Archive of Our Own ^beta

The morning sun was already merciless at 8 AM, beating down on the outdoor venue with an intensity that made the asphalt shimmer like water. Hyunjin pulled his cap lower over his eyes as he stepped out of the air-conditioned van, immediately feeling the wall of heat hit him like a physical force.

"Jesus," Felix muttered beside him, his freckles already standing out more prominently against his flushed cheeks. "It's going to be brutal today."

The weather forecast had been warning about record-breaking temperatures all week, but the show had to go on. Thousands of STAYs had traveled from across the region for this stop of the dominATE tour, and the venue had been sold out for months. The production team had already set up additional cooling stations and increased the medical staff, but everyone could feel the tension in the air – and it wasn't just from the heat.

During soundcheck, Hyunjin noticed how the stage felt like a griddle under his feet, even through his sneakers. The metal surfaces of the extended stage were too hot to touch comfortably, and the crew was constantly wiping down equipment to prevent overheating. His usual pre-show energy felt muted, weighed down by the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to press against his chest with every breath.

"Stay hydrated," their manager reminded them for the fifth time that day, distributing electrolyte drinks and cooling towels. "If anyone feels off, even slightly, you need to speak up immediately."

Hyunjin nodded along with the others, but privately, he was already feeling the effects. His head felt slightly fuzzy, and despite drinking water constantly, his mouth remained persistently dry. He'd performed in hot weather before, but this felt different – dangerous, even.

As the afternoon wore on and fans began filling the venue, Hyunjin could see the heat affecting everyone. STAYs were fanning themselves with anything they could find, venue staff were handing out free water bottles, and even the security guards looked wilted in their black uniforms.

"Maybe we should shorten the setlist," Chan suggested during their final pre-show meeting, his leader instincts kicking in as he watched sweat already beading on everyone's foreheads despite the industrial fans blasting in their tent.

"We can't disappoint them," Changbin replied, gesturing toward the crowd's excited screams that could be heard even backstage. "They've been waiting all day in this heat."

Hyunjin adjusted his stage outfit – thankfully lighter than some of their previous tour costumes, but still more layers than anyone should wear in this temperature. He caught his reflection in the mirror: his skin was already flushed, and they hadn't even stepped on stage yet.

The countdown began, and as they took their positions, Hyunjin felt the heat radiating up from the stage like opening an oven door. The crowd's energy was electric, but he could see the concern in some fans' faces in the front rows as they got their first good look at the members under the harsh stage lights.

"Here we go," he whispered to himself, forcing his brightest smile as the opening notes began to play and the stage erupted in lights and screams.

None of them knew yet that this would be the show that would have to end before it truly began.

Mountains hit like a statement of defiance against the brutal conditions. The opening was explosive as always, but Hyunjin could feel sweat already streaming down his back before they'd even finished the first chorus. The heat from the stage lights felt like standing under a magnifying glass, and the extended stage - usually their playground for connecting with fans - radiated warmth like a heating pad.

Thunderous brought its usual energy, but the members' movements were slightly more contained than usual. Hyunjin noticed Chan glancing toward the wings between verses, probably checking on the cooling stations. During JJAM, what should have been playful interactions with the crowd felt more like survival mode, though they all maintained their professional smiles.

The opening ment provided a brief respite, but even standing still felt overwhelming. "It's so hot today!" Chan addressed the crowd with a laugh that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Everyone make sure you're drinking water, okay?" STAYs screamed their agreement, many waving handheld fans frantically.

By DOMINO and God's Menu, the toll was becoming visible. Changbin's usual boundless energy was noticeably dimmed, and I.N kept wiping his face with his sleeves between lines. The crowd was still incredible, but Hyunjin could see fans in the pit looking increasingly distressed, some being helped by friends to find shade. Hyunjin's vision started getting slightly fuzzy around the edges during the more intense choreography. He found himself breathing harder than usual, and his legs felt unsteady.

The breaking point came during MANIAC - the MAMA version with its demanding choreography and extended instrumental break. They were positioned on the extended stage, the crowd wild with energy despite the oppressive heat. Hyunjin felt a wave of dizziness wash over him during the intense dance break. His vision blurred, and suddenly his legs felt like they might give out.

