The day started like any other for the trainees. They were all gathered in the practice room, stretching and chatting while waiting for their teachers to arrive. But instead of their usual instructors, the door swung open, and in walked a producer. The room quieted immediately, tension filling the air as everyone noticed something was off. Producers rarely came to practice rooms unannounced unless it was serious.
Kaede, standing next to Mirei, sensed something was up. The way the producer carried himself, with an air of authority and gravity, made her feel uneasy. She could see from Mirei's expression that she was thinking the same thing.
The producer cleared his throat, his gaze scanning the room before settling on three trainees who were huddled together near the back. "You three, come to the front."
The three girls, the bullies who had been tormenting Mirei for a week, froze in place. Their faces went pale, and they exchanged panicked glances. Slowly, they shuffled to the front of the room, their heads down, clearly sensing something bad was about to happen.
The producer looked at them sternly and then addressed the room. "Did you all know," he began, "that we do not tolerate violence or bullying in this agency? That being a trainee isn't just about talent, but also about character?"
A murmur went through the crowd, but the producer quickly silenced them with a raised hand. He turned back to the three girls. "I'm going to ask you directly," he said, his voice cold and firm. "Did you three bully Mirei Nakamura?"
The room went silent. All eyes were on the bullies. They gasped, eyes wide in shock, their panic obvious. But they said nothing. Their silence only made the tension in the room worse.
"If you don't open your mouths," the producer said calmly, "I'll show the evidence we've gathered right here in front of everyone."
That threat was enough. One of the girls, her face red with shame, finally cracked under the pressure. "Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We did."
The other two girls stayed quiet, but it was clear they were just as guilty. The entire room was in shock, some trainees covering their mouths, others glancing at Mirei in disbelief.
The producer sighed, as if disappointed. "Why?" he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
One of the bullies, clearly desperate to defend herself, blurted out, "Mirei scolded me once during practice! She always acts like she's better than everyone else. We didn't like it!"
The other two nodded, trying to shift the blame onto Mirei, but their excuses were weak and unconvincing. The other trainees could see right through them.
The producer shook his head. "There is no excuse for bullying. None. And this agency has no tolerance for trainees who engage in such behavior. We expect our trainees to have good attitudes and character, not just talent."
He straightened up, his face hard. "From today, the three of you are expelled. Your contracts have been terminated. Collect your things and leave immediately."
The words hung in the air, heavy and final. The three girls stood frozen for a moment before reality set in. Tears welled up in their eyes, and soon they were crying hysterically, but no one in the room had any sympathy for them. The other trainees looked at them with disgust, some even moving away as they walked out of the room, sobbing.
Mirei stood quietly, her face calm and composed. But Kaede could tell it wasn't easy for her to witness. Some of the other trainees started to approach her, murmuring words of support, but before anyone could really talk, the teacher entered the room.
"Enough gossiping," she said firmly. "Let's get back to practice. We have no time to waste."
With that, the room snapped back to life, and practice resumed as if nothing had happened. But the atmosphere was different. The tension had lifted, and there was a sense of justice in the air. Kaede stayed close to Mirei throughout practice, keeping a watchful eye on her as always, but it seemed the worst was over.
---
The day after the bullies confrontation, Kaede sat in her classroom, staring out the window, lost in thought. In just a week, both she and Mirei would graduate from high school. That in itself was enough to make her head spin, but what really caught her off guard was the realization that it had almost been a full year since she'd arrived in this world. Time had flown by, and so much had changed. She'd grown close to Mirei in ways she'd never expected, and now, with her birthday approaching, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Mirei's voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Kaede blinked, turning to face her. "Just... stuff," she mumbled, trying to play it off. But Mirei wasn't satisfied with such a vague answer.
"Oh, really?" Mirei leaned in closer, her face only inches away from Kaede's. "What kind of stuff?"
Kaede's heart skipped a beat as she realized how close Mirei's face was. She could feel Mirei's breath on her skin, and her mind went blank. In her panic, she jerked backward, trying to distance herself, but in her haste, she lost her balance. The chair tipped backward, and with a loud crash, Kaede fell to the floor, pulling Mirei down with her.
The classroom went silent as everyone turned to look. Mirei had fallen on top of her, their faces mere centimeters apart. Kaede's heart was racing, and before she could process what was happening, she felt the soft, warm sensation of Mirei's lips brushing against hers.
For a second, everything stopped. The world seemed to slow down, and Kaede's mind went blank. All she could feel was the softness of Mirei's lips, the warmth of her body pressed against her. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure Mirei could hear it.
The angle was awkward, and from the back of the class, it must have looked even more so. Kaede could hear some of their classmates gasping, but none of that mattered at the moment. All she could think about was the fact that she was kissing Mirei—accidentally, but still.
Mirei's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't pull away immediately. For a split second, there was a strange, almost electric connection between them. But then, as if snapping out of a trance, they both quickly scrambled to their feet, their faces burning with embarrassment.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Kaede stammered, her face as red as a tomato.
Mirei, equally flustered, quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's fine! It was an accident!"
The classroom erupted into whispers and giggles as the two of them stood there, frozen in awkwardness. Their classmates, having seen the fall from a distance, had no idea what had just happened. But Kaede could still feel the lingering sensation of Mirei's lips on hers, and it made her heart race even faster.
They quickly straightened themselves out, ignoring the curious stares from their classmates. Kaede's chair was a broken mess on the floor, but she didn't even care. All she could think about was that accidental kiss.
Mirei glanced at her, still blushing but trying to laugh it off. "Well, that was... something," she said awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.
Kaede nodded, too flustered to speak. She could still feel the heat radiating from her cheeks, and her heart hadn't slowed down.
As they sat back down—on functioning chairs this time—Kaede couldn't help but steal a glance at Mirei. Her mind was racing with a hundred different thoughts, but one thing was clear: that accidental kiss had stirred something deep inside her. Something she wasn't sure she was ready to face just yet.