The van ride to their new dorm was silent.
Not the comfortable kind of silence OG used to share after a long schedule—where tired smiles and sleepy heads leaned on shoulders.
This silence was different.
It was heavy.
It was suffocating.
It felt like every breath was an agreement they never gave.
Sakura sat by the window, her forehead resting lightly against the glass. Streetlights passed like blurred stars, but none of them felt beautiful tonight. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, fingers twisting as if she could untangle the nightmare by force.
Aiko sat opposite her.
She kept staring at Sakura, then looking away, then staring again—like she was guarding her and blaming her at the same time.
Hana's eyes were red from crying. Yuki held her hand tightly, thumb rubbing slow circles into her skin like a quiet prayer. Kairi leaned back, arms crossed, jaw clenched so hard it looked like she was biting down her anger.
No one spoke.
Because what could they even say?
That they had been sold?
That their careers were now owned by a woman who loved Sakura too much to stay sane?
That their future depended on the mood of someone they didn't trust?
The van finally stopped.
A tall building stood in front of them—clean, modern, expensive.
The kind of place they should've been happy to live in.
But OG didn't step out like idols moving into success.
They stepped out like prisoners walking into a new cell.
A staff member in a black suit greeted them politely.
"Welcome," he said with a small bow. "Please follow me. Your dorm is prepared."
Hana whispered, "Prepared… like we're furniture."
Kairi muttered, "We are furniture to them."
They entered the building.
The lobby smelled like expensive perfume and polished marble. The lights were soft and warm, but OG's skin still felt cold. Everything looked perfect.
Too perfect.
The elevator ride up felt endless.
When the doors opened, they were led down a hallway that looked like a luxury hotel. Finally, the staff member stopped at a large door and unlocked it.
"This is your dorm," he said. "If you need anything, please contact the manager assigned to you."
He handed them a keycard and left.
The door clicked shut behind them.
OG stood frozen for a moment.
Then Hana stepped inside first.
The dorm was… stunning.
A spacious living room with soft couches. A clean kitchen with brand-new appliances. A dining table big enough for all five of them. Bedrooms with fresh bedsheets, neatly folded towels, and even small welcome baskets with skincare and snacks.
Yuki slowly walked forward and touched the couch.
"It's real," she whispered, almost afraid it would disappear.
Kairi looked around with disgust. "It's not kindness. It's control."
Aiko didn't move.
Her eyes stayed on Sakura.
Sakura stood near the entrance, still holding her bag like she was ready to run away at any second.
But there was nowhere to run.
A folder lay on the center table.
Neatly placed.
Like someone wanted them to see it immediately.
Aiko walked over and opened it.
Her fingers flipped through the pages quickly, eyes scanning each line with growing anger.
Then she slammed it shut.
"It's here," she said.
Hana's voice trembled. "The contract?"
Aiko nodded, jaw clenched. "Three years."
Sakura's breath hitched.
Three years.
Not one comeback. Not one album.
Not one chance to escape.
Three years of belonging to Koharu.
Yuki whispered, "We don't have to sign, right?"
Kairi laughed bitterly. "We do."
Hana looked between them. "But… we can refuse."
Aiko's eyes flashed. "And then what? We go back to nothing? We go back to being ignored? We go back to street-selling tickets?"
Her voice broke slightly at the last part.
Because it wasn't just about pride.
It was survival.
They had already lost too much.
Sakura finally stepped forward, her voice small. "What if she's doing this to hurt us?"
Kairi's gaze sharpened. "She's doing this to keep you close."
Sakura flinched.
Aiko's eyes darkened.
"She's doing this," Aiko said quietly, "because she knows you'll blame yourself if OG ends."
Hana covered her mouth, tears falling again. "This is so unfair…"
Yuki wiped her face quickly. "We're idols… not dolls."
The doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
Kairi moved first, walking toward the door like she was ready to fight.
She opened it.
Rinn stood there.
The same woman from the temple.
The same woman who led Sakura to that dinner.
She looked calm, professional, almost emotionless—like she had practiced being cold for years.
"Good evening," Rinn said politely. "I'm Rinn. I'll be your manager under Koharu's company."
Aiko's eyes narrowed. "Where is Koharu?"
Rinn's gaze slid to Sakura for half a second. "Miss Koharu is busy."
Kairi scoffed. "Of course she is."
Rinn stepped inside, holding another folder.
"I'll be direct," she said. "Your previous company transferred your contract rights. You are now under Koharu Entertainment. This is the official three-year agreement."
Hana's voice shook. "Do we have a choice?"
Rinn's expression didn't change.
"No."
That one word made the room feel smaller.
Yuki whispered, "Then why pretend this is professional?"
Rinn looked at her calmly. "Because Miss Koharu doesn't want you to feel trapped."
Kairi snapped, "We are trapped."
Rinn didn't argue.
She placed the folder on the table and slid five pens forward.
"Sign," she said.
Aiko stared at the pens like they were weapons.
Sakura's hands trembled.
Hana looked like she might faint.
Yuki held Hana's hand tightly.
Kairi's nails dug into her palm.
No one moved.
Rinn's voice softened slightly—not kind, but almost human.
"If you don't sign, your schedules that are still active will be cancelled. Your remaining sponsors will leave. Your performances will be cut. Your name will disappear."
She paused, then added the final blow:
"And OG will end. Not because you failed… but because you refused help."
Sakura's throat tightened.
Because that sentence was aimed at her.
It was meant to pierce her heart.
And it worked.
Sakura walked forward.
Aiko immediately stepped in front of her.
"Sakura, don't—"
Sakura's eyes were wet. "We don't have time."
Aiko's lips parted, but no words came out.
Because Sakura was right.
They didn't have time.
They didn't have strength.
They didn't have options.
Sakura picked up the pen.
Her hand hovered over the paper.
Her signature was her name.
Her identity.
Her freedom.
But if she didn't sign, she'd lose her members.
Her family.
OG.
Sakura closed her eyes and signed.
One stroke.
One name.
One surrender.
Hana cried quietly as she signed next.
Yuki signed with shaking hands.
Kairi signed like she wanted to rip the paper apart.
Aiko was last.
She stared at the contract for a long time.
Then she looked at Sakura.
Her eyes were filled with pain.
Not hatred.
Not jealousy.
Just the heartbreak of watching someone she loved get trapped.
Aiko finally signed.
The moment her pen lifted from the paper, it felt like something snapped in the air.
Like their fate had been sealed.
Rinn collected the contracts neatly.
"Thank you," she said.
Then she turned toward Sakura.
Her voice lowered.
"Miss Koharu sends her regards."
Sakura didn't respond.
Rinn walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she paused and said one last thing—quietly, like a warning disguised as reassurance.
"Don't worry. Under this company… OG will never flop again."
The door shut.
OG stood in silence.
Hana sobbed into Yuki's shoulder.
Kairi stared at the floor like she was trying not to scream.
Aiko sat down slowly, face blank.
Sakura stood still, feeling numb.
She didn't know if she had saved OG…
Or sold them deeper into something they would never escape.
Outside, far away in the city, Koharu sat alone in her penthouse, watching the signed documents arrive on her tablet.
Her lips trembled.
Her eyes softened.
She whispered Sakura's name like a prayer.
"Now you can't run away…"
And for the first time in her life…
Koharu smiled.
Not because she had won.
But because she finally had them.
Even if it meant they would hate her for it.