WiseTL

Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [100]

"Let me introduce myself—Kitahara Takeru, Tiny’s owner."

---

Morning light filtered in as Nakano Miku sat dazed on her bed, hair a mess, her body still heavy with sleep. Her eyes stared blankly at the wall, replaying the scene from last night—of the silver-haired, earring-wearing delinquent boy cornering her against the wall and uttering that line.

In truth, Kitahara hadn’t done anything to her. He hadn’t even taken Tiny with him.

He’d shown up like a wande...

Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [99]

Where the hell did it make all these dog connections?

Kitahara Takeru looked around at the circle of dogs surrounding him, his expression twitching with visible confusion.

Sure, he had arranged with Tiny to meet here at 8:30 p.m. on Friday—but he had no idea what kind of plan the mutt had cooked up.

All Tiny said was that everything was “arranged,” and he just needed to bring a wooden sword.

Kitahara didn’t understand why he had to bring a bok...

Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [98]

That night, after dinner at a random Western-style restaurant, Kitahara Takeru and the other three parted ways and headed home.

This time, instead of taking the train, Kitahara got into the car that had come to pick up Shijō Maki.

A Maybach 62s.

Kitahara’s favorite model.

Maybe the Maybach wasn’t the fastest car in the world, but it was the only one to ever race out of the Nibelungen.

He truly believed—there wasn’t a single guy alive who could refuse a M...

Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [97]

For Shijō Maki, the movie was a delightful ride from beginning to end.

For Kitahara Takeru, it was pure stress.

He was terrified.

Terrified that Tanuma Tsubasa might look over and see something he shouldn’t.

Thankfully, Shijō Maki was on point.

During the entire second half, she kept Tanuma chatting non-stop, successfully keeping his attention away from their row. He didn’t even glance in their direction.

“I’m back~”

It wasn’t until the ...

Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [96]

Iino Miko looked completely high — eyes glazed over, throat working with unconscious swallows.

Kitahara Takeru and Kashiwagi Nagisa stared at her like two idiots, eyes fixed, watching to see when the girl would finally notice.

But Iino Miko didn’t register she was being watched at all — not until her forehead bumped into Kashiwagi Nagisa’s chin. She blinked in confusion and finally looked up.

And the first thing she saw was—

Kitahara Takeru: ( ?_? )

Kas...

Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [510]

At the thought of this, even Alder—who’d grown accustomed to dumping all his work onto the Elite Four and wandering freely—began feeling restless.

This was a failure on his part as Champion.

It further solidified his determination to step down from his role. But then, who could become the next Champion?

Suddenly, Alder’s eyes brightened as a brilliant idea struck him, and he quickly turned to August.

August, meanwhile, was busy soothing Mew, who was impatiently...

Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [509]

Compared to when they'd first set out, August’s group returned from Liberty Garden Island with two visibly depressed members.

One was Gary, utterly heartbroken by Victini—the Pokémon he'd longed for—rejecting him outright to cozy up to August instead.

The other was Zinnia, whose previous excitement had evaporated, leaving her consumed with anxiety over August’s threats to reclaim Rayquaza.

Ignoring both of them, August turned his attention to Sage Rood, now thorough...

Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [508]

When August returned to the hotel, the first thing he saw was Zinnia gently cradling Rayquaza's Poké Ball, meticulously polishing it with a cloth.

The Master Ball shone brightly under her care, reflecting her devoted expression.

Watching Zinnia, Gary shook his head helplessly.

He couldn’t fathom Zinnia’s obsession with Rayquaza, especially when it allowed August to wrap her around his little finger so effortlessly. As far as he was concerned, Rayquaza was nothing specia...

Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [507]

Gary had no idea what exactly Nate had learned, but he refused to appear clueless.

So Gary put on an act, nodding sagely as if to say, “Glad you figured it out.”

Meanwhile, August had already handed the list over to Gardevoir. “Gardevoir, pick one!”

Gardevoir tilted her head curiously, but since August asked her to choose...

After a moment of thought, she pointed to a location on the list.

“Alright, here it is. Let’s go!” August glanced bac...

Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [506]

“Yours? What’s yours?” August gave Gary a strange look.

Seeing August playing dumb, Gary’s eyes widened incredulously. Still unwilling to believe August could be this shameless, he held onto a final shred of hope and said, “My ice cream, of course!”

At Gary’s words, August suddenly looked enlightened and raised the other ice cream in his hand. “Oh, you mean this one?”

Gary nodded.

Then, right before Gary's eyes, August took a big bite, replying solemn...

Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [280]

“Elias, about Dialga and Palkia’s whereabouts—you asked me to keep an eye out, right?”

