Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [119]

“Doma-san.”

Kitahara Takeru bent down slightly, lowering his head to meet Doma Umaru’s gaze. A faint, teasing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“You didn’t seriously think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you wore a hat, tied up your hair, and threw on a mask… did you?”

As he spoke, he reached out and gently removed the mask from her face.

Even though Takeru had expected Doma Umaru to be pretty, he still found himself momentarily stunned when the mask came off and her features were fully revealed.

She had the kind of face that soothed you just by looking at it—innocent, sweet, and almost glowing. Her skin was a soft ivory warmth rather than that icy, porcelain white that felt unapproachable. It gave off a healthy, sunny vibe.

Her eyes were wide and vivid, like two crystal-clear glass marbles that sparkled with life.

Her face was petite and delicately full, perfectly balanced—not the sharp, aggressive beauty of Miura Yumiko.

And unlike Yukinoshita Yukino’s cool, untouchable aura, Umaru felt gentle—like someone you could actually walk up to and talk to.

Takeru had seen plenty of beautiful girls by now—his eyes were starting to feel numb from it. Even the “targets” he encountered didn’t stir him much anymore.

Very few girls could genuinely make him stop and stare.

The last one who had left a slight impression on him with her looks… was Adagaki Aki.

Wait, that wasn’t even that long ago…

“Give it back.”

Umaru reached for the mask in his hand.

Takeru casually lifted it out of her reach.

She jumped, trying to grab it, but couldn’t quite make it.

Watching this tiny potato of a girl hopping around in frustration made Takeru want to laugh.

The two of them right now looked exactly like a big brother teasing his little sister on purpose.

“Alright, here you go.”

Takeru waited until she was tired from jumping, then gently put the mask back on her face.

“You did that on purpose!”

Umaru’s eyes widened, glaring at him indignantly.

“Mmm... What gave it away?”

Takeru deliberately stretched out his tone, answering smugly and shamelessly.

“You...”

I’m going to lose my mind!

He’s infuriating!

What a nasty, infuriating personality.

Umaru had never met anyone this aggravating before.

Takeru raised a brow. “What? What did I do?”

I can’t stay near this guy any longer or I’ll explode.

Umaru spun on her heel and stormed off.

“Doma-san, did you come alone?”

Takeru followed her without shame.

“No, I came with some classmates.”

Umaru answered flatly but picked up her pace, clearly trying to ditch him.

Takeru just walked along at his usual relaxed rhythm, not rushing to catch up but never falling behind.

Liar.

Takeru thought to himself.

If she were really here with friends, she wouldn’t have disguised herself like this.

She probably dressed this way precisely because she didn’t want anyone to recognize her.

“It’s pretty crowded here. Want me to walk you over?”

“No need!”

Umaru shot a quick, discreet glance at his absurdly long legs.

So what if your legs are long? Show-off.

She picked up her pace again.

“No no, I insist. Let me make it up to you.”

“I said it’s really fine!”

“No no no, absolutely must.”

…

The two exchanged polite refusals as their feet practically raced each other.

Umaru’s short legs were working overtime, practically bouncing like a wind-up toy—but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake him off.

In her distraction, she accidentally crashed into a fat otaku decked out in a Genshin Impact pain shirt whose face looked eerily like a cartoon emoji. She bounced off his stomach and landed flat on the floor.

She instinctively started forming her apology in her head—until the guy looked at her, then at Takeru, and left without saying a word.

“You okay?”

Takeru offered his hand to the girl now sitting on the floor.

Umaru hesitated but finally reached up, her cheeks tinged pink. “Th-thanks.”

Takeru pulled her up. “It’s packed today. Where are you headed? I’ll take you there.”

Biting her lower lip, Umaru hesitated—unsure if she should admit the real reason she’d come today.

“Drop the act.”

Takeru cut straight to the point, without mercy. “I know you came alone. You’re just trying to keep your love for otaku stuff a secret, right?”

Umaru glared at him, clearly annoyed.

Yeah, yeah, we get it, you’re smart—did you have to say it out loud?

“I want to buy some figures. And plushies.”

Since he’d already exposed the lie, she figured there was no point pretending anymore.

“Figures and plushies, huh?”

Takeru thought for a moment, then changed direction. “Follow me.”

Looking at his back as he walked ahead, Umaru wanted nothing more than to kick him.

Trailing half a step behind, she finally asked, “When did you recognize me?”

Takeru didn’t even turn around. “The moment I saw you.”

“Was my disguise that bad?”

Umaru sounded a little discouraged.

She’d honestly thought she’d nailed the whole undercover thing. Felt pretty smug, even. Now it seemed like maybe her classmates had already known and just played along.

Takeru glanced at the sulky little hamster beside him, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “Nope. Your disguise is great.”

“Then how did you recognize me?”

Umaru clearly didn’t believe him.

She kept her head down.

“Dummy. Because I’ve been watching you this whole time.”

“…Huh?”

Umaru’s head shot up.

Just in time to see Kitahara Takeru’s face go pink.

The moment their eyes met, he turned away like he was embarrassed, refusing to look at her again.

“W-what do you mean by that?”

Her voice stuttered, her cheeks heating up as her heart started pounding.

Takeru’s blush deepened. “I said… I’ve been watching you.”

Umaru turned her head too, blinking those pure, innocent eyes.

“W-why would you… watch me?”

“…Because I like you.”

Takeru’s voice was so quiet that, in the noise of the convention, it was nearly impossible to hear.

But it reached her ears loud and clear.

“You… You… You like me?”

Color bloomed across her snow-pale cheeks.

Her eyes widened, round and glassy, like a startled fawn frozen in place.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

Maybe out of shyness. Maybe for another reason. Either way, she quietly lowered her eyes, lashes trembling like butterfly wings.

Takeru didn’t say anything else.

For a moment, the noise of the crowded convention faded away, unable to reach the little space between the two of them.

“Kitaha—”

“TAKERU!!”

Just as Umaru finally opened her mouth to say something, a sharp voice boomed from across the hall.

She instantly clamped her mouth shut.

At the same time, from across the exhibition area, Eriri—busy unpacking and arranging doujin books on her table—froze the moment she heard the name “Takeru.”

She turned sharply and immediately locked eyes with him—his face twisted in unmistakable annoyance.

---

T/N: HMMMMM?

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!