COTE :  Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

If it really was the fifty-sound chart...

Fuyuji looked at the slip of paper once more, his gaze falling on one of the names.

Dragon Group: Kushida Kikyo

What a coincidence... Cha-Cha...

Beyond the balcony, the deep blue seawater shimmered with flecks of golden light under the morning sun. Occasionally, the cry of a seagull cut through the silence.

Fuyuji shifted his finger. No matter what, testing the waters first was always the right move.

Though it probably wouldn't be like last time, when she'd revealed the class leader's identity to him. After all, protecting the VIP's identity this time could earn 500,000 private points. And that scummy loli Sakayanagi wasn't like Horikita girl—even knowing Cha-Cha might betray her, she wouldn't blindly trust that Cha-Cha would always go easy on the class.

All he could say was that those two truly tormented each other. Horikita girl gave Cha-Cha the cold shoulder every single day, yet couldn't bring herself to deal with her harshly. And Cha-Cha backstabbed Horikita girl every single day, yet still wanted to be friends with her.

Lately, though, Cha-Cha had been pretty fierce toward him, unleashing the full power of Zaun. The second and third spots on her Most Hated Leaderboard had now quantum-stacked together, their intensity rocketing straight toward her lifelong nemesis, Horikita girl.

[Fuyuji Mikage: You there?]

He lit up the screen and tapped out a few quick keystrokes. Then, with lightning speed, Fuyuji flipped the phone face-down on the desk, swiftly retreated a full meter away, leaned against the balcony railing, and stared fixedly at the phone on the table.

Based on past habits, anywhere from a few dozen seconds to a few minutes later, a bombardment of vibrations—like ten thousand cannons firing in unison—would erupt wave after wave across the desktop.

"..."

Ten minutes passed. The seawater rhythmically lapped against the ship's hull with its rushing sound. The cabin balcony was utterly silent. The phone on the desk lay there as lifeless as if it had breathed its last, completely unresponsive.

Fuyuji tilted his head. Slowly, a single thought surfaced.

"?"

...

The time drew close to 1 PM. Less than twenty minutes remained before the first group discussion arranged by the school.

Fuyuji walked with his two companions down the corridor toward the Rabbit Group room on the second deck. As he walked, he lowered his voice and leaned in slightly, quietly giving Kamuro her instructions.

"Pal, once we're in there, you've gotta pull out all the stops. Draw Sakayanagi Arisu's attention entirely onto yourself. Under no circumstances can she discover my real status in Class A."

Kamuro shot a sidelong glare at the guy leaning in so close. She tilted her neck back slightly to put a bit of distance between them, her eyes brimming with contempt.

"And what are you going to be doing?"

"I've prepared an inescapable net. Sakayanagi Arisu is already completely surrounded. All we need is for her to let her guard down, and victory in this exam is ours." Fuyuji said this with a perfectly straight face, even making a grand show of forming an "encirclement" gesture with both hands.

"So you're using me as a human shield and heartlessly tossing me to her?" Kamuro ground her teeth.

He didn't like Sakayanagi—did he think she liked her either?

When she'd first met her, she'd thought she was just a polite girl with bad legs. Now, after interacting with her, it was abundantly clear: this was a little demon.

"Can't be helped." Fuyuji spread his palms helplessly. "Fuyuji Mikage wants to live a quiet, peaceful life. I don't want to get involved with a girl who's obviously connected to the school administration."

"But she's clearly coming right at you. Even if you hide, you won't be able to dodge her for long, will you?"

"That's exactly why I need you to run interference for me. All you have to do in a bit is put on that usual 'couldn't care less' disgusted face of yours." As he spoke, Fuyuji mimicked Kamuro's usual cold expression—arms folded, brows slightly furrowed, the corners of his mouth downturned. "She'll find it irresistible and come over to talk to you on her own. Then I can slip away. This is firsthand experience, guaranteed to work." Fuyuji thumped his chest in assurance.

"You're the one with the disgusted face!"

Kamuro's face instantly flushed bright red. Her small leather shoe came stamping down on Fuyuji's toes. Clenching her fists, she stormed off indignantly with great, furious strides.

Her purple half-ponytail traced an arc through the air. Her pleated skirt swayed fiercely left and right with the motion of her fair, athletic thighs.

Fuyuji, following behind, nodded to himself.

Once again, the facts had proven him right. Pal in this state was simply irresistible.

Beside him, Kito Hayato had both hands shoved in his pockets. He silently lowered his head, his gaze falling on the tips of his shoes, offering no commentary on this pair whatsoever.

