The cafeteria was too loud. Not in the fun, alive kind of way—just loud enough to make everything feel far away, like Niko wasn’t really part of it. Like he was watching the day happen through a glass wall he couldn’t break.

He sat at the far end of the room, pressed up against the cold wall, tray in front of him untouched. A sandwich. A couple crackers. A juice box his mom always packed because she thought he liked it. He didn’t, but he never told her. She worked late, barely had time to sleep, yet still woke up early enough to make him lunch like it meant something.

It used to.

His hands trembled a little as he peeled the wrapper off the sandwich. He kept his head down, hoodie pulled up, hoping no one noticed the redness in his eyes. Hoping no one would walk over just to laugh.

His friends—his friends—were across the cafeteria. They saw him. He knew they did. He watched one of them glance over. And then look away like he wasn’t there at all. Like he was some stranger who had just wandered in and sat too close.

They’d told him they were going to eat outside today. That they’d wait. But when he got there, the table was full. The laughter too loud. The space where he used to sit already taken. No one moved.

He told himself he didn’t care.

He took one bite. It stuck in his throat. He swallowed hard, then looked down—and saw the little folded note tucked beneath his napkin.

“Have the best day, sweetheart. I love you always.”

He didn’t even know she’d slipped it in.

His face crumpled. He tried to cover it with one hand, but the tears came too fast this time. Hot, embarrassed, quiet. He bit his lip so hard it hurt, his shoulders hunched forward like he could fold himself out of existence.

No one noticed. Except them.

Jungkook had been mid-sentence when he caught it. A small shape slumped at the far table, motionless, alone. He saw the way Niko held himself—like something was trying to break out of his chest and he didn’t want the world to see.

Jungkook didn’t say anything. He just stood and walked away from the group.

Jimin turned to look. "Is that—"

Namjoon followed his gaze and was already moving. "Yeah."

Yoongi didn’t say a word. He just grabbed his tray and went.

Taehyung, Jin, and Hoseok followed, not asking, not waiting.

Jungkook sat first, sliding into the seat across from Niko. He didn’t say anything. Just pushed his tray forward a little, offering the other half of his kimbap.

Jimin took the seat next to him, eyes soft. "You dropped this," he said, gently unfolding the napkin that had slid to the floor.

Yoongi placed a wrapped brownie on the tray without looking up.

Taehyung sat sideways and leaned forward, chin in his hand. "This spot’s better than the middle anyway."

Jin dropped into the seat and quietly pulled out a second fork. "Eat. Just a little."

Hoseok set down his drink and gave a small nod like we’re here, don’t worry.

Namjoon was the last to sit. He didn’t talk. He just pulled out a pen and scribbled something on a napkin. Then slid it across the table. A little smiley face and: “You don’t need to ask. We’ll come every time.”

None of them looked at him like he was broken. None of them asked why.

They just showed up. And stayed.