Night-Owl Romance
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Note:
Happy New Year~!
I hope the holidays have treated you kindly. : )
As for me, it seems like I've lived 5 years in one in 2018... ;; I had this chapter half-written since summer time, then rushed to write the end during these majestically long holidays. (2 weeks of chill, relaxation, no stress, no jobs, no worries, no friends)
One good part is that the timeline in my story...never left winter time, lolol.
I can feel the cold while typing.
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Chapter 42: Remembering Rika and Dramazen interlude
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"I'd like to meet you, too..."
Her feeble whisper faded across the apartment where it got engulfed in its heavy silence. Mina remained immobile for some very long minutes, rigidly sitting within the boundaries of her self-made pillow-couch, entrapped between the actual couch and coffee table. The phone was cupped in her trembling hands, the grip on it wavering as her eyes traced over the many messages swarming the latest chat room, all of which had been written by the distressed actor.
Regardless of a thick cloud of uncertainty looming over the girl's shoulders, one thing the party planner was no longer hesitant about was her decision regarding meeting Zen. Before the party. Call it a momentarily lapse of judgment if you may however it had been far too long since Mina felt comfortable enough about a decision without wanting to backtrack the idea almost immediately. To her surprise there were no fears hindering the girl, no viciously disruptive thoughts knocking impatiently at the back of her head. And whether this state would change throughout the remainder of the day or not, she was uncertain of. Nevertheless, she would try her best to silence any troublesome inner voices.
Mina did truly wish to see the actor, a person who was inching in closer and closer to her heart.
Funnily enough, she had never pictured becoming this overly entangled with thoughts of Zen. Her scattered chaotic feelings were rapidly changing from one day to another, not appearing to settle in a decisive spot. It was mad bonkers how fast his influence, and the RFA's influence as a whole, was changing the girl and shaping her to their colors. If this notion of meeting Zen used to bring chills down her spine and usher the coordinator away into hiding because of her numerous insecurities, now she was practically drawn to the idea like a moth was drawn to light.
And this desire, this thirst, of seeing the actor in the flesh kept increasing.
This decision, however, did not come as an aftermath of positive events. No. The near deathly scare provoked by Unknown's meddling with the apartment's security system was one of the multiple terrifying reasons Mina continued to actively seek Zen's company despite Jaehee's blunt warnings in keeping a safe distance from the actor. Another lied in his most recent photographs which revealed his injured leg wrapped tightly in a cast alongside the near-empty pack of cigarettes brought up next to his porcelain skin. The bags underneath his tired eyes carried darkened undertones and added to his overall depressive appearance, striking quite a nerve with Mina who felt as though she could perfectly mirror his emotions at that precise moment. The girl would often carry similarly distressed expressions herself when doused in negative emotions. She might not know, nor understand, the full extent of his personal struggles but she could definitely picture the situation rather well and could relate to his pain, if only a little.
She also didn't think misery suited Zen's wonderful features, wishing the actor could regain his cheerful demeanor soon. And if their interaction offline would mark an improvement to his overall mood then the party planner wouldn't hesitate to reveal to him who the person behind the username MC was and share an actual conversation with the silver haired male.
Face to face.
It was the least she could do in appreciation for all the support she had been receiving so far. Plus, Mina was hoping her presence could become useful and not cause additional problems for. His friendship this past week had meant so much to the girl, to an extent he might not be completely made aware of. Despite their ridiculous misunderstandings spanning for the past couple of days, Mina loved their conversations dearly and helplessly overlooking the actor's suffering from the sidelines was beyond the things she could bear.
For his sake, and for hers too, Mina was determined to find a way for them to meet up.
However, the task would prove difficult. Many challenges remained untackled, all of which had the potential to seriously bruise the mind, body and soul. Nonetheless, both of them needed a well-deserved break from future obstacles, Mina especially wanting to halt her non-stop crying and reddening eyes.
After all,
Light had to shine in the dark every once in a while.
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And her source of light was in dire need of help.
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~oOo~
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[Yoosung]: BRRRRR!
[Yoosung]: Hul, my hands feel like hardened icicles.
[Yoosung]: They've turned super numb!
[Yoosung]: Why did the heating have to break in the middle of the lesson?!
[Yoosung]: *crying emoji*
[Yoosung]: Luckily lunch hour's arrived and I'm somewhere warm-ish atm, but... uff!
[Yoosung]: How troublesome...
[Yoosung]: I wanna go home!
