After their opening song, Gravity and Dreams, the atmosphere in the room seemed to grow warmer, and Kaede, Risa, and Yukina let themselves ease into the rhythm of their set. One by one, they performed the next three songs from their album, each one met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. With every song, Kaede's nervousness gradually transformed into exhilaration, her voice gaining strength and confidence as she saw the positive reactions in the room.
As they reached the end of the fourth song, Risa took a step forward to begin their final ment of the night. Smiling out at the audience, she spoke with genuine warmth and gratitude.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight and supporting us," she said, her voice ringing with excitement. "It really means the world to us to see so many people here, enjoying the music we've poured our hearts into. Thank you for listening and for letting us share our journey with you."
The crowd cheered in response, their applause filling the small venue with a sense of camaraderie and warmth. As Risa passed the microphone to Kaede, Kaede took a deep breath, glancing at the faces in the crowd. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest, but she knew she needed to speak her heart.
"For our last song," Kaede began, her voice soft but steady, "I wanted to share something special. This song means a lot to me… to all of us. It's the song that helped us get here, that made us realize our dreams could become real." She paused, her voice taking on a more intimate tone. "This song is about someone really important to me, my first love… someone I've held close to my heart since the first time I saw."
A hush fell over the crowd as Kaede spoke, and a soft blush crept onto her cheeks. She couldn't help but smile. "This person… saved me from the darkest time in my life, and made me always feel safe, like... I was worth something. Always guide me to the light... For me... this someone special is like A Star That Shines Too Bright."
---
Meanwhile, in the back of the crowd, Mirei slipped in quietly, breathing heavily from her sprint to the venue. She'd told Kaede she couldn't make it, wanting to surprise her girlfriend, though her busy schedule with Celestial had almost ruined her plan. She'd dashed over as soon as her recording session ended, only to find herself stuck in traffic for what felt like forever. But as she looked up at the stage and saw Kaede speaking about the song, about her, Mirei felt a wave of warmth wash over her.
Kaede's words tugged at her heart, and Mirei found herself fighting back a grin. She wanted to shout, That's me! She's talking about me! But instead, she stayed quietly at the back, wearing a beanie and sunglasses as a casual disguise. Standing there, listening to Kaede's heartfelt words, Mirei felt an overwhelming sense of pride and love. She couldn't believe how much she wanted to tell everyone in that room just how incredible Kaede was.
She watched, her heart swelling, as Kaede glanced around the room with that familiar look of quiet determination, readying herself to sing. For a moment, Mirei almost wished she could run up to the stage, take Kaede's hand, and hold her tight for all to see. But she stayed back, simply grateful to be here, even in secret, for Kaede's big night.
---
Back on stage, Kaede closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the emotions she'd held back pour into her as she took the microphone. The room seemed to fade, and all that remained was her and the music. She could feel the weight of her love, the joy, the pain, the memories all building inside her, as she began to sing A Star That Shines Too Bright.
Her voice, soft and lilting, filled the room with a gentle but profound beauty. As the first verse rang out, she felt the lyrics resonate deep within her soul, each word carrying the depth of her feelings for Mirei. She poured herself into each note, her voice growing stronger, warmer, until it seemed to envelop the entire space.
In the back, Mirei watched with wide eyes, her chest tightening as Kaede's voice filled the room. She could feel Kaede's love with every word, every note, and it was as if each line was written just for her. It was everything she had ever wanted to say to Mirei, and hearing Kaede sing it for the first time in person made her eyes glisten with unshed tears. Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a small sob, as she realized just how deeply Kaede loved her.
Kaede's voice trembled slightly as she reached the song's bridge, her own emotions starting to overwhelm her. She had dreamed of singing this song to Mirei, hoped for it with all her heart. And suddenly, she felt something… a presence, familiar and comforting, watching her with love. Her gaze drifted to the back of the room, where she spotted a figure, unmistakable even in her disguise.
It was Mirei.
The realization hit Kaede like a wave, her heart racing as their eyes met from across the room. She felt her throat tighten, her emotions catching her off guard. For a brief moment, her voice faltered, her breath hitching as she fought to keep her composure. The intensity of seeing Mirei, of knowing she was here, listening, filled her with a rush of joy and love that made her heart ache.
Mirei, sensing Kaede's struggle, gave her a small, encouraging smile, mouthing the words I'm here. She raised her hand, a subtle gesture of support, and Kaede felt her heart steady. She took a deep breath and continued, her voice growing even more tender, more heartfelt as she poured everything she felt for Mirei into the final verses.
As the last note lingered in the air, the room erupted in applause. Kaede, breathless and tearful, looked out at the crowd and gave a shaky smile, bowing alongside Risa and Yukina. They thanked the audience with deep bows, their gratitude evident in their smiles and gestures. Kaede couldn't believe how perfectly everything had gone, and as they walked off stage, she found herself fighting the urge to sprint back into the audience, where she knew Mirei was waiting.
---
Backstage, Kaede, Risa, and Yukina hugged each other tightly, their faces glowing with happiness and relief. They exchanged words of excitement, congratulating one another on the night's performance, and thanked each other for the unwavering support. For a moment, Kaede felt like she was floating, her heart filled with pride not only in herself but in her friends and the music they had created together.
But soon, the thought of Mirei began to tug at her. She excused herself, saying a good bye with a soft smile as she promised to meet up with them tomorrow. She stepped out of the backstage area, her heart racing as she scanned the venue, hoping to find the person who meant everything to her.
Mirei, meanwhile, had made her way outside of the venue, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and excitement. She hadn't texted Kaede, wanting to see her genuine reaction when they met. Standing by the venue's entrance, she glanced around, a bit anxious that she might miss Kaede in the post-show crowd.
Finally, as the flow of people slowed, Mirei spotted Kaede in the distance, searching the venue urgently, her gaze darting around as if looking for someone important. Mirei couldn't help but chuckle, finding Kaede's flustered expression endearing. She was hiding when she saw Kaede went outside of the venue to continue the search. She waited a moment, savoring the sight of her girlfriend, before stepping forward and gently tapping Kaede on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, miss," Mirei whispered playfully, barely able to contain her grin. "I'm your biggest fan. Can I get an autograph?"
Kaede turned around, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of Mirei's familiar smile. Without a word, she pulled Mirei into a tight hug, holding her close as she whispered, "I missed you so much."
Mirei's arms wrapped around Kaede, her voice soft with emotion. "I missed you too, Kaede." The two held each other tightly, the world around them fading as they soaked in the warmth of their embrace. For a moment, it was as if everything else had disappeared, leaving only the two of them together, lost in the joy of being reunited.