Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

Under Takashi's comfort and guidance, Maki had come to regard him as her third true friend.

There was no helping it—Maki was suffering. 

Every day, she had to watch the boy she liked relentlessly pursue her best friend. It was like watching a simp desperately chase after a girl who only had eyes for someone else. 

Only a simp could truly understand the pain. She had many friends at school, but she didn't dare talk about this matter openly. 

The richer someone was, the more they cared about their reputation. 

If word got out that she had feelings for her best friend's boyfriend, not only would it affect her relationship with Nagisa, but how could Maki ever show her face in public again? 

It would become a laughingstock in high society. She couldn't let that happen. So, this matter had to stay buried, never to be spoken of.

As for her brother? Forget it. 

Shirogane Miyuki was already getting together with Shinomiya Kaguya, and her brother was still at some other school, kicking a soccer ball around like an idiot. 

It was clear he was destined to be another loser. She might even end up comforting him in the future. 

After much thought, Maki felt that the only person she could confide in was Watanabe Takashi.

Nowadays, she made it a daily routine to chat with him, like clocking in for work. The two had become quite close. 

Of course, that was in private. The bond was between Watanabe Takashi and Shijo Maki, not Kitahara Takashi and Shijo Maki. 

In reality, even if Takashi were standing right in front of her, she wouldn't recognize him. Takashi was fine with her not knowing. 

As he had said before, work was work, and life was life—they had to be kept separate. Besides, he didn't dare let her know that he was Watanabe Takashi. 

After all, Maki was already suffering enough; there was no need to make things worse for her.

"Alright, Maki, let it go," Nagisa said, tugging at her friend's sleeve to signal that it was enough.

She knew her best friend too well. Maki was the type to push harder when others backed down but would shrink back when others stood their ground. 

She was only tough with those she was close to.

"If you treat us to McDonald's, I'll forgive you!" Nagisa turned to Takashi and said this. 

Truthfully, she didn't really mind being touched by Takashi. Of course, that was only because he was good-looking. 

If it had been some middle-aged, balding, greasy man, her attitude would have been completely different.

So, while you might not always need good looks, it was better to have them than not.

"Sure," Takashi agreed, relieved that money could solve the problem. He was genuinely afraid that Maki would keep pushing. 

If she found out he was Watanabe Takashi and that he had deceived her, he felt like he'd have to start running for his life.

"Why should he treat us?" Maki grumbled unhappily. As the heiress of the Shiinomiya family, did she really care about such trivial expenses? 

But since Nagisa, the person involved, had spoken, she couldn't say much more. The three of them walked into McDonald's together. 

Well, actually, Takashi hadn't even left the place. The issue was resolved, but Kotonoha's call had already been disconnected. It didn't ring again.

'I'll call her back later,' Takashi thought, looking at the missed call. He wasn't too concerned. It could wait. 

Perhaps out of spite, Maki ordered a lot of food. It wasn't until Nagisa tugged at her that she finally stopped with a huff. 

The two found a seat, while Takashi waited in line. 

He could have sat down and waited for the server to bring the food, but sitting with Nagisa and Maki would have been awkward. 

After all, the three of them weren't close.

"Why are there so many people here today? Is it because of the two-scoop ice cream special?"

"That's awesome! I'm going to get chocolate and cocoa flavors."

Wait, aren't those both chocolate? What's the difference? Takashi thought to himself as he listened to the girls behind him.

"If you eat too much, you'll get fat, Akari."

"Don't worry, my fat knows where to go. No matter how much I eat, I won't get a belly."

"Mhm~, that's right. Akari's figure is really amazing!"

"Speaking of which, Akari, have you gotten bigger again?"

"I don't think so?"

"I don't believe you. Let me check."

"Hey, stop it!"

At first, Takashi didn't pay much attention. But the more he listened, the more familiar the voices sounded. 

He instinctively turned around and locked eyes with Watanabe Akari, who was being groped by her friend.

"..."

"..."

The two stared at each other in silence for about two seconds. That was more than enough time for Takashi and Akari to recognize each other. 

Finally, Takashi was the first to move. He nonchalantly turned his head back, pretending nothing had happened, while thinking to himself, 'Tokyo is such a small place.' 

He couldn't believe he'd run into two acquaintances here. Takashi dreaded to think how many more people he'd encounter if he kept working as a stand-in. 

He hoped his future girlfriend wouldn't point at him and yell, "I went out to buy a pack of pads and ran into seven or eight of your clients!"

Takashi wanted to pretend he didn't know her, but Akari wasn't having it.

He·dared·to·ignore·me!!!

Takashi's actions were so natural that it wasn't just ignoring her—it was like he couldn't be bothered to acknowledge her existence. 

They had made eye contact, and they were less than a meter apart, yet he acted as if she were invisible. 

This wasn't the kind of indifference that came from not knowing someone; it was the coldness of knowing someone but not wanting to engage. 

This made Akari furious. Did he really hate her that much? 

Every time they met, he acted like she didn't exist. Yet, when they first met at that mixer, his eyes had lit up when he saw her.

"You clearly saw me! Why are you ignoring me?!" Akari grabbed Takashi's shoulder and forced him to turn around.

Takashi thought for a moment, then greeted her with a smile: "Hello (*´▽｀)ノノ?"

Akari was even more annoyed by his attitude.

"Hello? What kind of greeting is that?"

Not good enough? Takashi thought for a moment, then put on a fake expression of enthusiasm, as if he had just noticed an old friend: "What a coincidence! You're here too?"

"Ki·ta·ha·ra·Ta·ka·shi!" Akari shouted his name, syllable by syllable.

'So his name is Takashi,' thought all the girls who had been curious about his name.

'Takashi… what a nice name,' Nagisa thought to herself.

Maki glanced at Takashi in surprise, thinking, 'His name is Takashi too?'

___

20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~ [5 bonus chapter if we reach 10 reviews]

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

___