Goodbye 2011, and Hello 2012.
Disclaimer: Persona 4 belong to ATLUS
P4: Trouble Chocolate
When Rise returned to the classroom along with Naoto carrying a smile and a normal complexion, Kanji knew something happened. Just a few minutes ago, he watched his friend cried, screamed and kissed him. Based after that ordeal, he would expect something must be amiss with the emotional woman. And yet, here she was. At her usual seat, right next to Naoto and behind him, reading a fashion magazine behind her World History textbook. As if nothing happened.
Kanji's first thought was to ask Rise of how she's currently feeling. Of course that couldn't happen on account of the blasted voice of Ms. Sofue informing Kanji to pay attention towards the lesson. His second thought was to ask Naoto of what transpired during the interval time of Rise's disappearance up to when the two returned to class. Again, Ms. Sofue's warning stopped him. Kanji would have no choice until the end of the subject period. Not that he mind, he needed the time to think anyway, in most particularly, Rise's crush towards him.
It may have taken a while for it to affect Kanji, but he understood now. Rise Kujikawa fell in love with him. Odd as it may be, it placed Kanji in quite of a dilemma. He's already fallen for Naoto, hard as it was for him to admit. Ergo, he cannot return the equal feelings to Rise.
Kanji made his decision. He cannot ignore his feelings for Naoto. It would be hard on Rise, but Rise deserved someone who's devoted to her. And Kanji cannot fill in that role regrettably; his heart already belonged to the blue-haired detective. He won't deny of his small hidden feelings for the former idol though, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't as big as Rise's feelings for him, their feelings weren't mutual. Rise had to find someone else who can love her back fully, he decided that much. It would be difficult, but it's the best choice there was. At least that's what Kanji thought so.
"Kanji-kun," Naoto tapped his shoulder from his side, which made him jump in surprise off his chair. He never realized that the lesson was over already. "Sorry to disturb you," Naoto added taking in account of Kanji's surprise.
"Oh no, it's fine," Kanji scratched his head embarrassingly. "What's up?"
"Do you mind if we talk in private?" Naoto bluntly asked. "It's quite important."
"Uhhh…" Kanji stopped to think. He was about to give the affirmative answer, but thought otherwise. This might be related to the Rise and kissing fiasco. Knowing Naoto, she would be questioning him of his feelings for Rise out of concern of Rise's feelings. And this can lead to his confession of his true feelings to Naoto instead, something which he's not quite ready to admit to her just yet. "How important is it?"
"That's not the point here," Naoto replied firmly. "May we talk or not?"
"Uhhh…" Kanji looked over to Rise, who didn't seem to notice since she's texting on her phone, or that's what he at least thought she was doing. "Sure, let's talk," he gave in.
"Very well then," Naoto nodded and smiled at Kanji's answer. "If you please follow me." Naoto lead as the two walked out by the classroom, unknown to Kanji that Rise was eyeing the two all along.
Not long after the two left the classroom, Rise prepared herself for their pursuit. She pulled out her wrapped gift from her bag and chased after the two, though she only wished it would be that easy.
"Hi Rise-chan," someone blocked her path. "I heard you cried during the second period? Is everything okay?"
Apparently, rumors spread fast. That and the additional of Rise's outburst and cry earlier, more of the male population of her classroom begin to fret over her. She managed to dismiss these howling hounds earlier when she entered the classroom with the assistance of Naoto, but without her, she's left defenseless.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Rise quickly intercept him. "Now go away! I'm busy!"
"Did Tatsumi do something to you?" another one came towards her.
"Yeah, I heard that he made you cry. Was it true?" one more of her fan made his move.
"No it wasn't! Can you guys move?" Rise tried to squeeze away from her dying fans. She also hid her Valentines gift so none of these fools would get the wrong idea.
"Hey, what's that under your arm Rise-chan?" But alas one managed to catch a glimpse of it. "Is that Valentines Chocolate?"
That was it for Rise. The boys immediately shifted their head at her, and slowly beginning to close in on her. Some were all excited, while others were trying to play it cool to save face, though Rise noticed their intention immediately. Rise had no time to waste on any of her classmates; but she couldn't exactly leave either, leaving her trapped within the circle of hyenas.
