*Chapter 4: So Go Have A Beary Good Time.*
Yu went into the main shopping district and found Aiya's. Surprisingly, the place was pretty full, which was odd. It was only April and nothing major was happening. But then he saw Rise was having a…complete mental breakdown in there. He decided to make his way in but not before being stopped by…security? Well, it was more like someone at his school ACTING like security. "Apologies sir but no one is allowed to go near Risette at this current moment in ti-" "For god's sake, Yutaro, let Yu pass, I need to see him." Rise said, stuffing more beef into her mouth. Yu made it past the security booth and took a seat next to Teddie, who was out of his bear outfit and crying into his ramen. "sniff You know Sensei? The Naruto in the bowl kinda looks like…the bear ears I had for Teddie Jr's onesIEeEeEEEEE" Teddie said as he started crying again mid-sentence. Yu felt uncomfortable until Aika walked up to take his order. "Oh uh one beef bowl please." Aika wrote down his order and looked over to Teddie. "And will it be sevenths for you, Mr Bear?" "sniff Yes, please." "Coming right up." Aika went into the back which gave Teddie and Yu some time by themselves. "I was crying for so long that my costume insides became all wet and filled with tissues. I've been having a beary bad time, Sensei. Me and Rise-chan." Teddie said, holding Rise's hand who was also crying into her bowl, the contents being more salty tear water than rice. "I don't know what to do Senpai! My marriage is gone and my baby is gone and my entire future is gone! Everything! I don't wanna give birth again, it was bad the first time around!" Rise said, crying even harder than before. "Wait again?!" The security guard turned towards Rise, only to get a smashed bowl to the face. Aika ran outside to see what happened only to see Rise still crying into her bowl, her hand reaching outwards as if she just threw something. "Miss Kujikawa, please refrain from throwing the dishes at loiters." Aika said dully as if nothing happened before heading back into the kitchen. "And I don't want to have Rise-chan crush my beary delicate fingers! Her fingernails were sharp!" Teddie said, looking at Yu with tears in his eyes. Yu didn't know whether to let them get it out of their systems or finally confront them. You're doing this for your friends because you love them. You're doing this for your friends because you love them. Yu told himself while closing his eyes and breathing. "Ok uh, everyone good?" Yu asked before Rise finally stopped crying and started breathing in and out.
"Okokok, it's ok, we're ok. I just…I have…never felt this low in my life. Even when I met my Shadow, even when I was exposed. Even through all of that, I was strong. It's like my grandma told me…" Rise began to say as Yu groaned. "You're just like tofu, Rise. It looks weak on the outside but on the inside, it's strong and can have many different flavors." Rise and Yu said in unison. "Hm, now I wish we got tofu instead. All of this ramen is making me hot." Teddie said, fanning himself with a plate. "Teddie darling, it's because it's spring outside and the temperature's rising." Rise pointed outwards. Yu saw Aika come back with his beef bowl and Teddie's ramen. He reached to grab it before stopping. "Hm, actually. Sensei, you must be beary hungry. Would you like some?" Teddie said, holding his bowl towards Yu. Yu was considering it and was worried that it would make him too hot but he then realized he burnt a couple dozen calories just running after Yukiko. He shrugged and took the bowl, eating both beef and broth while talking to Rise, mid bites. "Well, consider this, Rise. Don't you…at the very least…feel like this could…help you in the future?" Rise looked up from her bowl of disgusting tear water and rice sludge and looked at Yu. "Yeah Senpai…you're right. It could be like…a second chance for me and Teddie." Rise said, holding Teddie's hands. "Teddie, we went through life once…and we'll do it again." Rise said, wiping her tears and smiling looking at Teddie. "Y-you mean, I c-c-can score again?!" Teddie said, blushing and his eyes as wide as quarters. He and Rise smiled at each other and hugged, laughing as they jumped up and down. They ran outside and tumbled into the grass, giggling and holding each other still. Yu went outside, not before paying for their meal and smiled looking at the happy couple. He whistled at Teddie and threw a card at them, showing them on their wedding day, Rise smiling with Teddie in a fancy blue tuxedo. "Look Rise-chan! It's our wedding photo! It's bearfect!" Teddie said, putting his arm around Rise, who was enamored by the card. "Maybe we can get married again soon, Teddie-bear!" Rise said, giggling. Yu looked down at them biting his lower lip. "Yeeeeaah, maybe wait a bit. I mean, we still ARE in high school, y'know?" Just then as it was back in Junes, Yu saw the world around him stop and the card began to glow blue and lifted into the air in front of Rise and Teddie.
"Thou art I... And I am thou...Thou hast established a genuine bond...These genuine bonds... shall be your eyes to see the truth." A voice said as the card then disappeared into thin air, leaving behind strange blue sparkles. And as before, in the blink of an eye, Yu saw Teddie and Rise as their older selves. Teddie, with his magnificent yellow beard and mustache and Rise with her hair down with a pair of sunglasses and in a sundress. Yu rubbed his eyes and saw the two in their usual attire, and smiled. He went up to Rise and asked a question. "Rise, I have to help some more people. You wouldn't happen to know where Kanji and Naoto are, right?" Rise pondered before Teddie interrupted. "Ooh, ooh, Teddie knows, Teddie knows!" Teddie said, raising his hand up and down. "Ok Teddie. Where could they have gone?" "Well Sensei, I remember that they were going up a hill somewhere. I think they're at that gazebo where me and Rise were smooching for a beary long time!" Rise socked Teddie's arm before he started lightly sobbing. "I told you not to say that, Teddie-bear!" Rise said as she kissed Teddie's cheek which raised his mood again. "All right, I'll head there now. Head to Junes! Yosuke's throwing a get-together party for all of us! And check your pockets, there might be stuff from the future in there!" Yu said, running off. The last thing he saw was Rise pulling up a photo that Teddie quickly hid underneath his costume while whistling.