Kaede arrived at the TV show studio, taking a deep breath as she stepped out of the car. Today was the day of their collaboration live, and although she had been preparing for this moment, a wave of nervous excitement washed over her. It was only 1 PM, still hours before the show’s 6 PM start, but preparations were already in full swing.

She made her way to her designated dressing room, where a team of stylists and makeup artists immediately began working on her. As she sat in the chair, she focused on calming her nerves, knowing that soon, Mirei would arrive, and they would rehearse together.

Right on cue, Mirei entered the room with her manager and a few staff members. She flashed a smile at Kaede, offering a quick wave before hurrying to her own makeup station. They exchanged a few words before Mirei was whisked away for final touches, both of them understanding the importance of today’s performance.

Finally, it was 4 PM—rehearsal time. They walked side by side to the stage, the energy in the air electrifying. The set was massive, even larger than Kaede had anticipated, making their usual practice space feel tiny in comparison.

“Don’t be too nervous,” Mirei teased, nudging Kaede’s arm.

Kaede shot back playfully, “Look who’s talking.”

Mirei laughed but didn’t deny it. They both knew they were equally anxious.

The rehearsal began smoothly, with only minor adjustments needed for their positioning. After wrapping up, they headed backstage to rest and do final touch-ups. By now, it was already 4:40 PM, and they had about an hour before the actual recording began.

As they sat in the waiting area, Kaede noticed Mirei fidgeting—a rare sight. Usually brimming with confidence, Mirei was visibly nervous. Kaede reached out, gently taking Mirei’s hand in hers. Mirei turned to her, surprised, but Kaede simply smiled.

“I’m here,” Kaede whispered, her voice soft yet reassuring.

Mirei took a deep breath and nodded, squeezing Kaede’s hand in return.

Finally, the time had come. The live show began with a grand opening, the host stepping onto the stage to introduce them. She was a well-known soloist, a veteran in the industry, and had been hosting this show for two years. The audience erupted into cheers as the spotlight illuminated Kaede and Mirei.

Kaede adjusted the guitar strap over her shoulder while taking her place at the standing mic. Mirei stood beside her, her hand gripping the microphone tightly. They exchanged a glance, nodding in silent understanding. Then, with a deep breath, Kaede strummed the first chord.

The melody filled the studio, a softer, acoustic rendition of Celestial’s latest song. When Mirei’s voice came in, it was like honey—smooth, rich, and captivating. As the chorus arrived, Kaede’s harmonies blended seamlessly with Mirei’s, creating a breathtaking fusion of voices. The audience was mesmerized, clapping along to the rhythm.

When the final note faded, the crowd erupted in applause. Kaede and Mirei exchanged grins, exhilarated. The host walked onto the stage, hyping up the performance.

“Wow! What an incredible start!” she exclaimed, motioning them toward the plush sofas on the stage. They settled in, still basking in the lingering energy of their song.

“I have to say,” the host began, leaning forward with an eager smile, “your voices together? Absolutely beautiful. The chemistry, the harmonization—it’s like you two were meant to sing together!”

Kaede turned bright red, looking down in embarrassment, while Mirei, ever the professional, took the lead.

“Thank you so much,” Mirei said gracefully. “We’ve been friends for a long time, so singing together just feels natural.”

“Oh, is that so?” The host’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. “How did you two first meet?”

Kaede hesitated, but Mirei jumped in. “We were high school friends! We trained together at Starlight Entertainment.”

The audience murmured in surprise, clearly intrigued.

Kaede finally found her voice, adding shyly, “I was actually almost a member of Celestial before debuting in my own band.”

Gasps echoed through the crowd, followed by an excited wave of whispers. The host leaned in, intrigued. “That’s quite the revelation! Do you ever wonder what things would’ve been like if you had debuted with Celestial?”

Kaede smiled warmly. “Not at all. I love where I am now, and tonight just proves that no matter what path we took, we still ended up here together.”

The audience responded with cheers, and Mirei reached over, giving Kaede’s hand a supportive squeeze.

The host nodded, visibly impressed. “That’s such a great outlook. And I have to say, the way you two support each other is heartwarming.” She turned to the audience. “Don’t you all think so?”

A loud roar of agreement filled the studio, making both Kaede and Mirei laugh.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, covering topics like Celestial’s skyrocketing popularity, their recent variety show appearances, and the impact of their fandom’s love. Mirei took the chance to thank their fans sincerely, and the host took note of how genuine their appreciation was.

“Alright,” the host clapped her hands, signaling the next part of the show, “I heard you prepared a special cover song for us?”

Kaede nodded, picking up her guitar again. “Yes, it’s a song we’ve loved since high school. We used to sing it together all the time.”

Mirei smiled at the nostalgic memory. “We thought it’d be a nice tribute to those times.”

The stage dimmed slightly as the spotlight returned to them. Kaede played the gentle introduction to Utada Hikaru’s First Love, and Mirei took a deep breath before singing the first verse.

The song carried a deep emotional weight, and their voices wove together beautifully, as if reliving their past memories through music. The audience was spellbound, swaying to the rhythm. Some even wiped away tears at the raw emotion in their performance.

As the song ended, the studio was silent for a brief moment before thunderous applause filled the air. Mirei and Kaede looked at each other, smiling softly. This wasn’t just a performance—it was a piece of their shared history, laid bare for the world to see.

The host returned, visibly moved. “That was absolutely stunning. I felt every word.”

Mirei and Kaede bowed in thanks, hearts still pounding from the intensity of the moment.

The show was far from over, but already, they felt like they had conquered something immense together. And as they sat there, hand in hand, they knew that this was only the beginning of many more unforgettable moments to come.