《The Extra in a Baseball Novel》


 Chapter 0

    The Golden Lion Tournament.


    The dream stage that determines the pinnacle of high school baseball in Korea.


    Lee Jiho dominated the tournament with a performance so incredible that he went 5 for 5 with 3 home runs.


    Moreover, hisst at-bat resulted in a walk-off grand m.


    Holding that meaningful home run ball, Lee Jiho grabbed a marker and signed it.


    Normally, one would give the ball to their parents or keep it for themselves, but he turned to look at the stands.


    The game was over, but there was still a woman sitting in the stands, waiting for someone.


    It was Lee Jiho¡¯s homeroom teacher, Lee Miyeon.


    She had been the one who had supported him all this time, enabling him to seed without faltering.  He wanted to show his gratitude, even just a little.


    Just as he was about to approach her with the home run ball in hand.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    A man stepped in front of him.


    The man looked at Jiho¡¯s home run ball and snatched it away.


    ¡°You were going to give it to the teacher¡­? No way, you brat.¡±


    Jiho frowned and reached out his hand, but the man dodged and held the ball high.


    ¡°Why would you give this to your teacher when you¡¯re going to marry your childhood friend anyway? Do you not know how bad it is to string people along?¡±


    ¡°What nonsense¡­ When did I ever do that?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, stringing them along. I read the final chapter. So give this to your childhood friend.¡±


    The man threw the ball at Jiho.


    Jiho caught it reflexively and red at him.


    ¡°I told you. Don¡¯t lead people on. Take care of your childhood friend.¡±


    The man then picked up a bat leaning against the wall, scribbled a signature on it with a marker, and headed to the stands.


    Life is unpredictable; no one knows what will happen.


    That¡¯s the only truth I can confidently assert from my 25 years of life.


    Otherwise, there¡¯s no exining my life.


    An orphan left at an orphanage right after birth.


    Who would have predicted that this orphan would be the best yer in Major League Baseball?


    Rookie of the Year, League MVP, Cy Young Award, Home Run King, Batting Champion, Stolen Base King, and nearly every award there is in the Major Leagues.


    Both as a hitter


    And as a pitcher.


    I was at the pinnacle, and I thought I wouldn¡¯t be dethroned for at least five years¡­


    Who could have imagined I¡¯d be a cripple from a car ident?


    A drunk driver crashed into my car from behind. Surviving was already a miracle¡­


    So, I live gratefully.


    Even though my baseball career ended in just five years, my life isn¡¯t over.


    My leg is inconvenient, but I can still walk on my own, and I¡¯ve saved up enough money to livefortably for the rest of my life.


    Though it¡¯s incredibly painful that I¡¯ll never y baseball again¡­


    Well, at least I have¡­


    [UP! Strike to Your Heart!]


    ¡°Thetest chapter is out.¡±


    Text-based baseball.


    I find sce in reading web novels themed around baseball.


    Strike to Your Heart


    Shortened as StrikeHeart.


    As you can guess from the title, it¡¯s a romanticedy disguised as a baseball story, and it¡¯s a novel I really enjoy.


    Actually, not just ¡°really enjoy.¡± For the past two years, I¡¯ve been obsessed with this novel.


    How obsessed, you ask?


    [Sponsorship Ranking]


    ¨C TrueHeartMiyeon: 6,500,000 won.


    ¨C GODHayoon: 577,000 won.


    ¨C HayoonHayoon: 489,000 won.


    ¨C ¡¤


    ¨C ¡¤


    ¨C ¡¤


    I was at the top of the sponsorship rankings for this novel¡­?


    Every time my favorite character, Lee Miyeon, appeared, I would donate 100,000 won¡­ If her scenes were longer and more interesting, I¡¯d throw 200,000 or 300,000 won, and that¡¯s how it added up to this.


    Anyway,


    That¡¯s how much I¡¯m invested in this story¡­ No, in this character, Teacher Miyeon.


    But if you ask whether Miyeon is such a well-crafted character that she deserves 6.5 million won in sponsorship¡­ I can¡¯t confidently say yes!


    In fact, she¡¯s not even a very popr character.


    She just fits my taste.


    A sunflower-type heroine who only has eyes for the protagonist, and she¡¯s a 25-year-old newly appointed ¡°teacher¡± ¡ª these are both traits that drive me crazy¡­


    Plus, she¡¯s a huge baseball fan, so how could I not fall for her?


    But Miyeon is obviously not the main heroine; she¡¯s a side heroine.


    So I can¡¯t really expect a Miyeon ending.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been feeling uneasy every time I read StrikeHearttely.


    The story is nearing its conclusion, and it seems to be building up towards an ending with the main heroine, Shin Hayoon¡­


    ¡°Well, they¡¯ll release side stories, so¡­¡±


    It¡¯s one of the advantages of this author.


    They release side stories for the side heroines too. The author¡¯s three previous works all had side stories.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯ve stuck with StrikeHeart so far.


    Even if Miyeon doesn¡¯t get an ending, a side story wille out, and we won¡¯t see her be utterly defeated.


    I navigated to the StrikeHeart page on my phone.


    Just as I was about to tap thetest chapter, something seemed off.


    [#238 Strike to Your Heart! ¨C An Unattainable Love.]


    The subtitle was ¡°An Unattainable Love.¡±


    In the previous chapter, the main heroine Shin Hayoon confessed to the protagonist, so does this title mean¡­?


    ¡°Hayoon loses, and Miyeon gets the ending?¡±


    I urgently tapped thetest chapter.


    [¡°Hayoon closed her eyes tightly and shouted loudly. I like you! Jiho! I like you!¡±]


    [Jiho stared at her nkly for a moment¡­ then smiled and hugged her.]


    ¡°?¡±


    They¡¯re getting together?


    Contrary to the subtitle, they¡¯re hugging each other and creating an emotional scene with tears and all.


    Wait, then does ¡°An Unattainable Love¡± refer to¡­?


    No way.


    This author has always given side heroines their own side stories, so would they really make them lose in the main story?


    Besides, there are many heroines. They wouldn¡¯t show every one of them losing, right?


    For now, I kept reading StrikeHeart.


    But the more I read, the more uneasy I became.


    The story suddenly rushed forward, and now the main couple is even talking about holding a wedding¡­?


    ¡°No way¡­ Was the ¡®unattainable love¡¯ Seo Jia?¡±


    Seo Jia is the most popr character among the side heroines.


    But now, Hayoon sent her a wedding invitation as if to rub it in her face¡­?


    At least it wasn¡¯t Miyeon, so I felt relieved.


    [¡°Uh¡­ Wedding? Jiho¡¯s getting married? All of a sudden¡­?¡±]


    [¡°It just happened. You¡¯lle, right, Teacher?¡±]


    [¡°Uh¡­ yeah¡­ I¡¯lle.¡±]


    The next turn was Miyeon¡¯s.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ damn¡­¡±


    A sigh escaped, and I felt suffocated. So this is what it means to take an internal hit¡­?


    After taking a break to clear my head¡­


    I decided to read it again.


    I already knew she was going to lose¡­


    I just didn¡¯t think they¡¯d include the scene where it happened¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s just read it¡­ and wait for the side stories.¡±


    Having followed this far, I should at least see it to the end.


    But the more I read, the more this feels wrong.


    The pacing is ridiculously fast; they send wedding invitations to all the side heroines and jump straight to the wedding.


    Looks like it¡¯s going to end here.


    ¡°No¡­ is the author out of their mind?¡±


    I let out a curse.


    I usually refrain from badmouthing authors, but I couldn¡¯t hold back after reading that Miyeon was the only one of the side heroines to attend the wedding.


    I could barely understand that, but then the wedding is described from Miyeon¡¯s point of view.


    Isn¡¯t this just a p in the face for those who love Miyeon?


    [¡°They look good together¡­ both of them¡­ I should congratte them¡­¡±]


    [Miyeon forced a smile, pping and cheering.]


    ¡¤


    ¡¤


    ¡¤


    [Miyeon, staring nkly at the bride and groom, quietly left the hall and went to the restroom¡­]


    [And that¡¯s when she started sobbing¡­ in one of the restroom stalls.]


    ¡°¡­No, ha¡­ no.¡±


    I was at a loss for words.


    All kinds of thoughts crossed my mind, but I couldn¡¯t put them into words.


    What are they even doing?


    They not only sent her a wedding invitation but made her attend the wedding, ending with her crying in the bathroom?


    I read the rest in disbelief, but there was no twist.


    The main couple had a happy wedding, and Miyeon cried in the bathroom. The end.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough to make my head spin,


    The author¡¯s note delivered the final blow.


    Author¡¯s Note:


    [Thank you for loving StrikeHeart! I¡¯ll post a detailed reviewter!]


    [For those asking about side stories, I¡¯m sorry! There are no side stories this time!]


    ¡°¡­Wow, I¡¯m speechless¡­¡±


    Yeah.


    In


    hindsight, expecting a side story was just my naive assumption because the previous three works had them.


    So I can understand that.


    But did they have to make Miyeon suffer this much?


    If they included other side heroines, maybe.


    But only Miyeon was singled out.


    And then to describe the wedding from Miyeon¡¯s point of view¡­ I just¡­ I can¡¯t understand.


    I thought thement section would share my reaction, so I opened it.


    [GODHayoon: Cut! LOL Where do you think you¡¯re going? LOL Good job, author.]


    (Rmended: 1237) (Not rmended: 38)


    [TrueHeartHayoon: How can an ending be this perfect¡­?]


    (Rmended: 1167) (Not rmended: 38)


    [JiaJia: Wow;; I¡¯m mad since I¡¯m in the Jia faction, but what¡¯s with Miyeon¡­]


    (Rmended: 1068) (Not rmended: 123)


    ¡°Are the Hayoon fans only satisfied when their favorite heroine gets what they want?¡±


    They like this rushed ending?


    What¡¯s even more infuriating is that there¡¯s hardly any mention of Miyeon in the topments.


    Except for that brief mention from the Jia faction.


    ¡°Seriously, I wasn¡¯t going to do this¡­¡±


    I clicked the message button.


    I mean, this is just too much.


    I have to say something.


    [Isn¡¯t this too much, author? This is such a rushed ending. How can you just throw away the conclusion like this?]


    My message kept growing longer¡­


    [Character count: 5700]


    Until it became 5700 characters.


    I felt like one of those notorious readers in themunity.


    No, why would I be the viin here?


    The author struck first.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    I donated 6.5 million won, and the reply I get is a p in the face^^? Surely, I can say a word or two?


    I hit the send button.


    As I searched for another novel to soothe the inner wound left by StrikeHeart,


    [You¡¯ve got a reply!]


    I received an unexpected reply from the author.


    Were they actually mindful because I donated so much?


    My anger subsided just a bit.


    I opened the message.


    [Then would you like to try writing it yourself?]


    ¡°What¡­¡±


    Not only did I not expect a reply, but I also never thought it would be a ¡°do it yourself if you¡¯re so mad.¡±


    I was about to delete it from my favorites, but I got upset and wrote back.


    [Okay, I¡¯ll write it, so hand over the rights.]


    After sending it, I was about to turn off my phone when¡ª


    Bzzzt.


    A notification came up.


    It was another reply.


    [Okay! I¡¯ll transfer the rights to you, so give it your best shot.]


    ¡°What is this¡­¡±


    I asked for the rights out of spite, and they actually agreed?


    Did the author mean that as a joke too? I thought and turned off my phone.


    Thud.


    Suddenly, I felt an intense dizziness in my head and dropped my phone.


    ¡°Ugh¡­!¡±


    A splitting headache and dizziness that made the world spin.


    I clenched my teeth, desperately trying to stay conscious.


    Soon, my vision went ck.


    TL Note: Alright, I think this is my first time ever leaving a TL Note outside of a Patreon release. The other trantor has elected to divide the first chapter into two parts, and pretend that they¡¯re two different chapters. Definitely one of the greedier moves I¡¯ve seen on this site. Here¡¯s the full trantion. Please enjoy.

 Chapter 1

    I¡¯ve read quite a lot of web novels.


    I¡¯ve probably read around 50,000 of them?


    While I particrly liked baseball-themed stories, I didn¡¯t stick to just one genre, so I know most of the clich¨¦s in every genre.


    That¡¯s why I think¡­


    I might have been possessed by the world of Strike to Your Heart (StrikeHeart).


    Myst memory before waking up here was exactly the ssic clich¨¦ of a possession story.


    A reader who disliked the ending of a work sends a lengthy message to the author. The author sees it and provokes the reader, and the reader epts the challenge. Then, the next thing they know, they wake up, possessed?


    This is basically a ssic scenario.


    ¡°Then, would you like to try writing it yourself?¡± The author¡¯s reply shes through my mind.


    Right, I did agree. The reply, ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, write it yourself,¡± was so irritating.


    But¡­ that didn¡¯t mean they could throw me into the world of StrikeHeart, right¡­?


    ¡°Well, at least my legs are fine now¡­¡±


    Certainly, I¡¯m now standing on my two legs without any difort.


    Even when I walk a bit, there¡¯s no pain; it¡¯s a sensation I haven¡¯t felt in a long time.


    I looked around and walked over to a mirror.


    ¡°Huh? This is¡­¡±


    It¡¯s me?


    I mean, of course, it¡¯s normal for my reflection to be me.


    But in this situation, seeing my own reflection in the mirror was unexpected. I thought I would have been possessed by one of the characters in StrikeHeart.


    ¡°Is this¡­ high school¡­?¡±


    The reflection in the mirror was exactly how I looked during my high school days.


    For a moment, I wondered if I had time-slipped instead of being possessed in the StrikeHeart world, but I quickly shook my head. I didn¡¯t remember living in a house like this.


    I continued to look around the room until I found a student ID on the desk.


    [Cha Taehyun.]


    It¡¯s surprisingly the same as my name.


    Just as I was about to flip the student ID over¡­


    ¡°Ugh!¡±


    A stabbing dizziness washed over me as someone else¡¯s memories flooded into my mind.


    This is¡­


    The memories of StrikeHeart¡¯s Cha Taehyun.


    Once the dizziness subsided, I was able to fully grasp the situation.


    I left my room and went to the dining table, where breakfast was already set up.


    Two fried eggs, Vienna sausages, and seasoned seaweed. These were dishes I hadn¡¯t seen in a while.


    There was a small note next to the meal.


    [Oppa, I¡¯m leaving first. Make sure to eat breakfast before you go.]


    Unlike me, who was an orphan, the Cha Taehyun in StrikeHeart had a younger sister. However, he also had no parents, just like me.


    ¡°Tastes good.¡±


    As I took a spoonful of rice, I organized my thoughts again.


    First of all, my assumption that I¡¯ve been possessed in the StrikeHeart world was almost correct. I could roughly tell when Cha Taehyun¡¯s memories flowed into me.


    But not all of Cha Taehyun¡¯s memories had been transferred.


    They were only fragments.


    I know that I have a younger sister named Cha Jihyun and that I go to Hyuksan High School, the setting for the early part of StrikeHeart¡­


    It feels like I¡¯ve only been given the basic knowledge needed to live as Cha Taehyun. I don¡¯t recall anything about family history or past memories.


    ¡°He¡¯s not even an extra¡­¡±


    Cha Taehyun is a character who never appeared in StrikeHeart. In fact, he wasn¡¯t even mentioned.


    I might have forgotten some of the novel¡¯s content, but I¡¯m certain that¡¯s not the case. If there had been a character with my name in my favorite novel, I wouldn¡¯t have forgotten it.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    I¡¯m guessing¡­ the author hastily created this character when they put me into this world.


    The fact that he has no parents and looks exactly like me in high school seems to support that.


    Bzzz


    At that moment, the phone on the dining table vibrated.


    It seemed like the rm I failed to turn off earlier went off again.


    [School Time.]


    By the way, this rm went off exactly an hour ago.


    ¡°Well¡­ I guess I should go¡­¡±


    Even though the idea of going to school at my age makes me uneasy, it¡¯s probably the right thing to do.


    Though it¡¯s a terrible thought, I might have to live in this world forever and never go back.


    If I just stay cooped up in the house andment my situation?


    That¡¯s the path straight to bing a bum.


    I once struggled desperately in the past to avoid living such a life, and I seeded as a baseball yer despite being an orphan.


    I¡¯ve walked this path before. What¡¯s there to fear if I walk it again?