"Kujikawa-san," one male voice dared to contact her formally. It of course attracted Rise's attention and the boys who were surrounding her. She looked over to see the familiar face of Naoki Konishi by the classroom entrance door. While she may know very little of him, she knew of his friendship to Kanji and her two male senpais. "Kashiwagi-sensei wants me to bring you to her. She said it's pretty important," he announced to her ignoring the stare and glare from the boys.
"Not now, Konishi!" one of Rise's fans spoke up on everyone else's behalf. "We're in the middle of…"
"Cut it out man," one of his friends cut him off. "Go easy on him, his sister died."
"So?" his friend asked. "That was like a year ago, and they caught the murderer."
"Just be nice for a minute," he looked over at Naoki's scowl. "Sorry, Konishi-kun."
"Kujikawa-san, if you please," Naoki ignored their pity and apologies.
"Oh, thank God!" Rise didn't know what Kashiwagi would want with her, but whatever it may be, it's better than being surrounded with her crazy fans. She managed to slip away from the boys with ease now since they're allowing her to go, but upon realizing of her escape from them, she realized that a one-on-one talk with Kashiwagi may not be the better option after all.
Naoki could tell that she's not excited to see her either. Lucky for her, Naoki was an observant character. "You can relax, Kashiwagi didn't send me," he calmed Rise as soon as they're out of earshot from her classroom.
"Wh-what?" Rise asked. "What do you mean?"
"I just have to get you out of there," Naoki shrugged. "You're looking for Kanji and Shirogane, right? I saw them heading towards the Practice Building." He pointed at the connecting pathway towards the other facility, but Rise was much too perplexed to reply immediately at Naoki's quick thinking.
"H-how did you know?" Rise asked one at a time. "Did they say anything?"
"Just an intuition," Naoki shrugged again. "It's best not to fret about it and just go, Kujikawa-san." Naoki pointed out of the more importance task at hand.
"Thank you, Naoki-kun," Rise quickly expressed her gratitude before heading off to the direction Naoki pointed out. Basing off every cliché TV Drama concept, Rise knew the two actually did not enter the Practice Building, but merely the outer corner of the Practice Building. Rise moved fast, this was the moment of truth. She couldn't help but to feel excited bit by bit as her feet carried to where the two headed.
Souji's class
"Hello, Bruce Lee," Souji snickered a bit upon greeting Chie. He regretted his words soon when she replied with a kick to that same shin she kicked earlier that day. "Ow! Okay! Okay! I'm sorry," he apologized. "What are you doing here?" With Yukiko off on classroom duty, Chie's left alone to wonder by the one of many class windows.
"Just… thinking," she stopped looking at Yosuke napping on his desk again. Souji noticed her gaze at his best friend.
"Care to share more of your trouble to me, Chie?" he noted her quiet demeanor.
"What more can I say?" Chie asked. "I'm still not sure of what I'm feeling."
"Not sure or just lying to yourself?" Souji changed the tide. Chie turned to Souji, eyes narrowed and scowled. She hated it when he judged or confirmed of her stubborn attitude, true as they may be.
"What are you talking about?" she crossed her arms at him.
"Are you just unsure of your crush, or are you just lying to yourself of your true feelings?" Souji asked again with clearer description. Knowing Chie's stubbornness and hardheaded attitude, he had to make her accept of her true feelings instead of denying them away.
"I don't know," she snapped at him. "Can you just please let this one go, Souji-kun? Why the sudden interest anyway?" Chie wondered of Souji's change, he never was the type who pried over on this matter anyhow. "Are you trying to hook us up or something?"
"I admit, that was my initial intention," he bluntly replied. Chie did a double-take on his blunt answer wondering how he can admit things so easily. "But Kanji said something that made me think otherwise earlier today."
"Kanji?" Chie asked. "What did he say?"
Souji sighed and leaned on the window rail next to Chie's. "Well, he said that it's never good to bottle up of your feelings. He worries that it might manifest into a Shadow."
