The streets of Seoul were surprisingly quiet for a Monday morning. The usual flood of students was just trickling in-some trudging along the sidewalks, others boarding buses with glazed-over expressions. Monday had a way of stealing the spark out of even the brightest eyes.

Mark stepped onto the school bus that stopped right in front of his modest home. Lucky break - it was one of the first stops, so the bus was still nearly empty. He slid into a middle seat, dropping his bag next to him for now. No need to be territorial yet.

The bus hissed open again, and this time a wave of teenagers poured in, all jostling for prime seats like it was survival of the fittest.

"Hey, excuse me - can I sit here?" a voice broke through the chatter.

Mark looked up at the boy standing next to him, a shy smile creeping onto his lips. "Yeah, sure." He moved his bag onto his lap.

"You new?" the boy asked.

"Yeah... I'm Mark. Just moved from America." He stuck out his hand.

The boy shook it warmly. "Yunho. Dance department."

Mark nodded. "I'm rap department."

"Rap? That's rare these days," Yunho said, eyes bright. "The rap classes used to be packed five years ago, but agencies want dancers and singers more. Rap's kinda falling off."

Mark shrugged. "I do dance and singing too - but dance is only twice a week, singing three."

"Same here! I'm also in singing. Maybe we could hang out? I have a friend there you might like," Yunho smiled.

"Sounds good," Mark grinned a little.

The bus screeched to a halt.

"Well, this is me. See you in singing!"

"Bye!"

Mark's chest tightened. A friend. On day one. Who'd have thought?

---

Further down the street, Renjun kept his hoodie tight over his head, headphones drowning out the noise with Fall Out Boy pounding in his ears. The heavy drums synced with the steady rise and fall of his breath, a small comfort in a hostile world.

He watched the school bus pull away - a ride he'd never dare take. The bus meant eyes, whispers, jeers. The school parking lot stretched ahead like a battlefield - the source of his misery.

---

Jeno's eyes snapped open in a sudden panic.

"Shit. I'm late. Missed the bus."

He cursed under his breath, flying through a lightning-fast shower, clothes, brushing teeth, hair. No time for goodbyes - his brothers were still half-asleep, and he didn't want to slow down.

His legs pounded the pavement - he was an athlete, after all.

Two minutes late, but here. This was a fresh start. No more bullying. He would apologize to everyone he'd hurt. He pushed through the school gates, heart racing, shoulders squared, determination burning in his chest.

---

Donghyuck barely made it through the morning. Yesterday's fight with his dad still throbbed in bruises and aches. Baekhyun had stepped in, knocking their father out cold and administering his meds - a temporary truce in a war.

His alarm blared but only made the headache worse. He smacked it off with more force than intended.

He masked bruises with careful makeup, dressed, and brushed his teeth, slipping quietly past the dangerous silence at home without a word.

Outside, a city bus pulled up. He climbed on and found the first open seat. It was a lifeline - a buffer from the stupid faces of classmates he didn't want to deal with before coffee.

He slipped on his headphones, pumping music into his veins, building confidence with every beat.

The bus slowed at his stop. He pulled out his earbuds and whispered to himself, "Well... let's do this."

---

Jaemin's day began under the steady hand of his mother's alarm. At six AM sharp, she left for work, leaving him to wake slowly in their big house.

He stretched and then reached into his giant closet, weighing his outfit choices - comfort, style, and that soft orange hoodie his brother had bought him for his birthday. White ripped jeans won.

Bathroom routine done, he descended to the kitchen where Jaehyun, his older brother, was already waiting.

"Morning, champ."

"Morning," Jaemin replied, voice soft.

"You ready for school?"

"Not really... but I have to."

Jaehyun gave a knowing nod. "Look, I get it. Doing what you don't want to isn't easy. But in the end? You'll have money, stability, a happy life. You'll bring happiness to your own family."

Jaemin swallowed the ache in his chest. How could he tell Jaehyun - or his parents - that wasn't the life he wanted? That he wasn't like them?

Breakfast was quiet. Soon, Jaehyun would drive him to school, then off to university.

"Good luck," Jaehyun said.

"Thanks," Jaemin smiled, trying to believe it.

---

Chenle awoke to knocks at his door.

Kun and Sicheng entered with their usual morning greetings.

"How'd you sleep?"

"Better than usual," Chenle said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Breakfast's ready, and your bag's in the dressing area."

"We're in a rush today, gotta get to work. See you tonight!"

He waved as they left, then headed downstairs for breakfast. Afterwards, he picked out his clothes and packed his bag meticulously.

Suitably prepared, Chenle slid into the limousine waiting outside.

"Good morning, Chenle."

"Morning, Shindong. You know where to go, right?"

"Of course. Wouldn't want to get fired."

The car rolled smoothly toward school, the city waking up around them.

---

Jisung jolted awake just 20 minutes before his bus arrived.

He scrambled to dress, brush hair, and eat a pear, all in a whirlwind. He grabbed his school bag and bus card, plugged in his earphones, and rushed out the door.

His one-room apartment was far from school - he needed the city bus.

He sat toward the back, scrolling on his phone.

At the next stop, he glanced up to see if he was near school. Not yet.

He spotted students filing inside the gates, finding seats, and an elderly lady smiled gently at him - a small comfort in the crowded bus.

Then his eyes caught a familiar figure - maybe a year or two older than him. A boy from his school? The playboy, no less.

Why was he on this bus instead of the school bus?

Jisung pushed the question down, looking out the window instead, watching the world rush by.

Finally, the stop came. The old lady stood, and he did too, carefully maneuvering past the other passengers.

Ahh... hell.

---

The first day of school had begun.