Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

"If you want someone honest and faithful, go find someone like that. If you want devotion, then go find someone who can give it. Don't try to mold me into what you want."

"Why do girls always want to change people?"

The real conflict between Takashi and Narii was that he had to date other girls to earn system points.

But Narii didn't want him seeing or interacting with any other girl.

Takashi understood the problem. He just couldn't solve it.

"Stop chasing me. And stop trying to change me."

"No matter how many warnings you give, I'm not going to change. Got it?"

Choosing Narii meant giving up the system.

And the system was Takashi's only chance of flipping the script as an ordinary guy.

There's no way he'd sacrifice his future for a girl.

"I don't get it."

The girl in front of him looked frail, her red-rimmed eyes stubbornly locking onto his.

If she were an adult, she'd have backed off after hearing something that harsh.

But he forgot—Narii was just a girl.

A headstrong one.

A girl in the throes of first love, incapable of weighing gains and losses, loving purely and recklessly.

A girl who had to buy whatever she liked and fight for whatever she wanted.

All his cold logic sounded like nonsense to her.

"I am going to change you. And I am going to die clinging to this crooked-ass tree that is you. So what?"

"If you've got the guts, then kill me!"

Narii raised her chin defiantly.

"There's just no reasoning with you."

She wouldn't listen. He couldn't hit her. And she just wouldn't leave.

For the first time, Takashi—usually smooth and unshakable with girls—felt completely stuck.

He really didn't know what to do anymore.

He felt like Narii was his natural nemesis.

"Oh right, you still haven't answered me. Who were you kissing?!"

Narii grabbed his collar and demanded.

That one question made Takashi realize she hadn't heard a single word he said earlier.

"Kashiwagi Nagisa. If you've got a problem, go deal with her. Take her out."

"Alright."

Without hesitation, Narii stormed out of the passage.

Takashi instantly panicked and grabbed her. "Where are you going?"

"To kill her."

"I…"

Takashi nearly passed out from holding his breath.

"You're not going."

Knowing Narii, if he let this idiot go, she just might actually kill Nagisa.

Just like how she could always see through his lies—when Narii said she'd kill someone, she just might follow through.

They knew each other too well.

And that's exactly why he knew how serious she could get.

"Who gave you the right to stop me?! Let go! I'm going to kill that shameless slut!"

Narii struggled against his grip, trying to go find Nagisa.

"Because you like me, that gives me the right."

Takashi resorted to nonsense logic.

It was the only leverage he had left over this crazy girl.

"No! I have to kill that bitch! Who gave her permission to kiss you?!"

Narii kept struggling.

"She didn't kiss me. I dodged."

"You two have a hickey! And you're saying there was no kiss? I don't believe you! Don't try to lie to me—mmph mmph mmph—!"

Narii raised her fists and began hitting him, annoying Takashi so much he decided to shut her up for good.

Outside the passage, summer blazed under the sun. 

There were cheers from the crowd, sweat from the players, tears from the losers, and dreams from the winners.

But in the passageway, there was only a boy and a girl locked in a kiss, arms wrapped tightly around each other.

Feeling the softness of his lips, Narii was stunned at first.

 But once she caught on, she quickly wrapped her arms around Takashi's neck and kissed him back, clumsily and stiffly.

Takashi pulled away quickly. "Damn, did you seriously use your tongue?"

Narii retorted confidently, "Who kisses without tongue?"

"Don't stop. Keep going."

As she spoke, Narii tugged on Takashi's shirt, stood on her tiptoes, and tried to continue.

"What are you two doing?"

From outside the passageway, a girl's voice rang out, cold as the wind—like a southern winter breeze, cutting into the boy's body and making him shiver involuntarily.

Takashi quickly pushed Narii away and turned to look.

At the entrance to the passage stood Hitomi, staring at him coldly.

"Nee-san, why are you here?"

Narii sounded a little unhappy.

Couldn't she see how heated the mood was right now?

Why did she have to come and ruin it?

"Nee-san?"

Takashi was stunned.

"She's your sister?"

This was the first time he found out that Hitomi was Narii's older sister.

"She's my cousin."

Hitomi explained flatly, then stared coldly at Narii. "What an embarrassment. What are you standing there for? Get over here."

"…Okay."

Her mood broken, Narii dragged her feet and left.

But Takashi wasn't paying attention to Narii anymore. His gaze was locked on Hitomi.

Hitomi was also looking at him, her eyes steady and unflinching.

"Nee-san, aren't you leaving?"

Narii noticed Hitomi had no intention of going and asked curiously.

"I have something to talk to him about."

Hitomi tilted her chin in Takashi's direction.

"Then I—" Narii met Hitomi's calm, icy blue eyes and scurried away.

She was actually pretty scared of her cousin.

After Narii left, Takashi suddenly spoke. "You rented me that apartment back then because Narii asked you to, didn't you?"

He finally understood why he had been able to rent such a cost-effective place in Bunkyo Ward—one that even allowed pets, and where the landlord took such good care of him. 

It was all because of Narii.

"You were also the one living there all the time, keeping an eye on me for Narii, weren't you?"

"And all that info about the other girls… you told Narii everything, didn't you?"

Takashi wasn't stupid. He instantly realized why Narii knew about all the girls he saw outside.

So there had always been a spy at his side.

"And to think I believed we were at least friends."

Takashi gave a soft laugh.

"Looks like I was just being naïve."

"Come with me."

Hitomi stepped in front of him, gave no explanation, and simply ordered him to follow.

"I have to go observe the next round's opponents. Excuse me."

For the first time, Takashi disobeyed Hitomi. He walked past her.

But just as they brushed past each other, Hitomi grabbed his hand and said again, "Come with me."

Same words, same calm tone.

"What if I say no?"

Takashi tilted his head, staring sideways at her.

"You will."

Hitomi's voice was full of certainty.

At that moment, the corridor filled with bodyguards from all directions, blocking the entire passage.

"You plan to take me by force?"

Takashi narrowed his eyes.

"No, this is just insurance in case you don't cooperate."

Hitomi's tone remained soft and unhurried.

"Come with me, and I'll answer your questions."

Their eyes stayed locked on each other, as if they'd stared for a lifetime. Then Takashi reluctantly looked away.

"…Fine. I'll go with you."

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