Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [133]

The moment Nakano Nino saw her father being attacked, she shoved Kitahara Takeru aside and rushed forward.

“Don’t go — it’s dangerous!”

Takeru grabbed her arm to hold her back.

“Let go of me!”

Nino tried to shake off his hand, but she couldn’t break free no matter how many times she struggled.

There was a fundamental difference in strength between men and women.

And besides — Takeru trained his body daily.

“Stay here. I’ll handle it—ow! Why the hell are you biting me?!”

Takeru had just been trying to keep Nino from running into danger. But this lunatic bit him before he could finish the sentence — sank her teeth right into his arm.

Her sharp canine teeth dug in, and pain twisted his face.

“I said I’ll go help. What part of that don’t you understand?!”

He hadn’t even started rescuing anyone and had already been bitten by their daughter. Great. Just fantastic.

Nino released her bite, looking sheepish. “...Sorry.”

But Takeru didn’t even hear her apology — he was already off and running.

Pushing past the crowd of gawkers, he leapt toward the man straddling Nakano Maruo and landed with a Leon Kennedy-style flying kick.

The man went flying.

But Takeru didn’t stop there.

This wasn’t someone who could be reasoned with.

And while Takeru was usually all for diplomacy, when words failed, well — he had a few... more physical techniques at his disposal.

Swing arm. Lift leg. Aim for the groin.

#ShatterYourDragonBallDreamsInOneKick

“AAARRRGHHHHHHHH!!!”

The scream that followed was higher-pitched than the nurse’s earlier shriek.

Back in the hospital director’s office, Maruo sat calmly in front of a mirror, treating his own injuries. He’d refused Nino’s help.

“Dad… why did that guy attack you?”

“He was dissatisfied with the outcome of his treatment and bore a grudge.”

Maruo said it lightly, as though the one who’d been assaulted wasn’t even him.

This kind of patient wasn’t uncommon.

Some people believed that hospitals existed to cure everything — and that failure to do so was a sign of medical incompetence.

That mindset often led them down a path of irrational violence.

“That’s insane!” Nino couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Like you wouldn’t have done everything possible if you could cure him?”

“What, did he think you were refusing to treat him properly? Is he braindead?!”

Takeru, listening to Nino’s tirade, didn’t have much of a reaction.

He’d seen stories like this in the news countless times.

There was even that one case — a blind man, dissatisfied with his surgery results, who tried to attack Dr. Tao with a knife.

Maruo didn’t offer an opinion either. After finishing his treatment, he turned toward Takeru, who was staring blankly at his teacup.

“Thank you again. May I ask your name?”

“I’m Ki—Watanabe Takeru. Just Takeru is fine, Mr. Nakano.”

He almost slipped and used his real surname, but corrected himself just in time.

“Watanabe-kun,” Maruo said, then added bluntly, “I hope you don’t mind me asking… what exactly is your relationship with Nino?”

His gaze turned sharp, his presence suddenly oppressive — like a father grilling the boy who dared bring his daughter home for the first time.

“Are you… dating?”

Nino’s face turned bright red, as if she were about to burst into flames.

“D-Dad! What are you even saying?!”

“Takeru?” Takeru blinked in confusion — perfect acting.

“Aren’t you… Miku?”

Nino’s expression froze.

She’d nearly forgotten — she was supposed to be pretending to be Miku right now.

“Miku?” Maruo looked at her, puzzled. “Why are you pretending to be your sister?”

“Geez, Dad, even you can’t tell the difference between me and Miku?”

As she spoke, Nino began shooting him wild, frantic glances — please don’t blow my cover.

Maruo wasn’t great at lying, so he chose to stay silent.

“But—” Before Takeru could say anything else, Nino shoved him out the door. “Watanabe-kun, your sister’s still waiting for you, right? You’ve been gone so long, she must be worried!”

SLAM!

The office door shut firmly. Nino leaned against it, exhaling hard.

“Nino,” Maruo said quietly behind her, “why were you pretending to be Miku?”

She bit her lip.

She was torn over whether to tell him she’d found out Takeru and Miku were seeing each other.

But… if Miku didn’t want it exposed, she probably had her reasons.

If she told, Miku would get mad.

“If you don’t want to say, I won’t force you.”

Maruo, seeing his daughter’s silence, didn’t push further.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Oh — and don’t tell Ichika or the others about this. I don’t want them to worry.”

“Got it.”

As Takeru reached the infusion lounge, he ran headfirst into Eriri.

The moment she saw it was him, her chaotic thoughts quieted, like a lost child finding their way home. She felt warm. Safe.

But the next second, her expression darkened.

“Where did you go?! Why are you only coming back now?”

“Had to play the hero.”

Takeru recounted the whole incident.

Or rather, a highly edited version — no mention of Nakano Nino, of course.

“What’s it got to do with you if some doctor gets beaten up?”

“Why risk yourself like that?!”

“What if you’d gotten hurt?!”

Far from calming her down, the story only fired her up more.

“You’re not doing that again. You hear me?”

Takeru raised a hand in mock salute. “Yes, ma’am!”

There was something so deadpan and ridiculous about his response that Eriri couldn’t help but laugh.

“Your IV’s finished?”

“Long ago.”

“Then let’s go. I’ll walk you home.”

Takeru took a step forward, but Eriri didn’t move.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

She glanced down briefly, then said nothing — clearly wanting him to figure it out.

And Kitahara Takeru, master of reading comprehension and the female psyche, understood instantly.

He squatted down and patted his back. “Hop on, my princess.”

Eriri broke into a smile, as bright as sunlight spilling over lilies.

She knew it.

Even if she said nothing, he’d get it. He always got it.

No one understood her better than Watanabe Takeru.

No matter the time, no matter the place, he would always accommodate her.

She jumped on his back, arms around his neck, legs snug around his waist.

“Let’s go. Take me home.”

“You got it.”

Takeru carried her toward the hospital exit.

“Oh — I picked up some meat buns. Want one?”

“Mmhm.”

Oddly enough, after not feeling hungry for almost two days, she was suddenly starving.

It was like being with him made even her appetite better.

She took a few bites, then, after thinking for a moment, brought the bun to his mouth.

“You must be hungry too. Here — I, your lady, shall feed you. Ahh~”

“If you’re gonna feed me, at least use a different one.”

“What? Embarrassed to share a bite with me?”

She tilted her head teasingly. “You’re kinda cute when you’re shy~”

“No,” Takeru said, face dead serious. “I just don’t want to eat something covered in your spit.”

“Watanabe Takeru, you dare insult my meat bun?! Are you looking to die?!”

She yanked hard on his neck with both hands.

“I’m dying! I’m dying! I’m seriously gonna die!”

“EAT IT! EAT!!”

The moonlight spilled down like silver water. Stars glimmered above.

Their laughter rang through the night — bright, carefree, and beautiful.

Even ten, twenty years from now, Eriri would still remember exactly how she felt in that moment.

---

T/N: oof thats a flag

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!