Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [85]

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Kitahara Takeru was still grinning like an idiot, proudly holding up the giant fish when he saw Shirogane Kei giving him a look like he was literal scum. He was completely baffled.

Kei’s tone was cold. “Nothing.”

This shameless senpai.

She had actually felt sorry for him just a moment ago.

But now it all felt like an act.

Just a show to trick gullible, overly sympathetic girls.

So close... she’d almost fallen for it.

“I’m taking the photo. Ready. Done.”

Kei didn’t even count down—just lifted the phone and snapped a quick, careless picture before throwing it back at him.

Yes, threw.

The phone landed on the fish, nearly slipping off, but Takeru managed to catch it against his chest in time.

“Let’s go. It’s getting late.”

Now that she knew her supposedly admirable senpai was a certified playboy, Kei had lost all interest in fishing. She just wanted to go home.

What the hell is her deal?

Takeru was completely confused.

Everything had been fine—why the sudden switch?

Did her period start or something?

Forget it. Not worth figuring out.

Takeru didn’t dwell. Instead, still in high spirits, he posted his triumphant photo on Twitter:

“Sixteen. No family name to rely on, no parents to support me. Just my own strength—and I caught a ten-pound fish.” [Image.jpg]

The post blew up almost instantly.

[Rie]: Too hot to handle! 🔥🔥🔥

[Takeru → Rie]: 😎

[Kōta]: If this were real life, I’d admit you’re impressive. But online? Anyone with hands can do it!

[Takeru → Kōta]: Let’s settle this IRL, you coward. 🤜🤛

[Shōta]: I don’t know much about fishing, but I’ve seen the word “空军” a lot. It’s probably a compliment, right? So I sincerely wish all anglers remain 空军 every day.

[Takeru → Shōta]: What the hell, you dumb kid? 😂

[FishingBoomer]: You buy that fish just for this post? Damn, you really went all in.

[Takeru → FishingBoomer]: Don’t be jealous. I’m not accepting disciples.

[FishingBoomer → Takeru]: ???

[Kitagawa Marin]: So you were fishing?! Next time, take me with you!

[Takeru → Marin]: ok!

[Watanabe Akari]: It’s just a fish. Do you have to act like you’ve never seen one before?

Normally, Takeru wouldn’t bother replying to Watanabe Akari.

But he was in a good mood today.

[Takeru → Watanabe Akari]: You don’t fish—you don’t get it!

He’s so shameless…

Kei had added Takeru on LINE back when he promised to help her find work. She’d even marked him as a priority contact so she’d never miss his messages.

So, naturally, when he posted, her app notified her immediately.

And now, seeing her own fish—the one she caught—being claimed as his?

She was livid.

“Senpai, that was my fish!”

Takeru didn’t even look up. “My rod. My bait. I reeled it in. How exactly is it yours?”

“And what proof do you have it was you?”

Kei’s eyes went wide.

She had never met anyone this shameless.

Unbelievable. I have to expose him!

She furiously opened the app, ready to drop the truth in the comments—only to realize...

The post was gone.

Wait... did he block me?

She assumed she’d been blocked.

But then noticed—his other posts were still visible.

Confused, she glanced up at Takeru. And saw it.

He was sweating bullets.

[Ryūtō Momo]: How lovely—you even had time to go fishing?

[Takeru → Momo]: Dearest Momo-san, this big catch is my humble offering to you. Please accept it! 🙇

[Kashiwagi Nagisa]: Takeru, you really are a charmer~

Takeru glanced at Momo’s comment, then Nagisa’s, and only then did it dawn on him—

He forgot to restrict visibility.

His Twitter account was full of sugar mom—ahem, benefactors.

If they started chatting in the same comment thread...

His back instantly soaked in cold sweat.

He quickly deleted the post.

How many of them saw it?!
Did Kasumigaoka Utaha see it?
Did Eriri? Shijō Maki??

At that moment, Takeru admitted it.

He was panicking.

Buzz buzz.

His phone vibrated again.

A message—from Ryūtō Momo.

[Momo]: How do you have Kashiwagi Nagisa’s contact info?

Takeru’s brain went into overdrive.

Lie?

The thought was immediately discarded.

Momo and Nagisa went to the same school. Even if they weren’t close, any lie could be easily exposed.

After a moment’s thought, he replied:

[Takeru]: She said she likes me.

In the shade of a beautifully manicured garden, surrounded by fragrant blossoms, Ryūtō Momo paused.

Her hand had been hovering over the go stone jar, ready to pull a white stone.
Instead, she grabbed her phone.

[Momo]: Explain.

[Takeru]: You know my parents died early. My relatives don’t care about me. I’ve been supporting myself in Tokyo through part-time jobs.

Step one: play the tragic card.

Though “playing” wasn’t quite right.

That had been his reality when he first transmigrated into this body.

Other isekai protagonists got orphaned with perks: sisters, mansions, looks, and wealth.

He got orphaned with debt, zero family, zero house, and an empty bank account.

It was like God gave him desert-level difficulty and said “good luck.”

If it weren’t for the system, he would’ve considered hitting the reset button.

Momo couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sympathy.

She hadn’t looked too deeply into his background—but she remembered, back when she took him to Shuchi'in, he’d asked her about financial aid and scholarship programs.

If his family situation wasn’t rough, why would he ask those things?