Before they knew it, the three had arrived at one of the rooms on the second deck. A doorplate marked with the character [Rabbit] hung near the top of the door.

The moment they pushed the door open, the eleven first-year students inside turned their heads in unison toward the three.

Fourteen chairs were arranged in a circle at the very center of the room. Students from the three classes had already entered and were seated in the chairs, eyeing each other in awkward silence.

"Ara~"

Her beret and cane set aside, Sakayanagi Arisu sat with her white-stocking-clad legs pressed together and both hands resting properly on her lap. She tilted her head slightly to the side, her voice laced with a teasing tone.

"As expected of Class A, the class that stands at the very apex of the first year. Even your entrance is the very last."

"We're not late. Worry about yourself before you start lecturing others." Kamuro shot back mercilessly.

Even though Fuyuji had just pissed her off, Kamuro still chose to throw herself to the tiger, taking the initiative to occupy Sakayanagi's attention.

It couldn't be helped. Though it stung a little to admit, if those two really collided according to Sakayanagi's plan—

After a few rounds, Kamuro guessed Fuyuji would be on his knees on the floor, sobbing.

On his knees, begging Sakayanagi not to die.

Yes, in her eyes, Sakayanagi did have the capital to be arrogant. Her academic ability was outstanding. Her analytical prowess was exceptionally formidable. Among all the people she'd ever met, she was second to none.

The pity was—her opponent was that unpredictable, rule-breaking Fuyuji.

Kamuro truly couldn't imagine how Sakayanagi Arisu, whose heart was already weak to begin with, could survive more than a few rounds of his thrill-seeking antics.

To prevent a scenario of one dead and one in prison, the helpless Kamuro ultimately stepped forward, determined to avert the tragedy about to unfold.

At this thought, Kamuro let out a quiet sigh. Exactly what kind of sin had she committed in a past life to end up saddled with these two?

"Thank you for your concern, Masumi-san. I'm feeling quite well at the moment." Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes and covered her mouth with a smile. "Just this morning, I had a physical examination. No problems at all. The one factor that could have buried me no longer exists."

What an arrogant, chuuni loli. At the start of the school year, Fuyuji had thought she was an elegant, polite ojou-sama who treasured friendship.

As for now... how could the foolish me have ever dreamed such a dream?

While Bro kept Sakayanagi occupied, Fuyuji quickened his pace and silently took the seat farthest away from Sakayanagi. At the same time, he instantly switched on a bright, harmless smile and waved at Ichinose Honami across from him, whose face had blossomed into a warm, affectionate smile.

Ichinose waved back, blinking at him. Her long, narrow lashes fluttered rapidly like the wings of a butterfly, strikingly beautiful.

[Fuyuji Mikage: I'm leaving the rest to you.]

[Ichinose Honami: Okay.]

Group discussions—with Ichinose, who excelled at organization, handling things, he didn't need to worry about a single thing. Her social skills were still above those of their own Class A's Katsuragi. For the next hour, all he had to do was leave everything to her.

As for Fuyuji himself...

A book with a slightly yellowed black cover was slowly extended before him.

"'The Last Coyote.' A mystery novel by Michael Connelly from America. Because the Japanese translation had a small print run and was never reprinted, I've never been able to find it. I never imagined this cruise ship's library would have it."

Her airy, floating voice carried notes of delight and barely contained eagerness. The girl's violet eyes sparkled brightly.

"And you?" Fuyuji accepted the book, his fingertips brushing across the slightly coarse cover.

"I've already finished it. So I thought I'd read this one."

Shiina Hiyori pulled another book from her small canvas tote bag—one with a simple white dust jacket—and extended it with both hands, showing it to Fuyuji with great care.

Josephine Tey's 'The Franchise Affair.' Also without a Japanese translation, and the old second-hand editions were outrageously overpriced.

Setting aside the special exam for a moment, this luxury cruise trip truly could be called a dream vacation for students.

"For the next hour, let's read together."

A warm, gentle smile surfaced on that fair, flawless face. Shiina lifted her book with both hands, covering her mouth and nose. Her brows and eyes curved like crescent moons as she issued her invitation with light, cheerful eagerness.

Like a lotus blooming on a warm, sunny spring day—swaying gently with the breeze, silently exuding a soothing, heart-calming presence.

Fuyuji, on the verge of being completely healed by Miss Holmes, broke into a grin. Cheerfully, he began to respond.

"Oka—"

Halfway through, a surge of murderous intent erupted from behind him, instantly saturating the entire room.

