My Superhero with a Dope Disguise

Schick Merchandise


Late nights.

Paris, Rhode Island, Tuscany are just a few places she has already been in. A pop star is always on the move. Whether land transportation or air plane, she wasn't allowed to have travel sickness. From here to there and back, a comfortable bed may not always be available but there's always a high end room in the train or a humongous pillow to lay her head on for the day/night.

Commercials, modelling and sitcoms, the starlet barely had time for college but she still tried her best to attend Tsukuba University. Once during her high school graduation, when a certain boy arrived from the big city, she promised him that she would never take her studies for granted. The managers thought it was great of her that she wanted to attain higher education so they got him a spot in one of Japan's prized universities.

In contrast with those students who burnt their eyebrows just to get in, all she had were connections. Be that is it may, she was already in, and she didn't break her promise.

"What's troubling you, Risette?"

A young man clothed in a fancy DKNY blazer circled his arm around the singer's waist. Immediately moving away from him, she didn't think she was in need to submit herself to him even if he was a co-host of one noon time show and was adored by thousands. Masataka Sato was handsome, very handsome, but she was only twenty and a struggling sophomore college student, she must not give in to his will.

"My hometown friends are coming to Tsukuba. I must make time for them. Preferably, not less than a day." Rise's voice, though sweet, was very serious, and Masataka felt this was wishful thinking. With their new manager going hardcore on them, he knew her idea was absurd.


Tsukuba. Trouble on her mind.

Not just fanmail far and wide has drowned her basement, also boys from different walks of life fall for her left and right. Appealing, beautiful and smart, what kind of guy would resist her? Not even chocolate haired drool-worthy Masataka Sato was resistant to her charms. Bars she attended, clubs she graced with her presence, they all bowed down to her charisma and she had enjoyed each night though she knew well she was just wasting her time.

High heels, skinny jeans, and a nicely fitted blouse, she prepared so much for this day. The pop star was not given with a day off but a night off. Yosuke, Teddie, Kanji, Chie, Yukiko, Naoto were all dining in Tsukuba and Rise would have loved to eat lunch with them but to no avail. For one entire night, though she would be sacrificing a bit of sleep was all she managed to get. Then again, it was better than nothing.

"Ooh! Rise! You are still so bear-y beautiful!"

No matter how sparkly her scarf was, of course, Teddie, the one who fancied to score with the ladies could always recognize her from any type of covering. "Sshh!" Rise put her index finger in front of her lips and just under her nose, "I don't want to a cause a riot here, Teddie! I want to spend some free time with you guys!" The blonde haired bisexual was already running towards her. Even if she had this stern look on her face, their unison still fell under a ton of giggles and a very warm hug.

It had been the biggest recess of her life— to see all of her friends from Yasoinaba gathered in Tsukuba. Not only they were there to see her but some of them were actually staying around for a really long time. For example, Yosuke Hanamura had been in the capital, namely Tokyo, for almost three years. Same with Naoto Shirogane for two. Teddie just arrived and would be staying with the sunset haired boy but Chie and Kanji were just around for a month-long vacation.

It was nice to have her real friends gathered around but whom she missed most was none other than Yu Narukami.

"Senpai," she cooed happily as she raises both of her forearms and slowly intertwines her fingers. "I've been attending classes like I promised," closing in on him, she knew she could have said something better than that, but she was older and much mature now, and she'd want to show that to him in a more private time, hence a lot more special.

"I'm glad to hear it." Yu genuinely smiled down at her. The boy, twenty one and a junior college student, turned out to be lean, very tall and had broader shoulders; he was simply perfection.

There was this urge inside her body that wanted to tip her toes and plant a kiss on his cheek but she knew better to save it for later. Surely, they'd have some alone time. Why wouldn't they? Rise had been waiting for this moment since he first left Inaba after his sophomore year in Yasogami High.


Smile shining like gold.

The dinner, the karaoke, the street lights, everything seemed to be so much better when you're with your most valued peers. Despite her rusty work schedule, strict managers and creepy nerve-wracking workmate, she was truly blessed. The only thing missing in her life was Yu Narukami being hers exclusively.

"There's this nice park just outside this building. I once saw it when I was running away from the paparazzi. I want to visit again and I could use some company." Rise managed to pull Yu to the side while Yosuke and Chie fought over one microphone and Teddie rape the other. "Senpai, what do you say?"

It was really getting late and more than half of the group was already tipsy. Still, their hero felt the need to catch up with their starlet so he amorously grazed his fingertip under her chin, smirked at her and said "The pleasure is all mine."