Without thinking, he took several steps back in the formation, moving toward the walkway that connected to the main stage. The world seemed to tilt slightly as he heavily sat down on the edge of the stage, his usual grace completely abandoned. His hands shook as he reached for the water bottle a staff member had left nearby.

In a moment that would later go viral, Hyunjin didn't just drink the water - he poured it completely over his head, soaking his hair and stage clothes, desperate for any relief from the crushing heat. The cold water felt like salvation against his overheated skin.

A few of the members glanced over when Hyunjin moved back and sat down, but they continued with the performance, trusting that he was just taking a quick break. Lee Know caught his eye and gave him a subtle questioning look, but kept dancing when Hyunjin waved him off weakly.

It was Chan who first noticed the real problem. While performing, his leader instincts kicked in as he spotted fans in the pit section being helped by security - some sitting down heavily, others looking pale and unsteady. His gaze flicked back to Hyunjin, still sitting on the stage edge with water dripping from his soaked hair, and the pieces clicked together.

Chan made a sharp gesture to the band, cutting his hand across his throat. The music stopped abruptly.

"Everyone take a moment," Chan called out to the crowd, his voice calm but authoritative. He caught Felix's eye and nodded toward the audience. Felix understood immediately, stepping forward to address the crowd while Chan walked over to where Hyunjin was sitting.

"Hey," Chan said quietly, crouching down next to him. "You okay?"

Meanwhile, Felix had switched to English to coordinate with the staff. "Can we get more water bottles distributed, please? And medical team to the pit area," he called out clearly, his tone professional rather than panicked.

The other members naturally spread out across the stage, Seungmin and I.N waving to fans and trying to keep the energy light while Changbin gestured to security about areas where fans needed assistance.

The music had stopped, and while the situation was serious, it felt more like a necessary pause than a crisis. What had started as one member needing a break was revealing itself to be a much bigger problem that no one could safely ignore.

Hyunjin sat on the edge of the stage, the world around him feeling distant and muffled. The crowd's voices seemed to come from underwater, and the stage lights created strange halos in his vision that pulsed with his heartbeat. He knew people were moving around him, knew Felix was speaking to the audience, but it all felt like watching a movie with the sound turned down.

His hands trembled as he tried to lift the water bottle again, but his coordination was off, and some of the water spilled down his chest instead of reaching his mouth. The wet fabric of his shirt clung uncomfortably to his skin, but he couldn't quite remember why he was soaked. Had it been raining? No, that wasn't right...

Someone was calling his name, but when he tried to turn toward the voice, his head felt too heavy, like it was filled with cotton. The edges of his vision kept going fuzzy, and he had to blink several times to clear them. He wanted to stand up, to rejoin the performance, but his legs felt disconnected from his body.

.

.

.

.

Chan's heart rate spiked the moment he got close enough to really see Hyunjin's condition. What he'd assumed was just heat exhaustion from a distance was clearly something more serious. Hyunjin's eyes were unfocused, barely tracking Chan's movement as he approached, and his breathing was shallow and rapid.

"Hyunjin-ah," Chan said softly, placing a careful hand on his shoulder. The younger member's skin felt burning hot even through his soaked stage clothes. "Hey, look at me."

Hyunjin's head turned slowly in Chan's direction, but his gaze seemed to drift past him rather than focusing. When he opened his mouth to respond, only a confused murmur came out, barely audible over the crowd noise.

Lee Know appeared beside them, and Chan saw his own worry reflected in the dancer's face. "How long has he been like this?" Lee Know asked quietly.

"I don't know. Maybe since he sat down?" Chan kept his voice low, but his mind was racing. As leader, he'd dealt with members feeling unwell before, but this was different. Hyunjin looked like he might collapse completely at any moment.

Chan crouched down to get on Hyunjin's eye level. "Can you tell me how you're feeling?" he asked, speaking slowly and clearly.

Hyunjin blinked at him, seeming to struggle to process the question. "Hot," he managed to whisper, then swayed slightly even while sitting down.

Lee Know caught him by the arm. "He's really out of it," he said, no longer bothering to hide his concern. "Look at his pupils."

Chan followed his gaze and felt his stomach drop. Hyunjin's pupils were dilated despite the bright stage lights, and his skin had taken on a grayish pallor beneath the flush of heat. These weren't just signs of being tired - this was textbook heat exhaustion, possibly worse.

