Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 89

Chapter 89 – Soccer Is Played with Your Feet, and Basketball with Your Hands (3)

In the end, Kang Hajin didn’t regain his freedom until lunchtime.

Today’s lunch wasn’t boxed meals, but a catering truck. The special MC, Nam Da-woon, had insisted on buying the juniors a proper meal and personally arranged it.

As Hajin piled food onto his tray—stuff he hadn’t even gotten to eat this often back when he was an assistant director—he thought:

This is my only chance.

His eyes gleamed like a hyena stalking prey.

In his sights—

Yellow Team, split into two groups.

Group 1

Kim Wonho & Lee Doha

Honestly… easier target.

But—

Too high difficulty.

One hour wasn’t enough to both raise trust and recruit someone from that lineup.

Hajin turned his head.

Group 2

Seo Taehyun & Lee Yugeon

Now this…

Interesting.

He had assumed they were just acquaintances since both were from the special class.

But they were—

Closer than expected.

Wasn’t Lee Yugeon supposed to be the lone wolf type?

Always alone in waiting rooms.

Always quiet.

The “solitary lynx” type.

And yet—

Since the sports day started, he’d been joking around with Seo Taehyun nonstop.

…That’s unexpected.

After a moment of hesitation—

Hajin walked over.

Today’s goal:

Figure out Lee Yugeon.

“Kang-hyung, come sit. Anywhere’s fine.”

“Your table looks too cramped. I’ll sit here.”

“Yeah, honestly, I was thinking that too.”

Sliding past Wonho and Doha’s packed table, Hajin pulled out a chair and sat down.

Their eyes met briefly.

Hajin smiled lightly.

Then—casually:

“Wow, Yugeon, you’re really good at sports. Taehyun’s been nagging me all day—you basically saved my life.”

At the same time, he shot Seo Taehyun a look:

Help me here.

Taehyun caught it instantly.

He coughed, set down his spoon, and joined in.

“He’s good at anything physical. He can even do b-boying.”

“Oh? Really? That’s impressive.”

Hajin nodded, looking at Yugeon.

Yugeon, chewing fish cake, looked confused—

then suspicious.

“What’s this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you praising me just because this hyung showed up?”

“Ah, what are you even saying?”

“Seo Taehyun, you were nagging me just now—ugh!”

“Just eat.”

Jab.

Taehyun poked his side without mercy.

Hajin blinked.

They’re really close.

Seo Taehyun’s personality was simple:

• Polite → strangers

• Friendly → acquaintances

• Physical teasing → close

And right now—

He was poking Yugeon.

Meaning:

They were actually close.

“Hyung, you saw that, right? Don’t leave. If you go, he’ll bully me again—ah!”

“Stop talking nonsense and eat.”

“Stop pinching me, it hurts.”

And surprisingly—

Yugeon spoke to Hajin casually too.

No hesitation.

No awkwardness.

So he’s not socially awkward…?

The more Hajin observed him—

The less he understood.

Wait…

Now that I think about it—

He was the one who approached me first too.

Back then—

About Kim Wonho’s mission song.

Hajin narrowed his eyes.

Watched.

Analyzed.

Thankfully, Taehyun and Yugeon kept bickering, making observation easy.

“Ah, I’m getting up. This bullying is too much.”

“You’re just going to get more side dishes.”

“…Damn. Caught.”

He stood up, tray in hand.

“Do you need anything? Hyung?”

“I’m good.”

“Stop pretending to be polite in front of hyung.”

“I’m fine too.”

Yugeon walked off casually.

Hajin stared after him.

…Now I’m suspicious.

That level of consideration—

Wasn’t normal for a typical 19-year-old.

And if he wasn’t socially awkward—

Then why had he kept distance from everyone?

And—

Why did he act like he had no interest in debuting?

This bastard…

Is he the Regressor?

Alarm bells rang in Hajin’s head.

One thing was certain:

Lee Yugeon was suspicious.

Yugeon moved farther away.

Hajin leaned closer to Seo Taehyun.

Casual tone:

“You seem pretty close with him.”

