Bluebird: Chapter 1

While you may already be familiar with these terms, I’ve provided their English definitions for those who may not be. I’ve also changed the name order to First and Last, rather than the Last and First order used in the original Japanese text.

1. さん (san): This is a general, respectful suffix used to address or refer to someone. It's similar to "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Ms." in English. It's commonly used for people of all ages and social statuses in both formal and informal contexts.

2. 君 (kun): This suffix is often used for addressing younger males, or in a more familiar or casual setting. It can be used with people of the same or lower status, and it's commonly used among friends, students, or in professional settings where there is a clear hierarchy (like between a superior and a subordinate). 

3. ちゃん (chan): This suffix is used to express affection or endearment, typically towards children, pets, or close friends. It conveys a sense of familiarity and warmth, and is often used with people who are younger or of the same age but with whom one shares a close, informal relationship. While it can be used for both males and females, it is more commonly used for females and children.

Content warning: Don't be fooled by the cute cover. This novel contains descriptions of explicit sexual content, r*pe, and su*cide ideation. I will not be adding a trigger warning to each chapter with graphic content, so please consider this a general warning.

TOC Next

This morning, when Kawachi woke up, he felt absolutely terrible. His body was burning up, and a wave of nausea and dizziness hit him so hard that he couldn’t even get out of bed. Feeling apologetic, he decided to take the day off.

After lying down for about two hours, he finally began to feel better. The suppressant seemed to be working. The medication hadn’t been as effective as usual these past few days, but at this rate, he figured he would be fine. Yeah, this should be okay now.

Kentaro Kawachi slowly sat up in bed. He powered on his smartphone and checked the time: 10:30 AM. If he started getting ready now, he could still make it to work in the afternoon. Besides, he had already arranged for a three-day weekend starting tomorrow. He didn’t want to take any more time off and inconvenience his colleagues. His backlog of data entry was growing, and missing another day would only cause more trouble for everyone.

He changed into a suit, ate a light meal, and left his apartment. The sun was high in the sky, and the weather was pleasant, though there was a distinct chill in the air. Come to think of it, December starts next week, he thought absently as he walked. When he reached the riverside, a strong northern wind suddenly gusted, making him shiver. He regretted not bringing a scarf but shrugged it off. It was too late now.

As he climbed the stairs to the station, his steps wavered slightly. A flicker of unease crossed his mind. Am I really okay yet? But the feeling passed as quickly as it had come.

He sent a quick email to his supervisor, Nonaka: “I’m feeling better now, so I’ll come in to work.” Her reply came almost immediately: “That’s a relief, but are you sure you’re okay?”

Nonaka was a woman and not just his supervisor but also a longtime friend. She had risen quickly through the ranks of their company and had always been someone Kawachi could rely on. An Alpha, she knew Kawachi was an Omega but treated him no differently. He appreciated that. Kawachi replied simply, “I’m fine,” just as the train slid into the station.

He boarded the car closest to the stairs, but as soon as he stepped inside, a sharp, acrid scent stung his nose. He flinched. It was the unmistakable smell of an Omega in heat. Their pheromones were spilling into the air, thick and overwhelming. This was bad—very bad.

He scanned the train car quickly. Near the door, a long-haired woman sat hunched over, clutching her bag and staring down at the floor. It was likely her. This smell is practically criminal. She should really get off the train and take a taxi to a hospital, he thought. But as he hesitated, the doors closed, and the train began to move.

From Kawachi’s right, he heard the sound of ragged breathing. A young man, probably a college student, was clutching his chest, his mouth slightly open, his eyes bloodshot. Kawachi tensed. Oh no, this guy is an Alpha.

A loud thump behind him made Kawachi turn. The woman’s bag had fallen to the floor near her feet, but she didn’t move to pick it up. She was trembling violently. Kawachi moved quickly to her side, picked up the bag, and asked, “Are you okay?” She nodded weakly but said nothing.

Kawachi didn’t hesitate. Supporting her limp body, he helped her off the train at the next station. Thankfully, the young Alpha didn’t follow. It seemed he still had enough self-control to resist his instincts, which was a relief.

The platform at this station was open-air, and the fresh breeze helped dissipate the overpowering scent somewhat. Kawachi laid the woman down on a bench and asked, “Do you have any suppressants?”

She nodded weakly. “...Used… them all… was going… to the hospital…”

Her labored breaths shook her frame. Kawachi reached into the inner pocket of his suit and pulled out a pill case. “I’ve got some NX-B5. Ever tried it?”

“That… doesn’t… work…”

Kawachi offered a small, wry smile. “It’s the mildest suppressant out there. But if you didn’t have side effects before, give it another shot. It’s better than nothing.”

He placed one pill into her mouth. Within minutes, the overwhelming pheromone scent began to dissipate. While it wasn’t completely effective, it was doing enough to take the edge off. At this level, Betas should be able to maintain self-control. If the station staff weren’t Alphas, she’d be safe in their hands.