    In fact, I¡¯m even looking forward to it.


    My body has reverted to youth, but all the baseball knowledge, experience, and instincts I¡¯ve umted remain.


    If I start ying baseball again in high school, how far could I go?


    Yes.


    Might as well treat this as my second chance at life.


    I put on my uniform, grabbed my bag, and left the house.


    As soon as the bell rang, signaling the end of ss, the friends sitting in front of Shin Hayoon spun around in their seats.


    Shin Hayoon was staring at something.


    What could she be looking at to be so mesmerized?


    Her friends followed her gaze and soon burst intoughter.


    ¡°She likes it. Shin Hayoon.¡±


    ¡°Do you like it, Hayoon? Huh? Happy to be in the same ss as your boyfriend?¡±


    Shin Hayoon quickly turned her head and raised her voice.


    ¡°What¡­! I don¡¯t have a boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°Hayoon¡­ Everyone knows but you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Knows what?¡±


    ¡°That your boyfriend is Lee Jiho.¡±


    ¡°I said he¡¯s not!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sure~ He¡¯s not. You¡¯ve been sticking to him like glue since elementary school, but you¡¯re just friends, right?¡±


    Just as Shin Hayoon¡¯s face was about to turn as red as a ripe tomato¡­


    ¡°Hey¡­ Did you see the ss assignment chart?¡±


    Another of Shin Hayoon¡¯s friends approached, wearing a rather serious expression.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Yeah, I saw it. Why?¡±


    ¡°Hayoon¡­ your seat is next to Cha Taehyun¡­¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s face instantly hardened.


    ¡°¡­For real?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    Her friends looked at her with concern before sighing.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Why does it have to be our ss?¡±


    ¡°Seriously¡­ Can¡¯t the school just expel him already? Why do they let a thug like that stay in school?¡±


    ¡°Right¡­ I don¡¯t get it. They say he beats people up whenever he gets a chance.¡±


    ¡°Is that all? I heard he spends his time at hostess bars during self-study hours.¡±


    Shin Hayoon grimaced and asked again.


    ¡°This is the first time I¡¯m hearing about the hostess bar thing. Is it really that bad¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably even worse. They say he¡¯s a rich kid, so he spends tons of money at hostess bars and can¡¯t be expelled.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ He¡¯s really hopeless. I heard he¡¯s a thug, but he¡¯s way worse than that.¡±


    Her friends sighed again.


    ¡°I heard he even looks super scary¡­ Ugh! Why does it have to be our ss?¡±


    ¡°Is that really the issue? Hayoon is sitting right next to him. What¡¯s she going to do¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. What¡­ He¡¯s not going to do anything to me at school, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah¡­ But Cha Taehyun isn¡¯t just any crazy guy.¡±


    ¡®Even if he¡¯s crazy¡­¡¯


    He¡¯s still just a person living within society¡¯s boundaries.


    Shin Hayoon murmured softly.


    ¡°If he tries anything crazy, I¡¯ll just report him. What¡¯s there to be scared of these days? He must¡¯ve just been lucky to pick his victims wisely so far¡­ I¡¯m not the kind of person to just take it.¡±


    Creak.


    At that moment, the back door of the ssroom opened.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the back door in an instant.


    As soon as a man appeared, everyone turned away as if they were scared.


    Only¡­ Shin Hayoon kept staring at him, clenching her jaw.


    I am standing at the back door of the ssroom.


    To an outsider, it might seem like I¡¯m standing there as a punishment, but that¡¯s not it.


    Just as I was about to open the door, I overheard them talking about Cha Taehyun.


    But seriously¡­


    What kind of life did Cha Taehyun live for his reputation to be this bad?


    Fine, I¡¯ll give them a hundred excuses. Rumors that he beats people up whenever he can ¡ª if I try really hard, I might be able to ept that.


    After all, I did hear quite a bit about how fierce I looked during my high school years¡­


    But¡­


    Changing girlfriends every week, spending time at hostess bars during self-study hours¡­


    Acting like a spoiled brat because he¡¯s a rich kid who relies on his parents¡¯ wealth¡­


    That¡¯splete nonsense.


    Considering that I have no memory of Cha Taehyun¡¯s past, there¡¯s a slim chance these rumors could be true.


    But no matter how I think about it, that¡¯s not right.


    For one, Cha Taehyun is far from being a rich kid.


    Relying on his parents?


    It¡¯s already sad enough that he¡¯s an orphan here too¡­


    Anyway, listening any longer is just making me more annoyed.


    After all, right now, I am Cha Ta


    ehyun.


    How could I be in a good mood when people are treating me like a criminal?


    I slowly opened the door.


    And right away, I saw the group of girls.


    They¡¯re probably the ones who badmouthed me.


    I stared at one of them.


    Her pupils darted around.


    Did he hear¡­? was written all over her face.


    Yes. I heard.


    I heard it loud and clear.


    If you¡¯re going to talk behind someone¡¯s back, be more careful in the future.


    At that moment, I felt a piercing gaze and turned my head to meet two sharp eyes ring at me.


    Those eyes¡­


    I was caught off guard and stared for quite a while.


    It¡¯s¡­


    Honestly, it¡¯s kind of ridiculous, but¡­


    She was just so pretty.


    Her long, ck hair, small face, and sculpted features made her look like a statue.


    Is this what it feels like to see a celebrity in real life?


    Anyway¡­ Her appearance was so unrealistic.


    That¡¯s how I knew who she was, even though we hadn¡¯t introduced ourselves yet.


    One of the heroines of StrikeHeart and eventually the main heroine who ends up with the protagonist.


    She must be Shin Hayoon.


    She looked just like the illustration.


    ¡°You look pretty intimidating, huh? I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re trying to assert your dominance or something with that look, but I¡¯m not going to back down like others, okay? If you try anything funny, I¡¯ll report you immediately.¡±


    My brain froze for a moment, trying to process what nonsense she was spouting.


    Did she seriously think I was trying to assert dominance by staring at her face in a daze¡­?


    It was so absurd that I let out a dryugh.


    Shin Hayoon flinched.


    No, that¡¯s not it.


    Once you¡¯re framed the wrong way, there¡¯s no getting out of it¡­


    I sighed and pulled out the chair next to Shin Hayoon.


    ¡°Is this my seat?¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s face instantly twisted.


    I don¡¯t want to sit next to you either.


    But what can I do if there¡¯s no other seat¡­?


    I didn¡¯t get a reply, so I just sat down.


    So my image is that of a thug delinquent, but am I being treated like an outcast?


    ¡°Let me just say this¡­ I hate people like you the most, so leave me alone.¡±


    Those were the words that came from Shin Hayoon.


    I was going to ignore her, but had I already assimted with Cha Taehyun¡¯s personality?


    Because that¡­ annoyed me a bit.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I also don¡¯t want to associate with someone who changes teams without any loyalty.¡±


    ¡°What, what!¡±


    Shin Hayoon raised her voice, frowning.


    I struck a nerve.


    Of course, I did.


    Shin Hayoon is set up as a lifelong Phoenix fan since birth.


    I just denied the fan spirit she¡¯s built up her entire life, so how could I not?


    ¡°What do you know to call me a team-hopper?¡±


    Yes, you are a team-hopper.


    You switched to the Dinos as soon as your boyfriend got drafted.


    Sure, the novel describes how you can¡¯t let go of the Phoenix until the end.


    But a team-hopper is still a team-hopper.


    Anyway¡­ enough teasing for now.


    The irritation had already faded upon seeing Shin Hayoon¡¯s flushed face.


    ¡°Your face just looks like that of a team-hopper¡­ Never mind, if not.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what did you say!!¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s raised voice pierced my ears.


    I smirked andid down on my desk.


    It¡¯s wrong to judge people by their appearance.


    But you judged me as trash based on how I look first, right?


    So we¡¯re even.


    But seriously¡­


    What did Cha Taehyun dost night to feel this drowsy?


    If it weren¡¯t for my sh with Shin Hayoon, I would¡¯ve immediatelyid down and slept.


    That¡¯s how exhausted my body was.


    I was about to ept the sleepiness when¡­


    Teacher Miyeon!


    At someone¡¯s call,


    I was instantly wide awake.

 Chapter 2

    For a brief moment, I was grateful to the author who threw me into this world when I saw Teacher Miyeon.


    She looked exactly as I had imagined¡ªor rather, even more charming than I had imagined.


    ¡°Did everyone bring their gym clothes?¡±


    At Teacher Miyeon¡¯s words, Shin Hayoon, who sat next to me, rummaged through her bag and pulled out her gym clothes.


    The other students did the same.


    Hmm¡­


    Well, I did bring a bag, so¡­


    I opened it.


    ¡­ Cha Taehyun, you idiot.


    Why didn¡¯t you pack your gym clothes?


    There¡¯s not even a pencil case or a single pen. The only thing in here is a water bottle.


    I¡¯m starting to suspect that Cha Taehyun really was a delinquent¡­


    ¡°Then, everyone change into your gym clothes and head to the field!¡±


    With Teacher Miyeon¡¯s words, everyone stood up and left the ssroom, heading to the changing room.


    As for me¡­


    Is there anyone with a spare set of gym clothes?


    Honestly, with Cha Taehyun¡¯s image, it might be possible to ¡°politely¡± ask for gym clothes, but¡­


    No way. That would only make my already terrible image even worse.


    Left with no choice, I just headed to the field.


    Being hated by someone you like hurts more than you might think.


    No, it¡¯s not just ¡°being hated.¡±


    If your face turns pale the moment you make eye contact, that¡¯s fear or disgust.


    Damn gym clothes.


    It¡¯s all because of the gym clothes.


    This novel must have thrown proper depictions out the window because on the first day of school, every student miraculously remembered to bring their gym clothes.


    Except for me.


    Because of that, I stood out and naturally made eye contact with Teacher Miyeon.


    I wondered if Teacher Miyeon also knew about the bad rumors surrounding Cha Taehyun¡­


    Judging by her reaction, it¡¯s certain that she does.


    The way she¡¯s looking at me right now isn¡¯t how one would normally react to a student who just forgot their gym clothes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I forgot and left them at home.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Right! It happens! Yeah, it¡¯s fine!¡±


    Teacher Miyeon smiled, nodding her head repeatedly.


    But it was so obvious that she was forcing a smile that I felt bad just watching her.


    ¨C ¡°Wow¡­ Did you see his eyes? He¡¯s ring at Miyeon like he¡¯s going to kill her.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Yeah¡­ Poor teacher¡­¡±


    Herees the baseless criticism.


    Next, they¡¯ll probably say something like, ¡°Look at the way he sighed, is he trying to scare people¡­?¡± when I simply breathe.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first ss, so I thought we could y a ball game. I think softball would be nice. What do you all think?¡±


    Surprisingly, no one disagreed.


    Normally, they¡¯d say, ¡°Why softball? Let¡¯s y ser!¡± But I guess this is a world inside a baseball novel.


    ¡°Is everyone okay with that? Then, I¡¯ll call out student numbers, and those called will be the captains and pick team members.¡±


    Student numbers, huh? Even Teacher Miyeon can¡¯t remember all the students¡¯ names on the first day.


    Of course, I can¡¯t either.


    ¡°Number 4!¡±


    As soon as she called out ¡°Number 4,¡± one student stepped forward.


    A handsome face with a tall height.


    He didn¡¯t introduce himself, but as soon as I saw his face, I knew who he was.


    Lee Jiho. The protagonist of Strike to Your Heart (StrikeHeart).


    He looks just like his illustration.


    ¡°Next¡­ Number 28?¡±


    The moment Teacher Miyeon cheerfully called out the number, silence fell.


    An ufortable atmosphere settled in, but Number 28 didn¡¯t step forward.


    Are they too embarrassed to be the captain during gym ss?


    Annoying.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Who¡¯s Number 28? I haven¡¯t memorized everyone¡¯s names yet,¡± Teacher Miyeon asked.


    Everyone just exchanged nces, too reluctant to speak.


    At that moment, Lee Jiho looked at me and spoke.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    Oh, it¡¯s me?


    I walked forward.


    ¡°T-Then, the captains should y rock-paper-scissors to decide the order of picking team members.¡±


    Teacher Miyeon forced a smile as she spoke, and Lee Jiho red at me sharply.


    Hey, I didn¡¯t do anything¡­


    Anyway, it had been a while since Ist yed rock-paper-scissors¡­ and I surprisingly won.


    It¡¯s just rock-paper-scissors, but I beat the protagonist! I guess there¡¯s no protagonist buff for rock-paper-scissors?


    ¡°Taehyun, you can pick your team member first.¡±


    ¡°Uh, okay.¡±


    After a brief thought, I picked Number 29.


    No particr reason. I didn¡¯t know anyone¡¯s names, so I just called the next number after mine.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    A sigh escaped somewhere.


    So, Number 29 is that person?


    Shin Hayoon walked over, frowning and ring at me.


    Does she think I¡¯m happy about this?


    Lee Jiho¡¯s expression was no better. His gaze was sharp and fierce.


    It seems like there¡¯s a huge misunderstanding.


    He red at me for a long time before clicking his tongue and calling the next number.


    As expected of Teacher Miyeon, who loves baseball, she assigned the captains to take on the manager role and set the batting order, even though it was just a softball game for gym ss.


    Lee Jiho on the other side seemed to be seriously thinking about the batting order.


    I have no intention of doing the same.


    ¡°Anyone want to bat first?¡±


    No one answered. They were too busy avoiding my gaze.


    Except for one person, Shin Hayoon.


    She was ring at me like she wanted to kill me.


    ¡°Then, how about we go in order from here? Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with the half-assed approach!¡± Shin Hayoonined, but I ignored her.


    This isn¡¯t some professional game; it¡¯s just a game for gym ss. As long as everyone has fun, that¡¯s enough.


    And I¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll gost.¡±


    I then went over to the stands, sat down, and closed my eyes.


    I didn¡¯t really want to show this side of myself to Teacher Miyeon, but whatever Cha Taehyun didst night, his exhaustion was on another level.


    What the heck was this guy up to that made him so sleepy¡­?


    While Cha Taehyun slept, Shin Hayoon took on the manager role and returned to the stands after scoring.


    The game had reached its final phase, and considering the remaining time, this would likely be thest inning.


    The score was 5-2, with Shin Hayoon¡¯s team trailing by three points.


    The bases were loaded with two outs.


    A single good hit could tie the game or even lead to aeback win.


    It was an important at-bat, but the next batter was¡­


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Shin Hayoon sighed as she nced at Cha Taehyun, who was snoring in a corner of the stands.


    ¡°Of all times¡­¡±


    Though it was just a gym ss game with friends, it was a matter of pride for her, a true baseball lover.


    She couldn¡¯t just forfeit the game.


    She gritted her teeth and approached the soundly sleeping Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Hey, wake¡­ up?¡±


    She was about to shout, but her voice suddenly softened.


    ¡°Does he¡­ always look like this?¡±


    Maybe it was because he was sleeping, but his usually sharp and fierce appearance was slightly softened.


    Looking at him like this, he actually looked kind of decent¡­


    ¡°No, what am I even thinking¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey. Wake up! It¡¯s your turn.¡±


    Feeling embarrassed for no reason, she raised her voice, but Cha Taehyun didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    After letting out a deep sigh, Shin Hayoon turned back to the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°Huh? Why are you here, Hayoon?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Cha Taehyun is asleep, so I was going to take his ce. Is that okay?¡±


    Teacher Miyeon hesitated for a moment before stopping the game.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll wake him up.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You could take his ce, but it¡¯s ss time, right? Everyone should participate.¡±


    Truthfully, she had heard the rumors about Cha Taehyun and found him a bit intimidating, but her passion for teaching burned brighter.


    With determined steps, Teacher Miyeon approached the sleeping Cha Taehyun.


    Standing right in front of him, she took a deep breath and spoke.


    ¡°Taehyun, it¡¯s time to wake up.¡±


    From the stands, Shin Hayoon shook her head.


    She had practically yelled at him earlier, but he hadn¡¯t woken up.


    Teacher Miyeon¡¯s voice was much softer inparison.


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    But then, Cha Taehyun¡¯s eyes began to flutter open.


    Still a bit dazed, he stared at Teacher Miyeon and suddenly spoke.


