"It's a date!"

[risette_truestory]

Who: Rise Kujikawa (risette_truestory), Campbell Saunders (headup_stickontheice), Iori Minase (dekochan), Waver Velvet (velveteenmage)

What: Rise and Iori tutors Cam and Waver Japanese. Meanwhile, poor Cam is paranoid about Rise might be liking him. Thank you, Iori.

When: A few days after this.

Where: Library.



Being anywhere in the open without big sunglasses and a cap was still something she was getting used to, especially when she is in Tokyo. Back home, she had always been surrounded by paparazzi or fans. Here, no one really knew her and it was like starting from the very beginning. how it was before she appeared for the first time in a magazine. It was nice being normal. Almost normal anyway since 'Risette' still shows herself sometimes.

Normal.

And she was meeting new friends at the library! Who would have thought? She was making friends who know her as Rise and not Risette.

They will probably find Rise sitting by the window inside the library with a fashion magazine in front of her. She might not be an idol anymore ... but she still needed to keep track of the trends.

Comments

[headup_stickontheice]

Now, Campbell hadn't really had time the day he learned Rise is probably into him to really process it. Given what day it was? He was preoccupied. After Miss Shepard's...lesson, though, he's had plenty of time to completely work himself up. So on top of already being nervous about trying to learn a new language while subtly focusing on how to read the medicine labels here, he's trying to figure just how to turn someone down, if it would come to that.

And so he leaves before Iori -- eternally happy Lucette's taking the day to raid the arcade, because she would be no help at all -- because this is the sort of thing a person should do in private, right? He's barely got any idea how to tell a girl he likes her, let alone that he just wants to be friends, so the follow night was spent talking himself up, practicing on his plush Aurumon.

Yeah, he's a champion.

As he enters the library, taking a few deep breaths, he looks around and spies Rise easily. "R-Rise!" Too loud. The librarian Digimon glares at him and he bites his lip and mouths an apologize. "Rise. Hi."

It's then he realizes this is the first time they've actually met in-person. Great.

[risette_truestory]

Rise glanced up from her magazine and smiled her idol smile. But it would be understandable that Cam might misinterpret it as Rise brighten by his arrival. At the moment, she really had no idea what was going through his head.

From Rise's point of view, she was looking forward to this ... because this was the first time she could be out like this with friends and doing something friends usually do without being asked for an autograph. It might surprise people but the simplest things, such as this made Rise happy.

However, a part of Rise ... was still Risette.

So it is inevitable that she would start teasing him the moment he sits down. She puts down her magazine and leans forward. "Well, aren't you looking cute today? Trying to attract someone special?"

Of course, she thought he was doing it for his date, Iori.

[headup_stickontheice]

Oh, Rise. Rise no.

That's all Cam needs to start turning slowly red and start to sputter. "N-no, no, not me, not at all. I don't attract, I'm-- I repel, I swear!"

Oh, Cam. Cam no.

[risette_truestory]

She was not convinced.

He was definitely hiding something at least.

"Oh, come on. You don't have to hide it from me," Rise continued to tease. How could she not when his answer only made her even more curious about what he could be hiding. "You don't have to say anything. I know what you are thinking."

No you don't, Rise.

She thinks he was using this to get the courage to ask this girl out. It happened a lot back home. Going on a group thing to get closer to the person he/she liked.

[headup_stickontheice]

At this, he swallows, and tries not to collect his thoughts. Oh dear. Already? He wanted to stall a little. When the next words come out, his voice isn't nearly as deep as it usually is. "Y-you do? Oh. Really, that's-- uh, I- I don't think, really, that..."

Off to a wonderful start, Cam.

Keep it up.

[risette_truestory]

"So, what's the plan?" She might as well discuss this with him while the others haven't arrived. Rise liked Cam and she would help him win this girl. "Do you want me to make her jealous? I could flirt a bit and make her think I am interested in you ---- not that I don't like you! I think you're really cute, Cam-chan. Don't worry."

But she had a boyfriend.

[headup_stickontheice]

Automatically, he launches into his epic, well-planned speech. "L-look, you're a great person, and I'm really glad we're friends, but I'm not really looking for anything and besides there's a girl back h-- ahhhhhhh, what?"

