Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [151]

Friday, 6 AM. Kitahara Takeru got up to jog with Nakano Yotsuba.

This was a habit he'd recently cultivated. Except when it rained, he hardly ever missed a day.

Returning home, Kitahara lifted two sets of dumbbells, completed a round of Baduanjin stretches, and only then headed for the shower.

Riding his motorcycle to Aoba Academy, the moment he stepped into the club room, he saw Ōtani Shōta and Tanaka Kōta fanning themselves with textbooks.

It had rained just yesterday, but the heat hadn't lessened. Instead, the air became even more humid, reminding Kitahara of the rainy seasons in the south.

Every rainy season, clothes in his home struggled to dry.

“Takeru, morning!”

“Good morning, Kitahara-kun.”

After returning each greeting from his classmates, Kitahara had barely taken his seat when Kamikawa Rie approached, lightly sitting on his desk with her palms braced against it.

“Takeru, let’s go watch the fireworks together this weekend.”

Every year between July and August, the island nation hosted fireworks festivals.

This traditional event originated in the Edo period as a contest between two fireworks makers, eventually becoming an integral part of summer matsuri.

Nowadays, fireworks displays were held nationwide.

Among the most famous were the Edogawa Fireworks Festival, Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, and Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festival, each drawing huge crowds of locals and tourists. They had become indispensable parts of summer culture.

“Eh, I really don’t want to go somewhere that crowded.”

The moment fireworks were mentioned, Kitahara Takeru’s expression soured noticeably.

Before Kamikawa Rie’s invitation, he'd already received invites from Nakano Yotsuba, Hiratsuka Shizuka, and Eriri.

Adding Kamikawa Rie now made four.

Four wasn’t many, but the problem was—that wasn’t the final number.

Kitahara roughly counted the girls close to him. If he agreed to all their invitations individually, he'd have to attend at least ten fireworks festivals.

What kind of madness was this?

It was equivalent to watching the same movie ten times with ten different girls. Even for a time-management master like Kitahara Takeru, this was a bit overwhelming.

He hated festivals the most.

Yet, the island nation seemed cursed with endless festivals.

Every summer, hundreds of lively summer matsuri and fireworks festivals took place one after another, varying only in scale.

“Do you really not want to go, or did you already promise another girl?”

Kamikawa Rie smiled sweetly at Kitahara, leaving him feeling completely seen through.

“Of course I don’t want to go. But since Rie wants to, I'll accompany you.”

Kamikawa Rie nodded with satisfaction, gracefully hopping off Kitahara’s desk.

She was satisfied, but Kitahara was left nursing a headache.

How was he supposed to arrange all this?

Who invented festivals, anyway?

...

Shuchi'in Academy, Class 1-B.

After the first lesson ended, Kashiwagi Nagisa turned toward Shijō Maki and said, “Maki, for this year’s fireworks festival, let's call our boyfriends and go as a group of four.”

Although she said that, what Kashiwagi Nagisa was actually thinking was, When Maki isn't paying attention, I'll take Takeru’s first kiss, hehe.

Shijō Maki, who was currently texting Watanabe Zun (Kitahara), replied without even looking up, “This year, I want to be alone with Takeru, so I'll pass.”

She definitely didn’t want to be the third wheel.

“W-why not?”

Shijō Maki’s response caught Kashiwagi Nagisa completely off guard, her smile freezing for a second before quickly recovering.

“Haven’t we always gone together?”

I can't keep standing still forever, making Takeru wait for me, Shijō Maki thought inwardly, but aloud she only said, “Of course, it's because I want a date alone. What's wrong with that?”

“You know, just the day before yesterday, Takeru and I went to the arcade together. Surprisingly, it was pretty fun. I used to have such prejudices against places like that.”

“What!?”

Kashiwagi Nagisa stood up from her chair instantly.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”

She had absolutely no idea that Kitahara Takeru and Shijō Maki had gone out alone the other day.

Shijō Maki gave Kashiwagi Nagisa a puzzled look. “Why would I need to tell you?”

She couldn't understand why Kashiwagi reacted so dramatically.

She was acting as if Maki had stolen her boyfriend.

Wasn't Maki herself the one whose crush had been taken away?

“You could’ve invited me and Tanuma-kun. Four people playing together would be way more fun than two.”

Realizing she'd reacted excessively, Kashiwagi Nagisa sat back down.

“It wasn't two, actually—Tei secretly followed us there.”

The mere mention of her annoying younger brother irritated Shijō Maki.

It had clearly been a two-person date, yet he'd insisted on being the third wheel.

“Tei already met Takeru?”

Kashiwagi Nagisa’s expression darkened considerably.

