It had been a remarkable year for B-Komachi. With their newly released songs climbing the charts rapidly, their fanbase growing, and their stage performances becoming more impressive than ever, the group was shining brighter day by day. Yet, behind the curtain and away from the spotlight, unseen changes were quietly taking place.
Kyun and Ari had been struggling for months with a growing conflict within themselves. On one side, the glittering world of idols with its applause and fame; on the other, their personal dreams and a longing for different paths. They smiled under the stage lights, but gradually realized they no longer felt at ease under that brilliance. And now, the day had come to finally share these feelings with the others.
Inside the quiet office of Ichigo Production, Ai, Takamine, Fuyuko, Watanabe, and Meimei gathered around a table in the meeting room, waiting for Ichigo to arrive. Miyoko, as calm as ever, was sipping her tea by the window. Kyun and Ari sat side by side, exchanging a brief glance. Their hands clenched on their knees, sitting in tense silence. Ai noticed their uneasy demeanor and frowned slightly.
"There's something going on, isn't there?" she asked.
Kyun took a deep breath and lifted her head. "Yes... I think it's time we talked about it. Ari and I... we've decided to leave B-Komachi."
The room immediately fell into silence. Meimei's eyes widened, Watanabe furrowed her brows, and Takamine's gaze hardened. Fuyuko, as usual, watched them with her cold composure. Ai took a moment to process what she had heard.
"Leave? You're joking, right?" she asked.
Ari gave a small smile, but the embarrassment on her face showed it was no joke. "I wish it were a joke, Ai... but it's not. We loved being idols, we loved the stage. But lately, we've started questioning whether we still belong here."
Ichigo watched them quietly. Miyoko placed her tea down gently and took a deep breath.
"Have you been thinking about this for a long time?" Ichigo asked.
Kyun nodded. "Yes. It's been on our minds for months, but we couldn't gather the courage to say it. B-Komachi is like family to us, but we're no longer sure we can continue this career."
Meimei couldn't hold back and jumped in. "But being an idol was your dream."
Ari averted her gaze and replied softly, "It was. But people change. Dreams change too."
Ai shook her head, letting out a nervous laugh. "No, no. We've achieved so much together. People love us. When we perform, I see the sparkle in the audience's eyes. Don't you see it too?"
Ari's eyes softened. "We do... and that's why we came this far. But now, we feel it's time to draw our own paths."
Ichigo, fingers interlocked, was deep in thought. "If this is what's best for you, we will respect it. But this place will always be your home."
Ai turned to Ichigo with a frown. "Is it really that easy? Just 'go ahead and leave'?"
Ichigo gave Ai a stern but understanding look. "Ai, we have to respect their decision."
Ai studied Ichigo for a moment, then lowered her head, taking a deep breath. She looked at Kyun and Ari. "This is really hard. But... I want you to be happy."
Kyun and Ari smiled faintly. The room remained silent for a while. Slowly, conversations started to flow again. Laughter erupted, memories were shared. And thus, a new chapter began for Kyun and Ari.
A few weeks later, the big concert day arrived. The venue was filled with excited fans. This was Kyun and Ari's final performance with B-Komachi. Everyone knew it. As the stage lights flared and the music started, Ai turned her eyes to Kyun and Ari. They responded with warm smiles. Throughout the final song, everyone cherished the moment; every note, every movement was a farewell in itself.
When the concert ended and they returned backstage, everyone was exhausted but smiling. Ai sat beside Kyun and Ari. Takamine, Fuyuko, Watanabe, and Meimei gathered around them. Aqua and Ruby sat quietly in their strollers, observing. Miyoko and Ichigo were there too. A sweet tiredness and slight sadness lingered on everyone's faces.
Ichigo took a deep breath and smiled. "We have to capture this moment forever."
Miyoko set up the camera on a tripod. Ai held Kyun and Ari's hands tightly. "You'll always be part of B-Komachi for us," she said.
Kyun and Ari, tears in their eyes, smiled. "And you'll always be our family," Ari replied. "B-Komachi was our home. And it always will be."
Meimei sniffled slightly. "Don't forget about us, okay?"
Kyun and Ari affectionately ruffled Meimei's hair.
Just then, Ichigo cheerfully cut in. "Alright ladies, no one's leaving until we all take pictures with Kyun and Ari!"
Everyone burst into laughter and lined up for photos. The shutter clicked over and over, laughter and hugs filling the backstage area. Finally, Ai stood between Kyun and Ari, holding Aqua and Ruby. Ichigo and Miyoko stood on each end.
Right before the picture was taken, Ai whispered, almost inaudibly, "I'll never forget this..."
And those moments were captured forever, sealed in countless frames.
To be continued...