Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

Megumi saw her usually composed cousin shouting like he was tearing his throat apart.

And it was no wonder.

What they thought would be the final match had turned into a historic moment.

Everyone around Megumi was screaming, spittle flying through the air.

She didn't understand Koshien, nor did she know what 166 km/h really meant.

But she knew—Takashi had done something extraordinary again.

"A speed of 166 kilometers per hour—a new Koshien record!"

"Takashi has broken the top record set by the legendary pitcher Shohei Ohtani!"

The commentator's voice was hoarse with excitement.

He was nearly losing his mind.

He never thought he'd live to see Shohei Ohtani's record broken.

Ohtani—the GOAT of Major League Baseball.

The one and only god of Japanese baseball.

"In 2012, Shohei Ohtani from Iwate Prefecture pitched a 160 km/h fastball as a senior in high school, shocking the entire country."

"Today, that record has been broken again."

"Celebrate, everyone—cheer loudly! We are witnessing the rise of a legend!"

…

In the audience, Hayasaka Ai looked at Takashi with pride in her eyes.

Pointing to the boy on the mound, she turned to the stunned Kaguya and said, "Kaguya-sama, it seems Takashi might disappoint you."

But Kaguya didn't respond.

She just stared at Takashi in silence.

The sky was a clear blue, and the summer breeze lifted the hem of the boy's uniform.

That boy stood at the mound like he was standing in the light—at the center of the whole field, as if he were the king reigning over Hanshin Koshien.

…

"Takashi is insane!!!" x2

Back at the hospital, Otani Shota, still recovering, saw the scene on TV. 

Veins bulged on his neck in excitement, and he nearly jumped out of bed to punch Takashi in celebration.

"That guy, Takashi—he's my bro," Tanaka Kota proudly pointed at the screen and boasted to the elderly patients gathered in the hospital lobby.

"Quiet, quiet!" a nurse scolded.

…

"AHHHHH!"

Compared to the cheering from Aoba's fans, the eight players on the field were even more fired up.

Unable to leave their positions, they howled like primitive humans in a frenzy.

No matter how passionate the words, nothing could fully express what they were feeling right now.

They had thought it was over—and yet, Takashi hadn't even gone all out yet.

Damn, that hurts.

After the pitch, Takashi felt like his arm no longer belonged to him.

It was like it had rusted over—every little movement caused excruciating pain.

But on the surface, he dared not show it.

Because he was afraid the opponent would notice.

"You said Koshien is full of gold?" Takashi shouted toward Uezu Yuta.

Uezu looked up blankly, facing Takashi.

"You're right. Koshien is full of gold."

Uezu thought Takashi was about to mock him—but to his surprise, Takashi agreed.

But was Takashi really the kind of guy who stayed humble when provoked?

Of course not.

The very next moment, the king of arrogance made his entrance.

"But putting me on the same level as you guys? You're flattering yourselves a bit too much."

His tone was cocky beyond belief.

His gaze held no one in his eyes.

And yet Uezu Yuta didn't dare to say a word in return.

Even the umpire didn't scold Takashi.

Because Takashi was strong.

A kind of strength that Uezu could never hope to reach, no matter how hard he tried.

The DNA buried in Japanese culture—the instinct to bully the weak and bow to the strong—held him in place.

 He had no right to talk back.

"Remember my name," Takashi said. "I'm Kitahara Takashi—'Takashi', as in the one and only ruler above all!"

…

There's a saying: "The joys and sorrows of people don't connect."

Right now, nothing described the students of Advanced Nurturing High School better.

Just moments ago, Nagumo Miyabi had claimed he overestimated Takashi. Now, his face stung with shame.

He felt like Takashi had slapped him soundly in front of everyone—without even touching him.

He looked like a total clown.

Yet no one laughed at him.

Now the pressure was on Advanced Nurturing.

How were they supposed to beat Takashi?

"What do we do about him?" Horikita Manabu looked at the group, hoping for ideas.

But no one spoke.

Maybe feeling her brother was losing face, Horikita Suzune offered, "Takashi only throws sweet-spot pitches. If we just set the pitching machine to 170 km/h, then—"

"Impossible."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka cut off her fantasy without mercy.

"Why not?" Suzune frowned, unhappy with his interference.

"Because it can't be done."

Ayanokoji didn't spare her pride—he went straight to the root of the issue.

It was like asking an ordinary person, "Why not attend the University of Tokyo?"

It's not because they don't want to.

It's because they can't.

At the end of the day, Koshien is still just a high school tournament.

And Takashi has already surpassed the high school level.

It's like a pro demolishing amateurs—pure dimensional domination.

"If we just train harder—" "Shut up."

Just as Suzune was about to argue again, Horikita Manabu snapped coldly.

The moment her brother spoke, she shut up immediately.

She could ignore anyone else—but not him.

"…Do you have a plan?" Horikita Manabu turned his eyes toward Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Since he spoke up, he must have an idea.

"Takashi is strong."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had been made to study baseball by his father, so he knew how difficult it was to reach a pitch speed of 166 km/h.

At the very least, he couldn't do it.

"But there's only one Takashi."

His gaze remained locked on Takashi.

On the field, Takashi gestured to the catcher to throw the ball back.

"If we face Takashi in the quarterfinals, we'll definitely lose."

"But what if we face him in the finals?"

Under the opponent's despairing gaze, Takashi once again caught the white ball in his glove.

"So what if it's the finals?" Horikita Suzune was confused—and a little defiant. As far as she was concerned, it was just a matter of timing.

"His arm won't hold out."

___

I thought this is a full of drama fic, how come it changed to this lmao.

Not complaining tho, I kinda enjoyed it.

___

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~

Check out the other translations too

___