Epilogue

Several days had passed since the cultural festival.

As we approached the end of September and the beginning of October, it had been almost exactly one year since I first saved them.

"This past year... it’s been so incredibly thick."

It was heavy in every sense of the word—a year packed with density and intensity.

Between our birthdays, trips, the sports festival, and the cultural festival, there were countless other events in between. We had truly spent so many moments together.

"If one year felt like this... next year is probably going to be even more fulfilling."

Well, I supposed next year would also get a lot busier with talk about the future and all that.

"Hm-hm-hm~♪"

Haha. I shouldn’t be the one to say it, but I was in an unusually good mood.

"I'll just~ finish washing up~ and then have a delicious meal~"

Reflected in the bathroom mirror, I saw myself wearing a truly magnificent smile.

Today was another night of me staying over at the Shinjo residence, but when I really thought about it, it felt like I was here almost every single day.

"This place is just too comfortable... well, it’s the same when they come over to my place, though."

In the end, it all boiled down to whether one was alone or not.

It’s precisely because someone is there by your side that your heart becomes enriched, and at the same time, it makes you feel a strong desire to protect that person.

"...?"

Just then, I heard the sound of the door opening toward the dressing room.

Since the only people who would ambush me in the bath like this were Arisa and Aina, I called out, wondering which one it was.

"Arisa? Aina?"

Yes... at that point, I truly thought it could only be one of those two.

"It’s me, Hayato-kun."

"...Eh!?"

The person who replied was, to my shock, Sakuna-san.

Why...?

Stunned, I could only watch the turn of events unfold, and in the end, I simply accepted Sakuna-san as she appeared, wrapped only in a bath towel.

"Um... why are you here?"

"I thought I’d wash your back for you."

With a beaming smile, Sakuna-san stepped inside.

Carrying that gentle smile that had been perfectly inherited by her daughters, she sat down behind me, her violently explosive dynamite body swaying with every movement.

"Ufufu♪ As I thought, being able to wash the back of a boy who is just like a son to me brings me nothing but joy."

"...I’m happy too, you know? Though it's extremely embarrassing."

Sakuna-san giggled behind me as she began to scrub my back.

While my cheeks burned with embarrassment, the gentleness I felt from Sakuna-san through my back slowly allowed my heart to settle.

Illustration

"Actually, you see."

"Yes."

"While doing this was one of my goals, I also just wanted to have a quiet talk with you, Hayato-kun."

I see, a quiet talk... huh.

She could have just called me to her room before bed or something, but... well, I’ll just consider this a lucky break... No, I have no choice but to think that.

"In another month, it will have been a year since you saved us, Hayato-kun."

"That’s right... it’s already been a year."

"Yes, a whole year. This year went by so fast... Since you joined our family, Hayato-kun, the happy moments have truly never stopped."

"...It makes me blush when you put it that way."

"It's perfectly fine to blush all you want. After all, I can't see your expression from back here."

Well... if that's the case... wait, what!?

"U-Um, Sakuna-san!?"

Nuluri. Sakuna-san’s arms slithered around to my stomach.

Having her arms wrap around me from behind meant that Sakuna-san’s breasts were being pressed firmly against my back.

Even through the bath towel, their elasticity was not diminished in the slightest. As her hands began to wash right around my midsection, my consciousness was beautifully scattered... Even in this situation, Sakuna-san continued speaking without changing her bright tone of voice.

"Even when I’m working, I’m always thinking about you and my daughters, Hayato-kun. It’s not like it just started recently, but lately, the people at my workplace have been telling me that I’ve been smiling a lot more."

"H-Heh..."

The lathered towel dropped, and this time, she hugged me tightly!?

While I’d been hugged by Sakuna-san many times before, doing it while naked like this was, of course, a first... No, it would be bad if it wasn't a first!

"It was a shame I couldn't go to the cultural festival, but I was so happy that you and the girls showed off your costumes like that... It's just, how do I put it! My feelings of love for you have just become so strong, Hayato-kun!"

Sakuna-san, aren't you getting a bit too excited!?

She was so pumped up I thought her voice might carry all the way into the hallway.

"It’s not just the kindness in your words! It shows properly in your actions too, doesn't it!? You take the lead on all the heavy lifting, and when I come home late at night, you even make me a late-night snack...! If I show even the slightest sign of being tired, you take care of me with shoulder massages and things... On top of that, you have a reputation among the neighbors for being such a good boy... You even carried a bag of polished rice for the neighbor the other day, didn't you? I heard all about it yesterday!?"

"Sakuna-san, can we just calm down for a second!?"

"I don't want to be apart from you anymore! I can't even imagine a life without you, let alone my daughters...! Ah, Hayato-kun... please don't ever leave my side, okay? Stay by my side forever, with enough momentum to actually become Shinjo Hayato!?"

"Sakuna-saaaaaaaaaaan!?"

Since both of our bodies were covered in soap suds, we were slipping and sliding all over the place!?

In an attempt to calm the overcome Sakuna-san, I spun my body around to try and—forcefully, yet without forgetting to be gentle—place my hands on her shoulders. However, it was then that I realized the bath towel Sakuna-san was supposed to be equipped with had come undone.

"!?"

Whether I wanted to or not, my gaze was drawn to her extra-large breasts.

