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

The Kansai Guy Warns His Girlfriends.

The Day After Receiving Intel from Takii. The very next day after getting information from Takii, I received even more from him. The guy is so ridiculously competent it’s almost unfair. I’m grateful, of course, but… he wouldn’t happen to know the girls’ three sizes too, would he? Maybe I should ask…

During break, he pulled me aside.

“Tennouji. Looks like Imamiya’s fully in bed with Tsuruhashi and Cha-ko—literally selling info on Natsume and the others. Booze, cigarettes, maybe even Tsuruhashi’s little sister or Cha-ko’s body as payment. Your info’s probably leaked too. Better avoid long trips or dates outside for a while.”

So that’s what he wanted to talk about. That absolute idiot Imamiya… He’s really chosen to become our enemy, hasn’t he? I don’t care if they know about me, but Mio-chan, Rinko, Shi-chan… How much does he actually have on them? Still, I can’t let my guard down.

“Well, Imamiya’s never been the sharpest tool in the shed. If he tries anything, the most he could manage is luring Natsume and the others out directly and handing them over to Cha-ko or Tsuruhashi. Strategy’s beyond him. In that department, Tennouji, you’re leagues ahead.”

That’s exactly why, in the original game, he lost everything to Tennouji—got his heroines stolen and his mind broken without putting up a real fight. He’s no master schemer. Just telling Shi-chan and the others to steer clear of Imamiya would probably end it.

“Also, don’t let Akitani and the girls walk around town alone—especially in busy districts. No telling where Vivian or Shien might be lurking. There’s a good chance Imamiya’s spreading photos around.”

“I don’t mind if my picture’s everywhere. If anyone comes at me, I’ll just beat them senseless. That might even draw out some angry Shien higher-up or Cha-ko herself.”

“Whoa, hold up—you’re pretty muscle-headed yourself…”

“When the other side comes with violence, violence becomes the deterrent. Negotiation? Sneaky tactics? Those won’t work on them. If they charge straight in swinging, I’ll meet them head-on and crush them. Standard rule of fights. They’re not the type to play clever mind games anyway. Though I am considering the possibility of them pulling something stupid like those worthless photos from Rinko’s incident.”

“You’d be a nightmare to have as an enemy. I wouldn’t stand a chance—brains or brawn…”

“Thanks for the info. Makes things a lot easier.”

“Violence is fine, but don’t get the police involved. You’re already on their radar, right?”

“Ah… yeah. I’ll handle that part carefully…”

“I really don’t want to hear you got arrested, okay? Anyway, I’ll keep digging into that idiot Imamiya and Tsuruhashi’s movements.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard!”

“I know, I know. Later.”

Takii waved and headed back to class. The guy’s seriously reliable. Now I need to share this with the girls—heighten their sense of caution.

***

Lunch break. I savored the Japanese-style bento Mio-chan had prepared—especially the mushroom-seasoned rice—while I began.

“Mio-chan, everyone… there’s something serious I need to talk about.”

“What is it? You look really grave.”

“Dead serious. You’ve heard the area around here has gotten rough lately?”

“Yeah. People saying there are shady types hanging around the entertainment districts, right?”

“At the same time, Imamiya—who got expelled—is running with Tsuruhashi’s crowd and spying on us.”

“Imamiya!?”

“That man… he’s truly sunk that low. I’m beyond appalled…”

“Oh, I told Mio-chan yesterday, but he cornered me too. Asked if I wanted to go to the arcade this Saturday. His eyes were seriously creepy. He was definitely plotting something!”

So Imamiya’s already making moves. I recall hearing Tsuruhashi’s group uses an arcade as their hangout. Cha-ko’s the one targeting Shi-chan. Probably promised to hand her over if he could lure her out. The guy really does run entirely on lust… like some mindless ape.

“Likely planned to lure you out and deliver you to Cha-ko.”

“Cha-ko…?”

“Imamiya’s fuck-buddy. Leader of a rough gal group called Vivian. Cigarettes, alcohol, street prostitution—they do whatever they want.”

