A.N.- Oh hey, I took so long The Idol and the Prince updated (just kidding. If you like NaoRise, go read it. It was actually my gateway into the ship.). I also got into RWBY and Miraculous Ladybug so yeah, that's why I've been busy (along with college work).

"Essay" is a continuation from one of the older words "coat" but I don't really think you need to read that for this one (you just missed their introduction to each other).

Thank you silentmusic16, rexbox360, and Drake Azure Saber! If you guys don't mind, please review and let me know what you think about this fic ending. I'm probably going to continue it here and there and maybe do another fanfic series with these two but I'm not sure what to do.

Essay

Rise hurried into the college, empty backpack in hand and focus on her phone for a brief moment.

"7:55… Right on time!" She grinned and shoved the phone back into her pocket, leaving the strap dangling out.

It was the first day of class, so she assumed there wasn't going to be that much in-depth talk and brought only the basics and requirements. However, as she crossed the many halls to reach the correctly numbered room, she spotted an acquaintance.

"Hey, Naoto!" Rise beamed and ran to the boy, making him pause the opening of the door for just a brief moment before looking over and nodding to her.

"Hello." Yup, the quiet and calm greeting made Rise 100% sure that this was the boy she had met in the deluge. He had abandoned the coat that kept them both warm that day and allowed Rise to acknowledge the rest of his attire: a blue polo shirt and dark dress pants. As much as Rise loved warmer colors, she had to admit his choice looked good on him.

Speaking of, Naoto seemed to have noticed Rise's staring and went inside the room with a faint blush on his cheeks. Rise jumped out of her stupor and followed suit.

"Looks like we have the same class!"

"Indeed."

The brief exchange stopped for a moment as Naoto took a seat for his own, looking over when Rise claimed the seat next to him.

"Is this okay?" Rise kept her smile and Naoto slowly gave a small smile back.

"Sure."

(time skip because classes are boring)

"Ugh..." Rise rested her head on her arms. "That is unfair..." The rest of the class had already begun to move out, some having more classes and others going to complete the paired essay the professor made due nest class.

Naoto was not one of those people. Instead, Rise felt his gaze shift towards her.

"...It isn't that much trouble. Not if we both work on it." He was right, the assignment wasn't that bad considering the length and the fact that there were two writers. Though Rise detected something in his tone.

"I'm not complaining about the workload, I'll still do my part. It's just that it's the first day! Who wants an essay the first day of class?" Rise huffed and got up, grabbing her stuff. "I have more classes, which are bound to make me study, so I can only work on this out of the college." Naoto nonchalantly took his items as well and stood up.

"I have work until later in the afternoon. Perhaps we can meet somewhere?" Rise nodded and smiled.

"That'd be alright. But it can't be my house, my grandma doesn't want me bringing guys over." Naoto's eyebrow raised.

"...I'm a girl though."

Attention

Attention.

That one word seemed so dirty but it also was so seductive.

She had to have people look at her. Admire her. Focus on her. Acknowledge that she was the truth.

Acknowledge she was empty.

One of many stars and certainly not the shiniest one of the bunch. Not the prettiest. And not the kindest.

But she was still the truth.

She was more real than that snob queen and her possessive knight. She was willing to show EVERYTHING.

But… Was that because she wanted to shine as bright as all the other stars? She didn't know.

And she figured...maybe they didn't either.

All of them were real. She was more real than the others, of course, but they were all the truth.

That's what she was learning.

It is okay to have one star shine with kindness and another shine with knowledge. One shine with friends and another shine with the press.

It was okay to step into the spotlight again. Because they were all Rise.

And so looking upon someone else who hadn't learned that lesson yet… Someone who was shoved into this (by herself, but it was for a good reason).

She, Rise, (another part, one who was tired and had to learn the lesson they all needed) was able to calm herself and even help immediately when confronted.

Maybe that was due to how many experiences she had. But the other person had trouble.

She was hiding something she considered to be a great secret she had to hide. Maybe not wanted to hide, as she blurted it out when given the opportunity.

But Rise understood.

Look at me, I'm different!

Look at me, I'm better!

Look at me, help me.

They both have been alone for so long. They craved up masks and put on names.

But Rise knew how to make friends. She already was kind of friends with the ones who came for them.

Naoto had nothing. She was forced to admit something she didn't seem ready for. She didn't even seem to like the ones who rescued her (there was a difference between being polite and being friendly).

Rise, all of her, wanted to tell her it was okay.

"It is okay to be smart and be childish."

"It is okay to be lonely and be shy."

"It is okay to be boyish and still be a girl."

"It is okay to be girlish and be a boy."

It is okay to be yourself.

But standing there, seeing Naoto look miserable and try to shrink away from Rise's gaze made Rise pause.

Right now, Naoto didn't view her as a friend. It was as simple as that. She was forced to show herself (all of her) to people she didn't trust.

She couldn't just trust Rise's words.

So Rise decided to first let Naoto know she meant all the things she wanted to say. She shined her truest smile and said:

"Do you wanna hear about my shadow?"

Loom

Rumors were awful things. Heck, they were one of the main subjects that circled around Rise's life. From her idol life to the backside of the TV, rumors were always present.

When Naoto revealed her secret however, that's when Rise saw a spike. It was the obvious at first: "Naoto-kun's a girl?"

Naoto seemed actually calm about it whenever a group got too loud, much different from the shy, uncertain look Rise saw that one night. Of course the situation was completely different as the choice was out of Naoto's hands but still, Rise felt a bubble of pride for her friend whenever she saw Naoto accepting herself.

But then things grew and sadly, Rise was used to that too.

Sneering, jealousy, fear, and laughter.

Thank goodness Naoto had a natural poker face, Rise thought.

Whenever Rise heard one of those rumors, the feeling of pride didn't come. Naoto still took it calmly and answered the hate with truth, but Rise felt herself grow angry instead. She did wear her heart on her sleeve and it wasn't like she hadn't faced this before but… Rise hated that it was directed towards Naoto.

Eventually, her anger began to show and anyone who voiced up with the backwash of the rumors was met with Naoto's poker face and, behind her, Rise's glare. Rise knew that she wasn't that intimidating but was thankful that it had worked to scare off some people. She thought that it wasn't that big of a problem until…

"Kujikawa, may I ask what you are doing?" Naoto turned to the idol, who had been glaring a particularly dense student down until she noticed Naoto's gaze was on her.

"Just waiting for you," Rise replied with a carefully placed answer, but Naoto just shook her head.

"I can take care of myself," despite her ability to keep calm in most situations, Naoto's voice took on a hint of frustration.

"I know that, Naoto-kun. I was just… I was just sick of it, you know?" Rise stomped her foot to accent her huff. "You just face it like anything else and even if it doesn't bother you, it does to me!"

Naoto didn't reply for a moment before sighing with a smile.

"Thank you; but you really shouldn't let it get to you, it will only fuel them more." Naoto nodded towards her in a silent "right?".

"Yeah… You're right, as always." Rise smiled back, happy to continue with banter. "Being negative isn't really good for you. So try to follow that advice for yourself." She winked at the detective, who sighed again, before leading the way to their group.

"Glaring doesn't suit such a bright person," Naoto hummed to herself.