Bluebird: Chapter 2

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If it were only Inukai who noticed Kawachi’s heat, it could be excused—after all, he might really be Kawachi’s fated mate. But if other Alphas or even Betas started to pick up on it, that would be disastrous. The worst-case scenario wasn’t hard to imagine: the risk of a gang rape in the workplace. It shouldn’t come to that, Kawachi reassured himself. He was taking his suppressants, and his symptoms weren’t that severe. Still, he wished the pheromone scent would subside soon. He didn’t want to become a public walking hazard on his way to the hospital.

After the second dose of suppressants began to take effect, the heat started to dissipate. The dizziness disappeared as well. With a sigh of relief, Kawachi was sure the smell would be under control. He walked out of the men's bathroom and headed toward the vending machine corner down the hall to grab something to drink before returning to the office. But then, he froze when he heard a voice, startling him.

That’s when he froze.

“Are you serious about marrying Kawachi-san?”

“Yes, I am.”

It was Serina's voice. He recognized it immediately. She was talking to someone, but since the bench area by the vending machine was partitioned off with plants, he couldn’t see who the other person was. 

“Kawachi-san is kind and a really good person,” the other person said. “He’s great at his job too. Honestly, there are quite a few women here who like him, but they hesitate because he’s an Omega.”

Kawachi didn’t recognize the speaker’s voice. It wasn’t anyone from Serina’s accounting department or his own team—probably someone from another department with little overlap.

“No matter how good he is at his job, being an Omega means he might not get promoted,” the person continued.

“I don’t plan to quit my job after marriage,” Serina said firmly. “And Kawachi-san said he’ll soon become like a Beta.”

A loud “What? No way!” erupted from the other speaker. “There’s no way an Omega can become a Beta!”

“It’s true,” Serina replied calmly. “Kawachi-san doesn’t take time off during his heat cycles because his symptoms are so mild. Apparently, people like him stop having heats altogether after thirty-five. At that point, isn’t he basically like a Beta?”

“I don’t know much about the medical side of things,” the other voice said hesitantly, “but Serina, think this through carefully. Even if his heats stop, he’ll always be an Omega. If you have kids, there’s a fifty-percent chance they’ll be Omegas too. If that happens, they’ll have heats, and they’ll be stuck with that stigma for life. It’s just… a hard way to live.”

“Don’t talk about it like that!” Serina snapped, cutting the other person off.

“Being an Omega doesn’t mean they’re destined for unhappiness. My mom’s an Omega, and she has an amazing relationship with my Beta dad. My sister’s an Omega too, but she met her fated mate and is happily married. And Kawachi-san…” Serina’s voice softened. “When I look at him now, I don’t see someone pitiful. I see a kind, capable, and wonderful man.”

Kawachi felt a warmth spread through his chest. The impulse to rush out and hug Serina was overwhelming, but he fought it down, forcing himself to walk away instead. The affection he felt for her flooded his whole being. He’d always known she was someone who understood Omegas, but he never expected her to trust him this much. If his heat really ended and he was able to overcome this final hurdle, he would marry Serina. He’d create the kind of happy family his mother could never have—one with both parents, together. He would make it happen.

The heat he’d endured since he was seventeen was finally coming to an end, and the thought of his body finally being free from it was a relief. However, there were still likely some final difficulties to face. His body wasn’t reacting well right now, and it seemed like a good idea to rest and focus on the future, on his life going forward. He should go to the hospital right away. He needed to shut down his computer, gather his things, and explain the situation to Nonaka...

As Kawachi walked toward the elevator, lost in his thoughts, his heart suddenly thudded hard in his chest. I know this feeling. It was the distinct sensation of his body reacting to his heat. Something was wrong—he’d just taken his medicine, so why was it wearing off so quickly? He could feel the sweat breaking out across his body as panic set in. The symptoms were worsening, fast.

The elevator pinged, and the doors slid open. At the same moment, the three men already inside winced in unison, their faces scrunching up in distaste.

