Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

"What are you two doing?"

Narii had always been concerned about Takashi's relationship with Kotonoha, so she followed them outside to take a look.

The moment she stepped out, she saw Takashi gripping Kotonoha's shoulders, pressing her against the wall, seemingly about to kiss her fiercely.

This was a scene she had longed to witness.

But now that it was happening with another woman, she was burning with jealousy.

Why did she get to call him Takashi?

Why did she get to be held by him?

He was her Takashi.

He was the man she had been thinking about for half a year.

That shameless wench, that despicable tramp…

Right now, Narii wanted nothing more than to slice off every part of Kotonoha that Takashi had touched, break her legs, and have someone pack her up and ship her off to Northern Myanmar.

Narii had never been kind.

She didn't even think of herself as kind.

But in front of Takashi, she at least wanted to appear kind.

But now, she no longer wanted to pretend.

She only wanted to lock Takashi away. No one would notice anyway.

And even if they did, her elders would handle it.

Just a little indulgence in power.

"Not good?"

Takashi heard Narii's voice, and he turned his head stiffly, like a machine lacking oil.

When he finally did, he was met with the madness and murderous intent surging in Narii's eyes.

It was real, unmistakable killing intent.

Takashi knew Narii well. She wasn't the kind of person who just entertained thoughts of murder—she would actually go through with it.

If he didn't find a way to calm her down, tomorrow's headlines might read something like: Masked Intruder Kills High School Girl in Home Invasion or Runaway Truck Crushes Teenage Girl.

"She's my cousin. I told you before."

Takashi immediately established Kotonoha's identity.

It was a lie, but as long as it could placate Narii, it was worth it.

The murderous glint in Narii's eyes wavered. She tilted her head, thinking.

She seemed to recall Takashi mentioning that he had a distant relative in Tokyo, though she hadn't paid much attention, since he had also said they weren't close.

"Show her your phone's lock screen."

Before Narii could process things further, Takashi turned to the stunned Kotonoha and ordered her.

"Ah… Oh, okay."

Kotonoha dazedly took out her phone, flipped it open, and showed Narii a picture of her and Ito Makoto posing together as a couple.

"He's her boyfriend."

Takashi tapped the image of Makoto, who was making a peace sign alongside Kotonoha. His tone was cold as he countered Narii's silent interrogation.

"Anything else you want to ask?"

"N-no, nothing."

Narii shook her head like a bobblehead.

"Do you want me to call him over? We can have dinner together, the four of us."

Takashi didn't actually know a damn thing about Makoto.

But at this moment, he couldn't afford to lose ground.

"Takashi, what are you saying? Do you think I wouldn't trust you?"

Narii put on an obedient, understanding expression, as if she were the sweetest, most considerate girl in the world. 

She even stretched out her pinky, trying to hook his.

Takashi flicked her hand away immediately, his cold gaze fixed on her.

"Takashi~"

Narii tried again, this time sounding like a girlfriend playfully sulking at her boyfriend.

Takashi brushed her hand away again without hesitation.

But Narii wasn't one to give up so easily.

She wouldn't have pursued Takashi for so long if she were the type to give up.

After several failed attempts, Takashi finally relented and let her hook her pinky around his.

Seeing this, Narii let out a mischievous "hehehe" like a mischievous little goblin.

Then, she turned to Kotonoha with a radiant, cherry-red summer smile.

"Hello, big sister! Should I call you my sister-in-law? Ah, no, I mean, my name is Kamikawa Narii. I'm your sister-in-law. Nice to meet you!"

So he has a girlfriend?

Hearing Narii's words, Kotonoha felt an unexpected pang of disappointment in her heart.

After all, her encounter with Takashi had been full of dramatic twists.

From their first meeting on the train, pressed close against each other, to him rushing to save her without hesitation after she had dialed the wrong number—

Kotonoha could never forget the image of Takashi standing in the light, smiling gently at her.

"You're getting ahead of yourself."

Narii was trying to take advantage of the misunderstanding to establish her status as Takashi's girlfriend in front of his 'cousin.'

But how could Takashi not see through her little scheme?

Without hesitation, he pressed his index and middle fingers together and flicked Narii's forehead.

"Ow! But it's going to happen sooner or later. What difference does it make if it's early or late?"

Narii pouted, rubbing the spot he flicked.

Takashi raised an eyebrow. "I'm very picky. If I end up choosing someone else, don't come crying to me."

"You think you'll even have the chance to choose someone else?"

Narii flicked her long hair and smiled sweetly at him.

But the terrifying part was, though she was smiling, there wasn't a trace of warmth in her eyes.

She had been completely serious about what she just said.

From the moment she set her sights on Takashi, his opinion no longer mattered.

Even if he didn't like her, she would twist his will, shape his thoughts, and make him fall for her.

If she wanted something, she would have it.

Takashi: "..."

For some reason, he had the distinct feeling that Narii wasn't joking.

…

Takashi skipped class for the rest of the day.

He went straight to Kotonoha's house with her.

If it had been before, Narii would have insisted on tagging along.

But perhaps because she knew she had crossed a line this time, she didn't follow them.

Even though she looked at Takashi longingly, like a puppy waiting for its owner to play with it.

If Takashi had invited her, she wouldn't have hesitated—she would have happily gone along without a second thought.

But Takashi didn't dare.

"Sorry, but I need you to play along."

While waiting at the train station, Takashi suddenly spoke.

"Oh, it's fine. I… shouldn't have come looking for you two in the first place." Kotonoha stared ahead as she answered.

"By the way, you do have a boyfriend, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"If that's the case, why did you come to me?"

Takashi finally voiced the question that had been bothering him.

Most people who sought him out were either those who had lost in love, those suffering heartbreak, or those too timid to confess their feelings—people whose only photos with their crushes were from group graduation pictures.

Kotonoha, who had a boyfriend, didn't fit any of these categories. Takashi couldn't figure out why she had sought him out.

"Well… I feel like there might be a problem between me and my boyfriend."

Takashi: O.O

"Tell me more."

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

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