COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

[Following strict adjustment, you have been selected as the VIP. Please act and take on the exam with the awareness of being a group member. The exam will begin today at 1:00 PM and will be held over three days. Students of the Rabbit Group, please assemble in the Rabbit Room on the second floor.]

At 8:30 in the morning, the gentle rays of the rising sun spilled down. On the balcony of the boys' cabin aboard the luxury cruise ship, Fuyuji rubbed his chin and revealed the grin of a scheme successfully executed as he looked at the text message sent by the school.

Destiny had once again descended upon him. As expected, as a transmigrator, he was bound to have at least a little bit of luck.

It seemed this time, too, he would be the winner.

After thinking for a moment, he pulled out the paper with the list of members for each group.

Currently, the names of Class A's three VIPs were all in his hands. Three was already enough to make out some of the most basic patterns. However, just from his rough analysis alone, he'd already found several. The likely process from here was: every additional VIP identified would eliminate some of those patterns, until only one remained—the answer to this VIP exam.

Still, that was a bit too troublesome. There was a method that was a bit of a gamble but might work incredibly well. He decided to give it a shot.

His fingers swiftly slid across the screen. After a few taps, Fuyuji pressed the phone to his ear.

The phone rang a few times, then clicked as it connected.

"Yo. Calling your Senpai this early—miss me after two whole weeks without seeing me?" A gallant, spirited voice came through, carrying a trace of laughter.

"..." Senpai, how do you manage to leave me speechless every single time you open your mouth?

"Didn't I just talk to you two days ago about the deserted island stuff?" Fuyuji spoke helplessly.

"Did you?" Kiryuin Fuka replied dismissively. "I don't tend to keep things I'm not interested in stored in my head."

"So I'm something Senpai isn't interested in?!" Fuyuji's eyes widened. He clutched his heart, feeling a bit wounded.

"Haha~" Merciless, teasing laughter shot straight into Fuyuji's eardrum. "Kidding, kidding. It's been so long since I've teased you, Kouhai. I couldn't help myself. Let's get down to business. Calling me this early—you must have something. Senpai will consider whether or not to help you."

Just consider? You heartless woman!

Fuyuji recalled those bitter days of accompanying Kiryuin on her shopping excursions.

"Uncute Kouhai. It sounds like you're badmouthing Senpai again." Kiryuin offered a kind reminder, accompanied by a faint rustling sound.

"Ahaha." Fuyuji laughed dryly and silently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "How could that be..." Senpai's intuition was as terrifying as ever. He hurriedly changed the subject.

"By the way, Senpai, how's your second-year special exam going?"

"No idea. Skipped it." Without the slightest hesitation, Kiryuin's crisp, decisive voice came through instantly.

"..." As expected of you, Senpai.

"So, you're looking for me because of the special exam?"

"Right."

"Now that's interesting. You knew perfectly well I have zero interest in special exams, yet you still came looking for me. Got your payment ready?"

A refreshing sea breeze blew over. Fuyuji leaned against the railing and roughly explained the rules of the VIP special exam to Kiryuin.

"You really do think fast, kid. To actually think of bringing in upperclassmen as outside help."

"The school never said we couldn't ask others to help think it through anyway." Fuyuji held the phone against his ear with his shoulder and spoke dismissively.

"So, you want Senpai to help you figure out the VIPs for each group?"

"No." Fuyuji casually picked up a tangerine and slowly began peeling it, revealing the excited grin of a gambler. "Didn't I just tell you, Senpai, that the VIPs actually follow a pattern? Your intuition's always been spot-on. You told me yourself before—fifty-fifty hit rate. Take a guess for me."

A long silence came from the other end of the line.

A moment later, unrestrained laughter shot straight into Fuyuji's brain. "You really do have some nerve, kid. Just guessing outright. I've never even thought of using that method to pass an exam."

"It's not exactly passing the exam. I'll verify the theory with people from other classes later. It's just that with this, I won't have to go through so much trouble afterward."