The flush on her cheeks, which had been so intense it was as if she’d just stepped out of a hot bath, slowly faded away.

“I feel better... Thank you.”

Her delicate features were framed by an elegant silhouette. Long, graceful limbs. She was a beauty of the sort that could easily draw a horde of Alphas desperate to be her mate. She straightened herself, exhaling deeply, and looked up at Kawachi.

“...You’re an Omega too, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

That was why he couldn’t just leave her alone.

A single tear slipped from the woman’s eyes as she murmured, “Even though you’re a man, that’s so unfair.”

A sharp, stinging pain pierced his chest, as if someone had pricked him with a needle, but he brushed the thought aside before it could take hold.

After explaining the situation to the station staff, Kawachi left the woman in their care and boarded the next train. The woman’s words, “So unfair,” clung stubbornly to the back of his mind. From an outsider’s perspective, maybe he was someone to be pitied. But soon—just four more days—he would finally be free of this cursed body, passed down from his mother. Free from all the burdens of being an Omega.

…People, apart from a small sexual minority, are divided into two sexes: male and female. Beyond this binary, there exists a separate categorization into three secondary genders: Alpha, Beta, and Omega. The majority of people are Betas, while Alphas and Omegas are the minorities.

Alphas are characterized by exceptional physical and mental capabilities. Many politicians, business executives, and scholars belong to this group. Betas are average in every aspect, neither excelling nor struggling significantly. Omegas, while possessing abilities comparable to Betas, are disproportionately represented in non-permanent employment and industries like sex work. This disparity stems from their biological peculiarities.

Omegas, regardless of being male or female, have the capacity to become pregnant. Once they hit puberty, they experience regular heat cycles, much like cats or rabbits. The frequency and duration of these cycles vary from person to person but typically occur once a month, lasting four to five days.

During their heat, Omegas emit a powerful pheromone that stimulates sexual desire in both Alphas and Betas. The intensity of these pheromones is staggering, often overwhelming the consciousness and rationality of Alphas and occasionally Betas, leading to non-consensual sexual acts. As a result, incidents of Omegas being assaulted during their heat are alarmingly common.

While sexual intercourse can relieve an Omega’s heat, those without a partner must endure the cycle. If untreated, the heat can cause symptoms like dizziness, fever, chills, and full-body pain, sometimes even resulting in death in severe cases.

To avoid such outcomes, Omegas often rely on a medication called suppressants, which suppress the physical symptoms and pheromones of their heat. However, suppressants are not foolproof and can cause side effects in some individuals. This is why the government promotes sexual partnerships as a safer solution.

To prevent unwanted sexual acts or rape incidents caused by pheromone influence, Omegas are expected to refrain from going outside during their heat as a form of self-protection. During this time, they are unable to report to work and must work from home, though some are so unwell they can’t even get out of bed. As this occurs monthly, it’s difficult for Omegas to secure full-time employment in conventional companies. They often gravitate toward part-time or freelance work that offers flexible hours. This, in turn, leads to unstable and frequently low incomes.

Heat cycles are a fate Omegas cannot escape. For some, the stigma and practicality drive them into sex work, a profession where they are disproportionately represented and often scorned.

There exists a system known as "bonding" between Alphas and Omegas. When an Alpha bites the nape of an Omega’s neck, the Omega’s body recognizes the Alpha as its partner. From then on, the Omega can only derive pleasure from sexual acts with that Alpha. Ideally, this leads to a marital relationship, but malicious Alphas sometimes forcibly bond with Omegas without their consent. Once they grow bored, they abandon the Omegas, leaving them behind.

Alphas can bond with multiple Omegas and still have no trouble engaging in sexual activity with other Omegas or Betas. However, it is different for Omegas who have been bonded. Their bodies reject sexual acts with anyone else, and forcing the issue can cause physical pain, such as headaches and nausea. Abandoned Omegas are condemned to endure painful heat cycles for the rest of their lives, relying on suppressants to get by.

Kawachi was born to an Omega mother. She used to say, “Your father passed away before you were born,” but a blunt relative once told Kawachi the truth: his mother had been abandoned by the Alpha who bonded with her. His beautiful and gentle mother passed away from illness three years ago. She never spoke of his father, so Kawachi didn’t know his father’s face or even his name. Not that he had any desire to meet the man who discarded his mother like trash, but since Kawachi didn’t resemble his mother at all, he figured he might take after his father.

When Kawachi underwent a secondary gender test upon entering middle school, he wasn’t surprised to learn he was an Omega. He had studied about Alphas, Betas, and Omegas since elementary school. Given that his mother was an Omega, there had always been a fifty percent chance he would be one too. In fact, he even felt relieved that he hadn’t inherited his father’s heartless traits.

