"Fate"

The next day, Seung Min walked down the school hallway. Whispered conversations filled the air as everyone seemed to be talking about him.

However, the moment Seung Min shot them a sharp glare, they quickly averted their gazes, pretending not to notice him.

When he entered the classroom, Jae Hoon, Dae Hyun, and Jin Ho tried to cheer him up, offering words of encouragement. But suddenly, Do Jin, Tae Hwan, and Ki Seok approached Sung Ho Joon, whispering something before leaving the classroom together.

Out of nowhere, someone grabbed Jin Ho and showed him a phone screen. His eyes widened as he read the message displayed:

"The Death Card game has begun."

Seung Min, already fed up with everything, snatched the phone from the student's hand and threw it into the trash can with a look of frustration. Without saying a word, he stormed out of the classroom, leaving behind a tense silence.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the school, Min Joon leaned against a wall, waiting patiently. The moment Ha Joon arrived, Min Joon wasted no time and asked directly,

"Was it you? Did you kill Seung Min's parents?"

Ha Joon stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head slightly before letting out a small, amused chuckle.

"And if I did?" he responded nonchalantly, his voice laced with indifference.

Min Joon clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He took a step closer, his tone colder this time.

"Don't play games with me, Ha Joon. I need the truth."

Ha Joon smirked, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. He leaned in slightly and whispered,

"Truth or lies, does it really change anything?"

Min Joon's patience was running thin. He knew Ha Joon was toying with him, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that Ha Joon was hiding something.

Outside the building, Seung Min stood alone, staring blankly at the darkening evening sky. The air felt colder than usual.

Meanwhile, Nona Park was on the phone, her voice calm yet full of meaning.

"Hae Jin, my condolences for Seung Min's parents' deaths…" she said softly.

On the other end of the line, Hae Jin responded in a heavy tone, "Nona, forgive me… for involving you in this game."

Nona Park let out a long sigh before speaking gently, "I know all the evidence has been taken. But what I want to know now… do you regret it?"

For a moment, Hae Jin remained silent before whispering, "If I hadn't transmigrated into Seung Min's body… none of this would have happened to him."

Nona Park closed her eyes. She had already known the truth, but hearing it directly from Hae Jin made her even more certain—Seung Min's fate had changed ever since his body was inhabited by her younger brother's soul.

The bell rang.

Meanwhile, Lee So Mi walked past several classrooms, her expression indifferent as if she didn't care about anything around her.

Outside the building, Jin Seok approached her. He smirked slightly before speaking, "So Mi, do you really think—"

Before he could finish, Seung Min narrowed his eyes and cut him off coldly, "Stay away from my sister. The culprit is still your cunning family, Jin Seok."

Behind him, Jae Hoon, Dae Hyun, and Jin Ho followed closely.

But something was different. Jin Ho's eyes, usually calm, were now burning with restrained fury. He locked eyes with Jin Seok for a few tense seconds before turning around and walking away without a word.

Jin Seok remained standing in place, watching Seung Min's back as he walked away.

Even though he showed no emotion, a feeling he couldn't explain lingered inside him—a deep sense of guilt that refused to fade.

"Seung Min... I'm not your enemy," he muttered under his breath, only to himself.

He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the emotions swirling inside him.

To others, Jin Seok might just be part of the cunning family that ruined Seung Min's life. But beneath his cold exterior, there was one undeniable truth—he still cared about Seung Min.

At the police station, a man stood in front of an investigation board filled with photos and case files.

That man was Detective Kang Hyun Woo, Seung Min's uncle.

His sharp eyes scanned every detail on the board. He took a sip of his black coffee and let out a heavy sigh.

"None of this is a coincidence... Seung Min's father's accident, his mother's murder, and the attack on Miss Park... Someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes."

His colleague, Detective Choi, approached and handed him a new report.

"Hyun Woo, this is the latest forensic report. The results are strange… it looks like someone deliberately tampered with Seung Min's father's car brakes before the accident."

Hyun Woo clenched his fists.

"I have to find the culprit… before it's too late."

That night, the atmosphere in Seung Min's house felt warmer than usual.

Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, Jae Hoon, and Lee So Mi gathered in the kitchen, trying to cook something edible. However, chaos ensued.

Jin Ho almost burned the omelet, Dae Hyun accidentally spilled flour all over his face, and Jae Hoon was busy scolding them while trying to save the food from burning.

For the first time in a while, Seung Min, who was usually gloomy, laughed out loud at his friends' antics. Lee So Mi, who was chopping vegetables, glanced at her brother and smiled softly.

When dinner was finally ready, they sat together at the table, enjoying their meal. Although it wasn't perfect, it tasted good simply because they made it together.

In the middle of their conversation, Seung Min suddenly suggested something.

"If you guys want, you can stay here. Dae Hyun, your house is being demolished, right? And Jin Ho, living in an apartment must be expensive."

Jin Ho and Dae Hyun exchanged glances. Dae Hyun scratched his head, while Jin Ho gave a small smile.

"Are you serious, Min?" Dae Hyun asked.

"Of course," Seung Min nodded. "I'd rather have this house be full of people."

Jae Hoon, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.

"I can't," he said while scooping rice. "My mom is way too fussy. If I stay at someone else's house, she'll call me every five minutes to scold me."

Everyone burst into laughter at Jae Hoon's reason, making the house feel more alive—for the first time in a long while.

In the luxurious Jin Seok family's house, the dinner table was elegantly set, yet the atmosphere was tense.

