Monday morning arrived, the sun lazily rising over the rooftops as Kaede stepped outside, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She glanced at the house across the street—Mirei's house—but there was no sign of Kouki. Normally, she'd spot him loitering in front, waiting for Mirei with that same smug expression. But today, the street was empty. Kaede paused, her brow furrowing slightly. Are they still fighting? she wondered. After what happened at the theme park, it wouldn't surprise her.
But it wasn't really her problem, was it?
Shrugging off the thought, Kaede started walking toward school alone, hands shoved into her pockets as she let her mind wander. Despite everything, her routine felt strangely peaceful without Kouki around. No awkward third-wheeling, no smug looks, no forced conversations. Just her, the cool morning air, and the familiar streets.
Kaede had always been more of a loner, and she preferred it that way. But ever since she started working at the café, things had changed a bit. People at school had begun to recognize her as the "handsome waitress," a title that made her cringe a little. It was flattering, sure, but it brought more attention than she was used to.
As she entered the school gates, she could already feel the eyes on her. A group of girls whispered and giggled as she passed by, clearly discussing her. One of them waved shyly, trying to catch her eye. Kaede offered a small, polite smile but didn't stop to talk. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, and honestly, she wasn't sure how to handle it.
Still, it was hard to ignore the sudden shift in her social life. More and more people seemed to want to be her friend, but it all felt superficial. Kaede wasn't good at small talk, and she wasn't the type to open up easily.
"Yo, Kaede!" A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Mirei had arrived at her seat, looking as casual and cheerful as ever. She greeted Kaede with a smile, as if nothing had happened between them and Kouki over the weekend.
Kaede smiled back, trying to gauge her mood. Is she still upset? She couldn't tell. Mirei was good at hiding her feelings, always putting on a brave face.
"Morning," Kaede replied, her tone casual. "Everything okay?"
Mirei shrugged, not giving much away. "Yeah, I guess."
Kaede nodded, sensing that it wasn't the right time to push for more details. They'd talk when Mirei was ready, she figured.
---
The school day passed uneventfully, with Kaede keeping her usual low profile. But as she walked home later that afternoon, something strange caught her attention. As she passed by a small park near her house, she spotted a group of girls standing together, one of whom was Mirei. Kaede's pace slowed as she realized who the other girls were—they were the same group of girls they had met at the theme park on Saturday.
Her instincts immediately kicked in. Why is Mirei with them? Something about the scene didn't sit right with her. The tension was palpable, even from a distance.
Suddenly, before Kaede could fully comprehend what was happening, the girls began to get aggressive. One of them shoved Mirei, her voice rising in anger. Mirei didn't back down. Kaede's heart leaped into her throat as she watched, frozen for a moment. Oh no…
Mirei, tough as she was, fought back, but it was clear the situation was getting out of hand. Panic surged through Kaede's body, and without thinking, she sprinted toward them.
"Hey! Stop!" Kaede shouted, throwing herself between Mirei and the other girls, trying to break up the fight. She grabbed one of the girls by the arm and pushed her back, then shielded Mirei with her body.
"Back off!" Kaede growled, her voice sharp and commanding. The girls, startled by Kaede's sudden intervention, hesitated for a moment.
"What's your problem?!" one of the girls spat, glaring at Kaede. "This has nothing to do with you!"
"It does now," Kaede shot back, keeping her stance firm. "You want to fight someone? Try me instead."
The girls glared at her, but after a tense moment, they seemed to back down. One of them, clearly the ringleader, sneered before speaking. "Your little friend here's been messing with my boyfriend."
Kaede blinked in confusion. "What?"
The girl pointed at Mirei, her voice dripping with venom. "Kouki's been seeing me for months. Imagine my surprise when I saw him cozying up to this one at the theme park. Turns out your precious Kouki is a two-timing jerk."
Kaede's stomach dropped. Kouki? A two-timer? She turned to Mirei, whose face had gone pale. "Is that true?" Kaede asked, her voice low.
Mirei shook her head, her voice shaky. "I didn't know! I swear, Kaede, I had no idea. I am also a victim here!"
Kaede believed her. She could see the genuine shock and hurt in Mirei's eyes. But the other girls weren't satisfied. "You expect us to believe that?" one of them shouted, stepping forward again. "You're just as guilty!"
"That's enough!" Kaede snapped, holding out her arm to keep them at bay. "Kouki's the problem here, not Mirei. If you want answers, go confront him, not her."
There was a tense silence before the ringleader finally huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. We'll see what Kouki has to say for himself. But don't think this is over."
With that, the girls turned and walked away, leaving Kaede and Mirei alone in the park. Mirei's shoulders slumped, and she let out a shaky breath.
Kaede glanced at her, noticing the small cut on Mirei's upper lip where one of the girls had hit her. "You okay?" she asked gently.
Mirei nodded weakly, but her expression was distant, lost in thought. "I need to talk to Kouki… I need to hear it from him."
Kaede sighed and nodded. "I'll go with you if you want."
Mirei managed a small smile, though her eyes were still clouded with worry. "Thanks, Kaede. I'd appreciate that."
---
Later, after they had returned to Mirei's house, Kaede rummaged through the first-aid kit in Mirei's bathroom, grabbing some ointment and a bandage. "Here," she said, gently applying the ointment to Mirei's lip. "This should help with the swelling."
Mirei winced slightly but stayed still as Kaede tended to her. "Thanks," she murmured.
As Kaede worked, the silence between them grew heavier. Finally, Mirei broke down, her voice trembling. "I can't believe it, Kaede… I can't believe Kouki's been seeing someone else this whole time. I feel like such an idiot."
Kaede's heart ached at the sight of Mirei's tears. Mirei, who was always so strong, so composed, now looked utterly defeated. Without thinking, Kaede reached out and pulled her into a hug. "You're not an idiot, Mirei. You didn't know. Kouki's the one at fault here, not you."
Mirei buried her face in Kaede's shoulder, her tears soaking through the fabric of Kaede's hoodie. "I thought I knew him… How could he do this?"
Kaede gently rubbed Mirei's back, trying to comfort her. "Some people are just jerks. But you don't have to decide anything right now. Talk to him tomorrow, and then figure out what you want to do. You don't owe him anything."
Mirei sniffled and nodded against her. "You're right. I'll talk to him tomorrow."
They sat like that for a while, with Kaede holding Mirei as she cried. When the tears finally stopped, Mirei pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Thanks, Kaede. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Kaede smiled softly. "Anytime."
As they said their goodbyes for the night, Kaede couldn't help but feel a strange sense of protectiveness toward Mirei. Kouki had better have a good explanation, or he was in for a world of trouble.