After their warm stroll through the chilly streets, Kaede and Mirei finally arrived at a quaint little cake shop tucked away from the bustling city lights. The faint smell of fresh pastries and sweet cream wafted through the air as they stepped inside. Mirei, still confused by the destination, furrowed her brow.
"A cake shop? For dinner?" Mirei asked, her tone laced with curiosity.
Kaede smiled, not saying a word, and gently led Mirei to an empty table near the corner of the shop. She motioned for Mirei to sit down and wait. Mirei complied, watching Kaede head to the counter to place their order. The room was warm and cozy, but Mirei felt a chill, not from the cold but from the unease that had been following her all day. Something about Kaede's behavior seemed strange, but not in a bad way.
Moments later, Kaede returned with a cake topped with a small burning candle. Mirei's eyes widened in realization. She had completely forgotten—it was her birthday.
The sudden clarity in Mirei's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Kaede, who took a deep breath before beginning to sing, her voice soft and full of warmth. "Happy birthday to you..."
Mirei was frozen for a moment, taken aback by the gesture. As the song ended, Kaede beamed at her, urging her to make a wish. Mirei closed her eyes briefly, thinking of nothing specific but rather just a feeling—a desire for warmth, friendship, and strength to carry on. She blew out the candle with a gentle breath, a quiet smile forming on her lips.
"How did you know it was my birthday?" Mirei asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't remember telling anyone."
Kaede panicked, her heart racing at the sudden question. She's been her fan for a long time before, she knows it from her profile. She stammered, "Uh... I-I saw it on your form at the agency by accident. Just... noticed."
Mirei leaned back, letting out a playful chuckle. "So, you're a stalker now, huh?" She grinned before her tone softened. "Thank you, Kaede. Really. I wasn't expecting this."
The sight of Mirei humming happily, finally letting her guard down, brought immense relief to Kaede. It had been so long since she'd seen Mirei like this, and her efforts were paying off. Without a word, Kaede pulled a small box from her bag and placed it on the table.
Mirei blinked, surprised. "A gift too? You're really going all out today, aren't you?" she teased, but her smile was genuine.
Mirei carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a delicate star-shaped lucky charm. Her eyes softened as she examined it, quickly attaching it to her bag. "I love it," she whispered. "Thank you so much."
But Kaede wasn't done yet. With a nervous smile, she pulled out her phone and handed it to Mirei. "I have one more thing for you."
Mirei's curiosity piqued as she watched Kaede open a video file. It was something Kaede had spent all night editing—a compilation of their memories together, from when they're playing guitars and singing from Kaede's room, at school, training days to random moments they'd shared over the years. The video was filled with laughter, smiles, and small, quiet moments of friendship.
As Mirei watched, her expression shifted. She laughed at some parts, smiling brightly at others. But by the end, tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, embarrassed. "You... really made me cry, you know," she said, her voice breaking a little. "I'm not going to let you outdo me on your birthday, just so you know," she added with a teasing grin, though her gratitude was clear.
Kaede let out a small laugh, glad that Mirei had enjoyed it. But the atmosphere shifted again, becoming quieter and more personal. Mirei's playful expression melted into something more vulnerable as she looked deeply into Kaede's eyes, her voice trembling slightly. "Kaede... I've had such a tough day today. But you... you make me feel loved. You're always there for me, always taking care of me. I really don't know how to thank you enough... I want to cherish you for that."
Kaede's heart fluttered at Mirei's words. She could feel the sincerity and the warmth behind them, her chest tightening with emotion. "You're a precious person to me," Kaede replied softly. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Mirei. I promise."
Mirei's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, it seemed like the world had stopped. Her heart skipped a beat as she processed Kaede's words, she felt a weird feeling, an overwhelming sense of security in them. She took a sip of her drink, trying to calm herself down before she finally opened up about what had been bothering her.
"I need to tell you something," Mirei began, her voice low. "But you have to promise not to get angry or do anything reckless, okay?"
Kaede nodded quickly, leaning in with concern. "I promise."
Mirei took a deep breath. "The bullying... it's been going on for a week now. I didn't want you to notice. I didn't want you to get involved."
Kaede's heart sank. She had suspected something but hadn't realized how bad it had gotten. Mirei continued, her voice steady but laced with frustration.
"They're older trainees, jealous because people started calling me the leader. They don't like the attention I'm getting. I guess... they just needed someone to take it out on."
Kaede clenched her fists, wanting to lash out but knowing she had to remain calm. Mirei quickly added, "But don't worry. I've been collecting evidence. When I have enough, I'll go to the producers and expose them. I'm not as passive as you think, Kaede."
Kaede couldn't help but smile in admiration. "You're really something, Mirei. But... are you sure you're okay?"
Mirei paused for a moment before admitting, "No. I'm not okay. Honestly, I want to punch their faces in."
Kaede burst into laughter at Mirei's blunt honesty. "That's the Mirei I know," she said between chuckles.
The two laughed together, and for the first time that day, Mirei felt lighter, as if the weight she'd been carrying had been lifted just a little. But as they glanced at the time, they realized it was almost 11 PM.
"We should head back before the trains stop," Kaede said, standing up. "But please, Mirei, if anything else happens, talk to me. I won't let you go through this alone. I'll help you collect evidence. Just... promise me."
Mirei looked at Kaede, her heart full of gratitude. "I promise."
Kaede grinned, her playful side returning. "If you break that promise, I'll stalk you 24/7."
Mirei laughed, shaking her head. "Oh God, alright, alright. I won't break it."
With that, they left the cake shop and headed home together, their bond got stronger than ever.