Kiko woke with a start, her body stiff and her mind momentarily disoriented. She sat up quickly, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room. Sunlight poured through the window, painting the walls in golden hues. It took her a moment to remember where she was—Yumi’s apartment. She glanced at the clock on the wall, her heart sinking when she saw the time: late afternoon.

She hadn’t meant to sleep so long, but exhaustion had overtaken her. Kiko groaned softly, running a hand through her disheveled hair. She quickly dressed in the simplest outfit from her bag, smoothing out the wrinkles as best as she could. After taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the room, ready to apologize for oversleeping.

As she entered the living room, the faint hum of conversation reached her ears. Yumi and Taka were seated at a small, low Japanese table, their feet tucked beneath the warm kotatsu. A soft light from a nearby lamp gave the room a cozy glow, and the smell of coffee and something savory lingered in the air.

Yumi spotted her first, her eyes lighting up as she greeted her with her usual warmth. “Good morning! Or… afternoon, I guess,” Yumi teased with a laugh. “Hope you slept well, Kiko. You were completely knocked out yesterday, so I didn’t want to wake you.”

Before Kiko could respond, Yumi continued, flashing a mischievous grin. “Oh, and since Taka was a bit rude yesterday…” she playfully nudged the man beside her, wrapping an arm loosely around his shoulders, “I made him make breakfast for you as an apology.”

Taka let out a faint huff, averting his eyes, though his posture remained relaxed. “It wasn’t that bad,” he muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from Yumi.

Kiko blinked, her surprise evident, but she quickly shook her head. “Oh, no, you didn’t have to go through the trouble. I don’t want to be a burden—” Her words trailed off as she glanced past them and spotted the food neatly placed on the table. There was a steaming bottle of coffee, two perfectly wrapped onigiri, and an egg sandwich in its unmistakable 7-Eleven packaging. The sight was so unexpectedly thoughtful it caught her off guard.

Yumi beamed, gesturing toward the meal like a proud host. “Tuna mayo onigiri and coffee are the best combination, don’t you think? Right, Taka?” she teased, squeezing his shoulder lightly.

Taka sighed but nodded, his tone begrudging but good-natured. “Yeah, yeah. In this house, it’s a universal truth.”

Kiko let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “Oh my, you two… don’t know how to cook at all, do you? I bet you’ve been living on convenience store food this entire time.” She smiled softly, her tone teasing but kind.

Yumi laughed in return, resting her chin in her hand as she leaned on the table. “Guilty as charged. But honestly, who needs anything else when you’ve got 7-Eleven? The salted tuna mayo is elite,” she said, grinning. “And don’t even get me started on that egg sandwich—it’s a gift from the heavens, any time of day.”

Kiko couldn’t help but chuckle as she took a seat at the table. “Well,” she said, her voice warm and slightly unsteady, “thank you for the food.” She clapped her hands together briefly in gratitude before reaching for the coffee.

As she sipped the drink, the warmth spread through her chest, melting a little of the chill she had carried with her for so long. She picked up an onigiri next, savoring the salty, familiar taste of the tuna and rice. A single tear welled up in her eye, but she quickly wiped it away before anyone could notice.

“This is… really nice,” she said softly, her voice laced with genuine appreciation. “Honestly, everything you picked happens to be my favorite, too. I guess, as you said, all who live here love these things.” She gave a small, genuine smile, her eyes glancing between Yumi and Taka.

Yumi leaned back, her grin broad and satisfied. “See? I told you, we’ve got great taste around here.” Her voice was teasing but warm, and the pride in her tone was infectious.

Taka, who had been watching Kiko quietly, finally spoke, his tone more curious than defensive. “Is it really your favorite? Or are you just being polite?” His red brows furrowed slightly, as though he were trying to gauge whether or not she was being truthful.

Kiko met his gaze directly, her vulnerability momentarily replaced by a calm confidence. “It really is my favorite,” she said, her voice steady. “Sometimes the simplest things can feel the most comforting.” She turned her attention back to her meal, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Yumi, ever observant, noticed the way Kiko’s hands lingered on the coffee cup, as though she were trying to soak in its warmth. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for whatever had brought Kiko to this point. Still, she decided to keep the mood light, giving Kiko the space she needed to adjust.

“Tuna mayo, coffee, and good company,” Yumi said with a laugh. “Not a bad way to start the day—or afternoon.”

Kiko nodded, her smile softening as she replied, “Not bad at all.”

After finishing her meal, Kiko placed her empty plate down and looked up at Yumi and Taka with a small, genuine smile. “Thank you so much for breakfast. It was really thoughtful,” she said, her voice soft but sincere.

