### SKZ dorm, 2:34 a.m. — The Human Heating System The bed was enormous. Eight people, several blankets, approximately seventeen pillows, and somehow absolutely no personal space. You were the third most muscular member after Bang Chan and Changbin, the tallest in this particular scenario, and possibly the complete package: handsome, warm, strong, gentle, with long hands and a face that looked unfairly good even when you were half-asleep. And tonight, you had ONE mission. Hug your plushie. Find a comfortable position. Have absolutely nobody nuzzle into you. Simple. You lay on your side, hugged your plushie against your chest, tucked your long legs beneath the blanket, and carefully arranged your arms. Perfect. Then Felix rolled over and rested his head against your shoulder. You froze. No. Absolutely not. I have made no agreements. You slowly shifted three centimetres to the left. Felix followed. You shifted right. Felix followed again, still asleep. Across the bed, Han opened one eye. "He's doing it again." Seungmin looked up from his pillow. "Doing what?" "Magnetism. Felix has a Hyunjin detector." "I'm not a detector," Felix mumbled sleepily, nuzzling closer to your shoulder. "You are literally unconscious," Seungmin replied. You carefully attempted to turn onto your other side. Unfortunately, Changbin had decided your back was an excellent source of warmth and was now sleeping close behind you. You were sandwiched. Your plushie was getting squashed. Your personal space had officially ceased to exist. You stared at the ceiling with the exhausted expression of someone reconsidering every decision that had led them here. Bang Chan, lying on your other side, cracked one eye open. "Hyunjin? You okay?" "No." "What's wrong?" "I'm being occupied." Chan looked at Felix, then Changbin, then your trapped plushie. He pressed his lips together, desperately trying not to laugh.

SKZ CODE — MARRIED FOR 40 YEARS The Stray Kids dorm had one enormous bedroom with four luxurious French beds. Everyone had chosen their roommate, and everyone was comfortable with the arrangement. Changbin and Hyunjin shared a dark-blue-and-white bed. Felix and Han had a cozy white-and-cream bed. Seungmin and I.N had a black-and-white bed. And then there were Lee Know and Bang Chan. Their bed had black sheets, grey blankets, three big grey pillows, two smaller black pillows, and a blue-grey headboard. They shared ONE enormous blanket because, according to both of them, separate blankets were pointless when they always cuddled anyway. Lee Know was the group's main dancer, rapper, visual, and unofficial mother. Tall, handsome, muscular, sarcastic, and calm, he loved his members like family. But Chan? Chan was his husband in everything except the legal paperwork. Their relationship was ridiculously simple. Chan worked, ate, annoyed Minho, got scolded, and went to bed with him. Minho danced, worked, handled housework, scolded Chan and the kids when necessary, and cuddled his husband to sleep. They went to the gym together, hung out with friends, and spent time with the members. They trusted each other completely and never argued about serious things. Their fights were always ridiculous. That winter evening, Chan returned from the gym, showered, and immediately flopped onto their bed, resting his head on Minho's lap. Lee Know: "You're heavy." Chan: "Missed you too, sweetheart." Lee Know: "I saw you forty minutes ago." Chan: "Forty lonely minutes." Minho rolled his eyes but gently brushed Chan's hair away from his forehead. Seungmin: "They're literally an old married couple." Han: "MOM AND DAD!" Lee Know: "One more word and you're sleeping outside." Chan wrapped his arms around Minho's waist and pulled the shared blanket over them. Chan: "Love you, honey." Minho kissed his forehead. Lee Know: "Love you too. Now shut up." Chan grinned.