    ¡°You¡¯re really pretty¡­¡±


    ¡°W-What?¡±


    Both Shin Hayoon and Teacher Miyeon said the same thing at the same time.


    Beyond my blurry consciousness, I heard a voice.


    A soft¡­ soothing voice that washed away my fatigue.


    Gradually, my vision started to return.


    Through my hazy sight, I began to see a woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°She¡¯s so pretty¡­¡±


    I unknowingly blurted out my thoughts.


    Then, the sounds of murmuring filled the air, and my consciousness cleared up.


    Oh.


    Once I came to my senses, I realized what I had just done.


    The other students were staring at me in shock¡­ and Teacher Miyeon had her mouth slightly open.


    Even Shin Hay


    oon looked at me with an incredulous expression.


    I needed to do some quick damage control.


    ¡°Did I say something wrong? I talk in my sleep a lot¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ sleep talking¡­ I see. That makes sense.¡±


    I breathed a sigh of relief internally.


    It seemed my hastily made-up excuse worked.


    ¡°Sorry. I dozed off for a bit.¡±


    Teacher Miyeon returned to the batter¡¯s box, and I stood up and stretched.


    I then snatched the bat from Shin Hayoon, who was staring at me from a distance, looking disgusted.


    ¡°Oh, the bases are loaded? What¡¯s the score?¡±


    ¡°5-2,¡± she replied curtly.


    ¡°Really? Then you could have just hit. You would have won.¡±


    ¡°¡­We¡¯re the 2.¡±


    Ah.


    So this was a crucial moment.


    One big hit could turn the game around¡­ This is getting interesting.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t strike out,¡± Shin Hayoon snapped.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That won¡¯t happen.¡±


    I walked past her and stood in the batter¡¯s box.


    The bat was made of rubber since it was meant for softball, and the ball wasrge and yellow.


    All the fielders were positioned to cover every gap, ensuring everyone could participate.


    This wasn¡¯t really baseball, nor was it a real batter¡¯s box, but¡­


    Oddly enough, my heart was pounding, and a grin crept onto my face.


    I thought I would be okay if I couldn¡¯t y baseball. I thought I wouldn¡¯t regret it.


    But seeing myself now¡­ it looks like that wasn¡¯t true.


    Gripping the bat, I took my stance.


    Recalling my old routine, I slightly moved the bat over the te.


    ¡°I¡¯ll hit a home run.¡±


    Oops. That was a slip.


    I unknowingly spoke to the catcher. This was a habit I picked up in the Major Leagues after experiencing racial discrimination¡­


    I didn¡¯t think that habit woulde out now.


    Maybe I¡¯m still half-asleep.


    ¡°Oh, uh, I¡¯ll tell him to throw it down the middle,¡± the catcher responded nervously.


    ¡°I was just kidding. It doesn¡¯t matter where he throws it.¡±


    Seriously, because of my image, I can¡¯t say anything without causing a stir.


    ¡°Time!¡±


    Huh?


    Someone called for time, and it was Lee Jiho.


    ¡°Can I pitch? Wooseok doesn¡¯t seem to be feeling well.¡±


    Indeed, Wooseok, the pitcher, did look unwell. His face was pale, like he might copse any moment.


    Is it my fault?


    Anyway, Teacher Miyeon gave the okay, and Lee Jiho took the mound.


    Gripping the ball, he red at me.


    I suddenly felt like I was the viin here.


    Now I was curious.


    Winning in rock-paper-scissors was just a small event, so beating the protagonist wasn¡¯t that surprising¡­


    But could I beat the protagonist of this world in this showdown with one out on the line?


    Well¡­


    I¡¯ll find out.


    He turned his arm, preparing for an underhand pitch, as is standard in softball.


    At the same time, I took a breath.


    As soon as the ball left his hand,


    I swung with the essence of my years of baseball experience in mind.


    ¨C Whoosh.


    Wait, what?


    My body spun around as I swung the bat, and I fell t on the ground.


    ¨C ¡°Pfft!¡±


    I heardughter, and Shin Hayoon was covering her mouth, chuckling.


    Her shoulders were shaking; she found this really funny.


    I stood up and grabbed the bat again.


    It¡¯s been so long since I had both legs working¡­n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After living with one paralyzed leg for years, I lost my bnce.


    But¡­ that was enough to get the feel back.


    I took my stance again, focusing on his fingertips.


    -Swish.


    As expected, the protagonist is the protagonist.


    Despite being a softball and an underhand throw, the ball flew in with terrifying speed.


    One mishap is enough. Two would be overkill.


    -Thwack!


    My signature batting form came through, and the bat swung powerfully, striking the ball squarely.


    The dull impact traveled from my fingertips, spreading through my whole body. The ball soared high into the sky.


    Watching it fly further and further, I dropped the bat,


    and when the ball disappeared over the fence,


    I jogged toward the bases lightly.

 Chapter 3

    The game, which had been trailing by three points, was instantly overturned with a home run.


    Given the remaining time, it was effectively a walk-off home run.


    Despite such a dramatic moment, the field was silent, with no cheers to be heard.


    The only sound was Cha Taehyun¡¯s footsteps as he rounded the bases.


    Everyone stood there, mouths agape, staring up at the sky in a daze.


    ¡°How far is that ball going?¡±


    That was probably the thought on everyone¡¯s mind on the field.


    However, the ball¡¯s final destination would remain unknown, as it had disappeared from sight over the fence.


    Only then did the students start to murmur. ¡°Wow¡­ Who knew he had that kind of skill?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, did he learn baseball somewhere?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ was it that impressive? Sure, he hit well, but this is just softball.¡±


    Amid the murmuring, there was still one person who hadn¡¯t yet gathered her thoughts.


    Shin Hayoon.


    She was born to parents who were die-hard Phoenix fans, grabbed a baseball at her first birthday, and had been watching Phoenix games in person since she was five. She was a girl madly in love with baseball and Phoenix.


    Naturally, she was well-versed in baseball.


    She was secretly nurturing a dream of bing a professional baseball coach, so it was strange for her to be so captivated just by seeing a home run in a softball game during gym ss.


    Even she thought it was unusual.


    However,


    The batting form Cha Taehyun just showed¡­


    ¡°Does that even make sense?¡±


    As someone dreaming of bing a coach, she had seen countless batting forms from yers.


    That¡¯s why she was even more confused.


    His positioning suggested he understood his body structure perfectly.


    A wless leg-kick timing.


    Aunch angle that seemed designed solely to create a home run, without a single misstep.


    Although it was her first time seeing this batting form, the smooth, precise execution was nothing short of awe-inspiring.


    It¡¯s said you can gauge a batter¡¯s level just by their batting form.


    If that were true, then the form this man just disyed was at the level of a professional yer.


    Perhaps¡­


    ¡°His batting form might even be better than Jiho¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    She shook her head vigorously, but soon frowned again, tilting her head in confusion.


    ¡°No¡­ no way.¡±


    Even considering the difference in how she felt about the people she liked and disliked¡­


    The batting form she saw was powerful enough to shake those feelings.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    At that moment, Cha Taehyun, who had approached unnoticed, tapped Shin Hayoon¡¯s shoulder with his fist.


    ¡°You took on the manager role for me, right? Thanks. Just hang in there a bit more. It¡¯s almost over.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She stared nkly at Cha Taehyun as he returned to the stands and ced a hand over her chest.


    For some reason,


    her heart was beating a little faster.


    The game ended, and the students returned to the ssroom.


    However, Teacher Miyeon stayed on the field.


    Because there was still one student who hadn¡¯t returned to the ssroom.


    Taking a deep breath, Miyeon clenched her hands, resolving herself.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Miyeon. You woke him up once already.¡±


    Of course, back then, she had the students around her, giving her courage, unlike now, when she was alone¡­


    But still¡­ how could a teacher be afraid of a student? If the student was on the wrong path, it was her job to guide him onto the right one.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what a teacher does.¡±


    Summoning her courage, Miyeon slowly approached the sleeping Cha Taehyun.


    Even though her body trembled a little, it soon calmed down.


    ¡°What is this¡­?¡±


    The moment she saw the peacefully sleeping face of Cha Taehyun, a faint smile crept across her lips.


    ¡°He¡¯s still just a kid, after all.¡±


    Though she didn¡¯t believe in reading faces, his sleeping face looked so innocent.


    It almost made her think that the rumors about Cha Taehyun might be untrue.


    As she was about to wake him, her mouth opened, but then¡­


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s lips moved first.


    ¡°Miyeon¡­ Teacher¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°Miyeon Teacher¡­ it¡¯s so sad¡­ what should I do¡­¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s mouth dropped open at his unexpected words.


    ¡°Is he¡­ sleep-talking? He did say earlier that he talks a lot in his sleep¡­¡±


    That was the most logical exnation, but the way he said ¡°Miyeon Teacher¡± seemed like he was referring to her.


    More importantly¡­


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s face was full of sorrow.


    It was as if he was genuinely worried about her.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Perhaps feeling sorry for him, Miyeon instinctively stopped the hand that had been reaching for his face.


    ¡°I need to wake him up¡­ ss is about to start.¡±


    Smack!


    pping her own cheek, Miyeon lightly tapped Cha Taehyun¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Taehyun?¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t call out loudly, Cha Taehyun¡¯s eyes immediately opened.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Miyeon Teacher¡­?¡±


    His drowsy tone made Miyeon chuckle softly.


    ¡°No matter how tired you are, you can¡¯t keep sleeping here.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It really seems like those rumors were false.¡±


    He might look a little intimidating, but his sleeping face was gentle, he was polite, and he even apologized properly¡­


    More than anything¡­


    ¡°He seems to like baseball.¡±


    Recalling his batting earlier, Miyeon smiled faintly.


    Someone who loves baseball couldn¡¯t be a bad person.


    It might sound ridiculous, but for her, a baseball lover, it was a pretty convincing standard.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get up now, Taehyun. The bell will ring soon.¡±


    Miyeon extended her hand first. Cha Taehyun hesitated shyly before taking her hand and standing up.


    ¡°See? He¡¯s just an ordinary kid.¡±


    Smiling, Miyeon walked back to the ssroom with Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°¡­Hey.¡±


    A voice that sounded irritating even in my hazy consciousness called out.


    Ignoring it and trying to sleep again only made the voice grow louder.


    ¡°¡­Hey!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m awake-¡°


    Before the high-pitched voice could pierce my ears, I lifted my head.


    [5:30 PM]


    My blurry eyes nced at the clock; it was well past the end time.


    School usually ends at 4:30 PM, so I had been out for an hour.


    No wonder the ssroom was empty.


    Except for one person.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone home? It¡¯s the first day, so there¡¯s no evening study.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Shin Hayoon made a dumbfounded face, making me chuckle.


    ¡°Just kidding. Thanks for waking me up.¡±


    I genuinely meant it.


    All the other students had left me behind.


    If it weren¡¯t for Shin Hayoon, I might have slept here until nightfall.


    My first impression of her wasn¡¯t great, but as the main heroine, she does seem to have a kind heart.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not like I waited an hour just to wake you up, you know?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    I gave a short reply and was about to leave when I heard her irritated voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s not true!¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright, I get it.¡±


    ¡°I came back because I forgot something in the ssroom. Then I met Miyeon Teacher, who was on her way to wake you up, so I came instead.¡±


    She gave such a detailed exnation that it seemed like she really couldn¡¯t ept the idea of ¡°waiting an hour to wake me up.¡±


    Wait, so Teacher Miyeon was going to wake me up?


    As expected of Miyeon Teacher.


    Even a delinquent like Cha Taehyun gets her care.


    ¡°Why are you smirking?¡±


    ¡°Something good happened.¡±


    ¡°¡­Even though you were just sleeping.¡±


    ¡°There are things like that.¡±


    After saying that, I started to leave the ssroom, but¡­


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s voice stopped me.


    Turning around, I saw the reddish lighting through the window, half-illuminating Shin Hayoon¡¯s face.


    Staring at me, she suddenly bit her lip and started to look pained.


    ¡­What was she trying to do, calling me back like this?


    I was seriously puzzled.


    I considered ignoring her and turning away, but then¡­


    A small voice reached my ears.


    ¡°Did you¡­ learn baseball?¡±


    I chuckled quietly.


    I wondered what she was going to say that seemed so agonizing, only to find out that she was just curious if I had learned baseball.


    ¡°¡­Did you learn baseball?¡± she asked again, urging for a response.


    Her face was turning a bit more flushed, probably because she was embarrassed.


    ¡°I did learn it.¡±


    Most of my baseball techniques were self-taught, but I was part of the baseball team at least.


    ¡°Then¡­ that batting form¡­ did you learn it? If so, from whom?¡±


    Shin Hayoon started speaking faster, and I finally understood why she had approached me, despite feeling so conflicted.


    ¡°You want me to teach you the batting form?¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s eyes widened.


    She probably thought my batting form was impressive and wanted to record it.


    That¡¯s just how passionate she is about her dream of bing a coach.


    I¡¯m inclined to teach her out of admiration for that passion.


    ¡°But not now. Maybe next time when I have some free time.¡±


    For now, adapting to this worldes first.


    Shin Hayoon looked a bit disappointed but got up and walked past me.


    Without even a goodbye.


    She made her exit in the coolest way possible.


    Watching her back, a thought crossed my mind.


    ¡°Was her character always this rude?¡±


    As I exited


    the school gate, a familiar dizziness struck me, and Cha Taehyun¡¯s memories started flooding in.


    They weren¡¯t particrly important, but¡­


    I finally figured out the cause of the extreme fatigue I had felt all day.


    ¡°This Cha Taehyun¡­ he¡¯s really something.¡±


    For reference, my calling him ¡°crazy¡± was meant as an exmation of admiration.


    I had also grown up without parents, so I had experienced a rough life¡­


    At least I only had to take care of myself¡­


    But this world¡¯s Cha Taehyun?


    He has a younger sister two years younger than him.


    Working two part-time jobs every day to take care of his only sibling.


    ¡°And they treat this kid like a delinquent¡­¡±


    I don¡¯t know who spread those rumors, but that¡¯s really too much.


    Even I feel wronged on his behalf.


    ¡°Taehyun, let¡¯s get back to work! Customers areing in. Bring out some meat!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m on it!¡±


    I quickly got up and headed for the meat storage.


    After working a five-hour shift at the barbecue restaurant and a six-hour night shift at a convenience store¡ªa total of eleven hours¡ªI finally looked at the clock to see it was 4 AM.


    ¡°At least the house is close by¡­¡±


    If the convenience store had been far away from my home, I might have copsed on the way.


    I inserted the key into the doorknob, turned it, and went inside.


    Creak.


    I opened the door gently, but¡­n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It seems the door is really old.


    I was about to carefully enter my room when the door next to mine opened.


    ¡°Oppa¡­ you¡¯re back?¡±


    A girl approached, rubbing her eyes with her disheveled hair.


    I was seeing her for the first time, but strangely, she didn¡¯t feel unfamiliar.


    Instead, I felt a warm sensation in my chest.


    Unknowingly, the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.


    ¡°Why are you up? Go back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°I just woke up¡­¡±


    ¡°Sleep tight. You¡¯ll oversleep.¡±


    My sister¡­ no, Cha Jihyun, smiled faintly before going back to her room.


    I entered my room as well.


    ¡°¡­What the heck.¡±


    Originally, I nned to copse and fall asleep as soon as I got home.


    But my emotions were all over the ce after seeing Jihyun just now, so I couldn¡¯t close my eyes easily.


    My chest hurt.


    Were these Cha Taehyun¡¯s feelings for his sister?


    Or was it just mypassion for siblings growing up without parents?


    I closed my eyes to think for a moment, and soon came to a conclusion.


    I decided to consider them my own feelings.


    That seemed easier. You can¡¯t ignore feelings just because you want to.


    Especially since these were feelings for family, something I had never experienced before.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stay up a bit longer.¡±


    I am the type who acts immediately once I set my mind on something.


    The moment I epted these feelings as mine, I also gained a new goal¡ªto take responsibility for my family.


    So, sleeping now was out of the question.


    That¡¯s just how I am.


    I closed the door and turned on the light.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s see¡­ The money I¡¯ve saved up is¡­ 10 million won¡­ I¡¯ve worked hard¡­ Since I¡¯m a sophomore now¡­ I need to build a body fit for a pro within a year¡­ If I can make it to the draft¡­¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    After roughly outlining my n, I finally lifted my head.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Stretching my body, I nced at the window, then let out a hollowugh.