Suddenly breaking out in a cold shiver, Fuyuji turned his head with a mechanical clicking sound and met Kamuro's gaze—her fingers tapping relentlessly against her shoulder, her stare piercing like the frigid winds of Siberia, even as she continued dealing with Sakayanagi.

She looked at Sakayanagi, smiling as she chatted with her right in front. Then, from the corner of her eye, she glanced at Fuyuji, sitting shoulder to shoulder with yet another unknown beautiful girl, merrily chatting away with a book in hand.

A familiar sense of grievance—mixed with a thrill and some unidentifiable, indescribable emotion—rose from the depths of Kamuro's heart.

Just as Fuyuji was drenched in cold sweat, straining every muscle to squeeze out a smile in a desperate attempt to talk his way out—

The shipboard broadcast suddenly rang out.

"Well then, we shall now begin the first round of group discussions."

A single, simple sentence cut off the heated atmosphere in the room. The entire room fell into silence.

A moment passed.

The grade's supreme social expert, Ichinose Honami, rose at the perfect moment. Facing the entire group with a warm smile, she spoke.

"Although most of the group members already know each other, there may still be some who are meeting for the first time. I think it would be best to follow the school's regulations and introduce ourselves to one another. What does everyone think?"

A confident address, a gentle tone that felt like a spring breeze.

"What an arrogant statement, Ichinose-san. You've seized the position of moderator without the slightest hesitation." Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow. Elegantly picking up the cane resting against her chair, she rose from her seat and, equally unsurprisingly, launched her charge. "Indeed. If one can secure the moderator's position, the group can easily be steered in whatever direction one desires. Whether rooting out the VIPs of other classes or protecting one's own class's VIP, one can seize the initiative from the very start, can one not?"

"If Sakayanagi-san is willing, I am prepared to hand over the moderator role at any time." Ichinose placed one hand on her hip and extended the other, issuing the invitation with open, forthright honesty.

"I must respectfully decline. Due to my physical condition, my doctor has advised against overly strenuous activities aboard the ship." Sakayanagi smiled and refused.

"Since there are no other volunteers, I'll take it on, then." Ichinose once again looked toward the entire group.

The words had barely settled before Sakayanagi raised her hand with a smile. "That won't do. I object."

"But if this continues, the discussion will likely be unable to proceed, won't it?"

"Then let it be unable to proceed. All we need to do is follow the school's regulations—introduce ourselves, do whatever we like, and then disperse."

"What about the group's VIP? No matter how you think about it, achieving Result One is the most beneficial outcome for all parties. If classmates don't communicate with one another and build mutual trust, it's fundamentally impossible to achieve, isn't it?"

"How naive, Ichinose-san. At this stage, without contracts, do you truly believe Result One is still achievable? In a mere three days, earning the trust of students from every class—don't make me laugh."

"How do you know it's impossible unless we try?"

"That's precisely why I called you arrogant. This notion that 'just trying' can lead to success..."

"It's not 'just trying can lead to success.' It's for the greatest benefit of all our classmates..."

...

The two, locked in fierce confrontation, stopped simultaneously. It was as if countless bolts of lightning had intertwined and clashed in the air between them.

Under the mutual bombardment of these two emperor-tier figures, Fuyuji and the rest of the drama-connoisseur crowd huddled off to the side, trembling. Stars fell. The cosmos dimmed. Even the very laws of creation were ground to dust.

"Here..."

A bag of chips was passed past Shiina to Ibuki Mio, the girl with short blue hair.

"Oh, thanks." Ibuki raised an eyebrow in mild surprise and accepted it.

"Here, Kito." As if performing a magic trick, Fuyuji reached back and pulled out another, handing it to Kito, who had been sitting behind him the entire time, silent as a stone statue.

"Right."

"Here..." Another bag of chips was handed out.

"Okay, thank you."

...

A short while later, the group members, watching the two still locked in endless debate, spontaneously started a discussion of their own.

"How much longer, nom nom, do you think they'll keep going, nom nom, before it ends?"

"No idea, nom nom. Sakayanagi-san, nom nom, isn't the type to admit defeat easily."

"Ichinose, nom nom, is the same. Just as stubborn, nom nom."

"Three minutes!"

"Eight minutes!"

"Five minutes!"

...

Another short while later, Fuyuji surveyed his fellow drama-connoisseurs around him, grabbed another bag of chips, wiped his hands clean, and extended them amicably.

"Fuyuji Mikage."

"Hamaguchi Tetsuya."

"Yukimura Teruhiko."

"Ibuki Mio."

...

The remaining twelve group members spoke in perfect unison. "Pleased to meet you!"

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