[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

It's Just Not The Same

The Limitless Cafe was bustling as always. Business had grown over the years, and there was enough regulars to make sure it would stay that way.

Johnny, and Taeil were working with the parents, hoping Taeyong was going to come in and help them. Yuta, well... they didn't know where he was, but they figured he wouldn't be around for awhile.

The sign on the basement door had been taped back onto the door multiple times, but it needed to be done again. Renjun's bright colors had faded and it was torn at the edges, looking pretty sad.

But beyond that appeared even sadder. The elementary kids should've been back from school and playing in the basement by now, waking up Leon and Louis who were chilling on the neatly made beds. 

Other than the two cats, the basement was empty. Well, as empty as a basement could be with twenty-three beds, crates, two dressers and a whiteboard. The crates, all of them full of sleeping bags and extra blankets and pillows, were donning worn down cushions.

The basement would've continued to look that sad and empty if it wasn't for the middle school kiddos running down, throwing their bags on the floor and collapsing onto the floor. Well, Chenle, Sungchan and Shotaro were running. Jisung was taking his time going down the stairs, but he too collapsed.

The rest of the 00 line would've been with them, but Renjun had a client and YangYang decided to tag along, Haechan had an after school detention, and Jeno was tagging along with Jaemin to a volunteer event.

Leon and Louis were startled from their naps, running up to the boys and greeting them.

"Hello cat number one." Sungchan greeted, putting his hand on Leon's head. "Where's cat number two?"

"With me because Louis loves me more than you." Shotaro teased, happy when Louis decided to curl up on his chest and go back to sleeping. Now he had the perfect excuse for not starting his homework.

"Yeah right. Louis just likes your hoodie."

"Both of you are wrong, Louis and Leon only like Ten and Hendery." Chenle corrected, and no one could protest.

"Shouldn't we be helping upstairs? They looked busy."

The older three turned their heads to look at Jisung as if he sprouted another head.

"They can manage."

Chenle jumped up from the floor. "Oh shoot! I have a thing! With Granny and Kun! Shoot!" 

"What kind of thing?"

"An important one! Can I borrow a dress shirt?"

"Middle drawer, second dresser." Jisung directed.

Chenle quickly changed his shirt, deciding to leave on his jeans. It wouldn't be that big of a deal if he wasn't completely dressed up. Probably.

"Bye, losers. If I'm not back in two hours, come save me."

"We won't!" Sungchan chirped, waving as Chenle ran out of the basement and left the cafe.

Jisung, Sungchan and Shotaro just stared at each other, none of them ready to move from the floor. Even if it was cold and not that comfortable.

"What now?" Asked Shotaro.

"Now we wait for the high schoolers to get out and hope they don't make us do our work so we can just chill." Jisung propped his head up with his arm, turning his head so he was staring at the ceiling.

"I can't stay very long today. Mom is finally getting suspicious of all the time I've been spending in the library, so she's making me come home." Sungchan shared with a sigh.

"She's just now getting suspicious? It's been what, five years?"

"Six." Jisung corrected Shotaro, not like it made it any better.

"Hey, I'm not complaining."

"I think you should be."

"Kiddos, you're working on your homework, right?" Johnny shouted down the stairs, and Taeil could be heard telling him to leave them alone.

"You're not my Dad!" Sungchan shouted back, making Jisung and Shotaro laugh.

"Do you want me to get Taeyong?"

The three of them shared a sigh, sitting up from the floor. Shotaro didn't want to disturb Louis, though, so he stayed where he was.

"Party pooper."

"I heard that!" Johnny shouted back at Jisung, Taeil's laughter audible.

"Good!"

Ages because I know very well that it's confusing:

Taeil: 19

95 line: 18

96 line: 17 (last year of school, seniors)

97 line: 16 (11th grade)

Jungwoo: 15 (10th grade)

99 line: 14 (9th grade)

00 line: 13 (8th grade)*

01 line: 12 (7th grade)*

Jisung: 11 (6th grade)

*Chenle and Shotaro were held back a grade for language barriers, so Chenle is in 6th and Shotaro 7th