The Idol and the Prince

Part XXII

12/12

Bang.

"Hey…we're gonna get out of this alive, you know?"

Chie's voice was soothing, but faint, weak, lacking the conviction and the usual optimism Yukiko loved.

Bang.

The ground was cold, but her body seared hot with pain. Her legs refused to work, leaving her strewn on the pavement like a ragdoll. Just a few feet away from her lay Chie, crumpled up on her side, facing Yukiko. Her lips were still moving, but her words drowned out by the sound of successive gunshots.

Bang.

Yukiko bit her lip, fighting the tears that burned the corners of her eyes. Her head was spinning, the feeling of the gravel rough against her face.

She couldn't utter a sound, the pain paralyzing her. Eventually, the black haired girl couldn't help herself, quiet sobs wracking her body. The tears mixed with the blood streaming from her head wound, blurring her vision. Closing her eyes, images flashed before her eyes, her memories a mess. It all happened so fast. One minute, they were deciding on splitting at the fork in the path and the next, they were being ambushed by Adachi and a swarm of shadows. The door had locked shut, a barrier preventing the others from getting through. Comms were down, but Yukiko knew that were going to find another way in.

Hopefully.

"Yukiko…Yukiko…stay with me! Help is on the way. I-I'm…sure of it." Chie coughed, spluttering as sharp pain assaulted her lungs. Blood trickled out the corner of her lips, the taste and sight of the red substance alarming the brunette. "Hang in there. Just a few more minutes. Naoto will be here with Souji, Teddie, and Rise."

Still sobbing, Yukiko found no comfort in Chie's words, feeling desperate as she reached out towards her voice. "C-Chie…"

Chie grabbed Yukiko's outstretched hand frantically in her blood stained one, grabbing onto it as tightly as she held onto her own life. The titanium jacketed bullets had ripped through her and Yukiko, rending the girl's heroic act all for nothing. She knew that as they were done for if their friends didn't show up soon. Both girls were out of SP, their health critically low as they lay bleeding out on the ground. The last of their items had been used up, barely enough to keep their team alive.

A slow chuckle erupted from a figure just metres away from the girls, looming over two more bodies prone on the ground. He wasn't Detective Adachi anymore, but an unrecognizable madman. His suit jacket and shirt were in tatters, his hair and face matted with his victim's blood, adding to the maddening look in his eyes. His face was ragged, his smile unnerving as he admired his handiwork.

"AHAHAHAHA! This is all the power you stupid kids hold? It's embarrassing. I don't like to kick dogs when they're down, but who am I kidding?" Raising his pistol, the former detective cackled. "I've always thought you were a pain in the ass, Tatsumi-kun." Adachi grimaced, remembering all the times he was chewed out because of the ex-gangster. "Always making it hard for me to do my job…"

Kanji flinched at the sound of the hammer clicking into place as Adachi loaded the next shot. He was face down in the dirt, but he could hear the delight and the mirth in Adachi's voice, not having to look up to know that there was a smile on his face.

"I guess I'm more of a pain in your ass today, huh?" The detective lined up his firearm, pointing straight at the back of the blond's already mangled knees.

Bang.

Kanji yelled out in agony as the bullet tore through his flesh once again, making him grind his teeth together. His nails clawed at the earth beneath him. He was on the verge of passing out, but he couldn't, not now. Help was on the way. He had to hang on, to keep conscious for a little while longer.

"HAHAHA! Make that a pain in your kneecaps! Let's see you try and cause any trouble now!" Adachi cackled away, feeling the power rush to his head in an adrenaline high. "I've won, haven't I?" The dark haired man just stood there, reveling in the chaos he left in his wake. His smile widened as his eyes grew darker. He was finally someone now, not some lowlife loser in a stupid hick town.

He had power.

Raising his hand again, he took aim at a different target this time, focusing his gaze on Yousuke, who was trying to crawl away while Adachi still had his attention on Kanji.

"Tsk, tsk. Hanamura…you know better than to abandon your friends. For being such a flake, I'll make sure that you die first." Cocking his gun, the madman grinned from ear to ear. Adachi took a step closer, his hand steady as he lined up a bullet to lodge itself into Yousuke's skull.

