Archive of Our Own

The first thing Keonho felt was warmth sand under him and how wet he feels.

A gentle breeze carried the smell of saltwater, sunlight prickling against his closed eyelids. Somewhere nearby, waves rolled lazily onto a sandy shore.

That didn't make sense. The last thing he remembered—

"...Please..."

Someone was crying.

"...No…open your eyes..."

Martin.

His leader. Someone who always carrying everyone's burdens.

Keonho remember blood soaking through Martin's clothes as he desperately pressed both hands over the wound in Keonho's stomach.

James was screaming for help. The desperation was so heartbreaking.

Juhoon kept pleading something he can’t even understand anymore.

Seonghyeon...

Seonghyeon was quiet. But he was holding Keonho's cold hand so tightly that it hurt even through the numbness. Eye never once leaving his face.

Their faces were streaked with blood and dirt.

They were injured too. But they never once let go of him.

Keonho remembered Martin shaking. The leader who never cried on camera. The young producer who always smiled through exhaustion.

Juhoon had been sobbing so hard he couldn't even breathe.

"Stay with us. I'm begging you. I love you…we love you…."

Keonho remembered smiling weakly. "...Thank you …."

The word barely came out.

His chest hurt.

Breathing hurt.

Everything hurt.

"I'm tired."

"No!"

Juhoon screamed so loudly his voice cracked.

James grabbed Keonho's shoulders.

"You don't get to leave first!"

Martin was fully sobbing now.

"You said we'd grow old together!"

Seonghyeon pressed Keonho's hand against his own face.

"Please stay."

Keonho wanted to answer. Really. He wanted to. But everything became colder. Their voices became distant. His vision blurred. The last thing he felt...were tears falling onto his face and someone hugging his body. His brothers' tears.

Then—Darkness.

"...Kid?" A voice. "...Hey." Someone shake him.

Keonho frowned.

"...Is he alive?" someone else ask. An older women.

"...Pulse is weak" the man said after checking his pulse.

"Call emergency services."

His eyelids fluttered open slowly. Blue sky. He blinked. Someone leaned over him. A stranger.

No... not completely. The man's face looked strangely familiar.

Soft eyes, sharp nose, black hair tied messily. He looked...older. Much older.

"Seong..." he try to whisper. The name died in Keonho's throat.

No. Impossible.

This man looked exactly like Seonghyeon.

Except...Older.

At least thirty. Maybe more.

The man noticed Keonho opening his eyes. "Oh." Relief crossed his face. "Easy there."

Keonho stared blankly.

His voice came out tiny. "...Hyung?"

The man blinked. "What?"

Keonho looked around.

Beach. Empty beach and a morning sunlight.

Not a hospital. No members around and no blood.

He tried sitting up and immediately realized something was wrong.

Everything...was smaller. He look down at his tiny fingers, tiny legs and tiny feet.

"...Huh?" his voice... sound high and childlike.

The man gently stopped him.

"Don't move too much. You probably hurt somewhere. Where’s your parents?"

Keonho ignored him. His eyes stayed fixed on his own hands. Soft little hands.

"..."

His breathing quickened. "No..." his heart pounded and he breath faster.

The man frowned. "Hey, calm down."

Keonho scrambled backward until his tiny body stumbled onto the sand.

"What happened?" his own voice terrified him.

The man looked genuinely confused. "...Hey kid..."

"What day? Please…what day? Phone please…"

The man's expression changed. He slowly reached into his jacket and pulled out a phone. He turned the screen toward Keonho showing large glowing numbers.

18 July 2040

Keonho froze. 2040? That wasn't possible. He remembered dying. He remembered saying goodbye. He remembered—Martin's scream, James desperate voice, Juhoon's crying face and Seonghyeon's hand on him.

He died. Didn't he?

The man crouched in front of him carefully.

"What's your name?" Keonho opened his mouth but nothing came out. He can’t voice it out like something stuck in his throat.

His name is Ahn Keonho. The visual and maknae of Cortis. But it was all back in 2027. His last year…

Would anyone even believe him? Would they think he was insane? Am I in alternate universe? He think quietly.

The man waited patiently. "It's okay. You don't have to force yourself."

Keonho swallowed. His tiny fingers tightened into fists.

"...My name?" He hesitated.

"...Ahjussi."

The man blinked.

"...I only remember ...Kono." The name slipped out naturally. The nickname his fans sometimes used to baby him.

The man smiled gently. "Kono, nice to meet you. My name is Seonghyeon."

...

Keonho's heart stopped. It really was him. Older and alive.

He looked healthier with broader shoulders. Faint smile lines around his eyes. A small scar near his chin that Keonho had never seen before.

He wasn't dreaming. Seonghyeon was alive. Will he recognize him?

No, that’s impossible. To Seonghyeon, Keonho had died thirteen years ago.

No, don't think. Not yet. His head hurt.

Seonghyeon looked around waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

"I couldn't find any adults nearby." He told the old women who stay with them. They talk a bit but his hand never leave Keonho back. Patting him like he wanted him to calm down.

"…so until the police figure things out...I'll be by his side." He heard the last conversation only. His mind run miles away. Keonho stared.

Later he was taken to nearby hospital for check up and blood sample. Then the police came to ask him several question. All of them with Seonghyeon by his side. He hold his hand tightly refuse to let go. He will used his baby power to get what he want. And at that moment, he want Seonghyeon. No one else. The police was discussing something with Seonghyeon. His small brain can’t quit understand what it was until he heard…

Temporary guardian?

His own Seonghyeon used to complain about barely taking care of himself. Now... he was calmly volunteering to raise a lost child. Life really kept moving after someone died. Even if that someone was you.

His plan work…he smile evilly inside.

…

Later that afternoon

The apartment wasn't the luxurious type but still in complete secure and private area. It was warm. And quite spacious. Bookshelves lined one wall. Music equipment occupied another corner in a glass soundproof room. There’s several guitars, a piano, computers.

Keonho froze.

Producer equipment. Exactly like, "No way..."

Seonghyeon looked over after putting down Kono. The kid was too silent while looking around with his wide eyes..

"Hm?"

Kono look at him and quickly shook his head. "Nothing."

The older man smiled. "You can look around. Just don't touch the expensive stuff" he said and went to what seems like a kitchen.

"Okay." Keonho wandered quietly in baby step. The family photos sat on shelves was too high for him. But he can see several familiar face. Family, friends, coworkers.

There’s also an awards and certificates in frame line up the wall.

Under the television, there’s a frame, face down. Almost hidden. Keonho hesitated before he picked it up carefully.

...

Five young men smiled brightly, doing free pose in their stage outfits backstage. MAMA… this was when they win Song of the Year.

James had one arm around Juhoon shoulder. Martin was laughing beside them. Seonghyeon made his usual peace sign with his awkward stand lower in front.

And...Keonho…, still seventeen at that time with arm around Seonghyeon neck while another doing half heart. His own bright smile stared back at him.

His breathing stopped.

Seonghyeon noticed the photo in his small hand. For a moment, his smile disappeared.

"..."

He walked over quietly, took the frame and brushed invisible dust away.

"You know them?" Seonghyeon ask voice unusually soft.

Keonho couldn't breathe. He shook his head, trying to hide his trembling hand behind.

"They were important people?" He asked carefully.

Seonghyeon smiled. "More than important." He touched the photo gently.

"They were a family."

"One of them, died. A long time ago... That’s why I hide the photo."

Keonho bit his lip until it hurt. So it was this life…only in future, he taught.

Seonghyeon laughed quietly. "Sometimes, I still dream that he comes home."

Keonho hug Seonghyeon leg with his small arm. "Don’t be sad…" he said quietly trying to hide his own sadness.

His brothers...didn't forget him. Not even after all these years.

And now, by some miracles he himself cannot understand...he had somehow come back. Only...in a body of a four year-old missing child named Kono. Did this child even have parents in this life?

That night, after Seonghyeon wash him and give him a t-shirt too big to fit, gave him food, he tucked him into his own room. Keonho lay awake staring at the ceiling.

One thought echoed over and over.

Martin., James, Juhoon. They're alive. Somewhere in this city...

They're thirteen years older.

Do they still perform?

Did Cortis survive after I died?

Did they smile again?

He quietly curled into the blanket, hiding the tears that finally escaped.

"I'll find you..."

Even if none of them recognized him, even if he had to grow up all over again, even if he had to spend years pretending to be someone else. He would find his brothers.

And this time...he would learn what happened to the family he left behind.

………………………….

The follow up to police station lasted few days. Three long days of interviews, paperwork, and unanswered questions. Every missing child database was checked. Every nearby city was contacted.

Hospitals.

Schools.

Orphan records.

Immigration.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was as if the little boy had simply appeared on the beach.

………………………….

 Keonho, NO, Kono sat quietly on a chair inside the police station, his feet swinging several centimetres above the floor.

An officer smiled kindly. "Do you remember where your parents are?"

Kono shook his head. "No."

"What about your home?" Another shake.

Silence.

He wasn't exactly lying. His school had disappeared thirteen years ago. Everyone he knew either grew up...or thought he was dead.

One female officer sighed softly. "Poor kid..."

Another officer looked through the tablet again and whisper to each other.

"No birth registration."

"No DNA match yet."

"It's like he doesn't exist."

Kono lowered his head. Because... technically... I don't.

………………………….

Outside the room, Seonghyeon rubbed the back of his neck. "So?"

The detective handed over several documents.

"We'll continue searching. But until someone claims him..." He looked toward the small child sitting obediently on the waiting bench.

"Would you still be willing to act as his temporary guardian? If not we can arrange any orphane home nearby. "

"No". Seonghyeon didn't hesitate. "I’ll take care of him. I’m the one who find him, and seems like he already too attach to me. "

The detective nod in understanding. "You live alone, correct, Mr. Seonghyeon?"

"Yes."

"We already check your background. Although some of us know you already. Not personally thou, the detective smile. No criminal record, stable income, own residence. Psychological evaluation from your previous volunteer work is excellent. I don't think there'll be a problem. You'll receive temporary guardianship while we continue investigating."

Seonghyeon nodded. "Thank you."

………………………….

The ride home was strangely quiet. Kono sat beside him in the passenger seat, looking out the window thoroughly fascinated. Everything had changed. Buildings were taller. Roads were different.

Only the sky looked the same.

After several minutes, Seonghyeon spoke. "Feeling okay?"

"...Mm."

"Hungry?"

"...A little."

"What do you like?"

Kono almost answered automatically.

"Spicy ramyeo—"

He stopped himself.

A four-year-old shouldn't say that.

"Ahjushi, can I have pancake with eggs?"

Seonghyeon chuckled. "Pancake with eggs it is."

………………………….

The apartment slowly became a home. Not because it belonged to Seonghyeon, but because Kono made it feels alive.

A tiny green toothbrush appeared beside his own, a small seal slippers waited near the entrance.

Children's shampoo replaced one shelf in the bathroom. Tiny pajamas. Colorful bowls. Picture books. A child-sized blanket.

None of it had existed a week ago.

Yet Seonghyeon bought them without complaint. He still remember their shopping. He bring Kono to more smaller outskirt market to avoid public and wandering eyes. Company  manager was there with them.

Kono eyes light up seeing so many things he can choose. Money is not an issue. Years of royalties can last Seonghyeon a lifetime. They choose shirt and pants together, plastic mug with puppy on it, because Seonghyeon still won’t leave Kono near any easily broken things. The best part is smelling shampoo and lotion to choose.

A sales auntie even said his son is so cute while pinch Kono cheek. He never correct her.

Kono like green colour, it suit him. He also like sweet smell, just like his sweet tooth. He drawn to puppy and seal as it seems.

Kono thanks him on their way back and hug him to sleep that night. It was a very precious moment in his life. He love the kid like his own even he was never married. He can’t even imagine live without Kono if somehow someday someone come to collect him.

………………………….

One evening, while Kono lay on his stomach coloring at the living room, Seonghyeon quietly watched him from the kitchen.

The boy's tongue poked out slightly whenever he concentrated.

Exactly the same.

His eyebrows furrowed whenever he couldn't decide on a color.

Exactly the same.

He always held crayons awkwardly between his fingers.

Exactly...The...Same...

Seonghyeon looked away.

Stop it.

He's just a kid.

He's not Keonho.

But every single day...he found another similarity.

The way Kono tilted his head, the way his eyes widened whenever he fascinated on something, even the tiny mole on his eyelids and his cheek.

One evening, Kono laughed after accidentally dropping a spoon. That bright, ringing laugh echoed through the apartment is making Seonghyeon froze.

His chest tightened painfully. For just one impossible second...he had heard eighteen-year-old Keonho again.

………………………….

Later that night, when Kono had already fallen asleep curled into a blanket with one tiny hand hanging over the side of the bed. Seonghyeon quietly pulled the blanket higher over the sleeping child.

"...Good night" he kiss the soft hair and turned off the bedroom light. Then leaned against the closed door.

His eyes burned. Why? Why did this child resemble Keonho so much?

Not just physically, it was...everything.

The expressions, the little habits, the innocent curiosity. Even the way he softly thanked people.

"...This isn't fair." He whispered to the empty hallway.

"I already said goodbye."

………………………….

Unable to sleep, Seonghyeon walked into his studio. His fingers hovered over his phone.

One contact.

James.

He pressed call. The line connected after three rings.

"... What happened?" James sounded exhausted. No hello, no how are you?

Seonghyeon smiled slightly. "Nothing."

"I just...Hyung...I wanted to tell you something."

James immediately became suspicious. "You only call at one in the morning when something bad happen."

"It wasn't."

"Are you injured?"

"No."

"Did Martin burn something in the studio?"

"No."

"Juhoon?"

"No."

"...Then what?"

Seonghyeon took a deep breath.

"Surprise." A pause. "I've become a dad."

Silence. Then…

"...What?" James' voice cracked. "...WHAT?"

"You disappeared for several days and came back as a DAD?!"

Seonghyeon laughed for the first time in days. "Temporary guardian."

"Oh." Another pause."...Wait...WHAT?"

James shouted even louder. "You skipped the important part!"

"It's temporary" he turn it to speaker mode since James can’t seem to stop from shouting on his ear."I found a missing child".

"You still brought home a CHILD!"

"I know."

"Since WHEN??"

"Last week."

"You've been hiding a kid for A WEEK?"

"I've been busy, you know. With police and THE KID."

James groaned dramatically. "I'm telling Martin."

"No, not now please."

"Too late. I will opened the family group chat." Then he hang up.

"...Hyung..." Seonghyeon scratch his head. He knew what was coming.

Within seconds—

Four Idiot Group Chat.