“I think we’ve got a lead now.”

Gardevoir held up her communicator, speaking quietly to Elias.

Curious, Elias leaned closer, eyes lighting up as he scanned the information.

“Kanto region? What are the odds…?”

He was slightly surprised. According to Gardevoir’s intel, after escaping from Giratina’s grasp, the two legendary dragons had fl...

Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [279]

“Team Rocket’s base?!”

Diantha briefly suspected she'd misheard.

Sinnoh’s esteemed Champion—the righteous figure constantly promoted by the Pokémon League—not only neglected her duties in Sinnoh, but was currently staying at Team Rocket’s headquarters?

Although Cynthia’s voice had a teasing undertone, Diantha had a strong feeling she wasn't joking this time.

“Hold on, let me process this…”

Suddenly, as if something had occurred to her, Dian...

Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [278]

“The Masked Corps is under your control now?”

Hearing this, Giovanni glanced curiously at Gardevoir.

He vaguely remembered someone mentioning earlier that Elias’s Gardevoir had connections to the Masked Corps, but he'd paid little attention at the time.

Now, hearing it from Gardevoir herself, Giovanni became genuinely intrigued.

“Of course.”

Gardevoir proudly lifted her head upon hearing his inquiry.

“For the past few years, I’ve been the lead...

Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [277]

If Zoroark had been present in the building right now, she’d have been startled to find that Mew’s current resentment was practically on par with hers.

Still pinned to the wall by psychic power, Mew glared furiously at Mewtwo, eyes practically spitting flames.

That ungrateful daughter! Ungrateful daughter!

“Mmm! Mmmph! (How could you dare do something like that?!)”

Squirming indignantly, Mew accused Mewtwo in muffled outrage.

Earlier, ri...

Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [276]

Elias, likewise, couldn’t immediately process what was happening.

From the moment his vision was blocked to feeling something soft and slightly damp brush his lips—only a few seconds had passed.

What on earth is this silly kitten doing…?

But soon after, Elias realized something wasn’t right.

Mew had been in front of him the whole time, so who exactly was covering his eyes from behind?

Moreover…

The soft, velvety paw pads pressing gently a...

Honkai: Star Rail — New Rider Powers Every Week [90]

Entropy Loss Syndrome.

In the entire galaxy, this was an extremely rare disease—one nearly impossible to cure.

Those afflicted would gradually fade away from perception, their molecular structure irreversibly dissolving into nothingness.

Robin watched with anxious anticipation as Sora lay down inside the medical pod.

Under the robot’s operation, he soon fell peacefully into sleep.

Looking at Sora's serene sleeping face, Robin still couldn't comprehend how he ...

Honkai: Star Rail — New Rider Powers Every Week [89]

“So that’s how it is… close combat was actually that simple?”

“As expected of Sora-senpai, you explained everything so clearly!”

“I never realized throwing a proper punch had so many layers. At most, I reached only the second level. I thought Sora-san was at the first, but it turns out he’s already at the fifth!”

On an open training field, Sora couldn’t help coughing lightly as the reserve squad’s chatter buzzed excitedly around him.

At his quiet ...

Honkai: Star Rail — New Rider Powers Every Week [88]

“They went out of control because they detected the presence of a breeding swarm…”

Serus stared at the error messages flickering before him, deep in thought. “That means the swarm has finally appeared nearby.”

As he spoke, his mechanical form seemed almost pleased, his hands quickly tapping in midair as if performing precise calculations.

“This proves my actions were absolutely correct—the margin of error was less than twenty percent.”

“What a pity th...

Honkai: Star Rail — New Rider Powers Every Week [87]

The insect-infested planet eventually found salvation.

Since the swarm attacking the planet was relatively small, the surviving Iron Cavalry managed to eliminate them after some effort.

All that remained were signs of the devastation wrought by the swarm, and the departing figures of the Iron Cavalry.

Those figures were engraved deeply into a young boy's heart.

The child gradually grew up and entered academia, pursuing knowledge. During his studies, he stumbled upon so...

Honkai: Star Rail — New Rider Powers Every Week [86]

One by one, these familiar characteristics emerged clearly between two distinct figures.

Their hair color, their facial features, their eyes—aside from their hair length, these two people were virtually identical.

To an outsider’s eye, they appeared like sisters.

But why would such an eerie coincidence appear here, of all places?

Robin couldn’t shake her confusion. Yet, as Sora dismantled one suit of rampaging armor after another, what emerged next made ...

Trapped in Honkai: Integrated Strategies [15]

Theresa fell silent.