Chie narrowed her eyes over Souji's reply. Strange as it was, she had to admit it was a clever perception from the ex-delinquent.
"Which got me thinking," Souji continued. "He's right. We've all admitted of our hidden feelings and accepted our other self back in the TV world. Based after that, we shouldn't hide anymore of our true feelings"
Chie had to agree with that. She had reveal one of her greatest secret back last year, afterward it shouldn't be hard for her to be honest to herself. But yet, it's still hard for her to accept Yosuke. "But… I don't know, Souji-kun," Chie shrugged again. "How can I be honest with myself when I still don't know what my true feelings are?"
"Do you want my honest opinion?" Souji asked firsthand. He knew that his opinion sometimes was not welcomed from others.
"As long as it doesn't sound condescending," Chie eyed him down, which made Souji laughed a little from that reply.
"Okay, let's see…" Souji tried to choose his words carefully. "Based after what I've heard from you during our hallway chat, I think you already know what your feelings are. You just need to accept it and not to think too much about it. Just like you said, 'Don't think, Feel'."
Her words used against her, Chie hated it. But upon using it directed against to herself, it made her to think otherwise. All this time she had been over thinking the situation. Never once following what she truly felt for herself inside. She smiled a little over it as she leaned on the class window overlooking the school's open field. Souji leaned closer to her smiling at her change.
"I thought you're not going to sound condescending," Chie narrowed his eyes at him. Souji smirked and chuckled a little anyway, one which Chie chuckled along. "But you're right, I guess," she admitted remembering the talk she had in regards of Yosuke. "How I truly feel, huh," Chie wondered. And just like that, his smiling face appeared on her mind again. It made her to smile along.
Meanwhile, watching from afar, Yosuke Hanamura was feeling a little jealous. Looking at his best friend smiled along with Chie made him felt a little angry inside. He knew Souji had no ill intention whatsoever to his other female friends, Yosuke of all people knew how much he's in love with his beloved girlfriend. But yet he still felt a small tingling of uncomfortable and a little anger over how close Souji was to Chie. Yosuke stood up from his desk and made his way to the two, ready to interrupt before he gotten any angrier for his friend, but luckily someone beat him to it.
"What are you guys looking at?" Yukiko stuck her head between the two people she cared. Souji and Chie jumped a little over her sudden appearance, though Souji seemed to appreciate of her arrival. "Is that Kanji and Naoto down there?" she looked down to see Naoto and a redden face Kanji walking towards the corner of the Practice Building. Souji and Chie looked down at the two, even Yosuke peeked his head out on another window.
"What are those two doing?" Yosuke asked out of whim.
Souji couldn't help but to peak in curiosity over the situation, Naoto leading Kanji into a secluded area was indeed a curious note to him. Souji's excitement boiled again, but he stopped himself when he remembered the incident earlier that ruined Kanji and Rise's moment. He wouldn't want to enter at the most inappropriate time again. He can feel Rise losing her respect over him ever since he interrupted her moment at the roof.
"It's best that we don't pry or worry over it," Souji turned away from the window. "It's not in any of our business."
"Yeah," Chie rolled her eyes at him. "Like I want to hear that from you of all people." Souji twitched at Chie's comment, while Yukiko laughed a little over her best friend's sharp reply.
"Hey, you're not the one to talk either," Yosuke protected his best friend's honor. "You're almost as bad as him by trailing behind dragging me along with you." Souji twitched again while sending his friend an exasperated look.
"Thanks guys, kick me down why don't you?" Souji rolled his eyes away from his friends. He looked back down and saw another person; one whom he thought would be the last person to saw. "Rise?"
"Rise-chan? Where?" Yosuke looked behind him to the class door instead of paying attention to where Souji's looking.
"Down there, genius," Chie pointed down to the open field. Yosuke embarrassingly turned away from the entrance door and shift his gaze at the former pop idol. "What is she doing?"
Souji kept a close eye on his love-struck friend, she seemed to be looking around in search of some sort. Souji noted that Rise looked less moody that the last time he saw her, she's smiling and looking quite excited. He also noted that Rise wasn't empty-handed, she's carrying a wrapped up gift. Souji watched Rise for a little more, until then he saw her heading towards the direction where Naoto and Kanji went to.