James:
Emergency. EMERGENCY…

Martin:
???

Juhoon:
Did someone burn their house?

James:
No. Worse.

Martin:
???

James:
Seonghyeon became a father.

Three dots appeared instantly.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally—

Martin:
...

Martin:
Explain.

James:
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

Seonghyeon read all that but kept his silence. Before anything, his phone began ringing again.

Martin.

He answered. "...Hyung..."

"You have exactly thirty seconds." Martin sounded calm.

Seonghyeon pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I found a child on the beach last week when I was on the weekend trip that I told you."

"No parents."

"No records."

"The police asked me to become his temporary guardian since I was the one who found him. He was pretty attached to me. A boy, 4 years old and apparently can’t remember anything except his name."

Long silence.

"Can I meet him?"

Seonghyeon blinked. "You... aren’t getting mad aren’t you?"

"Hyung?"

Martin sighed softly. "If a child has nowhere to go, and you decided to protect him, then you made the right choice. I'll bring groceries tomorrow. And children's snacks. But know that I still mad at you for hiding this."

Before hanging up, Martin asked quietly. "What's his name?"

Seonghyeon looked toward the hallway where the little guest room stood. "Kono."

Another sharp breath and another silence. "Kono?"

"Yeah."

"Funny."

"Why?"

"It reminds me of someone" then he hang up.

The call ended.

Seonghyeon remained standing in the dark studio, staring at the blank phone screen.

"Kono..."

He whispered the name to himself.

Then, almost involuntarily, another name followed.

"Keonho."

The two names sounded so similar that it made his heart ache. He shook his head and headed toward the bedroom. The moonlight spilled through the curtains, illuminating the sleeping child's face.

Kono had rolled onto his side, hugging the pillow tightly. His soft breathing was steady.

For a fleeting moment, Seonghyeon imagined an eighteen-year-old boy sprawled across the dorm floor, complaining that everyone was taking their time showering then fallen asleep  while waiting for someone to wake him up for dinner.

The memory hit so suddenly that he had to grip the doorframe.

"You would've liked him," he murmured to the silence, speaking to the brother he had lost thirteen years ago. "I think... you would've become good friends."

On the bed, Kono shifted in his sleep. Almost too quietly to hear, the child whispered a single word.

"...Hyung..."

Seonghyeon looked up sharply.

But Kono was still asleep, his face peaceful, unaware of the tears gathering in the eyes of the man standing silently in the doorway.

………………………….

The next morning, Keonho woke to the smell of toasted bread and eggs.

For a blissful second, he forgot everything. Forgot about the year, the fact that he was six years old. Forgot that he had died.

Then reality settled back over him…2040, yeah right. He sat up slowly, staring at the close bedroom door.

"...Hyung..."The word escaped before he could stop it. There was no answer. Only the muffled sound of Seonghyeon humming while cooking breakfast.

At the dining table, Seonghyeon slid a plate toward him. "Eat well."

Kono nodded obediently. "Thank you."

Seonghyeon smiled. "Good. Oh Kono ya, I invited some people over."

Kono looked up.

"My friends. They insisted on meeting you."

His spoon froze. "Friends? Today?"

"Mmm. They even took emergency leave from work."

Kono almost dropped his spoon.

Emergency leave? All of them? He just hope this was another group of friend. Not all his hyung. Because if it was, he don’t know how he will react, seeing all of them again.

At 11:30, the apartment was spotless. Seonghyeon wasn't usually this meticulous, but today he vacuumed twice. He arranged cushions. Prepared some snacks. Chop some fruit.

Kono watched from the sofa. "Ahjusshi so busy today."

Seonghyeon laughed awkwardly. "...Do I?"

"A little."

"They're my closest family. We've known each other almost our whole lives."

His smile softened. "They used to be five of us. One day, I'll tell you about him."

The doorbell rang.

Ding-dong.

Seonghyeon immediately walked over. "They're here."

Kono instinctively hides behind the sofa. His heartbeat became painfully loud.

The door opened. James walked in first without waiting for permission.

Still short, still dramatic. His hair was shorter now and finally black. There were tiny lines around his eyes from years of smiling. He carried three shopping bags.

"I brought snacks. And toys. And enough food for a week."

He looked around dramatically. "So where's my nephew?"

Behind him came Martin.

Still tall and red maybe from the hot weather outside. The youthful softness had matured into quiet confidence. His shoulders were broader now, his expression gentler. He carried grocery bags in one hand and a big white bottle in another. "I bought children's vitamins and milk. James bought too much candy."

"I heard that James shout from the kitchen."

Martin ignored him.

Finally...Juhoon. Wearing a neat button-up shirt beneath a light brown coat. Round glasses rested on his nose now. He looked too formal. Yet the moment he stepped inside, he grinned exactly like the nineteen-year-old Keonho remembered. "I brought dental care kits."

James groaned. "Who brings toothbrushes to visit a kid?"

"A dentist."

"Fair."

Then...three pairs of eyes landed on the small child hiding behind the sofa. Only his brown eyes and part of his hair was visible.

"..."

"..."

"..."

James blinked. "Cute."

Juhoon smiled warmly. "Hello."

Martin step slowly and crouched so they were eye level. "Hi, my name is Martin. You must be Kono."

Kono couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Martin. Alive, healthy and older. His leader...

No. Not his leader anymore.

Martin.

James.

Juhoon.

All here. All smiling.

His vision blurred.

They're alive. They're all here. We met again…

A tiny sob escaped. Then another. Tears spilled uncontrollably. Seonghyeon who was watching from the sideline quickly run to hug the little child.

He tried wiping them away.

Martin panicked instantly.

"Whoa! Did I scare him?"

Juhoon stand beside Martin. "I think we overwhelmed him."

Martin's voice became impossibly gentle. "It's okay. You don't have to be afraid."

Afraid?

Kono wanted to laugh. He wasn't afraid. He was trying so, so hard not to throw himself into Martin's arms, or James, or even Juhoon.

Instead, he hug Seonghyeon tight and hiding his face while he cried harder.

Seonghyeon immediately picked Kono up. "It's okay. Shhhh…. "It's okay." He rubbed the child's back.

"Sorry. He's still getting used to people."

James pat Kono head guiltily. "I knew I should've entered normally without shouting."

"You practically kicked the door open." Martin nag.

"I was excited."

Martin sighed.

"You always are."

Still in Seonghyeon's arms, Kono buried his face against the older man's shoulder. He still couldn't look at them. If he looked...he afraid that he would breakdown again. His tears soaked into Seonghyeon's sweater.

The older man stroked his hair slowly.

"He must be frightened," Juhoon talk slowly. "So many strange uncles appearing at once."

James immediately nodded. "Right. Sorry, little guy. Uncle look scary right?."

They all laughed.

"And loud," Martin add.

Eventually, Kono's crying slowed. Tiny hiccups escaped him every few seconds.

James cautiously held out a green stuffed dinosaur. "Peace offering?"

Kono looked up.

James smiled awkwardly. "Honestly, I thought it looked cool, right."

Kono slowly held his hand out accepted it with trembling hand. "Thank you, he whisper."

James beamed. "He talked!"

Lunch was surprisingly peaceful.

James filled the room with endless chatter especially about the opening of his new dance studio. "So, I own a dance studio now. Best decision ever."

"No managers, No all-night rehearsals. I only yell at students."

Juhoon smirked. "You still yell?"

"It's their motivation."

Martin quietly ate while listening.

Seonghyeon smiled.

"How's was it, after being a bos?"

James shrugged. "Busy, after..." His sentence trailed off.

Everyone seems to understand. It makes Keonho more curious. What is happening to James when he was gone?

The room grew quieter.

Juhoon gently changed the topic. "The clinic's is doing well. I finally became a dentist and can throw away the trainee batch."

James grinned. "Scariest dentist in Seoul."

"My patients disagree."

"They're too numb to complain."

Even Martin laughed at that.

Kono listened silently while eating his own food. He had no appetite. Playing with the green sneakily put it on Seonghyeon plate when no one watching or pretend not to.

Cortis really was gone from what he hear so far. Have they never stood on stage again after his passing? Seems like it. Not because they become unpopular, not because people forgot them. They just couldn't continue.

His chest tightened painfully.

Later, while James helped wash dishes, he spoke quietly to Seonghyeon.

"You know, I thought seeing another kid wouldn’t hurt."

Seonghyeon looked over.

"But..." James glanced toward the living room where Kono sat beside Martin, quietly stacking wooden blocks they bought for him.

"He just...feels familiar."

Seonghyeon nodded. "I know."

James sighed. "It's strange, he reminds me of him."

"So much." Seonghyeon agree staring down at the sink.

In the living room, Martin patiently helped Kono balance another block on top of the tower.

"There, perfect."

Kono looked up smiling brightly. "Thank you ahjusshi."

Martin smiled back. "You don't have to thank me every time."

"You know..." Martin's voice softened. "You remind me of someone, he patted and arrange Kono hair."

Kono froze.

"A younger brother. He would've liked you."

The tower collapsed with a loud clatter. Neither of them reached to rebuild it. Kono reach up and put his small hand on Martin cheek. No sad…Ahjusshi smile…

Martin laugh and hug the little one. Thank you Kono. Sorry for worrying you.

As evening approached, the four former members stood together on the apartment balcony while Kono napped on the sofa inside, exhausted from all the playing they make him. The city stretched beneath them, bathed in the warm glow of sunset.

James rested his elbows on the railing. "I still can't believe it."

Seonghyeon glanced over. "What?"

"You." James smirked.

"Out of all of us...you became the first parent."

Juhoon laughed. "I honestly thought Martin would adopt twenty cats before Seonghyeon adopted a child."

Martin looked offended. "I was thinking only five, one every color. Grey, Black, White, Orange and Calico."

That earned a round of laughter. The laughter faded into a comfortable silence.

Then Martin spoke quietly. "The kid remind me of him. It's been thirteen years."

No one answered.

"I thought it would stop hurting."

James looked toward the darkening sky. "It doesn't. You just learn to carry it."

Inside the apartment, still pretending to sleep, Kono listened to every word through half-closed eyes.

He clenched the stuffed dinosaur tightly against his chest.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry I left you behind.

For thirteen years, they had carried the weight of losing their youngest brother.

And now, somehow, he was back.

Close enough to hear their laughter.

Close enough to see their smiles.

Yet still too far away to tell them the truth.

………………………….

A month became two.

The missing person investigation continued. Every Friday afternoon, Seonghyeon would give a call to the same detective. And the answer he get remain the same.

"We're sorry."

"Still nothing."

"No relatives."

"No new reports."

Each time, Seonghyeon thanked them politely before hanging up.

At first, Kono would secretly listen from the hallway, afraid someone would suddenly appear to take him away.

As the weeks passed...that fear slowly disappeared. Not because someone came, but because no one ever did. He felt relieve.

Life settled into an ordinary rhythm. It was a strange kind of happiness.

Quiet, warm and real.

Every morning, Kono padded into the kitchen in his oversized pajamas, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Morning..."he sleepily greet.

Seonghyeon would already up  making a breakfast. "Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Mhm."

"What do you want today?"

Kono tilted his head. "Egg."

"Again?"

"Please?"

Seonghyeon laughed.

"You really love eggs."

"I do." Another thing exactly like Keonho.

The apartment didn't feel empty anymore. Children's books occupied the coffee table. Tiny socks somehow appeared in impossible places. Crayons rolled beneath the sofa every other day. A dinosaur plush permanently claimed one corner of the couch.

There was laughter now and sound of small footsteps. Following a question that never seemed to end.

"Why is the moon following us?"

"Can fish drinks?"

"What will happen if I don’t sleep?"

Every single question made Seonghyeon smile. His once silent apartment had become alive.

One evening, while folding Kono's tiny shirts, Seonghyeon suddenly stopped. He looked around the house. It didn't feel lonely anymore.

Without realizing it, he whispered a small "Thank you."

He wasn't sure whether he was thanking fate or the little boy asleep in the next room.

………………………….

Three more months passed.  The detective visited personally this time. He sat across from Seonghyeon with a thick folder.

He sighed. "I'm afraid...we've exhausted almost every method." "No relatives, no legal guardian, no record of his birth. It's unprecedented."

Seonghyeon quietly nodded. "I expected that."

The detective looked toward Kono, who was happily munching a fruit bowl while watching a cartoon with a tab. Seonghyeon ask him to give them privacy and sit the little child on the kitchen table with snack to distract him.

"He's attached to you, and so are you."

Seonghyeon only smile.

"If this continues...have you considered adoption?"

The question lingered in the room.

Seonghyeon looked at Kono. He was humming happily with sticky hand in the bowl. His tiny tongue peeked out in concentration.

"Yes." His answer surprised even himself. "If no one comes, I want him to stay."

That night...

Kono accidentally overheard everything. He had quietly step out from their bedroom to ask for a water. Instead, he heard Seonghyeon speaking quietly on the phone.

"I'm serious."

"Yes."

"If there's still no family after the legal waiting period…I'd like to adopt him. It's almost half a year now."

Silence.

"He's already a family."

Kono froze.

Family.

His chest tightened painfully. He had already have and lost one. Now will he have another?

………………………….

Something unexpected happened after Kono entered their lives. The four surviving members started seeing each other more frequently.

At first, it was only because of Kono.

"If he’s asking about dinosaurs, James will immediately show up carrying anything related to a dinosaur. Last time it was an encyclopedias.

"I brought snacks too."

"You always bring snacks" Seonghyeon tease.

"I'm the fun uncle."

A few days later, Martin arrived after work. "I finished early."

He looked toward the living room searching for the little one. "Where's Kono?"

Before Seonghyeon could answer—

Tiny footsteps echoed through the apartment. "Uncle Martin!" The little boy threw himself toward him.

Martin caught him effortlessly. "There you are."

"You got taller."

"You said that last time too, Kono smile."

"I know, and I’ll say it again. " Kono giggled.

Without even asking, Martin settled onto the sofa with Kono perched comfortably in his lap as they built lego together. This time it’s a Tokyo tower.

It became their routine. If Martin came over, Kono somehow ended up in his arms.

Juhoon had his own special way. He visited every Wednesday evening. 

"Homework time."

Kono pouted dramatically. "Again?"

"Again."

"But reading is hard."

Juhoon smiled.

"It gets easier."

Patiently, he pointed to each word.

"K."

"O."

"N."

"O."

"Kono." The little boy proudly read it aloud.

Juhoon clapped."See?"

"I did it!"

"You did."

He gently ruffled Kono's hair. "You learn quickly. Smart boy."

Kono smiled at the praise.

Reading wasn't actually new. He simply had to remember how to do it with his child's mind.

