Academy SP 〜An Ex-Mercenary Reincarnated as a Mob in a Gal Game. I Ditched My Bodyguard Job to Enjoy High School Life, but When the Ultra-Rich Heroines Were About to Get Killed, I Stepped In… and Somehow Built a Harem Powerful Enough to Control Japan〜 - Chapter 07

Chapter 07

“So this is fine, right? Manabu Hirota-dono?”

Yamashita made sure to get approval from Hirota, the de facto leader of Academy SP.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ve only got one person I want to protect anyway.”

With Hirota’s calm, decisive words as the signal, the boys immediately began forming groups.

“So, what’ll it be, partner? Who are you picking?”

Wakita casually patted my shoulder.

“Hmm… flashy Sara-chan with her E cups? The gentle, C-cup Ririko-san? Or Ayaka-san with those firm-looking D cups? Or maybe—G cups—Suiran-san with those overwhelming G cups! Come on, buddy, what’s your choice!?”

Honestly, this guy’s criteria seemed to be driven entirely by his sex drive… but whatever.

As for me, the path I chose—the heroine route, so to speak—was this.

“…I’m not joining any faction.”

“Ahh, I see! So you’re staying neutral—wait, WHAT!?”

I slung my bag over my shoulder and tried to head out, but Wakita immediately rushed in and stopped me with all his strength.

“H-Hey, that’s a terrible idea, Yuuji!”

“Huh? Why? I never planned on cozying up to any of the Four Great Conglomerates’ daughters in the first place.”

“W-WHAT DID YOU JUST SAAAAAY!?”

More than anything else, I just wanted to hit up an arcade for the first time in forever and play some games.

I wanted to drop by some random set-meal place and enjoy real Japanese food.

My youth had only just started—there was no way I was going to spend it babysitting some rich girls.

“W-Wait, wait, Yuuji! If you do that, you’ll end up isolated in the Academy SP class!”

“…What?”

“Think about it! We’re stuck with these forty people for the next three years! Now that this whole faction thing has started, deciding to belong to none of them basically labels you as—‘the guy who can’t read the room’!”

“T-The guy who can’t read the room!?”

At that moment, dark memories from my previous life as a student came flooding back.

—“XX-kun is just… that kind of person, you know.”
—“Doesn’t he get it? The things we clearly don’t like?”
—“Man, you really can’t read the room at all.”

“Hah… hah… hah…”

“H-Hey, Yuuji? What’s wrong? You’re sweating like crazy!”

“I-I’m fine! Totally fine… really…!”

Damn it—what an awful memory to dig up.

Back then, I’d tried to blend in with everyone else, only to get quietly pushed out of the group.

Before I knew it, I’d stopped going to school altogether.

If this kept up, I’d end up repeating the same mistake…!

—Yeah. Even if it was just for show, this was probably the moment I needed to pick a side.

Yeah… it was probably better to at least get along reasonably well with the guys in my class.

Besides, in my previous life I’d dropped out after middle school—this was literally my first-ever high school debut.

So I figured I should go with the old saying: when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

“S-So… Wakita, which faction are you planning to join?”

“Oh? You’re finally interested. Hmm… honestly, I’m fine with any of them.”

“…Huh?”

“My family runs an IT company that does business in a lot of fields. If we get close to the Hagoromo Conglomerate, we’d probably handle financial systems. If it’s the Aketo Conglomerate, they’re real estate kings in Kansai, so that opens other doors. Either way works for us.”

“‘Either way,’ huh… That actually makes you kind of impressive.”

“Haha! ‘Wide and shallow!’ That’s our company motto—and our family motto too!”

I shrugged as Wakita casually gave a thumbs-up.

Yeah… he really was exactly like he’d been in the original story.

“So then, who are you choosing, Yuuji?”

At this point, I might as well go with the first one that caught my eye.

“I’m going with—the Hagoromo Conglomerate.”

〇

“All right, that makes seven of us.”

After that, the very first meeting of the Hagoromo Conglomerate Faction—Academy SP Branch—kicked off in the corner of the classroom.

Running the show was Yamashita from earlier. Looks like he was naturally sliding into the role of leader.

“Hmph. More people than I expected. Anyone here from a company better than the Yamashita Fund Group?”

Yamashita immediately started flexing.

One by one, everyone said the name of their parents’ company, and every single time, he’d sneer and go, “Tch, that’s nothing special.”

“And what about you?”

Next, Yamashita pointed straight at me.

This brat…

Come to think of it, yeah—he was just as irritating in the original story too.

…Still, I decided to keep things calm and avoid pointless trouble.

So I simply told him that my father was an executive at a major trading company.

“Hah. An executive’s kid, huh? Rough life. Your old man’s just another cog in society’s machine, lol.”

“………………”

That was when Wakita gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Easy, easy. No getting angry. And definitely don’t let out that killing aura.”

“…I know.”

Wakita’s instincts were seriously sharp.

He was right—I really had almost punched Yamashita just now.

Good grief.

Why was I getting so worked up just because he mocked the father of Yuuji Takahashi, a background mob character?

…Still, it ticked me off.

I’d only just met my new Papa and Mama in this life—but I already knew they were warm, kind people.

And because of that… it bothered me more than it should have.

“So? What about you—the guy with the glasses. What does your parents’ company do?”

“Yes! My parents run a company called WAKIYAKU Co., Ltd.!”

When Wakita answered with a bright smile, Yamashita showed interest for the first time.

“Hou? If I remember right, that company’s been expanding into all kinds of businesses lately. I heard it’s close to going public.”

“No, no, it’s nothing that impressive~”

“Hmph. Fine then. You seem useful. I’ll make you my number two—special treatment. You’d want investment from my family’s fund company, right?”

Grinning smugly, Yamashita made the offer.

He clearly thought there was no way Wakita would turn it down.

But—

Wakita kept smiling as he replied.

“Yeah, I appreciate it—but I’ll pass!”

“…What did you say?”

“I’m already this guy’s number two!”

As he said that, he suddenly linked arms with me like some clingy lover.

Hey—cut it out! That’s gross!

“Tch. Poor taste. Picking partners like that at your age? Do whatever you want.”

Completely sulking now, Yamashita openly declared that he’d be giving Wakita the cold shoulder from here on out.

But Wakita didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

“—I’m pretty confident my eye for choosing partners is second to none, you know? Right, Yuuji!”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it—now let go of me.”

I shoved his face away as he made some gross “Iyaaan~” kind of noise and put some distance between us.

And then—

“Um… I was thinking… I’d like to join this group too.”

When I turned around, there was a guy awkwardly bowing his head, trying to step into the circle.

That guy was none other than—

The protagonist of this Academy SP gal game,

Shirou Amagaya.

♦♦♦

Thank you so much for reading this far!

Thanks to all of you, the story reached 55th place in the weekly rankings!

We finally made it into the double digits—like a dream come true!

I’ll keep doing my best!

Ahh… if only there were a few more ★★★…

Maybe—just maybe—I could reach single-digit weekly rankings… |дﾟ) peek peek