Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ✔

SS.1 - Standards (Chiaki Matsushita)

"Yo, Keisuke, are you strong as well as smart?" I asked my handsome neighbor teasingly. I was really fun to tease this man. He wouldn't ever go out of his way to tease you back.

"I'm not weak, at least."

Tch. What a boring and logical answer. "Haw, don't give me that," I playfully punched his right shoulder.

That was a bad idea.

"Ouch," I let out an involuntary gasp, as I held my now throbbing right hand in the palm of my left hand. Wait, he said that he was NOT STRONG! I almost broke a finger just trying to punch him.

"Wha--? Your forearms are soo hard!" I said, clutching my fist. "You said you weren't strong!"

"I said I wasn't weak," he replied in his usual calm and cool voice. "I'm a bit over average strength, that's all."

"Your muscles determined that was a lie," I said with a poker face. I bent forward and held his right arm. "Like seriously, you've got insane muscle. I'll bet you can probably belt even Sudo with these guns."

"You're overestimating me," he said, pushing my hand off. "And how did you come to that conclusion just by punching my shoulder?"

Now's the moment.

"Hmm, are you not satisfied?" I put on a seductive look, and bit my lower lip. "Perhaps, you want me to caress it more?"

He stared at me for a solid 5 seconds, and blinked once. It worked. He was probably all gooey and melted inside. I must say, I'm really curious of his reaction.

Suddenly, his face was up next to mine. I stumbled back, but he caught me with his left arm, and lifted up my face with his right index. His silky black hair fell down over his face at his sudden movement, covering his left eye, and leaving a piercing, cold and beautiful right eye glaring into my soul. He brought his face closer to my ear, and I could feel his warm breath on my neck.

"I would love for you to do that to me, Chiaki-sama."

I felt my chest tighten at his words. Unintentionally, my heart started beating over a 100 miles a minute. He gracefully returned to his seat, and looked front to receive the sports festival pamphlet from Hirata-kun as if nothing had just happened.

I could feel my cheeks turn a hot red from the interaction.

"You imagining something?" he broke me out of my trance.

"I- no- what!? WHAT!? Did you j-j-just seriously d-do that?" I blurted out, unable to control my words. I wasn't thinking straight. Who can after one of the most sought-after boy in the school makes such a bold move on you!?

"Don't act as if you didn't like that."

"L-Like that!? Oh god, you really a-are an idiot," I mumbled, and I lowered my forehead onto my desk.

Ahhh, who even does that? I could have handled some minor teasing, but I didn't ever expect him to pull of something like this!

But he called me Chiaki-sama.

For some strange reason, it felt good.

No, Chiaki, get a grip. He was just teasing you. Of course he's not interested in you. No way he's interested in me, right? But he's so impossible to read. I can't even tell what he's thinking half the time, staring out of the window of the classroom.

"Ano~ Chiaki-chan, is everything alright?" a sweet voice rang out in my ears. I immediately sat up straight.

"I-I--? What? Yes, yes! I'm absolutely fine! I'm absolutely fine!" I replied, trying to come up with some sort of excuse to tell Kikyo-chan.

"Are you sure? Your face is all red, and you were muttering something under your breath, I couldn't quite catch what it was," Kikyo worriedly asked me. These are the moments when I really wish Kikyo-chan did not dig into someone's personal life so much.

"Don't w-worry, Kikyo-chan! I'm alright!" I replied hurriedly.

"Ok then, please don't hesitate to tell me what's bothering you, okay?" she smiled widely. "That's what friends are for, right?"

"Y-Yeah, sure!"

I looked at Keisuke out of the corner of my eye, and he was peacefully sitting on his seat and reading through the pamphlet, oblivious to his surroundings. Of course, he would be like that. He's the type to turn his back at the explosion that he just caused.

My ideal man standards were high.

I've always been of the opinion that the boys in our grade were absolutely trash, save for a few. Even in middle school, I was interested in only one or two seniors, who just happened to be the all-rounder type — good at sports, smart, social and easy to get along with. They were the senpais who were adored by the entire school.

But they weren't ideal. None of them were up to my standards.

But it all changed when I met and became friends with Keisuke Takeyama.

He was an ideal man, and he met my standards in all respects.
In fact, he was above my standards.

But I see this gorgeous young man only as a friend. If I had to tell the truth, we were each other's first friends. He was the first person to talk to me in class, and he said that I was his first friend in school as well.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Keisuke Takeyama was my best friend.

And I didn't want that to change anytime soon. I didn't want anything as trivial as love to affect our bond.

But if he's the one to sweep me off my feet, then I guess it's alright to fall in love with him, is it not?

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A/N's:

The first SS of this fic! Is there anything that I need to change, or is everything alright? I'm happy to welcome any feedback.

Thank you for reading, and cheers. Vote for Matsushita Chiaki!

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