Chapter 35 - Blindness

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Rejection

 

 

One week later, Ayase Ritsu came to school looking completely normal.

 

Though Ritsu's easygoing demeanor around the campus remained unchanged, Ren, after hearing that kind of story, couldn't help but almost imagine Ritsu in a more sensual light. To shake off the image, Ren hurriedly shook his head.

 

"What’s wrong, Ren?"

 

"…Nothing."

 

Then after school. After the student council's regular meeting, Ritsu peered into Ren's face with the same casual demeanor as usual. Feeling a bit awkward, Ren instinctively averted his gaze from Ritsu. Then Ritsu blinked as if realizing something and let out a small, soft chuckle.

 

"Dad must have said something unnecessary, right?"

 

"I-I told you, it’s nothing!"

 

"I knew it. Hehe, if you're trying to turn your eyes away from me like that, does that mean you're interested in that sort of thing, Ren?"

 

"W-What do you mean!?"

 

Startled, Ren looked around, but only he and Ritsu remained in the student council room. It seemed that the diligent Alphas of the student council had already headed home since the test period was approaching. With a sigh of relief, Ren glared at Ritsu.

 

"Can we not talk about this kind of stuff here?"

 

"Hehe, sorry, sorry. But c’mon, it wouldn’t hurt to talk about it every now and then, right? You must have some things you’re curious about?"

 

"…"

 

Ren stood up in silence. Then he moved closer to the spotlessly polished window, looking down at the Alphas diligently practicing on the tennis court behind the school building. Ritsu remained quiet, watching Ren's demeanor intently.

 

"…A-Actually, when did you start… doing that kind of stuff?"

 

“Hmm, let me think... I believe after my first heat, by the time the next one came around, I was already being embraced by an Alpha... so I guess I was about fourteen?”

 

"Wait…? That long ago…?"

 

"My partner was a senior from middle school. They happened to come to see my dad for a check-up, and after being hit by my pheromones… hehe, we shared that precious first time together."

 

"…I see. So, were you with that person the whole time?"

 

"No, I’ve mostly had different partners every time."

 

"What?!"

 

"This time… hehe, it's a teacher at this school. I won’t say who, but it definitely got heated."

 

"…For a student council president, you sure are bold."

 

"That's what makes it so thrilling. Nothing sparks more passion than a forbidden relationship."

 

"…Geez."

 

With a nonchalant smile, Ritsu casually said something outrageous. Ren felt a light dizziness wash over him from the unexpected reply and held his head, sighing.

 

"I don’t know what kind of image you have, but sex can actually be a lot of fun, you know?"

 

"Eh, r-really?"

 

"Being together almost every day for a week, making love...… doesn’t that help you get closer to your partner?"

 

"…"

 

"Plus, there are ups and downs during heat. There are times when you can calm down and talk normally. When you can open up about various things, even an Alpha you didn't think much of can start to seem appealing. It seems the same goes for them, as I’ve had various Alphas pushing to become mates…"

 

"Mates, huh? Didn’t you find anyone good?"

 

"Well, they were all pretty nice guys in their own way, so it’s not like becoming mates would lead to some misfortune. But I want something more than that."

 

"More than that?"

 

"What I really want is to meet my 'soul mate.'"

 

"A soul mate? Isn’t that something out of fairy tales or something?"

 

"Well, I’m not sure if they really exist. But for two people who are madly in love, the other person must undoubtedly feel like their destined partner."

 

Ritsu smiled softly, gazing at Ren with a delicate face that closely resembled his father's. Then, resting his chin on his hand, he looked up at the clear sky, somewhat melancholic.

 

"But it's no good. Even if I have sex with someone I find attractive, I don't feel like it's fate. I don't know if it's true or not, but it seems that omegas feel fate more strongly the moment they meet their "soul mate". An instinct stirs within their body, and they go into heat, wanting to bear the child of their destined partner."

 

"...That's a bit of a stretch."

 

"Yeah, I know. But maybe you have someone like that too, Ren? Someone special."

 

"…I wonder"

 

"Definitely. But if you meet someone like that, you'll have no choice but to accept your own nature. That could be quite troublesome in its own way."

 

"......"

 

Ren thought about it and agreed. Even if someone like that were to appear, he was already burdened with something heavier than fate on his shoulders. He didn't have the luxury to let his life be swayed by such a romantic notion as destiny.

 

Besides, even though Ritsu said that, he was sure he wouldn't want to bear someone else's child—he was convinced of it deep down.

 

However, knowing the pain of suppressing his desires, he couldn't help but feel a faint envy for Ritsu, who could let himself go and indulge in pleasure. How wonderful it would be if someone could comfort him through that unbearable ache. If there were someone by his side who would accept all of him and embrace him body and soul, how nice would that be... a feeling he didn't even want to acknowledge began to sprout faintly.

 

Because he was constantly using suppressants, he had never experienced a normal heat. The thought of experiencing it even became terrifying. If he were to be struck by true lust, everything he had stubbornly protected and built up until now would come crashing down. What would happen to Aoi? What would become of the Kunishiro family's future... only anxieties like that swirled in his mind, and Ren furrowed his brows in distress.

 

"Ren... please don't make that face."

 

Before he knew it, Ritsu was standing right next to him. Ritsu, who was about ten centimeters taller than Ren, had a worried expression as he gently stroked Ren's cheek. Both Dr. Ayase and Ritsu always tried to pamper him like this. Feeling his guard slip unexpectedly, Ren instinctively brushed Ritsu's hand away.

 

"Don't touch me."

 

"I'm sorry. But when you make such a fragile face, I can't help but want to hug you."

 

"Don't call me fragile. That's not a word that suits an Alpha."

 

"You're right... You have to be the most Alpha-like Alpha of all. I'm sorry, I tend to spoil you when it's just the two of us."

 

Saying that, Ritsu playfully slapped both of Ren's shoulders. When Ren looked up, Ritsu was gazing at him with a much stronger intensity than usual, and in a firm voice, he said:

 

"I'm graduating this year. From now on, I won't be able to protect you, standing right by your side. You must never show that face in public. It would give the Alphas here—and the ones you’ll have to face as equals in the future—a chance to take advantage of you.""

 

"I know."

 

"You are Kunishiro Ren, the heir of the Kunishiro conglomerate that rules this country. You must be more beautiful and stronger than anyone else. You believe that too, don't you?"

 

"......"

 

—That's right, that's the kind of person I should be. I don't have time to be swayed by silly things like fate or pleasure.

 

Ren clenched his fists tightly and raised his gaze. His well-defined features exuded a cool, sharp intensity— the mask of an Alpha.

 

Seeing Ren's expression, Ritsu's cheeks flushed slightly, and he shivered.

 

"That's a good look... ah... it's exhilarating."

 

"Ritsu. I have high hopes for your research. I won't hesitate to invest as much as needed. So please, make sure to deliver results for the Kunishiro family."

 

"...... Ah."

 

Slowly pulling Ritsu's arm away from his body, Ren looked up at him as he said that. At that moment, Ren's expression no longer showed any trace of the instability and anxiety from just moments before; instead, he radiated an aura befitting the head of the Kunishiro family.

 

Ritsu knelt down as if drawn by an invisible force and took Ren's hand, kissing his fingertips. Despite being only fifteen, Ren already possessed an innate quality that made others want to serve him. With this realization firmly in mind, Ritsu looked up at Ren, a small, relieved smile spreading across his face.

 

"As you command... Lord Ren."

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