Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [138]

Tokyo weather really does change faster than a girl’s mood.

Walking out of the station with the morning crowd, Itou Makoto fished an umbrella from his bag, mind drifting elsewhere.

Yesterday, while Saionji Sekai was flipping through a fashion magazine, she asked him who he thought looked the best. He’d pointed to the girl with the biggest chest. She’d put her clothes back on and left without another word.

Itou still didn’t get it. You’re the one who asked the question. I gave an answer. Why are you mad?

If you knew the question would upset you, then why even ask?

Sometimes, I really don’t understand girls.

He was still thinking that when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure at the station entrance.

…Kotonoha?

There was Kitahara Takeru—kissing his girlfriend.

(From the heartbroken boyfriend’s perspective.)

Itou’s first reaction was to think he was hallucinating.

Have I been having too much sex lately or something?

How could his typically reserved, slow-to-warm-up girlfriend be kissing another guy?

No way. Absolutely not.

Had to be his eyes playing tricks on him.

He rubbed them hard, then looked again. The two were still there.

Not a hallucination.

No—maybe she just looks like Kotonoha.

Itou tried to comfort himself, but his pace unconsciously quickened. He needed to get closer. Needed to confirm if the girl in that guy’s arms was really his girlfriend.

“You!”

Hearing Kotonoha’s answer, Kitahara didn’t even try to hide his complicated reaction. Never mind joy—inside, he was screaming.

Bro, who even does this? I asked on a whim—you actually like me?

Girl, whatever it is you like about me, just tell me—I’ll fix it, alright?

“Ki-Kitahara-kun, Makoto’s coming this way…”

Kotonoha’s voice trembled as she spotted Itou walking in their direction.

No doubt about it—she was scared her boyfriend would find out.

So you’ve got the guts to fall for me, but not to let your boyfriend know?

Kitahara almost laughed aloud.

“Shh. Leave it to me.”

He straightened up and, like a boyfriend protecting his girl, gently pressed Kotonoha’s head against his chest.

To anyone watching, they looked like a couple in the middle of a tender embrace.

Kotonoha froze. It felt like time had stopped, like the world had gone silent.

His chest was broad and firm, solid and reassuring.

Every breath he took was slow and steady, like the rhythm of the earth itself.

His heartbeat felt strangely in sync with her own.

A warm feeling rose from within her, spreading through her body like sunlight after rain—calm, comforting.

As Itō pretended to casually walk past, his eyes darted repeatedly toward the two of them.

Kotonoha’s face was hidden in Kitahara’s chest, his arm wrapped around her. From the outside, she couldn’t be seen.

But the Yano Academy uniform, that devilish figure, that unmistakable silhouette—it all screamed his girlfriend.

And all Itou could think was: I’m not even allowed to touch her, and this guy’s here hugging and maybe even kissing her… hell, he might’ve even gone where I haven’t.

He could feel his blood boiling, every cell in his body screaming at him to rush over and throw a punch.

Kitahara noticed Itou’s hostile gaze and shot one back, scowling. “Never seen a couple making out? Keep walking.”

Thanks to his past “training” with Kashiwagi Nagisa and Kitagawa Marin, Kitahara had become well-versed in illicit encounters. He could now keep a cool face in front of the betrayed party while doing shameless things with their girlfriend.

He had, in short, become a seasoned warrior of the cuckold tribe.

It was time to hunt the so-called “pure love soldiers.”

Despite Kitahara’s handsome features, when he glared, there was a sharp edge to him—wild and dangerous. And truthfully, Itou was intimidated.

“S-sorry!”

Kitahara’s expression twisted oddly at the apology.

Wait, what? He’s apologizing?

You’re the one getting cheated on. Why are you apologizing?

You just watched your girl get hugged, and he’s the one acting like he owns the place?

Who's the third party here?

Do you think you're the one intruding on their romance?

The more he thought about it, the more infuriated Itou became. He opened his mouth to speak, but Kitahara didn’t give him the chance.

