Chapter 36.2

Hidden True Feelings (2)

The Director didn’t judge people based on their secondary gender.

He didn’t favor people just because they were an alpha, nor did he look down on them just because they were an omega. Of course, the same is true for betas. It was a meritocracy, for better or for worse, but he saw the character of each person.

That fact probably also reflected on the result of his work.

Most of the work that the Director was involved in was successful, and all of it led to the recognition of the Japanese branch.

But, even he wasn’t perfect.

I knew that he always had a black metal ring on his arm. Everyone who worked at our company knew what it was.

Rut suppression ring.

As the name implies, it’s a bracelet-type device that suppresses alpha’s rut.

The ring contains a drug that suppresses the alpha’s pheromones, and when it detects a disturbance in the pheromones, it injects the drug into the wearer’s body. It’s also possible for the wearer to control it.

But such a thing was usually not necessary for alphas.

Because alphas didn’t have a regular heat cycle like omegas.

The only thing that can cause that pheromone disruption is the heat pheromone that omega emits. Of course, all the omegas on the company took their suppressant properly, so it was almost impossible for such an accident to occur. Normally, there would be no need for alphas to wear such a device.

But, there must be a reason why the Director was wearing it.

There was no need to ask him the reason for it.

Because I had actually seen the scene that caused it.

—Pheromone rape.

To think something like that actually happened right in front of my eyes.

It was definitely an expression of disgust the Director had on his face as the omega in heat suddenly showed up in front of him in the city.

The way he activated the suppression ring without hesitation, and the sight of him handing over the omega in heat to the verse administration, looked like he was used to this. It was easy to guess that something like this happened to him on daily basis.

I couldn’t do anything.

As an omega who has a pair, I should be the least affected by the pheromones and the one who could take action safely… but everything happened so suddenly and I couldn’t even move an inch.

Despite the incident, the Director didn’t show any sign of distress in the car.

His side profile wasn’t any different from usual.

Even though he was still in his twenties… even though he shouldn’t get used to something like this.

“…I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to help.”

“No, I’m also sorry for involving you in that.”

Why would he need to apologize?

The fault should be with the Omega who set up the whole thing.

And yet… why?

“Things like this happen all the time. Don’t worry about it, Yanagi. Some of them even tried to hurt me, so you should protect yourself first.”

“…No way.”

“—It really makes me sick.”

As I talked to him, the Director muttered those words to me.

Was he talking about that omega?

Or, was he talking about himself?

It’s been almost five years since then, but I still haven’t been able to ask the executive director about it.

*

“Was the Virtual Alpha alright with that?”

“It’s not just alright, it’s even better than what I imagined.”

That day, Masago unusually came home early.

I wonder how long it’s been since I had dinner together with Masago, who usually work even on weekends.

What was even more unusual was that after dinner, Masago didn’t stay in his room, but sat down across from me and spoke to me.

Masago usually didn’t initiate the conversation. He also didn’t stay long in the living room like this.

Even if he came home when I was still awake, Masago usually stays holed up in his room, looking over his research materials.

Today, his sleepy eyes were unusually directed at me.

Perhaps he was just so curious about my reaction to the Virtual Alpha. That must be the reason why he came home early.

“I also tried it out for a bit, and it really feels like a real person… I think you’re really amazing for completing it in such a short time.”

“Mm.”

When I complimented him right on his face, he looked away as if he was embarrassed.

This change in his expression is almost the same as when he was little. Even though his physique and face were very different from that time… I couldn’t help but break into a smile.

“Did you also go to the clinic?”

“I went there at noon. I’ve told Kazuki to recommend it to Sou… but I wonder how it’ll go. I don’t know if he’ll be interested in it or not.”

“…I see.”

Masago looked a little disappointed, but I also couldn’t force the app on Sou.

Now the rest depended on how Kazuki recommended it to him.

“How was the Virtual Omega?”

“Huh? …Ahh, I didn’t try that one.”

Masago seemed to be curious about my reaction to that app as well.

But I didn’t even launch that app.

True, he would be curious about the reaction to his creation as a developer. But, I’m also an omega. I wonder if I could understand the feeling of using it as a fellow omega.

“…Do you have any testers?”

“Tester?”

“There’s been some talk about making a production of it.”

Before I knew it, the talk has progressed this much.

I would agree if it were to be commercialized. I’m sure many omegas and alphas would love to use it.

“Do you mind if I ask the Director for that tester?”

“Huh?”

“I think it’s he’s the best person for it.”

Masago looked unsure at my question for a moment, but then he nodded his head silently.