I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - 8 - The Test Is Over… Or Is It?

“And that concludes the final test. Great job, everyone,” the teacher announced with a sense of relief.

“Ah, it’s finally over!” I exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over me.

“Hell yeah, it is!” Natsu chimed in, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

The exam had only taken a single day to complete, and I found it to be relatively easier than I had initially expected. It was no surprise since the material covered was familiar to me from my previous life. I couldn’t help but feel a tad bit smug about having my trusty “cheat sheet” handy for moments like these.

Natsu, standing beside my chair, turned to me with a question. “You gonna participate in the sports festival, bro?”

“Nah, sports aren’t really my thing. Going home and relaxing is more my style.” I shook my head. 

“Well, you’ve got plenty of free time until the sports festival rolls around then, huh,” he remarked, his tone filled with a touch of envy.

“Yeah, you’re right about that.  But how about you, though?” I asked.

Natsu grinned. “I joined the relay race for our class. We were supposed to practice today but our relay group decided to practice tomorrow, so I’ve got some free time for now.”

“Heh, showing off with your girlfriend as usual?” I teased, knowing well that he enjoyed flaunting his relationship and enjoying showing off with his lovely girlfriend.

“Of course!” he replied proudly, eliciting a sigh from me.

A few minutes passed, and Natsu was called over by Airi. They exchanged a few words before leaving together. I wondered where they were headed, perhaps off on a small adventure of their own.

“Guess I’ll do some grocery shopping first,” I mused to myself.

Since I had no plans for the afternoon, I made my way outside the school and headed towards the nearest supermarket. It had slipped my mind to go grocery shopping the day before, and I found myself relying on packaged foods once again. But now that the exams were over, I finally had the time to stock up on fresh ingredients and indulge in some home cooking.

As I walked along the side of the street, making my way toward the city where the supermarket was located, I passed by the familiar train station I often use. It would take me about 20 minutes to reach the supermarket by foot, which was quite the distance, but I didn’t mind the walk.

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly noticed a girl crossing the road against the traffic light. My heart skipped a beat as I realized she hadn’t noticed the signals.

“Hey, watch out!” I shouted instinctively, my concern overpowering my hesitation as I sprinted toward her, reaching out to grab her hand. Meanwhile, a car was speeding down the road, seemingly oblivious to the danger in front of the road

I grabbed her hand and pulled her along the side of the road, after which the car just sped by, seemingly having no concern about what could have just happened.

“Shit, that was close…” I muttered, my adrenaline still pumping. I turned to the girl, now safe by my side. “Hey, are you alright?”

She nodded, her voice filled with remorse. “Y-Yeah, I’m sorry.”

“Just be more careful before crossing the road,” I advised, trying to offer some type of guidance.

The girl possessed a striking appearance, with her light blonde hair cascading down to her shoulders and her captivating blue eyes shining brightly. Standing at a height similar to mine, around 160cm, she exuded a sense of confidence that was mirrored in her posture. At first glance, I thought she might’ve been a foreigner due to her distinct features, but the fact that she wore our school’s uniform intrigued me.

As I studied her stature, a sense of familiarity washed over me. Had I seen her somewhere before? There was something about her expression that hinted at a connection, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“Huh? Ueno-san?” the girl called out to me.

“Ueno? Ah, you mean me?” I responded, slightly confused.  

“Ah, it’s you! It really is you!” she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. I don’t know if she’s just guessing or she might know me. But the latter applied judging from her expression.

“Uh, do I know you?” I asked, trying to recall any connection between us.

“Are you serious? It’s me, Hibiki, Kobayashi Hibiki! Your clubmate from the Photography Club!” she revealed, hoping to jog my memory.

Photography Club? The mention of it triggered something within me, and suddenly, a fragment of memory surfaced. I’m in a unfamiliar place where I was surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and there she was—Hibiki, standing beside me. Was this a memory from Takeshi’s past?

