COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

Another week passed.

Saturday afternoon. After a week of seeking advice—consulting the opinions of, including but not limited to, Katsuragi, Yamamura, Shiraishi, Morishita, and others—and politely declining Shiraishi Asuka's kind offer to accompany him to shop, Chef Mikage, dreaming of becoming a master chef, put on his shoes in his dorm room, grabbed his phone, slung his backpack over his shoulders, and headed straight for the supermarket.

Entering the supermarket, Fuyuji Mikage went directly to the kitchenware section.

Facing rows upon rows of various dazzling kitchen utensils, Chef Mikage first eliminated the quantum-empowered cookware, nano non-stick pans, and the Hokkaido Hermit Hand-Forged Iron Wok that Morishita Ai had enthusiastically recommended—products that were clearly designed to swindle money at a single glance. He had even begun to suspect that Morishita Ai, seeing his wallet had plumped up recently, was trying to bleed all his funds dry.

In the end, Fuyuji Mikage picked up a cast iron wok. Raising it high with both hands, he swung it around twice as if fighting a zombie and nodded in satisfaction.

It had a good feel in the hand. One could tell at a glance it was a fine wok, capable of cracking skulls and blocking bullets. A shame his backpack couldn't strap it to the back.

After successively picking out other kitchen utensils, Fuyuji Mikage found a broomstick, skewered the utensils onto it like an itinerant peddler, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and moved on to the ingredients section.

High-end ingredients often require only the simplest cooking methods.

After a busy day, Chef Mikage opted to mooch for free.

It had to be said, Advanced Nurturing High School did have one good point. To ensure that students in the lower classes, when tired of the mountain vegetable set meals, could occasionally eat something decent, the supermarket placed limited quantities of free ingredients out every day.

Operating on the principle that "if I don't take advantage of this bargain, someone else will," Fuyuji Mikage resolutely stretched out his sinful hand towards a bundle of spinach on the counter.

At the exact same moment, another hand, fair and slender, also reached out.

Both hands landed on the same bundle of spinach simultaneously.

"Hm?"

"Eh?"

Both hands withdrew at the same time.

"..."

Fuyuji Mikage turned his head and saw the great angel of Class B, Ichinose Honami, who had also turned her head.

"Hello there, Fuyuji-kun. Long time no see." Ichinose Honami quickly recognized Fuyuji Mikage and waved at him in greeting, bearing a sweet smile.

Ichinose Honami was dressed in casual clothes. A cream-white dress fit her neatly. A shopping basket hung from her shoulder, already containing quite a few ingredients. One look and you could tell she was an experienced homemaker, far from a match for a fledgling rookie like Fuyuji Mikage.

"Ichinose-san, are you here to buy groceries too?" Fuyuji Mikage made casual conversation.

"Yep. It's nice to relax a bit at this hour on the weekend. And you, Fuyuji-kun, what's all this?"

Ichinose Honami nodded, then noticed the jangling, clattering kitchen utensils skewered onto the broomstick behind Fuyuji Mikage's back.

"Oh, this," Fuyuji Mikage turned around, "I'm picking out a batch of legendary kitchenware." Another round of jangling and clattering rang out.

"Um... I think there are shopping carts over there."

"This is cooler."

"Is that so..."

Ichinose Honami let out two dry laughs. She realized she was having a bit of trouble understanding this schoolmates's train of thought. No wonder Hoshinomiya-sensei had told her that Fuyuji Mikage had the nickname of "the weirdo."

Still, even so, she kindly offered Fuyuji Mikage her purchasing advice.

"That enamel board doesn't seem to be good. The magnets it comes with have too weak a pull. If you hang something heavy on it from the wall, it'll come right off."

"As for knives, buying the kind suitable for slicing and dicing is fine. Ones for chopping bones are basically useless, since the school preps most of its ingredients already."

"Also..."

Ding!

Chef Mikage received an infusion of experience from Master Ichinose. His level has increased.

"Is that so... I see."

Fuyuji Mikage wore an expression of sudden enlightenment.

"Then I have to go back and exchange some things. Thanks, Ichinose-san."

Having said that, he turned and walked back towards the kitchenware section.

"It's only right. We're schoolmates, after all."

"You can't say that. If you accept someone's goodwill, you thank them. It's as simple as that."

"Well, that is true. But I still hope my friends will come to me when they have problems. I'll do my best to help them."

"But isn't that a bit strange? You have your own life to live too, don't you?"

"But I feel that if a friend runs into trouble, it's fine to put my own things aside to deal with later."

"That's not right, Ichinose-san. Love others only after loving yourself— Wait, you still haven't left?"

Fuyuji Mikage turned his head instantly and found Ichinose Honami still smiling, following right behind him step for step.

