Author's Preface
SWING!
With a wicked grin on his face, P swung the heavy sledgehammer toward the High Striker base once more, but suddenly, the iron head flew right off his grip, launching straight into the surrounding crowd.
*SWOOSH!*
*SMACK!*
"ARGGHHHH!"
Someone in the crowd screamed in sudden agony after being struck full-force by the flying hammer.
Moments later, the victim was hauled away into the back of an emergency vehicle. The rear doors slammed shut, and the ambulance sped off into the night, its sirens blaring into the distance.
*MURMUR... MURMUR...*
"Sorry... Sorry... my bad!" P called out to the onlookers, offering a quick, apologetic wave.
Hanabi slapped her palm over her face out of sheer frustration. She crossed her arms, letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
"I would like to have another try, please..." P said, raising his left hand. He was holding a crisp stack of cash worth thirty-five dollars.
The ride operator’s eyes practically glowed with dollar signs at the sight of the green bills.
*STEP... STEP...*
"Give it here..." the operator said, completely mesmerized by the cash. He extended a new sledgehammer toward the customer. "Here you go."
"Thanks," P said, taking the tool with quiet excitement.
A dark grin spread across his face once more as his terrifying arc of swings began anew.
*SMACK!*
"ARGGHHHHGG!"
"Son of a bitch—!" a voice roared in agony from the back of the group.
*WeeWooh... WeeWooh...*
*SMACK!*
An seemingly innocent "old lady" went airborne out of the crowd, landing flat on her back just as the next ambulance pulled up to the curb.
The crowd’s murmurs grew louder.
"Is this guy serious...?" someone muttered nervously.
"HAHA!" P laughed out loud.
"What on earth is he doing..." Hanabi whispered, deeply concerned by his sudden lack of coordination.
He continued swinging, paying for turn after turn in an endless, chaotic cycle.
One by one, he was taking them out. It didn't matter how well they were disguised—whether as a young couple on a date, an elderly woman, a local beggar, or a regular tourist. There was no fooling P's senses.
Eventually, the emergency medical crew gave up on driving back and forth to the hospital. They simply parked the ambulance outside the game booth, waiting patiently by the rear doors for the next "accidental" victim to be loaded inside.
In the crowd, the remaining disguised assassins slowly began backing away.
"Argghh... This ain't no coincidence! He's already spotted us, even through our elite disguises...!" an assassin hissed into his hidden comms.
"Forget the girl! Just shoot the bastard—!" another commanded.
Standing nearby, Hanabi’s embarrassment quickly boiled over into absolute rage.
"Hnnrrr... grrrr... that's IT!" Hanabi snapped, completely pissed off.
She made up her mind to march over and give P a piece of her mind. She took several aggressive strides toward him, but just as she opened her mouth to yell...
*SWING!*
*SLAM!*
*DING...!*
P brought the sledgehammer down with terrifying force, striking the High Striker base dead center.
"Huff..." P breathed out.
"Huh?" gasped the surrounding crowd.
Nobody moved.
The operator slowly raised his eyes to the tower.
*100...*
*300...*
*500...*
*700...*
The crowd leaned forward in total suspense.
*900...*
*950...*
*DING!!*
**1000!**
The entire section of the park erupted into deafening cheers, punctuated by a sudden burst of fireworks that lit up the night sky above them.
"He actually did it—!" people cheered, with strangers hugging each other in celebration.
Nearby, a massive, heavily muscled man who had previously held the record stood frozen in the dark shadows, staring in absolute disbelief.
"...After all my hard work, what is this...?" the bodybuilder muttered, staring at the score. "Beaten by a complete noob."
His shocked expression slowly shifted into a deep, philosophical realization.
"Huh... maybe he wasn't a noob after all. He was just failing over and over, refusing to give up until he finally conquered it... This isn't just a game. The universe is sending me a message." He smirked to himself.