"Wh-what is that?" One of them pinched his nose.

"This is the scent of an Omega’s pheromones, right? How come...?"

All three men’s eyes turned sharply toward Kawachi. The one in his fifties, from the sales department, pointed at him and asked, "Uh... Kawachi-san, right? You’re...?"

Kawachi immediately turned on his heel and rushed into the bathroom. He swallowed the remaining suppressants—three pills at once. His heartbeat slowed down, but the restlessness deep inside him didn’t ease. At this rate, I’ll never know when the pheromones will start leaking out again. It felt like holding a ticking bomb in his body. This wasn’t something he could handle on his own. He had to go to the hospital immediately... but the thought of leaving the bathroom terrified him.

A door opened, and Kawachi heard voices. Two people, he guessed. One of them, a section chief from the materials department, said casually, "Hey, does it smell... kinda weird around here?"

"Is that so? I don’t really think it’s anything," one of the voices remarked indifferently.

"It smells like an Omega," another voice responded.

Kawachi held his breath.

"Isn’t it just your imagination? What kind of person comes to work during their heat? That’s completely lacking common sense."

Once he was sure that the two men had moved on, Kawachi staggered out of the bathroom and made his way to the nearby meeting room. It was a small room, about eight tatami mats in size, meant for small meetings. His vision swam, and he couldn’t stand up properly, collapsing against the wall. His heart raced faster and faster, his body burning with heat, shallow breaths coming in quick bursts. It felt like suffocation was closing in on him.

At this point, there was no other option but to call for a specialized ambulance. He had left his smartphone in his bag, but fortunately, the meeting room had an internal phone. If he could just get to it and call Nonaka, have her arrange for help...

The phone was on the table by the window, but Kawachi couldn’t make it there. His knees trembled too much, unable to hold him up. Even when he tried to crawl, his elbows had no strength to push him forward. If I can’t call for help... will I die here? Fear surged through him as he opened his mouth to shout for help. But only the faintest of sounds, like a mosquito buzzing, came out.

There were always stories in the news about Omegas who had passed away because they couldn’t control their heat and didn’t take their medicine. He’d always wondered why someone would choose not to take their medication, but now he understood. If the medication didn’t work... this is how agonizing it could be.

His heart clenched painfully, a sharp pain gripping it as if it were being twisted. Then it eased slightly, only to come back again, each wave intensifying the feeling. It was like a countdown to death itself, and it terrified him. I don’t want to die yet. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die...

There was a knock at the door, a quiet sound that made his heart leap. Someone’s here! Help! Help!

His mouth opened, but his voice wouldn’t come out. After a short pause, the knock came again.

"Kawachi-san... are you in there?" It was Inukai’s voice.

"The pheromones are leaking out into the hallway. I could trace the smell all the way here. It's really bad. I opened the windows in the hallway, so it’s a little better now... but are you feeling unwell? If there’s anything I can do, please let me know."

Kawachi wanted to tell him to call an ambulance immediately, but no words came out. Frustrated, he slammed his fist weakly against the floor, but it made no sound at all. His strength had completely drained away.

“…You’re not unconscious in there, are you?”  Inukai’s voice quivered with worry.

Kawachi’s consciousness was still intact, but his body wouldn’t respond. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t convey anything. He felt completely helpless.

"I’m coming in!" The door suddenly opened, and Inukai rushed into the meeting room.

The moment the door opened, Inukai’s scent hit Kawachi’s senses like a tidal wave. It was thick, sweet, and intoxicating, like honey—but far more overwhelming. What is this...? The scent hit him low in his body, sending a sharp, tense feeling straight to his core.

Inukai knelt beside him, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief. His muffled voice asked, “Are you okay?” Kawachi could barely manage a faint nod in response.

“You’re still conscious. Good,” Inukai said with relief. “In this condition, we need a specialized ambulance. I’ll call one immediately.”

He stood up swiftly. “Even with the door open, the pheromones are making me dizzy. If I stay here any longer, I might collapse too.”

