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[She fights the urge to pat him on the back, since that would probably freak him out all over again. Instead she helps him gently dab up the mess with her napkins as well.

Oh sweetie.

She frowns down at him a little.]

Yeah but not all of them are actually someone I know. Someone who's my friend and who helped save my life.

[She gently pokes his forehead.]

I kinda like you too, okay?

[It's big to admit it, since he already knows how she feels about Souji, but she's learned a lot about this place since she's been here and how maybe it's okay for her to finally admit that, and to do something about it.]

[He wanted to grumble that Souji counted as someone like that too, but she poked his forehead and interrupted his thoughts because - wait, what?

He lifted his head, squinting at her a little.]

...what?

[He couldn't have heard right, could he? She likes Souji, not him!]

[Well, yes, but she already has that conversation all squared away. She already knows where she stands with Souji. She thought she did with Yosuke, too, until this new information came to light.

She honestly feels a bit silly for overlooking it, but such is the way of bias.]

I like you too, Yosuke. Honestly a lot more since I got here, so that made it twice as much of a relief that this place isn't gonna demonize me for it.

[It wasn't sinking in. It really wasn't. Nothing about it made sense to him. She had latched onto Souji since day one. He leaned back in his chair as he still struggled to compute this. 'a lot more since I got here' also meant that she liked him before coming here.

But-]

Why?

Same reason anyone would.

[She shrugs, sips her drink.]

You make me feel safe and supported, you're a really good listener, you're really brave. I mean you're one of the people who saved my life, you know? And you've been taking care of me since I got here.

You're nice to look at, and especially cute when you're embarrassed.

[She smirks sideways at him. Yeah she latched onto Souji day one, but if she could have been in the middle of a senpai sandwich without losing her entire reputation? You bet she would have.]

Same reason... anyone would?

[He sounded so disbelieving as he parroted her words. It just didn't make sense to him, that's all. Even if she did name off the things he had done. She wasn't lying, that much he could tell.]

B-But I... what about Souji?

[He looks so intense she has to look away. Guilt pumps through her blood into her heart and she didn't miss this feeling.]

I like him too. He knows it. We're working it out. He has more than one girlfriend already, though, so why am I not allowed to like more than one boy?

[Of course. Okay. So she liked the both of them. But that just... made this feel like it was a lot more difficult now.]

I didn't say you weren't allowed, Rise. I just... you didn't say anything. A-And I mean... it's not like I wasn't obvious about my attraction I just... assumed you didn't...

[So he never said anything. His fingers played with the used napkins, leg bouncing with restless energy. He took a breath.]

Rise, I'm not like Souji. [He made sure to look at her when he said this. He needed to make this clear before they went any further than these... confessions.] I'm not like a lot of people here. I don't...

[He paused, he needed to say this right.]

I don't want to share. Not when it comes to relationships. Hook ups I can deal with but... anything more serious than that and I... I can't.

[Rise sighs, deflating a little from her earlier elation.]

No, I didn't. I got... caught up in a lot of things and tried really hard to pretend I wasn't that kind of girl, or whatever... I'm sorry, Yosuke-senpai.

[It's complicated.] I did know, at first, I just... I assumed it was because I was Risette, and then by the time that wasn't a reason anymore...

[She'd dug her own grave. But that's not the only important thing happening, here, and not the only thing that's leaving her disappointed. She meets Yosuke's eyes, and bites the inside of her cheek.]

Right. Okay. That's fair.

[It's fair, but it really sucks. There's a lot to unpack there, for her. Not the least of which being the thought that he's implying he would potentially be serious about me. Which Rise can't even begin to handle, right now.]

I don't really know what I want, yet. I want the chance to know for sure what I do what? And not just what I was told to want. I guess I don't really want anything serious yet, either.

[He nodded to her apology. He wanted to be mad about it, he was a little upset, but he couldn't really fault her either. She was an idol, it was probably scandalous enough with Souji, hiatus or not.'

It just wasn't worth the energy to actually do anything about it and it was better to move forward. He pursed his lips a little.]

