Cortis x illit
The Kingdom of the Clouds
The Lotte World theme park was a sprawling labyrinth of neon lights, sugary scents, and the mechanical roar of rollercoasters, but for the members of Eclipse, it was currently a high-stakes tactical maneuver. Per the reward for Iroha’s successful "Secret Escape" mission, the group had been granted a full day of freedom at the park. However, "freedom" was a relative term when you were traveling with five idols who stood over six feet tall and possessed the protective instincts of a pride of lions.
"Okay, listen up," Martin said, adjusting his baseball cap and pulling his face mask higher. Even in disguise, his 6’3” frame and broad shoulders made him look less like a tourist and more like a high-end bodyguard. "We have three hours before the VIP fast-passes for the outdoor section expire. We stay in a tight formation. Iroha is in the center. James, you’re the rearguard. Keonho, Seonghyeon, you’re the scouts. Juhoon, you’re on hydration and snack duty."
Iroha, practically vibrating with excitement in her yellow dungarees and a pair of fuzzy cat ears she’d insisted on wearing, looked up at her leader. "Oppa, it’s a theme park, not a military operation! I want to go on the French Revolution coaster first!"
"The one with the loop?" James asked, his eyes widening behind his glasses. He immediately reached out, checking the straps of Iroha’s small backpack to ensure it was secure. "Is that safe for someone your size? What if the shoulder restraints don't come down far enough? You’re only five feet, Roha-ya. I don't want you sliding out mid-loop."
"James-oppa, I meet the height requirement by four inches!" Iroha protested, pouting so hard her cheeks puffed out. "I’m a big girl!"
"You’re a pocket-sized miracle," Seonghyeon corrected, playfully pinching one of her cat ears. "And as the Three Musketeers, Keonho and I have a duty to ensure the 'Three' part of the trio doesn't fly off into the horizon. But don't worry, we’re going on the coaster. I want to see if Keonho screams louder than the middle-schoolers."
"I don't scream, I vocalize with intensity!" Keonho defended himself, though he was already clutching Iroha’s hand to make sure she didn't dart off toward the churro stand.
The group moved through the park like a coordinated unit. The girls of Illit—Yunah, Minju, Moka, and Wonhee—followed slightly behind, laughing at the sheer absurdity of the scene. They had seen the boys protective before, but the "Theme Park Protocol" was a whole new level of devotion.
"Look at them," Wonhee whispered to Moka. "They’ve formed a literal human perimeter around her. I don't think a single stranger has even managed to make eye contact with her yet."
"It’s like she’s the President," Moka agreed, sipping on a peach slushie. "A very small, very cute President in cat ears."
When they reached the queue for the French Revolution, the tension among the boys reached a fever pitch. As they moved through the indoor line, Juhoon kept a steady hand on Iroha’s shoulder, guiding her through the crowds. Whenever the line bottlenecked and people pressed closer, Juhoon would subtly shift his body, creating a wall of solid muscle between the maknae and the rest of the world.
"Doing okay?" Juhoon asked, his voice low and soothing amidst the cacophony of the arcade games nearby.
"I'm so excited, Juhoon-oppa!" Iroha beamed, leaning back against him. "Can we sit in the front row?"
Juhoon glanced at Martin, who was already discussing the physics of centrifugal force with James. "If the Leader says yes, we go in the front. But I’m sitting right next to you."
"I want to sit next to her!" Keonho shouted, overhearing them. "We’re the Musketeers! It’s our birthright!"
"I’m the eldest boy, I should be the one to ensure her safety in the front seat," James argued, his face set in a mask of absolute seriousness.
"I’m the tallest," Martin chimed in, his voice booming. "I can see over the headrests to monitor her breathing."
Iroha rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her grin. "How about I sit with Wonhee-unnie, and you guys can sit in the rows behind us and watch each other scream?"
A heavy silence fell over the five boys. They looked at each other, then back at Iroha.
"Rejected," they said in unison.
In the end, the seating was a compromise that involved a lot of rock-paper-scissors. Iroha sat in the second row with Martin, while James and Juhoon took the row directly behind them, and Keonho and Seonghyeon took the front, claiming they needed to "clear the path of any potential obstacles."
