Chapter 3: Kenji's Side-Eye
So Kenji's been my best friend since, like, forever. He's the type of guy who always knows the newest anime before anyone else and brags about beating video games on "hard mode." He's funny, but also kinda… loud. The kind of person who makes teachers mad on purpose just to get a laugh.
But lately, since I got Crimson Fang, he's been acting… different.
It's little stuff. Like when I beat him in basketball yesterday. I've never beaten him before, because he's taller and faster. But with the sword's buffs, I basically juked him out so hard he fell on his butt. Everyone laughed, and he tried to laugh too, but I swear his smile looked… tight.
"Lucky shot," he said. Except it wasn't lucky. And we both knew it.
Then today at lunch, he started talking about how his sword, Iron Shard, was "actually way stronger than people think." Like, he wouldn't shut up about it. I didn't even say anything about Crimson Fang, but it was like he wanted to prove something.
"Iron Shard could break through a wall," he bragged, slamming his hand on the table. "What can yours do, huh? Give you more nosebleeds?"
He laughed after, like it was a joke, but it felt weird.
I didn't answer. Mostly because I didn't want to admit he was kinda right. Yeah, Crimson Fang makes me super fast and smart, but it's also killing me slowly, and I can feel it. Sometimes I wonder if Kenji's sword—gross egg smell and all—is actually better.
But still… the way he said it. The way he looked at me. Like I was holding something he wanted.
And I can't tell if that's just me being paranoid… or if Kenji's smile isn't really a smile anymore.