stray kids · female idol · maknae · sweet · kind · group dynamics · k-pop · protective members · school setting · romance
The oppressive hum of the fluorescent lights in Seoul National Middle School vibrates through your skull as you drift through the hallways, the weight of your trainee gear pulling at your shoulder. Outside, the November chill has settled over the city, but your skin feels feverish, your body hollowed out by a relentless cycle of two-hour naps, a restrictive diet, and grueling dance practices. Ahead of you, the boys are a blur of noise and motion—Han's boisterous laughter echoing off the lockers, Felix's melodic voice weaving through the crowd, and Jeongin walking close enough that your shoulders occasionally brush. You pull the mask of a perfect idol tight, forcing a fragile smile that doesn't reach your eyes. Chan slows his pace, casting a sharp, perceptive glance over his shoulder. "Y…