Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 25: Targeted by a New Power

Chapter 25: Targeted by a New Power

Chiaki and Minato were in the middle of yet another heated debate.

I just sat there, listening.

Honestly, the way those two bickered was like a pre-planned comedy skit—you could watch it a hundred times and still never get bored.

Then, from the back door of the classroom, a familiar figure strolled in.

That pudding-colored hair stood out no matter where she went.

She spotted the two still arguing and, right on cue, pulled a face like she’d just bitten into something sour.

Without acknowledging them in the slightest, she made a beeline straight for me.

“Still at it, huh?”

“Looks like it. Guess that’s what they call ‘fighting like best friends.’”

“Sure, maybe they’re close. But seriously—can they not? If I get dragged into their mess, I’ll lose it.”

Hinata Takaiwa shrugged dramatically and dropped herself into Chiaki’s currently vacant chair.

Letting out this world’s version of an old-man sigh—or maybe more like an old-lady sigh—she spoke.

“Akagi-san’s calling for you.”

“For me? What for?”

“Says she wants to hang out. Apparently, you’ve been avoiding her ever since… y’know, that incident. She’s not happy about it. Before our cute little ‘big boss’ blows her top, you might wanna show your face.”

Hinata had originally joined the Myougi Faction just to work her way back into the Akagi Faction.

But now that Yayoi and her crew were part of Myougi’s group too, she’d been spending a lot more time with them.

Lately, Hinata didn’t have that tense, gloomy aura around her anymore.

These days, she was always smiling.

“Okay. I’ll drop by after school today.”

“That’s the smart move.”

We drifted into some casual small talk after that.

Then, out of nowhere, Hinata tilted her head back, eyes on the ceiling like she’d just remembered something.

“Hey, did you hear? There’s a big name in Second Year, Class Seven. Word is, they’re aiming for the title of Shibakata High’s next top dog. Rumors are everywhere.”

“Second Year, Class Seven… you mean Uta Tanigawa?”

“Bingo.”

Hinata snapped her fingers with a little click.

“Got this straight from Akagi-san—turns out Tanigawa’s one of her old juniors. Just a year younger, but apparently ruled the entire middle school scene after Akagi-san left. And now, even here at Shibakata, the girl’s making waves.”

When it came to Yayoi, Hinata always got fired up.

The way her nostrils flared as she kept going, you’d think she was some hardcore fan hyping up her favorite idol.

“I was just talking with Akagi-san about it earlier, and Tanigawa’s name came up. So, heads up, Takuma-kun. You’ve got that ‘easy target’ vibe—bet you’d get dragged into trouble without even realizing it.”

“…What do you take me for? No way that’s happening.”

“If you say so.”

From who-knows-where, she suddenly had a carton of strawberry milk in her hand.

Sipping quietly, Hinata pursed her lips ever so slightly.

Looking back, maybe what I’d said earlier had been one giant flag.

I’d gotten cocky—figuring that as long as I had my manga knowledge, I’d never get caught up in any real trouble.

Yeah. Right.

Now I was surrounded by a pack of delinquents dressed to kill.

Even without looking too closely, I could see the scars running across their faces.

There was no way I could take this crew head-on.

So, I raised both hands in surrender, making it clear I had zero intention of resisting.

The girls sneered, then glanced toward the one who was obviously their leader.

“Heh-heh-heh… What’s the plan, Tanigawa-san?”

“He’s connected to Akagi-kun, right? Mess with him carelessly and we’ll regret it. Just… bring him along quietly. And I don’t mean kidnap him—so don’t even think about it.”

“…Wait, seriously?”

“I said politely! Got it? Politely!”

She sounded like some shady boss giving orders to her lackeys.

But of course, the goons must’ve taken it the wrong way—because the moment they reached out for me, Tanigawa herself stopped them with a sharp gesture.

After giving them one last pointed warning, she turned on her heel and walked off like she owned the place.

“…So, uh… what’s gonna happen to me now?”

“That’s up to Tanigawa-san. Might wanna start praying to whatever god you believe in.”

“Right… roger that.”

They marched me from the courtyard back into the school building.

Why was I even here after school?

Simple—I’d been on my way to see Yayoi.

To get from our usual classroom building to the club building where Yayoi and her crew hung out, you had to step outside first.

And right there, in that perfect in-between spot… I got jumped.

Dragged in by a bunch of delinquents.

Well, “mystery gang” might be overselling it—I already knew exactly who they were.

I didn’t bother resisting.

No point in picking a fight and getting my face rearranged.

Probably wouldn’t have been that bad anyway… but still.

After pointlessly hauling me outside, they dragged me back in and shoved me into an unused classroom.

Surprisingly, one of them even pulled out a chair for me.

I hesitated, then sat down slowly.

“Glad you came.”

“‘Came’ isn’t really the word. More like ‘was dragged here.’”

“My name… is Uta Tanigawa.”

She ignored my comment completely.

Tanigawa sat with one leg crossed, chin tilted up like an emperor on a throne.

The sheer presence she gave off made me swallow hard without thinking.

“I called you here for one reason: Akagi-san.”

“Yayoi?”

“…You’re on a first-name basis? Sounds like you’re pretty close.”

She paused for just a moment, then smirked.

“Let me be blunt—join me. Stand under me, and when I take the throne as Shibakata High’s new queen, your position will be untouchable. No more worrying about getting dragged into fights just because you’re a guy.”

…Tempting, honestly.

Considering how often I’d been pulled into nonsense lately—mostly thanks to my “main character” connections—it sounded like a decent deal.

I thought about it for a few seconds… then gave my answer.