The campus cafeteria buzzed with noise—laughter echoing off the walls, trays clattering, chairs scraping against the floor. Groups clustered at tables, talking with full mouths, passing fries, showing each other things on their phones.

At the far end, near the window where the light hit a little too bright, Niko sat alone.

The tray in front of him was barely touched. A sandwich, a bruised apple, a half-empty carton of chocolate milk. He kept his head down, hoping no one would notice the way his shoulders trembled. Tears slipped silently down his cheeks, falling onto the plastic tray as he tried to eat like everything was fine.

He was supposed to sit with his friends. They had promised to meet at lunch, even said they'd save a seat. But the moment he walked in, he saw them. At a table across the room. Laughing. Talking to someone else. No space left.

They never looked his way.

Jungkook noticed first. He had just gotten his tray and was headed toward his usual table with the guys when he froze mid-step. His eyes followed the quiet figure near the window. Something about the way Niko sat—shoulders hunched, arms wrapped tight around himself—made something clench in Jungkook’s chest.

He turned back around without a word, walking straight past the crowd and toward him.

Namjoon was the next to look up. He watched Jungkook make a sharp turn, then spotted the lone figure he was headed to. Without hesitation, he nudged Jin beside him and stood.

Yoongi caught on quickly. He’d seen that look before—too many times. He grabbed his own tray and followed, silent but present.

One by one, the rest joined: Hoseok with his bright orange smoothie, Taehyung balancing his overloaded plate, Jimin already moving faster once he saw Niko’s face.

Jungkook was the first to reach the table. He didn’t say anything at first. He just set his tray down across from Niko and slowly sat, eyes gentle. Then, carefully, he slid a small napkin across the table.

Namjoon pulled out the chair next to Niko and sat without asking. "You don’t deserve to sit alone," he said, voice low. "Especially not when people don’t see your worth."

Hoseok plopped down beside Jungkook, laying a cookie between them. "You need better friends," he said softly. "We’re available."

Jimin scooted into the seat on the other side of Niko, leaning his head to the side. "We’re loud, kind of chaotic, but… we care."

Yoongi sat on the edge of the bench, his voice quiet but firm. "No one should cry while eating. That’s just… cruel."

Taehyung placed his tray down, then reached over with a folded napkin and gently placed it near Niko’s hand. "We’ve got room for you."

Jin was last. He took the final seat and gave a soft, warm smile. "And if they ever try to ditch you again, they’ll have to go through us."

For the first time that day, Niko wasn’t invisible. And for the first time in a long time, the table wasn’t empty anymore.