Spring Awakenings

Pursuing My True Self

Saturday, 4/18/12, Marukyu Tofu Shop, Early Evening...

"Oh, is that it?"

"Pfft," Rise huffed, annoyance bubbling in her throat, "C'mon, I'm being serious! Is it that hard to believe?"

Once Rise had returned to the Marukyu  shop, she had immediately called Yu, all too eager to hear his voice again. Rise had been dominating the conversation by venting about her somewhat awkward study group with Naoto, although Yu seemed game to indulge her complaining.

"I guess I just figured you'd gotten used to how she is by now."

Rise caught a laugh on her tongue, amused by her boyfriend's somewhat incredulous tone. Yu had a way of revealing of his thoughts that could be both frustratingly vague and incredibly enlightening. It was a rare trait, and Rise selfishly took advantage of it whenever the opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately, those times were now few and far between since Yu had gone home.

Rise sighed and did her best to sum up the heart of the matter, feeling she was going nowhere with her ranting. "I dunno, Naru-chan, I just wish I had a better sense of where her head was. I get the feeling she doesn't really like me..." Rise pouted, a slight blush dancing across her nose as she did. It still tingled, saying her chosen nickname for him so blithely, so familiarly. She cared deeply for Yu, and never wanted him to think her terms of endearment weren't genuine.

"C'mon, that's silly. Naoto-kun's just..."

There was a decently long silence as Yu's tongue hung on the last syllable. This peaked Rise's interest. If Yu, of all people, was struggling to think of a word to describe somebody, then she saw that as a big red flag

"Just...what?"

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but she's just kind of shy like that. I think it's because she spent so much time pretending to be someone else that she's not used to letting people in, period. Sometimes it might be kinda awkward."

Rise clicked her tongue as she listened to what her boyfriend had to say. That made sense, and Yu was an astute judge of character, but she still couldn't wrap her brain around it.

"I guess, but, like, we're already friends; shouldn't this be way less awkward by now?"

Another long pause. Rise tapped a bare foot in impatience, her incorrigible longing for acceptance left aching by Yu's analysis.

"I think..."

"Yeah?"

"I think that your heart is in the right place, but you've gotta relax. You're overthinking this. She told you she wanted to study again, right? You have to take things like this slow. Maybe invite her out to do something other than studying. When Naoto-kun wants to let you in, she will. Trust me."

Rise's heart fluttered a little, hearing his calm, confident voice explain his thoughts. She still felt there was decent reasons to be nervous about Naoto, but Yu managed to make it at least a little better. He always did. She purred and made a big exaggerated smooching sound with her lips.

"I don't know what I'd do without you to stop me from going crazy," she said passionately, "Do you have to stay in Tokyo?! I can get Inoue-san to sneak you back in, and you can stay here with me. My futon's plenty big!" Rise made sure to put on her best Risette-like teasing voice, just for him.

There was a stifled chortle on the other end, which made Rise grin from ear to ear. It wasn't easy, but she knew exactly what buttons to push to make even the cool and collected Yu lose it. From the sound of it, she had done just that.