Jin and Jungkook had unveiled their new hairstyle on their day off and had yet to make an appearance on company premises and especially in front of their managers. They almost forgot that it could cause them problems. And unfortunately, the boys were wrong when they said they had no public events planned. 

     During the day, Namjoon got a call from Sejin to let them know they were surprise guests on a variety show. They were expected two days later. When Namjoon hung up, he turned to his members, his gaze blank, as if his soul had been sucked out of his body.

     "We must tell Hyun and Sejin hyungs now," Yoongi offered when Namjoon broke the news to them.

     "To tell him what?" Jin quipped. "Jungkook and Jin tried a new haircut that you won't like?"

     "Exactly," Yoongi replied, "you weren't embarrassed doing it so don't be embarrassed to go and show off your new haircut. I bet you they will not be happy, but I could be wrong after all."

     "Enough," Namjoon ordered calmly. "Tomorrow we have a preparation for the show. We will discuss it again at that time. For now, take it easy and stop arguing, for goodness' sake!"

     They spent the day relaxing and ending up meeting all together in front of the TV in the evening. As Jin could no longer cook on their day off because of his injury, it was Yoongi who prepared the meal with Jungkook and they all ate together in the living room, the tensions seeming to have eased, much to Namjoon's relief. It was a friendly moment that relaxed everyone and made them temporarily forget the problems to come. 

     The next day, they met their two managers at the company building for their show preparation meeting. The reaction of the two men were immediate. They froze as they saw Jin and Jungkook settling down with the other members around the round table. 

     Sejin snarled, his jaw clenched:

     "Seokjin, Jungkook, what is this?"

     "Sorry that you don't like it, we wanted to try out a new hairstyle as a pair," Jin claimed, who wanted to get it over with as soon as possible to get on with the show's preparations.

     "You kidding, right?" Hyung retorted, "you are an idole, do you think you can afford to "test" in such an extreme way? Wasn't your first failed haircut enough for you?" 

     He was referring to the time when Jin tried to cut his bangs himself and then got embarrassed in front of the cameras.  The tone was already rising, and the tension was palpable.

     "Hyung, stop pretending I'm invisible and blame me too," Jungkook taunted before Jin could stop him. Under the table, Jimin put his hand on his thigh to keep him from going too far.

     "Your turn will come Jungkook," Sejin replied before addressing Jin again, "Seokjin, your behavior was already borderline acceptable these days and we warned you not to overstep any more, didn't our words reach you?!"

     "I had no ambition to be incorrect," Jin replied defiantly, "I told you I just wanted to try, and I am quite satisfied with the result, I do not see where the problem is."

     Faced with Jin's insolence, Namjoon saw that the manager seemed on the verge of exploding.

     "Hyung, this is just a haircut," he tempered to help Jin, "Jin hyung and Jungkook weren't thinking badly, it is useless to reprimand them too much."

     Jungkook who was the one who thought wrong sustained the disapproving look of his managers.

     "They weren't thinking wrong, but did they think?" Hyun asked brutally, "you are not rookie for a long time, so why are you giving me the impression of being? Aren't you going to be thirty?! Can't you behave like one and set an example for the younger ones instead of acting like a fool?!"

     "Hyung!" all the members exclaimed, outraged, except for Jin who remained silent even though his mouth was hanging open in shock for being called a fool by his manager in front of his younger members.

     This time it was too much for all of them because they could not bear that their eldest was humiliated in this way in front of them and were all ready to defend him.

      "Measure your words hyung, you're going too far," a calm yet firm voice said.

     It was Yoongi. Jin looked at him with wide eyes in surprise.

     "You have been with us for a long time now, but if you continue to lay into Jin I will personally ask PD-nim not to allow you to work with us any longer."

     Now everyone listened to Yoongi, fascinated, as he threatened his managers without fear, he who had always respected the hierarchy:

     "Jin hyung is neither a fool nor an incompetent unlike what you keep hammering, and a haircut has never ruined a company's reputation so stop pretending it or we'll think you're the only fool ones in this story."

     The managers remained silent in amazement, as did the rest of the members. After what seemed like an eternity, Sejin spoke:

     "For the moment, we will put this exchange aside, but we will come back to it later, with a mediator if necessary. We need to focus on preparing for the show. Seokjin and Jungkook, you'll be wearing beanies to hide your hair, that should do the trick, we'll make it part of your outfit tomorrow."

     The remainder of the meeting was devoted to the presentation of the show and the group's expectations on it. This was an entertainment show, so it was okay to adopt a more relaxed behavior than during the press conference and to do skinship for the enjoyment of the fans for example.

     Jungkook was staying alert to try to determine where he might cross the line if the managers weren't given enough specifics in their instructions. He hadn't been able to intervene as much as he wanted during the exchange at the start of the meeting because Yoongi had spoken and had been formidably efficient, but he still wanted to do them pay for their behavior towards Jin.

      The end of the meeting came and the managers, taken by the time, indicated to Namjoon, Jin and Yoongi that they would see them again later to discuss what had happened, and that a lack of respect like this could not remain without consequence.

     Finally, the group was taken back to the dorm. The members talk few on the way home and it wasn't until they got there and all slumped on the sofas or the living room rug that the tongues loosened:

     "Thank you for standing up for me Yoongi," Jin thanked sincerely, "I admit I was quite surprised considering what you reproached me for yesterday."

    "I was surprised too," Jungkook confessed. "Why did you defend him?"

     Yoongi sighed:

     "You thought I suddenly became your enemy just because I told you off. The only thing I think about when I do this is your best interests, I think you'd know that. And of course, I will never let them disrespect Jin hyung."

    "Yoongi hyung, this is so sweet!" Taehyung shouted, throwing himself on the older one to hug him. 

     The latter made a face and tried to push the younger one away, as he disliked displays of affection, especially Taehyung's which were excessive. But he gave up his fight when Jimin and Hoseok also threw themselves on him with affection and amusement.

     Namjoon undertook to conclude

     "We will meet them again with PD-nim as a mediator, if possible, in an attempt to ease tensions and re-establish a non-toxic relationship with them. We'll organize this after tomorrow's show."

     Everyone nodded but no one saw Jin's concerned expression as he realized that his thoughtless action as the others had called it was causing his group more harm than he had first thought. It wasn't only about his public image, it was about the relationship between the managers and the group which was deteriorating while everything had always gone very well between them.

     Jin shook his head to drive away his negative thoughts and smiled as he watched Yoongi try to free himself from the triple hug to return to his room. 

     All that remained was to hope that everything would go well.