The dorm was peaceful. All eight of you were home, sitting around the counter separating the kitchen from the living room. Four members sat on the living-room side, three on the kitchen side, and Bang Chan sat at the end near the wall. Lee Know, your owner, was eating sliced apples, oranges, and watermelon while you sat in the middle of the counter: a tiny, round, warm, fluffy brown bunny. Everyone adored you, especially because you were so chill and nonchalant. Suddenly, Hyunjin picked up a kiwi and sneakily stuck its price tag onto your fluffy back. Hyunjin: "GUYS. LOOK AT HIM!" Everyone turned. Han: "AAAAAAAA! HE'S A KIWI! A FLUFFY KIWI!" Felix: "LOOK HOW ROUND HE IS! I'M GONNA CRY!" Changbin: "WHY DOES HE ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE ONE?!" I.N: "Can we put him in the fruit bowl?" Lee Know: "Touch my bunny and I'll put YOU in the fruit bowl." Seungmin: "He's literally a potato with ears." Lee Know: "And still cuter than you." Bang Chan leaned forward, examining your little kiwi sticker. Bang Chan: "Why does our bunny have a barcode?" Hyunjin: "He's organic." Han: "LIMITED EDITION KIWI BUNNY! ONLY ONE AVAILABLE!" Felix: "Can we keep the sticker on him forever?" Lee Know: "No." Meanwhile, you remained completely unbothered, sitting like a perfectly round little bread roll with ears. Seungmin: "Does he even know what's happening?" Lee Know: "He's smarter than all of you." Lee Know gently picked you up and cuddled you against his chest, stroking your fluffy head. Lee Know: "Don't worry, little kiwi. You're the only normal one here." Bang Chan: "You're talking to a rabbit, Minho." Lee Know: "And he's listening better than you." Everyone burst out laughing while Hyunjin proudly announced that he had invented a new fruit. And you? You were simply a tiny, fluffy, round kiwi bunny, adored by seven chaotic men and completely unaware of your celebrity status.

Felix looked almost unreal under the event lights. His makeup was soft and luminous, carefully framing his features without making him look overly polished. His eyes had a gentle, almost dreamy expression, with neatly defined lashes and a subtle shimmer catching whenever he turned his head. His lips had a soft tint that made his whole expression look delicate. His hair fell naturally around his face, giving him that effortless, ethereal appearance—as if he had somehow wandered out of an illustration and into the event. He wasn't trying to look intimidating. He wasn't trying to look traditionally “cool.” He simply looked pretty. There was something especially angelic about the contrast between his sweet appearance and the tiny spark of attitude in his expression. At first glance, he looked like the kindest person in the room. Then he raised one eyebrow. That was when people remembered that the “angel without wings” still had boundaries. His beauty was gentle, his expression soft, and his overall presence almost comforting—but underneath all of it was a quiet confidence that said: Kind doesn't mean you can disrespect me.

Deep in the woods stood a massive black mansion, hidden between ancient trees and surrounded by silver mist. Its tall windows reflected the moonlight. Inside, everything was black, crimson red, and silver—silk curtains, velvet furniture, silver decorations, enormous chandeliers, and polished black floors. It looked mysterious rather than frightening. Almost impossibly beautiful. This was where the group lived. Bang Chan — C0lt L3@der The composed leader who kept everyone organized. Lee Know — R!ght H@nd Quiet, sharp-eyed, and almost impossible to read. Changbin — P0w3r H0us3 The strongest and most intimidating member. Hyunjin — C@nn!b@l • Physc0p@th • Visual Known throughout the fictional world as “The Black-Haired Beauty.” Elegant, quiet, and unnervingly calm. Han — C@nn!b@l Chaotic, clever, and always laughing at the worst possible moments. Felix — C@nn!b@l The sweet-looking one whose innocent expression completely contradicted his fictional reputation. Seungmin — M!nd G@m3 M@st3r Calm, observant, and always seemingly aware of everything. I.N — Unpr3d!ct@bl3 The youngest, cheerful one who could suddenly become surprisingly serious. That evening, the group was gathered in the enormous crimson-and-black sitting room. Rain tapped against the windows. Hyunjin sat silently on the velvet sofa, his black hair framing his face as silver candlelight reflected across the room. Han glanced at him. “Why do you always look like you're about to reveal some terrible secret?” Hyunjin slowly turned his head. “I don't know.” Felix laughed. Chan shook his head. “Don't encourage him.” Hyunjin simply smiled. Outside, thunder rolled through the forest. Inside, the mansion remained warm, elegant, and strangely peaceful. It was the perfect home for a group with such terrifying fictional reputations.

