The set was in full crisis.
Two thefts.
Two suspects.
Two chicken legs—one stolen, one decoy.
And now a video of someone who looked unmistakably like Director Mason hauling away Aria's real snack bag.
Daniel had already fainted twice.
Rick kept replaying the video like it was a sports highlight.
Julian looked like he was watching a live theatre performance.
Elliot whispered, "This is better than television."
And Aria?
Aria was calm.
Too calm.
Which meant something terrible was about to happen.
Mason Awakens to His Own Horror
Mason jolted awake from his fainting spell.
He grabbed Daniel by the collar.
"DID THEY CATCH THE REAL CRIMINAL WHILE I WAS UNCONSCIOUS?"
Daniel patted his arm with pity.
"No… but they caught you."
Mason screamed:
"IT'S NOT ME! I WAS FRAMED BY A CHICKEN-LOVING DEMON!"
Aria responded politely:
"I do not consume demons."
Daniel muttered:
"She doesn't deny being chicken-loving…"
Aria Reviews the Evidence
She turned to Rick.
"Play the video again."
Rick obediently hit repeat.
The figure—same height as Mason, same walk as Mason, wearing a jacket Mason owned—moved down the hallway carrying her strawberry-print snack bag.
Julian stepped closer, studying the footage with quiet interest.
"That stride… it really does look like him."
Mason threw his hands up.
"STOP ANALYZING MY STRIDE LIKE IT'S A SUSPECT PROFILE!"
Aria tilted her head.
"You have a distinctive walk."
"STOP SAYING THAT!!"
Daniel Presents His Theory (Incorrectly, Loudly)
Daniel pointed dramatically.
"I've solved it."
Everyone groaned.
Elliot whispered, "No he hasn't."
Daniel continued anyway:
"Mason stole the snack bag…
while sleepwalking."
The room stared.
Julian tried not to laugh.
Aria blinked.
"That is possible."
Mason shrieked:
"NO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE! I DO NOT SLEEPWALK! I BARELY SLEEP!!"
Aria Steps Closer to Mason
Mason backed up until he hit a lighting stand.
She calmly asked:
"Where were you at 11:37 a.m.?"
Mason flailed.
"I—I—I was yelling at Props! They'll confirm!"
Props raised their hands.
"He was yelling at us!"
Aria nodded.
"Then this individual is not you."
Mason burst into relieved tears.
"THANK YOU—WAIT, WHY WAS I A SUSPECT AT ALL?!"
Daniel answered:
"Your face."
"WHAT ABOUT MY FACE?!"
Julian:
"It's very expressive."
Mason:
"That's not comforting!!"
Aria Notices the Detail Everyone Missed
She stared at the footage again.
Then pointed.
"The shoes."
Rick zoomed in.
Everyone leaned forward.
Daniel gasped.
Julian's eyes widened slightly.
Mason blinked.
"What about the shoes?"
Aria said:
"They are not yours."
The room froze.
Rick zoomed further.
The shoes were black, heavy-duty work boots—
the kind worn by—
Everyone turned slowly toward the same aisle.
Where the stunt team stood.
Marcus, their leader, choked on his energy drink.
"WAIT—WAIT—WE DIDN'T STEAL ANYTHING—"
Aria took a step toward them.
Marcus immediately stepped back.
Daniel whispered:
"Run, idiot."
But Aria Doesn't Look at Marcus
She passes him.
Passes the other stunt coordinators.
Stops right in front of—
Theo, the youngest stunt trainee.
Theo froze like a deer caught in stadium lights.
"Why… why are you looking at me…?"
Aria pointed at the monitor.
"You own these shoes."
Julian folded his arms.
Daniel shouted:
"THE TRAINEE DID IT?!"
The stunt team collectively gasped.
Marcus grabbed Theo by the shoulders.
"BOY—DID YOU STEAL HER SNACK BAG??"
Theo burst into tears.
"I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HERS!!"
The True Story Comes Out
Theo held his hands up defensively.
"I—I thought it was a props bag!"
Marcus:
"Why would you take a props bag?!"
Theo sobbed,
"Because… because… I was hungry…"
The entire set gasped.
Daniel screamed:
"YOU FOOL—YOU NEVER STEAL FOOD FROM THIS SET—ESPECIALLY NOT HERS!!"
Mason added:
"And ESPECIALLY NOT A STRAWBERRY BAG!! IT'S LITERALLY ICONIC AT THIS POINT!"
Theo collapsed to his knees.
"I'm sorry!! I thought it was free snacks!! I didn't eat anything, I swear—I opened it, saw all the food neatly arranged, and panicked because I realized it BELONGED TO SOMEONE—AND THEN I HID IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET FIRED—"
Everyone stared at Aria.
Julian looked amused.
Daniel looked terrified.
Mason whispered:
"She's going to end him…"
Aria Steps Toward Theo
Theo trembled violently.
"I—I didn't eat anything!! I didn't even touch the chicken leg!! I returned the bag to a shelf but then someone moved it—"
Aria raised a hand.
Theo squeaked.
The room held its breath.
Aria said gently:
"…You should not steal."
Theo sobbed louder.
"I KNOW!! I KNOW!! I'M SORRY—I'M SO SORRY—PLEASE DON'T BREAK MY SPINE—"
Aria blinked.
"I will not break your spine."
Everyone exhaled in relief—
Too soon.
Aria added:
"Unless necessary."
Everyone inhaled sharply again.
Julian Intervenes
Julian stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Aria's shoulder.
"Aria. He confessed. He didn't eat anything. And he apologized."
Aria blinked at him.
"…Yes."
Julian smiled faintly.
"You can forgive him."
Theo nodded violently.
"PLEASE FORGIVE ME—PLEASE—I'LL BUY YOU A WHOLE BUCKET OF CHICKEN—NO TWO BUCKETS—A FARM—AN ENTIRE FARM—"
Aria stared at him.
"…Apology accepted."
Theo collapsed in tears.
The stunt team cheered.
Marcus lifted Theo off the ground.
"You survived, kid! I'm proud of you!"
Daniel's Final Realization
Daniel threw his hands in the air.
"SO THE INTERN STOLE THE WRONG CHICKEN, AND THE TRAINEE STOLE THE WHOLE BAG?!"
Rick nodded.
"It was a two-part crime."
Mason whispered:
"My god… we were dealing with a snack conspiracy…"
Julian laughed under his breath.
Aria lifted her recovered strawberry-print bag.
She inspected it.
Then said:
"Everything is intact."
Daniel groaned.
"We did all this… for NOTHING missing?!"
Aria blinked.
"No. Something is missing."
The room froze.
Julian raised an eyebrow.
Daniel screamed:
"WHAT NOW?! WHAT'S MISSING?!"
Aria replied calmly:
"…The chicken leg."
The entire set:
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"