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

Episode 7: Unshakeable Anxiety

After finishing dinner and while Reina took care of the dishes and such, I quickly washed myself in the shower.

Then, while Reina was in the bath, I finished brushing my teeth and sat on the sofa, feeling drowsy gradually creeping in.

Perhaps it was due to the sudden change in environment. I’ve been yawning incessantly since a while ago.

Reina might get mad, but I decided it was better to sleep now.

I brought a blanket from my room and lay down on the sofa, covering myself with it.

“I’m out of the bath. …Hmm, are you sleepy by any chance?”

“Yeah, sorry, I’ll sleep first.”

“Got it. Then I’ll go to bed too.”

“Okay, goodnight.”

“You’re coming too, Hayato.”

My blanket was snatched away, and I was forcibly woken up and made to climb the stairs.

Wait a moment…

“Wasn’t the bed supposed to arrive tomorrow?”

“Yeah. So, shall we sleep together in my bed tonight?”

“Oh.”

I was fine with the sofa, though.

But, feeling too sleepy to think clearly, I followed Reina to her room without much thought.

And then, as I was carried near the bed, my body felt like it gave up, collapsing onto the soft futon.

“Good job. Goodnight, Hayato.”

Something moist and gentle touched my forehead, and suddenly everything went pitch black.

◆◆◆◆◆

A black sky stretching endlessly. The muddy light of the stars.

Everything in this place seemed to mock human discomfort.

Before I knew it, I was standing right in the middle of such a place.

I had no idea what was happening. Until falling asleep, I was supposed to be in Reina’s room…

And then, a voice I didn’t want to hear sent shivers down my spine and made my face contort.

“I’m sorry, Nii-chan. Looks like this girl prefers me after all.”

I felt my spine freezing. Cold sweat or oily sweat trickled down my face.

I could feel my breathing quickening.

Trying to avoid looking at something I didn’t want to see, I slowly turned around.

There, in their underwear, were Anna and Reina, and Takumi, wearing a dirty smile, was groping both their chests…

◆◆◆◆◆

“―! ―Ha! Hayato!”

I woke up with my body shaken.

I felt terrible all over. Even though it was early May, my pajamas were soaked with sweat, and the sheets seemed damp too.

I felt incredibly nauseous. My head was pounding. My breathing was fast, and I felt sick.

Thinking it was because of sweating, I felt hot, but my body was trembling, and I couldn’t seem to stop it.

“Are you okay? You seemed to be having a nightmare…”

When I looked up, Reina, who had propped herself up, was looking at me anxiously.

Finally, I understood the terrifying nightmare I had just experienced.
But, it was such a realistic and unpleasant dream that I instinctively hugged Reina.

“Hayato…?”

“Reina… won’t leave, right?”

On the surface, I thought I had completely let go of it.

But, in reality, it wasn’t like that. Without even realizing it, my heart was torn apart, mixed with doubts and suspicions. That’s why I had such a terrible nightmare, I thought.

Is it okay to be with Reina? Shouldn’t I be alone forever?

Negative thoughts kept swirling in my head, and my stomach tightened, and I felt like throwing up…

“Relax.”

A soothing voice whispered gently near my ear, sinking into the depths of my body.

“I will never leave anywhere. I’ll always be with you, Hayato. Even after death, we’ll spend eternity together in the same grave.”

I couldn’t resist anymore after hearing Reina’s gentle words.

Trying not to exert too much force, I wrapped my arms around Reina’s waist and buried my face in her pajamas, crying softly.

As tears overflowed, Reina kept stroking my head and rubbing my back.

I felt something warm filling my heart, which was all tangled up until a while ago. The nausea and headache subsided.

I don’t remember much after that.

When I came to, the bright morning light was streaming in through the window, and in front of me was Reina’s peaceful sleeping face.