Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

Yukino glared at Takashi, then—wanting to sit closer to the cat—took the seat to Takashi's right, despite the subtle, dark glare from Kotonoha.

Hoshino Ai glanced across the table.

The seating was: Kotonoha, Takashi, and Yukino.

On her side: just Hoshino Ai.

Am I being excluded? she thought.

Is this one of those movies with four people but only three have names?

She wanted to sit next to Yukino, but with the constant chill radiating from her, Hoshino decided against it.

Not everyone could act like Takashi and just ignore Yukino's cold aura.

To regular people, Yukinoshita Yukino—born into wealth—was an intimidating presence, not someone easily approached.

Since there weren't many customers, their food came quickly.

Hoshino Ai had never eaten steak before. 

She instinctively tried to pick it up with chopsticks, but seeing both Katsura and Yukinousing knife and fork, she followed suit and mimicked them.

"Takashi, open up~"

Takashi's right hand was still in a sling, so Kotonoha took it upon herself to care for him. 

She cut a piece of steak, stabbed it with a fork, and held it up to his mouth, one hand under it in case it fell.

Takashi didn't hesitate. He opened his mouth, took the bite, and then pulled out his phone to start playing with it.

Kotonoha gently wiped the corner of his mouth with a towel.

Seeing Kotonoha serving Takashi like a maid, Hoshino Ai's expression turned complicated.

"Kotonoha, aren't you spoiling him too much? What if you raise him into a complete freeloader?"

"I actually want to raise Takashi into a freeloader," Kotonoha said sweetly, then added silently in her heart, 'That way, no one else will fight over him.'

Hoshino Ai: "…?"

Excuse me, what language are you speaking?

"Takashi, do you still have money?" Kotonoha asked gently, continuing the conversation.

"Don't ask. If you ask, the answer's no."

Takashi typed on his phone with his left hand, replying to messages from Umaru.

"This is a supplementary card my parents gave me. Limit's one million yen. Take it. Let me know if it's not enough."

Kotonoha pulled a card from her purse and handed it over.

Hoshino Ai: "..."

Takashi lifted his gaze from his phone and stared at the gold card in silence for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh.

"Every time I'm with you, I feel like a kept man."

Kotonoha thought he was about to reject it and was about to say something when Takashi nonchalantly slipped the card into his pocket and added, "But I don't see it as a shameful thing."

It's not like he wanted to live off women.

But if they insisted on giving—what could he do? ┓( ´∀` )┏

Kotonoha, seeing Takashi accept the card, smiled gently, full of happiness.

"…Sis, could you look at me that way too?" Hoshino Ai muttered bitterly.

She flew around the country for work, and even then didn't make one million yen in a month.

Yet that guy just earned it sitting there.

Why?

Just because he's a guy?

If the world loved her like it loved men, things would be so much better.

Kotonoha merely gave a polite smile and didn't reply.

She wasn't into girls, and she didn't want to be friends with Hoshino Ai.

Seeing this, Hoshino Ai angrily chomped down on her steak.

The beef first hit the tongue with a rich aroma—thick and full.

Chewed slowly, it was tender but with a pleasant chewiness, and carried a faint sweetness. Even after swallowing, the flavor lingered on her palate.

"This is amazing! What kind of beef is this? Kobe beef?"

Her pupils dilated.

"All you know is Kobe beef, huh? Don't know any other kinds?" Takashi gave her a look like she was a country bumpkin and explained, "This is Matsusaka beef."

"Oh, not Kobe then…" Hoshino Ai sounded disappointed.

"Matsusaka beef from Mie Prefecture is the highest quality among black-haired cattle. It's also the best choice for steak."

Alongside that explanation came the tapping of a cane against the floor.

Hoshino Ai looked up and saw a pale-skinned, adorable girl wearing a beret slowly walking over on a cane.

Beside her was another girl with long pink hair in a Western-style school uniform and knee-high socks.

Ichinose Honami cheerfully greeted them. "Kitahara-kun, lo—long time no see."

Takashi stared at her silently for a moment and said, "Who are you?"

Ichinose Honami's thin shoulders trembled. Her eyes looked hurt as she stared at him, but what greeted her was Takashi's cold, calm eyes—like a still lake.

"I—I'm Ichinose Honami."

"We met during the Aoba entrance exam."

Takashi thought for a moment, then looked down. "Oh, did we? I forgot."

"F… forgot?"

Honami repeated, then quietly lowered her gaze. "Figures…"

"There are so many girls who like Takashi. Why would you remember someone as plain as me…"

Takashi didn't respond, just gave Kotonoha's thigh a light pat. "Ah!"

Kotonoha brightened instantly and began cutting more steak for him.

Interesting…

Arisu glanced at Kotonoha with thoughtful eyes, a faint smile curling her lips.

"Kitahara-kun, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Sakayanagi Arisu, a student from the Advanced Nurturing High School. This is Ichinose Honami. Would it be okay for us to sit here?"

[Ding. Target detected.]

[Target: Sakayanagi Arisu]

[Age: 16]

[Intelligence: 7]

[Charm: 8]

[Stamina: 1]

[Origin: Classroom of the Elite]

[Crush: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka]

[No boyfriend. Available for dating.]

[Target: Ichinose Honami]

[Age: 16]

[Intelligence: 6]

[Charm: 8]

[Stamina: 6]

[From: Classroom of the Elite]

[Crush: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka]

[No boyfriend. Available for dating.]

It wasn't surprising to Takashi that these two girls were targetable characters. 

Tilting his head slightly, he looked at them blandly and said, "Tomorrow we'll be opponents, and you still dare to come over? Pretty bold, huh?"

"On the field, we're opponents. But off the field, we can still be friends."

Arisu smiled softly.

"You want to be my friend?"

Takashi smiled ambiguously.

"Can't I?"

"You can, but you'll have to prove your worth."

"How do I prove that?"

Arisu immediately showed interest.

"Send me 50."

Takashi said as he pulled out his phone and held up a QR code.

Arisu: "…"

Why did it feel like Takashi was acting like one of those pay-for-access girls? Even making friendship has a 50-yen entry fee?

Arisu took out her phone and scanned it. "It's transferred."

Takashi glanced down, then handed his phone back. "I said fifty thousand, not fifty yen."

Arisu: "?"

Price gouging?

___

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

___