After Cosmos’s test gig, Kaede, Risa, and Yukina dove headfirst into preparing for their next album. The trio poured long hours into practice, crafting lyrics and melodies, slowly but surely building the framework of their new songs. Two tracks were done, but they couldn’t shake the feeling that the next song wasn’t coming as smoothly. Ideas floated around without solid direction, and despite their usual chemistry, something felt a little… stuck.

  One afternoon, Risa tossed out a suggestion, her eyes lighting up. “How about we take a little trip? Maybe camping or a beach day? Get some inspiration outside the studio walls?”

  Yukina’s face brightened. “That sounds amazing! A change of scenery could help us reset.”

  Kaede, however, felt differently. She didn’t say anything, but her hesitation was all over her face, which Risa quickly picked up on.

  “Kaede, are you… not interested?” Risa asked, raising an eyebrow pyfully.

  Kaede shifted, a bit hesitant. “Well… I’m not really a fan of trips, but… if you both want to go, I’m in.” She tried to sound enthusiastic, though her tone betrayed her ck of enthusiasm.

  Yukina ughed and cpped her hands together. “Yes! Let’s start pnning for a one-night camping trip!”

  Later that evening, Kaede called Mirei to fill her in on the pns. Mirei’s excitement was infectious, and Kaede couldn’t help but chuckle at how thrilled her girlfriend sounded. “You’re more excited than I am,” Kaede teased.

  Mirei ughed. “Of course! I’ve never been camping with you before! Now I’m jealous that you’re going with them instead of me.”

  Kaede’s heart softened at Mirei’s cute poutiness, and she found herself feeling a bit more eager about the trip, knowing she’d have plenty of stories to share with Mirei ter.

  When the weekend arrived, the trio boarded a bus to Kawaguchi Lake for a night of gmping. Risa and Yukina were practically bouncing in their seats, each talking excitedly about the trip’s pns. Kaede, on the other hand, sat with her bag on her p, looking slightly nervous.

  Yukina gnced over, noticing Kaede’s unease. “First time gmping, Kaede?”

  Kaede nodded, looking out the window. “Yeah… just not used to this sort of thing.”

  Risa grinned and nudged her. “You’ll love it. Fresh air, nature, all that stuff—plus, it’s not roughing it! There’s actual beds, Kaede!”

  Kaede cracked a small smile, reassured but still unsure.

  The bus ride was filled with the girls’ chatter and ughter, and Risa’s cheerful personality quickly had even Kaede loosening up. Every now and then, Risa made a pyful comment that had all three of them cracking up.

  Finally, they arrived at the ke, where Risa insisted on taking photos together every few steps, capturing the stunning scenery and their bright smiles.

  Once they settled at their gmping site, Kaede’s nervousness began to melt away. The pce was beautiful—nestled among trees, with a clear view of the ke and mountains beyond. The fresh, earthy scent and the vibrant green surroundings felt strangely calming, and Kaede began to realize this might actually be… nice.

  As evening settled, they prepared for a BBQ, the smoky aroma filling the air as they grilled various dishes. They found a spot overlooking the sunset, ptes in hand, and ate in peaceful awe as the sky melted into shades of orange and pink over the ke.

  After a while, Yukina excused herself to find a restroom, leaving Kaede and Risa alone by the softly crackling fire. Kaede was quietly scribbling in her notebook, jotting down some ideas inspired by the scenery, when Risa leaned over, smiling.

  “Writing already?” she asked, teasingly.

  Kaede, a bit startled out of her daydream, looked up. “Oh, yeah, just a few words. This pce… it’s really nice.”

  Risa chuckled. “You’re so talented, Kaede. Always in creative mode.”

  Kaede shook her head modestly. “It’s nothing. Just scribbles.”

  They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment until Risa asked, “So… how’s Mirei? She doing well?”

  A warm smile spread across Kaede’s face, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her girlfriend. “Yeah, she’s good. They have their end-of-year album coming up, and I’m trying to get a ticket for their show. It’s Mirei, so you know…” Kaede’s face softened, her voice full of affection.

  Risa’s gaze lingered on Kaede’s expression. “You really love her, huh?” she asked softly.

  Kaede blushed, stammering a bit. “I—yeah… I do. A lot.”

  Risa chuckled at Kaede’s shy reaction. “It’s all over your face. Honestly, it’s sweet seeing you like this.”

  Kaede’s eyes drifted to Risa’s hand and noticed a small burn on her fingers. She frowned and pointed it out. “Risa, what happened to your hand?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” Risa waved it off. “I just got careless with the BBQ.”

  But the burn looked red and painful. Kaede reached into her bag, retrieving a small tube of ointment. “Here, at least let me put this on it,” she said, gently taking Risa’s hand in her own. “You need to be more careful, especially with your hands. You’re our bass pyer, remember? We need those fingers.”

  Risa’s cheeks flushed a deep red as Kaede carefully applied the ointment, her touch light but focused. Risa’s heart pounded as she realized how close they were, and she felt warmth rising in her chest.

  “Th-thank you, Kaede,” Risa murmured, trying to keep her voice steady.

  Kaede, oblivious to Risa’s reaction, gave a small smile. “No problem. Just take care of yourself, okay?”

  But Risa, flustered and self-conscious, gently pulled her hand away, her face burning. Kaede blinked in confusion, wondering if she’d hurt her friend. “Did I… was I too rough?”

  Risa quickly shook her head. “N-no, it’s fine! I-I can do it myself, really.” She managed a small smile, willing her heartbeat to slow down. “But… thanks.”

  “You’re welcome,” Kaede replied, unaware of Risa’s flushed cheeks or the way her gaze softened.

  An awkward silence stretched between them until Yukina returned, looking amused. “What’s with the serious faces? Did something happen?” She noticed them sitting a bit apart. “Why are you two sitting so far from each other? You’re not fighting, are you?”

  Kaede ughed, breaking the tension. “Of course not, Yukina. Come join us.”

  Yukina sat beside them, breaking the lingering silence with her calm presence. Slowly, the atmosphere rexed, and the three of them fell into a rhythm, talking about everything from life to music, sharing stories of their favorite performances, and brainstorming ideas for their next song.

  As the conversation flowed, they started discussing their aspirations for the band, the way they wanted their music to connect with people, and the emotions they hoped to convey. Their words grew more serious, reflecting the passion they each held for their music and each other. Risa’s enthusiasm, Yukina’s thoughtful insights, and Kaede’s quiet conviction blended into something that felt like pure magic.

  The night deepened, stars beginning to scatter across the sky above them. By midnight, they found themselves lying back on the bed, looking up at the twinkling lights. Their ughter softened into murmurs, and soon, all three of them were fast asleep, bundled up in bnkets under the stars, with the ke’s gentle waves pping nearby.

  As Kaede drifted into sleep, she felt a sense of contentment—a reminder of the bonds they shared, the unspoken support they had for one another. The night had been unexpected, but in that quiet moment, it felt perfect.

  And as Risa and Yukina y beside her, each of them carried the warmth of the evening, of friendship, of unspoken admiration and affection. The world felt a little bit brighter, and for a fleeting moment, the three of them could dream of endless music and timeless memories, wrapped up in the beauty of the night.