Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [124]

When Nakamikado Haruhito heard what Kitahara Takeru was asking for, the corner of his mouth twitched violently. “Kouhai, do you think someone like me would have something like that? What do you take me for?”

What kind of person?

Aren’t you Tokyo’s most notorious playboy?

Takeru said nothing—just stared at him, deadpan.

“Senpai, I know all about your ‘legendary exploits.’ You really want me to spell it out?”

He wasn’t bluffing.

This senpai had made it into all twelve anti-vice campaign reports. Every single one.

Every police sweep—he was always there.

And not just as a regular—he was creative.

Pop rocks, whips, glass rods, spreaders… he’d tried it all.

“…Ahem.”

Nakamikado coughed awkwardly, clearly shaken.

He hadn’t expected his shining history to be common knowledge at his old school.

Scratching his head and curling his hand into a loose fist, he gave a couple of tactical coughs. “I don’t have one on me, but… I know a friend who probably does. Wait here, I’ll go grab it for you.”

And with that, he practically bolted.

Once he was gone, the only two left at the scene were Takeru and Eriri.

The silence returned—except now the awkwardness had shifted from Nakamikado to Takeru.

Not sure what to say, Takeru pulled out his earphones, thinking he’d just listen to some music and wait it out.

But just then, Eriri spoke.

“He has the same model of earphones as you.”

Takeru’s hand froze. Then he looked around, feigning confusion before pointing at himself.

“Kashiwagi-sensei… are you talking to me?”

“Mm.”

Eriri’s gaze was calm but fixed. “Kitahara Takeru—you look a lot like someone I know.”

“…Oh?”

“His name’s Watanabe Takeru.”

At that, sweat trickled down the back of Takeru’s neck. His heartbeat thundered like a war drum.

Is she hinting at something?

Does she know?

He didn’t respond. But Eriri continued on, as if lost in thought.

“Takeru-kun… would you fall for a girl just because she looked like someone you already liked?”

Why was she asking him?

They weren’t even close.

Takeru didn’t want to answer that question. He forced a tight smile.

“Um… Kashiwagi-sensei, you’re asking me something kind of random. I’m not sure how to respond.”

Eriri simply stared at him.

“Then think about it.”

Under her ocean-deep gaze, Takeru felt as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him.

Like he was being asked a question that might change the course of his life.

He thought for a long moment, then replied slowly.

“No. I wouldn’t.”

If he’d been aiming to replace Aki Tomoya and steal Eriri away, he would’ve said yes.

But Takeru had never planned to get emotionally involved. He just wanted a bit of money, not her heart.

Manipulating someone’s feelings? That was Tomoya’s job.

“Kashiwagi-sensei, do you like me?”

Eriri blinked, clearly surprised by the question.

She shook her head.

Golden hair like a waterfall rippled with her movement.

Takeru had expected that answer and felt no disappointment. If anything, he was relieved.

It meant she didn’t know the truth yet.

“I don’t know what you’ve been through, Kashiwagi-sensei,” Takeru continued, “but if that person didn’t look like the one you loved… would you still have started anything with him?”

Eriri fell silent.

Takeru spread his hands, lips curling into a quiet smile.

“That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?”

She looked stunned—his words, his smile, something had shaken her deeply.

Because when Takeru smiled like that, he looked exactly like Watanabe Takeru. Down to the faint dimples on either side of his mouth.

“If he didn’t look like the person you liked, there would’ve been no story between you at all.”

“To you, A is A. But B… B could be anyone, right?”

Sunlight streamed through the glass, scattering on the floor like fractured light dancing over water—shimmering, glimmering, fading like smoke.

Under that light, Takeru’s smile looked almost gentle—so light, so casual.

But it sent Eriri’s heart into a panic.

That unease… it hit harder than anything Watanabe had made her feel.

She opened her mouth—but before she could speak, Nakamikado returned.

“Here.”

“…Thanks.”

...

Back at the photoshoot, Takeru handed a brand-new, unopened Kitsune Edition Remote-Control Earbud to Kitagawa Marin.

Why brand-new?

Because his old one was still connected to his phone’s remote app.

Marin looked down at the pastel-colored “Little Devil” in her palm, cheeks flushing a deep, vibrant red—like ripe fruit under the summer sun.

She’d received plenty of gifts from boys at school, but never this.

Takeru watched her standing frozen in place, frowning slightly. “Why are you just standing there?”

I went and borrowed it for you—you better use it.

“U-Um… I…”

Marin stammered, her voice trailing off.

Takeru’s face darkened. “You’re not backing out, are you?”

The character Marin was cosplaying was Shizuku Kuroe from “The Shameful Miracles of the Elite Girls of Slime-Slime Academy II.”

How to describe this role?

Lewd. Extremely so. With a full gallery of ahegao (ecstasy face) expressions.

Because she’d worked as a model, the early shoot went fine.

But when it came time for the ahegao expressions, Marin felt they looked fake—not convincing enough.

She’d asked Takeru for ideas.

At first, he’d suggested she find a video and head to the bathroom for some, uh, "middle-finger motivation."

But Marin had rejected that.

The bathrooms at conventions—especially the women’s—were always packed. She didn’t want to be a burden.

Takeru agreed. So he suggested using a “Little Devil” toy instead.

And she’d agreed.

So he’d shamelessly gone to borrow one.

If she chickened out now, he’d turn and walk.

“No, that’s not it!” Marin shook her head wildly.

Her face, already red, deepened several more shades under his gaze. It looked like she might start steaming.

“I-I just…”

Takeru sighed. “Just say it already. Don’t waste my time.”

Seriously. I got you the damn toy—what’s there to be shy about now?

Marin squeezed her eyes shut.

“Takeru-kun… could you… um… hold the remote instead of Gojo-kun?”

“…”

Takeru’s face twisted into something unreadable.

What… kind of NTR plotline was this?

Did she even realize what she was saying?

You want me to control it? While you’re in front of the guy you actually like?

---

T/N: i love NTR

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!