COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute

"Ja ne~ Minna-san. Thank you for the hospitality, everyone in Class B."

At the outer perimeter of the Class B camp, Fuyuji Mikage waved goodbye to the Class B crowd with a beaming smile.

"Not at all. We were merely fulfilling our duties as hosts." Ichinose Honami scratched her cheek, looking rather embarrassed.

"Bye-bye, Fuyuji-kun, Horikita-san, Kushida-san. If you're passing by next time, be sure to drop in and sit for a while."

"I will."

The Class B crowd, grinding their teeth in fury: No! Please, never come here ever again!

After Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo had finished their goodbyes, the three of them headed together in the direction of the island's small mountain. The dense shadows of the trees swiftly swallowed their figures.

The entire flock of Class B students instantly surged forward, buzzing and chattering in a cacophony of voices.

"Ichinose, absolutely do not be deceived by that Class A guy! You can tell at a single glance he's no good person!"

"Honami-chan, that kind of handsome-looking guy—you can tell right away he's an expert at tricking people."

"Yeah, yeah! Honami-chan, that's Class A's infamous oddball! Coming to our class camp—there's definitely some unspeakable scheme behind it!"

...

"No way. Fuyuji-kun is very gentle." Ichinose raised her hands, sweating in embarrassment as she soothed her Class B classmates. "Everyone's exaggerating far too much."

"This is a provocation, Honami-chan." Ichinose's close friend, Amikura Mako, extended an index finger and spoke with vigilance. "He actually, right here in our Class B, had the audacity to boldly propose going on a date with our class leader—and at such a critical time, no less. It's definitely a provocation against our Class B."

"Yes, yes! Definitely a provocation!" A crowd of girls spoke with righteous indignation.

"Fuyuji-kun is just relatively free-spirited, that's all." Ichinose patiently defended Fuyuji.

"No! He definitely has some sinister scheme!" The Class B crowd proved unyielding and relentless.

Seeing that she couldn't convince her Class B classmates, Ichinose looked left and right, attempting to change the subject. "By the way, where's Chihiro-chan? I feel like I haven't seen her since just now."

"Don't worry. Rest assured." Ando Sayo wagged her finger with an expression of absolute confidence. "The moment I heard people from another class were coming to scout, I had her hide away."

"That's good, then." Ichinose let out a breath of relief.

Shiranami Chihiro was the leader their Class B had selected for this exam. Although it was highly unlikely she'd be seen through by people from other classes at a time like this, just to be safe, having her hide was still the more prudent course of action.

Ando walked over to the girls' tent, knocked on it, and called out, "Chihiro-chan, you can come out now. The people from the other class have left."

"Really?" Shiranami's voice carried a faint trace of a sob. "That Fuyuji Mikage from Class A—has he left too?"

"He's gone too. How strange..." Ando murmured to herself. "Chihiro-chan knows him too? And why does her voice sound so odd?"

"It's nothing... Um... Ichinose-san, could you come inside for a moment?"

Ichinose, who had been watching her classmates interact with a smile on her face the entire time, felt her expression shift abruptly. She spun around sharply and looked in the direction Fuyuji had departed.

...

The dense, layered canopies of the trees wove together into a deep-green dome. The sound of fine, crisp snaps and crackles rose as the three of them stepped over dried, fallen branches. Within a few steps, their figures were gradually swallowed by the interlaced tree trunks, leaving behind only the swaying, trembling shadows of leaves and branches quivering upon the ground.

"I say, Horikita-san—even if you walk that fast, what you're not going to show me, you're still not going to show me. Katsuragi won't give you any openings to exploit."

Within the forest, Fuyuji gazed at Horikita's retreating, well-proportioned figure and called out to her helplessly.

"My apologies. I'm simply not accustomed to waiting for others."

That was what she said, but Horikita continued walking straight ahead without the slightest intention of stopping to wait for the two of them.

"..."

A mere cooking wife—how dare you speak to your creditor like that?! Do you still remember that submissive look on your face just two days ago when you were begging me to sell it to you cheaper?

"I'm sorry. Horikita-san's personality is just like this. But she doesn't mean any harm."

The queen of acting, Cha-Cha, came online once more. Even as she spoke words of apology, she was secretly snickering and elbowing Fuyuji in the lower back with her arm, as if to say, "See? That's how insufferable she is!"

"With such an awful personality, and yet Kushida-san can actually tolerate her. As expected, Kushida-san is simply far too kind-hearted." Fuyuji understood instantly and began coordinating with Cha-Cha to badmouth Horikita right to her face. He let out a lamenting, pitying sigh.

"That's not true at all."

Kushida covered her mouth and, utterly delighted, lightly smacked Fuyuji. At long last, there was someone who could team up with her in encirclement and suppression against the detestable Horikita.

