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

The Kansai Guy Comes Face to Face.

After warning Shi-chan and the others, I headed straight for the entertainment district after school. I’d already asked Sakura and old man Sebas to give the girls a ride home.

***

“I’m gonna go scout out the situation in the district.”

“Daiki-kun… please, don’t push yourself too hard… If anything happened to you, we…”

“Don’t worry. If it gets bad, I’ll run.”

“Dai-chan, be careful!”

“Daiki-kun… I’m worried, but…”

“Yeah. I’m off, then. Sakura, Sebas old man—take care of them for me.”

“I am NOT an old man!!!!”

“Shut up!!!”

“I have not yet even reached sixty. Being called an old man is most distressing.”

The sudden thunderous retort left Shi-chan and the others wide-eyed and reeling. Seriously… this geezer—no, this middle-aged guy…

“Tennouji-sama, leave it to us! Come, Sebas—let us depart.”

“Honestly… forcing such a task on the young lady… You brat! Ah, no—Tennouji-sama. Very well, then.”

“Hey, I heard that ‘brat’…”

Everyone watched anxiously from the car window as I waved them off. I have my own role to play—to protect those girls. Imamiya had bolted out of homeroom the moment it ended, probably to meet Tsuruhashi and the others. Perfect timing. That means… I can deliver a declaration of war straight to him.

Perhaps it’s the Tennouji factor in me—the part that loves a good fight bubbling up. I grinned at the school gate… and a passing student let out a scream. Ouch. That stings.

***

I’d strictly told Takii not to go anywhere near the district. If word got out that he’s gathering intel, it’d be trouble… As long as his face isn’t known, he might be fine… No, that’s still too risky.

“Hey, Tennouji?”

“Takii…”

And there he was, the second I thought of him. I literally just told you not to come.

“Even if you say it’s off-limits, I’m still coming. Don’t worry—I won’t act suspicious or anything. Real intel only comes from being on the ground. I won’t screw up. You be careful too, Tennouji.”

My face is definitely known by now. That makes being seen with Takii even worse.

“Got it. Stay safe.”

“Will do.”

He understood perfectly. Without pressing further, he melted into the crowd. My destination—the arcade where Tsuruhashi and his crew hang out. It’s suitably rundown, the classic delinquent haunt. Going straight to the back alley would be boring, so I’ll play it off as coincidence.

Truth be told, I’ve never been big on arcades. Too noisy. Back in my old life, I was the type to happily sink a hundred hours into RPG leveling or bug testing at home. Loud places grate on me—especially when someone interrupts my reading. I’d snap. But today, I’ll endure.

I casually played some fighting games and shooters. Sure enough, rough-looking types started trickling in—bleached-blond gal types, guys with attitude. I must stick out like a sore thumb. I could feel the stares. The gals were whispering while glancing my way. The blond guys too. They know I’m Tennouji. Good. This should be fun.

I settled back at a fighting game cabinet. A yankee-looking guy jumped in.

“Crush him,” someone muttered. The girls chimed in with “Get him! Get him!”

I’m not exactly a pro at fighting games… but as I played, it became clear—he was throwing the match on purpose. Oh. So that’s the plan—lose deliberately, then pick a fight over it. I won clean. And right on cue:

“Whoa, you’re pretty good. Acting all cocky just ‘cause you’re strong, huh?”

“Yeah, total show-off.”

“You lost on purpose, didn’t you? To manufacture a reason to start something.”

“Well, well—you figured it out. If you don’t wanna get hurt, hand over everything you’ve got. Pain sucks, right?”

The security here is abysmal… No wonder delinquents flock to this place.

“Here, 100 yen. That’s literally all I have today.”

“You mocking me!?”

“I got back what I lost, so we’re even.”

“You making fun of Tetsu-chan!? Haha! You’re screwed if you piss him off. You’ll die~”

“Oh? So you girls are just riding these punks’ coattails to act tough. Pathetic.”