    ¡°It¡¯s already time for school¡­¡±

 Chapter 4

    When I opened my eyes, surprisingly, there wasn¡¯t a single student left in the ssroom.


    Did I sleep until the end of the day again? No, judging by the bright sunlight, that wasn¡¯t the case.


    ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime.¡±


    In that case, an empty ssroom made sense.


    There was still plenty of time left in the lunch period, so I could probably still grab a meal if I went now.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, you¡¯re really something¡­¡±


    It turned out that Cha Taehyun hadn¡¯t even signed up for school meals, trying to save everyst penny.


    Not that I was disappointed. It actually worked out better for me.


    To build a body fit for baseball, I¡¯d need to manage my diet. It was much more efficient if I took care of it myself. I took my phone out of my pocket.


    Since I was awake, I figured I¡¯d send the message I couldn¡¯t sendst night.


    The message was simple.


    I was quitting half of the part-time jobs that Cha Taehyun had packed his schedule with every day.


    When I was a pro athlete, my body was so strong that my nickname was ¡°Indestructible.¡± Working two part-time jobs a day wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    I had undergone much harsher training than that.


    But it wasn¡¯t efficient, and I¡¯d need to set aside time for when I joined the baseball team.


    ¡°I had about 10 million won saved up, right?¡±


    It was money that had probably been saved up little by little for Jihyun, who was going to be a college student¡­


    But I guess I¡¯d need to start using it now.


    If I quit half of the part-time jobs, I wouldn¡¯t be able to get by without breaking into that savings.


    I¡¯ll make sure to seed with this money and pay it back¡­


    After sending the message, Iy back down.


    To withstand the grueling schedule, I needed to sleep as much as possible at school.


    I was just about to fall back asleep when¡­


    Tap tap


    Someone tapped on my shoulder.


    I intended to ignore it, but soon, a voice I couldn¡¯t disregard reached my ears.


    ¡°Taehyun, it¡¯s lunchtime. You should go eat.¡±


    I slowly lifted my head.


    ¡°Did you sleep well?¡±


    Right in front of me was Teacher Miyeon, smiling faintly.


    Startled, I pushed my chair back.


    Teacher Miyeon chuckled softly, then reached out and patted my shoulder.


    ¡°Still half asleep? Snap out of it and go eat. You must be hungry.¡±


    Was it because I really wasn¡¯t fully awake? My face suddenly felt hot.


    ¡°¡­Well, I didn¡¯t sign up for school meals.¡±


    Teacher Miyeon¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Huh? Why¡­? You must be really hungry.¡±


    I hesitated, wondering how to respond¡­


    ¡°I don¡¯t have parents¡­ so I try to save as much as I can.¡±


    I just decided to be upfront.


    It felt a bit impulsive, but I figured it would be okay to tell Miyeon.


    ¡°¡­Oh, no¡­ I¡­¡±


    Her face went pale, and she didn¡¯t know how to continue.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I asked without thinking.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I was the one who said it.¡±


    She nced at me nervously before asking in a quieter voice,


    ¡°Did you¡­ not sign up for after-school study either because you have to work?¡±


    With that question, she started asking me various things.


    It suddenly felt like a counseling session, but it didn¡¯t make me feel ufortable.


    I could tell that she was genuinely concerned for me.


    When I finished telling my story,


    Miyeon wiped her slightly teary eyes and handed me something.


    ¡°It¡¯s a lunchbox¡­ you eat it, Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­? Isn¡¯t this yours, Teacher?¡±


    ¡°I-I already ate the bread that the third-period teacher brought, so I¡¯m fine!¡±


    Just eat it!


    She left those words behind and fled the ssroom.


    I stared nkly at her retreating back, then opened the lid of the lunchbox.


    Inside were white rice and sausages cut to look like octopuses.


    I picked up a piece of sausage with the wooden chopsticks included in the lunchbox and, for some reason, felt indignant.


    ¡°You chose Shin Hayoon over someone like Teacher Miyeon?¡±


    I really don¡¯t get it.


    Even though I said I¡¯d keep working until they found a recement, the barbecue restaurant owner replied that I didn¡¯t need toe in anymore starting today. He even left a message wishing me sess wherever I went, so he seemed like a pretty decent person.


    Thanks to that, I was now at a park near the school.


    I had this precious free time, so I couldn¡¯t waste it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with some light jogging.¡±


    Nothing beats building basic stamina.


    As I was stretching and getting ready to run, I noticed a flyer lying on the ground.


    [Phoenix Batting Center! Now Open!]


    ¡°What¡¯s with this tacky flyer?¡±


    The font was ridiculously outdated, with decorations like confetti and other gaudy effects.


    Still, the facility looked decent.


    The sheen on the machines in the photos made it look like they were showing off how new they were.


    I kept reading, but when I reached thest line, I couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing.


    [Grand Opening Event! Hit the target 3 out of 10 times and win a premium bat signed by 7 Phoenix yers (ZZET brand)!]


    No professional yers allowed!


    ¡°They clearly don¡¯t intend to give away the prize.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how far away the target was or where it was positioned, but hitting it 3 out of 10 times?


    Even for a professional level yer, that wouldn¡¯t be easy; for an average person, it was practically impossible.


    Sure, it¡¯d be doable if they threw fastballs to the same spot every time¡­ but there¡¯s no way they¡¯d do that.


    The part that said ¡°No professional yers allowed¡± made it obvious that this was less of an event and more like¡­


    ¡°A Phoenix fan bragging about their signed bat.¡±


    I had nned to avoid batting practice until I got my body back in shape¡­


    But this? I couldn¡¯t let it slide.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    I followed the map to the batting center.


    ¡ª


    Already on the bus, Miyeon turned on her phone.


    She quickly tapped into the Phoenix Gallery, an onlinemunity for Phoenix fans.


    Since the team was almost always at the bottom of the league, themunity was often nicknamed the ¡°Bottom-ix Gallery.¡±


    But checking out the top posts on the Phoenix Gallery was one of Miyeon¡¯s small joys.


    She chuckled as she read through the popr posts until one caught her eye.


    [Batting center next to Hyuksan Park is having a huge event!]


    ¡°Hyuksan Park?¡±


    That was only two stops away.


    She clicked on the post as if hypnotized.


    [Author: Anonymous]


    I found this flyer while walking, and OMG, look at the prize!


    Seriously, is this for real?


    [Upvotes: 32 | Downvotes: 78]


    ©¸ ¡°It really is crazy, look at the conditions, lol.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Is this even an event?¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Must be loaded if they¡¯re running an event like this, lol.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°¡®No professionals allowed!¡¯ is hrious, lol.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°I¡¯ve been ying amateur baseball for ten years, so I¡¯ll give it a shot, lol.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Good luck with that.¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°A bat signed by Phoenix yers!¡±


    The bat itself was already quite expensive, but a bat signed by seven Phoenix yers? Was this for real?


    All seven yers were ones she cheered for passionately.


    ¡°The next stop is Hyuksan Park. The following stop is Hyuksan Ipa¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Sir! I¡¯ll get off here! Sorry!¡±


    Miyeon was not only a fan of baseball but also good at it.


    She had been the fourth batter on a little league baseball team when she was young.


    Although her dream of bing a professional yer faded as she grew up, she continued to visit batting centers as a hobby.


    ¡°I can do this¡­¡±


    She was fairly confident.


    When Miyeon entered the batting center, she was surprised by how crowded it was.


    ¡°Who would even do this¡­?¡±


    It seemed that every Phoenix fan who had seen the post had shown up.


    Worried that someone else might win the prize, Miyeon quickly headed to the second floor where people had gathered.


    But once she got there, she realized there wasn¡¯t really a line.


    People seemed to be standing back, just watching.


    ¡°How do I participate in the event?¡±


    As Miyeon looked around, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the owner approached her.


    ¡°Would you like to participate in the event?¡±


    ¡°Oh! Yes!¡±


    The owner stroked his chin and asked,


    ¡°It¡¯s 10,000 won per try¡­ is that okay?¡±


    ¡°T-Ten thousand won?¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t mentioned on the flyer¡­¡±


    Seeing her hesitation, the owner quickly added,


    ¡°For women, the machine is set to be easier. It¡¯s a new model, so I can adjust it in real-time.¡±


    ¡°¡­Really? ¡­Then I¡¯ll try.¡±


    The people around her started murmuring, ¡°Ooh,¡± making Miyeon feel slightly embarrassed.


    She hurried into the batting area, and the owner went into the control room.


    For female participants, the speed was set to 80 km/h.


    As he moved the gauge to 80, the owner paused as he observed Miyeon¡¯s stance in the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°¡­Her form looks pretty decent.¡±


    Ahem.


    The owner discreetly added 20 km/h to set it to 100.


    ¡°For men, the speed is set


    between 120-140 km/h, so setting it to 100 isn¡¯t exactly a lie.¡±


    Click.


    As soon as the settings were finalized, the machine made a whirring sound, and the ball shot out.


    Whack!


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The owner¡¯s eyes widened.


    Not only was her batting form polished, but she also hit the ball cleanly, striking the center of the target.


    ¡°But I set it to 100?¡±


    Just as he was about to double-check the speed¡­


    Whack!


    Another sharp sound filled the room, resonating through the owner¡¯s body.


    She missed the target this time, but still made solid contact.


    Gulp.


    ¡°¡­She probably just got lucky.¡±


    Whack!


    Whack!


    Whack!


    When Miyeon finally struck the target for the second time in a row, a bead of cold sweat formed on the owner¡¯s forehead.


    Now came thest, 10th ball¡­


    His hand sneaked toward the mouse.


    ¡°I never said I wouldn¡¯t use breaking balls¡­¡±


    He had only thrown fastballs for female participants up until now, but he hadn¡¯t promised to throw only fastballs, had he?


    Click.


    Whoosh.


    In the end, Miyeon¡¯s bat cut through the air as she missed a forkball.


    The sound of sighs came from outside, while a sigh of relief echoed through the control room.


    The owner exited the room and approached Miyeon.


    ¡°Oh dear¡­ that was close. You did really well.¡±


    ¡°Hey, why did a breaking balle out suddenly? You gave only fastballs to the other women.¡±


    Miyeon red at the owner, whoughed awkwardly and replied,


    ¡°Well¡­ Breaking balls were part of it. The other participants must have been lucky. Anyway, thank you foring to the Phoenix Batting Center. Would you like to try again?¡±


    ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Would you like to try again?¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s voice became sharper.


    It wasn¡¯t just about losing the prize; it was frustrating to have fallen for the forkball.


    ¡°I got struck out¡­ by a forkball¡­¡±


    How could shein while watching broadcasts now?


    ¡°Haha¡­ Miss, it¡¯s 10,000 won per try. Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Please just give up and go!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s start again.¡±


    The owner entered the control room with a bitter smile.


    He briefly considered increasing the speed but then shook his head.


    ¡°I should maintain some semnce of fairness. I¡¯ll just increase the rate of breaking balls¡­¡±


    Although he had already crossed the line long ago, the owner seemed to be oblivious to that fact.


    With that, Miyeon¡¯s challenge resumed.


    This time, she didn¡¯t swing helplessly at the breaking balls.


    ¡°Ah¡­ So close, it barely missed.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­ But the owner is something else. How do you expect us to hit the target with breaking balls?¡±


    Hitting the target with a breaking ball was proving to be difficult.


    ¡°One more try!¡±


    ¡°One¡­ more.¡±


    ¡°One¡­ more¡­¡±


    The owner¡¯s face beamed with joy as he earned an easy 40,000 won, while Miyeon¡¯s face grew darker.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    As the bat sliced through the air, Miyeon let out a sigh.


    Thus, her fifth attempt ended in failure.


    ¡°Oh dear¡­ So close! You only needed to hit two more. Would you like to try again?¡±


    During the first attempt, he had acted nervous, hoping she would leave, but now he was so confident he was almost smug.


    Miyeon bit her lip, bowing her head.


    If she didn¡¯t, she might not be able to hold back her frustration.


    ¡°Well? Are you going to try again or not?¡±


    The owner goaded her, oblivious to her feelings.


    She was about to shout in frustration when¡­


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    A familiar voice came from behind her.


    When she looked up, she saw Cha Taehyun standing there.


    ¡°Should a teacher really be gambling like this?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not gambling, it¡¯s¡­ an event.¡±


    ¡°What event? It¡¯s 10,000 won per try. Give me the bat.¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    Before she could react, Taehyun took the bat from her hands.


    ¡°Taehyun? Are you going to try it¡­ too?¡±


    Miyeon looked at him with concern.


    Taehyun was in a situation where he was even skipping school meals to save money. Spending 10,000 won on a single attempt might affect his daily life.


    ¡°The bat is nice¡­ Yes, it¡¯s certainly tempting¡­ But it¡¯s too difficult. I don¡¯t think I should do it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really want the bat.¡±


    ¡°¡­What? Then why?¡±


    ¡°I felt sorry seeing you lose money. I¡¯ll win it back for you.¡±


    Miyeon felt her face heat up and bowed her head slightly.


    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t lose that much!¡±


    Taehyun chuckled softly, cing his hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°T-Taehyun?¡±


    He pushed her gently out of the batting area.


    Gazing at her briefly from behind the door, he closed it and left her with a partingment.


    ¡°Three balls. Just wait for me to hit three. I¡¯ll get that bat.¡±

 Chapter 5

    Miyeon took out her wallet.


    ¡®I should pay for him¡­¡¯


    She had already lost 50,000 won, so the loss was significant, but she felt uneasy about ignoring Cha Taehyun, who even saved money on school meals.


    There happened to be a 10,000-won bill in her wallet¡­


    Just as Miyeon picked up the bill¡ª


    Whack!


    A sharp, clear sound resonated through her body.


    She quickly looked up to see the ball flying in a straight line, striking the target dead center.


    ¡°Oh¡­! Did you see that?¡± ¡°Looks like he¡¯s got some skill.¡±


    ¡°His form is different. Could he be a former athlete?¡±


    The audience quickly started murmuring among themselves, and Miyeon let out a gasp of admiration like the others.


    ¡°Wow¡­ How did he hit it right in the center like that?¡±


    ¡®Could this¡­ be possible?¡¯


    Just as she thought that maybe it could work¡ª


    Whack!


    Once again, a clean swing sent the ball soaring,nding right in the center of the target.


    ¡°Wow! Who is that guy?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s crazy! Is he really not a pro?¡±


    When he hit the target twice in a row, the atmosphere immediately heated up, and Miyeon¡¯s lips curled into a broad smile as she clenched her fists.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Cha Taehyun, their breathing growing heavy as they watched.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°Oh, excuse me! Sorry!¡±


    The owner rushed out, repeatedly bowing.


    ¡°I, uh¡­ I identally touched the mouse and pressed the stop button. I¡¯ll restart it right away, so please wait a moment.¡±


    ¡°What the¡ª¡±


    Before the enraged Miyeon could say anything¡ª


    ¡°Hey, old man! Are you kidding us?¡±


    ¡°What kind of trick are you trying to pull here? You¡¯re not nning to increase the speed again, are you?¡±


    The crowd erupted in anger, with threats to break the machine if the speed was tampered with, and demands for the owner to run his business properly. Then, surprisingly, Cha Taehyun spoke up.


    ¡°Well, if you want to increase the speed, go ahead.¡±


    His unexpected words left everyone stunned, including the owner.


    ¡°Right now, it feels like it¡¯s around 142¡­ no, maybe 143? Since things have gotten this far, why don¡¯t you just increase it to whatever speed you want?¡±


    ¡°Wha¡ª No¡­ you just need to hit it once more to win the bat¡­¡±


    Miyeon mumbled in a small voice, hoping he wouldn¡¯t hear. To be honest, everyone was thinking the same.


    Except for one person¡ªthe owner.


    ¡°Oh my, you really know how to have fun, don¡¯t you? Then I¡¯ll set it to 10 kilometers faster.¡±


    ¡°Old man¡ª¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Before the others could even start protesting, Cha Taehyun¡¯s words came out so confidently that it made people wonder if they had heard him correctly.


    The owner cleared his throat and went back into the control room.


    Whirrrr.


    As the machine began warming up, the crowd let out disappointed sighs.


