Fuuka would find no peace tonight.
A wall of letters and symbols displayed on her screen, incomprehensible to anyone but those with trained eyes. The green-haired girl scrolled through it, stopping here and there to replace a string of code, but it did nothing to change the error shown. She groaned in frustration while Rise watched right behind her, bored of this spectacle. So the idol yawned to let her presence be known, startling Fuuka.
"Aah-! Oh! It's just you, Rise..?" Fuuka settled down and Rise flashed her signature cute smile to confirm the question. She took her seat next to the other girl.
"Hehe, were you surprised, Fuuka?" She leaned closer to her computer screen. "What're you doing? And so late at night?"
Fuuka was aching to return to work, but the prospect of having someone watch her actions made her uncomfortable. The girl changed the screen to her plain desktop and decided to just give Rise attention.
She replied, "It's a new program I'm working on... It's supposed to record a map so our leaders wouldn't have to draw one manually but…" Fuuka sighed. It was impossible, and a failure… that part she kept to herself.
Rise wasn't interested in the program as much as she was in the other girl. She figured something was wrong, Fuuka just seems so gloomy, what with her half-hearted replies and the fast that she wouldn't even look at her in the eyes- and she's working so late at night on top of it. She looked up to face her and gave her a soft shove, surprising her once again.
"Hey, that's cool and all, but…" Rise looked up, and Fuuka followed her gaze to the wall clock—it read 1:50. Fuuka didn't even realize it was that late. Rise turned back to face the green-haired girl.
"You need sleep. sleep." And to make sure she didn't sound forceful, Rise gave her a little smile. "Come on, you can work on it tomorrow."
Fuuka broke eye contact, a little nervous at being put on the spot like that. "I appreciate that you care so much, but…" She ran out of words to say. I can't let you guys down… were unspoken.
"But what?" Rise said, but she wasn't really asking. She reached for Fuuka's shoulder in a side-hug. "We're partners… If you fall asleep on the job, I don't know what I'll do to manage a group this big! And also…"
Fuuka waited for the idol to finish her sentence, but only silenced followed. She picked up her head to face her, and what looked back was genuine worry on Rise's face. It was unexpected and it made her tense a little.
The idol gave Fuuka's shoulder a small squeeze. And that, coupled with her actual fatigue from working so late, was too much for her. She gave in. Fuuka really was tired, but it didn't feel right to sleep with a job jalf-done. Rise's reassurance convinced her enough to rest a little.
"I'll sleep—"Fuuka started, realizing her head was nodding down. Rise stifled a giggle
"I just didn't know you cared so much…"
Rise looked offended at the idea. "Hey, what do you mean…? You're my friend, of course I care about you! Or do you think I'm heartless, just because I'm an idol?"
Fuuka was just glad she returned to her old self. The girl relaxed by multitudes, and even let out a smile. "Heh, sorry… I don't mean it in a bad way, I just appreciate it, that's all." and she really meant it. Rise doing this meant a lot to her.
Rise nodded, satisfied with the answer. She stood up and helped Fuuka up in turn. "Yeah, sure, it's no problem. Just get a good night's sleep, alright?"
The two walked out of the classroom together, neither realizing they left hand in hand.
Fuuka couldn't sleep. Her anxious thoughts tormented her.
Supporting the team was the only thing she could do to help out, but now that the new girl's come over and upstaged her in almost every way, she didn't know what to do.
Healing is the only thing she has for her, but who knows? What if Rise surpasses her in that regard as well? They won't need her anymore, that single thought repeated in her head. They won't need her, the team won't need her anymore, they might as well take Rise with her when they all go home.
Fuuka shifted on her bed. It was a silly thought, but it was something she can't help thinking about. But still…
The feelings from the earlier conversation with her still lingered. The hug Rise gave her and the look of actual worry in her eyes… it made her feel warm. Fuuka denied it and pretended she had no idea why, but Rise calling her "partner" felt nice—It reminded her of how Yosuke always calls Yu his partner, and it wasn't a secret that he had the biggest crush for him.
Fuuka just ignored it. Spending time with Rise feels nice, that's all.
She pushed out the bad and taunting thoughts with these nice ones. All the memories with her spending time with Rise helped her calm down, a little. She thought of the idol's cute, signature smile when she was finally at peace enough to sleep.