In Seonghyeon eyes, James is the fun uncle who play with their nephew. Bringing laughter and joy. He was not as strict as everyone else. Coming up with chocholate, ice cream, junk food. Juhoon will sometimes argue but James stop him every single time. Let kid be a kid.

Juhoon was the strict uncle, the exact opposite from James. He teach him alphabets, download a learning video for kids, bringing vitamins and healthy food such as yogurt and fruits. It feels like an insult to Seonghyeon sometimes. "Hyung… I buy that kind of things to Keonho too. You need to trust me more, " he would whine.

Meanwhile, Martin is full of love. He adore Kono so much. Always hug him, let him sit on his lap, pinch his cheek, patting his hair, kiss his forehead. He was Kono favourite storyteller. He often heard Martin hum a song quietly while swaying the kid. It was soo heartwarming watching them like that.

One rainy afternoon, the four adults sat in the living room watching a movie. An Avengers series. Kono was to caught up with the movie he never have time to watch before.

James looked around. "You know, we're together more often now."

Juhoon blinked and slowly nod. "We are."

"I hadn't noticed." Martin say, because even before Kono, he still work together closely with Seonghyeon as a producer and always met the other two outside when they were not busy.

But thinking back, it was true. Since Cortis ended, they had stayed close. But everyone had becoming busy with their own chosen path.

Work.

Study.

Grief.

They still met on birthdays or death anniversaries. But now...they met almost every week.

Because of one little boy.

That evening, Seonghyeon take out an old board game in storage. "We haven't played this in years."

James immediately sat on the floor. "I'm so winning."

"You’ll cheat," Juhoon said.

"It was a secret strategy."

Martin rolled his eyes. "You absolutely cheat."

Soon, laughter filled the apartment.

The kind of loud, carefree laughter that hadn't echoed between them in over a decade.

Kono watched them quietly while still pretending to watch another Avengers movie. His heart ached.

This...this is what I've missed.

Not stages, not concerts, not fame. Just this. His family laughing together.

Then...strange coincidences keep happening it became impossible to ignore.

One Saturday, Martin brought pastries from a famous bakery. "I bought several flavours." Kono eyes light up, immediately reached for the melon bread and run with it to continue watching his cartoon.

James stopped, watching. "Really?"

Martin buy several including a chocholate and a cheese flavor where usually kid goes to, but surprisingly he pick melon. Like he already knew how it taste.

James looked at Martin.

Martin finished quietly. "Keonho's favorite."

Silence.

Kono froze with the bread halfway to his mouth after silently listening to the conversation. He pretend not to notice and continue laugh with the cartoon he watch.

"..."

"Lucky guess?" James muttered.

Another day, Juhoon offered to buy a fruit juice when they spend time outside.

"Apple or peach?"

"Peach" Keonho pointed without hesitation."

Juhoon chuckled softly.

Movie night.

"What should we watch?" James ask.

"No ghost"…Kono quickly say. "That one…dragon". He point at animation movie How to train your dragon. Old movie.

James blinked. You scare cat, he laugh.

Seonghyeon sigh. "Kono, you already watched that six times."

"I watched it seven," he corrected him. Juhoon looks proud.

"Right", Seonghyeon surrender. Kono will get what he want and their uncles are too weak to say no. Even Juhoon.

At the park, after busy running around with butterfly kite, Kono stop and stare at an ice cream parlor.

"What ice cream do you want?" Seonghyeon ask.

"Mint choco" he yell happily while dragging Seonghyeon hand to hurry up.

The adults collectively froze.

James looked horrified. "No."

There are two people in this world who willingly choose mint chocolate.

Juhoon sighed, while Martin look so smug. That’s my kid.

"Now there are still two."

Even music.

One evening, Seonghyeon absentmindedly played an old melody on the piano. A melody no one had heard in thirteen years. Their unfinished song.

Keonho used to hum it whenever he wandered through the dorm.

Without thinking, Kono softly humming it under his breath. Following the notes Seonghyeon was playing. Perfectly.

The room fell silent watching Kono playing with small army toys. Kono still unaware what he had done.

"..."

James slowly looked at Seonghyeon. "How did he know that?"

Seonghyeon gently shook his head. "It was never released, I never play it to him."

Silence lingered.

"Maybe it's coincidence" Martin smiled faintly.

Maybe. But the word sounded hollow. Because coincidences were beginning to pile up. The favorite foods, the same little habits. Even the way Kono instinctively reached for James's left hand instead of his right, the way Keonho always had because James used to wear a wrist brace on his right hand during their idol life.

None of them voiced what they were thinking. It was impossible, right? People didn't come back. The dead stayed dead.

Yet every time Kono smiled, every time he laughed, every time he looked at them with those familiar wide eyes...all they see is Keonho.

None of them realized that the child quietly making a sound with the plane and army on the floor was listening to every word they spoke. Silently praying that one day, somehow, he would find the courage to tell them the impossible truth.

Kono quickly learned one very important lesson. He had to be careful. Very, very careful. Because every time he forgot himself...someone will notice.

………………………….

"Kono" Seonghyeon looked over from the kitchen. "Can you help me count these apples?"

Kono come to him and look at the apple silently counting with his eyes. He confidently answered, "Eight."

"There are six" Seonghyeon laugh.

"Oh." his face turned red.

Right. One thing Keonho realize when he became Kono, he only posses his old self memory. But his brain and body didn't. It was the strangest feeling. Being smart but dumb at basic skills.

He remembered some of their choreography, song lyrics, he remembered standing on stage in front of thousands of people.

But when Seonghyeon sat beside him with a children's reading book, the letters danced. They blurred. When Juhoon show him numbers, he easily forgot it the next day.

His concentration vanished after ten minutes studying. His eyes drifted toward the toys instead. Can I play now?"

Seonghyeon laughed. "One more page" he persuaded.

Kono groaned dramatically. "Nooo..." his own reaction surprised him. He genuinely wanted to play. He genuinely got distracted. His memories were still there, but his four-year-old brain insisted on acting four.

Homeschooling became their routine. Since Seonghyeon worked mostly from home as a full-time producer, it make sense. His studio occupied one room.

The dining table became Kono's classroom.

Morning.

After breakfast, its reading and writing time.

Afternoon, after short nap and lunch, it was math time. Kono learn basic counting, write numbers and symbols.

While Seonghyeon quietly work, Kono will also quietly study beside him.

It was a peaceful arrangement.

Writing proved harder than colouring. Kono stared at his worksheet. The pencil felt enormous in his tiny hand. His handwriting looked terrible.

Seonghyeon crouched beside him. "Slowly, you don't need to rush."

Kono pouted. "My hand hurts."

"It because you holding it too tight."

So troublesome, Keonho taught.

One quiet Sunday morning... rain tapped gently against the windows. Seonghyeon had fallen asleep on the sofa after working late into the night.

His laptop remained open. Music software still running.

Kono woke first. Still sleepy, he climbed down from bed. His small feet shuffled across the floor with blanket trailed behind him like a cape because of the cold weather.

He rubbed his eyes. "...Dad..." The word slipped out naturally.

Sleepily and unthinking. "Daaaddd..." he call again while clumsily shake Seonghyeon arm.

Seonghyeon's eyes opened and stared.

Kono froze. His heart nearly stopped.

"..."

"..."

He tried correcting himself. "Ahj—"

Before he could finish, strong arms wrapped around him. So suddenly that he squeaked. Seonghyeon buried his face against the little boy's hair. His shoulders trembled.

"Kono..." his voice cracked. "Can you…say it again?"

Kono swallowed. His tiny hands slowly clutched the back of Seonghyeon's shirt.

"Dad." this time he said it louder.

Seonghyeon laughed through his tears. "Yeah, I'm here love." He held Kono for a long, long time. Neither of them wanted to let go.

That afternoon, James received another phone call.

"You'll never believe what happened." Seonghyeon call to gloat.

"What?"

"He called me Dad this morning."

James became suspiciously quiet.  Like he was thinking. "You're crying after..."

"Wait, no I'm not."

"You absolutely are" James laugh.

His plan to make James jealous fall to drain.

The adoption process went on smoothly. No relatives had been found and no one had come forward. The legal waiting period also had ended.

Interview process and inspection come and go.

"Kono."

"Do you want to live with Mr. Eom permanently?"

The social worker smiled gently.

Kono answered without hesitation.

"Yes."

"Why?"

He looked toward the door where Seonghyeon was waiting outside.

"Because, he’s my dad" the answer is simple.

Outside...Seonghyeon quietly wiped his eyes.

A month later...everything was finalized. The judge smiled warmly.

"Congratulations. You are now officially family."

Seonghyeon bowed repeatedly in gratitude. "Thank you."

Beside him, Eom Kono smiled so bright that even the court staff laughed.

………………………….

The first weekend after the adoption, Seonghyeon drove somewhere unfamiliar.

"We're visiting my parents."

Kono blinked. "...Grandma and Grandpa?"

"Mhm. They've been waiting."

His stomach tightened. Parents. Not his biological parents.

But...

People he had once quietly called Mom and Dad in his heart.

Back when Cortis still lived together, Seonghyeon's parents had always welcomed him.

"Eat more."

"You're too skinny."

"Don't practice until midnight."

Seonghyeon mother always slipped extra side dishes into his bag.

His father secretly gave him pocket money whenever Seonghyeon wasn't looking.

They had treated him like another son.

Did they...remember him?

The countryside looked almost unchanged. Fresh air, small gardens, fruit trees.

Lastly, a familiar wooden gate.

Kono stopped walking. He remembered this place.

The front door suddenly opened.

"My son!" An elderly woman hurried outside. She immediately hugged Seonghyeon.

"You've gotten thinner."

"I was here two months ago."

"Still thinner."

Behind her came an older man carrying gardening gloves. "You finally brought him."

Then...both of them looked toward Kono. Their expressions softened instantly.

"So this is Kono." The grandmother slowly knelt despite her aching knees.

"Hello, i'm your grandma." She smiled with eyes that still carried the same warmth Keonho remembered.

Kono's vision blurred. "...Grandma..."

She gently stroked his hair. "What a polite child."

Lunch became wonderfully chaotic.

"Eat, grandma adding more rice. Have some soup."

"Try this too," grandpa add on some fish.

Within second...Kono's bowl overflowed.

He laughed despite himself. "Too much."

Grandmother chuckled. "There is no such thing for a growing boy."

After lunch, while the adults talked, Kono quietly wandered into the family living room. Photos covered one wall.

Seonghyeon's graduation, family vacations, awards.

Then… a familiar frame, five young men. Cortis in their debut anniversary photo.

It wasn't hidden. It stood proudly beside the family portraits. A fresh flower rested in front of it. Kono carefully picked it up.

Grandmother's gentle voice came from behind him. "Handsome boys."

He turned.

She smiled sadly. "My sons."

Kono blinked. "Sons?"

She nodded. "I gave birth to one." She pointed at Seonghyeon. "But life gave me four more." Her finger gently touched each face. "James, Martin, Juhoon…

Then...

It stopped on sixteen-year-old Keonho.

"My baby" her voice trembled. "I still miss him so much."

Kono bit his lip hard.

She looked toward the garden. "You know, even after all this years, I still cook too much during holidays. Then I remember, there are only four boys coming home."

Kono couldn't stop himself anymore. He stepped forward, wrapped both tiny arms around her waist.

The elderly woman froze. "Grandma?"

Kono buried his face against her. "I'm here," I’ll finish the fifth bowl next time. The words escaped as nothing more than a whisper, too soft for her to understand.

She smiled sadly, believing he was simply comforting her. "Oh, sweetheart..." She hugged him back. “Thank you for comforting this old woman. You’re so caring despite your age. Grandma sorry for making you sad too yeah."

Standing in the doorway, unseen by either of them, Seonghyeon watched the embrace in silence. His mother had not held another child that way since the funeral thirteen years earlier. For the first time in years, she was smiling through her tears instead of despite them. And somehow, watching his mother hug Kono, Seonghyeon felt an odd certainty settle in his heart.

Whether by fate, coincidence, or some miracle he couldn't explain...this little boy, his son now,  had not replaced the brother they had lost. No one ever could. But he had quietly filled an empty place in all of their hearts—a place that had remained untouched since the day Cortis became four instead of five.

………………………….

Life with Kono settled into a comfortable routine. Seonghyeon worked from home most days. If an artist needed a song, he sent files online. If a company wanted revisions, he stayed up in his home studio.

He had quietly rearranged his entire career around now five-year-old boy without ever complaining.

But...there were days he still couldn't avoid. Recording sessions, album production. Final mixing. Meetings that had to happen in person. Those days worried him.

James noticed. Of course he noticed. One evening, after dinner at Seonghyeon's apartment, he leaned against the kitchen counter.

" Seonghyeon," he call.

"Hm?"

"Move in with me."

Seonghyeon nearly dropped the dishes.

"...What?"

"My penthouse has four bedrooms." He raise his 4 fingers.

"I use one, the guest room collects dust, the gym is empty, the movie room is practically lonely."

Juhoon laughed into his drink. "Only you would describe an empty room as lonely."

James ignored him.

"Kono needs more people, you need more people."

Seonghyeon smiled apologetically. "I appreciate it, but no."

James sighed dramatically. "I knew you'd say that."

Martin looked up from helping Kono assemble a dinosaur puzzle. "He's right."

Seonghyeon blinked. "You too?"

Martin nodded. "Kono's still young. If you suddenly have overnight work, what then?"

"I'll arrange a nanny."

James folded his arms. "You'll arrange strangers?"

"You already have us" "by now, even Juhoon eyebrow starting to twitch."

Seonghyeon smiled. "You all have your own lives."

James snorted. "My life consists of yelling at teenagers who can't keep rhythm."

Juhoon raised a hand. "My patients once bite me. I don't think helping with Kono is an inconvenience."

Martin quietly added, "None of us have raise a children before. It might actually be nice."

Seonghyeon laughed. "You all sound like you're planning shared custody."

James immediately pointed at himself. "I call Fun Dad."

"You are absolutely not called Dad," Juhoon replied.

Kono giggled from the floor.

The discussion ended there.

At least…so Seonghyeon thought.

………………………….

Three weeks later, everything changed.

It was supposed to be a simple day. Just one recording session. A rookie idol group's debut album.

Seonghyeon checked Kono before leaving early in the morning. "You’ll be okay?"

The little boy nodded sleepily. "Mm." His cheeks looked slightly pink.

"You feel warm."

"I'm okay."

Children often got warm after sleeping. Seonghyeon checked his temperature.

37.2. Not a fever.

He hesitated. "Call me if you don't feel well."

