Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 207

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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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207. KAIROS (6)
As the members took their positions and prepared the setup to showcase 【Kick Off】, Lee Do-ha stood at the center with a hand microphone, suddenly recalling the circumstances that had led to this song.
Tracing back through time,
to that night after Do-ha had received stern advice from Seo Tae-il and proposed practicing together with Lee Yu-gun.
That night when I had suggested to Yu-gun that we practice together after receiving that sharp critique from Tae-il.
-Ah, you’re here?
-Yeah. Yu-gun came with me.
-Mm-hmm. Thanks for coming.
Ha-jin, my roommate, sat in front of my desk working on something on my laptop instead of lounging on the bed with me as usual.
Since I’d given him permission to use my laptop freely when I wasn’t around, I stopped mid-motion while reaching for my pajamas to change clothes, arrested by the sound of a song emanating from the laptop.
What Ha-jin was playing was my own song—the one that had been eliminated in the blind audition.
When I turned to look at Ha-jin in confusion, he was already watching me, and with the serene expression of someone deciding on a late-night snack, he spoke.
-Hey, Do-ha.
-Yeah?
-Let’s do this.
-Do what?
-Your song. Let’s put it on our debut album.
Along with the brief recollection, a timer sound from the in-ear monitor announced the imminent start of the song.
Beep, beep, beep—
As the countdown ended, a deep, heavy bass laid down rhythmically while rapid electronic beats surged forward. In time with the grand intro that resonated like a victory march, the uniformed members moved in unison.
My arms and legs, which had learned dance from Yu-gun every night in exchange for teaching him rap, moved to the music before my mind could catch up.
The recollection of those past days continued unfolding in my mind.
-…My song already got eliminated.
-It got eliminated from the title track, but everyone said the song itself was good. For a debut album, we need at least one track with this kind of punchy beat. Let’s propose it as a B-side.
-But… that song received criticism for not fitting well with the other members. If you’re only saying this out of consideration for me, I’m fine, so there’s no need.
-What are you talking about? If I’m thinking of you, we can’t do this song. You think you have the confidence to double your practice load—preparing the debut track and practicing the performance that matches this song?
-….
Raising his voice, One, Two, Three!
The song begins with Si-woo’s piercing high note that tears through the venue.
During the Special Class days, Si-woo had adhered to a softer, more classical vocal style, but from a certain point onward, he began using his voice in a somewhat rougher, more rock-influenced manner—as if he had released his limiter.
I only became aware of this fact after Ha-jin told me.
-My proposal is the same as it was during ‘New Wave’.
-….
-Let’s revise the song. This time, I’ll help too.
-…You mean you’ll provide guide vocals?
-No. Let’s revise the song together from the start.
Let’s Burn this town
I’m beginning our ascension
Warning, Warning
A wingbeat that won’t fade away so easily
Ha-jin’s soft, rhythmic baritone contrasted sharply with Si-woo’s voice, while Eun-chan’s low, husky tone wove between them. The two burst forward as centers, executing fierce choreography with precision.
As they crossed paths with wave motions, Tae-hyun—his expression languid—swept his hair back and walked to center stage like a runway model.
Don’t be afraid
Take my hand
A New Wave unfolds
Just enjoy it
Tae-hyun’s unhurried voice tickled the audience’s hearts, pushing and pulling at their emotions like an invisible force.
As Do-ha moved through his positions, his eyes met Ha-jin’s. Catching the glance, Ha-jin seized the brief opening and smiled, drawing a clean arc through the air.
-We don’t need a ‘perfect’ song.
-….
-Give us a song ‘we can sing’.
We could get it all!
I want it, everything
The world we’ve longed for and dreamed of
-Show me what kind of music ‘we’ want to make together.
Si-woo, the main vocalist, confidently claimed center stage and gripped the handheld microphone, delivering the high-pitched chorus with ease. Then Ha-ru followed, his voice the clearest and most beautiful among the members, loosening the song’s intensity.
You know it too
The path we’ve walked
The first step of a journey we willingly grasped
-That’s what we need right now. And only you can give it to us.
Ha-jin’s song—now infused with Do-ha’s conviction—filled the entire concert hall.
We could take it all!
Until my last breath
I’ll soar
Let’s kick off!
My grip on the microphone tightened.
Before my eyes, I saw fans cheering for us, their light sticks waving in support.
A spotlight suddenly pierced my vision, nearly throwing off my sense of direction, when someone steadied my back and gently pushed me toward my next position.
Hahaha―, Hold on, hold on.
It was Yoo Gun, delivering the opening verse we’d practiced thousands of times together.
With his China collar shirt loosely unbuttoned and a black cropped jacket draped over it, Yoo Gun gripped the microphone as I’d taught him and continued with a light, rapid rap. Beside him, Tae-hyun and Eun-chan supported the choreography.
It’s begun, our Death Match
Do or Die,
And feel this vibe
The weight of each step
I take, risking my life
The lyrics I’d written thinking of Yoo Gun spread to the world through his voice.
While the three of them, including Yoo Gun, commanded the stage, I stood to the side for a brief equipment check, overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling.
Noticing my state, Si-woo—his sharp eyes fixed on the timing for his entrance—tapped my back and gave me a nod. Then he mouthed silently:
‘Great song.’
With those words, the members on both sides leaped back onto the stage. Do-ha ascended with them, grasping the microphone.
Now it was my turn.
We are an emergency beyond imagination
This is the symbol of success
A conception beyond that
Do-ha recalled a certain day when he first dreamed of walking this path.