He grabbed Itou by the collar, yanked him forward with ease, and snarled impatiently, “I told you to fuck off. Are you deaf? Looking for a beating? Huh?”

Itō was lanky and thin. Kitahara was practically a body-refined player.

He didn’t even use much force, and Itou stumbled forward, pulled right into his face.

One glance at their respective “battle power” and Itou quickly ran the math: 30-70 split.

He’d get in three punches—then be sent to the afterlife on the seventh day.

“Sorry,” he muttered again, voice barely above a whisper.

Again?!

Even Kitahara didn’t have the heart to keep pushing. He let go with a light shove.

Itō lowered his head and hurried past, not daring to look back.

“He’s gone,” Kitahara said, patting Kotonoha on the shoulder.

Kotonoha lingered for a beat longer in his warmth, reluctant to pull away.

“…Thank you, Kitahara-kun.”

Thank me?

Thank me for what—chasing off your boyfriend?

You two, even by hentai doujinshi standards, would be insane.

This whole scene? It was like the girl thanking the blond guy and the boyfriend saying “sorry” to the blond guy.

Is it me that’s messed up—or is this whole world twisted?

Kitahara shook his head, brushing the thoughts away.

Then, he went back to the topic at hand. “Where were we? Oh right. What is it that you like about me?”

“…Your confidence. And… your warmth.”

Confidence? Warmth?

Even Kitahara himself wanted to laugh.

“So that’s how I come across to you.”

Kotonoha looked anxious. “Did I say something wrong?”

Kitahara smiled but didn’t answer.

Instead, he asked, “When did you start liking me? Or maybe… when did you start noticing me?”

“I mean, we’ve barely even interacted.”

From the moment he learned Kotonoha had a boyfriend, Kitahara had intentionally kept his distance.

Even so, she’d fallen for him?

My charm stat’s maxed out, huh? This is terrifying.

“…Probably…”

She hesitated a few seconds, then lowered her head, voice soft.

“…Probably from the first time. I think I liked you from the very beginning.”

Kitahara raised an eyebrow. “Love at first sight?”

“I don’t know if it counts as that. But I’ll never forget that day… the day I was locked in the classroom.”

That boy had shone so brightly then, no one could compare.

“That day, Kitahara-kun, you opened the locked door and, standing in the light, you said—‘Katsura-san, I’ve come to take you home.’”

It was like light driving away darkness. Like a god descending to earth.

The light that shone on him was dazzling.

Kotonoha couldn’t tell anymore whether it was the classroom light… or a glow that came from him.

In that moment, Kitahara had become the one who pierced through her gloom—the light that illuminated her world.

“……”

Kitahara looked at her, expression complicated.

Now he understood why she liked him.

A girl raised under strict parental control, walking the straight and narrow, shy, introverted, never had a friend—yearning for emotional connection—locked alone in a classroom, despairing when no one answered her calls… and he was the one who appeared in that moment.

With all those emotional “buffs” stacked together, he must’ve looked like a savior to her.

He could see how she’d fall for him.

But whether what Kotonoha felt was truly love, Kitahara wasn’t so sure.

After all, people often mistake adrenaline, fear, or relief for romantic attraction in intense moments.

“Kitahara Takeru, I…”

Kotonoha clenched her fists, like she was psyching herself up.

She lifted her glistening eyes and looked at him with quiet resolve.

“Before I met you, I never expected anything from life.”

“But the moment you appeared… I started hoping.”

“I look forward to the future.”

“I look forward to seeing you.”

“I look forward to talking with you.”

Only when she was with Kitahara did she feel alive.

Only he could stir the still waters of her stagnant life.

“Even if it’s just a little…”

She reached out with her pale, slender fingers and gently tugged at his sleeve.

Her head bowed in plea.

“…Please. Just give me the mornings on the train, at least. Let me have that much.”

---

T/N: hes gonna reject her :sob: also ito is a bitch

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!