After My Girlfriend Dumped Me, I Got Reincarnated As A High School Student. That Part’s Fine—But Why Are All My Ex-Girlfriends Here Too? - Chapter 10 – Lunch Time
Lunchtime.
“Man… I’m exhausted.”
Seriously, why have there been so many events back-to-back since the very first day of school? Is this what they call the reincarnation effect?
“Well, what should I do now?”
I didn’t pack any class materials besides my pens and notebooks. (After modern Japanese class, I had to go back home to grab my gym clothes through the door Rio opened for me.) But for some reason, I did remember to bring my lunch.
It’s my first lunchtime at this new high school. Maybe I should use the chance to explore and find a favorite spot to eat. Just thinking about that made me feel a little excited.
“What are you doing, trying to eat lunch alone like it’s normal?”
Just as I was about to step out of the classroom with full enthusiasm, Rio grabbed my shoulder.
Whoa—she’s strong.
“W-what are you talking about? Eating alone is the best!”
Back in my first life as a student, eating in the classroom was the norm. But since I’m in such a big, fancy school now, it’s only natural I’d want to explore a little.
“You can do that without eating alone, you know?”
“Tsk, tsk, you don’t get it. Eating alone means total freedom. No plans, no schedules—you just pick a spot on a whim, eat at your own pace, and enjoy your food without anyone bothering you.”
“Wow… you’re such a hassle.”
Hey, you just said that out loud.
“I meant to.”
Rio sighed deeply.
“Do you really understand, Yuta-san? If you don’t find someone special in this school life…”
“I know, I know.”
I understood the logic. But just because I understood it doesn’t mean I could accept it easily.
“I’m done with love, you know…”
“Yuri-tan!”
A loud voice burst through the classroom door. It was Shota Nakamori.
“Shotan! You came!”
The one who replied with a bright, happy smile was our classmate, Yuri Mizuno.
“Of course! C’mon, let’s go to the courtyard.”
“Yeah!”
Hand in hand, the two of them walked right past me, all smiles.
“I wish love would just go extinct.”
“That’s way too bitter! You can’t say that if you’re the rom-com protagonist!”
Ah, crap. Said that one out loud too.
“And you didn’t even say ‘couples,’ you said love itself. That’s so like you, Yuta-san.”
“Haha, you really get me.”
“Uh, that wasn’t a compliment…”
“Anyway, I’d better hurry and find a good spot before they’re all taken.”
“Sure, sure. Or maybe you’ll ‘fail to find one’ and end up sleeping in the nurse’s office instead?”
“Thaaat’s not true?”
“Knew it.”
…How does she always know? What is she, psychic? No, wait—she’s just an angel.
“Hey, Yuu, not eating your lunch?”
Akina asked as he chomped down his meal—fried chicken, hamburger steak, and ginger pork, all meat, no greens.
“Eat some veggies, man.”
“You could just eat with us, you know,” Rio suggested.
“Huh? You want to eat with me?”
“Eh? No.”
“That was fast, haha!”
Maybe it’s because of that misunderstanding the other day, but Rio’s attitude toward Akina has been kinda sharp lately.
“Yuu-nii! Marimo!”
“Hey, not fair! Big brother, me too!”
Ah yes, my beloved sisters, Hinami and Maria, have arrived as well.
“This feels like a Yuu × Aki moment… or maybe Aki × Yuu… either way, I’m shipping it.”
“Even you, Hatchi…”
“Yo, Yuu-bro.”
It was Minori Fujihachi, a fellow Utuber like Maria and another little-sister figure to me.
With black-rimmed glasses and hair down to her back, she was small, cute, and gave off serious small-animal energy—but as her earlier comment made clear, she was also a complete fujoshi.
Her nickname “Hatchi” came from the “Hachi” in her name.
“This isn’t right… Big brother is supposed to be my big brother… just mine…”
Hinami pouted, watching me and Minori talk.
“H-Hina…? Calm down, okay?”
“Oh, Yuu-san.”