[Yoosung]: I miss my bed. ;=;
[Yoosung]: I shouldn't have left my room in the morning and get stuck in the middle of this frosted land!
[Yoosung]: *crying emoji*
[MC]: Cheer up, Yoosung~!
[MC]: You can persevere, I believe in yourself!
[Yoosung]: *surprised emoji*
[MC]: You can do it!
[Yoosung]: JEY NC!
[Yoosung]: *cheerful emoji*
[MC]: JEY YIISING!
[Yoosung]: Ah ha ha... *defeated emoji*
[Yoosung]: Typo. Sorry'z.
[MC]: Sounds like you are having quite a rough day.
[Yoosung]: Frozen day you mean...
[Yoosung]: But nvm.
[Yoosung]: Enough about it~!
[Yoosung]: How has your day been so far, MC?! I hope you're doing extra well and are staying cozy indoors. ^^
[Yoosung]: Unlike me...
[MC]: Mhm. Very cozy ~!
[MC]: Filled with e-mails type of cozy ~!
[MC]: Lots and lots of e-mails ~!
[MC]: *thumbs up*
[Yoosung]: You're still going through them?! O-O
[MC]: Mhm.
[MC]: I'm making fairly good progress.
[MC]: I think.
[MC]: I hope. ^^; / (I'm far behind the list)
[Yoosung]: Woah, hardworking MC mode activated!
[Yoosung]: *blushing emoji*
[MC]: Ehe... ^^;
[Yoosung]: Man, I'm in awe.
[Yoosung]: Always so diligent and I bet super awesome at this party planning stuff~!
[Yoosung]: *blushing emoji*
[MC]: Heh. Thank you.
[MC]: ^^;;;
[MC]: But I wouldn't call my clumsy attempts 'super awesome'. / (I really wouldn't because that would set the bar extremely low.)
[Yoosung]: *shocked emoji*
[Yoosung]: MC!
[Yoosung]: I got a text from the coffee guy not long ago!
[MC]: From who?
[Yoosung]: You know, the president of the coffee club at uni.
[MC]: Oh, right! / (I forgot who that was w )
[Yoosung]: He was completely blown away by your knowledge, answering every hard question of his with flying colors! He even had to search coffee riddles online so he could finally trap you, but then gushed with excitement over how easily you'd surpassed his expectations.
[Yoosung]: You are like a mega coffee specialist! ^^
[MC]: W-Wow! (E)
[MC]: \(º □ º l|l)/
[MC]: Mega coffee specialist, erm, that's eh – WOW(E). w / (We must have explored the same web pages.)
[Yoosung]: *blushing emoji*
[Yoosung]: So jealous!
[Yoosung]: So jealous...
[Yoosung]: ...
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[MC]: Yoosung?
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[Yoosung]: MC, you are such a great person. ^^
[Yoosung]: I admire you very much for what you're doing for us, for the RFA, and how you're handling everything that's thrown towards you super well!
[MC]: ^^;;; / (Things? What things?! I'm barely doing anything useful! I'm handling nothing well! *cries*)
[Yoosung]: You carry the same vibes Rika did so I'm thankful whenever we get the chance to chat. It brings me great joy~! ^^
[MC]: Yoosung...
[Yoosung]: Ya know, I wasn't a top-tier student at my high school. Be it sciences, sports or music – I wasn't really good at anything tbh, though I would get passing grades. Those were some of the toughest years for me to get by but, PHEW, glad I wasn't alone!
[MC]: Oh?
[Yoosung]: I've managed to overcome those hurdles thanks to Rika, completing my studies rather peacefully in the end.
[Yoosung]: *cheerful emoji*
[Yoosung]: I hadn't known her for long at the time since our families weren't tight while growing up. Not sure why there were ever animosities.
[MC]: Rika wasn't beloved by your family? O-O
[Yoosung]: My aunt had never had a good word about her since I can remember. Even at the funeral home, she didn't attend the ceremony because she was so convinced it was Rika's doing. Her plan to pull a prank or smth like that and vanish.
[Yoosung]: She said Rika had in in her blood to definitely attempt something senseless like that for sure.
[MC]: Huh?
[MC]: That sounds incredibly wrong!
[Yoosung]: Just reminiscing about it makes my blood boil.
[MC]: You've all made Rika sound like she was an extremely lovely person, how could their relationship be this strained?
