Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [87]

After breakfast, as usual, Kitahara Takeru and Nakano Yotsuba began their morning run with Tiny on a leash.

Of course, from Kōha’s perspective, it was him taking them out for a stroll.

No helping it—these two were just way too slow. At this pace, even in the dog world, they’d miss the fresh turds.

Nakano Ichika didn’t join them.

She hadn’t slept a wink all night. If she tried running now, she’d probably drop dead on the spot.

Besides, even if she did run, she wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Takeru’s stamina was now 6, Yotsuba’s was already 6, while Ichika’s was just a 3. She’d be eating their dust.

After one lap around the park, a system chime rang in Takeru’s mind:

[You have new mail.]

He thought it was another temporary mission, but when he looked closer—it wasn’t a quest at all.

[Stamina: 5 → 6]

He had leveled up.

Just as he suspected.

Attributes could be improved not only through points but also through natural effort.

That was one of the reasons Takeru insisted on jogging every morning and pumping iron at the gym.

Talent alone doesn’t give you sculpted, knife-cut abs.

Working out isn’t like chasing girls.

With training, as long as you stay disciplined and put in the effort, you will see results.

But chasing girls? You could pour in time, effort, money—feed them gourmet meals, buy them cute clothes, bags, lipstick—and still end up realizing what it means to throw rocks into a lake.

Takeru ran a little more, then suddenly stopped.

Yotsuba noticed and slowed too, glancing at him curiously. “What’s wrong, Takeru? You tired already?”

That didn’t seem right.

He might not be as fast as her, but he could normally manage more than one lap.

Tiny also stopped, eyeing Takeru suspiciously.

Did some seductive female drain him dry while I was gone?

Is that why he’s so feeble now?

Takeru rotated his shoulder and said, “Yotsuba, let’s race.”

Never having beaten Yotsuba at running had always been a thorn in his side.

But now—now he was stronger.

It was time for redemption.

More than that, he just couldn’t feel the difference that came with leveling up. Everything felt the same. So he needed a control sample.

“Woof?”

Tiny was convinced his human had downed a bottle of baijiu, not soy milk, this morning.

You’re dreaming, right? You know your stats, don’t you?

“Takeru, maybe we shouldn’t…”

Yotsuba sounded hesitant.

She was worried she’d crush his confidence.

“Just once. I’ve been working hard lately.”

Today, I reclaim my pride.

Today, I blow her away.

“You’re really sure?”

“I am.”

“…Alright.”

Yotsuba saw his determination and gave in.

Once their breathing steadied, the two stood side by side and bent into starting position.

Takeru turned and said, “Yotsuba, this time go all out, okay?”

“Um… okay.”

She didn’t understand why he wanted a serious race, but since he asked, she wouldn’t hold back.

Tiny looked at the two, let out a sharp WOOF, and they shot off almost simultaneously.

They sprang forward like two cheetahs that had spotted prey.

Pia, pia, pia, pia— Takeru’s feet pounded against the pavement, arms pumping, stride accelerating.

Wind roared past his ears.

He flicked his eyes sideways to gauge her reaction—

—and immediately felt the air get knocked out of him.

Yotsuba was already a full body ahead.

What?! I leveled up!

We’re both at stamina 6! At worst, this should be neck and neck!

Why is she this much faster?

Who’s hacking here?!

Yotsuba held her lead all the way to their meeting spot under the pavilion before finally stopping.

“You two always run like that?”

Ichika watched them, both panting and drenched in sweat, her expression stunned.

That run was intense.

“Takeru, you’ve really improved.”

Yotsuba looked at him with admiration.

She still remembered their first run—he could barely keep up, always trailing behind.

Now, while he was still behind, he’d pushed her to go full force.

At this rate, it won’t be long before he passes me.

Guess I better take my own training more seriously, she thought.

Takeru collapsed onto the grass. “Sorry I couldn’t give you a real challenge, Lady Yotsuba.”

This race taught him something important: even among equal stats, there could be huge gaps.

He figured Yotsuba’s stamina was probably nearing 7, while his was just freshly into 6.

“You’re exaggerating,” Yotsuba said, reaching out a hand. “Come on, get up.”

He took her hand and pulled himself off the ground.

“Boring. Let’s head back.”

Takeru brushed the grass off his clothes and reached for Tiny’s leash—

But the dog slipped behind Yotsuba and placed the leash in her hand.

Takeru stared. “...You serious?”

You’ve been freeloading at their place for how long?

What, you’ve gotten used to it now? You don’t want to leave?

Tiny nodded solemnly.

Your place is too small. I want to live in a big house!

Takeru grinned through gritted teeth. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t get over here, I swear I’ll murder you.”

What happened to dogs don’t mind a humble home, huh?

You shallow mutt.

“Whiiine~”

Tiny’s face twisted in pitiful, human-like grievance.

He rubbed against Ichika’s leg, then tugged at Yotsuba’s pant leg, pawing at them like:

Look at him! Look at what he’s saying to me!

“Takeru, just let Tiny stay with us a little longer. We’re not busy right now anyway.”

Yotsuba, known for her soft heart, couldn’t say no.

Back in school, she could never turn people down—even more so with a cute dog like this.

Tiny gave one pitiful whine, and she was hugging him tight.

Then Ichika chimed in: “Takeru—I can call you that, right?”

