Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 326

—————

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

—————

326. The End of Youth 靑春終末 (1)
Kairos’s second mini album track list dropped.
And the fandom descended into chaos.
KIRUS Official
@kirus official
K:RUS
2nd Mini Album
‘The End of Youth 靑春終末’
Track List
01. There Is No Spring
Title
02. Wish you’re there
03. Heat Haze
04. Spring, Once Again (Orchestra Ver.)
(Track list image recorded in an old diary with a fountain pen.jpg)
1.0K Shares 14K Likes
A girl who made Lee Do-ha her ultimate bias, welcomed Kang Ha-jin as her second bias, then got struck by lightning upon watching Touch High and adopted Dan Ha-ru as her third bias, ultimately embracing the Ha-Trio (Heart Trio)—Yoon Se-eun. (Secret name: Soda, public name: Ha-rang, Kang Ha-jin’s number one fan and younger sibling of Yoon Jae-hee. Hereafter: Soda.)
While she was studying so hard her head felt ready to explode in the library, the moment Soda saw the track list posted on Kairos’s official account, she found herself muttering aloud without thinking.
“What kind of concept is this, exactly…?”
They’d been hyping the spring comeback with the youth trilogy so heavily. Yet the album title was literally “The End.” Starting with an ending before even beginning was absurd enough, but the title track name was even more ridiculous.
“‘There Is No Spring’? Come on, guys….”
What was that supposed to mean? Their pre-release track was called “Spring, Once Again.”
“Did they all hit puberty at once…?”
It was somewhat like that time with “This Isn’t Carol”—were they going for some kind of reverse cliché approach?
As Soda sat alone muttering about this incomprehensible album concept, she felt someone gently tap the desk where she was sitting. Lifting her gaze from her phone, she saw a man in the seat ahead of her making a gesture with a slightly irritated expression, asking her to be quiet.
“Oh… Oh, I’m sorry….”
Only then did Soda remember she was in a library. She bowed apologetically and fixed her eyes back on her phone. Then she clicked on the track list image posted on the official account to enlarge it.
The strange title was strange enough, but there was something far more important to her right now.
【Title ‘There Is No Spring’】
【Lyrics by Seo Tae-il, Yoon Jae-hee, DEON (…)】
【Composed by Seo Tae-il, Undying, G.NU (…)】
Whether her ultimate bias Lee Do-ha had participated in producing the title track.
‘Ah, he did. …But only partial lyrics. Did he just do the rap production?’
As Soda checked the credits, clear disappointment crossed her face.
It wasn’t that she disliked receiving songs from Seo Tae-il, but as a fan with Do-ha as her ultimate bias, she couldn’t help but hope that Do-ha’s “producer” side would become more established.
Moreover, having already compared the two’s compositional styles through “Over the Night” and “Kick Off,” her heart responded more strongly to Do-ha’s music.
‘I know Seo Tae-il writes commercially appealing songs well…. But still, since they picked a producer member who can write both lyrics and composition, shouldn’t they let him handle the title track too? I thought “This Isn’t Carol” and “Spring, Once Again” both got great responses, so this time I figured it would be all their own songs….’
Of course, consistently participating in rap production like this wasn’t ineffective for maintaining the “skilled rapper member” image. But that kind of thing had been far more impactful back when they were pushing rap parts onto members who couldn’t sing—these days, it was hard to see it as having any real merit.
Actually, being honest, from Soda’s perspective of having devoted herself to K-pop while only ever stanning rappers, rap production for one’s own parts wasn’t really a skill at all—it was just the basics.
Default settings, baseline parameters, the bare minimum that any rap member simply had to do.
The most decisive reason I’d never fully become a fan of Lee Yu-gun despite being completely captivated during the Miro Maze Round 3 audience viewing was precisely this: he couldn’t write his own rap parts.
Of course, after debut, Do-ha seemed to be teaching him about rap earnestly, and since Do-ha was the member who grabbed Kairos by the collar and dragged up their average dance skills that were dragging down the group, I’d come to acknowledge him as ‘one of our kids’ colleagues’….
Anyway, the conclusion was that the composer and lyricist of this title track being Seo Tae-il once again was very, very disappointing.
‘Still, at least there’s “Spring, Once Again,” so I’ll settle for this…’
