Reincarnation: Yukino Yukinoshita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

"So, senpai really did take a day off? I heard about it from a classmate this morning, but I thought they were just joking."

After school, in the Photography Club, Yui spoke with a surprised expression, just like most of the other students who had heard the news.

Since Haru was still at the Karate Club, training as usual, it was up to Yukino to take charge.

She smoothed her brow, looking slightly displeased. "It seems our shooting schedule will have to be postponed for a day."

Then, she glanced at Megumi Kato. The quiet girl gave a slight nod. "I'm ready for it."

That lifted Yukino's mood a little.

At least, their lead actress wasn't slacking off.

Yui, however, tilted her head. "Why do you two look so uninterested in why senpai took a day off?"

"No way! We're super curious!" Hashimoto and the others raised their hands eagerly.

Yui pouted. "I meant you two—Yukino and Kato."

Yukino didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked at Megumi, who was sitting quietly as always. "You figured it out too?"

Megumi nodded gently, her voice calm as ever. "Senpai has been pushing herself too hard."

Yukino hummed in agreement.

Overworking herself—now that was something she had plenty of experience with.

She had done the same in the past, chasing after Haru's footsteps until she made herself sick.

That was also the first time she had ever seen Haru genuinely angry at her.

Since then, she had never made the same mistake again.

Because Haru made sure to keep an eye on her.

Right now, Kasumigaoka-senpai was in the same situation.

The only difference was that she didn't have someone to supervise or stop her.

Yukino sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

She wasn't too worried about the shooting schedule, but if senpai kept pushing herself like this, it was only a matter of time before she collapsed.

Just like that idiot Aoyama.

An image of Aoyama Nanami's bright and sincere smile popped into her mind.

—

When Amamiya Haru returned, Yukino brought it up first. "You've probably heard about it by now, haven't you?"

"Yeah," Haru sighed. "Looks like she took quite the hit. And on top of that, she's convinced she can handle everything on her own."

As he spoke, his gaze landed on Yukino. "Reminds me of a certain fool from the past."

Yukino's expression stiffened slightly.

She couldn't exactly deny it—she had made the same foolish mistake before.

Not wanting to expose herself further, she quickly changed the subject. "I'll check on her tomorrow. If she's really in no condition to continue, we'll delay the shoot another day. It's fine."

With that, the matter was settled for now.

That evening, after club activities ended, Haru went home, took a shower, then grabbed his phone and headed out again.

Carrying a bag of fruit as a small gift, he pondered as he walked.

Kasumigaoka-senpai's address was listed on the club application form, so he knew where she lived. But if a male student showed up at her house unannounced, her parents would definitely find it suspicious.

"I need a decoy."

It didn't take him long to think of one.

—

Ten minutes later.

Standing in front of him, Aoyama Nanami blinked in shock. "Wait, you're giving me a day off? And I still get paid?"

Then, she waved her hands frantically. "No way, that's not fair! You've already helped me so much, I can't just—"

"I need your help with something," Haru cut in seriously.

Nanami hesitated for a moment before nodding. "So… it's something really important?"

"Yes."

Seeing the seriousness in his face, she didn't argue any further. Instead, she ran back into the store to inform her manager.

Her manager, who had long since recognized Haru, agreed with a smile.

As they walked, Nanami looked both excited and nervous. "So, Haru… what is this important thing?"

"You'll find out when we get there," he replied casually. "For now, just treat it as a short break. Don't push yourself too hard just because I've helped you. You should take care of your own health too."

Nanami blinked, then laughed sheepishly. "How do you even know that?"

I literally saw it with my own eyes.

Haru didn't bother explaining.

To ease the awkwardness, Nanami quickly changed the topic. "Oh, right! Something crazy happened to me recently!"

"Hm? What happened?"

"You've seen that hooded vigilante trending online, right?"

The… hooded vigilante?" Haru looked dumbfounded.

Nanami nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! There's a bunch of videos of him beating up thugs at night. The police even released a statement—most of the guys he took down had criminal records and didn't have jobs or go to school. Just loitering around and causing trouble."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "It's like something straight out of a manga! And the cops haven't even tried to arrest him. I think it's because they secretly approve of what he's doing! Everyone's calling him 'Hooded Hero' now!"

No, that's just because the cops think I'm some wannabe superhero with a hero complex.

Haru held back a laugh.

Seeing how into it she was, he casually said, "Actually, that guy is me."

Nanami snorted. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious."

"Uh-huh, sure you are. You, the 'Hooded Hero'—" She burst into laughter. "That nickname doesn't suit you at all! You're more of the cool and collected type."

Watching her double over with laughter, Haru smiled but didn't argue.

After a while, she suddenly straightened up, her expression serious. "Alright, let me tell you a secret—I've actually met the Hooded Hero before."

Haru, keeping a straight face, played along. "And then?"

"He stole my trash bag!"

"...Huh?"

Nanami sighed dramatically. "Now that I think about it, he might actually be a homeless guy who picks up garbage to eat. Maybe he just fights crime as a hobby."

"...What?"

She continued, unaware of his speechless expression. "There's so much bacteria in trash bags… If he eats something bad and gets sick, I'd feel so guilty!"

Haru blinked.

Wait, so you think I'm just a homeless guy who eats garbage?!

—

By the time they arrived at a residential area, Nanami was still completely clueless.

She watched as Haru rang the doorbell and gestured for her to stay quiet.

Her confusion only deepened.

Wait… what am I even doing here? And what does he want me to do?

Her thoughts were cut off when the door opened.

A graceful woman, bearing a striking resemblance to Utaha, stood before them.

"Yes? Who might you be?"

She looked at them with mild curiosity.

Haru spoke up first. "Good evening, ma'am. I'm Amamiya Haru, the president of the Photography Club. This is Aoyama Nanami."

"Oh, the Photography Club!" The woman's face brightened instantly. "Utaha's been talking about it a lot lately. She says she's learning a lot from it."

Her warm smile put them at ease.

Haru continued smoothly, lifting the bag of fruit. "Kasumigaoka-senpai hasn't been looking well lately, and she was absent today, so I was a little concerned. I brought these as a small gift."

"My, how polite of you!"

She laughed, initially hesitating to accept the gift, but after some insistence from Haru, she took it with a grateful smile.

Her smile grew even warmer than before.

Because there was something she hadn't said out loud.

So this is the Amamiya-kun that Utaha keeps talking about?

What a handsome and polite young man. He and my daughter really do make a great match.

As a mother, she knew better than anyone how her daughter had changed lately.

And as someone who had been young once, she understood perfectly well—when a girl keeps bringing up a boy in conversation, things are never that simple.

Inviting Haru and Nanami into the house with enthusiasm, she discreetly observed the boy, growing more and more satisfied the longer she looked.

As expected of my daughter. She has excellent taste.

With a contented heart, she brought tea and snacks into the living room after they were seated.

"Utaha should still be asleep," she said with a sigh. "I don't know what she's been so busy with lately, but she looks worse by the day. And no matter how many times we ask, she refuses to tell us anything."

By the time she finished speaking, her expression had softened into one of motherly concern.

She let out another sigh. "I'll go wake her up. It's not every day she has a classmate who cares enough to visit. I can't just let her sleep the whole time."

Haru raised a hand to stop her. "There's no need to rush."

"Nonsense. I can't just let my guests sit here and wait."

Smiling, she turned and walked toward her daughter's bedroom.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Nanami, who had been sitting stiffly this whole time, finally spoke in a small voice.

"Amamiya-san… is this the 'very important thing' you mentioned?"

"Yes," Haru nodded.

Nanami puffed up her cheeks. "So I was just a decoy, huh?"

"You figured it out?"

"This wasn't exactly hard to guess!"

Nanami let out a helpless laugh.

"A boy visiting a girl's house alone? Of course her parents would misunderstand. Which means my job was just to be your decoy."

"My bad. I'll make it up to you—how about three meals on me?"

"This isn't about food!"

"Shh, not now," Haru cut in suddenly.

"Our senpai is coming out."

"…I don't even know who she is," Nanami muttered under her breath.

She wasn't actually mad.

After everything Haru had done for her, helping him out was the least she could do.

She just wished she understood what she was helping with.

"Mom, where's the classmate you mentioned?"

A sleepy voice sounded from the hallway.

Haru and Nanami both turned their heads.

Utaha stood in the doorway, dressed in light-colored pajamas, her long hair disheveled from sleep.

Her usually flawless, elegant beauty was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, she looked like a girl who had just woken up—messy, a little unkempt, but still undeniably stunning.

The moment her wine-red eyes landed on Haru, she froze.

Then, the next second—

Her gaze lit up with unconcealed joy.

As for Aoyama Nanami?

Sorry, never seen her before.

Right now, she only had eyes for him.

But just as Utaha's heart was about to burst with happiness, she saw Haru's lips move.

Two silent words.

"Stupid woman."

She blinked.

And then—

She laughed.

A real, beautiful, heartfelt laugh.

Yeah, I'm stupid.

Stupid enough for you to come see me.