I mean, my crush started because of Risette. But even after seeing your true self and getting to know Rise... it just. Never really went away. I like all of you, always have.

[He lifted his shoulders in a small, barely there shrug and his gave her a lopsided little smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. What can ya do? But he was truthful with his words, because she was being honest too. A relationship with her wasn't out of the question.

But it was also clear that now was very much not a good idea.]

You only just arrived, it's fair that you get your chance to figure yourself out too. I'm fine if you wanna keep it light and not serious. I'm still figuring that part of myself out too, so. It's probably good that we don't jump in.

[It's fair, but it really sucks.]

[A little blush rises to her cheeks, and Rise can't help but smiling.]

I was a little blind to it, back home.

[ It's nice to hear it now, though. Her heart does a little flip in her chest. ]

Yeah? It's okay if that's too weird. I mean, I'd like to at least get the chance to flirt with you now... I'll be sad, but I'll understand, if you gotta tell me no...

[But he isn't saying no. He's saying it's not serious. Her eyes flash, wanting to see that smile of his reach his eyes.]

So it's cool that we're on a date, then?

We did have a lot going on back then, aside from normal high school drama.

[On any other day, Yosuke would have been ecstatic to hear that Rise wanted to flirt with him, that she liked him and all that. But things quite easily got complicated really fast and all he could do was simply nod.]

Yeah, it’s... I mean, I guess it’d be-

[Wait, what?]

...we are?

No kidding.

[Thanks for giving her the excuse there, buddy.

Rise smiles wryly and sips her drink.]

Aren't we?

[We all know Yosuke is too nice sometimes.

But brb, Yosuke’s starting to blue screen.]

I-

But-

[He silently points to her, then to himself, then to the table as a gesture of their date place...all the while looking incredibly confused and thinking hard to work this out.

And then, he promptly turned beet red and held his face.]

This is a date?! Why didn’t you tell me?!

[Yosuke you are too cute! Rise can't completely stifle her laughter. Sorry, bud.]

Well I had to mention the other thing first, right?

[He really does like her, doesn't he? Rise preens like a peacock.]

W-W-W-Well yeah b-but-!

[It wasn’t even that he didn’t want to be on a date. But he spit tea out of is nose! And they were talking about totally not date things! And-And-!

He sank into his chair, still holding his face.]

This can’t be your idea of a good date.

I'm having a great time.

[Sure it's partly that she's kind of a sadist and watching Yosuke embarrass himself brings her uncountable joy, but that's not the point.]

I found out a really good-looking boy likes me and maybe wants to casually go out, everything's coming up Rise.

[Even so, Yosuke made a soft whining sound but he finally lowered his arms.

Even after all that, it wasn’t like he was going to say no.]

O-Okay.

[She was enjoying herself and honestly, so was Yosuke. Probably not as much as Rise considering he was still looking like a tomato and his nose still burned a bit. But...]

Then, it’s a date.

[Rise beams at him, reaching over to gently poke his cheek.]

Glad to hear it!

[You can tell her she's an ass if you really need to, Yosuke. She's kind of aware she's not done the best job re: him, and she's partly dealing with that by not dealing with it.

She really does just want to have a nice time with him, though.]

Promise I'll warn you ahead next time.

[Unless your name was Chie, he wasn’t going to call another girl an ass. He does look unimpressed at her poking though.]

You’d better.

[He could have worn something nicer.]

[You really shouldn't let her get away with murder like this.

Rise giggles and takes her hand back to rest her chin on it.]

How was work?

[Yosuke couldn't help it.]

It was fine. It's work and it's food service, so.

[Not exactly the most entertaining. Of course, then he lit up suddenly and smiled.]

I saw Koro-chan again today.

[You're gonna make a terror out of her.]

That's Minako-senpai's doggy, right?

[She doesn't really know Shinjiro yet.]

Is it? I thought he was Aragaki's. He works with me at McDenny's and Koro-chan visits a lot.

[Not that it really mattered at the end of the day, the dog was awesome.]

Oh, maybe he is...

[Now she's not sure.]

I havent met Aragaki-san yet. Koromaru is a cutie, though.

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