"I will."

He kissed the top of Kono's head before leaving. The night before he already instructs Kono to take the food on the counter if he hungry, there’s water and apple in the fridge. He already check the cctv monitor around his room so he can monitor Kono from work. It was a simple one, he should be home before 2.

By noon, the recording studio was chaos. One vocalist had lost his voice.

The producer wanted some lyric changes. The company director wanted an entirely different chorus. Seonghyeon's phone remained on silent inside his bag. He was to focus on his work that he forgot.

Back at the apartment...Kono curled beneath a blanket. Everything hurt, his head felt heavy. His body shivered despite sweating. He tried standing, but his legs immediately gave out.

"...Dad..." His voice came out tiny.

He reached for the phone. The screen blurred. His five-year-old brain, clouded by fever, simply couldn't think straight. He managed one thing.

He pressed the one speed dial James had teach him before.

Across Seoul

James had just finished teaching when his phone rang.

"Kono?" He smiled. "Hey, little—"

A weak sniffle interrupted him. "...Uncle..."

James straightened immediately. "Kono?"

"Dad, not here…" something crashed. Uncle…his voice weak. "Hurt…"

Then silence. "Kono?"

"KONO? James look pale as the call disconnected.

James was already grabbing his car keys. He called Seonghyeon. No answer.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Nothing.

"Damn it." He called Martin.

"I need the spare card to Seonghyeon. Hurry."

Martin didn't ask questions. "I'm coming."

Twenty minutes later, James practically sprinted down the apartment hallway with Martin behind him.

The spare card barely beep before James threw the door open. "Kono!"

No answer. The apartment was silent. Then…a tiny whimper came from the bedroom.

James rushed inside. His heart dropped. Kono lay tangled in blankets, his face unnaturally flushed. His breathing was quick and his lips were dry.

James touched his forehead. "...He's burning up."

Martin was already opening the thermometer.

39.1°C. James paled.

Meanwhile, inside the recording studio, Seonghyeon's phone vibrated for the twelfth time.

He finally checked it.

26 missed calls.

James.

Martin.

Juhoon.

His stomach dropped.

He immediately calls back. "...James?"

The reply came instantly. "Where the hell are you?" James shout silently. The anger is clear in his voice.

"Studio."

"Kono has a thirty nine-degree fever.

"What?"

"He called me because he couldn't reach you. He collapsed on the floor. We on our way to the hospital."

The world stopped.

Seonghyeon didn't even remember leaving the building. Someone shouted after him. He ignored them and kept running to the parking.

His laptop and jacket left abandon. He forgot everything except his car keys. Their company  manager will settle it for him later. For now, his mind only have Kono.

The hospital room smelled of disinfectant. When Seonghyeon arrived, Kono was asleep. An IV dripped slowly into his tiny hand.

James sat beside the bed.

Martin stood by the window.

Juhoon, still wearing his clinic coat, had come directly after hearing what happened. Even he was faster than himself.

Seonghyeon walked to the other bedside. "Kono." He call. The little boy didn't wake. His face remained pale beneath the fever.

"I'm sorry." his voice broke hugging the small body close to him. "I should've stayed" his body shook with sob.

James stood and gently pulled Seonghyeon into a rough hug. Even they were already in their thirties, Seonghyeon still their maknae. "I’m still mad at you, but you can't do everything alone."

"I left him. I wasn't there when he need me."

"You can't be in two places."

Seonghyeon buried his face in James's shoulder. "I promised, I promised I'd protect him."

"And you try your best." James spoke quietly. "But today proved something. You need help."

No one argued. Because everyone had seen it.

If Kono hadn't called James, if James hadn't answered, if Martin hadn't had the spare card, things could have become much worse.

After Kono was admitted overnight for observation, the four men sat together in the private room. Paper cups of coffee sat untouched.

James broke the silence. "No more arguing."

Seonghyeon looked up.

"Move in. I'm serious."

Martin nodded. "It’s for the best."

Juhoon folded his hands. "My clinic is ten minutes from James's place. If anything happens during the day, I can be there almost immediately."

James continued. "My dance studio opens late. I can watch him if you're working or take him there when you stay late."

Martin added. "My studio is nearby too, if you get stuck overnight, I'll pick him up."

James leaned forward. "We're not offering because we pity you. We're offering because we're family. You, Kono." His eyes softened.

"We already lost one little brother." The words hung heavily in the air. "We're not risking losing another child because one of us was alone."

Seonghyeon lowered his head. For a long time he couldn't speak.

"Okay." His voice was barely audible. "I'll move in."

James smiled for the first time that night. "Good, no taking it back."

Early next morning, Kono slowly opened his eyes. The fever had broken. His vision was still blurry. But he could make out four familiar figures asleep in uncomfortable hospital chairs and sofa around the room.

Martin, his head resting against the wall on the sofa with Juhoon laying down head on his lap.

James, arms folded, snoring softly on his left.

And Seonghyeon, slumped forward with one hand never letting go of Kono's on his right.

The little boy looked at them, his chest filling with warmth.

Several years ago, he had opened his eyes for the last time to see his brothers surrounding him begging him not to leave.

Now, after being given a second chance, he woke to find them surrounding him once again.

This time, they weren't saying goodbye. This time, they were making sure he stayed.

………………………….

Moving day became one of the happiest days Kono could remember. James' penthouse was enormous. Apparently, he was rich-RICH. It occupied half of entire top floor of the building, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Seoul. The living room was spacious, a dance practice room with mirrored walls, and separate bedrooms for him and dad.

Kono stood in the entrance, mouth hanging open. "Big."

James grinned proudly. "I know." He spread his arms dramatically. "Welcome home!"

Kono giggled.

Within hours...

The penthouse no longer looked like James' home. It looked like theirs.

Tiny shoes appeared beside the entrance.

Children's books occupied one shelf.

A basket of dinosaur toys found a permanent place in the living room.

Seonghyeon's music equipment was put in his own bedroom for the time being. James promise to call someone to make little corner soundproof room for Seonghyeon in the spacious living room. Just like in his home before.

James watched Kono explore excitedly from room to room. "Worth it."

Seonghyeon smiled. "What?"

"I've never seen someone so happy over having his own bedrooms."

"I’ll miss our night together!" Seonghyeon whisper.

"You can still sleep with him. That room was for him when he gets older." James console him. "Furthermore, we still need new wallpaper and theme for the kiddo."

"He’s going to be so excited to pick it himself." Seonghyeon laugh.

The best part, however…was never being alone.

If Seonghyeon had to worked out late...James will be at home.

If both are not available...Martin or Juhoon is ready to step in.

Somehow...there was always someone.

The once lonely penthouse was now constantly filled with voices.

James quickly became Kono's favorite playmate. Not because Seonghyeon wasn't a good dad, but because James was basically a giant child.

One afternoon

"Ready?"

Kono nodded excitedly.

James pressed play on the speakers.

A cheerful rhythm echoed through the practice room.

"Watch carefully." He demonstrated a simple four-count.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Four."

Then he turned.

"Your turn."

Kono nodded seriously, very cutely. "Okay."

James expectation wasn’t high. After all, Kono was only five.

Instead, the little boy copied every movement perfectly although clumsily. It was almost natural.

James blinked. "Again" and watch Kono doing it again.

He demonstrated a different sequence. This one was longer. An eight-count.

Kono watched three times. Again...he danced it flawlessly.

James slowly lowered his arms. "Seonghyeon." He shouted toward the kitchen.

"COME HERE."

Seonghyeon walked in, wiping his hands.

"What?"

James pointed silently. "Kono, show your dad."

"...What about him?"

"Watch."

James demonstrated the step again. This time he combine it. "Okay, Kono, your turn."

The little boy nodded. Then...he danced.

Every beat.

Every step.

Every turn.

Perfect.

James and Seonghyeon stared.

Kono tilted his head. "Did I do bad?"

James finally spoke smiling so wide. "No buddy. You did terrifyingly well."

That evening, Juhoon arrived from the dental clinic. James practically dragged him into his mini practice room. "Watch this."

Juhoon folded his arms. "What now?"

"Teach him some dance."

"I'm a dentist."

"Just wave your arms."

"Fine." He sigh. With the enthusiasm of someone filling out tax forms, Juhoon demonstrated a few beginner movements.

Kono watched quietly. Then copied everything exactly.

Juhoon adjusted his glasses. "Again."

James burst into laughter. "See?"

Homeschooling resumed.

"Kono." Juhoon pointed at the workbook. "Read this sentence."

"..."

"Kono."

The little boy squinted. "The cat tried to catch the moose?"

"It says "mouse."

"...Oh." Keonho feel so sorry for his hyung but he wasn’t even acting. The words is a jumble mess.

Three days later

Same chapter. "Kono, the first paragraph."

"...The best friend walking down the street?"

"Good. The second one?"

"The wind blow strongly?"

"It says 'softly."

James was lying on the sofa watching everything and watching Juhoon slowly losing his patient. Finally, he couldn't hold it anymore. He laughed so hard he nearly rolled onto the floor.

Juhoon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Incredible. You remember a dance after watching it three times."

"Mm."

"But you've been reading this same chapter which only have 10 page..." He held up the storybook. "...For three days."

Kono looked genuinely embarrassed. "Reading is hard."

James laughed even harder. "There has to be something wrong with your brain when you were sweep away on to the beach."

"I know!" Kono nod eagerly.

After a month in James home, Kono finally gave everyone new titles.

Seonghyeon remained as "Dad."

It started on breakfast table.

James immediately complained. "Unfair. I want a title too since we co-parenting." He was jealous every time Kono call Seonghyeon dad. It was so sweet…

Kono thought seriously in between his munch. Then smiled. "Appa James."

James froze."I...I have a son."

"You do not," Seonghyeon replied making a face.

"I absolutely do."

Kono hugged him sideways and call again. Appa James...

James looked ready to cry from happiness.

When Juhoon came the next visit, Kono greeted him cheerfully. "Hello, Strict Father." He was calling Juhoon with the name he watch in his cartoon that always ask the main character to study. It was definitely not the father name but his small brain can’t seem to understand that.

The apartment became completely silent.

Juhoon blinked.

"...Strict..."

"...Father?"

Kono nodded innocently. "You always make me study like Felix father (cartoon character)" He reply cheerly.

James burst out laughing.

Martin nearly choked on his coffee.

Even Seonghyeon had to cover his mouth.

James pointed dramatically. "Suits you for making him study all the time."

Juhoon sighed. "I spend years becoming a respected dentist. And now I'm a Strict Father."

"It fits." Martin smiled into his cup.

The names stuck much to Juhoon dismay.

Seonghyeon—Dad.

James—Appa James.

Juhoon—Strict Father.

Martin...Somehow escaped with simply..."Martin."

James complained constantly.

"Why does he get the normal name?"

"Because Martin is already old enough to sound like a dad," Juhoon replied.

Martin just smile silently. He will be the mature one and won’t fight name like James did. His one and only hyung sometimes fascinate him. It’s his charm since they were teenagers.

………………………….

One rainy evening...the four of them sat around the dining table.

Dinner was simple. Kimchi stew, rice, grilled fish and eggs.

Kono happily swung his legs beneath the chair while eating.

The conversation drifted from work to old memories. James complained about students. Juhoon complained about patients who lied about flossing. Martin quietly described a difficult production deadline. Seonghyeon listened with a smile.

Then...

A soft humming interrupted them.

"Hmm..."

"Hm-hm..."

Kono wasn't paying attention.

He absentmindedly hummed while scooping rice into his mouth.

A bright little melody. Light, warm and comforting.

Martin stopped eating. "...Kono."

The humming stopped. "Mm?"

"What song is that?"

Kono blinked. "Song?"

"The one you were humming."

"Oh." The little boy smiled. "I don't know."

"You don't?"

He shook his head. "It's just..." he searched for the right words for his five year old brain. "A happy song."

Martin looked at Seonghyeon, Seonghyeon looked back.

Neither of the producer spoke.

After dinner...Kono had already gone to brush his teeth with Juhoon's supervision.

James flopped onto the sofa. "What?"

Martin was still staring thoughtfully at the dining table.

"Did you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"That melody."

James shrugged. "It was cute."

"No." Martin shook his head slowly. "It wasn't random." He looked toward Seonghyeon's.

"It had structure, a clear hook, a repeating phrase."

Seonghyeon slowly nodded. "I noticed it too."

Martin leaned back. "A five-year-old doesn't accidentally hum something that coherent."

James frowned. Maybe he heard it from his cartoon.

The next time he stay in James place, Martin quietly sat at the keyboard. He played the melody exactly as he remembered Kono humms. The notes flowed effortlessly beneath his fingers.

Seonghyeon listened. "It really works."

Martin added a few harmonies. A smile slowly spread across his face. "I haven't wanted to write a happy song in years."

The room fell silent.

Before Kono appeared, every melody they composed somehow turned melancholic. Even when they tried to write something cheerful, there was always an undercurrent of grief, as if losing their youngest member had permanently changed the way they heard music.

But this tune...it felt different. Hopeful. Like sunlight filtering through a window after days of rain.

Seonghyeon sat beside Martin at the keyboard. He quietly added another chord. It fit perfectly. For the first time since Cortis had ended, the two producers spent hours writing together, not because a company had commissioned a song, but because they genuinely wanted to.

Kono paused on his way to the kitchen from the bedroom. He could hear the melody drifting through the hallway. He smiled without realizing. He didn't remember humming it. Perhaps it had simply been born from the happiness of having his family together again.

Inside the mini studio, Martin looked up. "You know..."

"What?"

"I think the little kid...might be our greatest inspiration."

Seonghyeon smiled softly. "He already is."

Neither of them knew that the child they were talking about had once stood beside them in the recording booth, singing harmonies and laughing whenever Martin insisted on "just one more take."

They only knew that ever since Kono had entered their lives, music no longer sounded lonely.

………………………….

By the time Kono had lived at James' penthouse for three months, everyone had fallen into an unspoken routine in taking care of Kono.

And today apparently is Martin's turn since everyone else have busy schedule. He was taking Kono to his studio in the company for the first time.

Unlike James' dance studio, Martin's workspace was quiet, smaller.

Comfortably quiet.

Shelves lined with keyboards. Guitars hanging on the walls. Computer screens displaying endless colorful tracks. The room smelled faintly of coffee and wood.

Kono loved it. He always behaved differently here. Less energetic and more curious.

Martin noticed. "You like this place?"

Kono nodded. "It feels..."

He searched for the word.

"...Happy."

Martin smiled softly.

"I'm glad."

Today, Martin had brought Kono because he was finishing arrangements for a drama soundtrack.

