Episode 5: “So, I ended up taking a bath with my stepbrother…”

Three weeks had passed since Akira moved in with us, and life had settled into a comfortable rhythm.

That day, as usual, Akira and I were sprawled out in the living room, each lost in our own worlds. Akira was glued to his new RPG, utterly engrossed, even flipping through a strategy guide to map out every detail. He was the meticulous type, saving religiously in every slot, a stark contrast to my reckless habit of overwriting the same save file without a second thought.

While Akira battled virtual foes, I chipped away at my growing stack of manga and light novels, savoring the quiet moments of indulgence.

“Aniki, I’m tired, so take over for a bit.”

And so, during his breaks, I found myself grinding levels or hunting for rare item drops. It felt more like Akira was using me than me helping him, but honestly, it wasn’t a bad deal.

“Hey, you two,” Miyuki-san’s voice cut through our lazy haze, “Are you okay with your summer homework?”

It was the first time she’d scolded us that day, her patience clearly stretched thin by our carefree lifestyle.

“I’m a slow starter, but I’ve got it under control.”

“I’m chipping away at it too. If it gets dicey, I’ll just get Aniki to bail me out.”

“Hold up, when did I sign up for that?!”

“Didn’t you say you’d help me study?”

“That was for the entrance exam, not your homework! I don’t have time to play tutor for you!”

Miyuki-san watched our back-and-forth with a wry smile, her arms crossed but her eyes soft with amusement.

Oh, right—Akira had passed his entrance exam and would be joining me at Yūki Academy starting second semester. When I mentioned we’d be commuting together, his face had lit up, even if just for a moment.

Life with Akira had fallen into an easy, natural flow. I wasn’t sure how he felt about it, but to me, it seemed like we’d grown a lot closer.

—And that’s when the incident happened.

＊ ＊ ＊

“Alright, I’m off to work soon, so you two better get started on that summer homework! Take care of the house while I’m gone!”

Miyuki-san’s voice rang out past noon, sharp and commanding, as she stood ready to leave, dressed impeccably for a drama shoot that would keep her out late. Akira and I, still lounging in the living room, barely looked up from our idle sprawl.

“Got it!”

“Have a good one!”

After seeing Miyuki-san off in the living room, I got a call from Dad.

“Ryouta, I told Miyuki-san already, but I won’t be home tonight either.”

“Gotcha. Work’s got you swamped, huh?”

“It’s the usual chaos. Sponsor threw in new demands, the director lost it, and now we’re redoing the backgrounds from scratch.”

“Haha, sounds like the adult world’s rough!”

“Anyway, I’m counting on you to look after the house.”

“No worries. Akira and I’ve got this.”

As I hung up, Akira glanced over, curious. “What’s up?”

“Dad’s stuck at work again tonight.”

“Man, Uncle’s job sounds brutal…”

“He seems to like it, though, so it’s all good.”

“Mom’s got that late-night drama shoot too,” Akira added. “She’ll be back late.”

“What happened to all that work-life balance talk?”

“Well, Mom’s kind of a workaholic, so she’s probably fine with it.”

“Still, what’s gonna happen to us poor souls left behind?”

Akira’s lips curled into a sly grin.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Yeah, heh heh heh…” We both let out a mischievous chuckle.

“So, pizza for dinner?”

“Sweet! I’m down for anything with tomato sauce.”

“I’m all about the cheese overload. Alright, let’s pick something then.”

And just like that, we cemented our plans to keep slacking off. Summer homework? That was a problem for future us, best tackled in a frantic rush during the last half of summer—it builds character, or so I told myself. For now, I’d savor the night goofing off with my dear little brother.

—But incidents at home usually happen when the parents are away, leaving just the kids.

And we were no exception, as high schoolers.

Or rather, I was the one who messed things up…

＊ ＊ ＊

That evening, we were sprawled out, munching on pizza while Akira hammered away at his game. But something kept catching my eye.

Akira had tomato sauce smeared all over his mouth—not just a dab, but a full-on clownish mess streaked across his face. He was so absorbed in the game, he didn’t even notice, let alone bother to wipe it off.

“Hey, Akira, you’ve got tomato sauce all over your face.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Like, everywhere.”

“What? No way, seriously?” He grabbed a tissue and swiped at his face, but the stubborn sauce just smeared further, making it worse.

“Here, let me—there, got it.” I leaned over with a wet tissue and cleaned it off for him. His face flushed bright red, and he quickly turned away, clearly embarrassed.

“Th-thanks…”

“Geez, you’re way too into that game,” I teased, brushing it off. But honestly, his flustered expression made my own cheeks warm a bit. Seeing him like that, Akira’s face was… well, pretty. His expressions were so vivid—lively, almost infectious.

