Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [90]

The moment Kitahara Takeru pushed open the haunted house doors, an icy blast hit him head-on, instantly chasing away the summer heat clinging to his body.

It was freezing inside.

So cold that as he stepped through the threshold, he shivered instinctively, every hair on his body standing on end.

He felt like a slab of pork tossed into a walk-in freezer.

“So cold.”

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one—Shijō Maki gave a visible shudder too.

The second Takeru heard it, his first instinct was to take off his jacket and offer it to her.

Eriri used to be like that.

Always getting sick—every month she’d miss school with a cold or fever. Back at Shimamura Middle, she’d even earned the embarrassing nickname “Shimamura’s Sickly Goddess.”

Though her health had improved with age, she still had poor circulation and hated the cold. Even in the summer, she’d avoid air conditioning.

Takeru often wore a light jacket in summer just for her.

Every time she said she was cold, if he didn’t immediately drape his coat over her shoulders, she’d start sulking.

So Maki saying “It’s cold!” like that was a complete reflex trigger for him.

Luckily, he caught himself just in time.

Shijō Maki is Shijō Maki. Eriri is Eriri.

They’re not the same.

Besides, Maki’s crush, Tanuma Tsubasa, was right there. If he gave her his jacket, what would he think?

What if he mistook them for a couple?

Wouldn’t that just make things worse?

With that thought, Takeru quietly slipped his jacket back on.

“Welcome to The Horror House.”

The four of them approached the front desk—where none other than Aoyama Nanami was waiting.

Why is it you again?!

This was the second time already.

How could Tokyo be this small?

Two dates in a row and he still ran into her.

How many side jobs do you secretly have, exactly?

Takeru was genuinely curious.

How did she manage six-hour shifts at his store and still work multiple part-time jobs?

Was her day running on 30+ hours?

Compared to her, Takeru felt like the biggest amateur in time management.

Why is he staring at me like that? Have we met before?

Nanami noticed him watching, but didn’t recognize him—his makeup had done its job.

He looked kind of familiar, but she brushed it off. After all, she met all kinds of weirdos working this many jobs.

“Four tickets, please,” Tsubasa said, stepping forward.

“Four? Got it.”

Nanami handed over the tickets without missing a beat.

As Tsubasa returned with them, the rest passed him money.

Takeru and Maki paid as usual, but Tsubasa hesitated with Nagisa—she was his girlfriend, after all, and he hadn’t planned to accept hers.

But Nagisa insisted, and he had no choice but to take it.

“Before you begin,” Nanami offered kindly, “I recommend using the restroom first. This haunted house is very scary.”

“Lots of visitors wet themselves or worse.”

Takeru and Maki exchanged glances—and immediately asked for the restroom.

Takeru finished first and waited by the sinks for Maki.

About five or six minutes later, she emerged.

“Takeru! Why didn’t you say no?!”

“Maki! Why is your boyfriend’s girlfriend on your date?!”

Without anyone else around, they both snapped at each other the second they met up again.

And then they froze, speaking in sync:

“I only came because—”

Their eyes locked. Neither of them spoke again.

It felt like a game of chicken.

“I’ll go first.”

Takeru raised his hand like a student in class, cutting Maki off.

“I figured haunted houses were the perfect atmosphere for a couple.”

He’d already prepared his answer.

Maki raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

“It’s dark inside, right?”

“You get scared, grab hands, maybe even hug. Totally natural, right?”

“Even if Kashiwagi-san sees, she can’t say anything.”

“I’ll handle her. The rest... Maki, you know what to do.”

The picture Takeru painted was so tempting that Maki’s smile started tugging upward.

She was already lost in the fantasy.

That slight, dreamy upturn of her lips? Harder to suppress than an AK on a battlefield.

Realizing this, Maki quickly folded her arms and turned away with a huff.

“Hmph! You make it sound like I’m scared or something. I, Shijō—”

“Maki.”

Before she could finish, Takeru channeled Uchiha Itachi and tapped her forehead firmly.

“W-What was that for?!”

Maki rubbed her forehead, glaring at him.

“You’re always so hesitant. That’s why someone else ends up taking the person you like.”

“Love doesn’t wait—it’s something you fight for.”

Maki mumbled, “Girls can’t be the ones chasing.”

“Says who?”

He didn’t know when exactly it started, this idea that girls taking initiative was cheap.

That they had to be reserved, demure, passive.

But the truth was:

“In love, someone has to lower their guard first.”

“There’s no shame in being the first to express it.”

“If you love someone—run to them. Don’t walk.”

“If all you do is wait and watch, you’ll lose them.”

“You like Tsubasa so much—how can you let some random stranger take him away?”

Takeru had always believed the worst kind of heartbreak wasn’t never being together.

It was almost being together.

That was what hurt the most.

“So go for it. Even if you fail, it’s better than missing your chance.”

“Because if you miss it... that’s it.”

“But what if—what if Tsubasa doesn’t like me?” Maki’s voice was barely above a whisper.

Takeru’s words had cut straight to her fears.

“What if he rejects me?”

She was finally letting down her walls.

The proud, dazzling Shijō Maki was suddenly just a fragile girl, raw and uncertain.

She was scared.

Terrified of hearing “I don’t like you” from the person she cared about.