"This man has inspired me. I will never forget you... Never. Now, it's time to hit the gym." The muscle man turned and walked away heroically into the night, backlit by the exploding fireworks.
P had accomplished the impossible, shattering the record with a max score.
> **YOU WIN!**
> **NEW HIGH SCORE: 1000**
>
"My God, he actually hit the top score... We won! I can't believe it!" Hanabi gasped in pure joy, her mouth wide open beneath the fireworks.
"I can't believe it... He actually won... How could this be..." the operator stammered, trembling in total shock.
*Okay, great. I won. Now to move on to the next location... I need to keep moving,* P thought coldly, his eyes sharp despite his relaxed posture. He rested his weight on the hammer handle.
"I can't believe it, we won...!" Hanabi squealed, impulsively grabbing P’s right arm.
P looked down at her glowing, joyous face. For a fraction of a second, his serious demeanor faltered into brief confusion, but he quickly masked it. His mind was focused entirely on the surrounding threats.
"Yeah... we won," P said, offering a small smile. "Okay, let's go—"
He let go of the hammer and began to turn, but Hanabi yanked him back by his sleeve.
"Wait! Aren't you forgetting something you promised?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
P blinked blankly down at her.
"The top prize...!" Hanabi urged, giving him a *does-that-ring-a-bell* look.
"Oh, right... Where is the operator?" P scratched his head, looking around.
He looked down to see the operator standing before them with a sour expression. In his arms, he held a massive, ultra-fluffy teddy bear, a large box of luxury chocolates, and a giant novelty check for **$1,000** strapped to the bear's chest.
Hanabi’s eyes instantly turned into literal heart icons, little red heart emojis practically floating around her head as she stared at the giant bear. P stood behind her, taking in her reaction.
*Blink.*
*STEP... STEP...*
Moments later, Hanabi was happily walking through the midways, tightly hugging her giant plush bear. P walked beside her, carrying the box of chocolates in one hand and the giant check in the other.
He glanced down at the paper in his grip, triggering a brief memory from moments prior.
*FLASHBACK*
*"Here, take this! You clearly need it way more than I do," Hanabi had said, shoving the $1,000 check into his hands with a bright, genuine smile while hugging her new bear.*
*P had looked down at her, a strange warmth washing over him.*
Back in the present, P looked down at the paper reading **"$1000 CASH PRIZE"** and let out a quiet smirk.
"He's so soft and fluffy~" Hanabi hummed happily, nuzzling her face into the bear's fur.
*She really falls for this kind of stuff, huh...* P noted mentally, watching her walk slightly ahead of him.
"So, what should we try next?" P asked, catching up to her side.
"Oh, umm..." Hanabi scanned the nearby game booths.
Her eyes landed on a target shooting gallery where players used air rifles to knock down stacked metal cups.
"Let's try that one!" she pointed.
P looked over at the booth.
Inside the stall, the booth owner was leaning lazily against the back counter. A few customers were taking shots, but the owner looked thoroughly bored—until he spotted Hanabi approaching from a distance. His posture immediately straightened, his eyes narrowing as if he had been waiting for her all night.
However, his confident stance instantly dissolved into terror when his eyes shifted to the man walking behind her.
P was staring directly at him, his gaze completely devoid of emotion. Cold sweat broke out on the booth owner's neck, shivers running down his spine as he tried desperately to act natural.
P approached the stall with a calm, indifferent expression, acting as if he didn't suspect a thing.
*Heh. So she can actually be useful as bait. Here we go...* P smirked evilly in his mind.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the park:
"Ugh, where is she?! We've been looking for hours!" Yuki complained, searching through the crowds.
"Maybe she went home because of how we treated her earlier... We really are terrible friends," Min-seo sighed, looking down.
"But what about the surprise we planned for her...?" Yuki asked.
"I keep calling her phone, but it goes straight to voicemail. She might be busy, or maybe she's lost like we are," Mio said, tapping her screen.