The gala was already overflowing with idols, executives, actors, photographers, journalists, and international celebrities. Every major K-pop group seemed to be somewhere inside the enormous ballroom, dressed to perfection beneath chandeliers and thousands of camera flashes. Then the entrance doors opened. For a second, the entire atmosphere seemed to freeze. Seungmin had arrived in a perfectly tailored black suit, a crisp white shirt, subtle silver accessories, polished black shoes, and a simple watch. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his calm expression contrasted almost comically with the chaos happening around him. He didn't need an announcement. The reaction happened instantly. Photographer: “WAIT—IS THAT SEUNGMIN?!” Journalist: “He's here!” Actor: “Oh my God.” Phones rose throughout the room. Photographers practically surged toward the entrance, their cameras firing so rapidly that the flashes looked like strobe lights. Then the enormous screens around the venue displayed one simple statistic: SEUNGMIN — 1.8 BILLION FANS WORLDWIDE. The room erupted. Even idols who had been casually talking stopped to look toward the entrance. Some stared openly. Others immediately whispered to their groupmates, trying to act like they weren't completely stunned. Stray Kids were no exception. Bang Chan's eyebrows lifted. Changbin straightened in his seat. Han's mouth fell open before he quickly covered it with his hand. Felix blinked twice. Hyunjin grinned. Lee Know simply leaned back, watching the chaos with an amused expression. I.N looked around at the screaming crowd. I.N: “Is this really necessary?” Lee Know glanced at the giant screen. Lee Know: “Apparently.” The MC, who had been preparing to introduce the next group, slowly lowered his cue cards. MC: “Well… I think our next introduction just became unnecessary.” The audience laughed and cheered even louder. Every camera remained pointed toward the entrance.

The whole dorm was inside that evening, everyone scattered around the living room. I.N was curled up on the couch with his fox plushie tucked securely against his chest. He looked completely comfortable, occasionally squeezing the plushie tighter whenever someone walked past. Bang Chan glanced over from the other side of the room. “Jeongin, you've been cuddling that fox for ages.” I.N looked down at it. “It's comfortable.” Han immediately pointed at the plushie. “He's choosing the fox over us.” “Correct,” I.N said calmly. Lee Know looked over from his phone. “At least he's honest.” Hyunjin walked past and gently poked the plushie's ear. I.N immediately pulled it closer. “Don't touch.” Hyunjin raised both hands. “Okay, okay.” Felix laughed from the floor. “He's protecting it!” Seungmin looked over. “That fox has better security than we do.” Changbin nodded seriously. “Nobody is getting past Jeongin.” Bang Chan eventually sat beside I.N and carefully leaned against the couch. I.N glanced at him. “What's up?” “Nothing.” “You're staring.” Chan pointed at the fox. “I just wanted to see if I could borrow it.” I.N hugged the plushie tighter. “No.” The room went silent for a second. Then Han burst out laughing. “HE SAID NO!” Chan dramatically leaned back. “I've been rejected by a fox.” I.N simply rested his chin on the plushie's head. “It's not personal.” Lee Know nodded. “It's definitely personal.” Everyone started laughing while I.N continued cuddling his fox like absolutely nothing had happened.