"Because I want to become friends with Horikita-san. And friends are supposed to be like this."

"Ah~"

Fuyuji shook his head and sighed. "Having a friend like that must truly be exhausting."

"I will continue to do my best..."

"Continuing to do your best is useless, you know. Let me tell you—this woman is cold and icy all day long, acting as if she can accomplish everything on her own. And as a result, she ended up assigned to Class D."

"That's not true. Horikita-san is very outstanding. I'm certain she can succeed." A snow-white little hand reached out and seized Fuyuji's wrist. Suppressing her laughter, Kushida forcefully pinched it.

"..." Why are all you girls like this? When you want to laugh but can't hold it in, pinch yourselves! Why do you keep pinching me?!

"I think it'll be very difficult. If you don't deal with that nest of Sleeping Dragons and Fledgling Phoenixes in your class, you won't be able to climb up."

At the very front, the rustling, crunching sounds abruptly vanished. Horikita halted her steps and, without turning her head back, erupted with a bone-chilling aura. "Are you two done laughing yet? If you're done laughing, hurry up and walk."

Fuyuji and Kushida immediately stood up straight and spoke in unison.

"Haai!"

...

At the entrance of Class A's cave campsite, Katsuragi Kohei, who had just returned from hunting, had a handmade bow and arrow slung across his body. He stood with his arms folded, gazing out at the surroundings, awaiting the return of a certain someone.

"Yo~ Katsuragi. I'm back."

Even before drawing near the cave camp, Fuyuji had already waved and greeted Katsuragi from afar, reminding him to stay vigilant.

"I've also brought two guests back with me. Shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"..." Since you've already said it's not a problem, what else can I say?

"Guests?"

Despite this, Katsuragi nodded steadily and carefully scrutinized Horikita. "Horikita-kun, is it? You are one of the few people in Class D worth paying attention to. Come to think of it, this is our first time formally meeting like this."

"So you are the leader of Class A?" Horikita likewise carefully scrutinized Katsuragi.

This leader of the class with the highest points in the entire first year—one capable of commanding the class with the highest average caliber of students—his own ability was absolutely not lacking in any way.

But...

Horikita stole a quiet glance at a certain someone beside her, who had snatched Katsuragi's bow and was waving it around.

To say that this person was even more outstanding than him—Horikita didn't believe it for a second.

"Correct. You wish to look around. As a classmate, you're more than welcome. Aside from the interior of the cave, you may freely visit any other area. Shall I take you on a tour?"

"Thank you."

Both of them were the serious, earnest type. After confirming their direction, they crisply and efficiently began strolling around the campsite's perimeter.

Fuyuji turned his head and looked at Kushida, who had remained where she was. "You're not going along with her?"

"This kind of thing—leaving it to Horikita-san is just fine. After all, she's been performing so outstandingly in this exam." Kushida spoke with a beaming smile, her words laden with implication.

"Very outstanding?"

"That's right." Kushida pursed her lips, revealing her true colors. "The Class D camp this time was basically set up entirely by her alone. It's so strange—I actually had no idea this woman was also skilled at this sort of thing."

"..."

A silent atmosphere shrouded Fuyuji.

Eight or nine times out of ten, it was because he had previously told Horikita-girl that the special exam would involve a deserted island. She had specially crammed and studied it at the last minute in the cruise ship's library.

"Before they come back, let's also take a walk around." Kushida made the request with a smile—a manner completely different from her usual attitude. "Fuyuji-kun, is that alright?"

"Since you've already said it, could I possibly refuse?"

At the edge of the forest outside the cave camp's perimeter, Kushida clasped her hands behind her back and kicked her feet in light, skipping steps, exactly like an innocent, naive young girl untouched by the ways of the world. Now looking up at this tree, then looking down to not step on that flower.

Fuyuji followed leisurely behind her, waiting for her to speak.

Finally, Kushida, walking up ahead, halted her cheerful, buoyant steps. A faint smile surfaced on her face as she spoke softly.

"Doesn't Fuyuji-kun have anything he wants to ask me?"

"No." Fuyuji shrugged. "If you want to say something, you'll tell me yourself. I also don't have the habit of digging into other people's secrets."

Unless they come knocking on my door themselves...

"Aren't you curious who it was that leaked the information to Class C's Ryuen-kun last time? Aren't you curious why I wanted to do it?"

In truth, I already know a portion of it. I can probably deduce the rest as well. But still...

"If you're willing to tell me, I'd be happy to lend an ear to the heartfelt confessions of the grade's universally beloved social expert."

Kushida, her hands still behind her back, turned her body to the side. Her smile was like a flower blossoming in the spring sunshine. "In your dreams. I'm not telling you."

What a bad woman! Not giving it to me, yet still dangling my curiosity on a hook!