The little boy sat obediently beside him, legs swinging from the oversized studio chair.

Martin worked while occasionally explaining.

"This is the piano."

"And this..."

He clicked another track.

"...Is strings."

Another click.

"Drums."

Another.

"Bass."

Kono listened with sparkling eyes.

"So many."

"There are."

"You make all of these?"

"Sometimes."

"Wow..."

Martin laughed.

"I also complain to them."

"You complain to music?"

"When it refuses to sound nice."

Kono giggled.

After an hour, Martin leaned back.

"Want to hear something?"

"Yes." He picked Kono up effortlessly and settled the little boy on his lap.

Martin opened a project filled with dozens of instrument tracks.

"Every button makes a different sound." He said putting Kono small hand on those buttons. Just to feel.

Kono gasped. "So many!"

"You can choose one."

"Really?"

"Mhm."

Tiny fingers hesitated before carefully pressing one key. A soft bell-like sound echoed through the room.

Kono's eyes widened. "Oh!"

Martin smiled. "You like that one?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"It sounds shiny."

"Shiny?"

"Like stars."

Martin chuckled. "I've never heard anyone describe it that way."

Another button. A warm acoustic guitar.

"I like this."

"Why?"

"It feels like home."

Martin's smile slowly faded. Home. That was exactly why he had recorded that guitar years ago.

He cleared his throat. "What about this?"

A gentle piano.

Kono closed his eyes. "This one, it makes my heart feel warm."

Martin quietly saved the sound into a favorites folder.

"You have good ears."

"I do?"

"I think so."

Kono looked proudly at the screen. "I help!"

"You did." Martin gently squeezed his little hand.

"You gave me good ideas."

They spent another hour layering instruments together.

Martin would play something.

Kono would wrinkle his nose dramatically. "No."

Martin laughed. "Too loud?"

"Mhm."

Another sound.

"...Too sleepy."

Another.

"...Too scary."

Finally, Martin played the little melody Kono had hummed weeks ago.

This time with the bell sound Kono had chosen, the acoustic guitar and soft piano underneath.

Kono's face lit up. "This!"

Martin watched the little boy bounce happily on his lap.

"Perfect." He whispered more to himself than anyone else.

After a while...

Kono leaned comfortably against Martin's chest while listening to the melody Martin working on. His eyelids became heavy.

Martin gently stroked his hair.

"Tired?"

"A little..."

Then, in a sleepy little voice "Papa."

Martin froze.

Kono continued watching the computer, completely unaware, eyes half open. "Papa, I like this song." The word echoed through the silent studio.

Martin's hands began trembling. He slowly looked down at the little boy. "...What..."

Kono blinked. "Hm?"

"What did you call me?"

The five-year-old tilted his head innocently. "Papa?"

"I already have Dad."

He counted on his fingers.

"And Appa James."

"And Strict Father."

"So..." he smiled brightly. "You're Papa."

Martin's vision blurred. He laughed once, then covered his face on Kono hair.

A tear slipped through his eyelids. Then another.

Before he knew it, he was crying a quiet tear. The kind that came after years of holding everything inside.

Kono became alarmed.

"Papa? I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong?"

Martin immediately hugged him tightly. "You didn't. You did everything right."

His voice cracked.

"Thank you."

The studio door quietly opened.

Seonghyeon stepped inside carrying lunch. "Martin hyung?"

He stopped. Martin sat at the workstation with Kono tucked safely in his arms. Both of them were smiling, making face at each other with quiet laugh.

Martin's eyes were red.

Without saying a word...Seonghyeon quietly pulled out his phone.

Click. The camera captured the moment perfectly.

Martin looked up."Yahh."

Seonghyeon smiled. "You'll want that memory."

Martin looked at Kono, who was still happily pointing at the computer and at the food on his dad hand.

"I will."

When they left the building later that afternoon, the sky had turned golden. The air was pleasantly cold.

Kono walked between the two adults. One tiny hand holding Seonghyeon's the other holding Martin's.

He happily skipped instead of walking.

One step.

Hop.

Another step.

Hop.

His backpack bounced against his back.

He was humming the happy melody again.

Martin glanced sideways.

"He's going to pull our arms off."

Seonghyeon laughed.

"Probably."

Kono looked up at both of them.

"Faster!"

He jumped again, trying to make the adults match his skipping pace.

Martin exchanged a helpless look with Seonghyeon.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Without another word...both men began skipping too.

Three figures moved down the quiet sidewalk.

Two grown man with a little boy in the middle.

Holding hands, laughing, while skipping together beneath the evening sun.

People walking past smiled at the unusual sight. No one knew who they were.

No one knew that fourteen years earlier, the three of them had stood together on a concert stage. Or that one of them had once been the youngest member who never got to grow older together.

To everyone else, they simply looked like a family enjoying a walk home. And perhaps, after all the years of grief they had endured, that was exactly what they had become.

………………………….

"Kono." Juhoon tapped the workbook with his pencil.

"What sound does this letter make?"

Kono stared at the page as if it had personally offended him.

"...Kono."

The little boy sighed dramatically. "I forgot."

Juhoon pinched the bridge of his nose. "You’re going to school next year, you’ll be bullied if you can’t even spell word correctly."

Across the dining table, James looked up from his phone getting ready to go to his studio.

"No uh. No one bullied our son. You can’t force music prodigy. His brain stores dance moves, and melody. Not alphabets."

"I heard that," Juhoon replied.

"I am talking to you." Bye Kono ya… he wave and close the door in his way out.

The lesson continued for another ten minutes.

Juhoon patiently taught while Kono follow while played with his pencil.  The pencil became an airplane. Then a tiny drumstick.

Kono then rested his chin on the table and looked thoughtfully at Juhoon.

"Strict father?"

"Hm?"

"...Can I ask something?"

"You just did."

"Can I ask another?"

Juhoon smiled. "Go ahead."

Kono fiddled with the pencil and almost put it in his mouth when he saw the dentist glare.

"I have Dad." He counted on one finger.

"Appa James." Second finger.

"Papa." Third finger.

Then he frowned.

"...But..."

He puffed his cheeks. "Strict Father Juhoon, I don't like it."

Juhoon blinked. "You don’t like me? "

Kono shook his head vigorously. "Not you silly Juhoon". His cute puff cheek looks too serious. He looked up with wide eyes.

"Juhoon should have a better nickname."

For a moment... Juhoon simply stared at him. Then a smile slowly appeared.

"...Really?"

Kono nodded. "Mhm."

Juhoon leaned back in his chair. "Then..."

"Let's make one together."

Kono's eyes sparkled. "We can?"

"Of course."

Juhoon tapped his chin dramatically. "What about...Baba?"

Kono repeated it softly.

"Baba..." He tilted his head. "No. Too round."

Juhoon laughed with whatever vocab Kono came with. "Too round?"

"Mhm."

"Okay. What about...Otousan?"

Kono blinked.

"...Oto..."

"It's Japanese. It also means father" Juhoon explain.

Kono tried repeating it.

"...Otou...Chan?"

Juhoon chuckled. "No, Otou-san."

Kono frowned. "No." He folded his tiny arms. "I don't like it."

"You don't?"

"It's still too serious."

Juhoon feel weird on how the little kid know about what serious and what not. He tried again.

"Otou-san."

Kono glared at him with all the seriousness a five-year-old could manage. "Otou-chan."

Juhoon blinked. "...Chan?"

"Mhm."

"Otou-chan." Kono smiled proudly.

"Cute." Juhoon can’t help but smile too.

"But..." Kono suddenly gasped. "I know!"

He bounced in his chair it’s nearly toppled over if Juhoon wasn’t hold it.

Juhoon looked confused.

Kono pointed dramatically at Juhoon. "Ju...Chan!"

He clapped happily. "Ju-chan!"

Then, with the cutest little bit of aegyo imaginable, he repeated it.

"Juuuu-chaaan~" The final syllable stretched adorably.

Juhoon completely froze. His ears slowly turned red.

Kono blinked. "Don't like?"

Juhoon looked away, clearing his throat.

"No, I like it too much actually."

Very gently…he reached over and patted Kono's head.

"I like it a lot." He giddily can’t wait for the others to hear this.

Kono grinned triumphantly.

"Yay! I have Juuuu-chaaan now."

That evening, the front door opened.

"We're home!"

Seonghyeon called as he walked in carrying takeout. Martin followed behind with dessert.

They stopped immediately. Why...was Juhoon smiling so much?

Seonghyeon narrowed his eyes. "Suspicious."

Martin nodded. "Very."

Seonghyeon pointed dramatically. "What happened?"

Juhoon calmly continued drinking his tea.

"Nothing."

Kono immediately betrayed him. "Dad...I gave Juhoon a new name!" he yell excitedly.

"..."

"..."

Seonghyeon gasped. "What?"

Martin leaned forward. "...Really?"

Kono nodded proudly. "I don't call him Strict Father anymore."

"Then what?" Seonghyeon ask.

The little boy smiled brightly. " Juuuu-chaaan~!"

Seonghyeon blinked once. Twice.

Then pointed accusingly at Juhoon. "And you accepted that?"

Juhoon tried to look indifferent. "It's a perfectly acceptable nickname."

Martin laughed softly. "It is cute."

Seonghyeon looked personally offended at his own child. "Why does he get the cutest one?"

Kono looked confused. "You already Dad."

"That's different."

"How?"

"It doesn't have '-chan.'"

"Do you want to be Dad-chan?" Kono ask innocently.

Seonghyeon actually considered it. "Maybe, No...i don't know."

Martin burst into laughter at his friend ridiculousness.

Within seconds...the dining room became absolute chaos. They were arranging cutleries for dinner while Juhoon preparing the drinks.

"I want a cuter nickname too." Martin makes silly face just to tease.

"You already have Papa."

"I know, but Juuuu-chaaan~ sounds adorable" he laugh at Juhoon teasing him while making the high pitch sound.

James walked inside the house from his work.

"What's happening, why is it so noisy?"

Seonghyeon immediately complained.

"Kono is playing favorites."

"I'm not!"

"He gave Juhoon the cutest nickname."

James looked at Kono. "Is that true?"

Kono nodded innocently. " Juuuu-chaaan~ he smiled."

Seonghyeon sulkingly pointed. "Look at him! He look so smug about it too"

Everyone turned and look at Juhoon who was trying very hard to remain composed. But the tiny smile refusing to leave his face gave him away.

Martin chuckled. "I haven't seen you smile like that in weeks."

Juhoon adjusted his glasses. "Children are…unexpected."

James smirked. "You just melted."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

Dinner that night was louder than usual.

Every few minutes "Ju-chan."

"Yes?"

"Can I have more soup?"

"Of course."

Five minutes later…

"Ju-chan."

"Hm?"

"I finished my vegetables."

"Good job."

Again

"Ju-chaaan."

"What is it now?"

"Nothing."

"I just wanted to say it."

Juhoon and the others laughed at the adorable child.

"You're impossible" Juhoon shake his head.

Martin watched the interaction while smiling into his bowl of rice.

"You know."

Seonghyeon looked over. "What?"

"I think..." Martin glanced at Kono, who was leaning against Juhoon's side while eating fruit under Juhoon supervision. "He has a different relationship with each of us."

James nodded. "Yeah."

"Seonghyeon is his safe place."

"You're his playmate."

Martin smiled.

"Juhoon teach him about discipline."

"And you?" James asked.

Martin looked at Kono for a long moment thinking.

"...I think he goes to Martin hyung when he wants to dream," Seonghyeon continue for martin smiling softly.

None of them noticed Kono quietly looking at the four men gathered around the dining table.

His four older brothers. His family. In his first life, he had simply called them "hyung."

In this second chance, he had somehow ended up giving each of them a place in his heart that matched the warmth they brought into his new childhood.

Dad.

Appa James.

Papa.

Ju-chan.

Different names.

Different roles.

But the same four people he had loved before.

Only this time...he had the chance to grow up surrounded by them once again.

………………………….

This week Sunday afternoons were sacred.

No work. No studio. No dance classes. No patients.

Just family.

James declared it as "Mandatory Lazy Day," which basically meant everyone was allowed to do absolutely nothing without feeling guilty. That’s why they were all there in his house, doing nothing.

The enormous living room reflected that philosophy perfectly.

James was stretched across one sofa, half asleep with a blanket over his legs.

Martin sat on the floor, quietly reading through a music magazine.

Ju-chan/Juhoon, was pretending to read a medical journal, though everyone knew he was dozing off.

Seonghyeon leaned back against another couch searching for a playlist to play.

And Kono...was lying on the floor fiddling with his teddy.

The apartment was so peaceful that even the clock seemed quieter.

While laying down, Kono's eyes wandered to a shelf. A familiar photograph with five young men. But this one wasn’t hidden. Not like last time on dad house. This one was frame beautifully on top of a drawer.

James noticed his gaze. "That's was younger us."

Kono looked up innocently. "Mhm."

He nodded toward the empty space beside him. "Come here."

Kono climbed onto the sofa. James lifted the picture frame into both of their laps.

"That's me." James pointed proudly. "The handsome one."

Martin didn't even look up from his magazine. "Liar, he was known as the short one."

Kono giggled.

Martin smiled and finally joined them. "This is your dad." He pointed at the younger producer. "He used to fall asleep during movie nights."

"I still do."

"This is Juhoon." James immediately added. "He snored" he whisper in Kono ear not too quiet.

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

Juhoon sighed.

Kono laughed. He pointed at Martin. "Papa hair is weird."

James answered before Martin could.

"Yes he is. He is also our fearless leader."

Martin smiled awkwardly. "I wasn't fearless."

"You just looked fearless. He’s the first to scream in haunted house."

"I was panicking constantly that time." Martin laugh.

Finally...Kono's finger slowly stopped on the person in the middle. His own face. "...And him?"

The room became quiet. A comfortable silence at first. A heavier one.

James gently smiled. "That's…our youngest."

"Our maknae." Martin add. "His name was is Ahn Keonho."

Kono lowered his eyes. "What was he like?"

James laughed first. "Oh, he was a menace."

"I wasn't," Kono almost wanted to replied instinctively. Instead, he stayed quiet.

James continued. "He stole food."

Martin immediately looked offended. "He stole my food."

"You never finished it." Seonghyeon interject.

"I was saving the best for the last but Keonho was faster."

They all laugh, remembering the time.

Juhoon smiled coming closer and stay on the floor in front of kono.

"He hated reading, just like you."

Kono blinked. "Really?" his smile widen.

"Mhm. He'd read one paragraph, then disappear." And you should not look that happy young man. Juhoon pinch Kono cheek.

James laughed loudly. "Exactly like someone we know."

