LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 318
Chapter 318. Youth Sniper Project (3)
The final scene of the music video returned to the night in Gangwon-do.
As the song ended and the members smiled at each other, Hajin stood up from his chair and slowly approached the camera, squatting down.
-“See you again, everyone.”
With a playful smile, he waved his hand, and the recording ended there.
On the black screen, the same font as the opening title appeared.
**
“This song is insane….”
If they sing this as the closing song at the concert, I can already predict a sea of tears.
Holding back the lump in her throat, Kang Hadi clicked the like button on the video. As she did, she noticed another notification pop up at the top of her phone screen from another SNS. It was from the official Bluebird account used by the Kairos members.
When she clicked the notification, she was greeted by a new post that had just been uploaded a few minutes ago.
**Kairos @Daily_KIRUS**
**[Hajin] Planning to surprise release some unreleased content soon. Editing this was fun, lol. Here’s a preview.**
Hajin’s post included one photo and three short videos.
The photo showed Hajin editing the music video for **
“What…? Did Hajin really edit this himself?”
Seriously? For real? When did he even learn how to edit?
Having no knowledge of her idol’s past life, Kang Hadi could only marvel in awe as she frantically checked the timeline.
Seeing that many fellow fans were already analyzing every second of the music video, she couldn’t resist joining in. Holding her forehead, she quickly posted a comment.
**Kang Hadi @kang_HD**
**Looking for recommendations for a genius dog kindergarten.**
**A rookie who hasn’t even reached his first debut anniversary is filming his own vlogs, editing his own MVs, and now providing unlimited behind-the-scenes content.**
**I think my kid is a genius.**
**(Picture of Hajin editing the video while biting into peanut butter squid.jpg)**
**Mom, I’ve found myself a prodigy.**
Watching the notifications for new followers pop up in real time, Kang Hadi happily replayed the music video once again.
* * *
**
**
**<‘Car Accident’ Kairos’ Eunchan to halt activities temporarily… Group to continue with six members?>**
**
The official comeback articles were out.
Once again, we considered releasing the news through outlets unrelated to Joo Eunchan’s accident, but after much deliberation, Hyung Kwon Wook decided to distribute the official PR statement to all relevant media outlets equally.
-“We’ve already scared them enough, and making enemies of these thick-skinned journalists won’t do us any good. Honestly, I’d love to cut ties and build a wall between us, but… This is probably how the Director would’ve handled it.”
I agreed with his assessment, so reluctantly, we decided to tone down our previously hostile stance toward the press. At least it was some consolation that the perpetrator responsible for injuring Joo Eunchan and Ji Suho would likely face criminal charges.
*‘The MV is getting a good response as expected.’*
The view count trajectory for the **
I didn’t want to exploit Joo Eunchan’s accident or Seo Taehyun’s controversy as a “narrative,” but…
In an industry where even my breath and wounds are sold as stories, it was fortunate that my intention to utilize them in this way seemed to be paying off.
*‘When we were working on this song, I didn’t expect things to turn out like this…’*
**
Initially, the idea was to create a sweet love song for the public and ride the wave of the “cherry blossom royalties.” But as I started writing the lyrics with Doha, it somehow turned into this heartfelt confession, a fan song.
This is why you shouldn’t write lyrics late at night…. By the time I regretted it, it was already too late.
“…You’re sleeping so soundly.”
Turning my gaze away from the phone, I saw Ji Suho, truly asleep as if dead. His eyes were completely bandaged, and his body was wrapped in casts and braces, looking every bit the patient. It was still hard to get used to seeing him like this.
“Hyung.”
I cautiously called out.
The title I uttered, instead of my usual “Director,” felt oddly unfamiliar.
“Get some rest and wake up. Return Thirteen as soon as you can.”
Kim Thirteen, who had insisted on resolving Ji Suho’s blindness, was still out of contact. But I decided to wait. It would be boring just to wait, so I planned to get as much done as possible while holding out.
“Haru can’t turn back time anymore. Each day is precious, so how long do you plan on staying asleep?”
My phone buzzed in my hand. The caller was Kwon Wook Hyung.
He was probably calling to tell me to hurry down.
With a sigh, I reluctantly grabbed the bed rail and stood up.
“I won’t be able to visit for a while. I’ve started another big project with the guys while you’ve been asleep. If you don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of cleanup work as soon as you wake up, you better open your eyes quickly. But don’t feel too lonely; Eunchan says he’ll visit often.”
Or not. I should be relieved if Eunchan doesn’t cause any trouble when he visits.
With that thought, I turned and slowly walked away, my steps heavy with reluctance.
At that moment, just as I was about to take my first step, a new notification popped up on the system window, which now automatically appeared in my view without any conscious effort.