"Holy crap!" he muttered straightening up his lean. It didn't take long for him to understand the situation. He looked over at Chie, Yukiko, and finally Yosuke. All three appeared bug-eyed and silent. Souji would've guessed that their expression mirrored his, and their understanding too. "What do you guys think? Should we check it out?"
"Do you really need to ask?" Chie excitedly replied. Souji also saw that Yosuke shared the same sentiment. But on the other hand, Yukiko looked reluctant.
"I don't know. Aren't we going to get in trouble again?" Yukiko remembered the last time she got caught.
"Yukiko, you do know that Rise's carrying a Valentines Chocolate right?" Chie pressed on to Yukiko, though she still looked unconvinced.
"And this is like a ten minutes break," Yosuke added, but Yukiko still wouldn't budge.
"And Kanji has like this huge crush on Naoto," Souji shared his observation of his kohai's attitude.
That's the only thing that Yukiko needed to know.
"Alright, let's go!"
Kanji and Naoto
The two were at one side corner of the Practice Building, blind to the many students and staff members who ever exited the school building. This hidden spot was one of the many famous blind spot locations for students who wanted to smoke, skip class, or to avoid Kashiwagi's lecture. It's also famous to some of the students who were romantically involved and just wished to have some alone time. While in some cases, it's also known to some students as the confession spot.
"Well, this seems far enough," Naoto stopped at her path. "Now then, where to begin?" Naoto Shirogane purposely brought Kanji at this secluded spot with no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship with him. But Kanji did not know that.
Kanji's mind was jumping all over the place. It didn't take long for him to imagine the next thing that Naoto will say. He did know of the reputation this direct spot held, he just didn't expect that it will be soon for him to step on this sacred spot. He looked over at Naoto, her firm and straight face indicated that she's on the opposite side of mentality in comparison to his. Refusing to lose some of his image to the young detective, Kanji made the bold move instead.
"I like you!"
It was a spur out of the moment that made Kanji took that plunge. He never thought that he had it in him to purposely admit of his feelings of another directly face-to-face. Perhaps he learned a little from when Rise took the plunge herself.
Naoto jolted at Kanji's sudden yell, she did expect of his confession to transpire sometimes soon. She just never expected it to be this soon and direct, though it will make her initial intention for calling him out a lot easier.
"Uhh… I mean," Kanji stammered on ahead. "I…uhh… Dammit! Wh-what I mean when I said I like you, I mean like in uhh…" he stopped to study her reaction. "Uhhh…" Kanji's lost again upon looking at Naoto's unfazed face reaction. "Oh God dammit!"
"Kanji-kun, please," Naoto held her hand out to stop him. "You don't have to say anymore. I understand."
"Y-you… you do?" Kanji asked sounding somewhat hopeful.
"Yes," Naoto nodded. "But…" Naoto took one deep breath before delivering the bitter truth. "I hold no romantic feelings whatsoever for you."
Those were the last few words Kanji had hope to hear from Naoto. Out of the entire scenario that he played in his head over and over, it had to be her rejection. Her words pained him, it hurt more than any hit he ever took back in the crazy TV world.
"I'm sorry," Naoto tilted her cap over her eyes. "But I think it would be best if we keep our relationship nothing further then as friends." It was hard for her to reject him too, not that she had any feelings for him. It's just difficult for Naoto to hurt another human being, especially one as kind as Kanji.
"Oh…" Kanji emotionlessly replied. "I see…" he said again this time looking down on his feet. Naoto nodded too, avoiding Kanji's gaze. She wouldn't want to see the disappointment look scrawled all over his face. Instead, she peeked through the corner of her cap and spotted one of Rise's pigtail stuck up from her hiding spot.
"I am sorry, Kanji-kun," she said walking by to leave him be. "I hope this won't affect of how we view of each other." Naoto walked away, leaving him perplexed to ponder and accept the truth that the girl he yearned for would never love him back. "Your turn," Naoto whispered as she turned a corner.
