Think of me every now and then

[multifacets]

The train taking Souji from Inaba had long left the station, but Rise felt like life in Inaba had stopped there on the platform. With Souji gone and the case resolved, what more was left for her? A week later, Rise still had no answer.

It was true that the members of the Investigation Team were close, but there was also no doubt Souji had been the glue that held them all together. It had been Souji who sat down with them and assuaged their fears and worries. Where did that leave the rest of them with him gone? Rise had woken up just days earlier, realizing she had no clue what Yukiko's life inside the inn was like, or where Chie liked to go when she wanted to train, or even what kind of music Yosuke was always playing on those earphones of his. That scared her, the thought that their cozy little group might fall apart because the center piece was gone.

She decided then that she'd make an effort to know all of them. They accepted her for who she was, idol troubles and all, and she'd be the empty-headed ditz everyone thought she was if she let friendship like that go. Kanji was first on her list.

Sometime during the next week, Kanji would receive the following text:

kanji kun! ur cming shopping with me 2morrow no xcuses! c u aftr skool! ヾ(*´∀｀*)/

Comments

[stitchery]

To be quite honest Kanji really wasn't expecting a text from Rise. Sure he had.... been kind of hoping that things would still stay the same even with senpai being gone? But.... who was he kidding? Everyone had their own lives to live. Of course he should at least wait more than a week to jump to this conclusion, but. Well why would they want to hang out with him? Most of them anyways. Sure he could nag Naoto and Rise into hanging out with him eventually because they were in the same year, but not the other senpais. He didn't want to pressure them.

But anyways! He was currently making one more adorable little oven-mitt doll when he felt his pocket vibrate. He pulled it out quickly thinking it was an urgent text, hah. Old habits sure do die hard. Flipping it open he stares at the screen a little as he reads the message.

wat? y do u have 2 decid thngs fr me?!

[multifacets]

Rise giggled when she got the reply. Good old Kanji, still as temperamental as ever, even after everything. That was more reassuring that it should have been. Rise leaned back against the wall, the vending machines around her shielding her from passerby's view while she typed out another message.

geez y all the questions?? do u evn hav NEthing to do 2morrow?

[stitchery]

Well of course that side of him wouldn't change! Sure he could get nicer and drop the icy death glares, but he'd still be the same as far as wigging out went. He leans back against the couch he was sitting in front of and sighs.

well no. i wasnt.

[multifacets]

Should've lied when you still could, Kanji. Rise smiled to herself knowingly. She'd figured everyone would sort of be moping about Senpai being gone during the spring break. It looked like she was right.

C??? so u shuld come wit me!

[stitchery]

Welp, there's no going back on this now is there? Ahh well. He rubs the back of his neck as he looks down at her text. He frowns a little before he makes his reply.

Im not carrying any of UR bags. OK?

He has to maintain some sort of manly dignity, okay Rise? Though.... of course he'd probably help her if she asked him really nicely. And by really nicely all she'd probably have to do is shove the bags on to him. Of course he'd moan and complain all the way, but. He wouldn't want her to like hurt something if it was a heavy bag.

[multifacets]

Nope, there's no way out now! She'd somewhat expected him to protest, with all that complaining that happened last time, so she came prepared with an answer.

ok wont make u carry my bags! meet in frnt of gate?

She'd just have to make sure to mix a few of his things in with hers if that time came. It technically wouldn't be her bag if it had both of their purchases in it, right?

[stitchery]

Sneaky sneaky Rise. But as soon as he sees the text he nods his head.

Sure OK. Ill C U then.

swoosh swoosh swoosh magical time change.

As soon as the last bell rings Kanji makes his way out to the front gate. Usually he'd take his time with things and go check on the sewing club to see what they were doing, but not today. He knew Rise wanted to see him so he didn't want to make her wait.

alkdfj magical time change

[multifacets]

After a couple minutes, Rise approached him from behind, keeping quiet until she could tap his shoulder and give him a little wave.

"Wow you're fast, Kanji-kun," she said. "My classroom's closer and you still got here before me!"

it's the best kind of time change. ALSO SORRY FOR THE SUPER LATE COMMENT ;A;

[stitchery]

Oh jeez Rise! Way to give him a heart attack. He jumps a little as he's caught off guard. The yelp he had died somewhere in his throat as he turned around. Gotta keep your manly reputation somehow! Closing his eyes and gathering his wits, he palms the back of his neck and shrugs.

"Well you said you wanted to hang out. So..." he trails off indifferently.

<3333

[multifacets]

Gotcha! Rise thought to herself with an obnoxious amount of cheer. Maybe it was a little mean, but it was kind of nice having a reminder of how normal Kanji was under that tough guy exterior. If one needed more of a reminder than the little sewing and craft projects he'd enthusiastically taken up.

