Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 391

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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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391. Idol Athletic Games (10)
S, now a second-year high school student this year.
Though it was a weekday, a miraculous overlap between the filming schedule and the school’s foundation day celebration allowed her to attend the Idol Athletic Games filming without issue, and she found herself constantly marveling at the broadcast site she’d never seen before.
She’d worried beforehand after hearing so many people say how exhausting it would be, but whether it was because she was still young or simply caught up in the excitement, she hadn’t had a moment to feel tired.
‘Wow, there really are so many idols.’
And they’re really far away! I can barely see them!
I hadn’t exactly come with hopes of seeing them up close, but this was basically just watching someone else’s athletic festival. At best, I could catch glimpses of the Kairos members when they appeared on the big screen, and otherwise I was just tracking the distant silhouettes of the other members with my eyes.
Still, the fact that the members’ team uniforms were a bright forsythia yellow made them stand out nicely among this colorful sea of athletes, which was a small mercy.
“Oh!!!”
The area suddenly erupted in commotion while I was lost in thought.
S startled along with everyone else and checked the big screen, where Lee Do-ha, wearing a blue wrestling belt secured firmly around his thigh, was politely extending his hand to his defeated opponent on the mat.
S urgently turned to her companion beside her.
“Oh my gosh, unnie, did you see that? What happened? Did Do-ha win?”
“Yeah. Do-ha won.”
“Really? Then since Ha-ru won earlier too, that means we’re advancing to the finals, right? Oh my god, that’s amazing!”
Excited by the news of Kairos’s advancement to the finals, S clapped softly and cheered.
It had been so disappointing that the members stumbled just one step with every match since morning, failing to win medals, but it looked like the Do-ha and Ha-ru combination actually had a decent chance in wrestling.
“I really hope our kids can win at least one gold medal. Right?”
But her companion’s expression became slightly subtle at her excited remark. Noticing that brief hesitation, S wondered if she’d said something wrong and studied her companion’s face. Since this was her first time seriously following idols, there was still much she didn’t know.
“Why, unnie…? Isn’t it good if the kids win?”
“Huh? No, no. It’s not like that at all. Um, it’s not that….”
Her companion laughed awkwardly and shook her head at her question.
Her companion, whom she called Windy after her Bluebird account name, had been following idols longer than S and was older, so she tended to know about things in that world that S didn’t.
S, who had been able to come to this Idol Athletic Games filming today because she was with Windy, waited for her next response.
“It’s just easier on fans’ hearts when they don’t participate in too many competitions. Everyone knows the kids have their October comeback, and if they get injured here, it’d be a disaster.”
“Ah….”
“Just before Do-ha won, his ankle almost twisted badly, remember? You didn’t see it? Wrestling is a sport where you overpower your opponent with strength, so honestly, I thought it might’ve been better if they lost…?”
“Oh, I didn’t see that. You’re right, I hadn’t even thought about something like that.”
“The broadcasting station isn’t going to take responsibility if they get injured here, so I just hope the kids take care of themselves and don’t get hurt. It’s not like they’re getting paid a billion won for winning this.”
S’s expression turned serious as she considered the injury risks she hadn’t thought of before.
I’ve been seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses, haven’t I?
I felt a bit embarrassed that I was the only one excited about proudly watching the members showcase their athletic abilities and claim gold medals.
‘Still… I really did want to see the kids win at least once.’
S quietly lowered the sketchbook she’d been holding onto her lap.
It was a cheering placard she’d spent all night yesterday thinking about and making for the Idol Athletic Games filming.
【Goal: Gold Medal! ★Kairos Takes the Stage to Dominate the Idol Athletic Games★】
Is it strange that I’m thinking this way?
Feeling like she was the only one so excited in this vast space, S felt her previously excited mood suddenly deflate.
* * *
“Good work, good work~”
“Do-ha, is your ankle okay? It looked like you stumbled a bit earlier.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Just to be safe, I stopped by the medical team too.”
The Kairos Team members waiting in the stands greeted Do-ha and Ha-ru warmly as they returned from the wrestling medal ceremony. Both wore silver medals around their necks, the same color as the archery team’s.
“I really thought we’d get the gold this time. Guess weight class differences can’t be ignored after all.”
