#yoonmi

Today marked the beginning of the end.

The end of waiting.

By the end of the month, Yoonmi would have all seven of her members by her side again. No more curfews to chase, no more military leave filing. Just them—finally eight, together again.

Yoonmi was practically bouncing in her seat as the van pulled up to the press area where Namjoon and Taehyung would speak to the media. She was seated in a car driven by manager Sejin, who was trying to get her to at least eat half of her breakfast before the two boys arrived, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Yoonmi, you know how they are about your eating habits,” Sejin sighed. “Especially Namjoon. If not for your own sake, then eat for mine, unless you want him venting at me next.”

She wrinkled her nose but picked up her chopsticks anyway.

“Oppa?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think Joonie oppa’s gonna show how happy he is to finally be a private citizen again?” Namjoon’s countless Instagram stories and messages both to their group chat and to her privately about him just wanting to finish filled her thoughts.

Manager Sejin simply chuckled and left her to speculate on her own.

Taehyung, she already knew, would be trying to present himself as calm, happy about his time in the military, but also looking forward to returning to music. Namjoon, on the other hand… Well, Yoonmi wasn’t sure if he’d take up the RM leader persona or the Namjoon as a private citizen persona.

The chatter and sudden flashes of cameras caught her attention, making her look out the window. The grin immediately grew on her face as she watched her members being given flowers as they walked towards the media. It seemed like everything slowed down as she opened the door to join them like she did with Jin and Hobi…

Then she heard it.

One foot out the car—

Saxophone.

Not just any saxophone.

“Is that... the Detective Conan theme?”

She slammed the car door shut, getting back inside, one hand over her mouth, eyes wide.

“Oh my god.”

Of course, Namjoon had left Taehyung to carry his flowers as he celebrated the discharge in his own little way.

The giggles fought hard to escape her as she tried to calm them before she actually got to the members, that is until one of the staff knocked on the door.

“Miya? They’re asking for you.”

She took a deep breath. Smile on. Heart barely in check.

The moment she stepped out, Namjoon and Taehyung turned to her in perfect unison.

She barely registered the press, the cameras, the staff. Her world narrowed to them.

Ten steps away…

They saluted.

“Sergeant Kim Namjoon of the 15th Infantry Division’s Military Band.”

“Sergeant Kim Taehyung of the II Corps Special Duty Team, Ssangyong Unit.”

“Reporting the successful completion of his compulsory military enlistment to Bang Yoonmi, otherwise known as Kim Yoonmi.”

A moment of silence passed between the three of them as the two boys brought their hands down sharply. Yoonmi could only grin at them before she lunged forward, pulling them both into a group hug.

“Welcome home,” she whispered.

Taehyung pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It’s good to be back, aegi.”

“Don’t think I didn’t see you laughing at my Case Closed performance,” Namjoon lightly pinched her side.

“Come on,” she laughed as she pulled them to the van with her, “you can tell me everything in the car.”

Everything felt different.

Yoonmi lightly paced just outside the military base, Jimin and Jungkook’s families by her side. The boys’ moms watched her in slight amusement as she did so, but she didn’t mind. She didn’t even notice.

Her hands were clammy, and her breaths were short. Whatever it was that was happening to her was exactly why she knew she couldn’t have their first meeting be in the public press area like she had with the other members. Just the day before, she had been calm with only a small amount of nerves and a few tears peeking through.

Today, however…

It was understandable. Jimin would be coming out of the division first, then Jungkook a little later on. Jimin was the guy she was so close to that he almost adopted her into his family as his little sister if Chan’s family wouldn’t have done so.

Then there was Jungkook. Her best friend among all best friends. Her ride or die. They had spent almost every day together for years until he had to leave for the military. There was a small bit of fear in the back of her mind. Would things be different now?

“My boy,” Jimin’s mom’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. It was a sight to see once she lifted her gaze, Jimin saluting his parents and brother before pulling them into a hug. Despite her nerves, a warm smile made its way to her face, happy to see him happy.

Then Jimin’s dad faced her, holding a hand out to her. “Well? Come over here, Yoonmi. You’re family, too.”

Her approach was hesitant, but it came to a stop as Jimin looked up and met her eyes. He flashed her a smile before straightening out and bringing his fingertips to his brow.

Just moments ago, Jimin had been a son, a brother. Now, in front of her, he stood tall as Sergeant Park Jimin, the person who had once promised to keep in touch until he eventually came back to her for real.

“Sergeant Park Jimin of the Artillery Unit within the 5th Infantry Division reporting the successful completion of his compulsory military enlistment to Bang Yoonmi, otherwise known as Kim Yoonmi.”

His stance didn’t last long. He immediately pulled her in for a hug, resting his chin on her head. Yoonmi wasted no time in hugging him back, her tears starting to fall.

“I’m home,” he whispered in a gentle sing-songy voice. “Don’t cry, aegi. It’s not like we haven’t seen each other this whole time.”

“You don’t have to go back this time.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Jimin pressed a small kiss to her temple before releasing her from the hug, a knowing smile on his face. “Now, there’s someone who I know really wants to see you.”

His gaze was fixated behind her. Yoonmi took a deep breath, knowing what he meant. She could hear the reunion with his family happening behind her.

“Yoons?”

Her breath hitched at the sound of the all-too-familiar voice. She turned around and saw him.

Jungkook was standing before her, just getting out of a hug from his brother, clad head to toe in a uniform that they both knew he wouldn’t be needing anytime soon.

“Oh my god,” she mumbled, tears falling from her eyes.

In three large strides, Jungkook had made his way over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her up. She draped her arms around his neck, hiding her face next to it.

That’s when she knew nothing had changed. Maybe they were both more mature now with their drastically different life events in the past two years, but they were still the same best friends who met at ages 11 and 15 and grew up together.

Neither of them said anything for a while, letting their hug speak for them. She could feel the eyes of Jimin and Jungkook’s families on them, but that faded to the back of her mind as she felt something warm and wet drip on her shirt.

Jungkook gently set her down. For a moment, he didn’t speak, his hand squeezing hers just the slightest bit.

Then, he straightened.

“Sergeant Jeon Jungkook of the 5th Infantry Division reporting the successful completion of his compulsory military enlistment to Bang Yoonmi, otherwise known as Kim Yoonmi.”

“Back on 24/7, on-call best friend duty?” she asked, a small wet laugh escaping her as she wiped her tears away.

“That’s right,” he grinned, pulling her into a hug once again. “Tell Haechan to take a step back.”

She laughed, hugging him tight and extending her arm to Jimin to pull him into the hug as well.

Just like that, the Busan line was complete.