"Don't worry. They'll follow you shortly. I'll make sure of-"

"Samarecarm!"

"Mediarahan!"

The spells rattled off in quick succession, Souji and Teddie bounding onto the scene with Naoto and Rise in tow. They seem to have dropped in from a portal in the floor above, sticking their landing with action movie impact.

A hail of bullets hit Adachi square in the back, Naoto's pinpoint precision making the cluster collect on his centre mass.

"Agh!" Adachi stumbled forward, falling to his knees at the sudden assault, feeling the shadow surge through his veins to repair the damage that was done. His eyes glowed a menacing yellow as he whipped his head around, fixing the new arrivals with a glare dripping with murderous intent. He snarled, lunging at Souji who was finishing up his heal spells.

"Shield of Justice!"

Naoto summoned her persona and activated the skill before Adachi could dig his claws into their leader. In the meantime, their injured comrades were gingerly picking themselves off the ground, the magic still running through them, mending broken bones, vessels, and tissue.

It was a sloppy heal job, nothing like Yukiko's elegant work, but for the moment, it would do. The tables were suddenly turned, Shadow Adachi cornered and outnumbered.

Yousuke wavered slightly as he stood, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he narrowed his eyes at the monster in front of him. "You're gonna pay for what you did to everyone! Especially Saki-senpai!" The brunette summoned his persona, a torrential cyclone of wind kicking up as he released a Garudyne skill. Kanji joined in, summoning a bolt of electricity from the heavens, hitting its mark, making their final boss look much like a lightning rod.

Adachi let out a guttural roar as the wind and lightning struck, regretting not finishing them off earlier. "Urgh…you stupid kids." The former detective struggled to stand, gathering power for his next strike, ignoring the searing pain in his flesh.

"Don't let him charge up!" Chie unleashed a hail of physical attacks on the man while he was still down, staggering him mid-activation, stopping the mind charge.

"Got it! How do you like this, you son of a-" Yukiko's words were cut off as she summoned her persona, enveloping the battlefield in a swath of flames that made the other members of the team flinch from the intensity of the heat.

"Don't worry, guys. Keep going! I've got your back!" Rise backed away, clearing the heart of the fray, her persona summoned and ready to provide her friends with support.

Naoto stood protectively in front of Rise, firing off a few shots to keep Adachi at bay. She was beyond furious, but her focus was on protecting everyone.

"Shield of Justice!" Naoto activated her ultimate skill, nullifying any subsequent damage. With Souji and the others focused on offense, the detective poured her SP into defense, unwilling to let anything else happen to her friends.

After minutes of relentless attacks, the group of teens stood, waiting to see if that had done the job.

"Is…Is it over?" Chie panted, bending over as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

Everyone looked on with bated breath, the apprehension rising in the pits of their stomachs when the smoke cleared. Adachi was still visible, hunched over on the ground as he sat on his knees. His body was shaking.

It wasn't until the group ventured closer that they realized that the madman was laughing.

"Hahaha…HAHAHAHA." Adachi stood, covering his face with his palms, laughing uncontrollably. "Our world's gonna disappear soon, no matter what…I didn't have anywhere to go back to anyways…Everyone's gonna become Shadows…"

Everyone looked on in horror as the former detective's body disappeared into a dark shadowy mass, raising him above the ground. The darkness continued to spread, Adachi's maniacal laughter no longer his own.

"I think we've got another one incoming…be on guard!" Rise's scanners picked up an overwhelming energy source, almost blowing out her detector.

It was then that the rest of them felt it, the stifling power that threatened to wipe them all out with a single strike.

"It's here!"

Everyone had their personas at the ready, standing their ground as the earth beneath them split, swallowing Adachi up into the black abyss. There was an earth-shattering bellow as Ameno-sagiri rose from the depths of Magatsu Inaba, its gaping eyeball quivering as it rolled around in its socket before settling its gaze on the teens. Thick fog suddenly rolled in, coating the area in a haze that prevented even their glasses from helping them see clearly.

