Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 204

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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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204. KAIROS (3)
Yet my uneasy premonition proved to be nothing more than that—a premonition. Nam Da-down proceeded through the showcase with his usual wit and skillful direction, all traces of his playfulness stripped away.
“Well then, before we show you our performance, let’s have a photo session with each member. The members seem a bit nervous still, so shall we start with Tae-hyun, our experienced one?”
“Ah, yes.”
“The rest of you, please move to the side of the stage for now.”
As the photo session officially began, the moment Seo Tae-hyun stepped into the center, an avalanche of camera flashes erupted across the stage. Even watching from the sidelines made my eyes water, yet Tae-hyun didn’t blink once, striking pose after pose with effortless charisma.
“I wonder what he’d be doing if he hadn’t become an entertainer.”
The words tumbled out habitually, and Lee Yu-gun, wiping sweat beside me, answered dryly.
“…Pension owner?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
This is why T-types are impossible.
As I clicked my tongue, Seo Tae-hyun’s turn ended and Jeong Si-u was already being called up.
I hadn’t thought much about it before, but watching each person called up one by one, I suddenly felt cold sweat breaking out—like a condemned prisoner ascending the scaffold.
‘What am I even going to do out there?’
I figured I could just do some basic heart signs or something, but now watching, it seemed the problem wasn’t the poses but the expression. My cheeks were already stiffening. The nightmare of my high school graduation photo came flooding back.
[System Alert: How exactly did you manage to take such a photo…?]
‘Don’t try to find out. You’ll regret it.’
The fact that my graduation photo still hasn’t surfaced on the internet is the accepted truth in the school—no, in the entire academic world—because my classmates collectively decided, “This one’s… a bit much,” and chose to protect me.
What nonsense, you ask? Don’t bother trying to understand. I’m just spewing random words because I’m nervous right now.
“Next is our ha…”
Finally, me?
“…ru, shall we have you come up? Our lovely maknae, Ha-ru.”
“Ugh…”
“…? Why is this guy like this?”
“It’s only been a day or two. Leave him be.”
My heart clenching, I clutched my chest and sank down, while Ju Eun-chan and Lee Yu-gun coolly silenced me as if this were routine. In that time, Dan Ha-ru and Lee Do-ha had already taken their turns, and now Ju Eun-chan was ascending the platform.
I found myself grabbing Lee Yu-gun’s shoulder—the only one left with me.
“Aren’t you nervous? They’re taking photos like that. One bad shot and it haunts you for life.”
“Well, isn’t it kind of like doing fitting model gigs?”
“You diligent, earnest part-timer…”
“You do anything for money.”
“Now, let’s bring up our Yu-gun.”
And so it was time for even this unnecessarily industrious part-timer to take the stage. Lee Yu-gun coolly peeled me off his shoulder—where I’d been clinging desperately—and climbed the stairs with steady steps.
That bastard Nam Da-down definitely did this on purpose, making me go last…!
“Yes, excellent. So now it’s the final one, right? Ha-jin, would you please come up to the stage? We’d appreciate it.”
And finally, it was my turn.
I took one deep breath and climbed onto the stage.
[System Alert: Wait, are your arms and legs moving the same way right now?]
Oh no.
At Thirteen’s warning, I hastily changed my movements.
[System Alert: It’s still the same arms, the same legs…!]
I don’t care. Just act natural.
Deliberately ignoring the gazes of the other members on the opposite side of the Stage, who were struggling to suppress their laughter as they watched me, I safely arrived at the Photo Zone. Then Nam Da-down grabbed the microphone with a mischievous expression.
“Alright, let’s start with a front shot. Toward the reporters in front, give us a cheeky little wink☆”
“…Excuse me?”
A wink? The other members didn’t have to do anything like that.
Unable to hide my bewilderment at the suddenly added requirement, I looked at Nam Da-down. Then Nam Da-down, with the most serious expression imaginable, solemnly gestured for me to face forward.
“I do have the kind of charm that makes people want to keep looking at me, but right now you need to focus on the reporters. Ha-jin, come on. Quickly, toward the front with a fresh, innocent wink full of rookie charm!”
Fine, whatever. A wink is nothing.
Unable to keep avoiding the camera lenses of the waiting reporters, I faced forward and winked while maintaining the utmost composure I could manage. Then, just like fireworks exploding, flashes erupted chaotically from all directions.
Once it seemed like they’d taken enough photos, Nam Da-down ordered the next pose.
“Yes, good. Next, we’ll do a heart with your fingers and a cute eye-smile while looking to the right~”
Seriously.
At Nam Da-down’s shameless request, I paused for a moment, placed my hands on my hips, and scratched my forehead slightly. It was obvious to anyone that he was trying to tease me.
The reporters seemed to catch on to the atmosphere too, as quiet laughter began leaking out from various corners. I rolled up my sleeves and let out a short breath. By now, all my nervousness had been thrown in the trash.
‘You think I can’t do this?’
[System Alert: System detects the fixed regressor’s competitive spirit.]
[System Alert: Due to the fixed regressor’s special skill (Stage Constitution), expressiveness improves (S▶SS).]
[System Notification: Skill 【As I Say】 is now active.]
[System Notification: Skill 【What’s Being Myself?】 is now active.]
[System Notification: System watches the fixed regressor’s black history creation with great interest.]
“Alright, Ha-jin! Cute and cheeky~ lovely, fresh, bright, and sexy!!”
Right. If you want to make money, there’s nothing you can’t do.
I lifted my lowered head and struck a determined pose.
* * *
‘…Come to think of it, didn’t my brother say he was debuting today?’