“How vulgar…”

“Th-then… the man who approached me…”

“Possibly. Though he might have intended to sell you to Miyanosaka.”

“You know that man!?”

Ah, crap. That wasn’t Takii’s info—that came from the “god” who showed me the original story…! What do I do—I let it slip…!

“Uh, well… from a certain source…”

“Tennouji-sama. You must not get involved with that man. My household is already devising thorough countermeasures. Please do not worry.”

“Dai-chan’s information network is insane…”

“Daiki-kun… please don’t do anything too dangerous…”

“If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, you won’t catch its cub. If everyone’s in danger, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Violence is… not okay.”

“Rinko… I’m sorry, but I might not be able to keep that promise. In fact, I probably can’t. I think they’re planning to use violence to take you, Mio-chan, and Shi-chan by force. Strategy might work, but…”

These are semi-criminal thugs who don’t listen to reason. Strategy would actually be easier—I can plan around it. But if they intend to use violence, drugs, NTR—no, outright abduction—then matching violence is the only way to keep them from being taken so easily.

I explained this earnestly to Rinko. Fortunately, I’m Tennouji Daiki—a character practically invincible in fights. Not some flabby ex-corporate slave with a beer gut.

“Daiki-kun… I’m happy you want to protect us, but… if anything happened to you, I…”

“It’s to protect everyone. Please understand. Oh, and Harumiya-san—sorry, but on days I can’t walk everyone home…”

“Leave it to me! I shall escort everyone home safely and swiftly! Sebas drives with safety first, after all! And my car is fully bulletproof! Short of someone tossing in dynamite, it can withstand even machine-gun fire!”

Incredible—as expected from a conglomerate heiress. She’s prepared for everything… With that, even if a gang of punks came swinging bats and metal pipes, we’d be fine. And that old butler Sebas—he’s definitely strong. In eroge and galge, the heiress’s butler is always a street-fighting monster. The old man’s built like a tank.

“I’ll inform Sebas. Tennouji-sama, please entrust the safety of Mio-sama and the others to us. However… please, be careful yourself…”

“Thank you, Harumiya-san. That helps a lot.”

“In return… if I may be so bold… I have a request for you, Tennouji-sama.”

“For me?”

A conglomerate heiress has a request… for me? What could it be? Demanding protection money in exchange? No, that’s too petty… Wait—don’t tell me it’s “You know too much about the Harumiya family; now you must disappear”!? I instinctively tensed.

“…? Tennouji-sama?”

“Ah, no… just wondering what the request might be…”

“Yes! My request is…”

“It is…?”

“Please… call me Sakura, the same way you do Rinko-sama and the others.”

…That’s it?

“That’s… all?”

“That’s all!? I gathered every ounce of courage for this, you know!? Only my parents call me Sakura! Well… that man does too, but it gives me chills!”

Miyanosaka, huh. If he’s calling her “Sakura-taso” or something… ugh, I’m getting chills too. A grown man doing that… he’s no former otaku; he’s just creepy. A guy more than a decade older unilaterally declaring himself her fiancé—everything about him is dangerous. And I’m the one who has to deal with that thing…? Whoever designed that “Kyobashi” character was utterly deranged.

“Uh, well… if it’s just that, it’s no trouble at all… Sakura-san…”

“Oh! Oh my, oh my! How wonderful! Ah… what a sweetly intoxicating voice… my heart is racing! But… just Sakura is fine…”

She’s surprisingly forward. I asked for a little more time, and she backed off graciously, but… Shi-chan and the others are watching with such warm eyes.

“I, Harumiya Sakura, shall live up to my family name and deliver everyone home safely and perfectly! Tennouji-sama, please leave it to me!”

“Y-yeah… looking forward to it…”

Her eyes are sparkling. This is reassuring. A genuinely reliable ally—physically, with that bulletproof car and all. In that case, maybe today I’ll test just how widely my face is known. Head into the entertainment district, see if I run into Imamiya or Tsuruhashi. Something about the back of the arcade, right?

After school, I set out for the busy streets. Rinko was terribly worried, but… I’ll manage somehow.