14.2 The Protest for Peace

Kenta walked towards his spot in the line. He was glad to see a few familiar faces. Guess there are still a lot of people who don’t want to fight the others. I just wish I had seen Onomi. Hope she’s alright. However, he wasn’t sure if he should be glad or worried with the protest. On the one hand he was really glad that he didn’t have to fight his fellow villagers. And he was always for protecting others. But on the other hand, he couldn’t imagine holding hands having much effect. Especially with the way the whole village had been behaving. Sure they would create a barricade but the other factions weren’t idiots. And they were also trained ninjas. I got a bad feeling about this. Please let me be wrong.

He then saw a familiar blond face in the distance and waved.

"HELLO ENKOU!" Kenta yelled.

"HEY KENTA, LONG TIME NO SEE"

"Would you mind you're shouting in my ea-"

"HOW HAVE YOU BEEN KENTA?"

“I’M FINE. THOUGH I THINK I SHOULD FIND MY PLACE”

“YEAH THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA”

He walked further and found a free space. He took the hand of the person next to him and gave a charming smile. Or at least he hoped so. What if it turned out really creepy? That would be a great start of today… What if they have clammy hands? What if I get sweaty hand? Did I wash my hand properly? Oh no.. they’re never gonna look at me again after this!

The man next to him looked up at Kenta with an amused expression at him.

“You alright kid?” he questioned. “You seem kind of tense?”

“No-no I’m fine! Don’t worry about it!” Kenta replied quickly. Maybe a bit too quickly.

“If you say so” the man said in a sceptical tone.

“Yup, I say so. ‘Cause it’s the truth. Not because I’m trying to convince myself. Or others. But because it’s the truth. I said that already didn’t I? Oh look a bird!” Great going idiot.

He totally did not turn bright red.

“Kid, seriously. Relax. It will be fine”  How are you so relaxed??

Kenta took a deep breath. “Yeah, ‘cause nothing ever goes wrong”

The man let out a laugh. “Well, if you start thinking like that half the battle is already lost, ain’t it?”

Kenta looked at him with confusion. “I thought the saying was prepare for the worst, hope for the best”

“true, true.” The man replied reflectively “We just shouldn’t fight fire with fire, you know?”

Kenta smirked. “Isn’t that why we’re standing here holding hands? Being the knight in shining armour?”

“Yup, just lock and load and don’t let them catch you off guard. The other factions are a bit quick to the trigger.”

“Just set our sights on protecting the others.”  Kenta smiled a bit more confidently. I can do that. Protecting the other villagers. I just wish we could bury the hatchet…

He was interrupted in his thoughts by the man once again. “Man, your hands are really sweaty you know that?”

“OH come on! That’s just mean! Did you really have to mention that!?” Kenta pouted.

The man laughed and Kenta couldn’t help but join him. The person on his other side looked at them like they were crazy.