"I…am Ameno-sagiri…one who rules the fog, one awakened by man's desires. Do what you will, but both this world and yours will soon be enclosed in a fog that never lifts. It will be the peaceful world that mankind has longed for…"

"So this is the cause of all the fog…?" Yukiko voiced her question aloud, almost speechless at the grotesque monster that stood before them.

"Indeed. I have come to put you all to the test and judge your worth. To defy me is a senseless act which goes against your world's wishes." The voice echoed around them, resonating eerily through their bodies. The chill only fazed them for a second, but they knew they had come too far.

"We don't give a damn what you came here for!" Yousuke twirled his knives, readying his Garudyne skill.

"You've done what you want so far, but that'll end when we crush you!" Kanji clenched his fist, charging up for his next attack.

"Then we know what we've gotta do now!" Chie took a fighting stance, glancing back briefly at Yukiko before she summoned her persona.

"We'll defeat it for sure!" Yukiko met Chie's eyes in a brief exchange, knowing that they wouldn't get the chance later. She flipped open her fan, its razor sharp blades catching the light.

"I don't want people to turn into shadows!" Teddie jumped up and down in all the fury the trickster could muster.

"I'll back you up with everything I've got! This thing has no right to exist!" Rise adjusted her visor, scanning the enemy for its weaknesses.

There was no way any of them were going to give up now, and they ran forward to face the strongest foe they had seen so far.

"This is the end…This time, it's all over!" Naoto loaded her gun, taking off into a run as she fired a barrage of bullets into the monster, starting the final battle.

12/24

Naoto hobbled along on her crutches, finally used to how the damn things were supposed to help her walk and not make her trip over her every step. Granted, things were much harder when she had a broken arm as well, but as of today, Shirogane Naoto only had one broken bone in her body, compared to the various fractures and breaks she sustained during their final battle. Even after Teddie, Souji, and Yukiko worked their magic, the group of friends spent most of the following week in the hospital after a proclaimed 'car accident'.

Regardless of the previous week's struggles, Naoto was glad that with the use of both her arms, she was finally able to go grocery shopping without needing any help. With a shopping bag looped securely around her freshly healed wrist, Naoto headed for the exit, feeling accomplished with her day. Not only had Yukiko helped her get that infernal fiberglass cast off her arm, but she even had the time to put the finishing touches on Rise's Christmas present. It was turning out to be a good day so far, mostly due to the detective not feeling like she was handicapped anymore. Well, not as much. Her shattered femur needed more than just a few heal spells from Yukiko and the magic of modern medicine.

Despite the challenge, the detective had become fairly proficient at maneuvering every day life with her crutches. She hated relying on the automatic doors or Rise for that matter, the whole concept going against her self-sufficient nature. It was unusual for Naoto to be pampered to say the least. For the past two weeks, whenever Naoto went out, Rise was always at her side, insisting on getting all the doors and holding everything for the detective. However, Rise was stuck manning the Tofu store for the entire morning today, leaving Naoto to fend for herself. Suffice to say, Naoto had succeeded, and was almost smug that she had gotten so good at it, unlike some people she knew.

Speaking of which, Naoto grimaced as she watched Yousuke fumble over his own crutches just a few metres ahead of her.

Naoto headed towards the Junes exit at a slightly faster pace than leisurely, still watching her upperclassman's struggles. She flinched as she saw Yousuke apply pressure in all the wrong ways, causing the crutches to fly out from under him. The tall boy ended up falling face forward on the floor, groaning. He sat up gingerly after that, clutching his bleeding nose. The look on his face told Naoto he definitely could use a friend.

Stopping next to Yousuke, Naoto positioned herself appropriately before she gathered her crutches under one arm, shifting her weight to her right leg as she bent down to offer the boy a hand.

"Here, let me help you up."

Yousuke looked surprised at the sound of Naoto's voice, a look of skepticism on his face, wondering if this was just another blow to his ego, having another person with a broken leg help him out. However, the brunette shoved his stubbornness aside, taking the detective's hand as he pulled himself up with Naoto's help.

