The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem.

The Protagonist Is Rotting Away—

Imamiya Toshiya’s POV.

The year-end and New Year holidays passed without a single Merry Christmas or Happy New Year message, without even one phone call. I barely scraped through without repeating a grade, while my three beautiful childhood friends all flocked to Tennouji. Ever since the second semester began, nothing—absolutely nothing—has gone right.

Tennouji’s popularity is insane. It’s not just the girls’ basketball team; I was hoping maybe the girls’ volleyball or badminton clubs would come cheer for us too, but no such luck. Especially the basketball girls—they’re obsessed with how cool Momodani and Tenma’s combo plays were at the intramural tournament, or how amazing Tennouji’s solo moves are. Word is some of them are even asking Mio to introduce them to him.

Tennouji’s reputation has done a complete one-eighty since the first semester. He went from the school’s most notorious delinquent to an honor-roll student, an all-around athlete, and—most of all—the guy who threw himself in harm’s way to save Rinko when she fell down the stairs. That story spread like wildfire among the girls, and now the whole school is buzzing about how he’s “intimidating on the outside but gentle and dependable—the perfect boyfriend material.”

Meanwhile, me? That condescending remark I made to Shina during study group got spread around by her friends. The whole incident with Mio’s bento got leaked by Oowada from our class—who’s on the girls’ basketball team—and shot straight through the athletic clubs. Then Kuzuha from the art club carried it to the cultural clubs. Upperclassmen, underclassmen—everyone looks at me like I’m garbage now.

Damn it all!

How the hell am I supposed to turn this brutal school life around and get things back to the way they were? Because of that photo incident, I’ve fallen out with Takii and Doi too… Normally we’d have spent winter break making a racket together, getting rowdy. And if Tennouji hadn’t shown up, I could’ve gone to the first shrine visit of the year with Mio and the others… No, that’s all in the past now. Damn it, damn it, damn it! They even benched me from the basketball regulars!!

I heard our team made it to the Winter Cup Best Four before losing—an unprecedented achievement in Sumizome Academy history. But after getting benched, my motivation tanked completely. I didn’t show up to a single practice over winter break. No one called, no one messaged me on POINE—nothing. How’s that for team spirit? I just holed up at home playing games the whole time. It was seriously depressing.

***

School started again, and Momodani cornered me with a “Get your ass to practice, you idiot!” so I went. Nobody said a word about my skipping… but the atmosphere was unbearable.

One day after practice, as I stepped through the school gate, someone called out to me.

“U-um! Excuse me, sir!”

“Hm? Me?”

It was dim, so I couldn’t see clearly at first… but that uniform—wasn’t it from Hanayashiki Girls’ Academy!? No way! Why would a girl from Hanajyo—the elite all-girls school—be here at ordinary, commoner-filled Sumizome Academy!? My heart raced.

“Yes! I have a small inquiry, if you would be so kind!”

“Haha, ask me anything. You’re from Hanajyo, right? You’re really cute.”

Holy crap. An actual Hanajyo student. Her hair was a vivid red—natural, not dyed—and glossy as silk. Even through the uniform, her chest looked huge… maybe the same size as Mio’s? Damn, her face was stunning. Was she mixed-race or something? Girls from Hana really were on another level…

“I am searching for a gentleman by the name of Tennouji Daiki. Would you happen to know him?”

My excitement plummeted. Again with Tennouji? Had that bastard laid hands on a Hanajyo too? That’s dangerous territory—those girls live in a completely different world from us. He didn’t look like the type to do something shady, though… Damn it, everyone’s always going on about Tennouji, Tennouji! It’s seriously pissing me off! Is the entire world revolving around that guy!?

“Tennouji? A pretty girl like you shouldn’t get involved with a delinquent like him—you never know what might happen. Better stay away.”

I figured I’d warn this sheltered young lady. Whatever happened, she’d be safer keeping her distance.

“Is… that so…”

“Yeah, exactly. More importantly, are you okay getting home? Want me to walk you?”

“No, thank you. My ride is waiting.”

“Oh… right. I’m Imamiya, by the way. If you ever—”

“I must apologize. I am looking for Tennouji-sama.”

She cut me off. What the hell…! Fine, then! I don’t know anything! Do whatever you want! I’m sick of hearing that guy’s name! Damn it, Tennouji—everything always comes back to you!!

