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 29 – Only Pickled Radish Can Win!

Night.

“Can’t believe I’m actually studying for an exam at my age.”

After graduating from technical school, I started working right away. Naturally, studying was the last thing on my mind after that. Sure, I learned things for work, but sitting down to study for a test like this? The last time I did that was when I went for my driver’s license.

I never really liked studying back in school, but now… it almost feels nostalgic. For a moment, I feel like I’m a student again.

Still, why was it so hard to make friends at driving school? Was it just me?

I remember practicing CPR in pairs with some random guy and chatting a bit during the final driving test, but most of the time, I was alone. Classic me.

Shaking off that bitter memory, I look between Hiromi’s notebook and her textbook, jotting down the key points.

There’s no way I can cover every subject in one go, so my plan is one subject per day—then a final push over the weekend.

“Big brother… you’re still awake?”

Yawning softly, Hinami peeks through the door.

“Yeah, every minute counts now. You should go to bed, Hinami. It’s late.”

“Then I’ll study a little too…”

She closes the door for a moment, only to return with her own notebook and textbook in hand.

“You don’t have to push yourself, you know?”

“I’m fine,” she says, yawning again.

And before I know it—

“Hinami? I’m not a chair, you know?”

She sits on my lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“There’s only one chair…”

“There’s a bed, you know.”

“The bed doesn’t have a desk.”

Wow. She’s half-asleep, yet still sharp enough to argue back? And now I can’t even focus like this!

“Big brother, do you want anything special in your lunch tomorrow?”

She suddenly asks.

“Hmm… maybe simmered hijiki?”

“That’s so plain.”

“Then… pickled shallots?”

“Pickled shallots in a lunch box!? Wait, what happened to being a normal high school boy—like, hamburger steak or fried chicken?”

“Haha, if I ate that every day, I’d end up with high bl00d pressure and metabolic syndrome! But shallots are amazing. They’re full of fructan, a soluble fiber that helps soften stools, feeds bifidobacteria, and improves your gut health.

They also help lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and bl00d sugar levels. And hijiki has iodine, which supports the thyroid and promotes healthy hair growth—”

“I don’t think most high schoolers think about their diet that deeply. Why do you even know all that?”

Wait… they don’t?

So, they just eat whatever they want and don’t panic every year at their health checkups? Really?

I only learned all that because I was terrified of my results! High schoolers are built different, man.

“Then I want A5-grade steak!”

“Whoa, that escalated fast! And no, we don’t have that kind of meat here!”

Didn’t think so.

Not that I expected it. A family that casually keeps A5 beef at home isn’t exactly an average one.

“Then… I want omurice.”

“Omurice?”

“Yeah! I want your homemade, love-filled omurice, Hinami. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, yeah! I’ll make it! I’ll do my best so you’ll say it’s delicious!”

She nods eagerly, her face bright and full of determination.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Okay!”

Honestly, it’s not about the food. What matters is that she’s making it for me—with all her heart. That alone makes it more valuable than any A5 steak.

…Though, if I did have some, I wouldn’t say no. ← Wait what

Then, from my lap, I hear small, steady breaths.

“I told you not to overdo it.”

I gently pat her head, and she moves slightly, a peaceful smile forming on her lips.

“Thanks for everything, Hinami.”

Truth is, I haven’t known this world’s Hinami for that long. So maybe my gratitude comes from both me in this life—and the me from before I was reborn.

She’s always been there for me. Cooking breakfast, making lunch, worrying about me every single day.

“Really, I’m lucky to have a sister like her.”

I mean it. I’m genuinely glad Hinami is my sister.

“Alright, what now…”

I can’t just let her sleep on my lap, so I carefully carry her to my bed.

Watching her peaceful face as she sleeps somehow washes away all the stress I’ve been feeling lately.

I’ll just let her sleep there.

As for me, I can crash on the couch if I have to.

“Alright, just a little longer…”

I turn back to the desk.

I will protect my summer vacation.

A month-long break? In the working world, that would be called slacking off.

So now that I’m a student again, I’ll enjoy every second of it.

With Hinami’s love-filled omurice as my motivation, I dive back into studying once more.