Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 340. KIDS DAY! (2)

Today’s “Kids” outfit was the stage costume for the coupling song **“Again, Spring”** that would be broadcast live. Originally, I wanted to go with the outfit for the title track **“No Spring”**, but the manager ruthlessly rejected it.

‘What a shame. It would’ve been funnier to storm the stage dressed like brats and shout “let everything perish.”’

Tsk. If only Ji Suho hadn’t stopped me, I could’ve pulled it off.

I figured I’d do whatever I wanted while he was in the hospital, undergoing rehabilitation and monitoring his condition, but who would’ve thought he’d bring his laptop to the hospital room and work remotely?

‘Meticulous guy….’

Wishing you a speedy recovery and a quick return to work.

I mentally sent the most minor yet certain curse I could think of to a working person while putting on the in-ear pack. Even though I’ve lived my life five times over, I’m finally starting to get used to these overalls, which I never thought I’d wear by choice.

As I was checking the remaining in-ear packs in the box, a large, white hand suddenly appeared beside me.

“…What are you looking at?”

It was Lee Yugeon, who had finally surrendered to my logical and clear persuasion.

The blush on his cheeks today, along with the yellow beret on his head, formed a strange contrast with his indifferent features that showed not an ounce of enthusiasm. His lifeless, white-eyed fish stare was as fierce as Joo Eunchan’s poker face, but the yellow hat and cape surrounding him unexpectedly served as a neutralizer.

‘It kind of gives off a “Yellow Team Season 2” vibe, minus the chick….’

But if I were to say this out loud, Yugeon might really want to test how far the human body can bend, so I kept a straight face and tugged at my overalls, trying to look as harmless as possible as I spoke.

“Aww, isn’t Chini’s overalls cute?”

I purposely batted my eyes cutely a couple of times just to rile him up, and Yugeon’s lifeless eyes quickly took on a murderous gleam as he glared at me with a hostile, almost ferocious expression.

“You really… you should be thankful you’re older than me. Seriously….”

“…….”

Yes. I’m constantly grateful that my birth order with Kang Hawon wasn’t swapped.

Realizing that if I kept pushing it, I might end up as the paper in a human origami game, I didn’t respond further and quietly returned to the waiting room. But not before grabbing the in-ear pack labeled with Dan Haru’s name from the box.

“Hey, rebel.”

“……?”

“Put on your in-ear.”

Dan Haru, who was dressed in something resembling a kindergartner’s gym uniform, complete with fluffy permed hair, a white sun visor, and cute hairpins, looked up at my call.

While most of the members had recreated their childhood outfits based on their photos, Dan Haru, who had no such photos, was entirely decked out in a “conceptual kids’ style” outfit crafted by the stylist noonas.

From the stickers on his cheeks to the “You did well” stamp on the back of his hand.

I handed the in-ear pack to Dan Haru, who was adorned head to toe with these detailed touches filled with the stylist staff’s affection. Dan Haru, half giving up on maintaining his poker face, reluctantly took the pack with a lackluster grip.

Glancing around the bustling waiting room, I quietly spoke to Dan Haru. Just in case, I had also turned on the system function that filtered our conversation into mundane talk for anyone else listening. It was a feature that had automatically developed during the AI system days, and it was surprisingly useful.

“You’ve adapted pretty quickly. I thought you’d refuse to do this.”

“…I said I’d keep everything normal until Haru comes back.”

His cynical response was exactly as he’d said, so I didn’t bother to push further. In reality, the Chosen Regressor Dan Haru had been almost perfectly acting as Sparkling Dan Haru since the day his personality changed.

While he occasionally showed a cold demeanor in private spaces like the waiting room when the cameras weren’t rolling, he had thoroughly prepared the groundwork by making everyone, including the members, the company, and the staff, believe that “the maknae seems to be going through puberty,” so they all seemed to just let it slide.

Still, the reason I rated his acting as “almost” perfect was that his meticulous performance wasn’t quite fooling one person.

“Really? Then why are you like that with Eunchan?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since that day, you’ve been giving Eunchan the cold shoulder.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, right. Why don’t you spit on your lips and lie? You can’t see him over there, watching your every move?”

I nodded toward Joo Eunchan, who had been glancing this way while practicing dance with Lee Doha. Dan Haru must have been aware of his gaze as well because he lowered his head and focused on untangling the in-ear pack wires without a word.

Since the day I declared to the members that “Dan Haru is going through puberty,” Dan Haru had subtly been avoiding Joo Eunchan. It wasn’t noticeable enough for others to pick up on, but once you noticed, it was a “Wait, now that you mention it…?” kind of situation.

Not only did he avoid situations where they might be left alone, but even when they were in a group, he never initiated a conversation with Joo Eunchan. He responded to Eunchan’s jokes and remarks but stopped there.

It wasn’t to the extent that it looked like they were on bad terms, but because the two had been so close, it was all the more noticeable.

