Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 170

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

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170. The Penalty (1)
Park Sang-ah, Park Sang-yul’s older sister, desperately wanted to cry right now.
The dark mass she’d thought was her younger brother’s kidnapper might actually be her ultimate bias, Kang Ha-jin? Had she ever fantasized that her bias would be the neighborhood oppa? It’s already happening—brace yourself.
‘I wish this were a hidden camera prank.’
Park Sang-ah had never attended a fan meet in her entire life, nor had she ever even gone offline—she was a pure room-only fan who engaged exclusively through online activities. Therefore, the reality unfolding before her eyes—her ultimate bias helping her little brother down the slide and playing with him—felt utterly unreal.
‘No, seriously, wow, this can’t be happening.’
Just as my mind went blank and all thoughts ceased, Ha-jin, holding Sang-yul’s hand, was walking toward me.
Originally, I should have gone straight home, but Sang-yul had stubbornly insisted on playing longer with his oppa, so we’d agreed to just five more slides. While I’d been staring blankly at Ha-jin, he’d apparently completed all five promised rides.
‘Ah, I envy Sang-yul so much… If only I were ten years younger….’
I felt both irritation at Sang-yul for being so brazenly stubborn in front of Ha-jin and gratitude toward him for extending this miraculous private fan meeting even slightly longer. Of course, there was also jealousy that he could play with Ha-jin simply because he was young.
“…Um, are you Sang-yul’s friend?”
“Eek! Y-yes?”
“Oh my, you startled easily.”
Ha-jin, who had approached without me noticing, wore the smile I’d watched countless times through my monitor screen. Then, with a slightly awkward expression, he seated Sang-yul beside him and continued speaking.
“It’s gotten quite late, and I should probably head home now. I wish I could have played longer with Sang-yul, but it’s a shame.”
“Oh, oh, no! That’s not it! You should definitely go, you must be so busy…. I’m sorry. It’s because of him….”
“No, it was fun. Your place is near that Supermarket over there, right? I used to go there a lot after school when I was young. Is your mother still doing well? Her knees were always bothering her, weren’t they?”
“She had surgery recently, so now she’s doing fine…. Wait, huh, um, oh!”
“My goodness.”
What? My ultimate bias knows our mom.
The more we talked, the more my mind spun, until I finally clamped my mouth shut with my face burning crimson. I felt ashamed of every moment I’d complained to my parents about why our house had such a shabby supermarket instead of a convenience store.
Throughout all this, Kang Ha-jin gazed at me with an amused smile. They say TV personalities always look a bit softer on screen, but the Ha-jin before me in person seemed far sharper and more angular than what I’d seen on my monitor. I, who had been part of the “Kang Ha-jin Golden Retriever faction” among my fellow fans, made a silent vow to switch to the “Kang Ha-jin Wolf faction” effective immediately, biting my lip firmly.
“Um, um, oppa. I-I’m really sorry, but….”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
“C-could you maybe… give me an autograph?”
I pulled out the name pen I’d prepared from my bag while Ha-jin was playing with Sang-yul, along with my photocard holder containing his fake photocard.
Honestly, if I could do as I pleased, I would have asked for a photo, but after calculating various factors including my own appearance, that felt too daunting. The very idea of keeping a bare-faced photo of Ha-jin in my phone’s gallery was something I found overwhelming. I’d also heard that idols typically don’t take photos with fans.
“Ah….”
Despite my considerable courage in making this request, Ha-jin hesitated, not immediately accepting the pen and photocard I offered.
Slightly startled by his reaction, I worried I might have made an unreasonable request and quickly lowered my arm.
“Oh, I’m sorry. If it’s not possible, then never mind….”
“Huh? No, no. It’s not that.”
Then Ha-jin, flustered, took the pen and photocard from my hand again and offered an embarrassed smile.
“I don’t have an autograph yet…. This is actually my first time being asked for one.”
“Really? Seriously?”
“I shouldn’t use my contract signature, right?”
“I want one too! Noona, draw one for me!”
I tore a page from my notebook and handed it to Sang-yul, who was tugging at me persistently, then watched Ha-jin contemplate his signature. With those long, beautiful fingers that fans constantly praised as his charming point, Ha-jin tapped the name pen a few times, then, as if remembering something, slowly began writing his autograph on the photocard.
“Like this…. Was it like this?”
Muttering to himself as he scrawled with the pen, Ha-jin returned the photocard with an awkward smile, having neatly written “To. Sang-ah” on the surface.
Park Sang-ah examined the signature on the photo card she’d received back. The lines wavered and tilted here and there—clearly the work of someone unaccustomed to signing. She traced the first letter, ‘K’, with her fingertip.
Ha-jin stroked Park Sang-yul’s head as he focused on his drawing, adding his words.
“This is from way back… I mean, when I was really young. I practiced it thinking I’d use it once I became a singer. Since you’re the first friend I’m showing this to, please keep it safe.”
“Of course! Thank you so much….”
“No, thank you for liking me. I really should get going now.”
“Yes, yes. I promise I won’t tell anyone—not my friends or anyone else—that you live here. Don’t worry. I’ll keep this photo card to myself.”