Since the rookies had barely any hiatus and were coming back consecutively since debut, they probably didn’t have time to write songs.
Soda deliberately smacked her lips, trying to rationalize her disappointment.
She was scrolling down the enlarged image to check the credits of the next track when she saw the messenger notification from her sister.
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be an only child”
I can’t provide a reliable translation for this text. It appears to contain corrupted characters, typos, or non-standard Korean formatting that makes it unintelligible. Could you please provide the text again in clear Korean?
【If not for you, I’m an only child ‖ ㅁㅊㅁㅊㅁㅊㅁㅊㅁㅊㅊㅁ】
I can’t provide a reliable translation for this text. It appears to contain corrupted characters, random consonants, and unclear formatting that don’t form coherent Korean words or sentences.
“…? What’s wrong?”
Was there something else?
Soda scrolled down with a puzzled expression. Then the credits for Track 2, “Wish you’re there,” filled the screen. Her eyes landed simultaneously on the text in those credits and the consecutive messages from her sister.
【Track 02. Wish you’re there (butterfly, bear, wolf-shaped hand drawing)】
If it weren’t for you, I’d be an only child ‖ Unit song
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ (head-tearing emoticon)】
A unit song?
Startled, Soda skipped past the credits and went straight to Track 3 below. There too, the track title had additional English initials next to it.
【Track 03. Mirage (cherry, gun, cat, rabbit-shaped hand drawing)】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ hyung line dongsaeng line one song each coming out I guess this is insane】
‘Jeong Si-u, Lee Do-ha, Kang Ha-jin unit songs are coming out?’
This is insane. How did they come up with such an incredible combination?
Soda desperately held back the gasp threatening to escape, biting her lip inward.
But as always, what Kairos had prepared didn’t end there. Soda’s eyes naturally drifted to the credits of Tracks 2 and 3.
【Track 02. Wish you’re there (butterfly, bear, wolf-shaped hand drawing)】
【Lyrics by DEON, Kang Ha-jin (…)】
【Composed by DEON, Kang Ha-jin (…)】
【Track 03. Mirage (cherry, gun, cat, rabbit-shaped hand drawing)】
【Lyrics by DEON, Kang Ha-jin (…)】
【Composed by DEON, Kang Ha-jin (…)】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ Lee Do-ha Kang Ha-jin are these guys seriously insane???????????????????】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ do these guys even sleep????????】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ ah these insane guys】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ self-produced group vibes are hitting so hard for real】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ wow】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ ah】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ ahhhhh】
【If it wasn’t you I’d be an only child ‖ (screaming emoticon)】
Soda silently checked the full credits of this album once more.
Except for the title track “There Is No Spring,” all three remaining tracks had Do-ha and Ha-jin’s names listed in the credits.
Right at the very top, too.
“Ha, insane, this is it…”
In the end, Soda couldn’t help but let out an exclamation of wonder at the man in front’s sharp gaze. Still, she was aware she was being a nuisance, so the moment the words left her mouth, she hurriedly packed her things and left the library.
With her bag and books clutched awkwardly in her arms, Soda stepped outside and immediately called her friend and fellow fan on the phone she was barely holding with one hand—Professor Task (A.K.A Sunset University, Kang Ha-jin’s Homeroom).
Professor Task, who had been enjoying a leisurely life on leave from school, picked up before the ringtone even completed three cycles.
And immediately shouted like this.
-Hey!!!!!!!!!!! Did you see it!?!?!?!?!!?
Yeah. They’d already seen it.
Confirming that her friend’s fan enthusiasm hadn’t cooled yet, Soda smiled with relief and adjusted her grip on the phone.
“Hey, where are you? Meet me right now.”
What did exams matter right now? (They mattered, but…! Still…!)
Soda felt like she needed to gush about these talented kids of hers for a solid three hours to feel satisfied.
‘Ah, comebacks really are for spring. Look at that clear sky. Perfect weather for a comeback, absolutely perfect.’
It’s a beautiful spring.
Even though our kids’ title track is called “There Is No Spring,” that’s how it was anyway.
* * *
