COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

Inside the room, Morishita and Yamamura's eyes widened as they instinctively drew closer to Fuyuji, ears perked, listening intently.

The steady voice of Student Council General Affairs Officer Katsuragi rang out. "The cables on the side connecting to the sea-crossing bridge—the ones linked to our power supply—were severed by construction work."

"Even so, the school should have a backup plan for this kind of situation." Fuyuji, still holding the leftover popsicle in his mouth, replied indistinctly.

A man-made island—if the power could be knocked out that easily, how had the school managed to keep its teaching methods so tightly under wraps all these years?

"Yes, the school administration has temporarily activated the backup plan," Katsuragi's voice paused for a moment, "however, due to the recent extreme heat, the dormitory area has seen a sudden surge in electricity demand. Coupled with..." He slowed his speech. "...it seems some students are fond of setting their air conditioners to the lowest possible temperature. The overload caused equipment failure in the dormitory area, which led to this blackout."

Staaaaare~

The moment the words fell, Fuyuji and Yamamura's eyes swiveled in unison and converged upon Morishita, who had just moments ago been wrapped in a blanket with the AC blasting.

As far as they knew, this sort of thing was Morishita's habitual offense.

Even the usually headstrong Morishita found it hard to keep her composure. She put on a fierce little expression. "What?! It's not just the great Morishita who does that..."

Though she said this, her imposing manner had clearly weakened by several degrees, and her gaze had grown a touch evasive.

"When will the power come back?" Suppressing his urge to argue, Fuyuji pressed on.

"Repairs are already underway at full speed. At the earliest, it could be tonight. Otherwise, it'll be tomorrow."

Tomorrow...

Fuyuji's heart lurched. A headache began to set in.

All the other places on campus closed normally at night. If the power didn't come back tonight, weren't they completely screwed?

"Where still has power right now? Are the library and the teaching building still running?"

"On that front, the library does still have power. However, I'd recommend Keyaki Mall. They have an independent power generation facility, so even if the substation shorts out again, they won't be affected."

After asking for a few more detailed specifics, Fuyuji hung up the phone, swept his eyes across the screen, and turned to the two.

"We can't stay here. Where should we go now?"

"Keyaki Mall."

Morishita answered instantly. She spun around, flung off the blanket, planted one hand on her hip, and pointed with the other. Without waiting, she strode toward the genkan on her own. "These past two days, I saw something interesting on the forums. Perfect timing to go investigate it now."

Yamamura seemed to recall something as well. She cast an inconspicuous glance at Fuyuji, then revealed a look of sudden understanding. "Morishita-san, is it that thing you mentioned yesterday?"

"Hmph hmph. As expected of Yamamura Miki. You truly understand me..."

Fuyuji, utterly baffled yet with a faint, inexplicable unease stirring in his heart, hurried to catch up with the two. "What thing? So mysterious?"

"You'll know when we get there. Fuyuji Mikage, this time you're reaping a huge bargain off the great Morishita. You'd better thank me properly later."

...

Twenty minutes later. Keyaki Mall, fifth floor.

The powerful air conditioning, mixed with the scents of various foods, perfumes, and crowds, rushed to meet them—a stark contrast to the brutal heat outside. Yet, Fuyuji could feel not a trace of coolness at this moment.

He stared blankly at the two long lines extending from the two massive tents and murmured to himself.

"I'm so stupid. Really. I knew the great Morishita was interested in all sorts of strange and bizarre things. What I didn't know was that this scam shop—the one with so much buzz on the forums—was also on her menu of interests..."

To think I'd get scammed by the same shop twice in a row? No—three times!

"Fuyuji Mikage, saying weird things again." A helpless expression surfaced on Morishita's cold, indifferent little face. "What a strange personality you have."

"..." You're one to talk, Miss Class A Oddball.

At this point, knowing Morishita's personality, she wouldn't be satisfied until she'd thoroughly experienced it for herself. What a pity—this only benefited that unscrupulous scammer inside!

Also, that scam shop shouldn't normally remember a customer who'd visited just two days ago... right?

"Welcome."

Approaching the end of the line, the same female staff member from two days ago—the one responsible for maintaining order and providing consultation—approached the three with a businesslike smile.

"Are you here for a fortune-telling consultation?"

"Yes." Morishita planted both hands on her hips.

"Um..." The staff member's gaze swept across the three faces once more, her expression showing some bewilderment. After hesitating, she probed tentatively in a small voice. "May I ask... is there another companion who will be joining later?"

