A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Initial Intentions Episode 14

KICKS, a rookie boy group launched by NewBorn, a mid-to-large entertainment agency with a reputation in the industry.

They were a group that debuted 6 months before us.

Not only did they spread all kinds of media play before debut, but it was obvious they poured money into their music sources and music videos.

NewBorn was the second place I auditioned at after leaving Under.

For reference, the first was a major entertainment agency.

I got rejected for having awkward dance moves. As expected of a major agency, they preferred complete packages over growth potential.

And the ones who debuted with NewBorn’s full support were exactly these guys in front of me now, KICKS.

“Long time no see.”

When I raised my hand in greeting, the guy who acted familiar with me brightened up. I glanced over to check Gyeon Hajun’s expression.

Gyeon Hajun, who lived up to his title as an acting idol with acting skills that rivaled decent actors, had such excellent expression management that even I, who had been with him the longest, sometimes found it hard to read his emotions, but right now…

‘Should I just tell them to fuck off…?’

His face clearly showed his discomfort.

And for good reason, since those guys were the ones who had been in the debut group together at the former agency where Hajun and I used to belong.

KICKS was also the group that Hajun and I almost debuted with.

Ah, to be precise, in the end it was ‘only me’ who almost debuted.

And this bastard acting all friendly with me was also the first one to cut ties with Gyeon Hajun.

Yet here he was greeting even Gyeon Hajun like they were close, so it seems he hasn’t learned his lesson from before the regression or even now.

I looked over the two guys who were obviously uncomfortable and avoiding my gaze, and the three who seemed clueless, then asked.

“Did you guys make a comeback this time?”

“The teaser and music source dropped ages ago! You have no interest in us? I’m disappointed, hyung!”

Interest? I chuckled at that word.

Right now I was too busy going back 7 years and struggling through the failed idol path to remember they even existed, and back then I deliberately didn’t look them up because it made me sick even after I left, but I couldn’t help what I saw and heard right in front of me.

Before the regression, knowing what these guys were really like, I thought about just pretending to be friendly and then telling them to fuck off. But seeing Gyeon Hajun’s expression, it felt like a waste to just send them away.

“Your debut album did better than I expected?”

“We had some trouble restructuring from the original 7-member major group to 6 members. Ah, I’m absolutely not blaming you, hyung. I understand you. You and Hajun hyung were super close. It made sense you’d leave together.”

See, a dog can’t change its habits.

At the thorns embedded in his smiling words, and the other guys pretending to smile while listening, I twisted the corners of my mouth that had been rising.

There was a time when I got into the debut group with guys I’d gone through the hardships of trainee life with, and was confident that only a flower path lay ahead of me.

But that comfortable future I’d dreamed of cracked not long after, when a new trainee joined the debut group.

The new trainee was the company director’s nephew. In other words, a parachute.

Even if he was a parachute, I might have understood 0.1% if he was a genius in at least one area, but that guy wasn’t particularly outstanding at dance, singing, or variety show sense – basically someone like Seo Yehyeon.

But the problem was that his looks weren’t even Seo Yehyeon level, just the kind that would get trampled countless times at broadcasting stations.

The group was originally planned as 7 members, and to include the parachute, one person had to leave the debut group.

And Gyeon Hajun was chosen as that person.

It was something I absolutely couldn’t understand with my common sense.

The reason was that he had the shortest trainee period, but if we’re going by that logic, I had the shortest period. I entered a month later than Gyeon Hajun.

‘Wow, you guys are really okay with this?’

‘We can’t help it, hyung. I want to debut. I just need to close my eyes once, is that so hard?’

Only that one guy said it out loud, but the others had similar looks in their eyes even if they didn’t speak. Those relieved looks that said ‘as long as it’s not me’ are still vivid before my eyes.

Gyeon Hajun was pushed out of the debut group by the parachute and left NewBorn immediately.

‘Fuck this shit. You guys do well. I absolutely can’t put on the act of eating from the same pot and laughing with that bastard.’

Feeling disillusioned by the parachute taking Gyeon Hajun’s place as if he’d always been there, I also kicked away my debut group position and left NewBorn.

If it was an agency that would push out a perfectly capable guy and insert a parachute, the future was obviously going to be hopeless.

Gyeon Hajun, who had been consistently ignoring my calls after being kicked out of the debut group, immediately answered when I told him I left the agency.

‘You should have debuted there, why did you leave?’

‘No one sings my song guide vocals as satisfyingly as you do. Your vocal tone too.’

Of course, there was no paradise where we escaped to. We avoided one hopeless situation only to encounter a truly hopeless one…

Of course, giving up debut at NewBorn and entering LnL was entirely my choice, so I don’t resent Gyeon Hajun for choosing LnL out of all the agencies.

It’s just that despite this past, the pre-regression Gyeon Hajun who couldn’t support my genius producer path and sulked without even talking to me was quite annoying.

Anyway, this was the past from our trainee days that connected me, Gyeon Hajun, and KICKS.

I glanced briefly at the parachute, then smiled crookedly and sneered.

“Ah, so the bastard who ‘understood’ acted all loyal and left, then debuted with that kind of song and failed, so you had a good laugh?”

