Chapter 79: An Unexpected Invitation
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The next morning, Mirei quietly slipped back into her dorm, trying her best to avoid waking her bandmates. After such an emotionally exhausting day, she felt surprisingly refreshed — the first peaceful sleep she'd had in a long time.
Carefully, she tiptoed down the hall and opened her room's door without making a sound. Once inside, she sighed in relief. Safe. She began preparing for the busy day ahead when a sudden knock startled her. Before she could even respond, the door swung open, and Minami stormed in with a determined look on her face.
"Mirei... You slept at her place last night, didn't you?" Minami's voice was firm, her eyes sharp.
Mirei froze, guilt flashing across her face. "I... I—"
"Don't even try to deny it," Minami interrupted, crossing her arms. "You know dating is prohibited for us, right? Do you want to create more problems for the group?"
Mirei lowered her head, trembling slightly. "…I'm sorry."
Minami's eyes softened briefly but remained resolute. "So, what's your relationship with Kaede?"
Taking a shaky breath, Mirei confessed, "She's… she's my girlfriend."
Minami's expression flickered — sadness, frustration, and something deeper flashing in her eyes. For a moment, her heart ached. But she quickly buried the feeling. This isn't about me…
"Mirei… You can't be careless like that," Minami sighed. "It's not just your career at stake — it's all of ours. You know how harsh the industry can be. You're both girls, so people might assume you're just close friends, but even that has its limits."
Mirei clenched her fists, ashamed of her recklessness. "I'm really sorry… You're right."
Minami exhaled, her voice softening. "Just… be careful, okay? I'm only saying this because I care about you."
Mirei nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Thank you… and I'm sorry, Minami."
With a small, weary smile, Minami added, "Come on… Let's get ready for the day."
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-One Month Later-
Despite the initial storm of hate after the university performance, things slowly began to calm down. Their promotions for Starry Night wrapped up successfully, thanks to the members' resilience and unity. The agency, impressed by their hard work, granted them a rare three-day vacation from May 29-31.
The dorm was buzzing with excitement as the girls made plans for their short break. Some eagerly arranged trips home, while others planned mini-vacations with friends or family.
Mirei, however, hadn't expected much, given that her parents lived overseas. Still, she texted them about her upcoming break out of habit. To her surprise, her parents immediately responded:
"We'll fly to Tokyo to visit you!"
Mirei's eyes lit up, her heart swelling with joy. It had been so long since she'd seen them. An idea sparked in her mind. What if… Kaede came too?
Without hesitating, she texted Kaede:
"Hey! I'll have three days off at the end of May, and my parents are coming to Tokyo. Wanna join us? It'll be a fun trip!"
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-Kaede's POV-
Kaede's eyes widened as she read Mirei's message. Spending three days together? That sounded amazing! But… Meeting her parents?!
Her stomach twisted with nervousness. This is huge…
Before she could overthink, she rushed to find Yukina and Risa in the shared studio.
"Hey! Do we have anything scheduled for May 29-31?" Kaede asked, slightly breathless.
Yukina and Risa exchanged curious glances. "Not that I know of. Why?"
Kaede hesitated. "Mirei… invited me on a trip… with her parents."
The room fell silent for a beat before Yukina dramatically gasped, throwing her hands in the air. "WHAT?! You're meeting the in-laws already?!"
Kaede's face burned red. "It's not like that! We're just… spending time together…"
Risa grinned mischievously. "Spending time… with her parents."
Kaede groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You guys are impossible."
But they weren't done. Yukina pretended to wipe fake tears from her eyes. "Our little Kaede is all grown up… Meeting her girlfriend's parents… We never thought we'd see the day!"
Risa joined in, putting on a mockingly serious expression. "Remember, be polite, bow deeply, and don't mess up. First impressions last forever!"
Kaede shot them both a glare but couldn't help laughing along with them. Despite the teasing, she felt grateful for her friends' support — even if they were way too enthusiastic about the situation.
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Mirei's phone buzzed as she saw Kaede's response:
"I'd love to come."
A smile bloomed across her face. Without wasting time, she typed back:
"Great! I'll let you know where we're going once my parents finalize the plan. And… don't be too nervous. I know you will be hehe."
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Meanwhile, Kaede read the message, her face instantly heating up.
"She knows me too well… Ugh!"
Groaning in frustration, she flopped onto the couch while Yukina and Risa watched with amusement.
"What's that face for?" Yukina teased, smirking. "Did she say something lovey-dovey?"
Kaede shot them a sharp look. "She told me not to be nervous… because she knows I will be."
Risa laughed. "Well, she's not wrong."
Kaede grabbed a nearby cushion and playfully tossed it at them. "You two are the worst!"
The trio burst into laughter, Kaede's nervousness momentarily forgotten in their lighthearted teasing. Despite her anxiety, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of excitement about the upcoming trip — even if the thought of meeting Mirei's parents still made her stomach twist.