Probably after every illusion thread you wanted to do

[senpaidol]

[Rise appears on the Psychic Network. Actually appears, wearing a nice green dress she thought up for herself to fit in with the Balconies, because she learned Image Projection without really realizing it.]

Guys. I--oh hey you can actually see me, can't you? That's new.

[She stands up a little straighter and focuses on being serious.]

Public service announcement: there's something happening that's causing people to see each other as different people. It's already started a couple of fights, and one person sounds like she got seriously hurt, so if someone is acting weird or insulting or if you see someone scary, please make sure it's not just an illusion. I've seen this kinda thing happen before and it's really dangerous, so please be extra careful before you consider doing anything that might hurt another Traveler. When in doubt right now, assume the person you're seeing isn't the person who's really there, okay?

[She bows to the "camera".]

Please. Stay safe, guys.

Oh, and if someone out there's doing this on purpose...you should've learned from the last guys and kidnapped me first.

[She signs off with a wink.]

Comments

[wildmagician]

Hey, at least you know that now and can make an effort into being her friend.


Anyway... around that time, I figured that investigation team social links weren't about you guys, which is why your arcana never changed for me. Instead it was about myself and how I was coping with the change.

Which lead to me and Naoto becoming way closer and eventually brought us together.

[senpaidol]

That makes sense. I mean, I'm pretty comfortable where I'm at now. I've got stuff I need to do, but I'm less...well, I'm more wanting to help you guys instead of the other way around, you know?

[She thinks.]

I am kinda curious how that got started with you and your Naoto exactly, though. I mean, it's not exactly a secret that everyone crushes on her at some point, but did you make the first move or did she?

[wildmagician]

Yeah... I would have been fine with myself too, if I hadn't... well, you know.

[Suddenly being turned into a Wild Card and made a leader was pretty damn weird.

Yosuke thanks the fact this isn't a livestream on his end.]

Oh, uh... I did. I wasn't expecting a reply, but she... didn't even need to think.

[senpaidol]

When she actually considers it, she does know what she wants...

You know, when I first figured that out from your Dungeon I was kinda jealous that she gets like all the guys, but I'm kinda glad there's a universe out there where you get to be together.

Plus uh. There's a universe where she gets at least one of the girls, too, so I can't really talk anymore.

[wildmagician]

I sort of hope there's also an universe with you and me--

[It's an uncontrollable though that escapes to the network and Yosuke is quickly turning even more red. Damn these teenage feelings.]

I-I mean, you know... you're still with Souji in my universe. Even if he's been kidnapped and all, but when he gets back it's all good.

[senpaidol]

Hey. Senpai. It's okay. I'm not gonna take you from Naoto any more than I'd take Souji from Naoto, but somewhere out there I'm sure there's a me and a you that clicked at the right time.

I'm not like...against the idea in principle, and I don't think most other mes would be either.

[wildmagician]

[There's a quiet moment from Yosuke's end for a while before he finally answers.]

Thanks, Rise-san. I hope things turn out alright for you, Souji and Naoto.

[It's a bit of a lifeless reply. It seems he's unintentionally made himself sad and suffers from it.]

[senpaidol]

Aheh...one of them told you about that then. Good. I didn't really know how to segue into it.

[Wait.]

Orrrr did you mean something else and I just picked the worst way to segue into it.

[wildmagician]

Yeah, Souji told me at me. I guess he needed to talk to someone about it.

[And he's proud to be the guy Souji can talk to. It means a lot to him.

Even if he's a bit jealous Souji's got both of them here now, all things considered... but what can he do about that.]

Congratulations.

[senpaidol]

Oh good, I'd hate to have sprung that on you...I'd have also side-eyed Souji a little for not telling his best friend.

[She pauses, sighing out loud which might come across as some mental static.]

It'll probably blow up in my face, honestly, but it's Souji and Naoto so it'll be a really quiet explosion. And it's something I can only do here, so...

[wildmagician]

I'm sure you'll be alright. It's not like you'll stop being friends if something goes wrong... and you have the right chemistry.

[Souji had always gotten along with both Rise and Naoto and Naoto and Rise got along very well as well... so it's just natural. Natural that they'd work.]

So don't worry about it too much, Rise-san.

[senpaidol]

I know, it's just...I've never dated anyone before and it's scary. Just liking someone is scary, let alone anyone liking you back.

Anyway...do you...wanna hang out? I think we've kinda passed the awkward threshold in this conversation, but I still...it'd be nice to talk. If you're up for it.

[wildmagician]

[He can definitely relate to feelings like that, especially the part of someone liking you back. Naoto's the first one to do that.]

That'd be nice. Though can you give me some time...? I think... it might be bad if I saw anyone right now.

[senpaidol]

Yeah...I can get that. I'm here whenever you need me, senpai.