Yes, that's how long it takes for what she's saying to actually register.

"...Make who jealous?"

[risette_truestory]

Obviously, she wasn't listening much to his well-planned speech. She giggles and gives him a wink. Lowering her voice, she answered, "Your date of course. Iori, right? Don't worry. I'm an expert at these things."

No she isn't.

"Then later, when she sees what a great catch you are, Waver and I will leave you two alone so you can make your move." Does she actually sound excited? "Doesn't that sound like a great plan to you?!"

[headup_stickontheice]

Oh. Oh. Well, compared to the alternative, this isn't as bad of a misunderstanding. Still a bad one! But at least Cam won't be left with a crying girl to teach him a different language in a different world.

Silver lining, huh?

After a long moment, Cam manages, "...Iori's my roommate." Yes, that clears up everything.

[velveteenmage]

Speak of the interrupting devil, Rise. Waver had managed to leave his clingy partner at home, finally getting some much-desired time to himself. Kirigiri had already offered to teach him Japanese, but a little headstart could only help matters, right?

"Uh...sorry, am I late?" He approached with slightly awkward motions; a library was somewhere he invariably went to be alone and study in peace, so meeting people here purposely was beyond unthinkable. This was like some weird anomaly requiring a planetary alignment to even become possible.

It was weird, in other words.

[dekochan]

And Iori stumbles in last. Maybe she got lost, but she'd call it fashionably late if she was asked about it.

"I'm not. You find any books to start with, Cam?"

She smiles at him, further fueling the misunderstanding.

[risette_truestory]

"Waver-cha----," She stopped herself, remembering how he might dislike her calling him that. "You made it!" Perfect. Rise might be able to use him later. "No, you're not late. We haven't picked up any books yet ..."

Wow, Iori was definitely cute and adorable. She could understand why he chose to date her.

That smile. She smells romance in the air!

Rise turned to Cam and gives him a wink, mouthing to him good luck.

She got this. Since she was a girl too, she knows all the ways to get the girl jealous. "Oh no. Sorry. Cam and I were too busy catching up. We forgot completely."

[headup_stickontheice]

Oh no, Cam takes it back, this is worse, this is much worse. Everyone's here and he couldn't clear up the mistake and if he tries to now that'll just be awkward and uncomfortable, even more than he feels right now.

At this point, he's going to need that good luck to make it through this lesson without wanting to burst into flames.

Standing suddenly and abruptly, he declares, "I'll go get some, sorry, be back in a minute."

It's loud enough that he gets a sneer from the librarian, but he doesn't care, hurrying into the shelves for a temporary escape.

[velveteenmage]

Waver couldn't have looked more confused if he tried. He watched Cam leave over his shoulder before turning to Rise.

"Er...Is he okay?"

[dekochan]

Iori gives a bit of a halfhearted shrug.

"He can take care of himself." she decides, which might make her sound kind of brutal, but really she just trusts him to sort out whatever he's feeling for Rise.

Too bad that Iori's also not helping with the huge misunderstanding happening here.

[risette_truestory]

"Oh! He's just fine! He's really just very shy because someone he likes is here." She was loudly hinting to Iori, pretending to have the message only directed to Waver. Subtlety had never been one of Rise's strong points. "He's probably so nervous right now and is trying to calm down." She at least got it partly right.

"You'd like Cam, Waver. He is a really nice guy and really cute too, don't you think so too, Iori-chan~?"

[velveteenmage]

Yeah okay, sure. Why not. Waver shifted position uncomfortably, not really sure where he actually fit in this whole conversation. He glanced uneasily from Rise to Iori, wondering if he should introduce himself to the latter of the two.

"Uh...sorry, I don't think we've met. My name's Waver Velvet."

[dekochan]

"W-What? Where is this coming from, all of a sudden? I don't think Waver here is interested in if Cam's c-cute or not!"

Oh boy, Rise turned the tsun on.

"And I'm Iori Minase. Don't forget it!"

[risette_truestory]

She was upset. And Rise just thinks her plan is working and that she was actually being jealous.