"We need to get him somewhere cool," Chan said, his leader training kicking in even as panic threatened to overwhelm him. He looked toward the wings, trying to spot their manager or medical staff, but the backstage area seemed chaotic with everyone trying to help fans in the audience.

Hyunjin tried to say something else, but the words came out slurred and incomprehensible. His head drooped forward, and Chan had to steady him to keep him from falling.

"Stay with us," Chan said firmly, patting Hyunjin's cheek gently. "Don't zone out on me, okay?"

Lee Know was already waving frantically toward the side of the stage. "Where is everyone?" he muttered, frustrated. "Medical! We need medical over here!"

Chan kept one arm around Hyunjin's back, feeling how heavily the younger member was leaning into him. Through his growing panic, he was acutely aware that thousands of fans were watching this unfold, but Hyunjin's wellbeing had to come first. Everything else - the show, the tour, the disappointment - could wait.

After what felt like an eternity but was probably only thirty seconds, Chan made a decision. "We can't wait for them," he said to Lee Know, nodding toward the wings where staff were still nowhere to be seen. "We need to get him out of this heat now."

Lee Know nodded immediately. "Let's get him up."

They positioned themselves on either side of Hyunjin, each taking one of his arms and draping it over their shoulders. "Come on, we're going to help you walk backstage," Chan said close to Hyunjin's ear, hoping some part of him could understand.

Hyunjin made a weak attempt to cooperate as they lifted him to his feet, his legs shaking as he tried to support his own weight. For a moment, it seemed like it might work - they managed a few shuffling steps toward the side of the stage, with Hyunjin's feet moving somewhat in rhythm with theirs.

But they'd barely made it halfway across the extended stage when Hyunjin's knees buckled completely. His full weight dropped onto their shoulders, and Chan felt him go completely limp.

"I've got him," Lee Know said without hesitation, immediately shifting to scoop Hyunjin up in his arms. Despite his smaller frame, his strength kicked in as he lifted Hyunjin in a secure carry, one arm under his knees and the other supporting his back.

Hyunjin's head fell against Lee Know's shoulder, and he mumbled something incoherent, his consciousness drifting in and out.

"Is he too heavy?" Chan asked, walking quickly beside them, ready to take over or help distribute the weight.

"I'm okay," Lee Know replied, as they navigated toward the wings. "Just get us somewhere with air conditioning."

Chan took the lead, clearing a path through the backstage chaos and calling out, "Make way! We need to get through!" His voice carried all the authority of a leader who wasn't going to let anyone slow them down when his member needed help.

The backstage area was a maze of equipment cases and rushing staff, but Chan navigated it with single-minded focus, constantly glancing back to check on Lee Know's progress. Hyunjin remained limp in Lee Know's arms, his breathing still shallow and rapid, occasionally letting out small, confused sounds.

"Almost there," Chan said, more to reassure himself than anyone else, as they approached their waiting room. The familiar door with their group name felt like salvation - he knew there would be air conditioning inside, chairs, and space to properly assess Hyunjin's condition.

Just as Chan was reaching for the door handle, he spotted two members of the medical team hurrying through the backstage corridor, clearly looking for them.

"Hey!" Chan called out, relief flooding his voice. "Over here! We need help!"

The medics immediately changed direction, jogging toward them with their equipment bags. "What's the situation?" the lead medic asked as Chan quickly opened the door to their waiting room.

"Heat exhaustion, I think," Chan replied, stepping aside so Lee Know could carry Hyunjin inside. "He's been barely conscious for the last few minutes, pupils dilated, skin's burning hot."

The blast of cool air from the air-conditioned room hit them immediately, and Chan felt some of his panic ease just from getting Hyunjin into a safer environment.

"Get him on the couch," the medic instructed, following them in and immediately opening his bag. "How long has he been like this?"

Lee Know carefully lowered Hyunjin onto the plush couch, supporting his head as he laid him down. Hyunjin's eyes fluttered open briefly at the movement, but they were still unfocused and glassy.

"Maybe five minutes since he sat down on stage," Chan answered, crouching beside the couch. "But he was struggling before that - probably for the last few songs."

The second medic was already pulling out a thermometer and other equipment while the first began checking Hyunjin's pulse and responsiveness.

