Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [134]

10:00 PM.
Chiba Prefecture
Sawamura Family Villa

“Alright, I understand. Sorry to trouble you, Aki.”

After hanging up the call, Spencer Sawamura turned to his wife, who had been watching him anxiously.

“She’s not with Aki Tomoya. He said she hasn’t contacted him at all today.”

“Dear… do you think Eriri might’ve been kidnapped?!”

Yukari Sawamura, hearing even Tomoya didn’t know where their daughter was, finally began to panic.

Eriri could be a bit headstrong, but she wasn’t reckless.

Spencer thought it over. “I don’t think so.”

He had enemies, sure, but not the kind who’d go so far as to kidnap his child.

Besides, if it were a kidnapping, shouldn’t the ransom call have come by now?

“What if—what if some pervert or drunk saw how pretty she is on the way home, got the wrong idea, drugged her, and took her to some apartment where he—”

Spencer, who had been relatively calm, began to panic too.

Because that… was terrifyingly plausible.

Their daughter wasn’t just cute — she was gorgeous.

What if some guy who’d hit rock bottom saw her on the street in a bad mood and, in a moment of twisted impulse, did something unthinkable?

It’s true — most crimes don’t come from planning. They come from sudden, uncontrollable urges.

“Come on. We’re reporting this to the police.”

Still in their pajamas, the Sawamuras rushed out the door.

On a hilltop, beneath a vast starry sky.

The moon bathed the land in its pale, gentle light.

Standing before a stately wrought-iron gate, Kitahara Takeru handed over a plastic bag of medicine and offered a final reminder:

“Eat on time. Take your meds when you're supposed to. Got it?”

“Then you’ll have to message me every day to remind me.”

Eriri tilted her face up. From her chin to the curve of her neck, her silhouette traced a graceful line.

She hid the bag behind her back and smiled, eyes twinkling.

“Otherwise, I’ll forget for sure.”

“You’re such a child. It’s not that hard to remember, you know.”

Takeru stuffed his hands into his pockets, sighing as if helpless.

The night outlined his tall frame in crisp shadow.

“I am sixteen. Technically still a kid.”

She lifted her chin playfully. “Besides, you don’t want to remind me?”

Saying that, Eriri scrunched up her face into an exaggerated glare, trying to act tough.

“Of course I do, of course I do.”

Takeru raised both hands in surrender.

“Reminding Sawamura-san to take her medicine is the honor of a lifetime.”

“Good. You’re learning.”

Eriri beamed, clearly pleased with herself.

But her smug expression didn’t last more than three seconds — a chill wind blew in, and she instinctively pulled her shoulders in.

Takeru stepped forward and zipped up her jacket.

“It’s cold. Go inside.”

“Mm.”

She said that — but made no move to leave.

Instead, she stared straight at him, unmoving.

Takeru waved a hand in front of her eyes. “What? Did you short-circuit?”

“I’m looking at you.”

Takeru froze.

As soon as the words left her lips, Eriri’s face turned beet red.

She dropped her gaze, flustered — only to peek up again a moment later.

The moonlight was soft and clear, the world around them silent and still. None of Tokyo’s noise reached this place.

Takeru looked at her carefully.

At her delicate, refined face.

At the red creeping up her ears.

Something tugged at his heart.

“Takeru…”

Maybe it was the fact that he’d searched all over Tokyo for her.

Maybe it was the hours he spent by her side at the hospital.

Or maybe… it was the atmosphere.

Whatever it was, Eriri did something she would never normally do.

She stepped forward, nudged her forehead gently against his chest… and looked up at him.

In the moonlight, her slightly parted lips drew his gaze.

His eyes lowered — from her eyes, to her lips, to the pink tip of her tongue.

Without even realizing it, his hand rose.

His broad, warm palm cupped her cheek.

He bent down slightly.

As the boy’s face moved closer, Eriri’s long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings — then shut.

At that moment, even the moon blushed.

Hidden behind a veil of clouds, its outline grew soft and hazy.

It was like the whole world had stepped aside to let this happen.

Their lips were just about to meet—

When a blinding beam of light snapped Takeru out of it.

He jolted back, pushing Eriri away and stepping back two full paces.

Shit. That was way too close.

His heart thundered in his chest, pounding like a war drum.

If he’d actually gone through with it, he’d have completely lost himself to her.

Takeru admitted it — his self-control had almost snapped.

But that wasn’t love.

That was just… atmosphere.

Human actions aren’t governed by logic alone. They’re shaped by emotion, by mood.

And when the atmosphere is right, emotions follow.

And when the emotions hit — yeah, you kiss.

Who it is barely matters. In that kind of moment, it could’ve been Kasumigaoka Utaha, or even Doma Umaru — he’d probably have kissed them just the same.

…Though, granted, his lust was already simmering thanks to Marin Kitagawa earlier.

It was like clicking into E-Hentai at midnight.

Who browses that in broad daylight?

Only when it's quiet, when the mood hits, do you end up reaching for the lotion and tissues.

In the front seat of a car not far away, Yukari Sawamura turned to her husband.

“…Do you think we came at a bad time?”

At the wheel, Spencer Sawamura was awkwardly curling his toes in his slippers.

Yeah. This was not what he expected.

Spencer decided to blame Aki Tomoya.

If that kid hadn’t lied and said Eriri wasn’t with him, they wouldn’t have come all the way out here and stumbled into… this.

Still, Yukari, reading her husband’s thoughts, said:

“We should at least say hello. We can’t just leave without acknowledging them.”

“…You’re right.”

The car rolled slowly forward.

Takeru turned his head just enough to see it.

Eriri buried her face in her hands. Neither of them looked at the approaching vehicle.

Since when did he get so tall?

Yukari noted with some surprise how much taller this boy was than Eriri.

But she still smiled warmly as she rolled down the window.

“Good evening, you two.”

Takeru glanced at Eriri — still pretending to be an ostrich.

So much for backup.

Guess he’d have to handle this alone.

He hadn’t planned to meet the Sawamura parents this soon, but now that it had happened, he wouldn’t shy away from it.

Clearing his throat, Takeru turned and offered a polite smile.

“Good evening, Uncle, Auntie.”

“Nice to meet you. My name is Watanabe Takeru, and I’m currently pursuing a relationship with your daughter.”

“That earlier scene — Sawamura-san got something in her eye. I was just helping her blow it out. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Blow it out?

Something in her eye? With your mouth?

Do you take us for idiots?

The Sawamuras exchanged amused glances — but said nothing.

Because really, that wasn’t the biggest issue.

Wait. What did he say his name was?

Watanabe… Takeru?

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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!