A month had passed since Kaede and Mirei had officially started dating, and every day felt like an adventure. The newness of their relationship was like a whirlwind—sweet, exciting, and filled with warmth. They spent countless moments together, sharing little gestures of affection, subtle touches, and secret smiles. Despite their relationship being forbidden by Starlight Entertainment, they found ways to make it work. Both of them were well aware of the company's strict "no dating" policy for idols, but luckily, being two girls in love helped them fly under the radar. To outsiders, their closeness seemed like nothing more than deep friendship, but to Kaede and Mirei, every look and every touch held so much more.
Backstreet dating wasn't as glamorous as they had imagined, but it was enough. They didn't need the world's approval, just each other's. Their relationship had grown in secrecy, but that secrecy only made their bond stronger. Sometimes, when they were together, Kaede would find herself inspired to write. She'd picked up a new hobby—writing lyrics and composing music. Her newfound experiences with love gave her endless ideas. After all, who knew better about the sweetness, the longing, and the quiet joy of love than someone living it in secret?
Kaede found herself sitting at the cafetaria, watching the clock as she waited for Mirei. Tonight was special. It was their one-month anniversary, and Mirei had insisted they celebrate it, even though Kaede thought it was a little cheesy. She chuckled to herself, remembering how Mirei had used the excuse of fireworks as the perfect "date opportunity." It was so like her—Mirei loved making any moment they had together special.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Mirei:
"Almost done! Just a little longer, Kaede. Sorry for the wait!"
Kaede sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. They had planned to catch the fireworks show, but time was ticking. She could already imagine the stalls at the night market closing if they didn't leave soon.
Another message popped up:
"I promise, just five more minutes!"
"Come on, Mirei," Kaede muttered under her breath. She typed back quickly:
"Miss Nakamura, it's already 7.30 PM! If you don't hurry, all the shops will close, and we'll miss the fireworks!"
At that moment, Mirei's voice called from the studio door where she was practicing. "Kaede, just one more minute! I need to finish up with the trainees!"
Kaede let out a dramatic sigh. Of course, Mirei was helping the trainees again. Ever since she had become the unofficial leader of the group, Mirei had been even more responsible, making sure that everyone was on track, especially with the second evaluation just three months away. It was one of the things Kaede loved about her—how kind and hardworking she was—but sometimes, it meant Mirei was late for their plans.
Mirei finally wrapped up the practice session, bidding farewell to the other trainees. Kaede watched her with admiration as she approached. Mirei had that effortless charm—kind, capable, and so considerate of others. Kaede smiled as Mirei came closer, already teasing her in her head.
"My girlfriend is so responsible and kind to others," Kaede said, raising an eyebrow mischievously as Mirei stopped in front of her. "I hope she's as kind to me too."
Mirei chuckled, clearly catching on to the teasing. "Oh, is that so?"
Kaede grinned. "Yeah, I also hope your salary gets doubled for being the unofficial leader."
Mirei laughed, and without warning, she pinched Kaede's cheeks lightly. "Now you're brave enough to tease me, huh, Kaede?" she said, her playful tone sending a shiver down Kaede's spine.
"Ow, ow!" Kaede whimpered, trying to pull away, but Mirei wasn't letting go so easily. "You'll regret teasing me later," Mirei added with a smirk, pinching Kaede's cheek one more time before finally letting go.
Kaede rubbed her cheeks, feeling the warmth and tingle from the playful pinch. She pouted slightly but couldn't hide her smile. "You're mean," she muttered, though her voice lacked any real bite.
Mirei just grinned and took her hand, leading her outside.
The evening air was cool, and the streets of the night market were bustling with people enjoying the summer festival. They strolled hand in hand, though no one around them paid much attention. To others, they looked like just two close friends, but to them, every touch carried the weight of their secret relationship.
As they walked through the market, the smell of delicious street food filled the air, and the sound of laughter echoed around them. Kaede's excitement bubbled up again, but her impatience grew as she glanced at the time. It was already 9 PM. The fireworks should have started by now.
Mirei sensed Kaede's disappointment and gently squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry, Kaede. We're too late for the fireworks."
Kaede tried to hide her sadness, but it was hard. She had been looking forward to this moment, to sharing a special memory with Mirei under the bright lights of the summer fireworks. She let out a soft sigh, forcing a smile. "It's fine," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
Mirei gave her an apologetic look. "Don't be sad, okay? We can always watch them next year."
Hearing the words "next year" felt like a distant dream to Kaede. She knew that once one of them accepted to the line up and got closer to the group's debut, they would both be busier than ever. Next year might not even come with how unpredictable the future was. But before Kaede could sink further into her thoughts, Mirei suddenly perked up, her eyes lighting up with an idea.
"Wait here!" Mirei said, her usual energy returning as she quickly ran off toward the market stalls, leaving Kaede standing alone in the middle of the crowd.
Kaede blinked, watching her girlfriend dart away before she could even ask what was happening. What is she up to now? she wondered, standing there for what felt like an eternity. After about 20 minutes, Mirei came back, slightly out of breath but grinning ear to ear, holding something behind her back.
"Ta-da!" Mirei exclaimed, revealing a small box of sparkler fireworks. "I know it's not the big summer fireworks show, but… how about these instead?"
Kaede's eyes widened in surprise, a smile slowly spreading across her face. "Mirei…" she whispered, touched by the gesture. "You're amazing."
Mirei laughed and took Kaede's hand, pulling her toward a nearby park that was less crowded than the bustling market. The soft glow of lanterns lit the area, making it feel cozy and intimate. Mirei pulled out a sparkler and lit it, waving it around playfully as bright sparks flew into the air.
"Come on, Kaede! You said you wanted fireworks, didn't you?" Mirei teased, holding out a sparkler for her girlfriend.
Kaede couldn't help but laugh as she took the sparkler and lit it. The two of them ran around the park, laughing and waving their sparklers in the night air, creating their own little light show. The moment wasn't as grand as the fireworks they had missed, but somehow, it was even better. It was theirs.
Mirei's laughter filled the air as she twirled with the sparkler in her hand, the light reflecting in her eyes as she gazed at Kaede. "This is more fun, don't you think?"
Kaede nodded, her heart full of joy as she watched Mirei. "Yeah," she agreed softly. "This is perfect."
They spent the rest of the night under the stars, enjoying their own private fireworks, and Kaede realized that as long as they had each other, every moment would always be special.