Adjusting the metal crutches beneath his underarms, Yousuke wriggled his nose, sniffling at the trickle of blood that threatened to spill out. He wiped at his nose with the back of his hand, recovering from the nasty fall he just had.

Naoto looked on in amusement, seeing a…not so loud side to the brunette.

Yousuke continued on, heading towards the exit. He looked back briefly, a reluctant expression on his face, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Uhm…thanks for helping me. I hope you have a merry Christmas."

The detective was speechless, wondering if Hanamura Yousuke had ever said that many nice words to her in all the months they had known each other. She didn't think so. A smile spread across her lips as she continued to watch the boy's stubbornness, reminding her of her own struggles just last week. Naoto shook her head at the sight of Yousuke straining to reach the door handle while maintaining his balance. Chuckling, Naoto caught up to Yousuke, pressing the button for the automatic door for him.

"Thanks…" The brunette muttered under his breath before he headed down the street in the opposite direction.

With a smirk, Naoto decided that today was definitely going to be a good day. It wasn't long before a voice rang out behind the detective.

"Naoto-kun! What are you doing walking around by yourself? I said I'd come get you from Yukiko's, didn't I?"

Naoto's smirk grew wider as she turned to come face to face with Rise. Correction. Today was going to be a great day.

"Oh, no more arm cast, huh?" Rise looked delighted as she pointed to Naoto's left arm.

"Yeah, Yukiko worked her magic and repaired the rest of it. We finished early, so I just went to pick up something for our little celebration tonight." Naoto shuffled over to Rise, holding up the shopping bag that housed what looked like a cake box in it.

"Oh ho…trying to one up me with all your surprises, hm? You know cake is my weakness, but I know yours too, Naoto." Rise winked as she gestured to gift bag she had hidden behind her. "This is a surprise I'm sure you'll like a bit more than cake." The idol giggled, absolutely giddy with anticipation.

"Well, I'm looking forward to it then, Rise. Shall we get going? I'm afraid that it's going to be quite the challenge for me to climb the hill back up to the estate." Naoto didn't even wait for Rise's reply as she made her way down the street at pace that surprised the redhead.

Still phased by the detective's movements, Rise jogged to catch up with Naoto. Rise took a few steps in front of Naoto, walking backwards as she fixed the girl with a quizzical look. "Uhm…why don't you just get your driver to come get you? I'm sure it won't do your leg any good to be walking around so much..."

Naoto paused, contemplating that for a moment before she fished her cellphone out of her pocket. "You know what…? That's a great idea. I think I've had enough of proving how capable I am. After another few sessions with Yukiko, I'm sure I won't even need these awkward pieces of metal anymore." The detective tapped away on her keyboard, sending a message to have someone pick her up in front of Junes. There was a time for humility and this was definitely it.

Rise laughed as she glimpsed a side of Naoto she wasn't used to seeing. "I'm afraid that if you tried walking all that way, Yukiko would be pretty mad about you undoing all the progress she's made…." The redhead gestured to Naoto, pointing to a pair of benches to the side of department store entrance.

Gratefully, the detective took a seat, not noticing how tired she was until she was off her feet-or rather, her one good foot and the stress the crutches put on her upper body. "Yeah…I'm glad you're the voice of reason today. Yukiko's a saint and she really put in all her effort to make sure that everything reset the right way. Teddie and Souji-senpai do a great job too, but sometimes, they're a bit too rushed and it ends up mangling the skin…or chipping the bone…" Naoto trailed off, just counting the number of times she ran to Yukiko to help her avoid the repercussions of speedy heal job.

Rise swallowed her dread with an audible gulp, not wanting to think about the countless times she had healed up her teammates without thinking about the damage she could do if she wasn't careful.

"Haha… I guess Chie's in good hands then. She got took the brunt of the toughest blows, so I'm glad she has round the clock care from Yukiko."