Uhoh—nice guy alert.
cough cough
Tomonari Horiuchi—short black hair, ruggedly handsome, wild type, but despite his looks, he’s gentle and a little shy. Kind of like a chihuahua in a cool guy’s body. On top of that, he’s good at housework—and even cooks. Oh, and he’s handsome. (Yes, that’s important enough to say twice.)
“Tomonari × Yuu…!! Ah, this is perfect. Sorry, I’m going to the nurse’s office…”
Hatchi left, holding her nose, cheeks blazing red.
How did things end up like this…? Well, she’s cute, so I’ll let it slide.
“Big brother?”
As I smiled wryly after her, Hinami glared at me.
“Y-yes! Hii-chan is the cutest, of course!”
“R-really? Well… okay then.”
Ah, she looks a little happy.
And so, our lunch ended up being a full-on group meal—me, Akina, Tomonari, Rio, Hinami, and Maria.
Basically, it looked more like a group date than lunch.
As I tossed a cherry tomato into Akina’s all-meat lunchbox, I glanced around at everyone else’s meals.
“Hey! Don’t touch my food!”
“Shut up and eat your veggies.”
“You’re just saying that because you hate cherry tomatoes, right?”
As expected of Hinami—she knows my tastes by heart. Both my lunch and hers were homemade by her, by the way. Aside from the cherry tomatoes (ugh), it was perfectly seasoned and well-balanced. Except for the tomatoes. (Yes, again.)
“How much do you hate cherry tomatoes?” Rio sighed, nibbling on… dried sardines?
“…Are you seriously eating sardines?”
“What? Sardines are delicious,” Rio said, glaring like I’d just insulted her ancestors.
“No, I mean… that’s not the point—”
Then, the light in her eyes went out.
“My salary this month… was paid in sardines.”
“…How does that even happen!?”
Everyone in the room shouted at once.
“I might’ve, uh, messed up a bit at work.”
A “bit,” huh? When your paycheck is fish, that’s not a “bit.” What the hell did she do…? I don’t even want to imagine.
“Wait—work? You mean you have a part-time job?” Hinami asked softly.
“Eh? Ah, no, not that… mmph!—‘Yeah! A fishing port job, right!?’”
Whew. That was close. If she said anything about being an angel, everyone would’ve freaked out for sure.
“Y-yeah… something like that…”
“T-that sounds tough… Um, would you like some of my lunch?”
“For real!? You’re an angel!” Rio’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ll share mine too,” Tomonari added. His lunch looked great—homemade too.
“It’s mostly leftovers from yesterday, though,” he said.
Sure, it is. Still, I took a bite.
—Holy crap, that hamburger steak is amazing.
Meanwhile, Maria was munching on a long cream-filled bread roll she bought from the school store.
What a cute little creature. I could watch her forever.
“Hmm? Yuu-nii, do you want a bite too?”
“Ah, no, I’m—”
“Here, say ‘ahh.’ You know… it’d be an indirect kiss.”
She whispered that softly into my ear, holding out the bread toward me.
“My brother doesn’t need that! He gets my handmade lunches every day!”
Hinami swatted the bread away, glaring fiercely.
“What, you don’t understand the joy of a long cream stick? You’re missing out on eighty percent of life!”
My little sister and my stepsister were going at it again. Actually… that sounds like a light novel title.
“Sorry, Rio, I’ve got nothing left to share.”
“Didn’t expect anything from you anyway.”
“Ouch, harsh.”
We kept chatting like that for a while, until Hinami suddenly frowned at my desk.
“Big brother! You’ve stuffed papers under your desk again!”
“Whoa, she’s right. That’s messy.”
I looked down—and sure enough, a pile of crumpled, unfiled papers was jammed inside.
“…Right. My desk.”
I crouched down to pull them out, thinking I’d take them home to sort later—
Flutter.
Something small slipped out and fell to the floor. It wasn’t a worksheet.
It was a letter—on fancy stationery, sealed with a cute little heart sticker.
“Is that… a love letter!?”