Chapter 47

A month after Misaki's stage performance with Hayase, she sat in the studio, recording her song for Ren with Shun and Sora's help.

"That sounded amazing, Misa," Shun said through her headphones.

"You know, we could probably make a music video for this with her playing the piano as the main focus," Sora suggested. "Might make a good official first release with her comeback."

"But after Ren hears it, will he even want others to? Knowing him, he might want to keep it all to himself."

Sora grumbled, crossing his arms. "But... it's too good to keep locked away. It's the perfect 'I'm back, and I've found love,' song for her."

"I agree with you, but I'm also warning you of what Ren might do."

"Is something wrong?" Misaki asked.

"No, nothing's wrong. I think we're done for today, Misa. Good job." Shun gave her a thumbs-up.

She took a deep breath. Finished recording a full song for release instead of to sell to someone else. Been a while. And Sora's better than Aki ever was. She left the recording room. "So, what do you two think?"

"I think you're ready to perform it live," Sora said. "But as your new manager, I have a few things to plan out first."

"If you're not ready for a full concert, you could always perform it as our opener," Shun suggested.

"You sure it wouldn't be better to stick to something more pop? I have a slew of songs that I never even put up for sale, so they're fresh. I'd suggest my old ones, but I'm not sure I can perform them without Eclipse's involvement." I do love some of those, though.

"Seeing as you wrote and sang them, you can use them, just not their recording of it. Don't worry; I'll work on getting everything from them. After our sales smashed our previous record even before release, they'll be eager to keep us happy."

"No kidding; they keep asking to sign her again." Sora sighed, shaking his head. "Don't worry; we won't sign with them, and they won't control you this time."

"Thanks, Sora. I'm glad I asked you to be my manager."

He stood tall, adjusting his lapels. "Well, thank you. It was definitely an unexpected but welcome call, and I just happen to be free to manage."

Misaki stared at the lyrics. Maybe he's right; I should perform it for Ren first.

Bing. Bing. She checked her phone—returned after she moved back in—to find a text from her father.

'Trial concluded. Aki was convicted. He'll be away for a long time.'

Misaki sighed, a weight lifting off her shoulders as she wiped away tears. I haven't thought about him in a while; why am I crying?

"Misa?" Shun lightly squeezed her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing... My dad just texted me about Aki being put away."

"It was only a matter of time after what he did." Shun shook his head.

"I still can't believe he fell so low." Sora frowned. He held his hand over his heart. "I hope I can instil some confidence in managers for you. We're not all bad."

"I know." Misaki gave him a soft smile. "Daichi proved it already, and I have faith in you, too."

"Thank you."

She looked at the lyrics again, biting her lip. "Say... can you two help me with something? I want to give Ren a surprise."

"Honey, I'm home!" Ren called out with Daichi right behind him. "And Daichi brought a present."

"You know, you can hand it to her." Daichi held an envelope out to him.

"But you're the one that worked hard to get that; you should give it to her yourself."

"Guys?" Ren peeked into the kitchen and then the living room. "Where'd they go?"

The soft sound of a violin caught his ear.

"Shun?" Ren followed the sound to the backyard with Daichi close behind. "He normally practices in the morning," he mumbled.

"Unless something else is going on."

Once they got outside, piano playing joined the violin, and they spotted their grand piano in the middle of the garden near the fire pit with Misaki playing in the red dress Ren bought for her. Shun stood off to the side with his violin and smirked when he saw Ren's wide eyes.

Misaki sang her song for Ren about their reconnection. About her fears. About how he saved her, and how he made her feel.

He'd read the lyrics after he found the song in her room once she'd left. He had gone in to lie down, pining after her, and the song was sitting on her desk.

When the song ended, Ren and Daichi clapped.

"It's one thing to read it, but another thing entirely to hear it the way it was meant to be sung." Ren sighed, hand over his rapidly beating heart, and wiped away the tears forming.

"Does that mean you like it?" Misaki asked.

"I love it." He rushed up to her and picked her up in a bear hug, spinning her around. "Sounds perfect with my song as a response now."

