Mirei sat stiffly in the doctor's office, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The doctor peered over her notes, a look of concern etched across her face.

"Your condition has worsened, Mirei. What’s been happening?" the doctor asked gently.

Mirei hesitated, her lips parting slightly before closing again. She took a breath, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I don’t know," she finally said. "Lately, it comes more frequently… especially before I perform."

The doctor leaned forward, her tone soft but insistent. "Did something specific happen during a performance? Something that triggered this?"

Mirei swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly. "I think… it started after we received those harsh criticisms at the festival. It… it worsened after…" She stopped, her voice catching in her throat. She clenched her fists as the painful memory resurfaced. Her breakup with Kaede. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and decided against revealing too much. "I’m sorry," she said with a small bow. "I can’t share that. It’s… private."

The doctor studied her for a moment before sighing. "I understand, Mirei, but you must know these things affect your health. We'll try a new therapy approach, okay? Let’s tackle this together."

Mirei nodded firmly, her resolve strengthening. "Thank you. I’ll do my best."

---

The days following their Music Station performance were a whirlwind for Chasing Stardust. They had become an overnight sensation, their popularity skyrocketing. Their agency, DreamWave Entertainment, was eager to capitalize on the momentum.

"You girls should consider holding your first solo concert!" the manager suggested enthusiastically.

But the trio exchanged hesitant glances.

"I think it’s too soon," Risa said thoughtfully. "We need to build stronger connections with other artists first."

Kaede nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We’ve only got one popular song right now. We don’t want to be a one-hit wonder."

"Right," Yukina added. "It’s better to join shows and festivals for now, and focus on expanding our repertoire. A solo concert can wait."

Their manager sighed but smiled. "You’re smart. Alright, I’ll work on getting you into more events."

---

The trio’s excitement was palpable as they arrived at the festival venue for rehearsals. The event was massive, boasting over 60 artists performing across three days. The sheer scale of the venue left them in awe.

"This place is insane!" Risa exclaimed, spinning around on the stage. "It’s HUGE!"

Yukina gazed out at the empty seats, her nerves beginning to show. "Will it really be packed tomorrow? What if no one comes when we’re on stage?"

Kaede let out a shaky laugh. "I’m nervous too… but we’ll do our best, right?"

Risa grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Don’t worry. At least five people will watch us. Maybe ten if we’re lucky!"

Yukina chuckled softly. "Let’s give it our all tomorrow."

---

After their rehearsal, they prepared to head home, their excitement still buzzing. Kaede, however, excused herself to use the bathroom before leaving. "You two go ahead. I’ll catch up," she said, waving them off.

As Kaede entered the dimly lit restroom, she stopped dead in her tracks. Standing by the sinks was Mirei, drenched from head to body. She was wearing a white shirt that clung to her skin, making her undergarments faintly visible. 

Kaede’s cheeks burned red as she stammered, "M-Mirei… what happened?"

Mirei jumped at the sound of her voice, spinning around to face her. She hadn’t noticed anyone enter, much less Kaede.

Before Mirei could respond, the sound of chatter echoed from outside the restroom. Panic flashed in her eyes. She didn’t want anyone else to see her like this—drenched, vulnerable, and now with Kaede. Without thinking, she grabbed Kaede’s wrist, pulled her into a stall, and locked the door behind them.

Kaede’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching as the cramped space forced them to stand impossibly close. Somehow, the situation felt like a déjà vu for both of them, as if they had been here before, in this awkward, painful space between them.

Kaede's breath hitched as she was about to speak, but Mirei swiftly placed a finger against her lips, silencing her with a gentle yet firm gesture.

Outside, the voices grew louder as a group of people entered the restroom.

Kaede’s thoughts raced as she stood there, mere inches from Mirei. The faint scent of Mirei’s perfume, a bittersweet aroma that brought back a flood of memories. Her pulse quickened, and she could feel the heat radiating off Mirei’s body.

Mirei, meanwhile, was trying to steady her own breathing. The tight confines of the stall only amplified her awareness of Kaede’s presence. She could feel Kaede’s gaze on her, and it made her chest tighten.

After what felt like an eternity, the chatter outside subsided, and the restroom fell silent once more.

Mirei finally lowered her hand from Kaede’s lips, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "I… I’m sorry," she whispered.

Kaede shook her head, her voice soft. "It’s okay. But… what happened to you? Why are you drenched?"

Mirei hesitated, avoiding Kaede’s gaze. "I... accidentally slipped into a puddle on my way here, completely drenching myself. It was so embarrassing that I couldn’t bring myself to ask the staff for help."

Kaede frowned, her concern evident. "You should’ve changed. You’ll get sick like this."

Kaede offered a small smile and said, “Here, I’ll lend you my jacket.” Mirei hesitated, the awkwardness of the situation weighing heavily on her. After a moment’s pause, she nodded, her cheeks tinged with red as she reluctantly began to take off her drenched shirt. 

Seeing Mirei half naked, Kaede's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she quickly turned her gaze away, trying her best to compose herself despite her racing heart.

Kaede swiftly removed her jacket and draped it over Mirei's shoulders, her movements careful and deliberate. She zipped it up gently, her eyes filled with concern, causing Mirei's heart to skip a beat. Mirei felt her cheeks flush as Kaede stepped back slightly and said softly, "There you go."

Kaede’s brow furrowed. She wanted to say more, to scold Mirei for not taking care of herself, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she reached out, gently brushing a strand of Mirei’s damp hair away from her face.

Mirei froze at the touch, her breath hitching. Kaede’s hand lingered for a moment before pulling back, the silence between them growing heavier.

"I… I should go, thank you Kaede," Mirei said abruptly, her voice trembling. She reached for the lock, but Kaede grabbed her wrist.

"Mirei… wait," Kaede said, her voice firmer now. "Are you okay? Really?"

Mirei turned to face her, and for a moment, her carefully constructed facade cracked. "I… I don’t know," she admitted softly. "But I’m trying."

Kaede hesitated before softly asking, “Mirei, can we… can we be friends again?” Mirei’s expression faltered, her eyes clouded with hesitation. 

She sighed deeply, avoiding Kaede’s gaze. “I’m sorry, Kaede…” The words stung, and Kaede couldn’t understand why Mirei was so determined to distance herself. Desperation surged within her as she tried to confront Mirei, stepping closer, but Mirei quickly turned away, her body language tense as she tried to escape the moment.

I’m so sorry, Kaede... but I can’t be friends with you again. If I don’t keep my distance, I’ll only fall for you even harder, and I can’t let that happen, Mirei thought to herself.

Kaede’s grip on her wrist loosened, her eyes searching Mirei’s. "You don’t have to do it alone, you know."

Mirei’s eyes widened slightly, her heart skipping a beat. But before she could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. "Sorry, I really have to go," she said, her tone apologetic.

Kaede nodded, stepping aside to let Mirei leave the stall.

As Mirei exited the restroom, Kaede leaned against the wall, her chest tight. Seeing Mirei like this—vulnerable and struggling—stirred something deep within her.