29-72

EP.72 I Only Meant to Give Him a Bath... 

The Miyano family bathroom was the kind you’d find in any countryside home-simple, but meticulously clean. The tiles on the walls and floor bore faint traces of age, but they shone as if well cared for. The sound of hot water splashing against the tiles and the rising steam filled the small bathroom with a hazy warmth. The air, thick with heat and humidity, was tinged with the scent of old wood and subtle soap, stirring a gentle nostalgia. 

“Is the water temperature okay?” 

Akari’s voice trembled with nervousness as she spoke. She tried to hide it, but in the moisture-laden bathroom, her voice echoed more clearly than usual. 

“Yeah. But sis, that’s the fifth time you’ve asked.” 

Under the stream of water, Yuu kept his eyes tightly shut and replied nonchalantly. At his words, a short gasp escaped Akari’s lips, as if she’d been pricked by a needle. 

But what could she do? Other than when they were little, she’d never been in the bath with someone else-let alone her younger brother. Normally, she would have flatly refused, but Fumika’s words about “fulfilling desires” clung to her like shackles. 

‘Calm down, Miyano Akari. He’s just a kid, just your little brother!’ 

She repeated this to herself over and over, but her racing heart wouldn’t settle. Whether he knew how she felt or not, Yuu sat there with his eyes closed, looking annoyingly peaceful. 

‘This is just a normal act of washing your little brother. Nothing more. Get a grip.’ 

“Keep your eyes shut so you don’t get soap in them.” 

“Okay, I will.” 

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Akari squeezed some shampoo into her hand and began lathering Yuu’s small head. The feel of his soft hair and round head was both unfamiliar and strangely familiar. For a while, the only sounds in the bathroom were the rubbing of hair and the steady drip of water. 

But focusing on something helped her calm down a bit. 

“Remember how you used to cry and fuss whenever Mom washed your hair and soap got in your eyes?” 

Trying to break the awkwardness, Akari spoke in an intentionally bright voice. 

“Yeah. But you always put soap in my eyes on purpose.” 

Yuu’s cheeky distortion of the past made Akari laugh despite herself. 

“When did I ever do that?” 

“You did! Every time!” 

“Fine, you win, you rascal.” 

How long had it been since she’d talked so openly with her brother? They’d been close as kids-when did things change? 

For a moment, she felt at ease, but worries crept back in like fog. ‘I’ll have to close the shop for a while,’ she thought. With Yuu in this state, she couldn’t run it alone. Her parents wouldn’t be back for a while, but at least she had enough living expenses for now. 

But what if Yuu didn’t return to normal before her parents came back in a month? What would she do then? 

“Sigh.” 

Who was she even worrying about? Why did this idiot have to go to the shrine at night and cause all this trouble? Because of him, she’d even fought with Daichan... 

“Ow.” 

Lost in thought, Akari had pressed too hard while shampooing, and Yuu let out a small whimper. 

“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?” 

“Yeah, a little.” 

Deciding that was enough, Akari stopped shampooing and carefully rinsed Yuu’s hair with the shower. The warm water washed away the foam, leaving his hair shiny and clean. 

‘Still, Yuu’s pretty calm,’ she thought. Waking up to find everyone else grown up and his own body changed, he didn’t seem anxious at all. 

“Sis.” 

“Yeah? What is it?” 

Yuu’s sudden question snapped her out of her thoughts. 

“I was just wondering-was that guy in the living room earlier your boyfriend?” 

“Huh? Uh, yeah… why?” 

It was an innocent question, but Akari hesitated for a moment. 

“Nothing. Then why were you fighting with him? Don’t you like your boyfriend?” 

His sharp question made her shoulders tremble slightly. Why was he so perceptive at times like this? 

“No, it’s not that. We just disagreed about something. It’s adult stuff, so don’t worry about it.” 

Akari forced a smile, but worry and unease still showed on her face. 

“Okay, I’ll scrub your back now. Turn around.” 

She awkwardly changed the subject, gently turning Yuu’s small shoulders. When the soft bath towel, lathered with soap, touched his still-damp back, Yuu flinched. 

Akari couldn’t understand why her emotions reacted so strongly to every little thing. 

“Mom always did this, but it feels weird with you doing it.” 

Yuu hummed as he spoke, and Akari found herself thinking of questions she’d buried. 

“Yuu, aren’t you scared? Your body’s suddenly changed, everyone else is the same, and you’ve lost your memories.” 

She asked cautiously, worried it might be a sensitive topic. 

“Nope!” 

His quick, clear answer left her speechless. 

“I was really scared at first… but I’m okay now. Because you’re here, sis.” 

He turned and smiled at her with an innocent, childlike grin. 

In that moment, Akari felt her heart drop-not out of simple sibling affection or pity, but something else entirely. 

‘What’s wrong with me?! He’s just Yuu!’ 

This was the effect of the “Spoiled Child” trait, but Akari couldn’t have known that. She was simply swept away by the sudden wave of emotion. 

“I’m done with your back, so let’s soak in the tub. It’ll help you relax.” 

Trying to hide her trembling voice, Akari stood up quickly. 

But something was off. 

Yuu didn’t get up. He just sat there, head bowed, fidgeting. 

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” 

After a long pause, Yuu answered in a small, crawling voice. 

“Sis… w-why is this happening?” 

“What? Is something wrong with your body? Are you hurt?” 

“N-no, it’s just… here, something’s weird…” 

Still looking down, Yuu pointed to somewhere below his waist. 

Akari followed his finger and gasped. 

“…Huh?” 

Through the steam, the front of the small towel Yuu had wrapped around his waist was bulging impossibly high. 

Anyone could tell what was straining so fiercely against the thin cloth. 

But… was that really it? 

It was impossible to believe it belonged to a child-comparable to, or even more intimidating than, any adult’s she’d seen. 

‘Was it always that big? Daichan’s wasn’t even… No, what am I thinking?!’ 

Akari’s mind went blank with shock as she looked between Yuu’s face and what was below. 

“Sis, what do I do?” 

Yuu’s teary voice pierced her confusion. 

His pitiful tone snapped her out of it, but the scene before her was still unreal. 

She just stood there, lips moving but unable to speak. 

“Sniff… Sis, am I sick? When I think about you, it starts to hurt and feel weird… I’m scared.” 

Now Yuu was sobbing, his shoulders shaking. Akari’s heart twisted painfully. 

Then Fumika’s words flashed through her mind: 

-“I think what’s most important is fulfilling Yuu’s deepest wish.” 

Was “fulfilling his desire” really meant literally? 

But how was she supposed to…? 

“I-it’s okay, Yuu. Don’t cry. It’s not a sickness. I’ll… I’ll make it stop hurting soon, okay? So don’t cry.” 

Akari didn’t even know what she was saying. 

Her mind was filled with the urge to comfort Yuu. 

‘Damn it, how did things end up like this…!’ 

Her trembling hand reached for the knot of Yuu’s small towel. 

She swallowed hard. 

If she untied it, there’d be no going back. 

Her last thread of reason screamed a warning, but it was already too late. 

Akari’s fingers gently tugged at the end of the knot. 

Her breath quickened, and a dangerous curiosity shimmered in her wet eyes.