A soft giggle and a blush, it boosted Rise's confidence in asking him out. Uncertain on how they would exactly do it, but she was bullet-proof absolute that this was the right thing to do and the most perfect time. They would be star-crossed lovers no more and would just stay in one place and eventually get married. The plan fits them well.

With a laughing Yukiko and a busy Kanji conversing with Naoto, it was cake walk to slip out of the room unnoticed. Eventually getting to that park she was referring to, the silver haired male was utmost surprised to see such a thing existed as if it was never touched by pollution or any sort of human filth. It was amazing!

Just like in the movies, this was how Rise imagined her first kiss with Yu would be. None of her commercials, movies or sitcoms included her as the lady with the romantic interest so she never smacked anyone on the lips yet. Though there were times that people behind the cameras often teased her with Masataka, and during parties when they would get drunk, the male actor would pull her into a powerful smooch. There were boys in bars and clubs too that were lucky enough to have a quick taste but not once did she count them in. As far as real kisses go, she still haven't had her first.

"My manager got me a lead role in a movie due next year," she announced happily after she placed her self on the neat bench and he followed suit.

"Congratulations, Rise. Your career is progressing. Considering your very young age, you're quite successful." Again, he smiled at her, his arm crawling slowly atop the bench's backrest, his forearm almost shielding her shoulders from the cold breeze of Tsukuba. Almost… but their skins never touched.

"Come on, Yu. I am not that young." Emphasis on 'that'. The singer did not want to be perceived as a little girl. And emphasis on the 'Yu'. Did she need to remind him that they're close? It's time that she'd become his woman!

"Really now?" Yu neared his face towards hers when she moved an inch closer to him, his tone teasing her. With both of her palms laid flat atop the bench just settled a few centimetres next to his left thigh, her chin was tilted upwards, eyes locked on his.

"Mhmm…" she whispered back ever so slowly. The hero thought she was cute, she had always been.

"Yu..?" There was a voice that was totally not part of the script. It was stern and womanly, something that didn't belong to Rise. As she swivelled her head to see who it was who had barged into their amazing scene, she had to mentally curse Yukiko for ruining a good moment.

"Hey, Yukiko." The silver haired gent gradually stood from the bench and called the other with his gentle voice. Rise was shocked to witness this. Why was he moving? It wasn't over! Sit back down!

"Hi. Teddie and Kanji are passed out. I think it's time to go." The long raven haired girl pointed out and the femme in chestnut pigtails thought there was sense in her words but she didn't think she had a reason valid enough to destroy her lovely picture. They can all go home, and she could just leave them alone. Should she know better, she'd think that Yukiko did this on purpose since she always seemed to have the hots for Yu. They have been rivals even if no one actually spoke of it.

"You're right. Let's go." Spoken like a true gentleman, he soon stepped closer to the intruder, leaving the celebrity frozen on her spot. Just a few seconds everything shifted, and now Rise was looking at Yukiko wrapping both of her wrists around Yu's elbow.

After a second, though, he pulled it off of her but he stretched his arm atop her shoulders exactly how a boyfriend would to his girl. "Hnn!" Rise was left with the tiniest yelp, both of her hazel eyes widened in surprise, her right hand reaching out to the duo of retreating backs. What the hell did she just see?


Some twenty minutes later, Rise was slumped back in that stupid couch inside their karaoke room. Just before the two have disappeared through the back entrance of the building, she spotted Yu's gray eyes looking back at her, perhaps checking if she was all right.

The pigtailed woman did not pretend to be fine. Bummed and pouting, she just stared back until the other woman hid him from view.

Recently, Yosuke was singing at the corner with a Chie resting on his shoulder. Teddie was on the floor, his left arm sprawled out and his right hand shaking a bottle of liquor that looked like he was going to chuck off in a few seconds. Yukiko was seated at the side, contemplating if any of the left-over food was edible and Yu was trying to lift Kanji, pushing him towards the cushion while Naoto helped him out.

Sure, it was nice to be with everyone, yeah, but she definitely didn't see this sort of twist coming.

With a mood so low and attitude so bitter, she was not even at all annoyed to feel her mobile phone vibrating inside her jean pocket and find out that it was Masataka calling. "Hello?" she answered lazily while her eyes were still plastered on Yu, wondering how on earth was he Yukiko's boyfriend. Truly, he must have been visiting Inaba more than she ever kept track of. That was why when her co-host insisted on picking her up, she didn't think any more and just agreed to it.

