Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

"Let go. Don't touch me. Go play with your pretty girls."

Hayasaka Ai struggled furiously.

But in the end, she resisted the urge to toss him over her shoulder.

"Master, I didn't give anyone my contact info."

Takashi didn't let go, instead moving to face her with sincere eyes.

"Master, trust me. I didn't give my contact to anyone."

The match had just ended—where would he even have had time?

Hayasaka Ai's expression softened slightly, but she still turned her head away: "Go ahead and add them. It's not like we have anything to do with each other anyway."

"Does Master really want me to add someone else?"

Takashi took a step forward and placed both hands on Hayasaka Ai's slender, fragrant shoulders. 

Like a young deer in the forest, he looked at her with dewy eyes.

'I don't want to.'

In her heart, Hayasaka Ai didn't want Takashi to add another girl.

But she didn't know in what capacity she could ask him not to.

"Master, even though I have a lot of girls around me, you know it's all for work. Even when I smile, it's just for show. I'm not happy at all."

Takashi wore a pained expression as he began his performance.

'I understand.'

From the stress-relief videos Takashi had recommended to her, Hayasaka Ai could tell that he must be under immense pressure.

Just serving someone like Kaguya alone left her utterly exhausted. Let alone Takashi, who had to deal with several at once.

Thinking it over, Hayasaka Ai realized that what Takashi was doing wasn't all that different from her own work.

Why had she viewed him with such prejudice at first?

Probably because Lady Kaguya always spoke ill of him in front of her. That rubbed off on her impression of Takashi.

But after spending time with him, Hayasaka Ai realized she had been biased.

"For example, yesterday, a girl named Sawamura Spencer Eriri—she used to be one of my clients—confessed to me."

Takashi knew he couldn't hide something like that.

He also knew that the Shinomiya family's eldest daughter, the one who looked like Tong Shopkeeper, didn't like him.

Hayasaka Ai had accidentally revealed this.

She had said her employer always badmouthed him in front of her.

So rather than let Kaguya say it first, he might as well be the one to bring it up.

That way, he could give Hayasaka Ai a first impression that favored him.

A thousand readers will have a thousand Hamlets.

The same event—different authors can spin different stories.

"…So, did you accept her?"

Hayasaka Ai felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.

Those late-night chats until they both fell asleep, their shared experiences and similar hobbies had made Hayasaka Ai and Takashi spiritual soulmates.

She realized she might have started to like Takashi.

She just didn't know how he felt about her.

What Hayasaka Ai didn't realize was that her feelings for Takashi weren't love—they were ambiguity.

As they say, frequent chatting can create the illusion of love.

Hayasaka Ai was skilled at many things, but when it came to love, she was a novice.

She had never been in a relationship before. She couldn't tell the difference between flirtation and genuine affection. She mistook ambiguity for love.

She thought she had started to fall for Takashi.

"No."

Takashi shook his head and gazed deeply at Hayasaka Ai.

Through his eyes, Hayasaka Ai saw an ocean—a peaceful world—a reflection of her clear self.

"I rejected her."

"Because to me, she can be a client, she can be a friend—but she can't be a lover."

"The partner I need is someone who resonates with me on a soul level, someone who shares my frequency, someone who understands me."

"Before I met Master, I had no expectations for my other half."

"Until I met Master."

"Master, I never imagined there could be a soul in this world so in tune with mine."

Yes.

Hayasaka Ai felt the same—they really were alike.

Both under immense pressure. Both doing things they didn't like.

That was why they could talk so easily.

People on different wavelengths can't even hold a proper conversation.

"After meeting Master, my life gained color."

"Master, every time I talk to you, I feel so happy."

"Listening to you share your life—even just the little mundane things—I enjoy it all."

"Every time you don't reply, I start wondering if you're talking to other guys, and just thinking about that makes me insanely jealous."

His eyes turned red, and his voice carried a hint of grievance.

Hayasaka Ai looked at him in surprise.

She hadn't expected Takashi to feel the same.

Actually, when Takashi didn't reply, she too wondered: "Is he chatting with another girl?" And just thinking that made her uncomfortable.

"Master, I know this request is selfish, but… can you not chat with other guys? Please?"

Faced with the boy's pleading eyes, Hayasaka Ai suddenly wanted to tease him: "Why?"

"Because… because…"

Takashi's face turned bright red, but he was too flustered to speak.

"Because… I think I might have fallen for Master."

After he said that, he blushed and lowered his head.

'He likes me too?'

Hayasaka Ai felt pure joy at their emotional connection once again.

She had thought it was a one-sided crush.

"Master… Do you like me even a little bit?"

Takashi looked at her with hopeful eyes.

His eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, radiating a light that illuminated everything around him.

"Hm, take a guess."

Hayasaka Ai playfully winked.

"Master, you can't do this to me! I already, I already…"

Watching Takashi get flustered again, Hayasaka Ai found it amusing.

No one would believe that the boy who dominated on the field was, in front of her, someone who couldn't even form a full sentence when nervous.

"Little disciple, don't be in such a rush."

Hayasaka Ai patted his head with the elegance of an older sister.

"You're still too young. If you confess now, what will happen to your work?"

Takashi replied without a moment's hesitation, "I'll quit. At worst, I'll find a regular job."

This was not the time for even a second of hesitation.

"Idiot!"

Hayasaka Ai lightly knocked him on the head and smiled, "You have to become stronger first."

"But what if someone else takes Master away?"

"Don't worry. Master is yours—no one can take me away."

Hayasaka Ai stroked Takashi's silky silver hair, her eyes soft: "Grow into a reliable adult. I'll wait for you."

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Hayasaka… aren't you kinda easy…?

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