“Are you okay, Ueno-san?” Hibiki asked, concerned by my sudden lapse.

“Yeah, just a slight headache,” I assured her, trying to shake off the confusion that clouded my mind.

“Wait, more importantly, why haven’t you been coming to the club for the past two weeks? Everyone was worried about you, you know?” Hibiki expressed her concern towards me.

“Ah, it’s just a slight problem at home. Nothing for you to worry about,” I replied, not wanting to burden her with the details.

“Anyways, I’m heading to the supermarket, Kobayashi-san, so we’ll have to split up here,” I announced, trying to change the subject.

But before I could make my way towards the supermarket, Hibiki suddenly grabbed hold of my uniform, pulling me back.

“Wait, Ueno-san, let me join you,” she requested, her eyes filled with determination for some reason.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity about this unexpected encounter. “Sure, why not?” I agreed, gesturing for her to come along.

Together, we entered the supermarket, embarking on a shopping adventure. I made a mental note of the items I needed for my upcoming dishes—eggs, milk, vegetables, various seasonings, and some meat. As I went about gathering the ingredients, I noticed that Hibiki was standing in the meat section, her eyes scanning at what it is displayed in fron of her.

Curiosity getting the better of me, so I approached her and asked, “So, what are you looking for?”

She beamed at me, her excitement evident. “Well, there are so many kinds of ground meat, and I’m trying to pick the best one for my recipe.”

I pondered for a moment before pointing at a particular pack of ground meat. “How about this one? It’s decent quality and reasonably priced.”

Her eyes lit up with gratitude. “Well, if Ueno-san says so, I’ll trust your judgment!”

I couldn’t help but be taken in by her infectious smile. There was warmth and genuine joy emanating from her, and it was hard not to be captivated by her enthusiasm. 

“I assume you’re planning to make hamburg steak?” I ventured, deducing from our conversation earlier.

“Yes! My mom won’t be home until late tonight, so I’m in charge of cooking for today.” she confirmed, a sense of responsibility shining through her stature.

As our conversation reached its natural conclusion, we made our way to the checkout counter. I paid for my purchases, and I noticed that Kobayashi was doing the same beside me. With our shopping bags in tow, we stepped out of the grocery store, only to find that the sky had gradually darkened. Despite the approaching nightfall, the bustling streets remained alive with the presence of numerous individuals going about their evening activities.

“Thank you for coming with me, Ueno-san. It was my first time here, so I’m grateful to have had your company,” Kobayashi expressed her appreciation.

“No problem at all. If you ever need someone to accompany you on your grocery shopping ventures, just give me a call.” I replied, offering my support.

“Thank you,” she responded, her gratitude evident in her tone.

With that, it was time for me to head home and try my hand at cooking.

“Ah, before I forget, remember to come to the clubroom tomorrow, okay, Ueno-san?” Kobayashi reminded me.

I realized that I had nearly overlooked the Photography Club’s meeting. “Of course, I’ll be there tomorrow. Well then, I’ll take my leave now. See you tomorrow, Kobayashi-san.”

“Yes, see you tomorrow, Ueno-san! And thanks again for your help today!” she called out, giving me a small wave as she headed off in the opposite direction.

As I made my way to the road that led to the station, it was a familiar scene—people bustling about, going on with their daily lives. The station itself was relatively calm, with only a few individuals scattered across the platform. Finding a seat inside the train was an effortless task, allowing me to settle in for the journey back home. Fortunately, the ride went smoothly, and I arrived at my living quarters without any complications.

Lost in thought about what culinary masterpiece I could create with the newly purchased groceries, my feet carried me towards my apartment. However, as I neared my front door, I noticed a figure standing there, a girl clad in a middle school uniform. It was apparent that she was waiting for someone, and based on her gaze, that someone seemed to be me. With a mixture of curiosity and surprise, I approached her.

“Welcome back, Aniki” she greeted me, her expression devoid of any emotion.