His mother, an Omega, experienced light heat cycles. Suppressants worked well for her, allowing her to manage her condition effectively. She could go out and work even during her heat. A hard worker with a stable income, she ensured Kawachi grew up without any hardships.

When he was seventeen, Kawachi experienced his first heat during dinner one summer evening. All at once, his entire body burned, his head swam, and his heart pounded violently. His skin felt as if it were stinging, and it became hard to breathe, as though his lungs had stopped working. It was unbearable until his mother, realizing what was happening, handed him a suppressant. The moment he swallowed the pill, the agony faded away.

The next day, his mother accompanied him to a specialist Omega clinic. The doctor was surprised at how perfectly Kawachi’s heat could be controlled with an extremely low dose of suppressants and without any side effects. They suggested Kawachi had likely inherited his mother’s mild heat cycle traits.

As long as he took his medication correctly, there would be no problems with his daily life. Unlike what he’d often heard—that Omegas struggled to manage their heat or find the right dosage of suppressants—Kawachi couldn’t relate to those difficulties. If Omegas just took their medication properly, wouldn’t they be able to live normal lives? he had thought. Looking back, he realized he had underestimated the challenges Omegas face.

It was spring, just after Kawachi had started his third year of high school, when he encountered a stark reality. During lunch break, he was walking along the covered corridor leading to the main building, intending to discuss his future plans with a teacher in the staffroom. Outside, heavy rain poured, forcing students to gather along the edges of the hallways or sit and chat in the corridors.

The first floor of the main building housed the staffroom, and the upper floors contained special classrooms, so it was a quieter area with fewer students around. As Kawachi walked, a loud thud suddenly echoed through the stillness. The sound came from the storage room nearby.

Kawachi stopped in his tracks. What was that? he wondered. As he hesitated, a faint scent drifted out, growing stronger by the second.

He stepped closer to the storage room door and leaned in. Through a narrow gap, he caught the scent full force—an unfamiliar, dizzying aroma that hit him like a hammer. It was unmistakably the pheromone of an Omega in heat.

Someone in heat was inside the storage room. Kawachi had experienced his first heat at home, but it wasn’t surprising that a student might go through theirs at school. Alphas and Omegas made up about one in every hundred people, and with roughly seven hundred students in this school, there were likely around seven Omegas. However, Omegas rarely revealed their secondary gender, as doing so often made them targets of bullying. Neither the school nor the students themselves were eager to make such information public.

When a student was identified as an Omega, they were given a lecture on how to handle their first heat. The standard advice was to go to the nurse’s office immediately if they noticed any changes in their body. If that wasn’t possible, they were encouraged to find a secluded place to avoid unintended sexual encounters or assault and to call for help.

The scent leaking from the room grew increasingly intense. They must be in real pain by now. Fetching the school nurse would take too long—the nurse’s office was in the second building, and going there and back would eat up precious time.

Kawachi remembered that he had an emergency suppressant with him. He didn’t need it himself; his heat cycles were predictable, and he could manage them well enough without it. Still, his mother had insisted he carry it “just in case,” pressing it into his hand despite his protests.

The memory of his first heat came flooding back. His body had burned as if it were on fire, every breath a struggle… All I could think about was wanting relief, even a second sooner.

Whoever was on the other side of the door must be feeling the same way. If this medicine can help them, then I should give it to them right away.

With that thought, Kawachi flung the storage room door open with force.

The dim, cramped room was thick with swirling dust. The wave of pheromones hit Kawachi full force, making him feel nauseous. This is intense. And it wasn’t just the pheromones—there was something else in the air, something raw and rank.

“Ahh! Nghhh! Ahhhhn!”

High-pitched cries, like the wailing of a cat, pierced his ears. Beneath the frosted glass window, two naked lower bodies were tangled together in a complicated embrace.

Kawachi froze in place, gripping the pill case with the suppressants tightly in his hand. What... is this?

One person lay on their back, legs spread wide, while the other knelt between them, his bare hips facing Kawachi as he thrusted rhythmically and intensely.

"Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, aaaaahhhn..."

Kawachi's mind struggled to process the scene unfolding before him. He knew what he was seeing was sex, but his brain couldn't keep up. The two people were... off. They didn't even flinch when Kawachi opened the door and entered, nor did they try to hide their actions. And the one on the bottom, the one being penetrated, was Yoshino, the second-year judo team member who had competed in the national championships. He had even been awarded at the school assembly last year. Yet, there he was, his athletic build pinned beneath a slender boy, his legs spread wide like a girl's, his voice rising in ecstasy.

“Ahhn, yes, yes, it feels so good!”

Yoshino thrashed his shaved head back and forth, panting heavily. Despite the blood trickling from where their bodies were joined, he wore an entranced expression, his eyes hazy as if he were lost in a dream. Saliva and snot dripped from his face.

