Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 06: The Akagi Faction’s Meeting Spot

Chapter 06: The Akagi Faction’s Meeting Spot

A run-down bowling alley.

That’s where Yayoi had dragged me.

“…”

I couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

It wasn’t quite haunted-house level, but… yeah.

It gave off the kind of vibe that made you absolutely certain something sketchy was lurking inside.

Noticing how I hesitated at the entrance, Yayoi grinned and tightened her grip on my hand.

“What is it, Takuma? Chickening out?”

“…Maybe a little.”

“Kyahh, so cute!”

“…”

…That really stung my pride as a guy.

But in this world, apparently that was the expected reaction.

All I could do was give a wry smile.

“People actually gather here?”

“Yup! Whenever we meet up, it’s either here or the arcade!”

Before I could protest, Yayoi yanked me forward and took off running.

Like a dog on a leash, I was dragged straight into the lion’s den.

And beyond that door were delinquents.

The kind of crowd where a gloomy guy like me… could very easily end up getting wrecked.

I steeled myself as best I could.

We stepped through the entrance, down the hall, and then—

“Akagi-san’s here!!”

“Yo!!”

“Been a while, Yayoi!!”

“Hey! Quit messing around over there!”

“Ah, sorry! Hello!!”

“…Wait, who’s the guy next to her?”

Their hair came in every color imaginable.

Black, brown, blonde—bright, flashy, and all over the spectrum.

And their eyes all gleamed.

That sharp, intimidating look that screamed delinquent.

All at once, they greeted Yayoi.

That alone was enough to make me shrink into myself, but Yayoi casually swayed her tone and strode right into the center like she owned the place.

“Pipe down!”

Her voice cut through the noise, and instantly the whole room went silent.

The pressure was so sharp it dried out my throat.

“So, listen! I found this really interesting guy, and I wanna introduce him to everyone!”

“His name is Takuma Takamure.” 

Glasses flashing, Asama-san stepped forward.

“Whaaat! Why’d you go and say it! I wanted to announce it myself!”

Yayoi stomped the floor in frustration, while Asama calmly soothed her before leaning in close to whisper in my ear.

The sudden closeness froze my entire body.

“Takuma-san.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Please give us a nice introduction.”

“Eh… wait, what do you even mean by ‘nice’?”

Before I could resist, she shoved me forward.

With a blank expression, Asama crossed her arms.

“Send the cute one on a journey—that’s how you raise them.”

I could feel the stares boring into my back.

Sweat trickled down my cheek as I slowly, stiffly turned around like a rusty tin toy.

A whole pack of delinquents.

And from the side, Yayoi’s eyes sparkled with expectation.

I had to say something—anything.

Holding back a voice that was about ready to crack, I opened my mouth—

“My name is Takuma Takamure… uh, it’s an honor to be introduced tonight. The moon is especially beautiful, and I feel it’s the perfect night for such a fated meeting—”

“Takumaa, you’re so stiff!”

Yayoi jabbed her elbow straight into my ribs.

“Takuma just gets nervous easy, y’know? Normally he’s way funnier! If you all talk to him, you’ll totally get it!”

…Yeah. Classic introvert me.

With her arm wrapped around my neck like we were best pals, all I could do was force out a weird laugh.

At least the formal mood melted away after that.

“Nice to meet ya, Takuma!”

“…Wait, Narukami-san, we already know each other though.”

“Hehe, it’s all about vibes, y’know?”

She patted my shoulder, and when I turned my head, Narukami was standing there—her eyes glittering through the gaps in her bangs.

Huh. Guess she’s the mischievous type.

“If we leave the spotlight on Takuma, the sun’ll rise before he’s done. So let your senpai handle this one!”

“Eh, wait—ow, you’re actually pretty strong!”

“I am a girl, you know.”

With a surprisingly tight grip on my wrist, she dragged me off toward a group of unfamiliar delinquents.

“Look at ’em. Faces that scream ‘zero experience with guys,’ right?”

“The hell’d you just say?!”

“Think you’re hot stuff or somethin’, punk?!”

Narukami pointed at them, mocking laugh and all.

And then, one girl strutted up, opened her mouth wide, and yelled—

“Talk all you want, but everyone here knows the truth! Akira Narukami has never had a boyfriend in her life—total romance noob!!”

“Wha—”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

“Quit trying to act all cool just ’cause there’s a guy around!”

“Face it, you’re just a desperate flirt!!”

“T-Take that backkkk!!”

Narukami’s face went bright red as she raised her fist.

Meanwhile, the girls who’d roasted her were grinning ear to ear, looking way too satisfied with themselves.

It was stupid, ridiculous banter—but thanks to it, I actually felt my nerves unwind.

The heavy tension I’d been carrying was gone.

“…So, Takuma. Feeling less nervous now?”

Once the commotion settled down, Narukami turned to me.

“…You did that for my sake?”

“Well, I also just wanted to put those brats in their place.”

Her eyes flicked down to her own feet, her voice tinged with irritation.

“People make fun of me for being short all the time, y’know.”

She was right—Narukami was easily twenty centimeters shorter than me.

“But hey, I’m still your onee-san.”

“…You’re literally just one grade above me.”

“And for a student like you, that makes a big difference, doesn’t it?”

She saw right through me.

In terms of actual age, counting my past life, I was definitely older.

But in this world, I didn’t stand a chance against her.

With a defeated sigh, I raised both hands.

The universal sign of surrender.

“Takuma, you’re kinda weird, y’know.”

“…Weird? How?”

“You went out of your way to enroll at Shibakata High, but you don’t give off that delinquent vibe at all. And you’ve even got blond hair.”

“Ahaha…”

Yeah, no way I could say, ‘Well, actually, I only realized I’d reincarnated right before the entrance ceremony.’

So I just scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“But still, you’ll manage somehow, won’t you?”

“…Thanks to you, Narukami-san.”

“Mmm, nope. Try again.”

“Huh?”

She let her gaze wander in the air for a moment, then said—

“Call me by my name. Just like you call Akagi-san.”

“…Akira-san?”

“Drop the ‘-san.’ Just straight up Akira.”

“……………Aki.”

Yeah, that was embarrassing.

But with that one glittering eye locked on me, I didn’t stand a chance.

“…Akira.”

“…Kyaa—ahh, hearing that makes me blush.”

We both froze, staring at each other, cheeks flushed red.