Chapter 80: An Unforgettable Trip Begins

Night had fallen on May 28, marking the end of Celestial's busy schedule for the day. A rare sense of freedom filled the air as the members wrapped up their final tasks with infectious excitement. Starting tomorrow, they would have three full days off — an almost unheard-of luxury in their packed idol lives.

"Happy holidays, everyone!" Ayumi cheered, waving enthusiastically. "Don't forget to bring back souvenirs, or else there'll be punishments!"

Minami raised a brow, smirking. "What kind of punishment are we talking about here?"

Mirei chuckled. "Ayumi, you're being way too much."

Ayumi puffed out her cheeks in a playful pout. "Oh, come on! We don't get breaks like this every day! I expect thoughtful gifts!"

The other members couldn't help but tease her, promising half-heartedly to bring back "the best keychains ever" while Ayumi playfully scolded them.

---

Once they finished, everyone eagerly parted ways. Hikari, Ayumi, and Emi were heading back to their parents' homes, leaving only Mirei and Minami to return to the dorm since their families lived farther away from Tokyo.

As Minami spotted Mirei still preparing her bag, she called out, "Let's head back together, Mirei!"

"Sure! Wait up!" Mirei replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder and hurrying to catch up. The cool night breeze brushed against their faces as they walked side by side through the quiet streets.

They strolled leisurely through the empty streets, enjoying the peaceful night breeze. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Minami asked casually, "So… where are you going for your day off?"

"Kyoto," Mirei replied, her face lighting up. "With my parents."

Minami blinked, pleasantly surprised. "Your parents are coming? That's great! You don't talk about them much."

"Yeah… I was surprised too," Mirei admitted, her smile softening. "They managed to clear their schedules. It's been so long since we last spent time together."

Minami nodded, feeling genuinely happy for her. But curiosity — and a hint of something else — tugged at her. "...Will Kaede join you?"

Mirei hesitated, her cheeks warming slightly. "Uh… yeah." She nodded awkwardly.

Minami exhaled slowly, hiding her faint disappointment. Of course Kaede would be there — she was Mirei's girlfriend, after all. Still, she couldn't stop herself from saying, "You two… need to be careful."

Mirei tilted her head, confused. "Careful… about what?"

"You know… about being seen together," Minami explained, trying to keep her tone casual. "You don't want to get caught… doing reckless stuff."

Mirei's face flushed instantly. "W-What do you mean by reckless stuff?!"

Minami froze, realizing she might've sounded way more serious than intended. Flustered, she waved her hands defensively. "L-Like… holding hands…?"

Mirei stared at her, expression unreadable.

Minami's face burned. "O-Or… hugging…?"

Still, Mirei remained silent, her lips twitching as though holding back laughter.

Minami, now fully red, threw her arms up dramatically. "Or kissing in public! I-I don't know! Just—just don't do anything that gets you in trouble!"

Mirei finally burst into laughter, doubling over while clutching her sides. "Minami! We're not that reckless!"

Embarrassed beyond belief, Minami covered her face. "I was trying to be helpful…"

Through her giggles, Mirei patted her shoulder. "Thanks for worrying… but I promise we'll be careful."

Desperate to change the subject, Mirei quickly asked, "So… where's your family taking you?"

Relieved at the switch, Minami launched into her upcoming plans, and the conversation flowed naturally as they continued walking home.

---

May 29 - 7:00 AM

Kaede was a mess.

She paced back and forth in her small apartment, triple-checking her packed bag for what felt like the hundredth time. Essentials? Check. Clothes? Check. Snacks? Double check. Uncontrollable nerves? Quadruple check.

Meeting Mirei's parents for the first time wasn't just nerve-wracking — it felt like preparing for a final boss fight in an RPG where she forgot to level up.

"What if I mess up?" she muttered anxiously. "What if they don't like me?"

Her mind spiraled with worst-case scenarios until she felt like a small, trembling animal cornered by fate itself — like a squirrel clutching its last acorn during a blizzard.

Before she could drown in anxiety, she glanced at the clock. 7:30 AM.

"Oh my God!" she yelped, snapping out of her daze. Grabbing her bag, she bolted out the door, practically flying down the street toward Tokyo Station.

---

7:50 AM - Tokyo Station

Kaede arrived panting but relieved she wasn't late. She scanned the bustling station but saw no sign of Mirei or her parents yet. Her heart pounded as she waited, the ticking clock making her nerves skyrocket.

Breathe… she told herself. You've got this… probably.

The crowd around her blurred as her mind spiraled again. She rehearsed polite greetings in her head, mentally running through different ways to bow properly.

Suddenly—

"Kaede!"

Her breath hitched. That familiar, melodic voice rang out across the station. Slowly, she turned around.

Through the morning rush, she spotted Mirei waving with a radiant smile that could outshine the sun.

Kaede's heart skipped several beats. "So… pretty…"

For a brief, magical moment, the busy station seemed to disappear, leaving only Mirei in her eyes. Her nerves faded like morning mist, replaced by warmth that bloomed in her chest.

Mirei jogged over, still grinning. "Were you waiting long? You look like you were frozen in time!"

Kaede snapped out of her daze, waving her hands frantically. "N-No! I just got here!"

Mirei tilted her head playfully. "You were totally panicking, weren't you?"

"I wasn't!" Kaede protested, though her red face said otherwise.

Before Mirei could tease her more, a soft, kind voice called out behind her.

"Mirei… is this your friend?"

Kaede stiffened, heart pounding as she saw two adults approaching — Mirei's parents.

Mirei turned with a bright smile. "Mom, Dad, this is Kaede Shinohara... my girlfriend."

Kaede froze, overwhelmed by Mirei's open declaration.

With a deep breath, she bowed low. "I-It's an honor to meet you! I'll… I'll do my best!"

Mirei's father chuckled warmly. "Relax."

Her mother nodded kindly. "Let's make this trip unforgettable."

Realizing they hadn't formally introduced themselves, Atsuko smiled apologetically. "Oh, where are our manners? I'm Atsuko Nakamura, and this is my husband, Kazuki Nakamura." She extended her hand warmly.

Kazuki gave a polite nod. "It's really nice to finally meet you, Kaede."

Atsuko sighed softly, her expression turning a bit regretful. "I'm sorry it took us this long to meet you. Life's been so hectic with work and moving overseas."

Kaede quickly shook her head, feeling flustered but deeply touched by their sincerity. "I-It's okay! I'm just really glad to meet you both now. Thank you for having me."

Her earnest response made Atsuko smile warmly, while Kazuki gave an approving nod.

As they prepared to board the train, Kaede felt warmth flood her chest again. Maybe… just maybe… everything would turn out better than she'd hoped.