Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [135]

10:30 PM.

The first-floor living room of the Sawamura family villa remained brightly lit.

Normally, by this hour, the entire household would already be fast asleep.

But tonight, because of a very special guest, not only were the Sawamura parents still awake — they weren’t the least bit sleepy.

“Watanabe-kun, have some tea.”

Yukari Sawamura didn’t ask the servants to serve it — she poured it herself, placing the cup in front of Kitahara Takeru with a gentle smile.

Takeru quickly bowed his head. “Thank you, Sawamura A—uh…”

Yukari smiled, but her sharp gaze cut toward him.

Takeru caught on instantly and swallowed the last syllable, correcting himself.

“Thank you… Sawamura-sama.”

Yukari nodded in satisfaction, a hint of approval in her expression.

She sat down beside her husband and said with a smile, “You can just call me ‘Mom,’ you know.”

“…Isn’t that a little fast?”

“Oh? You think so?”

Yukari chuckled, eyes flicking from Takeru to her daughter — who had instinctively sat beside him and was still hiding behind her hands like an ostrich.

“I don’t think it’s too fast, do you, Eriri?”

If she and her husband hadn’t shown up when they did, the two of them would’ve been kissing on the front porch.

At that point, what’s early anymore?

“W-W-What would I know?!”

Eriri practically combusted on the spot. Her cheeks flushed like molten iron, and her head dropped even lower — she didn’t dare look anyone in the eye.

“Watanabe-kun, Eriri must’ve caused you quite a bit of trouble, hasn’t she?”

“Not at all. Sawamura-san is… a wonderful person.”

“Oh?” Yukari raised a brow. “How wonderful, exactly?”

Takeru paused thoughtfully. “Rather than saying how wonderful… I’d say there’s nothing not wonderful about her.”

Spencer Sawamura nodded with a pleased look.

Exactly what I think too.

But Yukari, clearly in full parental-interrogation mode, smiled sweetly — and struck.

“Watanabe-kun, tell me honestly. What do you think of Eriri?”

Takeru thought for a moment. “She’s beautiful. Tsundere. A little spoiled.”

Yukari smiled with narrowed eyes. “Ah, so beauty comes first, huh~?”

“Do you not think your daughter is beautiful?”

“Of course she is.”

Before Yukari could respond, Spencer cut in immediately.

To him, his daughter was the most beautiful girl in the world — period.

“…Dear.”

Yukari turned her gaze on her husband, her smile unchanged.

Spencer promptly shut his mouth and drank his tea in silence.

Another whipped husband, huh.

“Alright, so she’s pretty. But after that, it’s just a string of flaws, isn’t it?”

Yukari turned back to Takeru, clearly not planning to let him off easy.

“I wouldn’t say that.”

Takeru took a sip of his tea and continued calmly.

“Tsundere just means she struggles to express her feelings directly. But once you see through her contradictions, you realize that when she says she hates you, she’s probably already head over heels. When her face flushes red just from a tease — how can anyone not find that adorable?”

“And as for being spoiled… it’s not like she doesn’t understand right from wrong. As long as you reason with her properly, she usually listens.”

“Sawamura-san is like a hedgehog — if you try to get close recklessly, you’ll get pricked all over. But once she warms up to you, she’ll retract those quills and nuzzle into your palm. She’ll cling to you. She’ll belong to you alone.”

The Sawamura parents listened intently, and Eriri, at some point, had lifted her head — watching Takeru quietly.

“Isn’t that… exhausting?” Yukari asked after a pause.

Takeru took another sip of red tea, letting the warmth spread through his chest before replying with a smile:

“How could it be tiring… if you’re in love?”

“You only feel tired when you don’t love someone.”

“That’s only because you’ve just started seeing her.”

Yukari’s voice softened slightly, but the edge remained.

“You’re still young. You and Eriri haven’t even known each other for a year. Right now, it’s all fresh — her beauty, her quirks. Even the flaws seem cute.”

“But after two years… three years… once the novelty wears off and the honeymoon phase fades — will you still find her tsundere side charming? Her tantrums cute?”

She wasn’t being pessimistic — just realistic.

Time had a way of wearing down patience. What once seemed adorable could easily turn into bratty and unreasonable.

Takeru gave it some thought, then smiled.

“By then… I’d already be used to it.”

“…Huh?”

That wasn’t the answer Yukari expected.

“She’s never not been this way. She didn’t suddenly become like this — it’s who she is, and always has been.”

“I believe that if you love someone, you accept not just their strengths, but their flaws too.”

“If you love a lively girl, you have to accept the chaos she brings.”

“If you fall for a shy one, you have to accept her immaturity.”

“If you’re drawn to a mature woman, you have to accept her past.”

“There’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ partner.”

“To me, loving someone doesn’t mean loving what they are — it means loving all that they are.”

Eriri stared at him, eyes locked on his face.

Under the soft, warm glow of the living room lights, everything about him seemed to shine.

“Wa—”

Before Yukari could ask anything else, Takeru stood and bowed slightly.

“Sawamura Mama, Uncle — thank you for your hospitality. It’s getting late, so I’ll be heading out.”

Eriri stood as well. “It’s past the last train, isn’t it? Why don’t you just stay over tonight?”

“Yes, Watanabe-kun. It’s quite late — just spend the night here.”

“We have plenty of rooms. If you get tired, just crash.”

Both Eriri and her parents tried to get him to stay.

But Takeru refused firmly.

“I already booked a room nearby. No need to trouble you.”

No way was he sleeping here with his makeup on.

No matter how much they insisted, he wouldn’t budge.

Seeing he’d made up his mind, Yukari didn’t press. Instead, she said gently, “Dear, walk Watanabe-kun out.”

They all followed to the front door.

“I’ll be off now, Sawamura-san.”

Eriri nodded, reluctant. “Okay…”

“Good night, Sawamura Mama.”

Yukari smiled sweetly. “Next time we meet, I hope you’ll call me Mom.”

“That’s a little fast, don’t you think?”

“Then stay tonight.”

“…I’ll call you that next time, definitely.”

Takeru had made up his mind — he was never escorting Eriri all the way home again.

Yukari Sawamura is way too dangerous.

As Spencer started the car and drove away, Eriri kept watching until the vehicle disappeared into the night.

“Oh? Still looking? Should I call your dad to come back and give you a ride — so you two can finish what you started?”

Yukari teased with a smirk.

“M-Mom! What are you even saying?! I’m tired — I’m going to bed!”

Eriri’s face flushed bright red. She stomped her foot and ran inside, but her heart was soaring.

Once she was gone, Yukari’s smile slowly faded.

She stared after her daughter’s retreating figure and sighed.

He’s playing you like a fiddle and you haven’t noticed a thing…

You’re smiling like an idiot while he’s pulling the strings.

Her daughter and husband hadn’t caught it — but Yukari had.

Takeru had said so much about love.

But not once… had he said he liked Sawamura Spencer Eriri.

---

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!