"Hyunjin-ssi, can you hear me?" the medic asked clearly, gently patting his cheek.

"Hyunjin-ssi, can you hear me?" the medic asked clearly, gently patting his cheek.

Hyunjin's eyelids fluttered, and he made a soft sound that might have been an attempt at "yes," but his gaze remained unfocused.

"Pulse is elevated but not dangerously so," the first medic reported to his colleague while checking his watch. "Let's get his temperature."

The second medic placed a digital thermometer in Hyunjin's ear. After a few seconds, it beeped, and both medics exchanged a look.

"39.2 degrees," the medic announced. "Definitely heat exhaustion. We need to act fast."

Chan felt his stomach drop at the numbers, but the medic's calm professionalism was reassuring. They clearly knew what they were dealing with.

"Help us get his shirt off," the lead medic instructed Lee Know. "It's soaked through and clinging to his skin - it's trapping heat."

Lee Know carefully lifted Hyunjin's torso while the medic peeled away the wet stage shirt that had been plastered to his body. Hyunjin barely reacted to the movement, his head lolling to one side.

"Let's elevate his legs," the second medic said, placing cushions under Hyunjin's feet to raise them above his heart level. "And get those cooling packs on his pulse points."

They worked efficiently, placing cooling packs on Hyunjin's wrists, neck, and under his arms. The lead medic dampened some towels with cool water and placed them on his forehead and chest.

"We need to cool him down gradually," the medic explained to Chan. "Too fast and we could send his body into shock."

Just as they finished positioning the cooling packs, Hyunjin suddenly tensed up, his face contorting in pain. "Ah," he gasped, his hands moving weakly toward his legs.

"Muscle cramps," the medic noted, gently massaging Hyunjin's calf where the spasm was visible. "That's normal with this level of dehydration."

Hyunjin's breathing became more labored, and he turned his head to the side with a small groan. The medic immediately grabbed a basin from his kit.

"He might be nauseous," he warned, positioning the basin near Hyunjin's head just as the younger member retched weakly. Nothing came up - he was too dehydrated - but his body continued to heave.

"It's okay, it's okay," Lee Know murmured, one hand on Hyunjin's shoulder as his body shuddered with dry heaves.

Chan watched helplessly as another muscle cramp seized Hyunjin's other leg, making him whimper in discomfort. His face was still flushed despite the cooling measures, and when he tried to open his eyes, they rolled back slightly before focusing with obvious effort.

"The dizziness and nausea are normal," the medic reassured them, checking Hyunjin's pulse again. "His body is trying to regulate itself. We just need to give it time and support."

Just then, the door burst open and Felix rushed in, his face flushed and panicked. "Chan! How is he? The whole venue is going crazy - fans are passing out in the pit, security's calling for more ambulances, and management wants to know if we're canceling the show."

Chan looked between Hyunjin, who was still dealing with waves of nausea and muscle cramps, and Felix, who was clearly overwhelmed by the chaos outside.

"Stay with him," Chan said to Lee Know, reaching down to squeeze Hyunjin's hand. Hyunjin's grip was weak and shaky, but he managed to hold on. "Felix, come with me. We need to handle this properly."

He turned to the medics. "Will he be okay with just Lee Know here?"

"We've got this under control," the lead medic assured him. "Keep the room cool and quiet. We'll monitor him for the next hour to make sure his temperature comes down steadily and these symptoms subside."

Chan nodded, his leader instincts taking over despite his worry. "Lee Know, call me if anything changes at all."

With one last look at Hyunjin, who was breathing more steadily now but still clearly unwell, Chan headed for the door with Felix to face whatever chaos was waiting outside.

The backstage area was bustling with activity - staff members distributing extra water bottles, venue security coordinating with the medical team, and their manager coordinating with venue officials. It was busy, but not the complete chaos Chan had expected.

"Chan!" their manager approached them. "How's Hyunjin? We've got three fans being taken to the hospital as a precaution, and several others are being treated by medical staff in the cooling areas."

Felix glanced around. "What's the plan? The audience saw everything that happened."

"The other members are handling things really well," their manager explained. “Han and Seungmin are coordinating with staff in English to help fans who need assistance, while the others are moving through the pit area passing out water bottles directly to fans."