[Yoosung]: Tbh, I don't know why my aunt never got along with her. : /
[Yoosung]: Rika never did anything out of the line and excelled at whatever she had been tasked to do. Studies, careers, charities, parties, relationships... She was an all-around perfect daughter to them! And that still wasn't good enough.
[MC]: That's really, really upsetting... : /
[Yoosung]: Yeah...
[Yoosung]: I cherish our short time together. Us reconnecting looked like destiny to me 'cause it was so~~~o out of the blue!
[MC]: Oh?
[Yoosung]: I was unsure what to think of our encounter and I slightly hesitated when she greeted me outside school grounds one evening, after my classes had just ended. But Rika quickly proved everything my aunt had portrayed about her to be completely WRONG!
[Yoosung]: I was majorly ashamed by this discovery. ;;
[Yoosung]: And, since then, I've always imagined Rika having some sort of otherworldly calling or radar to discover those in trouble. She would always sense when somebody needed her assistance and would gladly do anything to ease their burdens. ^^
[Yoosung]: She would be restless in her efforts to create a better way of living for those who were unfortunate or in a deep slump.
[Yoosung]: Also restless to create a better world to live in for us all! :D
[MC]: Woah!
[MC]: Amazing w !
[Yoosung]: Rika's SUPER amazing. ^o^
[Yoosung]: *blushing emoji*
[Yoosung]: Thing is...
[Yoosung]: I didn't realize I needed Rika the most until she had... disappeared.
[Yoosung]: She was gone before I understood her importance in my life.
[MC]: Oh...
[Yoosung]: High school was also the time when the organization was at its beginning and when the first RFA party had been organized. So I got to see first-hand how much of herself Rika would pour throughout the charity work she would be doing and the dedication she'd show for the planned events.
[Yoosung]: She'd always show her best face to everyone and give it her best!
[Yoosung]: 100%!
[Yoosung]: No – 120%!
[Yoosung]: She inspired me to accomplish many things in the process!
[MC]: Wow...
[Yoosung]: MC, you remind me so much of Rika with the same dedication you show for our group. ^^
[Yoosung]: I'm so thankful you're a part of the RFA! *cheerful emoji*
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~oOo~
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To say the chat took Mina by storm was rather an understatement when you consider the multiple mind boggling news that she had had to painfully digest up until now. She had been made aware of Rika's importance to the student in multiple occasions, far many accounts than she would have preferred to, but to have Yoosung boldly mention their similarities with no previous warning of this situation coming forth was stirring quite a bit of discomfort for the coordinator.
She appeared cheerful across her messages but inside she wasn't that joyous.
She was conflicted.
She felt highly undeserving of these high praises for what everyone thought was some amazingly good work she was doing and for how great of a person they had been convinced she was. Being compared to Rika was like having a seemingly angelic human being be tarnished by the likes of Mina who did not think her somewhat flawed self could even reach 50% of the former founder's level.
A poisonous mindset but it was the emotional baggage that she'd been carrying after her past experiences.
Every discussion revolving Rika further increased the girl's doubts in her self-worth, strengths and abilities, feeling highly inferior than ever. She worried of potential screw ups so badly or of anything that could deter this party as a whole because the majority of the legwork still relied on the girl's capabilities to gather up these guests. The clock was ticking and the party was being held in less than a week, yet the number of confirmed guests still remained below two digits.
Furthermore, while Mina was obviously the type who wouldn't ignore someone in need if she were around, she would definitely not purposely seek out strangers in order to keep offering her services and help them left and right – not in the way she understood Rika would as it was the blonde's habit in doing so during her spare moments.
It's why the charity organization was even created in the first place, mostly due to Rika's efforts as the founder~!
Honestly,
Mina felt so utterly undeserving of the high praising she was getting, and not just from today... like, it was as if she was purposely deceiving them all when she refrained from refuting their claims because – let's face it – they would all try to reason that she was over reacting.
Zen scolded the girl for such type of thinking before, he would definitely be the first to do it again. -
Still...
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Rika was a much better person from what she could tell.
Hands down.
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Mina hoped that at least she could make her proud up there even if the girl's efforts might not deem the best results.
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~oOo~
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[MC]: I'm thankful to be here. ^^
[Yoosung]: I'm sorry that I can't help you more with this stuff and ease your workload.
[Yoosung]: I know I'm not the first one to say this though.
[Yoosung]: What's more, the party's right around the corner thanks to V's rushed decision.
[MC]: I can manage, don't be upset about the date. I'm personally not.
