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 18 – He Makes Another Mistake

Before homeroom.

I was stuffing all the papers I had crammed into my desk into my bag.

Ugh, even the failed tests are still here…

So nostalgic.

Alright, I’ll secretly throw these away later.

Once my desk was mostly cleaned out, I suddenly felt someone’s eyes on me.

When I turned around, Hiromi Segawa—still seated beside me—was looking at me timidly.

“Your desk’s messy.”

“Shut up. Leave me alone.”

This girl… did she really come just to throw a jab at me?

That’s what I thought, but apparently not. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke again.

“Hey… are you getting along with Kanazawa lately?”

I didn’t get what she meant.

“So, what if I am?”

“Um… maybe you shouldn’t.”

“What?”

What the hell was she suddenly saying?

No, I understood her words—and logically, I knew why she’d say that.

Because it’s her (Shima), after all…

But still.

“Why are you the one saying that to me?”

“…!”

My words made Hiromi flinch, her face tightening in visible pain.

Why are you making that face…?

“I told you already—our relationship isn’t like before anymore. So, stop getting involved.”

“I see… yeah, you’re right…”

Even though she said that, her expression stayed dark.

“What is it now?”

“Yu… Misumi, I didn’t think you could actually talk like that.”

“Wha—!?”

It was the first time she had ever called me that.

When we met online, she only knew my nickname. Even after we met in person—after we started dating—she never called me by my real name.

I knew this was how things were supposed to be, and yeah, I’d acted to make it happen.

But when it’s laid out so clearly in front of me like this, I can’t help but feel a sharp sting.

“I get it, Misumi. You were always kind—you went along with me all the time.

But… if back then you’d just said what you really thought, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.”

I couldn’t say anything to that.

Before I could find any words, Hiromi quietly left the classroom.

“So, it’s my fault after all…”

I muttered, but she was already gone.

“Yuta, are you okay?”

Rio, who had been watching, spoke gently.

“Do I look okay?”

“No, you look tired.”

“Yeah, figures.”

Logically, I made the right choice.

This should’ve been the best decision—for both of us.

“Then why does it feel so empty?”

I already knew the answer.

I just wanted to laugh through ordinary days together, without all this tension.

We were supposed to care for each other to be happy—but now we’re just walking on eggshells so we don’t hurt each other anymore.

Why… why does it have to be like this?

“Guess it really is my fault. Why can’t anything go right? I mess up again and again, try to fix it every time, but in the end, I still lose what’s important. Even now, I’m doing this just because I think it’s the ‘right’ thing—when it’s already too late. Repeating it all over again… I’m such an idiot.”

“Yuta…”

“What should I have done?”

“…Why do humans always want to decide what’s right or wrong?”

“Oh yeah—you’re supposed to be an angel, right?”

“Are you saying that on purpose!?

Ahem—still, think about it.

You acted based on logic, didn’t you?

So, what’s so bad about not following that logic for once?”

“Well…”

“It’s just about appearances, isn’t it?

Why should your choices be judged by what other people think?

If something can be good or bad depending on how you see it, then just decide your own answer.”

“Easier said than done. Maybe you’re right, but… Humans have feelings. We want to decide what’s right and wrong.”

As I said it, I couldn’t help but think—maybe it’d be easier if I didn’t have feelings at all.

If I couldn’t feel pain, or think too much like this.

But without feelings, life would just become a dull repetition of meaningless tasks.

“Is that really so?”

“Anyway, it’s over between her and me. There’s no future where we get along again. This isn’t for society—it’s for us.”

“For both of you, huh? Then why did you both look so hurt? Even now, Yuta, you look like you’re in pain.”

“…!”

“You still have feelings for her, don’t you?”

“Well… I can’t say I don’t.”

Even though I’ve reincarnated, only a few days have passed since our breakup—at least, it feels that way.

I died before I could even process the heartbreak.

And now she’s sitting next to me again, talking to me like nothing happened.

How could I possibly sort out my feelings?

“But?”

“But it’s pointless.

No matter what I feel, she doesn’t love me anymore.

I’m sick of this.

If it only hurts now, fine.

I’ll forget eventually.

But if I have to keep repeating this pain forever, then I’d rather never fall in love again.”

“I understand your feelings, Yuta. But please don’t be too hard on yourself. You have people around you who see your worth—who want to support you.”

“Well… yeah, I guess.”

Rio thought to herself.

They say only love can heal a broken heart, but he’s been through too much.

He’s lost his confidence—and now he only sees love as something to fear.

Just watching him like this… it hurts.

What can I do for him?

I don’t know.

But I can’t just stand by and watch him fade away, wounded and alone.

I want him to be happy.

So much that all his past pain would feel like it existed for this reason.

Otherwise, what’s the point of being reborn in this world?

Please… don’t lose yourself, Yuta.

She whispered that quiet prayer in her heart.