“Ah… after Cha Minseok left, it was just me and him in the special class.”

Not that name again.

The mood dipped slightly.

Taehyun quickly continued.

“We just got close. We’re both dance-position trainees.”

“I didn’t expect him to joke around like that.”

“That’s fake modesty. You should see him with me.”

Hajin glanced toward Yugeon again.

Still waiting by the food truck.

Opportunity.

“But still… he doesn’t seem close with others either, right? So I thought… maybe like Eunchan.”

Carefully phrased.

Taehyun immediately shook his head.

“No. Even Han Seongwoo never touched him.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. He’s… well… anyway, he’s not close to others, but he’s not a bad kid.”

He stopped mid-sentence—

But defended him anyway.

That made Hajin more suspicious.

If he’s harmless…

Then why stay here while clearly not caring about debut?

And at times like this—

Of course—

The system was gone.

[System Notification: Exhausted by regressor’s terrible athletic performance. On break.]

[System Notification: Maintenance in progress.]

…Useless.

Yugeon returned.

Hajin dropped the topic.

Too much probing = suspicion.

Then—

Taehyun leaned on his hand, smiling.

“Hyung.”

“…Hm?”

“So that’s why you kept talking to him.”

“…What?”

“You were taking care of him, right? Like Eunchan. Thought he might be isolated.”

…No, that’s not it.

Hajin froze internally—

but answered smoothly:

“He reminds me of my little brother.”

Taehyun smiled, satisfied.

Hajin looked away.

Sorry, Hawon. Borrowing you again.

Kang Hajin’s signature misunderstanding performance—still going strong.

After Lunch – Part 2

If Part 1 was athletics—

Part 2 was pure variety.

“From now on—BONUS POINTS!”

Nam Da-woon had been “holding back.”

Apparently.

That restraint—

Was now gone.

“What’s the most important thing at a sports day?”

“Winning? No.”

“Victory? Also no.”

“Looking handsome!”

“Cool moments! Youth drama visuals!”

“So—anyone who creates a handsome moment gets 100 points!”

Confusion.

Panic.

Chaos.

First victim—

Jung Siwoo.

“Foul!”

Ball out of bounds.

But—

He calmly brushed his hair back.

Looked into the distance.

Baseball ace pose.

“…Ah.”

“…Ah.”

“…AH!!! HE’S HANDSOME!!!”

“Jung Siwoo—100 points!”

“Thank you~.”

At first glance:

Handsome guys win.

But—

Nam Da-woon had his own logic.

Not just visuals—

Moments fans would like.

“Helping a fallen teammate—100 points!”

“Lee Parang wink—100 points!”

“Seo Taehyun ending fairy—100 points!”

Now—

Winning didn’t matter.

Creating moments did.

And once everyone figured it out—

Total chaos.

How are they even going to edit this…

Hajin lay flat on the floor, reflecting deeply.

This was after bowling—

Except instead of bowling—

He and Kim Wonho just posed like models the whole time.

Blame:

Seo Taehyun.

After several more rounds—

Sports Day reached its end.

“Did you have fun?”

“…Yes.”

“LOUDER!”

“YES!!”

Nam Da-woon still shouting at full volume.

Six hours straight.

Hajin stared at him in awe.

How is his voice still alive?

Finally—

Winner announcement.

“And today’s winner is—”

Pause.

Scroll.

Color revealed—

Purple.

“…?”

“Today’s winner is LILAC TEAM!”

Confusion.

Everyone.

Even Lilac Team.

“While you all chased bonus points—”

“They quietly played the games and collected match points.”

“….”

“Bonus points were evenly distributed.”

“So the team with the most actual wins—won.”

“….”

“Never let your guard down in variety shows~”

Silence.

Lilac Team captain Gong Seok stepped forward stiffly.

“…Th-thank you. I dedicate this to Desties…?”

“Great speech!”

Applause.

Automatic.

Hajin clapped too.

And thought—

I’m making a Nam Da-woon fan account.

Immediately.

Even if I post nothing.

I lost.

In variety skills.

Kang Hajin
Former PD

Defeated.

Completely.

By a 13-year veteran idol.