Splash!
Kiyoshi and Hinatsuru both entered the bathtub and lay together lazily.
"It really feels good, Kiyoshi-sama."
Hinatsuru, lying on Kiyoshi, said, oozing comfort from her face. After all that intense activity, taking a dip in warm water was the most comfortable thing.
"Yes. It is really comfortable."
Kiyoshi agreed with her. It was good that he had forcefully made this bathtub. This place was too harsh—just in the name of resilience, how could he go to the nearby river for baths?
Moreover, in the bathtub, he could bathe together with his wives, which was another plus.
He is a family man.
Kiyoshi slowly placed his hands on Hinatsuru's waist and pulled her into his arms, making her stick closer to him. Hinatsuru, feeling the affection, grabbed his hands and made sure he hugged her tightly.
"You really like it when I hug you?"
"Even though I like Kiyoshi-sama's love during the night, I also like it when Kiyoshi-sama hugs me like this."
Hinatsuru said with a lovely smile on her face. Kiyoshi held her tighter, then moved his face, resting his chin on her shoulder and lightly kissing her cheek.
"Really?"
"Yes. I really like it."
"You…"
Kiyoshi just smiled helplessly at her response. Soon, his eyes drifted to the marks he had left on Hinatsuru—the bites on her neck, breasts, slightly swollen lips, and more.
He slowly touched her neck, feeling it.
"Hinatsuru…"
"Yes?"
"Do you ever dislike, you know, the way I behave at night? All that roughness, and—"
"I don't dislike it, Kiyoshi-sama."
"You don't have to say such things because of me. I feel that maybe—"
Before he could finish, Hinatsuru turned around to face him and closed his mouth with a kiss.
"!!!"
Then she pulled back, looking at him with eyes full of love.
"Kiyoshi-sama, we all—Makio-san and Suma-san—really love you. And for us, rather than dislike, it's a blessing to serve you."
"Still…"
"Kiyoshi-sama, we like it. I love it. To me, all this… it's a sign of how much Kiyoshi-sama loves me."
Hinatsuru smiled and touched the marks on her neck with affection and pride. To her, and to the other two as well, the love they received at night was something truly precious.
Kiyoshi, being a reincarnator, often forgot, but the people in this ninja village weren't like him. No other man was like him—loving his wives and showing it every day.
Comparison made it clear.
Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma themselves knew how lucky they were to meet him from an early age—someone who loved them, and that too with such passion.
For them, receiving his love and being his wives were sources of pride. It gave meaning to their lives—that someone truly loved them.
"And I am Kiyoshi-sama's wife. If I can't fulfill my duties as a wife, doesn't that mean I am not a good wife?"
"..."
Kiyoshi fell silent. She had completely left him speechless. In the end, all he could think was that he was truly lucky to marry such women.
"Forget it. I asked a dumb question."
"Kiyoshi-sama really gets into self-doubt sometimes and asks such questions."
"Really? Do I?"
"Yes. I remember during the times we all sneaked out to have picnics, Kiyoshi-sama would say, 'Do I matter to this world?'"
Hinatsuru comically imitated Kiyoshi, saying those lines and making him embarrassed. Really, did he say that? Why couldn't he remember it?
Seeing his embarrassed state, Hinatsuru chuckled and continued, imitating him even more:
- "Do you all really love me?"
- "Can I really do something in life?"
"That's it. Stop it. Don't say any more."
Having no courage left to listen to his past self-doubt, Kiyoshi quickly placed his palm over Hinatsuru's mouth to silence her. If he heard more, he might die of embarrassment.
Hinatsuru, clearly wanting to continue, didn't want to stop. She rarely got chances to tease her husband like this. She opened her mouth and then…
Lick~
Kiyoshi instinctively pulled his hand back as she licked his palm.
This girl…
"You've really become more mischievous. I don't remember my Hinatsuru doing things like this before."
Instead of the mature and composed woman, all he saw now was a mischievous girl teasing him.
"Didn't someone say that I could be more free and express myself?"
"You…"
Sigh… yes, he was the cause of these changes.
"All right, I lost. Please, Hinatsuru-sama, can you stop?"
Seeing Kiyoshi surrender with his hands raised, Hinatsuru chuckled happily and graciously accepted his request.
"Hmm. This Hinatsuru-sama accepts your request."
"You really got into the roleplay."
"Yes. I don't get many chances to see Kiyoshi-sama like this, after all."
"You mischievous girl… Here, take this!"
"W-Wait! No! Kiyoshi-sama…!"
Kiyoshi grabbed her tightly and started tickling her in retaliation, making her squirm and splash water everywhere. But Hinatsuru didn't back down and began tickling him in return.
Ten minutes passed in laughter and playful splashing until both of them were exhausted.
"Haah… Hinatsuru, you really made me tired."
Though he complained, Kiyoshi's face was full of happiness. The same was true for Hinatsuru, who chuckled at his words.
"Kiyoshi-sama?"
"Hmm… what is it?"
"This mischievous me… does Kiyoshi-sama hate it?"
"Huh?"
Kiyoshi, who had been relaxing while moving his hands under the water and caressing Hinatsuru, suddenly stilled. He looked at her directly.
"What is this? Is Hinatsuru also going through a self-doubt phase?"
"It's not like that."
"Then?"
"It's…"
Hinatsuru blushed slightly under Kiyoshi's gaze and spoke in a small voice.
"It's just that Kiyoshi-sama has been giving more attention to Makio-san and Suma-san lately, so I…"
Kiyoshi's eyes widened. Seeing his reaction, Hinatsuru blushed even more and buried her face in his chest. It was unlike her to act spoiled in front of him. After all, she was the head wife—the mature one.
But Kiyoshi smiled and hugged her even tighter.
"Kiyoshi-sama?"
"Hate it? No, I love it! After all, I don't get many chances to see Hinatsuru acting spoiled in front of me."
"Kiyoshi-sama!"
"Hahaha…"
Both of them laughed. Then, as if connected by instinct, Kiyoshi's hand slowly moved to her butt and lifted her up. Hinatsuru wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her face closer to his.
"Kiyoshi-sama… I love you very much."
"Me too."
They both leaned in, wanting to kiss deeply, but—
"It's not fair, Kiyoshi-sama!"
"Yes, it's not fair!"
The bathroom door burst open, and two voices interrupted them.
"Makio and Suma?"
Makio and Suma stood there, looking slightly resentful at being left out.
"I also want to bathe with Kiyoshi-sama!"
"Kiyoshi-sama, it's not fair that only Hinatsuru-san gets this treatment!"
"You two…"
Kiyoshi looked at Hinatsuru with a helpless smile. As the head wife, she understood that their private time was over. Maintaining harmony between the wives was her responsibility.
But…
"Kiyoshi-sama."
Hinatsuru pulled him closer and continued the kiss that had been interrupted.
Chu~
There was no way she would give up on that kiss now!
"Ah! Hinatsuru-san is stealing Kiyoshi-sama!"
"I also want to kiss Kiyoshi-sama!"
Both Suma and Makio complained and jumped into the tub, wanting their share of affection as well.
"Wait! There isn't enough spac— Mhn~"
Damn! Who just stopped me with a kiss?!