***

“Good morning, everyone. My family name is Harumiya. My given name is Sakura… Harumiya Sakura. I look forward to getting along with all of you.”

That girl—the one looking for Tennouji! She transferred here from Hanajyo…? That means she chased him all the way here!? That’s bold… but she picked the worst possible guy to chase.

Oh—she’s sitting next to me! Hell yeah! A girl this cute right beside me? My luck’s finally turning!

“Hey, we meet again. Looking forward to the year. I’m Imamiya Toshiya.”

“…? My apologies, but… where might we have met before?”

“Huh? We literally just met the other day. You were asking if I knew Tennouji.”

What? She forgot me already? Why!? I told her to stay away from that guy!

“I am terribly sorry—perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else?”

“Huh? N-no, it was definitely me! I’m the one who said to steer clear of Tennouji!”

“N-no! I do not know you!”

“W-wait—”

The teacher scolded me… I wasn’t hitting on her or anything… What’s with this girl? So rude!

***

I thought I’d show Harumiya around campus since it was a good opportunity, but before I could, Momodani grabbed me—not just by the collar, but hard enough around the neck that I thought he’d strangle me—and dragged me straight to practice. I figured we were heading to the court, but he pulled me into the club room instead.

“Nice and private in here, huh, Imamiya~”

“W-what… You got something to say to me?”

“Of course I do. About your half-assed attitude these past few practices. And about how you didn’t show up once over winter break. You know exactly what I’m talking about, right?”

His face was nothing like the one he wore in class—far harsher than even during practice. He was furious. Fair enough… I’d been slacking, and when I did show up, my heart wasn’t in it.

“Yeah… sorry about that.”

“You think an apology fixes—ah, whatever. You’re sulking because you lost your starting spot, aren’t you? I warned you before, remember? About taking things seriously. About harassing Daiki, about that disgusting fantasy bullshit with Akitani. I told you I’d bench you if you kept it up. Morinomiya-sensei followed through and pulled you, didn’t he?”

“Yeah… I know I messed up…”

“And now you’re skipping practice? You realize what it means that nobody called you out on it, right? Shichijou’s starting in the next scrimmage too. I thought maybe you’d reflected a little, but nope—this. Sulking’s your business, but don’t drag that attitude onto the court.”

Damn it! So Shichijou’s still starting! My motivation’s in the gutter, and I’m forcing myself to show up anyway—isn’t that enough!? He looks ready to explode if I say it out loud, though…

“I’m not gonna tell you to ‘get motivated,’ but if you keep practicing with that sour face and obvious resentment, it drags everyone else down too. At least put in an honest effort.”

Damn it all…! Why do I have to go through this crap…!? Fine! I’ll do it—I’ll freaking do it!!

That day, I actually tried to practice seriously… but—

“Imamiya, get off the court. Just watch.”

“Eh!? Sensei, what do you—”

“That scowl dripping with discontent is a nuisance. I’m not telling you to go home, but with that attitude, you’re in the way. Step off the court.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“That’s exactly it—that sullen look every time someone says something to you. Drop that habit, or it’ll cause you trouble later in life. Think about it. Hey! Tenma! No dunking!”

Damn it, damn it, damn it!!! What the hell is this!!! I just want to go home already!!! All I could do that day was pick up loose balls with the first-years. What’s wrong with Tenma and sensei both!!

After practice, the irritation wouldn’t fade, so I stopped by the arcade on the way home. Maybe blowing off steam in a fighting game would help! I’d crush some random opponents and feel better!

***

“Heh… weak! Too easy…”

Someone jumped into my game, and I thought they might be good, but they were pathetic!! So refreshing!! Another guy jumped in again, so I crushed him too! Total trash—lol, I can’t stop laughing at how bad they were!

“Damn, this guy’s seriously strong. Hey, nerd, let’s chat a bit.”

Ugh, crap… delinquents? My mood was finally improving—give me a break…

“Yo, nerd, go easy on us next time, yeah?”

Wow… resorting to that? You’re just bad, man… Stop trying real-life attacks…

“Huh? Toshiya?”

“What!?”

No way… this is the worst… The blond delinquent talking to me was—

“Taishou… senpai…?”

For me, he was the absolute worst upperclassman possible.