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It was a month after Celestial's debut. Kaede hummed softly to herself, the quiet hum filling her small apartment as she put the finishing touches on the birthday cake she'd bought for Mirei. The ice cream cake—a rare mint chocolate flavor—had taken hours to find, but she knew it would be worth it. The thought of seeing Mirei's surprised smile, her eyes lighting up with delight, made all the effort worthwhile. Beside the cake lay a wrapped CD, one that held something even more personal than the cake: the first song Kaede had ever written, a song inspired by Mirei. It was raw, honest, and incredibly close to her heart—a reflection of every feeling she had but rarely said aloud.
Kaede glanced at the clock, her heart skipping a little as the evening slipped closer. She'd dressed up, cleaned her apartment, and even practiced how she might sing a few lines of the song to Mirei—though she knew she'd probably just press play on the CD and let Mirei's reaction fill the room instead. The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as she waited for that telltale knock at the door.
Just then, her phone buzzed, and Kaede's heart raced. It must be her!
She eagerly picked it up, only for her excitement to deflate in an instant as she read the message from Mirei. The text was full of apologies, and Kaede's heart sank as she realized Mirei wouldn't be coming tonight. Mirei had a last-minute live stream with Celestial, a special birthday event planned by the agency that would go on late into the night. Mirei apologized again, saying she would have to leave for Fukuoka early the next morning for a shoot.
Kaede forced a smile as she replied, "It's okay, Mirei. Happy Birthday! Take care of yourself, and good luck with the shoot. I'll always love you."
Her phone buzzed one last time with Mirei's response: Thank you, Kaede. Love you too! I'll message you again later, okay?
Kaede sat back, clutching her phone as her smile faded, giving way to a quiet loneliness. She glanced over at the cake, its candles unlit, and the CD resting untouched beside it. She understood the demands of Mirei's career—she knew, better than anyone, how Mirei had sacrificed to be with her when she could. Still, it hurt, especially on days like today, to feel their lives slipping further and further apart.
Later, as she scrolled through her notifications, Kaede saw that Celestial's live stream had gone live. She immediately clicked on the stream, Mirei's face filling her screen. Mirei was laughing with her members, her eyes bright, radiating happiness in a way Kaede hadn't seen in a long time. Watching her brought Kaede a strange kind of comfort, like she could share in Mirei's joy even from afar. But with each laugh, each smile shared with her members, Kaede couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, as though a small part of Mirei's happiness belonged to everyone but her.
One week later, on the day of their first anniversary, Kaede found herself staring at her phone, waiting for a message that didn't come. When Mirei's text finally appeared, Kaede's heart sank at the apology that greeted her. Mirei was still out of town, caught up in yet another schedule, unable to make it back. She wished Kaede a happy anniversary, apologizing once again, and Kaede could almost feel the weight of Mirei's guilt pressing through the words.
Kaede took a deep breath before replying, "Please don't apologize. I don't want you to feel guilty… I know how hard you're working. I love you, Mirei, and I'll be here waiting when things slow down."
For a moment, there was a long pause before Mirei responded, her words simple but full of feeling: Thank you, Kaede. I love you more than anything.
But as Kaede read the words, a lingering sadness stayed with her, wrapping around her heart like a shadow. Despite their love, the distance between them was growing, each moment apart chiseling away at the closeness they'd once shared.
---
That evening, alone in her apartment, Kaede made a decision. After she asked permission to Risa and Yukina, she opened her laptop, her hands trembling slightly as she uploaded the song she'd written for Mirei to Chasing Stardust's YouTube channel. It was her way of speaking the words she'd held back, of putting her heart out there for Mirei to see—even if she couldn't be there in person.
The song began with a gentle melody, her voice raw and tender as she sang of dreams that felt unreachable, of days spent in quiet longing, and the bittersweet ache of loving someone who seemed to drift further away. Each lyric painted the picture of her feelings—her pride for Mirei, her happiness at seeing her succeed, and the ache of watching from afar. It was a confession, one that she'd poured her entire heart into, and it felt both terrifying and liberating to share it with the world.