Chan nodded, feeling the heat even in the shaded backstage area. Despite the circumstances, he felt calmer knowing his members were handling things well. "I need to go out there and talk to them. They saw Hyunjin collapse - they deserve an explanation."

"Just keep it simple and reassuring," their manager advised. "Let them know he's being taken care of."

Chan and Felix made their way back to the stage, where they could hear Changbin's voice chatting casually with the crowd about the heat and reminding everyone to stay hydrated. As they appeared, the crowd's cheers were noticeably more subdued but still supportive.

Chan took the microphone, his voice calm and steady. "STAYs, first of all, thank you for your patience. I know you saw that Hyunjin wasn't feeling well, and I want you to know he's backstage right now being taken care of by medical professionals. The heat is really intense today, and it affected him, but he's going to be okay."

The crowd responded with supportive cheers and calls of "We love you Hyunjin!"

"We're going to take a short break now," Chan continued, his tone warm and reassuring. "We want to give our staff time to make sure everyone in the audience is feeling okay too, and to let things cool down a bit. Please use this time to hydrate, find some shade if you can, and let the staff know if you need any help."

Felix stepped forward. "We saw some of you weren't feeling well either, and that's completely understandable in this heat. There are medical stations set up, and staff are passing out water. Your safety is the most important thing to us."

The crowd was receptive, many fans nodding and already reaching for water bottles or fanning themselves. As Chan and Felix headed backstage again, the atmosphere felt much more manageable.

Over the next twenty minutes, venue staff efficiently cleaned up the areas where fans had needed assistance, medical teams continued monitoring the situation, and cooling stations were reinforced. The audience seemed to settle down, though conversations were clearly focused on the heat and concern for everyone's wellbeing.

It was during this calmer period that venue officials, after consulting with medical advisors and reviewing temperature readings that continued to climb, made the difficult decision.

Their manager found Chan in the corridor. "The venue management and local health authorities have made the call. They're recommending we cancel the rest of the show. The temperature isn't dropping, and they're concerned about more heat-related incidents if we continue."

Chan felt a mix of disappointment and relief. It was the right decision, even if it wasn't easy.

"How do we tell them?" Chan asked, thinking of the thousands of fans who had been patiently waiting during the break.

"Together," Felix said simply. "As a group. They'll understand better if we're all there."

Chan nodded and sent a message to gather the other members. Within a few minutes, Han and Seungmin had finished coordinating with the medical staff, while Changbin and I.N came down from the stage. The others emerged from the audience areas, water bottles still in hand.

"How's Hyunjin?" was the first question from multiple members.

"Stable," Chan replied. "Lee Know's still with him and the medics. His temperature is coming down slowly."

"And the show?" Changbin asked, though his expression suggested he already knew.

"Cancelled," Chan confirmed. "Venue officials and health authorities made the call. It's just not safe to continue."

The members exchanged glances, but there were no arguments or complaints. They'd all seen the effects of the heat firsthand.

As they prepared to walk back on stage together for the announcement, Chan felt grateful for his members. Each of them had stepped up without being asked, taking care of fans and managing the crisis in their own way. Even in the midst of everything, they were a team.

The heat was still oppressive, but somehow, facing it together made it bearable.

Walking back onto the stage as a group - minus Hyunjin and Lee Know - felt both comforting and heartbreaking. The crowd's energy shifted immediately when they saw all six members together, sensing that something significant was about to be announced.

Chan stepped forward to the microphone, the other members flanking him in a supportive line. The venue had grown quieter during the break, but he could still feel the waves of heat radiating from every surface.

"STAYs," Chan began, his voice carrying clearly across the venue. "First, thank you for being so patient and understanding during this break. We know it's not easy waiting in this heat, and we've seen how you've been taking care of each other. That's what makes you the best fans in the world."

The crowd responded with supportive cheers, though they were notably more subdued than usual - everyone was feeling the effects of the extreme temperature.

Felix stepped closer to share the microphone. "We've been talking with the venue officials and medical teams, and unfortunately, they've advised us that it's not safe to continue the concert today. The heat is just too dangerous for everyone - for you and for us."

A wave of disappointed but understanding murmurs passed through the crowd. Chan could see fans nodding, many of them looking relieved rather than upset.

