When My Younger Brother Stole My Girlfriend, I Began Living Together with My Beautiful Childhood Friend Almost As If We Were Married - Chapter 23

Episode 23: Vitality for Tomorrow

After settling the bill, everyone got into Reina’s car.

“Shall we head back? How far should I take you?”

“Hey, Yu-kun, can I stay over tonight~”

“Sure. Then, Iwasaki-san, please take me to the convenience store near the university.”

“Got it.”

Misaki seemed a bit tipsy, her sweetness enhanced. Yuma was gently stroking her head.

These two are also like an idiot couple who can’t talk about us. How many times have I said this today?

Yuma’s apartment was right near the university. When we arrived at the designated convenience store, the two got out of the car.

“See you later, Reina~.”

“Yeah. See you at school.”

“See you later, Yuma.”

“Yeah. Thanks for today.”

They closed the door. The two watched the car drive out of the parking lot.

As it got completely dark, looking at the landscape where the headlights of opposing cars and the lights of buildings were changing colors, I began to feel sleepy.

“You can sleep if you want. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”

“Mm. Then I’ll take you up on that.”

Slowly closing my eyes.

Perhaps tired from bowling, the fatigue in my arms quickly disappeared, and my consciousness quietly faded away.

◆◆◆◆◆

Shaken, consciousness gradually returned.

When I opened my eyes, Reina had already arrived home and gently awakened me by opening the door on the passenger side.

“Are you awake?”

“I’m awake.”

“Hehe, you’re like a child. Seeing Hayato like this somehow makes me happy.”

I unbuckled my seatbelt and stumbled out.

“I know you’re tired, but hang in there a little longer. Let’s at least get you into the bath.”

“Mm.”

I weakly replied.

Reina opened the door for me and I entered, taking off my shoes in the genkan.

Reina headed to the bathroom to fill the bathtub with water. Meanwhile, I grabbed a toothbrush from the sink.

As I moved my arms to brush my teeth while waiting for the tub to fill, the tired muscles from throwing the ball too much circulated a sense of fatigue akin to a scream.

Because of that, my head and thoughts became clearer…

“Ah!!”

“What’s wrong, Hayato!?”

Reina flew over in surprise at the scream, but no, that’s not it!

I remembered the regression to infancy since arriving home and was mortified by embarrassment. Sometimes I do it when I’m sleepy, but to do it here!

Even though we might have a relationship like a boyfriend and girlfriend, or a mother and son, it wouldn’t be strange considering our interactions, but I want to forget about that quickly.

With maximum embarrassment, I quickly moved my arms, brushing my teeth until the foam built up in my mouth.

As the minty scent hit my nose, I felt like I was about to cough, so I stood up and rushed to rinse my mouth at the sink.

After rinsing, I put away the toothbrush and returned to the living room, where Reina handed me pajamas and a change of clothes as I entered the room.

“Okay. Are you going to take a bath?”

“Is the water ready?”

“I think it’s just right to fill it up while you’re taking a shower if you’re not going to use it
immediately.”

I see, that might be a good idea.

Following Reina’s suggestion, I decided to take a bath first.

I took the set of clothes, moved to the changing room, stripped off my clothes, and sorted them into the laundry machine and basket, separating the ones I had taken off and my underwear.

Then, entering the bathroom, I noticed that the tub was filled up to about two-thirds, so I thought it was okay and proceeded to warm up the bath stool.

Switching the water to the shower, I washed from my head down while enjoying the pleasant warmth.

However, as some might understand at this point, there’s this strange comfort that spreads throughout the body when you massage your scalp with your fingers, and a profound drowsiness gently envelops your entire being.

I’ve heard stories that sleeping in the bath isn’t proper sleep, more like fainting, but if you don’t get injured or drown, it shouldn’t be a problem, I sometimes contemplate.

But thinking that it would inconvenience Reina if I fell asleep here, I resolved to overcome the drowsiness.

After finishing washing my hair, I washed my entire body with body soap, rinsed off the foam and dirt, and then soaked in the bathtub feeling refreshed.

The warm water seeped into my whole body, feeling incredibly pleasant. If I let my guard down, I might really fall asleep and drown.

While remaining vigilant against that, I relaxed, stretching out my legs with my arms resting on the edge of the tub.

A somewhat gruff voice escaped my throat, and as I listened to the echo of my own uncool voice in the bathroom while gazing at the steam, I heard the sound of the door opening.

I could faintly hear the rustle of clothes as the bathroom door was opened.

“Alright. I’ll join you too.”

“Reina!?”

Seeing Reina enter completely naked as usual, I was genuinely surprised.

Until now, our baths had been separate, so it’s a bit unreasonable to expect me not to be surprised by such a sudden turn of events.

“I’m still here.”

“We can both fit in, right? The tub might be a bit cramped, but it’s spacious enough.”

“But…”

“We’ve already seen each other naked, and besides…”

Reina, with an expression tinged with joy, rubs her lower abdomen.

That day, the sight of Reina in disarray on the bed came to mind, and my cheeks grew warm.

“It’s not that embarrassing to take a bath together at this point?”

“…When you put it that way, I guess not.”

Reina is right about this. Given our relationship, this is just normal.

Well then, I’ll stretch out and enjoy the spacious bathtub until Reina finishes washing herself.

After luxuriating in it for about five minutes, I make sure Reina starts rinsing herself and makes space for her.

Reina and I, facing each other, sink into the bathtub.

It’s a bit cramped with both of us, but the warmth from the contact of our skin, different from the water, seeps deeply into our hearts, creating a dreamy sensation.

We surrender ourselves to the pleasure of the water together until we are both satisfied.