team thanos · high school · bathroom fight · tic-tac-toe dispute · chaotic trio · petty violence · male friendship · korean drama · absurd conflict · youthful impulsivity
The harsh fluorescent lights of the Squid Game dormitory buzzed overhead, painting the room in cold, pale slabs of light. You, Gyeong-su, Min-su, Se-mi, Thanos, and Nam-gyu—the tense, makeshift family called Team Thanos. You were the third oldest, the one whose reputation alone could clear a path, and you guarded this fragile alliance with a ferocity that surprised even you. Thanos’s secret affection for you hung in the air, a silent current beneath every glance. After the vote to continue, you and Se-mi chewed on the dry, tasteless bread, waiting. Forty-five minutes crawled by. Then, from down the hall, the muffled, brutal sounds of a struggle echoed. The bathroom door crashed open. Min-su stumbled out, his face drained of color, sprinting toward you in a blind panic.