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 26 – Let’s Go to the Convenience Store!

“Wow, the sky is beautiful tonight!”

I was walking along the quiet night road beside Rio.

When I looked up after she said that, the sky really was full of shining stars.

“Amazing! They’re sparkling so brightly!”

Rio was overjoyed, her face glowing with excitement.

Seeing her like this, she really looked like a normal girl her age. Ah, though technically, she’s much older than me from my previous life.

Still, she looked genuinely happy.

I also like looking at stars, but I never thought it could make someone this excited.

“In Heaven, you can’t see stars this clearly,” she said.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ve lived as an angel apprentice since I was born, so I didn’t know stars could be this beautiful until I came to the human world.”

Well, that made sense. What was normal for me must have been new and special to her.

This was a sight she could only see after stepping into a new world.
Just like me.

At first, I was confused about this new life, but now I actually enjoy my days here.

Back in my real life, I had nothing but gloomy thoughts about the future—no hope, no excitement.

Sure, maybe there were happy moments, too. But having to apologize to Mie like that, borrowing notes from Hiromi, and being followed around by Shima… yeah, I could’ve lived without those experiences.

Still, in this world, I got to reconnect with people I once knew, in a completely different way.

“I’m glad for you, Yuta,” Rio said softly. “You finally got to talk to Mie.”

“Yeah.
Though she still didn’t forgive me.”

“But you look more at peace now than when you left the library.”

Rio smiled gently.

“Well, this time, I got to say what I really wanted to say.”

“Then that’s good.”

She smiled again.

Maybe that was all just self-satisfaction. She said she wouldn’t forgive me, and I knew I didn’t deserve forgiveness so easily. If it were that simple, we probably wouldn’t have broken up in the first place.

Will the day ever come when she forgives me? And when it does, what will we be like then? Would we be laughing about all this together someday?

“Ah, we’re here, Yuta!”

Rio pointed ahead. It was a large convenience store chain—Daily Mart—known for its wide selection, famous fried chicken, and bakery items.

“Wow… everything looks so delicious…”

Rio ran straight toward the bento and dessert section.

Ah. She’s drooling.

“Hey, Drooly Angel.”

“Drool…!?”

Panicking, Rio wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Seriously, are you still living on grilled sardines every day for a month?”

Now that I said it out loud, it really did sound like some weird survival show challenge.

“Ugh… well… I can’t help it…”

The light in Rio’s eyes suddenly faded.

Ah, crap. I stepped on a landmine.

“I eat them in the morning, at lunch, and at night. Then I go to sleep thinking I finally finished them all… and when I wake up, more sardines arrive.”

Wow… hearing it like that, it sounds like a nightmare. I’d hate that too.

“Haha… I wonder what to do tomorrow. I already tried deep-frying them for lunch…”

She’s already experimenting with flavors!?

“Hey, I’m sorry, okay? Come back to Earth!”

“Haha… I wonder how many more days this will go on…”

Yep. She’s gone.

I quickly grabbed the things I came for and dragged Rio out of the store.

“Here.”

I held out one half of a split Papico ice cream to her.

“Hyua!?”

She jumped with a cute squeak. I hate to admit it, but that was adorable.

“What are you doing!?”

“Take it. Eat.”

“W-well, if you insist…”

“Such a gullible angel.”

“Please stop giving me weird nicknames!”

What? I thought it was pretty good.

“I’ll get mad, you know?”

“I’m sorry…”

“…Fine.”

“So, Gullible Angel, how’s the Papico?”

“That’s not what I meant by fine!”

Too bad.

Still grumbling, Rio took a sip.

“Mmm… it’s delicious. It’s my first time trying it.”

“Right?”

There are things you can only do now, in this world. Moments and memories that only exist here.

So, I’ll live this life as best I can—doing what I can, while I still can.

“Oh? So, you’re ready to fall in love now?”

“Not a chance.”

“Geez, so stubborn…”

We kept walking like that for a while.

Then—

“Hm?”

Ahead, I saw a girl surrounded by a few guys.

Seriously, why do I keep getting dragged into trouble ever since I reincarnated?

Still, I couldn’t just ignore it.

I approached the three flashy-looking guys and spoke up.

“Excuse me. She looks uncomfortable.”

“Huh? What’s your problem?”

Twice in one day. Great.

But wait… this guy looked familiar.

“Ah!? You’re that jerk who cut in last time!”

Oh, great. A reunion I definitely didn’t need.