It was another morning at the dorm, and Felix had made a very important decision. Hyunjin's hoodie was now his. Not stolen. Borrowed. Forever. The hoodie was ridiculously oversized on Felix, hanging so low that it practically looked like a skirt. The sleeves covered most of his hands, and the hood kept slipping over his hair. Felix looked at himself in the mirror. “…Cute.” He nodded approvingly. Perfect. A few minutes later, Hyunjin walked into the room. He stopped. He stared. “Felix.” Felix slowly turned around. “Yes?” “Is that my hoodie?” Felix looked down at it. Then back at Hyunjin. “No.” Hyunjin narrowed his eyes. “That's literally my hoodie.” Felix smiled innocently. “Really? What a coincidence.” Han immediately started laughing from the couch. “HE STOLE IT.” “I borrowed it,” Felix corrected. “You didn't ask.” “I was going to.” “When?” Felix thought for a moment. “…Eventually.” Hyunjin walked closer and held out his hand. “Give it back.” Felix immediately stepped backward. “No.” “Felix.” “Nope.” “That's mine.” “Not anymore.” Chan was already laughing. “Felix, you can't just claim people's clothes.” Felix pulled the sleeves over his hands and hugged himself. “Watch me.” Lee Know looked him up and down. “It doesn't even fit you.” Felix smiled proudly. “That's why it looks cute.” Seungmin nodded. “Unfortunately, he's right.” Hyunjin sighed. “Please give me my hoodie.” Felix shook his head. “I'm emotionally attached now.” “You've had it for five minutes.” “Five very meaningful minutes.” Han nearly fell off the couch laughing. Hyunjin reached toward the hoodie. Felix immediately turned around and ran. “NOPE!” “FELIX!” Felix disappeared around the corner, laughing. Chan shook his head. “Should we stop him?” Lee Know calmly took a sip of his drink. “No.” “Why?” “Hyunjin will catch him eventually.”

The studio was packed today. Chan was at the computer, Changbin was leaning against the desk, Hyunjin and Felix were on the couch, Han was spinning in his chair, Seungmin was scrolling through his phone, and I.N. was eating a snack. Lee Know walked in with his phone. Chan looked over. “You said you made a new solo?” Lee Know nodded. “Yeah. It’s called SUV 2.” Han immediately stopped spinning. “SUV?” “My BMW.” Changbin laughed. “Of course it is.” Lee Know connected his phone to the speakers. “Just listen.” The room went quiet. The song started with nothing but deep bass. BOOM. Everyone looked up. Another bass hit. BOOM. Then Lee Know’s recorded voice came through, calm and confident: ?“Ahh… there’s one thing I need to admit to you guys…”? The rhythm slowly began building. ?“If I called over girls, they went left and right… I don’t know where.”? Han grinned. “Oh, this is already ridiculous.” Lee Know’s voice continued over the bass, talking about attention, jealousy, possessiveness, people suddenly watching him after treating him like nothing, and the confidence of knowing everyone was staring. Then the chorus hit. The beat dropped lower. ?“****, looking, staring down…”? The bass kept pounding. ?“The bass is not ending yet…”? Everyone was completely focused on the speakers. ?“But I don’t care how much they stare…”? The beat bounced. ?“The car is bouncing under me—”? A tiny pause. Then— ?“IT’S SUV-E!”? BOOOOOOM. Changbin practically jumped. “THAT DROP!” Han was laughing. “Why is that actually catchy?!” Felix was already nodding to the beat. The chorus continued, still centered around people staring, jealousy, attention, and the girls liking him, before ending again with: ?“IT’S SUV-E!”? The bass slammed back in. Chan slowly turned toward Lee Know. “You made this?” Lee Know nodded. “Yeah.” Chan smiled. “The bass is insane.” Seungmin nodded.

The classroom was full of fifth graders and their parents, all meeting their new homeroom teacher for the first time. Then the door opened. You walked in. Matthias Keller. 27 years old. 190 cm tall. German. Extremely muscular. Broad shoulders, strong arms, and an intimidatingly serious face. You looked like you belonged in a museum next to an enormous wooden door. But when you spoke, everyone noticed something unexpected. Your voice was very deep, but incredibly gentle. “Good morning, everyone.” The room became quiet. You smiled and continued. “My name is Matthias Keller. I’ll be your homeroom teacher this year. I’ll also be teaching you History and German.” You rested your large hands on the desk. They were about 23 cm long, making the classroom furniture look even smaller around you. You noticed a few students staring. You lifted one hand. “Yes, they're quite large.” One boy whispered, “They look like bear paws.” You looked at him. “…Bear paws?” He immediately looked nervous. But you simply smiled. “I suppose that's appropriate.” The parents laughed. You pulled a chair toward yourself and sat down. “Since this is our first meeting, I'd like the parents to ask anything they'd like to know. Questions about my teaching, the subjects, homework, classroom rules—anything important to you.” A mother raised her hand. “How would you describe your teaching style?” You answered in that deep, calm voice. “Patient. I want my students to understand what they're learning, not simply memorize everything for a test.” Another parent asked about German. “I’m German myself, but don't worry. I won't expect fifth graders to speak perfect German on their first day.” A student raised their hand. “Can you speak German really fast?” You smiled. “Yes.” “Can you do it?” You switched into German for a few sentences. The students stared. One girl whispered, “I understood nothing.” "that means I did my job well"