"We hate that we can't finish the show for you today," Changbin added, his usual energetic voice more gentle than normal. "But your safety and health are the most important things to us."

Han stepped forward next. "Hyunjin is doing much better now - he's backstage with medical staff and he's going to be okay. But what happened to him could happen to any of us, or to any of you, if we keep going in these conditions."

"We will be back," I.N promised, his young voice carrying conviction. "This isn't goodbye - it's 'see you later.'"

Seungmin nodded. "We want to perform for you when we can give you our absolute best, and when everyone can enjoy it safely. That's what you deserve."

Chan felt the weight of the moment as he looked out at the sea of faces. Despite the disappointment, he could see understanding and concern in their expressions - not anger, but worry for the members and each other.

"Thank you for being the most caring, understanding fans we could ask for," Chan said, his voice carrying deep sincerity. "Thank you for taking care of each other today, for being patient with us, and for always putting safety first. We love you so much."

The members bowed together, and the crowd erupted in supportive cheers - "We love you!" "Take care of Hyunjin!" "Come back soon!" echoed across the venue.

As they waved their final goodbyes and walked off stage, each member felt the bittersweet mix of disappointment and gratitude. The show was over, but everyone was safe.

.

.

.

The moment they were backstage, all six members immediately headed toward the dressing room where Hyunjin was recovering. 

They entered the air-conditioned dressing room quietly, not wanting to disturb Hyunjin if he was resting. Lee Know looked up from his chair beside the couch, relief evident on his face as he saw them all together.

"How is he?" Chan asked softly.

"Much better," Lee Know replied. "Temperature's down to 37.8, the muscle cramps stopped about ten minutes ago, and he's been able to keep some water down."

Hyunjin was lying on the couch with cooling towels still on his forehead, but his eyes were open and alert - a huge improvement from the disoriented state he'd been in earlier. When he saw his members gathered around him, a weak smile crossed his face.

"Hey," he said quietly, his voice still a bit hoarse but much clearer than before.

"Don't 'hey' us," Felix said with a mix of relief and mock scolding. "You scared us."

"How are you feeling?" I.N asked, settling on the floor beside the couch.

"Like I got hit by a truck," Hyunjin admitted with a small laugh. "But better. Lee Know's been taking good care of me." He reached out weakly to squeeze Lee Know's hand in gratitude.

"The fans were asking about you," Han reported. "They were more worried about you being okay than about the concert being cancelled."

Hyunjin's eyes filled with emotion. "They're amazing. I'm sorry I ruined the show."

"You didn't ruin anything," Chan said firmly. "The heat ruined the show. You just had the sense to listen to your body before it got worse."

"We'll be back," Changbin added. "And next time, we'll make sure it's not during a heatwave."

As they settled around the room - some on chairs, others on the floor - the medic who had been monitoring Hyunjin smiled at the reunion.

"He'll need to take it easy for the rest of the day and stay well-hydrated," the medic advised. "But he should be fine by tomorrow. Heat exhaustion is serious, but you caught it in time."

Surrounded by his members in the cool, quiet room, Hyunjin finally felt the tension leave his body completely. The concert might have been cancelled, but they were all safe, and they were together. Sometimes, that was what mattered most.

Just then, their manager appeared in the doorway, phone in hand. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have Chan's parents and Hyunjin's parents on the line. They were in the VIP section and saw everything that happened. They're very worried about Hyunjin, of course, but they're asking about all of you."

Chan's face immediately softened with concern and a bit of guilt. He'd been so focused on managing the crisis that he'd forgotten his parents were there to support them. "Are they upset?"

"More worried than upset," their manager replied. "They want to know if everyone's okay and if they can come backstage to see you all."

Hyunjin struggled to sit up a bit more on the couch. "Oh no, they must have been so scared watching that happen."

"My mom probably thinks I'm dying," Chan said, running a hand through his hair. "Can you bring them back here?"

"Of course," their manager nodded. "They're already waiting in the family area. I'll go get them now."

Lee Know helped Hyunjin adjust his position so he looked more comfortable and alert. "You sure you're up for visitors?" he asked quietly.

"They're not visitors, they're family," Hyunjin replied with a weak but genuine smile. "Besides, they need to see I'm okay."

