"Something terrible has happened!"
Lin, who was playing Street Fighter VI with Kevin, took advantage of the latter's distraction. A brilliant Shoryuken followed by a Hadoken and a Super Art emptied Kevin health bar.
"Cheater!" Kevin cried out as he came to, but Lin had already calmly set down the controller. He turned to Kosma, who had burst into the dorm, and asked:
"What is it? Did Dystopia finally wake up to reality and dump you?"
"No... since when were we even together! We're just childhood friends!" Kosma face turned red as he argued with Lin, who was lazily digging in his ear.
"Childhood friends... they usually end up 'riding horses' together." (Note: a pun in Chinese implying a deeper relationship).
"Where on earth do you get these 'usual' conclusions? What website? The one you shared last time?"
Kevin couldn't take it anymore. He cut in loudly between the two who were hurling "yellow trash" at each other, asking Kosma: "Kosma, what's really going on? What 'terrible thing' happened?"
Reminded, Kosma slapped his forehead, anxious flames igniting on his face. "Kalpas... he..."
"Got into a fight?"
Lin and Kevin stood up simultaneously in perfect sync. Lin grabbed the chair he had been sitting on, feeling its weight. "Hmm, not bad."
Kevin casually grabbed the broom behind the dorm door. Both looked murderous, ready to head out.
"No! Not a fight!" Kosma hurriedly blocked them, preventing a bloody incident.
"Then what?" Lin put the chair down, puzzled. He turned to Kevin. "What else happens to Kalpas besides fighting?"
"Hmm..." Kevin rubbed his chin, equally confused. "Nothing else? Using his photo to stop a baby from crying, maybe?"
"Just what kind of image do you guys have of Kalpas?" Kosma clutched his forehead. He shook his head helplessly. "And using his photo to scare people was clearly done by you two."
"So what is it? Did he make crop circles on the sports field?"
Kosma expression was off. He started stammering: "Uh... it's a long story..."
"Keep it to one sentence," Lin commanded airily.
"Someone is going to confess their love to him."
"..."
"..."
Lin weighed the chair in his hand and exchanged a look with Kevin. Both wore a bloodthirsty smile as they headed toward the door.
"Wait! Stop! What are you going to do?!"
Lin licked his lips with a wicked grin, then burst into laughter with Kevin: "Of course, we're going to help our dear friend return to the right path!"
"How could you guys..."
"Shut up, you normie!" Kevin grabbed Kosma collar, his eyes bloodshot. He growled right in Kosma face: "How could someone with a childhood friend like you understand our feelings! Lin was right—all childhood friends end up 'riding horses'! Not putting you on trial is our greatest mercy. Now, how can we watch another dear friend fall into the abyss!"
"Ah... well, it actually is best to stop it..." Kosma eyes darted around, his lip twitching. "Otherwise, he really might fall into the abyss..."
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Lin caught a different meaning in Kosma tone. "Is the other person beautiful? A rich lady? Wants Kosma to marry into the family? Or a 'Underworld Rose' conquered by Kalpas fighting prowess?"
"That..."
A gray shadow fell over Kosma eyes. His lips twitched as he spoke the truth.
"The person is a guy."
"..."
"..."
Suddenly, the entire dorm fell silent.
...
"Seriously, if you two just dressed up a bit, you'd find girlfriends easily. Why so much resentment?"
Kosma couldn't help but critique the two otaku who had showered and changed, looking completely refreshed.
"Hmph, hilarious." Lin combed his hair back into a pompadour, leaving a single black strand hanging sexily over his forehead. He sneered at Kosma words. "You think we'd degrade ourselves by dressing like normies to pick up girls? That's not 'Pure Love'."
"Just how big is your misunderstanding of Pure Love... then why are you dressing like this now?"
Kevin, who was styling his hair with a blow dryer, took over. His clean, medium-short white hair looked sharp once the greasy feeling was gone. He stared intently into the mirror. "Simple. It's preparation to solve Kalpas problem."
"No... I fail to see the connection."
"That's why a 'Life Winner' with a childhood friend won't understand love," Lin mocked mercilessly.
"It's not like you've dated anyone either..." Kosma was nearly powerless against Lin absurd points. If he didn't see Lin for half an hour, Lin would come up with countless things about his appearance or speech to be critiqued.
"Who said I haven't dated?" Lin expression turned holy, his hands joined in prayer. "I am a Love Master with double-digit relationship experience. My partners have been diverse, including Swords, Gods of Death, Angels, Witches..."
"Those are all GALGAMES! And you only play games from one company!"
Kosma lowered his hands in a weary sigh. "So... what's the plan?"
Snap.
Lin zipped up his jacket, completely hiding his itasha shirt. He snapped his fingers and said solemnly: "First, we must stop it. Stop this forbidden love at all costs."
"Wait, what if Kalpas doesn't mind? We have no right to interfere with his personal choice," Kosma raised an objection.
"Ah... I know." Lin glanced at him. "But if he accepts, we are in danger."
"We live in the same dorm!"
Kosma suddenly understood. He shuddered violently and nodded frantically in agreement.
"Since it's settled that we're stopping it, we must start with the guy who refuses the 'Beautiful Cradle of Life' and insists on the 'Filthy Human Sewer Pipe'."
"Kosma, where did you get the news? Does Kalpas know? No... more importantly, does Kalpas know him?"
Kosma quickly shared what he knew: "Kalpas doesn't know yet. The news came from Dystopia. The guy is from her school, and she happened to hear him talking about it."
"Good. That makes stopping it much easier."
A cruel light sparkled in Lin eyes.
"What are you going to do?" Kosma swallowed. This guy's ideas often involved extremely perverted elements.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Lin put his arm around Kevin shoulder, a devious smile playing on his lips.
"Don't you know what 'Honey Trapping' is?"