The door slammed shut with a loud bang. Inukai turned back toward the entrance in a panic, his handkerchief falling to the floor.

The moment the room was sealed, Inukai’s scent exploded, saturating the air. He pressed both hands over his mouth and nose, trying to move toward the door, but after two steps, he froze. Slowly, he turned around.

The face Kawachi saw wasn’t the calm, composed Inukai he knew. His cheeks were flushed, his breathing ragged, and his eyes gleamed, sharp and predatory, like a carnivore that had locked onto its prey. Step by deliberate step, Inukai began to approach.

Fear gripped Kawachi, pure and all-consuming. Terrifying. This is absolutely terrifying.

Yet, despite the terror, his body betrayed him. The intoxicating scent assaulted his senses, and his lower body responded against his will, trembling with arousal. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath came in ragged gasps, and it felt like he might suffocate—but at the same time, he felt himself harden.

Inukai’s bloodshot eyes were locked solely on him, a deep, unnatural red.

He’s going to rape me.

Some primal instinct told him it was inevitable. He knew it, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The memory resurfaced—those eyes, the same eyes as the student who had assaulted Yoshino in the storage room during high school.

That scene flashed vividly in his mind: Yoshino, stripped and exposed, his legs spread wide, drooling and sobbing like a broken doll as he gasped for air.

No. Not that. Anything but that.

It was the memory of that day that had driven him to live as a virgin, determined to avoid the vulnerability of heat. He had endured everything to make sure this would never happen. Four more days—just four more days, and the heat would pass, and he’d finally be free, finally normal.

If I can just survive this moment... if I can just hold on...

"Don’t… come… closer…"

Even as he forced the words out, his voice came out as little more than a rasp.

And now he understood—finally understood—why Yoshino, a powerful athlete from the judo team, hadn’t been able to escape. No matter how strong you are, no matter how much you train, in this state, resistance is impossible.

Still, Kawachi tried desperately to escape, propping himself up on his elbows and attempting to crawl under the conference table. But before he could get far, something heavy and firm pressed down on his back. Inukai’s cloyingly sweet scent filled the air, so overwhelming it made Kawachi feel like choking.

“…You smell amazing,” Inukai said, his voice high-pitched and almost childlike. Kawachi felt Inukai’s hands at the waistband of his slacks.

“P-please… don’t,” Kawachi begged, his voice weak and trembling. He wanted to resist, but his limbs wouldn’t obey. His slacks and underwear were yanked down in one swift motion, exposing his skin to the cool air. A shiver of fear shot down his spine as Inukai’s hands roamed over his backside.

I’m going to be raped. No, I can’t let this happen. Someone, anyone… help me. Please help me.

“Inu…kai… don’t… put it… in…” Kawachi’s voice was barely audible, breaking with each word.

Before he could finish, something hot and rigid pressed against a place on his body he’d never seen, never touched—and then, in one brutal motion, it forced its way inside.

“Ahhh!” A sharp cry tore from Kawachi’s throat as his body arched in response to the excruciating intrusion.

“Ahh! Ahhh!”

The pain was searing, the sense of violation unbearable. Yet for the first time, he was able to scream. The suffocating weight on his chest lightened, even if just slightly.

“You feel… so good,” Inukai murmured above him, his voice trembling with satisfaction.

“It’s too good… I might die…” Inukai’s breath washed over Kawachi’s back as he moved.

The thing inside him began to thrust relentlessly, scraping against his insides with unbearable force. The pain was overwhelming, sharp enough to draw tears. This can’t be happening. This isn’t real. There’s no way this is real.

As his body shook with each jarring motion, Kawachi stared at the floor beneath him. This must be a nightmare. It has to be. Just four more days, and my heat would’ve ended…

With each forceful thrust, the pain in Kawachi’s chest and the suffocating tightness in his lungs vanished, as though expelled from his body. In their place, however, a strange ache began to stir from the point of intrusion, spreading throughout his lower body. That unsettling sensation pooled in his groin, and his previously limp peins began to harden. What is happening to me? I don’t understand…

“N-no… stop…” Kawachi whimpered.