    ¡°If only he hit it one more time, the owner would be screwed¡­¡±


    ¡°Such a shame¡­¡±


    Miyeon clenched her jaw, her lips forming a downward triangle.


    ¡®Taehyun said he¡¯d do it!¡¯


    To be honest, she didn¡¯t believe it at first, but hadn¡¯t she just seen his two hits?


    Miyeon sincerely believed that Cha Taehyun could do it.


    And soon, that belief¡ª


    Whack!


    ¡ªbecame a reality.


    ¡°Taehyun!!¡±


    Miyeon instinctively smiled brightly and was about to run toward him¡ª


    ¡°Wow!!! Who the hell is that guy!!¡±


    ¡°Whoa!!!!!!!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone hit such a fast pitch before, but this guy hit it!¡±


    ¡°Not just hit it! He nailed that square target! Even pros can¡¯t do that!¡±


    A group of older men swarmed around, pushing her away.


    ¡°Hey! Where are you from? You live in Busan, right? Do you like the Phoenix?¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    ¡°You look like you belong with the Phoenix. Join the Phoenix!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s perfect. He¡¯s ace material for the Phoenix!¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯s got such a ruggedly handsome face! You have to join the Phoenix!¡±


    Cha Taehyun, overwhelmed by thepliments, looked lost, and Miyeon couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    It almost felt like she was the one receiving the praise.


    ¡°You¡¯re going pro, right?¡±


    One of the older men¡¯s questions rang out.


    Miyeon was curious too, so she focused on his answer.


    ¡°Going pro? Of course, I have to. That¡¯s my dream¡ªto be a professional athlete.¡±


    ¡°Whoa!!!! As expected! So, which team will you join? The Phoenix? Busan Phoenix? The Phoenix, right?¡±


    Taehyun, his face turning red, paused before answering.


    Everyone fell silent, as if they wouldn¡¯t let this moment slip by.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been a Phoenix fan since the day I was born.¡±


    ¡°YEAH!!!!! He¡¯s going to the Phoenix!¡±


    The crowd erupted in cheers, as if they had just won the Korean Series.


    Miyeon didn¡¯t shout, but she nodded her head energetically with a radiant smile.


    ¡°See! I knew Taehyun was a good kid!¡±


    The atmosphere reached a fever pitch, and just as they were about to toss Cha Taehyun into the air¡ª


    ¡°Wait! Please, everyone, wait a moment!¡±


    The owner pushed through the crowd to approach Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Old man! You¡¯re not trying to back out of giving the bat, are you?¡±


    The crowd seemed to share the same suspicion, nodding their heads.


    ¡°Oh, do you really see me as that kind of person?¡±


    Miyeon and everyone else red at the owner suspiciously.


    ¡°I will give it to him. I will, so everyone calm down¡­ Anyway, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Cha Taehyun¡ªsounds like a name fit for someone who¡¯d be great at baseball. And you¡¯re joining the Phoenix, right?¡±


    ¡°If they call me, yes.¡±


    ¡°Is that true? Can you swear it?¡±


    ¡°I grabbed a Phoenix cap at my first birthday party.¡±


    ¡®T-Taehyun?¡¯


    For a moment, Miyeon thought about asking, ¡°Did you even have a first birthday party?¡± but couldn¡¯t say it out loud.


    The owner suddenly rummaged through his pockets and took out two keys.


    ¡°This one¡¯s for the storage room, and this one¡¯s for the control room. Use them whenever I¡¯m not around.¡±


    ¡°Pardon¡­?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d charge the future ace of the Phoenix? There are plenty of baseball supplies in storage that I used to use, so take whatever you need.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Taehyun¡¯s jaw dropped.


    Honestly, he had expected the owner to put up a fight and refuse to give him the bat, not to provide such benefits.


    ¡°Wow, old man, you seemed a bit sketchy earlier, but I see you in a new light.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a true fan!¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s how you invest! I can tell he¡¯ll seed.¡±


    As Taehyun continued to stare nkly at the keys, the owner ced them in his hand.


    ¡°Th-Thank you!¡±


    When Taehyun shouted in gratitude, the owner gave a sly smile and turned his back, leaving him with onest remark.


    ¡°Alright. When you debut, make sure to mention that I was your sponsor in your interview.¡±


    ¡®Is he senile? This really is a novel! This shit would never happen in the real world. Was this a plot convenience made for the protagonist?¡¯


    By the time they left the batting center, stars were already shining in the sky.


    They had spent more time than expected, and as a result, Taehyun had missed his training session.


    ¡°Hehehe¡­ It even has Im Myeong-seok¡¯s signature¡­¡±


    Seeing Miyeon unable to stop smiling at the bat with a blissful look, it seemed like it was well worth the time.


    When Miyeon was happy, that made Taehyun happy too.


    ¡°Do you like it that much?¡±


    Miyeon nodded her head so vigorously that it was almost overwhelming.


    That was how excited she was.


    ¡°Really, thank you so much, Taehyun¡­ I really wanted this. Is it really okay for me to have it?¡±


    ¡°Come on, I told you not to worry about it. Besides, you spent a lot of money today. You deserve this much to sleep well tonight.¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s face turned slightly red.


    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t spend that much¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll walk you to the bus stop.¡±


    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°To be a baseball yer, I need to build my body, so it¡¯s good to move around.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right! Then should we run together?¡±


    This teacher¡¯s energy is crazy. How excited is she?


    Miyeon even got into a running stance, which made Taehyun burst intoughter.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just walk. You can¡¯t run while holding that.¡±


    ¡°Haha! You¡¯re right, let¡¯s walk then, Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    They faced each other and slowly walked along the night path.


    Maybe it was the cool breeze, or maybe it was the stars shining brighter than usual.


    Either way, the world felt beautiful.


    Three weeks had passed since I arrived in this world.


    I had adapted quite well, blending into this society.


    However, I still hadn¡¯t shaken off this delinquent image¡­


    To change that, I¡¯d have to stop sleeping at school, but with my training and part-time job schedule, that wasn¡¯t possible, so I resigned myself to it.


    So what if I have that image at school?


    ¡°Taehyun, want to eat this lunchbox?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re offering, I¡¯d dly eat it.¡±


    As long as Teacher


    Miyeon saw me positively, that was enough.


    With all the students in the cafeteria for lunch, Miyeon sat at a desk by the window, tapping it lightly.


    When I sat across from her, she ced a lunchbox on the desk.


    Just by looking at it, you could tell it was made with care.


    I was so thankful that I was almost moved to tears.


    Miyeon had said, ¡°I have a hobby of making lunchboxes¡­ so if you could help eat some of it, that¡¯d be nice.¡±


    But I knew that was a lie.


    There was not a single line in the novel mentioning that Teacher Miyeon had such a hobby, even in the final chapter.


    ¡°Come to think of it, Taehyun, are you nning to join the baseball team soon?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I think I can keep up with the training now, so I¡¯ll join soon.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great! Let me know when you have a game. I¡¯lle to cheer you on.¡±


    I flinched at Miyeon¡¯s words.


    That line was originally directed at Lee Jiho.


    In a way, I had stolen the teacher¡¯s support from him¡­


    But who cares?


    He¡¯s the guy who would eventually ditch the teacher for his childhood friend anyway.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll let you know if it¡¯s a weekend game.¡±


    Just then, a breeze blew through the window, causing Miyeon¡¯s hair to flutter slightly.


    I turned my head toward the window out of curiosity, and that¡¯s when I saw¡­


    Seo Jia?


    Seo Jia, who was the second most popr heroine after Shin Hayoon, was carrying a box full of baseballs and heading somewhere.


    Now that I think about it, that character Seo Jia¡­


    Her very existence is absurd¡­


    When have you ever seen a female manager in a Korean high school baseball team? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re in some Japanese baseball manga.


    She was a character created by the author¡¯s tendency to include numerous heroines, disregarding all sense of realism.


    That was Seo Jia.


    I frowned as I observed her face closely.


    Not because I wanted to see how pretty she was.


    Even if she is pretty, she has yandere tendencies, so I don¡¯t want to get close to her.


    ¡­Has it already started? Her expression doesn¡¯t look good.


    To figure out when I should intervene in the novel¡¯s plot, nothing was more telling than observing Seo Jia¡¯s condition.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the weather nice today, Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess so. I feel like I could fall asleep if I closed my eyes.¡±


    ¡°Sleep at home! Anyway, on days like this, you should go for a walk or something. It¡¯s good for your health.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll try that next time.¡±


    The baseball facilities at Hyuksan High School, known for its prestigious baseball team, are quite advanced.


    There¡¯s arge field, of course, and even an indoor practice area.


    Usually, the team practices outside unless it¡¯s raining; there¡¯s no reason to use the indoor practice area.


    However, on this sunny day, during lunch break, two baseball team members entered the indoor practice area.


    They even had bats and balls with them, as if they were going to train.


    From a distance, they might seem like diligent yers, sacrificing their lunch break to train on their own¡­


    Whack!


    ¡°Ugh¡­!¡±


    Whack!


    ¡°Ow¡­!¡±


    ¡°What are you doing, Hwang Kwang-hyun? Aren¡¯t you getting up?¡±


    But hitting balls toward someone standing less than 3 meters away is hardly considered training.


    In reality, it wasn¡¯t.


    This was just Lee Seungtae, the senior and the ringleader of the baseball team, bullying his junior, Hwang Kwang-hyun, as usual.


    Thud.


    A ball hit Hwang Kwang-hyun directly on the thigh, causing him to groan and copse to the ground.


    But instead of apologizing, Lee Seungtae only urged him to get up quickly.


    ¡°¡­Stop. Stop it.¡±


    Seo Jia, who had been watching this scene through a crack in the door, murmured.


    She wanted to yell at them to stop and intervene,


    But her body wouldn¡¯t move.


    Her extremely introverted nature had made her a loner for most of her life, and bing the baseball team manager was her way of trying to change herself.


    She had developed better social skills, found a new hobby in baseball, and reduced her constant feeling of depression.


    The baseball team, which had given her a new life, was a precious sanctuary for Seo Jia.


    Watching the team get ruined before her eyes


    And being unable to do anything about it filled her with a sense of helplessness.


    Ugh!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As another groan echoed, Seo Jia closed her eyes tightly and sank to the ground.


    ¡°Please¡­ Someone, anyone, save the baseball team¡­¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 6

    Seo Jia was not always a helpless bystander.


    ¡°Um¡­ Senior. No matter how you look at this, it¡¯s not training, right?¡±


    ¡°It is training.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to improve Gwanghyun¡¯s defense. Why, is there a problem?¡±


    She had even spoken directly to Lee Seungtae, the ringleader of the abuse, but he only ignored her,ughing it off with a reply like that.


    ¡°Coach¡­ This is really serious. It¡¯s basically the same as school violence.¡±


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s training.¡±


    ¡°No, but! Gwanghyun¡¯s body is covered in bruises! It¡¯s more than just a few injuries. How is this supposed to be train¡ª¡± ¡°Bruises and injuries happen during training. Now, go back inside. ¡­Or, are you nning to quit? We don¡¯t need a manager who makes a fuss over mere training.¡±


    The coach even sided with Lee Seungtae.


    There was nothing more she could do.


    ¡°They¡­ They all know it¡¯s not training¡­¡±


    The coach probably wasn¡¯t ignorant of the truth. He had witnessed the abuse a few times himself.


    However, with his retirement just around the corner, he couldn¡¯t afford to lose his star pitcher, Lee Seungtae, if he wanted to win a major tournament like the Golden Lion Tournament.


    So, unless things crossed a very big line, he chose to turn a blind eye.


    Knowing this all too well, Lee Seungtae cleverly tormented Hwang Gwanghyun.


    He treated him like he was invisible, subtly isted him, and disguised bullying as ¡°training.¡±


    Through such despicable methods, he continued to harass Hwang Gwanghyun.


    ¡°What¡­ what am I supposed to do¡­¡±


    As Seo Jia was picking up baseballs and putting them into a box, she hugged her knees and bowed her head.


    As the lunch bell rang, the students quickly stood up and headed to the cafeteria, while I got up and walked to the window seat.


    The moment I sat down, I opened the window and leaned out, fixing my gaze below.


    To others, I might look like some lunatic, but for me, this was important.


    It¡¯s because the first episode of StrikeHeart, which I like to call ¡°The Day Lee Jiho Bes a Loser,¡± was about to start.


    Of course, that¡¯s not the real name of the episode, but it pretty much sums up the plot.


    After the seniors graduate, Lee Seungtae, who bes obsessed with power ys, subjects Hwang Gwanghyun to all sorts of injustices.


    Naturally, our protagonist, Lee Jiho, doesn¡¯t just sit back and watch. Like a true protagonist, he stands up to Lee Seungtae.


    As a result, Lee Jiho ends up bing the new target of Seungtae¡¯s torment instead of Gwanghyun.


    Wait, the protagonist gets crushed by the viin and bes a loser? Does that even make sense?


    Well, it really happened.


    No matter how skilled Lee Jiho is, he¡¯s still a batter.


    Meanwhile, Lee Seungtae is the ace pitcher.


    From the coach¡¯s perspective, he would never give up a yer like Seungtae.


    Well, it was probably a buildup by the author to develop the romance line between Miyeon and Jiho, so it didn¡¯t get too much criticism.


    Lee Jiho falls into a slump, moping around, saying, ¡°I¡¯m useless¡­¡± ¡°If I had been more valuable than Seungtae, the coach might have changed his mind¡­¡± Then, kind and understanding Miyeonforted him, helping him ovee the slump. After that, their rtionship deepened significantly.


    Yeah.


    So, of course, I¡­


    ¡­would never let that happen.


    Before Jiho can step up, I¡¯ll be the one to block Lee Seungtae, erasing this entire episode that serves as the starting point for Miyeon and Jiho¡¯s rtionship.


    I still can¡¯t forget¡­


    The scene where Miyeon watched Jiho¡¯s wedding and ended up crying in the bathroom.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let that happen¡­¡±


    I would never let Miyeon go through that again.


    ¡°Here hees¡­!¡±


    At that moment, I spotted Lee Jiho heading toward the indoor practice area.


    I immediately pushed back my chair and sprinted after him.


    ¡°Gwanghyun, are you hungry?¡±


    With Hwang Gwanghyun in a headlock, Lee Seungtae asked, to which Gwanghyun replied in difort.


    ¡°N-No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m hungry. But¡­ we haven¡¯t trained today, have we? Let¡¯s finish up quickly and eat. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡±


    Only then did Lee Seungtae release him from the headlock, leaving Gwanghyun coughing and gasping. Seungtae pointed toward the storage room.


    ¡°Gwanghyun, go get a catcher¡¯s glove.¡±


    Though it was a sudden request, Gwanghyun didn¡¯t argue and ran to the storage room, fetching a catcher¡¯s glove.


    ¡°Um¡­ Senior, why do we need a catcher¡¯s glove all of a sudden¡­?¡±


    ¡°Why? It¡¯s for catching practice today.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°Gwanghyun, you know catchers are getting paid really well these days, right? You should prepare yourself as a backup.¡±


    ¡°N-No¡­ I don¡¯t n on being a catcher¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    The cold tone of Lee Seungtae¡¯s voice pierced Gwanghyun¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Not nning to be a catcher¡­?¡±


    Seungtae approached Gwanghyun, staring directly into his eyes as he asked again.


    ¡°What did you say about not being a catcher¡­?¡±


    Unable to endure his gaze, Gwanghyun eventually lowered his head.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll be a catcher. I¡¯ll practice catching¡­¡±


    ¡°Good. That¡¯s the right choice. It¡¯s all for your benefit, after all.¡±


    With that, Gwanghyun moved toward the storage room to fetch the catcher¡¯s mask and protective gear.


    But Seungtae grabbed him by the arm.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I was going to get the mask and protective gear¡­¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯re only doing it for a bit, so just go without.¡±


    ¡°B-But I¡¯ve never been a catcher before, so I might miss the ball¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then that¡¯s your problem, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Hesitating for a moment, Gwanghyun eventually nodded, putting on the catcher¡¯s glove and taking his position.


    Soon, his heart was beating so fast that it felt like it would burst.


    Lee Seungtae is a fast pitcher with an average speed of 150 km/h, maxing out at 156 km/h.


