Didn’t You Say I Was Just a Stand-In?

The tram sped along under a crisscross of power lines.

Half an hour later, Kitahara Takashi appeared in Tokyo's Ginza district.

Following the navigation, he arrived at the meeting spot, Cafe Yolum, only to find it was a dessert shop.

A sign reading "Trial Operation" hung at the entrance, adorned with various cartoon designs, showcasing a lot of creativity.

"This must be the place," Kitahara Takashi confirmed the location once more.

After ensuring he was at the right place, he took out a small mirror to check his makeup.

The sharp, aggressive features in the mirror were gone, replaced by a somewhat delicate, meek appearance.

This wasn't just makeup; it was like getting a whole new head.

"Perfect."

After a thorough check to ensure his face bore a seven, eight, or even nine out of ten resemblance to Tazuna Tsubasa, Kitahara pushed the door open and entered.

....

Inside the European castle-themed dessert shop, Shijo Maki mechanically scooped bites of Black Forest cake into her mouth, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Kashiwagi Nagisa and Tazuna Tsubasa.

Had they gone home together? Held hands? Would they hug? Could they have kissed...? No, no, that's impossible.

Something as sacred as a kiss should be reserved for the wedding day.

Even if they've only been dating for a month?

What's the difference between that and a slut?

The young lady, completely naive about matters of the heart since her birth sixteen years ago, began to console herself.

The sweet taste melted in her mouth, but the cake she once loved now tasted bitter to Shijo Maki.

Was her stomach feeling a bit off?

Shijo Maki began to suspect if the shop had secretly changed the ingredients, or if this slice of Black Forest cake was leftover from yesterday.

She would have to have someone investigate this shop thoroughly.

If this cake was really the cause of her stomach discomfort, Shijo Maki would make sure the shop understood the power of capital.

Unaware that her mood was altering her taste perception, Shijo Maki began to project her issues onto others.

"Hello."

Shijo Maki, immersed in her own world, didn't notice the person who had just approached her.

Without even looking up, she impatiently said, "No phone, no contacts."

Despite being a loser in love, she was quite popular.

Many at school were pursuing her, and she often got hit on outside school too. But she couldn't tell if they liked her looks, her family background, or her as a person. And the first person she liked without any schemes or reservations wasn't someone she could easily let go of.

Unrequited love is the most unforgettable.

As Shijo Maki grew older, she would reminisce more about the good old days, overlooking Tazuna Tsubasa's flaws.

The reason why a first love is so idealized isn't because they were truly noble and perfect, but because at the most impressionable age, they happened to appear, and you fell for them.

"Miss Shijo, hello, my name is Watanabe Takashi, you can call me [Takashi]."

Kitahara Takashi didn't mind Shijo Maki's coldness; having been toughened by society after graduation, he could remain calm in any situation.

He pulled out a chair and sat down, introducing himself.

"Takashi?"

Shijo Maki finally deigned to give Kitahara a glance.

With just one look, her pupils dilated in disbelief.

Then, as if the chair had springs, she suddenly stood up, knocking over the drink on the table.

This was very rude.

If this were at the Shijo household, her parents would surely scold her for her lack of manners.

Shijo Maki, ignoring her usual poise, exclaimed with a mix of shock and joy, "Tsubasa!"

Kitahara Takashi was very pleased with her reaction.

This meant his makeup wasn't in vain.

As expected of himself.

This was the effect Kitahara had meticulously planned for.

And the effect was as expected.

"Tsubasa?"

Kitahara feigned confusion, blinking, then touched his face.

"Do I look like him?"

Only then did Shijo Maki realize that the person had introduced himself earlier.

His name was Watanabe Takashi, not Tazuna Tsubasa.

"Sorry, you look a lot like a friend of mine."

Shijo Maki sat back down, but her eyes remained fixed on Kitahara.

So similar!

Why did he look so much like Tazuna Tsubasa?

"Miss, is everything alright?"

Hearing the commotion, a waiter hurried over.

"It's nothing. Oh, could you clean up the table for me, please?" Despite being a young lady, Shijo Maki was not arrogant and spoke very politely to ordinary people.

"Please bring another of what I just ordered." Feeling a bit guilty for causing trouble, the young lady ordered another serving.

After ordering, she remembered Kitahara was there and turned to ask him, "What would you like? It's on me."

"No need, I don't really like desserts. I'll have an oolong tea," Kitahara declined the menu with a smile, shaking his head.

'Just like Tsubasa, he doesn't like sweets.'

Hearing Kitahara's response, Shijo Maki thought to herself.

'They really are so alike.'

They moved to another table, and after the waiter served their orders and left, they sat there, looking at each other, neither speaking, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Their current state was like meeting an online friend in person.

Online you: full of witty banter, smooth, likes to tease.

In real life, meeting face-to-face: you instantly turn into a nervous wreck, fumbling and at a loss for words.

After a long pause, Kitahara Takashi awkwardly managed to say, "So, uh, have you eaten yet?"

Shijo Maki glanced down at the desserts on her table, then looked back at him. Suddenly, she turned her head away, her shoulders shaking violently, clearly trying hard to suppress her laughter.

Kitahara could see that Shijo Maki was laughing, and his face began to turn red, the blush spreading from his cheeks down to his neck.

"You're laughing, aren't you?" Kitahara's voice was a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

"No, I'm not."

Shijo Maki answered firmly.

As the young lady of the Shijo family, she had undergone professional training.

No matter how funny something was, she would never laugh out loud.

Well, unless she couldn't help it.

"You're definitely laughing!"

"I already said I'm not."

"Then turn around and face me."

Shijo Maki really did turn around, and as soon as she saw Kitahara's face—so similar to Tazuna Tsubasa's—flushed red with embarrassment and irritation, she could no longer hold back. She burst into laughter, just like she often did when teasing Tazuna Tsubasa.

So similar!

They were really so alike!

Unable to talk to girls, blushing as soon as he made eye contact with one—wasn't this Tazuna Tsubasa in the flesh?

There were just too many similarities between them. Was it a coincidence?

As Shijo Maki laughed, Kitahara's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

There are no such coincidences in this world.

What Shijo Maki thought was a chance encounter was actually the result of Kitahara's long and deliberate planning.

Because the system had provided detailed information about Tazuna Tsubasa, Kitahara knew all his preferences, personality traits, and even his way of speaking.

All he had to do was mimic Tazuna Tsubasa well, and Shijo Maki would bite the hook on her own.

It was as easy as fishing for compliments.