"No!" Morishita refused without the slightest hesitation. She waved her hand decisively, her tone resolute. "Just the three of us."

"But... receiving the teacher's fortune-telling requires groups of two." The staff member's smile began to grow strained as she carefully reminded them.

As she spoke, she pointed to the sign nailed beside the tent entrance: "This Establishment Accepts Pairs Only."

"It's fine. Two of us will go in first. Once the session is finished, we'll accompany the third one inside."

The moment the words left his mouth, the surrounding clamor of conversation came to an abrupt halt. In an instant, every gaze converged upon Fuyuji, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

Yamamura's face instantly turned as red as an overripe tomato. With a muffled "Uu," she ducked her head and, like a startled little rabbit, swiftly shrank behind Fuyuji. Both small hands tightly gripped the fabric of his back as she buried her entire burning-hot face against it.

Fuyuji raised a hand and pressed it to his forehead.

Great Morishita, your personality really is something else. So self-righteously confident? Still, it should be fine. With Miki's divine concealment trait, she'll probably recover in a bit.

"But... but..." The staff member's eyes had turned into dizzy spirals, her CPU practically smoking. "Fortune-telling... fortune-telling isn't supposed to be like this..."

"Just follow the rules and carry it out," Fuyuji waved his hand weakly.

"O-okay."

After thinking it over and discovering there was indeed no logical issue with the arrangement, the staff member swiftly retreated to the very end of the line, sneaking a furtive glance at Fuyuji as she went.

This guest... why does he seem somewhat familiar?

Having convinced the staff member, the line predictably returned to its previous state of quiet murmuring among the patrons.

Still, this long line—there was no way it would clear in under two hours. Fortunately, there were three of them. Just like last time with Senpai, one person could hold their spot while the other two went off to kill time.

Just the same, Fuyuji was the one left behind once more. In the midst of his utter boredom, he leaned against the railing and let his gaze drift out toward the crowd, thick with the sour-sweet stench of romance.

Couple! Couple! Yet another couple! In this tiny Advanced Nurturing High School, so many couples could actually bloom—truly a violation of the school's meritocratic principles. Once Katsuragi becomes Student Council President in his third year, I'm definitely going to have him propose a policy to the school to crack down on all you flashbang-spamming people. Honestly—

"Guest, this establishment only handles pairs for fortune-telling consultations." The staff member's businesslike voice rang out at the end of the line.

"Eh? You can't come alone? Love fortune-tell—"

The voice of the girl named Shiranami Chihiro—tinged with a touch of nervousness—slowly faded. She slowly turned her head and stared fixedly at Fuyuji, standing in the queue.

Their eyes met. The very air around them seemed to freeze solid in that instant.

After a moment of stunned silence, Shiranami finally came to her senses. She looked at the "Pairs Only" notice on the tent, then at the couples paired up all around her. A sly grin spread across her face.

Then, with lightning speed, she whipped out her phone and snapped a photo of Fuyuji with a sharp click.

"Ha! Finally caught you." This way, Honami-chan will realize he's a scumbag, and then—

"Click!"

A flash of a phone camera swept past. Shiranami's triumphant grin froze solid on the spot.

Fuyuji waggled his phone in his hand, revealing the same scheme-succeeded smile of his own.

"In that case, isn't it fine if I take a photo too?"

"Sa~ Shiranami-san, are you going to tell Ichinose?" Fuyuji deliberately dragged out his syllables. "Then how exactly do you plan to explain why you, too, were standing in this line? If Ichinose finds out... she'd definitely be curious, wouldn't she? Just who exactly was Shiranami-san here on a date with?"

"Y-you..."

Shiranami stretched out a trembling finger. Then her small mouth crumpled, and she scurried away from the line on her short little legs.

"You just wait! I'll absolutely make sure Honami-chan learns your true nature!"

"Ja ne~"

Watching Shiranami execute her strategic retreat, Fuyuji waved amicably in the direction she had fled.

"Ganbatte~"

The brief interlude in the queue was quickly tossed to the back of Fuyuji's mind. Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the tent, it was still that same scam-artist old granny witch from before, still the same mystifying opening spiel, still the same smoothly produced card reader.

"Well then, guests. Which package would you like?"

Looking at this money-grubbing old granny who clearly didn't remember him at all, Fuyuji secretly let out a breath of relief in his heart.

As expected—a bit of senility in old age, memory decline. Perfectly normal.