"I thought Fuyuji-kun might need some help, so I came along." Ichinose Honami, holding her shopping basket, stated frankly.

"Ichinose-san, this isn't anything urgent for me. More importantly," Fuyuji Mikage pointed at the basket in her hand, "don't you have your own plans too?"

"This won't take much time at all. And Fuyuji-kun seemed a bit troubled just now, didn't he?"

Fuyuji Mikage stopped walking and looked directly into Ichinose Honami's bright eyes.

Ichinose, without blinking, gazed back at him just the same.

"Why do you like helping others so much?"

"Why does Fuyuji-kun refuse the help of others?"

"It's not refusing the help of others. It's that you and I aren't close yet right now. I don't think it's necessary to take up the time of a friend I just met over a small matter."

"I believe we'll become familiar with each other in the future. There's nothing wrong with helping a friend out a little in advance."

"..."

Fuyuji Mikage withdrew his gaze and said helplessly, "You're a bit of a strange person, you know that?"

"Fuyuji-kun is a bit strange too."

Seeing how stubborn Ichinose was, Fuyuji Mikage simply agreed. "In that case, if you run into trouble next time, you can call me. I'll help you out then too."

Ichinose Honami's body visibly flinched, as if she had just remembered something.

"What's wrong?" Fuyuji Mikage frowned.

Ichinose shook her head without speaking and said softly, "It feels like it's been a long time since I've heard words like that... Won't it trouble you, Fuyuji-kun?"

Fuyuji Mikage tilted his head and slowly formed a question mark. "Why is it that when you help me, it's not a bother, but when I help you, it becomes a bother?"

"Because we're friends."

"Exactly. Since we're friends, isn't it only right to help each other out?"

Ichinose Honami, who on a normal day had maxed-out social skills and could perfectly handle all sorts of different friends, was now rendered utterly speechless.

"Let's go."

Seeing Ichinose Honami frozen in place, Fuyuji Mikage continued walking towards the kitchenware section. "I hope this won't waste too much of your time."

Ichinose Honami came back to her senses. Her eyes darted to the side, quietly observing Fuyuji Mikage.

"What is it?"

"N-Nothing."

...

With Ichinose Honami's help, Fuyuji Mikage reselected his own personal kitchenware and named them: the Ever-Spirit Blade! the Dragon-Turning Kettle! the Jade Dragon Wok... he forgot the rest.

Since this supermarket supported delivery, it saved Fuyuji Mikage the trouble of laboriously hauling them back to his room.

After selecting their ingredients in the supermarket, the two walked out together.

At that moment, a man with long red hair and both hands stuffed in his pockets walked hurriedly past them, his face brimming with murderous intent, drawing the sidelong glances of passersby.

"Isn't that the pervert from the forum?"

"Eww, don't look at him. Why would the school even admit someone like this?"

"He's looking this way."

"Hurry, let's go, let's go."

Two upperclassman girls quickly left the area.

Ryuen Kakeru glared viciously in their direction, his lips twitching slightly. In the end, he clenched his fist and stormed off in resentment.

"It seems Ryuen-kun has had a very hard time these past few days." Ichinose remarked with a sigh.

"You even know Ryuen Kakeru?" Fuyuji Mikage asked, holding back a laugh.

"Because they were fighting constantly the first few days of school. I tried to mediate, but it had no effect whatsoever. However, after he got suspended for a week, things have been much better these past few days."

"Then that's going to be trouble. His suspension is almost over, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I hope he can tone it down a bit."

...

With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and the two parted ways there.

"I'll be off then. Thanks, Ichinose-san." Fuyuji Mikage held a shopping bag in one hand and waved goodbye with the other. "Don't wear yourself out too much. And, if you really do need help, just come find me. But this is limited to one time only."

"Alright. Bye-bye."

The elevator doors slowly closed from both sides. Ichinose Honami's gentle, smiling face disappeared behind them.

Fuyuji Mikage's waving hand slowly stopped. The smile on his face also gradually subsided. He let out a breath.

"What a strange girl."

Evening.

High-end ingredients often require only the simplest cooking methods. The greens were boiled together in a single pot. The beef was sliced thin and stir-fried over high heat. The bonito was pan-fried in fine salt and sesame oil until golden brown on both sides.

After a busy day, Chef Mikage arrived at the dinner table and delivered the food into his mouth.

"..."

Ten seconds later, a bonito, its eyes gleaming with a strange, eerie light, lay quietly in the trash can.

At the same time, a rich aroma of well-cooked food drifted from the balcony into Fuyuji Mikage's room, seeping into his nose as if exploiting a weak point and fiercely stirring his taste buds.

Chef Mikage pulled out his phone expressionlessly, opened the group chat, and sent a message.

[When Will Light Return: Morishita, Yamamura, let's go out for dinner. My treat!]

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