Chapter 48: Distinct Lives!

"Go Away!" shouted Hanabi from her bathtub.

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"Open the door! It's important!" said Sung Hwang (Hanabi's brother) from behind the door.

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"What do you want?" Hanabi shouted.

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"I just want to talk! So once you're done, get out of your room and come meet me in the backyard," said Sung Hwang.

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"Meeh..." Hanabi rolled her eyes in the bathtub.

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"Do you understand?!" Sung Hwang asked.

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"Yeah, sure..." said Hanabi.

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PLOD. PLOD.

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PLOD.

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His footsteps faded from behind the door as her brother walked away.

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"Haaa..." Hanabi sighed, sinking deeper into the tub.

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"What's he going to say now?!"

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**LATER THAT DAY...**

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In the backyard, on a tiled veranda beside a colorful garden of green grass, Sung Hwang sat in one of four chairs arranged around a white round table.

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The roof above the veranda gave it shade.

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WHOOSH-

A cool afternoon breeze blew.

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He watched two squirrels run across the green field, one carrying a nut.

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A thin stream of steam rose from the hot tea on the table.

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PLAP! PLAP!

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PLAP! PLAP!

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Sung turned.

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Hanabi walked toward one of the chairs, hands tucked into her unzipped jacket, wearing short pants.

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TP.

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SCREECH-

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SHHFFF-

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She pulled the chair back and sat, propping her right foot on the seat.

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"HMPF..." She rested her head on her right fist.

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"I'm here now!" said Hanabi.

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"Hm! Okay..." said Sung.

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"So how have you been doing?" asked Sung.

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"Why do you ask?" Hanabi asked.

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"I asked you a question!" said Sung.

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Sung Hwang picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.

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"Tsk..."

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"I'm alive! That's all that matters!" Hanabi replied.

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SIP!

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CLACK!

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Sung set the cup back on the table.

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"Then thank God! I heard from Mom that you were kidnapped a few months ago," said Sung.

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"And you've been getting into a couple of troubles lately. You're even on the news!" said Sung.

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"How do you know that?! My face was clearly blurred on TV!" exclaimed Hanabi.

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"I've known you very well since we were kids! Figuring out your face in a blurred pic would be easy!" said Sung.

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"Hm! Is that why you abandoned the job you prioritized over everything?!" asked Hanabi.

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"No!" replied Sung.

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"Hmm! Or maybe..." Hanabi patted her chin, smirking.

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She slapped her right hand on the table.

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PAT!

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"You were worried about me!" She leaned toward him.

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"N-NO, I'M NOT..." said Sung, turning away, a blush on his cheek.

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*Heh! He looks so funny when I tease him!* Hanabi thought.

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"Then what is it?" asked Hanabi, leaning back in her chair.

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Sung Hwang turned back to face her.

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"Well, you see..." His eyes darted to the side.

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"Well what?!" Hanabi scoffed.

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"I... was... worried... about... you!" Sung muttered, trembling.

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"HAH! I KNEW IT!" Hanabi pointed, laughing.

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"You are such a SOFTIE!" Hanabi scoffed, mockingly.

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"SOFTIE? I'M NOT A SOFTIE!" said Sung.

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"IT IS MY DUTY AS THE ELDEST SON TO CARE ABOUT THE YOUNGER ONES, AND AFTER ALL, YOU ARE MY ONLY SISTER!" he yelled.

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"WHY WOULDN'T I BE WORRIED?!" said Sung.

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"Oh my... I'm so touched by your words, Oni- uh, I mean...

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SOFTIE CHAN!..." mocked Hanabi, striking a pose.

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"THAT'S IT, KEEP QUIET!" he yelled.

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"SOFTIE CHAN!" said Hanabi.

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"I'M WARNING YOOOU..." He pointed angrily.

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"SOFTIE CHAN!" Hanabi mocked again.

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"THAT'S IT. ARRGGGGGH!"

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Sung lunged at Hanabi like a gigantic boar with fire in its eyes.

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Hanabi, her back turned to him, stared out as if looking at the fourth-wall screen, a grin too wide for her face stretched across it.

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Her eyes were pitch black.

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Her right hand was raised, a phone in it. On the screen, a number was dialing, with a name beside it:

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**MOM!**

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RING! RING!

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---

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A chocolate-skinned hand dipped into a pocket and pulled out a ringing phone.

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It was P.

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He squatted at the edge of a sandy walkway on the cliffside under the afternoon sun.

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His back rested against a wooden fence as passersby glanced at the strange stranger.

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The wounds from his battle with Mei and Miu were plainly visible, but he couldn't care less.

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**SOMEWHERE ON THE PLANET;**

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RING RING

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"What the...!" P thought, staring at the screen, confused.

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PHONE SCREEN:

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××××××××××

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UNKNOWN NUMBER.

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P answered the call.

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BEEP!

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PHONE: (A TRIUMPHANT SONG PLAYED)

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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FREE MONEY!

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BEEP!

P ended the call.