"We have to find her! We can't let all this preparation go to waste. You know Hanabi rarely gets to have fun like the rest of us because of her terrible luck," Yuki declared, trying to rally her group.
"Guys..." Yu-na interjected quietly.
"Tonight, we are going to make sure Hanabi has the most memorable night of her life!" Yuki cheered, raising a fist.
"Guys..." Yu-na repeated, louder.
"Not even some guy is gonna—" Yuki started.
"GUYS!" Yu-na yelled, pointing sharply off to the side. "Isn't that the exact girl we're losing our minds over?!"
The group spun around to look.
Farther down the path, Hanabi was strolling toward a shooting gallery, happily carrying a giant teddy bear.
"WHAT?!" they all gasped in unison.
"What is she doing...?" Yuki blinked.
"Wait... isn't that P walking right behind her?" Min-seo noted, her eyes widening.
"MY MONEY—!" Mio growled furiously.
"That absolute muddle-head-!" Yuki snapped.
"Wait a second..." Min-seo gasped, clutching her face. "He's carrying chocolates, she's holding a giant plushie, and she's blushing... Are they on an actual date?!"
"Oh my gosh... I need to watch this!" Yu-na giggled excitedly.
The four girls crept closer, ducking behind a nearby bench to spy on the pair as a sweet song began playing over the park's PA system:
🎵 *Hold on tight, the night is bright,* 🎵
🎵 *We'll make memories tonight...* 🎵
At the booth, the disguised assassin behind the counter gripped the back ledge tightly, his knuckles turning white. A customer stepped away, and Hanabi immediately took the open spot, picking up one of the toy rifles. She reached into her pocket to pull out money for the game.
🎵 *Round and round the lights all glow,* 🎵
🎵 *Where this journey leads, who knows...* 🎵
Before she could pay, P reached past her, handing the cash to the operator like a complete gentleman. Hanabi pulled her hand back, looking up at P with a surprised, grateful expression.
🎵 *Smile away your every fear,* 🎵
🎵 *Joy is waiting right here...* 🎵
Hanabi took a few shots, but her aim was completely terrible, missing every target. P casually tossed another bill onto the counter, his eyes locking onto the operator with a completely flat glare. The assassin sweat profusely, realizing P was setting something up.
🎵 *Tell me, where are we going now?* 🎵
P stepped up directly behind Hanabi, crossing his left arm around her to help her steady the rifle. Hanabi froze, looking up at him as he leaned down close to her ear, whispering a few quiet words.
"Wh-What is he doing to her?!" Yuki hissed from behind the bushes, her blood boiling.
🎵 *Can tomorrow wait somehow?* 🎵
Hanabi let out a soft laugh, and together, they lined up the iron sights toward the stacked cups.
🎵 *Is this luck or destiny?* 🎵
Hanabi could feel the warmth of P’s breath against the side of her neck, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. Meanwhile, directly behind her head where she couldn't see, P’s face was twisted into a dark, sinister grin.
🎵 *Win or lose, who really cares?* 🎵
P subtly adjusted the angle of the barrel, aiming it slightly beneath the counter toward the back wall.
He pulled the trigger alongside Hanabi.
nearby, a man sitting on a park bench pulled a suppressed pistol from beneath his coat, taking aim at the back of P's head.
🎵 *As long as laughter fills the air...* 🎵
Before the sniper could squeeze the trigger, a stranger in a dark raincoat casually strolled past the bench. The moment the stranger stepped out of the way, the sniper remained slumped backward against the bench, completely motionless and cold.
🎵 *One more game, one more try,* 🎵
*PEW!*
The shot missed the target cups entirely. However, the projectile pierced right through the fabric curtain behind the booth operator, striking a hidden gas line running along the back wall. The operator’s eyes went wide as he heard the faint hiss of escaping gas.
🎵 *Ring the bell and take the prize,* 🎵
The assassin looked back at P in sheer horror. P was casually reloading the rifle, but instead of wooden pegs, he was subtly sliding thick, sharp iron nails into the chamber.
