Kaede stood outside her house, glancing at her watch. It was a bit earlier than usual, but she didn't mind waiting for Mirei. After everything that had happened yesterday, her mind was still buzzing. She rang the doorbell next door, fidgeting slightly, thinking about what today would bring.
The door opened, and Mirei stepped out, smiling brightly. "Oh, Kaede! You didn't forget me this time, huh?" she teased, sticking her tongue out playfully.
Kaede's heart skipped a beat at Mirei's cuteness, though she tried to hide her flustered reaction. She forced a small frown, crossing her arms. "Of course, I didn't forget. I'm not that unreliable."
Mirei giggled, clearly enjoying teasing her. "Sure, sure. Let's get going, or we'll be late!"
They started walking together toward school, the usual morning buzz of the neighborhood surrounding them. As they made their way, Kaede couldn't help but bring up the inevitable.
"So, what time are we going to Aoyama Boys High?" she asked, trying to keep her tone casual.
Mirei looked thoughtful for a second. "Three o'clock, right after school."
Kaede raised an eyebrow. "And… do you have a plan for how you're going to confess?"
Mirei shrugged, her expression carefree. "Nope. I'll just wing it."
Kaede let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes. "Are you serious? You're really just going to walk up to him and hope for the best?"
Mirei laughed softly. "Yup! That's exactly what I'm going to do."
Kaede shook her head in disbelief. "You really are something else, you know that?"
"Hey, confidence is key, right?" Mirei winked at her, making Kaede's heart do another little flip. No matter how exasperated she was, Mirei's carefree attitude was oddly charming.
They continued chatting about random things as they walked, with Mirei teasing Kaede here and there, keeping the mood light. Kaede still couldn't get over how different Mirei was from her idol persona. The cool, distant leader of Celestial was now this playful, slightly air-headed girl who was about to confess to a guy she barely knew. It was almost surreal.
The school day passed by like any other. Classes felt longer than usual for Kaede, her mind constantly drifting back to the afternoon ahead. She tried to focus, but the thought of Mirei's confession kept nagging at her. Would it actually work? What if the guy accepted? What if Mirei really started dating someone?
Kaede shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. She didn't want to think about what it would mean for her feelings.
Finally, the last bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Kaede packed her things, her stomach churning with nerves as she met up with Mirei at the gate. Together, they walked toward Aoyama Boys High, the air feeling heavier with every step.
"Are you nervous?" Kaede asked, glancing at Mirei.
Mirei shook her head, smiling confidently. "Not really. I mean, I'll be embarrassed if he says no, but it's worth a shot, right?"
Kaede nodded slowly, though she felt a pit of worry forming in her stomach. What if he said yes? Mirei was beautiful and charming—who wouldn't say yes to her?
Before Kaede could dwell on her thoughts any longer, Mirei suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her behind a bush. "There he is!" she whispered excitedly.
Kaede's eyes widened as she peeked out from behind the bush. There, standing by the school gate, was the guy Mirei had a crush on. He was tall, with short, messy hair and a confident stance, surrounded by a small group of girls who were all vying for his attention.
Kaede's heart sank. Of course he was popular. Why wouldn't he be? And now Mirei was about to confess to him in front of all these other girls?
Before she could say anything, Mirei stepped out from their hiding spot and began walking toward the group. Kaede's eyes widened in panic. "Wait, Mirei—!"
Too late. Mirei was already making her way over with that same unwavering confidence. Kaede couldn't believe it. How could someone be so bold? She watched as Mirei approached the guy, tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.
The guy turned around, looking a little confused. "Uh… do I know you?" he asked, glancing at her curiously while the girls around him eyed Mirei with clear irritation.
"No, you don't," Mirei said with a grin, completely unbothered by the glares from the other girls. "But I'd like to talk to you. Alone."
The guy hesitated, clearly taken aback by her directness, but then he shrugged. "Sure, I guess." He waved off the other girls, and they reluctantly moved aside, watching the two of them with sharp, critical eyes.
Kaede's heart pounded in her chest as she followed at a distance, staying just far enough to give them space but still close enough to hear. Mirei and the guy moved to a quieter spot near the side of the school building, and Kaede held her breath.
Mirei wasted no time. "I'm Mirei, by the way," she said with a small smile. "I know this is kind of out of the blue, but I just wanted to say that I've had a crush on you for a while now."
Kaede's eyes widened. She had really just gone for it. No buildup, no small talk—just a direct confession. Her heart raced, her stomach twisting into knots. This was it.
The guy blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard. "Uh… okay," he stammered, looking a little flustered. "I didn't expect that."
Mirei laughed softly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, I know it's a bit sudden. It's fine if you don't feel the same way, I just thought I'd be honest. You can reject me if you want. I won't take it personally."
Kaede bit her lip, her anxiety growing with each passing second. She could feel her own heart beating in her ears. What would he say?
The guy hesitated, glancing around awkwardly. He looked like he was about to say something, but then he stopped. His face flushed slightly, and he scratched the back of his head.
"Actually… sure," he said, his voice a little shaky. "Let's go out."
Kaede froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her heart sank, disbelief washing over her like a cold wave. She couldn't believe it. He had said yes. Mirei's confession had actually worked.
Mirei's eyes widened in surprise, her confident facade cracking for just a moment. "Wait… really?" she asked, blinking in disbelief herself.
The guy nodded, though he still looked a bit confused. "Yeah. I mean, why not?"
Mirei's smile returned, a little more genuine this time. "Well, okay then! Thanks. I'll see you around?"
He nodded, giving her a small wave before walking off, leaving Mirei standing there with a stunned but satisfied look on her face.
Kaede, however, felt like the ground had just fallen out from under her. Her chest tightened, and she struggled to breathe, watching as Mirei stood there, looking happy and victorious. The girl she had admired for so long… had just been accepted by someone else.
And there was nothing Kaede could do about it.