The school week was finally over and the team was heading to Souzai Daigaku for some grilled steak. Chie senpai was pumped as usual. Nothing could dampen her spirits when there was grilled steak involved. Rise was excited too. They were just in the shadow world a few days ago and it was always nice to take a break from all the fighting and team support.

Besides, though it had only been just recently, Rise was getting some serious headaches whenever she went into the television. She could sense a strange alien presence but every time she tried to home in on it, the presence seemed to repel her mind, giving her a migraine in the process. So yes, it was nice to take a break.

The team was chattering happily about various things that had happened throughout the week as they walked through the shopping district. When they'd arrived at the little outdoor stand, Rise's heart nearly stopped.

Yuri was in line, queuing up to buy a super croquette.

"Heyyy Yuri-kun! Wanna eat with us?" Yosuke grinned broadly. Yuri looked over to them and smiled (that damned smile again) and said yes. They all bought their food before settling down at a small table together. Rise couldn't help but notice that Yuri had just gotten a haircut and that he looked very (very) sharp with shorter hair. She also noticed that he seemed thinner than he did just two weeks ago. A little paler too, maybe.

Was he falling ill? Is he not eating right?

Rise couldn't explain these feelings of worry and concern she had for him. It was that damned smile, it had to be. She hated that lazy, polite smile he wore every time they met. She hated how easily that one smile just seemed to suck her in. Rise was curious about this boy but she seemed to lose all her self-confidence whenever he was around.

Sure, he was good-looking. But so was Souji. And she had no problems being her charming, sunny self even when she was alone with him.

But with Yuri...

"Rise-chan! I'm gonna eat your steak if you don't start on it soooonnnn!"

Rise was jerked out of her thoughts and realized that everyone was staring at her. And Yuri. He was smiling again.

Next to her, Teddie was leaning over her steak and Rise had to snatch it away before it got stolen. Conversation flowed easily as the team made jokes and bombarded Yuri with more questions about his life in the city.

When it was getting dark, Kanji made up some flustered excuse to walk home with Naoto, saying he had some art materials to buy before heading back himself. And that meant Rise would have to walk home herself. Since everyone else lived in the other direction.

Well. Except Yuri. His residence was right next to the Konishi liquor store. Which, Rise realized with sudden unexplained nervousness, was awfully close to her own house.

They walked back in silence, the streets teeming with the evening crowds of people heading home for dinner. Rise stared at her shoes as they walked, very acutely aware of the few inches of space between herself and... The brown-eyed devil, as she had taken to calling him. Only when she was alone, of course.

"Um. Kujikawa-San..."

Rise jumped in her tracks, startled, and looked at the boy. Amused by her reaction, she could see that familiar smile spreading across his lips again.

"H-huh?" That was all she could manage.

"I, ah... I was just wondering if you were okay. I mean, you've been so quiet. Are you ill?"

"Ill? No! No I'm fine... Actually, I was um, just wondering the same thing. Um, about y-you." They were standing outside Marukyu and Rise was stammering, mumbling, tripping over her words.

(Great. I've become completely inept at speaking.)

"Me?" he inquired curiously.

"Um. Yeah. You've um, lost weight. And you seem pale..." Rise was still staring at her shoes, very aware of his brown eyes fixed on her.

Yuri laughed very softly and she heard his voice say: "I didn't think anyone would notice such little changes. Thanks... Kujikawa-san."

(This will not do. For god's sake, Rise, he is a BOY. Just look at him! Stop being such a ridiculous shy girl!)

Rise forced herself to meet his eyes and immediately regretted it. He was still smiling at her, his eyes shining. She wanted nothing more than to melt into his arms, to run her fingers through his hair, to tell him over and over again how much she loved his low voice and the way he said "Kujikawa-san".

It took all her effort to say: "I... worry about you. You seem withdrawn. I see you in school and you're always alone, even though your locker's always full of letters from girls. I know you hang out with senpai sometimes but even then, you just seem so... alone. And today, you seem thinner, you seem unwell. I-"

(What am I SAYING?)

Rise looked at her shoes again.

Before she could even attempt to correct what she had just blurted out, Yuri took a step closer to her so that her head was directly at the height of his shoulders. He put a warm hand under her chin and lifted her head up so she couldn't look anywhere else except at him. His smile was gone and he looked serious for once.

Yuri leaned in slightly and whispered: "Thank you for worrying about me... Kujikawa-san."

He let go of her and the smile returned. He took a step back before saying: "Well uh, I'll see you in school. And on Thursday. For my tofu." He looked at her for a little while longer before walking off, leaving Rise breathless.