Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 52. I Want to Go Back (2)

Everyone looked at Hajin, seemingly surprised by the unexpected result, but Hajin himself was applauding his battle opponent, Sungwoo, with a calm expression.

Seeing Hajin, the other trainees slowly clapped as well, though they still tilted their heads in confusion, alternating their gaze between the two.

“Alright, then.”

Despite the surprising outcome, the recording continued. Seo Taeil, who had regained control of the atmosphere, shouted to the trainees in a solemn voice.

“We will now reveal the new Wings rankings, combining the trainees’ existing scores and benefits!”

〜〚WINGS OF MIRO MAZE〛〜

Jung Siwoo
Han Sungwoo
Lee Yugeon
Gong Seok
Kang Hajin
Seo Taehyun
Yuki

The Wings rankings had shifted. The trainees murmured at the significant change, considering it was just the result of the first mission. In the midst of the commotion, Hajin quietly stared at his name on the electronic display. Very still. Very quietly.

“Congratulations to the trainees who newly entered the Wings rankings and to those who maintained their positions.”

Although it was the moment applause should erupt, everyone remained silent. Then, the lighting changed.

“Trainees who have newly entered the Wings rankings, and those who maintained their positions, please receive your rank pins…”

Seo Taeil, after pausing for a moment, sighed the next words.

“…directly from the trainees who have been eliminated from the Wings rankings: Joo Eunchan, Dan Haru, and Lee Doha.”

Wow, what a devilish recommendation.

Hajin shook his head in admiration internally. Wonho next to him was muttering how he was glad he didn’t make it into the Wings rankings. The changed lighting illuminated Gong Seok’s position.

“Gong Seok trainee, please proceed towards the trainee you want.”

Even though it was just about retrieving a pin, Gong Seok couldn’t easily make up his mind and fidgeted. After some hesitation, he walked towards Lee Doha, who he thought he had gotten a bit closer to through the last monthly evaluation.

“D-Doha. Sorry!”

“You won, so why are you apologizing?”

With a face genuinely unable to guess the reason, Lee Doha calmly handed his pin to Gong Seok. Gong Seok hurried back to his place as if he had committed a crime, and the lights changed again.

This time, it was Hajin’s turn.

“Kang Hajin trainee, proceed.”

After a brief thought, Hajin began to move.

‘No matter who I choose, I’ll be criticized.’

Taeil watched Hajin’s steps with a small worry. Having a lot of stories from the first recording was good in many ways, but…

‘Neither choice looks good.’

Moreover, Hajin had lost the battle. This score was not acceptable, but that was the result. It was fortunate that the team had won; if they had lost the team battle, Hajin would have been torn apart by all kinds of aggro unless the main PD had decided to save him.

‘It’s not easy from the start.’

Secretly wishing for Hajin’s debut, Taeil unknowingly let out a worried sigh. But he soon reminded himself that they were recording and tightened his facial muscles.

And whether or not he knew Taeil’s worries, Hajin finally stopped walking.

“Now.”

Standing precisely between Eunchan and Haru, Hajin stood in the middle. Both of them looked at Hajin with somewhat tense expressions. After a brief pause, Hajin spoke with his characteristic bright smile.

“A precious sibling who will sincerely congratulate their hyung for advancing to the Wings rank.”

Then he opened his arms.

“First come, first served.”

“……!”

“……!!”

Eunchan and Haru, wondering what Hajin was thinking, had their eyes sparkle at the phrase ‘first come, first served.’ It somehow felt like losing if they didn’t hand over the pin.

“Me! I’ll give mine!”

“I don’t want to lose either.”

A rare scene unfolded where the two argued over who would give their pin. Contrary to what the production team intended, they both started fighting to hand over their pins, bringing laughter to the previously ice-cold recording set.

“…Fine, you do it.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Just when an impromptu dance battle to give Hajin the pin was about to start, Eunchan, unable to resist Haru’s cute, younger look, conceded, and the decision was made.

“Really, I worried for nothing.”

Taeil shrugged in disbelief as he watched the three of them. The staff observing the recording scene beyond the three seemed in good spirits. Is this what they call innate sense? Taeil watched Hajin, who had become the center of the situation in an instant, with small admiration.

“…….”

Finally, Haru stood in front of Hajin with the opportunity to hand over the pin. Haru glanced at the wing pin he was holding, then at Hajin in front of him.

“…Hyung.”

“What?”

“I think you’re really amazing.”

Haru, smiling brightly as if realizing something, handed his pin to Hajin. “Congratulations on your Wings rank.” His voice was sincere, and Hajin nodded in response.

“Yeah, watch and learn.”

The silver wing pin was attached to Hajin’s chest. Unlike the earlier silence, natural applause and cheers erupted.

“It’s done.”

