I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend

2 hours before Hoshino’s call

I finally managed to retrieve my wallet from the lost and found and by some stroke of luck, it was discovered at the very station where I boarded my ride home. With a sigh of relief, I collected it from the station’s lost and found, bringing an end to an eventful day. As I strolled down the street, the apartment building that I live in came into view, revealing its small size and two floors that seemed to accommodate around a dozen or so people, or so I guessed. The exterior of the building appeared quite old and worn, raising concerns in my mind about its structural stability.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor, where my room was located, and entered. At first, I hadn’t paid much attention to the details of my room in the morning, but now that I took a closer look, I couldn’t help but drop my bag to the floor and say—

“This place looks terrible.”

Let’s take a moment to look at the layout of my room before we delve to the worst part. On my right, I can see a tiny kitchen. It was a small area, hardly big enough to do any cooking activities, but you can probably manage if you try hard enough. A tiny eating space with a simple table was located behind the kitchen and served as a gathering place for meals and chats.

On my right, on the other hand, has three small doors; one certainly led to the bathroom, the other is the toilet, while the other served as the entrance to my own room. I checked the first two doors, to see if what I said was true, and yep, I was right.

And now let’s talk about the state of my place, shall we? To start with, the kitchen presented a scene of utter chaos. Plastic containers and utensils, remnants of countless meals, had accumulated in haphazard piles atop the sink. Beneath my feet, an assortment of trash was scattered across the floor, seemingly forgotten and left unattended. I can confidently say that the old Takeshi was a lazy person and doesn’t have any talent in cooking whatsoever.

And as for the floor itself, it was a sea of clothing—Takeshi’s old clothes, to be exact—they scattered carelessly all around the floor, without any hint of consideration for cleanliness.

Lastly, I ventured into my room once more, and to my surprise, it was an absolute disaster. Books and notebooks weren’t confined to the small desk but instead was also scattered everywhere, creating a cluttered mess. Used clothing littered the floor, further contributing to the untidiness. To make matters worse, some trash had found its way into the room as well. I couldn’t help but release a heavy and exasperated sigh, the likes of which I had never experienced before even in my past life.

“How on earth did this guy manage to live in such an environment?” I muttered to myself, thoroughly examining the entirety of the room. Could an ordinary person even tolerate living in such conditions? Probably not, yet the old Takeshi seemed to have adapted to it as if it were normal and it scares me.

“This is going be a long night” I resignedly acknowledged, fully aware of the most tiring task that lay before me, and I have to do it. No. I must do it.

“Haahh… I’m finally done cleaning.”

Finally, a sigh of relief escaped my lips as a sense of accomplishment washed over me. Every nook and cranny in my place had been meticulously cleaned, and I could now revel in the satisfaction of a job well done. Garbage bags stood proudly by the door, reminding me of the last step in this cleaning endeavor—disposing of them and bidding farewell to this laborious task.

“First things first, I need a relaxing bath,” I murmured to myself, retrieving my phone from the pocket of my pants as I made my way into the bathroom. The bathroom itself was rather ordinary, housing a single bathtub, a shower, a washing machine, a clothes dryer, and a basket designated for storing used garments—a feature that the old Takeshi seemed to have conveniently ignored. I couldn’t help but wonder if he ever bothered to even do his laundry, maybe once a week? Who knows.

Determined to wash away the weariness of the day, I started with a refreshing shower, allowing the warm water to cleanse both my body and my mind. Afterwards, I indulged in the luxury of sinking into the welcoming embrace of the bathtub, the soothing warmth enveloping me.

“Ah, this is the best…” I murmured, feeling the tension melt away. There was something magical about immersing oneself in hot water after a long day’s work. The serene atmosphere was almost lulling me into a peaceful slumber, but then I remember tomorrow is a normal schoolday, so sadly, a quick nap was not in the cards for me tonight.

Reluctantly emerging from the blissful waters, I reached for the nearby basket, hoping to find a spare set of clothes. Luck was on my side as my fingers stumbled upon a plain white t-shirt and a pair of shorts. I wrapped myself in a towel, drying off quickly before swiftly changing into the fresh attire.

However, the tranquility of the moment was abruptly shattered by the blaring ringtone of my phone, its sound echoing through the bathroom and jolting me back to the present.

Curiosity got the better of me as I glanced at my phone screen to see the caller’s identity. The name “Nakano Hoshino” flashed before my eyes.

In that instant, a wave of confusion washed over me, leaving me uncertain about whether I should answer or ignore the call. Initially, I leaned toward the latter, contemplating the idea of not picking up. However, a twinge of guilt tugged at my conscience, knowing that Nakano Hoshino had extended an invitation for dinner. A minute passed, and the ringing ceased, only to resume once more, breaking the brief silence. At that point, I made up my mind—I would answer the call.

I tapped the screen to accept the incoming call with a tinge of fear and anticipation.

“Sorry for not picking up earlier. I was taking a bath. So, what’s up?”

