Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 352. Admiration and Salvation (11)

Near Dreamland’s Love Square, in the staff break room.

Joo Eunchan was sitting on the couch in that very break room, looking a little dazed.

‘What just happened?’

Eunchan slowly began to recall the events that had happened to him in the short time that had passed.

After separating from the members, he headed toward the area assigned to him to distribute invitations. It was nearing evening, so the crowd had started to grow. The more people gathered around him, the more Eunchan felt his breathing becoming strained.

‘And then…’

And then what?

Eunchan’s memory from that point onward was hazy.

He remembered struggling to breathe, his vision narrowing, and the murmur of the crowd sounding like a noisy attack on his senses. Someone had screamed, and the bodyguards nearby had moved swiftly.

The one thing Eunchan clearly remembered was those eyes.

– *Who do you think you are? What do you think you are…!*

The eyes of a man in black, restrained by the bodyguards, glaring at him.

Eyes full of blind hatred and contempt.

No matter how much he thought about it, Eunchan couldn’t understand why he had received such a look of disdain.

That’s when it started. Eunchan began to tremble, feeling as though the world was about to swallow him whole, making it hard to stand still.

‘And then…’

And then what?

Eunchan tried his hardest to remember what had happened next. Of all the strange things he had experienced today, the most bizarre event occurred after that.

“……”

As he was being escorted to the break room by the bodyguards, Eunchan slowly began to piece together his memories.

What did he remember?

– *Eunchan-ah, youngest.*

– ……

– *Let’s go together.*

– …….

– *I’m sorry I came so late.*

– …….

– *I’m so sorry I didn’t understand anything….*

Fragments of time, his past, his future, things that may never happen again, and things that perhaps never did.

‘…He really did get divorced because of me, didn’t he?’

What Eunchan had once thought were dreams had now solidified in his mind as vivid memories under the name “reality.” Not everything had come back to him, but one thing was certain.

‘I must have been… really lonely.’

Back then, he had been lonely for a very long time.

Alone in a dark room, unable to even look at his reflection in the window, he had spent countless days and nights asking himself over and over:

– *What did I do wrong?*

Without realizing that the question, gnawing away at him like a parasite, was slowly destroying him, Eunchan blamed himself every night. He was so earnest that even the malicious envy and jealousy of the world seemed justified, convincing him that the fact that there was no reason to be hated *was* the reason he was hated.

‘And then…’

*Knock, knock—*

The sound of knocking from outside interrupted Eunchan’s thoughts as he tried to recall what came next. Startled, he tensed up, fearing it might be an unfamiliar visitor. But then a familiar voice called out, and he relaxed.

“Eunchan. It’s Hajin-hyung, can I come in?”

“…Yes. Come in, hyung.”

Once he gave permission, the tightly closed door opened cautiously. Hajin, now dressed in stage attire, entered the room, scanning for Eunchan.

He quickly found him, smiled awkwardly, and scratched his cheek as he approached.

“You haven’t eaten anything, huh? What if you get hungry later? We Koreans live on rice, you know.”

“…If I eat now, I think I’ll get indigestion. I’ll eat later when we get back to the dorm.”

“Alright. Well, I ate two large chicken mayo bowls, and now I’m so full I can’t even buckle my belt.”

Hajin rubbed his stomach as he spoke, but Eunchan could clearly see that his black leather belt was still loosely fastened around his waist. From his Maze Maze days, Hajin had been known for his great physique, along with Doha and Yugeon, so Eunchan easily recognized that Hajin was just trying to lift his spirits.

“Um…”

“…?”

Hajin, who had been casually tidying up the leftover food, trailed off. Eunchan gave him a curious look, and after a moment of hesitation, Hajin finally spoke.

“…Haru’s here. He wants to talk to you.”

Eunchan had already heard from Doha that all the confusing memories in his head were due to Dan Haru’s time travel.

Doha had come to see Eunchan after hearing from Hajin that he had awakened. He had a handful of invitations left to deliver, but that wasn’t important. His focus had been on calming the confused Eunchan.

– *How much do you remember about Haru?*

– *Huh?*

– *I’m asking if the person Dan Haru is still intact in your memory.*

Doha had carefully chosen his words as he explained what he knew to Eunchan. It was all stuff that sounded like something out of a movie—time travel and everything—but Eunchan accepted it surprisingly easily.

It was strange that it was so easy to believe, but Doha assured him that even that was natural, gently patting him on the shoulder.

“…Yes. I’d like to talk to Haru too.”

So, when Hajin mentioned Haru, Eunchan nodded.

The cold attitude Haru had shown toward him recently and the strange events of the day—if he could get answers through Haru, Eunchan wanted to hear them.

With Eunchan’s answer, Hajin quietly stood up.

“Alright. Wait here, I’ll go get him.”