“I don’t want this,” he groaned, voice trembling.

He twisted his body in protest, only to be met with another violent thrust that drove deep into him.

“Ahhh!”

The force reverberated through his body, echoing in his skull as if his very core were being shaken. The friction between his now-erect penis and the fabric of his clothing sent jolts of pleasure through him. No. No, this feels good? The thought horrified him. I’m being violated by a man. This is my first time, and I’m… enjoying it?

“Ahhhhn!”

A lewd, high-pitched moan escaped his lips—a sound he’d only ever heard in adult videos. He froze, appalled, as the realization hit him: that voice was his own.

Panicking, he moved his arm to cover his mouth, trying to stifle the shameful sounds. But Inukai grabbed his hand, pried it away, and thrust into him with renewed force.

“Hyaahhn!”

From behind, Inukai murmured, "So cute."

Each thrust forced out noises Kawachi couldn’t recognize as his own—high-pitched, syrupy sounds of “Hnn,” “Ahh,” and “Ahnn.” No… I don’t want this. I don’t want to feel good. I don’t want to be a pathetic man who gets off on being violated by another man. I don’t want this…

And yet—

“Hyaaah! Aaahhn! Aaahhnn!”

A wave of pleasure, sharp and electric, coursed through his entire body, leaving him gasping and trembling. It was too much, far too much, and Kawachi began to sob uncontrollably, his body betraying him further as he wet himself.

His mind blurred, numbed, until his entire world narrowed down to his body and the thing invading him. Everything else faded into irrelevance.

“Hnngh… haa… haaaahnn!”

The sensation was unbearable, and yet his body wanted more. His hips began moving on their own, seeking out the pleasure that overwhelmed his senses. Every point of contact where their skin met buzzed with raw sensitivity, like his entire body had become one throbbing nerve—or worse, one desperate, aching penis.

This is dangerous… I want to be touched more. I want to be rubbed. I just want to feel good.

"Y-you… what on earth are you doing?"

Someone shouted, their voice loud and jarring, cutting through the haze. Annoyance flared in Kawachi’s mind. Shut up. Go away. Don’t interfere.

Kawachi grabbed the hand that had been resting on his waist and guided it down toward his crotch. Pressing the hand against his trembling penis, he pleaded in a sickeningly sweet voice, one that even disgusted himself, "Rub it for me."

“Kawachi! What’s wrong with you?”

Nonaka’s voice seemed to pierce through the haze, faint and distant. But it was drowned out by the overwhelming sensations coursing through him. A hand gripped his penis tightly as his hips were thrust upward again, forcing a sharp cry from his lips.

“Ahn! Yes! Yes! Right there! More, more, more!”

Each forceful thrust sent waves of pleasure ripping through his body, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

“Ahhh… ahhh… ahhhhh!”

Everything else faded. His senses were overwhelmed, his mind detached from his body. A weightless, floating sensation took over, as though his very soul were slipping away. His vision went white, a vast, endless void that swallowed him whole, leaving him behind in its infinite expanse.

And then, Kawachi’s consciousness slipped away completely.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

The snow had been falling on and off since yesterday, and the morning trains were slightly delayed. Against a backdrop of gray, overcast skies, everyone passing by outside hunched their shoulders against the cold.

Sitting by the window at the café counter, Kawachi idly watched the scenery when Inukai rushed past the window. He entered the café with the same hurried energy, walking up to Kawachi from behind and pausing to catch his breath. “Thank you for contacting me,” he said, bowing his head slightly. That distinctive, sweet scent wafted over, sending a shiver down Kawachi’s spine.

“Oh, uh… I just thought I’d let you know since the timing worked out. Don’t you have work?”

"I took a two-hour break," he replied.