A wave of nausea rose in Kawachi’s chest. Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting... I’m going to be sick.

“What—what are you doing?!”

The gym teacher burst into the storage room, shoving Kawachi aside. The pill case in Kawachi’s hand fell to the hallway floor, the lid popping open and scattering its contents.

The teacher grabbed the slender student, trying to pull him away from Yoshino. But the student twisted his body with a look of irritation and forcefully shoved the gym teacher off, despite the teacher being nearly twice his weight.

“Damn it, he’s in a rut,” the teacher spat.

An Alpha affected by an Omega’s heat could enter a state called “rut,” where their aggression and strength surged uncontrollably. Kawachi had heard that some Alphas could exhibit physical power many times their normal level in this state. Yoshino was strong enough that Kawachi had thought he could easily throw off someone as slender as the boy pinning him down, but the overwhelming strength on display made it clear: the slender student was in rut... Does that mean the slender student is an Alpha?

Wait… if that’s the case, is Yoshino being raped? The realization sent a shiver down Kawachi’s spine.

“What’s going on here?”

The commotion had drawn a crowd of students, who began peeking into the storage room.

“They’re seriously doing it? Ugh, that’s so gross. Two guys? That’s beyond disgusting.”

A sharp crack snapped Kawachi’s attention back. He turned to see that the pill case he had dropped, the one containing the suppressants, had been crushed under a student’s indoor slipper. The pills inside had been reduced to powder, scattered across the floor.

“God, it reeks… Wait, is that Yoshino? No way. That guy’s an Omega with that build? That’s the worst.”

The worst. Kawachi knew it was. He knew it, and yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the scene. Yoshino, being violated by another man, overlapped in his mind with an image of himself. This is what happens to an Omega when they lose control during heat.

Even someone as big and strong as Yoshino—a judo champion—couldn’t throw off his attacker while in heat. If I lose control of mine, this is what would happen to me too. Humiliated. Degraded. Violated in a shameful, pathetic state.

There would be nothing left of my dignity as a man.

No. No. No. Absolutely not. I’d rather die than have sex with a man. I’d rather die than be penetrated, reduced to this miserable sight, moaning like a woman in front of everyone.

Beside him, raucous laughter broke through his spiraling thoughts.

"Whoa, that hip movement is insane. It's like they're mating like dogs. The judo team guy is going to get pregnant or something!"

Despite being watched, laughed at, and ridiculed, the two continued their ugly, intense sex. The math and modern Japanese language teachers rushed over, and together with the third person, they pried the boy off Yoshino. The boy's penis was erect and covered in blood. Yoshino lay there, his legs still spread wide, his expression vacant as he stared up at the ceiling. His own penis was also still erect, twitching in sync with the boy's.

“Hey, are you okay?”

One of the teachers called out to Yoshino, but there was no response.

“He’s been bitten on the neck!” the math teacher shouted, his voice tense. With that, the incident came to an end.

The storage room door was shut, and the gym teacher, his face dark with fury, drove away the gathered students like scattering flies.

Kawachi crouched down to collect the crushed pill case and scattered suppressants before heading back to his classroom. His body trembled uncontrollably, even though it wasn’t cold. No. I can’t let that happen to me. I don’t want to end up like that. Never. Never. Never.

A sharp pain ran through his palm, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts. He opened his hand to find shards of the broken pill case embedded in his skin, blood beginning to seep out.

The story of an Omega student going into heat at school and being assaulted by an Alpha spread across the campus in no time. Although it was Yoshino’s first heat, few sympathized with him. People whispered that, as an Omega, he should have been better prepared.

After that day, Yoshino never returned to school. He transferred elsewhere, and no one ever mentioned his name again.

Witnessing the worst-case scenario of an Omega being raped by an Alpha deeply changed Kawachi’s outlook. The spare suppressant pills his mother had insisted he carry—previously tucked into his pocket out of habit—became something he now carried with him religiously. He couldn’t shake the fear that he might one day be caught in an accident or incident where he couldn’t take his suppressants in time. If that happened, his pheromones could spill out uncontrollably, leaving him vulnerable to assault. Even though the odds of it happening were infinitesimally low, the fear was overwhelming.

This anxiety settled into the depths of his mind, surfacing in recurring nightmares where he was raped, like Yoshino, by some unknown assailant. He would wake up terrified, heart racing.

Despite Kawachi’s fears, his heat cycles remained perfectly controlled. There were several types of heat suppressants for Omegas, but Kawachi, like his mother, used the weakest option, NXB5, which was completely effective for him. His case was so rare—a heat cycle so mild it could be suppressed with the weakest medication—that his doctor once requested he undergo detailed examinations to contribute to research. This happened when Kawachi was twenty, in his second year of university. The tests revealed nothing unusual; the conclusion was simply that his condition was a matter of "natural constitution."