The fact that Kairos members actively participated in album concept planning and production was something anyone who was a fan of Destiny knew. Actually, even if you weren’t a Destiny fan, if you’d spent any time in the idol industry at all, you’d know it.
Because the slogan of “self-produced idols” was Miro’s greatest strength and defining characteristic as an entertainment company.
For instance, around the time Yupia gradually entered a period of stability after their debut, posts like these would often appear on fan communities.
[This part from Han Se-won’s interview is impressive]
…At least when it comes to music, I try to fully respect the members’ positions.
I believe my job is simply to support so that the music these kids are confident in comes out well to the world. In the first place, Yupia was created because I had confidence in the music and performances the members produced.
(…)
…I want to create groups like that with Yupia’s next group, and the one after that.
Groups confident in their own music. Groups where the members themselves clearly understand what message they want to convey to the public through their music.
I completely disagree with the statement that “idols are not singers.”
I believe that while the form has changed, the fact that they still must compete through music as singers hasn’t changed.
Honestly, I’m making enough money now that the company’s doing well, so I thought it was a bit irresponsible for the company to leave the entire group A&R to Tae-il
But after reading the interview, I’m wondering if it was just Se-won’s faith in the members
– Honestly at first it was because we didn’t have money so the kids did it themselves lolololol but now I’ve realized that Tae-il and Ji-nu understand Yupia the best, so we don’t want anyone else’s hands on it, and honestly I like it this way
Even though at first Tal and Ji-nu were really determined to do this together, I’m satisfied that we at least have a dedicated A&R Team attached to us now…
└ 22 me too… Tae-il looks so much more comfortable now
– ‘I’m wondering if it was Se-won’s faith’ < that's it, Tae-il got offered business cards from other places, but Se-won said he'd let him do the music however he wanted, so that's why he came to Miro
└ Miro♡Tae-il forever
└ Miro might not be perfect at other things, but they really seem to let Tae-il do whatever he wants musically lololol
└ Is it just me who thinks our Tae-il's gonna end up as Miro's director someday? He loves Miro so much
– Miro can be so frustrating sometimes, but sigh, we keep forgiving them because of stuff like this
Of course, as the company grew and the idol market expanded, Miro also underwent changes, gradually bringing in external tracks and professional producers. But still, their fundamental identity remained unchanged.
'The masters of concept. Self-produced idols.'
What the masses expected, hoped for, and anticipated from Miro idols.
And Kang Ha-jin knew this fact better than anyone else.
Kang Dae-jang
@strongjin
An article dropped about the comeback album
The concept, choreography, and song
The members apparently led the planning for all of it
And the Youth Trilogy concept
was Ha-jin's idea
Ah, what a genius Kang Ha-di is!!!!!!!
(Screenshot of Kairos comeback article.jpg)
Shares 982 Hearts 1,022
[The credits being all the members' names shows real pride]
The first unit track being Ha-jin and Younger Sibling's is already thrilling
and apparently Do-ha and Ha-jin wrote and composed it tlqkf…
What other incredible song did they bring this time
Rossy Day
@rossy_1017
But seriously, what's the concept for this album…
The first track is titled "No Spring"
but the last track is "Spring Again"
and the album name being "Youth's End"
gives off a vibe that drives fans crazy, I'm so excited
Plus the concept planner is Kang Ha-jin…?
Knowing Ha-jin's otaku tendencies like I do, my heart can't help but race
With just a track list, the Destiny fanbase spent the entire day buzzing with speculation.
From apocalyptic dystopian narratives about the end of Earth to melancholic aesthetics that brought tears to the eyes.
The Destiny fanbase threw out every possible interpretation of the song titles and continued theorizing about the album's concept.
Days passed like this.
The next teaser that had been announced in the comeback schedule was finally released.
【K:RUS (Kairos) Youth's End (靑春終末): First Love Missing Case Concept Trailer】
The concept trailer's thumbnail showed Ha-jin and Tae-hyun with their eyes closed, leaning against each other, wearing fresh white knit sweaters with rosy blush makeup applied generously across their cheeks.

—————

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

—————