Nova's A/N: I'm doing my best. I'm just not the best at this fluffy stuff. But I am trying, so if it's not quite as good as my partner, cut me a little slack.
As Suzaku went to his shoe locker, he saw a familiar pig-tailed brunette waiting for him. "Suzaku-senpai! She waved cheerily. He knew she was an actress, but to him she always seemed genuinely happy.
"Hello, Rise-chan. Is there something you want?" He asked while changing his shoes.
She crossed her arms and pouted. "Senpai, you're mean! What makes you think I want something?" He just gave her a look that spoke volumes. "Alright! I was wondering if you had plans today! So do you?"
She was giving him a pleading look, and Suzaku didn't have the heart to turn her down. Luckily, he didn't have to. Yukiko came down the stairs. "Suzaku-kun, are you ready to go? Oh, Rise-chan, I didn't see you there!"
Rise looked between her two senpai. "I get it. I'll leave you two to your date." This comment made them both blush bright red.
"I-It's not exactly a date…" Yukiko said, "We're just going shopping."
"Really? Then can I come with?"
"Well…"
"Great! Where did you have in mind, Senpai?" Rise quickly perked up and after inviting herself, quickly hooked her arm through Suzaku's. Yukiko looked irritated, but took a deep breath and took his other arm, dragging him.
Suzaku kept his mouth shut and let Yukiko pull him along as he ended up dragging Rise, knowing this could not end well.
Together they went to Okina City, with Suzaku now having twice as many bags to carry. As they went around, Rise decided to strike up a conversation. "So, Suzaku-senpai, I heard you joined the school band."
He nodded and smiled. "I'm glad they were still accepting new members this late into the year." Joining up was a good use of his spare time, since most of the team was either working or part of some other club. "I still need to learn all of the music though. It's not easy."
Rise moved a little closer, a big smile on her face. "I know what you mean. I mean, I don't play an instrument, but singing and dancing together isn't easy. Remembering all my cues was hard alright." A pensive look appeared on her face as she remembered her time as Risette. She needed to know how to perform live, so they had endless dress rehearsal, just to make sure she made every mark correctly.
Suzaku gave Rise a sympathetic glance, which she caught and gave a dismissive wave to. "But that's all behind me now. I'm done with all the acting, at least until the case is done, then I'll have to see."
Suzaku seemed to be sizing up Rise, "Ah, I see. So that's why you haven't looked into the Drama Club."
Rise laughed. "Well, that's part of it, but I'm so used to being the star that I don't think I'd fit in very well. Besides, they don't need me. They've got enough talent. If they do a musical though, you can count on me signing up!"
Rise began running with the conversation, happily chatting up her Senpai, and Yukiko began to feel out of place. She wasn't musically inclined at all, and as soon as Rise took the conversation into the direction of the performing arts, she had nothing to contribute, and that made her so mad. Rise had invited herself on this trip as a third wheel, and now it was Rise who was occupying all of Suzaku's time. It wasn't fair!
Yukiko knew that she could only blame herself in the end, despite what she wanted to believe. She was too nice to try and win against Rise. If she was more straight-forward, then she could have stood a chance, but it was too late now. The best she could do was leave, but she didn't want to seem rude. Her salvation from her position as a third came with her phone ringing.
Rise and Suzaku stopped and looked at Yukiko as she answered her phone. "Hello? Yes… uh-huh… uh-huh… Yeah, I'll be right over… Alright. Bye."
"Who was it?" Rise asked, looking concerned. From what she heard though, it sounded like she'd be leaving, and so she was grinning inside.
"That was my mother. The Inn needs my help. Sorry." She gave them an apologetic look, her eyes lingering over Suzaku's face for a few seconds, before she hopped on her scooter.
Before she drove off, Suzaku put a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe we could do this some other time?"
Yukiko heard the sincerity in his voice and she knew he didn't mean to make her feel left out, but at the same time, he did regardless. She shrugged her shoulders, removing his hand. "Maybe we can. We'll see." She said, refusing to look him in the eye as she drove off back to Inaba.
Rise stood quietly for a few seconds, but only for a few before tugging on Suzaku''s arm. "C'mon. Senpai! I hear there's a new music store. Don't you need supplies for your violin upkeep?" Rise released his arm, only to grab his hand, making him blush as he was dragged around by the eccentric starlet.
Once they finished their shopping, the sun was starting to set. Thankfully for Suzaku, Rise had spent most of her time window shopping and they didn't buy all that much. Before they set back off for Inaba, she stopped him.
"Um, Senpai…" She started, blushing, "I was wondering if you'd like to come back here another time with me…" She smiled shyly up at him. "You know, just the two of us…?"
Suzaku paused, listening to what she said. Then the meaning between the lines was processed, and he almost lost his composure. He felt his face burning up as he tried to put together a response, finally forcing out, "I'd love to!" He cut himself off and then took a few deep breaths before continuing. "Just call me when you're free, and we'll work something out."
She jumped him, giving him a hug. "Thank you!" This caught him off-guard and he staggered back tripping and falling, Rise on top. Once they hit the ground, Rise smiled and blushed.
"Sorry… I just got a little excited…" She gave a nervous chuckle as she stood up and gave Suzaku a hand. Both of their faces were stuck bright red, and so Suzaku picked up the bags again. "Let's just get you home. It's getting late."
Rise watched him leave from the store window. Once he was out of sight, she immediately ran to her calendar with a pen, starting to plan her next meetings with him.
