Chapter 13: If You've Promised Something Dubious in a Vulnerable Moment, That's on You

"Do you remember that promise about both of us shaving our heads if we get rejected and have our hearts broken?"

Haruto held the phone to his ear. Although he heard Kenta clearly, he was unsure what he should answer.

"... no? We didn't say anything like that. Besides, wouldn't that be unfair? You only have a buzz cut to lose."

"Of course we've promised that! It was a brotherly oath! Come on, I'm almost at your place. I've brought a razor, so you just have to pull out the shaving foam and—"

"Kenta, I'm not shaving my head. And I didn't get rejected! Why would you even say that?"

"Oh... so we're at the denial stage? Are you maybe trying to win the girl back?"

"Of course I am!" Haturo shouted into the phone while making his way to the door to open it for Kenta.

"And even if I do get rejected, I'm not going to shave my head! And you, you were also rejected by Airi-senpai more than a year ago. What kind of idiot would still be grieving—"

When Haruto opened the door, he saw nothing before him. Everything had turned to a bright white that was hurting his eyes, as if the sun itself had come for the young man to give him a consolation hug.

They say that farewells usually happen in the later half of your life, especially the hard ones, and that you should live your youth looking forward to building more relationships with the people around you. Maybe losing Yuurei was actually a sign. Maybe that was the moment Haruto should have realized his life was coming to an abrupt end.

Now it was too late. The bright light would engulf the boy before he even got to say anything to his parents. There were no goodbyes for this young man, for his life would end abruptly. The only one he could still talk to was his dear friend on the phone.

"Kenta... I've always thought of you as a nice guy. You'll get a girl one day. I believe in you."

With these words off his chest, Haruto closed his eyes, letting the falling sun welcome him to the afterlife with a warm hug.

"Ah... too bad you're not a ghost anymore..."

"Huh? What was that for?"

But nothing happened. A couple of seconds had passed, and Haruto was still breathing. Patting himself, the boy made sure he was all right, and then he opened his eyes.

Though it was bright, the light had dimmed enough to see the person before him.

"Kenta?..."

And once his eyes had adapted to the shine, Haruto saw his own reflection on Kenta's head.

*****

"Can you stop staring at it?"

"Tell it to stop staring back at me then!... But I don't know, man, I thought there would be a couple more scars."

"What does that even mean!?'

Captivated by his friend's clean-shaved head, Haruto tried his best not to hurt Kenta. Or at least that's what he tried to covey in words, but the truth of his actions told another story, for the boy was closely watching Kenta's head, completely disregarding how ashamed King Kobra felt to be looked at like that on campus.

"Imagine how it would feel to draw on this thing... Let me get a marker," Haruto said, searching into his bag.

"Woah! How about we don't do that? I didn't do this to become your drawing board!"

Hearing his words, Haruto paused his search for an instrument and couldn't help but giggle a bit.

"Is this 'a bold move'? In what way? It sure is bold, but what exactly are you moving towards?"

As they spoke, a couple of voices could be heard from nearby.

"Hey... Isn't that the guy who was supposed to be dead?..."

After hearing them, a confident smile bloomed on Kenta's face.

"See?" he said with pride.

"Now they'll definitely notice me more without me having to shout my cool title!"

Hearing Kenta's rationale, Haruto looked the young man dead in the eyes. Not a word escaped his lips for what felt like an awkward eternity.

"... what? Am I wrong?"

That was Haruto's biggest issue. Kenta was technically right, but even then, do the means completely fade into obscurity when the goal is to be seen by others?

"Well, I guess you could illuminate a whole room now, the way you keep reflecting all of the lights around. If there's ever a power outage, we'll sure find you useful."

That's where Haruto wanted to end this conversation, and maybe the two of them could have gone on about their days from that, waiting for Kenta's hair to grow back and keeping the priest's boy's failure in mind as a funny memory that wouldn't need repeating.

"Hey guys! What're you up to—"

"Airi-chan-senpai! Listen to this! Haruto has betrayed our brotherly bond and—"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

Without giving Kenta the chance to explain himself, Airi shouted loud enough for the whole campus to face her way, and then she burst out into tears on the spot.

"Please don't take me... I've...I've been a good girl this week..." she said between sniffs.

"Haruto... Please... Please tell Mister Grim Reaper how nice I've been to everyone! Please tell him to give me at least a day more! I have to die my hair tomorrow..."

And just as the grown woman cried her eyes out, the cheeky sun decided to come out from behind the clouds, reflecting its rays into Kenta's head and blinding poor Airi.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't take me!!!" Airi shouted, falling on the grass.

But nothing happened to the hysterical lady, and when her vision adjusted to the light, she took another look at the one standing before her.

"... Kenta?"

Before her, King Kobra looked defeated.

"Wow... Even Airi-chan-senpai..."

"Oh, Kenta! What have they done to you?"

Now crying out of pity for the boy, Airi got up, pulled Kenta's face down, and hugged his bandaged head.

"It's because of this big bad Haruto, right? They've had to shave your head like this to treat the concussion. Oh, Kenta! How I wish you had better friends that didn't abuse you!"

As Airi held Kenta at her chest the young man looked like he was about to blow up. His face turned red and his eyes rolled back. 

When Airi cried loudly at the misfortune that had befallen King Kobra, the mourned one tried his best to speak, but he had forgotten how to.

Before things could spiral out of control, it was up to Haruto to calm down the situation, so he stepped forth and pushed them apart. Albeit, Airi kept holding Kenta's head in her palms and pulling it towards her.

"Airi-senpai... Isn't that just an excuse so you can touch a bald man's head? Besides, look, there's no scar anywhere on his head!"

"Of course it isn't that, you monster!" she retorted.

"Oh... you're right! There's no sign whatsoever..."

That's when Kenta finally came to his senses and pulled himself away.

"Can you please stop staring at it?" he shouted.

"It can't be the first time you've seen a bald man! What's up with all this touching and staring? I've been rocking a buzz cut for so long already. Y'all should be used to the shape of my head! It's not that different!"

Despite Kenta's shouts, neither of them was listening. Instead, they both looked at the boy, and Airi came up with an idea.

"Say... do you have a marker?"

As if waiting for that sign, Haruto handed Airi a black marker. The lady grabbed it and walked towards Kenta. In return, all King Kobra could do was back up.

"Stay where you are! I won't let you desecrate this sacred head of mine! I will... I know! Dad taught me a prayer just for times like this!"

Then, Kenta fell to his knees, put his palms together, and started chanting.

"...And when God made way back for revenge, He grabbed the one who had wronged him, swung back the sword that would punish his wrongdoers, and said—"

"Ketchup bottle goes pop!"

"Noooooooooooo!"

Thus, King Kobra had lost. He was assaulted from behind by a third force—a demon girl who had crept up on him got within range, she traced a red line from the middle of his nape, over his bald head, all the way to underneath his chin, painting the boy in the likeness of a tribal warrior.