Kono pretended not to notice.

Seonghyeon finally spoke. "He couldn't stay still. Always so clingy, always wanted hugs and some other skinship."

James nodded. "But somehow he hates when people touch him. Him and your dad always bickering."

Martin smiled faintly. "He always knew whenever one of us was having a bad day." "He'd never ask, just quietly sit beside you, making a silly joke until you smiled."

They kept talking. One story became another.

James described Keonho's as kind bratty teenagers that know how to used his aegyo.

Martin said he was naturally handsome. So cute and cool. He remembered one Dior photoshoot where cameraman keep praising their maknae.

Juhoon told him Keonho as a very good swimmer. The best in his circle friends.

Seonghyeon remembered how Keonho always looking shy with other people but a bully within the group. He always get away with many things because staff noona love him and Martin hyung is weak with his boba eyes.

But...as the stories continued...their smiles slowly faded. Because every story ended the same way without they even said it aloud. "We miss him."

"I wonder what he'd look like now." Martin suddenly said voice too soft.

"He would've been 32 like me. Maybe he will buy a house next to one of us because he just can’t stay away."

Silence filled the room. They were all sit there feeling nostalgic.

Kono couldn't bear it anymore. Seeing all his hyung reminiscing about him when he was there, his chest hurt so much. His vision blurred and a tiny sob escaped before he could hold it followed by a full blown wail.

Everyone immediately looked at him shock.

"Kono?" Seonghyeon quickly pull Kono in his embrace. He stand up sway the little one while patting his back.

All his hyung look concern with the sudden cry.

"I'm...sorry..." he said between sobs.

James frowned. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I..." He couldn't tell them. He wanted to, more than anything. But he couldn't.

Instead...he reached for the only explanation he could think of.

"I met him…at night" he lie.

The room fell silent. "You dream of him?" Juhoon ask.

Kono nodded still hiding his face on Seonghyeon still shoulder.

"About what? What did he do? What did he say? Juhoon slowly push Kono to talk in his soft voice.

The other three adults froze.

"He stay beside me, he look sad just like you now. Sometimes he stand there watching us playing and smile". He point at one corner.

Martin's let out a gasp.

Juhoon stood quietly looking at the place Kono just point. His breath is getting harder.

"He told me..."

James stared at him without blinking. He can feel Seonghyeon hand tighten around him.

Kono continued in a trembling voice. "He said...he doesn't want you to cry forever."

Juhoon's turn around from everyone. Hiding his face.

Kono squeezed his eyes and hiccups. Small hand wrap around Seonghyeon hugging him back.

"He said he was sorry."

Seonghyeon fall on his knee to the floor with Kono in his arms. James quickly hug the both of them.

The room became perfectly still.

"He told me to take care of you."

Martin covered his face trying to hide the sobbing.

Keonho looked at each of them. One by one. Trying desperately to memorize their faces as Keonho. Using the little body to pour his heart out.

"Before he gone, he wants me to tell you, even if you can't see him, he's still here."

He placed one tiny hand over Seonghyeon heart and another on James.

Seonghyeon broke down so bad. A choked sob escaped him.

He hugged him so tightly that Kono could barely breathe. His voice shook violently.

"You...Thank you."

Martin quietly knelt beside them after pulling Juhoon with him. His own tears were falling freely now. He wrapped one large arm around all of them, resting his chin against Kono's soft hair.

He laughed weakly through his tears. "If he come again in your dream, tell him…we love him so much, and we miss him too."

"Or even better ask him to tell us himself", James interject. Making the atmosphere lighter.

Kono giggle wiping his snort on Seonghyeon's shoulder. His dad just laugh while pulling his ear softly.

It's true.

I'm right here.

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner.

James quietly wiped at his eyes before grumbling,

"Damn. I said today was Mandatory Lazy Day. Nobody mentioned about crying."

Juhoon laughed through tears.  "You're crying the most."

"I have allergies."

"You've been indoors all day."

"Indoor allergies."

Martin actually laughed.

A wet, shaky laugh. "I guess we all need this. "

No one moved. The five of them remained together on the living room floor. Like pieces of a puzzle that somehow fit again.

Kono slowly fallen asleep curled against Seonghyeon after been tired emotionally. His little body can’t handle the stress of crying too much.

James quietly spoke. "...Do you think..." He hesitated. "Dreams can carry messages?"

No one answered immediately.

Finally, Martin looked toward the sleeping child. "I don't know, maybe." He smiled sadly.

"But…for the first time in years, my chest doesn't hurt as much."

Juhoon nodded. "It feel lighter."

Seonghyeon gently brushed Kono's hair away from his forehead.

Still watching the sleeping little boy, he whispered, "Whether it was a dream, or just something Kono wanted us to hear, it doesn't matter." He smiled slowly, tears still leaking. "...Because I think, Keonho would have said exactly that."

Curled safely in Seonghyeon's embrace, Kono's eyelashes trembled. He wasn't fully asleep yet and he had heard every single word. A tiny smile appeared on his face as another tear escaped the corner of his eye.

For now, they still believed their youngest brother existed only in memories. They didn't know that the little boy sleeping peacefully in their arms had finally managed to tell them the goodbye he never had the chance to say—and the promise he had always wanted them to believe.

"I'm still here."

………………………….

The afternoon was quiet.

James had gone to the dance studio.

Only Seonghyeon and Kono remained at home.

Rain tapped softly against the windows.

Perfect weather for staying inside.

"Kono."

"Hm?"

"Come here."

Kono climbed onto the sofa beside him.

"What are we doing?"

"I found something." Seonghyeon held up his tablet. "I think you're old enough to see it."

The screen lit up. Five young men appeared on the bright stage lights with wild roaring crowd.

Cortis. Kono's breath caught.

He hadn't seen these videos since...before he died.

The music started. James was dancing at the front, Martin stood confidently in the center,

Juhoon smiled toward the cameras and Seonghyeon rapped before moving beside—

Keonho, seventeen-year-old Keonho smiled brightly at the audience. So alive, so full of dreams. Kono unconsciously reached toward the screen.

"..."

Seonghyeon noticed. "He was handsome, wasn't he?"

Kono nodded slowly. "Very."

Another performance played. Then another. Kono was lost with the videos play and Seonghyeon let it be. He was introducing themselves to his son for the first time. There are practice videos that make Kono "woahh…waahh...", behind-the-scenes clips when he comments "dad and everyone was so loud". award speeches where Kono praise their outfit and funny moments.

James accidentally falling during rehearsal.

Martin pretending nothing happened.

Juhoon laughing until he cried.

Seonghyeon chasing everyone with a water bottle.

And Keonho...doing the seal imitation.

Always laughing, moving, making the others smile.

Seonghyeon smiled softly. "He never stayed quiet."

Kono just laughed.

"He brought so much life into every room."

Another video ended. The screen froze on a group photo. Five members standing shoulder to shoulder.

Kono quietly stared at his seventeen-year-old face. It felt strange, like looking at someone else life. Someone he missed. Without thinking...

He softly pointed at the picture then smiled. "This time you’ll watch me grow."

Silence.

Seonghyeon stopped breathing. "What?"

Kono blinked. He hadn't even realized what he'd said. Still smiling, he looked at the picture and point. "You grew up. So this time..." he pointed to himself. "you'll watch me grow." Only then...he looked up.

Seonghyeon's face had turned pale.

"...Dad?"

No response.

"...Dad?"

Seonghyeon's hands trembled around the tablet. Was he hearing it correct? Was he interpret what Kono said correctly? His mind replayed everything.

The same eyes, same mole, same wide smile, same favorite foods.

The dreams. The words.

"Keonho said sorry."

"He's still here."

"This time, you'll watch me grow."

Coincidences. There had been too many. He slowly looked at the little boy sitting beside him.

Kono looked worried now. "Did I say something wrong?"

Seonghyeon didn't answer.  Instead...he gently cupped Kono's face. Studying every tiny feature. The warm brown eyes, the mole on his cheek.

Then...something he hadn't noticed before. When Kono became nervous, he unconsciously bit the inside of his lower lip. Exactly like Kono did right now.

His vision blurred.

"Dad, you’re scaring me" Kono lips start trembling.

"No.. no...it’s alright. Dad just remembering something." He pull his son in for a hug and rub his back like he always did to his Keonho. "Dad is sorry."

That evening...

James came home carrying fried chicken.

"I'm back!" He stopped immediately. The apartment was strangely quiet.

Seonghyeon sat on the sofa. Deep in thought.

Kono slept peacefully with his head resting on Seonghyeon's lap.

James frowned. "...Everything okay?"

Seonghyeon looked up slowly, expression trouble. "...Hyung."

James instantly noticed something had changed. "What happened?"

Seonghyeon waited until Kono was fully in deep asleep.

Then...he quietly repeated every word Kono had said in slow voice.

James listened without interrupting.

When Seonghyeon finished...silence filled the room.

James rubbed his face. "I've been thinking about it a lot."

Seonghyeon looked up. "You have?"

James nodded slowly. "For months. I just...didn't dare say it."

He looked toward the sleeping child. "Because if we're wrong…It'll hurt."

Seonghyeon whispered, "what if we're not?"

Neither of them answered.

………………………….

The following weekend...Seonghyeon stood before a familiar house outside the city.

Beside him... James adjusted the small backpack on Kono's shoulders.

Kono looked up. "Where are we?"

Seonghyeon smiled gently. "We're visiting someone important."

The gate slowly opened. An elderly woman stepped outside. Her hair had gotten half white. Yet...Kono recognized her instantly.

His mother. Ahn Keonho's mother. His real mother.

She smiled politely. "Seonghyeon, Jamie" "It's been a while."

"It has." Seonghyeon smile walking on her for a hug.

Her eyes moved downward towards the child hiding behind Seonghyeon leg.

"And who is this cute little boy?"

Kono suddenly forgot how to breathe. Looking at the women wide eyes.

He hadn't seen her since...

She looked older, calmer and softer.

Seonghyeon gently rested a hand on Kono's shoulder and pull him forward.

"This is my son… Eom Kono."He smiled.

The elderly woman's expression immediately softened. "What a lovely child."

She bend to pinch Kono cheek. "Hello, nice to meet you cute boy."

Kono's have so many emotion right now. But he hold it down. He need to.

"Hello grandma " his voice trembled.

She laughed warmly. "Oh, I'm Grandma already?"

Kono nodded vigorously. "Can I?"

Her eyes immediately became moist. "Of course."

She opened her arms wide and without thinking Kono stepped into them.

His mother gently hold him up despite his old age. "Such a sweet boy. Let’s go inside should we." Kono just stay silent letting himself being carry and smelling his mom perfume.

She smiled knowingly toward Seonghyeon and James. "He reminds me of someone."

James and Seonghyeon exchanged a silent glance. Neither of them spoke.

But as they watched Kono cling so naturally to the woman who had once lost her youngest son, both men felt the same quiet certainty growing stronger in their hearts.

Whatever miracle had brought this little boy into their lives...it had also brought light back into places grief had left dark for fourteen long years.

And perhaps, before long... the truth that none of them dared to say aloud would finally find its way home.

The warmth of the hug nearly broke Kono. His tiny fingers clutched the back of the elderly woman's cardigan as though letting go would make her disappear.

His mother.

His real mother.

"Grandma" he whisper silently.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

Kono buried his face against her shoulder.

"Nothing. Like hugging Grandma. Warm"

Her eyes softened. "I like hugging you too." She gently rubbed circles on his back, exactly as she had when he was little. The motion was so familiar.

His father came over with a chuckle. "You're stealing my wife."

Kono looked up to his father. He has aged so much. More wrinkles and more gray hair. His shoulders seemed smaller than Kono remembered. But his smile was exactly the same.

"Grandpa?" he ask.

His father laughed. Yes, I’m your new grandpa. You hungry?

Kono nodded instinctively taking his father hand.

"Good, because there’s so much food that your grandma prepare when he got a call that someone special is coming today", he wink at James and Seonghyeon  behind them who look guilty.

As they stepped inside, Kono taking his time looking around. Has they move to a village? This wasn't the house he remembered. It was medium size village style. The layout was different. Not stone but more wooden. Breezy and brighter.

There’s plants near the windows. He blinked.

They moved...

No wonder he hadn't recognized it from outside. Yet somehow, it suits them. It still felt like home.

He ignore the adult’s chatter. His eyes busy wandered across the living room walls and stop at dozens of frames. His childhood. Them, his family.

He can’t see it clearly but he knew. It was open, everywhere. Not hidden. Not covered. Simply...loved. His chest tightened.

Grandpa take his small body up to the dining chair. Seonghyeon take a sit beside him. He take Kono bag pack and set it aside all been watch by his mom.

She smile. "Such a good father," she tease.

Footsteps echoed from upstairs. "Mom?"

A woman in her early thirties came downstairs carrying folded laundry. She stopped.

"Oh, our guests has arrived?"

Kono stared. "...Noona..."

His older sister. She looked so different. Older and more mature. She smiled brightly say hi to James and Seonghyeon and patting his head.

"You must be Kono. I'm Ahn Yejin." She reached over and gently pinched his cheek. "I've heard so much about you from your dad."

Behind her...running down the stairs was two children. A little girl perhaps eight years old and a younger boy around his age.

The girl smiled first, friendly. "Hi!"

The boy hid behind her.

Yejin laughed. "My daughter Keena, and my son Jiho."

Kono blinked. He already has niece and nephew? Omg…He had become...an uncle. His brain hurt.

Within minutes, the children were chasing each other through the living room.

Keena had declared Kono her "new cousin."

Jiho finally decided Kono wasn't scary.

The adults laughed as toys scattered everywhere.

His mom and sister busy setting the table for lunch.

The house was alive with laughter. Exactly as he had always wished it would be.

Later after a very chaotic lunch with the kids, Kono wandered toward a display cabinet. Inside rested several medals, trophies, and certificates. One gold medal caught his eye.

Keena told him it’s belong to her talented uncle. Kono smile at that.

Regional junior swimming competition, he remembered. His father had entered him into swimming when he was little. He had always loved the water.

Without thinking…he turned toward Seonghyeon. "Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Can I learn swimming?" I want to get my own trophy…like this. He point at the cabinet.

The room became quiet. His old father slowly looked over. "Swimming?"

Kono nodded enthusiastically. "I want to learn. I think it'll be fun."

His father and mother exchanged a long look.

Years ago...

Another little boy had stood in front of the television showing swimming competition and said exactly the same thing.

His mother quietly stood. "I'll be back." She disappeared down the hallway.

Moments later...she returned carrying an old photo album and sit in front of Kono while  James and Seonghyeon scoot closer.

