COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

This master... seems a little young. Didn't the forums say it was an old woman?

The female student from Class 3-A, stepping into the somewhat dim tent, unconsciously held her breath, secretly sizing up the fortune-teller seated within the shadows.

The tent's fabric curtain hung down, shutting out the slightly noisy clamor outside. Only a single swaying, dull yellow lightbulb hung above the table, casting the fortune-teller's silhouette onto the velvet wall, stretching it out mysterious and elongated.

Though she couldn't make out his features clearly, judging by the skin tone of the parts he had exposed, his age probably wasn't very advanced.

However, she and her companion did not question this master's credentials because of that.

From the moment they stepped into the tent, a powerful, oppressive pressure had washed over them. Their footsteps seemed to grow heavier by several degrees, becoming difficult to lift.

At the same time, Fuyuji Mikage, hidden in the shadows, was also sizing up the girl with her hair tied into two buns. His gaze gradually filled with pity.

So you're the third party caught between Horikita Manabu and that blond senpai.

No! More accurately, the one being cucked!

He'd heard that several times when that blond senpai had issued dueling challenges to Horikita Manabu, it was this student council girl—whose title was written as Secretary but read as Secretary-with-benefits—who kept butting in, causing the plans to fall through.

Coming for a love fortune-telling at a time like this, he could guess with his toenails that it had to be about that devastatingly troublesome Horikita Manabu.

You guys are at the crucial moment of your third year of high school right now. This is a major turning point in your lives. Trying to find romance at this juncture—how can you even sleep at night?!

In that case, I shall be the one to correct this unhealthy trend at Advanced Nurturing High School, and at the same time, turn you into nourishment, the first stepping stone on my path to becoming a great master of divination!

Reaching this point in his thoughts, Fuyuji cleared his throat, making his voice sound drier and hoarser.

"Ho ho ho~" A dark, raspy voice emerged from the shadow of the hood. "A pair of two young ladies, I see. This doesn't seem to be a love fortune in the usual sense. Guests, please have a seat..."

"Thank you."

The two girls sat down at his words, their hands placed respectfully on their knees, reverently awaiting the master's further instructions.

Fuyuji casually spread one hand open, gesturing toward Tachibana Akane. "Then, shall we start with the guest on the right first?"

"No problem."

After that, he smoothly guided Tachibana through the process, directing her to extend her right hand. He used his fingertips to trace lightly over her palm lines, quickly running through the standard routine before officially launching the debut battle of Master Fuyuji.

"The guest's name?"

"Tachibana Akane."

"Hmm..."

Fuyuji made a show of pinching the front section of her fingers, as if sensing some kind of mysterious information. He gave her palm lines a by-the-book interpretation, putting on the appropriate airs, and then formally entered the main topic.

"Beyond this, is there anything else the guest wishes to know?"

"That," Tachibana bit her lip lightly, two faint, barely noticeable blushes surfacing on her cheeks. She looked somewhat hesitant. "I want to know what kind of job I'll have in the future?"

Hm? Coming here not to ask about love-related matters, but about career first? It seems she wants to lay some groundwork first, then indirectly circle around to the real topic.

That won't do, Secretary-chan. If you're too shy, that blond senpai will cleanly and neatly cuck you.

Allow me to lend you a helping hand!

"The guest appears to be the meticulous type, someone who frequently handles documents, and you possess a wealth of experience dealing with miscellaneous tasks. As for your future..." Fuyuji scrutinized her palm, murmuring on, "Hmm... you will likely be engaged in clerical work of some sort, and document handling will be your forte."

As soon as the words left his mouth, both girls directed astonished gazes towards him.

"Master, you read people so accurately!"

The other girl excitedly covered her mouth, her voice slightly raised. "Akane serves as the secretary in the Student Council. She really does want to pursue this kind of work in the future!"

Well done, my wingman!

Fuyuji fiercely pinched his own thigh, his shoulder shaking almost imperceptibly. He kept his face taut and forced himself to use a steady, composed tone: "Oh? Truly? It seems my skills haven't regressed."

"What about after that? After that?"

Before Tachibana could even open her mouth, the girl beside her couldn't hold back any longer. She grabbed Tachibana's sleeve, her body leaning forward eagerly. "What will happen between her and Horikita-kun in the future?"

"What are you saying? The Student Council, the Student Council doesn't support dating within its ranks!" Tachibana immediately blushed, waving her hands repeatedly in denial.

However, the palm she had extended remained honestly right where it was, not budging an inch.

"Such enviable liveliness. Let me see... you two have shared many memories together." Fuyuji's fingertip lightly tapped the spot on her palm symbolizing the love line.

Tachibana, who had been entangled with her classmate across from him, instantly stopped. Her attention was immediately pulled over, her gaze burning brightly as she looked this way, an air of anticipation revealing itself in her eyes.

"The two of you spend quite a lot of time together..."

"Mhm, mhm." The girl beside her nodded repeatedly.

"And you've also stayed by each other's sides the whole time..."

Tachibana's eyes gradually began to shine.

"I see. So the other party is truly exceptional..."

