[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

Kidnapped Dolphin

"Are you sure it's okay to to just take him home with us? He looks kind of fidgety." Mark whispered to Jaehyun, switching to English in the process.

"Is he protesting?"

"No-"

"Then he's fine."

"It's not like we'd understand if he was."

"You know I speak Chinese, right?" YangYang interrupted, confusing the cousins. While they had forgotten they were speaking English, they did know he was wasn't supposed to understand.

"How many languages do they speak?"

"Enough to play a foreigner that doesn't know what the police are saying in a lot of countries."

Jaehyun and Mark nodded to themselves, not about to question it. The younger smiled when Chenle grabbed his hand as they crossed the street, just to realize he wasn't the chosen special one because he had also grabbed Jaehyun's hand.

When the three of them were leaving school and passing through the foyer, YangYang noticed Chenle was sitting there waiting. So naturally they decided to take him back to the cafe instead of leaving him there. It seemed like a good idea at the time since he didn't protest, but now that Chenle was getting anxious they weren't so sure.

"So if he does something, it's because he doesn't like it? Should we be offended he's coming with us?" Mark asked, YangYang and Jaehyun shrugging in return.

"He only said it's rude to have fun while others suffer. Sounds like he's heard it a lot."

"That's b.s. I'm going to make him laugh by the end of the day." Jaehyun decided, picking Lele up when he started tugging on his shirt.

"Good luck with that. I can barely get him to say something."

So all three of them started a competition to see who could make him laugh first. They were all at a disadvantage since they were helping behind the counter in the cafe, but then it became even more so when the others started coming in and YangYang told them about the challenge. The closest they had gotten was a smile that Haechan managed to get, but after that he became even quieter.

Sicheng, Jungwoo and Jeno were the only ones not trying to get him to laugh, but Jaehyun was the one to tell everyone to calm down. All of the attention was clearly a lot for him to handle, so everyone that wasn't working headed to the basement.

"When Johnny and Yuta get back, why don't you boys head to the pool? It's closing soon for the fall, so now's a good time." Mr. Suh suggested to Jaehyun, having just overheard a customer talking about it.

So he shouted down the stairs for the kids to get their swim trunks from their houses if they had them, making it so Chenle was back upstairs to sit on a stool while everyone else ran home. Except for Jungwoo since that would've spelled trouble.

"Why'd I just see everyone running home?" Johnny asked as he set his bag down next to the basement.

"We're going to go swimming. They're getting whatever they need."

"Alright then, Woo. Let's find you something." Jungwoo smiled gratefully, following Johnny upstairs. Mrs. Suh had a habit of accidentally keeping small clothing, so the chances of Johnny being able to find something for Yuta and Jungwoo were pretty high.

Yuta casually opened the cafe door, but then was almost run over by Kun who looked like he was about to cry.

"I lost Chenle! Granny never picked him up from school and he wasn't there and-" He was cut off in his rant when Chenle launched himself at Kun for a hug.

"I think I was kidnapped."

"Oh yeah, sorry. We thought it'd be okay to take him." Jaehyun apologized, but Kun just shrugged him off.

"You're fine. It was okay because Granny went shopping."

"Can we bring him here everyday?" Mark questioned, Kun translating for Chenle.

"Please don't. They try to make me laugh."

"Remember what I told you?" Chenle shook his head. "Yes you do. Tell me what I said." The six year old sighed.

"There's nothing I can do to end the world's boo boos. Not having fun puts me with them."

"Guys. I think Kun is his substitute Mom." YangYang whispered to those next to him, and at this point the boys had given up helping. Except Mark.

"These are good kids. I want you to try to have fun."

"Are you leaving me?"

"I have to help Granny, I'll be back later."

"We'll be at the pool!" YangYang called out as Kun started walking away, and he gave him a thumbs up.

"What just happened?" Yuta asked, looking back and forth between Kun leaving and YangYang smiling sweetly.

"I have no clue."