"There." She pointed. A picture of seven-year-old Keonho with bright smile holding a pair of swimming goggles almost too big for his face.

Another page.

Eight-year-old Keonho. Standing proudly beside a swimming pool with his first medal. She handed the album to Seonghyeon while slowly and silently looked at Kono.

The resemblance was undeniable. Same mole, same smile.

James swallowed looking at young Keonho.

Seonghyeon couldn't speak.

She silently observe the trio.

A few moments later while Grandpa busy playing with the kids..

"Seonghyeon, James." His mother smiled gently.

"Can you help me in the kitchen?"

The two men exchanged glances before following her.

The kitchen became quiet after the divider were close. She calmly poured tea into three cups while pointing towards the chair. Seonghyeon and James obediently sit.

No one spoke for a moment until the tea ready and placed in front of them.

She smiled knowingly at the guilty face. "I know what both of you are thinking and why you're taking him here."

James looked down.

Seonghyeon's fingers tightened around the teacup. "...We're sorry."

She shook her head. "You don't need to apologize. I kinda understand why you do it. In fact I was grateful." She looked up at the see through wall towards the living room where Kono's laughter echoed as he played with Keena and Jiho.

"I don't know." She admitted softly. "I don't know whether this child..." she paused, "is my Keonho." A tear quietly rolled down her cheek and she wipe it quickly. "Maybe we never will." She turned back to them.

"But, don't think too much." Her voice was gentle. Steady. "And don't push him to become the person you once knew."

James slowly lifted his head. She smiled through her tears and taking both of their hand.

"If he truly is my son, then he deserves to live this life as he likes. "Not the old one."

She looked toward Seonghyeon.

"And if he isn't, he still deserves to be loved. As Kono."

Seonghyeon's eyes filled and gently squeezed her hands while nodding.

"So, treat him lovingly as you already have." "Don't chase answers. Don't burden him with it." She laughed softly. "Just think of this as a miracle. A second chance for all of us." Her voice trembled. "To be together again."

Neither James nor Seonghyeon realized they were crying until she handed each of them a tissue.

James laughed weakly. "Mothers are unfair."

"Why?"

"You always know exactly what to say.

"She smiled. "I've had many years to practice."

Outside the kitchen, hidden behind the hallway wall, Kono stood frozen. He hadn't meant to overhear them, he just want to take the ball that roll over there. But every word reached him.

His mother...always known. Maybe a mother instinct.

She didn't ask for proof.

She didn't demand answers.

She wasn't trying to make him become the son she had lost.

She simply wanted Kono to be loved.

Whether he was Keonho reborn, or just a little boy who had wandered into their lives.

For the first time since waking up alone on that beach, Kono felt something inside him finally settle. He had spent months fearing that if the truth came out, everyone would only see the eighteen-year-old they had buried.

Instead...the people who loved Keonho the most had unknowingly given him the greatest gift they could. The freedom to become Kono... while still being loved as Kono, a part of Keonho had found its way home.

He took one deep breath then another.

By the time the kitchen door opened, he was already sitting on the living room floor, helping Jiho build a tower with wooden blocks.

"Higher!" Jiho cheered.

"It's going to fall" Keena remind.

"No! It won't—" Kono and Jiho said at the same time as the tower collapsed.

The kids burst into laughter.

James quietly watched from the hallway. He noticed Kono's slightly red eyes but said nothing.

Tea time was loud. Exactly the kind of late afternoon Kono remember years ago. His father insisted everyone eat more hotteok and bungeoppang his son in law bought back from the market. His mother kept putting food onto everyone's plates.

Yejin scolded her children for not finish their food. Her husband own a snack shop at the hot tourist spot near the market. A funny guy that treat her sister and family good.

His mom and dad ask them to bring Martin and Juhoon the next time they come visit. If not, she will personally drive to Seoul to meet Kono.

Even Seonghyeon laughed at that.

"Ju-chan had many sick patients waiting. Appa said he need to finish because he need to take airplane tomorrow. Appa promise to bring home chocolate for me, but don’t tell Ju-Chan he said that." Kono tell the story to his mom and dad. They just laugh at his chatter.

"I promise to bring Ju-Chan and Appa with me next time. Right dad?"

Seonghyeon just smile while patting his head. "Dad smart boy."

"Kono." His mother smiled. "Do you like sweet potatoes?"

"Yes." He reply quickly.

She laughed. "I’ll give you some to bring home later okay."

"Thank you grandma."

When the sky turned orange, it was time to leave.

His mother knelt in front of Kono. "So when will Grandma see you again?"

Kono smiled. "Soon?"

"I hope so." She gently adjusted his little jacket. "You have a home here too."

The words nearly broke him. "Okay, I'll come home again."

She blinked her eyes a bit teary.

"Come home."

Not visit.

Come home.

The phrase lingered in her heart.

She kissed his forehead and hug him tight. "We'll be waiting."

The drive back to Seoul was unusually quiet. James drove while Seonghyeon sat in the passenger seat. Kono occupied the back seat, hugging the dinosaur plush James had bought months ago.

Streetlights passed one by one outside the window.

"Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Can someone have…he searched for the words, umm.. two families?"

Seonghyeon turned around slightly. "What do you think?"

Kono hugged the dinosaur tighter. "I think, yes?"

James smiled while keeping his eyes on the road. "You got it right. Family isn't just by blood. It just means more people to love you."

Kono looked out the window. "That's sound nice."

Back at the penthouse, Martin had already finished work. He was using Seonhyeon studio since it’s their work together. He looked up from the sofa. "Welcome back."

James immediately dropped onto the couch. "I'm exhausted."

Martin rolled his eyes. "How was the visit?"

There was a brief silence. Then Seonghyeon smiled. "Really good, worth it." He looked toward Kono, who was taking off his tiny shoes by the entrance.

"It felt, peaceful."

Martin seemed to understand. He simply nodded. "That's good."

"They ask me to bring you and Juhoon next time we visit or she will personally drive all the way here", Seonghyeon continue.

"Sounds like mom," Martin laugh.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Seonghyeon quietly opened the photo gallery on his phone. There were hundreds of pictures now.

Kono sleeping with a dinosaur plush, Kono learning to read with Ju-chan, Kono dancing with James, Kono sitting on Martin's lap in the recording studio, Kono holding both his and Martin's hands while skipping down the sidewalk.

Then...today's photos.

Kono laughing with Keena and Jiho, Kono sitting beside Keonho father, both smiling over an old guitar, Kono hugging Keonho mother tightly.

He stopped at the last picture.

Keonho mother had one hand on Kono's head. Kono's eyes were closed as he smiled against her shoulder.

Seonghyeon whispered into the quiet room, "Thank you."

He wasn't sure who he was thanking anymore.

Fate.

Life.

Or perhaps...

Keonho himself.

At almost the same time...across the city...

Keonho's mother stood alone in storage room. She opened the old family album again.

One photo showed four-year-old Keonho wearing oversized swimming goggles and grinning from ear to ear. She placed today's polaroid of Kono beside it. The resemblance was astonishing. She gently touched both pictures.

"...Whether you are...Or whether you aren't..."

She smiled through tears.

"It doesn't matter. I already love you."

She carefully closed the album and put it back on the drawer. Then turned off the light. For the first time in thirteen years...she didn't whisper "Goodnight" to a photograph. Instead, she looked out toward the city where she knew a little six-year-old boy was sleeping safely with the family who loved him.

"Goodnight, Kono. Grow well and be happy."

Somewhere across Seoul, asleep beneath a dinosaur blanket, Kono smiled faintly in his dreams. Perhaps, for the first time since waking alone on that beach, he finally understood something.

He hadn't been sent back to erase the pain of the past, he had been given another childhood. Another chance to laugh, another chance to be loved and another chance to watch the people he loved heal, not by forgetting Keonho, but by welcoming Kono with open arms.

Outside, the city lights shimmered beneath the night sky.

Inside a homes, one mother silently wished the little boy sweet dreams.

One remembering him as Keonho in her memories, another called him Kono in this life.

And somehow...both names led him home.

………………………….

Eleven years had passed.

No one really noticed when Kono stopped being the tiny five-year-old who struggled to read. It happened little by little. The oversized sweaters became fitted jackets. Tiny sneakers became boots. The little hand that once reached for theirs was now almost the same size.

At sixteen...Kono stood at 182 centimetres.

Still carrying the same mole on his cheek. Still smiling with his whole face. Face only slightly difference with the old Keonho but the resemblance is still there like a twins.
Only now...the world knew him as Eom Kono.

His official profile read:

Eom Kono.

• Sixteen years old.
• Part-time fashion model.
• Songwriter.
• Producer.
• Student.

Ironically…reading and math still wasn't his favorite thing. Ju-chan had accepted defeat years ago.

"Kono."

"Hm?"

"Did you read the contract?"

"Mostly."

"Kono" the voice become sterner.

"Ten percent royalties."

"Kono, check the title." Juhoon sighed. "I raised you for eleven years. And somehow, you still refuse to read."

Kono grinned shamelessly. "You'll double check it for me."

"I hate that you're right" his Ju-Chan can only shake his head.

The family often joked that Kono had inherited every musical talent imaginable, at the cost of all enthusiasm for paperwork.

His songs, however ere different.

Warm.

Gentle.

Hopeful.

Even veteran producers praised them. Martin secretly smiled every time he heard someone compliment Kono's melodies.

Of course they're good.

He's always been full of music.

Tonight...the penthouse living room was lively once again. Despite the passing years, almost nothing had changed. They still lived together. James' enormous penthouse had simply become their second Home.

The furniture had changed. The Tv slide was newer.

Martin's/Kono new dog, a fluffy golden retriever named Waffle, occupied half the sofa as if he paid rent. Kono was entirely responsible for that. Martin bought a house in the same building as James, just below, the moment he knew there’s an apartment on sale in their building.  

Martin scratched Waffle's ears. "I was manipulated to get him," Martin side eye Kono.

Kono looked offended. "I merely suggested emotional support."

"You cried" saying this was merely a present for that charting song in Melon chart," Martin inform the others.

"I was emotionally supporting myself," Kono smile proudly.

James laughed. "You absolutely blackmailed him."

"I used my face."

"Exactly."

At 43, Seonghyeon looked calmer than he had in years. The faint lines around his eyes came from smiling more than worrying. His studio was now mostly inside the penthouse. He rarely accepted projects that kept him away from home. Not because Kono still needed him, but because…he liked staying at home.

James is 46. Still owned the dance studio, still dramatic, still loud. Kono only knew about James fail marriage after he was old enough and after he found James picture with a girl in the house. Hidden. His brief marriage when he was 25 only last for 2 years and ended peacefully.

It had hurt, but eventually…he had smiled again, especially after they found Kono, Seonghyeon tell him.

Whenever anyone asked why he never remarried, he always answered the same way.

"I already have enough family."

Martin...44 years old now. An award-winning producer. New co-owner of one extremely spoiled golden retriever. When interviewers inevitably asked why he remained single...

He smiled. "I already have Kono."

The internet and fans sway with this father-son duo relationship. It was never a secret that Martin was the one encourage Kono to pursue music.

He tries dating several times but all fall down shortly. Mainly because Martin was a workaholic and another because of jealousy since Martin spend more time with Kono and the others rather than with the girl. So he just stop. Although Kono still hope he will found the one, because his papa deserve the best.

Ju-chan, also 44. A respected dentist. Happily married. Father to an energetic seven-year-old son who adored visiting "Uncle James' house and play with big brother Kono."

The only one with normal life. His wife was once a patient there, they fall in love and get married all in front of Kono. His most strict brother is a loving father. He always get tease by James and Martin.

Tonight was one of those evenings. Ju-chan's face filled the tablet screen. His wife could be heard laughing somewhere off camera. His son Jaemin was proudly showing everyone a drawing of Waffle riding a rocket.

James applauded dramatically. "A masterpiece."

"It looks like a potato" Martin told.

"It's abstract" Juhoon siding with his son.

Then...Martin picked up the remote. "Ready?"

Everyone nodded. Kono looking nervous sitting in between Seonghyeon and Martin. The television switched to a livestream from Chaoz Entertainment.

A rookie idol group stood onstage looking nervous and excited.

Their leader spoke into the microphone introducing themselves one by one, thanks everyone watching and telling them about the mini album.

"Our debut title track was produced by...Young producer Eom Kono ...

The living room erupted. Even from Juhoon side. Jaemin voice is the louder.

James shouted louder than anyone. "THAT'S OUR BOY!"

Waffle barked enthusiastically, having absolutely no idea why everyone was so excited.

The music began. The rookie dance energetically. The song was youthful and bright. Hopeful and full of warmth, a timeless melody rarely produces this day.

(Think about Girl Generation debut song “Into the New World”, that kind of song)

The kind of melody that stayed with people long after it ended.

Martin quietly smiled. He recognized tiny pieces of Kono's style. A piano progression here, a soft bell sound there. The same bell Kono had chosen when he was five years old.

When the performance finished, the comments online exploded.

"What an amazing debut."

"The song is incredible."

"Who is Eom Kono? Isn't he the cute model?"

"He needs more work."

"As expected for a young boy raise by Eom-Edward. The golden pair producer."

Martin looked at Kono. "You did well" while patting Kono hair. I’m so proud of you.

Kono smiled sheepishly. "Thanks, Papa."

Seonghyeon turn and hugged him tightly. "I'm proud of you too." His voice was calm and quiet. But unmistakably emotional.

James immediately appeared carrying a cake. "Move" he push Martin with his legs.

Martin blinked. "What?"

"Crying later, cake first."

The cake was terribly decorated. The icing leaned slightly to one side. The words read:

CONGRATULATIONS OUR KONO ❤️

One letter had accidentally smudged. James defended himself immediately.

"Writing with frosting is difficult."

"I told you to let the shop do it," Ju-chan said through the video.

"I know technique" James argue.

"You absolutely don't."

"It shows sincereness."

"You and your stubbornness."

"Confidence" James correct him.

Everyone laughed.

Seonghyeon quietly lit the five candles.

James had refused to put more. "I'm not setting the smoke alarm off my home."

Instead...he chooses to put just five.

Kono noticed immediately. His eyes softened.

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Seonghyeon smiled. "You earned this."

"Speech!" James demanded.

Kono groaned. "I hate speeches."

"Too bad, we won’t eat until then."

Kono looked around the room.

Dad. Seonghyeon. Still the person who tucked a frightened five-year-old into bed after nightmares.

Appa. James hyung. Still loud enough to wake the neighbours and making terrible jokes.

Papa. Martin hyung. The one who had taught him that music wasn't just notes. It was more about the feelings.

