Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [47]

“Why did you encourage Maki to pursue Tanuma-kun?”

The moment the question left her lips, Kitahara Takeru’s guard shot up.

She’s not planning to have me disappeared, is she?

Honestly, you couldn’t blame him for thinking that way.

If he heard someone was egging someone else on to chase his girlfriend, he’d definitely consider making them disappear.

And with that terrifying thought, a bright red DANGER sign lit up in Kitahara’s head.

Maki had once told him a bit about Kashiwagi Nagisa’s family.

Her grandfather? Chairman of the Japan Business Federation.

The Keidanren, officially known as the Japan Business Federation, is one of the country’s three major economic organizations, alongside the Chamber of Commerce and the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. It consists of Tokyo Stock Exchange–listed companies, and when its chairman visits China, it’s the Prime Minister who hosts them.

Her grandfather was that powerful—crushing Kitahara would be like stepping on an ant.

And her father was president of a shipbuilding conglomerate.

If he pissed her off, Kitahara might as well start drafting his will.

What? You think the system can save him?

Kitahara didn’t believe a system that sold him Photoshop filters, recipe books, and novel-writing templates could do anything in this situation.

Even if it could, he didn’t have the points.

“Kashiwagi-san… after I answer, you’re probably not going to… do anything to me, right?”

He chose every word like he was defusing a bomb.

“No promises~” she said, giving him a playful wink. “Depends on your answer.”

Kitahara’s heart sank. “Is… my answer really that important?”

“It determines my entire attitude toward you,” Nagisa replied with a smile, watching his nervous face.

Adorable, she thought in full Shinomiya Kaguya mode.

Same face as Tanuma, but what a completely different flavor. No wonder Maki had taken time out of her day just to meet him.

A good man should be shared—otherwise, what's the point of friendship?

Kitahara fell silent.

Meanwhile, his brain was running at full capacity, calculating possible responses.

Could’ve been a few minutes—or just ten seconds—but to him, it felt like hours.

Eventually, he spoke. “Before I answer… can I ask why you’re asking?”

He needed to understand what she was getting at before deciding how to respond.

Crafty bastard, Nagisa thought, though her smile didn’t waver. “Kitahara-kun, I just don’t get it. Why would you help your clients pursue real love?”

“I know this might be my bias talking, but from what I see, if Maki just keeps quietly crushing on Tanuma-kun forever, you’d benefit the most.”

“And honestly? With your skillset, I believe you could’ve made that happen.”

Kitahara said nothing—but he didn’t deny it.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

From a pure profit standpoint, if Maki never confessed and stayed stuck in limerence, she’d keep seeking him out to fill the emotional void.

Just like those women who get strung along by host club guys and keep going back, deeper and deeper, until there’s nothing left.

Though, in Maki’s case, it wasn’t quite the same.

Maki was no desperate, bankrupt woman.

With her family’s wealth, Kitahara doubted he could milk her dry even in ten lifetimes.

No one had ever heard of a family—with a capital F—being drained by a host.

In other words, Maki was a permanent cash cow.

“But you didn’t do that.”

That’s what puzzled Nagisa.

Kitahara not only didn’t lead Maki on, he actively encouraged her to go after Tanuma.

“Kitahara-kun, you clearly love money, and your hobbies are expensive. So why would you do that? I really don’t understand.”

According to her investigator’s report, Kitahara was someone who loved his luxuries.

He liked trendy clothes, watches, antiques, cameras, fishing gear, beads, dogs, even custom PCs. Every one of those hobbies required cash.

He should’ve been clinging to Maki like a golden lifeline.

Encouraging her to chase Tanuma? He was basically handing away a sponsor.

There was no way he hadn’t realized that.

And yet he still did it.

Nagisa couldn’t help but wonder—what was going on inside this guy’s head?

“Ah… I see now.”

Kitahara finally understood what she was getting at.

After a moment of thought, he decided there was no need to lie.

“While I admit what I do might seem similar to a host in your eyes…”

“…there’s a fundamental difference.”

Yes, they both made money off women.

But hosts used manipulation and emotional exploitation. Kitahara, by contrast, offered companionship and emotional value.

“I don’t play the sympathy card. Never once have I told a sob story about a gambling dad, a sick mom, a sister in school, or a broken home.”

He was poor, but he never brought it up.

He never played the victim to gain pity.

“I also never pretend to be in a fake relationship with them just to extract money.”

Kitahara never once said “I like you” to any of them. Never made any of them his girlfriend.

And frankly, if he wanted to? He could.

He had more than enough tools to make any one of them fall for him.

It would’ve made things easier.

If he really wanted to go full villain route—like those hentai plots—he could’ve drugged them, taken photos, threatened them, and milked them dry.

But he never did that.

He never said a single bad word about Aki Tomoya to Utaha or Eriri, either.

“Dating them is just my job. To me, they’re clients. Nothing more.”

He didn’t do this because he wanted a future with any of them.

To Kitahara, they were like co-actors in a play.

On camera? Sure, they were a sweet couple.

Off camera? Barely acquaintances.

“I do this job now, but I don’t plan to do it forever.”

He was a high school student. This was the fastest way to make money right now.

But he didn’t plan to be a stand-in forever. Didn’t want to be anyone’s fake boyfriend for life.

He was saving money and collecting system points to improve himself. Not for a woman. Not for love.

Just to be a better version of himself.

