Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

"You can rank first at Sobu High, but can you even make the top three nationwide?"

Even if Yukino was one in a million, with over ten million college entrance exam candidates every year in Japan alone, there would still be over a thousand like her.

"And that's just one country."

"The world isn't just this island nation. Looking globally, you don't even qualify to meet the true geniuses."

Ignoring Yukino's lips turning pale from biting down, Takashi continued, 

"I said your thinking is too naive, living in your own ideal world—because you're really immature. Frankly, I find it laughable."

"Belief might be absolute justice to you, but isn't your idea of justice just your personal opinion? It doesn't represent the majority."

"You want to escape your family's constraints and be independent, but the food you eat, the water you drink, even the apartment you live in—it's all from your father. 

How are you going to talk about independence when you can't even support yourself financially?"

"You think your mother's too controlling, but don't forget—everything you enjoy now was brought to you by your parents."

"You're just enjoying the life of a rich kid while complaining your parents are too strict. Simply put, you don't have the guts to challenge the first-gen rich."

With every word, Yukino's gaze toward Takashi grew colder.

But Takashi didn't care how she looked at him.

It's not like she'd dare touch him—and her parents certainly wouldn't.

"If you left the Yukinoshita family, with that kind of personality—"

Takashi stepped in front of her, smiled down with condescension: "—who could stand you?"

"No wonder you don't have any friends."

Some people are friendless for a reason.

Anyone who says Yukino has a good temper—if she weren't that pretty, who could stand her attitude?

He wouldn't date someone like her even if it killed him.

"If you don't change your personality, you'll never surpass your sister."

As those words came out of Takashi's mouth, Yukino glared at him with murderous eyes.

"You really are insufferable."

Exactly as she thought.

She and this guy could never get along.

"What a coincidence. I don't like you either."

Takashi grinned, completely unfazed by Yukino's words.

"I never planned to get along with you anyway."

Even if he were starving, dying, or forced to jump off a cliff, Takashi would never go after Yukino.

He couldn't stand her for a second.

Their gazes clashed, sparks flying in the air.

Not far away, a reporter was snapping photos of Takashi and Yukino nonstop.

He'd already decided on tonight's headlines:

"Beautiful Sobu Manager's Secret Meeting with Koshien's Rising Star—Caught in a Scandalous Act!"

"Rival Manager Wants Me to Confess?! A Koshien Love-Mind Battle Begins—"

"On the Self-Discipline of Young Athletes: Girls and Junk Food Ruin Careers!"

"Shocking! The Real Reason Sobu High Lost Is—!!!"

Hmm… which version should he go with?

It was hard to choose.

They were all great.

Ah, such a delightful dilemma.

Takashi had no idea what awaited him.

…

After parting ways with Yukino, Takashi didn't return to his class immediately to observe his next-round opponent.

Instead, he went to the restroom.

He still hadn't opened the gift pack from Kato Megumi and Sawamura Eriri.

If not for all the eyes on him, worried something weird might pop out and be hard to explain, he would've opened it right away.

[Open "H-manga Gift Pack"? Contents include—]

'Open.'

Takashi never looked at the contents when drawing. If you don't get what you want, it only makes you feel worse—better not to know.

[Ding. "H-manga Gift Pack" opened. Congratulations! You received: 1 doujinshi, 1 pair of stockings, and 1 red shibari rope.]

Takashi: "???"

What the hell is this mess?

'Calm down—maybe they have some special use.'

He comforted himself, but honestly, he had zero expectations.

He checked the item descriptions.

[Doujinshi: A self-insert comic featuring post-marriage scenarios with Watanabe Takashi. Author: Kashiwagi Nagisa.]

Takashi: "..."

WTF!

What kind of unhinged thing is this?!

[Stockings: A pair of Eriri's just-removed stockings, still carrying the scent of a beautiful girl. (Ps: Can be sold at a high price to individuals with special fetishes.)]

Scent of a girl? Yeah, right.

More like the sour stench of sweat.

Takashi didn't believe for a second that stockings, worn all day in summer, could smell nice.

Too bad he wasn't in his home country—otherwise, he'd list it online and make a killing.

[Red Shibari Rope: A red rope for use in bondage play. One-time use. When used with a female character, her physical sensitivity drastically increases (host only). Every touch from the host delivers peak physical and mental stimulation.

Item Trait: M.

Requirement: Affection ≥ 90.]**

Takashi: "..."

Are you kidding?

Not a single decent item?

All three are lewd-related garbage.

How thirsty was Eriri, seriously?

[Open "Mob Character Gift Pack"?]

'Go ahead.'

Takashi had no hope left for these gift packs.

[Ding. "Mob Character Gift Pack" opened. Congratulations! You received: "I Am Supreme" (Aura), and "Opportunist" (Passive).]

Takashi perked up immediately and checked the item descriptions.

[I Am Supreme (Aura): Host gains overwhelming confidence! Arrogance toward all! A domineering air of superiority!

Effect: When the host makes eye contact, weak-willed individuals feel psychological pressure and avoid eye contact.

Requirement: Looks ≥ 9.

Description: Ugly people don't deserve me.]

Isn't this just delusional narcissism?

"I Am Supreme," huh—what are you, Gilgamesh?

[Opportunist (Passive): Give me a chance, and I'll steal everything.

Effect: Host can seize all opportunities.

Requirement: None.]

Just this?

Takashi felt the reward was pretty useless.

As expected, you shouldn't expect too much from something the system gives for free.

Takashi felt a bit downhearted.

He was hoping to get something good.

Now it seemed he had been overthinking it.

Knock knock!

Someone knocked on the door of the restroom he was occupying.

Takashi opened the bathroom door, just about to let the next person in.

But before he could even see who it was, someone crashed into him headfirst.

Takashi's body triggered [Max-Level Evasion], but in his retreat he bumped into the toilet and landed straight on it.

Fortunately, the toilet lid was still down.

Takashi landed on the lid, and the person fell right into his lap.

"Takashii~"

A sweet and sultry voice came from the girl's cherry-like lips.

She sat on Takashi's lap, arms wrapped around his neck, and without waiting for his reaction, bit into his neck.

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