It had only been a week since Kaede and Mirei's fireworks date, where joy filled the air and laughter echoed through the quiet night. But now, the atmosphere at Starlight Entertainment was completely different—tense and thick with anxiety. An unsettling rumor had spread across the agency: one of their artists had been caught in a dating scandal.
Whispers filled the hallways, and the agency was in turmoil. The incident led to the artist being placed on an indefinite hiatus, as the public and fans reacted with outrage. Starlight Entertainment had always been strict about their no-dating policy, but this scandal sent a ripple of fear through the trainees. As soon as the news broke, the agency's higher-ups held an emergency meeting, warning all artists and trainees once again about the serious consequences of dating.
In the practice room, the nine remaining trainees—Kaede, Mirei, Yukina, Risa, Emi, Hikari, Rena, Minami, and Ayumi—stood in silence as their manager reiterated the no-dating rule with harsh finality.
"The agency's reputation is on the line," their manager said sternly. "We've worked hard to build our image, and one mistake can ruin everything. You all know the rules. There's no excuse. If anyone is caught in a relationship, there will be consequences. This isn't a threat; it's a fact."
Kaede glanced at Mirei, her heart pounding. The words echoed in her mind, and her breath caught in her throat. Their secret relationship felt even more dangerous now. The warmth she had always felt when she was with Mirei was now overshadowed by the cold reality that they could be found out at any moment.
Mirei squeezed Kaede's hand discreetly as they stood side by side, her calm exterior barely concealing the fear she felt inside. Kaede gave her a weak smile, trying to hide her own anxiety. They had been careful, keeping their relationship hidden from everyone, but now, more than ever, the risk felt enormous.
After the meeting, the nine trainees gathered outside, sitting together in a circle. The bond between them had grown strong over the past few months, and they were more like a group of best friends than rivals. Mirei, as the oldest and unofficial leader, always made sure everyone felt included, often guiding the younger trainees through the tough practices.
"I can't believe how strict they're being," Yukina said, her voice trembling. "I mean, we've known about the rule, but this… this feels different. It's terrifying."
"I feel like we're walking on eggshells now," Emi added, hugging her knees to her chest. "One wrong step and it's over."
Risa, always the upbeat one, tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, guys, let's not let this scare us. We're here to become idols, right? Let's focus on that."
Mirei smiled at her friends, but Kaede could see the weight of responsibility Mirei carried. She was always helping the others, staying late to assist them with their dance routines or vocals, but Kaede knew that deep down, Mirei felt the same fear.
The tension in the air was suffocating. As they practiced for their upcoming second evaluation, the stakes had never felt higher. The producers and directors made it clear that this evaluation would determine who would be chosen for the final lineup. Every trainee was pushing themselves to the limit, desperate to meet the expectations. For Kaede, the pressure was unbearable.
It was during one of these grueling dance practices that everything came crashing down. They were halfway through the routine for "Startline" when Kaede felt a sharp, searing pain in her ankle. At first, she brushed it off, determined to keep going. But as the practice wore on, the pain intensified until, suddenly, she collapsed on the floor.
Mirei rushed to her side, panic written all over her face. "Kaede!" she cried, dropping to her knees. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Kaede gritted her teeth, fighting back tears. "I-I'm fine," she said, her voice shaky. "It's just a twisted ankle."
But the pain was too much to bear, and she knew she couldn't hide it any longer. Mirei quickly called the agency staff, and within minutes, Kaede was taken to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with a small fracture in her ankle and advised her to rest for at least three weeks.
The news hit Kaede like a ton of bricks. She felt like she had failed—not just herself, but everyone. While the other trainees would continue to improve, she would be stuck, falling behind. The frustration built up inside her, and she couldn't help but blame herself for not taking better care during practice.
"I'm such an idiot," Kaede muttered under her breath as she sat in her room, her ankle wrapped in a brace. "Why didn't I listen to my body? Now I'm just wasting time…"
Mirei, who had been by her side every day since the injury, knelt in front of her, gently taking Kaede's hand. "Kaede, stop blaming yourself," she said softly. "This could have happened to anyone. You've been working so hard… too hard, maybe."
"But now I'm useless," Kaede said, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't even dance, and that's everything for the evaluation. What if I fall too far behind?"
Mirei cupped Kaede's face in her hands, her eyes filled with love and concern. "You're not useless," she whispered. "You're amazing, Kaede. You've always been determined and strong, and that hasn't changed. This is just a setback, but it doesn't define you. You'll heal, and when you do, you'll come back stronger."
Tears welled up in Kaede's eyes, and for the first time, she let them fall. "I'm scared, Mirei," she admitted, her voice breaking. "I'm scared I won't be good enough."
Mirei pulled her into a tight embrace, stroking her hair gently. "You're already more than good enough," she murmured. "And I'll be here with you every step of the way."
Even though Kaede couldn't dance for the next few weeks, she refused to let the injury completely sideline her. She continued to attend singing lessons, determined to improve in any way she could. Mirei was always there, helping her walk, carrying her things, and encouraging her every day.
With more time on her hands, Kaede also focused on writing lyrics and composing music. She had always dabbled in songwriting, but now, with her heart full of emotions, the words and melodies flowed more easily. Finally, she completed a song, but she was too shy to let anyone hear it. Still, in the back of her mind, she hoped that someday she could share it with Mirei—the person who had become her greatest source of strength.
For now, though, she kept the song close to her heart, waiting for the right moment. Someday, she thought, maybe someday…