COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

Before he knew it, Fuyuji had already made his way back to the door of his cruise ship cabin.

The door swung open with a click. His three roommates—Kito, Hashimoto, and Sanada—had all already returned to the room, finished washing up, and were each occupied with their own things.

Hashimoto Masayoshi was sprawled on a chair, hugging his phone as he merrily chatted up girls from other classes—under the noble pretext of "gathering intelligence."

Kito Hayato, whose dream was to become a fashion designer, sat cross-legged on his bed, utterly absorbed in a newly published clothing magazine. From time to time, he traced the design sketches on the pages with his finger.

Sanada Kosei, towel in hand, his hair still dripping with water, had just stepped out of the bathroom, carrying a cloud of steam with him. It seemed he had returned not long ago.

"Welcome back, Fuyuji-san. Want something to eat? You should like this." Hashimoto eagerly pushed over the fruit platter beside him. The honeydew melon on it glistened enticingly under the light. "Just brought it back from the restaurant. Absolutely fresh!"

"Pass." Fuyuji, his head hanging low, walked past without stopping and headed straight for his luggage. Without turning back, he said, "I need to cool my head."

With that, he grabbed a change of clothes and slipped into the bathroom. Moments later, the rushing sound of the shower echoed out, and steam quickly spread, fogging the bathroom's glass door.

Cool his head?!

Hashimoto's face filled with alarm. He shot upright in his chair.

Who had the audacity—the sheer nerve—to upset Fuyuji-san? Had they no regard for their own life? The cautionary tale of Ryuen Kakeru from Class C was still right there!

Could it be... that Morishita?

After mulling it over, Hashimoto could only arrive at this one possibility, and his conviction grew ever firmer.

After all, if not for that Morishita dragging Fuyuji-san around everywhere every single day, the Advanced Nurturing High campus could never have remained this peaceful up to now!

...

The moon gradually climbed high into the night sky. The salty sea breeze, like liquid moonlight, poured into the cabin and stirred the curtains. Standing on the balcony, fresh from his shower, Fuyuji felt a long-absent trace of coolness.

The sky was a deep, boundless ink-blue, stretching infinitely in every direction, so pure it held not a single blind spot. The stars, like spilled diamond dust, densely studded the entire dome, spreading from directly overhead all the way to the distant seam where sea and sky met.

After a long while, Fuyuji raised a hand in frustration and scratched at his still-damp hair with a touch of irritation.

Even he hadn't expected that this renowned first-year beauty—Kushida Kikyo, who drifted through a garden of flowers without a single leaf clinging to her—would have such a contrasting side.

He didn't mean her dark side—the one that usually wore a sweet smile and claimed she wanted to be friends with the entire school, only to sneak off behind the scenes and kick the railing to vent.

Rather, it was the side that, no matter the situation, could maintain her smile—yet in his arms, clutching his collar, a blush rising on her cheeks, glaring at him from time to time. That adorable side.

Or perhaps... was that actually the truest Cha-Cha?

He had no idea exactly what circumstances had shaped her into her current form.

Still, after what had just happened, Fuyuji wasn't quite sure what attitude Cha-Cha held toward him now.

After thinking for a moment, he pulled out his phone and smoothly logged into his usual social account. Sure enough, the mass message Cha-Cha had sent earlier was still there.

[Fuyuji Mikage: Kushida-san, good night~]

Back when they'd been trading acting performances, the two of them had kept up the pretense of superficial friends for quite a long stretch. Every day, like clockwork, they'd exchange greetings.

Now, he needed to use this to test Cha-Cha's reaction toward him.

[Kushida Kikyo: Drop dead, you scumbag! And what 'good night'? How long has it even been since we parted?]

"..."

Staring at the utterly undisguised cursing on the screen, the corner of Fuyuji's mouth twitched.

Well then. It seemed Cha-Cha had already thrown off all restraint and couldn't even be bothered to maintain appearances anymore.

This... should be a good thing?

"Buzz—!" Another message came through. His palm vibrated.

[Kushida Kikyo: Get on your alt account later and check my message. Reply before 9, or else you're dead!]

[Fuyuji Mikage: Um... could I ask that you go back to being that sweet Kikyo from before? I'm not really used to you like this.]

[Kushida Kikyo: Before you copped a feel, I had to smile at you. Now that you've copped a feel, I still have to smile at you? Wouldn't that mean I let you cop a feel for nothing?]

[Kushida Kikyo: Still, if you help me get Horikita Suzune expelled, I'll agree to anything you want~]

Fuyuji expressionlessly slid his finger across the screen.

[Fuyuji Mikage: You overestimate me. I can't handle Horikita Suzune.]

[Kushida Kikyo: Then suck it up—as the price for taking advantage of me!]

Hmph~ Women!

When it came down to it, in your heart, I still couldn't compare to a single Horikita's little sister!

Same rotten character as that Blond Senpai. Both of you have been bewitched by the accursed Horikita family. Who knows what's so great about the Horikita brother and sister that keeps you so hopelessly obsessed.

He glanced at the time on his phone. It was nearly nine. Still muttering curses under his breath, Fuyuji switched over to his alt account once more.

Strange... even though she'd already exposed my identity, why was she still making me switch to my alt specifically to check her messages?

What she'd sent this time was a video. From the looks of it, she'd probably set her phone on the ground to film it.

The sexy black swimsuit had already been changed out for her usual school uniform.

A pale, slender hand slowly pressed down her uniform skirt.

"..."

Fuyuji's finger hovered in midair. He turned his head and glanced back at Kito and the other two, still absorbed in their own tasks.

But his instincts told him Kushida had definitely cooked up some new scheme for him. So...

He swiftly fished his earphones out of his backpack and put them in. Extending his index finger, he tapped the play button on the screen.

The very next second, an irate voice erupted from the phone.

"You gutter-dwelling stinking rat! Perverted Peeping Tom! Who are you trying to fool—I know it's you!"

A muffled thud rang out. As Kushida's small foot stomped down, the screen rapidly turned black. She ground it twice, then it quickly returned to full brightness.

The hem of her uniform skirt surged like black waves with each stomping motion. Every time she stamped her foot, the phone camera trembled slightly.

"Didn't you love peeping on me?! Look! I'll give you a good, full look!"

Right after, another stomp.

"You took advantage of me and still won't help me! Damned bastard! You're just as cheap as Horikita Suzune! Get on your account later and let me curse you out properly. And make sure you use that Horikita Suzune tone you were mimicking today. Then get on your knees and beg for forgiveness—in her voice!"

"..."

After a long silence, Fuyuji quietly turned off his phone and turned his head to gaze at the ocean view from the balcony.

Cha-Cha... do you have some kind of special tendencies?!

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