"After all... Fuyuji-kun is the grade's famous oddball. If I told you, who knows—maybe one day, scandalous rumors about me would start circulating all over the school." Kushida joked.

"Then what did you want to tell me?"

Kushida slowly walked up beside Fuyuji. "Horikita Suzune is the leader of Class D. Make sure you write her name down." Then, stepping past Fuyuji, she walked behind him and headed straight in Horikita's direction.

"That's it?" Fuyuji turned around.

"That's it."

"Not going to share a few secrets of the grade's famous social-expert beautiful girl with me? Alright, fine—truth be told, I am actually quite curious."

"The grade's famous oddball handsome guy hasn't told me his secrets either. Secrets are something that must be mutual, you know." A sweet, honeyed voice drifted along the breeze, wafting directly into Fuyuji's ears.

Having spoken, she lingered no longer. Lifting her feet, she jogged toward Horikita, who was about to leave.

"Horikita-san, wait for me~ Let's go back together~"

"..."

Fuyuji let out a sigh. What a twisted, contrary girl.

But... Cha-Cha, don't you think it's far too strange this time?

Horikita-girl has clearly already fallen for this scheme once. And yet, she still allows you to freely interact with people from other classes, without interfering or paying any mind. She may lack emotional intelligence, but she doesn't lack intellectual intelligence.

...

Lunchtime. Inside the cave. The few who had gone out on reconnaissance today were gathered together, exchanging the day's intelligence.

"Class C's leader is most likely between Ryuen and a few of his underlings."

Katsuragi gulped down a mouthful of water. The cooling sensation spread throughout his entire body along with the swallow. "Totsuka and I personally witnessed it. A device that had originally shown no occupation status—after Ryuen's group arrived, the base point displayed as occupied."

Fuyuji bit off a chunk of compressed biscuit with a crunch. "What was his demeanor at the time?"

"About the same as usual. Swaggered in with great fanfare, and strutted out again, acknowledging neither kith nor kin."

Fuyuji rubbed his chin. This wasn't like his character at all. After getting screwed over last time, Ryuen-boy should clearly have known to guard against hidden voyeurs lurking in the shadows. Yet now, he wasn't even willing to maintain basic vigilance.

Considering the orderly, methodical state of the entire Class C this morning—this was probably a part of his plan...

Fuyuji straightened his posture and put forward his conjecture. "Ryuen, that guy—he's probably already figured out that the leader can be changed."

Katsuragi pondered briefly and concurred. "That should be the most logical explanation." He then flipped open the guidebook on his person and fixed his gaze upon the rule: "The leader cannot be changed without legitimate justification."

"The leader cannot be changed without legitimate justification." In other words—with legitimate justification, the leader could be changed!

This was a clever play on words. As long as one noticed it and went to ask the homeroom teacher about the relevant matters, Class C's homeroom teacher would absolutely provide an answer.

"The problem is how to verify this conjecture." Hashimoto Masayoshi scratched his head, appearing rather troubled. "If we can't verify whether the other side knows this piece of intel, I'm afraid even our own leader-guessing will become timid and hesitant."

Indeed. The original leader was difficult to guess to begin with. And now, they couldn't even be certain whether the other side knew the leader could be changed. This way, there was simply no way to guarantee that the leader they had identified was the correct one.

"Let's give it up..."

After a moment of contemplation, the steady and prudent Katsuragi decisively put forward his own opinion.

"The risk in guessing the leader this way is simply far too great. The gains from guessing wrong and guessing right are fundamentally disproportionate. Our current supply points still stand at two hundred and sixty points. With the points from check-ins and base point occupations added later on, we can absolutely add over three hundred class points. Even if we're not first, we'll be second. There's no need to gamble on that kind of possibility."

"Agreed." Kito Hayato, who had been idly weaving a straw hat from the collected weeds off to the side, also voiced his opinion.

"No rush." Fuyuji waved his hand and arduously forced down the final mouthful of compressed biscuit. "We still have seven days anyway. If we truly can't think of a solution by then, not guessing is indeed a fine choice."

"Think about it—if one knows the leader can be changed, in the current situation, what action would be most advantageous for our class?"

The interior of the cave sank into deep contemplation.

After a long while, Katsuragi gave his answer. "Occupy and check in. Go all-out in occupying every single base point. Since the leader can be changed, occupying more base points becomes a completely risk-free affair. For every additional eight hours we can occupy, our class points will increase by one. It's an absolutely guaranteed, no-loss transaction."

"That's exactly it." Fuyuji snapped his fingers. "Given Ryuen's greedy personality, he'll most likely occupy whatever he can get his hands on. For the next few days, all we have to do is observe the frequency of his base point occupations, and we'll know."

"Understood." Katsuragi immediately stepped toward the cave's exit. "I will arrange several classmates to periodically check the occupation status of the various base points across the island."

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