Kaede found herself sitting quietly on Mirei's bed, her legs crossed as she tried to suppress the chaos of emotions inside her. The room was cozy, adorned with soft pastel colors and a few personal items that reflected Mirei's character and private side. The night was growing late, but the events that had unfolded just hours ago were still vivid in Kaede's mind. She winced slightly, feeling the sting from the bruises she had earned, but there was something much deeper stirring within her.
She heard footsteps approaching, and soon Mirei returned, carrying a small first aid kit and two glasses of water. Her face was calm, but Kaede knew her well enough by now to see through the mask. There was a weariness in her eyes, a heaviness from the evening's confrontation with the bullies that lingered, and Kaede couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness for the girl standing in front of her.
"Here," Mirei said softly, handing one of the glasses to Kaede before sitting beside her on the bed. "Let's take care of those bruises."
Kaede nodded and took the glass, her throat suddenly dry. They had been through a lot together, but tonight was different. It felt more personal, more intimate somehow, and it left Kaede on edge. She could feel the weight of every word, every glance.
"Let me help you first," Kaede insisted, gently taking the first aid kit from Mirei's hands.
Mirei's lips curved into a small smile, though Kaede could see the faint bruise forming at the corner of her mouth. Her heart clenched. How could someone hurt her? she thought angrily. Carefully, Kaede dipped a cotton swab into the ointment and turned to face Mirei. The room was silent, save for their steady breaths as Kaede began to treat the cut on Mirei's lip.
"Does it hurt?" Kaede asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as she dabbed the ointment on Mirei's cut, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Just a little," Mirei replied, her voice soft, her eyes watching Kaede carefully.
Kaede's hand froze for a moment as she felt the heat rising in her chest. Her focus had shifted to Mirei's lips, and she felt her heart racing uncontrollably. "Control yourself", Kaede silently scolded herself. "Focus." But the closeness, the intimacy of this moment—it was overwhelming. She could feel the warmth radiating from Mirei, and the sensation only deepened as she continued to apply the ointment, moving with such care that it made her more self-conscious.
Mirei winced slightly at the sting, and Kaede immediately softened her touch, murmuring, "Sorry."
"It's okay," Mirei whispered back, her gaze never leaving Kaede's face.
After what felt like an eternity, Kaede finally finished tending to Mirei's injury and pulled away, taking a steadying breath. It was Mirei's turn now.
Mirei carefully took the ointment and turned her attention to Kaede, her hands gently brushing Kaede's hair aside to reveal the bruise near her right eye. Kaede flinched as Mirei's fingers grazed the sensitive spot, and Mirei frowned in concern.
"This one's bad," Mirei said softly, almost to herself.
Kaede looked away, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered when Mirei was this close. "It's fine, I've had worse," she replied, trying to sound casual, but her voice was shaky.
As Mirei began applying the ointment, the silence between them felt heavy. Kaede was struggling to keep her composure, especially after everything they had been through tonight. But just as she was about to lose herself in her thoughts, Mirei broke the silence.
"I'm sorry, Kaede."
Kaede blinked, confused. "For what?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Mirei paused for a moment, her hands stilling. "For dragging you into this mess. For making you get hurt. It's my fault," she said, her voice laced with guilt.
Kaede shook her head, frowning. "Mirei, stop. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for what happened."
Mirei let out a small, humorless laugh, her eyes downcast. "Who would've thought I'd make enemies even before debuting? Just because I can't keep my mouth shut and love teasing people..." Her attempt at humor fell flat, and Kaede's heart ached at the sight.
Kaede didn't laugh. She didn't find it funny at all. She hated seeing Mirei blame herself for something that wasn't her fault. "Mirei," Kaede started, her voice firm but gentle, "don't cover up your feelings like that. It's... okay to be scared."
Mirei looked at her, startled by Kaede's words. There was a long silence before Mirei finally spoke, her voice quieter than before. "I was scared," she admitted, her gaze dropping to the floor as a tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek. "I thought... I thought it was over for me. For my dream."
Kaede's chest tightened as she watched Mirei's tears fall. Mirei had always been strong, always the one who laughed and made jokes, even when things were tough. Seeing her cry like this, showing her vulnerability—it broke something inside Kaede.
Without thinking, Kaede pulled Mirei into a tight embrace. "You don't have to go through this alone," she whispered, her hand gently patting Mirei's back. "I'm here. Always."
Mirei let out a shaky breath before burying her face into Kaede's shoulder, her sobs becoming louder as she released all the fear and stress that had built up. Kaede held her close, not saying anything more, just letting her friend cry. In that moment, everything else faded away. The pain from her bruises, the exhaustion from the night, it all seemed insignificant compared to the overwhelming need to comfort Mirei.
After what felt like hours, Mirei's sobs subsided, and she pulled away slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse but filled with sincerity. "For always being there for me. For saving me."
Kaede smiled softly, her heart swelling at Mirei's words. She reached out and gently wiped away the remaining tear on Mirei's cheek, her hand lingering a bit longer than necessary. As her fingers brushed against Mirei's skin, Kaede felt her pulse quicken.
Her eyes locked with Mirei's, and suddenly, the world felt like it had slowed down. Mirei's face was so close, her lips soft and inviting. Kaede could feel the pull, and before she could stop herself, she leaned in.
Mirei didn't move, and the air between them grew thick with anticipation. Kaede's heart pounded in her chest as she closed the distance, her lips brushing against Mirei's in a soft, warm kiss. It lasted only a moment, but for Kaede, it felt like a lifetime. Every nerve in her body tingled, and all the butterflies in her stomach took flight.
She wasn't sure what would happen next, but one thing was certain—nothing would ever be the same between them.