The investigation team were gathered at their special headquarters in the roof of Junes. They had originally gotten together to study for their quickly approaching final exams, but that had rapidly fallen apart and now they were scattered across the food court. Yosuke and Kanji were standing by the food counter, waiting for their orders. Teddie was dressed in his full bear suit, on the clock and entertaining some kids. Chie sat at one of the tables, waiting for the boys to bring her the food she ordered. Next to her sat Yu and Yukiko, the only ones who were still trying to study. And finally there was Rise, who stood off to the side, sipping on the drink she had just purchased from the vending machine. She quietly watched her friends as they hung out, paying special attention to her senpais, Yu and Yukiko.

Rise wasn't really the jealous type; she truly enjoyed all of her new friends and she was happy to have them. But when she had her eye one something, she liked make it her own. So, as soon as Yu-senpai stood up from the table and walked over to the food counter, Rise made a beeline for it.

"From this day forward, you are my rival, Yukiko-senpai!" Rise announced loudly and out of nowhere. She stood behind Chie and Yukiko, pointing at Yukiko's back. The girls turned.

"Rival?" Yukiko asked. "W-what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Narukami-senpai." Rise replied, matter-of-factly. She sat down in between the two girls. "Since Chie-senpai is out of the picture, that makes you and I rivals for love!"

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Chie protested. "What do you mean that I'm 'out of the picture'?"

"Well, because you like Yosuke-senpai, of course!" Chie's face turned a deep crimson.

"What!?" she said loudly. "I do not like Yosuke! Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"I can just tell." Rise explained. "I'm pretty good at reading people. It's sort of my thing." Chie grumbled, but didn't say anything else. Rise smiled. "So, what do you say, Yukiko-senpai? Are you gonna be my rival for senpai's love?"

"F-for Narukami? B-but I don't..." Yukiko stammered, her face mimicking the color of her cardigan.

"OK, that's fine then." Rise said with a devilish grin. "I guess I'll have him all to myself." With that statement, Yukiko's demeanor immediately changed.

"Hang on a minute now," Yukiko said with an almost sinister tone. Chie shifted uncomfortably as she felt the tension rise in the air between them. "I never said I wanted out. You're on!"

"OK! But you may have been better off dropping out right away, seeing as you have no chance to win..."

"I think I'm gonna go see what the boys are up to..." Chie said, getting out of there as fast as she could.

"Oh, you think so?" Yukiko asked her. "We'll see. Care to start this right?" She reached her hand out to Rise. Rise took it with a powerful grin and shook it hard. And just like that, a friendly rivalry commenced. Chie and the boys walked back over and saw the two of them glaring daggers at each other.

"Hey ladies!" Yosuke said. "What...what's going on?"

"Don't. Ask." Chie told him, sitting down in a huff. She yanked her food out of Yosuke's hands, nearly spilling it, and dug in.

"Geez, Chie. What's your problem?" Yosuke asked.

"Nothing!" Chie snapped at him. Rise giggled at the two of them.

"Don't worry about her, Yosuke-senpai." she said. "Probably just stress from studying. Speaking of which, Narukami-senpai? I'm having trouble with this math problem. Could you give me a hand?"

"Sure." Yu replied, sitting next to her. As Rise opened her book, she could feel Yukiko-senpai's glare on the back of her head. Rise smiled. The challenge had officially begun.

Rise and Yukiko feel a faint bond forming between them…