    Even if he didn¡¯t throw at full speed, Gwanghyun, who had never caught before, would struggle to handle it.


    ¡°Gwanghyun! Keep your eyes wide open. I¡¯m going to throw hard.¡±


    At that moment, Gwanghyun, still on his knees, copsed to the ground.


    Already tense, hearing that Seungtae would throw hard caused his strength to drain away.


    ¡°Hahaha! Gwanghyun! What¡¯s up with the physicaledy all of a sudden?¡±


    Seungtae couldn¡¯t contain hisughter, and Seo Jia, who was watching from behind the door, bit her lip.


    Instinctively, she looked around, but of course, there was no one else.


    After all, Seungtae had deliberately singled out Gwanghyun during lunch to create this situation.


    The only one who could intervene now was her.


    In her mind, she envisioned herself boldly confronting Seungtae.


    ¡°Stop lying there and stand up, Gwanghyun.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    But her body only trembled, refusing to move.


    As Seungtae wound up to throw the ball, Seo Jia couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer and was about to close her eyes¡ª


    ¡°What¡¯s this? A real-life case of corruption in high school baseball?¡±


    A sudden voice made her eyes snap open.


    Thanks to running at full speed, I managed to catch up to Lee Jiho before it was toote.


    I called out to Jiho, who was walking slowly.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°You remember my name? Anyway¡­ well, Jia was looking for you earlier.¡±


    ¡°Jia? Where is she?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ in our ssroom?¡±


    ¡°Alright, thanks.¡±


    I tantly lied, and yet he turned around without hesitation. I felt a little guilty.


    Forgive me, Jiho¡­


    I couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch you be a yer who strings girls along.


    In any case, I¡¯ve achieved my initial goal, but there¡¯s still something left to do.


    I have to make a definite impression on Senior Seungtae.


    I have to be the target of the abuse instead of Jiho from now on.


    When I arrived at the indoor practice area, I flung open the door.


    Then, as I had rehearsed several times in my head, I delivered my line.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? A real-life case of corruption in high school baseball?¡±


    ¡°¡­Whoever you are, we¡¯re in the middle of practice, so get lost if you don¡¯t want to get hurt.¡±


    I nced at Hwang Gwanghyun, who was sitting on the ground, trembling. Then I looked back at Seungtae.


    ¡°No matter how I see it, this looks like abuse.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you part of the baseball team? You think you can just barge in and talk about abuse? Get out before I make you.¡±


    Luckily, he responded exactly as I had hoped. Senior Seungtae was reacting just as nned, and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.


    ¡°Are you smiling? Do you think the


    baseball team won¡¯t touch civilians?¡±


    Before he could finish his words, I stepped forward and got right up in his face, staring directly into his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a civilian, Senior. I¡¯m joining the baseball team starting tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°¡­You think joining the baseball team is a joke? You think you can just get in because you want to?¡±


    ¡°I see you bullying juniors every chance you get, and the coach doesn¡¯t seem to care. From what I can tell, as long as you have the skills, the coach doesn¡¯t mind. And I have the skills.¡±


    Seungtae sneered and kicked a bat lying at his feet toward me.


    ¡°Then show me those skills first. If you can¡¯t, get lost.¡±


    ¡°Why would I refuse a chance to prove myself when the senior is offering me a turn at bat?¡±


    I picked up the bat, and Seungtae¡¯s mouth twisted into a grin. He probably never thought I would actually ept the challenge.


    ¡°Gwanghyun, get up and catch.¡±


    Startled by Seungtae¡¯s sharp tone, Gwanghyun hesitated for a moment but eventually stood up and got into position.


    I nced at him briefly. His legs were trembling so much that he looked like he might copse with a single push.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Gwanghyun.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t have to catch the ball.¡±


    I felt the familiar weight of the wooden bat in my hands.


    It was a bit awkward, but there was a catcher in position and, most importantly, my opponent was Lee Seungtae, the top high school prospect.


    This was enough to be considered a ¡°turn at bat.¡±


    The exhration of being back in the batter¡¯s box filled me, making the corners of my mouth twitch uncontrobly.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Maybe he mistook my pure joy for provocation because Seungtae¡¯s face twisted into a scowl.


    He raised one knee, spread his arms wide, and swung them down forcefully.


    The ball came flying at a terrifying speed, matching his dynamic pitching form.


    Judging by its speed of at least 155 km/h and its heavy feel¡ª


    ¡°This guy is already pitching like this in high school¡­¡±


    It would be difficult for anyone at the high school level to even make contact with this pitch.


    That is, if you were at the ¡°high school level.¡±


    Whack!


    The moment I swung the bat and made contact with the ball, a crisp hitting sound and an electrifying thrill shot through my body.


    And I knew right away.


    This was a home run.


    Realizing it had gone out of the park, Seungtae froze in ce without even bothering to look back.


    Thud¡ª


    When the ball hit the ceiling, making a loud noise, Seungtae finally dropped his head.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 7

    ¡°Haha¡­ shit¡­¡±


    A dryugh escaped from Lee Seungtae¡¯s lips.


    ¡°What the hell¡­ seriously¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯tprehend the situation at all.


    When that strange guy suddenly appeared and started to irritate him, he had thrown his pitch with a bit more force than usual.


    It had even gone so well that Lee Seungtae himself was a bit surprised, thinking that it might have been the best pitch of his life.


    ¡®And he hits it, smashing it into the ceiling¡­?¡¯


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    After a deep sigh, Lee Seungtae turned around without a word and walked towards the exit. He knew that leaving like this, without a word, would make him look pathetic.


    But¡­ there was nothing he could do about it.


    His head was spinning, and he just wanted to get out of there.


    He¡¯s backing down more cleanly than I expected.


    I had been preparing for a potential second round with Lee Seungtae, maybe even a fistfight, but he left the practice area without a word.


    Hwang Gwanghyun thanked me briefly and disappeared somewhere too.


    Well, I guess it¡¯s for the best.


    As I put down the bat and walked towards the exit¡ª


    ¡°Uh¡­ hey!¡±


    A weak voice called out to me.


    I turned my head to see who it was and quickly turned back.


    Why is she here?


    I only caught a glimpse, but I was sure of who it was.


    Short stature, rare purple hair, a silver earring on one ear, and a signature cat-ear hat.


    It was the sub-heroine, Jia, who had the secondrgest fanbase after Shin Hayoon.


    Why she was here, I had no idea, but this was definitely not a good situation.


    To be honest, Jia was¡­ a problematic character.


    It¡¯s hard to sum up the problems with her.


    She had done so many things¡­ too many.


    If I were to put it simply in one word¡­


    She¡¯s andmine.


    She has a severe dependency issue and gets overly attached to Lee Jiho. Eventually, she even bes jealous of her best friend, Shin Hayoon, nearly ruining their rtionship.


    If I remember correctly, she originally took an interest in Lee Jiho because of his good looks, but gradually fell for his kind nature.


    So, considering my image and face, there¡¯s probably nothing to worry about.


    Still, it¡¯s best to avoidndmines.


    Better to be cautious.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Hold on!¡±


    Her voice was getting closer, so I walked faster.


    I heard her footsteps quickening behind me.


    I pretended not to hear her and walked as fast as I could, but eventually, she managed to grab my sleeve.


    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­ I told you to stop.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    I said in a tone as if reading from a textbook.


    With a slight look of surprise, Jia blinked her big eyes and then bowed her head.


    ¡°Thank you. I just wanted to say thank you.¡±


    ¡°Uh? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I was watching from the back, you chasing Seungtae away¡­¡±


    I didn¡¯t really chase him away, though.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, Hwang Gwanghyun could have been seriously hurt. I really, really appreciate it.¡±


    She bowed her head deeply, expressing her gratitude. Despite my effort to stay cold, I felt my resolve weakening.


    I need to get out of here quickly¡­


    ¡°It was nothing. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    I turned and started walking again, but Jia quickly caught up with me.


    ¡°Um, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What about your grade? You¡¯re a second-year, right? We¡¯re probably the same age. What ss are you in? You¡¯re a second-year, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a second-year.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then why don¡¯t you just talk casually? Why the formal speech?¡±


    Because if I get involved with you, it¡¯s going to be a big problem.


    That thought came up to my throat, but I managed to swallow it.


    No matter how true it might be, it would just make me look like a jerk.


    ¡°Formal speech is just morefortable for me.¡±


    ¡°Really? I like formal speech too. My dad speaks formally to me as well.¡±


    ¡°Mind if I speak casually? It¡¯s morefortable for me.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Sure. Yeah, speaking casually is fine.¡±


    What is this¡­


    I¡¯m clearly showing how much I don¡¯t want to talk, but why does she seem amused?


    Is this that famous ¡°impossible to win¡± situation?


    After fidgeting with her fingers for a while, Seo lowered her voice.


    ¡°You said you¡¯re joining the baseball team¡­ So, will you¡­ make sure that Seungtae doesn¡¯t pull that crap¡­ I mean, that nonsense anymore?¡±


    Well, of course.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡±


    If Jiho gets targeted by Seungtae, who knows how it might bring him closer to again.


    Oddly, she became quiet despite constantly talking up until now.


    I nced over and saw that she was staring nkly at me.


    When our eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze.


    Why suddenly act shy? It¡¯s making me uneasy¡­


    ¡°W-Well¡­ I know it¡¯s weird for me to say this, but messing with Seungtae might make your life in the baseball team difficult.¡±


    I¡¯m aware of that.


    Even the protagonist Lee Jiho struggled with Seungtae¡¯s sneaky bullying, falling into a slump.


    But¡­ that¡¯s Jiho.


    I¡¯m different.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just bully him back.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­? What do you mean by that¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m better than him. I might as well bully and tease him. The coach won¡¯t say anything, right? Isn¡¯t that how it works?¡±


    Jia blinked, looking dumbfounded for a moment, then nodded with a smile.


    ¡°Right! You do look like you¡¯d be good in a fight!¡±


    I stared nkly at her, and Jia hastily opened her mouth, as if realizing her mistake.


    ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t mean you look like you¡¯d fight, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t really care. People say I look like someone who goes around beating others anyway.¡±


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not it!¡±


    Surprised by her sudden outburst, I flinched.


    Why did she suddenly blow up like that?


    ¡°You stepped up today, didn¡¯t you? Why would they think you¡¯re some thug? Something must be wrong with their heads.¡±


    Frowning with her lips pursed, Seo Jia seemed to feel more indignant than I did.


    Hmm¡­ Maybe it¡¯s okay to get a bit closer?


    Thinking about it, we¡¯re going to be in the baseball team together, so avoiding her altogether might be impossible.


    Besides, she¡¯s all about looks.


    There¡¯s no chance of things developing further.


    I decided to modify my n of ignoring her to simply responding if she talks to me.


    As we walked, with Jia chattering and me responding half-heartedly, we eventually arrived in front of the ssroom.


    ¡°You¡¯reing to the baseball team tomorrow, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be there.¡±


    ¡°Okay. See you tomorrow!¡±


    Waving her hand, Jia finally left.


    Phew¡­ that was exhausting¡­


    Was she always this lively?


    She seems like an extrovert with lots of friends.


    As I returned to my seat in the ssroom, a smile formed on my face.


    [I waited, but you didn¡¯te, so I went in first! Enjoy your meal! ^^]


    On top of the lunchbox left on my desk was a small Post-it note.


    I thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to eat it today.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡° Jia really is the best.¡±


    You can¡¯t just join a high school baseball team just because you want to.


    Regardless of skill, if you don¡¯t have the ¡°baseball special admission¡± qualification, you¡¯ll be rejected right at the door.


    Even if you can throw a 160 km/h fastball into a 9-square grid or bat an average of 0.400 every game,


    Without a record of participating in middle school tournaments, you can¡¯t join a high school baseball team.


    In other words, an ordinary student like Cha Taehyun in this world can¡¯t join the baseball team unless he is reborn.


    This had been giving me a headache for a while.


    Fortunately, it seemed that the author, who sent me to this world, had given me some consideration. ording to my investigation, there were no such requirements in this world.


    If I show the coach enough skill to be recognized, I can join the team.


    With that thought, I went straight to the coach¡¯s office.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Coach? As long as you¡¯re good, what¡¯s the point of starting early? You can start baseball in high school.¡±


    ¡°¡­Looks like it¡¯s time for me to retire if guys like this start showing up.¡±


    Things weren¡¯t going quite as I expected.


    Since this coach had been letting Seungtae run wild due to it being his retirement season, I thought if I talked enough, he might at least let me take an entrance test.


    But he just treats me like a madman?


    I seriously considered dragging Seo over to testify about what happened with Seungtae yesterday.


    A bat?


    A fancy-looking bat hanging behind the coach caught my eye.


    Before I knew it, a grin crept up on my face.


    Fine. If I¡¯m already seen as crazy, might as well go all out.


    I boldly walked over and grabbed the bat off the wall.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Well, since you don¡¯t believe me, Coach.¡±


    Holding the bat, I swung it right in


    front of the coach.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this guy?¡±


    At first, the coach¡¯s face was twisted in disbelief.


    His mouth, which had been constantly moving to tell me to put it down¡ª


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡ªwas nowpletely focused on my swing, rendered speechless.


    After about five more swings,


    I heard the wheels of his chair rolling as the coach stood up.


    Walking past me, he said,


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    A ck car entered the parking lot of Hyuksan High School.


    A man and a woman stepped out.


    They were scouts, carefully selected by the Phoenix Front Office, who had been criticized for their inability to recruit good yers.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been to Hyuksan High.¡±


    ¡°A while? We were just herest week. Can we please stoping here? There might be hidden gems in other schools.¡±


    Ji Su-yeon¡¯s words made Kim Eun-chan smirk.


    ¡°Yeah, there could be hidden gems in other schools. But none are better than our Seungtae. Besides, today, Hyuksan High is ying a friendly match against Dongshin High. You think I¡¯d miss that?¡±


    ¡°Oh my¡­ You¡¯re such a Seungtae fanboy¡­¡±


    ¡°What? What did you just say to your superior?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Let¡¯s go. Go see your precious Seungtae.¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 8

    When the coach took Cha Taehyun to the pitcher¡¯s training ground, Kim Chang-hyun, who was warming up, quickly ran over.


    ¡°Kim Chang-hyun. Where are the others? Why are you the only one here?¡±


    Kim Chang-hyun hesitated for a moment before answering.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not¡­ really sure.¡±


    In truth, he knew they were resting in the lounge, but he couldn¡¯t say that outright.


    ¡°Is that so? Then what about Seungtae? Where is Lee Seungtae?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Seungtae didn¡¯t show up at all today.¡±


    ¡°What? He didn¡¯te at all?¡±


    That part was true. He was someone who rarely skipped training, yet he hadn¡¯t been seen all day. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s not answering his phone either.¡±


    ¡°Is he sick or something? Hmm¡­¡±


    ¡­Lee Seungtae would be perfect.


    The coach muttered to himself, rubbing his chin before cing his hand on Kim Chang-hyun¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Well, then. You¡¯ll just have to do it.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°This guy here. For his entrance test. You¡¯ll watch him for one at-bat.¡±


    ¡°An entrance test¡­? Do we even have such a thing in our baseball team?¡±


    While Kim Chang-hyun was dumbfounded, he spotted the student standing behind the coach.


    ¡°Is this the one who¡¯s doing the entrance test?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°B-but Coach, isn¡¯t he just a regr student? He¡¯s wearing a school uniform.¡±


    ¡°Of course, he hasn¡¯t received his uniform yet. Now stop talking and get up on the mound.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, sir.¡±


    Kim Chang-hyun climbed onto the mound, covering his mouth with his glove as he grumbled.


    ¡°An entrance test¡­? Feels more like the coach is taking a bribe.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t unheard of. There were asionally students who joined the baseball team using the coach¡¯s connections.


    This seemed like one of those situations.


    It wasn¡¯t even the beginning of the semester; it had already been about a month since the term started. Letting a new student join out of nowhere felt like they were turning a blind eye.


    ¡®This is pretty annoying¡­¡¯


    He had worked himself to the bone to get epted into this school.


    And now? An entrance test?


    The grip on the ball in Kim Chang-hyun¡¯s hand tightened.


    If he didn¡¯t have a uniform, he should have at least shown up in gym clothes.


    But¡­ maybe he already paid them off, so he¡¯s guaranteed a spot?