She couldn't understand—wasn’t Shijō Maki supposed to like Tanuma Tsubasa?

Why was she suddenly so close to Kitahara Takeru?

Introducing him to her family—was she planning to take him home to meet her parents next?

“Takeru?”

Hearing Kashiwagi Nagisa call Watanabe Takeru so intimately, Shijō Maki’s slender eyebrows knitted slightly: “Nagisa, isn’t it inappropriate for you to call him by such a familiar name?”

“Takeru is my boyfriend.”

“No matter how close we are, shouldn’t you maintain a minimum distance between men and women?”

The thin, false smile on Kashiwagi Nagisa’s face could no longer be maintained.

She didn’t say a word, her gaze unreadable as she stared straight at Shijō Maki.

Shijō Maki suddenly felt an unusual chill.

...

Sakakino Academy, Class 1-4.

As the fourth-period bell rang, signaling the end of class, the tense atmosphere instantly relaxed.

Some rushed straight toward the cafeteria, some rearranged desks to eat their bentō together, and others headed to different classrooms to join friends for lunch.

Today’s lunch break was lively as usual in Class 1-4.

Sitting at her seat, Katsura Kotonoha took two bites of her bentō, immediately picked up her phone, ate another two bites, and picked up the phone again. Every now and then, a sweet smile appeared at the corner of her mouth—completely the look of a girl who'd fallen deeply in love.

Indeed, that was exactly the case.

Ever since Kitahara Takeru agreed to her confession, Katsura Kotonoha spent every day—no, practically every waking moment—chatting with him.

During class, she’d message to ask what lessons he had.

At noon, she’d take a picture of her bentō, asking what he ate today.

On her way home after school, spotting a beautiful sunset, she’d immediately snap a photo to send to Kitahara Takeru.

Unlike before, Kitahara was no longer coldly indifferent. Though he couldn’t reply instantly, he responded to every message, and they weren’t just casual replies either.

He directly maxed out her emotional satisfaction meter.

Kotonoha realized she’d become much more cheerful lately.

“That girl, she’s really irritating.”

Seeing Katsura Kotonoha smiling so happily, Koizumi Natsumi felt annoyed.

“Smiling so sweetly, who knows who she’s seduced this time.”

Morishima Natsumi rested her chin on her palm, beginning to maliciously gossip.

“Otome, what do you think?”

Kokoro Minami turned her head toward Katō Otome, who was silently eating her lunch. Her eyes flickered, pretending not to care as she said, “I heard Katsura-san is dating Itō Makoto from Class 1-3. Not sure if it's true or not.”

Katō Otome paused, chopsticks halted mid-air.

“No way, Itō-kun would like someone like her?”

“Hard to say. Katsura-san is beautiful with a big chest; what guy wouldn’t be interested?”

Kokoro Minami seemed to praise Katsura Kotonoha but was clearly stabbing her in the back.

Katō Otome put down her chopsticks and stood up: “Let’s just go ask her directly.”

As Katō Otome was about to walk over, she suddenly spotted Itō Makoto standing hesitantly by the class door, seemingly searching for someone.

Seeing this, Katō Otome changed her direction, heading straight toward Itō Makoto.

“Makoto, what are you doing here? Were you looking for—”

She was about to say “me,” but Itō Makoto noticed her and said happily, “Otome, perfect timing. Can you help call Katsura-san out? I have something to tell her.”

Katō Otome’s smile stiffened, eyes dimming slightly.

So he came for her.

Seems I was just flattering myself again.

“Please, Otome. I'm begging you.”

Seeing Katō Otome silent, Itō Makoto pressed his palms together, pleading sincerely.

“O-okay. Wait here.”

Katō Otome forced a smile, turning around to approach Katsura Kotonoha and heavily tapping her desk.

Katsura Kotonoha was wearing earphones at the moment, immersed in a voice message Kitahara had sent, not noticing Katō Otome’s arrival.

Katō Otome thought Kotonoha was deliberately ignoring her, her already simmering anger rising further.

Bang!

She slammed her palm heavily onto the desk, rattling everything on it.

“Are you ignoring me on purpose?”

Katsura Kotonoha raised her head in confusion. Realizing it was Katō Otome—one of the four girls who often bullied her—she shrunk slightly. “Is something wrong, Katō-san?”

Katō Otome felt Katsura Kotonoha was truly a master at playing the victim, always acting pitifully whenever confronted.

Considering Itō Makoto was watching, she pointed toward the door. “Makoto’s looking for you.”

“Itō-kun? Looking for me?”

Katsura Kotonoha’s expression turned puzzled as she glanced toward the doorway.