“Huh!? Hey, Tetsu-chan—this guy’s seriously pissing me off!”

“Insulting my girl is the same as insulting me… You’re dead, man.”

He swung without warning. Not that it connected—Tennouji’s reflexes are no joke. Proven on my very first day after reincarnating. Trying to honor Rinko’s request as much as possible, I avoided breaking anything and simply swept his legs.

“Whoa!?”

As he toppled, I raised my foot high over his throat, grinning like a maniac. Madness sells better.

“Crushing the throat is standard on the battlefield. This is how you end, kid.”

“E-eeek!?”

I stomped the floor with a thunderous boom. He started trembling like a chihuahua. Not much fight experience, huh? His buddies stood frozen; the girls looked like their legs had given out. Nothing even happened to you lot.

“Don’t go picking fights lightly. There are dangerous people out there.”

“Y-yes…”

Perfect timing. I left the chihuahua pack behind and stepped outside, circling to the back alley. Before I even reached it, I heard raucous, filthy laughter—gahahaha! They’re here. I muttered “Man, I’m beat” loud enough to carry as I stepped into the open area.

The laughter and noisy chatter stopped dead.

“Heyyy! It’s Tennouji!”

Still that mocking Kansai accent. Not that I mind.

“Huh? Oh… who were you again?”

“Long time no see, Tennouji-kun! You got us expelled—been doing well?”

“Ah, you lot. Got kicked out and went full yankee? Looks like you’re having fun.”

I’m sure my face screamed boredom. These guys really are pathetic.

“Huh!? Do you have any idea what we’ve been through because of you!?”

“No clue. Maybe if you hadn’t done stupid shit and studied properly, it wouldn’t have happened. Right, Imamiya?”

“…Why are you here…”

“Eh? Came to the arcade to blow off steam. Got hassled inside, so I stepped out for a breather.”

“Hah? The guy inside…”

“Yeah, he was shaking like a chihuahua after I pretended to crush his throat.”

“Whoa, whoa—you’re dead, man. That guy’s with Shien. You’re an idiot!”

“Ah, yeah—he was trembling and going ‘pien~’ like a puppy.”

“Ehh, Tennouji-kun’s so strong! That’s kinda hot!”

“Heh, so you’re Tennouji. Pretty handsome. Might be my type.”

“Cha-ko-san, I think he’s cute too!”

“Hey, Ayumi.”

“It’s fine! Toshi’s still number one!”

The heavily made-up woman next to Tsuruhashi’s sister—that’s Cha-ko. Head of Vivian, the one targeting Shi-chan. Her eyes look a little glazed, don’t they? Takii mentioned she’s into illegal weed… yeah, she’s definitely high right now. There’s a strange sweet smell hanging in the air. Hey, NTR protagonist—you’ve really fallen this far? No, the cigarette in his hand is normal tobacco. So the “start with cigarettes” rumor checks out. Means Imamiya’s already beyond saving—weed is probably next. Not that I came here to reform the idiot.

“Tennouji~ Wanna smoke? It’ll make you feel real good~”

“Pass. I don’t like cigarettes.”

“Oh? How about a drink, then? Let’s have one~”

“Don’t need that either. Cheap booze tastes awful. Bring me Yamazaki or Hakushu and I’ll consider it. No—make it the 18-year. Fetch that.”

No way they can afford it—prices with premium can top 100,000 yen.

“You’re pretty wild, huh. I like it… Seriously, I like you, Tennouji. Wanna rest up at that hotel over there?”

“Hard pass on a loose woman like you. I’d probably catch something.”

“Hey, Tennouji! That’s disrespectful to Cha-ko-senpai!”

“Tch, don’t get cocky.”

“How about with me, then?”

“Even less interested. Especially not a attempted murderer.”

“Hey, Tennouji. You’ve been real cocky this whole time. Wanna die?”