"Yes, Horikita-kun is very exceptional." Tachibana nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"However..."

Fuyuji's tone took a sudden turn. He sighed faintly, slowly lowering his head to scrutinize her palm once more.

The cold air circulating through the tent seemed to instantly grow several degrees chillier. The atmosphere around them turned heavy.

Tachibana's heart plummeted. A nasty premonition welled up from within: "Master, what's the matter?"

"Ah~ Dear guest, your love life will encounter some... turbulence." Fuyuji slowly exhaled and raised his head again.

"Turbulence?"

"Hmm... In your future, a flashy, dazzling yellow calamity awaits you," Fuyuji warned, his tone grave.

"Yellow?" Tachibana repeated, puzzled.

"That's right." Fuyuji nodded with extreme seriousness, his body leaning forward slightly, carrying an unquestionable authority. "Only by completely overcoming that yellow calamity will you have a bright future."

"But Master, what exactly is this yellow? I don't think there's anything related to yellow around me."

"Heaven's secrets must not be divulged." Fuyuji shook his head, leaning back once more, leaving the two with a mysteriously unfathomable silhouette. "I can only tell you that it is related to a person, and that person is right there beside you."

"Yellow and related to a person..." Tachibana lowered her head, sinking into thought. She seemed to think of something, but then quickly shook her head again. "No, the President isn't that kind of person. Then just what—"

"Related to a person... wait!"

The other girl also seemed to recall something. Her expression changed drastically in an instant. She grabbed Tachibana's arm and forcefully pulled her closer, leaning in near her ear and whispering, "Akane, isn't that Nagumo just..."

"Nagumo?" Tachibana looked at her companion, her mind somewhat blank. "What does this have to do with him?"

"There have been rumors on the forums saying... also, don't you find it strange..."

Gradually, Tachibana's confused expression vanished. Her mouth froze half-open, her pupils suddenly dilating with immense shock, as if her entire worldview had been shaken.

"Huh?" That brief syllable revealed just how much of an impact its owner had received at this moment.

Tachibana barely managed to squeeze out a smile, her expression revealing an unconcealable disbelief. "Th-this... impossible, right?!"

"Don't you think it's suspicious? He's always been around Horikita-kun. Can't you just look into this sort of thing when you get back?" The girl continued to ramp up her offensive output. "Haven't you also been saying recently that Horikita-kun seems to have something on his mind?"

"If it's true..."

Uneasily clenching her fists over her chest, she murmured to herself for a moment. Then Tachibana hurriedly looked up and asked, "What should I do?"

"That, well..." Fuyuji mused for a moment, his voice sounding troubled.

The girl beside her silently pulled out her phone.

"Very well. I see that the guest's future still holds a sliver of hope."

...

Ten minutes later.

Tachibana Akane took a deep breath, as if solidifying some immense resolution. The wavering in her eyes was replaced by a resolve that was almost tragically heroic.

"Thank you for your guidance..."

"No need for thanks. It is only because the guest is a person of fate."

Fuyuji watched the numbers jumping on the card reader with satisfaction. His fingers, hidden within his wide sleeves, rubbed together in delight. He waved goodbye amiably. "Farewell~"

Do your best, Secretary-chan. For Horikita Manabu's sake, unleash the Fire Punch upon that blond senpai!

Having successfully completed his very first deal, Fuyuji rubbed his palms together and called out impatiently towards the outside:

"Next."

"Hello, I'm Asahina Nazuna from Class 2-A."

"Dear guest, you are destined to face this calamity."

"Huh?"

"This and that, so on and so forth, abra-abracadabra..."

"Yahata, how could it..."

"Ah, my condolences."

...

"Next."

"My name is Ibuki Mio."

"Very well, I see a bond of fate between us..."

"I see. I shouldn't be hung up on such trivial trifles. My fated nemesis lies here at Advanced Nurturing High School?"

...

As time gradually approached evening, the sun slanted westward, and the crowd before the tent gradually dispersed.

"What on earth did you do to this old one's stall?! How did it turn into this in just one afternoon?!"

A voice filled with grief and indignation suddenly burst out from inside the tent. The old fortune-telling woman tremulously held her phone, her eyes nearly splitting with rage as she stared at the screen's contents.

[Advanced Nurturing High School Campus Forum Trending Topics.]

[1. Come Quickly! Mystical Master Appears on Keyaki Mall Fifth Floor, Understands the Human Heart, Can Foresee the Future.]

"Master, you should be congratulating me," Fuyuji said from his chair, barely managing to hold back his laughter as he turned his face away. "I've already surpassed the master. And isn't this great? I've drummed up business for you."

"Then what's the meaning of this?" The old woman frantically jabbed her finger at the phone screen.

[2. Keyaki Mall Fifth Floor Love Fortune-Telling Hidden Package!]

"That, well, is naturally an extra paid consultation service."

"This was never reported to the school administration!"

"Ah, don't be such a stranger. At worst, we split it thirty-seventy."

"...I get seventy, you get thirty?"

"Nonsense. I get seventy, you get thirty, obviously!"

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