Takashi was still a high school student. The fastest way to earn money was through this substitute gig.
He wasn't going to be a stand-in forever or play the role of someone's fake boyfriend for life.
He worked hard to earn money and accumulate system points—not to improve himself for a woman, but simply because he wanted to become a better person.
"Does that answer your question, Miss Kashiwagi?"
Nagisa looked directly into Takashi's eyes.
She wanted to see from his gaze whether he was telling the truth.
This time, Takashi didn't dodge or avoid her eyes. He met her gaze head-on.
After all, he wasn't lying. He had no reason to feel guilty.
Confirming that he wasn't lying and seeing no deception in his eyes, Nagisa nodded lightly.
She now understood why Takashi not only didn't try to stop Maki but even gave her a push forward.
Perhaps to this man, even if Maki's confession succeeded and she really got together with Tanuma Tsubasa, he would at most lose a client.
'Poor Maki, being played around by this man.'
She suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for her best friend.
She had thought that even if the two weren't in some ambiguous relationship, at the very least, they were friends.
She never expected that, in this man's eyes, they didn't even count as friends.
At most, it was just a transaction—"You pay, I accompany."
'Such a cold-hearted man.'
Takashi had no idea that, in addition to the label of [Cunning Man], Nagisa had just added another one for him: [Cold-hearted Man].
"Kitahara-kun, I have another question."
"Go ahead, Lady Kashiwagi."
Since she had already figured out his identity and they had talked this much, Takashi saw no reason not to continue the conversation.
"You said earlier that you're single. Is that true?"
Daring to toy with my best friend's feelings ?
Nagisa decided she would make sure he tasted the bitterness of love.
She'd bear him a few children and have him stay home every day taking care of them.
Maki, don't worry. Once he becomes my boyfriend, I'll make sure he apologizes to you personally.
Poor Maki had no idea that her good best friend wasn't just planning to steal the man she had a crush on but was also thinking about taking all his potential replacements as well.
"It's true, but I have many admirers."
Takashi grew more cautious.
He could vaguely sense Nagisa's intentions.
Takashi lied, "Among them, there's someone I like."
A man must protect himself when outside.
Nagisa didn't know that Takashi was lying.
Even if he wasn't lying, she wouldn't care.
It was better that Takashi was popular.
A man pursued by many was the best kind.
A man that nobody wanted? She wouldn't even bother.
Not to mention, Takashi already had unclear relationships with Hitomi and Narii.
At this moment, in Nagisa's eyes, Takashi was like a beauty in black Balenciaga stockings and Valentino high heels in the eyes of men.
To snatch such a man away in front of those two ladies... Hmm, just thinking about it was thrilling.
Imagining herself with Takashi while those two ladies cried and threw tantrums made Nagisa feel amused.
"I said I have someone I like."
Takashi wondered if she even heard him.
Normally, when a girl hears that the guy she likes already likes someone else, shouldn't she give up?
Why did Nagisa look even more excited?
Nagisa's expression darkened slightly, as if she were about to give up.
Takashi sighed in relief.
But Nagisa's next words made his recently relaxed body tense up again.
"But what does that have to do with me?"
He suddenly looked up and saw the teasing glint in Nagisa's eyes.
I was just pretending.
"I don't like you!" Takashi felt like saying this might cost him his life.
But if he didn't say it, he feared being targeted by this terrifying woman.
Nagisa took a step forward, placing one foot between Takashi's legs. She grabbed his tie and yanked him down forcefully.
"I don't care about your opinion."
Their eyes met, and the turbulent emotions in Nagisa's gaze made Takashi uneasy.
"Because I will completely distort your thoughts and make you kneel at my feet."
"Be prepared, Ki·ta·ha·ra!"
She even wanted to change his name.
He loved his name, okay?
Besides, he wasn't some three-surnamed son-in-law like Watanabe Toru.
He had no intention of marrying into someone else's family.
"I don't want to change my name." Takashi was making his final stand.
"I told you, I don't care about your opinion." Nagisa's smile was sweet.
Unfortunately, in his eyes, she was a demon.
"Don't use your normal-people logic to define us rich folk."
Clearly, Takashi had underestimated this woman.
"To us Kashiwagi family members, as long as we set our sights on something, we'll steal it, rob it, even break the law if we must."
Teacher Zhang San, we have an outlaw here.
Isn't there anyone to deal with these rich folks?
"Otherwise, why do you think we're rich, and you're just a poor man?" Nagisa said it as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
In the middle of summer, Takashi felt a chill run through him, his hands and feet trembling in anger.
She even insulted his entire existence.
Rage. Trembling. Cold.
When will the poor rise up?
"Didn't you say you would determine your attitude towards me based on my answers?"
"Yes." Nagisa lightly pinched her chin and smiled. "I was already quite satisfied with you. Now I'm even more satisfied."
"You really are perfect for marrying into the Kashiwagi family."
Handsome, academically excellent, and talented—large families have always welcomed such people.
"So you were assessing me from the beginning?"
Takashi felt immense regret.
Had he known she was evaluating a future husband, he would have presented himself as a devious schemer, best accompanied by a sinister "Kekekeke" laugh like a villainous elder from some dark sect.
Nagisa laughed again.
"What did you think this was? I'm a law-abiding citizen."
Takashi nearly rolled his eyes to the heavens.
That's not what you were saying just now.
"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. If I hold you up any more, Maki will get anxious."
Nagisa let go of Takashi's collar, and without a second thought, he turned and walked away.
"Maki has my number. With your skills, I'm sure you can get it. I'll be waiting for your call tonight."
Takashi pretended not to hear.
He just wanted to get as far away from this woman as possible.
"Kitahara-kun, you wouldn't want Maki, Utaha, and Eriri to know about your identity, would you?" Nagisa added, as if reading his mind.
Takashi's body stiffened.
He had forgotten about that.
Takashi gritted his teeth and accepted with resentment.
Damn it, another day of being played by a woman.
"This secret, I'll enjoy it for a lifetime," Nagisa murmured to herself as she watched Takashi's departing figure.
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Check out the other translations too: [Mash-Up: Anything For Money]