Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [67]

Kitahara Takeru had no idea that in this very moment, multiple girls were watching him with rapt attention.

Right now, he had completely shed his usual slacker attitude. His expression was focused, rare in its sincerity, as he softly sang “Lemon.”

Technically speaking, he’d been dragged onstage by Kamikawa Rie—this wasn’t his idea.

But once Takeru decided to compete, he gave it his all.

Not just out of respect for his opponents, but because that’s simply who he was.

He was the type of person who, if he was going to do something, he’d do it right.

What have you been through?
What have you seen?
That look on your face—I’ve never seen it before.

Where are you now?

Unlike the excited buzz during Hoshino Ai’s performance, the mood now was different.

There was no frenzy, no screaming.

Instead, the audience quietly listened.

As though they were attending a true concert.

Enveloped in the texture of Takeru’s unique timbre and magnetic voice, people closed their eyes, feeling as if a soft ocean breeze was blowing across a summer shoreline—filled with a faint, bitter tang like lemon zest.

Truly great music can alter a person’s mood.

And here and now, that power was on full display.

Some of the audience, familiar with Lemon, quietly hummed along with him.

It felt less like a mall talent show and more like Kitahara Takeru’s solo concert.

The lyrics scrolled across the screen as Takeru’s voice deepened, his gaze somber:

The sadness of that day,
And the pain of that day,
Along with my love for all of it,

Have all become the deeply etched scent
Of bitter lemons in my heart.

Until the sky clears after the rain,
I cannot return.
Like half a lemon, sliced open—
Even now,
You are still my light.

As the final word fell, he lowered the mic.

At that exact moment, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

On the first floor—Komi Shouko, Tadano Hitohito, Nagatsuma Natsumi.

On the second—Fujiwara Chika.

On the third—Kashiwagi Nagisa and Shijō Maki.

All clapped at once.

Kamikawa Rie clapped hardest of all, her palms red and stinging without her even noticing.

Her eyes sparkled as she stared up at the boy on stage, dressed in a crisp white shirt, standing tall.

It was as if the sunlight itself favored him—casting a golden glow over his face.

Just standing there, he became the center of her world—every youthful heartbeat, every flutter of innocent affection, anchored to him.

“Perfect! This episode is gold—ratings are gonna explode!” The director slapped his thigh in excitement.

Even though the result was wildly different from what he’d scripted, this kind of twist was exactly what audiences clicked for.

Now, what to call the episode…?

“Shocking! Random Nobody Crushes Top Idol?”

---

On the second floor, Shinomiya Kaguya stared intently at Takeru for a long time before finally looking away. Her voice was flat: “Let’s go. Keep shopping.”

“Kaguya, did you see that?! That guy was seriously hot!” Fujiwara Chika grabbed her arm, nearly squealing.

Only fellow face-fans would understand just how good he sounded.

“I wonder what his name is~”

“Kaguya, what kind of girl do you think he likes? If he likes my type and confessed to me… ehehehe~”

The more Kaguya listened, the more absurd it sounded.

You don’t even know his name, and you’re already fantasizing about him confessing to you?

The sun hasn’t even set, and you’re dreaming already.

“He wouldn’t go for you,” Kaguya said coolly. Completely unbothered that she was brushing off her own best friend.

“Why not?”

Kaguya tilted her chin ever so slightly, a flicker of smugness hidden beneath her calm tone. “Because he likes me.”

Fujiwara Chika: “…”

When no reply came for a while, Kaguya glanced sideways.

Only to find Fujiwara Chika looking at her with concern—the same expression someone might use to comfort a terminally ill patient who refused treatment.

That look annoyed her.

“What’s with that face?”

How dare you?

Was she being doubted?

Chika looked away, expression apologetic. “Nothing.”

Which only pissed Kaguya off more.

“He did confess to me. Kamikawa Rie was there.”

“What’s his name then?”

“He’s… uh…”

Kaguya paused.

What was his name again? Something with ‘Takeru’?

She had heard Kamikawa Rie yelling “Takeru!” over and over, but never paid attention to his full name.

I think she said it once… but what was it?

Kaguya had a phenomenal memory—if she saw a photo she liked, she could memorize it instantly and mentally file it away.

But for things that didn’t interest her?

She forgot them instantly.

Takeru had been in that “not interesting” category.

Even the idea of taking him in as her loyal dog had only been to spite Kamikawa Rie—not because she genuinely cared.

So Kaguya’s actually that full of herself, Chika thought, quietly amused.

Didn’t even know the guy’s name, and she’s claiming he confessed to her?

Chika would admit—Kaguya was beautiful.

But with that ice-queen personality? What guy would even dare to confess?

Just sticking a letter in her shoe locker was already a brave act.

Confess face-to-face?

Yeah right.

---

After the performances, all the contestants were called back to the stage.

“That was amazing! Kitahara-kun, I think I just became your fan~” Hoshino Ai joked lightly.

She had removed her mask and sunglasses, revealing her face in full.

Her features were delicate—thin brows, gentle eyes, a nose like a mountain ridge carved in soft stone, her brows like brushstrokes in ink. But the most striking thing?

Her eyes—shimmering with star-shaped sparkles.

Takeru’s internal reaction:

Someone check her ancestry. I swear she’s a leftover Uchiha.

Though she was petite, her proportions were excellent. You didn’t feel her height was lacking at all.

She was, quite literally, born to be an idol.

“Security! Where’s security?!” Takeru suddenly shouted, spinning around.

Everyone—including the host—looked at him in confusion.

Then two guards hesitantly stepped out.

Takeru crossed his arms and sighed. “Seriously? You let a sasaeng fan in? Take her away, take her away!”

The crowd fell silent for a beat… and then erupted in laughter and cheers.

“Yeah! What if this sasaeng hurts our geigei? Who’s gonna take responsibility then?”

“Escort her out! Escort her out!”

“We’ll let it go this time. But next time, watch it.”

“Our geigei doesn’t go looking for trouble—but we never back down!”

…

The host caught on quickly and played along. “Didn’t you hear our star speak? Security, remove her!”

The guards finally got the memo and each grabbed one of Hoshino Ai’s arms—lifting her clean off the ground, much to her utter confusion.

Oh no, she thought, I just got turned into a sasaeng.

---

T/N: sasaeng is stalker fan

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!