After staring intensely for just a split second, I tried to pull away immediately, but that was a mistake.

I stepped on a stray bar of soap and went tsuru—slipping instantly.

But I managed to take the fall well, so I wasn't injured, of course. Sakuna-san also avoided disaster by using my body as a cushion... wait, wasn't that actually a disaster!?

"Ah..."

"...Oh my."

My crotch... my crotch was being crushed by a soft sensation.

It was obvious that both Sakuna-san and I had realized what was happening. We stared at each other’s faces in silence, and time stood still.

"...Um."

"...It's quite hot, isn't it?"

It was a voluptuous, sultry voice.

Shaking her body slowly in tiny increments, Sakuna-san began to apply light stimulation to my crotch... Just as I thought I was reaching my limit, a bashful Sakuna-san gently pulled away.

"If we make any more of a fuss, the two of them will get worried... or rather, they’ll get jealous."

"A-Ah, yes..."

"Um... I got a little too carried away, didn't I... I'm sorry, Hayato-kun."

"No, no! It’s not something you need to apologize for at all... yes!"

After we laughed together, this time Sakuna-san properly followed through with her original goal. Not only did she rinse my back, but she even washed my hair for me.

As expected, my body was already too hot, so I declined getting into the bathtub.

"Um... Sakuna-san."

"Yes?"

"I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be by your side forever too, Sakuna-san."

It was hot... I mean, what was I even saying while completely naked?

But I couldn't stop the words... Since we had had this exchange several times before, it might even be getting a bit persistent.

Even so, words that make someone happy are worth saying no matter how many times they are repeated.

It wasn't out of self-consciousness or arrogance; I simply already knew that these words would make Sakuna-san feel happy.

"So, um... you don't need to feel anxious for even a single moment. Even so, if you ever do feel uneasy, just tell me—I’ll come running immediately!"

"...Hayato-kun."

"Well then, excuse me!"

My face... my face was way too hot!

After quickly taking refuge in the dressing room, I threw on my clothes in record time and headed for Arisa’s room.

"Welcome back."

"Welcooome back~"

"I'm back."

Both of them were in their pajamas, and Arisa was giving Aina a lap pillow.

It seemed they both didn't know that Sakuna-san had come to the bath...?

Thinking it was better that way, I didn't mention what had just happened. Instead, I was more curious about the magazine Arisa was looking at.

"A travel magazine?"

"Yes."

"We're thinking about where we should go next~"

Ho... so they were planning another trip, were they?

"Mother suggested it. She was with us last time, but she told us we should go and make some memories with just the three of us."

"Sakuna-san did...?"

"It’s almost the one-year anniversary of our meeting, so I guess it’s like a celebration for that? Well, even if we call it a trip, it’s probably just going somewhere a bit far away. We can't really go too far on our own as kids, after all."

"I see..."

From what I heard, they were planning a day trip.

As far as I was concerned, I was happy to go anywhere as long as it was with the two of them... but I decided to let them settle the schedule.

"...It's almost been a year, huh... For just one year, our relationship has really progressed a lot, hasn't it?"

"That’s true. Do you regret it?"

"Not a chance."

"Ehehe! But it’s precisely because of that sense of speed that we're this lovey-dovey, isn't it?"

Certainly... Because of that speed, the relationship we had built up to this point was incredibly thick.

"I see... one year, huh. It was fast."

"You sound like an old man, you know?"

Don't go calling me an old man.

But well, it had become such a precious memory that I could look back on it with such a relaxed feeling.

"...Uoaaaaaaaaaoaoaoaoaoa."

"W-What’s wrong?"

"Wh-What...?"

While letting out a nonsensical shout, I sprawled out on the floor.

"Sorry, sorry. I’m just in such a good mood that I ended up making a weird noise like that."

I said those words and closed my eyes.

I didn't intend to sleep yet, but my heart was so completely at peace that it wouldn't be strange if I fell asleep just staying still like this.

As if using my outstretched arms as pillows, the girls lay down beside me too.

"Just lounging around like this is happiness enough."

"Right! Wouldn't it be fine if it stayed like this for the rest of our lives?"

"Sorry, if we did that, my arms would die."

"Geez! Just agree and say 'me too'!"

"...Fufu♪"

Amidst the peaceful atmosphere, our time together continued indefinitely.

"Almost one year... but it’s going to keep going, right?"

"Of course."

"We'll be together for at least another hundred years!"

A hundred years, huh... If I lived another hundred years, I'd be a hundred and seventeen... I wonder if I'll still be kicking.

"I'd like to have another party on Halloween."

"Let's definitely do it! It's an anniversary, so we have to celebrate in a big way!"

It looked like there were still plenty of events lined up, which made me feel excited.

The two of them, right by my side, slowly closed the distance even more... and then they were completely clinging to me.

Wrapped in their warmth and elasticity, their gentle breaths tickling my ears—I felt their love in every single one of those gestures, and my cheeks softened.

"You look happy, don't you?"

"You look really happy, don't you?"

"I’m so happy I can’t stop grinning."

Ah... is it okay if I just sleep like this?

Today, just like any other day, the end of the day was a sweet yet dense time with them... I felt half-exasperated and half-happy that we were always the same, no matter the time.

Well, it’s not bad... yeah, not bad at all!