While performing in the Miro Maze, the comments and evaluations from people who had mocked him—asking what kind of idol he thought he was—flashed before his eyes.
You must have wished for my downfall
Wake up from your dream, delusion.
This is my impression of your fantasy,
Come at me, Fight Sign
Do-ha, his voice as low and heavy as the bass sound itself, flowed rhythmically through the lyrics. Meanwhile, Haruna and Tae-hyun added doublings and harmonies with perfect timing, bringing the live performance to life.
It was a device designed to maximize their advantage—more stage experience and solid live vocal skills compared to other rookie idols.
Do-ha, who had been gesturing, shifted his position between Ha-jin and Ha-ru for the next movement.
In that moment, a faint scene flowed into Do-ha’s consciousness—neither a recollection nor a fantasy.
-But why are you really doing all of this?
-I heard you barely do any activities these days….
Though it was clearly a memory he didn’t know, the voice sounded strangely familiar.
Gazing at a stranger in an unfamiliar space, his unfamiliar self answered like this.
-…Music alone just isn’t fun anymore.
Just as he felt he had somehow known this answer beforehand, the memory evaporated from his mind in an instant, as if he were waking from a dream.
‘…What was that?’
What had he just been thinking about?
But before he could dwell on it, Do-ha’s body instinctively prepared the next movement in sync with the beat.
Leaving only the impression that he was truly delighted to be performing on a stage like this.
* * *
Kairos’s fan showcase was structured as comprehensively as a mini concert.
Starting with the album track “Kick Off,” the members presented a seven-member version of “Daylight,” which had been the title track from Miro Maze, and while a music video making-of behind-the-scenes played briefly on stage, they changed outfits once more and returned.
“Yes, our members have changed outfits again. This concept is ‘Fresh Blue,’ isn’t it?”
Watching the members emerge in the outfits they had worn in the ‘Fantasy’ section of the music video, Nam Da-down let out an admiring exclamation.
“This must be the charm of rookies. So ‘Fresh Blue’ was always meant to be such a fresh and refreshing concept.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Thank you!”
“Our stylists keep trying to make us wear the blue jackets shirtless, so it’s quite troublesome for us.”
“Oh my.”
Along with Ha-jin’s interjection, someone in the audience seating let out an incredibly high-pitched scream. It seemed to be an instinctive burst of enthusiastic reaction to the exposure.
Unlike Tae-hyun, who had already seen similar reactions frequently during his time in Boy Heaven and remained composed with a laugh, Eun-chan and Ha-ru, experiencing such fan reactions for the first time, stared at the audience seating with wide eyes in bewilderment.
Eun-chan picked up the microphone with a betrayed expression.
“Destiny fans like that…?”
“Oh my….”
“Hey, Ha-jin, stop adding those weird ad-libs!”
The members of Destiny couldn’t bring themselves to agree or disagree with this innocent eighteen-year-old, merely mumbling in response. Only when Tae-hyun, sitting beside him, smacked Ha-jin’s forearm did the situation finally settle.
Nam Da-down, the architect of this chaos, waved his hand with a beaming smile.
“Well, let me give you all a tip. You just need to designate one member to handle that sort of thing.”
“That sort of thing…?”
“We have one. Yoon Ji-nu—he’s the biggest in build but always wears the least clothing. Of course, he lives like that normally anyway, so he doesn’t feel inconvenienced at all. These days, he seems to actually enjoy it.”
As long as it’s not me, right?
At the bomb he casually lobbed with a smile, everyone’s gaze suddenly fixed on two people.
Do-ha, who already had a track record of exposing his abs, and Yoo Gun, who had the most demand from fans for “that kind of” image among the members.
Feeling their stares, Yoo Gun crossed his arms in an X shape to shield himself.
“I’m a minor, you guys!”
“Well, time will take care of that.”
“I’m counting on you, Yoo Gun.”
“Thanks in advance, Lee Yu-gun.”
As Ha-jin, Si-woo, and Tae-hyun answered in succession, Yoo Gun looked at his members with a face full of betrayal, much like Eun-chan had moments before. Meanwhile, Do-ha, who had been singled out as well, simply nodded as if unbothered.
“It seems Do-ha doesn’t have much reaction to exposure.”
“Ah… I take my clothes off often when I exercise.”
“Hmm. Just like our Ji-nu. You two would get along well. I’ll introduce you next time.”
Nam Da-down decided this was enough and moved the conversation to the next topic.
As the showcase rushed toward its conclusion, various questions about the album and members came and went.
Among them was the fact that Do-ha was De-on, the composer of “Kick Off.”
“I heard one of the tracks on this album was written and composed by a member?”
“Yes. The song we showed you first, ‘Kick Off,’ was written and composed by our member Do-ha. Seo Tae-il also helped with the producing.”
“Oh, really? So this ‘De-on’ is…?”
“…My stage name.”
“I see. Wow, the song is really great. It definitely captures that Kairos feeling perfectly.”
“…Thank you.”
At the praise for the song, Do-ha bowed his head in gratitude.
Since it was praise from a member of Yupia, the role model who once made Do-ha dream of becoming an idol, even the face of Do-ha, who was called the stone Buddha, showed a slight flush.
Ha-jin noticed Do-ha’s expression and quietly chuckled to himself.
Even though he seemed emotionally unshaken, his one and only same-age friend was actually quite sentimental.
“Oh, but Do-ha.”
“Yes?”
And Nam Da-down asked the sentimental stone Buddha of Kairos with a smile.
“What does De-on mean?”
“Cough, cough.”
“Oh dear….”

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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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