Chapter 23 - 23: Small and Cute

Words : 1446 Updated : Sep 26th, 2025

Begin Chapter 23 of "Reincarnation: Yukino Yukinoshita Is My Childhood Sweetheart" with: That night, both Haru and Yukino broke their usual early-to-bed, early-to-rise habits. Haru couldn't sleep because... Find out more!

That night, both Haru and Yukino broke their usual early-to-bed, early-to-rise habits. Haru couldn't sleep because of the surprise Yukino gave him, playing with her legs. It left him feeling a bit too excited to rest. Yukino, on the other hand, was thinking about the future. She started to worry that, eventually, playing with Her legs might become a "daily routine." Of course, part of this was due to her over-sensitivity. As a result, that night, she had her first improper dream. Summary: Someone was being a little too playful with her in the dream. "If I had known, I wouldn't have rushed to fulfill his request," Yukino sighed, adjusting her slightly messy nightgown as she got out of bed. She went to the living room, then checked the fridge. She needed to remind Haru to buy groceries before dinner, as they were running out of ingredients. It was 8:23 AM. She usually woke up earlier than this. "All because of that idiot," Yukino muttered, showing a rare pout of a little girl, though no one was around to see it. While brushing her teeth, Yukino heard some movement outside. Glancing at the mirror, she noticed Haru standing at the door in his pajamas. "Morning," he greeted casually, as if nothing had happened. "Mm." Yukino replied through a mouthful of toothpaste, still brushing. But she quickly realized that he hadn't left and was still standing there, staring at her. She spat out the foam, turned around, and asked with a hint of annoyance, "What are you doing?" "Just watching," he replied nonchalantly. "Get Out." "Alright." Haru walked away with a grin. Yukino felt a little unsettled. Could he possibly be thinking about playing with her legs this early in the morning? If fact, she was completely wrong. The reason Haru lingered at the door was purely because he noticed something unusual—Yukino didn't seem to have a gag reflex. In other words, when she accidentally brushed too far back in her mouth, she didn't even flinch, let alone gag. Haru's mind immediately sped off in an inappropriate direction, but he quickly forced himself to stop. Breakfast was prepared by Yukino, while Haru sat nearby, listening to her instructions on gaining experience. "There's not enough food in the fridge," Yukino reminded him after breakfast, now dressed in a light blue dress and holding an orange cat in her arms. "I'll go buy some this afternoon," Haru said, turning on the TV. "I'll come with you," Yukino decided. Being alone at home felt dull; she might as well go out with him. After watching TV for a while, Haru suddenly remembered something and crouched down in front of the cabinet beneath the TV, rummaging through the drawers. Curious, Yukino asked, "What are you looking for?" "I just remembered—my classmate Furukawa-san lent me a box of games... Oh, Furukawa is a classmate of mine. He often asks me for help with studying. Since he found out I like games too, he lent me some of his games." Haru pulled out a small box, filled with memories from his childhood in his previous life. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, River City Ransom, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Mega Man… "These are what I'd call nostalgic treasures," he said with a hint of emotion. Hearing his serious tone, Yukino's curiosity was piqued. "Treasures? You mean the games you played as a kid?" "Exactly. Want to give it a try? A lot of these are co-op games." "I'm not interested in this sort of thing." Ten minutes later… Expressionless, Yukino held a controller. Her cute chipmunk character had just been used as a shield by Haru, causing her to lose a life. Haru chuckled beside her. "Don't be so stiff! Games are meant to be played with a smile. That's part of the fun." Yukino replied flatly, "You have a point." Moments later, Haru's character was picked up and thrown into a group of enemies by Yukino, meeting his demise repeatedly. "You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?" he protested. "You said it yourself—games are meant to be fun. Why are you getting upset?" Yukino smiled sweetly. For the first time, she found video games to be genuinely entertaining. From that moment on, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers took on a whole new meaning. The two of them began treating their co-op partner like a throwable grenade at every opportunity. Gradually, Yukino's smile became lighter and freer. Without realizing it, in this moment, she was no longer the strict and composed Yukino but a carefree teenage girl, completely at ease. They played until noon. Yukino put down the controller and helped clean up. As she was tidying, Haru said, "If we have time, we should play together more often." "Hmm?" Yukino looked up, a bit surprised. "You know I don't like spending time on things like this." "I know, but look at this," Haru said, taking out his phone and switching to the camera. Under Yukino's puzzled gaze, he turned the front camera toward her face. "Don't you see? You look amazing right now," he said, pointing to her relaxed expression in the reflection. Yukino stared blankly at herself in the camera. He was right. She looked genuinely at ease. The playful bickering they'd had during the game brought a different kind of happiness—a pure, uncomplicated joy unlike the satisfaction of achieving something or making progress. It was a simple, lighthearted emotion that allowed her to completely relax. Realizing this, Yukino's gaze softened, and a warmth spread through her heart. So he suggested playing games to help me unwind… For the first time, she gave him a gentle smile. "If we have free time on weekends, I can join you for games. Wait… where are your eyes looking?" She suddenly noticed her relaxed posture. She had let her guard down, leaning comfortably in her chair. Her long dress had slipped slightly, revealing a glimpse of smooth, fair skin and the edge of her white undergarment. "Sorry, my auto-targeting system was still on," Haru said, quickly retreating. Yukino glared at his back as he pretended to flee in a panic toward the kitchen. But she couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips. "He really is a hopeless pervert." Though she said that, her mood was undeniably light. After all, the more infatuated he was with her, the more confident she felt in her own charm. It gave her a sense of security and bolstered her confidence for the battles ahead. Battles? Of course, against Kasumigaoka Utaha. As for the others—Yuigahama, Eriri, or even the never-before-seen Megumi Kato—they weren't even on Yukino's radar. After all, to sit at Yukino's table, one needed to have the strength to compete. And she held the ultimate trump card. Meanwhile, Haru was in the kitchen washing dishes, mumbling to himself, "Small really is cute after all." At 4:30 in the afternoon, the two headed out to buy groceries together. Though Yukino was in charge of selecting the ingredients, she would always ask Haru what he wanted to learn beforehand. That way, she could mentally prepare her teaching plan in advance. Not long after leaving the supermarket, Yukino spotted the bustling Snow Ice Cream Parlor up ahead and came to a stop. Haru immediately noticed what was on her mind. "Want to check out how the 'Part-Time Emperor' is doing?" "Part-Time Emperor?" Yukino blinked in confusion. "Before we met her, she used to juggle so many part-time jobs at once. If that's not a 'Part-Time Emperor,' then what is?" "…You're so childish." Yukino shot him an exasperated look before walking alongside him toward the shop. As soon as they reached the entrance, the lively ponytailed girl inside came into view. Her smile was still as vibrant and energetic as ever, and her hands moved with practiced efficiency. Even a single glance was enough to tell that slacking off wasn't in her vocabulary. Most importantly, her complexion had improved—she no longer looked like she might collapse at any moment. "It seems like she took your advice," Yukino said with a satisfied nod. Just as Haru was about to respond, the girl inside—Aoyama Nanami—noticed them. Her eyes immediately lit up. Haru changed his reply mid-sentence. "We've been spotted." Yukino sighed. "We're not thieves. Why are you using words like 'spotted'?" Nanami exchanged a few words with her coworker, then excitedly grabbed two beautifully packaged boxes and ran over to them with a bright smile.

Chapter 23 - 23: Small and Cute

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