Chapter 54 - Chapter 53: Between a Kiss and a Choice

Koharu's Place 🌙

Rinn leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching Koharu walk in like nothing life-changing had just happened.

"So…" Rinn started casually, dragging the word.

"Your lips are no longer virgin anymore, right?"

Koharu didn't even look at her. She calmly placed her keys on the table.

"…Hmm. Yeah," she replied. "They finally found a pair."

Silence.

Rinn blinked once.

Twice.

Then her eyes widened dramatically.

"WAIT—YOU JUST ANSWERED THAT?!" she almost shouted. "Oh my God, that kiss was THAT effective?!"

Koharu finally glanced at her, completely unfazed.

"Do you want me to cut off your salary?" she said flatly.

Rinn raised both hands instantly. "Nope. I value my life."

Then she leaned closer, eyes full of curiosity again.

"So… what now?"

Koharu picked up a file from the table, flipping it open like she was discussing business instead of… that.

"I'm leaving tomorrow," she said calmly. "Abroad. One week."

Rinn blinked. "Oh."

Then smirked.

"And you're totally not leaving someone here thinking about you 24/7, right?"

Koharu ignored that.

"Look after OG," she added.

Rinn tilted her head, teasing tone back.

"And you'll look after Sakura personally in your thoughts? I know."

Koharu paused for a second.

Then a small smirk appeared.

"You can look deeply after Aiko," she shot back. "I have no problem."

Rinn froze. "…Excuse me?"

Koharu closed the file.

Conversation over.

And just like that—

she walked toward her room.

Leaving Rinn standing there, speechless.

"…She kissed someone and became even more dangerous," Rinn muttered.

---

Sakura's Place 🌸

Sakura lay on her bed.

Wide awake.

Staring at the ceiling.

But this time—

she wasn't frustrated.

She wasn't confused.

She was…

smiling.

Her fingers slowly lifted to her lips.

She touched them lightly.

And instantly—

her cheeks turned pink.

"…This is crazy," she whispered.

Her heart fluttered again.

That moment—

The darkness.

Koharu's voice.

"May I kiss you?"

And then—

the kiss.

Sakura buried her face into her pillow, letting out a muffled sound.

"…Why am I so happy…"

Her stomach filled with butterflies.

Her chest felt light.

Everything felt…

right.

For the first time—

there was no doubt.

No confusion.

No fear in that moment.

Just…

Koharu.

And her.

Sakura smiled again, softer this time.

"I want to tell someone…" she whispered.

But then—

her smile faded.

Slowly.

Because reality returned.

---

The Weight of the Past

Her mind replayed everything from before.

Koharu's obsession.

The control.

The chaos.

The misunderstandings.

The fights within OG.

The pain.

Sakura's fingers tightened slightly over the blanket.

"…What will they think?"

Hana.

Yuki.

Kairi.

And Aiko.

Especially Aiko.

Sakura sat up slowly, hugging her knees.

"This isn't just about me…" she murmured.

Because before—

Koharu's feelings had already affected the group.

Broken things.

Created distance.

And now—

this wasn't one-sided anymore.

Now Sakura felt something too.

And that made everything more complicated.

---

Torn Between Two Worlds

Sakura looked at her reflection in the mirror across the room.

"…Do I even have the right to feel this?"

Her heart whispered yes.

But her mind…

hesitated.

"What if it happens again?" she whispered.

"What if things go wrong again?"

Her grip tightened.

"What if I hurt them…?"

Her thoughts tangled together.

Love.

Fear.

Happiness.

Guilt.

Everything mixed into one overwhelming feeling.

Sakura lay back down slowly.

Staring at the ceiling again.

"…Why now…"

Tears gathered slightly in her eyes—

not from sadness.

But from confusion.

Because she was happy.

Genuinely.

But at the same time—

she was scared.

Scared of losing everything again.

---

A Quiet Night

Sakura closed her eyes.

Her fingers still resting lightly on her lips.

That warmth…

still there.

"…Koharu…"

She whispered her name softly.

Like a secret.

Like something fragile.

And somewhere between her happiness and her fear—

Sakura realized something important.

This time…

it wasn't just Koharu who had to be careful.

It was her too.

Because now—

this wasn't obsession.

This was something real.

And real things…

could either heal everything.

Or break it again.