Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Everyone's eyes slowly shifted—
toward Koharu.
She sat there.
Calm.
Composed.
Like she wasn't just exposed in front of everyone.
Like nothing had shaken her.
And that—
was the scariest part.
---
The Verdict Begins
Koharu placed her chopsticks down.
Gently.
"…Hana. Yuki. Kairi."
The three flinched immediately.
"You three can go to bed."
No hesitation.
No anger.
Just a command.
Hana blinked. "…R-really?"
Koharu nodded once.
Yuki stood up so fast her chair almost fell.
"GOOD NIGHT!" she said loudly and ran.
Kairi followed quickly.
"…Thank you for the meal."
Hana paused—
looked at Sakura—
then at Koharu—
"…We'll talk tomorrow," she whispered to Sakura before leaving.
Door closed.
Silence again.
---
Now the Real Problem
Koharu's gaze shifted.
Straight to—
Aiko.
Rinn.
"…You two stay."
Both froze.
Aiko slowly raised her hand. "…Can I not?"
"No."
Aiko: "…Okay."
Rinn sighed softly. "…We're doomed."
---
The Truth—From Koharu Herself
Then—
Koharu spoke again.
Calm.
Clear.
"And about the kiss…"
Sakura's breath stopped.
Everyone looked at her.
Koharu continued—
"I was the one who was going to kiss Sakura."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Sakura's eyes widened.
Aiko blinked.
Rinn closed her eyes like I knew it.
And just like that—
The truth was placed on the table.
Not hidden.
Not denied.
Owned.
Completely.
---
The Meeting Begins
Koharu leaned back slightly.
Crossed her arms.
"…Now."
Her gaze moved between Sakura, Aiko, and Rinn.
"The three culprits…"
Aiko pointed at herself. "…Me?"
Rinn whispered, "…Don't speak."
"…should explain themselves," Koharu continued.
A pause.
Then—
"Before I start putting my thoughts into this."
That sentence—
felt like a warning.
---
No Escape
Sakura looked down.
Heart racing.
Aiko scratched her neck awkwardly.
Rinn adjusted her glasses.
No one spoke.
Because no one knew—
where to start.
Finally—
Aiko sighed.
"…Okay, I'll go first."
Sakura looked at her.
Traitor.
Aiko ignored that.
"We only wanted to keep you busy," she said honestly.
"The leak situation… if you got involved, someone would be destroyed."
Koharu didn't react.
"…Continue."
Rinn stepped in.
"It was my idea to message Sakura," she admitted.
"I told her to keep you engaged."
Koharu's eyes shifted slightly.
"To lie?" she asked.
Rinn nodded. "…Yes."
Silence.
Then—
All eyes went to Sakura.
---
Sakura's Turn
Sakura swallowed.
Her hands clenched slightly.
"…I didn't know what to do," she said softly.
Koharu watched her.
Not interrupting.
"I just… followed what they said."
A pause.
Then she added—
"…But I didn't hate it."
Silence.
Aiko blinked.
Rinn raised a brow.
Koharu's expression didn't change—
But something in her eyes did.
Sakura looked up.
Meeting her gaze.
"…I wanted you to stay."
Her voice was quiet.
But honest.
Too honest.
---
The Shift
The room changed.
The tension shifted.
From fear—
to something else.
Something softer.
Something dangerous in a different way.
Koharu stared at Sakura for a moment longer.
Then looked away slightly.
"…You all lied to me."
A simple statement.
No anger.
But not forgiving either.
Aiko spoke carefully, "…We had to."
Rinn added, "…It was for the company."
Koharu nodded once.
"…I understand."
And yet—
It didn't feel like the end.
---
Because This Isn't Over
Koharu stood up slowly.
Everyone tensed again.
"…This matter isn't finished."
Her gaze returned to Sakura.
"…Especially between us."
Sakura's heart skipped.
Aiko whispered to Rinn, "We should leave."
Rinn nodded. "Immediately."
They stood up quietly.
"We'll… go now," Aiko said.
Koharu didn't stop them.
And just like that—
They left.
---
Just Two Again
Now—
Only Sakura and Koharu remained.
Silence filled the room again.
But this time—
It wasn't fear.
It was something deeper.
Unresolved.
Unspoken.
Koharu looked at her.
"…You said you wanted me to stay."
Sakura's breath caught.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then Koharu stepped closer.
Slowly.
"…Then don't run away now."
Sakura didn't move.
Didn't look away.
Because this time—
There was no hiding.
No excuses.
Just them.
And whatever this was becoming.