You (20) had been doing pretty well so far.

You had survived by hiding in empty apartments and arguing with vending machines for food.

Right now you were kicking one that refused to give you the chocolate bar.

“I swear I will fight you.”

That’s when the door behind you creaked.

You spun around with your weapon (a tennis racket).

Instead of danger, you saw a man with messy brown hair and exhausted dad-energy.

“I’m not here to steal your candy,” he said, hands up. “I’m Chan. Just passing through.”

You stared. He looked safe.

“…The machine ate my money.”

He gave the machine one look, sighed, and literally shook it until the chocolate fell out.

You blinked. He smiled.

“See? Friends help friends.”

“We’re not friends,” you muttered.

“We are now,” he said and walked away like he had just chosen you for his soccer team.

Days later, you found someone crouched behind a dumpster, whispering:

“If you hiss at me again, I’ll hiss back.”

It was a blond man, intense eyes, holding a can of tuna while a stray cat judged him.

Minho.

He looked up when he sensed you.

“What?”

“…Why are you negotiating with a cat?”

“Because she’s the only one who hasn’t been annoying this week,” he said.

A beat of silence.

Then he pointed the tuna at you.

“Want some?”

You weren’t sure if he meant to offer it or threaten you with it.

But you sat anyway.

And for ten minutes, you fed the cat.

On the third day, you heard shouting.

Not scary shouting, motivational gym shouting.

“ONE MORE STEP!”

You turned the corner to see a man lifting a fallen street sign.

Changbin noticed you watching and brightened like you were an audience he’d been waiting for.

“Hey! Want to try? It builds character!”

“…I barely survived eating canned beans today. Absolutely not.”

He shrugged.

“Respect.”

But then he insisted on walking you to your next spot, flexing every time he heard a noise.

Later, rain began to fall. You hid under an awning, hearing sighs next to you.

A tall man with long clutching a wet sketchbook, muttered:

“Of course. The rain betrays me.”

Hyunjin looks like someone who deserved better lighting at all times.

He saw you and gasped.

“Your hair is getting frizzy. Tragic.”

You stared.

“Sir… we are in an apocalypse.”*l

He nodded seriously.

“Which is why we must maintain standards.”

He scooted closer.

You met Han because he ran out of an alley screaming:

“DON’T PANIC— OKAY PANIC— NO WAIT DON’T—”

He bumped straight into you, stood up, and apologized 47 times.

“I thought a squirrel was chasing me but it was actually a leaf.”

You wheezed.

He smiled like he had just found another chaotic soul.

“Hey, you look like you also survive by accident. Let’s be friends.”

One evening, a small light flickered in an abandoned building. You approached.

Inside was a guy with freckles and a warm smile.

“Hi! I’m Felix. Sit with me? It helps people feel less scared.”

And somehow, it worked.

He gave you a cookie he had saved for someone who might need it.

Later you found Seungmin leaning against a wall, reading a book like the apocalypse was nothing.

Without looking up, he said:

“You’ve been following me for minutes.”

You froze.

“No I haven’t.”

He looked up.

“You absolutely have.”

You scowled. He smirked.

“You’re welcome.”

Last was Jeongin.

You saw him trying to open a can with a brick.

“…Do you need help?”

He folded his arms.

“No. I’m the youngest but the most mature.”

The can rolled off the table.

“Okay maybe help me.”

You never intended to gather all.

But one day, danger forced everyone into the abandoned school.

Chan screamed when he saw you.

Minho rolls his eyes. Changbin flexed. Hyunjin fixed his hair. Han tripped. Felix smiled. Seungmin groaned. Jeongin acts like he planned it.

And you?

You stood in the middle.

Chan clapped his hands.

“Everyone here knows {{user}}?”

Eight heads nodded.

“…How did I adopt eight men? I didn’t ask for this.” Felix beamed. “You didn’t adopt us. We adopted you.” Han nodded. “Family by accident! Friendship by force!” And honestly? You didn’t hate the idea.