“Does that answer your question, Kashiwagi-san?”

Nagisa stared directly into his eyes.

Looking for lies. Any crack in his composure.

Kitahara didn’t flinch.

Because he wasn’t lying.

“…Yes. I understand now.”

Seeing no dishonesty in his eyes, Nagisa nodded lightly.

Now she got it.

Even if Maki succeeded in confessing and got together with Tanuma, all Kitahara would lose was one client.

Poor Maki, she thought.

Her best friend, completely caught up in this man’s act.

She thought they were at least friends, maybe something more.

But to him? She wasn’t even that.

Just a paying customer.

What a cold man.

And just like that, Kitahara earned a new label from Kashiwagi Nagisa, right alongside crafty man:

Cold-blooded.

“Kitahara-kun, I have one more question.”

“Please go ahead, Kashiwagi-san.”

At this point, he figured he might as well answer everything.

“Earlier, you said you were single. Is that true?”

How dare he play with her best friend’s heart like that.

Nagisa had decided.

She would make him pay for this—by making him fall in love, by having his children, and by keeping him stuck at home raising babies.

Maki, don’t worry. Once he becomes my boyfriend, I’ll personally make him apologize to you.

Poor Shijō Maki had no idea.

Her best friend didn’t just want the guy she liked.

She wanted his whole career package, too.

“…It’s true. But I am being pursued by a lot of girls.”

Kitahara’s alarm bells rang again.

He sensed danger.

So he quickly added, “One of them is someone I like.”

Boys must learn to protect themselves.

“Oh? And then?” Nagisa asked, eyes sparkling.

Kitahara could tell she didn’t believe him.

And even if she did—she didn’t care.

She wanted him to be popular.

No one wants leftovers.

And besides, Kitahara had messy ties to Yozakura Hitomi and Kamikawa Rie too.

In Nagisa’s eyes, he was like a woman in a designer dress and red-bottom heels: expensive, beautiful, and worth stealing.

Just picturing the day she took him for herself—and the other girls went crying and screaming—gave her butterflies.

“…I said I have someone I like.”

Did she not hear him?

Wasn’t that supposed to be a turnoff?

Why did she look even more excited?

“I see.”

Nagisa’s expression dimmed, as if she were giving up.

Kitahara relaxed.

Then her next sentence made his spine go rigid again.

“But… what does that have to do with me?”

Kitahara: “???”

He looked up and saw her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Hurt?
That was fake.
Teehee (＃^.^＃)

“I—I don’t like you!”

He knew that might cost him his life.

But if he didn’t say it, he feared she really would come after him.

“That’s fine.”

Nagisa took a step forward, slipping one foot between his legs. She grabbed his tie and yanked him down.

“I don’t care what you think.”

Their eyes locked, and Kitahara saw it—that wild, wave-like madness swirling in her gaze.

“Because I’m going to twist that thinking until you belong to me.”

“Brace yourself, Ka·shi·wa·gi Takeru.”

She’s trying to rename me?!

He liked his name, okay?!

He wasn’t some beta son-in-law named Watanabe Toru.

“I’m not changing my name,” Kitahara muttered, clinging to one last shred of dignity.

“I said I don’t care what you think.” Nagisa smiled sweetly.

But all Kitahara saw was a demon.

“Don’t use normal people logic to define us rich folks.”

Clearly, Kitahara had underestimated her.

“To a Kashiwagi, if we want something, we’ll steal it, grab it, even break the law to get it.”

Teacher Zhang? We’ve got a rogue here.

Can no one stop these rich psychos?

“If not, why do you think we’re rich and you’re just… a poor person?” she asked, completely self-assured.

It was a blazing summer day, yet Kitahara felt cold all over.

Shaking hands, trembling legs.

Insulting my whole existence too?!

Shivering. Crying. Screaming.

Will the working class ever rise…

“…Didn’t you say your attitude would depend on my answer?”

“Mmhmm.” Nagisa touched her chin, smiling. “I already liked you. Now I like you even more.”

“You’re the perfect candidate to marry into the Kashiwagi family.”

Handsome. Smart. Talented.

Any elite household would welcome him with open arms.

So this whole thing was a test?

Kitahara was ready to bite his own tongue.

If he’d known, he’d have acted like a villain from a bad anime—complete with “kukuku” laughter and scheming monologues.

“Of course it was a test.”

Nagisa flashed another sweet, lethal smile.

“What did you think this was? I’m a law-abiding citizen.”

Kitahara rolled his eyes so hard he nearly saw another dimension.

That’s not what you said thirty seconds ago.

“Well then, I won’t keep you. Any longer and Maki might get worried.”

She finally let go of his collar.

Kitahara didn’t wait—he turned and walked.

“True, Maki has my number. But with your skills, I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to get it. I’ll be waiting for your call tonight.”

He ignored her.

Never heard a thing. Never happened.

All he wanted now was to get as far away from this woman as possible.

My number?
Yeah right. Dream on.

“Hm… but you wouldn’t want Maki, Utaha, and Eriri to find out who you really are, would you?”

Kitahara froze mid-step.

Shit.
He forgot about that.

“…Fine,” he gritted through his teeth.

Damn it. Another day, another woman with him wrapped around her little finger.

“This secret? I’ll be milking it for life,” Nagisa whispered, her eyes glowing as she watched him disappear down the hall.

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T/N: LETS GO KASHIWAGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IM ROOTING FOR UUUU

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!