Three weeks had passed since Kaede had injured her ankle, and things were starting to look up. She could walk normally now, but the limitations still weighed heavily on her mind. Today, she was headed back to the hospital for her follow-up appointment. For once, she was going alone—Mirei was busy with lessons and couldn't come with her.
As she sat in the waiting room, Kaede's thoughts drifted to her friends back at the agency. The second evaluation was fast approaching, and every day spent off the dance floor felt like an eternity. She tapped her fingers on her knee, restless, as her mind churned with doubts. Would she be ready in time? Could she ever truly catch up?
The doctor finally called her in, breaking her anxious reverie. After examining her ankle carefully, he gave her the update she had been waiting for. "You've healed well, Kaede," he said with a reassuring smile. "But I want you to be cautious. No heavy dancing yet. Give it time."
His words were meant to comfort her, but Kaede could only feel frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She forced a small smile and thanked him, but inside, she was anything but satisfied. The evaluation was in a month, and while her friends were dancing full out, she was still holding back. It felt like a clock was ticking louder in her head with every second, reminding her of all the lost time.
After leaving the hospital, Kaede walked back to the agency, her steps slow and uncertain. She didn't want to dwell on her frustration, but it clung to her like a shadow. When she reached the practice studio, she stood by the door, watching her friends give their all in the routine they had been rehearsing for weeks.
Her heart tightened as she saw Mirei in the center of the formation, leading with her usual grace and confidence. It was bittersweet—watching her shine so brightly, but knowing she couldn't keep up. A nagging thought crept into Kaede's mind: Is it over for me already?
After the group finished a round of practice, they noticed Kaede standing by the door. Mirei was the first to approach her, her face lighting up at the sight of her girlfriend. The rest of the trainees followed close behind, their eyes filled with concern.
"How's your ankle?" Mirei asked gently, brushing her hand against Kaede's arm.
Kaede offered a half-hearted smile. "It's better now. The doctor said it healed well, but…" She trailed off, looking down at her feet. "I still can't put too much pressure on it."
Risa chimed in, her voice full of encouragement. "That's great, though! You're healing, and that's what matters."
Kaede nodded, but inside, the disappointment gnawed at her. She joined the others for the rest of practice, but her movements were minimal—cautious, careful, nothing like the fluid, powerful dancer she used to be. Her frustration was palpable, and Mirei could see it in every furrow of her brow, every sigh Kaede let slip.
After practice, the trainees gathered to cool down. Mirei sat next to Kaede, her playful smile doing its best to lift the mood. "Hey, Kaede, cheer up," she whispered, nudging her gently. "You've got to be patient. You don't want to hurt yourself again, right?"
Kaede let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Yeah, I know. It's just hard. I feel like I'm wasting so much time…"
Mirei's grin grew wider as she leaned closer. "Well, lucky for you, tomorrow is October 8th, and that means it's your birthday. And guess what?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "I've already booked you for the whole day. No rejections allowed."
Kaede blinked in surprise, her face instantly flushing. Mirei's tone was teasing, but the idea of spending her birthday with Mirei filled her with a warmth that eased the disappointment. It would be her first time celebrating her birthday with Mirei as her girlfriend, and the thought of that made her heart flutter.
"Y-You booked me?" Kaede stammered, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I-I didn't know we were making reservations now."
Mirei giggled, leaning in closer to Kaede. "Of course I did! I can't let anyone else snatch you up on your special day." She winked playfully. "So, what do you want for your birthday? You can ask me for anything."
Kaede's face grew even hotter at the question. She hadn't really thought about what she wanted, but the answer that came to mind felt so simple, so obvious. She looked down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I just want you to be by my side."
Mirei's eyes widened, and then a mischievous grin spread across her face. "Aww, that's so cute! But kind of a boring answer, don't you think?" She stuck out her tongue, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. "Are you trying to say you want to get more intimate with me?"
Kaede's eyes went wide, and she almost choked on her own breath. "W-What?! N-No! That's not what I meant!" she blurted out, her voice far too loud for comfort. The other trainees glanced over, but quickly returned to their own conversations, not noticing anything suspicious.
Mirei couldn't help but laugh at Kaede's flustered reaction. She leaned in even closer, her lips brushing against Kaede's ear as she whispered, "Careful, you're going to make everyone think something's up if you keep shouting like that."
Kaede's cheeks burned bright red as she glared at Mirei, pouting. "This is your fault! You keep teasing me!"
Mirei raised her hands in mock surrender, still grinning from ear to ear. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! But really, Kaede, I'm looking forward to tomorrow." Her voice softened, sincerity shining through the teasing. "It's your day, and I'm going to make sure it's perfect. Just don't forget—I've got you all to myself."
Kaede's heart swelled with warmth, her frustration momentarily forgotten in the wake of Mirei's words. She couldn't help but smile, her pout fading away. "I won't forget," she said softly.
Mirei gave her one last playful nudge before standing up. "Good! I'll see you tomorrow, then. And don't you dare let anyone else steal you away!"
As Mirei walked off to gather her things, Kaede couldn't help but watch her, feeling a surge of affection. Despite the teasing, the doubts, and the challenges they both faced, being with Mirei made everything feel a little less daunting. Tomorrow, for just one day, she could forget about the agency, the evaluation, and her injury.
She smiled to herself as she thought about what was to come. Maybe, just maybe, things would be alright after all.