Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

The sun gradually set in the west, and a flock of crows flew in from the distance, sweeping over the school building of Aoba Private Academy.

At the shoe lockers, Narii took the initiative to speak to Takashi. "Takashi, do you want to go shopping later? The stores we frequent just got some new arrivals."

Takashi closed his shoe locker. "I can't today. I already have plans."

Today, Kotonoha had chosen him.

Although he preferred not to get too involved with girls who already had boyfriends, since she had approached him first, it wouldn't make sense to turn her down and give up the points he could earn.

Narii pouted in dissatisfaction. "You're so busy these days. Every time I ask you out, you're never available."

Takashi thought about it. It did seem to be the case.

Lately, as more and more girls had started choosing him, he had become much busier than before.

But he didn't mind being busy.

Whenever he had free time, besides working part-time and reading, he really didn't know what else to do.

Takashi didn't mind his schedule filling up, but he hoped the number of girls wouldn't keep increasing.

If it did, he wouldn't be able to keep up with all the messages.

"Which shady business are you working for? I'm going to report them."

High school students were allowed to have part-time jobs, but they weren't permitted to work in nightlife establishments. 

Most entertainment-related jobs, like karaoke bars, pubs, dance halls, nightclubs, and game centers, were strictly off-limits.

That left only supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, and amusement parks as viable workplaces for high school students.

There were also strict limits on how many hours they could work.

In theory, students weren't allowed to work more than 35 hours a week.

Aoba Private Academy had an even stricter rule—students could not work more than 28 hours per week.

Furthermore, if a student's grades dropped, teachers had the authority to prohibit them from working.

Takashi changed the topic. "I'm planning to buy a motorcycle this week. Do you want to come with me?"

Imagining Takashi in motorcycle gear, Narii's eyes lit up.

"Sure! I know a lot of shop owners. I can help you get the biggest discount."

"Can you get it down to a bone-breaking deal?"

"I can, but it'll be us getting our bones broken by the shop owner."

Narii burst into laughter at her own joke.

She had always had a low threshold for humor.

Takashi didn't find it funny, but sometimes, when someone around you is laughing like an idiot, you can't help but be affected.

"I can't with you."

Despite his words, the corners of his lips curled up unconsciously.

…

After watching Narii get into her family's car, Takashi didn't head straight to his meeting with Kotonoha. Instead, he took the train to his part-time job.

It was a 24-hour convenience store near Bunkyō Station.

When Takashi first arrived in this world, he had less than 100,000 yen to his name.

Although he had a system, he didn't have any dates.

Without dates, he couldn't earn system points.

Without points, he couldn't exchange them for money.

Life was tough, so he had no choice but to get a job.

At first, finding work was difficult in an unfamiliar world.

Well, it wasn't exactly that he couldn't find a job.

It was just that all the available positions were far from where he lived.

With his limited funds at the time, even commuting costs were a burden.

Long commutes were also a hassle.

Just when he was considering compromising, Yozakura Hitomi found out he was job hunting.

She simply bought a convenience store and told him to work there.

When Takashi heard about it, he was stunned.

Was this how rich people thought?

"Manager, you're here."

As soon as he walked in, a girl with a chestnut-colored ponytail greeted him from behind the counter.

She had a cute but unremarkable face—someone you'd find anywhere among ordinary high school girls.

"Good afternoon, Nanami."

Takashi gave Aoyama Nanami a slight nod before asking her for the store ledger.

He was here today to check the accounts.

After Yozakura Hitomi bought the store, she never managed it.

Eventually, she even forgot she owned it.

One time, she came in and tried to pay for some snacks.

If Takashi hadn't reminded her, she wouldn't have remembered she owned the place.

Hitomi didn't care about the store's survival, but Takashi did.

No matter what, she had bought it for him, so he felt responsible for it.

He had worked part-time jobs and even started his own business before.

He wouldn't say he was exceptionally skilled, but managing a convenience store was well within his capabilities.

Without looking up from the ledger, Takashi asked, "Did the interviewee arrive today?"

"They did, but…" Nanami hesitated mid-sentence.

Takashi said indifferently, "Just say it."

Even though they were the same age, whenever Takashi entered work mode, she always felt like she was looking up to him, like an employee addressing her superior.

She unconsciously straightened her posture and answered, "Well, she's a middle schooler."

"This kind of thing—why didn't you check beforehand?"

His tone became sharper.

Middle school students weren't allowed to work.

Hiring one could get the store reported.

Nanami bowed at a 90-degree angle and apologized loudly, "I'm sorry!"

Takashi closed the ledger. "Send her home."

With that, he turned and headed to the storage room to check the inventory.

When he came back out, he saw a strikingly beautiful girl with long, silver-white hair speaking with Nanami.

Nanami looked visibly troubled.

"Miss, can I help you?"

Thinking something was wrong, Takashi quickly walked over, wearing a friendly smile.

Before the silver-haired girl could speak, the system window popped up.

[Target: Shirogane Kei]

[Age: 13]

[Intelligence: 8]

[Charm: 9]

[Stamina: 4]

[From: Kaguya-sama: Love Is War]

[Secretly a bro-con, no current romantic interest]

[No boyfriend, available for dating.]

Takashi: "..."

System, can you at least pretend to be human?

She's only 13!

You really have no shame, do you?

Takashi had long accepted that his system had no morals and no bottom line, but he hadn't expected it to target middle schoolers too.

"Manager, I'm here to apply for a part-time job. I really need this job. Please give me a chance."

Shirogane Kei's voice was cold and clear. She bowed deeply.

Takashi refused without hesitation. "No."

"You can come back when you're in high school. But not now."

No matter what hardship she was facing, he wasn't about to bring trouble to Hitomi.

"Nanami, I'll leave this to you."

Takashi didn't even look at Shirogane Kei's reaction. He simply nodded at Nanami and left for his appointment.

…

At the same time, Kotonoha had just finished cleaning the classroom.

She wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead, shouldered her bag, and prepared to leave.

Her slender fingers gripped the door handle, and she gave it a light pull.

It didn't budge.

"No way…"

A bad feeling crept over her.

She pulled harder, but the door didn't move at all.

She realized—someone had locked the classroom from the outside.

It was already dark outside.

Alone in an empty classroom, Kotonoha felt a little uneasy.

She pounded on the door and gathered her courage to shout.

"Is anyone out there? Please open the door! I'm still inside!"

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

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