“So, you really don’t know? Didn’t you see me put a note in his locker during that last shoot?”

Still keeping his expressionless face, Dan Haru feigned ignorance while holding the tangled wires. I scoffed at his weak attempt at a cover-up and immediately countered.

“You only did that after seeing Doha put a note in his locker first, knowing you wouldn’t end up as his partner since it was first-come, first-served.”

“I don’t get it. Why would I bother doing something so annoying? If I really wanted to avoid him, I wouldn’t have put a note in his locker at all.”

“Why? Because you knew. If it were Sparkling, he would’ve definitely put it in Eunchan’s locker first.”

“…….”

“You needed to act, but you didn’t want to be alone with him. So, you purposely put it in after Doha.”

“Ugh, so annoying.”

Listening to my relentless questioning, Dan Haru slammed the tangled in-ear pack onto his lap with a sharp noise, uttering a menacing growl. The yellow in-ear line, a support gift from the fans for the comeback, was hopelessly tangled like a ball of thread.

“…Want me to untangle it?”

Then, out of nowhere, Joo Eunchan approached and asked cautiously, reaching out his hand. Despite looking the most cat-like himself, he was as nervous as if he were feeding a stray cat for the first time, waiting for Dan Haru’s response.

Considering that Eunchan’s perceptiveness regarding Dan Haru’s behavior was on par with Seo Taehyun’s, there was no way he hadn’t noticed Dan Haru subtly avoiding him. I found it both endearing and pitiful that he hadn’t voiced a single complaint.

“I use wired earphones, so I’m really good at untangling cords.”

“Oh….”

When Dan Haru didn’t answer easily, Joo Eunchan tried to sell his skills once more. Dan Haru, looking slightly flustered, glanced at me. But since I had no intention of helping a cornered dark rabbit warrior, I simply shrugged and played dumb, letting him figure it out. Honestly, I was such a mean mentor.

Then, Dan Haru, after biting his inner cheek lightly, suddenly shoved the in-ear pack into my hand.

“…No, Hajin-hyung said he’d untangle it for me.”

This little punk… Is he really passing this off to me?

My right eyebrow twitched in displeasure as I realized Dan Haru had made the choice I liked the least out of all the possibilities. As soon as Eunchan saw Dan Haru handing the in-ear pack to me, disappointment began to spread across his face.

After confirming Joo Eunchan’s expression, I nodded slightly and got up.

“Well, I was going to, but now that I think about it, I’m supposed to film a challenge with the Wintertail hyungs today. Eunchan, you untangle it and help Haru put on the pack. I saw yesterday that he couldn’t do it alone.”

I quickly tossed the in-ear pack back to Joo Eunchan.

Dan Haru’s face stiffened in an instant. I tapped my cheek with my fingers, signaling him to manage his expression, and smiled kindly. Then I gently massaged Joo Eunchan’s right shoulder after he took the in-ear pack from me.

“How’s your condition, Eunchan? You feeling okay?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s much better. I didn’t feel much pain during yesterday’s stage, so I think I can do the choreography with both arms today.”

“Good, that’s a relief. But don’t overdo it. We have a fan sign later, so manage your stamina well. Got it? The schedule is just starting.”

Instead of replying, Joo Eunchan nodded. His face, which had been filled with disappointment just moments ago, quickly brightened with a smile.

“I’m really looking forward to the fan sign. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the fans…. I can’t wait to do it.”

“Are you sure you’re not going to get all shy in front of the Destis again? It’d be a problem if you turn back into the robot Joo Eunchan from your first fan sign.”

“I don’t do that anymore.”

“Who knows? Yesterday, when the fans called your name on the way to work, you got so stiff that your photos turned out hilarious….”

“Ah! Hyung, just go. Go shoot your challenge.”

“Hey, that’s your face, so it turned out that good. Otherwise, it would’ve been a meme-worthy article photo that people would make fun of for ages….”

“Eek…! Just go, hyung!”

“Alright, alright. I’m going.”

After teasing Joo Eunchan with yesterday’s article photo, his face turned beet red as he pushed my back. I swear, I’m not doing this because his reaction is funny but because I genuinely want to cheer him up.

Of course, the moment I saw the funny article photo of Joo Eunchan looking so tense that his features were all over the place, I saved it and set it as my phone’s wallpaper, but anyway, that’s not the point.

“Alright then, I’m counting on you, Eunchan~ Take care of the maknae.”

“Yes, just hurry up and leave.”

“Gosh, Eunchan, don’t be mean to Chini?”

“Please just leave already.”

“Humph, cold-hearted kid.”

Grumbling but in a good mood, I turned around, and I saw Dan Haru glaring at me from behind Joo Eunchan’s back. I couldn’t resist sticking out my tongue at him in return.

‘What are you gonna do, glare at me?’

Now that I think about it, I’m definitely a mean, lazy, and irresponsible mentor.

The look on Dan Haru’s face, biting his inner cheek in frustration, was priceless.