Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 291. Winter of the Boy (2)

Among all the award ceremonies, the Lemon Music Awards (LMA) had the earliest date.

Before entering the stage from the singers’ seats, I gathered the members in the tent we were using as a waiting room and said,

“We might not win an award today.”

The LMA, where only music, judging, and votes determine the winners, was a disadvantageous place for us if any.

The track record of was overwhelming, but as always, no one knew where the weight of the mysterious ‘20% judging criteria’ would fall.

“But it’s okay.”

If we win the award, people will say, “The deserving team won,” and if we don’t, they’ll wonder, “Why didn’t the deserving team win?”

“If we don’t get it here, we’ll get it somewhere else, and if we don’t get it anywhere else, we’ll make it so that they have no choice but to give it to us.”

I… no, *we* were confident of that.

“And the Male Rookie of the Year award at the Lemon Music Awards goes to…”

*Kairos*! Congratulations!

So this was just the beginning.

* * *

“Kairos! Congratulations!”

“Kairos, congratulations~”

“Kairos’s ‘This Is Not a Carol.’ Congratulations!”

“Kairos! Congratulations.”

Starting with the LMA, we succeeded in winning the Rookie of the Year award at every award ceremony we attended.

In ceremonies where multiple teams were awarded, we sometimes shared the stage with Lanion, Believer, or Stormheader, but we were the only team to sweep all the award ceremonies.

There were still a few more ceremonies to be held in January and February, but judging by the current trend, it seemed there wouldn’t be any problem with winning there as well.

…No, actually, the problem was that we were winning too many awards.

“Now, we will announce the winner of this year’s Rising Potential Producer Award…!”

At the Asia Musician Awards held in Japan, I sat quietly at the assigned table, clapping like a robot for the winners when I heard the host’s words and doubted my ears.

“What, what award?”

Couldn’t they have just named it something simple like the ‘Rising Composer Award’?

I joked with Lee Doha, who was sitting next to me, wondering if they had to insist on giving it such a global-sounding name. Lee Doha seemed to agree with me, as he began to grumble in a low voice about the indiscriminate use of English lyrics in domestic music.

It was then.

“Congratulations, Mr. Deon~!”

…Huh? Who?

Lee Doha and I exchanged glances in the air, and I saw the other members at the table also looking around in disbelief.

“Mr. Deon successfully demonstrated his potential as a rookie producer through Kairos’s hit, ….”

At the unmistakable explanation, Lee Doha looked around at the members with a dumbfounded expression.

Seo Taehyun and Jung Siwoo, who had already grasped the situation, were gesturing for him to get up and head to the stage, barely holding back their laughter, while Dan Haru was clapping with a huge smile as if he had won the award himself, letting out exclamations of “Whoa!”

Seeing Ryu Geon whispering to a confused Joo Eunchan, explaining what was going on, Lee Doha finally seemed to realize that he had actually won the award, and awkwardly got up from his seat.

And how was I?

“Oh my goodness, our Deon won an award!? Finally, we can spread Deon’s name not just in Korea but across Asia!? This is the glory of the Demon family! But wait, can demons even have glory? Maybe it’s possible because he’s stealing music?”

What do you mean, how was I?

I was too busy teasing Lee Doha.

Without even trying to suppress the grin on my face, I clapped sarcastically, as Lee Doha scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.

“Congratulations, Deon! You are now the Rising Potential New Wave Hot Trend Iconic Skyrocketing Producer of Asia…!”

I clapped as if I wanted to be smacked, sincerely congratulating my friend on his award.

Even though I said it like that, the congratulations were genuine. Honestly, if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t bother congratulating him like this.

“…….”

“……? What are you doing, Deon?”

Just as he was about to step forward after getting the signal from the staff to head to the stage, Lee Doha suddenly stopped moving. Then he slowly turned around and stared at me, deep in thought.

‘What’s up with him, why is he looking at me like he’s about to bury me instead of accepting an award?’

While I was quietly admiring the still-surreal width of Lee Doha’s shoulders, he seemed to have made up his mind and firmly set his lips.

Then, striding toward me…

…he came.

“Come with me.”

“What? Where? Why? Hey, you idiot!”

“You worked on it with me, so you should receive it too.”

“No, why should I! You’re just embarrassed to go out there alone, aren’t you!?”

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

With Lee Doha dressed so stylishly because of the stage outfit, he grabbed my wrist with the jacket he had draped over his shoulder fluttering, and without giving me any time to resist, I was dragged onto the stage by his hand. The other members watching from the table burst out laughing as if the world had flipped upside down.

“Mmph, mrmhmrgrgrhmr… (Hey, you crazy bastard, why are you dragging me up here too?)”

“You seemed pretty interested in this award.”

Then he flashed a grin and accepted the award from the MC. It was clear as day that this jerk was getting back at me for teasing him. How could he exact revenge on me on a globally live broadcast like this!?

But now that I was on stage, I couldn’t just awkwardly slink off. Trying to maintain a natural expression (though I briefly covered my face with my hand out of embarrassment), I stood behind Lee Doha like a bodyguard as he delivered his acceptance speech.

‘If I’m going to be on camera, I might as well look cool.’

In the distance, the other members were still pounding the table with laughter, and Seo Taehyun was even taking pictures with his phone.

