Chapter 55 - 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. 

Epilogue

 

"Oh, you found your soulmate?"

 

A few days later, Ren visited Dr. Ayase Ritsu's office. Normally, Ren would come to get his suppressant medication, but now that he had Haruhito as his bonded mate, he no longer needed it. They were also in the process of phasing out the muscle enhancers he had been taking.

 

Upon hearing Ren's news, Ritsu smiled warmly. He gently reached out and clasped Ren's hand, which rested on his knee.

 

"I'm so happy for you… truly, I am."

 

"Th-thanks... but no need to cry."

 

"No, no. I've been the one closest to you, watching all the effort you've put in. How could I not cry?"

 

"…Yeah, that's true."

 

Ritsu softly wiped the corners of his eyes with delicate fingers, gazing at Ren with a deeply relieved smile. That kind of look brought a flood of memories rushing through Ren, almost bringing tears to his eyes as well. But instead of crying, Ren squeezed Ritsu's hand, the hand that had supported him all this time.

 

"Thank you... for always being there for me, Senior."

 

"Oh my, I haven't heard you call me that in a while."

 

"I owe so much to both you and Dr. Seiichi. It terrifies me to think of where I'd be without the two of you."

 

"It's true... Oh, you must come by my father's clinic again soon. He'll be happy to see you."

 

"I will. I'll definitely visit soon."

 

With a sentimental sigh, Ritsu slowly rose from his chair. Gazing out the window, where sunlight poured into the courtyard, he spoke with a serene expression.

 

"This takes a weight off my shoulders as well."

 

"Sorry for all the trouble I caused you."

 

"Not at all. You maintaining your Alpha status was part of what helped this hospital grow. Just having 'Kunishiro Ren' as a figurehead gives it a lot of prestige."

 

"…You really think so?"

 

"Absolutely. So, what's your plan from here on?"

 

Leaning against the window, Ritsu asked. Ren lowered his gaze slightly before answering.

 

"In the next two or three years, I plan to hand over the CEO position to Aoi. He's more than capable of handling it."

 

"Of course, Mr. Ren's brother would be."

 

"...After that, I intend to come out publicly."

 

"Oh, so you're really going through with it?"

 

"Yes."

 

Ren had long pondered the potential societal impact of his coming out. While it would reveal that he had been hiding his true identity, it could also offer hope to Omegas by showing that they could compete on equal footing with Alphas.

 

He also knew he had to avoid sending the wrong message—that it was okay to rely on suppressants or muscle enhancers to succeed. His focus would be on reshaping societal structures and mindsets, ensuring that affordable suppressants with fewer side effects would be available to all.

 

"To do that, I'll need you, Senior, to continue your research. Money won't be an issue."

 

"Oh, such generous words! Of course, your vision aligns with my deepest goals, so I'll support you every step of the way."

 

"Thank you."

 

Ritsu nodded and sighed deeply. A curious question popped into Ren's mind about Ritsu's personal life.

 

"Senior… do you have a partner or anything like that?"

 

"Hmm… I just enjoy the act of mating during heat, so lately I've been indulging quite a bit. There's a subordinate and a nurse I'm particularly fond of right now, so I'm enjoying them in turns."

 

"…I see."

 

"So, how's the sex with your soulmate?"

 

"…"

 

With an intrigued look in his eyes, Ritsu leaned forward. Ren slowly shook his head, and Ritsu took it as a sign to drop the question.

 

"Ah, I apologize for asking something so improper."

 

However, Ren lowered his gaze further and spoke quietly.

 

"…It's… amazing, actually."

 

"What?"

 

"I just… right now, everything in my life is falling into place. I'm surprised at how well things are going... and I feel truly… fulfilled."

 

"...Mr. Ren."

 

At Ren's heartfelt words, Ritsu's eyes began to well up again. Pressing the corners of his eyes with his fingers, he said, trembling slightly,

 

"For you to finally have the composure to handle my dirty jokes...! What remarkable growth!"

 

"…What?"