[Yoosung]: I hope you're not neglecting your meals because of that bastard!
[MC]: Nope.
[Yoosung]: Did you eat anything good today?!
[Yoosung]: *cheerful emoji*
[MC]: Kinda. Breakfast was pretty okay.
[Yoosung]: No lunch?
[MC]: Erm...
[Yoosung]: Please take care of your health or else you might end up like hyung!
[MC]: I doubt Zen's injury had anything to do with lunch. ^^;;;
[Yoosung]: I know.
[Yoosung]: But winter is really no joke and eating enough keeps the doctor away!
[MC]: Okay, I will eat soon then.
[Yoosung]: *happy emoji*
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[MC]: Still.
[MC]: Sad to see Zen is going through such rough times.
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[Yoosung]: I hear ya.
[Yoosung]: Man, I have known Zen for years and I haven't seen him this depressed since that evening when he got those chin pimples. It was an hour before having to perform his show and he was complaining and crying to us on chat up to his cue on stage.
[MC]: Are these events even comparable in gravity? ;;
[Yoosung]: It's the end of the world for him if his face gets even the slightest mark, LOL.
[Yoosung]: I think Seven actually made a brochure out of the entire conversation (plus his pimple pic) and gifted it to every association member as a present later on.
[Yoosung]: Last Christmas or a couple of years ago.
[Yoosung]: I don't remember, I'd have to demolish my room to find my copy...
[Yoosung]: Was it Christmas or was it actually Zen's birthday? O-O
[Yoosung]: Seven always does such things so it's hard to keep track, lol. And since his birthday and April Fool's fall on the same day, well – it gets interesting to say the least.
[MC]: Omg!
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[MC]: SEVEN! T-T
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[MC]: How could you think of such a present?!
[Yoosung]: The whole thing was so saaaaavage, LOL!
[Yoosung]: I had tears in my eyes, like for real!
[MC]: Omg, I'd have been so upset if I were in his place. ;;
[Yoosung]: Ya, long story short - it was like playing with fire. The chaos was memorable to this day.
[Yoosung]: It was that terrifying!
[MC]: W-Wow! -
[MC]: Scary...
[Yoosung]: Ya know, this is a different topic but I really hate Zen smoking those cigarettes.
[Yoosung]: Ever since the prices went up, people have been trying to quit.
[Yoosung]: But not him.
[MC]: Oh?
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[Yoosung]: He's upgraded into a chainsmoker beast afterwards.
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[MC]: I see...
[Yoosung]: Ya...
[Yoosung]: *depressed emoji*
[Yoosung]: He keeps hanging on to them like they are an extremity of his hands. ;;
[MC]: Well, I personally hate the smell of smoke quite a bit.
[Yoosung]: Oh?! O-O
[MC]: So I've never bothered to know the ups and downs on prices and stuff.
[Yoosung]: I'm a very firm believer in not smoking!
[Yoosung]: I'm afraid of what might happen to my fair skin if I decided to start!
[MC]: Very good decision to make! ^o^
[Yoosung]: *cheerful emoji*
[Yoosung]: We match on this issue too, that's awesome ^o^ ~!
[MC]: Hehe.
[MC]: But Zen wrote that he wants to quit soon. And hopefully he can without any complications.
[Yoosung]: He did? I don't remember him mentioning that.
[MC]: The previous chat room.
[Yoosung]: OH!
[Yoosung]: I didn't get to read it yet, lol.
[Yoosung]: I didn't get to read anything since heading to uni.
[MC]: I see.
[MC]: Speaking of uni.
[Yoosung]: Yeah? OwO
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[MC]: Aren't you on lunch break now?
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[Yoosung]: I did say that.
[Yoosung]: *cheerful emoji*
[MC]: Do you have a free time slot then? :)
[Yoosung]: Free time slot? O-O
[MC]: I mean.
[MC]: Your classes – we've been talking for a while.
[MC]: And I think our uni has lunch hour set the same for different majors.
[MC]: Not sure if it applies to your classes.
[MC]: But the official hour's passed by 30 minutes if I remember it correctly from before.
[Yoosung]: ...
[Yoosung]: ...
[Yoosung]: ...
[MC]: Did I remember it? O-O
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[Yoosung]: OMFG!
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[MC]: WOAH!
[Yoosung]: *shocked emoji*
[Yoosung]: S-SORRY MC, GOT TO RUN!
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- Yoosunghas left the chatroom -
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[MC]: Oh, lol.
