Chapter 40: Hanabi, Calm Down...!

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"HUFF...." P sighed, then exhaled calmly as he opened his eyes to the cool morning air.

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"Everything is so calm today... I feel so relaxed. Is it because of the massage I had last night?" P thought.

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"It was wonderful. I feel much lighter," P thought.

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P looked down from the balcony at the other apartments around the huge compound.

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WHOOSH.....

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"Come to think of it, this compound is extremely quiet. Does anyone even live here besides Hanabi?..." P thought.

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"Nevermind....!" P thought.

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WHOOSH.......

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"...Kenji Ichiro.... The name I got yesterday..." P thought.

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"That was the lead Graniel got from his investigation," P thought, pulling out his phone.

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He unlocked it and scrolled into his photos app.

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"Graniel confirmed the guy had a lot of activity going on in...." P paused, trying to recall.

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"Na- ... Na- KA - NA- ..... Nak-agyo... something Ward..." P strained to remember, scratching his head.

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"I don't know where that place is, but it seems to be somewhere in Japan. I'll ask Google Maps for directions... it's more trustworthy," P thought.

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"...My back's finally fixed. I think I should take her with me. They won't stop until they get to her. I just need to find a way to convince her to come along.." P thought.

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"Arggggggggh-" P sighed, resting against the railing with his left hand covering his face. Steam seemed to rise from his head.

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"I don't even have money.... I should have gotten paid from my new job yesterday, but everything just got ruined," P thought.

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"I don't even blame her, though. It's that annoying friend of hers..." P thought with a groan.

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He recalled Yuki's face — boastful and wild, with a wide evil grin and sharp red eyes.

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"Tsk- She's so annoying," P thought. "I should avoid her. She seems like the kind of person who causes nothing but problems."

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"I don't feel too attached to any of this, especially the girl... I'm just doing this for just normal's sake. And maybe for a bit of adventure," P thought.

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"I just hope it doesn't get disappointing or boring..." P worried, his heart aching.

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RING.. RING..

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A phone rang on the edge of a bathtub. A female figure inside the tub picked it up.

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RING.. RING..

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BEEP.

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"Hello, Yuki.." said Hanabi, annoyed.

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"What's with that greeting? Is everything okay? Are you okay?" said Yuki, worried.

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"....... I have no words," said Hanabi coldly.

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"Heh-?" said Yuki, confused.

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"...Uugh.... I saw the news.... There was a terrorist attack right after I left.... That's why I called to check on you," said Yuki, her voice trembling through the phone.

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"....Yeah... I'm fine. But YOU ALMOST GOT ME KILLED," said Hanabi, frustrated.

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"WHAAT? What do you mean I almost got you killed? What about Arthur?" Yuki asked.

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"He almost killed me, and that's all because of you," said Hanabi.

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"Me? What are you talking about? Why would Arthur want to kill you? He's just a normal, handsome guy," said Yuki.

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"Believe it or not, that guy almost killed me. He was....." Hanabi paused.

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"He was what?" Yuki asked.

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"Nevermind... If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead," said Hanabi.

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"Hm? Him?" asked Yuki.

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"No, not that jerk! P..." said Hanabi.

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"P...? Oh....." said Yuki. "..... Where is he now?" she asked.

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"Huh-?" Hanabi thought.

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"Why are you asking?" Hanabi said.

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"...I was just asking," said Yuki.

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Hanabi's eyes narrowed slightly.

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"...Well, he's at my place," said Hanabi, oddly.

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"Oh, okay.... So what happened to Arthur?" Yuki asked.

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"I... don't actually know. I just escaped the casino with P. I'm guessing he's already been caught and locked up by now," said Hanabi.

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"Is that so.... I never thought Arthur would be that kind of person. Sow- wy.." said Yuki.

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"Huff- Fine.... But next time, promise me you won't bring up any guy talk, whether we're together or not. Understand?" said Hanabi.

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"B-but you could end up single forever," Yuki said, worried.

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"YUUUUUUKI....." said Hanabi.

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"Okayy, fine..." said Yuki.

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"Haaa....." Hanabi sighed.

