The next morning, OG's dorm felt colder than usual.
Not because of the weather.
But because everyone could feel the crack in their bond.
The living room was small now—smaller than the one they used to have when they were at their peak. The sofa had worn-out edges, the floor had tiny scratches, and the air smelled faintly of instant noodles and stress.
Hana sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through their recent schedules on her phone. Yuki was folding clothes silently, but her hands kept pausing, like her thoughts were heavier than the fabric. Kairi stood near the window, staring outside at the street where they had been selling tickets just yesterday.
Sakura wasn't there.
She was still in her room, resting… or at least pretending to.
Aiko entered quietly.
Her face looked tired, but her eyes were still sharp—like she hadn't slept properly since the solo debut night.
No one greeted her with their usual warmth.
That alone made Aiko's chest tighten.
Hana finally spoke, voice careful. "Aiko… can we talk?"
Aiko didn't answer immediately. She just nodded and sat down slowly, as if she already knew what was coming.
Yuki placed the folded clothes aside. "We heard you went to Sakura last night."
Aiko's jaw clenched. "So?"
Kairi turned around from the window, her tone blunt but not cruel. "We get it. You're hurt."
Aiko's eyes flickered. "No. You don't."
Hana took a deep breath. "Maybe we don't feel it exactly like you. But we see you, Aiko."
That made Aiko flinch slightly, like her heart had been exposed.
Yuki leaned forward, voice soft. "What you said to Sakura… it wasn't fair."
Aiko's head snapped up. "Not fair?" she repeated, almost laughing. "What about me losing my debut award because someone paid for hers? What about that being fair?"
Silence.
Because Aiko wasn't wrong.
Not even a little.
But Hana's eyes filled with tears anyway.
"We're not saying you didn't deserve it," Hana whispered. "You did. You deserved that award more than anyone."
Aiko's throat tightened.
Kairi walked closer, her expression serious. "But you didn't just blame Koharu. You blamed Sakura too."
Aiko's fingers curled into fists. "Because she let it happen."
Yuki shook her head. "No… Sakura didn't let it happen."
Aiko's eyes darkened. "She still went to that dinner."
Hana's voice trembled. "Because the manager pushed her. Because the company pushed her. Because we were falling apart."
Aiko looked away.
Her breathing became shaky.
Kairi crossed her arms. "Sakura has been carrying this alone since the moment that man said only she could go. Do you think she wanted to be the only one picked?"
Aiko didn't respond.
Her silence was loud.
Yuki continued gently, "She went there with the intention to stop it. Not to enjoy it."
Aiko swallowed.
Hana moved closer, sitting beside her. "Aiko… you know Sakura. She's not the type to play with people's feelings."
Aiko's eyes filled again, but she blinked quickly, refusing to cry.
Hana whispered, "She's doing this for us."
That sentence hit Aiko harder than any scream could.
Because it was true.
Sakura wasn't doing it for fame.
Not anymore.
She was doing it because she couldn't bear watching OG disappear.
Aiko's lips trembled. "Then why does it always have to be her?" she whispered, voice breaking. "Why does everything always come to her?"
Kairi softened. "Because she's the face of OG."
Yuki added, "And because Koharu chose her."
Aiko laughed bitterly. "Like she had a choice."
Hana reached out slowly, placing her hand on Aiko's arm. "We're not asking you to forgive Koharu."
Aiko's eyes flashed. "I never will."
Hana nodded. "That's okay."
Yuki spoke next, voice quiet but firm. "But Sakura… she's still our member. Our leader. Our family."
Aiko's throat tightened.
She remembered Sakura crying after their flop stages.
Sakura smiling for cameras even when her eyes were dead.
Sakura standing in the street selling tickets like she wasn't once a global idol.
Sakura apologizing again and again even when she wasn't the only one at fault.
Aiko's shoulders shook.
"I didn't mean to hurt her," she whispered, voice small now. "I just… I was so angry."
Kairi sighed. "We know."
Hana smiled sadly. "But anger has consequences."
Yuki nodded. "And Sakura is already drowning. Don't push her deeper."
Aiko covered her face with her hands.
Her voice came out muffled. "I hate that she's suffering."
Hana whispered, "Then don't make her suffer alone."
Aiko's hands slowly dropped.
Her eyes were red.
She looked up, voice shaking. "What do you want me to do?"
Kairi answered simply. "Talk to her."
Yuki added, "Apologize."
Hana smiled gently. "And tell her you're on her side."
Aiko stared at the floor for a long moment.
Then she stood up.
Her legs felt heavy, like she was walking toward something she feared.
She moved toward Sakura's room, hand hovering near the door.
She hesitated.
Because what if Sakura didn't want to hear her?
What if Sakura was already broken because of her words?
But then Aiko remembered what Hana said.
She's doing this for us.
Aiko exhaled shakily and knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again, softer. "Sakura…"
Still silence.
Aiko swallowed, voice barely a whisper.
"I'm sorry."
The door didn't open.
But on the other side, Sakura sat with her knees hugged to her chest, tears falling silently onto her sleeve.
And for the first time in days…
She didn't feel completely alone.
Because even if Aiko didn't know how to fix things—
She still came back.
And that meant something.
Something real.
Something OG still had left.