It was during this time that Kawachi heard something from his doctor that would change the course of his life. There was a study reporting that a certain subset of Omegas, particularly those with mild heat cycles, could completely lose their heat if they abstained from sexual intercourse—specifically penetration of the rectum or vagina—until the age of thirty-five.

“Perhaps the Omegas who lost their heat were those with a constitution like yours,” the doctor had said.

In that moment, it felt as if a door had opened before him. For most Omegas, controlling their heat with suppressants alone and avoiding sexual activity for years was virtually impossible. Long-term use of suppressants almost inevitably caused side effects, which was one reason the government recommended that Omegas form partnerships with either Alphas or Betas by the age of twenty-five.

But Kawachi didn’t experience side effects. Although he had disclosed his status as an Omega to his workplace—as required by law—he had never needed to take time off due to heat. His suppressants kept it completely under control, and many of his colleagues didn’t even realize he was an Omega.

For male Omegas, resolving a heat required a specific act: penetration by the penis of an Alpha or Beta. Sex with a woman, even if she were an Omega, wouldn’t suffice. This necessity meant that for male Omegas, the partner had to be a man. If they refused to engage in sex with men, their only alternative was to rely on suppressants for the rest of their lives. But even the mildest medication, if taken continuously for decades, might eventually cause health issues.

In addition to the health risks, there was the genetic reality: any children he fathered would likely carry the Omega gene. Kawachi doubted any woman—even another Omega—would choose to marry him under those circumstances. He had resigned himself to the idea that marriage would never be an option.

But the idea of his heat disappearing... Since hearing that, Kawachi found himself, for the first time, thinking positively about his future. Even if losing his heat didn’t drastically change his external circumstances, it would eliminate the health concerns associated with suppressants and the ever-present risk of being raped. He could live as a “normal man.” Perhaps, if he waited long enough, he might even meet a woman—someone unconventional—who wouldn’t mind marrying him or having children with him.

To eliminate the cursed trait of being an Omega—the heat cycle—Kawachi had resolved to remain a virgin until the age of thirty-five. And so far, he’d stuck to that decision. He had never imagined he’d find a partner, but last year, something unexpected happened: he started dating a colleague at work, a woman named Serina who was five years younger than him.

Even after Kawachi confessed that he was an Omega, Serina didn’t leave him. On the contrary, she made a confession of her own: her mother was an Omega. She explained that her family consisted of an Omega mother, a Beta father, and an Omega sister, while Serina herself was a Beta. Her parents, despite the challenges, loved each other deeply, and their happiness taught Serina that being with an Omega didn’t mean giving up on love or a fulfilling life.

To Kawachi, she was the only woman he could imagine marrying. He wanted to be with her.

Kawachi told Serina everything about his body without hiding anything. He proposed, asking her to marry him once his heat cycles disappeared after he turned thirty-five.

Today, Kawachi was thirty-four years and three hundred sixty-one days old. Just four more days until his thirty-fifth birthday. Four more days of patience, and his heat cycles would be gone. Perhaps as a precursor to this, his cycles had become irregular over the past six months, with longer intervals in between. It also took suppressants longer to take effect. When he consulted his doctor, he was told, “Your body may be transitioning as your Omega heat cycles come to an end. The hormonal imbalance might be causing these irregularities.”

Though his suppressants were still working, he decided to stay home starting three days before his thirty-fifth birthday as a precaution, waiting for his cycles to finally end. He had taken time off work for this purpose. However, even before his leave began, this morning he had already felt unwell. While he recovered after a few hours, it was unsettling.

When Kawachi arrived at work, it was just past noon. Most of his colleagues were out for lunch. In the quiet office, Kawachi went to his desk and powered on his computer. As he checked and replied to emails, a familiar voice called out.

“Huh? Weren’t you supposed to be off today?”

It was Itoi, his subordinate at the neighboring desk, holding a can of coffee as he returned to the office. Today, like always, Itoi sported his awful capybara-print tie, but his cheerful personality and competence at work made up for his lack of fashion sense.

“I started feeling better, so I came in. I’m taking three days off starting tomorrow—I felt bad about leaving so much work behind.”

“You’re so responsible,” Itoi said with a shrug.

“But honestly, I’m glad you’re here,” Itoi added, spreading out a purchase order sheet in front of Kawachi. “About this order for B Hospital—it looks like there’s a digit off. Doesn’t that seem weird?”

Kawachi leaned over to take a look. “Where?” he asked.

Kawachi had been working for Kawai, a medical equipment manufacturer, for thirteen years, all in the operations department. He was now a team leader.

“Oh, this is fine,” Kawachi said after a quick glance. “Unlike the others, this hospital specializes in urological surgeries, so their order quantities for this equipment are always ridiculously high.”