As she tumbled out her words, Ha-jin burst into laughter. That carefree smile, free of worry or concern, made Park Sang-ah feel like she might actually cry now.
“You can brag about the signature, can’t you? Though since it’s my first one, some kids might not believe you anyway. So not now—later. Once I have my official signature out, I’ll use this one. I promise I’ll keep using this signature.”
“Yes, yes!”
Park Sang-ah nodded at Ha-jin’s words like a bobblehead doll. Ha-jin laughed at how cute she looked. (In fact, he’d been laughing the entire time they’d spent together, and Park Sang-ah was nearly losing her mind.) Then he bent down and gently tapped Park Sang-yul’s chubby cheek as the boy sat on the bench, absorbed in his drawing.
“Park Sang-yul, aren’t you lucky? Having such a kind sister.”
“Yeah. I like my sister.”
“That’s right. From now on, whenever you fall, ask your sister to hold your hand a lot.”
“Yeah. I like my sister’s hands too.”
“Not even looking while you say it, you little rascal.”
Ha-jin pinched Park Sang-yul’s cheek lightly, feigning indignation at how the boy, who’d begged to play just moments ago, now wouldn’t even look up from his drawing. Then he said goodbye to Park Sang-ah once more.
“Well, I’m off. Let’s see each other again if we get the chance. Listen well to your parents.”
“Yes! Congratulations on your debut!”
“…Thanks.”
With those words, Ha-jin leisurely left the Playground.
Park Sang-ah watched his retreating figure for a long time, then suddenly startled at the thought that her behavior might be a burden to him. She quickly looked away and called to Park Sang-yul, who was still absorbed in his drawing.
“Hey, Park Sang-yul. Let’s head home now.”
“Did the older brother leave?”
“Yeah. He’s gone. You should at least say thank you since he played with you.”
Sigh, as if you’d understand anything by complaining like that.
Even as she grumbled, Park Sang-ah naturally put the pen and paper Park Sang-yul had been holding into her bag, lifted him from the bench, and took his hand. In her other hand, she held the signed photo card Ha-jin had left behind, gazing at it with satisfaction.
‘I really need to keep this safe….’
The two siblings also left the Playground as the sunset deepened.
The day was drawing to a close.
* * *
Shortly after returning from the Playground.
I made a decision.
‘I need to meet Dan Ha-ru.’
I’d panicked at the word ‘penalty’ and momentarily thought wrong.
Rather than first thinking about preventing the penalty to stop regression, I needed to make Dan Ha-ru stop regressing in the first place.
To do that, it seemed I’d need to be with him no matter what.
‘Let me create memories so precious that Dan Ha-ru won’t easily be able to regress.’
I recalled something Ji Su-ho had once said to me, as I drifted through life in denial of reality.
-People are like that, you know.
-They only realize it after getting badly burned once. Ah, this hurts. I shouldn’t touch here.
—But then, after some time passes… there comes a moment like that. Just once. Wouldn’t this much be acceptable? Wouldn’t this much warmth be something I could endure?
—When that moment comes, you simply endure it.
—That’s how you learn. Your own limits.
And I already knew what Dan Ha-ru’s ‘hand that could never be released’ was.
—It’s lonely, isn’t it? A world without warmth.
Having settled my thoughts, I turned on my phone and opened the messenger app.
When I entered the newly created Kairos group chat right after the Finals, I saw the barren traces of days passing with no messages beyond the initial greetings wishing everyone a good vacation.
And without hesitation, I began composing an announcement to fill that empty chatroom.
【1st Kairos Team Outing Announcement】
– Date: Coming Soon
– Location: Somewhere
– Purpose: Bonding Only
– Intent: We’ve become a community of fate destined to share meals together for at least 7 years, or if we’re lucky, 70 years. Before the grueling training hell and debut preparations begin, I’ve arranged this precious gathering so we can meet one more time, share cherished memories, and strengthen our unity as a team.
I sincerely hope those who can make it will attend and brighten this outing.
※Mandatory attendance poll. If you don’t vote, I’m calling you.※
Right after posting the announcement, I saw the “1” disappear rapidly.
Checking immediately, I saw someone had voted on attendance—and sure enough, it was Jeong Si-u, the same guy who gave instant answers and reactions during the Survival Program. Jeong Si-u voted for non-attendance and even left a comment explaining his reason.
【Miro_Kairos_Jeong Si-u ‖ Reason for non-attendance: Peer Soldier MT came up】
MT?
I blinked briefly at the unexpected reason, but soon let it go.
If it was Jeong Si-u, he’d have gotten the Company’s permission on his own, and he wasn’t the type to cause trouble on an MT trip anyway.
Besides, the ones who would fall for this ‘outing’ disguised as ‘Dan Ha-ru bait’ were someone else entirely.
【Miro_Kairos_Ju Eun-chan ‖ I can make it】
【Miro_Kairos_Seo Tae-hyun ‖ When are we doing it? I’m fine as long as the date works.】
【Miro_Kairos_Dan Ha-ru ‖ (dancing emoticon)】
【Miro_Kairos_Dan Ha-ru ‖ This is awesome!】
“They took the bait.”
Come now, sweet Seo Ju-dan.
I’ll make sure you have so much fun you won’t even think about regression.
* * *
And then, the morning of the long-awaited 1st Kairos Team Outing.
“….”
“….”
“….”
“…Should we just turn on the TV?”
“Yeah.”
“….”
“….”
“…Ah. The remote’s outside.”
I was trapped alone in the Dormitory with Lee Do-ha, my same-age peer—not the lively Seo Ju-dan…!

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

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