"Pick one for your Kouhai, would you?" Fuyuji pleaded with a sheepish laugh, then rattled off the names of several patterns in succession. "Truth is, I also feel like one of them has a really high probability, so I came to cross-check with Senpai."

"Mm..." The rustling sound continued. Kiryuin spoke offhandedly. "The fifty-sound chart, probably. If it's about names and based on all those rules you mentioned—deliberately separating students from other classes for the briefings—I feel like the fifty-sound chart has the highest probability. If all the members of a group were arranged together, it'd probably be way too easy to spot the fifty-sound pattern."

"I was thinking the same thing."

Fuyuji let out a breath. He popped a slice of tangerine into his mouth. The sweet juice slid down his throat and spread throughout his body.

"And my payment? Asking Senpai for help is very expensive." Kiryuin, having spoken just a single line, declared this with righteous confidence.

The words had barely landed before Fuyuji diverted the topic with lightning speed.

"Speaking of which, Senpai, where are you right now? There's been this rustling sound ever since we started talking."

"Oh." An indifferent voice drifted over. "I just woke up. I'm getting dressed."

"Smack..."

Fuyuji clapped a hand over his nose. His ears perked up involuntarily. His brain instantly, uncontrollably, began conjuring a series of images.

Senpai's figure was among the best in the entire school—over 170 cm tall, with exquisite curves, white hair, red eyes, and that domineering personality...

"Want Senpai to send you a photo? It's fine. For Senpai's adorable Kouhai, it's totally okay..."

Brimming with provocative teasing, Kiryuin's laughter drifted through the phone. Even across the line, Fuyuji could perfectly picture that mischievous, wicked grin of hers.

Yeah, right, you liar!

Last time you tricked me by saying if I ranked in the top ten of the grade, I wouldn't have to go shopping. And in the end, it wasn't shopping—it was accompanying you to buy clothes!

"Ahem." Fuyuji cleared his throat and spoke with the resolve of one marching to his death. "I think we should get back to business. What kind of payment does Senpai want? Shopping?"

"Hm? So eager? It's only been two weeks. How come you seem a little different?"

"Do I?" Fuyuji scratched his head.

"You do. But I kinda like this change. In that case, mm..." From the phone came a hum of deliberation far longer than when she'd been choosing the pattern. "A fortune-teller came to the school yesterday. Supposedly, their love fortunes are pretty accurate. But you need two people to go. Once you're back, you're coming with Senpai."

"..."

"Senpai, that's pure superstition. And it doesn't fit the gallant, spirited image of the dignified Kiryuin-senpai." Fuyuji spoke in a somber voice.

"Regrettably, this is exactly Senpai's personality. I am somewhat interested in who my future husband will be." Kiryuin laughed. "So? Seeing this girly side of Senpai—feeling a little excited?"

"Fine. When we're back, just message me whenever Senpai wants to go." Fuyuji sidestepped the topic without a flicker of change in his expression.

After continuing to chat idly with Kiryuin for a while longer, Fuyuji hung up, ending their call.

Looking at Kiryuin's name on the screen, Fuyuji recalled that time he'd been pinned to the ground by Senpai, utterly unable to move.

Excited?

Not in the slightest. I only feel a trace of sympathy for Senpai's future husband.

And since when did fortune-telling require two people to go together?

Did this person not know how to do business? They actually imposed limits? Still, their marketing was pretty clever.

"Buzz—!" The phone in his hand suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up. A photo had been sent.

In a room thick with feminine atmosphere, a tall girl sat on a sky-blue bed. Her long, silvery-white hair spilled loose across the bedding. Semi-transparent black stockings were casually draped over the edge of the bed. One long, snow-white, slender leg was exposed to the air, without a single ounce of extra flesh. The other leg was bent at the knee, the black stocking slowly rising upward, finally stopping just below the knee. Above that was the white pleated skirt of the Advanced Nurturing school uniform.

[Senpai Is So Cute: A reward from Senpai. Your score just went up a little bit.]

Fuyuji silently turned off his phone. A sudden, ominous premonition rose in his heart.

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