Naoto's face fell at the mention of Chie, her cheeks reddening slightly from something she remembered from earlier today. "Hm…yes, well…about that…" The detective coughed into her hand to hide her embarrassment. "Yukiko takes her role as Chie's nurse quite seriously…With the outfit and everything…She had it all planned out…"

A mischievous grin worked its way onto Rise's face at that, racy images coming to mind. "Ooh…how bold, Yukiko-senpai."

Naoto coughed again, trying to hide her smile this time at Rise's reaction. "Yes, that is rather bold of her…Not completely unheard of since many couples use role playing to add an extra element to their relationships."

"Then you wouldn't be against it if I dressed up as a maid to wait on you hand and foot….?" Rise sidled up to the detective, leaning over as she whispered into Naoto's ear.

Naoto felt her face heat up as she imagined Rise in a French maid uniform, clad in thigh highs, complete with a white garter belt that she would have no qualms about undoing and- "A-Absolutely not!" The detective's face was flushed with embarrassment, ashamed that her own imagination had gotten the best of her.

"Oh, you're protesting, but I think your body is much more honest than you could ever be, Naoto-kun." Rise raised her eyebrows suggestively as she clung onto the detective, making Naoto more aware that Rise was probably wearing a push-up bra under her clothes.

"That's…not the case! It's just that…we have maids at our house. They won't take it too kindly if you dress up...like them…" Naoto mentally berated herself for saying such a ridiculous thing, but went with the flow, already resolved to lie in the grave she dug herself.

"Right…right…You just keep telling yourself that. It makes no difference to me, because I'm sure you won't be complaining too much tonight." Rise bit her bottom lip as she said this, unable to contain her excitement at tonight's surprise. "You're sure the house will be empty?"

Sighing, Naoto conceded, nodding. "Yes, it will be. My grandfather will be out of town and the staff have the night off. It will be just…you and me tonight, Rise." The detective did a good job of hiding her enthusiasm, but her heart racing at the thought of what Rise would think when she received her present.

Before Rise could slip in another suggestive remark, a black town car pulled up.

The idol jumped up, waving to the driver who knew her all too well by now. "Oh! Saved by the bell, Naoto!" Rise held out a hand to the detective, helping Naoto up before rushing over to the car to open the door for her.

"Thanks, Rise. I could get used to this kind of treatment." Naoto beamed as she eased herself into the car, feeling like today was going all according to plan.

"Rise…Are you ready yet? I thought you were dying to try that cake I got." Naoto was slumped by the door of her ensuite bathroom, her crutches lying flat on the ground. Her injured left leg was fully extended, while her right one was drawn up to her chest, her chin resting on her right knee.

There was a rustle of movement as Rise called out, somewhat frantically. "U-uhm. Just give me five minutes! This dress is just a bit tighter than I remember…"

Naoto's heart skipped a beat at that and she swallowed her sudden arousal. The detective closed her eyes, willing away those sinful thoughts, just feeling content that she was able to spend Christmas eve with the girl that she knew she would give up everything for. It took a while for her to realize that, but Naoto was sure of it now, especially after everything they had gone through together.

The door suddenly opened and Naoto sat up, startled out of her reveries. "Rise?"

"Yes! I'm pretty sure I look awesome in this old dress of mine. I wore it two years ago on a televised Christmas special and I always loved the way I looked in it." Rise stepped out of the bathroom, twirling a few times as she treated Naoto's room like a catwalk. With a hand on her hip, the idol sauntered around, throwing in a few spins as she went along. With the surprising lack of length on the garment, Naoto caught a glimpse of red and white, the candy cane themed panties making the detective blush.

Taking in the sight of the redhead, Naoto licked her lips inadvertently, savoring how Rise tempted her with her sinfully tasteful Santa outfit. The idol even had the hat on, the white pom-pom on the end of swishing around with her every movement.

"I'm so excited about the future now. I feel like my heart is about to burst!" Rise twirled again, giddy with holiday spirit. She flashed Naoto with another eyeful of her panties, making the detective rethink using the word tasteful to describe the redhead's outfit.

"I feel like my heart is about to burst…" Naoto mumbled under her breath as she pulled herself to her feet. She left the crutches on the floor, half hopping over to the small table where she had laid out the cake and the silverware.