Ha-won’s hands, which had been organizing his tools, suddenly stopped at the thought of his brother’s recent news. He, who had been cooped up in the Art Academy forgetting dates and times for his entrance exam, retrieved his phone from his bag and turned it on.
‘What should I search for?’
Unfamiliar with debut showcases and such things, Ha-won simply searched ‘Kairos Kang Ha-jin’ in the portal search bar.
And upon seeing the article thumbnail and headline that appeared at the top, he instinctively closed the app.
‘…?’
What did I just see?
Ha-won, momentarily confused by the feeling that he’d seen something he shouldn’t have, took a breath and checked the portal again.
Then the titles of the articles he’d glimpsed earlier came into view, enlarged in large letters today.
【[HD Photo] Kairos (K:RUS) Kang Ha-jin, Nervous About Debut Today!】
【[Okay Photo] ‘Kairos’ Kang Ha-jin, ‘Cheeky Fresh Heart’】
【Kairos Kang Ha-jin ‘Have You Ever Seen Such a Lovable Puppy’】>
“Oh no, this won’t do?”
Just reading the article titles made his hands and feet curl up. The moment he saw his brother in the barely visible thumbnail making a triangle with both his hands, placing it above his head, and tilting his head at a 45-degree angle, Ha-won involuntarily scrolled down.
“…”
“You’re working hard, hyung….”
Ha-won, who had been growing weary from entrance exam preparations, suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of motivation. Truly, making a living was no easy feat.
Unable to bring himself to scroll back up and witness his hyung’s business ventures, Ha-won’s eyes caught sight of another article.
【[Photo] Kairos, the Spirited Rangers Protecting Destiny!】
The moment he clicked the article, his hyung and the members struck a peculiar pose that seemed oddly familiar.
“This is like Power Rangers….”
Why did this rookie group that debuted today evoke nostalgia for the tokusatsu series he used to watch with his hyung back in kindergarten?
Ha-won had no way of knowing this was the result of Ha-jin going berserk, insisting he couldn’t die alone after burning through personal photo time, and his expression grew serious for a moment.
He wondered if all idols were like this, but then again, considering his hyung’s usual eccentric nature, it seemed like it was just something unique to him….
‘Making a living really isn’t easy, is it.’
In any case, Ha-won found himself motivated by life once again as he stared intently at the Kairos members in the photograph. He hadn’t memorized all their names yet, but seeing them so frequently had made their faces gradually familiar.
“….”
Ha-won gazed at Ha-jin, who was laughing alongside the members in the photo.
It felt strange and odd that he now had to see his hyung—whom he could always see when he came home—through Internet photos instead. It was equally strange that his hyung’s side now had other members beside him, not himself.
【Our hyung: Hey.】
Just then, as if Ha-jin knew exactly what Ha-won was feeling, a messenger notification from him appeared at the top of the screen.
【? What?】
【Hyung, aren’t you busy right now?】
Startled, Ha-won quickly sent a reply, and soon the typing indicator disappeared as a message came back.
【Our hyung: Just taking a break】
Our hyung: We just finished the first part with the journalists, and now we’re doing the second part with fans in a bit.
【Oh, I saw the article】
“My older brother: Are you crazy?”
【Our hyung: Why did you see that】
At Ha-jin’s flustered reply, Ha-won giggled with laughter.
Wanting to tease his hyung, Ha-won clicked on the article he hadn’t quite finished reading earlier. Then he copied the photo of his hyung making that adorable expression and pasted it into the messenger.
【(photo)】
My older brother: hahahahahahahahahahahaha
【Our hyung: Are you insane?】
【Our hyung: Why are you looking at stuff like this, you brat】
“Haha, when I played it, that came out first.”
【Our hyung: What’s with those puppy ears, I didn’t even know about it till today】
【Our hyung: Anyway, that’s not the point】
Ha-jin’s response suddenly stopped, and a question mark appeared above Ha-won’s head.
Did he go back to his schedule?
Sensing that his hyung’s break time was ending, Ha-won felt his phone vibrate with a new message and checked it. A link had appeared in the messenger window with his hyung.
【Our hyung: https://www.itube.com/watch?v=yY13Vlkd9….】
【Our hyung: My music video just dropped】
【Our hyung: Show it to mom and dad too】
In the video’s thumbnail, Kairos members stood amidst blue flames and swirling cards.
【Our hyung: I’ll work hard to earn money】
【Our hyung: You just focus on preparing for your entrance exams】
【Our hyung: I love you】
【Our hyung: I’m heading out bye】
Ha-won read the message his older brother had sent, his brow furrowing slightly with embarrassment. Unlike himself—taciturn and reserved—his brother had always been exceptionally expressive with his affection since childhood, casually leaving behind words that made Ha-won feel awkward.
Of course, Ha-won had never once disliked those expressions of love.
“What are you doing? Kang Ha-won, where are you going?”
“Just taking a break.”
“Class starts in a few minutes though?”
“Just five minutes.”
In the end, Ha-won retrieved the earbuds he’d tucked into his bag alongside his phone and stepped out of the Academy Classroom. Settling into a spot in the space beside the Lobby—a small area designated for students to rest—he adjusted the volume appropriately before clicking on the music video link his brother had sent.
Zzzz, zziizzz―,
Alongside the crackling static, a sacred organ accompaniment resonated through the speakers.
Simultaneously, the burning card castle and the members within the club room that he’d seen in the teaser flashed across the screen in rapid succession, scene after scene.
Someone’s hands appeared playing the organ, and all the cards that had been engulfed in flames crumbled into ash and collapsed.
Then, a voice both intimately familiar and strangely unfamiliar to Ha-won burst forth with intensity.
Open your eyes,
With a brilliant flash and Ha-jin’s powerful choreography as he surged forward,
Kairos’s debut track “Over the Night” began.

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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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