Kaede followed along behind Mirei and Kouki, her hands tucked into her hoodie pockets, watching as Kouki and Mirei walked hand in hand ahead of her. From the moment they entered the theme park, Kouki had made sure to keep a firm grip on Mirei, as if trying to stake his claim. Kaede couldn't help but roll her eyes at his over-the-top possessiveness, but she kept her thoughts to herself. She was used to this by now.
The day had only just begun, and they were already searching for their first ride. The cheerful sounds of children laughing, the hum of music, and the occasional screams from thrill-seekers filled the air. Mirei, as always, was bubbling with excitement. "Oh, let's go on that one!" she exclaimed, pointing at a roller coaster towering above them. The track twisted and looped through the sky like a metal serpent, the screams of those already riding echoing across the park.
Kaede's eyes lit up a bit at the sight. She loved roller coasters. The rush, the feeling of adrenaline—it was a rare thrill she enjoyed. "I'm game," she said casually.
But Kouki's face, usually cocky and self-assured, faltered for a brief moment. "Uh… I think I'll pass on this one," he said, trying to play it off cool. "It's not really my thing."
Mirei turned to him, surprised. "Really? You don't want to ride? It'll be fun!"
Kouki crossed his arms, his voice smug. "Nah, I'm good. You two go ahead. I'll hold your bags or something."
Kaede smirked to herself, realizing the truth. He's scared. But of course, he wouldn't admit that in front of Mirei. Typical Kouki.
Mirei pouted but didn't push it. "Alright, come on, Kaede. Let's ride it together!"
As the two girls got in line, Kaede felt a strange mix of emotions. She was glad to be spending time with Mirei, but the sight of Kouki watching them from a distance, arms folded, filled her with an odd sense of satisfaction. There was a tiny part of her that felt good about being the one to enjoy the ride with Mirei while he sat it out.
The roller coaster was exhilarating. The wind whipped through Kaede's hair as they soared through loops and drops, Mirei's laughter mixing with the rush of the wind. For a brief moment, it was just the two of them, no Kouki, no third-wheeling awkwardness—just pure fun.
But as soon as they got off, reality came crashing back. Kouki was waiting for them at the exit, and the moment Mirei was back by his side, the dynamic shifted again. They went on a few other attractions, most of which Kouki chose—ones that were less extreme, where he could keep Mirei close and leave Kaede trailing behind. As expected, Kaede was mostly left as the awkward third wheel. She tried to play it cool, but the more time passed, the more she found herself glancing at them—at Kouki's possessive hand on Mirei's back, at the way Mirei leaned into him, laughing at something he said.
A strange feeling bubbled in Kaede's chest, one she wasn't used to. Jealousy. She wasn't sure if it was because Kouki had Mirei's attention or because she couldn't stand seeing him act so cocky, knowing he didn't deserve her. Either way, it made her feel small and out of place, even though she had prepared herself for this day to be awkward.
A few hours into their day, something caught Kaede's attention. As they were walking toward another section of the park, a group of girls approached them, recognizing Kouki from school. "Kouki!" one of them called out, waving excitedly.
Kaede watched as Kouki's demeanor shifted instantly. He quickly let go of Mirei's hand, stepping forward to greet the girls with a broad smile. "Hey, what's up?" he said, his voice a bit too casual.
Mirei stood beside him, looking confused but not saying anything. From where Kaede stood, she could see the nervous flicker in Kouki's expression—he was trying to act cool, but there was something off about the way he interacted with those girls. His body language was stiff, and he kept glancing at Mirei, clearly trying to keep things under control.
Kaede couldn't hear what they were talking about, but the whole situation set off alarm bells in her head. What's with him? she thought. He was acting way too nervous for someone who had nothing to hide.
After a few awkward minutes, the girls left, and Kouki returned to Mirei's side as if nothing had happened. Kaede noticed how his hand stayed firmly in his pocket this time, no longer reaching for Mirei's.
---
Later that evening, the three of them sat down for dinner at a small restaurant near the theme park. Mirei, ever the peacemaker, was trying her best to get Kaede and Kouki to talk more, hoping they could find some common ground. "So, Kouki," she began, a hopeful smile on her face, "Kaede's actually really into music too, you know? Maybe you guys could talk about that."
Kouki glanced at Kaede, his expression bored. "Yeah? You in a band or something?" he asked, his tone indifferent.
Kaede shrugged. "Not really. I play guitar for fun, but nothing serious."
"Figures," Kouki muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Kaede to hear. "Doesn't seem like you're serious about much of anything."
Kaede blinked, surprised by the jab. "Excuse me?"
Kouki smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, you're always following Mirei around, right? Just tagging along. Do you even have a plan for your life, or are you just drifting?"
Kaede felt a sharp sting of anger rise in her chest. Where the hell did that come from? "I'm not just drifting," she said, her voice steady despite her frustration. "I've got a job. I help out at home. Not that it's any of your business."
Mirei, sensing the tension, quickly interjected. "Hey, Kouki, that's not fair—"
But Kouki cut her off. "I'm just saying, it seems like you're wasting your time. You're always hanging around Mirei, and I don't get why. Don't you have your own thing going on?"
That was it. Mirei's face flushed with anger, and she slammed her hands on the table. "Kouki! What's your problem?"
Kouki narrowed his eyes at Mirei, clearly not used to her standing up to him. "Why are you taking her side? I'm your boyfriend, remember?"
Mirei stood her ground. "Because you're being a jerk, Kouki! Kaede's done nothing wrong, and you're acting like a complete ass."
Kouki, his pride wounded, scoffed and stood up abruptly. "Fine, if that's how it is. I'm out of here."
Without another word, he stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Mirei and Kaede sitting in awkward silence.
Mirei sighed heavily, slumping back in her chair. "I'm sorry, Kaede. I didn't expect him to be such a jerk today. I thought maybe we could all get along… but I guess that was a stupid idea."
Kaede shook her head, offering a small, sympathetic smile. "It's not your fault, Mirei. I didn't have high expectations for the day anyway. But hey, at least we got to go on that roller coaster, right?"
Mirei chuckled softly, her mood lightening a little. "Yeah, that was fun."
As they began walking home together, the tension between them melted away, replaced by the easy, comfortable friendship they had always shared. "You know," Kaede began, glancing at Mirei, "I've been meaning to ask—how did you get into the whole idol dream thing? I've never really asked about your dream before."
Mirei's eyes lit up at the question. "Oh, it's kind of a long story! I've always loved singing and performing, even when I was little. I'd put on little concerts in my living room and make my parents watch. And when I learned about idols, I knew that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to make people happy with my music."
Kaede smiled, genuinely interested. "That's really cool. I can see why you're so good at it. You've got the right energy for it."
Mirei blushed a little at the compliment. "Thanks, Kaede. That means a lot coming from you."
The two of them continued talking and laughing as they walked home, the earlier tension with Kouki fading into the background. Despite the disastrous date, Kaede was glad to have spent the day with Mirei, and she couldn't help but feel a little closer to her friend as they headed home together.