Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 29: Dynamite in My Shoes

Chapter 29: Dynamite in My Shoes

After a while of pointless small talk, it seemed the alcohol was finally wearing off.

Tanigawa rubbed at her now-fading red cheeks and glanced around.

Specifically—she glanced around my room.

And then her cheeks started turning red again for an entirely different reason.

“…Huh?”

“Oh, are you sober now?”

“Takuma… what is this place?”

“My room.”

“YOUR ROOM!?”

She toppled right off the chair.

I rushed over, but thankfully she wasn’t hurt—physically, at least.

Mentally? Different story.

Tanigawa was clearly in shock, eyes spinning.

I offered her my hand, and to my surprise, she took it without fuss.

I helped her up, and she gave me a quick, casual “Thanks.”

Then she froze.

“—Wait a second. What am I wearing?”

“My clothes.”

“YOUR CLOTHES!?”

Oh, and just the hoodie, by the way. Everything else was my mom’s.

…Not that it mattered. I’d said it too late.

Tanigawa tipped backward again.

This time, I was ready—I caught her, slipping an arm behind her back to stop the fall.

And just like that, I ended up holding her princess-style.

Unfortunately, my arms were nowhere near strong enough to support a full-grown high school girl for long.

The strain hit almost immediately.

But I couldn’t just let her crash headfirst into the floor either.

Frantically scanning my room, I realized there was nothing soft to break her fall—no cushions, no mats. Just the bed.

Guess that’s my only option.

With a silent prayer—here goes nothing—I tossed her onto the bed.

Or rather… I collapsed onto it with her.

Not exactly graceful, but my lack of strength left me no choice.

She ended up nestled right against my chest, her bluish-black hair brushing my chin, the tips of her ears glowing red.

Like a cornered prey animal, she squirmed in panic, demanding release without saying a word.

Not that I wanted to hold her like this—

Okay, maybe a little, but still—I let go immediately.

She scrambled across the bed, pressing her back to the wall, face crimson, mouth opening and closing as if wrestling with her thoughts.

Then, as if she couldn’t take it anymore, she blurted out:

“—Wait, are you… some kind of pervert!?”

“I’M NOT.”

“Oh, you’re not… Wait, no, I still don’t trust you!”

“I really mean it. I’ve never even dated a girl—I’m as pure as they come.”

“Is that so?”

Looking back on what had just happened, I guess I couldn’t really blame her for suspecting me.

From the outside, it definitely looked bad.

Still, it had all been one big accident—I had every right to deny it… even if I maybe revealed a bit too much in the process.

Tanigawa fidgeted, knees pressed together, eyes darting anywhere but at me.

“…Sooo… I drank a lot last night. And, uh… if I got all clingy and annoying like you’re probably imagining… sorry.”

“You did.”

“Ughhh.”

She buried her face in her hands and curled up like a pill bug.

Peeking at me through her fingers, she mumbled,

“…sorry.”

“It’s really fine.”

“Maybe I should quit drinking…”

Well, yeah. She was underage anyway.

This might be a delinquent manga world with loose morals, but avoiding illegal booze was just common sense.

I fully encouraged the idea.

She, of course, took that the wrong way.

“My drunk self must’ve been that bad, huh…” she muttered, shoulders slumping.

And now I was stuck.

What was I supposed to say?

I wanted to comfort her, but my inner voice betrayed me with a blunt, Yeah, it really was that bad.

The words got caught in my throat.

“…Anyway, let’s get you out of here. If it gets too late, it’ll mess with school, and if my parents wake up, that’s gonna be a pain. You’re off today, right? So you’ve got time.”

“Really, you’re considerate as hell. Sorry about all this.”

“No worries.”

Tanigawa scratched the back of her head, still refusing to meet my eyes, then quietly stood and walked out of the room.

I followed after her.

We managed to make it to the front door without running into my parents—a small miracle.

She glanced down at her shoes.

“Ugh, what the hell…”

“Guess I picked them up from the trash along with you?”

“I’m not a stray cat, damn it. Is this… a banana peel?”

“Looks like one hitched a ride. Hard to blame it—it was on your head earlier. Must’ve really liked you.”

“Wait. On my head? What do you mean, on my head?”

“Exactly that.”

I mimed setting a banana on top of my head.

The moment she got it, Tanigawa’s face drained of all color.

Combined with her already sour expression, she looked like she wanted to evaporate on the spot.

“Ughh… I actually did that? I can’t believe it. Takuma… listen, if you tell me it was a joke right now, I’ll believe you. Just say it was a joke.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Gaaaaaah!”

Her shoulders sagged so low it was almost comical.

Keeping them slumped, she frowned and shoved her feet into her shoes.

A strained little “hiiiieeeeh” slipped out as she did.

…And that weird crunching sound I heard from inside? Totally my imagination.

No way there was still trash left in there. Nope. Definitely not.

Moving like a rusty tin toy that hadn’t been oiled in years, Tanigawa shuffled outside.

At the gate, she turned to look back at me.

Why was she sweating like that? Cold, greasy sweat running down her face? Weird. Very weird.

“…T-Thanks for today.”

“That doesn’t feel gross to you?”

“I was ignoring it—why’d you have to say it out loud!?”

I only asked because I genuinely wanted to know… and she just about cried.

“…A-Anyway! Don’t think this little favor means you’ve got me under your thumb. I’ve still got to beat Akagi-san. I’m the Phoenix Tanigawa—I’ll never give up! I will make you mine, Takuma!”

Bish!

Tanigawa jabbed a finger at me, the tip brushing lightly against my nose.

I couldn’t help thinking, How is she not grossed out by this?

I’d be dying inside, so her fiery declaration went in one ear and out the other.

She then dashed off down the street, pumping her legs with determination.

My hoodie—my hoodie—gradually shrinking in the distance as she ran.

Tanigawa, wrapped up in it like it had always been hers.

Only then did it hit me:

I might actually get in trouble for this.

I’d basically loaned out my mom’s clothes without permission. She could very well chew me out for it.

…Then again, maybe not?

From my old-world perspective, it was like borrowing my dad’s clothes—no big deal.

Might not even get caught.

With a shrug, I headed back inside.

Probably gonna be late for school today.