*Son of a bitch...!* the operator thought, sweating profusely as he backed away under the guise of helping other customers.
🎵 *Fireworks paint the summer sky...* 🎵
"Let me try one more time," P said softly. Hanabi nodded eagerly.
They had four shots left.
They fired together, missing shot after shot until the final round struck the lead cup dead center, causing the entire pyramid to collapse in a satisfying cascade.
Hanabi cheered in victory, while P offered a satisfied smile from behind her.
🎵 *Take my hand, don't let go,* 🎵
The terrified booth owner quickly handed over a pair of free VIP passes to the park's Dark Ride Funhouse. He forced a strained smile while handing them to Hanabi, but his eyes were begging P for mercy. P offered a polite, gentle smile back—one that carried a promise of absolute death.
Hanabi took the tickets, and the two turned to walk away.
"Wasn't he supposed to be sniped by now...? How is he still..." the operator muttered, letting out a massive sigh of relief. "Phew... thank God."
🎵 *There are places left to know...* 🎵
*BOOM!*
The entire game booth erupted into a fiery explosion as the spark from the final iron nail ignited the leaking gas line. Flames consumed the stall as sirens immediately began blaring in the distance.
🎵 *Maybe that's for us to see...* 🎵
Unfazed by the massive blast behind them, P calmly pointed toward the grand entrance of the haunted dark ride booth. Hanabi was busy examining her winning tickets, completely unbothered by the chaos behind them.
"Oh! Let's do that one!" she said, looking up.
They walked together toward the ride's queue.
🎵 *Round and round the carousel,* 🎵
🎵 *Every story's ours to tell...* 🎵
Yuki made a move to storm out of the bushes after them, but Mio and Min-seo quickly grabbed her shoulders, keeping her hidden as they trailed the pair from a safe distance. Yu-na just smirked, enjoying the drama.
🎵 *If you stumble, if you fall...* 🎵
Inside the attraction, P and Hanabi were seated side-by-side in a small wooden boat, drifting slowly down an artificial indoor river. Mechanized ghosts and monsters popped out from the dark walls, trying to startle them.
Hanabi, completely unfazed after her terrifying rollercoaster experience, simply stared at the animatronics with a bored expression. P sat beside her, his right hand slipping quietly into his jacket to draw a suppressed handgun.
🎵 *Does your heart beat just like mine?* 🎵
🎵 *Maybe... maybe... it's the perfect time.* 🎵
Sensors picked up multiple hidden assassins crouching along the overhead rafters of the ride.
In a single fluid motion, P reached over, pulled Hanabi face-first into his chest, and wrapped his thick jacket completely over her head, shielding her entire body with his frame.
*PEW! PEW!*
Silenced gunshots echoed softly above the ride's soundtrack. P fired upward into the darkness, taking out the snipers one by one.
Wrapped tightly in his arms, Hanabi couldn't hear the faint gunshots over the ride's audio. All she could hear was the steady, heavy rhythm of his chest:
*BADUM. BADUM.*
*PEW! PEW!*
A few stray rounds grazed the sides of P's back, tearing through his jacket. He grunted quietly through gritted teeth, refusing to make a sound that would alert her.
*SPLASH!*
Heavy bodies fell from the rafters, plunging into the water around their boat. The resulting splashes sprayed water over P's back, shielding her from the crimson droplets.
Within seconds, the rafters were clear. P quickly re-holstered his weapon, eased his grip, and gently lifted the jacket off her face.
Hanabi opened her eyes, resting her chin against his chest as she looked up at him. P was panting slightly, staring down into her eyes in the dim neon light of the tunnel.
🎵 *Stay with me a little while...* 🎵
For a quiet, breathless moment, they just stared at each other as the boat drifted through the dark stream.
*She's safe,* P thought, letting out a quiet breath.
🎵 *I'll be right beside you through it all...* 🎵
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