The day had finally arrived. It was the morning of the audition, and the sky was a bright, cloudless blue. Kaede woke up at 7 a.m. sharp, her heart racing with anticipation and nerves. She lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the day settle on her shoulders. Today was the day that could change everything—for Mirei, for her, for both of them.
With a deep breath, Kaede got up and prepared herself, pulling on the new clothes she had bought the day before. She carefully tucked her guitar into its case and slung it over her back. It felt strange, knowing that this instrument, which had always been a private source of comfort, would now be used in front of strangers.
"Well, here goes nothing," she muttered to herself as she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. Before leaving, she stopped by the kitchen where her mother was preparing breakfast.
"Mom, I'm heading out," Kaede said quietly, trying to hide her nerves.
Her mother smiled warmly, a knowing look in her eyes. "Good luck, Kaede. You'll do great. Just believe in yourself."
Kaede nodded, her mother's words of encouragement providing a small comfort. She stepped out of the house and walked to Mirei's, guitar case bouncing lightly against her back with each step. When she reached Mirei's front door, she rang the bell and called out, "Mirei, come on! We've got to grab breakfast on the way!"
Moments later, Mirei appeared in the doorway, and Kaede's heart skipped a beat. Mirei was stunning, her makeup flawlessly applied, highlighting her already beautiful features. It was as if she had transformed back into the idol Kaede had admired from afar. Kaede blinked, trying not to stare. She wasn't used to seeing Mirei like this—at school, Mirei rarely wore makeup, keeping her look simple. But now, Mirei looked like a star, and Kaede couldn't help but feel a rush of admiration.
"Good morning!" Mirei greeted, her voice cheerful and full of energy as usual.
"Morning..." Kaede managed to reply, still trying to steady her heart. She couldn't let herself get flustered now.
The two headed off to a nearby café to grab a quick breakfast before the audition. As they sat at a table, sipping their drinks, Mirei could sense the nervousness radiating off Kaede. She grinned and teased, "You look like you're about to face a firing squad. Relax, Kaede, it's just an audition!"
Kaede chuckled softly, her shoulders tense. "Easy for you to say. You've done this before."
"Sure, but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous too." Mirei reached across the table and placed her hand over Kaede's, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Just don't overthink it. We'll be fine. Do your best and give it a go. We're in this together, remember?"
Kaede smiled gratefully, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her chest. "Thanks, Mirei. I'll try."
After finishing breakfast, they made their way to the audition venue. By the time they arrived, it was around 10 a.m., and the place was packed with people. The air buzzed with nervous energy, and Kaede felt her anxiety creeping back up as they entered the building.
The crowd was overwhelming—aspiring idols, all of them looking polished and prepared. Kaede felt out of place, unsure if she belonged among them. But before she could dwell on it too long, Mirei took charge, leading her through the registration process. They picked up their numbers and were told to wait for their turn.
As they sat in the crowded waiting area, Kaede couldn't help but notice how pretty and well-dressed everyone was. All pretty and beautiful girls surrounded them, chatting and warming up their voices. It only made her more nervous.
"Stop comparing yourself to them," Mirei whispered, noticing Kaede's uneasy glances. "You're just as good as anyone here. Trust me."
Kaede nodded, but her heart still raced. The minutes stretched into hours as they waited, their nerves growing with each passing moment. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mirei's number was called.
"Wish me luck!" Mirei said, flashing Kaede a confident smile before heading inside.
Kaede watched Mirei disappear into the audition room, and her anxiety began to pile up again. She had never performed in front of anyone other than Mirei. What if she couldn't do it? What if Mirei passed the audition but she didn't? The thought of being left behind, watching Mirei succeed while she stood on the sidelines, scared her. Worse, the dark memory of Mirei's past—of that terrible day when she took her own life—crept into her mind. What if Mirei couldn't handle the pressure again?
Before Kaede could spiral further into her thoughts, a staff member called her number. It was her turn.
With her heart pounding in her chest, Kaede stood up and walked into the audition room, her guitar case feeling heavier than ever. Inside, five judges sat behind a long table, their faces unreadable. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and introduced herself.
"My name is Kaede, I'm 17 years old, and I'm from Tokyo. I'm currently a high school student."
The judges nodded, and one of them gestured to her guitar. "Please, show us what you've prepared."
Kaede's hands shook slightly as she pulled her guitar from its case. She strummed a few notes, hoping to steady herself, and then began to sing. Her voice was soft at first, but as she continued, the music took over. She focused on the melody, letting the words carry her anxiety away, even if just for a moment. The judges' expressions remained neutral, giving her no clue as to how she was doing.
When she finished, one of the judges asked her to show her dance moves. This was the part she dreaded most. She stood up, took a deep breath, and began to dance, moving to the rhythm in her head. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't as awkward as it had been a few weeks ago. Mirei's lessons had paid off.
After she finished, the judges asked her a few trivia questions.
"When did you start dancing and singing?"
"I've been singing as a hobby for a while," Kaede answered, her voice slightly shaky. "And I've been playing guitar since middle school. As for dancing… I just started three weeks ago. A friend helped me."
The judges nodded, taking notes. Then, one of them spoke. "Thank you for your time Kaede. We'll be selecting 20 trainees from this audition and we'll notify you by email if you got accepted. Be sure to check it on the 24th of March 2024 at 12 p.m."
Kaede thanked the judges and bid them farewell before exiting the room, her heart still racing.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Mirei waiting for her. "How was it?" Mirei asked, her eyes filled with curiosity. "You took a while in there."
"I was so nervous," Kaede admitted with a sigh. "I just hope I did well enough to pass. What about you?"
Mirei shrugged, looking nervous herself. "I don't know… I don't think I did as well as I wanted to, but I'm trying not to overthink it."
"Same," Kaede said, smiling slightly. "Let's just hope for the best."
With the auditions behind them, the two girls decided to grab lunch and then head home to rest. In two weeks, they'd find out if their dreams would move forward—or if they'd have to face new challenges ahead.