At first, he’d seemed so cold, distant, like he’d keep everyone at arm’s length forever. But now? He smiled, rolled his eyes, pouted, got mad, and yeah, blushed like this. His emotions were blooming, and it made me happy as his big brother to see him letting his guard down around me.

“…Akira, I’m really glad we became siblings,” I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

“Wh-what’s that all of a sudden?” His blush deepened, but he didn’t sound upset—just caught off guard.

“It’s just how I feel. If you weren’t here, I’d probably just be lazing around alone all summer.” Since Akira and Miyuki-san came into our lives, this house felt so much brighter. Lately, it wasn’t just about getting along—it was about being ourselves together. At first, I’d been nervous about this new life, but now it felt so natural it was almost funny.

“I-I mean,” Akira stammered, “wouldn’t you have fun hanging out with someone else? Don’t you have friends, Aniki? You’ve been stuck with me all summer.”

“Well, I’ve got some,” I said, playing it cool. Truth was, the only friend who came to mind was Kousei. Without him, I might’ve been a total loner at school. “Not many, though.”

“You seem like you’d have a ton of friends, Aniki…”

“You’re giving me too much credit. I’d rather have a few close ones than a bunch of shallow connections.” Classic loner logic—just bravado. Big groups weren’t my thing; I stuck to a small circle. Kousei, my friend since middle school, was easy to be around. Hinata, though… things were still a bit awkward with her.

“What about you, Akira? You glad we’re siblings?”

“Well…” His expression darkened slightly, and he hesitated, like he was struggling to find the right words.

“You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s not that… It’s just, when I’m with you, sometimes I feel… weird.”

“Weird?”

“Like, my heart gets all fluttery or something. I don’t know how to explain it—” His voice trailed off, his cheeks practically glowing.

“But being with you is really fun!”

“Good to hear.” Knowing he felt that way warmed something in me. But I couldn’t shake the feeling we weren’t quite there yet—not close enough for him to fully open up.

“If I had to be greedy,” I continued, “I’d like to get even closer to you, Akira.” We’d both been through our parents’ divorces; I wanted to be close enough to talk about things like that, to really understand each other.

“Huh?! What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Just that you should let your guard down more. I know I’m not the most reliable, but I’m still your big brother.”

“Oh, big brother, huh? Haha…”

It felt like we’d connected just a bit more, and that sparked an idea I’d been mulling over for a while. “Alright! So, Akira, wanna take a bath together?”

“What? …WHAT?!” Akira’s face turned bright red as he shouted.

“Why’re you freaking out?” I grinned, trying to keep it light. “I’ve always wanted to try washing each other’s backs, you know, like siblings do. A little naked bonding.”

“Ahaha, naked bonding?!”

“Don’t be shy. It’s just washing backs.”

“J-just washing backs?! Are you serious?!”

“Yeah. You don’t want to?”

“It’s not about wanting to—it’s just not okay! We’d see each other naked! That’s way beyond letting my guard down!”

“I don’t mind.”

“Well, I do!” His voice was practically a yelp now. He must be really self-conscious about his body. I got it—this lazy summer had me feeling a bit softer around the edges too.

“If you’re embarrassed, just wrap a towel around yourself. We’ll only see each other’s backs, so it’s fine, right?”

“R-really, just backs?!”

“What else would there be? Oh, don’t worry, I’ll wash my own hair.”

“That’s not the issue!”

“You really don’t want to?”

“It’s just… we’re in high school, and we’re siblings…”

“Exactly, we’re siblings. I sometimes go to the bathhouse with Dad and wash his back, you know?”

“That’s different! It’s because he’s your dad, Uncle, so…”

“Exactly! So, Akira, what about school trips in elementary or middle school? What’d you do for baths?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you bathe with everyone in the big bath?”

“No… I used the hotel room’s bathtub, one by one…”

“Ever been to a hot spring or sauna?”

“No…”

I figured as much. He probably wasn’t used to being around others like that. Getting closer was important, but now I was more worried about this.

“We might go on a family hot spring trip someday, or you’ll have school trips in high school. You can’t always have a private bath. If you don’t get used to bathing with others, it could be tough later on.”

“Th-that might be true, but… why with you?”

“As your big brother, I’m worried about your future. I know it’s meddling, but I want to help you out.”

“B-but that’s too much! If Uncle or Mom found out…”

“Why would they matter? It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal?!”

I bet Dad and Miyuki-san would just think we were getting along great. “They’d probably just say, ‘Wow, you two are close!’”

“No, no, no, it’s not that simple!”

He was really hung up on them finding out. But if getting caught was the issue, then it was fine if we didn’t.

“Let’s just keep it a sibling secret. Dad’s not coming home, and Miyuki-san’s out late, so we’re good.”