Maybe she was zoning out, wondering which part of her heart hurt the most, that's why she didn't realize that Yu was actually next to her whispering something in her ear. "Let's talk tomorrow, okay?"

Rise's hazel orbs, then, cautiously wandered off to Yukiko who was now occupied with waking Chie up. "I don't know," she replied to him without catching his eye contact, or his breath, or his touch. "I don't think we have anything to talk about," she continued roughly, obviously throwing a fit due to what she just learned.

Yu didn't appreciate it but he knew he was in the wrong… in so many ways than one. However, there was no concrete mistake in his record— he didn't cheat nor told Rise any lie. The only lapse he had, perhaps, was something he was not completely aware of.

Going back to his duty as the group leader, he took off from the spot next to her and inched back to where the boys were. This time, he thieved the microphone off of Yosuke. The voice of the prince of Junes was giving them an early hangover even if he'd rather his voice than Teddie's flamboyant one. They need to wrap this up because they all need to get back to their hotel rooms.

"Excuse me?"

There was a man at the door, standing alluringly, his non-intrusive smile adorably shy but rather dashing. Everyone knew who he was— Masataka Sato— he's Risette's current co-host in their weekly noon show. "I'm here for Rise," he soon paused when he noticed the chestnut haired girl gathering her things and then walking towards him.

There was this cheerful and expected grin on his face that Yu didn't find… captivating. Until now, he believed that it was his task to protect every person in their Investigation Team, including his little cousin Nanako. At the mean time, he was certain that he was experiencing that. It's been so long since he felt vigilant of them, it seems that his duty never ends.

"Bye, guys. Come around soon and I'll make time again!" The pop star gave them a friendly wave before she disappeared through the door with a man acting like he was grateful to them for taking care of her and Yu eyeing him carefully.


Bright eyes. Sundress.

The next morning, Yu had woken up to realize how strange his night was. It was rather sleepless and he blamed Yosuke's horrible snoring and Kanji's angry mumbles whenever Teddie would squeeze into him.

Those were the things he thought to be at fault, nothing else.

They wouldn't be checking out of the two hotel rooms the next day so the girls thought it would be best to spend some of their hours shopping. Surprisingly, they managed to pull Naoto along. Apparently, Yu thought otherwise with his time.

Sticking around Yukiko for the time being, he chased after Naoto when he entered the book store. The female detective was enrolled in Japan's top school, Tokyo U, just as he was and they thought they were in a good place to purchase some reference materials. Yosuke, who had been his roommate since college started, was enrolled in Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, a totally different one.

The raven haired girlfriend was outside, chatting with her short haired best friend. Yu found himself, zoning off when he watched her as he stood in line.

"You know, every relationship is different." Naoto's stern voice caught him off guard. Apparently, she was behind him, examining the pile of things on her hands.

"Sorry, what?" Rather confused of what she just said, he wheeled his head around to see her.

"I mean, these books. They are all made of paper and as some are obviously weightier than other, nevertheless, you know they are far various than they seem to be." Naoto stared back at him as if she had a different meaning to what she said and she was not just referring about these reading materials.

"It would be hard to pick a favourite," Yu smiled gently but Naoto's serious expression never changed.

"Yes but what's more true is there's always one that's more memorable than the rest. I'm sorry, senpai, but I believe it's your turn." The detective prince nodded at the lady in the counter as she referred to Yu being the next to be served.

"Right. I'm sorry," he apologized once more as he handed over his things but not without spotting a magazine on the rack.

"Oh look, it's Rise." As if his mind was being read, Naoto spoke clearly of the words inside his head. Setting it up apart from the rest, she soon added, "I think that Masataka Sato isn't entirely good for her. That's just a hunch. I am yet to clarify this once I get a hold of my grandfather." It seemed not only him was concerned about their starlet.


The sun had begun to set and none of Kanji and Naoto's texts for Rise had been answered. Up until the moment they gave up, they decided to just grab their nighttime meal without her.

Teddie seemed to be lost in the streets too. The shiny things must have been very distracting and the hero had taken upon his own hands to look for him. Easily finding him by the candy store, the florid blondie went yelling and waving his hand. "Rise-chaaaan!"

Yu was as surprised as Rise, both turning their heads to gape at Teddie and eventually upon each other. "Bring this and don't wait up for me. Tell them I'll call," the silver haired boy was quick on his wits, dumping all of his purchased books on the gaudy comrade and taking off immediately.

"But sensei!" Teddie called out, whining, even if he knew his word was nothing against his orders.

