GAAAAAAIIIISSSSS~! We've almost reached the 100th review mark! 8DD Oh man, I'mma so happeh~ *rolls*

As you expected, the idea was immediately shot down. Also as you expected, Yosuke was the first one to speak his mind.

"Nu-uh! Not happening! Partner, you know what it's like... Over there."

Yukiko frowned, and played with the end of her red jacket, grey eyes downcast. She was clearly intimidated by the large stature of the teenager standing in front of her. "B-but if he wants to help, who're we to say no...?"

"I for one say no." Kazuto crossed his arms, "That world is far too dangerous, especially for someone without a Perrrr... Um, a weapon." He quickly covered up his blunder.

"Well, why the hell not? The more the merrier, right?" Kanji argued, and it was becoming clear that this wasn't your best idea, as each one of your friends fought for their respective side. Time to test your persuasion skills.

"Look, guys... I know what I'm doing. Narashino told me he's close friends with Rise... If anyone can lead us to her, it'll be him. Let's just give him a chance." The group of friends exchanged skeptical looks, but inevitably, you won the arguement.

You entered the TV like normal, and Chie and Seichi trailed behind you shortly after. Luckily for you, Narashino was a 'Shoot first, ask questions later,' kind of guy, so he didn't demand an outright explanation about this world just yet, but you had a feeling you'd have to come up with one eventually, with the way things were going.

"Saaaay, who's the tall dude?" The brunette girl whispered to you, her face twisted up in confusion, not anger thankfully. You assured her that you'd fill her and Seichi in later, and the conversation was dropped. A few more steps, and you had reached Teddie, but something felt.. off about him today.

"Teddie? You okay...?" He hadn't even flinched when he heard your footsteps approaching. He looked like he was lost in thought.

"I-I wasn't crying!" You looked amongst your group, and the bear suddenly collapsed to the floor, "Everyone was having fun out there! You forgot about me... I was abandoned."

Seichi for one looked surprised, "What, no pun?" Chie elbowed his rib. "Ow!"

"W-we would never do that!" She assured, and Yukiko followed suit.

"I'm sorry~... Were you lonely?"

Teddie pushed himself off the floor, but he still had yet to make eye contact with you.

"I was bored. It made me all listless," He replied, "I'm a useless bear. I don't know what I am. I couldn't figure it out... No one would come visit me... Then I thought I heard voices from your world. They were all having so much fun... I was so lonely that I tried to cry. But I couldn't…"

Yosuke fought back a groan. He was being so melodramatic. "Well... You are hollow inside."

"Shut up~! Stop saying I'm hollow!"

They fought back and forth for awhile, and you flashed an apologetic look at Narashino, who seemed strangely fascinated by the whole thing. Chie played peacemaker again, and took a few steps forward, a small smile on her face. You couldn't tell if it was forced or not, but it seemed genuine.

"C'mon, I'm sure Teddie's just tired from thinking so much, right?" He ignored her, and turned around, so his back was facing you again.

"When I'm alone, I think too much, it makes me even lonelier. I was so sad that my chest would burst and cotton would fly out..." Yukiko, and Chie stood behind him, and petted his fur sympathetically. He beamed at them, his eyes beginning to glow a bit brighter. "C-could I try scoring with you two someday?"

Seichi choked on his tongue, and you were pretty sure you saw Narashino stifling a laugh. Chie looked at Yukiko, who just shrugged in defeat.

"Uh... Sure you can...?"

"Could we please drop the whole scoring thing?"

"Anyway, changing the subject~" Yosuke coughed into his hand. "Ted, did you notice anyone's presense here? Maybe a girl's...?"

Seichi smirked at him, "Aw, Yosuke-senpai, do you wanna score too~?"

"Sh-shut up!" He shouted back, but the light blush on his cheeks gave him away.

Teddie paused for a minute, and began to sniff the air. You found it amazing how he could differentiate scents, especially with so many people around. After awhile, with a sad groan, he shook his head at you.

"You can't tell? Your nose has been losing its edge lately," Yosuke informed the bear, who seemed to have shifted back into a bummed mood.

"I'm a pretty shabby bear," Teddie explained, "Soon, I won't be useful at all. Then, I'll be thrown away."

You smiled at him, "Teddie, we'd never throw you away. We're friends... Aren't we?"

The bear sniffled, tears of joy beginning to sparkle in his round button eyes, "O-Of course, Sensei~!" He looked more determined as ever, as he tried picking up Rise's scent. "Yanno, I think I'll be able to find her. I just need some kind of hint."

"Like what?" Narashino asked, and it was then when Teddie finally noticed the stranger.

"W-whoa! ... You're huuuge~! (Ha, that's what she said *stabbed*) ... But wait, what's he doing here?"

"He's here to provide us more information about Miss Kujikawa." Kazuto answered, "Oda-san, I understand that you were her bodyguard, so you must know... Why did she go on hiatus?"

"Well, she was stressed out, yanno? She got tired of her made-up personality. She couldn't stand livin' two different lives."

Yosuke nodded, "Oh, so thats it~! I was wondering why she seemed so different on TV." Sluttier, is what Yosuke was trying to say.

Kazuto seemed convinced as well, as he further analyzed what Narashino had told the group, "It appears that Kujikawa-san was playing two roles: a real-life role, and the one that her producers wanted her to. She was worried about both of her lives, and that's why she took a break." He nodded to himself, "It all makes sense now..."

"Think you can you find her now, Teddie?" You asked.

"Hrrmm..." He went back to sniffing the air again, "...Whaa! There's something out there! Is this it? Did I find her? Follow me!"

"What is this place? It's all dark?" Chie asked, cleaning her glasses with the end of her uniform shirt. Once she put them back on, she realized the darkness remained.

"Given from the show on the Midnight Channel, and the darkness, I can only speculate what this place is, and it's not a pretty one, my friends."

Before you could question what Kazuto had meant by that, lights suddenly flooded into the room. Spotlights glared at you from high on the ceiling, purple curtains with neon pink hearts surrounded you, and over in the corner there were cushioned loveseats, and a table. The floor, and the entire room seemed to be bathed in a purple glow, and up in front of you was a stage.

This place was...

"A... Strip club?" Seichi spoke up, and Yosuke nodded knowingly, a small smile, and wink present on his face.

"Ohhhh, like the kind you always find in resort towns~!" You had a feeling he was speaking from experience.

"Ah, I think you're right," Yukiko started, "...Oh! B-But we don't have one... Our inn is not like that!" Was she trying to convince you? She did jump to the defensive rather quickly...

Kanji whistled, "Huh... So this is a strip joint, eh?"

"It'd appear so..." Kazuto replied. There was a slight flush on his cheeks.

"Strip...? Ohohoho, I know what that is~! It's the thing zebras have, right?" Teddie's inquiry was ignored, as Narashino looked around the room, as if he was looking for something in particular.

"Sooo~ Where's the pole...?"

"...Errr... Let's just get going." You suggested, and you were answered with a group nod.

After scaling floor upon floor, you eventually reached the top of the strip club, where you found her, Rise, along with her Shadow self, who happened to be grinding against a steel pole.

Awkward... Divert your eyes, quick!

"Ahahahaha~! They're all watching! All eyes are on me now!"

"Stop it!" The real Rise cried, tears beginning to stream down her face. This just seemed to further fuel the Shadow's laughter.

"Awww~! What's the matter? You wanna show your stuff, don't cha? How's this?" The Shadow twirled around the pole, and blew air kisses at all of you. You twitched.

"Please... Stop this...!" Rise begged, suddenly feeling so disgusting.

The Shadow only chuckled, "Oooh, she wants me to stop. That's so funny!" The volume of her voice began to escalate, until it reached the point that she was pratically screaming, "As if that's even close to what you're really thinking, you little skank! You're me! And obviously, I'm you!"

"No... That's not true..."

"Ahahaha! C'mon, look! You can't tear your eyes away~! This is meeee! This is who I really am~! Not Risette, the fake celebrity! Look at the girl right in front of you! I'm sick of being some airhead cliche who chokes down everything she's fed and takes it all with a smile!" Her voice began to crack as anger slowly overcame her, "Risette...? Who the hell is she? There's no such person in this world! I'm no one but myself! C'mon, look at me!"

"That's not—I...!"

"Rise-chan, don't listen to 'er!" Narashino pleaded, and she turned around, her brown eyes looking a bit hopeful when she heard him.

"N-Narashino-kun? Is that you...?" Her small voice asked.

He seemed fired up, as he nodded and shouted, "Who cares what she thinks? You're still you!"

The gears began to go to work in the Shadow's head, as an idea came to her mind, "You don't believe me, huh? ...Well then, I guess it's time to prove it. I'm going to show it all off. Let my naked truth be burned into your brains!"

Rise stood up, having heard enough as she covered her ears, and yelled, "Stop... Stop it! You're..."

"Don't give in! Rise-chan...!"

"No, don't say it!"

"You're... not me!" She shouted, much to your horror.

And then the shadow was engulfed, swallowed up in black smoke, and Rise had collapsed into Narashino's arms. You brought out your katana as you braced yourself for what was going to happen next. "Here it coooomees~! Now, I'm finally myself!"