Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [94]

By the time they exited the haunted house, the movie was just about to begin.

The four of them headed together to the theater, handed in their tickets, and entered.

Tanuma Tsubasa had picked Your Name.

Kitahara Takeru had seen it in his previous life. Watching it again now, the first thing that popped into his mind wasn’t the plot — but Wei Yimin.

As they took their seats in the dim theater, Takeru assumed that Kashiwagi Nagisa would angle to sit next to him — but she didn’t.

She quietly sat between Tanuma Tsubasa and Shijō Maki, no drama, no games.

Takeru idly played with his phone. Just before the movie started, someone took the empty seat beside him.

“Excuse me.”

Takeru pulled his legs back to let the person pass.

The moment her silhouette moved in front of him, a system panel popped up in his vision.

[Target: Iino Miko]
[Age: 15]
[Intelligence: 7]
[Charisma: 7]
[Stamina: 3]
[Origin: Kaguya-sama: Love is War]
[Crush: None]
[No boyfriend. Eligible for dating.]

Takeru tilted his head to glance at her.

The movie had already started, and the theater lights were completely off. He could only study her face through the faint flicker of the screen.

She was small — probably not even 150cm tall.

Then again, that kind of petite frame was very popular in Japan.

A textbook example of the fair, young, thin type. Her round face still had a youthful softness to it — a little baby fat, making her look delicate and almost doll-like.

Her eyes were large, bright, and striking — like a young deer caught in the moonlight.

“Mm?”

Sensing someone looking at her, Iino Miko suddenly turned toward him.

Their eyes met.

Takeru didn’t avert his gaze. He just stared back, unflinching, as though completely unbothered by being caught in the act.

Iino blinked, then glanced down and saw the glow of her phone screen. She quickly locked it.

“Was I bothering you?”

Takeru smiled, shook his head, and lazily turned his gaze back to the screen.

Do I have something on my face? What exactly was he looking at?

He might’ve stopped watching her, but Iino Miko was now too conscious to ignore him.

Halfway through the movie, Takeru suddenly felt someone poke his arm.

“What is it, Maki?”

He thought it was Shijō Maki.

Maki looked at him in confusion. “Nothing?”

“Oh.”

He assumed it was an accidental bump and returned to the movie.

Not even a minute later, he felt another poke.

“Maki, why are you—”

He turned his head, but the words froze in his throat.

It wasn’t Shijō Maki at all. It was Kashiwagi Nagisa.

She was leaning close to Maki, her slender arm slipping through the gap between seats and poking him from behind.

When their eyes met, Nagisa gave him a mischievous little wink.

This crazy woman...

Takeru instinctively leaned away from her, shifting his weight toward Iino Miko instead.

Through the thin summer fabric, their arms touched.

Iino Miko: “!!!”

W-what is he doing?!

Is he trying to test my boundaries before making a move?!

What do I do?!

Should I call the police?!

Iino began to panic.

Meanwhile, seeing Takeru flinch away like she had the plague only made Nagisa giggle.

Too cute.

“I’m going to the restroom,” she said suddenly and stood up.

Before leaving, she shot him a knowing glance.

What’s that supposed to mean? Is she expecting me to follow her or something? Takeru frowned inwardly.

To preempt any sudden calls from Nagisa, he turned his phone off entirely.

With that handled, he returned to his seat and leaned back as before.

Ugh… maybe I overthought it.

Iino felt embarrassed about how far her mind had run just now.

Wait… what if he goes to the restroom too?

As Nagisa stepped out, the first thing Tanuma Tsubasa did was look at Takeru.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that his girlfriend seemed unusually interested in Watanabe Takeru.

If he didn’t act soon… he might lose her.

“Why doesn’t Taki recognize Mitsuha, Takeru?!”

Among the group, each person had their own thoughts — except for Shijō Maki, who was actually watching the movie.

Eyes fixed on the screen, she leaned over to ask questions now and then.

Takeru gave her a look. “You’re really watching this, Maki?”

“What are you talking about, Takeru? Isn’t that why we came — to watch the movie?”

Takeru rolled his eyes. “What kind of normal person actually watches the movie in a theater?”

“Look — there, there, and there.”

He pointed at several couples in the dark.

Though she knew he wasn’t talking to her, Iino Miko couldn’t help following his fingers with her eyes.

And the moment she saw, her face turned red.

Couples snuggled up close, some even kissing.

Shameless!

Her cheeks burned as she whispered, “How indecent.”

Doing something like that in a movie theater!

They really think no one’s watching? What do they think the security cameras are for?

Meanwhile, Shijō Maki looked like she’d just had the door to a whole new world kicked open. Her eyes went wide.

“The movie theater really is a sacred dating ground.”

Takeru adjusted imaginary glasses. “Dim lighting gives men courage and lowers women’s inhibitions. Most couples break the physical barrier for the first time in movie theaters.”

“Out in public, even if no one’s around, people are self-conscious. But in a dark cinema, even if it’s packed, everyone’s attention is on the film. That creates a pocket of privacy — perfect for couples to do what they want.”

“Plus, romance films usually include intimate scenes. That emotional context makes it easy for couples to hold hands, hug, or even steal a kiss. And often, the girl won’t say no. She might even go along with it, half-willingly.”

The more Maki listened to Takeru’s devil’s advocate explanation, the more convinced she became.

Iino Miko, from the side, was also listening intently.

He really knows his stuff… he must’ve dated a lot.

Takeru would’ve scoffed if he knew what she was thinking.

Knowing a lot doesn’t mean dating a lot.

There are people with whole bookshelves full of romance novels who’ve never had a girlfriend in their lives.

“Tanuma’s girlfriend isn’t here right now. Isn’t this your chance?” Takeru’s voice turned low, smooth — like the serpent tempting Eve with forbidden fruit.

His warm breath brushed past Maki’s ear, soft as feathers, making it tickle and burn.

They were so close now that she could even smell his cologne — clean, subtle, and maddening.

“W-what should I do?” Maki stammered. She’d never been this close to a guy before.

“I’ll help you.”

Takeru picked up his iced cola and poured it straight into her lap.

“Ah!”

The freezing splash shocked Maki so badly she screamed and jumped to her feet.

Instantly, every eye in the theater turned toward them.

“Takeru! You—” she began angrily, but he cut her off by turning to Tanuma.

“Tanuma-kun, I accidentally spilled my drink on Maki. Her seat’s soaked. Mind if she switches with Kashiwagi-san for now?”

“Sure.”

Tanuma didn’t question it at all. Didn’t even seem to find it odd.

That actually worked?!

Maki blinked in disbelief… then turned to Takeru with a look of awe and admiration.

This is the power of a real tactician…

With Watanabe on my side, I’m invincible!

Only Iino Miko, who had witnessed the entire stunt from start to finish, stared wide-eyed, mouth agape.

She’d seen it all. Clear as day.

That spill? Totally on purpose.

She hesitated, wondering whether to call him out — when a soft, slender arm slipped between her and Takeru from behind.

It wrapped around Takeru’s waist, and a teasing voice whispered in his ear:

“Takeru-kun, I leave for a moment, and you’re already trying to set up Maki to steal my boyfriend? Isn’t that a bit much?”

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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!