All that strength she wore on the outside was just a shell.

Inside, she was like a stray cat—skittish, guarded, but desperate to be loved.

“So what if he doesn’t?”

Takeru smiled and gently rested his hand on her head.

No ruffling—just a soft tap, careful not to mess up her hair.

“You’ve already shown courage just by trying. If anyone should regret it, it’s him.”

“He might meet girls prettier or smarter later—but no one will ever love him like you do.”

Blushing, Maki turned away.

“I-It’s not like I like him that much. Just a little.”

“Sure, sure.”

Takeru chuckled and started pulling his hand back—only for Maki to suddenly grab it.

“Huh?”

“You’re the one who encouraged me, so…”

Maki still wouldn’t look at him, mumbling as if to the air.

“If I get rejected… you’d better take responsibility.”

“...Huh?!”

Takeru’s jaw dropped.

Wait a minute, miss.

Your feelings, your confession—and now it’s my fault if it fails?

What kind of twisted logic is that?

This isn’t romantic—this is emotional blackmail!

No wonder you and Kashiwagi get along.

Maki’s teary eyes turned up toward him, fierce but pleading.

“Okay?”

“...”

Takeru said nothing.

He couldn’t promise her anything.

Because all of this—his name, his persona, this whole setup—was fake.

Shijō Maki didn’t know his real name.

Didn’t know the real him.

Even their first meeting was a calculated act.

This wouldn’t last.

And he couldn’t be the one to “take responsibility” for a broken heart.

Not hers.

He was about to change the subject when a voice called out:

“You guys are slow! What’s taking so long?”

Takeru yanked his hand back like he’d been shocked.

“Sorry. Got a call.”

Maki’s face instantly twisted with frustration. Why does she always interrupt at the worst time?

Takeru nudged her lightly with his shoulder. She forced her face back into a neutral expression.

“Let’s get a photo before you go in,” Nanami said, holding up a camera.

Takeru frowned. “Is that... part of the deal?”

Her voice... why did it sound familiar?

He wasn’t a professional voice actor, but even with his altered tone, Nanami’s ear picked up the resemblance.

“I mean, no. But lots of customers like before-and-after pics. It makes for a fun keepsake,” she said—staring right at him.

Did she figure it out?

Just in case, Takeru waved her over.

Nanami hesitated but leaned in.

Takeru dropped the act and whispered with his real voice:

“Nanami. You don’t want to lose your job, do you?”

Her pupils shrank.

It’s the manager!

Ugh. Caught again.

“Manager… please don’t.”

She gripped his hand with both of hers, pleading.

“How many times is this now?”

Nanami: {>~<}

“Fine. Pretend I’m just a normal customer. Don’t blow my cover.”

He had no intention of reporting her. Let the girl overwork herself if she wanted to.

He wasn’t the one her teachers would call.

“Respectable guests! Hurry up, we’re waiting on you!” Maki’s voice called.

“Coming!”

Takeru jogged over.

The photo they took was full of laughter and smiles.

Proof they went in happy.

The smiles didn’t last ten seconds.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!”

Someone bolted out screaming.

Someone else crawled out, face twisted in terror.

Another was carried out, eyes blank, foaming at the mouth.

Takeru even spotted a few people who’d actually wet themselves.

So Nanami wasn’t joking…

“Wow… it’s really that scary?” Even Tsubasa was nervous now.

“Scared already, Tsubasa?”

Maki lifted her chin like a proud swan.

“So cowardly~”

“Fine, just this once—I’ll let you hold my hand.”

She sounded all high and mighty, but her trembling hands betrayed her.

“I shouldn’t…”

Tsubasa’s eyes kept darting toward Nagisa.

Clearly, if he was holding hands, he’d rather it be his girlfriend.

“What’s the problem? Maki’s not a stranger,” Nagisa said cheerfully.

As if she didn’t mind at all.

...She’s seriously this chill?

Takeru glanced at Maki.

Don’t ask me!

Even she hadn’t expected Nagisa to be this... generous.

Willing to lend out her boyfriend?

“Your turn,” Nanami called. “Enjoy our ‘Ju-on’–themed horror maze.”

As the four of them filed in—Maki holding Tsubasa’s hand, Tsubasa holding Nagisa’s, Nagisa holding Takeru’s—Nanami stared at the monitor and blinked.

What kind of relationship… even is this?

Was this some new kind of progressive dating?

Takeru hung back a little, watching the human chain in front of him.

Everyone was linked.

Maki held him, who held her, who held me.

He was thrilled.

Ah, yes.

He lived for this kind of triangle drama.

Last time he had this much fun watching a love web, it was Temptation of Going Home.

Just as he was wondering who was "Eri" and who was "Utaha," something soft slipped into his hand.

His fingers instinctively squeezed.

“Ah!”

In the dark, Nagisa let out a strange little yelp.

“You okay, Nagisa?”

“I-I’m fine. Just bumped something.”

Takeru: “…”

Yeah.

He knew what he just grabbed.

Meanwhile, Nanami was staring at the monitor again.

Maki holding Tsubasa. Tsubasa holding Nagisa. Nagisa holding Takeru.

She frowned.

What kind of weird four-way relationship is this...?

They were definitely dating in a new way.

---

T/N: IMAGERS PLEASEEE

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!