After receiving Nao's mission and approval, Hakuto left the scene to take care of his own business.
It was still not even 11 a.m., but with the student council president's approval, that hardly mattered.
"Making contact with Otosaka Ayumi... what a hassle."
Otosaka Ayumi, a middle school student, lived with her older brother, Otosaka Yuu.
The two of them had no parents and had been relying on each other for as long as they could remember.
Although approaching her would be difficult—and somewhat conscience-testing—it was still an order from the president.
Hakuto had no choice but to set aside his morals for the time being.
"There's still some time before Ginko's match... Might as well scout the area first."
After checking the time on his phone, Hakuto decided to head to the place where Ayumi and Otosaka Yuu lived, making it easier for future operations.
A while later, Hakuto found himself standing in front of a middle school. It just so happened to be around noon, which meant students were being dismissed for lunch.
Before long, a few students strolled out of the school gates at a leisurely pace.
In Japan, students were allowed to leave during lunch break, though most chose to stay on campus for convenience.
After all, they only had two more classes in the afternoon before school ended.
So Hakuto was simply waiting outside the school on the off chance that he'd run into Ayumi.
However, instead of getting lucky, he ended up attracting the attention of several middle school girls who were obsessed with good looks...
"Please! Just give me your contact information!"
"I've never met someone as handsome as you before! Judging by your uniform, are you from Toyosaki Academy?"
"That's amazing! Toyosaki has one of the best academic records in the country! I can't believe I'm meeting a student from there!"
"So cool! So cool!"
Listening to the excited praise of these young, energetic girls, Hakuto couldn't help but feel a little flattered.
Since he was alone and not currently on duty, there was no real reason not to give them his contact info. It wasn't like he was practicing some path of emotionless detachment.
On the contrary, Hakuto had no problem sharing his contact details when people asked.
It was just that, in the past, he had various reasons to refuse—like being bound by a contract with Eriri and other similar circumstances.
But now, nothing was stopping him. So, with great generosity, he pulled out his phone and added a few of the girls on his contact list.
"This is amazing! (≧▽≦)/"
"I was just randomly going out for lunch today, and something this great happened! So awesome!"
"Hahaha! So cool! So cool!"
Watching the girls cheer while clutching their phones, Hakuto felt a slight pang of guilt—but he hadn't forgotten his real purpose here.
"Now that we've exchanged contacts, can I ask you girls for a favor?"
"Huh? Big brother, do you want me to be your girlfriend? I don't mind!"
"Wait, is this a date invitation?! Hold on, hold on! I'm gonna request a leave right now!"
Seeing their over-the-top reactions, Hakuto instinctively took two steps back.
"Hold it! That's not what I meant…"
"Do you girls know a girl named Otosaka Ayumi?"
"She's a student at this school."
The moment he finished speaking, one of the girls excitedly raised her hand.
"I know! I know! Otosaka Ayumi is in the class next to mine. I've seen her a few times!"
Hearing this, Hakuto's face lit up with a smile. Luck might not have worked, but his own strengths had led him to the answer.
Sometimes, relying on luck really wasn't as good as relying on one's own abilities.
Looks? Strength? Do you even hear yourself?
Hakuto looked at the excited girl and slowly stepped closer to her.
"Can you call her out for me? Just tell her that her brother, Otosaka Yuu, is looking for her."
"Big brother, you're actually Otosaka-san's older brother? Otosaka Yuu… what a nice-sounding name."
Hakuto didn't correct her, but the smile on his face completely betrayed him.
Normally, he wouldn't bother pretending to be someone else. But this time, he wasn't the one faking—it was just a misunderstanding.
"I'm counting on you."
As he spoke, Hakuto took a piece of strawberry candy from his pocket and placed it in the girl's hand.
It wasn't anything expensive, but if he was asking someone for help, it was only right to offer something in return.
It wasn't about the value of the reward—just the fact that there was one.
But unexpectedly, the moment the girl received the candy, her face turned bright red, almost as if she was about to bleed from embarrassment.
With a serious expression, she carefully put away the candy as if it were an important military order.
Then, without hesitation, she turned and marched back into the school.
About ten minutes later, the group of girls returned to the school gate. This time, a new face followed behind them—someone Hakuto had never seen before.
That person was, naturally, his target—Otosaka Ayumi!
"Big brother, we found Otosaka-san for you!"
"Thanks. I'll contact you all later. Right now, I need to talk to Ayumi."
"Heehee!"
Watching the group of girls walk away, Hakuto was a little amazed by the power of his own looks.
He actually managed to make a bunch of middle school girls act like giddy little kids.
But while Hakuto was impressed with himself, Otosaka Ayumi stood before him, looking hesitant. She even took a few steps back.
"Nice to meet you. I'm a friend of your brother, Otosaka Yuu. My name is Shiratori Hakuto."
"Huh? You're friends with Yuu-nii…? But Yuu-nii isn't a student at Toyosaki Academy…"
Hakuto kept his usual bright and sunny smile.
"Your telescope is broken, isn't it?"
"Huh? Yeah, that's true… but how do you know that?"
"Your brother had something to take care of, so he asked me to go with you to get it repaired today."
Hakuto's warm smile remained, making it impossible for anyone to doubt him.
As for how he knew about Ayumi's broken telescope, that was thanks to his super calculations, of course.
He really had to praise his own abilities—if only the side effects were a little lighter, that would be perfect.
Sure enough, as soon as he said that, the doubt on Ayumi's face disappeared. After all, the only people who knew about the broken telescope were her and her big brother.
Now, Hakuto was just another person in the know.
"Yuu-nii actually made a friend? And an out-of-school friend at that? I'm so happy for him! (≧▽≦)!"
"Aren't you going to call your brother to double-check?"
"No need, no need! Yuu-nii is the top student at his school. He's really busy!"
Hearing the words "top student," Hakuto couldn't help but scoff internally.
A so-called top student who absorbed the best traits of everyone else… What was so impressive about that?
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Check out the other translations too: [Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute]
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