Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [32]

After lunch, Kitahara Takeru played a round of chess with Kokoro.

Granted, it was only today that he finally figured out the rules of Western chess — but since Kokoro wasn’t exactly a pro either, the match was basically two rookies pecking at each other.

While they played, Kotonoha sat nearby watching them with a gentle smile. Sometimes her gaze would linger on the board in quiet thought, and sometimes she’d idly open her phone.

She wasn’t chatting with anyone — just opened it, glanced at something, and closed it again.

Kitahara guessed she was probably checking to see if Itou Makoto had replied.

They played until about 1 p.m., at which point Kotonoha nudged Kokoro off to bed for her afternoon nap.

Once she’d gotten her sister to sleep, Kotonoha stepped out of the room and found Kitahara resting his chin in his palm, idly flipping through the pages of a hardcover book laid open on the table.

Her eyes drifted to his profile without meaning to — his skin was pale and smooth, like the shell of a freshly peeled egg, to the point that even most girls would be envious.

Long lashes lowered over bright, clear eyes as he read with quiet focus.

The long, soft afternoon stretched gently around them. Birds chirped outside the window, and the sight of the handsome boy reading lazily in the warm light — it all felt peaceful, like a photograph you’d want to bottle forever.

Kotonoha suddenly had the impulse to take a picture of this moment. She raised her phone—

But as soon as the lock screen lit up with a photo of Itou Makoto’s delicate features, she stared at it for a long while… and slowly lowered the phone again.

Without a word, she returned to her room, and when she came back out, she brought a book of her own and sat across from Kitahara.

“Sorry to trouble you with Kokoro’s antics, Kitahara-kun.”

Kitahara rolled his neck a bit.

“Don’t say that. I actually like Kokoro. She’s cute, don’t you think?”

Kotonoha smiled faintly, as if neither agreeing nor denying.

“Kokoro and I are different. She’s always been popular.”

Kitahara lifted his gaze slightly.

“Someone as capable as you — are you saying you don’t get along with people at school?”

He’d already sensed it.

Otherwise, those calls wouldn’t have ended up coming to him.

Still… shouldn’t something like this be reported to the police?

“I don’t really have friends at school.”

As she said it, a trace of loneliness crossed Kotonoha’s expression.

“Only Saionji-san is willing to be friends with me.”

Kitahara gave her a sideways glance, a bit bemused.

You’re calling someone who wants your boyfriend — a “friend”?

That’s not exactly how friendship works.

“Are you sure… she sees you as a friend?”

“What are you trying to say, Kitahara-kun?”

Kotonoha felt like there was something behind his words.

“There’s such a thing as hate without reason, but love never comes out of nowhere.”

Kitahara closed the book, placing a bookmark on the page he’d stopped at.

“If someone approaches you for no reason, it means they want something.”

“And another thing — never wait for someone to come around.”

“Waiting… is addictive.”

Once you get used to waiting, the day you stop won’t feel like giving up on them — it’ll feel like you’ve betrayed yourself.

But her waiting… was like sitting in an airport waiting for a ship. It wasn’t going anywhere.

Kotonoha lowered her head, as if trying to hide her face.

Kitahara figured he’d said what needed to be said. The rest was up to her.

“I’ll be going now.”

Lunch was over. There was no real reason for him to stay.

They didn’t have any kind of relationship, and it felt awkward lingering in another girl’s home.

Besides, he just wasn’t the type to feel comfortable in someone else’s space.

Kotonoha’s house was luxurious — leagues beyond his own — but no matter how good someone else’s things were, they were still someone else’s.

Kotonoha didn’t insist he stay either. She stood up as well.

“I’ll walk you out.”

They reached the entryway together. As Kitahara bent down to put on his shoes, Kotonoha suddenly said,

“Kitahara-kun, thank you.”

He didn’t look back. “No need to thank me. I’m just talking from the sidelines — easy for me to say.”

“Even so… I still want to thank you.”

She stared at his back, her voice quiet but sincere.

“If you really want to thank me,” Kitahara said as he stood, looking her straight in the eyes, “then stop coming to school to find me.”

This was the second time he’d said something like this.

“I don’t want today’s scene to happen again.”

Kotonoha lowered her head, eyes landing on her toes — though her view was somewhat blocked by her chest.

“Do you hate me that much, Kitahara-kun?”

“I don’t hate you. I just think it’s inappropriate for a guy and girl to meet alone like this.”

His eyes were calm, unshaken.

“But Kamikawa-san is allowed?” Kotonoha’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a subtle pressure, firm and direct.

“Yes.”

Kitahara didn’t hesitate.

“Why?”

“Because she’s my friend.”

Kotonoha’s lips pressed together. Her gaze fixed on the floor.

“Then… can’t we be friends too?”

“I don’t get close to girls who already have boyfriends. I don’t become their ‘friend’ either.”

Kitahara didn’t sugarcoat it.

It wasn’t personal.

Even if it were Kasumigaoka Utaha or Sawamura Spencer Eriri — if they had boyfriends, he’d disappear.

That’s why he never told them his real identity in the first place.

From the very start, Kitahara had been ready to walk away from this game at any time.

“I won’t let that guy bother you again. Goodbye.”

He gently closed the door behind him and disappeared from Kotonoha’s sight.

She stood there, staring at the now-empty entryway, not knowing what to think.

[Task complete. Processing rewards.]
[Player has received: 5,000 points.]
[Date count: Katsura Kotonoha · One]

Sitting on the train back from Kotonoha’s house, Kitahara finally got a response from the system.

He still had no idea what counted as a “completed” event and what didn’t.

Was it because there was no actual date last time?

Did this count as a date?

Whatever. He didn’t care to figure it out.

He wasn’t in the mood to overthink.

When he got home and opened the door, he wasn’t greeted by his border collie Tiny, but by a wave of cold air.

In the living room, Tiny was sprawled across the couch under the air conditioner.

On the coffee table were his snacks.

When he saw Kitahara come in, Tiny gave him a lazy glance… and then turned his attention back to the TV.

Watching this scene, Kitahara suddenly felt a flash of irritation.

So this is how my parents must’ve felt — coming home after work to find their kid under the AC, wrapped in a blanket, snacking and playing games.

I bust my ass to earn money and you’re out here living your best life?

A bad mood should be let out.

Bottling it up? That only eats you alive.

Without a word, Kitahara walked up and gave Tiny a solid smack on the head.

“Woof?!”

Tiny stared at his human, utterly confused by the sudden violence.

Do you even realize how damaging a hit like that is to a dog?!

I’ve been on my best behavior lately! I haven’t even trashed the house!

What more do you want?!

Kitahara, having smacked his dog, clicked off the air conditioner with a beep, then headed to what he used as a storage room.

When he came back out, he was carrying a fishing rod case on his back and holding a tackle box.

“Stop lazing around the house like some pampered princess. Come on — we’re going fishing.”

Tiny rolled his eyes.

Why the hell would I want to go fishing with you?

It was hot. Kitahara wasn’t going to catch anything. He never did.

Not even a miserable little goby.

But his obsession still ran deep.

Tiny honestly didn’t get it — why did his owner keep going out just to feed the fish?

“I’ve got a feeling,” Kitahara said with conviction, “today, I definitely won’t come home empty-handed.”

Empty net?

What kind of joke is that?

True fishermen never come back empty-handed.

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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!