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December 16, 2012, Yu Narukami's room
Yu Narukami finally knew just how much the pop icon Rise Kujikawa means to him on that special day last year. After helping her pursue her true self while solving the mysterious murder case that happened in the quiet town of Inaba.
As he laid down on his bed after a long, tiring, exhausting day at school, he thought of Rise probably practicing her moves for a show that she's going to be performing at soon. Yu then thought that Rise will try her hardest in the idol industry knowing that her beloved senpai is watching her, looking after her.
Yu then rose from his bed and went to the balcony outside his room. The night road is glistening with lots of lights from the vehicular traffic down below. Life in his city is very different than when he used to stay at his Uncle Dojima's house back in Inaba. "Maybe I should go visit the gang soon when I have the time," he said to himself as a mental note.
The former leader of the Investigation Team then plopped onto his couch and turned on the TV to the entertainment channel. He saw a lot of idols that are working hard just like Rise, but he witnessed firsthand just how much Rise was working for him. He did get invited to a lot of her concerts and interviews, after all. Plus, he always received a lot of videos from Rise's personal email, practicing her moves and just talking to the camera post-practice as if Yu was actually there to listen to her tales of hardships, like a video diary of some sort.
Yu thought that long-distance relationships can be difficult to handle, but Rise swore, to him and herself that they will find a way.
As he watched some of his girlfriend's most recent performances, he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. The contact's name read, "Yosuke Hanamura".
Yosuke, his bestest friend back in Inaba, whom he helped try to get over his friend, Saki Konishi's death. It seemed that Yosuke is gonna talk about something that happened while Yu was away.
"Hi, Yosuke. What's up?"
"Nothing much, just reading my manga while Ted's still eating his dinner. Man, Teddie is VERY eager to chow down once he hears the words "Dinnertime" from my mom," Yosuke said.
"I see, It's glad to know that Ted's been doing well while I wasn't around."
"Dude, if only you were here to see just how popular he is with the ladies at Junes lately. Seriously, man, I am jealous of the way he is a smooth talker when girls are around."
"Speaking of ladies, how are you and Chie going along?"
Sometime after Yu left Inaba, Yukiko called and told him that she had a hunch that Chie and Yosuke were going out with each other. It turned out that Yukiko was right, and she said that she has Chie and Yosuke's support, same as with Yu and Rise.
"Man, I never knew that actually going out with someone is a pain on the wallet, especially when the person you're dating is a total carnivore."
"Yeah, it can be pretty tough, but it does reap its own rewards once you get used to it."
"At least she thanks me with a smile before she eats the food I bought her though, and she shares a part of the meal too whenever my wallet's empty to buy one for myself."
"See? I told you that it can be rewarding. I believe in you, Yosuke."
Yosuke then said with a smile, "Thanks man, I appreciate the support."
Yosuke almost forgot to say something memorable that happened to him just recently. "Hey Yu, I almost forgot!"
"What is it?"
"Chie and I went to a photo booth that's just been installed in Junes lately. We tried it out for ourselves, and as soon as the last shutter took a shot, Chie pecked me on the cheek!"
"Woah! That's great news!"
"I thought to myself on the day you left Inaba that the memories you made with the people who are close to you can be treasured for as long as you live. That's why I wanted to make some new, irreplaceable memories with Chie and the others."
"That's right, Yosuke. I'm just glad that you learned something important with the time we all spent together back in the day."
"Hey, it was every one of you who helped me realize that, and I hope the others realized too."
Yosuke then heard Teddie yelling for his name downstairs. "YOSUKE! Your mom told us that we're doing the dishes!"
"I'LL BE THERE IN A SEC, TED! Sorry, man but I really need to go, my mom's making me do the dishes."
"It's okay, man. I get it. I'm watching Rise's concert, anyway."
"Thanks, man, and good luck with Rise!"
"Talk to you soon, Yosuke." And with that, he ended the call. He puts the phone down and watches his girlfriend dance and sing on the stage with a smile.
As soon as the performance ended, he then turned off the TV and thought to himself, "What can I make to surprise Rise?" He knows that anything will do, as long as it's from him, but Yu wanted to give her something special.
