Chastity Reversed: Part-Time Life by the All-Girls High School - Chapter 17: Target

“Yo.”

“You know what’s coming, don’t you?”

“…Right when I’m about to enjoy a peaceful post-shift drink…”

“What’s that, punk?!”

“There she goes!”

“‘There she goes’?! What’s that supposed to mean, punk?!”

Honestly, it would’ve been better if that brown-haired Yankee was still here.  

Even though she was a girl, I wouldn’t have to deal with these two troublesome idiots if she were around. No way was I dealing with unruly customers for free when it was not even worth my hourly wage.

Engaging with them would just be a waste of time. What should I do? Easy: run away (immediate decision).  

Later, losers! I’m heading home!  

The ultimate self-defense skill was using your own legs to escape.  

“Hey, you—wait!”

“Who in their right mind would stop when someone says, ‘Wait up’?”

Without hesitation, I dashed away to put some distance between us.  

“Huff… huff…”

After circling the perimeter of the convenience store a few times and making them chase me, they finally ran out of breath and stopped.  

Guess all that training to not lose in stamina to girls in this “reverse world” paid off. After all, here, men naturally had lower physical strength than women.  

Still, their stamina gave out so fast. Smokers, maybe?  

The faint smell of their breath was… not great. Yeah, probably from smoking.  

“Alright, I’m out.”

“You… damn it, wait—”

“We’re part of the Ro—”

I heard them shouting something as I ran, but I ignored it and continued on my way.  

Actually, that was a pretty solid run. I’d sleep well tonight—  

“—Hmm?”  

Wait a second.  

“Ro”? Did they just say “Ro”…?  

That sounded oddly familiar. Where had I heard that before?  

I couldn’t let this slide. Guess I’d head back (immediate decision).  

“Hey.”

“AHHHH?!”

When I made a U-turn and approached the two of them, now collapsed on the ground, they let out panicked screams.  

Why?

“Hey, what were you saying earlier?”

“Hah… hah… my voice won’t come out…”

“Ugh… I feel sick…”

“…Sigh…“

“You… better remember this…”

“Damn you…!”

I literally came back because they seemed to want me to. Why were they trying to run away now?  

“Hold on a second.”

“AAAAHH?!”

I reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder—only for her to scream again.  

A moment ago, they were chasing me. Now, the tables had turned.  

…Honestly, though, in romance, I’d always preferred being the chaser.  

“This is starting to get fun.”  

“Hah… hah…”  

“Alright, alright! We’re sorry, okay?!”  

Under the moonlit night, I chased after the two of them, now completely worn out.  

It had been a while.  

Running after girls like this took me back.  

In my previous world, this was normal. Running endlessly to catch the attention of the one you liked.  

It never worked out for me, but in its own way, it was fulfilling—  

“Ah.”

“I… can’t anymore…”  

“I’m gonna die…”  

Lost in nostalgia, I didn’t notice them collapsing right in front of me.  

Oops. Did I overdo it?  

“Here, drink this.”  

“…Ugh.”

“What even are you?!”  

I bought two bottles of sports drinks from a vending machine and handed them over.  

They were a pain, sure, but they were still girls. If they collapsed from dehydration or lack of minerals, that’d just make things more complicated.  

“Now then. Ready to tell me what I wanted to know?”  

“We told you… it’s about the Ro—”

Finally catching their breath, I pressed them for answers, ready to clear this nagging curiosity stuck in my mind—  

“—Hey, what’s going on here?”  

Before I could get my answer, a new voice cut through the air.  

A girl, her speech distinct and regional.  

“K-Kanau-san!”  

“Y-yes, ma’am…!”

The moment she appeared, the two girls immediately bowed their heads in submission.  

Their deference was palpable—there was clearly a hierarchy at play here.  

“What’ve you two been up to, breathing so hard? Were you messing around with this fine gentleman?”  

“A-ah, well…”

“We were just… playing tag!” I jumped in.  

“Ha! Sounds fun!” she laughed.  

“Want to join us?”  

“I’ll pass. I hate both chasing and being chased.”  

“…Then, what exactly do you like?”  

She smiled slyly, exuding the aura of a fox.  

“I like making sure someone can’t move, rendering them completely helpless, so I can take my time and enjoy myself.”  

The air filled with a strong, distinct scent—thick and unmistakably smoky.  

“That’s… a terrible hobby.”  

“Everyone has their own preferences, right?”  

“Sure, I won’t deny that. But I’d prefer to avoid ending up as some creep’s victim, so I’ll be leaving now.”  

“Ha! You’re a harsh one, aren’t you?”  

There are people like this in this town sometimes.  

People you’d rather not meet again if you could help it.  

“Later.”

“Take care, now. The night can be dangerous.”  

“…Yeah, thanks for the warning.”  

Finally, I turned and headed home, feeling her sticky gaze lingering on my back the entire way.  

****

“…”

“K-Kanau-san!”  

“Y-yes?!”

Under the moonlit streets, the Kansai-accented girl lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke casually, ignoring the stares of passersby.  

Her cheeks were faintly flushed.  

“Y’know what this gang, Rose Garden, is missing?”  

“U-um… what is it?”  

“A ‘red rose among thorns’. A guy like that one would be perfect to stand next to our leader.”  

“!?”

“Man, he’s something else. He’s unshaken even by girls like us—and that aura of his is just irresistible.”  

Kanau muttered, her words drifting into the night along with her smoke.  

“You two. Know anything about that guy?”  

“Eh?”  

“Anything works. What high school he goes to, where he works—”  

“W-we don’t know his school, but he works at that convenience store…”  

“Y-yeah! The one just down the road!”  

The two girls spilled what little they knew, eager to please her.  

“I see. Keep looking into him—discreetly.”  

“!!”

Kanau laughed as she handed each girl a crisp 10,000-yen bill.  

“Got it? Don’t let me down.”