The days after the concert passed in a haze for Kaede. She still felt overwhelmed every time she thought back to the show—how she'd seen Mirei, now her girlfriend, performing live with her group Celestial. They had been incredible on stage, every member practically glowing with energy and passion, but especially Mirei. Kaede replayed the image over and over in her mind: Mirei's confident smile, the way she wave to the audience, the sound of her laughter ringing out between songs.
But there was a darker thought that kept sneaking into Kaede's mind. She shivered as it hit her again, a quiet but persistent reminder of how she'd first heard of Mirei's suicide back then. It haunted her to think that someone so vibrant, so clearly in love with her job, could have ever felt so lost. Kaede shook her head, brushing the thought away. Now that she had the chance to be by Mirei's side, she promised herself she would do everything in her power to protect her, to make her happy. Whatever had led to that tragedy before—she'd make sure it would never happen again.
A week slipped by, and New Year's Eve was fast approaching. Mirei's schedule had only gotten busier. Celestial's second album was skyrocketing in popularity, capturing more public attention than their debut. TV shows, interviews, and rehearsals filled every spare moment, and Mirei was hardly getting a chance to rest. Kaede hadn't even received a text from her since the concert. She tried not to let it bother her, knowing how important this time was for Mirei's career, but she couldn't help worrying. She just hope, Mirei get a good rest and sleep everyday.
Meanwhile, Chasing Stardust was making strides on their own journey. Kaede, Yukina, and Risa had started recording their second album, titled Second Chance. It was a deeply personal project for Kaede; the title track spoke of her resolve to be there for Mirei, to make the most of the second chance she felt she'd been given. Another song on the album, Shadow Between Us, was written by Risa. The lyrics delved into the complicated emotions Risa felt—her struggle with feeling left out, caught between admiration and jealousy as she watched Kaede's close bond with Mirei.
As both groups pushed forward in their careers, Kaede and Mirei were caught up in their respective responsibilities. Kaede spent most of her days with her bandmates, and every now and then, she'd see photos of Mirei with her own group, Celestial. She'd feel a pang of jealousy when she saw how close Mirei seemed to be with her band members, even though she knew it was all part of the fanservice that drove Celestial's success. Kaede couldn't help but sigh—she knew it was just a part of the industry, but it still stung sometimes.
When New Year's Eve rolled around, Risa suggested they celebrate together as a band. Kaede's apartment was the closest, so they decided to hold the party there. The small living room quickly filled with the aroma of snacks and the cheerful sound of laughter. Risa had brought a stack of games, and she was practically buzzing with excitement as they all gathered around to play.
"Alright, let's get started!" Risa announced, flashing a mischievous grin as she held up a deck of cards. "First game is… 'Truth or Dare!'"
"Oh no, not this again," Kaede groaned, but she was smiling. Yukina just laughed, rolling her eyes in playful resignation.
They started the game, daring each other to sing snippets of ridiculous songs or confess their childhood crushes. Risa, as the group extrovert, was naturally in her element, pulling out every trick she could think of to make them laugh.
"Kaede, truth or dare?" Risa asked with a smirk.
"Truth," Kaede replied, crossing her arms. She knew better than to choose dare with Risa in charge.
"Alright, Miss Truthful," Risa said, eyes sparkling with mischief. "How many times have you checked for Celestial's New Year performance tonight?"
Kaede blushed as Yukina and Risa burst into laughter.
"Hey! It's not that many times," Kaede protested, looking away as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "I'm just… you know, I want to see them perform. Is that so wrong?"
"Oh, it's adorable," Yukina said, joining in on the teasing. "You're obsessed, Kaede."
Kaede huffed, folding her arms as the two laughed. But as she pretended to be annoyed, she couldn't help glancing down at her phone again, checking the time.
As midnight drew near, they counted down together, cheering as the clock struck twelve and another year began. They toasted to new beginnings and laughed until their stomachs hurt, feeling a warm sense of closeness. The party began to wind down, and before long, Yukina had fallen asleep on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and snoring softly.
As Kaede moved around, tidying up a bit, she noticed Risa's gaze linger on her. They'd all had a great time, but Risa looked thoughtful, as though something was on her mind. Kaede blinked in surprise when Risa spoke up, her voice gentle.
"You know, Kaede… you've got two of everything here," Risa noted, glancing around the room. "Two glasses, two toothbrushes… it's almost like someone else lives here with you."
Kaede felt her cheeks heat up. She wasn't sure how to respond, a little caught off guard by Risa's observation. "Um… well, Mirei comes over sometimes."
Risa just nodded, offering a small smile. "I see. You guys are really something, you know? Even though you're both so busy, you still make time to support each other."
Kaede fidgeted, feeling shy under the sudden attention. "It's… not easy," she admitted quietly. "But we made a promise to each other, you know? To make it work, no matter what."
Risa sighed, her gaze shifting to the floor. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I just… I guess I was curious."
Kaede looked at her, sensing there was something more. "Why did you want to know?"
Risa hesitated, her expression turning almost vulnerable. She seemed at a loss for words, her usual teasing demeanor nowhere to be seen. "I… just wanted to be sure you were happy," she said, her voice softer than Kaede had ever heard it.
Kaede felt confused at the look on Risa's face. Risa tried to brush it off with a laugh, running a hand through her hair. "Don't mind me, I'm just being silly."
"Risa…" Kaede started, wanting to say something reassuring, but the words wouldn't come.
Risa chuckled again, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You two… you're really lucky, you know?" She reached out and squeezed Kaede's hand briefly before standing up, her usual smile returning as she looked over at the sleeping Yukina. "Anyway, we should probably get this one to bed before she starts drooling all over your couch."
Kaede laughed, though a part of her still lingered on Risa's words. Together, they carried Yukina to the spare room and tucked her in, the moment passing as they turned back into their usual playful selves.