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[MC]: RIP.
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- 707 has entered the chat room -
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[707]: Did a space station princess call for the greatest hacker in the universe to arrive?
[707]: He, he - !
[707]: *tips glasses emoji*
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- MC has left the chat room -
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[707]: ...
[707]: ...
[707]: ...
[707]: All by myse~lf~!
[707]: Partying in the space station all by myse~~~~~lf~!
[707]: *defeated emoji*
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[707]: Btw MC.
[707]: When you read this, just remember one important and extremely vital detail.
[707]: I cannot stress the urgency of what I am about to tell you.
[707]: I'm serious.
[707]: Whatever it is you are doing.
[707]: Gently stop.
[707]: Take a seat.
[707]: Get comfy.
[707]: Breathe in.
[707]: Breathe out.
[707]: Try to relax.
[707]: And calmly listen to what I am about to reveal to you.
[707]: Because this is not a joke.
[707]: It's not.
[707]: A.
[707]: Joke.
[707]: ...
[707]: It's very important.
[707]: MC!
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[707]: Don't panic!
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[707]: Alright?!
[707]: Please don't panic, because...
[707]: MC!
[707]: I've skimmed through these latest chat rooms with my best pair of glasses on.
[707]: This attentively!
[707]: And I have to come clean about smth.
[707]: Information I've been withholding.
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[707]: A secret.
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[707]: It's burning my insides.
[707]: It actually feels like my insides are literally burning.
[707]: And I'm pretty sure I don't need a bathroom trip for this awful sensation.
[707]: This burning inside.
[707]: Of me.
[707]: Or I probably do.
[707]: I probably most absolutely do. X_X
[707]: Damn those chili-flavored chips Mary had snuck into my bag!
[707]: *tantrum emoji*
[707]: Destroying my honeeeeeey!
[707]: Oh.
[707]: Right.
[707]: I was saying smth very important now.
[707]: I'm still holding it inside really well, though.
[707]: The burn.
[707]: Anywho.
[707]: MC!
[707]: MC...
[707]: ...
[707]: The secret I am about to tell you now, is...
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[707]: I CAN ORDER YOU AN EXTRA COPY OF THAT BOOKLET OF PIMPLE-ZEN-OPPA IF YOU WANT!
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[707]: *tips glasses emoji*
[707]: A once in a lifetime opportunity can be spotted over the horizon, MC!
[707]: For just 399 ~!
[707]: That's three ninety-nine!
[707]: Or for the extra, extra bargain price reserved ONLY to the space station's beautiful bilingual princess~!
[707]: Of just 399 143 606 ~!
[707]: Extra bargain price for our lovely MC!
[707]: Or.
[707]: OR!
[707]: STAY WITH ME!
[707]: 143.
[707]: You can get the booklet for free as your future Christmas present in the mail box~!
[707]: You may receive a special, one-of-a-kind, ultra deluxe, finely printed diamond 21st century edition of the famed 707series booklet with the most touching and heart breaking and soul crushing story that your eyes have ever been blessed to reading~!
[707]: Ever~!
[707]: A story of a mad, of a very, very mad but also very, very troubled genius and dazzling young man, ensuing on a dangerous life quest to find his lo~~~~ng lost fair skin that had been mercilessly obliterated by the demonic forces of life's post-puberty rays of death in a fated spring evening.
[707]: A story told by a struggling handsome actor touched by the old greek gods in looks, but sadly not in thoughts too, who is cursed to live in a cruel, cruel prank designed by destiny's skills from the realm of badjokesia~!
[707]: The one and only ZEN will be performing his outstanding tear jerking solo from the musical called Life-Ruining-Devices, the Special 1. Pimple Version, part III of the novel series called April Dramazen the 1st, a never ending Saga that gets updated year, after year, after year...
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[707]: UNTIL INFINITY AND BEYOND, SWOOSH!
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[707]: Yas.
[707]: So.
[707]: Your Christmas present, MC~!
[707]: *tips glasses emoji*
[707]: I'll make the ultimate sacrifice of printing a copy until the deadline in 18 days~!
[707]: Courtesy from Seven Zero Seven Publications of the Super Secret Agency of the 143 MC Protection Squad, Edition number 606.
[707]: SWOOSH~!
- 707 has left the chat room -
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End note:
Chapter's a mess, but this entire story is one huge mess so – hope you've enjoyed the update ~!
By the end I was having a blast with it, I literally threw away all sense and reason ^o^
