Was it too late to turn this train wreck around? Naoto couldn’t seem to find a single light in the dark to lead her back to a normal conversation. Even the earlier situation of blushing and trying to hide her face was less uncomfortable than this, and she wished sincerely that she could go back to that. At least then Rise was smiling, and she didn’t need to talk about her issues out loud. That was never easy for her. Even when she was a child, she didn’t like to speak about what bothered her, unless it were something regarding a case. Speaking about this wouldn’t fix anything. It would just put an even heavier burden on Rise, and she didn’t deserve that.
It was too late to keep from burdening her, it seemed. Even before the conversation had taken this drastic and horrible turn. It seemed her constantly serious demeanor had caused her friend to worry about her, and yet here she was saying that there was no reason for Naoto to change herself. Didn’t she realize that was just another reason why she needed to do something about her attitude? She smiled so little that her friends were concerned for her, and she knew she was constantly bringing them down when they should be having fun themselves. Then here Rise was, saying these things about herself… It was horrible just to hear it. She had no idea the idol felt that way. Both of them had been hiding these thoughts from each other.
"Don’t be ridiculous, Rise-san. You’re treating yourself as if you’re two-dimensional." Perhaps that wasn’t the best thing to say when beginning to make an attempt to cheer your friend up, but it was true. She couldn’t believe Rise would think something like that. That she was a ‘fake’. What nonsense. "Risette is the side of you that you portray in the media, but you aren’t ‘fake’ for having more than one side. You’re human, and like everyone else, there’s more to you than that. You shouldn’t deny any side of you, whether its Risette or a more serious part."
"…And there’s no reason to be concerned on my behalf. I’m fine." She added as a sidenote, realizing there was still that issue to address. "Please don’t worry yourself over my issues." Ah, she was really hoping to come up with something she could say to put Rise at ease, but it would be impossible to find something like that. The damage had already been done. Her friend was aware now about what was bothering her, and pretending it wasn’t an issue wouldn’t help anyone, really. It would only make matters worse. The only thing that seemed reasonable was to dismiss the topic. Just let it go, and hopefully Rise would be able to put it out of her mind. In the meantime, she would just have to work on that issue, like she had said before.
[Treating herself as though she was two-dimensional...and yet, that was how she felt. When word got out that she was actually so stressed about her manufactured personality that she needed to take a hiatus, and when they learned that she was entirely different from how she behaved on television and in public, they were so...disappointed, most likely due to the difference between "Rise" and "Risette", not to mention that they believed in someone who was completely fake. It was overwhelming to see the change in every single fan of hers; "Hey, don't you realize that Rise's a huge fake? She's totally different from how she is on TV." "I'm done with Risette...I always thought she was such a great singer and role model, but now that it's true that she really is fake? Jeez, who gets people's hopes up like that?"]
[All she ever heard after her hiatus were dozens of rumors being spread about her; when she moved into Inaba and took strolls without allowing her grandmother to know, it was not only to get a chance to get out without being recognized for a change, it was also an opportunity to listen in on what the other citizens discussed, and every topic was fixated on the idol. Hell, dozens of people even gathered around Marukyu to catch a glimpse of her; normally, that would've excited her grandmother, and it did, even if only for a moment, but when she realized that they weren't customers...she was disappointed, and it was all because of her own granddaughter. Nobody came for their tofu; it was all just to see if Rise really was a fraud, and once they got their answer, word spread like wildfire. In fact...]
[Those who relieved her of the burden were actually now her best friends; she recalled them entering the shop, warning her that she was in danger, and while she may not have acted on how she really felt...the idol was honestly touched. Everyone had indirectly been vicious towards her, spreading rumors of her fabricated personality, convincing others to quit obsessing over her because they were only interested in how she appeared on television. Her own biggest fan, who sent her fanmail every day, had to pretend to stop cheering Risette on because her friend couldn't stand the falsity of the idol. And yet...there were people who actually accepted her, despite her personality, even rescued her from her shadow when she was nearly murdered.]
[One of them, despite not technically rescuing Rise herself, was Naoto; and the idol still considered the azurette to be a close friend. That's why the brunette had been so concerned about how serious Naoto's demeanor was; whether or not it was her actual personality presenting itself, the way she behaved what honestly somewhat distressing. Rise herself acted like that once, and after that, when she started becoming all carefree...it was like Risette was taking over again, yet...maybe Naoto was right. She was the smarter one, after all, and...everyone did have different aspects to them. There was no reason for Rise to feel as though Risette was a completely different person, and yet...]
...Y-Yeah, you're right, Naoto-kun. Risette is another part of me, even if a majority of her was just me pretending to be happy-go-lucky...I...guess it was just confusing back then. Besides, when everyone was calling me fake, I guess it just...sort of got to me. [With a slight sigh, Rise tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and returned to the matter at hand.] But...Naoto-kun, I'm really sorry. I had no right to say those things to you...just like Risette is a part of me, your serious nature can be a part of you, so you really don't have to change yourself just because we're concerned. It's just impossible for me not to be concerned b-because...I care about you, and...I know what it's like to feel like you have to change yourself in order to make others happy.
