COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

The air carried the scent of sea salt, earth, and burning firewood.

The bonfire had reached its most stable stage. The flames no longer danced wildly but gathered into a soft, golden sphere of light, gently pulsing in the night.

The wood crackled steadily, like the steady heartbeat of the evening.

Amid the lively atmosphere on the beach, a few idle souls—those who had neither helped in the kitchen nor been assigned any other tasks—sat by the bonfire, watching the dancing flames as they quietly waited for dinner.

Shiina Hiyori sat serenely with her legs tucked to one side on the sand. Her long, silvery-white hair drifted gently in the sea breeze. The firelight illuminated her dazedly cute face, and the flames danced in her violet eyes, making her look almost dreamlike.

"It actually came true..." A soft, airy voice drifted from her throat.

She remembered a few days ago, when the two of them had sat on the beach in broad daylight, watching a campfire burn.

And now, once again—unprecedentedly, three classes had gathered together to light this great bonfire. This time, most of the first-year students had come together. It was something she never could have imagined.

Beside her, Fuyuji Mikage smiled and leaned back, bracing his hands on the sand. "The future is nothing like a detective novel. There are no clues to follow. It's unpredictable and ever-changing."

"How did you discover that goat? Judging by the teachers' reactions, there shouldn't have been any on this island originally." Shiina tilted her head, her violet eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Fuyuji was about to answer when a voice suddenly cut in.

"The forest told me." Morishita Ai plopped down beside Fuyuji and claimed the credit for herself with absolute confidence.

Fuyuji half-narrowed his eyes at Morishita.

"..." Never mind whether your ability to talk to the forest is made up or not—aside from catching chickens, did you actually contribute anything this time?

Morishita blinked and puffed out her chest without a trace of shame.

"Eh? The forest told..." Shiina seemed a bit confused by this sudden appearance and what she meant.

"Yes," Morishita nodded and spoke with absolute certainty. "I can communicate with the forest."

"Oh, right."

Morishita seemed to suddenly remember something. She stood up and bowed respectfully to Shiina, speaking with unexpected politeness. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Morishita Ai from first-year Class A. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"I'm Shiina Hiyori. Pleased to meet you too."

Although she hadn't quite figured out this girl's train of thought, Shiina returned the courtesy in kind.

"Why aren't you off exploring your new world somewhere else?"

"I feel like this is more interesting." Morishita pointed directly at the bonfire.

"Morishita-san thinks so too?" Shiina's eyes lit up as she pressed forward with rapid-fire questions.

"Hmph." Morishita folded her arms and raised her chin. "Indeed. The color of the wood fading bit by bit—it's the manifestation of the forest's life."

"Then may I ask, does Morishita-san like reading?"

"Japanese Yokai Chronicles?"

"What about detective novels?"

"Hmph~ I've only read the ones Fuyuji Mikage brought back."

...

The two girls, complete strangers until moments ago, quickly found themselves on the same wavelength and began chatting as if no one else were there.

Similar scenes played out across the beach. As if forgetting the fierce competition and class barriers of the Advanced Nurturing High School, students sought out whatever interested them and joined in—playing cards, roughhousing, chatting. It was like returning to childhood, a time when simply sharing an interest in the same thing was enough to become friends.

Time trickled by. At the makeshift kitchen, a girl lifted the lid of a pot. Thick white steam, heavy with the scent of mutton, billowed outward.

The first drop of fat dripped into the fire with a sharp sizzle.

Like a signal, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their heads in unison.

A wisp of smoke, carrying a wild, primal aroma, rose and blended into the sea breeze, mixing with the salt and damp, drawing the gaze and taste buds of everyone present.

They had been on this deserted island for four days. During that time, the best food most of them had eaten was probably fish caught from the stream. The rest had survived on the school's cheap set meals and wild fruits foraged from the forest.

And now, suddenly, an entire goat lay before them...

What hit the nose first was that raw, pure scent of meat—the perfect union of animal fat and flesh, reaching straight into the depths of the stomach.

Then came the sight: under the scorching charcoal fire, a thin layer of translucent fat seeped from the mutton, coating the whole piece in a visible golden sheen.

A single glistening drop of fat gathered under the force of gravity, looking as if it might fall at any second. The watching students swallowed unconsciously.

"Ahem!"

A heavy cough drew everyone's attention back. Ryuen Kakeru, hands shoved in his pockets, walked out from the crowd with his trademark swagger and a wild grin.