“A sibling secret…” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He rubbed his left elbow with his right hand, his face still bright red, and glanced up at me shyly. “Aniki… do you… like me?”

“Huh? Yeah, of course I like you,” I said, caught off guard but honest. I meant as family, obviously, but it seemed to mean a lot to him.

“If we get caught… will you take responsibility?”

“Of course. I’ll take care of anything that happens.”

“…” He went quiet, his eyes flickering with hesitation. Maybe I was pushing too hard. If he really didn’t want to, I was ready to back off—

“—Fine, if it’s just washing your back…”

Blushing, Akira agreed—or rather, gave in.

＊ ＊ ＊

I stripped down first and waited for Akira in the bathroom, a towel draped over my lap. The air felt charged, not just with the steam but with a strange, exhilarating anticipation. This wasn’t only about getting closer as siblings—I was genuinely thinking about his future. He’d freaked out and bolted the one time he saw me naked before, so I hoped this could ease him into being more comfortable.

I sat on the bath stool, facing away from the door to give him some privacy. Then, faintly—

“E-excuse me…” Akira’s voice trembled as the bathroom door creaked open, and he finally stepped inside.

“Alright, let’s get started!”

“Y-yeah… here goes…” His words came out stiff, almost polite, like he was stepping into uncharted territory. He was definitely nervous.

If this went well, I thought, maybe we could hit a bathhouse together someday or make washing each other’s backs a regular thing at home. Once you break the ice, the second and third times are always easier—like, “Eh, it’s fine.” I figured Akira wouldn’t put up as much of a fight next time.

I felt him crouch behind me, the faint shuffle of his movements barely audible over the hum of the bathroom fan. The mirror in front of me was fogged up, leaving only vague shapes in its cloudy surface. I didn’t need to see him to picture his face, though—probably scrunched up, battling a mix of embarrassment and determination.

Trying to lighten the mood, I called over my shoulder, “Hey, Akira, you ever washed someone’s back before?”

“Maybe when I was little… I think I washed Dad’s back once or twice.”

“So you know how it works?”

“Not really…”

“First, scoop some water from the tub and pour it on my back,” I instructed, keeping my tone light to guide him through.

“O-okay…”

I heard the soft slosh of water as Akira dipped the bucket and poured it gently over my back, the warmth trickling down my skin.

“You can pour it more like a splash!”

“O-okay…”

He tried again, and this time a wave of hot water hit my back with a satisfying rush.

“Ahh… feels good!” I let out a contented sigh, unable to hold it back.

“H-hey! Don’t make weird noises, Aniki!”

“Hey, it does feel good, that’s just a fact. More importantly, come on, splash me some more!”

“O-okay…”

He poured warm water over my back and shoulders two, three more times, each splash loosening the tension in my muscles.

“Alright, now wash my back,” I said, passing him the bottle of body soap I always used.

Behind me, I heard the shko shko of Akira squeezing out the soap, followed by the kuchu kuchu of him lathering it up between his hands. I braced myself, expecting the fun part to kick in—

“Alright, here I go… Whoa!?”

“Huh? W-what? What’s wrong!?”

“Hold on, what are you doing, Akira!?”

“Eh!? Did I do something wrong!?”

“Why are you washing my back with your soapy hands!?”

This wasn’t just a mistake—it was a whole new level of awkward. The moment Akira’s soft, soap-slicked hands slid across my back, a shiver shot through me, every hair standing on end.

“B-but, I always wash with my hands…”

“Oh, I see. Sorry for yelling…” I exhaled, trying to dial back my reaction. “I sometimes wash with my hands too, but usually, for this kind of thing, you use a body towel to scrub, you know?”

“R-really!? That makes sense! I was thinking something felt off!”

Then use the towel from the start, I thought, biting back a retort. “Washing with your hands is a bit much… Look, there’s a blue towel over there, right? Use that to wash me.”

“O-okay…”

I heard him fumble with the towel, lathering it up with soap before pressing it against my back.

“Here I go, alright?”

“Bring it on!”

The pressure was… underwhelming, to say the least. It felt more like he was gently caressing my back, barely different from his hands earlier.

“Akira, my back’s not that delicate, you know?”

“Huh? I can put more strength into it!? This towel’s so rough, like a scrub brush—doesn’t it hurt?”

“It’s fine. In fact, it feels just right when it’s rough enough to turn my skin red.”

“R-really, you’re sure?”

“Yeah. So go all out and put some muscle into it!”

“O-okay…”

I felt the towel settle at the center of my back, just below my neck. Akira leaned in, and I could sense the effort in his arms—no, the weight of his whole body—pressing into me. And then—

“Kyaa!”

“Whoa!”

