Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

In the cafeteria, Takashi carried his tray with a tonkatsu rice bowl and walked to his usual seat.

Just as he sat down, Otani Shota and Tanaka Kota arrived with their own trays.

"Takashi, did you have a fight with Kamikawa-san? Why isn't she clinging to you today?" 

Tanaka Kota placed his tray down and glanced at Narii, who was sitting with another group, asking curiously.

"We didn't fight." Takashi took a bite of his tonkatsu before replying, "It's just that after I rejected her confession, her best friend came to confess to me at noon too." 

"'I didn't reject her right away, so she probably thinks I like her best friend and got a little upset about it."

"What? Komaki Ayami is Kamikawa Narii's best friend? No, wait—you actually rejected Kamikawa's confession?"

Takashi's short sentence completely shocked Otani Shota.

"So you knew Kamikawa-san liked you?"

Tanaka Kota was just as surprised.

He wasn't particularly shocked that Komaki Ayami was Narii's best friend; he was more surprised that Takashi was aware of Narii's feelings for him.

Takashi took a sip of miso soup and asked in return, "If you sit next to a furnace, do you not feel the heat?"

He wasn't one of those clueless rom-com protagonists. How could he not notice Narii's feelings?

Of course he knew. He just rejected her.

"Takashi, you're out of your mind."

Otani Shota clutched his chest dramatically, as if Takashi had just thrown away a fortune.

"She's beautiful, has an amazing figure, and her family is said to be super rich. Do you know how many years of struggle you could have skipped by being with her?"

"You can't just throw away your future and financial security over some silly pride!"

Takashi ignored him and continued eating.

"Takashi, do you not like Kamikawa-san?" Tanaka Kota also ignored Otani Shota's exaggerated complaints and asked.

Takashi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "That's not it."

Saying he didn't like her at all would be a lie.

"I don't dislike her, but for me, love isn't everything."

"If I get together with Kamikawa Narii now, I'd have to give up certain things."

"And compared to those things, love feels insignificant."

If he dated Kamikawa Narii, would he still continue his "stand-in boyfriend" gig?

If he quit, he wouldn't be able to earn system points.

Giving up now would mean all his previous efforts were wasted.

Would it really be worth it just for a single girl?

Takashi had a young body, but inside, he carried the soul of an adult.

Before making any decision, he always weighed the pros and cons, asking himself one simple question: "Is it worth it?"

And clearly, love wasn't worth giving up the rewards from the system.

Sure, Narii's family might be rich. But what did that have to do with him?

Yes.

Maybe Otani Shota was right. Maybe being with Narii would mean a shortcut, an easier life.

But that was all under the assumption that she would always like him.

What if one day she stopped liking him?

Love was the most unreliable thing in the world.

In Takashi's eyes, no one in this world would love someone forever.

Relying on love alone was like being a dog begging for affection, wagging its tail behind a woman—pathetic and laughable.

[You have received a date invitation. Would you like to view it?]

Suddenly, a system notification popped up.

Takashi mentally selected "view."

[Date Partner: Shijo Maki.]

[Event Description: Her childhood best friend and the guy she secretly loves got together. She can't let go, she can't move on.]

[Event Time: Arrive at the destination before 4 PM on May 9.]

[Event Location: Cafe Yolum (Click to start navigation).]

[Crush: Tanuma Tsubasa (Click to view details).]

[Reward: 5000 points.]

[Accept?]

Takashi stared at the name of his date and fell into deep thought.

Not because he was debating whether to accept, but because he was wondering—who the hell was Shijo Maki?

…

At 3:30 PM, Kashiwagi Nagisa held her school bag in both hands and walked up to Shijo Maki.

"Maki, my driver's busy today. Can I ride home with you?"

Hearing that, Shijo Maki instinctively glanced in Tanuma Tsubasa's direction.

Tanuma Tsubasa put his hands together in a pleading gesture, eyes full of hope.

"What kind of situation is this?"

Shijo Maki regretted promising Tanuma Tsubasa at lunch that she'd give him and Kashiwagi Nagisa some alone time.

The guy she liked had gotten together with her best friend. Not only was she supposed to bless their relationship, but now she was also helping them spend time alone?

Was she some kind of tragic side character?

"Sorry, Nagisa, I already have plans today."

Shijo Maki really didn't want to give them a chance to be alone together, but her upbringing since childhood prevented her from breaking a promise.

Besides, technically, she wasn't lying.

She did have plans today.

"With who?"

Kashiwagi Nagisa looked a little disappointed, but she was mostly curious.

Both of them had been born into wealthy families and grew up together. 

Their social circles overlapped heavily. If this was some kind of afternoon tea or party, there was no way Shijo Maki would be invited without Kashiwagi Nagisa also getting an invitation.

"Him…"

Shijo Maki hesitated.

She actually had no idea what the guy's name was.

"He… he's called Takashi."

That was the only thing she could recall from his ID—just "Takashi."

"Oh wow, Takashi? You're already on a first-name basis? Is he your boyfriend?" Kashiwagi Nagisa's eyes sparkled as if she'd just found some juicy gossip.

Typically, only close friends or lovers would call each other by their first names.

And "Takashi" clearly sounded like a guy's name.

"N-No, he's not…"

"Shijo-san, did you get a boyfriend?"

Before Shijo Maki could finish, Tanuma Tsubasa, who had walked over after most of their classmates had left, suddenly chimed in.

"…Yes, that's right."

Shijo Maki suddenly wanted to see Tanuma Tsubasa's reaction when he heard she was dating someone.

'Would he feel anything for me?'

Shijo Maki stared at Tanuma Tsubasa's face intently, not wanting to miss even the slightest change in his expression.

But to her disappointment, his face remained completely blank.

He didn't even look at her.

From beginning to end, his warm, bashful gaze was locked only on Kashiwagi Nagisa.

Shijo Maki's eyes filled with sadness, and a dull pain spread from her chest to her arms.

"Maki, come on, you're being so sneaky! Were you afraid I'd steal your boyfriend?" Kashiwagi Nagisa teased.

'Didn't you already steal him?'

Shijo Maki felt a surge of frustration.

But she knew this wasn't Kashiwagi Nagisa's fault.

Because even she hadn't realized she liked Tanuma Tsubasa until it was too late.

If anyone was to blame, it was the idiot who had given Tanuma Tsubasa the bad idea of confessing to Kashiwagi Nagisa.

'You better pray I never find out who you are.'

Shijo Maki's eyes darkened.

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Check out the other translations too: [Mash-Up: Anything For Money]

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