I can't live without you.. || Chanmin

Echoes of tomorrow

The rain had lightened by the time Seungmin and Bang Chan finally left the studio. They walked side by side under a shared umbrella, the city lights reflecting off the damp streets, casting a warm glow in the cool night air. The studio's door clicked shut behind them, and for the first time in what felt like hours, Bang Chan took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs.

Seungmin glanced at him. "Feeling better?"

Bang Chan nodded, exhaling slowly. "Yeah. I think I needed that—both the break and the fresh perspective."

Seungmin gave him a sideways smile. "I figured. I wasn't going to let you stay holed up in there all night. You'd end up sleeping on the studio couch again."

Bang Chan chuckled, though it was true. The number of times he'd passed out at the studio, waking up with a stiff neck and crumpled sheet music, was higher than he cared to admit. But tonight, with the rain easing and the air fresh, something felt different. There was a sense of clarity that had been missing before, a calm after the storm.

As they walked, Seungmin nudged him slightly. "You know, we've come a long way. Remember those early days when we didn't even know if we'd make it to debut?"

Bang Chan laughed, the memory vivid in his mind. "Yeah. I remember. Everything felt so uncertain back then. But we pushed through, didn't we?"

Seungmin's gaze softened as he looked ahead. "We did. And now look at us—world tours, albums, millions of fans. Sometimes it still feels unreal."

There was a quiet pride in Seungmin's voice, one that mirrored Bang Chan's own feelings. He felt it too, the weight of their journey, the highs and lows that had shaped them into the team they were today. They had built Stray Kids together, from the ground up, and the foundation they'd laid was stronger than ever.

"Do you ever think about where we'll go next?" Seungmin asked suddenly, his voice quieter now, almost tentative.

Bang Chan slowed his steps, thinking. The question was one he'd asked himself countless times. With every new album, every new milestone, the future seemed both limitless and daunting. There was always pressure to keep evolving, to push boundaries, to not let their success fade. But in that moment, as he walked with Seungmin through the rain-soaked streets, the answer came more easily than he expected.

"I think... as long as we stay true to ourselves, we'll be okay," Bang Chan said. "We've always been about telling our story, about connecting with STAY. That's what got us here. As long as we keep doing that, the rest will follow."

Seungmin was quiet for a moment, digesting his words. Then he nodded. "You're right. It's easy to get caught up in the pressure sometimes, but at the end of the day, it's about the music and the message."

Bang Chan smiled, grateful for Seungmin's understanding. The younger member had always been insightful, often seeing things with a clarity that others missed. It was one of the reasons Bang Chan relied on him more than Seungmin probably realized.

As they approached the dorm building, Seungmin glanced over at him. "You're not going to go back to the studio later, right?"

Bang Chan laughed. "No, I promise. I'll actually sleep tonight."

"Good," Seungmin said with mock sternness, though his eyes were playful. "Because if I find out you snuck back, I'm taking your computer away."

"Okay, mom," Bang Chan teased, and Seungmin rolled his eyes, though there was a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

They entered the dorm quietly, the soft hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the clock the only sounds in the common room. The rest of the members had already gone to bed, and the dorm was still, save for the occasional creak of the floor beneath their feet.

As Seungmin headed toward his room, he paused, looking back at Bang Chan. "Hey, hyung?"

Bang Chan turned, eyebrows raised. "Yeah?"

Seungmin hesitated, then spoke. "Thanks for everything. I know you put a lot on your shoulders, but... just know we've got your back. Always"

The sincerity in Seungmin's voice hit Bang Chan harder than he expected. He felt the familiar tightness in his chest, the one that came whenever one of the members reminded him just how much they cared. It was easy to forget sometimes, lost in the whirlwind of work and responsibility, but moments like this brought it all back.

"I know," Bang Chan said softly. "And I've got yours too."

Seungmin smiled, a quiet understanding passing between them before he turned and disappeared into his room.

Bang Chan stood there for a moment, letting the stillness of the dorm wash over him. He glanced at the clock—2:30 AM. It was late, and his body was finally beginning to protest the long hours. But as he made his way to his own room, he felt lighter than he had in days.

He lay down on his bed, the familiar creak of the mattress beneath him, and stared at the ceiling. His mind wandered back to Seungmin's question, to the future that always seemed so uncertain. There would always be challenges ahead, always new hurdles to overcome. But for the first time in a while, he wasn't afraid of what was to come.

He wasn't alone in this. He had Seungmin, Han, Changbin, Hyunjin, Felix, Lee Know, and I.N. They were more than just a group—they were a family, one that had weathered every storm together and would continue to do so.

Bang Chan closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips as he drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, he let himself rest, secure in the knowledge that whatever came next, they would face it together.

After all, Stray Kids weren't just about where they had been. They were about where they were going.

And with his members by his side, Bang Chan knew they were ready for whatever the future held.