RP Chapter 57

 Chapter 57 - Warm Embrace

Volume 4, Resonance 7, Part 7

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)

*Moved from knoxt.space, the original site of translation.*

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"Let me see."

Zero held it up in front of Kazusa’s eyes—a small, plastic, mass-produced button with four holes. It wasn’t a major concern, as long as it was removed from the windpipe. There would be no need to take Misa to the hospital.

Indeed, Misa’s coughing had subsided, and her laboured breathing had calmed. When Kazusa helped her sit up, she hiccuped a few times before suddenly bursting into tears.

"Misa!"

Gazelle hugged Misa tightly as the little girl sobbed with big, heavy tears. Gazelle himself was also crying.

"I was so worried... so, so worried."

"Mama… Mama!"

Hearing Misa’s lively voice, Kazusa finally felt a wave of relief wash over him. His tension drained away.

"It’s likely that while playing with the stuffed toy, the button came off. And somehow, she ended up swallowing it. Fortunately, it was the type with a hole in it, so she didn’t choke completely."

Gazelle paled as the possibility of choking was mentioned.

"It’s because I... I didn’t notice that the button was coming loose..."

"Accidental swallowing or aspiration is common in young children, especially in kids aged zero to two, who tend to put anything in their mouths. Misa-chan is three years old and a smart child, so I’d say it was just an unlucky coincidence this time, more of a mishap than anything else."

"...Yes."

"So please, don’t blame yourself too much. If possible, try to relax today, enjoy some good food, or take a nice bath to take care of yourself. And make sure to spoil Misa-chan as much as you can."

"Yes, I will. Thank you, Sensei... you really saved us."

Still on the verge of tears, Gazelle bowed deeply. In response, Kazusa bowed back and waved to Misa, who had stopped crying and was sniffling.

"Goodbye, Misa-chan. Make sure to have your mom sew the bunny’s button back on, okay?"

Misa nodded.

"Bye-bye, Kazusa. Bye-bye, Zero."

After saying goodbye to Misa, who was waving her little hand earnestly, and Gazelle, who kept bowing, they left the room.

As soon as the door closed, Kazusa let out the breath he had been holding. "Haa..."

Relieved from the tension, Zero, standing next to him, muttered, "Thank you... You really helped."

"Your calm handling was impressive."

"This time, it was a straightforward case, so I could handle it with the back blow method. But... I think I’ll get in touch with a paediatrician colleague for future incidents, just in case."

"That would be helpful."

As Zero said this, he looked at Kazusa. Their eyes met at close range, making Kazusa’s heart skip a beat.

Although it wasn’t the right time for such thoughts, ever since he had said, "Stop giving me special treatment," they hadn’t had a proper conversation in two weeks. The shock from Zero's cold attitude had hit just half a day ago. To make matters worse, Kazusa had been noticeably avoiding him afterward...

Now that the emergency mode was over, the awkwardness came rushing back. Zero, too, seemed to recall his "I won’t get close to you" declaration, as he wore an uncomfortable expression. Both of them averted their eyes, and an uneasy silence hung between them.

Kazusa knew they should just part ways and head back to their rooms, but his feet wouldn’t move. He kept staring at the tiled floor, waiting for Zero to say, "Well, I’ll be going, then."

"Earlier—"

Zero suddenly spoke from beside him, startling Kazusa.

"Ah, y-yes!"

Seeing Zero’s surprised expression, Kazusa’s face flushed with heat at his own overreaction.

"I’m sorry for entering your room without permission."

"N-no, don’t worry about it. It was an emergency, after all."

As Kazusa tried to smooth things over, Zero let out a small chuckle.

"W-what is it?"

"It’s just that you were so competent earlier. And now you seem like a completely different person. The contrast is remarkable."

Zero’s eyes, as if suppressing laughter, were gentle. Kazusa felt a wave of panic inside.

(This is bad... If he looks at me like that...)

The wall Kazusa had painstakingly built in his heart seemed about to crumble completely.

This is dangerous. He needed to shift his thinking...

"Um, about that—"

"What is it?"

"That thing where touching gives a little shock..."

"Oh, that."

Zero’s voice suggested he was recalling the moment just a while ago when he had shaken Kazusa’s shoulder.

"It seems to be fine as long as I'm not in heat. Two weeks ago, when you grabbed my wrist during the Lycaon incident, I only felt a brief shock. It quickly settled down."

―――Don’t lie.

―――But I’m not lying.

Even then, the brief shock only lasted a moment, and it didn’t overwhelm him with heat.

With two such instances, it’s almost certain. 

The suppressant becomes ineffective. And he forcibly entered a heat mode only when touched during his heat.

"Now that you mention it... that did happen."

"It’s not that it means much, but..."

Thinking that the change of topic might have been too forced, Kazusa mumbled an explanation, and Zero responded in a low voice.

"No... it’s a big deal to me."

"Huh?"

Right after Kazusa asked for clarification, Zero grabbed his upper arm.

"...!"

A jolt of electricity ran through him. He instinctively tried to pull his arm away, but Zero tugged him closer.

"Ah!"

Before he realised it, Kazusa was in Zero’s arms.

"Ze-Zero..."

He was held tightly with a force that felt driven by impulse, making it hard to breathe.

The last time he had been held like this was that night on the rooftop—

"Thank you... You’re Misa's lifesaver."

Zero whispered into his ear with a hot breath.

"Th-that’s... an exaggeration."

Kazusa responded in a gasping voice. The suddenness of it all left him too shaken to escape. While he remained tense in Zero’s arms, the strength of the embrace gradually weakened—until, just as suddenly as it had started, the hold was released.

(Ah...)

The warmth leaving him felt lonely. He struggled to resist the urge to cling to it.

"...Sorry."

Zero apologised as his gaze landed on Kazusa's face, still lingering with traces of the impulse.

"..."

Not knowing what the apology was for, Kazusa couldn’t respond. Zero’s brows knitted together in pain. Eventually, as if severing any lingering regrets, he broke eye contact, flipped the hem of his black coat, and started to walk away. It wasn’t long before his tall figure disappeared into the elevator, and the doors closed.

Kazusa stood there in silence, listening to the sound of the elevator’s movement. As he did, he gradually wrapped his own arms around his body, which still held onto the warmth and sensation of Zero’s embrace.

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Next update: 2025.08.14

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