The cameras were already rolling for SKZ CODE when two interviewers walked into the room with a ruler and a suspiciously serious expression. “After Shout in Silence, we decided to measure everyone’s hand length,” one interviewer announced. Everyone immediately became curious. Bang Chan went first. “19.5 centimeters.” Chan stared at his hand. “Okay. That's actually pretty decent.” Felix went next. “18 centimeters.” Everyone froze. Han immediately pointed at him. “THAT'S THE SMALLEST!” Felix looked personally betrayed. “Why are you announcing it like that?!” I.N measured next. “19 centimeters.” “Close!” Seungmin said, laughing. Then the interviewer turned toward you. “Hyunjin.” You calmly held out your hand. The ruler reached the end. “20.1 centimeters.” Silence. You looked at your hand, then at everyone else. “…Okay.” Han's jaw dropped. “TWENTY POINT ONE?!” Changbin immediately grabbed his own hand. “Wait, wait, measure mine again!” Seungmin laughed. “Hyunjin is collecting centimeters at this point.” Bang Chan looked between you and the ruler. “And he's already the tallest member too.” The interviewer nodded. “Hyunjin is 179 centimeters.” You simply leaned back with the most ridiculously confident expression possible. “So basically,” Han said, “he's built like a human ruler.” Felix started laughing. “And I'm the tiny-handed one.” You looked over at Felix. “Don't worry. Your hands are cute.” Felix gasped dramatically. “WHY DID THAT SOUND SO SERIOUS?” Everyone burst out laughing. The interviewer looked at the camera. “We came here to interview Stray Kids. Somehow we're conducting a full-body measurement study.” Chan nodded seriously.

The afternoon sun was warm over Australia as Stray Kids sat outside, eating together. You were sitting beside Lee Know, quietly enjoying your food when Bang Chan suddenly appeared behind you with the cutest little quokka in his arms. “Han,” Chan called softly. You looked up. His face immediately broke into a grin as he carefully walked over and gently handed the quokka to you. Your eyes widened. “OH MY GOD.” You carefully held the tiny animal against your chest, absolutely melting as it looked up at you with its little face. Lee Know stared at you both. “…There are two of you now.” You looked at him, then back at the quokka. “Look at him! He's literally me!” Changbin started laughing from across the table. “You finally met your twin!” You giggled, carefully petting the quokka's head as it comfortably settled in your arms. Bang Chan smiled. “I saw it and immediately thought of you. Everyone calls you the quokka anyway.” You looked down at your tiny Australian twin, practically glowing with happiness. Lee Know leaned closer and quietly said, “Okay… I admit it. The resemblance is ridiculous.” You gasped dramatically. “MINHO! You're supposed to support me!” He simply smiled. “I am. That's why I'm saying you're both cute.” You froze for a second before hiding your face behind the quokka while everyone laughed. The quokka just sat peacefully in your arms, completely unaware that it had just become the newest member of the table.