"What was that, Naoto-kun?" Rise rushed over, holding onto Naoto's arm as she helped ease the detective onto the couch.

"Oh, nothing. I was just saying that it's amazing, you know? That through all that hardship and sadness…we managed to keep moving forward." Naoto blushed, throwing in something vaguely sentimental to follow-up with Rise's previous statement.

"That's right! I'm so glad that I was able to meet you and all our friends. I don't know what would have happened to me if I didn't. I probably would have been stuck living out my miserable days in self-pity." Rise took a seat on the ground next to Naoto, leaning against the detective's good leg. The redhead lounged around for a moment, eyeing the cake, but it seemed like something else popped into her mind.

Suddenly, the redhead stood up, leaning over the table to reach inside the bag where she kept her Santa outfit earlier. Rise fished out an ornate black box, slightly longer than the length of her arm, adorned with a large pink ribbon. The idol thrust it into Naoto's hands, cheeks red with anticipation and embarrassment.

"Open it!"

Naoto arched an eyebrow as she grinned playfully. "I thought you were my present, Rise."

Rise huffed in feigned indignation, pouting. "Geez. I'm not that cheap, ya know? Rise's not the kind of girl to wrap herself up in a bow and just call that a decent present!" The idol rolled her eyes, taking a seat beside Naoto on the sofa this time, eager to see the detective's expression when she opened the box.

"I wouldn't mind if that's what my present was." Naoto chuckled as she caught Rise off guard with her comment. She carefully unwrapped her present in the meanwhile, trying to guess what it was. It was much lighter than she expected, given the size of the box it came in.

Finally undoing the bow, a smile erupted on the detective's face as she inspected her present. The baby blue material was plush and soft to the touch, minor nicks along the fabric told Naoto that the scarf was hand-made. "Rise, don't tell me you made this just for me?" The detective stared in complete amazement, her heart swelling with happiness.

"H-hey! If I didn't make it for you, who else would I spend countless hours on?" Rise pouted again, sticking out her tongue in jest at the incredulity the detective expressed.

"I didn't know you knew how to knit. This is definitely exquisite work…" Naoto fawned over the scarf, pressing the soft material against her face as she breathed in the scent of Rise from the fabric. The redhead must have worked on it for a while, the fabric retaining the scent of Rise and her room.

"I didn't know how to sew, but…I thought I'd learn…since you said you felt cold ever since you lost your favorite scarf in October." Rise wrung her hands nervously, not knowing if the detective really like her present or if she was just being nice.

"I really love it, Rise. It's perfect." Naoto's bright smile reassured the redhead, making all trace of doubt disappear.

"I'm glad you like it, Naoto-kun." Rise returned the smile before she switched gears. "Now that that's over and done with, let's finish this cake so we can get down to unwrapping me!" With a newfuond enthusiasm, the redhead sidled down onto the floor, her attention on the cake in front of her. She didn't even look up to see Naoto's eye-roll, a habit she had picked up from Rise, and a gesture she had usually reserved for the redhead's overly suggestive comments.

Rise picked up the knife, happily slicing into the cake to divide up generous portions for the both of them. She hummed as she did this, clearly enjoying herself.

Naoto watched as Rise busied herself with the cake, thinking that now would be the perfect time if there ever was one. Fidgeting slightly, the detective fished out a slender silver chain out of her pocket. A small time piece was fixed to the end, a transparent watch that showed all the metal gears that spun inside it. There was a small digital meter off to the side of the main face, a symbol flashing, showing '1m' on its display. Taking a deep breath, Naoto gathered up her courage to give the idol her handmade gift.

"Rise, there's something I want to give you." Naoto unfastened the clasp on the locket, slipping the necklace around the redhead's neck with shaky hands before Rise had a chance to realize what was happening. The detective redid the clasp, positioning the timepiece to sit just a few inches below the start of the idol's sternum.

The cake was abruptly forgotten and the redhead's eyes widened at the sight of such an expensive looking gift. "Naoto…this is beautiful…" Rise ran her finger around the steel rim, surprised at how light it was.

