Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [29]

“What are you two doing?”

Kamikawa Rie had already been suspicious of the relationship between Kitahara Takeru and Katsura Kotonoha — that’s why she’d followed them.

And what did she see the moment she stepped out?

From her angle, it looked like Kitahara had Kotonoha pinned against the wall, gripping her shoulders as if he were about to kiss her hard.

It was the very scene she had fantasized about countless times.

But now that it was happening — with someone else — jealousy consumed her like wildfire.

What gives her the right to call him Takeru?

What gives her the right to be held by him?

He was her Takeru.

The man she’d spent half a year longing for.

That damned slut, that shameless bitch...

At this moment, Kamikawa Rie wanted nothing more than to carve off every part of Kotonoha’s body that had been touched by Kitahara. Break her legs. Stuff her in a box and ship her off to the Golden Triangle.

Kamikawa Rie had never been kind.

She didn’t pretend to be kind.

Only in front of Kitahara did she ever try to be a better person — just for him.

But now, she didn’t feel like playing nice anymore.

Now all she wanted was to lock Kitahara up. And really, who would notice?

And even if someone did, her family could smooth it over.

Just a little selfish indulgence from someone with power — no big deal.

This is bad, Kitahara thought, hearing Kamikawa Rie's voice behind him.

He turned his head stiffly, like a toy with a rusty gear.

And what he saw in her eyes was a terrifying glint of violence — murderous intent rising in waves.

Not metaphorical, either. Real, bone-deep killing intent.

Kitahara knew her well. Kamikawa Rie wasn’t someone who stopped at wanting to kill. She would do it.

If he didn’t calm her down fast, tomorrow morning’s headlines might read “Home Invasion Turns Fatal” or “Runaway Truck Slaughters High School Girl.”

“She’s my cousin. I told you about her,” he said flatly.

It was a lie — but one that might diffuse the situation.

The murderous glint in Kamikawa Rie’s eyes flickered. She tilted her head, thinking back. Kitahara had mentioned having a distant relative in Tokyo… though he’d also said they weren’t close. She hadn’t paid it much mind at the time.

“Show her your phone wallpaper,” Kitahara added, not giving her time to think.

“Ah? Oh, okay.”

Kotonoha, still dazed, pulled out her phone, flipped open her clamshell model, and showed them a selfie with her and Itou Makoto.

“This is her boyfriend.”

Kitahara pointed at Itou Makoto, who was making a peace sign in the photo. His tone was cold, authoritative.

“Any other questions?”

“N-Nope.”

Kamikawa Rie shook her head like a bobblehead doll.

“Want me to call him over? We can all go out for a meal together,” Kitahara offered casually. He didn’t know any damn Itou Makoto, but the important thing here was holding the upper hand.

“Takeru, what are you saying? How could I not trust you?”

Kamikawa Rie smiled sweetly, her voice docile and obedient. She even stuck out her pinky and tried to hook it around his.

Kitahara flicked her hand off without a word, his gaze sharp and cold.

“Takeru~”

She reached for his pinky again, like a clingy girlfriend begging for forgiveness.

Kitahara brushed her off a second time, unhesitating.

But Kamikawa Rie wasn’t the type to give up easily.

She hadn’t chased Kitahara for this long just to quit now.

After a few more tries, Kitahara sighed inwardly and let her hook his pinky.

“Hehehe~”

Kamikawa Rie gave a little Gengar giggle.

Then she turned to Kotonoha with a saccharine smile as bright as summer cherries.

“Nice to meet you, onee-san. I mean, oops, cousin. I’m Kamikawa Rie — your cousin-in-law. Pleased to meet you!”

So… he has a girlfriend after all?

Kotonoha felt a strange, inexplicable pang in her chest.

After all, her connection with Kitahara had felt oddly fated — that electric first encounter on the train, their bodies pressed close, and more recently, the way he’d rushed to her side after overhearing her panicked phone call.

Through it all, she could never forget the image of Kitahara standing in the light, smiling at her with that calm, radiant expression.

“You wish.”

Kamikawa Rie had deliberately used the misunderstanding to stake her claim as Kitahara’s girlfriend.

But Kitahara saw right through her scheme.

Without mercy, he brought his index and middle finger together and tapped her on the forehead.

“Ow! What was that for? Either way, I’m going to end up in that position. Sooner or later doesn’t matter.”

She rubbed her forehead and pouted unhappily.

“I’ve got standards,” Kitahara said, arching a brow. “Don’t blame me if I pick someone else and leave you crying.”

“You really think you’ll get the chance to choose someone else?”
Kamikawa flipped her long hair over one shoulder and gave him a sweet, sweet smile.

But what chilled Kitahara was that there was no warmth in her eyes.

She meant it.

From the moment she decided on Kitahara Takeru, his own opinion had ceased to matter.

Even if he didn’t like her, she’d twist his will, mold his thoughts, and make him fall for her.

When Kamikawa Rie wanted something, she got it.

Kitahara: “......”

He didn’t know why… but somehow, it didn’t feel like she was joking.

...

Kitahara didn’t attend the rest of his classes that day.

Instead, he followed Kotonoha home.

Normally, Kamikawa Rie would’ve tagged along without hesitation.

But maybe because she’d overstepped earlier, she stayed behind this time.

Even though she looked at him with puppy-dog eyes — like a dog waiting eagerly for its master to ask her to play.

Had Kitahara extended even the tiniest invitation, she would’ve followed him without a second thought.

But he didn’t dare.

“Sorry to trouble you. Just work with me for now.”

They were waiting for the train when Kitahara suddenly broke the silence.

“It’s fine. I shouldn’t have come looking for you in the first place,” Kotonoha replied, eyes fixed ahead.

“By the way, you do have a boyfriend, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then why’d you come find me?”

Kitahara finally voiced the question that had been nagging at him.

Most of the girls who came to him were either love’s losers, people who’d just been dumped, or the painfully shy ones who couldn’t confess to their crush. The only photo of them and their crush was from a group graduation shot.

But Kotonoha had a boyfriend. She didn’t fit any of those molds. Kitahara genuinely didn’t understand her motive.

“Well… I think something’s gone wrong with my relationship.”

Kitahara: (^ω^)

“Tell me everything.”

---

T/N: omg shes actually crazy, omg crazy AND rich its over

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!