Less than a day after Hayakawa Sayuri’s death, the police reports come out, and her management company announces her death as a murder.

Predictably, this sets everybody into a panic. “How could this have happened?” The fans ask. They’re called Dreamers, but now it’s like they, as well as the eight remaining members of Dream, have been shoved head first into a never-ending nightmare instead. “What were the bodyguards and the managers doing? How are Dream coping with this? Yeonhwa was there too, is she alright? We’re all worried for our Leader-nim. Yah, useless company, stop overworking your idols, give them a pay raise and some therapy!”

“We are still waiting for more information,” the company says in return, even though there is no more information the police can provide them with. They don’t acknowledge the criticisms about how they treat their idols, although Junhee and the rest of the idol world know that the members of Dream get paid the least relative to how famous they are.

#RestInPeaceSayuri and #ProtectDream trend on Twitter, alongside #PrayForDay and #FindingJunhee. Even after so long, GENES1S still don’t know what happened to their beloved hyung, and even Star Entertainment themselves don’t know what happened to Junhee. The only idols who know are Hyunjun, who’s keeping more secrets than Junhee would’ve ever thought, and Yeonhwa, who promised Junhee to keep her mouth shut. The only other two idols who know are Dae Hyuk and Sayuri, who will never be seen alive again.

Junhee makes a couple more visits to Hyunjun, each time in a more ridiculous disguise provided by Bora, who was all too happy to help once she had finally confirmed that he was really her favorite singer, the one and only soloist Song Junhee. Of course I’ll help you meet your secret boyfriend, she told him giddily, you two have such a cute dynamic, and I really support it! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, I may be an entertainment reporter but I'm not a blabbermouth.

Junhee could only splutter, rapidly denying it because he and Hyunjun really weren’t dating even if the tabloids liked to talk about it and Hyunjun always acted like they were, goddammit! Bora just told him to stop moving around, or she would mess up his eyeliner.

Somehow, she managed to force him into a skimpy dress Junhee would never wear even if he was a woman, shoving padding into places that needed a touch of feminine curves. Why are you doing this to me? Junhee had wailed, feeling awfully violated. Why do you even have all this shit?

Bora had just grinned, telling him she used to dabble in disguises back in her Dispatch days. It was some Lim Ae-cha's idea, apparently. An ex-coworker. It helped them avoid getting caught by idols. Going to court sucks, she said with all the experience of someone who had seen ex-colleagues getting restraining orders against stalking, or getting sued for public defamation. She had never done anything against the law, though, she was a very respectful paparazzi. Apparently.

Needless to say, Hyunjun got very incredibly flustered by the sight of Female Junhee at his door (Junhee, a wig, and 'the best eyeshadow Bora had ever done'), claiming he was just a hot blooded man with working eyes. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Junhee had asked, eyebrows raised. He stepped forward, fake padded breasts brushing against the other man's arm. "Does this turn you on or something?

Hyunjun had just waved his arms around desperately, pushing Junhee away with cheeks redder than anything Junhee had ever seen on him. His flaming blush was all too obvious on his pale skin. "You- Ugh, figure it out yourself! It's so obvious!"

They both know Junhee is painfully oblivious to things like this, even if his deduction skills have improved by leaps and bounds thanks to Minji.

Hyunjun had been significantly less flustered by Electrician Junhee, greeting him with a forced smile at the door and frowning once he allowed Junhee in. "I miss seeing you dressed like yourself," he says mournfully. "I wish we didn't have to hide like this, but it's still too dangerous for you to walk around looking like a celebrity. Just a little longer," he says, more to himself than to Junhee. "Just a little longer, and you'll be safe."

Next time, Bora dresses Junhee up as a delivery man, and he brings home cooked bibimbap (Hyunjun's favorite!) as a bonus. Hyunjun suggests Junhee should wear a maid dress next time he cooks, but Junhee shuts that idea down before Hyunjun can finish inhaling his rice.