As a salesperson, it wouldn’t have been difficult for him to slip away under the guise of an outside meeting, but it was typical of Inukai to handle things by the book.

"May I sit next to you?"

"Ah."

With a carefulness almost like that of meeting a business partner for the first time, Inukai sat down beside him. It had been so long since anyone had come this close—since that time they had sex in the conference room.

“Excuse me,” Inukai said politely, sitting beside him with the formality of someone meeting a new client. It felt unnervingly close—closer than they had been since that day in the conference room.

…That day. The suppressants Kawachi had always relied on failed, and his heat pheromones poured out uncontrollably. That was when Inukai raped him.

It had been the accounting manager and his supervisor, Nonaka, who found them.

Inukai, who had been on top of him, was forcibly pulled off by the head of the accounting department. Barely conscious, he was carried by the accounting department head and Nonaka, his supervisor from the operations division. They used the service elevator, which he rarely ever took, to descend to the first floor, and then they exited the company through the back door before taking him to the hospital.

Since the pheromones from his heat had weakened after the sex with Inukai, he was able to be cared for by Nonaka, an Alpha, and the accounting department head, a Beta. If an ambulance had been called, it would have caused a huge commotion, so Kawachi was grateful the two had handled things discreetly.

From the middle of the sex, his consciousness had become fragmented, and he regained his senses only when he was lying in a bed at the Omega-specialized outpatient clinic he usually visited. His doctor explained to Nonaka and the head of the accounting department that Kawachi usually had perfect control over his heat and that this incident was an exceptional failure where he couldn’t suppress it. Thanks to this, it was made clear that his heat control hadn’t been careless, nor had he intentionally provoked Inukai. The incident was classified as an "unexpected situation," and the two of them promised to keep it between themselves. Therefore, only the four involved—himself, Inukai, Nonaka, and the accounting department head—knew what had truly happened in that meeting room that day.

The heat had subsided after the sex, but due to the rape, his body was injured, and especially his backside. Additionally, because he had used several times the usual amount of suppressant in a short period, his doctor recommended that he be monitored for any side effects. Following the doctor's advice, he was admitted to the hospital for a few days for observation.

In the following day, Inukai came to visit the hospital room. The nurse asked if it was okay to let him in, and he had initially declined, saying, "I'm not feeling well right now," but after some time, Inukai came back later, and again after that. The thought that Inukai would keep coming until they spoke made Kawachi feel a heavy sense of dread, so he finally gave in and allowed him into the room.

Inukai's eyes were red, his face pale, and his head hung low as he trembled slightly, his body shaking.

"I'm... I'm truly, truly sorry. I know that what I did can't be excused by an apology alone..."

He hadn't been able to sleep the night before. Staring at the ceiling, the thought that he would never be able to escape his heat cycle again gnawed at his chest, drowning him in despair. Tears welled up as he lay there. The scene of the rape also flickered in his mind in fragmented pieces. He didn’t want to remember it, yet it kept resurfacing. Even when he tried to shut out the thoughts, they would surge back unexpectedly. Each time they did, his stomach turned, and he vomited. It felt like what had happened with Yoshino back in high school. Even with others watching, the act had continued without hesitation. He hated his body for not being able to control the heat cycle. It disgusted him. It was shameful. It was pitiful. I just want to die.

At that time, he had hated Inukai for entering the room. However, it wasn't out of malice—he had been trying to help. Even if, in the end, it led to throwing Kawachi into hell...

If he ever saw Inukai again, he had thought he might say something cruel to him, but now, as he watched the man standing beside him, shrinking and staring blankly, he gradually started to feel pity for him. Inukai hadn’t wanted to have sex with another man, either.

“Don’t look like someone just died,” Kawachi said, forcing a weak smile. Inukai lifted his head slightly.

“I’ll be fine,” Kawachi added. “I lost control of my heat, and it caused trouble for you too. I’m sorry about that. Let’s just chalk it up to an accident and move on.”

Inukai lowered his head again, gripping his left arm tightly with his right hand.

