The days following the audition seemed to blur together for Kaede and Mirei. Time passed quickly as they continued to hang out as they always did—grabbing sweets after school, practicing their dance routines, and joking around. Despite their usual fun, there was always an undercurrent of nervousness between them. The thought of the audition results lingered in their minds like a cloud they couldn't shake.
Kaede found herself thinking about the audition constantly. How the judges had looked so unreadable, how she had fumbled slightly during her dance routine, and how she had felt so unsure of herself walking out of that room. No matter how many times Mirei reassured her that she had done great, the uncertainty gnawed at her. But the one thing that kept her going was the thought that, no matter what, she and Mirei would face the results together.
The day of the announcement finally arrived. It was a Monday, the second period of class was about to end, and Kaede found herself glancing at the clock every few minutes. It was almost noon—almost time for the email that would reveal whether their dreams of becoming idols would move forward or not. The minutes seemed to crawl by, and Kaede could feel her nerves tightening with each tick of the clock.
Mirei, sitting next to her, fidgeted with her phone. She wasn't usually one to show nerves, but today was different. "Almost break time," Mirei whispered, her voice tense. "Almost 12 p.m."
"Yeah," Kaede replied, her heart pounding. She tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind was already elsewhere. All she could think about was refreshing her email, over and over again, until the notification finally popped up.
When the bell rang for break, Kaede and Mirei exchanged a glance. It was time.
They both took out their phones, hands trembling slightly, and opened their inboxes. Kaede's eyes flicked between her phone screen and Mirei's, watching as Mirei refreshed her email every few seconds.
"Any emails yet?" Mirei asked, her voice wavering just a bit.
"No," Kaede whispered, her stomach twisting into knots. She had never been this anxious in her life. They sat there, side by side, the sound of other students chatting and laughing fading into the background as the seconds ticked by.
12:01 p.m.
Nothing.
12:02 p.m.
Still nothing.
Mirei let out a nervous laugh. "Maybe they're running a little late?"
"Maybe," Kaede said, trying to sound hopeful, but the longer she waited, the more doubt began to creep in.
12:03 p.m.
Kaede's heart was racing now. Her fingers hovered over the refresh button, hitting it again and again. Each time she did, she felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for the notification that could change everything.
12:05 p.m.
Suddenly, Mirei squealed beside her. "I got an email!" she said, her voice high-pitched with excitement.
Kaede's heart sank, a strange feeling of dread and relief washing over her at the same time. She watched as Mirei opened the email, her hands trembling.
Mirei read it aloud, her voice filled with excitement. "Congratulations, you're accepted as one of our trainees! Please see the attached document for further details about contracts, your training schedule and next steps."
Mirei's eyes lit up, and she let out a happy laugh, but before she could celebrate too much, she noticed Kaede's pale face. "Kaede… did you get anything yet?"
Kaede shook her head, her throat tight. She tried to smile, to be happy for Mirei, but it was hard to shake the growing pit of worry in her stomach. What if she didn't make it? What if this was the end for her? Mirei had made it, and Kaede was genuinely thrilled for her, but the thought of being left behind, of not being able to stay by Mirei's side, scared her more than anything.
Mirei frowned, clearly trying to stay positive. She reached out and squeezed Kaede's hand. "It's okay, Kaede. I'm sure yours is coming. Let's wait together, okay?"
Kaede nodded, her chest tightening. She hit refresh again, staring at her inbox with wide eyes, willing for something to appear. The seconds dragged on, and it felt like the room was getting hotter, her nerves making it hard to breathe.
And then, it happened.
A soft ding sounded from her phone.
Kaede's heart nearly stopped. She glanced down at her screen, and there it was—an email notification. Her hands shook as she clicked on it, barely able to contain her anxiety.
She opened the email, and for a moment, her vision blurred. But then, as she read the words, the world came back into focus.
"Congratulations, you're accepted as one of our trainees! Please see the attached document for more information on your next steps."
Kaede let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, and then—she squealed, loud and unrestrained, her heart bursting with joy. She had made it. She had passed. She was going to be a trainee, just like Mirei.
Mirei, who had been watching her closely, immediately squealed along with her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I knew it! I knew you'd pass!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. "I'm so happy for you, Kaede!"
Kaede laughed, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. All the tension, the fear, the worry—it all melted away in that moment. "I'm so happy too!" she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I can't believe we both made it."
Their classmates, curious about the sudden outburst, turned to look at them, but Kaede and Mirei didn't care. They were too wrapped up in their excitement to notice the stares.
For the rest of the lunch break, they talked non-stop about the email, about their future as trainees, and about how exciting—and terrifying—it was to be starting this new chapter of their lives. They looked over the attached documents, reading about the training schedule, the expectations, and all the things they would need to prepare for their new life. Training would start next week, and it felt surreal.
But in the back of Kaede's mind, the most important thing was that she wouldn't have to face it alone. She would still be by Mirei's side. That, more than anything, filled her with relief.
As the lunch break came to an end and the class bell rang, Kaede and Mirei exchanged a glance. They were no longer just high school students. They were about to become something more—something closer to their dreams.
"I guess we better get ready," Mirei said with a smile, her excitement still bubbling beneath the surface.
"Yeah," Kaede replied, smiling back. "We're really doing this."
Next week, their lives as trainees would begin, and neither of them could wait to see what was in store.