Their father ate calmly, his expression unreadable. Jin Seok sat with a relaxed posture, while Min Joon looked visibly irritated, occasionally glancing sharply at his older brother.

Leaning back in his chair, Jin Seok spoke in a flat tone, "My ambitious little brother… it seems you're trying to step over me."

Min Joon clenched his fists under the table, holding back his anger.

Jin Seok continued, his voice cold, "Listen carefully, Min Joon. Do not mess with Seung Min or Lee So Mi. They are not ordinary people. If you dare lay a finger on them, I won't hesitate to kill you."

Min Joon looked up, his eyes filled with hatred. He wanted to retort, but before he could, their father's deep voice cut through the tension.

"Enough of this nonsense." Their father shot both of them a sharp look. "I'm tired of watching you two fight like this."

Min Joon took a deep breath and said sharply, "I'm not the killer!"

Jin Seok let out a small chuckle, his tone mocking. "Of course, Min Joon. Trust me, I never really take your words seriously."

With that, Jin Seok stood up, ran a hand through his hair, and walked away from the dining table.

Their father watched his eldest son leave, letting out a long sigh as he clasped his hands together.

"These boys are becoming more divided by the day…" he muttered to himself.

Min Joon scoffed in frustration, then stood up and left as well. He had no desire to stay in the same room as his father and brother any longer tonight.

Meanwhile, in a quiet high-rise building, Jung Ha Joon stood in front of a large glass window. His eyes gazed into the distance, watching the city lights flickering against the dark night.

In his hand, he held an old photograph—a picture of his mother. His fingers traced the edges of the paper gently, as if trying to feel the warmth that had long faded.

In a quiet yet determined voice, he muttered, "Lee Joo Hyun must pay for my mother's death..."

His expression turned cold. He knew what he had done. Killing Seung Min's parents was never his main goal, but it was a necessary step.

"I had no choice… if I want to destroy Lee Joo Hyun and his family, I have to sacrifice them."

Jung Ha Joon clenched the photograph tightly. Guilt lingered in his heart, but his hatred was far stronger.

He stared at his own reflection in the glass, then whispered, "Seung Min… forgive me. In the end, I will ask for your forgiveness."

But for now, his plan had to continue.

At Seung Min's house, the atmosphere was a bit calmer after dinner. Dae Hyun, Jin Ho, and Lee So Mi were still sitting in the living room, while Seung Min stood near the stairs, looking at them.

"One of you can sleep in the guest room, and the other in my room. I'll sleep in my parents' room," Seung Min said in a flat tone.

Dae Hyun let out a sigh and shrugged. "Alright, I'll take the guest room."

Jin Ho leaned back on the sofa. "Then I'll sleep in your room."

Lee So Mi looked at her brother with slight concern. "Are you sure you can sleep in your parents' room?"

Seung Min stared at her for a moment before nodding slowly. "I have to get used to it."

No one said anything else. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts. They knew that tonight wasn't just about finding a place to sleep, but also about coming to terms with the reality that Seung Min's parents were gone.

As the night deepened, one by one, they went to their respective rooms, trying to get through a night that felt lonelier than ever.

On the other side, Shin Kyung sat in his car, lighting a cigarette while staring at his phone screen. He had just received a report from his men about Min Joon's movements.

Letting out a long sigh, he dialed a number. "Min Joon is starting to move. Looks like he's not taking being cornered by Jin Seok very well," he said in a calm yet dangerous tone.

A deep voice on the other end replied, "Let him be. If he acts recklessly, he'll be the one to fall."

Shin Kyung chuckled softly, flicking the cigarette butt out the window. "I wonder who will fall first in this game. Min Joon? Jin Seok? Or maybe… Seung Min?"

He started his engine and drove into the darkness of the night. Tonight, the game was getting more interesting.

In the dimly lit room, Seung Min lay staring at the ceiling. His eyes remained wide open, his mind filled with the recent events. His heart felt heavy, and every time he closed his eyes, the image of his parents appeared in his thoughts.

Slowly, the door creaked open without a sound. Lee So Mi stood at the doorway, hesitating for a moment before stepping inside.

"You're still awake?" she asked softly.

Seung Min glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to the ceiling. "I can't sleep," he murmured.

Lee So Mi sat on the edge of his bed, looking at her brother with a gentle expression. "Me neither," she admitted.

The room fell into silence, the only sound coming from the soft night breeze through the window.

Lee So Mi took a deep breath before speaking, "Brother, you're not alone. I'm here."

Seung Min turned his head, meeting his sister's worried eyes. After a few seconds, he raised his hand and gently patted Lee So Mi's head.

"I know," he whispered.

For the first time since the tragedy, Seung Min's gaze softened slightly. Though the pain hadn't faded, at least tonight, he knew there was still someone who would stay by his side.

Lee So Mi hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Aunt called me earlier. She said she'll be coming here tomorrow and will stay with us to take care of us."

Seung Min frowned. "Aunt?"

Lee So Mi nodded. "Yes, she'll be sleeping in Mom and Dad's room, so you can move back to your own room."

Seung Min fell silent, his thoughts conflicted. His parents' room was the only place where he still felt close to them, even if only through memories. But he also knew that having their aunt around might help them get through this situation.

After a moment, he let out a quiet sigh. "Alright."

Lee So Mi gave him a small smile and gently held his hand. "We'll be okay"

Seung Min didn't reply, but he slightly tightened his grip in return. Somehow, her words were comforting. At the very least, they still had each other.

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids