Reincarnation: Yukino Yukinoshita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Haru and Yukino hadn't walked far when a sudden voice called out from behind them.

"Um, please wait a moment!"

They turned around to see Aoyama Nanami running toward them, breathing heavily.

"What's the matter?"

Haru spoke first.

Yukino, meanwhile, remained calm, guessing that Aoyama was here to thank them.

Given how earnestly she worked at the café, Yukino found it natural.

Aoyama reached them, pausing to catch her breath. Her gaze fell on Haru and Yukino holding hands, causing her to hesitate briefly before nodding to herself.

They're such a good match. It's normal for them to be dating.

The thought crossed her mind, adding a bit of playful curiosity to her expression.

Yukino, sharp as ever, caught the gleam in her eyes. She felt a little uncomfortable and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Haru held it firmly.

Sighing inwardly, Yukino thought, My strength isn't enough to win against him, so I'll just let him hold it.

"I'm Aoyama Nanami. May I know your names?" Aoyama spoke up.

"He is Amamiya Haru, and I'm Yukinoshita Yukino. We're both first-year students at Sobu High School."

Unexpectedly, the person who took the initiative to answer was Yukino.

Haru raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her positive impression of the hardworking girl.

"Thank you for what happened earlier," Aoyama said once more, bowing deeply.

As Yukino had suspected, her gratitude was genuine.

However, Yukino furrowed her brows, saying, "You don't need to thank us again. What you really need is rest—and maybe a visit to the hospital for a check-up."

Aoyama opened her mouth to speak, but Yukino interrupted coldly, "In simpler terms, it's reckless to leave in your current physical state. It's downright foolish."

"?"

Aoyama stared in disbelief.

This beautiful girl is being so strict?

Haru chimed in, "She's right."

Aoyama laughed awkwardly, embarrassed.

Yukino, stared at her innocent smile for a few seconds before asking, "Can I ask why you're working so hard?"

Aoyama's expression lit up. "It's for voice acting school fees."

"Voice acting?"

"Yes, it's my dream."

Yukino nodded softly, understanding. Pursuing dreams through hard work is commendable.

Then, Haru asked, "You're probably working more than one job, aren't you?"

Yukino blinked.

Exactly. She's a high school student—supposed to be at her peak of energy—but here she is, exhausted. She must be juggling more than one job.

Yukino glanced at Haru, realizing again how much she had to learn from him.

Aoyama shyly smiled, "I actually have two part-time jobs."

Haru then turned to Yukino with a knowing smirk. "See? When someone without a talent for lying tries to lie, they show exactly that expression."

Yukino shot him a glare. "Thanks for the reminder, but I already figured it out."

"Ah, Yukino's getting smarter."

"…"

Yukino's face flushed. She struggled to pull her hand away, but as expected, Haru didn't let go.

Aoyama watched their banter, feeling increasingly awkward.

With a guilty tone, she muttered, "Sorry, I actually lied. I have four part-time jobs."

Yukino's light-hearted demeanour suddenly shifted.

She stared at Aoyama in disbelief. This girl… is a superwoman?

No.

Even if this girl is a superwoman, she's the most foolish kind of superwoman!

Yukino clenched her fists, her irritation clear.

When Aoyama Nanami saw her eyes, she became even more embarrassed.

Haru decisively kept quiet.

Nanami Aoyama couldn't stand Yukino's sharp eyes, so she asked dryly, "Excuse me, is there something on my face?"

For a moment, Yukino scrutinized the girl's earnest yet exhausted face. Then she spoke again, her voice colder this time.

"Tell me, how much longer do you think your body can hold out?"

Nanami blinked, unsure how to respond.

Before she could speak, Yukino continued bluntly, "If you collapse and die, I suppose I could arrange for the crematorium fees. Consider it my contribution."

"W-what?!"

Cremation? Already? Isn't that illegal while someone's still alive?

Nanami was utterly flabbergasted.

Haru stepped in to "translate," his tone casual, "What she means is you need to visit a hospital, and soon. Honestly, I agree with her."

Nanami, still flustered, found herself touched by their concern despite Yukino's sharpness. She focused on Haru, as his demeanour seemed more approachable.

"Thank you. I…"

"Wait a second," Haru interrupted, "Do I look like someone who's easy to convince?"

"Huh?" Nanami froze.

Haru ignored her reaction, smiling faintly. "If you keep pushing yourself, I'll have no choice but to follow Yukino's suggestion…" He trailed off, muttering to himself. "Speaking of which, I happen to know a good crematorium. I even get a 20% discount for referrals."

"Why do you keep bringing up crematoriums?!" Nanami wailed, near tears.

Haru chuckled, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notepad. Scribbling something quickly, he tore off the page and handed it to her.

"This is for you. If you're serious about pursuing your dream, you should quit your other jobs and call this number. Tell them I sent you."

Nanami hesitated, her fingers trembling as she held the slip of paper. "What… what kind of place is this?"

"Do you know Snow City?"

Her eyes lit up. "Of course! They're a well-known chain in Tokyo! I heard their work environment is amazing, but they're not hiring right now."

Haru nodded. "I'm the owner."

Nanami froze.

Haru gestured toward Yukino with a grin. "And she's my boss."

Yukino raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

Seeing her reaction, Haru quickly added,"…Fine. She's the boss's wife."

Yukino's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, and for once, she didn't glare at him.

So that's why he named it 'Snow City,' she thought, feeling a strange sense of warmth.

Nanami, on the other hand, was thoroughly confused. "Why are you helping me so much?"

Haru slipped the paper into her hand with a kind smile. "Everyone has their own battles. Whether you're struggling out of pride, stubbornness, or sheer determination, it's okay to let someone lend you a hand. It doesn't make you weak."

Yukino pondered his words. That's actually worth remembering.

Nanami, clutching the slip of paper tightly, felt her eyes sting. "You mean… you're saying that it's not shameful to look messy while chasing a dream? That I should accept help and focus on my health?"

Haru shook his head. "No, I'm saying if you keep being reckless, I'm going to call that crematorium after all. 20% off—interested?"

"Please stop talking about crematoriums!" Nanami was in tears.