Reincarnated Into a Delinquent Manga… Where the Genders Are Reversed and Everyone’s a Girl - Chapter 32: A Shady Invitation

Chapter 32: A Shady Invitation

Hinata was in a foul mood after her plan crashed and burned.

Hands stuffed deep into the pockets of her skirt, she chewed her gum obnoxiously loud—definitely on purpose.

She looked every bit the stereotypical delinquent.

But to me? Honestly, she just seemed… cute.

Like a kid trying way too hard to act like an adult.

Maybe she caught on to my warm, borderline patronizing gaze, because she snapped her head toward me and glared.

“What?”

I panicked, waving my hands like, Nothing! Nothing at all!

“Just thought you looked kinda down, that’s all.”

“Of course I’m down. I didn’t think she’d actually reject it.”

She meant Yayoi, turning down the boss’s seat again.

Hinata crouched down, dragging a finger across the ground in lazy spirals.

Her lips jutted out in a sulky little pout.

“I wanted Akagi-san back on top. Say what you want, but Minato’s not cut out for it. And before you twist my words, I’m not trashing her, okay? Just stating facts.”

“I know. You’re not like that.”

“…Why do I feel like you’re patronizing me?”

“It’s in your head.”

“Really?”

Her eyes narrowed at me, sharp and suspicious—crystal-clear doubt shining in them.

But I just snorted and shrugged.

After a moment, she sighed softly and let it drop.

“…Whatever. Point is, I just wanted Akagi-san back as Shibakata High’s boss. That’s why I even tried lying—something I’m awful at.”

“You didn’t lie, though. Minato fell for it, and honestly? From the sidelines, I thought it was pretty cool.”

“You’re not mocking me, are you?”

“Nope. Not even a little.”

After a bit of back-and-forth like that, Hinata finally seemed to make peace with it.

She let out a quiet sigh and rose to her feet.

The breeze swept through her signature pudding-colored hair, tossing it around until she calmly tucked it behind her ear.

“Guess I’ve got no choice but to accept it. It’s not like I won’t see Akagi-san again anyway. I’ll just climb my way up, step by step, and take the boss’s seat myself.”

Her voice held both lingering doubt and a stubborn, fiery resolve.

Right now, with no boss in place, Shibakata High was a school in turmoil—a full-blown warring states era.

And here was Hinata, declaring she’d cross that stormy sea with nothing but her own paddle.

Even with my supposed advantage—knowing bits and pieces from the manga—things weren’t lining up exactly as I remembered.

My presence alone was already bending the story in unexpected ways.

I had no idea where this would end up.

Watching Hinata’s determined profile through that thin veil of unease…

I couldn’t help but feel a genuine surge of admiration for her.

“Hey, Takuma-kun. Remember when we were talking about Uta Tanigawa?”

“Yeah.”

“You got some kind of connection to her?”

“…Why?”

“Well, there’s a rumor going around. Something like, ‘That flirty first-year guy is dating next-boss-candidate Uta Tanigawa.’”

“In the romantic sense? Definitely not.”

Sure, I did pull her out of an actual trash heap once… but for the sake of her reputation, I left that little detail out.

My vague, noncommittal answer earned me a look from Hinata that screamed pure doubt.

Like she was eyeing the foundation of a building made entirely of tofu—ready to crumble at the slightest touch.

She let out a heavy sigh.

“After hanging around you this long, I’ve figured out one thing—Takuma-kun, you’re not as sleazy as you look.”

“Glad to hear you’ve realized that.”

“But when it comes to hitting on girls, you’re faster than light.”

“As in… seven and a half times around the Earth in a second?”

“Easily.”

“How rude.”

Sure, the whole “light-speed around the Earth” thing varied depending on conditions, but whatever—it was just small talk. Nobody here was asking for a science lecture.

Hinata, apparently dead set on branding me a natural-born playboy, just shrugged with a “good grief” vibe.

Meanwhile, I—a proud, dyed-in-the-wool introvert—could swear on my life I’ve never acted like that.

Not that she looked even remotely convinced.

Having a solid core is a good thing.

But when that stubbornness is pointed in the wrong direction? It’s exhausting.

Stifling the urge to slump my shoulders in defeat, I trudged toward the school gate up ahead.

And that’s when—

“Yo.”

“Hah? Who the hell are you?”

“Whoa, whoa. ‘Who the hell are you’ to someone you just met? And to a senpai, no less? Show some respect, huh? Maybe warm that cold forehead of yours on the ground for me?”

“Sorry, but my head’s not light enough for that.”

From the shadow of the gate, a girl slinked out.

A cruel smile stretched across her face as she fired off provocations without a shred of restraint.

Naturally, Hinata—who prided herself on being a full-blooded delinquent—wasn’t about to let that slide.

A vein throbbed on her temple, her pupils sharpened, and the air grew heavy—like the bell could ring for a fight at any second.

Even after months at Shibakata High, I still wasn’t used to this kind of tension.

I swallowed hard, the sound embarrassingly loud in the thick silence.

“Well, I could stick around and teach this rowdy little junior some manners, but I’ve got a job from Tanigawa-san. So how about you quit whining and just come along?”

“Haah? Like hell I’m going with you. You’re missing more screws than a junkyard bike. Seriously, get that head of yours checked out. By a doctor. A brain doctor.”

“Oh-ho, look at me—keeping my cool, not rising to the bait like some hotheaded delinquent, all while flashing this fearless smile… Tanigawa-san’s gonna love me for this.”

Hinata just stared at her, face clearly saying, What is this idiot even talking about?

Then she flicked her eyes toward me—pure desperation, silently begging for a translation.

—What’s this lunatic’s deal?

I, in turn, acted like I hadn’t seen a thing.

If this girl was one of Tanigawa-san’s underlings, odds were it wouldn’t turn into a full-blown brawl.

Tanigawa might play it cool when she wanted to, but underneath, she was a total idiot—said with the utmost affection, of course.

Realizing no backup was coming, Hinata exhaled a long, bitter sigh—like a soldier left for dead on the battlefield.

She looked downright pitiful.

Not that I planned on changing my stance.

To steel herself, she gave both cheeks a brisk slap, then lifted her chin—eyes sparking with determination.

“…Fine. It’s obviously a trap, but I’ll bite. Take us to Uta Tanigawa.”

“Wait—us? I’m going too?”

“Duh. What, you think I’d just leave you here alone, Takuma-kun, and let someone snatch you up? If that happened, I’d have no choice but to commit ritual suicide.”

Well, yeah. I wanted to go see Tanigawa again anyway.

Mostly because my brain still linked her name to trash heaps and drunken disasters.