Agreed to the deal. Except... Kanamin wasn't bluffing

(chapter originally by faith on writing.com)

Rise took in a deep breath. Everything was happening so fast! Clothes had been lost, idols were colliding into her, and now she was somehow getting swept up in some mad plot by her rival to run away from her career! She was confused and on the brink of panicking. And in these situations, Risette was prone to making terrible or dangerous decisions...

But that was old Rise! Old, indecisive, 'don't know who the real me even is so I might as well get naked' pre-persona Rise! This was the new, improved, not depressed, light-hearted but not airheaded Rise. Solver of mysteries, saver of lives, hunter of otherwordly murderers, and card carrying cutest member of the Investigation Team (as conducted by an exhaustive survey headed by Rise Kujikawa tabulating the results of the unbiased opinion of Rise Kujikawa). So, what would the new Rise do? She'd take a breath, and take a page from Naoto's book. Cool mind, logical thinking.

Kanamin, for whatever reason (and Rise did want to know what that reason was...later, when she could talk this out without fear of recognition or public nudity!) had decided to make a break for it right before a big concert. Her plan, thrown together though it obviously was, clearly required a quick exit and not drawing attention to herself! CleaRisrly, a butt naked Risette drawing fans and press to the scene like honey attracting flies ran totally counter to that. There was clearly no reason to strip Rise in the middle of a public street whatsoever! Except maybe as a decoy, but Kanamin wasn't that cold blooded! Right?

Rise shook her head. No way. Despite feeling more than a little jealous of Kanamin's rise to fame in the absence of Risette, Kanamin practically worshiped the ground her beloved senior idol walked on, and Rise definitely considered her a good friend. Plus, Kanamin knew just how shy Rise was offstage, how hard she worked to psych herself up every performance to transform from the squimish little girl who was constantly bullied in middle school into Risette the Idol. Kanamin knew just how prone to embarrassment the real Rise was, how terrified of humiliation and public mockery she was. And above all else, Kanamin knew of the extra special TERROR that haunted Rise of getting caught naked in public (a terror Rise's Shadow exploited to the fullest in order to **** Rise to confront the ugliest parts of herself). Kanamin alone knew all of this among the many associates and contacts Rise had made in her time as an idol (with perhaps the exception of their mutual manager, Inoue). She knew because she was the same.

Kanamin had been discovered much like Rise, through happenstance and the excellent instincts of Inoue. Her idol persona was largely as fake as Risette (well, okay, "fake" was a strong word- as her shadow said, Risette's personality came from Rise, and was no less valid her 'regular' personality...none of which was particularly relevant right now; focus, Rise!). What Kanamin had been before was clumsy, nerdy looking awkward teen with a big bust but all the confidence of baby deer learning to walk. She'd suffered her share of bullies, and humiliation, and smug comments that ground her self image into dust. So of course it was Inoue's big idea for big sister Risette to coach the newbie on how to get over stage fright and the terror. And Rise had done a damn fine job, if she said so herself. Not, of course, in helping poor Kanamin overcome her anxieties and phobias. That would require Rise to have discovered an solution to her own problems. No, Rise had trained little Kanamin on burying her shyness and terror of humiliation deep, deep, down so the idol could come out and entertain the crowds. She showed Kanamin the times to keep it in and let it out, to go from the lie of the crowd pleaser to the truth of little girl afraid of the mockery and the laughter and the gawking and the perpetual sea of cameras ready to steal away your dignity the very instant your guard was down. And in the process, if from time to time Rise had let down her own walls, let the little rising star see more of her weak side than she'd ever dared...what about it? If she let Kanamin get a little too close, let her be as much Risette's coping mechanism as Rise had become Kanamin's...that could stay their little secret. And if maybe there were way more nights involving mutual tears and late night confessions and falling asleep clinging to each other like human teddy bears...that was no one's business but their own, right?

So no way...no way in hell Kanamin would throw Rise to the wolves like that! This was a test, and a bluff. She needed help, and she was offering help in turn!

"Okay, Kanamin. Sure. You can "take" my coat." Rise said, winking and smiling at her junior.

"Perfect! You have no idea what a relief this is! I was afraid I'd have to lose a shirt or something!" Kanamin said, grabbing Rise's hand.

"Wait...what?" Rise asked, before letting out a sudden 'eep' as Kanamin pulled her along once again.

A quick trip across the street and into a back alley later....

Rise felt her heart beating as the pair were confronted by a worrying number of people hanging out in the back alley. All Kanamin fans, based on the logos on shirts and hats. The way they were looking at Rise made her feel like she had just interrupted a birthday party and no one was sure whether to be angry that she was ending the fun or hopeful that she had brought additional presents. She looked around nervously until her eyes settled on a single motor-scooter with a side passenger pod parked in an oddly prominent position in the alley.

"Kanamin...what the hell have you done?" Rise asked, a grim certainty falling over her.

"Well...I didn't have much time to plan...but I made contact with some fans who were willing to transport me to a place to lie low for awhile...they just had.. umm...some conditions...." Kanamin explained nervously.

"They want your clothes..." Rise stated numbly.

"Heh heh. Uh, y-yeah." Kanamin laughed nervously. "W-wouldn't take cash, or anything else..."

Rise blushed intensely, remembering her experience before. "Wha-Wha-What is wrong with you people! Out of all the things, why would you want clothes instead of money?!!"

The assembled fans looked at one another, then back at Rise and Kanamin. "Uhh...is that like a rhetorical question or something?" One guy asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"A-anyway! Good news, guys! I found something better than MY clothes! I just landed the chance to get the one and only jacket of the fabulous Risette!" Kanamin said, clapping her hands.

"Kanaminnnnnnnn!" Rise hissed.

"No! Don't be mad! This is perfect! You need a place to hide, I need a place to hide, and this will ensure it all! I won't even have to-"

Rise glared.

"Ummm...heh heh. Its okay! It'll just be for a little bit and then we'll get you new clothes, I swear!"

Rise glared harder.

"Uhh, not to spit on Risette or nothing, but we all came here expecting you to be paying..." Another fan noted.

"Nah. Its okay. One gorgeous idol hottie is as good as another, right?" Another said.

"I mean, she's okay, but have you seen the size of those-"

"Dude. Be cool. I got this." The first man noted. "Sure thing. Take off the coat, we'll get you were you need to be....Risette."

Kanamin beamed with happiness while Rise felt her legs wobble underneath her. This wasn't happening, was it?