As the coaster climbed the lift hill, the clicking of the chain echoing in the dark tunnel, Iroha felt Martin’s hand find hers on the safety bar. His grip was firm but gentle.
"Don't be scared, Roha-ya," Martin said, though he looked significantly more nervous than she did.
"I'm not scared, Oppa! Look at the lights!"
Then came the drop.
As the train plummeted into the darkness and twisted through the neon-lit loops, the air was filled with a chorus of sound. Iroha was laughing, her high-pitched giggles trailing behind them like stardust. Beneath her laughter was the sound of Keonho’s "intense vocalization" (which sounded remarkably like a high-pitched shriek) and James shouting, "Is she still there? Martin, do you have her?" every five seconds.
When the ride finally skidded to a halt at the unloading platform, the boys scrambled out of their seats as if the train were on fire, all of them converging on Iroha’s car before she’d even unbuckled.
"Are you dizzy? Do you feel sick?" James asked, his hands fluttering around her face. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Three, Oppa. And I’m fine! Let’s go again!"
"Once is enough for my heart rate," Martin panted, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Let’s find something... grounded. Like a carousel. Or a bench."
"No benches!" Seonghyeon cried, pointing toward the outdoor bridge that led to the Magic Island. "The Gyro Drop! I want to see the view from the top!"
The Gyro Drop was a 230-foot vertical plunge that loomed over the lake like a giant needle. Even the bravest idols usually hesitated before its sheer height.
"Absolutely not," James said, crossing his arms. "That’s too much G-force for a fourteen-year-old."
"James, it’s fine," Yunah said, walking up and patting his arm. "She’s done harder stunts in our music videos. Let her have fun."
Iroha used her ultimate weapon: the puppy-dog eyes. She tilted her head, let her lip tremble just a fraction, and looked up at Martin. "Please, Martin-oppa? I want to see the castle from the sky."
Martin’s resolve crumbled like a dry cookie. He groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Fine. But if you feel even a little bit weird, we are going straight to the infirmary for a check-up."
The wait for the Gyro Drop was longer, and as they ascended the tower, the boys grew uncharacteristically quiet. They were strapped into a circular ring of seats that slowly rotated as it rose. Iroha was sandwiched between Juhoon and Keonho.
"Look, the dorm is that way!" Iroha pointed toward the horizon, her legs swinging over the empty air. "Everything looks like a toy from here!"
Juhoon looked down once and immediately fixed his gaze on Iroha’s profile. "It’s very high, Iroha. Don't lean forward."
"I’m strapped in, Oppa," she giggled.
Keonho, who was usually the life of the party, was currently gripping the armrests so hard his knuckles were turning a ghostly white. "Iroha... if we don't make it... I want you to know... that you can have my limited edition gaming headset."
"Oppa, we’re going to be fine," she said, reaching over to pat his hand.
The ring reached the top and hovered. For five agonizing seconds, the world was silent. The wind whistled through the tower, and the entire city of Seoul was laid out beneath them like a glittering map.
*Click.*
The drop was instantaneous. They fell at nearly 60 miles per hour, a stomach-churning plunge that lasted only seconds but felt like an eternity.
When they hit the magnetic brakes at the bottom, Iroha let out a triumphant "Whoo!" while Keonho looked like he had seen the afterlife.
As they unbuckled, Martin was already there, waiting at the exit gate. He didn't even wait for her to walk out; he simply reached over the railing, scooped her up under the arms, and hoisted her over the barrier as if she were a toddler.
"Okay, that’s it. My nerves are fried," Martin declared, setting her down but keeping a firm hand on her shoulder. "Snack time. Now."
They found a shaded area near the lake and took over three large picnic tables. The boys went on a mission to gather every snack available: giant turkey legs, swirl potatoes, rainbow slushies, and a mountain of churros.
Juhoon sat next to Iroha, meticulously peeling the paper off a hot dog on a stick before handing it to her. "Eat slowly. You’ll get a stomach ache if you rush."