    Kim Chang-hyun slowly lifted his left knee, stepped forward, and rotated his arm vigorously.


    ¡®Nice¡­ it¡¯s a good pitch.¡¯


    Watching his ball fly smoothly, one side of Kim Chang-hyun¡¯s lips curled up.


    ¡®The thought of him fumbling my pitch feels pretty satisfying¡ª¡¯


    Smack!


    The moment the sound of a bat hitting the ball rang out, a ball came hurtling past Kim Chang-hyun¡¯s ear at a frightening speed.


    Instinctively turning his head, Kim Chang-hyun wondered if he was hallucinating.


    ¡®He hit the first pitch into a line drive¡­ that smacked the fence?¡¯


    Kim Chang-hyun let out a hollowugh, shaking his head in disbelief as he muttered.


    ¡°That was entrance-test worthy¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, Coach, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Phoenix scout Kim Eun-chan approached with a smile, but the coach merely nced at him with a disinterested look before turning his eyes back.


    ¡°¡®A while,¡¯ you say¡­ Why are you here today?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t today the friendly match with Dongshin High? I came to see if Seungtae would be pitching.¡±


    ¡°Lee Seungtae? He¡¯s not here today.¡±


    ¡°What? Seungtae isn¡¯t here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. He didn¡¯t show up at all today. I wonder if he¡¯s sick or something.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    While Kim Eun-chan couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment, Ji Su-yeon, who was beside him, chuckled and lightly tapped his shoulder.


    ¡°Senior, let¡¯s just go to Myungshin High then. I heard they have a good shortstop.¡±


    Kim Eun-chan nced at the field, unable to let go of his attachment, but eventually nodded his head.


    ¡°Coach, it¡¯s a shame, but we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    Just as Kim Eun-chan was about to leave after a brief farewell, the coach called out to him.


    ¡°Hey, Kim Eun-chan.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°If you leave now, I think you¡¯re going to regret it a lot.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    The coach grinned as he spoke.


    ¡°An unbelievable kid just joined us.¡±


    After the entrance test ended, the coach¡¯s attitude towards me changed noticeably.


    ¡°Do you have a preferred number? Just say it.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll take whatever you give me.¡±


    ¡°Look at this guy! Humble too? I knew there was something different about those who are good at baseball.¡±


    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±


    What¡¯s going on here?


    Is this the same person who treated me like I was crazy earlier?


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the paperwork. From today, you just need to focus on the baseball team. Got it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now, let¡¯s go introduce you to the rest of the team.¡±


    As I followed the coach, I saw that the team members were already gathered.


    ¡°Attention, everyone. Today, we have a new member joining the baseball team. Taehyun,e forward and say a few words.¡±


    ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Cha Taehyun, and I¡¯ve just joined the baseball team. I look forward to working with you all.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The response was lukewarm.


    The coach pped, and the others followed suit, but their expressions were cold.


    Oh, except for Seo Jia.


    For some reason, she was grinning and pping enthusiastically.


    ¡°What position did you say you y?¡±


    ¡°Shortstop.¡±


    Honestly, I can y any position, but shortstop is highly valued among fielders.


    ¡°Lee Chang-soo.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re off the roster for today¡¯s game against Dongshin High.¡±


    ¡°What¡­? Why am I suddenly being benched?¡±


    The coach ced a hand on my shoulder as he spoke.


    ¡°I need to see what the new guy is capable of.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, understood.¡±


    Lee Chang-soo responded in a low voice, his head slightly bowed.


    It wasn¡¯t obvious, but I could tell he was gritting his teeth.


    Well, the coach is certainly not ordinary.


    He follows a strict meritocracy, where even if you¡¯re a new recruit, as long as you have the skill, seniority doesn¡¯t matter.


    This is so extreme that it created a monster like Lee Seungtae, but for me, it¡¯s not a bad thing right now.


    The more games I y, the more experience I can gain.


    Though judging by the intense looks I¡¯m getting from the other members¡­ it seems my time with the baseball team won¡¯t be easy.


    After my introduction, the coach went back inside, and the team members quickly dispersed into groups.


    The fact that they left me behind without any hesitation suggested that I had yet to be epted by the team.


    Well, except for Lee Jiho, who at least left me with a word as we were in the same ss.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cause any trouble here.¡±


    This guy¡­ Who do you think is making your life easier on the baseball team?


    ¡°¡­I miss Miyeon.¡±


    ¡°What? You miss me?¡±


    ¡°Whoa, you scared me¡­ Can you at least give a warning before showing up?¡±


    Somehow, Seo Jia was suddenly standing next to me.


    ¡°The coach told me to help you settle in. Follow me. I¡¯ll show you around the baseball team.¡±


    I hesitated because having Seo Jia as my guide was a bit concerning, but since I had no other option, I followed her quietly.


    ¡°This is the locker room. Let¡¯s see¡­ You can use locker number 12. Your uniform is already inside. You can put your personal items and gear in here too.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s really here? When did they prepare the uniform?¡±


    ¡°Well, I just kind of eyeballed the size and brought it.¡±


    Considering that¡­ it seems to fit too perfectly.


    ¡°Can I try this on now?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    I quickly tore off the stic wrapping and unfolded it.


    Seeing the uniform brought back fond memories of my high school days.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you¡­ going to leave?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to try this on.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right¡­ Sorry. I¡¯ll go out.¡±


    After confirming that Seo Jia had left, I put on the uniform.


    ¡°¡­Amazing.¡±


    It fit my body perfectly, as if it had been measured with a tape.


    Could that really be done just by eyeballing it?


    I ced my school uniform in the locker and turned around¡ª


    Something¡­ seemed to be peeking through the door gap.


    Was that¡­ an eye?


    No, it couldn¡¯t be¡­


    Must have been a mistake.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m dressed.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°O-oh. It suits you! Come on, let¡¯s keep going. See that room over there? That¡¯s the lounge. Most of the members rest there. They¡¯re probably inside now, so let¡¯s go introduce you¡­¡±


    Seo Jia stopped just as she was about to grab the lounge door.


    There was no need to ask why she stopped.


    I could hear it too.


    ¡°He¡¯s a real legend today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s with a new recruit showing up in the middle of the semester?¡±


    ¡°What else? The coach must¡¯ve taken some bribes since he¡¯s nearing retirement.¡±


    ¡°Obviously.¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t seen Lee Seungtae or Kim Chang-hyun today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I wonder if the two of them are out on


    a date.¡±


    The coach took a bribe, huh¡­


    Honestly, I can see why they¡¯d think that. I¡¯m quite an unusual case, after all.


    That¡¯s the most logical way to view it.


    So, it doesn¡¯t really bother me. Anyway, I¡¯ll be ying today¡¯s game, so I just need to prove myself then.


    I really am fine.


    But Seo Jia was ring at the lounge door with her eyes squinted.


    She seemed about ready to go inside, her hand reaching for the doorknob, but I stopped her.


    ¡°Leave it. Just continue showing me around.¡±


    ¡°But still!¡±


    ¡°Once the game¡¯s over, it¡¯ll all quiet down.¡±


    Won¡¯t it? I added, and only then did Seo Jia release the doorknob.


    I was returning to the dugout after stopping by the restroom.


    A man who looked utterly exhausted, with half-closed eyes, was waiting for me.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, right? I¡¯m Ji Chang-seop. I was the catcher during your entrance test. Have you spoken to any of the other guys yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, that¡¯s a relief.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°Chang-hyun and I saw it with our own eyes, but the other guys think you only got in because of the coach. They¡¯ve been badmouthing you nonstop.¡±


    Ji Chang-seop rummaged through his pockets, pulled something out, and put it in my hand.


    A chocte bar¡­?


    ¡°They¡¯re only talking like that because they haven¡¯t seen your hitting. If they say anything harsh, just ignore it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Thanks? If you¡¯re grateful, carry the team today. Chang-hyun¡¯s relying on you.¡±


    Chang-hyun is relying on me?


    I wanted to ask what he meant, but Ji Chang-seop turned his back and disappeared before I could.


    I unwrapped the mini chocte bar in my hand, popped it into my mouth, and headed for the dugout.


    Dongshin High and Hyuksan High are long-time rivals.


    The schools are close in proximity, have a long history, and have simr records. Whenever they face each other, the match is never easy.


    Because of this, they¡¯re quite conscious of each other.


    It¡¯s like a Korea-Japan match, where even losing at rock-paper-scissors isn¡¯t eptable.


    The match between Hyuksan and Dongshin High is a matter of pride.


    Even if it¡¯s just a friendly game.


    So, many were displeased with today¡¯s lineup.


    They couldn¡¯t understand why the coach benched Lee Chang-soo, who had been performing well, and put in an unknown new recruit as a starter.


    ¡°What? Leadoff batter, Cha Taehyun? This is ridiculous.¡±


    Not as a lower-order hitter but as the leadoff batter who sets the tone for the game.


    ¡°How much money did he have to give to get the starting spot on his first day as number one?¡±


    ¡°So damn envious. If you¡¯re rich, just live your luxurious life quietly. Why do you have to y baseball?¡±


    ¡°Tell me about it. Chang-soo must be so pissed off.¡±


    ¡®So they think it¡¯s a bribe¡­ These idiots.¡¯


    Kim Chang-hyun, who was listening quietly with his head down, was fuming.


    Sure, he had simr thoughts earlier, but he hadn¡¯t said them out loud, so it was okay.


    ¡®They¡¯ll be so embarrassedter¡­ Taehyun definitely didn¡¯t get in through the coach¡¯s backing.¡¯


    Kim Chang-hyun was even smirking, confident that Cha Taehyun would soon prove himself. However, in reality¡­


    ¡®Please hit, Cha Taehyun!¡¯


    ¡®No, you must hit, Cha Taehyun!¡¯


    ¡®If you don¡¯t hit, I¡¯ll be the pitcher who served up a meatball to a newbie who got in through favoritism!¡¯


    He waspletely freaking out.


    It might not seem like a big deal, but as someone who took great pride in being the team¡¯s second-string pitcher, it was a major issue for him.


    As Cha Taehyun stepped into the batter¡¯s box, Kim Chang-hyun sped his hands together as if in prayer.


    ¡°Hey, Kim Chang-hyun, what are you doing?¡±


    Kim Chang-hyun hastily released his hands and looked up.


    ¡°¡­Just meditating for a moment.¡±


    ¡°What, did you eat something weird? Anyway, isn¡¯t this so messed up? Not only did they put in some no-name guy as a starter, but they also made him the leadoff batter? It¡¯s a good thing this is just a friendly match.¡±


    Kim Chang-hyun¡¯s face turned serious for a moment.


    ¡°He could be really good, you know? Maybe the coach picked up a genius or something.¡±


    ¡°Hey, did you hear this guy? He thinks the guy up there is some genius hitter. Hahaha!¡±


    Laughter spread contagiously.


    It was loud enough that Taehyun might be able to hear it in the batter¡¯s box.


    But Cha Taehyun simply stood in his stance, ring fiercely at the pitcher.


    ¡°Our genius hitter¡¯s skills are about to be revealed! Oh, his stance looks pretty decent. Think he can actually swing the bat?¡±


    Another burst ofughter erupted.


    But less than ten seconds after the call to start the game¡ª


    Smack!


    The deafening sound of a solid hit sent silence rippling through the dugout.


    The guy who had been clutching his stomach fromughter,


    Lee Chang-soo, who had been ring with a furrowed brow,


    And the ones next to Kim Chang-hyun who had been busy sneering,


    They all raised their heads, following the ball in astonishment.


    The ball showed no sign of stopping and eventually flew over the fence.


    Only then did the team members turn to look at Cha Taehyun.


    Cha Taehyun was looking at the dugout.


    A smirk on his face, as if to say:


    ¡®Happy now?¡¯


    Turning back, Cha Taehyun set down his bat and began jogging toward first base.


    ¡°Taehyun¡ª!¡±


    As Seo Jia ran out to cheer him on¡ª


    ¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s it! Cha Taehyun!!!¡±


    Kim Chang-hyun pushed her aside, rushing forward to yell in excitement.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 9

    He pulled the first pitch and sent it over the fence.


    Considering it was the first at-bat, it was definitely a satisfying result, but I still felt a bit disappointed.


    Everything was fine, but the ball speed and distance didn¡¯t quite meet my standards. If there had been even a slight breeze, it might not have made it over the fence. It was a close home run.


    I really need to get my body in shape quickly¡­


    After rounding the bases and returning to the dugout, I was unexpectedly greeted by Senior Kim Chang-hyun.


    ¡°I knew you could do it, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°That was an excellent hit. Yes¡­ that¡¯s exactly what we need.¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what was going on, but Senior Kim Chang-hyun seemed to be in high spirits. I didn¡¯t mind thepliments, especially since he went out of his way to say them, but¡­


    Isn¡¯t he the starting pitcher today?


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to warm up?¡±


    ¡°I already told the coach that I¡¯d warm up after seeing your at-bat.¡±


    ¡­Why?


    The words almost slipped out, but I swallowed them when I saw Senior Kim Chang-hyun looking at me with a serious expression.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Make sure your defense is sharp, too¡­ An ace should have a perfect bnce between offense and defense. Of course, I¡¯ll try to make sure you don¡¯t have to field too much, but if the ball doese your way¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, Senior. Enough. Go warm up already.¡±


    Seo Jia suddenly appeared and, as if she were used to this, dragged Senior Kim Chang-hyun away to somewhere.


    ¡°Senior Chang-hyun is a bit entric.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I can definitely see that.¡±


    ¡°How should I put it¡­ pride? He has a lot of pride in what he does. But he¡¯s incredibly passionate about baseball. He works hard to protect that pride.¡±


    If he¡¯s passionate about baseball, he can¡¯t be a bad person. I nodded and returned to the dugout.


    As expected, there were no cheers or apuse. Far from it, everyone avoided making eye contact with me.


    Is this the Major Leagues?


    They reacted the same way when I hit my first home run there too.


    ¨C The others are just shocked by your hitting.


    Suddenly, a whisper startled me.


    When I turned my head and squinted, Seo Jia was grinning mischievously as she handed me a water bottle.


    ¡°I saved the coldest one for you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Thanks.¡±


    I took the bottle and sat down.


    Let¡¯s see what Hyuksan High¡¯s skills are like.


    The second batter was Ji Chang-seop, the one who caught for my entrance test today.


    Since I hit a home run right at the start of the game, the opposing pitcher was probably shaken.


    In other words, this was an opportunity.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    I let out a sound of admiration.


    Senior Ji Chang-seop swung at the first pitch, just as I had.


    His swing was clean, and he brought the bat to the ball with precise contact. He was a skilled hitter.


    The ball flew far, and Senior Ji Chang-seop easily made it to second base.


    ¡°A catcher batting second. There¡¯s a reason for that.¡±


    The third batter was Jin Myung-hwan, one of the few second-year starters.


    When he grabbed his bat and stepped out of the dugout, he nced at me in a peculiar way. Was he feeling some rivalry?


    Smack!


    Hmm¡­ Looks like it¡¯s over.


    Even Jin Myung-hwan hit the first pitch, resulting in runners on first and third with no outs.


    The pitcher¡¯s mentality must have beenpletely broken a while ago.


    And the next batter was our cleanup hitter, Lee Tae-hyung.


    From his bulky physique, you could tell he was a power hitter. The pitcher seemed to be intimidated by him.


    ¡°Nice!¡±


    ¡°Loaded bases with no outs! This is good!¡±


    The pitcher eventually lost control and walked him, putting a runner on every base.


    If we could capitalize on this chance, a home run would clear the bases. Even a single could bring in at least one run, and we could potentially force an early pitching change.


    Our fifth batter was Lee Jiho.


    ¡°This is it.¡±


    Being the protagonist, Lee Jiho was practically unbeatable when runners were in scoring position. I expect at least an extra-base hit or a home run.


    No, it¡¯s not just an expectation; it¡¯s a certainty.


    In all the chapters I read, he never failed in scoring situations.


    Wait, maybe once?


    I vaguely recall a scene where his slump began because of Lee Seungtae.


    I think he hit into a double y on a full-count basis back then.


    I chuckled.


    Even in fiction, hitting into a double y with the bases loaded is the worst.


    Crack!


