Chapter 21

Natsumi pokes my cheeks repeatedly and begins playing around them.

"Why are they so soft?"

I shrug and she pulls my face even closer to hers while playing with my cheeks like dough.

I stare at her with raised eyebrows.

Out from nowhere, she draws insane strength and tugs my face. I end up losing my balance and falling onto her. She's still... holding my cheeks though..?

For the first time, I'm directly staring at her from below while she stares down at me. Her eyes turn into crescents with a smile and she now begins poking my nose.

Alright, who was the idiot who hacked her charm stat? Isn't she getting really cute now?

She pokes my nose again and I stare into her hazel eyes.

...

"Alright you two, stop flirting already," Reed calls out from the side.

The small atmosphere between the two of us broke and I quickly realized we were still in front of the others.

Immediately shooting my body up from the almost lap pillow, I quickly glance around everyone slightly awkwardly.

This is embarrassing.

Ah, so even my 14 points of intelligence can just be thrown out of the window by the 999 charm woman.

GM! I'd like to report a problem!! Isn't Natsumi a little too adorable? She's completely overpowering my above-average 14 points of intelligence!

I sit straight up and try calling for my expressionless temperament but it never comes. Ah, does it only work when I'm calm? I feel my face heating up in shame and merely look below at the floor. When did I turn into such a childish middle schooler puppy boy?

I slightly glance at Natsumi and I see she's filled with even more shame than I am and is covering her face entirely.

…

After going to the office to report the incident, we hang out for a while longer at the same table.

I feel something tapping my back, and yes. I know it's not a bug anymore. I stare behind and find my sister's big eyes staring back.

I stare at her… and she stares at me.

And the stare does not stop.

After a few seconds, Charlotte finally blinks.

That's what I thought.

I grinned at her and with a frivolous expression I go, "It seems I win at whatever we do, Charlotte."

She frowned and brought her hand up to my hair and messed it up. I just fixed my hair too, after Natsumi messed it up.

The bangs fell directly into my eyes and pricked my eyeballs. God damned long hair. I have to cut this.

"We were seeing who blinks first."

"Ah, yeah. That's totally why you took twenty seconds to blink."

"I just wanted to let you win."

I wave my hand. Yeah yeah whatever loser girl, I say in my thoughts.

Right after fixing my hair, Natsumi begins messing it up again from behind.

As I shoo her hands away, she initiates some small talk between her and Charlotte.

My little sister looked a little uncomfortable at talking to a girl she told me not to talk to yesterday but she still managed to talk to her normally.

I recall Charlotte's words from yesterday.

Oh well, I don't think Natsumi's that type of person as the others think she is and if she were,

why would it affect me in the first place?

I wave everyone goodbye. As I walk away, I stumble and fall to the grass on the side after feeling a huge amount of weight bringing down my back. I behind me and see the boys piling up on top of me.

Well, they were probably still feeling that hot-blooded camaraderie after the incident. They're most likely imagining a youthful situation where we completely support each other and that's what got their blood boiling. Hence my current situation.

I see the girls running over as well. Oh god, don't tell me they too have their blood boiling and are wishing to be a part of the youthful ceremony?

Ack.

The extra weight pushes down on my stomach. Struggling to look up while my head is pinned to the floor, I look up to see them just sitting on our backs.

I move frantically and struggle to push them off my back. My efforts all go to waste as the guys just squirm around and the girls just readjust their sitting.

Natsumi is enjoying sitting on my head…

Ah, what would happen if I turn my head around?

A pervert situation, that's what would happen. Probably a beating, a few scratches, and bruises while the boys cheer me on for my bold move. Worse, I wouldn't even be able to do anything about it.

I sigh and remain pinned on the floor while telling them to get off me.

They laugh, "Charlotte, do you guys need to go urgently?"

From the corner of my eye, I see Charlotte staring at me devilishly. "Nope, take your time."

Agh, this little rascal. Let's see who's laughing when I give you the wrong answers and formula for your math homework you little punk.

Huh, I'll add some raw egg right to your milkshake and blend it.

A raw salmonella milkshake. See how's that for a change you little bum.

Let's see how you like it when I put a habanero in your breakfast. You'll be wishing you were at home instead of the school bathroom stalls, you thug.

I huff while Natsumi enjoys looking at my miserable face from above.

Of course, I wouldn't be cruel enough to do any of this…

Maybe.

---

POV: ???

Business was currently awful. I was supposed to bring one of the artists I scouted to shoot for the agency yet they never showed up. I had promised the company I'd bring them over but now I haven't a single clue where they've gone.

I sigh and bring my hands to my head. All of the rookies that I end up scouting are always switched to someone else and I'm left preparing things for nothing.

I kick a pebble in my way.

I'm talented and organized at my job, yet all of my hard work is rewarded to some other guy. The rookies I scout ignore me even though I was the one to introduce them to this industry.

