Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [60]

“Kitahara-kun, here!”

Yotsuba sprinted up to him, pulling something out of her pocket before Takeru could even hand her breakfast. It was a beautifully packaged cookie, practically oozing charm just from the wrapping alone.

Takeru raised an eyebrow, pointing at himself. “For me?”

“Yup!”

Yotsuba nodded with the enthusiasm of a pecking chick.

“I’ve been eating your breakfast every day and haven’t really done anything to repay you.”

Takeru looked at her, his expression a little complicated.

This silly girl…

Didn’t she know? The most expensive things in the world are the ones that seem free.

“…Thanks. And here’s yours.”

Even though he felt a little guilty accepting it, he still took the cookie.

Worst case? He’d give her a discount when the bill came due.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri: ¥100,000.

Yotsuba: ¥99,000. Limited-time offer.

“What’s for breakfast today?”

Yotsuba took the paper bag from Takeru with a happy smile.

Lately, the thing she looked forward to most was the surprise of Takeru’s breakfast. It was like opening a mystery box every morning.

“Today’s glutinous rice cakes and tofu pudding,” Takeru replied, already biting into the soft, sticky cake. His voice came out muffled. “Salty.”

Yotsuba was just about to open her lunchbox when—smack—a paw landed on her hand.

She looked up to see Tiny, staring at her with big, soulful eyes.

If her human got a present, surely he should too, right?

Where was his?

The girl and the dog locked eyes.

Takeru couldn’t help laughing every time he saw this standoff.

“He’s asking for a gift.”

“Eh?”

Yotsuba blinked in confusion.

Tiny, seeing her reaction, widened his doggy eyes in disbelief.

Wait—nothing for me?!

“I’m so sorry, Tiny! I forgot to bring you something!”

Just as Yotsuba reached out to pet him, Tiny bared his teeth.

“Woof! Woof! Woof! (Don’t touch me, traitor!)”

Dogs hold grudges too.

Tiny barked loud and clear: As long as I live here, you are not stepping foot through the Kitahara door again!

“S-Sorry! I’ll go buy you some dog food right now!”

Takeru saw her actually standing up to leave and rubbed his temples. “Where are you gonna find dog food at this hour?”

Yotsuba paused, then looked at him for advice. “Th-Then what should I do?”

“On the way back, just grab a bottle of yogurt from the convenience store.”

“Woof! (Two bottles!)” Tiny barked.

Takeru glared at him. “It’s early. Don’t make me smack you.”

Tiny flinched, darting behind Yotsuba with a pitiful dog face.

Look at him! He’s so mean!

“There, there, don’t be sad.” Yotsuba gently patted Tiny’s head. “How about this—come home with me after our run? We still have some wagyu left over. I can feed it to you.”

Tiny’s eyes lit up.

Mom! This one’s my mom now! No one can stop me!

Takeru suddenly found his breakfast less tasty.

Feeding wagyu to a dog—wasn’t that a little much?

Even I don’t get to eat wagyu.

The only time he’d had it was when he crashed Utaha’s dinner.

Is this it? Is this what it means to be inferior to a dog?

Takeru couldn’t help but think back to what Katō Megumi had once said.

Was she a prophet or something?

Say, Yotsuba-san… you wouldn’t happen to need a dog, would you?

One that can use a smartphone, eat when he’s hungry, drink when he’s thirsty, come home when it rains, and sleep when he’s tired—a loyal golden retriever aged 394 months.

“You’re really letting him go home with her?”

After their jog, Takeru had intended to walk Yotsuba back.

But she adamantly refused—worried her sisters would see.

At the red light where they were supposed to part ways, Tiny clung to her leg and refused to let go.

Wherever “Mom Yotsuba” went, he would go too. No questions asked.

And if Takeru hadn’t known better, he might’ve believed the act.

“You trying to embarrass me in public?”

He stared down at the dog wailing like a banshee, hugging Yotsuba’s leg in broad daylight, and instantly regretted saving this mangy mutt.

Yotsuba scratched Tiny’s head. “Kitahara-kun, maybe… just let him come with me for a bit?”

She really did like Tiny.

She couldn’t own a dog herself, but taking care of one for a few days would be fine.

“No, you can’t—” Takeru stopped mid-sentence, remembering Yotsuba’s six-point stamina stat.

Wait, she might actually be stronger than me…

“…Fine, fine.”

Tiny clearly didn’t want to stay with him anyway. After some pleading from Yotsuba—and the realization that he had no time today to entertain the dog—Takeru relented.

“Listen to me,” he squatted down, lowering his voice so only Tiny could hear, “don’t cause her any trouble.”

He glanced at Yotsuba, then whispered, “I heard girls like her come in fives. You up for the challenge?”

If Yotsuba was a dateable target, maybe the other four sisters were, too.

And if he could score dates with all five… wouldn’t that multiply his rewards?

They were sisters. There was a real chance he could pull it off simultaneously.

Even if not—one was better than none.

Tiny curled his lip into a smug dog grin. “Woof woof woof! (Piece of cake!)”

“Good. Pull this off and you can raid the snack aisle.”

The two shared a look and a conspiratorial nod.

“Yotsuba-san, I’ll be leaving him in your care for a couple of days.”

Takeru handed over the leash with an exaggerated look of reluctance.

He even tried to squeeze out a crocodile tear—but nope. Dry as a bone.

“Don’t worry, Kitahara-kun!” Yotsuba thumped her chest with pride.

Watching her walk off with Tiny, Takeru pulled up his notes app and marked off “Saturday Morning – Yotsuba: Check”, then turned to head home.

Once inside, he went straight for the shower, not even bothering to grab clean clothes.

After all, I live alone. Who's gonna care?

Unbeknownst to him, the instant his door opened, another door moved.

His bedroom door.

It opened from the inside.

A pair of sneaky, dog-like eyes peeked through the crack.

Roughly ten minutes later, Takeru stepped out of the shower, towel around his neck, hair still wet—and completely naked.

He walked into his bedroom.

The moment he opened the door—

There, lying on his bed, dressed in a black silk robe, was Kamikawa Rie.

Hands propped under her chin, robe hanging open, one shoulder bare, creamy white skin catching the morning light.

“Waaow”

The moment she saw his well-toned, gym-maintained body—and everything else—Rie whistled like a construction worker.

She’d asked around. The rumors weren’t exaggerated.

She slapped the bed like a drum. “Takeru, get up here! I’m ready!”

Takeru: “……”

Sometimes, you just feel… powerless.

He didn’t hesitate.

He took one step back and—

BANG!

Slammed the door shut.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

From inside, the furious thuds of Kamikawa Rie’s fists pounded the door.

“Kitahara Takeru! What kind of man are you?!”

“Turning down a woman who throws herself at you?!”

Takeru braced against the door, holding it shut with all his strength, coldly replying, “If I give in now, will I ever be free again?”

No way.

If he really gave in today, his entire life would belong to that woman.

He’d have to change his name and move into her mansion as a kept man.

Not that he was against mooching off a rich woman.

Plenty of guys wish they had that chance.

But once things crossed that line—how was he supposed to keep going on dates?

Once they’d slept together, there’d be no keeping secrets.

If he tried to keep seeing other girls after that, Rie would turn him into a eunuch sushi combo.

It’s not that sugar mommies weren’t tempting.

It’s that the system offered better long-term returns.

---

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!