Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 14: Chiaki Haruna’s True Ability

Chapter 14: Chiaki Haruna’s True Ability

I was standing in front of the vending machine with Chiaki, still debating what to get, when a group of girls walked past.

“…?”

Something about them felt off.

A few were grinning, while the girl in the center kept her head down.

For some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

“What’s up, Takuma-kun?”

“Over there.”

“…Bullying, huh?”

Chiaki tilted her head, looking irritated.

She even clicked her tongue.

Annoyed, she jabbed at the vending machine buttons.

“I hate that kinda crap.”

“Not cool?”

“Exactly. It’s pathetic.”

She popped open the tab of her can with a quick flick—

Only for the soda to fizz up and spray straight into her face.

Drops slid down from her hair, drips, onto the ground.

She stayed dead silent.

“…Now I’m pissed.”

“You’re gonna go?”

“Hell yeah. No doubt that soda spraying was those girls’ fault too.”

Pretty sure that wasn’t the case…

But muttering under my breath, I followed her anyway.

The group of girls ended up in an empty classroom.

They shoved the timid-looking one inside, then filed in after her.

Chiaki squared her shoulders.

“Takuma-kun, you stay here.”
“I’m coming too.”
“You’ll get dragged into it. You’re a guy, remember?”
“No way. If a friend’s about to throw down, I can’t just run. …Though yeah, I might not be much help.”

I had no confidence.

I’d never been in a fight before.

Hearing that, Chiaki gave me a wry smile and reached out.

Her hand landed on my head, ruffling my hair.

“Then I’ll protect you, Takuma-kun.”

“Thanks. Should I start calling you my knight?”

“Nah, that doesn’t suit a yankee at all.”

The girl who looked like the ringleader scowled as she stood.

Chiaki stepped forward, like she was guarding me, and spoke in this almost theatrical tone.

“Cut the crap. Bullying’s lame as hell.”

“…Hah? What, you this one’s friend or something?”

She sneered and pointed.

The girl with glasses, half-stripped, was crying silently.

Even though most of her body was still covered, the bruises on her skin were painful to look at.

“Nope, don’t know her.”

“…Then why the hell are you here?”

“’Cause my soda exploded. I put my last coins into that cola, y’know.”

“The hell’s that got to do with us!?”

Shouting, the ringleader lunged with a punch.

Even from the side, I could tell she was fast.

But Chiaki caught it easily, completely unfazed.

“And besides, my prince is watchin’ from the back.”

“Ohhh, so you’re just tryin’ to look cool in front of the guy you like?”

“Bingo. Pretty slick, huh?”

“More like your brain’s slicked right outta your skull!”

The girl swung with her other fist, aiming straight on.

From my angle, I couldn’t see Chiaki’s face.

But somehow, I knew she was calm.

She brushed that punch aside as casually as if she were brushing her teeth.

“Wha—!?”

“You asleep or somethin’? You’re way too slow for a fight.”

Chiaki threw a punch of her own—no tricks, no fancy moves.

Just a straight, clean hit.

The girl couldn’t react.

The fist slammed square into her cheek, knocking her off her feet completely.

Her eyes rolled back as she collapsed.

Chiaki scanned the room, arms crossed with total composure.

“So, who’s next?”

“U-Urraaaaahhh!!”

One of the dyed-hair girls came charging.

Her face was pale, like she was diving headfirst into her own deathbed.

And honestly… she kinda was.

She threw a wild straight punch with all her momentum.

Chiaki ducked under it and countered with a sharp right hook.

It nailed her right in the temple, cutting her off mid-charge.

Her legs gave out instantly, and she crumpled to the floor in silence.

“…”

After that, it was over in an instant.

The bullies scattered like cockroaches when the lights flipped on.

A few had some guts, but every single attack got flipped right back at them by Chiaki’s counters.

All I could do was stand there, silently watching the spectacle unfold right in front of me.

In Fist, Chiaki Haruna was one of the strongest characters.

Before she transferred, she was the top delinquent ruling her old turf.

And clearly, that hadn’t changed—even now as a girl.

“…Haa.”

“Chiaki, you okay? Not hurt or anything?”

“Do I look hurt?”

“Guess not. Totally unscathed.”

She flashed a cocky grin and held out her fist.

I froze for a moment, then realized—

So I bumped mine against hers.

“U-Um…”

The bullied girl finally spoke up, her voice trembling.

Even though her uniform still covered her, the damage she’d taken made it hard to look her straight in the eye.

So I quickly turned away.

“T-Thank you so much!”

“No need for thanks. Like I said, I only fought ‘cause I needed payback for that soda.”

“Even so! Really, thank you!!”

Chiaki scratched her cheek awkwardly, looking kind of troubled.

Her eyebrows drooped as she glanced at me, almost like she was asking for backup.

But there wasn’t really anything I could do.

So I just shrugged and gave her a light push forward.

“Ahh… not really used to this kinda thing. Those girls probably won’t mess with you again for a while, but if they do, you can count on me, alright?”

“Thanks!”

The girl’s eyes lit up, sparkling.

Like she was looking at some kind of hero.

Chiaki, looking awkward, twisted her mouth into a crooked grin.

“…C’mon, let’s go, Takuma-kun.”

“She’s lookin’ at you like she wants to join your party.”

“Option’s ‘No.’ Big fat ‘No.’”

She strode quickly out of the classroom, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly at her back.

“…She’s actually kinda shy, y’know.”

“R-Really?”

“…And your clothes, are they okay?”

“Y-Yes, I’ll be fine.”

Maybe only just realizing her condition, the girl with glasses clutched at her uniform, desperately trying to cover herself with what little fabric she had left.