Mirei ran through the dimly lit hallways, her heart pounding in her chest like a storm threatening to consume her. The private room she had promised to meet Kaede in loomed just ahead. Her steps faltered as she reached the door, her fingers trembling as they hovered over the polished wood. She sucked in a sharp breath, steadying herself.

  Kaede’s waiting inside, she thought, always waiting for me.

  With a light knock, the door opened almost immediately. Kaede stood there, her silhouette illuminated by the faint glow of the mp behind her. Her usual confident demeanor was absent, repced with a mixture of nervousness and relief. Mirei's heart clenched at the sight.

  “You’re here,” Kaede said softly, her voice wavering. “I thought... maybe you wouldn’t come.”

  “I’m sorry I’m te,” Mirei murmured, stepping inside. She kept her expression composed, though her chest felt like it might cave in at any moment. “Work ran over.”

  Kaede nodded, biting her lip. “I’m just gd you came... I’ve been dying to talk to you.”

  Mirei nodded, taking a seat across from Kaede at the small table. Her hands rested on her p, clenched tightly together to keep them from trembling.

  “I…” Kaede began, her voice faltering. “Mirei, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please, you have to believe me.”

  Mirei looked at her, the pain in Kaede’s eyes like a dagger to her own heart. “Kaede...”

  Kaede leaned forward, her voice rising slightly in desperation. “I didn’t cheat on you! There’s nothing between me and Risa! I swear it!” Her voice cracked as tears brimmed in her eyes.

  “Risa’s apartment was under repair, and she needed a pce to stay for the night. That’s all it was!” Kaede continued, her words tumbling over each other. “Yes, I took her to Disneynd for her birthday, but that was it! I never… I could never—”

  Mirei raised a hand, her voice gentle but firm. “Kaede, stop. I believe you.”

  Kaede froze, her words caught in her throat. “You... you do?”

  “I do,” Mirei said, her lips curling into a weak smile.

  Relief flooded Kaede’s features as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. “Mirei, thank you. I— I was so scared you wouldn’t believe me.” She paused, her voice trembling. “Because I only love you. I’ve only ever loved you.”

  Mirei felt her composure slipping as Kaede’s words sank in. Tears pricked at her own eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. “Kaede…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  “I’m sorry for everything,” Kaede said, her voice breaking. “For making you doubt, for making you feel like this. I should’ve told you about Risa, about everything. I never wanted to hurt you, Mirei. Please forgive me.”

  Mirei’s heart ached as she watched the woman she loved, so vulnerable and sincere, ying everything bare before her. She wanted to reach out, to pull Kaede into her arms and tell her that everything would be okay. But she couldn’t.

  “I understand, Kaede,” Mirei said finally, her voice shaky but resolute. “And I’ll always trust you. But…” She took a deep breath, steadying herself for what she had to say next. “We can’t do this anymore.”

  Kaede’s expression shattered in an instant. “W-what do you mean?”

  “I mean… we can’t be together anymore,” Mirei said, her voice cracking as the words left her lips.

  Kaede stared at her, stunned. “No. No, Mirei, you don’t mean that. Why? Why are you saying this?”

  Mirei clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her tears in check. “Because it’s for the best. For us...”

  “For the best?” Kaede repeated, her voice rising. “How is breaking up the best? Mirei, we can work through this! We’ve always worked through everything together!”

  Mirei took a deep breath, wiping away the tears clinging to her cheeks as she tried to gather her thoughts. “Kaede,” she began, her voice trembling but firm, “I’ve been so busy tely. I know you’ve noticed it. My career keeps demanding more of my time, and it’s only going to get worse from here. I can’t give you the attention and love you deserve.” Her hands clenched into fists as she continued, her gaze dropping to the floor. “There were times I left you waiting, times I couldn’t be there for you when you needed me most. You deserve someone who will always be by your side, someone who can support you the way I should have. I can’t ask you to keep enduring this, Kaede. It’s not fair to you.” Her voice cracked as she forced the words out, the weight of them crushing her chest. “You deserve so much better than me.”

  Kaede’s tears began to fall faster, her voice trembling with desperation. “No, Mirei! Don’t say that! You’re enough for me, you’ve always been enough. I don’t care about how busy you are or how much time we spend apart. I only want you, Mirei. I don’t need anyone else.” She stepped closer, reaching out to Mirei as if trying to hold onto her slipping away. “Don’t push me away like this… I can handle it! I can—”

  “Stop, Kaede!” Mirei suddenly raised her voice, her sharp tone cutting through the room like a bde. Her face was etched with anguish, tears streaming down despite the sternness in her voice. “Don’t you get it? This isn’t about what you can handle. It’s about what you deserve! You’re settling for someone who can’t even be there for you. Someone who constantly leaves you waiting, wondering if you’re enough. That’s not fair to you, Kaede!”

  Kaede flinched at the intensity of Mirei’s words, her heart shattering further with every sylble. “But Mirei—” she tried to speak, but Mirei interrupted her again, her tone growing colder in an attempt to mask her own breaking heart.

  “No, Kaede!” Mirei’s voice cracked, filled with a mix of pain and frustration. “You think this is love? You think clinging to someone who keeps hurting you is what you deserve? It’s not! You deserve someone who can make you their priority, someone who can give you everything you need. And that’s not me!”

  Kaede’s voice wavered, her breathing uneven as she pleaded, “I don’t care about that! I love you, Mirei. I don’t need perfection—I just need you!” She gripped her hands tightly, trying to keep herself from breaking down completely. “Please don’t do this... Please.”

  But Mirei shook her head, her expression a mixture of sorrow and determination. “Kaede, I can’t keep being selfish and holding onto you like this.”

  Kaede stared at Mirei, her legs feeling weak as the words sank in. “How am I supposed to let go of you when you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted?”

  Mirei closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight of Kaede’s pain any longer. “I’m sorry, Kaede,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

  Kaede’s voice was barely audible now, choked with sobs. “Is this really what you want?”

  Mirei hesitated, her own tears falling freely. “It’s what I have to do for us.”

  Kaede’s shoulders slumped as the weight of Mirei’s words settled over her. “If this is what you want, then… I’ll respect it. But Mirei, please know… I’ll always love you.”

  Mirei’s chest felt like it was being torn apart. She wanted to scream, to tell Kaede that she loved her too, that she’d never stop loving her. But instead, she forced herself to stand, her legs trembling beneath her.

  “Take care of yourself, Kaede,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Goodbye.”

  Before Kaede could say another word, Mirei turned and fled, tears blurring her vision as she ran. She didn’t stop until she was outside, the cool night air hitting her like a sp to the face.

  Finally, she colpsed against a wall, her sobs echoing in the empty street. “I’m sorry, Kaede,” she whispered through her tears. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  Back in the room, Kaede sat alone, her tears falling silently onto her p. Her heart felt like it had been ripped from her chest, leaving nothing but an unbearable ache in its pce.

  “I’ll always love you, Mirei,” she whispered to the empty room. “No matter what.”

  And with that, the two of them, once inseparable, were left to navigate their heartache alone.