：蓮川愛 (Hasukawa Ai)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: MC- 遠峰一紗 (Toomine Kazusa), Lemur & ML- ゼロ (Zero)

*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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However, the one thing that stood out as not quite fitting with the image was the upright acoustic piano placed against the wall. Unlike the rest of the room, it wasn’t black, but rather wood-grain with cabriole legs, adding a slight sense of dissonance.

“If you act wary, others will be wary too.”

As Kazusa stared absentmindedly at the one part of the room that seemed out of place, Zero’s words, which seemed to come out of nowhere, made him blink in confusion. But then he realised it was in response to the question he’d asked earlier, “Isn’t that dangerous?“

“If someone really wanted to, they could unlock a door with a simple wire. That’s why I’ve told the residents here that they’re free to enter my room, even when I’m not around, if necessary.”

“That’s… amazing.”

Kazusa couldn’t help but utter words of admiration.

“To be able to trust people that much…”

“If you don’t trust others first, they won’t trust you either. You have to open your heart first for the other person to do the same.”

Zero said this calmly, without any particular sense of pressure.

“······”

Kazusa understood what he was saying. It’s a basic principle of gaining trust. But putting it into practice tests the capacity of a person. You need the courage to handle the risks that come with trusting people.

Kazusa, on the other hand, can’t trust others that much. He’s scared of being hurt if he opens up and gets betrayed.

(This… isn’t something a coward like me could do.)

Every time he talked with Zero, he felt keenly aware of how different they were in terms of character. It left him with a sense of unease.

Unconsciously lowering his gaze for just a second, Kazusa felt a stare directed at his forehead and looked up. Zero, who had been observing him from a slight distance while respecting their agreed-upon personal space, locked eyes with him.

“Uh…?”

“So, you can come whenever you want too.”

He said this while maintaining eye contact, his voice carrying a warmth that made Kazusa’s heartbeat skip a bit.

(Don’t be stupid. Don’t get the wrong idea.)

Someone like Zero is open-minded, unlike introverted people like him.

That’s why he never locks his doors—he’s always ready to welcome anyone at any time.

The invitation he just gave was definitely something he said to all the residents here.

It doesn’t have any special meaning—end of story.

Having come to that conclusion, Kazusa broke off the eye contact. Zero, his tone shifting to something neutral, asked, “Have you finished unpacking?”

“Oh, yes, more or less.”

“Are you hungry? You haven’t eaten lunch, have you?”

Now that he mentioned it, Kazusa realized he hadn’t. He had been so busy all morning that he hadn’t even felt hungry—until now, when the thought brought the feeling of hunger with it.

“Just a bit… No, actually, I’m pretty hungry.”

Kazusa confessed honestly, and Zero gave a small, amused smile from the corner of his mouth.

(Did… did he just smile?)

The sheer beauty of his face softened, making him look more his age.

Involuntarily, Kazusa placed a hand over his left chest.

A sudden smile from such a good-looking person—bad for his heart…

“Let’s grab a snack on the first floor. —Let’s go.”

Prompted by Zero, Kazusa left the room with him. Zero stepped into the elevator first, sliding his security card into the slot on the control panel and pressing the button for the first floor. Once the doors closed, he again consciously maintained some distance from Kazusa.

Seeing that, Kazusa braced himself. He should also be careful not to accidentally make contact with him.

When they reached the first floor, Zero exited the elevator and stood in front of a black door. He pointed to a square panel next to the door.

“If you hold your security card over this reader, the lock will be released. Try it.”

Following his instructions, Kazusa held the card he had been given over the reader. A beep sounded, followed by the click of the lock, and the black door slid open.

“Before I bought this place, the first floor was occupied by a restaurant tenant. Now it’s been divided into three sections using partitions.”

Zero explained as he walked in, and Kazusa followed.

The first space they stepped into was about 15 tatami mats in size, filled with running machines, weight training equipment, and various exercise tools like balance balls, dumbbells, and yoga mats, all neatly stored on shelves along the walls. The floor was covered in rubber mats, and a large mirror that reflected the entire body was mounted on the wall.

“As you can see, it’s a gym. It’s available 24 hours. Just remember that shoes with soles are prohibited on the mat, so you’ll need to switch to dedicated indoor shoes.”

“I understand.”

Kazusa immediately made a mental note to buy the appropriate shoes and workout clothes.

He had never had the time to go to a gym before, but since it was located right below where he lived and was available 24 hours, he wanted to give it a try. No matter what kind of work he would be doing in the future, having physical strength and stamina could only be an asset.

“Next, the kitchen.”

They moved to the next section through an opening in the partition, and it was unmistakably a kitchen.

An island kitchen with a sink, stove, and worktop stood at the center, surrounded by a huge transparent refrigerator, storage units, a freezer, wine cellar, water dispenser, coffee machine, and neatly organized shelves for dishes and glasses. The space had a bright atmosphere, perhaps because everything was coordinated in white appliances and stainless steel.

“Feel free to use any of the stocked ingredients here. Drinks and alcohol are also free.”

Zero opened the refrigerator, freezer, and wine cellar in turn, revealing them fully stocked with fresh ingredients.

“You can cook here and share with the other residents, or just pick up ingredients and cook in your own room. It’s up to each individual.”

Understanding that the system worked like a shared house, Kazusa nodded.

“This is the community floor, open 24 hours. As long as you clean up after yourself and put away what you bring or use, you’re free to use it however you like.”

The community floor was an open, spacious area with floor-to-ceiling glass windows on one side. Along the windows, there was a counter with seating, and in the middle of the room stood a large wooden table with eight chairs. Comfortable sofas and couches were also scattered around the space. Since it used to be a restaurant, it seemed likely that the current setup, including the kitchen, was an adaptation of the previous layout.

The combination of natural light streaming in through the large windows and the calming effect of the greenery strategically placed throughout the room made Kazusa momentarily forget that they were still in Deep Downtown.

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Next update: 2025.04.14

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