"I had been told that I had a resistance to Omega pheromones, and I was confident in my self-control as well. Yesterday, when the door was open, I managed to hold it together. But because I had left the windows in the hallway open, the wind caused the door to close on its own... Once I inhaled all of Kawachi-san's pheromones directly, things started to go wrong. I knew it was bad, I knew I had to leave, but even though I understood that in my head, I just couldn't restrain myself."

The vivid memory of that moment clawed its way back into Kawachi’s mind, raw and unrelenting.

"I’m really sorry. Um... is your body okay?"

It was clear from the look in his eyes that the concern wasn’t just a formality.

"Well, yeah. I’m pretty tough, so it’s nothing major."

His backside hurt a little, but that was about it. Honestly, the damage to his mind was much worse than the physical pain. The shame of having sex with a man in front of others… the loss of his chance to end his heat forever had slipped away... Why did it have to happen like this?

“Please, let me do something to make it up to you."

Inukai was earnest, his sincerity clear. But what apology could possibly fix this? What had been lost could never be regained. Kawachi would have to live with his heat cycles for the rest of his life.

"Forget it, it's fine."

"But..."

"Honestly, I want to forget about yesterday as soon as possible."

Inukai’s face stiffened, and he bit his lip. "I... I see."

"Could you... just go home? I know it wasn’t all your fault, but every time I see your face, I can’t help but remember it."

Inukai left. After being left alone, Kawachi sat and thought. He had sex with an Alpha during his heat without any contraception. There was a chance he might be pregnant. The heat he had managed to suppress so well had spiraled completely out of control... What will I do if it happens again? What if I lose control like that in public? If that happens, I’d rather have someone kill me on the spot.

Why would God create men who can get pregnant and pair it with something as cruel as heat? Despair and disgust crashed over him in waves, making his head feel like it might explode.

Since there were no side effects, Kawachi was discharged from the hospital after two days and went home. He had already taken a three-day weekend from work, so there were no issues there. His bag, which he had left at the office, was brought to him by Nonaka at the hospital.

Serina had tried to contact him several times, but he couldn’t bring himself to reply. He didn’t know what to say, or what kind of face he should make when they met.

On the evening of the last day of his break, Serina showed up at his apartment unannounced. There was no way to avoid her, so Kawachi answered the door.

“You’ve lost some weight, haven’t you?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. Then she smiled softly. “But you look better than I thought you would. I’m glad.”

"I’d noticed you’d been looking a little unwell for a while, and I thought maybe you wanted to be alone, but I just couldn’t help it—I had to see your face," Serina said, holding a small cake box in her hands.

"I wanted to be there when you became the new Kawachi-san," she added with a gentle smile.

I have to tell her. Kawachi thought. He had lost the chance to end his heat. He couldn’t tell her he’d been raped by a man, but at least he needed to say that much.

He had spent his entire break trying to figure out how to say it, but now, standing in front of Serina, the woman who had waited a year and a half for him, he found he wasn’t ready. His thoughts and words were a tangled mess, and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything at all.

Serina had believed that once Kawachi turned thirty-five, they could finally move forward physically. Kawachi had intended for the same, if not for the accident. Yet here he was, a year older, lying beside her in bed as if everything were normal.

I just wanted to forget everything and let her heal me, he thought. But no matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, his body refused to cooperate. His male instincts, his desire—they just wouldn’t function.

When he excused himself, saying that his body had only recently started changing and he wasn’t in full control yet, Serina accepted it without question. “That makes sense,” she said simply, without a hint of sarcasm or complaint, her understanding cutting deeper than any harsh words could have.

At work, Kawachi frequently ran into Inukai, and they occasionally had to speak. Whenever Inukai came close and that sweet scent reached Kawachi’s nose, the memories of that day came flooding back, making him feel sick. But there was nothing he could do about it.

Inukai, perhaps out of consideration for Kawachi’s wish to forget, never mentioned the incident—not even when they were alone together.

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