How I Started Using 5T5 as a Substitute

Quietly dropping an upcoming story here: [Bungo Stray Dogs: What Do I Do If My Ability Is a Bandage Freak?]

Saiki Sakura was born with two older brothers.

One was a genius with an IQ of 218, and the other was a psychic people called Kusuo-aemon. Since childhood, she had seen all sorts of strange things, mastered swordsmanship without a teacher, and seemed to have been born with a talent for fighting.

Saiki Sakura: As long as life goes on, so does the rat race.

While studying at Jujutsu High, she met 5t5. His sky-blue eyes struck her heart in an instant. Once she fell for him, there was no turning back. She'd live for him, die for him, and bang her head against a wall for him, but he wouldn't accept her.

After yet another failed confession, she was heartbroken. Then she saw a destitute god on the street. He, too, had a pair of impossibly beautiful blue eyes. He smiled faintly. “Sakura, long time no see.”

Saiki Sakura, remembering her past life: Damn it, I loved the wrong person.

For a long time, 5t5 had been troubled by how nice Saiki Sakura was to him. She never missed a morning or evening greeting, sent snacks and treats on holidays, and would come back from a mission as soon as he messaged her. Her affection was so obvious that it gave him a headache.

After turning down the girl's hints for the ninety-ninth time, he saw the light fade from her eyes. Suddenly, he thought: Maybe I should say yes next time?

He didn't even get to the hundredth time. 5t5 saw the girl who supposedly couldn't live without him, arm in arm with another man, saying sweetly, “I'm glad I waited for you. In this life and the last, I'm yours.”

5t5: ??? Then what am I?

Saiki Sakura: A substitute!

The man who'd always played with other people's feelings had been played by his own student for the first time. His pride wounded, he wanted to get his revenge. But when he saw Saiki Sakura living happily with another man, he forgot all about revenge!

He realized he'd been struck by the most twisted curse of all!

5t5: Is it still too late to chase after her?

Second Brother: “Hah.”

Eldest Brother: A low-quality gene seed. I'm not interested.

The god, holding the girl: Probably not.

#When the Strongest Is Just a Stand-In#

#When the Divine Weapon Chooses the Wrong Master#

Reading guide and content warnings:

5t5 may have quite a lot of scenes. The pairing is with the God of Calamity.

“Rather than seeing the strongest fall in love, the author would rather see him always come in first.”

No Hiyori in this story, and the Night and Hiyori pairing is broken up. Please don't read if you dislike that.

The heroine, Sakura, is a character from the Noragami manga. Some details are original, such as Sakura meeting the god when he is in his teenage form.

P.S. This leans toward comedy, and characters may be out of character. If I haven't done your favorite character justice, I apologize to all their fans.

There are original details, and some parts may not make logical sense.

33 welcomes your friendly writing suggestions.

And one more thing: 33 is not a character hater. I swear on my life that I love every character I write.

Upcoming story: What Do I Do If My Ability Is a Bandage Freak?

Matsuda Jinpei, Toudo Toko's unrequited love, gets into trouble while handling explosives. With no other choice, Toudo Toko uses her ability, Divine Descent, to summon the bandaged monster Boss Dazai from another worldline.

The two strike a deal. He'll rescue the person Toudo Toko has a crush on, and she'll save Boss Dazai's best friend in this world. Because of the laws governing the worlds, Boss Dazai can't say his friend's name. Toudo Toko goes to great lengths to infiltrate the Port Mafia and meet the still-young bandage freak, Dazai Osamu.

She stays by his side, intent on finding his best friend and saving him.

One has orange hair and is the bandage freak's “frenemy.”

One has red hair and is the bandage freak's “dutiful young wife.”

Hmm, so which one is she supposed to save?

How did it get to the point where she has to protect the bandage freak too?!

Oda Sakunosuke: “She's so strange. It seems like she likes Nakahara, or maybe me, or maybe Dazai. So who does she actually like?”

Toudo Toko: Thanks for asking. I don't like any of them. I already have someone I like.

Dazai: “It has to be me.”

Toudo Toko: When I go crazy, I can summon three bandage freaks. Who wants to get them together for a game of mahjong?

Theme: Live brightly and enjoy life.