"I… I don't know, Naoto," Rise looked over at Kanji's back. She was ready and prepared to let her heart out, but after seeing Kanji looking struck, perhaps a confession from another wasn't exactly the perfect medicine. "Maybe this is a bad idea. I think I should give him some space first and…"
"Rise, please," Naoto interrupted her. "Don't make what we all have gone through today go to waste." Naoto pointed out towards the frozen Kanji.
Rise looked over at Kanji again, she understood now what Naoto was talking about. With Rise crying her heart out, and along with Kanji's confession and Naoto's rejection, it was all coming in for her and this final confession moment. It would be wrong of her to step on all the efforts the three have gone to, everything the three kohai have gone through are for this. It's time for Rise to settle in the score.
"Yeah, you're right," Rise gulped. "Wish me luck," she gripped on her Valentines Chocolate tight.
Rise took her first step towards Kanji.
And then another.
Her pace slowed down, by then as she reached at enough range to speak to Kanji, Naoto had left the area already. She made her way to the connecting pathway from the Practice Building towards the School's main, leaving her two close friends alone to reach a conclusion of their love trouble. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be the case though. The two would have the audience of their nosy and curious upperclassmen watching from afar.
"Naoto!" Souji said as the four senpais reached towards the young detective.
"Senpai," Naoto replied. "What are you all doing here?"
"How did it go with Kanji?" Souji asked going straight to the point, which earned the uncomfortable look from the other three upperclassmen.
"Whoa! So blunt!" Yosuke commented on Souji's way of conversation.
Naoto sighed at Souji's question, ignoring Yosuke on the side. She knew that her analytical leader would pick up of Kanji's feelings of her. "He's right over there," Naoto pointed at the corner turn where she last saw Kanji.
"And Rise?" Yukiko asked.
Naoto pointed again in a response. She's not sure how these four learned of their little plan, but it didn't matter to her anyhow. It was expected coming from the original four members who stuck their neck on a classified police investigation earlier last year.
"Just don't let them caught you this time," she harshly commented looking particularly to Souji, and strangely Yosuke too. Souji embarrassingly looked away from her gaze, while Yosuke looked on questionably.
"We won't," Chie assured. "You can trust us on this one, that's for sure. C'mon let's go!" Chie dragged on forward tugging on Yosuke's sleeve while Souji and Yukiko followed their trace along. Naoto looked back at her four upperclassmen scurrying towards the corner of the wall and peeked through at Kanji and Rise's situation. She then left the crew refusing to follow of her upperclassmen, leaving Kanji and Rise to their fate.
"K-Kanji," Rise timidly called out. It's a strange feeling. She didn't shy away when she kissed him right on his lips earlier, but when she's about to make a proper confession, her heart can't stop pounding.
"Rise?" Kanji turned around out of impulse. Unexpectedly, revealing Rise, and unknowingly the crew, a single drop of tear below his left eye.
"Oh, Kanji," this was a new experience Rise. She had never seen him tear up before; neither were the rest of his friends. "Please don't cry."
Kanji twitched on her comment, he touched his left eye and realized a wet drop upon it. "Sh-shut up! I don't wanna hear that from you of all people!" he stopped realizing that his own comment didn't help him deny his action. "Uhh… I mean, I wasn't crying! I just got something on my eye! That's all! Whaddya want anyway?"
"Kanji…" Rise mumbled his name again. "Uhmm… here," she stuck her Valentines Chocolate towards him. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Despite his heartbreak, despite the tears, Rise couldn't back down now. She's this far already, it would be meaningless if she was to leave today.
"Is that…" Kanji paused looking through the transparent gift wrap of the bag. He took the gift from her hands anyway, inspecting the gifts closer. As he expected, it was the chocolate cupcakes the two made yesterday.
"It's my Special Risette Chocolate, though now that I think about it there's nothing special about it at all," Rise giggled a little at her own remark. "But I guess it's special because we both made it. Everyone else is just going to get a chocolate bar I bought from Junes."
That was the plan, in a way. Rise originally planned to give the chocolates, the two made, for Kanji as her token of gratitude for his assistance. But with the crazy ordeal she went through today, and a speck of realization on her journey for love, it instead turned into the symbol itself of her affection for him.