The pet store door opened, and all eight Stray Kids members walked inside. The owner showed them energetic puppies and adorable little dogs, but after a while, Bang Chan asked, “Do you have any bigger dogs?” The owner paused. “Actually… we have one.” He led them toward the back. “And what’s the most dangerous dog you have?” Changbin asked. The owner pointed toward a large reinforced door. “That one.” The door opened. You stepped out. A gigantic Caucasian Shepherd, around 90 kg, covered in thick, dark-black fur. Your paws were enormous, your shoulders broad, and your teeth intimidating enough to make everyone go quiet. Han stared. “That is NOT a dog.” You simply sat down. THUMP. Your tail hit the floor. Lee Know raised an eyebrow. “She looks like she could eat someone.” The owner quickly explained, “She looks frightening, but she's actually incredibly gentle once she trusts people. She just needs time.” Felix slowly held out his hand. You walked toward him. Everyone watched carefully. You sniffed his hand… …and immediately dropped onto your back. Felix blinked. Then your enormous tail started wagging. “OH MY GOD,” he laughed. “She's a teddy bear!” Changbin crouched beside you and scratched your belly. Your back leg started kicking. Seungmin stared. “The most dangerous dog in the store has a belly-rub reflex.” You looked at him. He froze. Then you gently rested your giant head on his lap. Seungmin slowly looked down. “…Okay. She's cute.” Lee Know scratched behind your ear, and your eyes immediately closed. “You're just a giant baby,” he said. Your tail thumped happily. Bang Chan smiled at the owner. “I think we found our dog.” The owner brought everyone into a private room connected to a secure backyard so they could spend more time with you. Within minutes, you were lying in the grass while Felix brushed your fur, Hyunjin took pictures, Han hugged your enormous neck, Changbin threw a toy you comp

The courtroom was completely quiet. Seungmin sat beside the judge, dressed in an immaculate white suit with a neatly fitted blazer, polished shoes, and his blonde hair styled perfectly. He looked calm, serious, and extremely composed. Across from them stood his uncle and his mother, waiting to explain their sides. Behind them, Seungmin's family and the Stray Kids members sat together in the audience. The judge listened carefully to Seungmin's uncle first, then to his mother. She didn't interrupt either of them, taking notes and asking thoughtful questions whenever something needed clarification. When they finished, she turned toward Seungmin. "Mr. Kim, thank you for waiting patiently. I'd like you to introduce yourself for the record." Seungmin immediately sat a little straighter. "Of course, Your Honour." His voice was calm and respectful. "My name is Kim Seungmin. I'm twenty-five years old, and I'm a singer and performer. I'm a member of Stray Kids, where my main position is the main vocalist,and visual'' The judge nodded, listening carefully. "And what other work do you do as part of the group?" "I participate in recording, performances, songwriting, and other group activities. I also work on improving my vocals continuously." He spoke without arrogance, even though everyone in the room knew how accomplished he was. The judge made another note. "Thank you. You have been very respectful and patient throughout this hearing." Seungmin gave a small, polite bow of his head. "Thank you, Your Honour. I appreciate that." Behind him, Bang Chan quietly looked toward the other members. "He really switched into professional mode." Lee Know whispered back, "He's always like that when he wants to make a good impression." Seungmin heard them but didn't turn around. Instead, he remained completely composed beside the judge, waiting patiently for the next question.

Today, you were the tiniest little bunny in the world—a soft, fluffy ball with tiny paws, long ears, and round, curious eyes. As Stray Kids' beloved pet, you had already claimed several favorite sleeping spots. But today, you had a new idea. Lee Know's phone. He had left it on the couch while the members were chatting nearby. You hopped over, sniffed the edge, and somehow managed to climb onto it. The screen lit up beneath your paws. Lee Know slowly looked over. "...Why is my phone covered in bunny?" Han burst out laughing. "SHE'S USING IT AS A BED!" Felix leaned closer. "Awww... look at her little paws!" Chan smiled. "Just don't let her accidentally call someone." You ignored them completely, curled yourself into the tiniest fluffy ball, and rested your head against the phone. Lee Know stared at you for a moment before sighing. "...Fine. But you're not allowed to drool on it." You were already asleep.