"Aw, you rushed here so I didn't have to wait? That's so sweet of you!" she said teasingly, wondering if he'd sputter and recoil at being called sweet.

<3333!!

[stitchery]

He makes a small noise of disgust as he looks away. "Tch, it's nothin'. Really. I'm sure people do that all the time with you anyways." He says as he crosses his arms. She was an important person and all, despite her current hiatus with whatever company she was signed to. Besides she was probably used to things starting on time and all that jazz, so....

[multifacets]

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

For the first time since they started planning the little trip, Rise lost a bit of the enthusiasm and dropped the cheerfulness for a small frown.

[stitchery]

"Wuh- Well yanno.... I'm sure you probably don't like it when people show up late and stuff since you had to be on time a lot when you were doing your idol thing." He rambled on awkwardly.

[multifacets]

"Oh...not really." She gave him a small smile and tugged him along by his uniform sleeve. The shopping wasn't going to wait for anyone!

It was after they'd left the school behind that Rise spoke up again, her tone thoughtful rather than perky, rather like the quieter version of Rise the Team had seen after they first rescued her.

"I didn't really have time to worry about all that, you know? My agent was the one who controlled my schedule...it's not like I could really do anything on my own," she said, letting go of him and tucking her hands behind her back as she walked beside him. "It was just going from one gig to another after I got a little more popular."

[stitchery]

"Oh...." He replied dumbly before shaking his head. Well.... it did make sense that the agent knew more than she did when it came to her schedule. So it was probably because of him that she'd arrive on time to things and stuff. After all it probably wouldn't be good for her image if she were late to everything.

"Well, it still ain't right to leave a woman hangin..."

[multifacets]

Rise understood where Kanji had gotten the impression from. People like the Investigation Team probably didn't think of fame as anything really bad until they'd had to rescue her from the TV world. That was showbiz. Making everything look glamorous from the outside. Being in the business made it easy to get lost in the petty squabbles and popularity contests that went behind the scenes. But she was stronger now. It was for her fans, the ones she could make a difference for somehow, that she was going back to the stage.

"Who taught you that?" She teased him, suddenly back to her cheerful self. "Your mom? She's a smart lady."

[stitchery]

He feels the back of his neck heat and face heat up. He rubs his nose somewhat awkwardly as he palms the back of his neck. "Uh... y- yeah, maybe? So what if she did. She taught me a lot."

way to go kanji.

[multifacets]

"You're pretty easy to embarrass, huh?"

Rise stepped in front of him, leaning in with a playful smile.

"That's kind of surprising. And a.do.ra.ble!" She punctuated the last word with a poke to Kanji's pink cheek and laughed.

[stitchery]

He ducks his head slightly as if that would help to hide him, or something.... "Yeah, yeah. Real funny, laugh it up why don't ya?" He trailed off quietly. Sure he could deal with guys poking fun at him by punching them or something, but he can't do that to Rise.

"So what did you have in mind again?"

[multifacets]

"That's a compliment, you dummy."

Seriously, the guy needs to relax a little. It's a good thing he's got her around to help him work off that steam now!

"We're going shopping. There's some new stores I wanted to look at."

[stitchery]

His face heats up even more when he hears her say that it's a compliment. He's never done well with those. He perks up a little though at the shopping comment. There were a couple of things he wanted to get, so he could probably get them with her.

"What are you lookin' for?"

[multifacets]

Good question, Kanji. Rise knew exactly what she wanted to get and that was,

"Swim suits! It's going to heat up pretty soon, so we should get ready for the beach!" She chirped her answer and shook a finger at him.

"No pervy thoughts this time! Chie-senpai and Yukiko-senpai told me what happened at the camp," she added and waited for the inevitable explosive reaction.

[stitchery]

If his face wasn't completely red before, it is now. His face could probably rival a tomato. He stops mid track and just stares. It's not that he had an issue with Rise being in a bathing suit, but.... she was a girl and... And... G-Girls in bathing suits....

Today was going to be a day that tested his will and absolute patience. He snaps his head up suddenly and glares at Rise.

"I-- that-- Sh- Shut up Rise!!"

[multifacets]

“Just kidding!” Rise skipped out of his reach, in case he got funny ideas while embarrassed. You just never knew with this guy. “You didn’t think I’d really take you swimsuit shopping, did you?”

Then her expression turned even more mischievous. “But I bet you’d loooooove it if it was Naoto-kun!”

[stitchery]

Jesus Christ Rise. He's just... gonna be headdesking into a pole over there. Though wouldn't it technically be headpoling??? Whatevs. IF LOOKS COULD KILL THOUGH.

"That wasn't even funny Rise."