Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [36]

Shirogane Kei tilted her head slightly. “Investment?”

I’m not running a business... what’s there to invest in?

“You’re broke right now, right? Really need money?” Kitahara asked.

Kei nodded.

“Well then,” Kitahara continued confidently, as if he understood her perfectly. “I help you now, and one day when you’re wildly successful, you’ll repay me, yeah?”

Kei nodded seriously.

“So if all I have to do now is give you a little push before you take off, and I’ll get a handsome return later—why wouldn’t I do it? It’s practically free money.”

“Sure, you look broke now, but who’s to say you won’t soar someday?”

“These days, you can’t get in on a stock once it hits the ceiling. Gotta buy in early.”

“You, young lady... I, Kitahara Takeru, officially invest in you.”

Of course, Kitahara didn’t have some prophetic third eye. He couldn’t actually see the future Shirogane Kei would have.

But just judging by her looks, her calm temperament, her grit, and her intelligence — even if she ended up going into nightlife work, she’d be at the top tier.

She wasn’t just a pretty face.

In Kitahara’s eyes, she was a high-potential blue-chip stock.

And who knows, maybe someday, she’d become his client.

And even if she didn’t? No loss. He’d hardly spent anything. He’d just chalk it up to goodwill — doing a good deed, building karma.

“.....”

Kei’s soft pink lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something — but in the end, she simply tightened her arms around the two books he’d given her.

“Senpai, you can count on me.”

“I’ll earn tons and tons of money for you in the future.”

Kitahara gave a faint smile. “My little money tree, then you better grow fast.”

They chatted as they walked, and soon arrived at the entrance of the run-down apartment complex.

The two punks squatting by the door — the one with the pompadour gave a mocking grin.

“Yo, Kei. That your boyfriend? Doesn’t look like much.”

Kei’s expression instantly shut down, her smile vanishing as she returned to her usual poker face and walked straight toward the stairwell without a word.

The two punks were from the far end of the street — dropouts, long since expelled for fighting. They spent their days loitering around, doing nothing.

Even when she ignored them, they didn’t seem to care. They just laughed and kept smoking.

Kitahara, however, gave them a surprised glance.

He’d expected them to press harder — maybe get up and start something. But instead, they’d only tossed out a stray comment.

On the stairs, Kei noticed Kitahara’s surprise and explained proactively, “They’re scared of my brother. So they just run their mouths.”

“Your brother’s... in the yakuza?” Kitahara raised an eyebrow, now curious about Shirogane Kei’s mysterious older brother.

He knew his name was Shirogane Miyuki, but they’d never met.

He’d heard Miyuki was a top student — but what the guy was like off paper, he had no clue.

“No, he just doesn’t sleep much. Makes his eyes look really intense.”

“They thought he was part of some gang, and even tried to call him boss once.”

As she spoke, Kei’s face was full of scorn — but the barely visible upturn at the corner of her lips gave her away.

She clearly adored her brother.

“I'm jealous,” Kitahara muttered.

Unlike him — his looks were too good. When he got serious, girls just thought he was a dominant sadist. Not scary — just sexy.

Some even got excited.

“What’s there to be jealous of? He’s bossy, nags nonstop, and has the emotional range of a teenage girl. Can’t stand him.”

Kei grumbled openly, ranting about her brother.

But Kitahara found it oddly charming — just the kind of sibling dynamic you couldn’t fake.

“We’re here.”

“Thank you for walking me home, senpai.”

Kei bowed politely.

“I’ll finish reading the books as soon as I can and return them.”

“No rush,” Kitahara said casually. “I’ve got both of them memorized anyway.”

With that +1 INT boost, his memory had gone into overdrive.

He had near-photographic recall now.

“See you.”

He turned and headed down the stairs.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Kitahara glanced back.

A boy around his age poked his head out. His eyes were sharp and cold — had to be Shirogane Miyuki.

Kitahara didn’t say anything. Just kept walking.

“Kei, who was that? Why were you coming home with a guy? Are you dating?”

Miyuki narrowed his eyes, watching Kitahara’s back.

Something about him felt familiar.

“He’s just an upperclassman. We ran into each other. Don’t be annoying, okay? Quit asking so many questions.”

Kei brushed past him and disappeared inside, hugging the books close.

“You’re still too young. It’s not time for relationships yet…”

...

“I’m sorry.”

“Mm…”

After school, the slanting sunlight cast long shadows across the art room hallway.

Inside, a boy and girl stood face-to-face.

The boy bowed at a perfect 90°, holding out a pale pink envelope.

It looked like a confession to the blonde twin-tailed girl in front of him.

The girl tilted her head slightly, either confused… or conflicted.

As she moved, her golden twin tails — practically trademark-tier at this point — swayed with graceful precision.

“I understand how you feel, senpai. And I’m really flattered. Honestly.”

She was petite, with porcelain skin and clear blue eyes — the image of a fairy tale princess.

But right now, that princess looked troubled.

“Right now, though, my mind is completely focused on the upcoming exhibition. So…”

As for the boy across from her — we’ll skip the description.

“N-No, it’s okay! Haha, I mean… that’s a big deal, right? Whether or not you win two years in a row. I’m sorry for dropping this on you at such a critical time. I must’ve made things awkward.”

“Not at all, senpai, really… I’m the one who’s sorry.”

“Then… how about you just hold on to your answer for now?”

“Huh?”

She blinked.

“Once the exhibit’s over, I hope you’ll give it some thought. Will you?”

Her senpai looked at her with quiet hope.

“...........”

She didn’t respond.

If this were a visual novel, her rising rage meter would be clearly visible on screen.

“Is that alright, Sawamura?”

“No, it is not.”

The voice didn’t come from Sawamura Spencer Eriri.

It came from a bespectacled boy with black hair.

“She’s mine.”

Kitahara Takeru stepped up beside Eriri, took her hand like he was staking a claim, and stared down at the senpai with all the arrogance of a territorial wolf.

“A-Aki?”

The senpai squinted.

Of course he recognized Aki Tomoya — the school’s resident enigma.

“What are you doing?! Who… who’s yours?!”

Eriri’s voice was flustered, but her heart was floating.

---

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!