Halfway through their conversation, Junhee realizes it's been far too easy for him to slip into disguise and fool anyone who had never seen him up close before. So technically, wasn't it just as easy for their potential idol serial killing suspect? What if they snuck into the home of their next target under the guise of some kind of appointment and killed them right there and then? Even Minji doesn't have any answers for that, instead diving into her research for leads. The apartment pinboard for the case grows more and more messy by the day, covered in photographs, colorful post-its and red string. Even though Junhee is technically Minji's hired sidekick, the detective still tends to run off on her own all too recklessly, leaving Junhee in the dust whenever she thinks of something new.

Hyunjun practically orders Dae Hyuk to keep an eye on Junhee, like Dae Hyuk hadn't taken over Crow Hyunjun's job of protecting Junhee, pushing him out of the way of heavy falling objects and pulling him away from lousy drivers driving dangerously, even if he acts like he's just taking the opportunity to hang out with his favorite sunbae. "If anything happens to him, you tell me immediately, do you understand?" Hyunjun tells the younger boy when he thinks Junhee isn't listening. "Hoobae or not, if Junhee gets hurt, I will not hesitate to send you to a hell so terrible you'll be begging to leave. He is the only reason you're still around, and it would do you well to remember that."

"Hyunjun," Junhee says sharply. "You're going too far."

"You know you're the only person I care about. I can't lose you-"

"That doesn't mean you can threaten people I care about. Don't think I didn't see you glare at Minji last time she got sidetracked by a case and left me at the bank."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"You got caught up in a bank robbery! They fucking held you hostage! With guns!"

"Yeah, but I was fine in the end, wasn't I? I got out safe and sound! Without even a single bruise! Nobody even knew it was me!""

"Do you really think I'll believe that you, a guy with no real fighting experience beyond knowing basic kali, managed to beat up five guys, all armed, with a pair of drumsticks??!!"

"But it's true! Hyung or not,” Junhee says, copying Hyunjun’s earlier words while waving a drumstick around threateningly, “if you keep arguing with me, you’ll be the next one who gets beat up with a drumstick!”

That is what makes Hyunjun finally give up, raising his hands in surrender and complaining about schedules under his breath. Must be nice for Junhee to live like a free man, even if it’s just for the next few months. Probably.

Still, Junhee spends the night reassuring Dae Hyuk that really, it's fine, Hyunjun won't actually hurt anyone, he's a lot kinder than he likes to act in front of others. It’s probably a coping mechanism for something to do with his mother, but Junhee doesn’t know enough about the other man’s history with Number 13 to even begin understanding it himself, let alone tell Dae Hyuk.

Dae Hyuk takes it all in stride. "It's okay, sunbae, it wasn’t that bad. It was just like being caught in the middle of a lover’s spat.” Junhee chokes on his next breath. “Eomuni and Abeoji used to argue a lot before, but it was a lot worse, because they argued because they hated each other. You and Hyunjun-hyung argue because you care too much about each other, so every time you fight it just feels like it’s going to end up with angry make-out sessions and post-fight make-up sex.”

Junhee splutters. “Dae Hyuk!” Isn’t Dae Hyuk a little too young to say things like this? Is this how you’re supposed to talk to your sunbaes?? And Dae Hyuk-ah, do you need a hug?

Dae Hyuk laughs cheekily. “Sunbae, I respect you a lot, and you’re like a precious hyung to me, but I’m also twenty and I’m sure I’ve been on more dates than you, even though you’re older. Girls like cute puppy-type boys more than the nice hyung next door type, you know?”

Junhee’s mouth opens and closes, and he makes some kind of strange noise. Is he really the ‘nice hyung next door’ type?? Of course, Minji has to see him right at that moment, gaping like a fish. She yawns widely, shuffling towards the kitchen for a glass of water. “Yah, Junhee, if you’re tired, go to sleep. It’s already midnight.”

“Yeah, yeah, I will.” He plasters a smile onto his face, forcing himself not to think about dates and kissing and Hyunjun. “Don't worry about me.”

