Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [103]

What’s with this guy?

Yukinoshita Yukino noticed something off in Kitahara Takeru’s demeanor and turned her gaze back toward Hayama Hayato and Miura Yumiko.

She saw it instantly—Yumiko, who just moments ago was smiling cheerfully, went stiff the second she saw Yukino and Kitahara. Her eyes sparked with flames.

Yukino blinked.

Then, as if putting pieces together, she looked from Kitahara… to Yumiko… back to Kitahara again.

Her expression slowly shifted into one of intrigue.

Oho?

“It's been a while, Takeru,” Hayama greeted with his usual warmth, smiling as naturally as ever.

“Yeah… long time no see, Hayama.”

Kitahara forced a smile in return—albeit one that looked a little strained.

“There’s no need to be so formal, right? And didn’t you say you were going to join us at Sōbu High? What happened? Why’d you end up at Aoba instead?”

Hayama stepped forward and gave Kitahara a friendly tap on the chest.

“Aoba’s offer was… hard to refuse. Not much I could do.”

Before Hayama could respond, Miura Yumiko suddenly cut in, her voice sharp as a blade:

“So you sold out your word for a little pocket change? What, do you have no principles at all?”

The air froze instantly.

Even Hayama glanced down awkwardly at the ground.

Yukinoshita Yukino, meanwhile, observed everything with barely disguised amusement, curious to see how Kitahara would handle it.

But Kitahara acted as if he hadn’t heard anything.

He turned to Hayama with a light smile. “Hayama, aren’t you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?”

“We’re not dating,” Hayama replied calmly. “This is Miura Yumiko, my classmate. A good friend.”

Before he could turn to introduce Kitahara—

“There’s no need for introductions. We already know each other.”

Yumiko cut in coldly, arms crossed as she stepped directly in front of Kitahara.

Her eyes, sharp as a viper’s, pinned him in place.

“What? You’re pretending you don’t know me now?”

“You’ve got the guts to ghost me, but not the guts to admit it? Kitahara Takeru, what kind of man are you?”

Every nearby head turned.

Especially the women—an immediate wave of judgment swept the crowd.

"Figures he’d be scum."

“Wait… isn’t he the one who sang ‘Lemon’ at that showcase?”

“I heard he’s the top student at Aoba. Scored a perfect math score.”

“Ugh, and this is the kind of person he is? Disgusting.”

“If he’s that good at math, imagine what else he’s capable of hiding.”

“Anyone who ghosts a girl like that is total trash.”

…

Kitahara’s eye twitched hard. The forced smile on his face finally cracked.

I knew I shouldn’t have sung that damn song…

Hayama looked between the two of them, clearly unsure whether to step in.

Yukinoshita covered her lips with one hand. “Ghosting? Ara, Kitahara-kun… I underestimated you~”

Kitahara ignored her.

He turned his full attention on Yumiko. “How exactly did I ghost you?”

Because if this didn’t get cleared up, he’d be labeled the villain no matter what.

In truth, his history with Yumiko wasn’t that complicated.

He’d met her before he ever got involved with Kasumigaoka Utaha or Eriri.

If we’re talking timeline—Yumiko was first.

But after meeting rich and beautiful Utaha and Eriri, his contact with Yumiko naturally tapered off.

“You used to reply to my messages instantly. Now you take hours.”

“You used to talk to me for hours. Now, I’m always the one reaching out. If I don’t start the conversation, we don’t even talk!”

“Every time I asked to hang out, you said you were busy or working. Last week I asked you out—you said you had things going on! And then—”

“I saw you on TV. On a date. With another girl!”

“That’s what you were busy with?! Busy dating someone else?!”

Yumiko’s words spilled out like a broken dam, fast and fierce, her voice rising with every sentence. She didn’t stop for breath.

A steady tension rippled through the crowd—especially among the women—glaring at Kitahara like he was beneath contempt.

But Kitahara didn’t react to any of them.

His gaze remained calm and steady. “Were we dating?”

Yumiko froze. “…No. You never confessed to me.”

Kitahara nodded, then continued, “Did I ever say I liked you?”

“…No.”

“We weren’t dating. I never confessed. Never told you I liked you. That means—we’re just friends. Nothing more.”

“F-Friends?”

It was like a slap to the face.

Yumiko stared at him, stunned, unable to believe that someone so warm—so close—could say something that cold.

“Is there some other kind of relationship I’m forgetting?” Kitahara added.

His eyes were emotionless, like a glacier. Clear. Distant. Unreachable.

“We…”

Yumiko wanted to protest. To fight back. But she couldn’t find the words.

“We’re just friends. So what’s wrong with not replying sometimes? Why should I respond right away? Who I go out with—what does that have to do with you?”

“You’re the one who crossed the line. Not me.”

Yumiko’s shoulders sagged, her head dropping.

Her golden hair fell like a curtain, shielding her expression.

But the slight trembling of her shoulders said it all.

Sympathy stirred among the bystanders.

“…Kitahara, that was a little harsh, don’t you think?”

Hayama frowned deeply, the disapproval plain on his face.

“I’m leaving.”

Kitahara nodded curtly to Hayama, then turned and walked off without looking back.

He didn’t comfort Yumiko.

In the crowd, a short-haired woman in business attire leaned toward the black-haired woman beside her and murmured, “Classic ‘fall-off-the-cliff’ situationship.”

“They get close during the talking stage—then suddenly lose interest and ghost. Happens all the time.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at Kitahara’s retreating back, whispering to herself: “He’s tired of her?”

She hadn’t recognized Kitahara just yet—but Yumiko’s story stirred something in her.

It felt… familiar.

Because recently, Watanabe Takeru had been messaging her less too. Taking longer to respond.

Would I end up like Miura Yumiko one day?

Would he one day say: ‘We’re just friends. You crossed the line.’?

“It’s because he’s bored,” said Machida Sonoko, speaking like someone who’d seen it all. “Or there’s someone else now.”

“Everyone knows love doesn’t disappear—it just transfers.”

“When a guy starts acting cold, it means he’s warming someone else up.”

“When he stops sharing his day with you, it means he’s sharing it with someone else.”

“When your shower starts running hot and cold, it’s not the plumbing. Someone else is using your water.”

Utaha’s face darkened by the second.

“…Enough.”

She turned sharply, cutting Machida off.

Machida, unsure what she’d said wrong, wisely shut up.

Utaha walked off, heels clicking.

There’s no way Watanabe Takeru would treat me like that.

He’s completely into me.

There’s no way I’d end up like Miura Yumiko… right?

---

T/N: heh

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!