"Excuse me," Morishita slammed both hands on the low table holding the crystal ball, leaning her body forward, her eyes sparkling as she asked, "Can you divine anything at all?" The table wobbled slightly under her momentum.

"Ho ho ho..." The fortune-teller seemed rather pleased by Morishita's adoring gaze. She spoke in her hoarse, raspy voice. "That depends on the individual's actual circumstances."

"I feel like I have a great deal of talent in this area. I can often hear them talking in the forest," Morishita puffed out her small chest and spoke with an air of great seriousness.

"Really?"

The old woman revealed an expression of genuine surprise, as if she truly believed Morishita's words. Her cloudy eyes drifted in recollection for a moment. "Mm... in this case, it should be the manifestation of mediumistic talent from the South American lineage."

"Then, how do I awaken—"

"Alright, alright, let's hurry this up. Miki's still waiting outside." Seeing that some strange, eerie electric current seemed to be forming between Morishita and the old woman, Fuyuji timely cut in.

"Fine..." Morishita looked somewhat disappointed. But looking at the glistening crystal ball on the table, she quickly rallied. She stretched out her palm and spoke with confidence. "Please help me confirm the achievements I will attain in the future."

"It seems the guest will attain truly astonishing achievements in the future. You are someone capable of influencing the course of the world."

Morishita nodded, a "just as expected" look on her face. She kept her little face solemn. "As expected of me... What about my life and health?"

"Your lifespan, too, is..."

"What kind of person will I become in the future?"

"Ho ho, that is unknown. However, it seems this guest will sail through life smoothly and without hindrance."

...

The fortune-teller continued her rambling discourse.

Before long, Morishita withdrew her hand with great satisfaction and raised her chin smugly toward Fuyuji.

"You see? Fuyuji Mikage will never be able to surpass the great Morishita in the future."

"Yes, yes. The great Morishita is the most formidable of all."

Fuyuji rolled his eyes. With practiced ease, he extended his own palm and handed it to the old woman. "Fuyuji Mikage."

The fortune-teller's cool, aged fingers settled upon his palm. Her cloudy eyes drew close, as if trying to count the direction of every line. Compared to Morishita's session, the old woman observed for a far longer time. Her brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Gradually, Fuyuji's heart began to lift with unease.

Could it be...

After observing carefully for a long while, she slowly raised her head. Her voice was tinged with uncertainty and surprise. "This guest..."

"What?" Fuyuji's heart gave a violent jolt. He kept his expression perfectly composed.

"We charge by the session..."

"..."

She actually remembered!

She didn't remember the person, but she remembered a palm she'd read two days ago?! Could it be she wasn't just cold-reading and making things up on the spot?! And her first reaction was still about money!

Cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of Fuyuji's shirt. At the same time, Morishita, beside him, cast him a scrutinizing, appraising gaze.

In a flash of lightning, Fuyuji's brain kicked into overdrive. The very next second, the words flew from his mouth.

"Of course I know that. Even if the palm reading is the same twice, I'll still pay. Just read it as you normally would."

The same sentence, heard by two different people, would yield two different results. Morishita would think he was referring to herself and Yamamura, who would come in later. And this black-hearted swindler would think he was referring to Kiryuin Fuka, who had come here with him two days prior.

Having received a satisfactory answer, the fortune-teller said nothing more and proceeded with the routine questioning.

...

Five minutes later.

The old woman waved at Morishita with a beaming smile. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Morishita bowed politely in return. Satisfied, she turned around and, with light, buoyant steps, was the first to lift the tent curtain and step outside. The clamor and cold air of the outside world instantly surged in.

The old woman watched Morishita's excited figure vanish behind the curtain. She picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip to moisten her throat.

What an amusing child... As for the other one...

Thinking of that guest from just moments ago, even someone as experienced and well-traveled as her had never encountered such a case. A fate of woman-trouble to such an extreme degree, a love line so tangled and twisting—trying to forget it would be difficult indeed!

"Next guest, please."

The curtain was lifted once more.

The first to enter was a girl with a side ponytail. She kept her head lowered, her hands nervously twisting together, looking deeply shy. The boy who followed close behind her was tall and slen—

"Pfft—!"

The old woman, who had just taken a sip of tea, froze solid the moment she recognized the newcomer. She rubbed her cloudy eyes and voiced a question from the very depths of her soul.

"Why is it you again?!"

If you want to Support me, you can Read Advanced Chapters on : [email protected]/Yuni_TL

50 [Power Stones] = Bonus Chapter!

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!