Hoseok doesn't feel like the starfish seems any more or less confident or comfortable about the terrain of his hand, but he's charmed by Jungkook's words anyway. Hoseok doesn't know if he's gentle himself, but he tries to be steady and supportive of his friends, tries to be kind and loving. He doesn't want to give anyone a reason to reject him, to turn their backs. He just wants everyone around him to be happy, wants to do what he can to be part of that happiness. Or at least not take away from it.

"You've always been gentle with me," Hoseok comments, his voice soft, watching the starfish move slowly, testing the different textures of Hoseok's palm. He doesn't want to get too sentimental at the moment, but he relies on Jungkook a lot more than he should and Jungkook has only ever met that reliance with kindness and care.

"We'll remember him," Hoseok says with a gentle smile, curling his finger as the starfish reaches out toward it. "And maybe he'll remember us, too."