Chapter 105: When It's Time to Explode (5)
105. When It's Time to Explode (5)
Hajin decided to be honest.
"I'm... not usually like this."
"......"
"Normally, I'm really good with words. Persuading people is one of my strengths, so I've rarely failed to get my way."
That's why he initially thought convincing Yu-geon would be easy.
Just placate him a little, give some firm advice, offer enough encouragement—that should do it.
But Hajin's approach failed at every turn, and the accumulation of those failures was now staring him in the face.
"But this time, no matter how much I think about it, I can't figure it out. What do I need to do to get you on that stage with me? No, to be completely honest—I've even wondered why I'm going this far to perform with you."
A memory surfaced—Tae-hyun once asking him the same question.
Why go to such lengths? We're not even close friends or know each other that well.
What had he answered back then?
No, before that—why was he really doing this?
'Couldn't I just let it all go and regress? There might be better opportunities next time.'
Because of the quest?
To prevent regression?
To find clues about the Selective Regressor by recruiting comrades?
—Do you really think that way?
—If regression weren't a factor, would you not care whether Yu-geon stayed or left?
No.
Because this moment—creating a stage together—was too exhilarating.
Across all his regressed lifetimes, this "today" was what Kang Hajin, the human being, had most desperately wished for.
A single stage created by pouring their most passionate youth alongside talented, driven people.
He didn't want to lose that.
Didn't want to let it slip away.
And Hajin desperately hoped Yu-geon felt the same.
"I can't bear to waste our stage."
"......"
"If you're not part of this stage we created together, it loses all meaning."
Hajin closed his mouth after those words. It was the first genuine sentiment he'd voiced, the last ounce of sincerity he could muster.
A long silence stretched between them. Yu-geon seemed deep in thought, repeatedly starting to speak only to hesitate again.
After an eternity, Yu-geon finally responded.
"...Wow. When you put it like that, I really have nothing to say."
"......"
"Of course it'd be a waste. Honestly, practicing was fun. Enough that I quit my part-time job for it."
Hajin lifted his head. It was the first positive tone he'd heard across all his attempts. Yu-geon looked at him with a faint smile.
"But... I can't really imagine myself on that stage right now."
"......"
"There'll be a live audience this time. I keep wondering what they'll think seeing me—if some of them are the ones who cursed at me and my family... It's not really my place to begin with, so getting too attached feels wrong too... That's why. That's why I'm quitting now."
"......"
"Still... hearing you say that makes me happy. It almost feels like we were really teammates."
"...Of course we're teammates. What, should I send you to Seo Tae-hyun's team instead?"
"Hahaha! Nah, I'll pass. That'd be too awkward for me right now."
Yu-geon stood up with a relieved smile.
"Thanks for the meal, hyung. ...Buy me another one next time."
Leaving Hajin staring blankly, Yu-geon grabbed his suitcase by the table and exited the restaurant. Hajin could only watch his retreating back.
Yu-geon had left.
Yet Hajin didn't regress.
Though Yu-geon left the dorm, no official withdrawal announcement was made. Thanks to Soo-ho contacting Yu-geon after hearing the situation from Hajin for one final persuasion attempt.
This had never happened before.
—If you leave the company now, we can't protect you or your family. Even if you quit, please wait just until things calm down a bit.
He added that Yu-geon should go home first, rest with his shocked family, and carefully reconsider withdrawal or resignation. Fortunately, Yu-geon agreed.
"I told him to think it over, but we all know the schedule isn't that flexible, right? That's why your opinions matter most here."
The production staff, Ji Soo-ho, and Team Blue Flare gathered for an emergency meeting. If Yu-geon withdrew now, they'd have to revise everything from pre-recorded VCRs to stage production.
"What did Yu-geon say?"
"He needs more time to think. Said his siblings were really shaken up. Some bastard apparently doxxed their personal info and home address. The company's taking separate measures."
"If... if we say we want to wait for Yu-geon, can you give us that time?"
PD Kwon Myung-eun and writer Go Se-hwa answered Won-ho's question.
"Three days. We can give you exactly three days. If Yu-geon ultimately decides to withdraw, we'll have to reissue audience notices. We'd need to reshoot your segments too—it's already too tight to give more."
"Of course, that's three days from our perspective. Team Blue Flare will need to prepare a 5-member version simultaneously... You'll be twice as busy from now on."
Whether to let Yu-geon withdraw now or wait longer.
Even if they waited, those three days would be completely wasted if Yu-geon didn't return.
No one could speak easily. Even Hajin, who already knew the outcome, waited for his teammates' decision.
Doha was the first to speak.
"Then I... want to wait."
His tone suggested it was obvious. Doha calmly added:
"If Yu-geon doesn't return, we'll have no choice. But if he does, our team is already perfect enough to perform tomorrow. I don't want to eliminate that 100% possibility prematurely."