His hand or foot must’ve slipped as he tried to apply more force, because suddenly Akira’s full weight crashed into my back. I braced myself forward, barely managing to catch him, but—

“You okay, Aki—”

—…What’s this sensation…?

Something soft pressed against my shoulder blades, a sensation both foreign and unmistakable.

Pushed by Akira’s weight, it spread across my back—pliant yet elastic, resisting slightly as if yearning to reclaim its original shape. In the next moment, it shifted, splitting into two distinct forms against my skin.

A rush of indescribable emotion surged within me, my mind racing to process the sequence of sensations. Unable to hold back, I leaned forward, instinctively trying to create distance.

But that only made it worse.

“Kyaa!” Akira yelped again, his body pressing even closer as I shifted.

The soft sensation spread across my back once more, vivid and undeniable. In that fleeting moment, it was as if a divine revelation struck—an overwhelming flash of insight. Knowledge, experience, instinct, imagination, science, and mystery collided in an instant, and the vague softness crystallized into a clear, undeniable truth in my mind.

Right here, right now, I understood it completely.

—It was, undeniably, unmistakably, boobs.

Akira pulled away, leaving a heavy silence in the steamy air.

A droplet fell from the ceiling, splashing into the tub with a soft chapon, jolting me back to reality.

“…Um, Akira-san?” My voice broke the quiet, hesitant and strained. “Can we talk for a sec…?”

“W-what? And why the polite speech…?”

Embarrassment and confusion swirled within me, indistinguishable, spreading like venom through my veins, numbing my senses as my heartbeat thundered in my chest. I tried to steady myself, to slow the racing pulse, but one question loomed, sharp and unavoidable—a truth I couldn’t ignore.

“I hate to ask something so blunt, but—”

The words caught in my throat. I had to ask, yet every fiber of me resisted. I wished this were a dream, that the lingering sensation on my back would fade like a fleeting illusion.

But it was real.

Trembling, I forced my mouth to move, the question teetering on the edge of my lips.

“—Akira-san, are you perhaps… not my little brother, but my little sister…?”

As the words teetered on my lips, a flood of memories surged through my mind—a vivid montage of every moment since Akira entered my life.

Looking back, it was baffling. Why had I so readily assumed Akira was my brother? When I was told I’d be getting a “sibling,” I accepted it without a second thought, latching onto the idea with unshakable certainty. That assumption, so carelessly made, was where my misunderstanding took root.

In hindsight, the clues were glaring, scattered across our time together like puzzle pieces I refused to assemble. Yet I’d brushed them aside, clinging to the convenient truth I wanted to believe, utterly convinced Akira was my brother.

“Well, you know, you’re pretty dense.”

Dad’s words echoed in my head, sharp and mocking.

No, no, this wasn’t just being dense—it was a colossal oversight, a failure to see what was right in front of me.

But the answer still wasn’t clear. A faint, desperate hope clung to me—a slim chance that Akira could still be my brother, just… with a chest, right? It sounded absurd even in my own head.

I wanted, more than anything, to hear Akira say, “No, that’s not it,” to dispel the truth taking shape. But the lingering sensation on my back and the weight of my own doubts told me otherwise. Trembling, I waited for his response, the silence stretching like a taut wire.

“Y-Yeah, but… you’re only realizing this now…? And why the polite speech?”

Reality hit like a cold, merciless wave.

“…I’m so, so sorry about everything up until now!” I stammered, my face burning with shame. I rinsed off quickly, keeping my eyes averted from Akira, then scrambled to the changing room to dry off and throw on my clothes. Stepping into the hallway, my heart pounded so fiercely I thought it might burst.

From behind the bathroom door came the faint rustle of Akira getting dressed. Her voice, soft and hesitant, broke the silence. “Aniki, are you… still out there?”

“Y-Yeah…” I swallowed hard, my voice shaking. “I mean, I’m really sorry! The truth is, I’ve been thinking you were my brother this whole time! I’m so sorry!”

I bowed my head repeatedly toward the closed door, unable to face her. Words of apology spilled out, clumsy and desperate. There was no room for excuses, and the weight of my mistake left me too ashamed to meet her gaze. Talking through the door was all I could manage.

“Haa… Aniki, you seriously thought I was a guy this whole time…”

“I’m really, really sorry…”

“…It’s fine. I mean, I’ve made some misunderstandings too…”

“Huh? Misunderstandings?”

“N-Nothing! Anyway, this stays between us, got it? An absolute secret!”

“Y-Yes…”

Still, I knew Akira must be reeling. The weight of my blunder pressed down on me, unbearable. Without another word, I slipped away to my room, crawled into bed, and pulled the covers over my head.

I should just sleep…

But as the day’s events replayed in my mind—the pizza, the game, the bath, that undeniable sensation on my back—sleep refused to come.

How was I supposed to face Akira tomorrow?