The air crackled with anticipation. For the first time in what felt like forever, Stray Kids had a full week off. No schedules, no practices, no comeback preparations. Just seven glorious days of freedom. The chaotic energy of eight young men, usually meticulously channeled into choreography and songwriting, now bounced off the walls of their shared living room, threatening to erupt into pure, unadulterated mayhem.
"Okay, people, focus!" Bang Chan, ever the responsible leader, clapped his hands, trying to wrestle the group's collective attention. He stood beside Hyunjin, who was leaning against the wall, a serene smile gracing his features as he watched the others with amusement. Hyunjin, content just being by Chan's side, occasionally ran a hand through his leader's hair, a simple gesture of affection amidst the chaos.
"We have seven days," Chan continued, holding up a crumpled piece of paper. "And I, with the help of a certain mischievous squirrel," he pointed to Han Jisung, who grinned sheepishly, "have planned an adventure."
Felix, Seungmin, and Changbin were practically a unit of their own today, seated on a large beanbag, arms intertwined. "An adventure? Like, Indiana Jones adventure?" Felix asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
Changbin scoffed playfully, "Knowing Jisung, it's probably more like 'Find the Best Kimbap in Seoul' adventure."
Seungmin chuckled, squeezing Changbin's hand. "I'm up for either, honestly. Just happy to be spending time together."
Lee Know, nestled between Han and I.N on the couch, let out a dramatic groan. "Please, no more running around. My knees are starting to creak. I'd rather spend the break napping with Soonie, Doongie, and Dori." He pulled Han closer, resting his head on his shoulder. Han giggled, threading his fingers through Minho's hair, while I.N just squeezed Minho's knee reassuringly.
Han, however, was bouncing on the couch. "It's better than kimbap, Changbin-hyung! Much, much better!" He snatched the paper from Chan and unfurled it, revealing a hand-drawn map. "It's a treasure hunt!"
The map was, to put it mildly, abstract. Squiggly lines represented roads, oddly shaped blobs were supposed to be landmarks, and a large 'X' marked the supposed location of the 'treasure.' "Treasure?" Seungmin questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Not gold, unfortunately," Chan clarified, "but something… valuable. Jisung found this old map in a store the other day. The shop owner said it was a legend about a hidden spring with supposed healing properties."
"Healing properties?" Felix repeated, his voice laced with wonder.
"Yeah! The legend says it can cure any ailment, big or small," Han explained, his voice filled with excitement. "Of course, it's probably just spring water, but what if it isn't…?"
Minho sighed dramatically. "I knew this sounded suspicious. Healing spring? Honestly…"
I.N piped up, his eyes gleaming. "It could be fun, Minho-hyung! A little adventure, a little mystery… and maybe we'll find something cool!"
The promise of adventure, even if tinged with skepticism and Minho's grumbles, was enough to ignite a spark within the group. They spent the next hour deciphering the map, arguing about the best route, and packing essentials (including copious amounts of snacks, courtesy of Changbin).
Finally, armed with the map, a GPS (just in case), and a healthy dose of youthful enthusiasm, Stray Kids piled into two vans. Chan drove one van with Hyunjin, Changbin and Seungmin. The other van was driven by Minho, as he was the most familiar with the roads outside of the city, with Han, Felix, and I.N riding with him. Their destination was a remote mountain range a few hours outside of Seoul. The Spring Break Scramble had begun.