Chapter 68: Bridges of Friendship

Mirei lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The accidental kiss with Minami played in her mind on repeat. Her heart pounded not from affection, but from guilt. The memory stirred up another one—the first accidental kiss she had shared with Kaede. Back then, it had been clumsy and innocent, but this time, it felt wrong. She buried her face in her pillow, muffling a scream of frustration.

Was that cheating? she thought, horrified. The idea made her shiver. If Kaede found out, would she be upset? Would she be jealous? Or... maybe not? The uncertainty gnawed at her. Mirei groaned, rolling onto her side. Her thoughts spiraled, and she let out another muffled scream into her pillow.

"Mirei! Are you okay?"

Hikari's voice startled her from outside the room. Mirei froze. Oh no... was I that loud? Stammering, she called back, "I'm fine! Really!"

There was a pause, then a skeptical, "If you say so..."

Mirei sighed deeply, clutching her pillow. That night, sleep eluded her as guilt and anxiety consumed her thoughts.

---

The next morning, Mirei dragged herself out of bed, the weight of her restless night evident in her puffy eyes and dark circles. She was heading to practice with Hikari when her cheerful dormmate finally broke the silence.

"Mirei, were you having a nightmare last night, or were you just auditioning for a horror movie?" Hikari teased, glancing at Mirei's tired face.

Mirei, trying to suppress a yawn, retorted, "Maybe I was practicing my scream for our next single."

Hikari grinned. "Oh, so it's gonna be Starry Night: Screamo Edition?"

Mirei giggled despite herself. "Careful, Hikari, or I'll suggest making you the main vocalist for that one."

"Hey, I could totally pull it off!" Hikari struck a goofy pose, earning a soft laugh from Mirei. The lighthearted exchange lifted her spirits as they made their way to the practice room.

---

Today's schedule was packed with dance practice, meetings, and preparations for their upcoming album, Starry Night. As they rehearsed the choreography, the connection between the album's name and their fans—the Starries—felt especially poignant. Starry Night was more than just a title; it was a love letter to their supporters, the shining stars who guided them through the dark moments.

However, something felt off. Mirei couldn't ignore how Minami was keeping her distance. During group exercises, Minami seemed to avoid standing near her. When they partnered up for formations, Minami quietly switched places with another member. Mirei noticed her flushed cheeks and averted gaze and sighed inwardly. She's still awkward because of what happened yesterday...

During a break, Mirei sat beside Ayumi, the ever-cheerful ray of sunshine in the group. "Hey, Ayumi," she started hesitantly. "Have you noticed anything... strange about Minami today? Or is it just me?"

Ayumi smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, it's definitely not just you. She's been avoiding you like you're some kind of contagious love bug."

Mirei groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I feel so bad... I didn't mean for yesterday to happen! It was just an accident!"

"An accident that involved lips touching," Ayumi teased, poking Mirei's side.

"Ayumi!" Mirei whined, pouting.

Ayumi chuckled, her tone turning reassuring. "Don't worry too much. Minami's just shy, you know that. Give her a bit of time, and she'll come around. Besides, it's not like you did it on purpose."

Mirei nodded, her heart warming at Ayumi's words. "Thanks, Ayumi. I just hope things go back to normal soon. I hate this awkwardness in the group."

Ayumi patted her shoulder. "We're a team, Mirei. We've got your back."

---

By the time practice ended at 11 PM, exhaustion weighed heavily on the group. As they packed up to leave, Mirei approached Minami, determined to break the tension. "Hey, Minami," she began tentatively. "I was thinking of stopping by the convenience store to grab some snacks for everyone. Want to come with me?"

Minami hesitated, her expression conflicted. The room grew quiet as the others sensed the awkwardness. Finally, Minami shook her head, avoiding Mirei's gaze. "I'm really tired... I think I'll just head straight home."

The response stung more than Mirei expected. Minami had never refused her before. As the group exchanged uncertain glances, Ayumi quickly stepped in, breaking the tension with a bright smile. "I'll go with you, Mirei! I've been craving some chocolate anyway."

Grateful for Ayumi's support, Mirei nodded. "Alright, let's go."

As the group parted ways, Mirei and Ayumi made their way to the convenience store. The cool night air did little to ease Mirei's troubled thoughts. Sighing, she muttered, "I think Minami's avoiding me again..."

Ayumi gave her a playful nudge. "No kidding. You're not exactly subtle, Mirei. But don't worry—Minami just needs some time to sort out her feelings."

Mirei pouted, her cheeks puffing out adorably. "I didn't mean to make things awkward! It's just... ugh!"

Ayumi laughed, wrapping an arm around Mirei's shoulder. "Relax, leader. You're overthinking it. Minami's a shy little bean. She'll come around. And if she doesn't, we'll help her along. That's what teammates are for."

Mirei smiled despite herself. "Thanks, Ayumi. Sometimes I forget I don't have to handle everything on my own."

"Of course you don't!" Ayumi said, her tone firm yet kind. "You're not just our leader; you're our friend. We're all in this together, okay?"

Mirei felt a warmth spread through her chest at Ayumi's words. "Okay. Thanks, Ayumi."

They finished their shopping and made their way back to the dorm, the earlier tension replaced with a sense of camaraderie. Mirei resolved to find a way to make things right with Minami—not just for the group's sake, but because she valued their friendship too much to let this incident drive a wedge between them.