The fanmeet was in full swing when, from the very edge of the stage, two impossibly tiny paws appeared. Then a tiny, fluffy head slowly peeked over the edge. A Napoleon cat. It carefully pulled its little body onto the stage, wobbling slightly on its ridiculously short legs. Its thick fur puffed up around its tiny ears, its enormous boba eyes blinking at the crowd in innocent confusion. Then its giant fluffy tail flopped onto the stage behind it. The entire venue went silent. The cat sat down. Blink. Blink. A tiny little head tilt. The fans completely lost it. “OH MY GOD!” “IT'S SO TINY!” “LOOK AT ITS FACE!” The members whipped around. Felix immediately clasped his hands together. “No way...” Han crouched down. “How did something that small even get up here?!” Hyunjin stared in complete disbelief. “It's literally a puffball.” Changbin pointed at the tail. “THAT TAIL IS HUGE!” I.N was already smiling. “It's so cute!” Seungmin quietly laughed. “It doesn't even know what's happening.” Bang Chan carefully approached the tiny creature. Lee Know just stared at it. The cat stared back. Neither moved. Then its enormous tail slowly curled around its tiny paws. Lee Know blinked. “...Okay. That's adorable.'

You were lying in the very middle of the enormous bed, surrounded by soft blankets and pillows. You were sick today, your glasses slightly crooked, your hair falling naturally around your face. Your freckles stood out against your soft skin, and your soft pink lips made you look even gentler. In your oversized clothes, you looked incredibly cozy—more pretty and cute than anything else, like a little piece of sunshine who had caught a cold. The bedroom door opened, and the members slowly walked in. Bang Chan noticed you first and immediately softened. “Aww… our little chick is still here.” You looked up sleepily. “Mhm…” Han smiled. “He looks so cozy.” Before you could protest, Changbin climbed onto one side of the bed and carefully pulled the blanket around you. Hyunjin settled beside you, gently resting his head against the pillow. Seungmin came over next, quietly laughing when you gave him a sleepy look. Lee Know simply sat beside you and adjusted your glasses. “Stop looking so tired.” “I’m sick,” you mumbled. “I know.” I.N joined the others, and soon all seven of them were gathered around you. You were completely surrounded. One stayed beside your shoulder, another tucked the blanket around your legs, while the others gently cuddled around you without squeezing too tightly. You blinked behind your glasses. “Why are all of you here?” Bang Chan smiled. “Because you're our little chick.” You groaned and pulled the blanket over your face. “Nooo…” Everyone laughed softly. “Come back out,” Han said. “You're too cute to hide.” A tiny hand emerged from beneath the blanket. “Five more minutes…” The room became quiet again, everyone simply staying close while you rested safely in the middle of them.

You were Han, and by the time the group reached the lobby, you had entered full rapper mode. You turned toward Bang Chan. “CHANYOUCANNOTKEEPDOINGTHISBECAUSEYOUR ‘SLEEPSCHEDULE’ ISN’TEVENASCHEDULEIT’STWORANDOMHOURSATFOURINTHEMORNINGANDTHENYOUEXPECTEVERYONETOBELIEVETHATYOU’REFINEANDNOYOURENOTFINEBECAUSEHOWAREYOUFUNCTIONINGONTHATHESIDESANDTHENYOUHAVEWORKANDMEETINGSANDPRACTICEANDYOUSAYYOU’LLSLEEP LATERBUTLATERNEVERCOMESBECAUSEYOUSOMEHOWFINDANOTHERTHINGTODOEVERYSINGLETIME—” Chan tried to interrupt. “Han, I—” “NOYOU’RENOTFINISHEDLISTENINGYETBECAUSEEVERYTIMEWETELLYOUTOSLEEPYOUSTARTEXPLAININGTHATYOUHADWORKANDIUNDERSTANDTHATYOUHADWORKBUTYOUCANNOTUSEWORKASANEXCUSEFOREVERBECAUSEYOU’RENOTAROBOTANDYOUREYESAREGOINGTOSHUTTHEMSELVESATTHISPOINTANDTHENYOU’LLSAY ‘I’MOKAY’ AGAINANDWE’LLALLLOOKATYOULIKECHANWHATDOYOUMEANYOU’REOKAYYOUHAVESLEPTFORTWOHOURS—” The members had stopped walking. You didn't. You were already halfway across the lobby. “—ANDANOTHERTHINGIFYOU’REGOINGTOTELLUSYOU’REBUSYTHENFINEWEKNOWYOUREBUSYEVERYONEKNOWSYOU’REBUSYBUTTHATDOESNTMEANYOUHAVETOTREATYOURSELFLIKEYOURBODYISANOPTIONALPARTOFTHEGROUPBECAUSEITISNOTANDYOUCANNOTJUSTKEEPGOINGANDGOINGANDGOINGANDTHENEXPECTEVERYONETOBELIKE ‘OHCHANISFINE’ BECAUSEWEKNOWYOUANDWEKNOWWHENYOU’REEXHAUSTEDANDRIGHTNOWYOUARECLEARLYEXHAUSTED—” Bang Chan raised both hands. “Okay, okay—” You immediately sped up. “NOOKAYBECAUSEYOUKEEPTRYINGTOEXPLAINYOURSELFANDTHAT’SWHYITTAKESSOLONGSOJUSTLISTENTOMEFORONEMINUTEANDTHENYOUCANEXPLAINBUTIFYOUINTERRUPTMEAGAINI’MGOINGTOSTARTFROMTHEBEGINNINGANDMAKEITLONGER—” Han stopped. The lobby was silent. Changbin stared at you. “…Did you just threaten him with a longer speech?” You nodded. “Exactly.” Lee Know glanced at Chan. “You should probably just let him finish.” Chan sighed. “…Yeah.” You immediately continued. “GOODSOASIWASSAYING—” The members groaned. And somehow, you still hadn't stumbled over a single word.

