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 33 – Within a Limited Time

After school.

“Yuta, you’re too soft.”

Sitting across from me, Rio muttered that as she poked at an oversized parfait.

“You mean the parfait is sweet?”

“No. I mean it’s sweet of you to think that buying me this parfait will make me forgive you for today.”

“But you’re Chororio, aren’t you?”

“Are you even trying to be forgiven right now…?”

Right now, I was at a family restaurant called Shyjelier, located along the route we take home from school.

It’s known for its student-friendly prices and convenient location, and you can even enjoy authentic Italian dishes. It’s one of the most popular spots among students, right alongside big-name fast-food chains.

And currently, I was being forced to treat Rio to a parfait.

By the way, as for my so-called (temporary) best friend—

“Ah! Sho-kun! There you are!”

“Sorry, sorry. I was just talking to my best bro here.”

“It’s fine to hang out with your friends, but you better not forget about me, okay?”

“Of course not! Actually, I was just asking him what I should get you for your birthday.”

“Eh… really? I’m so happy!”

“So, um… wanna go buy it together after school?”

“Yeah!”

♪ To you who are leaving, I send these words… ♪

“…I hope they drop dead.”

“That is definitely not how that song goes! You’ll get in trouble!”

While my best friend went off having his cute little romcom moment, I tried to quietly walk away—only to have my shoulder grabbed from behind.

“And where do you think you’re going, acting like nothing just happened~?”

Hiii! That smile is terrifying!

“Do you even realize what I went through to save that situation back there~?”

“A-ah, yes, I’m terribly sorry about that, ma’am.”

“Are you really sorry?”

“Of course! I’m as sorry as that scientist with hair only on the sides who falls over and apologizes every time.”

“You’re not sorry at all!”

Ah, she’s a gamer. No wonder she caught that.

“Well, you’re always treating me so carelessly, Yuta-san! I came all the way down from heaven just to support you, you know!?”

“Ha ha ha, that’s amazing.”

“Are you making fun of me!?”

Eep…

“Okay, okay, my bad. How about this — I’ll buy you a parfait after school, sound good?”

“P-Parfait!?”

Hook, line, and sinker.

“You’re totally thinking I’m easy again, aren’t you!?”

“Ha ha ha, of course not, no way! Choro (whisper).”

“You did think it! Fine then! I’m ordering the biggest one they have!”

And that’s how we got here.

Rio was now eating the largest parfait on the menu — the Strawberry Deluxe.

(By the way, it has no connection whatsoever to Matsuko Deluxe. Just so we’re clear.)

“It’s just the ‘Deluxe’ part that’s similar!”

Still, man… parfaits are expensive.

You could buy a whole meal for that price.

Deluxe size, truly terrifying.

I sipped at my milk tea, watching the massive parfait slowly shrink.

“Yuta, you don’t drink coffee? Milk tea is such a cute choice for you.”

“Idiot. If I drink coffee this late, I won’t be able to sleep.”

“Pfft—! You’re such a kid!”

She burst out laughing.

And yet—

“Mmm~!”

She scooped up a spoonful loaded with whipped cream and strawberries and took a bite, her face glowing with pure bliss.

She looked so happy, it was like she was about to ascend to heaven—oh wait, she is an angel.

“What? Do you want some too, Yuta?”

“Ah, no, I’m fine.”

“Geez, can’t be helped! Just one bite, okay?”

Technically, I’m the one who paid for it though…

“But since you already gave it to me, it’s mine now.”

She gave me a mischievous, childlike grin — the kind you could only describe as “Nishishi”.

Or maybe Niboshi, to match her fishy laugh?

“What does ‘Niboshi laugh’ even mean!? And what’s with following up ‘Nishishi’ with dried sardines!?”

Eh, what’s wrong with that? Both are made from anchovies or pilchard anyway.

“Anyway! Here, say ‘ahh~.’”

Suddenly, Rio pushed the spoon toward my mouth.

“Mmff—!”

“How is it?” she asked with a smile.

She was clearly getting back at me for calling her childish — watching me with that smug, ‘feeding a kid’ kind of expression.

“…Sorry, Rio. I’m turning myself in to the police.”

“What!?”

Well, yeah. Sharing a spoon with a non-related loli is 100% a criminal case these days.

In this era, even looking too long can be suspicious.

Better safe than sorry.

“I’m not gonna report you when I was the one who did it! How self-conscious are you!?”

“Wait—seriously!? Even though you’re a loli!?”

“I told you, stop saying that—!”

“So it’s true then, huh? A loli can get away with it.”

“Stop calling me that!”

“Ha ha ha, Rio, you’re so cute though…”

“You are seriously disgusting.”

Got carried away. Regret immediately.

But then… I started feeling someone’s gaze.

When I looked around, I saw a face pressed up against the window.

A gecko—no, wait, that’s Hinami Shima.

“‘Hii!’”

We both screamed in unison.

“Rio, I’m happy you get along with my brother, but Yuta is my big brother — mine alone, okay?”

From the seat just behind us, Hinami peeked her head out, smiling sweetly but radiating death.

Ahh… that chill earlier really was Hinami.

And hey, Hii-chan? That smile’s terrifying. How do you even turn off the light in your eyes like that?

“S-sorry!? It’s not like that, I swear!”

Even Rio looked scared.

“That’s not fair! Mari wants to feed Yuu-nii too!”

Before I knew it, Maria plopped down beside me.

“Ah! That’s my seat!”

Hinami tried to push her away, but Maria ignored her and held out a forkful of lemon cake.

Hinami snatched it straight from the fork and popped it into her mouth.

“Ahh! Mmph—!”

“Big brother, I’ll give you some of my chocolate cake too!”

Then Hinami tried to feed me, but Maria stole that bite in revenge.

“Hey! What are you doing!?”

“That was payback!”

Honestly… these two are way too close.

“We’re not close!” both shouted in perfect sync.

“Hmph, ‘aah~’ feeding is too sweet anyway.

Yuta, I’ll give myself to yo—”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Pien…”

I gently pushed Shima aside as she tried to join the chaos.

No rest for the weary, huh?

“I’ve got plenty of things I like, you know?”

Yeah, yeah, shut up.

But I didn’t notice—that from afar, two girls were quietly watching us.

“Hiromin, aren’t you gonna go over there?”

“It’s fine.

If I go, I’ll just annoy him.”

She knew it was true. After all, she was the one who made it that way.

“But you followed him all the way here because you were curious, didn’t you?”

“Ugh…”

It wasn’t because she hated him that she ended things.

She’d just thought long and hard about her own feelings—and his happiness—before deciding.

And even then, he’d offered to stay friends.

After all the selfish things she’d said, after pushing him away… he’d still reached out to her.

She’d been genuinely happy then.

And yet—Watching him laugh so brightly now made her feel… both relieved and a little irritated.

“You’re not acting like a friend at all…”

She knew she had no right to say that. She wasn’t in any position to.

But still—Would there ever be a day when they could truly be friends again?

When they could talk easily, maybe even discuss their crushes on other people?

Even though right now, he already felt so far away?

She knew it wouldn’t change overnight.

But if she didn’t talk to him soon… she might never talk to him again.

And she knew it.

“Hiromin, you know what you have to do, right?”

Rita smiled, sharp and knowing.

“Yeah.”

My time is running out.