A few minutes later, both sets of parents entered the dressing room, their faces showing the worry they'd been carrying since watching Hyunjin collapse on stage. Chan's mother immediately went to him, while Hyunjin's parents approached the couch where their son was resting.

"Aigoo, Hyunjin-ah," his mother said softly, gently touching his forehead to check his temperature herself. "You gave us such a fright."

"I'm okay, eomma," Hyunjin assured her, though his voice was still weak. "Really, much better now."

Chan's father looked around at all the members. "You boys handled that very well out there. Very professional, very caring for your fans and each other."

"We were so proud of how you managed everything," Chan's mother added, giving Felix, Han, and the others warm smiles. "Taking care of the fans, working together. That's how we raised you."

Hyunjin's father nodded approvingly. "And you," he said to Lee Know, "thank you for staying with him. We could see how well you were taking care of our son."

The presence of their parents somehow made the dressing room feel even more like a safe haven. After all the chaos and worry, having the people who loved them most there to see that everyone was truly okay felt like the perfect ending to a difficult day.

"Next time, we pick a venue with better air conditioning," Chan's mother said with a slight smile, making everyone laugh softly.

"Next time, we check the weather forecast more carefully," Hyunjin added, earning gentle laughter from the group.

Surrounded by both their chosen family and their blood family, the weight of the day finally began to lift from everyone's shoulders.

An hour later, after the medics had given Hyunjin final clearance and their parents had reluctantly agreed he was well enough to travel, the group prepared to leave the venue. The heat outside had barely diminished, but at least they only had to endure it for the short walk to their waiting vehicles.

"Take it slow," the medic advised as Hyunjin stood up from the couch for the first time since collapsing. His legs were still a bit shaky, and Lee Know immediately moved to his side.

"I can walk," Hyunjin insisted, though he gratefully accepted Lee Know's steadying hand on his elbow.

"No one's questioning that," Chan said diplomatically. "But there's no rush, and there's no shame in needing support."

As they made their way through the backstage corridors, Hyunjin had to stop twice to catch his breath. Each time, the members naturally formed a protective circle around him, giving him privacy while he recovered. No one complained about the slow pace or showed any impatience.

"The cars are right outside the back exit," their manager informed them. "We've got water and towels waiting."

When they stepped outside, even the late afternoon heat felt overwhelming after the air-conditioned building. Hyunjin immediately felt dizzy again, and this time he didn't protest when Lee Know wrapped an arm around his waist for extra support.

"Almost there," Felix encouraged, opening the door to their van where the air conditioning was already running at full blast.

Getting into the vehicle was a careful process - Chan climbed in first to help pull Hyunjin up, while Lee Know and Han supported him from behind. Once seated, Hyunjin slumped against the cool leather with obvious relief.

"Better?" I.N asked, settling beside him with a fresh water bottle.

"Much," Hyunjin replied, though his voice still carried the exhaustion of the day's ordeal.

The drive back to the hotel was quiet, each member lost in their own thoughts about what had happened. Hyunjin dozed intermittently, his head resting against the window, while Lee Know kept a watchful eye on him throughout the journey.

When they reached the hotel, the same careful process repeated in reverse. By the time they made it to Hyunjin's room, he was clearly drained from the simple act of traveling.

"Get some rest," Chan said as they helped him settle onto his bed. "We'll check on you in a bit."

By evening, Hyunjin was feeling considerably better. He'd managed to shower and change into comfortable clothes, and his appetite had finally returned. The members had been taking turns checking on him throughout the afternoon, bringing water, snacks, and quiet company.

Around 8 PM, there was a soft knock on his door. "Come in," Hyunjin called, expecting to see Chan or maybe Felix.

Instead, Lee Know entered with a tray of room service - soup, rice, and electrolyte drinks. "Thought you might be hungry," he said simply.

"You didn't have to do that," Hyunjin said, though he was touched by the gesture. "But thank you. It smells amazing."

Lee Know set the tray on the bedside table and settled into the chair beside the bed. "How are you really feeling?"

"Honestly? Much better. Still tired, but more like normal tired, not that scary exhaustion from earlier." Hyunjin paused, taking a spoonful of soup. “Hyung, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What exactly happened when I... when I wasn't fully conscious? I remember bits and pieces, but it's all kind of fuzzy. What was it like for you?"

