"How many times are you going to play that video?" Rinn's voice was full of irritation, but her eyes were already tired like she had accepted her fate.
The huge TV screen in Koharu's penthouse glowed brightly, showing the same clip on repeat.
Sakura, on stage, smiling like an angel.
A flying kiss.
A heart with her fingers.
And that soft look in her eyes that made people fall in love without even trying.
Koharu sat on the couch like she was hypnotized, her chin resting on her palm, eyes glued to the screen as if blinking would make Sakura disappear.
"It's been thirty minutes," Rinn complained, crossing her arms. "Thirty. Minutes. You called me here to watch a movie."
Koharu didn't even turn her head.
"Just five more minutes," she murmured, voice low, almost dreamy.
Rinn scoffed. "You said that ten minutes ago."
Koharu's lips curved into the tiniest smile. "Then… five more again."
Rinn stared at her like she was looking at a lost cause.
Then she sighed dramatically and stood up, grabbing her coat.
"I'm going outside," Rinn announced. "You wanna come for a drink?"
Koharu's eyes finally shifted away from the TV.
"Drink?" she repeated, like the word didn't fit into her world.
Rinn raised a brow. "Yes. Alcohol. The thing normal humans use to forget their problems."
Koharu blinked. "Our old area?"
Rinn nodded. "Yeah."
For the first time in hours, Koharu actually looked alive.
"…Let's go."
---
The bar wasn't fancy.
It wasn't one of those places where rich people whispered over wine and pretended they weren't judging each other.
It was loud, warm, messy—filled with the smell of grilled food, laughter, and memories.
Rinn ordered first, calm as ever.
Koharu ordered too, but her mood was different tonight.
She wasn't cold.
She wasn't sharp.
She was… soft.
Too soft.
And that was the most dangerous version of Koharu.
Because when Koharu stopped thinking like a CEO…
she started thinking like a girl in love.
At first, she only drank slowly.
But then she drank faster.
And faster.
Until the heat rose to her cheeks, turning her pale skin pink.
Then red.
Then almost glowing.
Rinn watched her with a deadpan expression.
"Miss CEO," Rinn said, voice flat. "Stop drinking like you're trying to erase your whole life."
Koharu leaned her head against the table.
"…I'm fine."
"You're not fine," Rinn replied.
Koharu lifted her head, eyes slightly unfocused, and pointed at Rinn with a serious face like she was giving an important business order.
"You're… mean."
Rinn blinked. "Excuse me?"
Koharu nodded slowly. "Yes. You are mean. You never let me be happy."
Rinn stared for a second.
Then she laughed under her breath.
"God," she muttered. "You're drunk."
Koharu smiled like a proud child. "I'm… tipsy."
"You're drunk," Rinn corrected.
Koharu squinted at her. "Same thing."
Rinn rolled her eyes, sipping her drink calmly.
And then—
The door of the bar opened again.
A group walked in laughing.
Familiar voices.
Familiar energy.
OG.
Hana was the first to spot them.
She slowed down, eyes narrowing as she stared across the room.
"…Hey," Hana whispered, grabbing Yuki's arm. "Isn't that Rinn?"
Yuki looked, then blinked. "Wait… yeah, that's her."
Kairi leaned in. "And who's that with her?"
Aiko's gaze sharpened.
The person sitting in front of Rinn had their back turned.
Shorter hair.
A fresh haircut.
A wolfcut, upper shoulder length.
Casual clothes.
From behind, the person looked completely different.
Almost unrecognizable.
Sakura's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching.
"…No way," she whispered.
But before Sakura could even process the thought—
Aiko suddenly walked forward.
Something about her expression changed.
A mischievous spark.
The kind she used to have during their trainee days when she wanted to start trouble just for fun.
"Don't," Kairi whispered quickly, sensing danger.
But it was too late.
Aiko had already decided.
She marched over confidently and slid into the seat beside Rinn like she owned the place.
Rinn turned her head slowly.
Her eyes widened for a second.
"Aiko—"
But Aiko didn't care.
She leaned her elbow on the table and smirked like a villain.
"So…" Aiko said loudly, eyes scanning Rinn up and down. "Leaving your boss alone, huh?"
Rinn's face went blank.
Aiko continued, her voice full of teasing sarcasm.
"You're on a date here? And who is this guy?"
The words were meant to be playful.
To embarrass Rinn.
To make her panic.
To make OG laugh.
But the moment Aiko finished her sentence…
the person sitting in front of her lifted their head.
