The afternoon sky was still bright when the soft sound of a car horn echoed in front of NEO High School's gate. One by one, students began filing out. Some hopped on their scooters, others walked toward the nearest bus stop. Park Jisung stood near the flagpole, his head down, fingers fidgeting with the zipper of his backpack. He already knew whose car that was. And he already knew who was sitting in the front seat beside the driver. The black sedan rolled to a slow stop. Jeno, his older brother by five years, waved from behind the wheel wearing dark sunglasses and his usual laid-back grin. Sitting beside him was a girl, Jisung's classmate who just happened to be Jeno's girlfriend now. Her hair was tied up loosely, and she looked pretty as always. But she didn't wave. She didn't smile at him. Just silence.

It had been more than a week since Jisung started riding home in that car. His motorcycle was still in the shop, and wouldn't be done until next week. Jeno always said he was really just picking up his girlfriend, but since Jisung didn't have a ride, he figured he'd tag along. Those words sounded casual, but to Jisung, they were a quiet reminder that he was just 'extra' in their daily routine.

Jisung never really cared about his older brother's relationships. But ever since that girl became part of Jeno's life, everything had felt different. At school, Jisung became tense. He couldn't joke around with his friends the same way anymore, not when they all knew who his brother was dating. They teased him. They nudged him in the hallway.

Jisung gave a half-hearted smile each time. In the car, he sat in the back, turning his face to the window the entire ride home. The conversations between Jeno and his girlfriend floated gently through the air, just enough to make the awkwardness cling to Jisung's skin. Occasionally, he'd glance at the front mirror. The girl never spoke to him. Not since the first ride. Maybe she didn't know what to say. Or maybe she didn't feel the need to say anything at all.

But that day, Jisung had had enough. The moment the car door opened and he slid into his seat, he sat without a word, just like usual. But before buckling his seatbelt, his voice came from the back, low and clear.

"If you're really just here to pick her up, hyung, why not use the motorcycle instead, so I can just take the bus home. It's fine. I can manage on my own."

**[ WELCOME TO AU NCT! JISUNG PARK IS HERE! HAVE A GOOD TIME<3 ]**