"We've got a lead to chase tomorrow," Minji mutters after another massive yawn. "Not sure if it'll bear any fruit, but a suspicious lead is better than none at all."

"We'll solve this," Junhee says, trying to reassure them both. "We'll catch the criminal before they can strike again."

News flash: they don't.

The next murder is closer to home than any of them would've ever expected. Nobody sees it coming: not Minji, who's been profiling the killer and keeping an eye on everyone on her list of potential next victims, although she refuses to share the list with Junhee; or Hyunjun, who always carries a notebook filled with names of the dead and the dying for his job as a half jeoseung saja.

This time, it's Bora who calls Minji, near-tears and hysterical. "It's Jiyoon," she gasps out. "Bae Jiyoon, the soloist. I was meant to have an interview with her today, but her manager said she went to the toilet fifteen minutes before I got here, and he sent me to check up on her, and now I'm in the toilet and her hands are still warm but she's not breathing, Minji-yah, what do I do?"

"Calm down," Minji orders. She turns the phone on speaker mode so Junhee can hear. Bae Jiyoon… . Bora keeps wheezing for breath on the other side of the phone, and Junhee flexes his fingers, itching to be able to help, to do something. "Have you called the police?"

"Y- Yes!"

Byeol squeezes her way onto Junhee's lap, nudging against his anxious hands. Minji stays calm enough for all of them, whipping a notebook and a pen out of god knows where.

"Where are you right now? We're going to find you."

Bora says something Junhee can't hear as he wrangles Byeol out of his coat, but he trusts Minji to catch him up on the details. They're already running, dodging crowds and cars alike.

"Tell me what you're seeing," Minji barks as they wait for the traffic light to change colors. "Whatever you do, don't change anything at the scene."

"Um, Jiyoon's sitting on the toilet. The third floor toilet, second stall. She's not moving. It's just like a normal toilet, but the door seems to be jammed and now I can't get out, it's been ten minutes and I've been calling for help but nobody heard me either." Bora takes a rattling breath. "I feel really dizzy, my head hurts, gimme a moment, I gotta- I gotta sit down. I think I'm going to throw up."

Bora's breathing is still loud and labored through the phone. Junhee doesn't like the terrifying expression on Minji's face.

"Bora," the detective says, her voice deadly serious, "I'll be there in three minutes. I want you to close your eyes and try not to breathe until I get there or someone opens the door for you, whatever comes first. Can you do that for me?"

Bora hums out something weak that sounds like a yes, and Minji curses vehemently when Bora's phone clatters to the ground and the call ends abruptly. The glass doors of KY Studio loom before them, and Minji barges right through without a care for security. Junhee apologizes briefly to the man he bumps into and almost knocks over.

"Lock the doors!" The detective shouts at the receptionist, flashing a police badge that Junhee thinks is probably unofficial. "Nobody is allowed to leave!"

"What's going on?" The receptionist shouts back at her, the head security guard already barking orders into a walkie talkie. "Who are you?"

"Detective Ahn Minji, consultant of the Korean National Police! There's been a murder!" The beginnings of chaos start to erupt, but Minji puts an end to things before they can escalate. "Stay calm and let me handle things! Just don't let anybody leave!"

People scramble into motion as Minji and Junhee pick up the pace, running up the stairs two steps at a time. "What's going on with Bora?" Junhee demands as they pass the second floor. "Don't tell me it's-"

"Carbon monoxide poisoning," Minji gasps out. "Tasteless, colorless, odorless. If Bora's feeling the symptoms after fifteen minutes, the concentration is way too high. She'll pass out and die if we don't get there within twenty seconds."

Junhee unleashes a matching curse as they make a mad dash for the third floor. They're racing against time now. Maybe it's too late to save Jiyoon, but if they can make it to the third floor, second stall toilet of the KY Studio headquarters, they can still save Bora.

If everything goes well, maybe they'll even catch the killer.

One step at a time, Junhee reminds himself. Focus on saving Bora.

Minji leads the skidding to a halt in front of the toilet. They share a look, and with a quiet chant of "one, two, three," they kick the door down.