Rise was brimming with delight as she helped the girls wash up the dishes.
(Nanako-chan loved my omelette rice! She said it was spicy, but good!)
To be quite honest, she was nervous about how her dish would turn out, seeing how Chie and Yukiko senpai were both so confident about their own culinary skills. Even Souji senpai flashed her a small encouraging smile when he took a bite of it.
"Heyyyy! Rise-chan! There's still a serving of your spicy omelette over hereeee!" Teddie's voice came from the sitting area.
"Alright, I'm coming!" She put down the wash cloth and walked over to where Nanako and the boys were sitting. She took the plate of what remained of her spicy omelette rice and smiled her brightest idol smile at Nanako. The Risette smile. And then she noticed that someone was missing from the table.
(Hmm? Where's Yosuke senpai?)
Rise paused, and glanced around. He wasn't in the house. Then she looked outside and spotted him sitting alone at the balcony. Curious as to why he wasn't joining the conversation with the others, Rise opened the door, closed it behind her, and Yosuke still hadn't noticed her presence behind him.
"Senpai?"
Yosuke jumped up and spun around in surprise. "R-rise-chan! Hey!"
"What're you doing alone out here?"
Yosuke seemed uneasy. He sat back down and stared at his feet. "Well… Nothing, really. I was just thinking. About stuff."
Rise sat next to him and settled the plate of omelette rice on her lap. "What's on your mind, senpai?" She had always been curious about Hanamura-kun. He was always cheerful and hardly ever seen without a smile, but somehow, Rise could sense that he was haunted by something. She couldn't quite figure out what it was, but she knew her senpai was troubled.
"Saki Konishi…" Yosuke was still looking at his feet.
(Of course…)
"Oh… I heard about her. And… I know she was special to you."
The orange-haired boy looked at her and smiled sadly. "Now that the case is over, she can finally be at peace, huh? When we fought that jerk Mitsuo… he talked about her like she was nothing. Like she was just another girl for him to take out his anger on." Yosuke was frowning. Rise had never seen him so furious before. "All this while… I swore I'd never rest until the case was closed. Until Saki senpai got the revenge she deserved. I… I just wish she could be here to see us now."
Rise put a hand on his shoulder, not quite knowing what to say. Then the frown disappeared from Yosuke's face and the cheerful smile returned.
"I'm fine, Rise-chan. I just miss her. Um. Thank you. For listening to me."
"I'm sure Saki senpai would be so glad to know how hard you fought for her…" Without thinking, Rise's hand moved to Yosuke's and she clasped it tightly.
"Rise-chan…?" He looked shocked, but almost happy at the same time.
"I-I'm here for you, senpai. I know a lot of people think I'm just a ditzy pop idol who doesn't know anything… But… I'm here." His hand felt warm in hers. Yosuke flipped his hand around so that their fingers were intertwined.
With her left hand, Rise held up her plate of spicy omelette rice and gave him her brightest smile before saying: "So, senpai! I did promise that I'd spoon-feed you, didn't I?"
"Ahh… Well…"
She giggled at Yosuke's look of apprehension and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.