"As the one who contributed the most to this operation, the one who will soon rule this campus, the leader of Class C—allow me to taste this mutton on your behalf and see if it's cooked yet."

"..."

The atmosphere fell silent for a single beat before a tidal wave of curses erupted.

"You shameless bastard, get lost!"

"Our Class A, the ones who found the goat first, haven't even eaten yet! What makes you think it's your turn?!"

"Go gnaw on your goat head in the corner!"

"Damn it, since when did our Class C ever acknowledge you as our leader?! We haven't even settled the score for all the points you got docked!"

...

"You'll all regret this! Once I've conquered the entire first year, I'll make you pay!"

Ryuen, arrogant beyond belief just moments ago, was driven away from the makeshift kitchen by the entire student body—including his own Class C classmates. Even as he was shooed off, he kept cursing and muttering under his breath.

"In your next life!" the gathered students roared in unison.

Just then, a voice spoke up.

"Looks like we arrived just in time."

Following the sound, they saw the three homeroom teachers of Classes A, B, and C approaching the bonfire with smiles.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, is something the matter?" The Class B students, who had the most harmonious relationship with their homeroom teacher, were the first to ask.

Hoshinomiya Chie, Class B's homeroom teacher, waved with a warm, affectionate smile. "I've brought you all good news. Want to take a guess?"

Just from her honey-sweet voice, one could tell she was in an excellent mood.

"Don't be like that, Hoshinomiya. The students are hungry. Just tell them." Sakagami Kazuma, Class C's homeroom teacher, pushed up his glasses with a faint smile and gestured toward Mashima Tomonari.

Mashima straightened his posture and swept his gaze across his own class. He announced with steady composure.

"Regarding the sudden appearance of the goat on this deserted island, I have formally reported the incident to the school. The failure to detect the goat in advance was indeed an oversight on the school's part."

So... The hearts of everyone present rose involuntarily.

"Therefore, since you hunted the goat through your own efforts, the school will not confiscate it. As compensation for the school's oversight, the vegetables for this three-class gathering will be sponsored by the school. You may take as much as you need. If you require disposable tableware, you may also request it from us—but only for tonight."

The next moment, a deafening cheer resounded across the entire beach.

"WHOA!"

...

The disc-like moon climbed above the treetops, its pure light spilling onto the golden sand of the deserted island.

With Ichinose Honami's call of "Dinner's ready!", the silence was torn apart.

The students of each class, their taste buds dormant for four full days, clutched their disposable chopsticks—already sucked clean who knows how many times—and rushed toward the makeshift kitchen with eyes blazing green.

The larger, thicker cuts—leg, ribs, shoulder—were skewered on branches or set above the bonfire to roast directly.

The parts suited for long stewing—bones, neck, belly, offal—were placed in pots with water and simmered, forming a rich, milky mutton broth.

Canned goods, generously sponsored by Class A. (Don't ask how they got them. Found at sea, obviously.)

Seven or eight small fish, caught through Class B's homemade traps and fishing rods.

Two snakes, caught by Ryuen in a display of prowess. (Eighty percent chance he'd be keeping those for himself.)

Unlimited vegetables, sponsored by the school.

Under the skillful hands of the girls from each class, everything was perfectly incorporated into this extravagant feast.

Once every student had received their share of dinner, the girls who had labored all day wiped the sweat from their brows and prepared to enjoy the fruits of their work.

The students of the three classes sat scattered around the bonfire, utterly unconcerned with appearances.

With a unified, energetic "Itadakimasu," the meal began.

The bright yellow firelight illuminated the laughing faces of everyone present.

That golden, crispy shell seemed to shatter between the teeth with a satisfying crunch. The teeth pierced effortlessly through the thin, crisp layer and sank into the fat-infused mutton beneath.

The meat fibers, softened through long smoking and roasting, had given up all resistance. With just a gentle press of the tongue, they melted tenderly in the mouth, releasing an intensely rich, viscous jus.

From the direction of Class C came the usual clamor.

Ryuen, a wicked grin on his face, gripped the goat's head by both horns. True to his word, he was gnawing on it with great effort. Two charred snakes were skewered beside him.

Shiina cupped her bowl of mutton broth in both hands, sipping it in small mouthfuls, her eyes narrowed to slits. From time to time, she glanced over toward Fuyuji.

In the warm, lively circle of Class B—

Shiranami Chihiro was sneakily eyeing the mutton in Ichinose's bowl, inching closer bit by bit. It seemed she was hesitating over whether to ask for some.