Won-ho immediately raised his hand in agreement.
"Me too. I want to wait."
"Won-ho too?"
"...I choreographed this with Yu-geon. There are moves only he can pull off, parts we completed together. If he's willing, I really want to finish this stage with him."
"......"
"And... I'm partly why Yu-geon got misunderstood. If hyung, Yu-geon and I can rock that stage together... maybe those reactions will fade too?"
It sounded like Won-ho had put serious thought into his answer. As the quiet ones hesitated, Eun-chan nodded and raised his hand.
"I'll wait too."
"Everyone... think carefully. This isn't like waiting for a close friend to join a school trip."
Though writer Go spoke coldly, Eun-chan's resolve didn't waver.
"I'm confident we can create an amazing stage even if Yu-geon hyung doesn't come."
"......"
"I just want to give him time. He needs it too. Getting hurt is painful no matter whose fault it is."
Saying this, Eun-chan looked at Hajin, who'd been silently listening. Meeting his gaze, Hajin raised his head.
"Final memories last the longest. I don't want Yu-geon hyung's last memory to be like this. If he doesn't return, I'll take his rap parts. The other hyungs can split his vocal parts."
Fortunately, Eun-chan's "final memory" wasn't too bad—steaming hot gamjatang shared with Hajin came to mind before the damp misery of facing Han Seong-woo in the rain.
He wished the same for Yu-geon. It was kindness learned from someone else.
"...Hajin already said he'd wait. I'd like to hear Si-woo's opinion too."
"Let me reiterate—you don't have to say you'll wait. Si-woo, think carefully and decide objectively."
"Right. Don't just say yes because of the atmosphere. This needs serious consideration."
Soo-ho and the producers emphasized this to Si-woo, the last holdout.
Of course, everyone present knew Si-woo would say NO without hesitation even if everyone else said YES. But situational pressure was another matter.
"......"
All waited for Si-woo's answer.
And in this moment, only Hajin knew what Si-woo would say.
"...Then it's unanimous for our team. Shall we meet again in three days?"
In every regression, Si-woo had always helped Hajin persuade Yu-geon.
That had never changed.
'...Ah.'
Hajin bit his lip hard.
For some reason, he felt like crying. He didn't know why.
Since Yu-geon wasn't taking teammates' calls, Soo-ho would personally deliver their decision to wait three days. He planned to visit Yu-geon's home anyway to discuss the situation, so Hajin simply nodded.
"...Not yet?"
"No. Not yet."
"Right."
After learning about Hajin's repeated regressions, Soo-ho would occasionally ask "Not yet?" Though unable to perceive regression, he seemed to ask for confirmation. Soo-ho patted Hajin's shoulder.
"Let's wait, Hajin. I really want to see this stage of yours too."
With that, Soo-ho left to meet Yu-geon. Hajin returned to the practice room. Whether Yu-geon returned or not, they couldn't slack in preparing for the competition.
Even if it might be a future that never comes.
One day passed.
Yu-geon didn't come.
But Hajin chose to be grateful that a day had passed.
Online, proper explanations about Yu-geon began surfacing.
Alongside posts from the company's PR team, people who knew Yu-geon well shared positive stories.
Another day passed.
SNS erupted again.
Yu-geon's younger sibling Yu-rang had reactivated their account to post directly.
(Photo of Yu-geon, Yu-ho, Yu-rang, and their grandfather together)
♥ 2,109 likes
u_luv_u
Hello.
I'm Lee Yu-rang, younger sibling of trainee Lee Yu-geon currently appearing on NTV's Miro Maze.
I can no longer tolerate the malicious rumors about my brother and family, hence this post.
I don't know my parents' faces. Since early childhood when memories barely form, my family has been just four—grandfather, older brother, me, and my twin brother.
My brother went clubbing with women every night drinking and smoking?
The same brother who took care of me and my twin after school, helped at grandfather's shop all evening, then worked overnight convenience store shifts before dawn cleaning at the neighborhood bathhouse—coming home only to sleep?
The brother who loved dancing but couldn't afford lessons, so took video recording jobs at dance studios to watch those videos daily at home—is that who you're talking about?
...See more
Each line of Yu-rang's post burned with fury toward those who'd slandered her brother.
As people learned Yu-geon's circumstances, public sentiment shifted rapidly. When Miro's official "legal action" notice dropped, the shift accelerated.
—This is why I stayed neutral... Where are all those mindless haters now? Come apologize
—Honestly it was obviously malicious editing but they treated a 19-year-old like a criminal so weird
—Fabricated scandal posts get 1000+ comments but check the clarification post views lol
The commenters who'd piled on Yu-geon vanished overnight. Though surely still occupying the same cyberspace, the clarification post's comments were all from "neutral observers" or "original supporters."
Yu-geon still hadn't returned.
But Hajin no longer wavered, quietly awaiting tomorrow instead. Desperately.