Misaki giggled and clung to him. He gives the best hugs.

With a quick peck on the lips, he set her down. "That was an amazing gift, but what's the occasion?"

"We finished recording the song officially, and I wanted you to hear it live before anyone else gets a chance to."

"I imagine Shun got to, but he's helping, so it's okay." Ren laughed. "Does this mean you're looking to release the song?"

"I was thinking about it, but since it's a song about you, I wasn't sure if it would be good to release it. Might be better to keep it private?"

Ren smirked. "Thanks for thinking of me, but I kinda like the idea of you letting the world know how you feel about me. I mean, it's pretty obvious who the song is about." He stood tall, chest puffed out, with his arms still around her. "So why not? Misaki Minase's official return to the spotlight with a loving message to her boyfriend. I love it."

Why does it feel like he just wants the whole world to know about our feelings? Her cheeks flushed. "Maybe it's too much..."

"Nope; it's perfect. Don't you guys agree?"

"Yup." Shun smirked. "The perfect song to open for us."

Ren's eyes widened. "Wait, did you finally agree to it? We've talked about it on repeat, but you always backed down."

"I wasn't sure what song to go with, but I was thinking I could open for you guys. It's a lot easier to do that than a whole concert on my own right now." Baby steps. "Other than the fact that you guys have way bigger audiences..."

"Which you've already performed in front of with us, and did so on short notice, yet was still amazing! This is great, Misa. New song, new love, new start. Couldn't ask for more."

"Well..." Daichi cleared his throat and held the envelope out to her. "I don't want to rain on your parade, but I think you deserve to have this. Whether it makes you feel any better remains to be seen, but she won't be a problem in the future."

She...? Oichi? Misaki's hand shook as she reached for the envelope. "Here." She held it up to Ren.

"You want me to read it?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Sure thing. Here." He motioned for her to sit on the piano bench beside him, and he opened the envelope and read the letter, his free hand taking hers.

'Misaki,

We have a sordid past. I've done a lot of things I'm ashamed of, and I know it's no excuse, but Akihiro seduced me and made me think you were the evil one trying to steal from me. After he went to jail, and I was outed from the industry, I blamed you.

It was wrong.

Akihiro is the one who deserves my ire, not you.

I'm sorry about the articles slandering you. Both before and recently.

I was jealous. Jealous you were allowed back in the industry while I was still blacklisted. Jealous you got to work with Hayase while I worked retail.

I watched your performance at their concert, and I can see why they want to work with you.

You deserve to be an idol again. Maybe one day I can create music again, but I won't hold my breath.

I'm sorry about everything, and good luck with your future endeavours.

You may not believe me, but I'm rooting for you now. We can't let both of us stay ruined because of a man.

Show him how you're supposed to shine.

Oichi.'

Ren took a deep breath and set the letter down. "That was... loaded."

Misaki nodded, agreeing. She'll root for me now? Hard to believe after the things she's said... but I guess she's directing her hate to Aki after all these years. He fooled both of us.

"We can still pursue her for—"

"No," Misaki cut Daichi off. "That's enough. She's already suffering the loss of her career, even years later, so I don't have to worry about her." She took a deep breath and leaned on Ren's shoulder.

"Never have to even think about her again." He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "It's time to live in the present and look forward to the future with me." He winked at her. "And, you know, these guys."

They all laughed.

A future with you is more than I ever thought possible. She smiled up at him.

"Always the centre of attention." Shun sighed, shaking his head, and ruffled Ren's hair.

"I think it's time we went ahead with our plan." Sora turned to Daichi. "Ready to set it up?"

"Of course," Daichi replied.

A few months after Hayase's new album released and smashed all their previous records, they started a tour around Japan with their new opener, Misaki Minase.

Misaki sat at the piano on stage, her back straight and breathing controlled as she laid her hands on the keys.

"This is your moment," Ren said, his fingers set on his guitar.

"You've got this," Shun whispered as he stood with his violin ready.

I'm officially back.

The curtains opened to the massive stadium audience, and Misaki's fingers glided across the keys as the spotlight landed on her.

THE END