But before she could open her mouth, Ichinose cheerfully took the initiative, picking up her own piece and swapping it with her best friend Amikura Mako, leaving Shiranami frozen in a state of petrification.

Shibata So, the most athletic student in Class B, was wolfing down a whole chunk of mutton despite the scalding heat. The juices and temperature filled his entire mouth, making him blow puffs of air, yet he refused to spit it out, drawing a round of laughter from those around him.

As for Class A, who had received the largest share of the goat—

"Ah—!"

A piece of translucent, reddish mutton was lifted by Shiraishi Asuka's chopsticks. Her other hand cupped beneath it as she brought it toward Fuyuji's mouth.

An involuntary warm smile curved at the corner of Fuyuji's lips. He stared at the quivering piece of meat, glistening with juices, and slowly opened his mouth, ready to enjoy the mutton feast that Shiraishi-mama had so carefully prepared for him—

"Ah-wum."

A head abruptly wedged itself between the two of them. It snatched the mutton away in one bite, chewed twice, and gave a thumbs up.

"Mm... Not bad, Shiraishi Asuka. You've reached about twenty percent of Morishita-sama's skill."

Fuyuji's open mouth hung frozen in midair. His head turned mechanically.

"Aaargh!" He seized Morishita by the neck and shook her violently. "Morishita Ai! Give me back my mutton!"

Morishita pursed her lips. A flat, emotionless voice drifted from her bobbing body, carrying an odd rhythm. "It's just one piece of mutton. Stingy Fuyuji Mikage. I'll give you my share instead."

"I don't want your share! I want that piece just now!"

"Ah~ When will you ever grow up?"

"I don't care! Give it back!"

"I don't have it. Just what's in my bowl. You want it or not? If not, I'm eating it."

"I want it!"

...

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the students freely released all the emotions pent up over these past days. They sat together playing cards. They sang facing the ocean. They danced shoulder to shoulder around the bonfire in goofy, nameless dances.

The clamor of revelry reached its peak, then slowly subsided in exhaustion.

A cool sea breeze, heavy with salt, swept away the sweat on their brows and sobered their overwrought nerves. Someone, no one knew who, was the first to stop dancing and tilt their head up toward the sky.

At that moment, the starry sky had never seemed so vast. Billions of stars surged into a river, cold and dazzling, blooming their radiance across the heavens.

From the crowd, someone spoke.

"Tonight is ending..."

"Yeah. It's ending." Another voice picked up the thread with a touch of melancholy.

"Tomorrow it's back to gnawing on compressed biscuits!" A Class C boy clutched his head and wailed in despair.

"It's not that bad. Don't we still have wild fruit and fish?" A Class A student teased.

"Oi, oi, Suzuki. You're a member of Class C. Don't say such spineless things." Ryuen stood up and brushed the sand from his rear with a smirk. "Hold out for two more days. Our Class C has this exam in the bag."

"Ryuen, I can't pretend I didn't hear that. It's our Class A that will win." Katsuragi Kohei raised an eyebrow and folded his arms, his voice deep.

"If we're talking about a fair fight, our Class B won't lose, you know." Ichinose planted her hands on her hips and announced with overflowing energy.

Those few words were like a drop of water falling into a pan of hot oil. The entire beach instantly boiled over.

"Bullshit! The winners will obviously be our Class C!"

"Based on current observations, our Class B has spent the fewest points so far."

"I say, you lot—the mighty top-ranked Class A in the first year is standing right here. Could you maybe not be so cocky?"

...

A tense atmosphere swirled around them. The students of the three classes refused to back down. Lightning-like gazes clashed across the sand.

Ryuen: "Three days from now, I'll show you just how wide the gap between us really is."

Katsuragi: "That suits me just fine."

Ichinose: "Our class won't lose to any of you."

The three class leaders exchanged glances and spoke in perfect unison:

"Thank you for tonight's hospitality. Goodbye!"

With that, they led their respective classmates, gathered their belongings, and headed back toward their own camps.

Half an hour later, the beach sank back into silence and darkness.

The last ember flickered in the sea breeze. Amid the rushing waves, the tide began to rise. The chaotic footprints, the warm ashes, the leaves scattered everywhere... all were swept into the depths of the sea in the endless cycle of the waves, drifting to who knows where.

When they set foot on this beach again the next day, they would see everything restored to the way it was before.

But tonight—tonight would linger in the depths of their memories, in a beautiful dream...

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