“Oh, I see. Thanks,” Itoi said, scratching his head as he pulled the papers back. In the process, his elbow bumped the can of coffee on his desk. By the time they noticed, it had already fallen, rolling under Kawachi’s desk.

Kawachi crouched down, picked up the can, and set it back on Itoi’s desk. “Be careful, will you? If the lid was open, that would’ve been a disaster.”

“Ah, sorry about that,” Itoi said, bowing slightly and gripping the can with both hands. Then, he stared at Kawachi, his gaze unwavering.

“What? Is there something else on your mind?” Kawachi asked.

“No, not that... it’s just, I’ve been thinking for a while now, but Kawachi-san, you’re actually pretty well-built, right? You look slim, but I can tell you're actually toned, like you’ve been working out.”

“Think so? I just do some strength training at home,” Kawachi replied casually, lifting his right hand to flex a bicep.

Itoi reached out to touch it, letting out a surprised “Whoa!”

“How are you this ripped when we’re just desk workers?! This is like, solid muscle!”

“I train, that's why. Want me to show you my workout method? It’s fun to torture your muscles and make them grow!”

“Uh, no thanks. You seem pretty serious about it.”

Itoi was genuinely intimidated, and Kawachi laughed softly, then turned back to his computer. The weight training he’d started as a way to be able to fight back, just in case a man attacked him, had now become a hobby. He didn’t go to a gym, so it was all self-taught, but he took pride in the fact that he had a decent amount of muscle strength.

When he clicked to open the work folder, the monitor in front of him twisted and distorted. What...? He blinked, and in the next moment, the screen returned to normal. He thought it might have been his imagination, but after a few minutes, the screen distorted again. Maybe I’m not as fully recovered as I thought. The sensation felt similar to when the effects of the medication started to wear off. He’d only just come in, but if he started feeling unwell, he might have to leave early.

Standing up, Kawachi left the department and headed to the seventh floor, where the building’s only smoking room was located next to the vending machines. Since the push for smoking cessation had begun, the number of smokers had dramatically decreased, but there were still a few survivors within the company.  Though Kawai’s headquarters was a fifteen-story building, this was the only designated smoking area.

Although he hadn’t liked smoking, the reason he started was because of a drinking party during his university days. At a seminar celebration, a classmate sitting across from him had suddenly said, “Hey, doesn’t it smell like pheromones in here?”

The blood drained from Kawachi’s face. The classmate was the only Alpha present, and the only Omega was Kawachi. The rest were Betas who dismissed the comment with a laugh, chalking it up to imagination. But the Alpha had kept tilting his head, clearly unconvinced.

That was the only time someone had ever noticed his heat, despite the suppressants he used. After that, he started smoking, hoping the smell of tobacco would mask his pheromones during heat.

At first, the cigarettes had tasted awful, but like weight training, they eventually became a habit he couldn’t quit. Still, Serina didn’t like smoking, and Kawachi had decided to give it up once his heat cycles ended. Including today, he only had four days left as a smoker.

The smoking room was empty, and Kawachi slowly smoked a strong cigarette, hoping it would mask his scent and help him relax. As he exhaled, someone else entered—the sales department’s Takahiro Inukai. Inukai greeted Kawachi politely with a nod saying, “Good afternoon.”

At twenty-seven, Inukai was an Alpha and the top performer in sales. There were rumors that he would soon be promoted to headquarters.

Inukai didn’t have the pushiness or fake positivity often associated with high-achieving salespeople. He was tall, with a well-proportioned face, light-colored hair and eyes, and pale skin that gave him a distinctly non-Japanese appearance. It made sense when Kawachi learned that Inukai’s grandfather was Norwegian and that he was a quarter foreign. Despite his gentle personality, Inukai was a powerhouse at work, constantly securing new business. He couldn’t help but think, as expected of an Alpha.

In a company like Kawai, where family connections weren’t a factor, it was clear that men like Inukai, who were capable and driven, would rise to the top eventually.

“By the way,” Inukai started, addressing Kawachi, “it looks like you might be on the team for the overseas expansion project starting next year.”

“Me? You’re kidding, right?”

“I doubt it. The development and sales members are younger, so I imagine they want someone experienced to handle the administrative side. It’s also common for them to pull people from branch offices, and since you’re fluent in English, it makes sense.”

“Oh… I see.”

Even though his heat cycles were under control, Kawachi had resigned himself to the idea that, as an Omega, his career advancement would always be limited. The possibility of being selected for such a significant project felt surreal—and exciting. If it went well, a promotion might be within reach. With plans to marry Serina next year and possibly start a family, an increase in income would be more than welcome.

Suddenly, Kawachi’s head swam, and Inukai’s face blurred as if melting. This isn’t good. He lowered his head, taking deep breaths until the dizziness subsided slightly. I really shouldn’t have come in today. But the thought of taking three days off had made him anxious about work. Work… I can’t just leave…

When he looked up, his eyes met Inukai’s. The Alpha’s face was flushed, and his brow furrowed in a tense, almost pained expression as he stared intently at Kawachi. Is he angry? Did I say something offensive?

