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 20 – Ex-girlfriend Vs. Ex-girlfriend

I was allowed to rest in the infirmary for about an hour, but for some reason, I felt even more tired than before.

“Yuta, are you good at studying?”

When I returned to my seat, Rio asked me that question.

“I’m not bragging, but I don’t think I’ve ever ranked higher than 100th.”

“That’s definitely not something to brag about!”

“Come on, studying doesn’t really help once you become an adult. If you don’t go abroad, you don’t need English, and as long as you can add, subtract, multiply, and divide, that’s enough math.”

“Oh, here it comes. The classic excuse of someone who hates studying.”

It was true that I felt that way, but I also couldn’t help thinking that maybe things would have been different if I’d tried harder back then.

“But are you sure about that? Final exams are next week.”

“Huh?”

Fi…nal… ex…ams…?

“Final exams!?”

“Geez, Yuta, didn’t you listen during the morning homeroom?”

To be honest, I didn’t remember a thing.

“Well, since we’re in school now, it’s only natural there’d be final exams.”

I hadn’t even thought about it…

“Still…”

Even when I was in school the first time, my grades were never good. And any knowledge that isn’t useful just gets buried by other things over time.

So that means—right now, I’m a second-year high school student with almost no knowledge or experience.

“By the way, Rio, are you good at studying?”

“I suppose so. As an angel, I’ve received education since I was little, so I can manage fairly well.”

“Since you were little, huh…”

“And what exactly do you mean by that…?”

Eek…! Her smile is scary!

Honestly, I don’t even have enough basic knowledge to keep up with classes.

“Ahem, also, if you fail, you’ll have to attend summer remedial lessons.”

“Wha—!?”

“Oh no… you didn’t know that either, did you?”

“Final exams… This might be the biggest crisis of my life!”

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting a little?”

“No… wait a sec.”

I opened my notebook with a sliver of hope.

But…

“It’s almost all doodles!”

I hadn’t taken any proper notes at all.

I threw the notebook away without thinking.

You idiot—!

Ah, right. That idiot was me.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can help you with that,” Rio said apologetically.

So that means…

The sisters are in a different grade.

What about Akina? “Hm? Notebook?”

Akina let me see hers, but—Her handwriting was so messy I couldn’t read a single word!

Hmm… maybe Tomonari could help.

“If it’s mine, you can borrow it anytime!”

The notebook he handed over was perfectly organized.

“As expected of you, Tomonari! You’re the best!”

“Haha… thanks.”

His face turned a little red with embarrassment.

He’s a cool, wild-looking guy, but when he blushes like that, he’s got a cute, small-animal vibe too.
Tomonari is really just… Tomonari.

“Hey hey, Yuta! What about mine!?”

Somehow, Shima had wandered into my classroom and shoved her notebook in my face.

“No thanks.”

Instant reply. Even I was surprised how fast I answered—less than a second.

“Why not!?”

Well… first of all, this wasn’t even a class notebook.

The cover was decorated with colorful markers and titled “Notebook of Love for Yuta.” It radiated an ominous—at least to me—kind of aura.

Inside were messages scrawled all over every inch of the page: I love you. I really love you. I want to be with you forever. I want to hear your voice. Can I call you? What are you doing now?
I miss you. Come pick me up.

I reluctantly opened it, but the moment I caught a glimpse of all those words filling the pages,
I slammed it shut.

“Ehehe, you saw it. It’s kinda embarrassing, but I don’t mind if it’s you, Yuta.”

No, please, at least pretend to be embarrassed! I wish I hadn’t seen that!

“Ah… sorry, Yuta,” Tomonari said suddenly.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“A few classmates overheard us talking earlier, and one of the girls asked if she could borrow my notes…
I couldn’t say no.”

I followed his gaze—a few girls were squealing as they flipped through Tomonari’s notes.

As expected of the handsome guy…

But now I was in trouble. Was there anyone else I could rely on?

Maybe I should just ask my homeroom teacher, Mr. Tsunaoka… No, that should be a last resort.

Just then—

“Hey, could you not make noise near my desk? It’s annoying.”

Hiromi, who had been facing away earlier, complained.

“Ah, sorry. We’ll move right away.”

Even though it wasn’t his fault, Tomonari bowed politely. Man, he’s a gentleman in every way.

Still…

“You were ignoring us just a second ago, and now you’re talking?”

I shot back with sarcasm.

“Whatever.”

She turned away again.

“Wow, that was rude,” Shima muttered.

“What?”

Hiromi glared at her sharply.

“I said you were rude. Didn’t you hear me?”

“If I’m rude, then you—showing that crazy thing off in the classroom—you’re a delusional psycho girl.”

“De… de… what…?”

Shima couldn’t even repeat it properly.

“Wait—you’re Yuta’s ex-girlfriend, aren’t you!?”

After about thirty seconds of silence, Shima suddenly shouted as if remembering.

“…Yeah. So what? If you’re saying that, then you’re one too, right?”

“I’m not just an ex! I’m his friend now!”

Hiromi’s eyes widened for a moment, then she glared at me.

Wait, why am I the one getting glared at here…?

“For the record, I’m his friend too, okay? So why am I treated so differently?”

Ugh… there’s bitterness in her voice!

“That’s because! Obviously, he loves me more than—”
“No, that’s not true.”

“Then we’re connected by the red string of fate—”
“Nope, still not true.”

“Pien…”

I had to deny it twice because it was important.

“Seriously, who gives something like that to a friend? Are you crazy?”

I actually agreed with that one.

“I’m not crazy! It’s called love expression!”

“Yeah, but not the kind you give to a friend…”

I agreed again. (Second time.)

But really—why do these two hate each other so much? In my previous life, they definitely never met…

Wait a second.

“Hey… you just said, ‘now that I look closely, she’s your ex,’ right? You knew about her?”

“Of course I did.”

Don’t say it like that’s normal! That’s why I’m asking!

“I mean, isn’t it normal to look into the people your crush interacts with?”

Oh… so that’s “normal,” huh.

I guess that’s what counts as normal now…

“No, that’s not normal at all. If that were normal, the world would be full of stalkers.”

Hiromi sighed, clearly exasperated.

I agreed again. (Third time.) Not a record I’m proud of.

“Don’t call me a stalker!”

Yeah, I’ve definitely heard that line before…

“Are you seriously planning to stay friends with someone like her?”

Hiromi turned to glare at me again.

“Well, that’s not really something for you to—”

“Not something I should interfere with? But you interfered with her?”

“I… uh…”

I had plenty of thoughts, but couldn’t put any of them into words.

Hiromi sighed again.

“Whatever.
Here.”

“Huh?”

She handed me a notebook.

It looked like it had notes for every subject.

“You can borrow it.”

“Wait, but—”

I accepted it, though it felt wrong to just take it like that.

“If you don’t need it, throw it away. I’m sure your precious friend’s heavy ‘love notebook’ will be enough for you.”

She turned away again.

Still, I opened it.

The writing was neat, organized, and easy to read. There were even short explanations written in the margins.

It was incredibly easy to follow.

Even I could study with this.

“I’ll say this—thanks.”

“For what it’s worth… you’re welcome.”

Hiromi answered without looking at me.

I couldn’t see her face.

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