"I made it myself a few months ago." Naoto started, feeling a blush grace her cheeks as she saw the growing admiration in Rise's eyes. "It can also tell you where I am. It's only a toy though, so it only goes up to 40 metres…" The detective paused, hesitating before rolling up her left sleeve, exposing her wrist, showing a watch with a similar design. "J-Just so you know, my watch has a similar function, so…" Naoto's face was beet red by now, rendering her unable to continue with her explanation.

Rise got the gist of it though. Just watching the detective squirm, being beyond adorable with her expressions and with the entire gift itself…It was heartwarming and the gesture made the blood rush to her head. The idol lunged at Naoto, pushing the detective back against the couch with her bear hug. Rise buried her face in the side of Naoto's neck, her arms wrapped around the slim girl's waist.

"I love it, Naoto. I'll never take it off." Rise held her embrace, tightening her hold around Naoto.

There was a sudden silence in the room, but something hung in the air that told Naoto that Rise had something to say. It was something important that had been hanging on the tip of her tongue. That hesitation that had interrupted their conversations so many times this past week.

Breaking their embrace, Rise sat at arm's length from the detective, holding Naoto's gaze, her gold eyes flickering regret for a split second before she spoke.

"I've decided to move back to Tokyo in the spring. I told Inoue-san that I'll take on whatever he gives me…" Rise hesitated for a second before continuing. "It'll be…Risette's big comeback, you know?"

The news was heavy to say the least, but Naoto kept her composure, having dealt with all those ugly emotions already. Even so, it was still difficult to be honest with how she was really feeling. "I'm…glad you made your decision. You're going to be someone, Rise. I just know it."

"I know that you're going to be someone too, Naoto. You and everyone else…you're all going to keep changing too in your own ways, making sense of life for yourselves."

"Haha…You're right. I've grown a lot since the day I arrived in Inaba. I'll live up to the Shirogane name. Just you wait, Rise. I'll be just as famous as you one day." Naoto's eyes shone with a renewed determination, replacing her melancholy. "Not in show business of course…but you know what I mean."

Rise smirked at that, glad that they had come to an understanding, a promise of sorts that they were going to be adult enough to deal with these changes in their lives.

"That's why I'm not scared of a long-distance relationship either, Naoto. We're both ambitious and we won't stop until we achieve our dreams, so I'm sure it'll work out. When I'm lonely, my love for you will grow stronger." Rise blushed as she said this, feeling embarrassed to be so explicit with her feelings, but if there ever was a night for sappy romantic stuff like this, it was Christmas eve.

Naoto smiled shyly at Rise's words, trying to find her own way to convey how she felt.

"When I smile on TV…I'm smiling for you, so you smile too…and tell me you love me every once in a while, okay?" Rise's face was still bright red, but she went with the momentum.

"It…might be hard with our schedules, but I'll try to make sure that I do that more than just once in a while." Naoto cupped Rise's check with a trembling hand, pulling the girl in for a kiss. "I'm glad I met you, Rise. I-I…do love you, more than you know." The words escaped Naoto's lips just before they met Rise's in a gentle kiss.

The display on both Rise's locket and Naoto's watched flashed, flickering as it read: '0m'.

A/N: Haha it's been embarrassing how long it took me to finish this, but real life takes precedence over fanfiction I suppose. So this is the final chapter. I might or might not add an epilogue depending on how I feel. It's just been weighing on my mind ever since I finished P4:Golden on my PSvita. I've been wanting to finish this for so long, but I never had the motivation or the time ( I still don't really have all that much time because school things) to do so.

So, for those of you who stuck with me all this time/new readers/people who randomly decided to click on the chapter update emails, thank you!

And good riddance to this travesty of a dragged out story that had very little action and was the product of a high school girl's whatever. Unfortunately, I am no longer in high school...so this story is a testament to how my mind has/has not changed in these past 7 years. I still am writing about fictional characters, so maybe not that much has changed. Regardless, I will end this A/N with a big thanks again to all my readers :)

Thank you!