Laugh while you can, you jerks. When I get an award, you guys are next….

“Hello, I’m Lee Doha from Kairos.”

While I was sending death glares at the members, Lee Doha, holding the trophy, began his acceptance speech. Even though he raised the mic stand quite high, he still had to lower his head like a turtle neck to speak into it, which was pretty cool.

“The songs that earned me this award, ‘Kick Off’ and ‘This Is Not a Carol,’ were both worked on with Hajin, who’s right here next to me. So, I thought it was only right that we receive this award together.”

If that was the case, you could have just mentioned me warmly in your speech and left me in my seat, my friend.

But contrary to my thoughts, hearing my name cheered by the fans made me smirk arrogantly and throw up a V sign with my hand.

Might as well make the most of a spilled opportunity, right?

As the laughter in the awards hall quieted down, Lee Doha continued his speech.

“…These days, I sometimes have strange dreams.”

“…….”

“In those dreams, I’m not in Kairos. There are no Destis, no members… I’m just an unknown composer, Deon, who no longer makes music.”

“……?”

The smile on my face slowly began to fade at that point.

“The dream always ends the same way.”

“…….”

“In the end, I become someone who can no longer create music. Because I realize that making music alone isn’t fun.”

Just like Joo Eunchan, Lee Doha also remembered the past timeline.

What was frightening was that I had no idea what this could mean.

Unaware of my reaction, Lee Doha calmly finished his speech.

“After those dreams, I always find myself deep in thought. What’s the difference between the me in that dream and the me now?”

While delivering his speech, Lee Doha turned to look at me, then at the members at the table, and finally at the Destis sitting in the opposite seats.

Then, as if feeling relieved, he smiled and lightly held the microphone.

“Having friends to make music with and having all of you who listen to that music is such an incredible blessing. I’ll never forget it. I’ll strive to become a musician who learns more, works harder, and dedicates himself. …Thank you for being with us.”

After finishing his acceptance speech, Lee Doha took a step back from the microphone and bowed deeply to the fans. In response, applause and cheers filled with affection poured in from all directions.

Barely managing to pull myself together, I joined in clapping for Lee Doha, who then straightened up and turned to me, offering me the trophy.

“…What, why?”

“Give your acceptance speech too.”

“Why should I, it’s not even my award.”

“Do it. I already got permission from the MC. We made the song together.”

Looking around at the MCs as I hesitantly accepted the trophy, the male MC nodded in agreement, indicating it was okay and that it had been arranged in advance.

With my mind still a tangled mess, I awkwardly stepped up to the microphone.

“Um….”

Why did Joo Eunchan and Lee Doha start remembering the past timeline?

Could it have something to do with the fact that they’re both people

I recruited?

Then what about Seo Taehyun and Kim Wonho? What about Ji Suho?

Is this just the concept of ‘awakening’ like with Ji Suho and me, or is it something Dolja is scheming?

Barely managing to push these countless questions to the back of my mind, I tried to hide my trembling hands and cleared my throat.

“Sorry, it’s a bit bold of me to share someone else’s award, so I needed a moment to prepare….”

As I deliberately spoke in a playful tone, light laughter rippled through the awards hall again.

Since it wasn’t my award, there was no need to speak for long.

What should I say? After a brief moment of contemplation, I slowly turned my gaze to the members sitting at the table.

“…Honestly, this award really belongs to Doha. He worked incredibly hard.”

“…….”

“He spent countless nights revising and refining the songs just to match each of our picky tastes. As a producer, he could have just handed out the parts without compromise and done things his way, but he’s a really gentle guy.”

My words about Lee Doha being gentle seemed ironic given his stern expression, making the audience burst into laughter again. The MC standing beside me laughed the loudest.

Even though I was being sincere, it seemed I was destined to make people laugh, no matter what.

“So… I don’t think there’s much more to say about this award. But since Doha has kindly shared the spotlight with me, I’ll say a few words to the members….”

Maybe because of the tension, or maybe because of my thoughts, my lips felt dry.

We had won enough Rookie of the Year awards by now that the impact Dolja could have on the timeline should have significantly decreased, yet I still couldn’t feel at ease.

I couldn’t even perceive the regressions anymore, so I had no idea what choices Dan Haru might be making or what situation he might be in, which made me even more anxious.

“…No matter what has happened, and no matter what we might face in the future….”

So all the words I was saying now were,

“I’m on your side.”

A warning to Dolja and,

“I’ll never let us stay stuck in the past.”

A pledge to the members.

“As the leader of Kairos, as your hyung, as your friend, as your dongsaeng….”

I could feel my breath trembling.

I was a bit scared, worried that Dan Haru, sitting over there, might not be the Dan Haru I knew.

What would happen if the other members also started remembering their entire past timelines? The thought of an unpredictable future made my hands sweat.

“I’ll make sure you only look forward to fun and exciting tomorrows, so just trust your leader and follow me.”

But still, I smiled.

At the end of my gaze, I saw Dan Haru, grinning brightly and giving me a thumbs up, saying I was the best.

“…Let’s stay together for a long time. Let’s make music and have fun together until we’re old and gray.”

Let’s stay together for a long time.

My pledge to the friends I met after crossing so many timelines was as simple as that.