Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 16

Chapter 16. The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (1)

“Y-Yes, hyung. Sorry. I saw the cat and rushed out without saying anything. Yes. I’ll make sure Taehyun gets back safely. Yes.”

The animal hospital turned out to be closer than expected.
While Seo Taehyun held the kitten and spoke with the vet, the first thing I did was call the New Artist Development team manager—who was probably panicking because two trainees had suddenly vanished.

No matter how common ditching practice might be in this industry, I had zero intention of becoming that kind of irresponsible trainee.

“Why Did He Come With Me?”

If I’d been alone, I would’ve just called Ji Suho and had him cover for me.
But Taehyun followed.

I’d assumed he’d just call a taxi for me and leave.
Instead, he naturally got in with me.

“Aren’t you going back to practice?”
“Who’s paying the hospital bill?”
“Ah.”
“Come with me.”

His face looked exactly like a stray cat asking to be taken in.

So I went.
(Also… I didn’t have a card on me.)

When he finished registering the kitten—

“Manager hyung said to come back safely.”
“…Okay.”

On the way here, we’d finally introduced ourselves properly. We’re only a year apart, so the constant formal speech felt awkward. Somehow, we ended up dropping honorifics.

The “bright smile” guy, Seo Taehyun, was staring blankly at the sleeping kitten in its cage.

I remembered what the Director had said earlier.

“As long as I’m at Miro, you’ll never debut.”
“….”
“If you’d just listened to me, you wouldn’t be suffering like this.”
“I’ll go first.”
“Cha Minseok found his own way out. Smart. Unlike you.”

I had the urge to open that Pandora’s box.

But I didn’t.

“How’s the cat?”
“They found the owner. It had a chip. Not abandoned.”
“That’s good… Should we go back? Manager said to return quickly.”
“…Ah.”

The word return cast a shadow over his face.

“Don’t feel like going?”
“What?”
“Then say you’re sick and leave early. I already told the manager you got soaked in the rain.”

Pure meddling.
Impulsive meddling.

“But… if I skip practice…”
“You followed me because you wanted to skip, didn’t you?”
“….”
“There’s nothing in this world that can’t be done. People just don’t do it because they’re scared.”

The harsh questions stayed in my throat.
Instead, I offered the smallest comfort I could.

“Or we can wait until the owner arrives.”

System Update

< Time remaining: 00:05:16 — 93.7% >

Then—

“…Thanks.”

< 45th help achieved — 99.8% >

Six percent in one go.

“…You fell asleep?”

He had.

Rain-soaked cap pulled low, head tilted awkwardly on the clinic chair.

I remembered the future version of him I knew.

Forum posts:

“What’s Seo Taehyun doing these days?”
“Didn’t he debut solo?”
“Cherry Boy… man, those days.”

He’d flashed once—brilliantly—then faded.

Would he count as part of a “successful debut lineup”?

Or was fading away his fixed fate?

Quest Results

< Final Achievement: 99.8% >

Heartwarming anecdote (High)
Sudden Event (Seo Taehyun’s departure) negated
Unexpected luck (Cat’s gratitude)

“…Unexpected luck?”

Weekend Strategy Meeting

Normally, weekends belong in bed.

Instead, I was on a playground swing.

Cursed little brother Kang Hawon kicked me out because of homework.

“Fine.”

I activated my newly purchased Memo Skill (30 Cash).

A blank system window appeared.

I resized it.

< System: I am not a tablet PC. >

“Too bad.”

I started organizing intel:

• Director Son Hyeonggu’s corruption
  The parachute trainee
  Cha Minseok transfer rumors
  Taehyun’s blocked debut
  Eunchan’s framing

Nice. This was insanely useful.

Calling Reinforcements

“System window.”

< System responding. >

“Open companion: Ji Suho.”

His profile appeared.

Ability: Star Maker☆
Can instinctively identify star potential (77% accuracy)
Can be summoned (10 Cash)

I pressed summon.

Nothing happened.

Then—

Buzz.

Ji Suho calling.

“…Hello?”
“Did you just… think about contacting me?”
“What?”
“I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to call you.”

I wanted to scream.

“…Coincidence.”
“From you? I doubt that.”

“Anyway, let’s meet.”
“Find the regressor already?”
“No.”
“I have a promotion project for you.”
“…What?”
“Let’s make you Director.”

Because I’ll be removing the current one soon.

Meanwhile — Seo Taehyun

He had never once skipped weekend practice.

But today—

He couldn’t focus.

“There’s nothing you can’t do… People just don’t do it because they’re scared.”

He turned off the audio player.

“I’m scared. So what.”

His insecurity never left him.
Not after Boy’s World.
Not after losing.
Not after clashing with the Director.

The stage lights he once tasted were too bright to forget.

He left practice.

Got a call from Dan Haru (saved as ♡Other Puppy♡).

“Hyung, don’t hang up.”
“What now?”
“I’m going to convince you to skip practice and hang out.”

He laughed.

“Want tteokbokki?”
“…Who are you and what did you do with my Taehyun hyung?”

He changed into Converse instead of training shoes.

The sky looked unusually blue.

Then he ran into Han Seongwoo.

“Oh? Done early?”
“Yeah. Meeting Haru.”

Seongwoo grabbed him.

“Oh, by the way—Minseok’s debuting in the second half of the year. Confirmed. He didn’t tell you?”
“…No.”
“Wow. That jerk. He’s debuting because of you.”
“What?”
“He took your spot at Rene. They wanted you. Didn’t you know?”

And as always—

The nastiest traps show up when you least expect them.