Chasing Stardust’s performance was a resounding success. The crowd’s cheers, the energy in the air, and the way their songs connected with the audience left the trio buzzing with joy. Now backstage, they were winding down, their hearts still racing from the high of the performance.

“That was realllllyyyy amazing!” Risa squealed, spinning in circles.

“I can’t believe we just performed there!” Yukina added, her voice filled with disbelief and pride.

Kaede smiled, her chest swelling with pride for her bandmates. “Thank you, guys. We really did it.” She turned to Kana, who was standing quietly with a bright smile of her own. “And Kana…”

“Huh?” Kana looked up, startled as Kaede stepped closer.

Kaede gently took Kana’s hands in hers, her smile radiating warmth and gratitude. “Thank you so much for joining us, Kana!”

Kana’s face turned bright red as she felt the sincerity in Kaede’s touch and smile. “N-no problem! I’m the one who should be thanking you all for giving me this incredible experience. I’m so grateful for the exposure!” Kana bowed deeply, but in her nervous excitement, she miscalculated her movement and accidentally bumped her head into Kaede’s hand.

“Ouch!” Kaede yelped in surprise.

Kana yelped louder. “Oww, oww, owww!” She crouched, clutching her forehead.

Kaede crouched down too, concerned. “Kana, are you okay?”

Kana, thoroughly embarrassed, blinked back tears from the pain. “I-I’m fine! I’m so sorry!” she stammered, trying to wave off the attention.

By now, Yukina and Risa were laughing at the chaotic scene. “Kana, sit down before you knock yourself out!” Yukina teased, patting Kana’s shoulder.

They all burst into laughter after Kana finally sat, rubbing her forehead sheepishly. The moment was light and joyous, a perfect ending to an unforgettable performance.

---

By 7:30 PM, after having dinner together, Kaede was preparing to head back out to watch the other performances. The festival’s energy was still alive and pulsing, and Celestial’s time to perform was getting closer.

“You’re going to watch the stage again?” Yukina asked, leaning back in her chair.

“Yeah,” Kaede replied as she zipped up her jacket. “I’m planning to watch until the end.”

Suddenly, Yukina looked a bit pale. “I’m sorry, Kaede. I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll head home early.”

Kaede immediately turned to her friend. “Are you okay? I can go with you if you need—”

Risa interrupted, holding Yukina’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Kaede. I’ll go home with her.”

“You want to watch her, right?” Risa added with a knowing grin. “We’ll be fine, Kaede.”

Kaede hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright. Be careful, you two. If anything happens, call me, okay?”

“We will,” Risa said, smiling as she and Yukina left.

“I’ll accompany you, Kaede,” Kana suddenly offered.

Kaede blinked at her in surprise. “Oh, you don’t have to—”

“Don’t worry about her,” Risa called back, winking. “Kana, take good care of our Kaede!”

Kaede sighed, shaking her head at Risa’s teasing. “Alright, let’s go,” she said to Kana, and the two made their way toward the stage area.

---

It was 7:50 PM, just 20 minutes before Celestial was set to perform. Kaede and Kana stood in the artist’s viewing area, a spot near the stage that offered a good view without being lost in the crowd. The night air was crisp, the energy buzzing with anticipation.

Then, without warning, the sky opened up, and a sudden downpour drenched the festival. People scrambled for raincoats and umbrellas, some running for shelter. Kaede and Kana were caught in the chaos.

“Oh my god, this rain!” Kana shouted as they sprinted toward a nearby shelter.

Fortunately, they found cover near the stage. From there, they could still see the stage, though the rain and wind made it colder than expected. Both of them were soaked, their clothes clinging to them uncomfortably.

Kana shivered, hugging herself. Kaede noticed and immediately grew concerned. “Kana, are you okay?”

Kana shook her head, trembling. “N-not really… It’s so cold…”

Kaede rummaged through her bag and pulled out a towel, holding it out to Kana. “Here, wipe yourself off first.”

Kana hesitated. “What about you? You’re soaked too.”

Kaede gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll go after you. Go on.”

Kana’s heart skipped a beat at Kaede’s kind gesture and warm smile. Her face felt even hotter than before, though it was likely from more than just the cold. “Th-thank you…” Kana said softly, taking the towel.

As Kana wiped herself down, she stole glances at Kaede, who stood casually, her damp hair falling in soft waves around her face. Kana couldn’t help but admire her—Kaede looked stunning, even while dripping wet. Kana felt her heart racing and quickly averted her gaze, trying to calm her thoughts.

Once Kana was done, she handed the towel back to Kaede, who started drying her own hair. Kana found herself mesmerized again, watching the way Kaede moved. Her silhouette against the dim festival lights, the way her fingers ran through her hair—it was all too much. Kana shook her head, trying to snap out of it.

“Are you okay?” Kaede’s voice broke through Kana’s daze.

Kana jumped, avoiding eye contact. “I-I’m fine!” she stammered, feeling her cheeks flush.

Kaede reached into her bag again and pulled out a spare sweater. “Here, put this on. You’ll catch a cold like this.”

Kana hesitated, staring at the sweater Kaede was holding out. “But what about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” Kaede insisted, placing the sweater in Kana’s hands.

Kana clutched the sweater, her heart pounding. “Thank you… Kaede,” she murmured, unable to meet Kaede’s eyes.

As Kana slipped on the sweater, she felt a strange warmth—not just from the fabric, but from the fact that it was Kaede’s. She glanced at Kaede again, who was busy wringing out her jacket. Kana’s chest tightened as she realized how much Kaede’s kindness and presence affected her.

Kana had been a devoted fan of Kaede since the early days of Chasing Stardust, deeply admiring her exceptional singing and songwriting skills, which had inspired Kana to start her own journey as a YouTube streamer. She never dreamed of experiencing this fleeting romantic moment with the person she admired so deeply; performing on stage with Chasing Stardust had already been a dream come true, but now, sharing this intimate moment with Kaede felt surreal.

---

The rain continued to pour outside, creating a soft rhythm against the shelter. The stage lights flickered in the distance. But for Kana, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them in that small, damp space.

“Kaede…” Kana began, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaede turned to her, curious. “Hmm?”

Kana opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. She didn’t know what to say. The words stuck in her throat, and she ended up shaking her head. “N-nothing…”

Kaede tilted her head, confused but didn’t press further. “Alright,” she said, giving Kana a small smile before turning her attention back to the stage.

Kana’s cheeks burned as she silently berated herself. She couldn’t understand why her feelings were spiraling out of control. All she knew was that Kaede’s presence made her feel alive in a way she’d never experienced before.