Yumi waved her hand casually but smiled warmly in return. “Don’t mention it. Glad you enjoyed it. Now that we’ve all gotten the day started right, let’s get down to business.” She leaned back slightly, then grabbed a pack of ciggarete and put it on the table. She light it up and took a smoke, before crossing her arms in a relaxed but confident posture. “Kiko, as I mentioned yesterday, I’d love for you to be the singer in our band. So I thought we could hold a little afternoon meeting to share what we all want to achieve and what we bring to the table. Sound fair?”

Kiko nodded, intrigued.

“Great,” Yumi continued. “I’ll start. So, I’m the pianist, but I’m also the producer. I handle mixing the vocals, instruments, and adding special effects—basically all the technical stuff. My goal is simple: to do what I love and be free. I’ve always loved music, and it’s what keeps me going. My hope is that one day, the music we create together—with the people I care about—can not only pay the rent but give us a little more than that. A life worth living, you know?” She finished with a confident smile and glanced at Taka. “Your turn. Tell Kiko.”

Taka, who had been leaning back against the wall, shrugged with a grin. “Well, honestly, I’m here for Yumi. As her best friend, I couldn’t just let her chase this crazy dream alone.” He shot Yumi a teasing glance but quickly added, “And also, I was getting kind of bored with how society expects us to behave, you know? Always telling us who to be and what to do. I guess, in some way, I’m rebelling too. Following Yumi is just part of the fun.” He smirked, brushing a hand through his dark red hair. “But hey, I’m not just tagging along. I’m a pretty good guitarist—naturally gifted, you could say.” He grinned smugly, earning an eye roll from Yumi. “And I promised Yumi I’d support her dreams, whatever they are, so… here I am.”

Yumi gave Taka a small shove on the shoulder. “You’re such a dork sometimes,” she muttered fondly before turning her attention to Kiko. “So, what about you, Kiko? What’s your dream?”

Kiko looked down at the half-empty bottle of coffee on the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim. Her expression softened, and for a moment, she hesitated. But then she lifted her gaze, her green eyes shining with vulnerability and determination. “Well… my dream is to shine the brightest,” she said quietly. “So that anyone who’s lost their spark can find their light again.”

Yumi’s brows rose slightly, intrigued, as Kiko continued. “I also dream of becoming Japan’s most famous singer and living in a big apartment in Roppongi, where I can see Tokyo Tower from my window. I want to sing and write my own songs—songs that can lift people up on their darkest days. What you heard yesterday, Yumi, that was actually one of my originals. Writing music is how I express everything I can’t say out loud.” She paused, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I want to keep making my own songs until I’ve reached the top. And after that… just live happily, knowing my music might have saved someone’s day.”

Yumi blinked, momentarily speechless. There was something about the way Kiko spoke—so sincere, so unapologetically passionate—that left her in awe. She had never heard anyone talk about their dreams with such confidence and warmth. And the fact that the hauntingly beautiful song Kiko had sung in the bar was her own original… Yumi was floored.

Before Yumi could speak, Taka snorted lightly. “So, you’re partly here just for the money, huh?” he teased, leaning back with a slightly smug grin.

Yumi smacked him on the back of the head, her voice sharp but playful. “Taka! Don’t say things like that. Kiko was just being honest about her dream. Don’t judge, you idiot.” She shot him a glare before turning back to Kiko with an apologetic smile.

Kiko waved her hand lightly, a faint chuckle escaping her lips. “No, it’s okay. He’s not wrong.” She glanced at Taka with a calm, measured look. “Yes, I love music, and my goals are rooted in that. But I also have a dream of being secure, of not having to live in fear. That’s just who I am.” She said it plainly, without a hint of shame, her vulnerability wrapped in quiet strength.

Yumi nodded, her smile softening, she took another puff off her cigarette before speaking. “Kiko, I respect your dreams—and you—for sharing them so openly. And I have to say… that song you wrote? I’d never have guessed it wasn’t from some famous singer. It was incredible. You’re incredible,” she said sincerely.

Kiko blinked, surprised by the warmth in Yumi’s tone, and her lips curved into a small but genuine smile. “Thank you, Yumi. That really means a lot.”

Yumi’s grin widened as she clapped her hands together softly. “Well, that settles it, then! Let’s make this dream a reality, together.”

Kiko, with a thoughtful expression, looked up from her coffee bottle. “So, to make this dream a reality, we need a plan, right?” Her voice was calm yet assertive, carrying the weight of someone who had already thought it through. “Might I make some suggestions?”

Taka raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the shift in Kiko’s demeanor. Yumi nodded eagerly, leaning forward. “Of course! We’re all ears.”

Kiko gave them a composed, elegant smile before continuing, her posture straightening. “First of all, we need to get organized. Dreams don’t build themselves; they need a strategy.” She paused, gauging their reactions before speaking again, her tone soft but clear. “Taka, could you bring me a piece of paper and a pen? I’d like to write down some of my suggestions.”