Kaede couldn’t sleep that night. Her mind was a chaotic swirl of emotions—Mirei’s misunderstanding, Risa’s sudden confession, and the unspoken tension hanging over everything. She repyed the events of the previous evening repeatedly, wondering where things had gone so wrong. Risa’s stay at her apartment had been unpnned, a result of ongoing repairs at Risa’s pce. Add to that the stress of their band’s deadlines and the alcohol, and the night had become an emotional storm Kaede wasn’t prepared for.

  Morning came too soon, and Kaede sighed heavily. The sunlight streaming through her curtains felt almost mocking, a harsh contrast to her internal turmoil.

  A soft knock at her door broke her thoughts. “Kaede, I’m sorry to bother you… Can I borrow a towel?” Risa’s voice was quiet, almost hesitant.

  Kaede dragged herself out of bed, her body sluggish from the ck of rest. She grabbed a towel from her closet and handed it to Risa, who stood in the doorway with her back turned.

  “Kaede,” Risa began, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m sorry for yesterday. But… I really meant what I said.”

  Kaede froze, caught off guard by Risa’s honesty. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. Before she could gather her thoughts, Risa had disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Kaede standing there, heart heavy and mind racing.

  She hadn’t expected this. She had never imagined that her bandmate, her friend, would harbor feelings for her. It was overwhelming, and for the first time, she didn’t know how to face Risa.

  Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting her from her thoughts. She picked it up, frowning at the unknown number on the screen.

  Hey Kaede, sorry for the disturbance. Can we meet ter tonight?

  Kaede’s brows furrowed. Who could it be? Before she could wonder further, another message came through.

  Oh, sorry. It’s Minami, by the way.

  “Minami?” Kaede muttered aloud. What could one of Celestial’s members possibly want with her? And why now? The timing was suspicious, but she decided to agree. Perhaps Minami knew something about Mirei.

  Risa emerged from the bathroom, towel in hand. “Thanks, Kaede. The repairs are done at my apartment, so I’ll be heading home. See you ter at practice.”

  Kaede hesitated, knowing this was her chance to address the growing tension between them. “Risa,” she began softly, her voice almost breaking. “I’m sorry, but I can’t… I can’t give you what you want. I don’t feel the same way.”

  Risa’s smile wavered, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I knew it before I even said anything. But I couldn’t keep it inside anymore. I’m sorry, Kaede. And… I’m sorry to Mirei too. I was selfish.”

  Kaede’s heart ached at the sight of Risa’s pain, but before she could say more, Risa turned and left. The door clicked shut behind her, and Kaede felt a wave of guilt and sadness wash over her.

  ---

  By the time practice rolled around that afternoon, the weight of the morning’s events hadn’t lessened. Kaede forced herself to focus as they worked on new songs for their upcoming album. It had been months since their st release, and the pressure to deliver was mounting. Yet, the usual rhythm of their practice was disrupted by an undeniable awkwardness between Kaede and Risa.

  Yukina noticed it immediately. The tension was palpable, and Risa’s usual cheerfulness was conspicuously absent. Though Yukina chose not to address it outright, she silently vowed to protect her bandmates and help them work through whatever was causing the rift.

  ---

  That evening, as the clock struck 9 PM, Kaede arrived at a quiet café near Celestial’s dorm. She tapped her foot nervously, unsure of what to expect. Her heart was heavy with worry about Mirei. Her calls and messages had gone unanswered since the misunderstanding, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.

  When Minami walked in, Kaede straightened, her stomach tightening. Minami’s expression was calm but serious as she greeted Kaede and took a seat across from her.

  “Thanks for meeting me,” Minami began, her voice measured. She wasted no time on pleasantries. Minami leaned forward, her eyes piercing. “I’ll get straight to the point. Did you cheat on Mirei?”

  Kaede blinked, taken aback by the blunt question. “What? How do you—”

  “I know about you and Mirei,” Minami interrupted, her tone unyielding.

  Kaede’s stomach dropped. “How… how do you know?”

  “That’s not important,” Minami said sharply. “What matters is Mirei knows about your little ‘date’ with your bandmate, and it’s tearing her apart. She’s convinced you’re cheating on her.”

  Kaede’s heart sank. “It wasn’t a date! It was Risa's birthday, she was alone and Risa’s apartment was under repair. I just… wanted to cheer her up.”

  Minami’s gaze didn’t waver. “Then why didn’t you tell Mirei? If it was so innocent, why keep it a secret?”

  Kaede opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. Why she didn't tell Mirei in advance?

  Minami sighed, shaking her head. “Kaede, do you even understand Mirei? She’s not the type to assume the worst, but when she heard Risa confessing to you, how else is she supposed to feel?”

  Kaede’s hands trembled. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I wasn’t trying to hide it; I just…” She trailed off, her voice breaking.

  Minami leaned back, her expression softening slightly. “Kaede, I thought you were better than this. I thought you deserved Mirei. But the way you’ve handled this…” She shook her head again. “You’re slow, Kaede. Too slow. And now Mirei’s hurt because of it.”

  Kaede’s chest tightened with a mix of guilt and anger. “I’m trying, okay? I didn’t ask for any of this to happen!”

  Minami held up a hand. “I’m not here to fight with you. I’m here to tell you to fix this before it’s too te. And be careful—our agency is starting to notice something. If they figure out what’s going on, you’ll both be in trouble.”

  Kaede stared at her, her emotions swirling. “Why are you even telling me this?”

  Minami hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Because I love Mirei too.”

  Kaede’s eyes widened, her heart pounding in her ears.

  Minami stood, her expression unreadable. “I love her, but she chose you. So, don’t screw this up, Kaede. Don’t make her regret it.”

  With that, Minami turned and walked out of the café, leaving Kaede sitting alone, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

  ---

  Kaede sat there for what felt like hours, repying the conversation in her head. Minami loved Mirei. Minami thought she didn’t deserve Mirei. And worst of all, Minami was right—Kaede had messed up.

  She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. “I’ll fix this,” she whispered to herself. “I have to.”

  Meanwhile, Minami walked back to the dorm, her heart heavy. She wondered if she’d been too harsh, but deep down, she hoped her words would push Kaede to act. Mirei deserved someone who would fight for her, and Minami could only hope Kaede would rise to the challenge.