Yu then remembered something from the 18th of September 2011.
"When you find yourself somebody to love, try writing a letter to them. Just one line can convey so much more of your feelings than a hundred speeches."
He remembered those words from Hisano Kuroda, the old woman by the Samegawa river who lost her husband to a mental condition.
As soon as those words were recalled, he got up from the couch and started heading for the table, turned on the desk lamp, grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper, and started writing a letter he can give to Rise.
He started writing on the paper with all of the feelings he felt whenever he hung out with her back when they were in Inaba, and he wrote it neatly and perfectly while thinking hard about what to write on it. "I guess all the work put into translating really paid off," he thought to himself.
After hours of thinking, he finally finished it, grabbed an envelope, and put the letter in the envelope to be sent to the mailbox as Rise Kujikawa's fanmail. He could hardly wait for the letter to be sent.
Afterward, Yu called Rise, hoping that he didn't interrupt her practice session.
December 16, 2012, Rise Kujikawa's Studio
Rise was sweating droplets as she took a small break from practicing for her next performance on December 19. As soon as she took a swig at her cold water bottle, her phone rang, with the contact's name reading "Yu-Senpai".
Rise was ecstatic, knowing that her boyfriend, Yu-senpai, was calling her at her break from her practice session. She instantly accepted the phone call.
Rise greeted her senpai with a smile. "Hello, senpai!"
"Rise! I'm glad you picked up the phone."
Rise giggled, knowing that her senpai thought of her, and said "Awww, did you miss me, senpai?"
"To be honest, yeah. I really did miss you."
"That's really cute, senpai. And don't worry! I'll come to visit you on Christmas Eve up until New Year's Day!"
"Are you sure, Rise? I don't want to interrupt if you're busy with other stuff..."
Rise smiled dearly as she felt the concern in her lovely senpai's voice.
"Don't worry about it, senpai! I've made sure to spare some of my time just to be with you. Oh and don't worry about any paparazzi coming along to ruin our fun, I asked Inoue-san for a favor and told him to tell everyone that I am going to take the week off to spend time with loved ones."
Rise can hear her senpai sigh a sigh of relief on the other side of the call. "Thank goodness, I wouldn't want to have my place flooded with paparazzi everywhere."
"Hehe, same here, senpai."
Yu then remembered about the incoming letter addressed to Rise as fanmail, signed with his name.
"Rise, I sent you something that I know you'll love."
Rise widened her eyes. She's getting a gift from Yu-senpai!
"Ooooh, an early Christmas present? What is it? Can you tell me?"
"Let's just say that I made it while thinking of all the times we spent together that I never want to forget. It should arrive in about two or three days, Rise."
"Ooooh! I can't wait to see what you sent me, senpai! I'll be waiting!"
Rise squealed in joy as she starts to wait for her present. She can hardly wait for her present to arrive.
"I hope you're looking forward to it, Rise."
"I really wanna see what you delivered to me!" Rise then stands up, feeling all refreshed from talking with her senpai over the phone.
"Alright, senpai, I gotta go continue practicing for my last concert of the year! I hope you'll be watching, senpai!"
"Haha, I'll keep cheering you on, Rise."
"Okay! Bye senpai!" She then whispers over the phone, "I love you."
Yu whispered back, "I love you too, Rise."
She then ended the phone call and started up the music again, feeling energized at the thought of Yu-senpai cheering her on.
December 19, 2012, After Rise's Performance
Rise smiled and panted as she hears the roars of applause from the audience. She really hopes that the gift her senpai sent her would arrive today.
She smiled her way along to her backstage room, waiting for fan mail to arrive.
"Ms. Kujikawa, your fanmail has arrived," said an employee of her agency.
"Thank you!"
"Wow, Miss Kujikawa, you're certainly very chipper today," said the agency employee.
"My most favorite part of my performance days is reading the fanmail, mister! I love seeing just how much fans support me!"
"Is that so?"
"Mm-hm!"
"Well, I'll be leaving now, Ms. Kujikawa. I'll leave you to your business."
"Bye, mister!"