What kind of expression should I have when I see Haru?

Eunchan pondered this as he watched Hajin leave the room.

* * *

It was some time after Hajin had left the room that Haru finally stepped into the break room.

But Eunchan had known for a while that Haru had been standing outside the door. He had seen the familiar brown head bobbing back and forth through the window.

“……”

“…What are you doing there? Come here.”

After much hesitation, Haru finally entered the break room, but he stayed near the door, not making any move to approach Eunchan. Worried that rehearsal time would come before they had a chance to talk, Eunchan’s mind grew a little more anxious. He had so many things he wanted to say and ask.

“Hmm? Haru, come over here. Let’s sit and talk.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“…….”

Instead of coming closer, Haru responded to Eunchan’s invitation with an apology. His head hung low like a student being scolded.

“It’s because of me. It’s my fault you’ve grown afraid of strangers, that you were in the car accident, and that everything today happened. It’s all because of my selfishness.”

“…….”

“I’m the one who caused your misfortune.”

[Really?]

[Even if it was a person who created your misfortune?]

As soon as Haru spoke, Eunchan recalled a strange dream he’d had once.

‘Was that voice trying to tell me this?’

While he retraced his old memories, Haru, still with his head bowed, continued in a voice that sounded like he was on the verge of tears.

“I’m sorry for pretending not to notice your suffering.”

“…….”

“I’m really sorry….”

Eunchan responded.

“Why?”

“……?”

“Why are you apologizing?”

Eunchan’s tone was genuinely puzzled, like when Hajin and the fans would tease him for being oblivious, a confused expression on his face as he raised his eyebrows.

“Haru, what did you do wrong?”

Surprised by the unexpected response, Haru looked up. Eunchan, who had stood up, was now slowly approaching Haru.

“My car accident, what happened today, and even things that happened long ago. Haru, you didn’t do any of it, so why are you apologizing to me?”

*I don’t understand.*

Eunchan’s words were sincere.

He genuinely couldn’t see how Haru had done anything wrong. To say that Haru had created his misfortune didn’t make sense, because right now, Eunchan wasn’t unhappy.

In fact, wasn’t he… happier than before?

‘Compared to back then, I’m much better off now, aren’t I?’

Eunchan thought back to the first time he met Haru.

– *Hello, Eunchan-hyung!*

– …?

– *I’m new today. My name is Dan Haru. …Can I eat with you?*

Haru had been the first person to approach him, a cherished younger brother and friend, at a time when Eunchan was slowly crumbling under the weight of subtle exclusion.

To the lonely Eunchan, Haru had been a savior, giving him the courage to face each day. Haru was the reason Eunchan could survive the monthly evaluations, and Haru was the bridge that allowed him to maintain a good relationship with Taehyun.

Even when he was worn down by the pressure of the former Director and Sungwoo’s gaslighting, Haru had been there to keep him steady.

Back when Haru wasn’t there, Eunchan had signed the former Director’s contract and ended up being used and discarded. But in the present, with Haru by his side, he had held on until Hajin showed up and solved everything. That was

proof enough.

“I told Hajin-hyung that I wanted to talk to you because…”

“…….”

“I wanted to ask if you’re okay.”

“…….”

“Are you okay?”

Eunchan, now standing right in front of Haru, looked him in the eye, his face filled with genuine concern. He took Haru’s hands in his, holding them tightly with the same warmth Hajin had used to comfort him before.

“I was okay because I had you. But you didn’t have me, did you?”

“…Aren’t you mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad at you? And so what if you made some mistakes?”

Haru, unable to even meet Eunchan’s eyes, asked in a shaky voice. Eunchan laughed softly, gently squeezing Haru’s hands.

“If you did something wrong, I’ll just forgive you. I’m your hyung, after all.”

“…….”

“…Wait, if you’ve time-traveled so many times, does that mean you’re older than me?”

At Eunchan’s innocent comment, Haru, who had been on the verge of tears, couldn’t help but laugh.

“If I went ten years into the future and aged ten years, you’d still age ten years with me. How could I be older than you?”

“Really? That’s a relief. Then I’m still the hyung.”

“…You’re such an idiot.”

Haru’s pulse, which had been trembling slightly in Eunchan’s grasp, slowly began to calm down. Eunchan, now feeling Haru’s steady heartbeat through their connected hands, smiled brightly, completely forgetting that he had almost been stabbed earlier that day.

“Thank you, Haru.”

“…Why do you keep thanking me?”

“For pulling me out of my misery.”

“…….”

“For getting me out of that room. It’s all thanks to you. I mean it.”

Haru didn’t respond.

But Eunchan already knew his answer.

The warmth of Haru’s hand, now gripping his in return, made Eunchan feel as if there was nothing more precious in the world.