Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

After parting ways with Adagaki Aki, Takashi didn't return to the hotel to change clothes.

Still wearing the outfit Adagaki Aki had bought him, he went straight to meet Momo.

She was staying at the Kobe Portopia Hotel, a five-star establishment near Kobe Airport and just under five kilometers from Kobe Port.

When he first heard the hotel's name, Takashi seriously suspected it was owned by Lao Da's conglomerate.

Of course, that was just a guess.

Even Jordan Sports had nothing to do with Michael Jordan.

Taking the elevator to the fourth floor, he arrived at room 4-168 and knocked.

Soon, the door opened.

There stood Momo—wearing an oversized black-and-red baseball jacket and blue denim shorts that perfectly hugged her curvy figure.

Her legs, long and fair, stretched out from the shorts. She wasn't wearing stockings.

Instead of the black leather shoes typical of high school girls, she wore a pair of McQueen white sneakers.

Those shoes had been trending since 2015–2016. Practically every pretty girl Takashi knew had a pair.

And in every photo, they had to make sure the shoes were in frame.

"What on earth are you wearing?"

Momo eyed him up and down and frowned in disapproval.

"It's hideous."

"Funny, I thought the same."

Takashi agreed. He didn't think the outfit suited him either.

Adagaki Aki had good taste, and the clothes she picked looked fine. But Takashi didn't like such flashy styles.

"Who picked that out for you?"

Momo instantly realized some other woman had bought the outfit for him.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her tone laced with displeasure.

"Miss Adagaki."

"How did you end up hanging around with her?"

"She came to my hotel today to find me and asked for help…"

Takashi didn't hide anything and recounted everything that happened with Adagaki Aki.

It wasn't like he'd done anything shameful.

Besides, even if he wanted to hide it, he couldn't.

He had already noticed paparazzi tailing him during his date with Adagaki Aki.

Now they were basically like his personal bodyguards, following him 24/7. Wherever he went, they appeared too.

Takashi couldn't control them—and didn't want to. If they liked following him, let them.

Every time they posted something, his popularity spiked.

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself. Looked like you were having a great time."

Momo coldly stared at him.

"Wouldn't you be happy making money?"

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of several rich ladies, Takashi felt that with a bit more effort, he might be able to buy a house outright in the Minato or Chiyoda districts before he even graduated high school.

Who wouldn't be thrilled?

Chinese bunnies not only love farming, they also have deep feelings for real estate.

Momo stared at him for a long while and, seeing no sign of deceit, simply said, "You'd better only be happy because of the money."

"What else would it be?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she closed the door, shoved her hands into her pockets, and walked off.

"Let's go."

"You're going out dressed like that?"

"What else?"

"I thought I might see you in a yukata."

"I don't like those clothes."

She pressed the elevator button. Ding—the indicator lit up and the doors opened.

Inside the transparent elevator, Tsubame had just been about to step out. 

She looked up and saw Momo and Takashi standing shoulder to shoulder, her mouth slightly open.

"Senpai, you're back?"

Momo greeted her casually.

"Mm. Are you two heading out?"

"Yes, I invited Ryuuju-san to watch the Kobe Port fireworks show with me."

Takashi answered.

"Would you like to come too, Koyasu-senpai?"

He was just being polite. Usually, people would decline such an invitation.

To his surprise, Tsubame looked a little shy. She fidgeted and asked, "Is that okay? I wouldn't be intruding?"

Takashi's expression turned into that of an old man watching chaos unfold on the subway.

Momo secretly glared at him. "Why wouldn't it be? The more the merrier."

"Alright! Just wait here a second. I'll drop off my things and be right back!"

Tsubame dashed off, carrying a bag full of souvenirs for her family, friends, and classmates.

"Your senpai has zero emotional intelligence. Didn't she realize I was just being polite? Why'd she take it seriously?"

As soon as she left, Takashi started complaining.

Momo stomped on his shoe hard.

Takashi looked at her innocently. "What was that for?"

"Who let you talk about Koyasu-senpai like that?"

She scolded him, then snapped, "And why did you even open your mouth in the first place?"

So you're the only one allowed to talk?

"I was just being polite! Who knew she'd take it seriously and act like one of us?"

Takashi sounded wronged.

How was this his fault?

He never thought she'd accept, okay?

Worst case, maybe he should buy her a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber to help her learn some emotional intelligence.

"You shut your mouth right now. Until I say otherwise, not one word."

Momo commanded coldly.

"Huh?"

Without saying a word, she stomped on his foot again and stared him down.

Takashi fell silent immediately.

About three minutes later, Tsubame came running back with a small bag in hand, looking excited.

"Let's go go go!"

Before heading to the fireworks festival, Momo first took Takashi to a clothing store to change out of the extravagant outfit that looked like it was for an award ceremony. 

She had him put on a matching baseball jacket like hers instead.

Seeing that the two of them were in matching outfits, Tsubame also bought a baseball jacket and put it on.

By the time the three of them took a cab to the festival venue, night had already fallen.

The city at night seemed even livelier than during the day. 

Most of the eateries lining the streets were packed, and long queues stretched outside many of them—mostly filled with young people.

Wading through the sea of fashionable men and women, Takashi felt for a moment that this bustling city truly belonged to the young.

None of the three had eaten dinner yet, but there were plenty of food stalls at the festival, so they had no fear of going hungry.

They walked and ate at the same time, finally stopping at the plaza's center.

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