The courtroom had gone unusually quiet. You stood beside Bang Chan without saying a word. At 175 cm, you were four centimeters taller than Chan, and your broad, athletic build made your presence especially noticeable. Your posture was straight and controlled, giving you a solid, imposing appearance without you doing anything to draw attention to yourself. You wore a dark-blue suit over a structured black vest. The vest had a corset-inspired construction, extending around your back and fitting firmly across your frame. The first seven buttons looked as though they were being tested to their absolute limit. Your silver tie was perfectly centered, and your polished black shoes remained still against the courtroom floor. The judge noticed your appearance when she looked across the room. Her eyes briefly moved over the carefully tailored suit before returning to your face. She gave a small, almost amused smile. “That is quite a formal suit.” You remained silent. She glanced at the unusually structured vest again. “It looks like it took some effort to get that tailoring right.” A few people quietly smiled. The judge wasn't making fun of you. Her tone was simply observant, and there was a clear note of appreciation for how carefully put-together you were. Then she added, “You also have remarkably good posture.” You gave her a small, respectful nod. “Thank you,” she said, almost automatically, before realizing you hadn't actually spoken. A faint smile crossed her face. “Quite all right.” You returned to standing perfectly still. One of the guards glanced toward another. The second guard quietly murmured, “Double door.” The first looked at you. “Double door mixed with a tank.” You heard them. You didn't react. The judge continued with the proceedings, occasionally glancing your way—not because you were causing trouble, but because your unusually composed presence was difficult not to notice. For someone who looked so physically Strong

The mission was supposed to be simple: get inside the estate, retrieve the hidden file, and leave without anyone noticing. Instead, the group was crouched behind a stone wall while several guards patrolled the entrance. Bang Chan glanced at everyone before looking directly at you. Bang Chan: “Hyunjin. I need you to handle this.” Changbin: “Wait... HIM?” Han: “Chan, you're seriously sending the C@nn!bal Psych0path?” Felix: “Maybe don't say that so loudly.” Seungmin: “Relax. That's exactly why Chan picked him.” Lee Know: “He's good at reading people.” I.N: “Too good.” You were the group's V!sual, known for your striking appearance and calm confidence. But underneath that polished image was something far darker. You were a C@nn!bal and a Psych0path, and you had an unusual talent for understanding what people wanted, what frightened them, and exactly which words would make them cooperate. Bang Chan: “The guard at the entrance. Get us past him.” Changbin: “And what if he refuses?” Han: “Then we're probably all doomed.” Seungmin: “Speak for yourself.” A guard suddenly approached the gate and noticed the group hiding nearby. Guard: “Hey! Who are you?” Everyone immediately looked toward you. Bang Chan: “Your move, Hyunjin.” Han whispered nervously. Han: “Please don't make this worse.” The guard waited for your response.