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"Okay, I'll hang up now," said Yuki.

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"Okay... take care..." said Hanabi.

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"I will... you take care too," said Yuki.

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"Okay then," said Hanabi.

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"Okay.." said Yuki.

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"Bye..." said Hanabi.

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"Bye..." said Yuki.

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BEEP.

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"Haa..." Hanabi sighed. "Thank God," she said, resting her back against the soapy tub.

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She stayed there in silence for a while.

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"I'd better get some breakfast and head to work..." said Hanabi.

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KNOCK KNOCK.

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"Huh...?" Hanabi jolted.

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"Hanabi... can you hear me?" P called from behind the bedroom door.

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Her eyes widened as she sank her whole body into the water except her head, which she tilted toward the door.

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"He's in my room... what's he doing here..." Hanabi panicked.

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KNOCK KNOCK.

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"Hanabi, are you there? I need to use the bathroom..." said P.

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"Huh... could you wait a bit? I'm still in the bathroom..." said Hanabi, dazed.

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"Fine. I'll wait, but please hurry — I've got to get going," said P.

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"Oh... sure..." said Hanabi, trembling.

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TMP.

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"Oh- Hanabi.... thank you..." said P.

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Hanabi's eyes widened.

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"Last night was great. I'm hoping you could treat me like that more often in the future.." said P.

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"For free, of course..." P thought.

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"My grandma would be so proud of you..." said P, warmly.

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Hanabi stayed dazed and silent for a moment.

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"Oh yeah... sure.. I c-c-can do that," said Hanabi, dazed.

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P narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

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"Are you okay?" P asked.

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"No-! I mean, I'm completely fine..." said Hanabi.

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"Okay then. Take care," said P.

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TMP. TMP. TMP.....

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Hanabi listened to his footsteps fade from the door.

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"Haaah... Jesus," Hanabi sighed, resting her back against the tub, exhausted.

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"He's going to get me all worked up..." said Hanabi, drained.

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"He's just like Yuki..." she mourned, looking up at the ceiling.

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She recalled his words:

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"Thank you..." P had said.

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Hanabi smiled calmly at the ceiling. "He could say thank you too," she thought.

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TMP. TMP.

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TMP.

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CREEEAAAK......

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The bedroom door opened as Hanabi slid her head out to peek through. Her eyes slowly scanned the room before landing on the huge frame she'd been avoiding.

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As she looked up, her eyes widened and she instantly slammed the door shut.

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WHAM...

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CREEAK........

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Hanabi, now dressed in blue denim shorts and a white crop-top, opened the door again, grinning with an unsettling smile.

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"Heeeeey....." said Hanabi, holding the door handle and glancing up at P.

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P blinked, dumbfounded.

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"I thought he was gone," Hanabi thought.

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P stood there in his black slinglet.

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"Hey..." said P. "Are you done with the bathroom?" he asked.

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"Yeah, the bathroom's all yours," said Hanabi, walking away.

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"Okay, thanks..." said P as he walked in.

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CREAK......

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SLAM.

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Hanabi blinked. "Who is this guy...? I hope he has his own toothbrush," she wondered.

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FRIIIIIIISH.....

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The shower turned on.

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TMP. TMP.

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P stood at the sink, staring at the single toothbrush sitting on it.

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FRIIIIIIIIISH......

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He reached out his right hand and picked it up.

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TMP. TMP.

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Hanabi walked quietly down the stairs.

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"Now that I think of it, what happened to his injuries from yesterday?" Hanabi wondered.

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"When he was about to take a bath last night, I noticed the wounds on his body. I even wanted to treat them myself..." she thought.

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"But when I massaged him last night... I didn't see a single scratch," said Hanabi.

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"...Could it be..." Hanabi thought, flashing back to Arthur's red electric energy crackling on his hand.

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BADUM BADUM....

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Her heart began to race.

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She started to recall every ridiculous situation P had somehow survived.

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BADUM.. BADUM

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BADUM.. BADUM...

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"He's.... an ALIEN..." Hanabi's eyes widened in shock.

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T/LN: Calm down, Hanabi... 157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkirCuf5eF3

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