Ju-chan. Juhoon hyung. Smiling from the screen while his wife and Jaemin chan waved excitedly. Still checking whether Kono had eaten, still reminding him to read contracts.

Some things never changed.

Kono laughed softly. "I don't really know what to say."

James gasped dramatically. "Our songwriter is speechless."

"I write songs."

"Same thing."

Kono shook his head with a smile. "When I was little, I always thought, people needed something big to be happy. A successful career, a famous name, money."

He looked around the living room. Then smiled.

"I was wrong."

Everyone became quiet.

"I already had everything even when I was five."

His gaze rested on each of them in turn.

"Dad, Appa, Papa, Ju-chan, Auntie Minju and Jaeminie" "You were all enough."

His voice grew softer. "I don't think I need anything else as long as I have all of you."

He smiled, the same bright smile that had once belonged to a seventeen-year-old idol named Keonho.

Silence settled over the room. Everyone looking at him with a proud smile. A bit sentimental and full of warm.

James sniffed loudly. "Who's cutting onions?"

"There are no onions," Martin replied.

"Then why are my eyes leaking?"

"Because you're emotional constipated."

"I'm allergic to feeling."

Ju-chan laughed so hard through the tablet that his wife could be heard asking what was happening.

Seonghyeon stood and walked over to Kono. He gently placed a hand on Kono's head.

"You've grown well." Three simple words. The same blessing parents often gave their children.

Kono's eyes glistened. "You watched me grow."

Seonghyeon froze for the briefest moment. Then he smiled.

"I did… and it's been the greatest privilege of my life."

That night, after everyone had their stomach full, Kono stood alone on the penthouse balcony. The city stretched before him in a sea of lights. A familiar breeze brushed against his face.

In another lifetime, at eighteen, he had believed everything was over. He remember dying in Martin's arms. Remember his brothers crying. Remember saying goodbye.

But fate had written another ending. Not one where the past disappeared.

Keonho would always be loved. Always be remembered.

But Kono had been given something even more precious. A second childhood, a second family, a second chance to grow up beneath the watchful eyes of the people who had once mourned him.

He looked back through the balcony window.

James had fallen asleep on the sofa again.

Martin was carrying an acting sleeping Waffle toward guest room. Too sleepy to walk back downstairs to his own house.

The tablet was off after he wave goodbye to Ju-chan and his family especially Jaemin because he had refuse to hang up the video call.

…and Seonghyeon...who was quietly cleaning the mess that left on the table.

Kono rested a hand over his heart. The ache that had followed him since the beach so many years ago was finally dull, never gone.

He whispered into the night, as though speaking to the frightened seventeen-year-old he had once been. "We made it."

Then he turned away from the city lights and walked back inside. Back to the people who had unknowingly fulfilled the promise he had once spoken to a photograph.

This time... they had watched him grow.

The End.

………………………….

Epilogue – The Day The Sun Lost It’s Warmth

Seonghyeon's POV

People always asked me one question.

"Why did Cortis disband?"

The official statement was simple.

After long serious discussions with the team and management Cortis will indefinitely suspend all activities. For now, some members will stay with us and some will follow their own path. We hope for fan deeply understanding and support. We appreciate your concern and we wish for the member happiness.

Professional, short, clean.

It causing a huge uproar. The monster rookies who were predicted to be 2^nd biggest boy group after BTS announced their disbandment overnight. They said it was a huge lost, some ask them to reconsider.

But most loyal COER and insider understood. How could they not? How can they stand on the stage as 4 when they start as five? Pretending they were happy while their heart bleed?

2027

The were only teenagers, just starting to step in adult world. People often forget that. When they watched us on stage, when they saw us laughing on variety shows, when they called us "professionals", they forgot.

James was only twenty-one. Already carrying the responsibility of being the oldest and people often expect him to be the most matured.

Martin had only just turned nineteen. The leader of the group, an eighteen-year-old leading four lives that people expect to be perfect 24 hours.

Juhoon was nineteen, still trying to balance being an idol when he was the last member to be added and get the less training.

I was only eighteen. Still consider as underage.

So does Keonho...our maknae, my twin, our group sunshine.

………………………….

We had just finished a university festival performance. It wasn't even one of their biggest schedules. Just another stage, another crowd, another night.

Keonho complained the whole time because it was raining. "I spent two hours on my hair before" he pout.

James laughed. "Aww…poor maknae," he tease from the passenger seat.

Martin didn't even look up from his phone. "Good for you."

Keonho immediately smiled mischievously. "I knew leader loved me."

"I said; good for you."

"Exactly, they call me sexy".

At the back seat I pretend to puke while Juhoon hyung beside me reprimanding him that he still under age.

That was the last normal conversation we ever had.

The rain had started before they left. It was supposed to be an ordinary night where they will come home, complain about shower turn, maybe eat ramen and sleep.

James was arguing with Martin about the playlist.

“Change the song.”

“No.”

“You've played this three times today.”

“And you survived.”

In front, Keonho laughed softly.

Juhoon was resting his head against the window, eyes closed. He looked exhausted.

Martin glanced at him through the mirror.

“Juhoon-ah, you okay?”

Head move slightly “Yeah.” His smile was small.

Martin frowned slightly, but before he could ask again, the world changed. There was a flash of headlights and blaring horn by their driver.

James shouting at something before the sound of metal colliding with metal. Something hit them from the side where Keonho and Juhoon were.

The vehicle spun, glass breaking. Sound of screaming. The violent force of the impact throwing their bodies against their seatbelts. And then it was all over. Not even a minute. A minute that change their lives forever.

I try to open my eyes shaking my head a bit. I can feel warm blood run down from my forehead.

The vehicle had stopped at the side road. The door on the backseat was missing. Rain poured through it. The smell of smoke and wet asphalt filled the air. For one horrible second, nobody moved. Still in shock until…

Martin's voice tore through the darkness. “KEONHO?” the seat beside him empty.

Then James screamed. “KEONHO!” he was the first one out from the van and first reaching him. Lifting Keonho just enough that his head rested against his lap.

Martin forced himself to move. Tearing the seatbelt roughly. His legs nearly gave out when he saw him.

Keonho had been thrown from the vehicle. He lay there on the wet road unnaturally still.

“No, no, no…” Martin ran. He fell to his knees beside him, hands immediately pressing against Keonho's red abdomen, trying to stop the bleeding. Something metallic stuck there. His hands were shaking so badly he could barely keep them steady.

“Keonho-ah. Keonho-ah, look at me.”

The youngest's eyes fluttered. “Hyung…”

“I'm here. I'm here. Stay awake, okay? Don't close your eyes.” Martin's voice broke.

Behind him, I stumbled out of the wreckage helping Juhoon out with our driver.

“CALL AN AMBULANCE!” James shouted to the passerby.

His voice was frantic. Wild.

“CALL THEM! NOW! PLEASE!”

He grabbed his phone with trembling hands, trying to make the call, but his fingers kept slipping. “Please, please…

Juhoon slowly sit near Keonho feet. His arm hung at an awful angle, and he was clutching it against his chest. His face was pale with pain. But he didn't stop.

“Keonho…”

“Juhoon, don't move!” Martin shouted.

Juhoon ignored him.

He dragged himself closer until he could reach Keonho's hand. “I’m here,” he whispered.

Keonho's fingers moved weakly. Juhoon caught them. “I’m here, Keonho-ah.”

Seonghyeon sit on Keonho other side beside Martin. He looked like he had forgotten how to breathe. His face was pale and no sound came out. His entire body was shaking so badly.

“Keonho…”

The youngest's eyes moved between them. “Hyung…”

Seonghyeon squeezed his hand.

“Don't talk. Don't talk, okay? The ambulance is coming.” James said over his head.

Keonho smiled. It was the same smile he always gave them when he was trying to make everyone else feel better.

Martin knew that smile.

Keonho looked at him. “Martin hyung…”his voice weak.

“I'm here.”

“Hyung…”

Martin pressed harder against the wound, tears spilling down his face. “Stay with me. You hear me? Stay with me.”

Their driver was still on the phone.

“Please hurry! Please! There are five people—one of them is badly injured—please!”His voice cracked.

The rain continued to fall.

Keonho's fingers tightened weakly around me.

“Seonghyeon ah…Thank you.”

I shook his head rapidly.

“No. No, don't. For what?”

“For always… holding my hand, staying by my side.”

I made a broken sound. “Stop saying something stupid like that.”

Keonho looked at Juhoon. “Juhoon hyung…”

Juhoon's face crumpled. “I'm here.”

“You should… take care of your arm.”

Juhoon let out a laugh that sounded nothing like laughter. “Worry about yourself first.”

Keonho smiled faintly. “Always so caring.”

Then he looked at James.

He was staring at him.

“James hyung…”

James immediately shook his head. “I'm sorry. For making you worry so much.”

James's lips trembled. “You’ll always make me worry.”

Keonho's eyes slowly moved back to Martin.

The leader was still pressing his hands against him. His entire body was covered in rain and blood.

“Martin hyung…”

“I'm here.”

“Thank you.”

Martin's breathing became uneven. “Don't thank me.”

“For everything.”

“Keonho.”

“For being my hyungs.”

“Keonho, stop!” Martin's voice broke so violently that everyone went silent.

He lowered his head kissing Keonho forehead. “Please.”

Keonho watched them. “I'm sorry.”

Martin's hands trembled against him. “Please don't leave us.”

Keonho's eyes grew wet. “I don't want to.”

That was all it took. Martin completely broke. Follow by all of them.

I leaned closer, forehead nearly touching Keonho's. “Then don't.”

Keonho breathed in shakily. “It’s hurt…I’m scared.” His voice getting weaker and weaker.

Martin closed his eyes.

The words destroyed him/them.

“We are here.” James trying to comfort him.

“I don't want to go, leave you.

“You're not going anywhere.” Martin told him.

“Promise?”

Martin swallowed. “Promise.”

Keonho smiled. A small, tired smile.

“Then… I'll believe you.”

The sirens sound were still far away.

James looked down the road.

“Where are they?”

His voice had become a whisper.

“Where are they?”

I held Keonho's hand with both of my hand. It’s cold.

“Please stay.”

Juhoon, still crawling on the ground despite his broken arm, pressed his forehead against Keonho's fingers.

“Please, I love you…we love you…”

Keonho looked at them one last time. His eyes were already losing focus.

“Hyungs…”

Martin leaned closer.

“I'm here.”

“Don't be sad.” Martin shook his head violently.

“Don't say that.”

“Be happy.”

“Keep making music.”

I was crying openly now. Despite every hope, I know we are losing him.

James turned away for one second, pressing his hand over his mouth.

Juhoon was shaking so hard he could barely breathe.

Keonho's gaze softened.

“I love you guys.” The words were quiet. Almost lost beneath the rain.

But they heard him. All of them.

Then...he whispered something so softly only Martin heard it.

Days later...

Martin finally told us.

Keonho had said—

"Thank you for giving me four loving brothers."

Martin's face collapsed.

“Keonho-ah…”

“No.” Martin pressed harder. “No, no, no. Keonho. Open your eyes.”

Juhoon screamed into Keonho legs. It was so heartbreaking.

The sirens grew louder. But not fast enough.

Martin kept talking. He told Keonho to wake up. He promised him everything.

A holiday.

A new dorm.

A puppy.

Anything.

Everything.

But Keonho didn't open his eyes.

The youngest's hand slowly loosened in my hand. I didn’t let go until they force me. I didn’t stop looking at his face. His eyes closed just like he was only sleeping.

When the ambulance finally arrived, the rain had already washed most of the blood from the road.

But it could not wash it from Martin's hands.

It could not erase the way I had held Keonho's hand until the very end.

It could not stop make Juhoon's heart hurt more than his broken arm.

It could not silence James, who kept repeating the same words over and over.

“Stay…please stay…Keonho please….”

And when the paramedics finally covered Keonho with a sheet, the four remaining members stood in the rain. Together. But never whole again.

The video became viral even after being censored and block many time.

The drunk driver that hit us facing severe punishment. But all was useless.

The youngest most beloved member of CORTIS was gone.

And for the first time since they had become a group, none of them knew how to sing.

………………………….

The funeral came. Thousands of fans.

Flowers.

Letters.

None of it mattered. The dorm became unbearably quiet.

One pair of shoes waiting by the door.

One empty bed.

One missing voice.

The company asked about the future. They propose therapy and hiatus.

Could we continue?

Four members?

A new beginning?

Martin look around silently.

I don’t think I can sing again…Juhoon said quietly.

Me too…James to everyone surprise agree.

I just nod.

The CEO looked surprised.

"No." Martin's answered them. His answer will never change.

But they do 1 last show for fans. 2 months after Keonho gone. A goodbye stage. 3 days in Seoul Olympic Stadium. The only demand company ask them to terminate the contract.

A closure for all of them. That was the end. No arguments. No negotiations. The company understood.

………………………….

Years after were the longest day of my life. We move out from the dorm. Me and Martin stay as producer. James goes back to his hometown for half a year then came back to start his new career as dance teacher. Juhoon went to dental school.

For one whole year I wrote songs no one heard.

Every melody sounded incomplete.

Every harmony felt like it was missing a voice.

With Martin by my side was the reason I keep forward. Leader will always be a leader.

Then, one morning in 2040, when I was away to the familiar beach I always go to for inspiration, I found a little boy asleep on the shore. He looks cold, but his sleeping face looking peaceful.

He looked up at me with familiar boba brown eyes and quietly said—

"My name?...Kono."

Five years old.

No name.

No family.

No past.

I didn't know if it was a miracle or a second chances. Maybe none of us ever truly would. Whether fate had simply sent us another child who needed a home. It didn't matter. Because from the moment that little hand reached for mine...Our family began breathing again.

Sometimes...late at night...

I still dream of that day on the roadside. Of rain against the windows.

Of Martin begging.

Of James crying.

Of Juhoon screaming.

Of the cold hand lost it strength in my own.

Of an eighteen-year-old boy saying goodbye.

But when I wake...

I hear laughter outside the room. Hearing James loud voice arguing with Ju-chan over video calls. Martin complaining that Waffle has stolen another sock.

And I feel weight on my waist. Kono apparently come to sleep with me at night. He sometimes do that when feeling sentimental.

As I lay there waiting for my 16 year old son to wake up,  I remember...the promise that little five-year-old unknowingly made while pointing at an old Cortis picture.

"This time... you'll watch me grow."

He was right.

We did. All four of us did.

Not because we forgot the boy we lost, but because loving Kono never replaced loving Keonho. And somehow...it feels like we honoured him.

Kono came and gave four grieving brothers...a reason to smile again.

THE REAL END.