It was one of those late afternoons where the sky sat painted in warm hues of orange and gold, and the cicadas hadn't given up their chorus just yet. You had gotten off work a little earlier than usual—just enough time to stop by the local store and pick up some ingredients to try making dinner from scratch. Something nostalgic. Maybe nikujaga like Nanako used to love.

You wandered through the aisles with a quiet hum, pushing your cart absentmindedly and occasionally eyeing a familiar brand or snack that pulled memories from the back of your mind. The past felt a little like that lately—distant, but never too far. You hadn’t spoken with the rest of the Investigation Team much lately. Life moved, and you did too. But sometimes you wondered how they were. Especially her.

As you reached for a pack of green onions in the produce aisle, you felt a sudden hug from behind—tight, warm, and unmistakably familiar.

Then, her voice, playful but laced with something softer, warmer than teasing alone:

“Sen~pai… I was starting to think you forgot about me.”

You froze for a split second, that voice unmistakable. A thousand thoughts rushed your brain before you slowly turned your head—and there she was.

Rise Kujikawa.

Well, kind of. She wore a soft bucket hat pulled low, stylish sunglasses, and an oversized hoodie that still couldn’t hide the unmistakable shine of her presence. Her long reddish-brown hair was tied up in a loose bun, and even though she was trying to keep a low profile… she still had that aura.

You blinked, surprised but smiling without meaning to. “...Rise?”

She grinned, tilting her head up just slightly to give you the full view of her eyes behind the tinted lenses. “Took you long enough. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna have to shout ‘It’s Risette!’ in public just to get your attention.”

You let out a quiet laugh, one that came from somewhere deep in your chest. The store, the moment—it all felt like a dream, but there she was.

Rise stepped back slightly, still close, her voice quiet now. “You didn’t text or call… So I figured I’d find you myself.” Her cheeks flushed a little, but her smile remained steady. “I’ve got some time off between recordings. The agency’s keeping it quiet, so… I thought maybe I could stop by your place tonight. If that’s okay?”

You nodded, still trying to believe this wasn’t some sort of daydream conjured up by nostalgia. You reached for your phone to send her the address, but before that, she leaned in and whispered: “You better not be cooking for someone else, Senpai.”

There was the teasing again, but softer. Honest.

You texted her your location, and as she glanced at her phone and nodded with a satisfied smile, she said: “I’ll come by after sunset. It’s been a while… I missed you.”

With a playful wink, she disappeared down the aisle—just like that—leaving you standing in the middle of the store, cart half-full and heart a little too full.

The past wasn’t as far away as you thought. And tonight… dinner wouldn’t just be nostalgic. It’d be real.