They're thankful at first and in the end, they're always different.

Sigh.

I'm going to get fired.

I wipe my sweat and slick my hair back. I'm not bringing good enough results and the branch manager has a passion to make my life miserable.

Let's see. Just another day with no results.

This will probably be my last month here after endless weeks of stress.

I adjust my glasses, adjust my suit, and walk towards the gates of the subway.

…

Doing this might seem a little useless but it's close to the most prominent academy in the city. Students are more likely to get persuaded into jobs like these and places like these are one of the reasons for success.

All of the scouts look at social media and public exposure, however, since all of them are always staring at the talents that are in the media, the completely forget about the goldfishes walking through the streets.

It's also one of the reasons why I'm rather successful at what I do. Still, my successes are rewarded to others.

All the company receives from my weekly reports are arguments with the manager and bad work of things.

The only reason they haven't fired me yet is because of my past achievements and contribution towards huge steps in the company. They'll be laying me off soon though.

Although I'm in my thoughts, my experienced eyes dart around as I walk.

Normally just walking around like these and checking places might not be the most efficient, but I'm going to be fired anyway.

I haven't scouted for anyone here in quite a long while. It'll be my fortune if both times I came here resulted in good things.

I sigh once again reminiscing my youth. Good things truly don't last for long.

My eyes dart around the metro. Usually, people dress up really nicely when going either to the metro, and here's where I'll see if there's anyone that truly stands out.

I see a tall kid with nice features walking with a girl. Height standards, he'd do great.

My eyes travel up and down his form. His walking posture is graceful and reminds me of the trained models.

His facial expression is neutral but they're rested in optimal spots.

He's slightly skinny though. A little on the thin side.

I'm not the only one that's noticed him. I dart around and a few eyes are on him. Are they also Scouters?

He's literally exuding nobleness and it seems as if he's walking naturally like the most arrogant person, yet shows no arrogance?

Is he a model already?

Shit, it's like spotting water in a desert while you're starving and dirty and find out a corporate has already taken the rights to it.

I quickly rush to him. I'll at least make sure to give him my contact if he ever reconsiders switching companies.

---

They get up after enjoying my misery for a little while.

I'm now walking with Charlotte to the metro and for the first time feel the power of double-digit charm in a public space.

At school, I was more or less used to people staring at me, but out in the streets, people are not even trying to hide their gazes and openly stare at me.

This is getting uncomfortable. With people staring like this, my upgraded senses are blaring in alarm. Normally, you'd probably feel intense staring due to our primal instincts, but now that my senses have been upgraded from my intelligence I feel it more. Even more with the overwhelming amount of stares.

I'm not saying it's bad to be stared at. Rather, it feels praising, but when you're stared at like a sheep in front of a pack of wolves it's not so comfortable now, is it?

I shoot my head towards the right and notice a man staring at me intensely. Is he a killer? Shoot. My senses are now blasting.

Is this the physical incarnation of hatred towards good looking men?

I take Charlotte's hand and motion for her to walk a little faster. She's also been feeling a little uncomfortable from some gazes and immediately understands what I'm hinting at.

Her jaw is slightly trembling and I squeeze her hand.

I glance at the man quickly without him noticing and I see him shift posture in his walking towards us.

My brain works in overdrive. There's been a few cases of beatings by thugs and this guy does not look very friendly.

There's no way he'd actually do something in such a public space though, right?

His hands travel to his pockets and they lightly rest there while fiddling with something. That's probably a pocket knife right there.

His eyes travel towards open space and glance back at me almost as if planning an escape route. He's going to stab me and make a quick run for it.

If I stare at the guy, he'll most likely be discouraged since I'm telling him I know what he's planning.

I slightly shift my posture and stare at him with a quickly beating heart.

He's analyzing me once again. Have I traveled to one of those worlds where there are secret powers that rule with martial arts? Shit, I knew it wouldn't be so simple. Good thing my body's not as weak anymore.

The gym and great body passive have made it so that I can at least run quickly away while calling for help.

I'm taller than him, I'm probably going to have to rely on kicking him away if he gets too close.

We walk towards the subway train and wait for its gates to open.

He begins walking towards us. I position myself in front of Charlotte. He's staring at my face, either he's planning on gutting me while he stares at me or slash towards my eyes.

Most people are boarding this train. if I stay back, he'll probably stay back with me and it'd be more beneficial for him as it would be more empty.

The gates open and I quickly pull Charlotte towards the barely opening doors.

Today my old friends were beating a kid up and now we're being chased by a guy with a knife. Is this one of the drawbacks? People randomly become aggressive?

I damn well knew nothing comes without having to work for it. I didn't expect it to be like this, though.

[Author Note: Late release! I apologize. I hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter and please forgive me for this cliff hanger. It might be a little confusing right now but everything will be solved by tomorrow's chapter.

Thank you and please leave your thoughts down below.]