Kaede arrived at the agency, her excitement still buzzing as she clutched the small gift bag containing the lucky charm and the video she had worked tirelessly on the night before. Her heart raced with the anticipation of seeing Mirei's reaction to her surprise. But as soon as she stepped into the practice room, she realized something was off. The other trainees were there, stretching and warming up, but there was no sign of Mirei.
Kaede glanced around, frowning. Mirei was always punctual. She also said she went early. Where could she be? The session was about to start, and if Mirei didn't show up soon, she could be in trouble with the instructors. Anxiety gnawed at Kaede's stomach. She didn't want to be late, but more than that, she didn't want Mirei to get scolded on her birthday of all days.
With only a few minutes left before practice started, Kaede made a decision. She grabbed her bag and slipped out of the practice room, determined to find Mirei. She retraced her steps through the hallways, checking the locker room and a few of the quieter corners where trainees sometimes went to be alone. But there was still no sign of Mirei.
Panic began to set in. What if something had happened to her? Kaede quickened her pace, searching more frantically as time continued to tick away. She was about to give up when she heard faint noises coming from one of the bathrooms down the hall.
Curious, Kaede walked toward the sound. Just as she reached the door, she saw a group of trainees emerge, giggling and chatting amongst themselves. They barely noticed her as they passed by, their laughter echoing down the hallway. Kaede's brows furrowed as she watched them go. Something about their behavior felt...off.
Steeling herself, Kaede pushed open the bathroom door and stepped inside.
The sight that greeted her made her heart drop.
Mirei was standing in front of the mirror, her face and clothes completely drenched. Water dripped from her hair and clung to her soaked shirt, her expression rigid with silent anger. She hadn't noticed Kaede enter, too lost in her own thoughts as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. For a moment, Kaede was frozen in place, her brain struggling to process what she was seeing. How had this happened? Why was Mirei soaking wet?
Before she could speak, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the bathroom. Someone was coming in.
Without thinking, Kaede darted forward, grabbing Mirei by the wrist and pulling her into one of the bathroom stalls. She shoved the door closed behind them, her heart pounding in her chest as she pressed her back against the wall, holding her breath. Mirei stumbled slightly from the sudden movement, but she didn't protest. Instead, she stood in silence, staring down at the floor, her expression unreadable. Kaede never saw Mirei like this, it really worries her.
Kaede's heart was hammering not only from the close call but from the fact that she was now crammed into a tiny stall with Mirei, their bodies practically touching. She could feel the heat radiating off of Mirei, despite her being soaked.
Mirei shifted awkwardly, clearly embarrassed by the whole situation. Her usual calm and confident demeanor was gone, replaced by something more fragile and vulnerable. Kaede could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she clenched her fists at her sides. There was anger in her eyes—anger that was bubbling just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.
Kaede cleared her throat, trying to ignore the fact that her crush was standing inches away from her in drenched clothes. "Mirei...what happened? Why are you—"
Before she could finish, Mirei finally spoke, her voice tight with frustration. "It's nothing. Just some stupid prank."
Kaede's eyes widened. "A prank? Did those girls do this to you?"
Mirei didn't respond, but the silence was enough of an answer. Kaede felt her blood boil. How could anyone treat Mirei like this, especially on her birthday? She opened her mouth to say something, but then she heard the bathroom door open again. The footsteps were louder this time, and whoever had entered seemed to be lingering near the sinks.
Kaede cursed under her breath. They couldn't afford to stay hidden much longer; practice was about to start, and they'd both get in trouble if they were late. She glanced at Mirei, who still looked furious and embarrassed, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
"Here," Kaede whispered, shrugging off her jacket and handing it to Mirei. "At least you can change into this so you're not completely soaked."
Mirei blinked at her in surprise but didn't hesitate. With a determined look on her face, she started unbuttoning her wet shirt, clearly eager to get out of her drenched clothes. Kaede's brain short-circuited as she realized what was happening. Mirei was taking off her shirt. Right in front of her.
Kaede's face turned beet red, and she quickly averted her eyes, staring hard at the floor of the bathroom stall. Her heart was racing for an entirely different reason now. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, and she silently cursed herself for being so flustered. Mirei was just changing—there was nothing weird about it. And yet, Kaede couldn't stop her mind from going places it shouldn't.
"Don't be a pervert, don't be a pervert," Kaede muttered under her breath, trying desperately to keep her thoughts in check.
Unfortunately, Mirei's bare skin was right in her peripheral vision, and no matter how hard Kaede tried to focus on anything else, her gaze kept drifting back to her. Her crush was standing there, half-naked, in a cramped bathroom stall, and Kaede was definitely not handling it well.
Mirei, however, didn't seem to notice Kaede's internal struggle. She slipped into the jacket with a quiet sigh, zipping it up halfway to cover herself. It wasn't a perfect solution, but at least she wasn't completely soaked anymore.
"Thanks," Mirei whispered, her voice softer now. "I'll return this to you after practice."
Kaede, still red-faced and flustered, just nodded quickly. "N-no problem."
Once Mirei was dressed, Kaede helped her dry her face using some paper towels they'd managed to grab from the dispenser. They worked quickly, both aware of the ticking clock. By the time they were done, the footsteps outside had finally faded, and they were able to sneak out of the bathroom without being noticed.
They sprinted down the hallway, reaching the practice room just in time as the instructor was about to start the lesson. Both girls slipped in, breathless but unnoticed, and joined the rest of the trainees.
As Kaede caught her breath, she couldn't help but glance at Mirei, who was now composed and focused, as if nothing had happened. But Kaede's mind was still spinning. Why had this happened to Mirei on her birthday? And why hadn't Mirei told her anything sooner?
One thing was for sure: Kaede was going to get answers. But for now, they had to survive practice.