"Thank you, Juhoon-oppa."
Seonghyeon, meanwhile, had returned with a giant headband featuring glowing alien antennae. He placed it on Iroha’s head, right over her cat ears. "Now we can find you in the dark. You’re like a little lighthouse."
"I look ridiculous," Iroha laughed, catching her reflection in a shop window.
"You look like the most precious thing in this park," James said, sitting across from her. He was currently busy cutting a turkey leg into small, manageable pieces with a plastic knife. "Are you having a good time, Roha-ya? Truly?"
Iroha paused, a piece of churro halfway to her mouth. She looked around the table—at Martin, who was arguing with Keonho about who got the last bite of a potato swirl; at Juhoon, who was watching her with that quiet, steady devotion; at Seonghyeon and James, who were already planning which souvenir shop to hit first. Beyond them, her sisters were laughing and taking photos, enjoying the rare moment of peace.
"I’m the luckiest girl in the world," Iroha said softly, her voice thick with genuine emotion. "I used to think being the youngest meant I’d always be left behind. But with you guys... I feel like I’m the center of everything."
The table went quiet for a moment. The boys, usually so loud and chaotic, looked at her with expressions of pure, unadulterated affection.
"You *are* the center of everything," Martin said, his voice unusually soft. He reached out and ruffled her hair, tilting her alien antennae to the side. "The group, the music, the dorm... it all feels better because you’re there. You’re the glue, kiddo. We’re just the extra-large containers that keep the glue safe."
"That was a terrible metaphor, Hyung," Keonho whispered, though he was blinking back tears.
"Shut up, Keonho," Martin laughed, but his eyes stayed on Iroha.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of violet and gold, the park transformed into a fairytale kingdom of lights. The main parade was about to start, and the crowds were thickening.
"We need to get to the viewing area," James said, checking his watch. "I scouted the best spot yesterday. It’s elevated, so no one can block Iroha’s view."
They moved toward the central plaza, but the crowd was denser than they anticipated. People were pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of the floats. Iroha, standing at five feet, found herself staring at a wall of backs and shoulders. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see the glowing castle float, but it was no use.
She felt a tug on her hand.
"Up you go," Martin said.
Before she could protest, Martin gripped her waist and hoisted her up, settling her firmly on his broad shoulders. Iroha gasped, clutching his head for balance as she suddenly towered over the entire crowd.
"Can you see now?" Martin asked, his voice vibrating through his neck.
"Yes! Oh my god, Oppa, I can see everything!"
James and Juhoon moved in close, flanking Martin to ensure no one bumped into his legs, while Keonho and Seonghyeon stood in front, creating a small buffer zone. From her vantage point, Iroha watched the parade—the dancers in glowing costumes, the music thumping through the air, the fireworks exploding over the castle.
She looked down at the top of Martin’s hat, then at her other brothers standing guard around her. She realized then that this was her life now. She wasn't just a performer in a group; she was a sister to five giants who would carry her through the crowds, protect her from the drops, and make sure she always had the best view of the stars.
As the final firework burst into a shimmering willow of gold, Iroha leaned down and kissed the top of Martin’s hat.
"I love you, Oppas," she whispered into the cool night air.
Martin didn't say anything, but he reached up and squeezed her ankle, his hand warm and solid. Below them, the other four boys looked up and smiled, their faces illuminated by the fading sparks.
The walk back to the van was slow and quiet. Iroha was exhausted, her head nodding against Martin’s shoulder as he carried her the final stretch. When they reached the vehicle, James was already waiting with a warm blanket and a fresh bottle of strawberry milk.
"Mission accomplished," Keonho whispered as they tucked her into the back seat. "The maknae had a perfect day."
"We all did," Juhoon said, looking back at the glowing lights of the park.
As the van pulled away, headed back toward the dorm and the busy life that awaited them the next day, the five boys of Cortis sat in a protective circle around their sleeping treasure. The world knew them as idols, as stars, as the "Eclipse Project." But in the quiet of the van, they were just five brothers, and they had already won the greatest prize of all: the trust of the girl who made their world complete.