The last time he sought her out had been over a month ago.

Hearing Kotonoha’s formal way of addressing Itō Makoto, Katō Otome slightly relaxed, her mood improving.

It seemed nothing was going on between them after all.

“Itō-kun, did you need something?”

Standing at the classroom doorway, Katsura Kotonoha looked at Itō Makoto in confusion.

She genuinely couldn’t think of what there might still be left to say between them.

“K-Kotonoha, what did you just call me?”

Hearing Katsura Kotonoha’s formal address, Itō Makoto froze in place.

“Is something wrong?”

Katsura Kotonoha tilted her head, genuinely confused about what she'd said incorrectly.

“You used to call me Makoto, right? Aren’t we still dating?”

“You haven't contacted me for so long; I assumed we'd broken up.”

Kotonoha’s tone lacked emotional fluctuation, calmly narrating facts.

“I know I was wrong back then, but there was a reason. Let me explain.”

“There’s no need.”

Kotonoha’s silky hair swayed gently as she shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Whether it’s you or your explanation—none of that matters.”

Itō Makoto’s face instantly paled. Suddenly, he asked sharply, “Is it because of Kitahara Takeru?”

Kitahara Takeru from Aoba—his reputation was immense.

Makoto had easily found out his name.

“At the subway exit that time, I wasn't mistaken, right?”

“You kissed him there, didn't you?”

Recalling that subway exit incident, Katsura Kotonoha blushed slightly. “Yes, it was me and him at the subway exit, but it wasn't what you imagined. We didn't kiss.”

Do you think I’m blind?

I clearly saw him kissing you!

Itō Makoto clenched his fists tightly. “Did he know you had a boyfriend?”

“He knew.”

“Then he still seduced you?! Does Kitahara Takeru enjoy stealing other people’s girlfriends that much?!”

Makoto’s shouting instantly drew attention from those in the corridor and inside Class 4.

“Does stealing someone else's girlfriend give him such a sense of conquest?!”

“Itō-kun, I forbid you to speak about Takeru like that.”

Involving Kitahara Takeru, Kotonoha’s expression turned serious.

“It has nothing to do with him. I pursued him.”

Seeing Katsura Kotonoha, who'd always been timid, fiercely defend another man, jealousy burned in Makoto’s eyes.

Even he had never been treated like this.

“Katsura Kotonoha, you’re defending him?”

“Do you remember whose girlfriend you are?”

“You’re my girlfriend, yet you're defending him?!”

Makoto’s chest heaved violently.

“Those two are actually dating? When did this happen?”

“No idea, but losing to Kitahara Takeru isn’t shameful.”

“If it were me, I'd pick Kitahara too. Who can resist Tokyo’s hottest guy?”

Discussion around them intensified.

“No way, Kitahara would go for her?”

When Kokoro Minami heard this, she nearly broke down.

She'd once asked Kitahara for his contact info, but he'd simply glanced at her and replied, “Rejected. Too ugly.”

“Ex-boyfriend Itō Makoto, current boyfriend Kitahara Takeru… her luck is really too good.”

Envy twisted Koizumi Natsumi’s face.

“If I could date Kitahara, I'd gladly move into a villa with him…”

“Kitahara stole my girlfriend, and you’re all taking his side?!”

Itō Makoto was going crazy from anger.

What’s wrong with this world?

People sided with the perpetrator instead of the victim.

Is being handsome everything?!

“Itō-kun, you can’t blame Katsura-san for choosing someone better,” a girl threw the first punch, adhering to the principle: girls help girls.

Another immediately landed a follow-up: “If you were good enough, would Katsura-san leave you?”

“Makoto, are you innocent yourself?”

“He was busy progressing with Saionji-san, right? I saw them shopping and going home together. I thought they were the couple.”

“Eww, shrimp-head guy is disgusting.”

Feeling the girls' scornful looks, Makoto desperately defended himself, “Don’t misunderstand! Saionji and I are just friends—nothing else!”

Just as Makoto finished, Saionji Sekai’s voice came from behind, trembling and red-eyed.

“Just friends?”

“Do friends kiss each other? Spend the night together? Say ‘I love you’?!”

You kissed me, slept with me, and now you call us just friends?

Makoto, what kind of man are you?

Itō Makoto wanted to explain, but Kotonoha interrupted softly, “So, when you ignored my calls, it was because of her?”

Kotonoha’s eyes filled with genuine disgust, whispering her final words clearly:

“You’re not worth even a strand of Takeru’s hair.”

---

T/N: hmmmm its back! but maybe not for long...

This is a fan translation of 不是说只拿我当替身的吗？by 雪碧加冰. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!