The Story Where I, the Strongest Mercenary, Was Reincarnated as a Bullied Introverted High School Student ~ When I Was Freely Enjoying My School Life, for Some Reason the Girls Around Me Started Glancing at Me~ - Chapter 15: I'll Beat You to a Pulp

“So, how will Char spend her time from now on?”

When I asked this, Char put her hand to her chin and thought.

“Well… I was thinking of attending the same school as Ryuji. Being a high school girl would be perfect for blending in.”

“That’s true. You being my classmate feels kind of strange. At school, call me Fushimi or Jinta, okay?”

“At school, yes, but in private, I’ll call you Ryuji. Even if your appearance changed, Ryuji is still Ryuji.”

“What’s that supposed to mean… Also, be careful, okay?”

When I said that, Char tilted her head.

“Careful about what?”

“You’ll probably be extremely popular in high school.”

“Popular, so?”

“…Strange guys might approach you.”

When I said that, Char grinned. What was with this girl?

I finished drinking my canned coffee and gripped the can, putting pressure on it. However, the can didn’t deform at all.

(Can’t even crush a steel can with one hand. I really need to train this body.)

“Char, do you have money?”

“Extortion already? I’ll expose you, you know?”

“Your counterattack is merciless. No, that’s not it. I want to work out. Tomorrow starts the weekend, so I want to join a training gym now and do something about this weak body.”

“Ah, I see, so that’s why you need money.”

“Having equipment makes it more efficient.”

“I understand.”

Saying that, Char took out about 10 ten-thousand yen bills from her long wallet and handed them to me. I naturally had to comment on this.

“…No, no, this is weird.”

“Is it not enough? Wait, I’ll go withdraw some more from that convenience store.”

“No, that’s not it. Listen…”

Char tilted her head, not understanding what was wrong. Right, Char had also worked as a mercenary. This girl had been messing with computers the whole time and never spent money, so she had tons of savings. She probably had no sense of money either.

“Money isn’t something you should lend so easily. You should be more reluctant about it.”

“I’m not lending it. I’m giving it to Ryuji, you know?”

“That’s even worse! Don’t give away money so easily!”

Char replied with an exasperated expression.

“Listen, Ryuji. If you hadn’t been there, I would be dead, you know? Don’t you think however much money I give you would be a small price?”

“Th-that goes both ways, right? I was saved by Char countless times during my mercenary days too.”

“But you still need money, don’t you? Just take it.”

“I-I’m just borrowing it! I’ll definitely pay it back!”

“It’s really fine.”

I made a note on my smartphone of the amount I borrowed from Char. Of course, I included the lunch and canned coffee costs from earlier too.

“Still, how can you look so happy about working out? Isn’t it just painful?”

“Well, they say people who like working out are masochists.”

“…I see. I’ll help you out!”

Saying that, Char hummed while rotating her shoulders in circles. Hey, stop that.

“…But getting hit would be nice.”

When I muttered that, Char’s face turned bright red and she became flustered.

“Eh, really!? W-wait a minute! I don’t know if I can do it well either.”

“That’s not what I meant. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

I flatly denied it. Why was she getting excited about it?

“Real combat won’t wait for my body to get trained up. I want to do a test run so I can move even with this weak body.”

“Test run?”

“Yeah.”

Taking the puzzled-looking Char with me, I moved. According to Fushimi’s memories, it should be around here…

“Found it, here it is.”

We arrived at the town’s boxing gym.

“Anyone home!”

When I entered the gym shouting loudly, the boxers practicing inside stopped their training.

Crossing my arms, I smiled fearlessly.

“Let me fight the strongest guy here!”

“…”

The gym fell silent. Then, looking at me and Char beside me with an exasperated expression, bursts of laughter erupted.

“Pfft! Ahaha! What’s with this brat lol.”

“Hey hey, this isn’t a date spot, you know?”

“Trying to show off to your girlfriend?”

“With such a weak body, it’s impossible! Gyahaha!”

This was the expected reaction. Char was trembling with humiliation, muttering “G-girlfriend… right now, I’m Ryuji’s girlfriend…” with her face bright red with anger. Sorry, I didn’t think we’d be seen as if we were dating.

BANG!

A sound that drowned out all the laughter echoed. It was the sound of one boxer hitting a sandbag. That boxer stood in front of me with veins bulging on his forehead.

“Hey, you little shit, don’t come here to interfere with practice.”

“I came to be a practice partner. You should be honored.”

“This isn’t a place for jokers like you.”

“Sorry, it seems like I mistook this for a fitness club. You guys are throwing such weak punches.”

When I delivered an Aaron-style American joke, that boxer completely lost it.

“Fine then. The coach isn’t here right now. I’ll beat you to a pulp. You guys don’t say anything about this to anyone!”

He was probably an amateur boxer who couldn’t go pro. He even wanted to silence everyone just to hit me. A pro wouldn’t do something like this.

“Oh no no no, that guy’s dead. Aoshima-san snapped.”

“Yeah! Some boring kid with such a cute girl isn’t allowed!”

“His girlfriend will be disillusioned and dump him for sure.”

“Aoshima-san, finish him off! Gyahahaha!”

To maintain the format of sparring, I also put on headgear and gloves. Then, Char whispered to me with a worried expression.

“Ryuji, be careful.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

When I stood in the ring facing the boxer named Aoshima, Char continued.

“Try not to kill your opponent.”

“Right, I’ll hold back.”