Lee Know was quiet for a moment, his usual composed expression showing traces of the worry he'd carried earlier. "It was scary," he admitted. "Really scary. You weren't responding properly when we first got to you, and your eyes were so unfocused. For a while there, I wasn't sure if you even knew where you were."

Hyunjin nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"When we tried to help you walk off stage, you were trying so hard to cooperate, but your legs just... gave out. Completely. You went limp so suddenly that for a second I thought..." Lee Know paused, running a hand through his hair. "I thought something really serious was happening."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Hyunjin said quietly.

"The worst part was when you started having those muscle cramps in the dressing room. You were in pain, but you were still so out of it that you couldn't really communicate what was wrong. And the dry heaving..." Lee Know shook his head. "I just felt so helpless. All I could do was stay with you and hope the medics knew what they were doing."

Hyunjin reached out and squeezed Lee Know's hand. "But you did help. You stayed with me when I needed it most. That meant everything."

"I kept thinking about how you always take care of us when we're not feeling well," Lee Know continued. "Remember when I had food poisoning last year? You stayed up all night making sure I was okay. I wanted to do the same for you."

"You did more than that," Hyunjin assured him. "Chan told me later that you never left my side, even when the medics were working."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Hyunjin finishing his soup while Lee Know remained nearby, the day's stress finally beginning to fade from both their faces.

The next morning, Hyunjin woke up feeling almost completely back to normal. The exhaustion was gone, replaced by his usual energy, and his head was clear for the first time since the concert. When he emerged from his room for breakfast, the other members immediately surrounded him with relieved smiles.

"Look who's back," Han said with a grin. "You look like yourself again."

"I feel like myself again," Hyunjin confirmed, settling at their table in the hotel restaurant. "Thank you all for taking such good care of me yesterday."

"That's what we do," Changbin said simply. "We look out for each other."

As they ate breakfast, the conversation naturally turned to the previous day's events. Felix had been monitoring social media and pulled out his phone.

"You should see the fan reactions," he said, scrolling through his screen. "STAYs have been incredible. Look at this."

He read aloud: "'The way the members immediately stopped everything to take care of Hyunjin and the fans in the audience shows what kind of people they really are. Health and safety first, always.'"

"And this one," I.N added, reading from his own phone: "'Seeing Lee Know carry Hyunjin off stage literally made me cry. That's real friendship right there.'"

Chan looked up from his own phone. "The trending hashtags are all supportive. #GetWellSoonHyunjin, #StrayKidsFamily, #SafetyFirst. There's no negativity about the cancellation at all."

"STAYs are the best," Hyunjin said, feeling emotional. "They could have been upset about traveling so far and not getting a full concert, but instead they're worried about us."

"Speaking of STAYs," their manager approached the table, "the company thinks it would be good if you did a live stream today. Just to let everyone see that you're all okay and to address what happened directly."

The members exchanged glances. "That's probably a good idea," Chan agreed. "People deserve to hear from us directly."

"Are you up for it?" Seungmin asked Hyunjin.

"Definitely. I think it's important that they see I'm okay. And I want to thank them properly for being so understanding."

An hour later, they were set up in Chan's hotel room for the live stream. As the viewer count rapidly climbed, Chan began with a warm greeting.

"Hello, STAYs. We wanted to come on here today to talk to you directly about what happened yesterday and to let you see that we're all doing well."

Hyunjin leaned into the camera view. "Especially me. I know a lot of you were worried, and I'm so grateful for all the kind messages. I'm feeling completely better today."

The comments were flooding in with heart emojis, expressions of relief, and messages of love.

"We want to talk about what happened," Felix continued, "because we think it's important to be honest with you about these kinds of situations."

For the next twenty minutes, they discussed the experience openly - the extreme heat, the decision to prioritize safety, and their gratitude for the fans' understanding. Hyunjin shared how the members had taken care of him, while the others praised the professionalism of the medical staff and venue personnel.

"We will be back," Chan promised as they prepared to end the stream. "When we return, we're going to give you the incredible show you deserve."

"Thank you for loving us enough to put your and our health first," Hyunjin added, his voice full of sincerity. 

As they signed off, the overwhelming response in the comments was clear: STAYs weren't just fans, they were family. And family takes care of each other, no matter what.