Felix and Mingyu were the first to head out and begin their side of the plan, followed by Yeosang, who had to beg Seungmin to stay home so they could avoid suspicion at the company.

Right now, Mingyu and Felix were arriving at the Seventeen estate, a place Felix was very familiar with.

Felix: This should be easy right? If all goes well, we could have everything we need for the case by the end of the day.

Mingyu: It's nice to have optimism, but we all know things go left very easily.

Felix: True...but maybe it won't this time!

The duo exited the vehicle, walking towards the entrance of the house.

The door was opened by Dino.

Dino: Aww, the boyfriends are back! Come in!

They enter the home, seeing it surprisingly calm.

Mingyu: Dino, where is Hoshi?

Dino: Upstairs writing. I'm sure he'll let you in.

Mingyu: Thanks. Come on Felix.

Mingyu holds his boyfriends hand and leads him up the stairs to Hoshi's room. He knocks, waiting for an answer.

Hoshi: Who is it?

Mingyu: It's me and Felix! We need to talk about something.

Hoshi: Come in!

They open the door, seeing Hoshi under his computer desk.

Hoshi: Sorry, I dropped my pencil. Can you help me get out? I got stuck.

Mingyu laughs as he goes and pulls Hoshi from under the desk.

Hoshi: Thank you. What do you guys need?

Felix: Just to cut to the chase...the incident three years ago with my manager. Do you remember what happened?

Hoshi: Every detail. I have it all written down in case he goes to jail one day.

Mingyu and Felix look at each other, then back to Hoshi.

Hoshi: What?

Mingyu: We're gonna need a copy of that.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Yeosang had entered KQ and was thinking of where he should go.

Employee records weren't exactly easy to find, but he shouldn't have much trouble since KQ has a rule unlike many other companies.

Their idols had full access to every place the staff members had.

Security rooms, lounge areas, lunch rooms, offices, storage areas...they could go anywhere they needed as long as they had their access code.

Luckily for Yeosang, his leader had forced them all to remember their codes as soon as they got them.

He made his way to a staff area, typing in his code and sliding open the door.

Yeosang: What in the-

As soon as he entered, he spotted his groups maknae, Jongho.

Yeosang: Jongho? Why are you in here?

Jongho: I was looking for the maintenance request forms. Mingi broke the practice room mirror again.

Yeosang: Of course.

Jongho: But why are you in here? Did you break something too?

Yeosang: No. I'm looking for employee records. Remember the man who was fired from the company before we debuted?

Jongho: Oh yeah, I remember him. He's Stray Kids manager now.

Yeosang: Oh good, you know. Well, were building a case against him to get him arrested.

Jongho: It's about time! That man is a menace.

Yeosang: What did he do?

Jongho: You were never told? I know Hongjoong and I were.

Yeosang: I don't know a thing about it.

Jongho: Yeosang...he tried to sabotage our debut.

------------------------------------------------------------

At the managers house, a much more high-stakes situation was unfolding.

Jisung was practically banging on the door, begging their manager to open it.

Jisung: Please! Please come help us!

The frantic energy of his knocking was caused by the fact that just a few seconds ago, their injured maknae had completely lost consciousness.

Hyunjin was still trying to wake him up, but nothing he did was working.

Jisung: Please! I'm begging you! Open the door! He's hurt!

Suddenly, the door swung open, knocking Jisung back a few steps.

Manager: What is with all this damn yelling?!

Jisung: Jeongin, he's hurt! Please, he needs to go to a hospital!

The manager looked down at the floor, where Hyunjin was sitting, holding his jacket to the back of Jeongin's head in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Hyunjin looked up at him.

Hyunjin: Help him...please...

Manager was instantly at their side, and moved the jacket a bit to look at the injury.

He covered his mouth, almost in disgust at what he saw.

Manager: My god...I'll take him. You two stay here.

Hyunjin: But I have to go with him!

Manager: No, stay here!

He carefully picked Jeongin up from the floor, standing to his own feet.

Manager: What the hell even happened?! I'm guessing you weren't sitting still like I asked!

Hyunjin looked down at the floor, feeling responsible for the accident.

Manager scoffed at them before walking away quickly with the maknae in his arms, making sure to lock the door again.

Jisung heard crying, and looked over to see Hyunjin with his hands over his eyes.

Jisung: Hey, don't cry, he'll be alright. I-it was just an accident.

Hyunjin: But it's my fault! I'm just like everyone said!

Jisung: Hyunjin, look at me. Move your hands.

Hyunjin moved his hands, looking at Jisung.

Jisung: It was an accident. Okay? You two were just playing. Where is this coming from? Hm? Who said anything about you?

Hyunjin held onto Jisung, crying into his shoulder.

Hyunjin: He told me...he thought everything was true...and he wanted them to kick me out. He...he never liked me.

Jisung: Are you talking about manager?

Hyunjin nodded quickly.

Jisung: This was during your absence from the group, wasn't it? He believed all the rumors?

Hyunjin nodded again.

Jisung held his friend close to him. He could feel just how upset he was, and knew he needed someone.

It made him wonder how he felt back then, if he ever needed someone like this, but they couldn't be there.

All Hyunjin could think about was their maknae.

Would he be okay?

-----------------------------------------------------------

Changbin was in the living room, talking to the other members, when his phone rang.

Changbin: Hello?

Everyone tried to hear what the person on the other line was saying, but they couldn't.

Changbin: Yes, I do. Is something wrong?

They watched as Changbin's facial expression changed from confusion to shock.

Changbin: Is...is he okay? What happened?

Chan stood up, a feeling he had telling him this was about one of the littles.

Changbin: Thank you...I'm on my way.

He hung up the phone.

Chan: Is someone hurt? Who was that?

Changbin: A nurse from the local hospital...she said about thirty minutes ago, someone brought Jeongin there.

Everyone else stood up as well.

Changbin: She said he had a very serious head injury...and when he arrived...

Chan: When he arrived, what? Is he okay?

Changbin just shook his head.

Seungmin: What does that mean? Is he not okay? Tell us what she said!

Changbin turned to them, sighing before he spoke.

Changbin: She said she thinks someone should be there with him so he...

He pauses for a few seconds.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

...so he won't be alone when he dies.