Kaede stood still at her living room, trying to process Mirei's sudden appearance. How did she have time to sneak over here, with her packed schedule and constant supervision by managers? Mirei was panting slightly, as if she'd just run a marathon, and Kaede could only stare, her confusion quickly turning into worry.
"How… how did you even manage to sneak here? Didn't you have a music show schedule tomorrow morning?" Kaede asked, glancing around as if expecting someone to jump out and pull Mirei back to her duties.
Mirei brushed off Kaede's concern with a smirk, though her eyes showed exhaustion. "I did. But this was important too. And besides, first time sneaking out, right? I'll make it work, don't worry." She gave a shrug that seemed to say 'rules are made to be broken.'
Kaede's concern only grew. "You should rest, Mirei. You won't make it through the day if you don't sleep at all."
Mirei frowned, crossing her arms. "And you, Kaede—shouldn't you be honest with me? You've been hiding so much." Her voice softened, but there was an undeniable ache in her eyes. "First about cut off from the agency, and now… about your mother."
Kaede's shoulders slumped, guilt filling her chest. She didn't know what to say. She'd been so focused on sparing Mirei any added pressure or sadness that she'd never considered how it might look from Mirei's side—like she was shutting her out. Mirei's eyes grew misty, and she took a step closer, the boldness Kaede always loved in her evident.
"You know I loved your mom too, Kaede. She was like family to me." Her voice wavered, and before Kaede could react, she pulled her into a tight hug. Kaede could feel Mirei trembling, the grief they'd both held onto too heavy to carry alone. "You're so stupid, Kaede," Mirei mumbled into her shoulder, her tone somewhere between scolding and heartbreak. "You don't have to do this by yourself."
Her words broke something in Kaede, and she hugged Mirei back, letting herself feel the loss fully for the first time. Mirei stayed silent, her arms wrapped securely around Kaede, as if she'd hold on until every tear had fallen.
After a moment, Mirei pulled back, her eyes still wet but determined. "So… please tell me everything. I don't have much time, but it's up to you now. Let me be here for you, Kaede."
As Kaede hesitated, she could see Mirei's unwavering gaze, her eyes shining with a mixture of empathy and concern. The gentle warmth in her expression was more comforting than any words could be. Slowly, Kaede took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts, but each time she glanced into Mirei's eyes, she found herself at a loss.
"I… I thought I could handle everything alone, that I had to," Kaede finally murmured, her voice barely a whisper. She looked down, ashamed of how vulnerable she felt. "After the agency cut me off, I thought maybe I wasn't good enough, that… and after my mother died... I think maybe I should just fade away."
"It's… it's been awful," she admitted, her voice a shaky whisper. "I feel like I'm dragging myself through each day. Like the world's just a gray blur, and nothing feels real."
Mirei reached out, gently lifting Kaede's chin with her fingers, forcing her to meet her gaze. "Kaede, please... don't ever think that, don't give up," she whispered, her voice tender yet resolute. "You mean so much to me… more than you know." Mirei's voice trembled, and a soft tear escaped, trailing down her cheek. "You're not alone, Kaede. I want to be there for you, in everything, not just in the happy times."
Kaede felt her heart throb, her own tears welling up. Seeing Mirei cry for her stirred emotions she hadn't fully understood before. She tentatively reached out, her fingertips brushing Mirei's cheek, wiping away the tear. "I never wanted to put any weight on you. I… didn't want to be a burden."
"You could never be a burden to me, Kaede," Mirei replied, her voice breaking slightly, raw with emotion. She placed her hand over Kaede's, pressing it to her cheek, holding it there. "Please, just… don't shut me out. I want to share all of it with you, even the pain."
Their faces were so close now, breaths mingling in the quiet night air. In that moment, Kaede felt her walls finally crumble. "I'm sorry... I need you, Mirei," she confessed softly, her voice filled with vulnerability. "More than I ever realized."
Mirei's lips curled into a gentle smile, her hand moving to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Kaede's ear. Without another word, she closed the gap between them, pressing her lips softly to Kaede's. It was a kiss filled with all the words they hadn't spoken, a gentle promise and a silent understanding. Kaede felt herself melt, her arms wrapping around Mirei, pulling her close as if afraid to let her go.
When they finally parted, their foreheads rested together, eyes closed as they basked in the warmth of the moment.
"Thank you, Mirei," Kaede whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. "For everything."
Mirei brushed a kiss against her forehead, lingering there. "I'll always be here, Kaede."
As their foreheads rested together, a small, shy smile played on Mirei's lips. "You know… I missed this," she murmured, her hand tracing a gentle path along Kaede's arm. "I missed being close to you like this… touching you, kissing you." Her voice softened with a hint of vulnerability, a side Kaede rarely saw but adored deeply.
Kaede felt a blush rise on her cheeks, and she smiled back, fingers lightly brushing through Mirei's hair. "I missed it too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought about it all the time… I'd remember the way you felt, your warmth, and wonder if you thought about it too."
Mirei chuckled softly, her thumb tracing slow circles against Kaede's cheek. "Sometimes. I'd be in the middle of rehearsals, or interviews, and suddenly I'd remember how it feels to hold you… or the way you'd blush when I kissed you." Her gaze softened, and she leaned in, placing a tender kiss on Kaede's lips, lingering there for a moment as if to savor it.
Kaede's arms wrapped around Mirei a little tighter, as if afraid she'd disappear. "You have no idea how much I missed this… missed you," she whispered against Mirei's lips. Her hands gently caressed Mirei's back, the warmth between them comforting and familiar.
Mirei smiled, her hand slipping to intertwine with Kaede's fingers. "Then let's not waste any more time missing each other," she murmured softly. "Let's make every moment count."
They wrapped their arms around each other in a warm embrace, sharing a tender kiss that lingered, each moment filled with the quiet joy of simply being close again.
---
After a few moments, Mirei got an idea, suggested with a gentle smile. "Kaede... You should move into an apartment near my dorm. That way, we can look after each other more easily."
Kaede's eyes widened. The idea was tempting, and it made sense, but she was reluctant. "Are you sure that's okay?"
Mirei rolled her eyes, flashing a playful grin. "I wouldn't suggest it if I wasn't. Besides, we'll both feel better. And you know you can't refuse me, right?" She winked, softening the moment.
Kaede felt a small smile tug at her lips. "Alright. I'll think about it. And… thank you, Mirei."
"Of course," Mirei replied, pulling her close once more, a long embrace that felt like a lifeline.
After a while, Kaede glanced at the time. "You should sleep, even if it's only for a few hours. I'll wake you and walk you back to the dorm."
Mirei shook her head. "I'll take a taxi. It's already late, and I don't want you walking back alone. You've already done enough, Kaede."
With a goodbye, Kaede then watched her get back to her dorm with a taxi.