The line for the Celestial fansign wrapped around the mall like a colorful ribbon—fans buzzing, staff hurrying, lights flashing. And somewhere in the middle of that loud, excited crowd stood Kaede, clutching her freshly bought Celestial album with both hands as if it were a fragile treasure. Her heart pounded annoyingly loud inside her ears.
"Hello! Oh... Kaede, wasn't it?! Nice to meet you!"
That voice. That bright, cheerful voice that sparkled more than the stage lights.
Kaede froze.
There she was.
Mirei, Celestial's leader, Japan's national angel, humanity's source of serotonin.
Kaede's brain instantly forgot how to function.
"Uhmm… H-Hi… Mirei! Yes... Kaede... Me..." Kaede squeaked, sounding like a dying toaster.
Mirei leaned in slightly, softening her expression. She gently took Kaede's trembling hand. "What's wrong? You look sad. Want me to cheer you up somehow?" She asked with a gentle, radiant smile.
Kaede almost ascended to heaven.
This was it. Death by kindness.
She forced herself to look up only to be ambushed by Mirei's warm eyes.
Kaede gasped.
Eye contact was not her specialty. Eye contact with the girl she had worshiped for years was basically an Olympic level challenge.
Mirei chuckled. "You're so cute, Kaede…" she said softly, releasing her hand.
Kaede immediately forgot how to breathe.
"W-Wha... cute?! me?! huh...?!" she short-circuited.
Mirei only smiled more brightly. "Well! I'll do my magic then!"
She took the album from Kaede and signed it with a flourish.
"Here. Thank you for meeting me again. Hope to see you again next time, okay?" She said while giving a playful wave.
Kaede nodded so fast it looked like her neck might snap. "T-thank you so much!" She stuttered, hugging the album close to her chest like a precious relic.
Her time was up. She had to move.
And because the universe hated her—
She tripped.
Her toe caught the edge of the carpet. Her body pitched forward. The table in front of her seemed to approach at light speed.
"GYAAAA—!!"
"WAH...!!"
Both Kaede and Mirei screamed in perfect harmony.
The table clattered forward. Posters flew. Markers rolled. A staff member shrieked.
And somehow—SOMEHOW—Kaede ended up half-braced on the table while Mirei teetered backward in her chair, eyes wide.
Pandemonium.
Staff members rushed in like a SWAT team.
"MA'AM PLEASE STEP BACK!"
"ARE YOU OKAY?!"
"SECURITY!!"
Kaede felt her soul detach from her body.
"I-I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY!!" she yelled while bowing repeatedly, nearly headbutting the table again.
Mirei blinked, bewildered but unhurt. "I-It's okay! I'm fine... but are YOU okay?" she asked through the chaos.
But the staff were already pulling Kaede back like she was a suspicious package.
To them, she probably looked like an overexcited fan launching a surprise attack.
Kaede's panic skyrocketed.
"WAIT!! NO!! PLEASE... DON'T BAN ME—" she cried, clutching her head. "I BEG YOU! PLEASE DON'T BLACKLIST ME FROM CELESTIAL EVENTS!!"
A security guard grabbed her arm. "Miss, calm down..."
Kaede wailed louder. "I'LL DO ANYTHING, JUST DON'T BAN ME!! CELESTIAL IS MY LIFE!!"
On the other side of the chaos, Mirei covered her mouth, shoulders shaking.
She was laughing.
Actually laughing.
"She's… cute…" Mirei mumbled under her breath.
Meanwhile Kaede was on the verge of fainting.
"PLEASE I'M SO SORRY, PLEASE DON'T BAN ME, I DIDN'T MEAN TO ATTACK OR... OR DESTROY THE TABLE OR... OR..."
"Kaede!" Mirei called despite the commotion.
Kaede paused mid panic.
Mirei waved reassuringly. "It's okay! Really! I'm not hurt. You don't need to worry so much."
Kaede, overwhelmed, whispered the first thing that came to her mind:
"Goddess…"
Mirei blinked. "Goddess?"
Kaede's eyes widened.
SHE SAID IT OUT LOUD.
Her face went crimson. "I... YOU... UH..."
She bowed so deep her forehead nearly touched the floor. "I AM SO SORRY SERIOUSLY PLEASE DON'T BAN ME!!!"
At this point the staff looked exhausted.
Mirei simply smiled brightly and waved the security away. "She's fine. Really. She's harmless."
Harmless? Maybe.
Chaotic? Absolutely.
As Kaede was escorted away—more out of confusion than anything—she kept bowing until she disappeared behind the partition.
Mirei continued chuckling, shaking her head.
"What a day…" she murmured. Then she smiled, her eyes trailing toward where Kaede had vanished.