And the misunderstandings just kept coming. "I know who you are, Iori-chan. Cam-chan talked about you, his roommate. It's nice to meet you. AH---"

"Waver, you wanted to learn Japanese too, right? Why don't you go choose a few books you want us to translate for you. We should begin the lesson now, right?"

She took a piece of notebook paper and wrote a something.

魔法

"Look for this. You wanted to find books about magic, right? This is Magic in Japanese."

With Iori and her alone, it will give her more chance to do damage to talk to Iori.

[velveteenmage]

"Thanks, Rise."

Both for the translation and the excuse to leave because hoooo boy was this awkward. He gratefully took the piece of paper and ducked off behind the nearest shelves and quickly as possible.

[dekochan]

With both of the boys gone, Iori turned her glare towards Rise.

"What are you up to, anyway?"

[risette_truestory]

Puzzled Rise is puzzled. "You mean you haven't noticed? I thought it was pretty obvious."

[dekochan]

"It seems to me like you're messing with Cam's feelings! I won't accept that!"

And the misunderstanding boils over.

[risette_truestory]

At almost the same time, Rise says, "He likes you!"




It took a moment for Rise to notice what she just said. For a moment, she blinked ... wondering if she was hearing it wrong. "Eh? What are you talking about, Iori-chan?"

[headup_stickontheice]

SLAM.

Between the two girls, a large book lands, followed by another, and another. The first, an English dictionary. The second, a large Japanese book with a subtitle in English of Psychology and you!. The one on top, an even larger book that appears to be some kind of Japanese encyclopedia.

Cam's hands are above them. It appears he dropped them in surprise, or an attempt to stop the conversation from going on. At this moment, he's regretting leaving the two alone very much. "I brought the books, I'm sorry, Iori's my roommate and we're just friends, I have a girl I like back home and I'm not really into people physically or something like that it's nothing against either of you."

He says all of this in one quick breath with a very, very red face.

[dekochan]

Iori keeps her rage directed towards Rise. She is not a happy camper.

"See, look what you did! You should apologize to Cam!"

In Iori's mind this is All Rise's Fault and that isn't going to be solved anytime soon. Because she's not about to go and blame herself for her own shortcomings. That's for people who have less self esteem than she does.

[risette_truestory]

"Me?!" That made Rise just furious. Why was this girl pointing fingers at her? She was still trying to process what was going on. She wasn't sure anymore after what Cam had just said.

The librarian and a girl from across their table turned to them and motioned for their party to be quieter.

[headup_stickontheice]

Oh, great. Cam half-groans and leans against the table, trying to hush them both. "Stooop. It's a misunderstanding, don't, fight, c'mon?" What he wanted to do was defuse the tension, not make it worse.

Where's Waver? He's older than the rest of them, maybe he can help!

[velveteenmage]

You're looking to the wrong person if you want help, Cam. Waver quietly sidled up to the table more or less empty-handed. He'd had a lot of difficulty finding anything related to magic that also didn't seem to be in the fiction shelves.

"...Is something wrong?"

[risette_truestory]

Sorry, Cam. Rise wasn't really listening. She was too busy staring angrily at Iori. What kind of accusation was this? And she was trying to help her with Cam too. Now she didn't feel like it anymore.

You would think that Waver's arrival would end things. It didn't. Rise turned to Waver. Unfortunately for him, Rise's annoyance hadn't died down. "She ---!"

But she was stopped by the librarian again trying to shush them, so she softened her voice but still sounding furious. "She is trying to accuse me of something."

[dekochan]

Iori stares back, crossing her arms.

"Stop messing with Cam's feelings. If you like him, just say so."

No, she isn't being considerate at all. This is what happens when you make her angry. No one messes with her friends.

[headup_stickontheice]

With a defeated look, as he's finally started to figure out just where this all broke down, Cam groans out his displeasure. "No one likes anyone."

Wait.

"I mean-- not like that. This was all an incredibly awkward misunderstanding." He looks at Rise then Iori, both pointedly. "Right?"

He also takes the time to glance at Waver with a I am so incredibly sorry expression.