And there was one more person watching everything from behind the camera angle, clapping the loudest.

“The main character of episodes 1 and 2 is here.”

PD Kwon’s eyes gleamed like a predator finding its prey as he watched Hajin’s face on the monitor.

* * *

After the recording ended, the trainees couldn’t return to the dorm yet and were waiting for their individual interviews. Confirming that his turn was still a long way off, Hajin checked once more that the audio pack on his mic was off and moved his position.

“Seo Taehyun, call me if someone looks for me.”

“Hyung, where are you going?”

“I need some time alone.”

“…Sometimes I really don’t understand you.”

Leaving behind Seo Taehyun, who looked at him with confusion, Hajin headed to the personal practice room on the fifth floor. It was the only place where it wasn’t strange to be alone, was soundproof, wasn’t cold, and didn’t have a camera.

As soon as he closed the door, knowing what Hajin would do, a system window popped up before his eyes.

[System Alert: The information available to the ‘Fixed Regressor’ is limited.]

“So what can you explain?”

[System Alert: …….]

“Just try, as much as you can. I need to know now.”

The nature of all these strange phenomena.

As Hajin, with his arms crossed, glared at the system window, it loaded for a moment and then displayed a familiar popup.

[Single Quest 03.]

[‘Do you want to be special?’]

Content: The trainers are not yet interested in you, a chick trainee. Achieve excellent results in the monthly evaluation, stand out, and join the special class!]

[You have completed the quest.]

[Reward: Clue for tracking regression & recruit companion]

[Would you like to receive your reward? (Select the reward to be received)

1. Clue for tracking regression

2. Recruit companion]

It was the reward for the quest he hadn’t been able to claim before. As Hajin looked at the system window, seemingly understanding the intention, he nodded and pressed the button to claim reward 1.

Paaan―.

“Oh, really, can’t this be patched somehow?”

Feels like my eyes are about to pop out, seriously.

Whether he complained or not, once again, a light as bright as the sun enveloped the space.

‘I wonder what they’ll show this time.’

With countless question marks in his mind, another person’s memories unfolded.

* * *

‘That child’ was always unhappy.

An orphan who didn’t know who his parents were. Two adoptions and two returns. Eventually, the one who took him in was the director of an orphanage who felt sorry for him.

Among immature children, ‘difference’ was sometimes wrong.

Naturally light-colored hair and eyes.

Particularly white and red skin.

Absence of parents.

His differences became reasons for being ostracized.

-How was school today?
-It was okay.

Still, he was mostly always okay.

-Are you really okay not going to college? Even now, if you….
-No, it’s okay. Running the orphanage is hard enough. I’m just grateful you raised me.

Although he couldn’t attend school properly and had to work various part-time jobs every day, he was still always okay.

-If you just live today, a time when tomorrow is exciting will come for you, too.

Believing in the words the director told him, he lived each day just looking forward to a hopeful tomorrow.

-Hey, leave it alone!
-Excuse me. You can’t do this here….
-Hey! Who do you think you are, acting all arrogant!?

That day was a particularly tough one.

During his late-night bar job, he had to deal with a drunken customer causing a scene. In the scuffle to get him out of the bar, the sole of his only pair of shoes got torn.

-Oh, why is it suddenly raining….

When it was time to leave work, it suddenly rained. The umbrella he hurriedly grabbed from the bar was broken, making him a bit more miserable.

-Hello?
-Yeah, it’s raining outside. Did you bring an umbrella?
-Yes. I got one from the bar.

-It’s dangerous since it’s late. Should I come to pick you up

?
-I’m old enough; why would you pick me up? Just go to sleep.

He didn’t have the usual warmth to respond to the director’s call. It kept raining, and he still had about ten minutes to walk home. His old cell phone kept getting wet, which also annoyed him.

-Still, since it’s late at night, if something goes wrong… Just take a taxi.

-I’m almost home. What taxi? Seriously, I’m fine. Just go to sleep. I’m really okay.

He hung up with an irritated voice. Everything was too exhausting that day. He suddenly thought.

‘Ah. Should I just die?’

With this kind of life, maybe it would be okay not to have tomorrow. Just then, the director called again.

-I told you to just go to sleep. I’m really okay…!

-Excuse me, but what is your relationship with the phone owner?

And that night, the director passed away.

-I’m sorry…. I’m really sorry….

It was a hit-and-run by a drunk driver. The accident happened in a dark, rough alley. It was the alley he always walked through on his way home from work.

-…….

-Are you okay?

-…No.

He was in agony. Everything was painful. For the first time in his life, he was not okay. He no longer wondered about tomorrow. All his time stopped at the ‘yesterday’ he couldn’t correct.

[Then, do you want to go back? To a happy moment.]

He heard the voice that would change his fate at that very moment.