"I know, I'm not exactly the one you were hoping for," Rise continued as Kanji froze up. "But at the very least, will you listen to what I have to say?"
Kanji had no other choice. It would be rude of him if he stop her now. He actually felt quite touched when she presented him the chocolates that she claimed to be the special gift. "Sure," he nodded.
"Oh my god!" Yukiko whispered at Chie's ear excitedly. "I can't believe this is happening."
"I know! Rise and Kanji! Who would of thought!" Chie grasped at Yosuke's shoulder tight in excitement.
"Chie… my shoulder," Yosuke complained but also too fixed at the scene.
"Go for it, Rise-chan!" Souji encouraged her silently clenching his fist proudly.
"Kanji…" Rise cleared her voice. "I…" She looked at him proudly with those brown eyes, and remembered the memories of their cherished moments. From the day where they start as friends, to the day she saw him more than any regular guy. She's ready to forget the memories of her first love, the things she fell at him for, and ready to place all of her heart towards another man instead.
"I like you," Rise confessed. "No. I… I'm in love with you."
Her heart fluttered as those words were swept by the winds of Inaba, for Kanji, and a portion of her friends to hear. Rise, slowly, felt more relieved. Her heart stopped beating furiously, and she felt she can continue her words that represent of her love to the man who stood before her.
"Ever since Souji-senpai is with Yukiko-senpai, I've thought that… that…" Rise continued her confession. "Maybe it's not over yet. I can still win his heart." She paused to take a deep breath. Memories of her selfish self wasn't exactly something she's proud of. But just as she faced her other self back in the TV world, she felt that she can reveal every inch of her deep persona.
"But as time goes by, I noticed that he'll never be mine," she continued. "And I'll never be his. It broke my heart, but I have to be strong. And encourage them; let them know of my blessing, in my own way of course." Rise suppressed a laugh.
It all made sense. Yukiko realized it. Rise's continuous tease and flirts were not a cry for Souji's attention, it was a sign for Yukiko. A call from the girl who can never be his girlfriend to hold strong of their relationship, cherish the little times they have together. Yukiko had never been so foolish on seeing the signs, she felt horrible for all the times she frustrated over Rise's non-ill intended flirt.
"And so I tried to move on," Rise shrugged. "It was hard for me. Well… until you came along," she sniffled an incoming snot. "You're… this guy, who was always there. You're there to protect me from my aggressive fans, from that perverted tailor, listen to my selfish request…" she sniffed another incoming snot. "And always stood by my side."
Kanji never placed a thought on it recently, but looking back at those memories, it was true. He spent more time with Rise more than he thought, not that he didn't enjoy them.
"I'm such an idiot," said Rise again. "How can I be so blind and did not notice this great guy who was right next to me all along. This strong, tough, gentle and sensitive guy." Rise stopped to wipe her nose. "I slowly begin to fall for you. But…" she stopped again and took a deep breath. "You already have someone else in mind."
Kanji gasped at Rise's story. He had no idea that she had fallen for him for that long ago. Even to the point where she knew of his long crush to the blue-haired detective.
"I have no intention of taking you for myself. Why bother?" Rise kept on going. "You were too fixed on her. My heart is just going to break again."
Rise's confession had shined some of the mystery of the day, Kanji understood it now. This was what she meant when she said 'another heartbreak' earlier at class. All this time Rise had been holding this in.
"And who was I kidding?" Rise laughed a little as if she's mocking herself. "I'm just playing second choice with you." Her voice slowly cracked up into a sob. "I'm treating you like some kind of Band-Aid for my broken heart." Rise's sobs trailed down again haunting her with those painful memories of her one-sided love. "I don't deserve you. How can someone as horrible as me deserves someone as wonderful as you?"
Down at the corner, the four upperclassmen understood their emotional friend a little better. Rise had been hurting all this time. She's cursed with two one-sided love, none that have been going to her favor. Worse yet, she emotionally believed that she cannot move on just yet since she's still emotionally attached to her previous crush.
Kanji understood her pain better. This also explained why Rise was at such an emotional state earlier today. She had been in love with him all this time, and she's conflicted at herself and the fact that she couldn't have him.
