COTE : Oh No, I've Become the Substitute Chapter 4: The Two Supremes Battle Till the World Is Ground

No matter the world, opening ceremonies are always boring and long.

After letting out an unknown number of yawns, the entrance ceremony finally ended.

Politely declining Katsuragi Kohei and the others' invitation to investigate the school together, by the ti Fuyuji Mikage erged from the gymnasium, the sun was already hanging high overhead.

April in Tokyo isn't hot, even a bit chilly; the sun felt warm and cozy on the body.

There's unlimited free mineral water here too?

Fuyuji Mikage stretched his back, standing thoughtfully by the vending machine.

This vending machine was clearly different from the ones outside, with an additional button marked "Free" on the side, probably specially modified to provide free water.

He pressed the free button, and a bottle dropped into the retrieval slot. Fuyuji Mikage bent down to pick it up.

An ordinary 500ml bottle of mineral water, the common type you see on the market, costing roughly 60 yen.

Fuyuji Mikage stared at the production date on the bottle, his eyes glinting.

A very recent date. It must have been restocked not long ago.

The school only has 480 students total, and these vending machines were all over the campus, so logically, demand shouldn't be that large.

Yet the reality was that a not-insignificant number of students ca to get free mineral water.

Even though points were distributed monthly, did the school still judge that so students would fall into a state where they couldn't even cough up 60 yen?

Fuyuji Mikage rhythmically tapped his shoulder with the water bottle, thinking it was necessary to investigate, for the sake of his next three years of life.

Taking the bottle, Fuyuji Mikage headed to the student cafeteria.

10 minutes later, Fuyuji Mikage stood at the entrance of the student cafeteria, surveying the various service windows.

Since there's free water, logically there should also be free als... There it is!

His gaze stopped, landing on the spot labeled "Mountain Vegetables Set al."

Vegetables, miso soup, sothing that looked like extrely unappetizing at at first glance, and finally rice—a nutritionally balanced yet indescribable combination...

Fuyuji Mikage took the tray with the Mountain Vegetables set served on it and casually found a seat.

And then he ran right into Morishita Ai, who was also eating in the cafeteria.

Karaage fried chicken, croquettes, salad, and a carbonated drink—a combination quite suited to a child.

Sitting nearby, with her mouth clearly stuffed with food, Morishita Ai saw Fuyuji Mikage and silently shifted one seat away.

"..."

What's with this feeling of "I'm currently enjoying my lunch, so please don't disturb for the ti being"?

Oh well. Fuyuji Mikage sat down, his eyes fixed in the direction of the Mountain Vegetables Set al window, and delivered a mouthful of vegetables.

So dry...

Completely flavorless, pure tornt. It reminded him of his middle school cafeteria in his past life. No! Even worse than that!

One...

Two...

Three...

Fuyuji Mikage unhurriedly chewed the dry, tasteless at slices while silently counting the number of students receiving the Mountain Vegetables Set al.

"What number are you on?"

"Sixth—"

Fuyuji Mikage forcibly stopped his words. No need to turn around. For this sort of sudden, coldly delivered interjection, he couldn't think of anyone but Morishita Ai.

"How did you know I was counting people?"

"..." Morishita Ai remained silent.

This reaction made Fuyuji Mikage curious. Sothing that could make the uniquely peculiar Morishita Ai stay quiet...

"Wait!" Fuyuji Mikage recalled his line of sight when he had bumped into Morishita Ai. "Could it be that you were also—"

"Correct." Morishita Ai seized the conversation. "Originally, I intended to enjoy my lunch while exploring the school's hidden treasures. But into my field of vision barged Fuyuji Mikage, the destroyer of my dreams.

Feeling a bit angry, I thought about whether to go scare him from behind as a bit of revenge against that fellow. By the ti I ca to my senses, I found I had forgotten what number I was on."

Fuyuji Mikage stared blankly at Morishita Ai's emotionless face. Is this person clever? Or simply blunt?

"Then I discovered Fuyuji Mikage was also counting people, so I decided to use him to compensate for my loss. In order not to disturb him, I even generously vacated the seat for him. Afterwards, as expected, things went exactly as I predicted." A hint of smugness flashed across Morishita Ai's indifferent face.

Alright. I can't predict this person.

"So, want to exchange intelligence now?"

"No." Morishita Ai refused decisively, without a mont's hesitation. "A treasure has no aning unless found by oneself. This is an ancestral precept passed down through the Morishita family for generations."

"...Is the ancestor of your Morishita family the Pirate King? And also, you're definitely a bit strange."

"Yes, the bloodline of the Pirate King flows within the Morishita family." Morishita Ai automatically ignored the comnt about her and nodded quite affirmatively.

"..." What is this tone of "I lied, but please definitely don't expose "?

Fuyuji Mikage decided to drop the subject. If they kept going, he had no idea where she'd steer the conversation. "Well then, what's your conclusion?"

"A fairly significant portion of the student body is living frugally, indicating that the personal points distributed might be very little, or even zero."

"Agreed. In just a single lunch period, over six students picked up the free set al. No matter how you think about it, that number is abnormal."

"Seven. Plus that one with pica who was chewing and savoring over there—Fuyuji Mikage."

"I'm recalling past hardships to appreciate present comforts, alright." Fuyuji Mikage tried to defend himself, both ashad and angry.

"Anyway, keep at it. On a side note," Fuyuji Mikage swallowed the last mouthful of the Mountain Vegetables Set al, picked up his tray, and stood, "I feel this school's secrets go far beyond this. You can look forward to a quite eventful campus life."

"What an infuriating assessnt. Just a re Fuyuji Mikage." Morishita Ai also picked up her tray. "Staking the na of my grandfather, the Pirate King, I absolutely cannot lose to you!"

"Huh?" Fuyuji Mikage turned his head. "Did I ever compete with you over sothing?"

"A treasure belongs solely to the first one who discovers it."

Fuyuji Mikage had no interest in this childish provocation and began to walk away. "As you like. Have fun, Morishita-san."

"Looks like it's my win. Fuyuji Mikage, nothing special after all." A satisfied expression appeared on Morishita Ai's face. "Indeed, as an Ultraman, after all, you cannot possibly defeat , a Kan Rider."

"Ho... Morishita-san, so you're with the Toei faction."

His retreating steps halted. Fuyuji Mikage turned back, his smile forced and mirthless. "No wonder you took my self-introduction so personally."

Ultraman and Kan Rider, Japan's two top-tier tokusatsu IPs, whose nearly half-century of competition and collaboration could be called an "epic saga of love and hate in the tokusatsu universe." The private online fla wars among fans were countless.

"Today, Kan Rider has achieved victory." Morishita Ai gazed at the distant, extinguished lights, deeply moved. "After all, Ultraman and the like are already obsolete..."

"You really dare say that. That childish, kid-fooling thing called Kan Rider can also try to ride the coattails of Ultraman, who is light? Indeed, it is fitting for a seller of children's toys professionally. Quite suitable for the childlike Morishita, isn't it?"

"..."

Hours later, the scene from the bus reenacted itself in the cafeteria. Between their intersecting gazes, it was as if sparks of lightning intertwined.

"The day after tomorrow, after school." Fuyuji Mikage suddenly said.

"Class A classroom." Morishita Ai followed imdiately.

"Whoever uncovers more of this school's hidden rules." Fuyuji Mikage stepped closer to Morishita Ai.

"Wins this match." Morishita Ai drew near as well.

"The loser—" Their gazes collided, and they spoke in unison: "Must admit Kan Rider (Ultraman) is fake!"

"Deal!"

Their two palms clasped with a smack.

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