[Takeru]: I used to work at a convenience store. The pay sucked. A friend introduced me to rental boyfriend work—it paid better.

Rental... boyfriend?

Momo was confused.

Before she could ask, a gentle, composed female voice spoke up:

“It’s a new type of dating service, for people who struggle with romantic relationships or social interaction. You can choose your 'girlfriend'—or boyfriend—for about 5,000 yen an hour.”

“I thought only women did that sort of work. Didn’t know guys did it too.”

Momo looked up to find that the senpai across from her—Koyasu Tsubame—had snuck over and was now peeking at her phone.

“Tsubame-senpai?”

Momo sighed.

If it had been anyone else, she’d have snapped.
But this was Koyasu Tsubame. No other girl dared even approach her like this.

“Sorry,” Tsubame said sheepishly. “You were glued to your phone and wouldn’t respond, so I came over. If you don’t want me looking—”

“No, it’s fine.”

Momo didn’t mind.

“He messaged again.”

Tsubame pointed at her phone helpfully.

Momo looked down.

[Takeru]: The job was easy money. Then one day, my company assigned me to Shijō Maki.

Shijō Maki again.

Why her, of all people?

Suddenly, Momo recalled something Takeru had once said to her:

"Let’s say—just hypothetically—the guy you want to protect ends up involved with the Shijō family, the Kashiwagi family, and maybe, someday, even pisses off the Shinomiya family. Could you still protect him?"

Now it all made sense.

[Takeru]: One thing led to another, and I met Kashiwagi Nagisa. She said she liked me. I turned her down. But she threatened to expose me if I didn’t respond instantly to messages, answer every call, and keep her in my contacts.

Momo whispered, “So that’s what happened...”

Now it all fit.

She turned to Koyasu Tsubame, who had been munching on the drama with enthusiasm.

“Tsubame-senpai, how much do you know about Kashiwagi Nagisa?”

Momo’s father had ties with Nagisa’s parents, but she didn’t know the girl well.

She always thought Nagisa had too many hidden thoughts.

Nagisa, in turn, thought Momo was cold and unapproachable.

They were both VIPs at Shuchiin—but barely interacted.

“Kashiwagi-san?” Tsubame tapped her chin.

“She’s cute. Seems sweet. Smart and calculated. But also... easily swayed by others.”

“But,” Tsubame paused, uncertain.

Momo waited in silence.

“This is just my impression, okay?”

Tsubame leaned in.

“I think she has an intense admiration—maybe even obsession—with Shijō Maki. Almost... a twisted need to become her.”

“...???”

Momo froze.

Wait, what?

Admiration and... obsession?

“Sen-senpai... are you saying... Kashiwagi Nagisa... she likes... Maki?!”

She stuttered to a stop, unable to say it aloud.

Unreal.

Today’s revelations were just too much.

A girl-crush... in our school?

Tsubame nodded solemnly. “Mhm.”

After a long pause, Momo frowned. “But that doesn’t make sense.”

“If she likes her, why claim she likes Kitahara Takeru?”

Wouldn’t that make them rivals, not love interests?

“Maybe... she got jealous seeing him getting close to Maki, so she said that out of spite?” Tsubame shrugged. “Who knows? Only they do.”

Back on Takeru’s side.

Still no reply from Momo.

So he went to respond to someone else.

[Shijō Maki]: Takeru, why did that guy post on your account like it’s his? It looked like his phone.

“Knew it... she saw it too.”

Takeru massaged his temples.

He’d deleted the post fast—but not fast enough.

And there were still more benefactors over in Chiba he hadn’t heard from yet.

Did they see it too?!

“Damn it, why’d I even post it?!”

Takeru was regretting everything.

“Serves you right.”

Kei, watching his meltdown, looked delighted.

You deserve this.

That’s what you get for being a flirt.

This is karma for cheating hearts.

“You think this is funny?” Takeru muttered, tossing the fish at her.

Kei scrambled to catch it.

The fish squirmed wildly in her arms.

Not caring if it stained her clothes, she clutched it tightly, fighting to keep it from flopping away.

“Help me pack the gear.”

Takeru had already turned to reply to Maki.

“Why me?!”

“Because I’m your boss. I got you that translation gig.”

Takeru didn’t even look at her.

“You don’t want more jobs, do you?”

Despicable!

This shameless senpai!

He wasn’t even pretending anymore. Just straight-up blackmail.

“I could just quit!”

Takeru chuckled and dropped the ultimate capitalistic mic drop:

“If you don’t do it, someone else will.”

“Before you talk big, maybe remember what kind of household you come from.”

With a family like hers... he genuinely didn’t know where her confidence came from.

Too many Gen Z workplace clips on TikTok?

“If you really think it doesn’t matter—then go ahead. Quit.”

Kei fell silent.

She’d sobered up a bit.

Still, she glared at him with barely restrained fury.

But in the end, she quietly started packing the tackle.

Takeru glanced at her and smiled—just a little.

Not bad.

All things considered, he was satisfied with this kid.

At least it made helping her feel worthwhile.

If Kei had really stormed off, he wouldn’t have stopped her.

As for why he helped her?

Maybe because... he saw something of his past self in her.

He’d been through the storm. And when he saw someone else caught in it, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could offer an umbrella.

He’s definitely up to something.

Every time Takeru smiled, Kei got chills.

She just knew he was plotting something shady.

---

T/N: heh he got too caught up in bragging, something id do ngl

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!