Yu Gun handed Ha-ru a towel while offering a cynical assessment, his gaze fixed on the opposing team that had won gold. The opposing team, now in their fifth year since debut, consisted entirely of adult members, giving them an experience and physique that Do-ha and Ha-ru lacked.
Tae-hyun, that F-type human, reacted to Yu Gun’s cold analysis of their defeat by pouting his lips and firing back.
“Do-ha hyung’s physique is nothing to scoff at either… It was just bad luck! You and Ha-ru both did great!”
“No, what are you—”
“Well, Do-ha’s in good shape, but compared to seniors who’ve been actively performing for five years straight, there’s still a gap. Ha-ru even more so.”
“Still, the fact that we did this well is really impressive, okay? Ha-ru, you did great, you did great. That leg sweep you pulled off earlier was absolutely perfect.”
“That’s not me criticizing you for losing, I’m saying. You sensitive guy.”
When Si-u chimed in to agree with Yu Gun, Tae-hyun, worried our kids might get discouraged, started defending Ha-ru by literally covering both his ears with his hands.
While Yu Gun continued trying to clarify that wasn’t what he meant, Do-ha, who had just drained half a bottle of water, opened his mouth in a calm voice.
“The seniors definitely had more skill, strength, and experience. Still, since Ha-ru won his match, if I’d performed better, we could’ve gotten the gold medal.”
“No way, you did great! A silver medal is amazing!”
“After I mistepped once, I couldn’t give it my all because I was worried about it. Sorry, Ha-ru. I’m disappointed we lost because of me.”
“…No. It’s not that. Not getting injured is more important. I’m fine without the gold medal anyway.”
At Do-ha’s unexpected apology, Ha-ru shook his head, awkwardly touching his ear. It was true that losing victory right before his eyes stung a little, but having lived many lives already, he didn’t have the passion to stake his life on something as trivial as a fake gold medal or fleeting achievement.
And as if aware of this—the biggest difference between himself and “sparkly” Ha-ru—an arm suddenly draped across his shoulders.
“Yeah, yeah~ what does a medal matter anyway~”
It was Ha-jin, who had grown oddly quiet since lunchtime.
Ha-ru glanced sideways at Ha-jin, who was using his shoulder like an armrest while grinning away.
“As long as you did your best, didn’t get hurt, and had fun, that’s enough, right? Isn’t it?”
Ha-jin had seemed in good spirits this morning, but around lunchtime he’d grown pensive and gloomy, and now he’d completely returned to his usual self as if all his worries had vanished.
Ha-ru was curious about what had happened to him, but thinking that Ha-jin would surely handle it well on his own, he found it hard to speak up.
‘If I were Ha-ru, I would’ve lifted the mood more…’
Though I’d acknowledged and accepted that I was Ha-ru and Ha-ru was me, there were still moments when I felt the walls I’d built around myself.
At times like these, I wanted to switch back to my main personality and proceed with personality integration, but with recent comeback schedules and activities keeping us relentlessly busy, the reality was that Ha-ru and I didn’t even have time to discuss this issue together.
‘I need to talk to Kang Ha-jin before the next comeback activities start.’
While thinking this to myself, Ha-jin, still keeping Ha-ru tucked against his side with his full weight leaning on him, tilted his chin and spoke to Do-ha.
“Lee Do-ha. Your ankle’s really okay? You’ll be able to run the 400-meter relay later?”
“Hmm… honestly, I’m not sure. It’s not a serious sprain, but once you twist it, it becomes easier to injure again next time.”
Being a former athlete, Do-ha was unusually sensitive to injuries, shaking his head and playing it safe. Ha-jin nodded as if he’d expected this and continued.
“Right, then let’s use a substitute. The track’s slippery here, and if you fall even once, you could get seriously hurt in conditions like this.”
“A substitute? Who would we swap in? There’s no one else who could replace Do-ha hyung…”
At the mention of a substitute, Tae-hyun’s eyes widened.
Tae-hyun had been designated as the first runner for the 400-meter relay before coming to the Idol Athletic Games, but he’d been cut from the competition by the Writer, who knew his running ability well. As a result, Kairos’s current 400-meter relay lineup was arranged in order of the fastest runners within the team.
Ha-jin scanned the remaining candidates with his eyes and spoke.