And the entire world stopped.
Koharu.
Her cheeks red.
Her eyes glossy from alcohol.
Her lips slightly parted.
Casual clothes, no perfect CEO suit, no cold aura…
Just Koharu.
Looking painfully human.
Looking dangerously beautiful.
OG froze like statues.
Sakura's heart dropped straight to her stomach.
Hana's mouth fell open.
Yuki gasped so loudly it was embarrassing.
Kairi grabbed Hana's sleeve like she needed support to stand.
Aiko's smirk vanished instantly.
Her face turned pale.
"Oh… shit," Hana whispered.
Rinn slowly turned her head away like she wanted to pretend she didn't know any of them.
Koharu blinked at Aiko, confused.
Then her gaze drifted past Aiko…
and landed on Sakura.
And the moment Koharu saw her—
it was like the alcohol turned into fireworks in her blood.
Her eyes lit up.
Her expression softened instantly.
Her lips curved into the prettiest smile, the kind that didn't belong to a CEO.
The kind that belonged to someone who was hopelessly, stupidly in love.
"Sakura…" Koharu whispered like it was the only name she knew.
Sakura couldn't move.
She couldn't breathe.
Koharu stood up unsteadily, chair scraping the floor.
Rinn immediately reached out. "Koharu, sit down."
But Koharu ignored her.
She walked around the table like a drunk puppy finding its owner after being lost for years.
She stopped right in front of Sakura.
Sakura's eyes widened.
Koharu stared at her for a second, swaying slightly.
Then she smiled again.
And without warning—
Koharu flopped forward.
Straight into Sakura's arms.
Sakura caught her automatically, arms wrapping around Koharu's body out of pure instinct.
Koharu's head rested against Sakura's shoulder like she belonged there.
Like she had been waiting for this moment her whole life.
Sakura froze.
Her whole body went stiff.
Because Koharu was warm.
So warm.
Her hair smelled like soft shampoo.
Her breath was light, brushing Sakura's neck.
And her hands…
Koharu's hands clutched Sakura's jacket tightly like she was afraid Sakura would disappear if she let go.
Yuki, still in shock, suddenly snapped out of it and raised her phone.
"HOLY—" Hana hissed. "YUKI NO—"
But it was too late.
Yuki had already started recording.
The camera captured everything.
Koharu clinging to Sakura.
Sakura holding her like she was fragile.
Aiko standing there looking like she just got hit by karma.
Rinn looking like she wanted to die.
Kairi whispering prayers.
And Hana's face full of panic.
Rinn stood up instantly, walking around the table.
"Koharu," she said sharply, grabbing her shoulder. "Get up."
But Koharu tightened her hold on Sakura even more.
Like a puppy refusing to leave its favorite person.
"No," Koharu mumbled sleepily.
Rinn's eye twitched. "Koharu."
Koharu buried her face deeper into Sakura's shoulder. "No… don't take me…"
Rinn's jaw clenched.
Sakura's face was burning.
Her arms felt too tight around Koharu, but she didn't know how to let go.
Because Koharu wasn't heavy.
But the weight of her presence…
was crushing.
Sakura whispered, voice shaky, "She's… asleep?"
Koharu let out a tiny hum.
And then her breathing slowed.
Her body relaxed completely.
She really drifted off.
Right there.
In Sakura's arms.
Sakura looked down at her, stunned.
And for a second…
Sakura forgot everything.
The anger.
The fights.
The downfall.
The pressure.
All she saw was Koharu's face, peaceful and soft, like she wasn't the woman who controlled their entire career.
Like she was just a girl who loved too much.
Sakura's eyes softened.
She forgot to blink.
Koharu's lashes were long.
Her lips were slightly parted.
Her cheeks still red.
And Sakura's heart…
betrayed her.
Because even after everything—
Koharu looked beautiful.
Rinn stared at Sakura holding Koharu, then at Koharu clinging like a sleepy puppy.
Rinn exhaled deeply, rubbing her forehead.
"…This is going to be a disaster."
Aiko slowly backed away like she wanted to escape reality.
Hana whispered, "We should run."
Kairi nodded. "We should disappear."
Yuki whispered excitedly while still recording, "This is insane…"
Sakura didn't hear any of them.
Because Koharu moved slightly in her sleep…
and mumbled against Sakura's neck—
"…Don't go."
Sakura's breath caught.
And in that moment…
she realized something terrifying.
Koharu wasn't playing anymore.
And Sakura…
wasn't as strong as she thought she was.