"…Kawachi-san, you're in heat, aren't you?"

The cigarette in Kawachi’s hand slipped and hit the floor. He hastily picked it up, extinguishing it in the ashtray. His clumsy movements must have made it obvious because Inukai sighed, rubbing his temples.

“I’ve suspected you were in heat a few times before, but it’s particularly bad today. Even Betas might notice.”

“W-What do you mean, before? Have I… smelled that bad all along?”

Inukai shook his head.

"I think I'm probably the only Alpha in the office who noticed your heat before. But today, it's different—your pheromones are especially strong. Have you taken your suppressants?"

"Ah... sorry!"

In a panic, Kawachi dashed out of the smoking room and into the nearest restroom stall. His hands trembling, he pulled out his pill case and swallowed a suppressant. This was the second pill of the day—he’d never taken them this close together, but he tried to reassure himself. It'll be fine. The pheromones will settle down eventually. They always do.

Sitting on the closed toilet seat, he rested his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. It’s no use; Inukai knows. It was inevitable—Inukai was an Alpha. And worse, he might be the one. His fated mate.

When Inukai joined the company five years ago, Kawachi had noticed him immediately. Though they worked in different departments, the man exuded a sweet, sensual scent that caught Kawachi’s attention. At the time, Kawachi thought it was a bold choice of cologne for someone so young.

Inukai had been wildly popular with women from the beginning. One day, while chatting with a female coworker who clearly had a crush on him, Kawachi mentioned, “Inukai’s scent really gives him away. You can tell it’s him the moment he walks down the hallway.”

The coworker tilted her head in confusion. “Really? I’ve never noticed anything like that.”

“He always smells sweet, like some kind of cologne,” Kawachi insisted.

“When you’re close to him, there’s this clean, soapy kind of scent,” she replied, “but I’ve never noticed anything in the hallway.”

That made Kawachi pause. He discreetly asked a few other colleagues about it, but no one else seemed to smell the sweetness that was so obvious to him. It had been strange, but he hadn’t dwelled on it. After all, what could he do—ask Inukai directly? That would have been ridiculous.

About five months after Inukai joined, there had been a mistake with an order input made by the salesperson who was supposed to be training him, and Kawachi had been held accountable for it since the order had gone through him. The salesperson had made the same mistake before, and Kawachi had double-checked the details, so he had felt incredibly frustrated about the whole situation. Still, Kawachi, Inukai, and the salesperson had all gone to apologize to the client hospital together. After returning to the office, the trainer had been called up for a scolding, but Kawachi and Inukai had been let go with no further consequences.

“That must’ve been rough for you too,” Kawachi said sympathetically, addressing Inukai, who had been caught in the crossfire of his senior’s mistake.

“I’m fine,” Inukai replied with a calm, composed smile. The sweet scent wafting from him was as noticeable as ever.

"It was your senior’s fault for ignoring your repeated confirmations, Kawachi-san. I'm the one who should be apologizing." Inukai stated it with finality and bowed. He wasn’t just exuding a pleasant aroma—he was clearly observant and capable. This guy’s good. Of course he’s an Alpha. Kawachi’s opinion of him rose a notch.

Then Inukai tilted his head slightly and asked, “Would you mind if we talked for a bit?”

Kawachi assumed Inukai wanted to vent about his senior’s sloppy work, something he couldn’t say aloud. Kawachi wanted to listen, but his own workload had piled up due to the unexpected outing. “I can spare about thirty minutes,” he said, setting a limit.

Kawachi thought they would head to the café space in the building, but instead, Inukai led him to the company rooftop. This area was usually reserved for events like beer gardens or barbecues. Surrounded by high fences, the only view Kawachi could see through the gaps was the city’s skyline. The quiet, isolated location made Kawachi suspect that Inukai had chosen it to keep their conversation private.

"...Um, I apologize if this is sudden, and if it makes you uncomfortable," Inukai stood facing Kawachi, his cheeks flushed. The sunlight was harsh, but it was September, so it wasn’t hot enough to make him feel lightheaded.
"Kawachi-san... you're, well, you're an Omega, right?"

Kawachi's heart froze for a moment. His Omega status had been reported to the company, and those who needed to know, such as his direct supervisor, were aware. Still, handling the matter of being an Omega was delicate. If there were trust between them, it might be different, but it was far too forward for someone from another department, whom he had barely spoken to, to ask such a question.

"Yes, but..."

"I’m an Alpha."

Honestly, Kawachi felt a bit irritated. So what? he thought. He knew Inukai was an Alpha. The fact that an Alpha employee had been assigned to the branch had caused a bit of a stir—it had been three years since that happened. It was rare, which made it a noteworthy event. Even the sales trainer, who was known for making mistakes, was consistently the top performer.