[Profanity detected.]

[Initial Intentions –2]

The guy in front flinched at my words.

I also winced from the pain that damn system gave me, but luckily he turned his head toward his members at just the right timing, so I could maintain my composure.

“You must be surprised that I heard exactly what you guys were giggling about behind my back? I was also really surprised that you guys were thinking things like this behind my back.”

I grinned at the guys sending suspicious looks at each other. They seemed to be looking for the whistleblower, but unfortunately they’ll never find them.

How could they find someone when time went back? Ah, even if time hadn’t gone back, it would probably be hard to find. Too unexpected.

Before the regression, I didn’t particularly avoid KICKS when they came up to me acting friendly and glad to see me.

They were moderately successful second-tier idols while we were failed idols who could disband any moment – our situations were like heaven and earth, but anyway they were guys I’d once shared hardships with in the same practice room.

After we moved up to second tier thanks to Seo Yehyeon’s fancam going viral, I noticed a strange distance forming.

The one who told me about the things KICKS had been saying behind my back was the parachute, who I’d only met once when he joined the debut group.

[What’s your scheme? Are you tired of idol life? Want me to expose your group’s gossip?]

[Just, I’m disgusted seeing those people doing it again, so I’m telling you. I’ve been through it too, so I know how shitty it feels. Acting friendly in front then talking shit behind your back.]

How entertaining it must have been to see the guy who got kicked out and the guy who threw away his chance both failing. How amusing it must have been to see us laughing and accepting them without knowing they were mocking and cursing us behind our backs.

How bitter it must have been when guys who should be beneath their feet climbed up to their level.

The guy who forced his mouth into a smile asked me.

“Eden hyung, who did you hear that from?”

“What are you going to do with that information?”

Before the regression, all I could do after hearing that was punch them, but now it’s different. I can deal much bigger damage.

What I planted in those guys was seeds of suspicion.

Since they all knew I had their contact information, they had no choice but to suspect each other of being the whistleblower.

You were all united and close when talking shit about us, right? Please let discord rumors break out faster this time so you can disband quickly. I’m sick of seeing your faces.

“What are you going to do since the follow-up song isn’t failing like you expected? Sorry that the guy who left is doing better than expected?”

In the completely ruined atmosphere, one of the guys behind the one who’d been acting friendly tried to salvage the situation.

“Hey, don’t make us the bad guys. We were just happy to see you after so long.”

“Happy guys who could choose any agency but picked a beggar-like one and talked shit about people for pulling off the perfect ‘White House on the Hill’ concept?”

I perfectly recreated the most memorable piece of gossip I’d heard from the parachute.

KO’d by that final uppercut, the guys left while suspiciously eyeing each other until the end.

The tense atmosphere around KICKS was so bad it would be fortunate if a fight didn’t break out in the waiting room. The only one at peace was the parachute, who hadn’t joined in that gossip.

People can be reevaluated like this. When he was the parachute who pushed out Gyeon Hajun, he was a conscienceless, annoying piece of shit.

“That was the group you almost debuted with?”

As soon as KICKS completely disappeared from view, Seo Yehyeon asked, and I nodded.

“If you’d been mixed in there too, that would’ve been a legendary group of personality gems.”

“I don’t want to run my mouth anymore. So please cooperate with me, hyung.”

As Seo Yehyeon started picking another fight, I pressed my forehead and waved my hand dismissively.

Of course, Seo Yehyeon stubbornly insisted that he had only spoken honestly and questioned why I was picking a fight with him.

Gyeon Hajun, who would normally have stopped Seo Yehyeon and me, sat silently. I poked him and chuckled.

“You’re not telling me to hold back today?”

“I’ll say you did well today.”

Gyeon Hajun patted my shoulder and expressed his gratitude.

“Thanks. For giving those bastards a taste of their own medicine.”

“Usually gratitude like this isn’t shown with words, but with, hey? You show sincerity.”

“Alright, what should I do for you?”

“If you’re grateful, be my guide vocal for life.”

I grinned wickedly as I declared lifelong vocal cord exploitation.

“Your voice tone is still the best, after all.”

Perhaps remembering our past conversation, Gyeon Hajun also chuckled and nodded.

“What about me? What about my voice tone, hyung?”

“Mind your own business, youngest.”

As I placed my hand on Ryu Jaehee’s head for ruining our meaningful and touching conversation, I heard the stylist’s warning from behind not to mess up his hair.

I immediately removed my hand from his head and leaned back against the chair, muttering.

“I hate seeing those bastards so much that I’m going to drag our Reve all the way to the first division.”

“Oh, that’s confident.”

“There’s nothing we can’t do if we work our bodies hard enough.”

Running schedules diligently, pulling all-nighters, following the hyungs who later transition to producers to drinking sessions. Sleep is for the dead—we need to live that intensely.

Kim Dobin flinched at my words. Seeing him exchange glances with Ryu Jaehee, I remembered that I hadn’t specified the subject.

Still, I couldn’t help feeling annoyed. I said I’d work my own body hard, not that I’d work theirs.

When the leader is determined to work himself to the bone, these youngest members can’t even step up to help out. Tsk.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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