As soon as she was left alone, she started reading through hundreds of fan mail and replied to all of them accordingly, thanking all of them from the bottom of her heart for their support and giving them an autograph. She was starting to frown and wonder where could her senpai's present be until she saw one more unopened envelope from the sack.
She reached out and grabbed it, reading the sender's name. "Yu Narukami."
She immediately opens the envelope, and from it, she dropped some pictures they took together in Inaba.
Rise then reads the letter.
"To Rise Kujikawa."
"From the day I met you until this day, your lovely smile reminds me of a cool river under the shining sun. It makes me happy knowing that you are working hard for my sake, and I only wish that you can accomplish every one of the goals that you want to achieve. The way you smiled for me on stage is reminiscent of a shining star in a night sky. I never once regretted helping you find your true self and help you realize who you are. In my eyes, you are my astonishing girlfriend, Rise Kujikawa. My kohai, my superstar, and my lover. And as I am writing this on a piece of paper, know that what I wrote on here is the truth. The truth is that I love you and that I will always support you every step of the way. So until the next time we meet again, I will be waiting."
"Signed, Yu Narukami."
Rise then cried tears of joy as she finished reading that and shuffled through all of the photos of them inside the envelope.
"I'm happy... I'm so happy..." She kept on muttering to herself as she finished reading all of her fanmail.
After a crying session, Rise then wiped away her tears, grabbed a pen and a piece of paper of her own, and started writing her own reply to her senpai, as she put the special letter she received in her handbag, to read it over and over back at her place.
"You made me so happy, and now I want to make you happy, senpai."
December 24, 2012
Yu patiently waited for Rise to come to his apartment, which is an apartment with a bed, a kitchen, a closet, and a living area.
As he looked at his watch, he heard 3 knocks at his door. Then he heard a familiar voice. "Senpai? It's me, Rise! Can I come in?"
Yu opens the door, making Rise feel at home as she puts her luggage near the couch.
"Wow, nice place, senpai!"
"Well, my parents trusted me enough to let me stay in my own apartment. My parents pay for my tuition fees while I work part-time jobs to feed myself."
"Really? Wow, it must be so nice living alone, huh?"
"Yeah, but I don't feel like being alone right now, now that you're here."
"Is that so, senpai? Well in that case..."
Rise paused for a moment as she smiled her most heartwarming smile.
"...I want you to have this, senpai."
She reached in her bag, and out of it came out a pink envelope with lots of heart stickers on it. Yu took the envelope from her.
"Go on, open and read it!"
Yu opened the envelope and a sheet of paper fell out. He picked it up and read aloud,
"To Yu Narukami."
"I believed that you are a very nice person ever since we first met, and thankfully my trust in you never wavered. I will never forget those times when you saved me just by being there for me. I will never forget that warm hug you gave me in front of Souzai Daigaku. I will never forget our first Christmas Eve date when I made that bangle for you. I will never forget when you wished for both of us to be happy together on New Year's Day. I will never forget that day where I screamed to the world that I love you. I will never forget that the reason why I rose back from the ashes... is because you helped me up when I am at my lowest. I am your biggest fan. Ironic for me, considering that I'm an idol and you're my fan. I am your biggest fan, and you are my biggest fan... my boyfriend... my Yu-senpai."
"Signed, Rise Kujikawa."
...
Yu went silent for a moment. "Rise... I-"
As Yu faced Rise, he was greeted with a peck to the cheek. Rise is as red as a tomato when she delivered her small affectionate gesture.
"Didn't see that coming, did you?"
Yu closed his eyes and wore a confident look. "I was expecting a lot more when you said that you loved me-"
As soon as he said that, Rise became much more straightforward and held him close to her face. "Like this, senpai?"
"Yeah, like this." With that said, Yu began to kiss Rise, both sides never wanting this moment to end.
"How did you get the idea to write me a letter, anyway?" Rise was curious as to why a letter, of all things.
"Let's just say that a friend gave me that suggestion."
"Well, whoever they are, they sure know how to write a heartfelt letter."
Yu and Rise then spent the entire evening just watching Rise's past performances together as they are snug and comfy on Yu's couch with a cup of hot chocolate in their hands.