 

"Because up until now, whenever I made even the slightest sexual comment, you would glare at me like I was trash. Ahh, it's wonderful. Love is truly a beautiful thing…"

 

"…"

 

"The sight of Mr. Ren lost in lovemaking... must be an absolutely breathtaking thing. Ahh... how wonderful…"

 

Lost in a dreamy daze, Ritsu hugged himself and sighed passionately. Unable to keep up with him, Ren quietly rose from his chair.

 

"What? You're leaving already? Please, tell me more in detail!"

 

"Enough. Be quiet. I'm going home."

 

"But wait! I'm genuinely curious! I need to know how sex with a soulmate is different from sex with a regular Alpha—"

 

Ren slammed the door behind him and hurriedly left the consultation room.

 

+

 

After leaving the office, Ren strolled down the hallway and through the expansive courtyard. It was a calm afternoon, with a gentle breeze making it an ideal day for a walk. Many patients were outside, creating a rare, relaxed atmosphere.

 

There, on a wooden bench shaded by a tree, Ren spotted Haruhito sitting with a young boy beside him. The two were smiling and chatting away, sharing what seemed to be a pleasant conversation.

 

Not wanting to interrupt, Ren stood on the neatly paved path, watching them from a distance. After a while, the boy stood up and ran off with light steps, disappearing from the courtyard.

 

As Ren tilted his head in curiosity and approached, Haruhito noticed him and greeted him with a radiant smile.

 

"Ah, welcome back, Mr. Ren."

 

"What are you still doing here? I told you to go home first."

 

Haruhito looked up at him, smiling brightly. Ren had grown accustomed to how his own heart raced just from seeing that smile. He sat down next to Haruhito and crossed his legs.

 

"Who was that boy?"

 

"He said his younger brother broke his leg and is in the hospital. He's been visiting him often to help take care of him, but he was laughing, saying how exhausting it's been."

 

"I see..."

 

"Even though he complains, he can't stop smiling. It seems like, despite everything, he enjoys looking after his brother."

 

"I get that feeling... I understand it well."

 

When Ren spoke with genuine sentiment, Haruhito smiled, saying, "I thought you would."

 

"Children are adorable, aren't they? …Oh, but I'm not trying to rush you or anything!"

 

"I know. But… being in a space with children doesn't seem so bad."

 

"Huh?"

 

In the distance, the boy they had just seen was now helping his younger brother, who was in a wheelchair. A young nurse in a white coat stood nearby, giving instructions as the boy, still unsure of himself, carefully pushed the wheelchair.

 

The older brother's focused expression, combined with his younger brother's delighted look despite his injury, evoked a wave of nostalgia in Ren.

 

Though the future paths of those siblings were unclear, Ren felt an earnest desire to create a world where they could live easily, regardless of their secondary gender or status. His wish was to see a world where these children, brimming with potential, wouldn't be restricted by the circumstances of their birth.

 

"You seem to have a soft spot for children, Mr. Ren."

 

"…I don't know. I've never had much interaction with them until now."

 

"Really? The way you looked at those brothers… it was like the gaze of a saint."

 

"What? A saint? Don't say such creepy things."

 

Ren frowned, but Haruhito smiled, oddly pleased by his reaction.

 

Spending time with Haruhito, who was always smiling, filled Ren with a sense that his future was secure. For someone like Ren, who had lived his life weighed down by uncertainty, it was an unfamiliar but comforting feeling.

 

"Kids really are adorable. Some of them are cheeky, but they're still so pure and straightforward."

 

"Yeah, they are."

 

"You're a bit like that too, Mr. Ren. You push me away with your words, but your expressions and your body are always so honest…"

 

"…What did you just say?"

 

"It's just… that part of you is incredibly cute… Wait, please! I'm sorry!!"

 

Without a word, Ren stood up and began walking away, leaving Haruhito to chase after him in a panic.

 

A gentle breeze, birdsong, and the cheerful laughter of children filled the serene afternoon air.

 

'Blindness Another Story —Ren—' The End

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