“…?”
Wondering if it might be Thirteen, I quickly checked it, only to find a new quest I hadn’t seen in a while.
**[Single Quest 04.]**
**‘Awaiting Spring’**
**Objective:** You have successfully overcome your first trial after debut.
Crisis is an opportunity.
Now is the time to imprint this group in the minds of more people.
Increase awareness through successful activities and engrave Kairos on as many timelines as possible.
**Current Achievement Rate:** 28% (Target Achievement Rate: at least 80%)
**Deadline:** 6 months
**Reward for Success:** Balance of the timeline
**Penalty for Failure:** Possibility of timeline imbalance▲
“…These corporate jerks, always piling on more work.”
I swear I’m going to get back at them one of these days.
With that thought, I slowly read through the quest details.
I had no idea what criteria determined this achievement rate, but if it was currently at 28%, I’d need to raise it by about 50% within a year.
*‘That’s not too hard.’*
At least with this comeback project, I should be able to raise it by another 20%.
Thinking about the upcoming activities that perfectly aligned with this quest, I left the hospital room with a light heart.
Next time I come here, I hope to be accompanied by the noisy emoticon chat from my system partner and the familiar shouts of my business partner.
* * *
**
The day this grandly named project was officially announced to the world was April 3rd, the day Kairos’s digital single **
On Kairos’s official iTube account and all other communities, the same recruitment form was uploaded.
**
*On a spring day in April, Kairos comes to you with a leaf of youth.*
…….
The post, laden with emotion and featuring a group photo of Kairos smiling brightly under a cherry tree, holding a guitar, was nothing less than a busking announcement.
…….
*Want to invite Kairos into your everyday life?*
▼▼▼
form.goglee.…
▲▲▲
*Access the form and share your story with us.*
*If your story is selected, no matter where, when, or how…*
*Kairos will come running!*
*(Ulleungdo welcome, Dokdo welcome, Need a guest for a senior center or village party? We’ll consider it!)*
Accompanied by a notice that the performance could later be aired as part of Kairos’s original content, this project announcement naturally created a huge buzz.
On the very first day the application form opened, over 3,000 submissions poured in, forcing the production team to shorten the recruitment period.
**- Please, please, please, come to our school just once. It has to be us.**
**- Honestly, just tour outside Seoul for once. Seriously.**
**- Is overseas okay? ㅠㅠ? I want Kairos busking too ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ**
From Jeju Island to
faraway America, stories from people who wanted to see Kairos busking flooded in.
It was a feat possible because Kairos, while being the most rapidly rising group among active idols, was still only a rookie group in their second year.
Having swept up all the rookie awards, they could have just waited for their value to rise and started touring university festivals and events in May. But Kairos boldly discarded such benefits and chose the route of free performances, going to meet people themselves.
“…These are the locations our production team shortlisted for the first round.”
PD Kwon Myungeun, who was once again the main PD for this project, handed Hajin a thick file folder. While Kwon Wook, standing beside him, naturally took it to check first, Hajin quietly looked up at PD Kwon.
It was the first time he had directly faced PD Kwon since *that phone call*.
Hajin smiled softly and spoke.
“You must’ve had a hard time, PD-nim.”
“Oh, the hard work is just beginning. I never imagined that the second season of *Today’s Kairos* would turn into a nationwide tour….”
As PD Kwon bantered in his usual manner, Kwon Wook carefully reviewed the stories inside the file. Hajin glanced at him before addressing PD Kwon with a slightly pointed remark.
“…To be honest, I was a bit worried that you wouldn’t work with us again, PD-nim.”
Rude, yet not entirely so.
The words, delicately balanced, were spoken with sincerity.
Hajin had been a little surprised when the proposal he submitted to the company was approved and when PD Kwon, despite being significantly older, had readily accepted it.
For someone with as much pride as him to take the hand of the person who had threatened him—ten years his junior.
But PD Kwon, who heard those words, responded with an innocent look as if he knew nothing, eyes wide open.
“Huh? Why? Did something happen between us?”
Knowing full well that this meant “let’s just forget about it,” Hajin couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. The man was as consistent as ever.
“Hyung, can I take a look?”
“Oh, sure. Here, read this. It’ll take at least three days just to go through all of it.”
Hajin politely took the file folder from Kwon Wook, who was still carefully reading the stories one by one. Flipping through a few pages quickly, he soon stopped at one particular story.
“But we don’t have much time.”
“…?”
“Let’s go here for the first busking.”
Hajin smiled as he pulled out the chosen story sheet.
**
“I just saved us three days.”
Hajin had already made all the plans, his smile brimming with confidence.