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"Tsk! Scammers!" said P, annoyed.

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SHFFF!

He dropped his phone.

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MURMUR MURMUR

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He watched people chatting, some walking, kids playing. Everyone was living their own episode in the event marketplace.

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The atmosphere was cheerful!

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To P, it was a spectacle!

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*Things are so peaceful, and everything's completely normal!* P thought.

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He lifted his head to the blue sky.

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*The world is at peace, even though there might be some criminals, terrorists, or thieves lurking around...* P thought.

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*It's still fine! The government can handle all that!* P thought.

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"Haaa..." P sighed, lowering his head.

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*At least the world isn't going through a horrific apocalypse!* P thought.

*Everyone's having a good time, and I'm having a bad day.*

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*I had to make a lot of sacrifices! Including myself.* P thought.

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MURMUR MURMUR!

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Cheerful songs filled the air!

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People lived their lives.

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"HAHAHA!" cheered two children with balloons, chased by a woman.

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WHOOSH.....

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His eyes fell sadly to the ground.

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*Now I have to watch them...*

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"Hahahaha..." a female laugh echoed in his head.

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*AS THEY REAP THE FRUIT!* P thought.

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*Ignorance is indeed a blessing!* P nodded slightly and smiled.

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Suddenly—

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FLAP!

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A kid tossed a dollar bill at P.

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TP.

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The money fell at his feet!

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"Take care of yourself!" said the Japanese kid, walking away with his mom.

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"HEH?" P thought, confused.

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His mom covered her mouth to hide a chuckle.

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*Shit! I'm so broke even a kid can see through me!* P thought.

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SHFF-

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But P picked up the money and slid it into his pocket.

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*I need money! Money to take care of myself, travel to Na... Na-ka-na... NAKA... Let's just say Nakanayo Ward in Kyoto,* P thought.

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TL/N: It's Nakagyō Ward actually.

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*And find that guy Graniel told me about, called Kenji Ichiro,* P thought, serious.

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He rested his right hand on his chin.

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*I need money, but how? I don't even have a job.* P thought.

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*What should I do?*

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Suddenly—

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POP!

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A mini version of P, with white wings and a halo over its head, appeared floating above P's right shoulder.

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Angelic P: There's no need to worry, my child!

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"Huh? Child? Who the hell are you?" P asked, confused.

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Angelic P: TEEHEHEHEHE!

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The angel chuckled.

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"I'm the good inside you!" said Angelic P, bumping P's chest.

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BUMP!

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SPARKLE! SPARKLE!

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The bump sprinkled sparkling light over P's chest.

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"Good inside me?" said P.

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"I still have that?" asked P, looking away, confused and shocked.

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"HUHU! Yes, you do! Everyone has good in them!" said Angelic P, swirling happily around him.

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"...That's a lot to take in," said P.

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"So where were you in my darkest moments? Where were you when I needed help the most?" asked P, serious, with disdain.

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Angelic P's expression fell.

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SPRINKLE! SPRINKLE...

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PAT!

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Angelic P flew to P and patted his right shoulder with its left hand.

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"I know what you've been through, and I know your deepest pains! I know your struggles, P," said Angelic P.

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"I've always been within you. I was the voice that always told you that you had HOPE!" said Angelic P.

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"I'm the voice that kept you moving even when you couldn't!" said Angelic P.

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"I'm the testament of your struggles!" said Angelic P.

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"Oh! Thank you!" P said with an appreciative smile.

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"Oh, chucks! Stop!" Angelic P blushed.

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"If I were you, I would have killed myself a long time ago! But now I'm here to advise you," said Angelic P.

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"That no matter what! HMPF-" Angelic P flexed its little muscles.

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"Never give up!" said Angelic P.

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P smiled at the mini angel, unaware of the public eyes on him.

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To passersby, P was smiling and talking at nothing.

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MURMUR! MURMUR!

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"Is this man serious?" said a distant voice.

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"Is he crazy?!" said a female voice.

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"Mommy, I'm scared!" a child cried as her mom pulled her away.

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"But moments ago, he was normal! Is he going mad?!" said a female voice.

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Angelic P reformed and started swirling again.

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"No matter how many times you get turned down for a job, keep trying and trying. You're gonna get a job someday!" said Angelic P, cheerful.

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P frowned at once.

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"What do you mean *someday*? I need a job right now!" said P, checking his mini version.

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Sweat broke across Angelic P's face.

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"Uh-oh! B-but success takes time!" said Angelic P.

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"I need time! I need money! I need money right now!" P demanded.

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"Bu-but...!" said Angelic P.

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"BUT! BUT! WHAAAAAT...!" said a similar mini voice, but sinister.

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Angelic P and P turned to the side at once.

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The camera swiftly panned to P's other shoulder, where a mini P sat with two red horns on his head and a red arrow tail.

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He held a tiny red pitchfork.

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"Oh no... you're here!" Angelic P gasped in panic, pointing.

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"SURPRISE... MOTHERFU*KER," smiled Devil P. 14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HqZadXyOw

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