When Kawachi had first heard that an Alpha was joining the company, he had honestly wondered whether this place was really good enough for someone of his level, or if Inukai could have chosen a more prestigious company.

"When I first saw you in the office, I had a feeling," 

Inukai said, his face still flushed, his breath coming out in heavy bursts. "Since then, I've been thinking about it... and today, being with you, I’m sure of it. You’re my 'fated mate.'" 

Kawachi blinked at him, taken aback. "Huh?" 

"Fated mate... that's just some kind of urban legend, right?" 

"No, it's not. Fated mates really exist. I've had a good nose for a long time, and even without being in heat, I can smell it when someone’s an Omega. But you, Kawachi-san, you smelled different—better than any Omega I’ve met before. I did some research, and I found a book that said that a fated mate has a special, unique scent, unlike anyone else. That’s when I realized... it’s you." 

Kawachi blinked, caught off guard. Now that Inukai mentioned it, he’d noticed the sweet, almost intoxicating scent coming from Inukai too. But fate? That had never crossed his mind. 

It was said that between an Alpha and an Omega, there was something called a "fated mate" relationship. The idea was that when they met, regardless of age or gender, they would be irresistibly drawn to each other. However, there was no scientific proof for this—only the subjective feelings of the individuals involved. 

"In a world where most Alphas and Omegas never meet their fated mate, I think it’s a miracle that we found each other," Inukai said, his eyes sparkling as he waited for Kawachi’s response. 

Kawachi let out a nervous laugh. "Well, I also thought you smelled a bit... sweet, Inukai-kun. But if we really are fated mates, I bet you’re disappointed that your partner’s some older guy like me. Sorry about that." 

Inukai shook his head quickly. "No, please don’t apologize. It’s not that I wish you were a woman, or anything like that. I’m just happy to have found my fated mate... to know that it’s real." 

Kawachi let out a long sigh and placed his hands on his hips. “Even if we are fated mates, I don’t think we need to make a big deal out of it. If most people never meet their mate, doesn’t that mean it’s fine to live without one?”

Inukai hesitated, seeming unsure of how to respond. “But—”

“Don’t let the idea of fate tie you to me,” Kawachi said firmly. “Besides, I’m not into men. I can’t imagine sex with a man, let alone having kids with one. If I ever do get married, it’ll be to a woman.”

Inukai fell silent for a moment, his expression shifting. Then, he asked, “How do you manage your heats? Are you okay with them?” 

Kawachi frowned. "What do you mean?" 

"One of my Omega friends once told me that dealing with the heat was really tough for him." 

"I’m fine with it," Kawachi replied, shrugging. "My heat’s pretty mild, and as you can see, I can work just fine as long as I take the medication. Apparently, for an Omega like me, the heat eventually stops altogether after thirty-five." 

He didn’t mention that, until that happened, he would be unable to have sex with anyone. He didn’t want a younger man like Inukai to know that, at almost thirty, he was still a virgin. 

"Right... I see," Inukai said, his face no longer flushed but instead pale. 

"Being an Alpha must be tough, too, but let’s do our best. Though I bet you don’t want to hear that from an Omega like me," Kawachi said, trying to lighten the mood. 

"No," Inukai said, shaking his head. 

“So, this whole talk—it was just about the fated mate thing?” Kawachi asked.

Inukai nodded silently.

“Well, let’s get back to work,” Kawachi said, ending the conversation.

That was the first real conversation Kawachi had ever had with Inukai. Since they worked in different departments, their paths rarely crossed. But after that day, Inukai began making regular appearances in the smoking room.

“I didn’t take you for a smoker,” Kawachi remarked the next time they met there.

“I used to smoke in college,” Inukai said with a casual smile. “I’ve been hiding it since I started working here, but I figured it’s about time to stop pretending.”

Inukai’s face remained neutral, but Kawachi noticed the slight coolness in his demeanor. The cigarettes he smoked were light menthols, the kind many women preferred. When a heavy smoker teased him about it, Inukai shrugged and said, "There are clients who are sensitive to smell, so I just use this to keep things neutral."

Despite being an Alpha, Inukai had started off as a somewhat naive rookie in his first year, but within three years, he had risen to the top of the sales ranks. His good looks, competence, and Alpha status made him popular—he was admired not only within the company but also by clients. 

Kawachi had heard rumors that Inukai even had a fan club. One day, a girl from his department had begged Kawachi to ask Inukai to join a group blind date, practically pleading with him. At first, Kawachi had declined, but after the girl asked repeatedly, he reluctantly approached Inukai.

Inukai had politely refused, saying, "I’m too busy with work to think about relationships. Sorry." He participated in departmental outings and mixers but always turned down blind dates. Some people even whispered that he might be gay, but that was just speculation.

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