Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 19: The Final Showdown Begins

Chapter 19: The Final Showdown Begins

The fight between Hinata Takaiwa and Akira Narukami had dragged on for over ten minutes.

Neither of them had anything left to give.

At this point, they were running on nothing but sheer willpower—legs trembling just to keep them upright.

“Haa… haa…”

“Gh… you’re really something…”

“Thank… you…”

Their breaths rasped painfully in the still air.

Hinata swiped the blood from her nose with her thumb—and took yet another step forward.

She had been in control for a while now.

But Akira refused to fall.

No matter how many hits she absorbed, she simply wouldn’t quit.

If this had been decided by skill alone, Hinata would have won already.

Judging by their injuries, Akira was in far worse shape.

Honestly, she shouldn’t have been standing at all—but stubborn resolve kept her on her feet.

“Haa… I’m done. Can’t lift my arms anymore…”

She tried to raise her guard again, but her arms barely twitched above her shoulders.

Even Akira gave a faint, crooked smile.

“This’ll… be the last one.”

“Yeah… you’re strong.”

Hinata’s fist drifted forward, barely grazing Akira’s cheek.

Light as a feather—more a touch than a punch.

But to Akira, that single tap was the final blow.

She toppled backward in slow motion, landing flat on her back—

And Hinata caught her before she hit the ground.

“…We’re technically enemies here. Maybe you shouldn’t be doing stuff like this.”

“But Akira-san… you’re someone I respect. I just don’t want to see you lying there, looking… pathetic.”

“‘Pathetic,’ huh… bold choice of words.”

“Ah—n-no, that’s not what I meant—!”

“I know what you meant.”

Akira chuckled softly, then reached out to ruffle Hinata’s hair before making it official:

“I lose.”

The instant those words left her mouth, everyone—except for the still-unconscious Minato—rushed over.

Surrounded by anxious faces, Hinata and Akira shared small, awkward smiles.

“Akagi-san, you can actually make a face like that, huh?”

“B-Because… becauseee…!”

“Akira. Stop talking nonsense. You’ll make your injuries worse.”

“O-Okay, now Asama-san’s scary…”

“You’ve only got yourself to blame.”

I couldn’t see Asama’s face from where I stood, but judging by Akira’s reaction, it had to be terrifying.

Still… that was just how she showed she cared.

And honestly? Akira didn’t seem bothered by it at all.

“So, one win and one loss.”

Chiaki, cradling Hinata in her arms, narrowed her eyes at Yayoi.

Hinata tried to wriggle free, but when Chiaki murmured, “You can’t even stand, can you?” she went completely silent.

“So my opponent is…”

“Chiaki Haruna. Nice to meet you.”

“Pretty polite for a yankee, huh?”

“I value things like that.”

“Heh. Guess you already know—I’m Yayoi Akagi.”

The tension between them was practically electric.

Meanwhile, I quietly took Hinata from Chiaki and carried her over to where Minato was still out cold.

Guess being carried by a guy embarrassed her—Hinata thrashed weakly the whole way.

Not that she had enough strength left to actually break free.

“—D-Damn it, how can you do this so casually?!”

“You’re injured. It’s the least I can do to help you.”

“Still, though…!”

I lowered myself beside the unconscious Minato and gently laid Hinata down.

The hard ground seemed a bit cruel, so… I gave her a proper pillow.

My lap.

Yep. The classic lap pillow.

“—――――――!!”

A strange, high-pitched squeak slipped out of her.

Her eyes rolled back and, with a faint “kyuuuu,” she simply… passed out.

“Uh… what?”

“Takuma-san, I didn’t take you for a playboy.”

“Wha—no, Asama-san, I’m a pure-hearted young man!”

“Lies. With that face? No way you’re pure-hearted.”

Carrying Akira on her back, Asama came over and sat down beside me with a quiet sigh.

“—Didn’t think it’d come down to the final match.”

“Unexpected?”

“Yes. My opponent was weaker than I anticipated… but what really surprised me was that Akira lost.”

“Sorry ‘bout that…”

“I’m not blaming you.”

“You did your best,” Asama added with a soft smile.

Coming from the usually expressionless, brainy glasses girl, that gentle smile… yeah, it was dangerously cute in contrast.

“Who do you think’s gonna win?”

“Yayoi.”

“Yeah, figures.”

Akira had asked, and Asama didn’t even pause.

She was completely certain of Yayoi’s victory.

“I’ve never seen Yayoi lose a fight.”

“Since first year, right? She’s undefeated?”

“Correct. She’s been the top of Shibakata High ever since.”

“Whoa… can’t even imagine living in that world…”

Sure, I’d read about stuff like that in manga, but seeing it for real was something else entirely.

In a school where fighting was practically routine… she’d been undefeated since first year? Unreal.

But—

“…Takuma-san, do you disagree?”

“Huh?”

“You looked like you were thinking otherwise.”

Guess my face gave me away, because Asama tilted her head, curious.

I gave a small, crooked smile.

“…Just wondering if it’ll really go that smoothly.”

“Go smoothly…?”

On the other side, Chiaki and Yayoi were moments away from starting their fight.

The two stood several meters apart, locked in a fierce stare-down.

The air between them felt like a balloon ready to pop.

“I’m pretty good at sizing people up, y’know.”

“Heh?”

“You… you’re strong, aren’t you?”

“Me? I’m just some lazy girl who can’t be bothered with life.”

“Liar. Your eyes are burning.”

“Pfft.”

In an instant, the laid-back facade Chiaki had worn up until now vanished.

Her lips curled into a sharp, predatory grin—

And when she spoke, her voice dripped with devilish delight:

“—Let’s do this, shall we?!”