"But…" Rise began to grab a hold of control of her sobs. "Before I know it, I've realized it myself." Rise managed to control her voice. "There is no second choice. I've been lying to myself all this time. I've been ignoring my true feelings that I'm madly in love with you." Rise's confidence began to build up, her once tear drops of despair have been shunned away with this confident resolve. "I was pushing you further and further away from me."
Rise just realized it herself that this was Naoto's plan all along. Naoto wanted Rise to accept of her feelings for Kanji as her true feelings rather than thinking it as if it was her backup plan. Those words she fed her back at the bathroom were for her to realize it when she confronted those feelings on her own during the time she confessed to Kanji. That was why Naoto encouraged her not to back down when she rejected Kanji. During the heated moment of her confession, she will soon realize that she had been fully in love with him all this time rather than playing him as her second choice of love.
"But not anymore," Rise faced up at Kanji with those new determined look of hers. "I'm going to stop lying to myself. I've already moved on. You're no second choice; you're my first choice now. I've fallen for you all this time."
Rise's emotions boiled out again. After realizing of her true feelings and real emotions all this time, Rise never felt so alive. Still drunk in the atmosphere of love and her newfound revelation, she leapt at him again, pulling his face down towards hers to kiss his lips once more.
"Holy shit!" Chie moved her arms just in time to cup Yosuke's mouth from swearing out loud. Though she understood why his reaction react as so, she's close to scream out loud too from the sudden leap.
"I can't believe it," Yukiko gasped at the emotional scene.
"As expected of the Lovers Arcana!" Souji gripped his fist in triumph too.
"What?" Chie asked their fearless leader.
"Nothing!"
The kiss lasted for only five seconds before Rise pulled away from Kanji's lips. But to the boy, it almost felt like an eternity, leaving Kanji baffled and confused. This kiss felt different compared to the last time the two shared earlier that day. It almost felt right, as if Kanji can enjoy this kind of feeling all day long.
"Kanji," Rise spoke again. "Please go out with me." She looked over him, timidly smiling as she ended her last words with her plea of his acceptance.
As beautiful and touching it really was, it regretfully led Kanji into another dilemma. Kanji had no idea how to react over the situation. A little piece of him was happy to be confessed so proudly by another girl, one who had her share of the story romantically that tie in all of their relations together. But, the problem was, it wasn't the girl he was looking for. It wasn't Naoto. It was Rise, his friend and teammate.
"Ri-Rise…"
Logically speaking, there's a simple solution for all of this. All he had to do was just to turn her down kindly and respectfully admit that he cannot love her. But he would be lying if he admitted that he never thought of her differently.
From the moment he saw her cry, towards the length he would do for her, and to the moment she confessed her heart out to him, he would be lying if he admitted that he wasn't a little attracted to the ex-idol. Following Chie's words in command, if he would to follow his feelings, there's a small space for Rise within him. One small space within him that was willing to accept her and learn more of her. But alas, his heart also belonged to another. He cannot ignore of his initial feelings for Naoto, he was always interested in her, back from before she joined their little investigation group. He cannot ignore of his true feelings, even after she turned him down, he felt that he can still win her love back.
"Kanji," Rise spoke again breaking the moment of silence. "I understand this is a lot for you to take in. After all, Naoto did just turn you down. But, please have a think about it." Rise knew that someone as indecisive as Kanji cannot give her an immediate answer. She'll give him time to understand his feelings more as she patiently waited for his answer. Rise turned away; releasing her gaze to the man she's fallen for as she stepped away from him.
"Wait!"
Rise's steps were abruptly stopped. She turned around again, facing Kanji once more. Her heart beat again in a thunderous roar, hoping that her feelings somehow reached towards him.
"Rise…" Kanji began to speak. "Look… I… I would be lying to you now, if I say that I am not interested in you."
Rise held her breath as she mentally prepared herself for Kanji's next words. The four nosy upperclassmen are slowly holding their breath too in excitement for their friends.
"Cause uhh…" Kanji shrugged. "There's a small piece of me wants to accept you too."