She had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

"So… does that mean you don't have anywhere to go right now?"

"...No."

"I could always return to the space I used to avoid those vines earlier. It looks just like home there—except there's no one else around."

Theresa's guilt instantly intensified. She imagined herself waking up in the middle of the night just to slap herself if she left the girl here alone.

"If… If you do...

Trapped in Honkai: Integrated Strategies [14]

With the passage of time, the residual Honkai energy Yuna forcibly left behind gradually dissipated, and the rampaging vines slowly lost their strength.

During this period, Theresa occasionally peeked out from within the [Oath of Judah] to check the surroundings, while Lyra observed everything from within her system space.

Finally, after more than an hour, the vines ceased their relentless attacks and collapsed limply onto the field, as if they'd lost all support....

Trapped in Honkai: Integrated Strategies [13]

"No way!"

Theresa felt as though her words had inadvertently struck some nerve in the petite, black-haired girl, who suddenly raised her head sharply, tears shimmering in her eyes.

"I can fight! I want to fight alongside you!"

The girl clutched desperately onto Theresa's sleeve, clearly unwilling to let go until she agreed.

"Fine, just stay close to me."

"Her power lies in her vines and the deadly toxins they carry, but don't worry—[Judah] will...

Trapped in Honkai: Integrated Strategies [12]

Night fell, and Yuna, who was dozing in the school building, jolted awake.

She rubbed her bleary eyes and glanced outside, towards the spot where that shorty who’d previously attacked her had left behind her weapon.

Normally, if it had been any other weapon, Yuna would've just let it be. But everyone knew the [Oath of Judah] was a Key of Binding—on Yuna's Honkai-sensing map, it stood out like an annoying stain she just couldn’t scrub away.

And now, in ...

Trapped in Honkai: Integrated Strategies [11]

Five minutes later.

"Something’s not right."

Lyra sat atop a building rooftop, deep in thought.

[Hmm? What's wrong?]

"My brain," Lyra replied blankly. "I just realized...I don't know the way?"

[?]

[Host, you marched ahead so confidently despite being lost? I assumed you had a plan!]

"Ahaha...having a plan and being directiona...

Arknights: I Became a Mobile City, but It’s a Lobotomy City [95]

You're a Vampire?

When Don Quixote raised his eyes to gaze at Duq'arael, he couldn't help but furrow his brow deeply.

Then what am I?

As a Bloodfiend Elder himself, Don Quixote should be able to clearly sense the bloodthirst of other Bloodfiends—even those who were Elders like himself, at least to some small extent.

Even here, in Kazdel, the bloodlust of the scattered few Bloodfiends from The City clearly reached him.

Yet what about this Duq'a...

Arknights: I Became a Mobile City, but It’s a Lobotomy City [94]

Sanguinarch of the Vampires, Duq'arael found everything outside the room unbearably noisy.

He hadn’t arrived at Scar Market for very long—whether passing through or due to Theresis’s suggestion—but upon arrival, the one-eyed Cyclops known as “Scar” had swiftly ushered him into this room.

Then, Scar had personally attended to him.

Scar was taking this meeting very seriously—perhaps out of fear. Duq'arael calmly eyed the towering Cyclops standing before him. Desp...

Arknights: I Became a Mobile City, but It’s a Lobotomy City [93]

Kazdel city was growing increasingly chaotic.

The primary reason behind this turmoil was probably the internal contradictions surfacing as the intensity of the civil war diminished. Naturally, the Sarkaz had all sorts of conflicting thoughts stirring within their hearts.

Through the Instructions, Suo Bismar could fully perceive these inner thoughts.

With this ability, combined with his formidable combat strength, Suo naturally found ample opportunities to make moves in Kazde...

Arknights: I Became a Mobile City, but It’s a Lobotomy City [92]

Nearl and Don Quixote’s first order of business ended up being to reach Kazdel proper.

After all, they needed directions. Although Don Quixote was brimming with determination to discipline those wayward Sarkaz mercenaries, he ultimately had no clue where to find their supposed "Fixer Association."

Thus, upon entering the city the next day, it took Don Quixote no time at all to locate the largest mercenary market nearby.

Scar Market—practically identical now to the "talen...

Arknights: I Became a Mobile City, but It’s a Lobotomy City [91]

After Theresa voiced her decision with such firm conviction, Theresis involuntarily turned his head back, gazing at her with complicated eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"The Head won’t offer overt assistance, but it has promised that The City will lend a helping hand. Even with just the existing entities and corporations from The City alone...they could already provide Kazdel with immense support."

Theresa exhaled softly, continuing: "This should have been agreed upon in previous ne...