Yotsuba pursed her lips at the nickname but said nothing.

“Tiny’s been so well-behaved with us. All my sisters love him. Why not leave him with us a while longer?”

“We’ll take good care of him.”

If I leave him any longer, he’s going to start signing papers under the name Nakano.

Takeru thought but didn’t say it.

And honestly, with how busy he’d gotten with his “appointments,” he didn’t have time for Tiny.

Unlike cats, dogs can’t just be left alone all day.

“Fine, drop the act. You win,” Takeru muttered to Tiny.

This damn dog was using his own pity tactics against him—stealing from the master’s playbook?

Tiny immediately dropped the act, slipped out of Yotsuba’s hug, and eagerly rubbed against Takeru’s leg.

Takeru bent down and whispered in a voice only one man and one dog could hear:

“How’s that thing I asked you to do?”

Tiny grinned wide.

That meant success.

“Figure out a way to get me face time with sisters Two, Three, and Five.”

Woof woof woof! (Leave it to me!)

Tiny had already devised foolproof “accidental encounter” strategies.

“When’s the op?”

Woof woof woof…

“This Friday?”

Woof woof!

“Who’s first?”

Woof woof woof!

“Nakano Miku?”

Right in front of Ichika and Yotsuba, the boy and the dog whispered conspiratorially about how to win over the sisters—one by one.

“They’re really close, huh?” Yotsuba said warmly.

She had no idea what kind of dark plan they were cooking up.

“Yeah,” Ichika agreed with a smile.

After saying goodbye to Tiny, Takeru returned home, showered, and changed into his Aoba uniform before heading to school on his motorbike.

Elsewhere, Katsura Kotonoha stepped into their usual train car, carrying a bottle of her special lemon tea—only to see the seat empty.

He’s not here today?

Her eyes dimmed slightly.

In the same car, Komi Shōko also lowered her head.

She’d planned to finally greet him this morning.

...

Class 1-A was as lively as ever.

As soon as Takeru pulled out his homework, Ōtani Shōta and Tanaka Kōta immediately grabbed the sheets they needed.

Copying away, they asked, “Takeru, how about going swimming this week?”

“Let me check.”

Takeru opened his memo app to look at his schedule.

“Nope. No time.”

Friday, he had to play wingman for Shijō Maki.

Saturday, he promised to see Kasumigaoka Utaha.

He’d been neglecting her lately, and if he skipped again, he’d risk cutting off a funding source.

Takeru knew this fake relationship wouldn’t last forever.

But not yet.

Probably not long with her and Sawamura Spencer Eriri either—someone else was bound to lose patience first.

Sunday, he was supposed to go to the convention with Kitagawa Marin and help with her cosplay photos.

Originally, she wasn’t even part of his “targets.”

He only agreed to help as a polite gesture.

But she took it seriously. Actually saved money for it.

Takeru didn’t want to go.

But he wasn’t sure if she’d do something like Kotonoha—like show up at his school.

And besides, she paid.

Money talks.

Ōtani grumbled. “You’re always busy. Last week too. What are you even doing?”

“Part-time Saturday. Sunday I’m going to the con with Kitagawa.”

Takeru saw no need to hide it.

“A con?”

“With Kitagawa?!”

Ōtani and Tanaka both froze, then lunged at him.

“You’re not dating her, are you?!”

“I thought you were all about ‘no women in the heart, blade flows like art’? Now you’re kissing girls?!”

Bro gets a girlfriend = bro is dead.

Everyone knows: once a brother gets a girlfriend, he’s commemorated every year with incense and tears.

“Hey, hey—who said I’m dating her? Don’t make stuff up.” Takeru swatted them off.

“I said my heart has no women. Not your surroundings.”

“I’m not listening! Unless you bring us along, we’re telling Kamikawa!”

“What’s it got to do with her?” Takeru frowned.

“I don’t need her permission.”

That pissed him off.

Acting like he was scared of her.

Even if they were dating, didn’t mean he didn’t have personal space.

What, they think he’s some whipped pushover?

He’d say this to her face.

“What are you guys talking about?” Kamikawa Rie returned from the bathroom, curious.

“Rie, Takeru’s going out with another girl this week—mmph!”

Takeru locked Ōtani in a chokehold. “They’re trying to drag me to a con. I didn’t want to go.”

“No, he’s—” Tanaka started, but got elbowed in the gut.

Even without full force, Takeru’s enhanced elbow packed a punch. Tanaka doubled over like a shrimp.

“Well, since you’re insisting, I guess I’ll go after all.” He smiled as Tanaka wheezed beside him.

“Go where? What’s even good about those places? You’re not allowed to go!” Rie snapped.

Takeru raised an eyebrow. “You trying to tell me what to do?”

“I… I’m just saying, it’s kinda messy at those places.”

She backpedaled fast.

“…Then how about you guys take me along?” she added, perking up.

“Your family’s gonna let you go to something like that?” Takeru asked.

“I’ll sneak out.”

She looked so proud of herself.

Hopeless. This girl's hopeless.

Then he thought of something. “Wait, didn’t you say you had a party this weekend?”

“You mean the Sawamura family thing? That’s Saturday.”

Sawamura...?

Surely not the Sawamura I’m thinking of. Japan’s not that small...

But an uneasy feeling crept up Takeru’s spine.

---

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!