The sun rose on the day Kaede and Mirei had been anticipating for months—their graduation day. A day symbolizing the end of their high school journey and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. It also marked almost a year since Kaede had mysteriously found herself in this world, a reality far different from her own. As they took a rare day off from their trainee responsibilities to attend the ceremony, a quiet but profound realization settled in Kaede's mind: She had worked incredibly hard this past year, and the transformation was nothing short of remarkable.
In the early hours of the morning, Kaede and Mirei dressed in their graduation uniforms, feeling both excited and nostalgic. They bid farewell to the familiar faces of their friends and teachers, the people who had been part of their school life. Kaede found herself lost in thought as the ceremony progressed, the school principal giving a long-winded speech that blurred into the background.
"Has it really been this long?" Kaede mused, her gaze drifting to the stage where the valedictorian spoke. "It feels like just yesterday I was thrown into this world, confused and unsure of how to navigate it. And now... I'm friends with Mirei, training to be part of the group I've admired for so long. I even finished high school on top of everything else."
If someone had told her a year ago that she would manage all this, she would have laughed in disbelief. Yet, here she was, standing on the brink of a new beginning, a graduate with a future in the idol industry. The ceremony stretched from morning into the late afternoon, and by the time it concluded, Kaede felt an odd mixture of exhaustion and relief.
After the ceremony, Kaede and Mirei, along with their classmates, decided to have a farewell party. They went to a karaoke bar, where they sang their hearts out and had a dinner party filled with laughter, shared memories, and a few tears. Time slipped away faster than they realized, and soon, it was time to part ways.
As the evening darkened, Kaede and Mirei found themselves walking home together, just as they often did. But something had changed—Kaede had become more awkward around Mirei since their accidental kiss. It had taken her by surprise, left her flustered and feeling things she hadn't fully processed yet. She kept a bit more distance from Mirei, trying desperately to maintain her cool. If she got too close, she feared she might lose control of her feelings entirely.
Mirei, ever observant, had noticed Kaede's change in behavior. But knowing how shy Kaede could be, she chose not to press the issue. She gave Kaede the space she seemed to need, even though it gnawed at her curiosity.
As they walked silently, the only sound between them was the quiet shuffle of their footsteps on the pavement. Kaede's mind raced, replaying memories of the past year, the accidental kiss, the party, and now, the awkward silence between her and Mirei. She wondered if Mirei was thinking the same things, but before Kaede could gather the courage to speak, something sudden happened.
A sharp tap on Mirei's shoulder made her stop in her tracks. As she turned around to see who it was, a hard slap echoed in the night air. Mirei stumbled backward, her eyes wide with shock. Kaede, who had been walking just a few steps ahead, heard the sound and whipped around, her heart freezing in her chest. What she saw sent a jolt of anger and fear through her.
Mirei was on the ground, her hair being viciously yanked by one of the three bullies—those same girls who had been expelled for tormenting Mirei at the agency. They had returned, still seeking their revenge. The leader of the trio looked down at Mirei with a smug, twisted smile, her hand gripping Mirei's hair tightly.
"Let her go!" Kaede shouted, rushing toward them.
The other two bullies quickly moved to block Kaede's path, laughing darkly. "Oh, look at you, little Kaede. Trying to be a hero now, huh?" one of them sneered, holding up a phone. "If you fight us, we'll send this recording straight to the agency. I'm sure they'll love seeing their favourite trainees getting into a brawl."
Kaede's blood boiled as she heard their taunts. The bullies slapped Mirei again, provoking her and Kaede further. Mirei, though in pain, looked up at Kaede and shook her head, her voice strained but firm. "Kaede, don't. Don't let them get to you. I'm... I'm okay."
But Kaede couldn't just stand by. Her mind raced, searching for a way to save Mirei without falling into their trap. She needed to destroy that phone.
With a sharp breath, Kaede made her move, pretending to back off at first, then suddenly lunging toward the girl holding the phone. In the scuffle, Kaede managed to grab the device and slam it to the ground, shattering the screen. There was a brief struggle, Kaede taking a few hard hits to her face, her vision blurring as she felt the sting of a bruise forming. But she didn't fight back violently; she only focused on destroying the phone.
The moment the bullies realized their recording was gone, their attention wavered. Mirei, taking advantage of the distraction, twisted free from the girl holding her hair. She stumbled forward, her breath heavy, and reached for Kaede.
"Run!" Mirei gasped, pulling Kaede by the arm.
They bolted, sprinting down the dark street, their hearts pounding in their ears. The bullies screamed after them, but Kaede and Mirei didn't look back. They ran until they reached the station, where they finally stopped, gasping for air.
Panting and laughing nervously, Mirei glanced at Kaede, her face streaked with dirt and her lip slightly swollen. "You look like a mess," she teased, her voice still shaky from the adrenaline.
Kaede, despite her bruised face and aching body, couldn't help but grin. "Look who's talking."
They both sighed, tired and relieved to have escaped. The fear and tension melted into quiet exhaustion as they continued their walk home, side by side.
When they reached the street near Kaede's house, Mirei suddenly stopped. "Kaede, come to my place tonight. I don't want your mom to freak out when she sees you looking like this."
Kaede hesitated for a moment, her mind still swimming with the events of the night, but she knew Mirei was right. "Okay," she agreed, texting her mom to say she'd be staying over at a friend's place after the party.
Together, they walked the rest of the way in silence, their bond stronger than ever after the night's ordeal. Though bruised and battered, Kaede felt a sense of calm being next to Mirei, knowing they could face anything together.