Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 13: Hinata Takaiwa’s True Ability

Chapter 13: Hinata Takaiwa’s True Ability

Hinata Takaiwa was tagging along with us so she could make her way back into the Akagi faction.

But what exactly did she need to do to be accepted again? That part was still a complete mystery.

In fact, in Fist she never even rejoined the Akagi faction at all.

I sat stiff with nerves, alone with Hinata for the first time.

“How’s it goin’?”

“No problem.”

She plopped down beside me, sipping on a strawberry milk.

One arm rested lazily across the back of the bench, legs spread wide—a picture-perfect delinquent pose.

“…Ahh, come to think of it, this is the first time you and me’ve been alone, huh, Takuma-kun.”

“Yeah, guess so.”

“Cut it out with the polite talk. We’re the same age, right?”

She pulled a cigarette from her pocket, stuck it between her lips, and blew out smoke like it was second nature.

“By the way, did I ever tell you why Akagi-san kicked me out?”

“No… you didn’t.”

Of course, I already knew thanks to the manga.

But I couldn’t exactly admit that—if I did, it’d just freak her out.

So I shook my head honestly, and she started speaking in a low mutter.

“There’s this private school, Saemaki High, over in the next city.”

“Yeah, I know. That yankee school that rivals Shibakata High, right?”

“Then this’ll be quick. Our school and Saemaki High? We hate each other’s guts. The rivalry’s so bad, people act like even talking to their students is off-limits.”

We’d been fighting each other forever.

Maybe it all went back to those “regular battles” between schools.

Hinata flicked the ash off her cigarette.

“So yeah, my childhood friend goes to Saemaki High. I figured, eh, no big deal, right? We were just hangin’ out like normal—then bam, I ran straight into Akagi-san. She spotted the uniform instantly. And after that? Yeah, I got the crap beaten outta me.”

If I remembered right, that childhood friend of hers was a second-year—and ranked pretty high up even at Saemaki High.

Naturally, for someone from Shibakata, that kind of crime was extra heavy.

So I just kept my mouth shut and listened.

“…Man, what the hell am I even sayin’.”

“They say it’s better not to bottle up your frustration or stress.”

“You seriously tellin’ me that? To a delinquent? I’m the polar opposite of that kinda stuff. I mean, look—I’m literally smoking underage right now.”

She let out a bitter laugh as she blew smoke, then sighed.

The sound was heavy, sticky—like she was forcing something out of her throat that didn’t want to leave.

“And besides… this ain’t the kinda thing you talk about in a place like this.”

Hinata chucked her empty strawberry milk carton aside.

It crumpled with a sharp crunch the moment it hit the ground.

Her thick legs pressed down on it, as casually as if she were stepping on frost.

Fsshhhhh—her breath spilled out in a long stream.

That white mist drifting upward into the night sky looked far too much like our uncertain future.

“How’s it goin’?”

“Pretty awful, honestly.”

“Funny. Same here.”

She let out a sigh, like saying so much for our alone time.

“—Ooooi, how long you two gonna sit there flappin’ your gums?”

“Oh? You were waitin’ for us?”

“I’m generous, y’know. I’ll even let you spit out your last words.”

“You hear that? What now, Takuma-kun?”

“Don’t really got anything worth leaving behind…”

We both shrugged our shoulders in sync.

Standing in front of us was a delinquent.

Her uniform wasn’t one I recognized. She stood tall, oozing that cocky confidence that just screamed trouble.

“All we did was bump into her at the convenience store, huh.”

“Guess we’ve got some rotten luck.”

“And that outfit—Saemaki High, right?”

“Looks like the type to pick fights.”

“Not ‘looks like’—she’s literally pickin’ one right now.”

Hinata rose to her feet, nice and slow, stepping in front of me like a shield.

“Got business with me?”

“You’re Hinata Takaiwa, right?”

“Oh my, I’m famous?”

“Word is you’re Shibakata High’s little rat.”

“Aww, that’s flattering. Rats are cute, don’t you think? Squeak squeak.”

Hinata curled her fingers into whiskers and rubbed them against her cheek, mocking her outright.

The girl—who honestly looked more gorilla than human—had a vein popping on her forehead.

She was clearly about to snap.

“Sounds like you’ve really got a death wish…!”

“What’re you so mad about? Ran outta smokes or somethin’?”

“I’ll kill you…!!”

Hinata stayed her usual carefree self, totally unbothered.

That only pushed the girl over the edge—she lunged, stomping the ground with those thick legs, closing the gap in an instant.

“ORAAA!!”

Her fist came flying—

But it sliced through nothing but air.

Hinata slipped past with ease, snatched her overextended arm, and twisted.

Using her own momentum against her, Hinata wrenched her balance off and cranked her elbow upward.

Even she couldn’t hide the pain twisting across her face.

But Hinata didn’t hesitate for even a second.

She drove her knee straight into her face.

The dull crack echoed all the way to me, sending a chill down my spine just imagining the pain.

“Guh—gaahh…!?”

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you gonna finish me?”

She finally let her go—only to throw in a bonus kick, right into her neck.

Depending on the spot, that could’ve been a serious injury… or maybe that was exactly what she wanted.

Either way, the girl was finished.

She couldn’t even stand—just dropped to her knees, hacking rough coughs.

Hinata stood tall, unshaken, her hair swaying as it settled.

That hime cut of hers—light-dyed tips over dark roots, a lazy delinquent’s trademark—

Somehow, in that moment, it looked… cool.

“—Normally, fighting’s a pain, so I don’t bother.”

She strode forward, closing the distance in just a few steps.

The girl, already broken after a handful of exchanges, trembled nonstop.

“But the truth is—I’m actually strong, y’know?”

“Hiiiii!!”

She casually stomped the ground right beside her face.

That alone was enough—the girl went limp, eyes rolling back. Out cold.

“Hey, Takuma-kun.”

“…That was insane.”

“Oh? Did I make you fall for me?”

“My heart definitely skipped a beat.”

“Guess I’m a sinful woman, huh.”

Hinata snapped a wink.

Technically a wink… but on her, it looked hilariously out of place.

Like something straight out of a goofy paper-mask party game.

In Fist, Hinata Takaiwa was usually portrayed as lazy—someone who thought fights were a hassle and barely lifted a finger.

But when someone she cared about was in danger, that’s when she’d unleash her true power, overwhelming anyone in her way.

And seeing that side of her for real—right in front of me—

I couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Hopefully, she didn’t still hold a grudge over me teasing her earlier.