"Senpai, I didn't— I… What are you doing here?" It was strange of her to stutter like this but he didn't feel like pampering her since they've left off last night pretty badly.

"Do you have time, Rise? Have dinner with me." A gentle voice with a cold tone, only Yu Narukami would be able to pull that off. Even if she was a celebrity, admired by many, he was still more powerful than her.

"Sorry for the wait. I hope none of our stalkers caught you." Masataka Sato walked in with a freshly bought box tucked under his right arm and the singer soon under his left. Since her lips were an easy target, he aimed for it and planted a peck on it… which almost missed because she abruptly turned her face.

The displeasure in his expression was instantly visible, the same as Yu's disapproval on his.

"What do we have here?" he began after his gaze crawled to where Rise's attention was at. "Hello there. A-"

"This is Yu Narukami, a good friend of mine. We met in Inaba." Much to the male actor's chagrin, it was obvious that she was defending him.

Yu stood firmly and didn't take out his hand, nor wanted to. Rise would have preferred that they greet each other accordingly but she knew the male race had their unspoken issues.

"Inaba," Masataka grinned widely but not really liking the idea that the guy from the boonies was as tall as him. Maybe he had looks but no one could match up to his. "I guess you already know me," he told Yu, "and this is my ride." Stopping by the curb was the vehicle their chauffeur drove. It did not look like the female pop star was joining him so he just bid her adieu. "See you later."

Rise frowned at the sight of Masataka leaving with the car she was supposed to be in and the curve on her lips didn't turn upside down when she returned her focus on Yu… who seemed mad at her for some reason.

"Dinner?" she asked, wondering why she had this apologetic tone. All she had was a nod before the two of them took off.


Artless, awkward and quiet. This wasn't how Rise imagined their first date with Yu to be. Though the food was delectable and elegant, they ate in silence. Not even the question 'Where are the others?' came up because she knew Kanji and Naoto were sending her text messages and she had ignored them on purpose.

"Anything on your mind?" she asked, desperate, as she watched Yu take a couple of bills out from his wallet and pay for their meals.

By the time the waiter approved the amount and left, the silver haired boy cut her off with an "I'll take you back."

It did not feel like it was going well at all. Even when Rise insisted that they just walk so as to prolong their time together, Yu was still as mute as ever. The only thing different, however, was that his presence didn't have his usual peaceful glow, rather he seemed agitated or at war with himself.

Rise then feared that if this kept up, she would lose him for good. So just before they turned by an empty street, she took a tight grasp of his forearm and forced him to stop on his track. "What's your problem!?" she may have had the chance to execute that in a better way but she was running out of patience.

"Did something happen between you two last night?" The darkness engulfed the heavens, only allowing the fewest stars to appear on the sky. The lamp post built next to them stood witness to Yu's very uncharacteristic outburst and Rise's very much shocked expression. For a moment, it did not look like she was about to answer it truthfully.

"What do you mean!?"

"You didn't answer my question." Now, Yu understood why he was pissed. It was because he was protective of Rise. Not once did he think that he rescued her from the TV World just so she would have a less than lovely affair with an actor, as ironic as it sounded. And there was something else he was annoyed about and it kept stuck at the tip of his tongue.

"After Masataka picked me up, he thought we were going steady." Did anyone know that high school never ends? Forever and always, there will be this petty drama. "So he kissed me! And out of spite, I might have kissed him back."

A masculine hand instantly ran through a number of silver strands that usually hanged over a pair of smoothed brows. This time around, they were scrunched, Yu's facial expression distorted, his eyes unsettled to be kept locked with hers.

Rise looked behind her and saw that the building she resided in was just across the street. Returning to the 'somewhat' conversation they had, she used her both hands to tug on his jacket and gazed straight up to his face. "Why are you here, Yu?"

Atypically uncooperative and distracted with the thoughts of what he was just fed with, he didn't think much and just answered, "For you. I feel responsible for all of you."

Just like the leader he once was, the need to protect all of them was still intact inside his heart. Truly, Rise was grateful for that but that's not exactly what she wanted. "Just the same with everyone else, isn't that right, senpai?"

Now, they're back to 'senpai', he thought.

The singer's mouth opened once more, tears threatened to appear in her eyes. "I've always wished it was going to be you and me, but how foolish was I to believe that you'd choose me over Yukiko?"

It has always been there but never spoken. Yu was shocked with the unpredictability of it all and Rise was upset with this. As her grip on his outerwear slid off, he had the sudden urge to pull her back but he was too late, she was already off running.

Tonight, definitely, he'd be haunted with the thoughts of Masataka and Rise together.