A random memory came across in my mind. While I was in Hoshino’s home, I was so nervous that I unconsciously sound way too formal. I can’t help but feel embarrased at this random memory. What a turn off you are, my brain.

As I asked Nakano on the other side of the phone, she responded, “Oh, Takeshi, I’m glad you answered! I just wanted to hear your voice one more time before the day ended. It makes me so happy to be able to talk to you. I hope you don’t think that’s strange.”

‘That’s already strange from a normal human’s perspective’ I thought but I didnt tell her what I was thinking.

“I don’t find it strange. It’s quite normal when you’re with a friend,” I replied, attempting to convey a casual tone despite my lingering curiosity on why she would call me late at night.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, as if my response had caught her off guard. I could sense the uncertainty in her voice as she finally spoke up.

“Um, Hoshino?”

“Y-Yes, I’m still here. Anyway, did you manage to make it home safely?” she asked, sounding eager to steer the conversation away from the peculiar timing of her call.

“Yes I did, just like every other day, thankfully.” I answered, a tinge of relief seeping into my voice.

“I’m glad to hear that. By the way, Takeshi-kun, did you find your wallet?” she inquired, her voice that sounding concerned.

“Yes, fortunately it was found not far from the station. I retrieved it from the lost and found station without any issues,” I explained, expressing my gratitude for whomever found my wallet. Without it, I don’t have the means to buy anything.

“I’m relieved to hear that you found it,” she responded, her voice carrying a genuine sense of relief.

As our conversation continued, I found myself gradually settling into the comfort of my bed, ready to surrender to the embrace of sleep. However, I fought against the encroaching drowsiness, determined to keep my eyes open and remain engaged in our discussion.

“Hey, um, Hoshino?” I called out to her.

“Yes?” she responded, her tone brimming with attentiveness.

“I just wanted to tell you that um… Thank you for inviting me to your place,” I confessed, my words laced with sincerity.

“Fufu, don’t mention it, Takeshi-kun. And I’ve already told you, you’re always welcome in my home,” she reassured me, her warm tone radiating in kindness.

“I’ll keep that in mind, but I won’t come over to your apartment unless you’re here with me. I feel kind of bad going over there by myself.”

She chuckled softly, her laughter resonating like a soothing melody through the phone. “No need to worry about that. Whenever you feel like going, I’ll accompany you. Consider it a promise.”

My lips began to form a sincere smile as I took comfort in her remarks. But as the time went on, exhaustion crept up on me and pulled at my eyelids. I battled against the coming slumber as I tried to stay awake, but alas, my sleepiness wins this time. I mustered the last of my energy to hide a yawn and bid her a fast but heartfelt farewell, hoping she hadn’t detected my waning consciousness.

3rd Person POV

“Hello? Takeshi-kun?” she tried calling his name a few times but to no avail. She thought that he must have already been asleep, and that he forgot to end their call.

She still didn’t end the call. Instead, she was still in her phone, listening to soft sounds coming from the other side of the phone.

“He must’ve fallen asleep…”

Each time she heard the sound of Takeshi’s gentle breathing, her body’s temperature began to rise. Instinctively, she brought her one hand to her sacred place and began to caress it.

“Haahh… Haahh… Takeshi-kun…”

The first time she indulged in such actions, she found herself alone in her room. Lost in thoughts of Takeshi, she noticed an unusually intense heat spreading throughout her body, particularly in that intimate place. Curiosity and instinct compelled her to explore her own desires, using her fingers to bring herself pleasure unlike anything she had experienced before. From that moment on, it became her way of finding solace whenever thoughts of Takeshi overwhelmed her.

“I long to be by your side, Takeshi-kun. It’s a desire I’ve always harbored. But why won’t you see me as a woman?”

One hand tenderly caressed her most intimate area, while the other fondly attended to her voluptuous curves. Her movements grew more rapid, a telltale sign that she was approaching climax.

“I yearn to be Takeshi-kun’s woman. I crave his ravishing, playful touch, to be used as his plaything. Ahhh, Takeshi-kun, Takeshi-kun, Takeshi-kun!!”

The end has finally come. Even though she knows that doing this kind of thing is not good for her, the pleasure that it gives back is immeasurable, and so she still does it regardless. The façade of innocence she had maintained during the day faded into the night, revealing a woman willing to delve into the depths of her desires.

Lying down alone in the dimly lit room, she couldn’t help but wonder how Takeshi would react if he saw her in this scenario. Would her overwhelming desire capture his attention or would astonishment or contempt cause his face to distort? Nevertheless, she was captivated by the uncertainty, which fueled the fires of excitement dancing within her.

“I love you Takeshi-kun, forever and ever and ever. I hope that someday, you’ll give this heavy love of mine the attention it needs.”

She says those words in the hopes that the person on the other end will hear her.

Author: Hello there, readers. First of all, I hope you’re enjoying my original novel. Next, I would like to thank my editor for editing my chapters. He’s a great guy fr fr. That’s all for now, I’ll see you in the next chapter :))