Rise didn't smile just yet, a little of her knew that this moment sounded too good to be true.
"But…" Kanji continued on. "I can't let go of Naoto just yet."
Just as Rise expected, Kanji cannot toss those long harbor feelings he had that easily.
"But, I don't want to lose these feelings I have for you," Kanji continued to confess. "And… I don't want to treat you as this second choice crap either." Just like Rise, Kanji's also playing the second choice role that he's not exactly wanted to be part of. "I'm not ready to give up on Naoto, but I'd be an idiot if I let you go too."
"So, where does this lead us?" Rise asked. While she held such deep feelings for him, his wasn't there yet.
"If it's okay, I wanna take things slow," Kanji revealed his insecurity. "Give me time so I can settle of my true feelings."
Kanji was right, Rise believed so too. It would be rude of him if he jumped into a relationship straight off the bat. He would be stepping on Rise's feelings without giving her his full devotion. As much as she should be glad of it, she couldn't help but to feel a little disappointed. He never really said that he wanted to pursue her.
"But," Kanji gave some hope on Rise's eyes. "I wanna learn to like you too. One step at a time."
And just like that, Rise's eyes shined through with her beautiful smile. She leapt forward at Kanji, and gave him a warm hug. She won't kiss him again, she won't be doing anything off that level. Their feelings aren't at mutual bound just yet, after all the two have just learned a little of themselves in the concept of love.
The two teens did not get the love they wanted, nor do they expect for the resolution that just transpired.
"Oh Kanji," Rise giggled burying her head in Kanji's chest. "You just know the right thing to say."
But it didn't matter. They're pretty satisfied right now anyway.
Down by the corner of the Practice Building, the four senior members of their investigation group watched from afar with a satisfying smile. Happy to believe that though the relationship didn't fully worked out to their best interest, the two will achieve it someday in given time.
Souji was the first out of the four to leave the premise. He lightly smiled over the situation, and was very glad to see that Rise, the troubled girl who symbolized the arcana of love, have found where her heart truly belonged. He also felt at ease to hear that she finally moved on from her long lasting crush of him.
Yukiko followed in suite not long after her boyfriend left from their hiding spot. She approached him from the back and quickly got a hold of his left arm, clinging onto it tight. She saw the shocked look on his face, followed by his charming smile she loved so much. Yukiko learned a lot from Rise's resolution. She decided to hold on tight to this love of hers that Rise gave up on, and vow to never let it go no matter what.
Yosuke moved out next, feeling and looking somewhat unsatisfied. He didn't know whether he should be disappointed at the fact he's only getting a measly bar as his Valentine's Chocolate, or that the lovely idol he goggled for had found herself a boy she can fully committed with. Either way, speaking as one of her fan and a man, it still stung him. On the other side note, after listening to Rise's end of her story, he's relieved and happy for her.
Chie, on the other hand, learned the most from watching Rise's confession. Listening to her resolve made her opened her eyes. Just like Rise, she too will stop lying to herself and listened to her true feelings. The tomboy girl looked behind, as she saw her brunette friend who stopped by his track signaled her to follow him. She smirked and followed ahead, slapping him in the back hard and smiled as he scowled at her sudden action. She has decided to confess her harbored feelings to Yosuke Hanamura.
DAMN THIS ONE WAS DIFFICULT TO WRITE. WELL ANYHOW, THERE YOU HAVE IT ALL. THE END OF KANJI AND RISE'S SIDE OF THE VALENTINE'S STORY. I'M QUITE PROUD OF HOW THIS TURNED OUT ACTUALLY, IT NEVER WAS IN MY INTENTION FOR KANJI TO IMMEDIATELY ACCEPT RISE. NOW THAT THE EMOTIONAL AND DRAMA IS MOMENTARILY GONE, IT'S TIME TO HEAD BACK WITH COMEDY HI-JINX AS WE LOOK MORE IN DEPTH WITH YOSUKE AND CHIE'S PROGRESS ALONG WITH SOUJI AND YUKIKO'S JEALOUSY TROUBLE. STAY TUNED FOLKS, AND THANKS FOR READING. DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW TOO ^^