Being the sixth member of TOMORROW X TOGETHER wasn’t something you took lightly. You weren’t the leader, the main dancer, or the vocal center, but you had your role: the one who kept things flowing, the one who added a little spark in chaotic rehearsals, and the one who fans seemed to notice quietly. You were close to the other members, but the spotlight was always a little sharper on them. Still, you loved your job—the tours, the practice, the fans.

Tonight was no different. The stadium lights had dimmed, the final chords of the encore still ringing in your ears as you and the rest of TXT lined up for the send-off. Fans pressed along the barricades, waving banners and holding out albums, light sticks, and all sorts of random things they wanted you to sign. Your hands were tired from rehearsals, but your smile never faltered. You liked this part—the intimacy of it, even if it was brief.

“Thank you so much for coming!” You said, reaching out to take a handmade album from a fan. Your pen moved quickly across the page, a practiced motion that made you feel like you were floating above exhaustion. Beside you, Soobin and Beomgyu were chatting with fans, laughing at the little notes they’d written, while Yeonjun signed posters with his signature sharp flourish.

But then you heard it. A whisper at first, drowned out by the crowd’s cheers, but growing louder. “She shouldn’t even be in the group.” Someone spat from the back. Another voice joined in, sharper, crueler. “She’s so useless why is she her? Txt would be better if she was gone.”

Your stomach dropped. The pen in your hand wobbled slightly as you kept writing, pretending not to hear, but the words burned against your skin. You glanced toward the barrier, trying to see who it was, but all you could make out were a few blurry figures hiding in the crowd. Your heart raced, a mix of fear and disbelief.

You tried to focus back on the fan in front of you, on the silly keychain they’d brought for you, but the words kept echoing. You could feel your hands shaking slightly as you signed the next autograph, and a hot wave of anger and sadness mixed together. How could someone say something so cruel about you when all you’d ever done was give your all?

Behind you, Taehyun noticed your hesitation. He leaned close, voice low, “Hey, are you okay?”