As the video processed and went live, Kaede sat back, her hands shaking slightly, a sense of vulnerability washing over her. She didn't know how Mirei would react when she saw it, but she hoped, more than anything, that the song would reach her, that it would make Mirei feel the depth of her love.
The night passed in silence, and though Kaede knew Mirei would be asleep after a long day, she found herself glancing at her phone, hoping for a message. None came. She lay back, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts a tangled mess of love and loneliness, hope and heartbreak.
---
As the days passing since Kaede had uploaded her song for Mirei, she couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Each morning, she would check her phone, hoping for a message from Mirei, but the silence only deepened her longing. The song, titled "A Star That Shine Too Bright," had been a heartfelt confession, an expression of her feelings that she had poured into every lyric. Yet, it felt like the world had forgotten about it.
Then, on an ordinary afternoon, while Kaede was sitting in her apartment with Risa and Yukina, a flood of notifications suddenly erupted on her phone. Each beep was like a spark igniting a fire of curiosity.
"Whoa, what's happening with our channel?" Risa asked, peering over Kaede's shoulder as her screen lit up with alerts.
Kaede furrowed her brow, feeling a rush of excitement mixed with disbelief. "I don't know! Look at all these new subscribers!"
Yukina leaned closer, eyes widening as she scrolled through the notifications. "Did you post something new? I didn't see anything else besides your song!"
Just then, a notification banner popped up, alerting them to a surge of views and comments on the video. Kaede tapped on the video link, and they all crowded around the screen.
"I think the number of views just tripled!" Yukina exclaimed. "What's going on?"
Kaede's heart raced as she read through the comments. They were filled with excitement and curiosity, fans buzzing about the song and asking who the mysterious "Chasing Stardust" was. Just as she began to wonder if there had been a glitch, another notification appeared on her phone: a link to an interview featuring Celestial members.
"Look! It's an interview!" Kaede shouted, her heart pounding. They gathered closer as she clicked on the link, and the video loaded, showing Mirei sitting in a brightly lit studio with her fellow members. The conversation flowed easily until the interviewer asked about their current favorite songs.
Mirei smiled, her eyes sparkling as she replied, "I've been listening to this beautiful song called 'A Star That Shines Too Bright' by a band called Chasing Stardust. I just can't get enough of it!"
Kaede's heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat. Mirei's voice filled the room, and she felt a rush of warmth. "I don't think anyone knows who they are yet. But that song... it really resonates with me," Mirei continued, her voice passionate. "It's raw, it's heartfelt, and it reminds me of so many things. Please check them out!"
Risa and Yukina exchanged glances, equally astonished. "Wait, is she talking about your song? About us?" Risa asked, her eyes wide.
Kaede nodded, overwhelmed by the realization. The world may not know who she was, but Mirei had just made a public declaration that her song meant something to her.
"That's amazing, Kaede!" Yukina exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Kaede in a tight hug. "You must be so proud!"
Kaede couldn't help but smile through the tears that threatened to spill. It was as if Mirei had found a way to reach out to her, even without a personal message. This was Mirei's way of saying she had heard the song, that it had touched her heart.
"Look at all these comments," Risa said, scrolling through the feedback. "People are trying to figure out who we are. This could really launch Chasing Stardust!"
A sense of joy washed over Kaede as she read the comments flooding in, fans expressing their love for the song and speculating about the band's identity. It was all surreal. She wished she could share this moment with Mirei directly, to celebrate their connection and her achievement together.
That night, as Kaede lay in bed, her thoughts were consumed by the interview. It wasn't just about the song; it was about the connection they shared, the silent conversations wrapped in lyrics and melodies. "I miss you, Mirei," she whispered to the night, clutching her pillow tightly.
Finally, the next day, Kaede received a text that lit up her heart like a firework. It was from Mirei, and it simply read:
"I heard your song. It was beautiful, Kaede. You're amazing. I'm so proud of you. Thank you for sharing it with the world. Let's make time to celebrate when I get back. I will always support you and I love you.."
A smile broke across Kaede's face, and she felt tears of joy stream down her cheeks. It was all she needed—Mirei had heard her, and their connection was stronger than ever.