“Eun-chan still needs to take care of his body, so he’s out.”
“No, I’m really all better… I can really run… The comeback practice is harder than running 100 meters…”
“Yeah, rejected. Ha-ru’s a minor, so he has to leave by 10 PM anyway.”
“Oh, right? Eun-chan can’t run either then. He’s leaving at the same time.”
“Ah…!”
“What, so there’s only one substitute left who can run?”
Eun-chan’s face crumpled in dismay at this unexpected youth curfew enforcement. And in that same instant, every group member’s gaze shifted to the sole remaining candidate.
“…What, what. You’re seriously asking me to run? Seriously?”
The owner of that insane 100-meter 18-second record,
The man in Kairos most distant from athletics.
Our Jumong, Hwarang, Robin Hood—the one the Writer cut in just 1 second upon hearing his name—X Golas, X Kraye.
“Are you hyungs seriously out of your minds?”
“Ah, what can we do then. Should we ask Nam Da-down to come down and run?”
“The Writers will understand a situation like this.”
“Yeah, Seo Tae-hyun. Just do the fashion show as originally planned. Show off your face.”
“Are you joking!?”
“Ugh!”
The man who would turn the Idol Athletic Games 400M relay into a runway.
It was Seo Tae-hyun.
* * *
-Yes. Finally, the men’s 400M relay finals.
-Since the teams that placed 1st and 2nd in each preliminary heat are competing in the finals, we can expect an extremely fierce competition.
At last, the 400M relay race—the final event of today’s Idol Athletic Games—began.
Nam Da-down, who was serving as today’s caster, opened his mouth with a mischievous expression.
-I’d particularly like to focus on the Kairos Team this time. You see, there was actually a bit of luck involved in Kairos’s advancement to the finals?
-That’s right. Kairos was actually running in last place, 4th in preliminary heat 2, but they advanced to the finals by overtaking the athletes in 2nd and 3rd place right before the finish line due to their mistakes.
-Yes, and on top of that, their powerful ace Lee Do-ha was replaced by Seo Tae-hyun, which resulted in a significant strategic loss. I’m curious to see what kind of hidden strength they’ll display in the finals.
-Isn’t that just because he’s a junior from the same agency?
-That’s right. I hope our kids win. Come on, kids, fighting! If you get the gold medal, I’ll buy you all beef!
-Yes, as I speak, each runner has taken their position at the starting line. Let me introduce the athletes.
As the caster’s solemn commentary rang out, the broadcast camera captured the track where the athletes stood.
-…Lane 3 has Winter Tail preparing. The first runner is Shin Yi-sae, who won the gold medal in the 60-meter sprint. And as the final runner, Park Tae-ha is preparing, and this athlete also has quite impressive records, so we have high expectations.
-Yes, next is lane 4. Kairos, who placed 2nd in preliminary heat 2, is preparing.
-The first runner is Seo Tae-hyun, who came in as a substitute for Lee Do-ha. The second runner is Jeong Si-u, the third runner is Lee Yu-gun, and finally they’ve positioned their ace Kang Ha-jin.
-So which team will claim the men’s 400M relay finals? All athletes, take your ready positions.
Every athlete took their position on their respective lanes.
Seo Tae-hyun, who had made it all the way to the finals following the preliminaries, gripped the blue baton tightly in his hand, his expression tense.
And Ha-jin, watching that sight, silently turned his head away. It seemed the race could start at any moment, yet there was not a trace of tension on his face.
“Tae-ha hyung.”
“…Ah, huh? Me?”
Ha-jin spoke first to Tae-ha, who stood beside him.
Whether it was out of apology or something else, Tae-ha—who hadn’t been looking his way or speaking to him first since that earlier conversation—was startled by Ha-jin’s words and turned to look at him.
Ha-jin chuckled softly at Tae-ha and spoke.
“When turning the corner, I usually ease off the throttle. That spot’s slippery—one misstep and you’re either dead last or heading straight to the infirmary.”
“Huh? Oh, right. Thanks.”
Park Tae-ha nodded with a bewildered expression. But Ha-jin remained composed.
-Ready!
-GO!
Bang!
The starting pistol’s crack echoed through the gymnasium once more.
At last, it was time to cross the finish line.

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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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