The rain continued to pour, lighter now but persistent, as if nature itself had become an emotional backdrop to the unfolding drama. Kaede’s gaze lingered on the wet stage, her brow furrowed with concern. "Did they delay it? Or maybe cancel it?" she muttered under her breath.

Kana, standing beside her, tugged her sleeve. "Do you think they'll still perform? The stage looks so slippery," she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Kaede shook her head slightly. "I don’t know… It’s dangerous. They might slip while dancing." Despite her words, there was a spark of hope in her eyes, a belief in Celestial’s resilience.

An announcement crackled through the speakers, declaring that the performance would proceed, as the rain had lessened. Staff hurried onto the stage, armed with towels and squeegees, wiping puddles and clearing as much water as they could. The performance was set to begin in ten minutes.

---

The scene behind the curtains was chaotic. Managers argued with the members, pleading with them to cancel the performance. The rain, though lighter, still posed a risk to their safety. But Minami, Celestial's steadfast leader, stood her ground.

“We can’t cancel now. Look at them!” she said, gesturing to the fans still waiting in the rain. “Some of them have been here since morning. We can’t let them down.”

Mirei stood silently, her heart pounding. She glanced out the small backstage window, imagining Kaede somewhere among the crowd.

After a heated discussion with the members, the managers relented but issued a strict warning. “If the rain gets heavier again, we’re pulling you off stage immediately. Be careful out there.”

Minami nodded firmly, reassuring her team. “We’ve got this.”

---

The stage lights flickered to life, piercing through the rain like beacons. One by one, the members of Celestial stepped onto the stage, their outfits glistening under the wet lights. The crowd erupted into cheers, their energy undampened by the rain.

Kaede and Kana stood under a nearby shelter, still partially drenched but with a clear view of the stage. Kana gasped in awe. "Wow… they’re still so flawless, even in the rain."

Kaede smiled faintly, her eyes glued to Mirei. "That’s Celestial for you. They’re amazing." Her voice carried a mix of pride and concern.

"You really like them, huh?" Kana teased, glancing sideways at Kaede. "It’s my first time watching them live, and I’m already blown away."

Kaede didn’t take her eyes off the stage. "Yeah. They’re incredible. Just wait—you’ll see why."

The first half of the performance went smoothly, though the stage remained slippery. Mirei and a few others stumbled more than once, catching themselves just in time. Still, they pressed on with radiant smiles, their professionalism shining through.

During a brief break, Minami addressed the fans, her voice warm and steady. "Thank you all for staying with us, even in this rain. Please take care of yourselves and stay warm when you get home." The crowd cheered in response, their loyalty unwavering.

As the performance moved into its second half, the rain began to pick up again. The stage became increasingly treacherous. Kana clutched her chest. "This is getting dangerous," she said, her voice trembling.

Kaede nodded, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the edge of the shelter. She watched as Mirei slipped again, this time falling to her knees before quickly recovering. The sight sent a pang through her heart. "They’re really pushing themselves…"

"They’re professionals," Kana whispered in awe. "But still… this is too much."

---

By the time the final song approached, Celestial’s managers had signaled them to adjust the performance, cutting the choreography to avoid further accidents. The members nodded in agreement, grateful for the chance to end the night safely.

Kaede noticed the shift immediately. "They’ve changed the routine," she said, her voice tinged with relief.

Kana tilted her head. "Was there supposed to be dancing for this song?"

"Yeah. But this is better—it’s safer for them."

The final song began, a powerful song that resonated through the rain-soaked night. Mirei, now free from the pressure of intricate choreography, let herself sink into the melody. Her voice soared, each note carrying her heart. She scanned the crowd, searching for the one person she needed to see the most.

And then she spotted her.

There, near the stage, under the shelter, was Kaede. Mirei’s breath hitched, her voice momentarily faltering before she recovered. Her chest tightened at the sight of her, standing so close yet feeling miles away. The sight of Kaede brought a warmth that cut through the cold rain, but then Mirei noticed something that made her heart sink.

Kana was wearing Kaede’s sweater.

Mirei recognized it instantly—it was the same sweater she had borrowed once during a late-night practice. She knew its texture, its faint scent, and most of all, the way Kaede had handed it to her with a shy smile, the same way she might have given it to Kana.

Her chest burned with an ache she couldn’t describe. She forced herself to keep singing, her voice steady, but her mind was in turmoil. The rain mixed with her tears, hiding the evidence of her heartbreak. "Thank God it’s raining," she thought bitterly. No one will notice.

She turned her focus back to the song, pouring every ounce of emotion into it. If Kaede was watching, Mirei wanted her to feel the depth of her feelings, even if they could never be spoken.

---

Kaede stood frozen, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions she couldn’t place. There was something about Mirei’s performance tonight—an intensity, a raw vulnerability—that struck her deeply. She felt as though Mirei was singing directly to her, each note carrying an unspoken message.

"She’s incredible, isn’t she?" Kana said, breaking Kaede’s trance.

Kaede nodded, her throat tight. "Yeah… she is."

As the final note of the song echoed into the night, Celestial stood together, bowing deeply to their fans. Mirei stole one last glance at Kaede, her heart aching with a bittersweet longing. The applause thundered through the rain, but all Mirei could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat, drowned in the deluge of unspoken words.