Weren’t You Only Using Me As A Stand-in? [8]

The mixer didn’t wrap up until 8 p.m.

Everyone split the bill evenly.

In Japan, even couples often go Dutch when dating. It’s not common for the guy to shoulder all expenses. That said, the guy usually pays slightly more.

And that’s just for people who are already dating—this was their first time meeting.

“It's getting late. How about we walk you girls home?” Ōtani Shōta offered once they stepped out of the karaoke place and saw it was already dark out.

“Sure!” Takamiya Saki agreed without hesitation.

Shibuya after dark was a different beast—loud, chaotic, and filled with all sorts of unsavory characters.

The streets were grimy and damp, scattered with cigarette butts, empty takeout boxes, and, in the darker corners, bloated rats rustling in half-torn trash bags.

Drunken people lay sprawled on the sidewalks, completely ignored by passersby.

On either side of the road stood girls in maid outfits, nurse costumes, or animal ears, waving bar signs and trying to lure people in.

If you were unlucky enough to follow one of them inside, you could kiss your wallet goodbye.

Compared to daytime, nighttime Shinjuku felt like a whole other world.

Even gyaru girls like Saki and her friends weren’t immune to the danger. Having guys around just felt safer.

“Where does everyone live?” someone asked.

Takamiya Saki: “I live in Takadanobaba, 3-chōme.”

Ōhashi Natsumi looked at Takeru with wide eyes. “I live in Nerima~”

Takeru, now masked up again, glanced at Natsumi’s eager face and replied coolly, “What a coincidence—I live in Bunkyō.”

Watanabe Akari turned toward him, surprised. “You live in Bunkyō too?”

Takeru nodded. “Yeah, I’m renting a place there.”

In Japan, education is centered in Tokyo—and in Tokyo, education revolves around Bunkyō.

The ward name literally means “City of Culture.” Since the Showa era, when Tokyo University relocated there, it’s attracted renowned writers, scholars, and elite academic institutions.

It’s home to Japan’s top schools—not just the University of Tokyo, but also Ochanomizu University, Juntendo University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and more than twenty other prestigious campuses.

Bunkyō is known as the king of school districts, its position equivalent to Haidian District in Beijing.

Because of its elite educational institutions, Bunkyō also boasts the lowest crime rate and safest neighborhoods among Tokyo’s 23 wards—which is exactly why Takeru chose to live there.

“Do you live alone, Kitahara-kun?” Natsumi’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Takeru immediately sensed trouble and told a little white lie: “I share the place with a roommate.”

No way he was telling her he lived alone—he was sure she’d try to follow him home tonight if he did.

Never underestimate a Charm stat of 9.

That was almost as high as a human could get.

Any higher, and you might as well stop being human.

He wore a mask not just out of COVID habit—but to avoid being swarmed.

If he were old enough to work as a host, with his face, even top-tier hosts like Roland and Dilian would have to step aside.

Frankly, he didn’t find today’s hosts all that attractive anyway.

“…I see.”

Natsumi looked visibly disappointed. But just when Takeru thought that was the end of it, she tugged on his sleeve and gestured for him to lean down.

He hesitated, then bent slightly, ear tilted toward her.

“…Then how about tonight we just keep things quiet? I won’t make a sound.”

Takeru: “???”

Ma’am? Are you okay?

...

“See you, Kitahara-kun! Don’t forget to message me!”

“I won’t.”

At the subway station entrance, everyone split off in different directions.

Natsumi, reluctant to part, lingered until the last second.

Takeru, Kitagawa Marin, and Watanabe Akari were headed the same way, so they boarded the same train.

Onboard, Takeru and Marin kept chatting.

They’d moved on from camera talk to bracelet beads now.

Marin was cheerful, easygoing, the energetic type of girl who made conversations flow effortlessly.

She responded to everything he said, never let the mood drop, and radiated an easy warmth. She was the kind of girl who could lift your spirits without even trying.

If someone were to ask him, that’s the kind of girl you should date—sunny and full of life.

The type that made you feel happy just being near her.

The two of them chatted nonstop, while Watanabe Akari sat quietly by herself, hunched over her phone, tapping the screen with enough force to break it.

“…Ah, this is my stop.”

Marin got off a few stops earlier than the others.

“I’ll walk you home.”

Takeru followed her out.

Leaving him alone with Akari would’ve been more awkward than it was worth—he’d rather see Marin home and catch the next train back.

“No need, really. My place is just five minutes from the station.”

“Don’t be polite. I promised the guys I’d get you home safe.”

Marin felt like he was overdoing it, but since he insisted, she didn’t protest.

They walked side by side, chatting casually, and soon reached her apartment.

“I’m home. Thanks, Kitahara-kun.”

She stood at her front door and waved at him.

“Next time I need photos, I’m calling you, okay?”

Takeru joked, “I’m not cheap, you know.”

Marin folded her hands behind her back and grinned. “Then I’ll just have to work hard and save up.”

“Do your best then. I’m heading out. Bye~”

He gave a lazy wave, hands in his pockets as he turned to leave.

“Bye-bye~”

Only after he disappeared from view did Marin finally close the door.

Outside, as Takeru exited the building, he noticed Watanabe Akari had gotten off at the same stop somewhere along the way and was now standing at the edge of the sidewalk.

Next to her was a middle-aged man—sparse hair, round glasses—clearly drunk and swaying on his feet.

His face was flushed, and his voice was loud and slurred. “Thirty thousand yen, alright? You’re standing out here at night—you’re obviously looking for customers.”

Akari, furious, tried to move around him. “I told you, I’m not that kind of girl. Now get lost—my boyfriend’s on his way.”

“Forty thousand. That’s really my limit.”

The man refused to back down.

Takeru wasn’t even surprised.

People assumed sketchy late-night propositions only came from college kids or sleazy young guys, but middle-aged creeps were just as common.

He walked up and patted the man’s shoulder.

“What do you want?” the man grumbled, turning around impatiently—

Only to see a tall teenager towering over him.

Just from the height difference alone, he immediately felt outmatched.

“Takeru, there you are!”

Akari ran over, wrapping herself around his arm like a relieved girlfriend reunited with her knight in shining armor.

The old man thought, Shit.

He’d genuinely thought she was working the street. Turns out she was waiting for her boyfriend.

Takeru arched a brow and said coolly, eyes locked on the man:

“You need something from my girlfriend?”

---

T/N: yeah marin is just so cool! tsk if only i was half as uhhh socially adept as her

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!