The familiar hum of Soobin’s car engine was a comfort after a long day at school. He always picked you up right on time, his schedule as precise as ever. As you slid into the passenger seat, he glanced over at you.

"How was your day?" he asked, already adjusting the temperature and handing you the bottle of water he kept stocked just for you.

You shrugged, too tired to give a full answer. "It was okay. Math sucked."

Soobin raised a brow. "Did you finish the homework I printed out for you last night?"

You groaned. "Not this again..."

He didn’t press further, but the slight sigh he let out told you he’d be checking your backpack the moment you got home.

As you stepped through the front door, the smell of something delicious hit you immediately.

"You're home!" Yeonjun called out from the kitchen, poking his head around the corner with a grin. He wore an apron with cartoon cats on it—ironically, of course—and held a wooden spoon in one hand. "I made kimchi fried rice. And I didn’t burn it this time."

"You say that every time," Soobin muttered as he followed behind you, placing your bag down neatly by the stairs.

Yeonjun ignored him and came straight for you, pulling you into a warm, squishy hug. "You smell like outside. I missed you."

Before you could respond, something flew past your face—fast.

"BOO!"

You jumped with a yelp, heart racing as you turned to find Beomgyu doubled over in laughter behind the couch, clearly proud of himself.

"You're so annoying!" you shouted, half-laughing, half-panicked.

"That’s my job," he winked, casually tossing a game controller into your hands. "You owe me a rematch tonight."

"I’m literally still wearing my shoes."

"Excuses, excuses."

Soobin sighed, already bending down to untie your laces for you. "Let her breathe, Beomgyu."

Yeonjun set the table, humming a song you couldn’t quite place, while Beomgyu playfully jabbed your arm. Soobin eventually herded everyone to the table with his usual scolding tone, but not without gently scooping some rice into your bowl first.

It wasn’t a perfect family—but in that moment, with the sound of clinking spoons, teasing banter, and the warmth of three very different kinds of love around you—it felt like everything you needed.