Morning came faster than anyone wanted.
The new dorm was quiet, but not the same dead silence as before.
This time… it was the silence of preparation.
The kind that comes before a storm.
Hana woke up first, hair messy, eyes half-open, and for the first time in weeks she didn't look like she had cried herself to sleep. She walked into the kitchen and found fresh groceries already stocked—milk, fruits, protein bars, even their favorite instant ramen brands.
She blinked twice.
"Guys…" Hana called softly.
Yuki entered behind her, rubbing her eyes. "What?"
Hana pointed at the kitchen.
Yuki stared at the full shelves, then whispered, "They… actually did it."
Kairi walked in next, stopped, and raised an eyebrow. "Huh. So she's serious about the comeback."
Aiko didn't say anything.
She just looked around, as if she was waiting for the catch.
Sakura came in last, tying her hair up, her face still pale but calmer than yesterday.
"Eat something," Sakura said quietly, voice gentle like their old leader again. "We'll need energy."
Hana smiled slightly. "You sound like old Sakura."
Sakura froze for a second.
Then her lips curved into a small smile.
"Maybe I miss her too," she whispered.
They ate breakfast together.
It wasn't fancy.
But it felt warm.
Like OG.
---
The company training building was huge.
The kind of place OG used to dream about when they were rookies—mirrored walls, spotless floors, practice rooms with proper speakers, vocal booths, trainers waiting with clipboards.
When they walked in, staff bowed politely.
"Good morning, OG."
Those words hit differently now.
Because they weren't being said like pity.
They were being said like respect.
Hana's eyes widened as she whispered to Yuki, "Did you hear that? They called us OG like we're… still important."
Yuki nodded, eyes shining. "We are important."
Kairi cracked her knuckles. "Okay. Let's work."
Aiko walked in silently, but even she looked slightly less tense. Her shoulders weren't raised as high. Her jaw wasn't clenched as tightly.
Sakura kept her eyes forward.
She didn't want to hope too much.
Hope had hurt them before.
But when they entered the practice room…
A familiar feeling returned.
The speakers turned on.
Their choreographer clapped loudly.
"Alright! Let's go! OG is back!"
Back.
That word almost made Hana cry again, but this time she held it in.
They started with stretching.
Then cardio.
Then dance drills.
Then vocal warm-ups.
It was brutal.
Their lungs burned.
Their legs shook.
Their voices cracked.
But for the first time in a long time…
They weren't practicing like they were begging the world to notice them.
They were practicing like they belonged on stage.
Hana laughed when she messed up a step and nearly tripped over her own feet.
"Oh my god, I'm so rusty!" she groaned, collapsing dramatically onto the floor.
Yuki giggled, wiping sweat from her forehead. "At least you didn't kick me in the shin like last time."
Kairi smirked. "Give her time."
Even Aiko let out a small laugh.
Aiko.
Laughing.
Sakura turned her head slightly, surprised.
Aiko caught her looking and rolled her eyes.
"Don't stare," Aiko muttered. "I'm allowed to laugh."
Sakura smiled softly. "I'm glad you did."
Aiko didn't respond, but she didn't look away either.
It felt… almost normal.
Almost like before.
---
During lunch break, they sat on the floor with packed meals prepared by the staff.
Hana took a bite and nearly screamed.
"This is GOOD!" she said with her mouth full.
Kairi raised an eyebrow. "Eat properly."
Hana pouted. "You eat properly."
Yuki laughed. "We're really back to fighting like this."
Sakura watched them.
And her chest tightened.
Not with pain.
With something else.
A warmth she thought she had lost forever.
This is OG, she thought.
This is what we were supposed to be.
Aiko sat quietly beside her, chewing slowly.
Then she whispered, so only Sakura could hear.
"I missed this."
Sakura's eyes softened. "Me too."
---
The afternoon training was harder.
They recorded practice videos.
They ran choreography again and again.
They stayed after hours.
Their bodies screamed for rest, but their hearts felt alive.
By the time they finished, the sun had already set.
Sweaty, exhausted, breathing heavily, they sat in a line on the floor like five survivors.
Hana raised her hands dramatically. "I'm dead."
Kairi sighed. "You always say that."
Yuki leaned her head on Hana's shoulder. "But it felt good, didn't it?"
Hana smiled weakly. "Yeah."
Aiko stared at the mirror, watching their reflections.
Sakura looked at herself too.
For the first time in months, she didn't look like a girl waiting for her career to end.
She looked like an idol again.
---
But something was missing.
Koharu never showed up.
Not once.
No surprise visit.
No observation.
No controlling presence in the corner of the room.
No eyes on Sakura.
It was… strange.
When OG returned to the dorm that night, Hana finally asked what everyone had been thinking.
"Do you think she's avoiding us?" Hana whispered.
Kairi scoffed. "She's probably busy."
Yuki looked uncertain. "Or… she's letting us breathe."
Aiko crossed her arms. "Or she's planning something bigger."
Sakura stayed silent.
She didn't know which answer scared her more.
Because Koharu being there felt like a cage…
But Koharu being absent felt like the calm before the storm.
That night, Sakura lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her body was exhausted, but her mind wouldn't stop.
Koharu promised she wouldn't interfere.
Koharu promised no favoritism.
Koharu promised OG would rise again.
But then…
Why wasn't she here?
Sakura turned her head toward the window, watching the city lights flicker.
A part of her wanted Koharu to stay away forever.
But another part…
A part she hated…
Wondered if Koharu was hurt.
Or if she was truly trying to change.
Sakura clenched her blanket tightly.
"Please…" she whispered into the darkness.
"Don't ruin us again."
And somewhere, far away, in a quiet office with dim lights…
Koharu stared at a screen filled with OG's training footage.
Her eyes soft.
Her hands trembling.
Her heart aching.
She didn't show up…
Because if she did…
She knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from looking at Sakura like she was the only thing that mattered.
And Koharu had promised…
No favoritism.
But promises were hard to keep when love was still obsession in disguise.