127: I thought you liked being stepped on?

"Utaha, don't tell me you're still in contact with that stand-in!"

Machida Sonoko's loud voice instantly attracted a lot of attention.

Including Takashi and Adagaki Aki.

Adagaki Aki cast a quick glance in that direction before retracting her gaze.

'Why is she here?'

Meanwhile, Takashi, upon spotting Utaha, panicked internally, thinking he had been exposed.

He broke out in a cold sweat and desperately wanted to turn and flee.

But when he focused and realized that Utaha wasn't even looking at him, Takashi let out a sigh of relief.

"Come on, my lady, stand here! The lighting's better," he said, directing Adagaki Aki's positioning while pretending to casually move closer to Utaha, trying to eavesdrop on what she and her editor were discussing.

He had vaguely heard Machida Sonoko mention him just now.

"Why are you talking so loudly?" Utaha, feeling the curious stares from around them, spoke coldly, "Are you trying to attract the attention of everyone here?"

"Sorry," Machida Sonoko apologized reflexively, then added, "Utaha, be honest with me—are you still not done with that stand-in?"

They were indeed talking about him!

Takashi perked up his ears to listen even more closely.

Utaha lightly bit her lower lip, hesitated, then nodded, "...Yes."

"Oh my god, my heavens, my coat and my shawl!"

Machida Sonoko clutched her head in despair.

"Girl, what are you thinking?"

"Didn't we agree you were only using him as a way to heal from heartbreak? Why are you still keeping in touch?"

Machida Sonoko knew a bit about the situation between Utaha and Watanabe Takashi because Utaha had confided in her before.

In fact, she had even encouraged and facilitated their first date.

From a certain point of view, Takashi owed Machida Sonoko a debt of gratitude.

But!!!

The only reason she had done so was because Utaha had been heartbroken and listless, unable to move on, and had even stopped writing. 

That was why Sonoko had come up with that lousy idea.

"And it's not just that you're still in touch—you even came all the way here to pick out a birthday present for him!"

Wasn't the agreement to treat him simply as a stand-in for Aki? Just a tool for healing? And yet here she was, getting too deeply involved.

Fine, if you genuinely wanted to fall in love with him, Machida Sonoko wouldn't object.

Nobody said a stand-in couldn't become the real thing.

The problem was, you were still hung up on Aki Tomoya and couldn't bear to cut ties with Watanabe Takashi.

"Do you even know what you're like right now?"

"You're like the female version of Kitahara Haruki!"

"Wanting to be with Touma Kazusa but unable to bring yourself to break up with Ogiso Setsuna—you want everything."

Utaha's face grew uglier the more she listened.

She wanted to shout back, but she couldn't find a point to refute.

It was true—she didn't want to be with Tomoya anymore, yet she couldn't bring herself to separate from Watanabe Takashi either.

'Is this what Aki feels too?'

When that thought crossed her mind, Utaha suddenly understood why Tomoya couldn't make a choice.

Because the situation she was facing now was exactly the same.

Doubt Tomoya, understand Tomoya, became Tomoya.

"Utaha!"

Machida Sonoko grabbed Utaha's shoulders and spoke earnestly, "If you still like Aki, then cut it off cleanly with Watanabe Takashi."

"If you choose Watanabe Takashi, then stop having any ties with Aki."

"People who want everything often end up with nothing."

"..."

Utaha lowered her gaze again, staring intently at the ground, her soft lips pressing into a tight line.

"Are you meeting up with him later?"

"Why not use this date to make things clear?"

Takashi, eavesdropping nearby, glanced deeply at Utaha.

'Is it ending?'

Even though he had been mentally prepared for this day, when it really came, he still felt reluctant.

Even if their feelings had been fake at the start, the countless nights of chatting and dates had given Takashi some genuine affection for Utaha—although not romantic love.

It was only natural to feel reluctant. He was human, not a machine.

But to say Takashi couldn't live without Utaha—that wasn't true either.

What he regretted losing more was a sponsor who was willing to spend money on him.

Takashi looked at Utaha, but a slightly annoyed voice sounded in his ear, "Is it nice to look at?"

Crap!

Takashi realized he was in trouble. He stiffly lifted his head.

There stood Adagaki Aki, holding her dog's leash like an arrogant princess, looking down at him with a gaze as if she were looking at trash.

"You begged me to be your model, and out of pity, I agreed," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. 

"Yet you dare stare at another woman right in front of me? You've got some nerve, huh?"

The more she spoke, the darker her expression became.

"Need me to call her over for you?"

"Listen, I—"

Takashi hurried to explain, but he suddenly felt his clothes being grabbed from behind.

Turning his head, he saw Yukino had somehow made her way behind him, tightly clutching his clothes.

"Hey, what are you doing!"

Takashi felt a headache coming on.

Sis, can't you see I'm already in deep trouble?

Why are you adding fuel to the fire?

"You think I want to?"

Yukino's eyes darted around, and whenever a small dog approached, she immediately repositioned herself, completely using Takashi as a human shield, ready to push him out to block the dogs at any time.

"If I want to get to the cat section, I have to pass through here."

"You think I'd dare to come alone?"

"You're scared of little dogs too?"

Takashi was speechless.

He really didn't expect Yukino to be this afraid of dogs.

Just these little puppies — one kick and they'd be crying for ages — what exactly are you so scared of?

"And is this your attitude when asking for help?"

"Help? Kitahara-kun, I'm granting you the opportunity to protect me. You should be grateful."

"Second Lady, the only thing you have left is that stubborn mouth of yours."

Suddenly, Takashi was stomped on — hard.

Winching in pain, Kitahara looked up to see Adagaki Aki smiling sweetly at him. "Ignoring me again and again... you're the first!"

"Are you having fun chatting?"

She was smiling, sure — but terrifyingly, there was no warmth at all in Adagaki Aki's eyes.

"Uh, Miss Adagaki, could you maybe move your foot?"

"Don't you like it?"

Not only did Adagaki Aki not move her foot away, she even pressed down harder.

"I thought you'd enjoy it."

Maybe for people with certain... special preferences, Adagaki Aki's 'punishment' could be called a 'reward', but Takashi wasn't one of them — he absolutely hated being stepped on.

"I…" Takashi opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, when suddenly a furious shout came from behind him: "Takashi!!!"

Yumiko stormed over toward him. "You said we're just friends? Fine. Then tell me — what was all that caring for me about?!"

Was it Jelly Love or something?

Please, I'm begging you, don't make things even messier!

"What exactly is your relationship with Yukinoshita and her?" Yumiko pointed furiously at Yukino and Adagaki Aki, demanding answers once she got in front of Kitahara.

"Kitahara-kun, get rid of that dog!" Yukino, seeing Adagaki Aki approaching with the Doberman, waved her hands in panic, looking utterly at a loss.

"Who's dog do you think you're getting rid of?"

Adagaki Aki was now glaring at Yukino, her eyes sharp and hostile, turning into a furious inverted triangle.

'Just arrest me already, Warden.'

Takashi felt a headache coming on.

His identity hadn't even been exposed yet — so how had he ended up stuck in a love-hate warzone?

Takashi looked up — just in time to meet Utaha's deep, wine-red eyes.

His heart skipped a beat, but after thinking it over, he realized he hadn't actually been exposed, so what was there to fear? He forced a stiff smile.

Across the crowd, Utaha spat out two cold words:

"Scumbag!"

Takashi: "....."

___

20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~

Check out the other translations too

___