The countdown felt endless.
Seconds ticked by on the screen as OG stood backstage, hands clasped tightly together. No one spoke. Even breathing felt too loud. Every possible outcome ran through their minds—but only one terrified them enough to make their hands shake.
Please, Sakura thought silently. Just once more.
The announcement rang out.
"And the winner is—"
Time stopped.
"OG!"
For a split second, none of them moved.
Then Hana gasped. Yuki let out a broken laugh. Kairi covered her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief. Aiko collapsed into Sakura, crying before she could even stand.
"We won," Sakura whispered. "We really won."
They walked onto the stage like they were floating, tears already falling, smiles trembling. Sakura held the trophy with both hands, her vision blurred.
"This… this was our last chance," she said into the microphone, her voice breaking. "Thank you for believing in us when we almost stopped believing in ourselves."
Backstage, before they could even sit down, another announcement came through.
OG was nominated again.
The girls froze.
When their name was called a second time, the sound that escaped them was something between a scream and a sob.
Two awards.
On the same day.
The best day of their lives.
They clung to each other, crying openly now—no cameras, no composure, just relief and overwhelming joy.
"We're not over," Yuki cried.
"We're still here!" Kairi laughed through her tears.
Hana pressed her face into Aiko's shoulder. "We survived."
Sakura stepped away for a moment, clutching the trophies tightly. Her hands trembled—not from fear this time, but gratitude.
She looked up, eyes wet, heart full.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for listening."
In her mind, she saw the quiet temple, the empty hall, the tissue, the chocolate, the stranger's eyes.
For the first time in months, hope felt real again.
The lights had returned.
And OG was still standing.