The less expensive room had been combed carefully and completely by the teen idol, and still remained presentable. Rather, it will be completely searched, as soon as Rise goes through the closet. While a fairly obvious hiding spot most would have searched initially, its distance from the door to the hall led Rise to wedge a broom between the sliding door and the wall to which it slides, locking it until the broom was removed, and save it for last as she instead chose to start her search at the door to the hall and work her way outward. The door hadn't rattled and the broom remained in place. No signs of life, but any opponent could have been careful and simply sat there, hoping to not arouse suspicion and maybe Rise would forget all about the closet. Regardless, the broom slid out with a rough tug by the recovering starlet, fighting her all the way before she dropped it on the floor.
It was faint, and it stopped suddenly, but Rise was certain she heard them. Rhythmic thumping sounds were coming from the hall a moment ago. Someone was on the move, and maybe Rise could catch that someone in motion.
Rise was halfway to the door before the broom even hit the ground, her steps loudly announcing her presence and drowning out any noise that might indicate her target's location. Sliding to a stop, she swivels her head back and forth, looking down the hall in hopes of catching even the slightest glimpse of someone. Nothing, not even a shadow or sound. Being in the middle of the hallway left no clear indication of a direction to follow, and every room being unlocked offered more possible hiding places than shadows in The Midnight Channel. For no real reason, Rise bolted off to her left, mumbling prays she made the right decision rendered inaudible by her steps on the wood floor.
Not even ten paces later, Rise swore she heard it again, that sound of someone on the move right behind her. She spun on her heels and looked again to an empty hall before grinding to a halt.
"Someone was definitely like right behind me," she muses softly. "And if they're gone, then they..."
Rise trails off as she enters into the adjacent room, 109, hoping to catch another hint of her target only to see a room that seemed untouched since the staff cleaned it. Regardless, the nearest chair was swiftly used to employ the same strategy of locking the closet. It wasn't as efficient, but going back for the broom was out of the question, especially with someone so close and the clock ticking.
"Again!" Rise called mid-stride, turning around once more to the foot falls from nowhere. However, this time was very different. There was no one there again, but this time Rise was practically in the corner. Had there been anyone behind her, that person shouldn't have been able to move more than a meter without passing in front of Rise. Her face crestfallen, Rise heavily stamps out the tune of her last song to test the thought. As she expected, the same stomping seemed to be coming from behind her. Stamping her foot once more and almost breaking the floor beneath her, Rise yells, "An echo!" Rise had been chasing her own steps.
Before getting the chance to refocus her efforts and get back on track, another sound came with its echo, and it wasn't from Rise this time. It was that bell from the inn's clock, the description of which should have tipped off Rise to the acoustics of the inn before she began making a low snarling. Rise spent so long chasing her own tail she lost five minutes, and with it an article of clothing.
"Oh well," Rise sighed. "I'm still on optional clothing anyway."
With speed Shadow Rise would have envied, the school jacket was quickly dangled off the end of Rise's fingers, waiting for its owner to figure out where to put it. On the one hand, Rise wasn't allowed to wear it anymore, and carrying it around would mean it was technically on her even if not as intended. On the other, there was a chance she'd get to redress. Apparently the game hadn't been thought out as well as the starlet had assumed, but she couldn't help but smile when she thought of what would happen when her teammates discovered this oversight.
"I guess I'll have to come back for it."
Not wanting to lose additional time, Rise unceremoniously dropped her jacket on the floor and took off once more.
Rise Kujikawa-
Clothing: stockings, sailor tie, skirt, blouse, bra, thong
What's Rise's next move?
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