Chapter 15: King Kobra

"I told you! That's a ghost haunting the campus!" a passing voice whispered on Kenta's right.

"He must have gotten dumped so many times now that his tormented soul remains here to haunt these grounds..." another said on his left.

"I knew there was no way he was the same age as us. Who in their right mind would call themselves 'King Kobra' in this decade?

"He must be starting to break down. Look at that line on his face. Do you think he's shedding?"

"I don't even want to think about it! What happens to ghosts when they shed their human body?"

"I heard that's how devils are born."

Thinking back on it, that was how he had always lived—as an outsider, with weirded-out gazes falling on him wherever he went. Today wasn't any different, nor did he want anything to change.

What mattered now to Kobura Kenta was to find a certain man. The one whom he owed the only shred of normality and acceptance in his life to was in a tough spot, and King Kobra was not going to let him fall any deeper.

Making his way through the crowd that whispered with their backs turned, he finally found him.

"Hah! Of course he's up there."

From high up in yet another tree spoke a man to two curious girls that were willing to lend ear to the fresh canopy.

Knowing his friend well enough, it only took Kenta a second to spot him, and a couple more to read his lips.

"That red line on his head... That's the sign he's going haywire soon. You have to look out for—"

Refusing to believe his eyes, Kenta shook his head as he approached the tree, but before he could get close enough to hear Haruto's words clearly, the two girls had noticed him. They whispered something to each other, and then they quickly ran the other way, scared as if some sort of monster was chasing them.

How could it be? How could his best friend talk behind his back like that?

"Ah... so that's how it is..." Kenta said under his breath.

"The King of the Canopy... betrayed by his right-hand man with ill intent... This must be fate trying to hold me back once more."

As the young man spoke, his steps got quicker and quicker. Soon enough, he was right next to the tree Haruto had climbed, pointing with his finder at the one he had been calling a friend for so many years.

"Yet this ordeal is but another test for King Kobra! A mere test that I will overcome just like I've done many times before! Through this pain I will grow once more, for King Kobra will always have one more skin to shed!"

Tears welling up in his eyes, Kenta looked up at Haruto, who in turn looked down at him with a straight face, as if he were waiting for his bald friend to finish his speech.

"Pain, betrayal, heartbreak, more pain, fatal wounds, humiliation, ridicule, and more pain! Throughout these years you've witnessed and forced me to walk these many paths! I see you, Haruto! Don't think I don't know what you're trying to pull off! So many tests you have given me, and I will not fail this one either, for this one is—"

Kenta filled his lungs with  as much air as they could hold, as if ready to shout his declaration of war, but instead of doing so, he breathed out and spoke softly.

"A test of trust, right friend?"

From up there, Haruto's serious expression turned, a corner of his mouth twisting upwards as he winked at Kenta.

"And I take it I have yours?" Haruto asked.

"Always!" Kenta replied in turn, giving his friend a thumbs up.

"Good... Because I haven't given up yet."

*****

He's done it many times before. So why were his hands shaking now?

He's never cared about the consequences. So why was he worried about what might happen?

He's never once given thought to what other people might think. So why did everyone around him seem so judging all of a sudden?

"Whatever. Let's find Yuurei first and worry later."

These were the words Kenta spoke under his breath, reminding himself of why he was frantically looking around the wide campus grounds.

"Please be outside, please be outside... Ah!"

Soon enough, he found her, and next to her was none other than Airi. Any other day, Kenta would have been glad to see her.

"But why now? Why now of all times? Why are they together in the first place? I thought these two didn't get along!"

Still, his eyes weren't deceiving him. Airi and Yuurei were speaking with one another. With both of them having their own group behind, tens of students were grouped together before the main building, not even counting the many more that were walking around.

"Yo! Yuurei! Come here for a bit!"

But Kobura Kenta needed something from only one of them. The others did nothing but make the situation worse.

"No..." the young man shook his head.

"The more, the better!"

Without wasting too much time, Yuurei waved at Kenta and ran his way. She had a girlish run, one that could easily give the impression that she couldn't wait to come talk to him.

Or at least that's what it looked like, but Yuurei had made a mistake in thinking that Kenta was oblivious to it all.

"That blue hair ain't fooling me, girl."

Just as Yuurei reached to him, Kenta stomped his feet into the ground and took a sumo position. Then the boy inhaled with all his might.

"The mighty King Kobra has come! Rejoice, ladies, for your wait is over. Rejoice, for you are all free to fall into my arms tonight!"

And just like he had done many times before, Kenta shouted his title for the whole campus to hear.

Faces turned, and everyone's attention was grabbed in an instant. Especially hers.

Ah... this feels much worse than before...

Airi's expression looked more confused than worried. Whatever it was, it wasn't a pleasant way to be looked at. That made Kenta feel all the more self-conscious, but that didn't stop him.

"Now, more than ever, I will have your attention, for you can clearly see this lady ready to jump into my arms. Fret not, ladies. There is enough of me for all of you, so hold nothing back and join her! Shower me with love and attention!"