    The moment Lee Jiho made contact, I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Lee Jiho¡¯s poorly hit ball bounced right to the shortstop, who threw it to home for the out. The catcher quickly threw to first base, resulting in a double y. We failed to score and only added two outs.


    ¡°¡­What is this?¡±


    He¡¯s not the type to hit into a double y here¡­


    I¡¯ve never seen Lee Jiho hit into a double y except when he was in a slump.


    No way¡­


    Could this be the start of his slump?


    Trying to dismiss it as a coincidence, I stood up and approached Lee Jiho.


    ¡°Hey, you okay?¡±


    Lee Jiho briefly nced at me, his expression hardening even more.


    ¡°Yeah, anyone can hit into a double y once in a while. It¡¯s just part of life. I¡¯ve probably hit into a double y with the bases loaded before¡­ probably. Besides, we¡¯re still up to bat.¡±


    ¡°Just go away¡­¡±


    I did my best tofort him, but it had no effect.


    This stubborn guy¡­


    Having no other choice, I returned to my seat. Soon after, the next batter struck out, ending the inning.


    The opposing pitcher, having escaped the jam, pumped his fist while we¡­


    ¡°What are we going to do about this atmosphere¡­¡±


    ¡­looked like we were at a funeral.


    Where is the coach, anyway, when the team¡¯s morale is this low?


    Phoenix scouts Kim Eun-chan and Ji Soo-yeon, who had been silently observing the friendly match between Hyuksan High and Dongshin High, finally spoke up at the end of the first inning.


    ¡°Seems like the hidden gem is here, don¡¯t you think? Soo-yeon, weren¡¯t you saying we should head to Myungshin High?¡±


    Ji Soo-yeon clenched her mouth shut and trembled slightly before sighing in reluctant agreement.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Where on earth did hee from¡­¡±


    Indeed, despite her senior¡¯s annoying provocation, Cha Taehyun showed an undeniable impact.


    Targeting the first pitch isn¡¯t particrly rare.


    It¡¯s quite an effective strategy, and many professionals go for the first pitch depending on the situation.


    The problem was¡­


    ¡°How fast was the pitch Cha Taehyun hit?¡±


    ¡°151 km/h. As far as I could see, the control was spot-on, barely touching the edge of the strike zone. It was probably one of the best pitches from Dongshin High¡¯s Seo Chang-hoon.¡±


    It was a perfect first pitch.


    ¡°And he cleanly took it over the fence¡­ Unreal.¡±


    ¡°Is that all? I think his fielding is just as unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Of course, his defense was excellent¡­ He¡¯s fielding like a pro even though he¡¯s just a high school student. Anyway, you get the picture, right? Put him on the watch list, and start looking up his data right now.¡±


    Ji Soo-yeon sighed.


    ¡°I already checked his data while you were staring nkly at the game.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Let me see it, then.¡±


    Kim Eun-chan reached out his hand, expecting the tablet, but Ji Soo-yeon onlyughed helplessly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Hand it over.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t hand over what doesn¡¯t exist.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    When Ji Soo-yeon finally gave him the tablet, Kim Eun-chan quickly checked the screen.


    On the screen, there was nothing but a nk page and a short message:


    [No Record]


    It was now the 5th inning, and Kim Chang-hyun was still on the mound.


    He fidgeted with the ball and briefly turned his head to look at the scoreboard.


    Next to his school¡¯s name, Hyuksan High, the number ¡°1¡± was disyed.


    It meant the batters had barely given him any support.


    However, Kim Chang-hyun wasn¡¯t bothered or resentful about it.


    ¡°An ace should know how to solve things on his own.¡±


    Next to Dongshin High, the score was also ¡°0.¡± He hadn¡¯t given up a single run.


    Not only that, he had a no-hitter going.


    ¡°Looks like my pitches are on point today.¡±


    Proud as he was of his pitching, he initially thought it was just his skill. But then, he corrected his thoughts.


    ¡°Acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.¡±


    That¡¯s the trait of a true ace.


    Kim Chang-hyun looked over at Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°That guy really is different¡­¡±


    Lee Chang-soo, the original starting shortstop, was skilled enough to secure a starting spot at Hyuksan High, a prestigious baseball school.


    Even so, there was an undeniable difference now that Cha Taehyun had joined.


    If Lee Chang-soo was an average bed¡­


    Cha Taehyun was a Simmons mattress.


    TL Note: I¡¯m sure somebody, somewhere gets this reference.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t break a sweat hitting my pitch¡­¡±


    ¡°Pitcher, what¡¯s the hold-up? Are you going to throw or not?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The umpire raised his voice, snapping Kim Chang-hyun back to his senses. He wound up his


    pitch.


    ¡°Oh¡­?¡±


    He threw the ball in a hurry, resulting in a bad release.


    Realizing he had made a mistake, Kim Chang-hyun clicked his tongue.


    Sure enough, Dongshin High¡¯s batter made solid contact with the ball.


    The ball sped towards the third base side.


    It soared high, clearing both the third baseman¡¯s and shortstop¡¯s heads.


    Everyone¡ªKim Chang-hyun, Dongshin High, and Hyuksan High¡ªthought it would be a hit. However, Cha Taehyun tenaciously chased it down, leapt slightly, and extended his glove.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    Having sessfully caught the ball, Kim Chang-hyun grinned from ear to ear and shouted.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun!!!!¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it!!¡±


    Run when the ball is hit.


    Catch when the balles your way.


    It might sound incredibly simple, just ying with a ball.


    But I still love this game more than anything else.


    I don¡¯t even resent the author who put me in this world anymore.


    In fact, I might even be grateful.


    That¡¯s how happy I am right now, ying baseball.


    It was already the 7th inning.


    Since this was a friendly match, it was scheduled to end at the 7th inning instead of the 9th.


    The current score between Hyuksan High and Dongshin High was tied at 1:1.


    Having loaded the bases at the start, I thought it would be an easy victory. But Dongshin High¡¯s pitcher seemed to have found his stride after oveing the crisis caused by Lee Jiho¡¯s double y. He struck out most of the batters except for me.


    As if he had received special orders from his coach, he only threw balls whenever I came up to bat.


    Aside from my first at-bat home run, every other appearance had ended in a walk.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    As the umpire¡¯s call echoed, sighs could be heard.


    Since the opponent was our rival, Dongshin High, it seemed no one would settle for a draw.


    Only two outs remained.


    Since I was up next, I put on my helmet and prepared to step up to the te.


    As I picked up my bat and exited the dugout, Senior Kim Chang-hyun followed me.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    He called my name with a very serious expression.


    ¡°I guarantee I¡¯ll keep them scoreless in the next inning.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°So you need to score no matter what. I hate ties more than anything.¡±


    I thought Senior Kim Chang-hyun had been acting strange all day, but¡­


    He made sense in his own way.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. I hate ties, too.¡±


    ¡°Out!¡±


    The ninth batter grounded out.


    As expected, it came down to me.


    Even if I managed to walk again, I doubted the following batters could bring me home.


    I needed a home run. That was the only way to avoid a tie or a loss.


    Oh, right, with Senior Kim Chang-hyun pitching, we wouldn¡¯t lose, at least.


    Hoping the Dongshin High pitcher would finally throw me a strike, I stepped into the batter¡¯s box.


    The pitcher wound up and threw.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    Of course, it was another ball. Two pitches had already missed, so it was clear they intended to walk me again.


    Any other batter might have just epted the walk, but I was different.


    After all, I spent years in the Major Leagues.


    Provoking a high school pitcher a little¡­ that¡¯s nothing.


    The moment the pitcher raised his glove, as if preparing to throw, I loosened my stance and rested the bat on my shoulder.


    His shoulder visibly tensed, but he still threw the ball.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    It missed again by about two ball widths.


    I thought maybe he just lost control earlier, but now it was obvious.


    This was definitely an order from his coach.


    Would a hot-blooded high schooler ignore a provocation like this?


    I needed to provoke him further.


    Let¡¯s test his patience.


    This time, I tilted my head back, putting on the most nonchnt expression. The response was immediate.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    His voice was sharp. Though I couldn¡¯t see him, I imagined a face full of annoyance.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to walk me anyway?¡±


    I clearly heard him click his tongue.


    By now¡­


    Wasn¡¯t the catcher setting up right in the center?


    Figuring that¡¯s what would happen, I prepared to swing just as the pitcher wound up.


    This psychological battle was entirely in my favor.


    If I guessed wrong, well¡­ no harm done. But if I was right?


    I was confident I could hit it.


    And¡­


    ¡°I was right, huh?¡±


    A grin crept onto my face.


    Smack-dab in the middle.


    This was practically¡­


    Begging me to hit a home run.


    My bnce was slightly off since I hurried to get into my stance, but it didn¡¯t matter.


    The experience and muscle memory I gained from ying baseball for so long was enough to handle a high school pitch right down the middle.


    Smack!


    Sending it over the fence was a breeze.


    After confirming the ball flew over the fence, I casually tossed my bat aside.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve just walked me.¡±


    Leaving that remark, I leisurely jogged toward first base.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 10

    ¡°Cha Taehyun, right? You hit pretty well. Let¡¯s keep it up from now on.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were crazy for just standing still at the end there.¡±


    ¡°Hey, which middle school baseball team were you on? Howe I¡¯ve never seen you before? Someone at your level would¡¯ve definitely made a mark in the tournaments¡­¡±


    Before the game started, the team members were giving me the cold shoulder, but now, after hitting a home run, they were approaching me in a friendly manner.


    It¡¯s like when a yer, criticized for underperforming, suddenly bes a national hero after a dramatic performance against Japan.


    ¡­Guess I was lucky.


    If it hadn¡¯t been a game against Dongshin High, or if the game hadn¡¯te down to my final at-bat, it might have taken me longer to establish my ce on the team.


    Of course, not everyone was weing me.


    For starters, Lee Chang-soo, the original starting shortstop, and his friends still seemed to be avoiding me. Well, time should take care of that.


    ¡°You¡¯re Cha Taehyun, right?¡±


    At that moment, a huge figure approached me. It was Lee Tae-hyung, the cleanup hitter and leader of the fielding team.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡±


    From a distance, he didn¡¯t seem too intimidating, but up close, his face looked quite fierce. His expression was so stern that I wondered if he was mad at me.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good hitter. I was especially surprised by that quick hit at the end.¡±


    Guess I was wrong.


    It was just a straightforwardpliment. I bowed my head in thanks, and he patted my shoulder a few times before saying, ¡°I look forward to working with you,¡± and left.


    Did I earn his recognition¡­?


    Just as I was about to head to the locker room, Senior Kim Chang-hyun approached me.


    How should I put this¡­ He¡¯s amusing.


    Right now, he¡¯s trying to imitate Senior Lee Tae-hyung with a serious face, but it¡¯s so obvious.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I kept my promise and held thest inning.¡±


    ¡°I knew you would. Your pitching was great throughout the game.¡±


    ¡°!!¡±


    Senior Kim Chang-hyun¡¯s eyes widened for a moment, and the corners of his mouth twitched.


    Oh, I get it. He¡¯s that type.


    You know, the saying, ¡°Compliments make even a whale dance.¡± People with a lot of pride love being acknowledged.


    ¡°As expected¡­ You definitely have what it takes to be the ace of Hyuksan High. I look forward to working with you.¡±


    His final words were simr to Senior Lee Tae-hyung¡¯s.


    Anyway, I bowed my head, and Senior Kim Chang-hyun also patted my shoulder before leaving.


    ¡°Guess I should get going too.¡±


    I was heading toward the exit when I ran into the coach. The moment he saw me, he grinned and took out two baseballs from his pocket.


    ¡°Here, take them.¡±


    ¡°¡­What¡¯s this?¡±


    Why is he suddenly giving me baseballs¡­?


    They weren¡¯t even new; they had some dirt on them, as if they had been used.


    Why would he¡­ No way, could these be¡­?


    ¡°Are these the balls from my home runs?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve got to give you the balls from your first game¡¯s home runs. The one on the left is from your first home run, and the one on the right is from the second. You might want to mark them with a marker.¡±


    So, is this why the coach wasn¡¯t around at the start of the game¡ªto find these?


    That¡¯s¡­ surprising.


    When I read Nemas, I thought he was just an old man obsessed with performance, but now, he seems to have a warmer side.


    Or maybe he¡¯s just being nice because I¡¯m good at baseball¡­


    Anyway, I¡¯m grateful regardless.


    I bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle and shouted energetically.


    ¡°Thank you, Coach!¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me. If you¡¯re grateful, just keep ying well. Oh, if you need a marker, check the lounge.¡±


    After saying that, the coach left.


    I changed my route from the locker room to the lounge.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s my first home run ball, I should mark it right away.¡±


    If I get them mixed up, I¡¯ll be bothered forever wondering which one was my first.


    The lounge was empty, and there was a marker right next to the whiteboard.


    First, I wrote today¡¯s date on the first home run ball.


    ¡°¡­Should I sign it too?¡±


    Might as well. I added my signature, the same one I used back in my Major League days.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Not bad.¡±


    It had been a while since I signed a baseball, but it turned out quite well. Looking at the ball, a face suddenly popped into my mind.


    ¡°¡­I wonder if Ms. Miyeon is still at school.¡±


    It was already getting dark.


    Even though work hours were long over, Lee Miyeon was still in the faculty office, preparing materials for her uing sses.


    The homeroom teacher of ss 3 tapped on Miyeon¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Ms. Miyeon, you look really tired today. Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Me¡­?¡±


    The teacher from ss 3 nodded.


    ¡°How should I put it¡­ You usually have this ¡®smile energy,¡¯ but today you look like a droopy puppy. It started around lunchtime. Did you have an upset stomach or something?¡±


    ¡°Not really¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I see. Well, if you¡¯re tired, go get some fresh air. A walk is the best cure when you¡¯re feeling down.¡±


    After contemting for a moment, Lee Miyeon eventually left the faculty office and walked down the stairs.


    She slowly walked around the school field before sitting on a bench.


    ¡°So sharp¡­ the teacher from ss 3¡­¡±


    Miyeon muttered bitterly with a smile.


    To be honest, she knew that today felt emptier than usual.


    That hollow feeling had lingered with her all day.


    In fact, she probably already knew the reason for it.


    No, it¡¯s not ¡°probably.¡± She did know¡­


    The only difference between yesterday and today was that the time she spent eating lunch with Taehyun was gone¡­


    But admitting that was hard because¡­


    The moment she admitted it, she could no longer be the ¡°teacher¡± she had aspired to be.


    That¡¯s why she had been vaguely aware that her rtionship with Taehyun was a little inappropriate, but¡­


    Just¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ talking with him is so fun. What can I do?¡±


    At first, she packed lunch for Taehyun out of pity.


    It was heartbreaking to see him going without food.


    She thought he was probably hurting inside, and as a teacher, she wanted to help heal those wounds, so she initiated conversations¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m really hopeless¡­¡±


    At some point, just talking to him became enjoyable, and she forgot about the initial purpose.


    But still, he¡¯s good at baseball, likes the Phoenix team, is kind, and even gave her the signed bat she had wanted so much¡­


    Honestly, how is this Taehyun¡¯s fault¡­?


    Miyeon quickly shook her head.


    ¡°What am I even thinking¡­¡±


    Anyway, the reason for theck of Miyeon¡¯s ¡°smile energy¡± was none other than Cha Taehyun.


    Because he had joined the baseball team.


    ¡°Looks like I won¡¯t be seeing him as often now¡­¡±


    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s for the best¡­¡¯


    If it weren¡¯t for this forced separation, she wouldn¡¯t have had the strength to distance herself from Taehyun.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Let¡¯s just return to being a normal teacher and student r¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ms. Miyeon?¡±


    ¡°Eek¡­!¡±


    Suddenly, Cha Taehyun appeared under the streetlight, startling Miyeon so much she bit her tongue.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t gone home yet?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes! I stayedte to prepare for my sses.¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s my lucky day, then.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    Taehyun smiled softly and pulled a baseball out of his pocket.


    ¡°I wanted to give you this. If you had left, I was going to give it to you another time.¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s eyes, which had been downcast all day, widened and sparkled.


    ¡°It¡¯s a home run ball. My first game, my first home run ball.¡±


    Her mouth opened slightly as she received the ball.


    A home run ball from the first game.


    As someone who loves baseball, Miyeon knew exactly how precious it was.


    ¡°Can I really ept this? It¡¯s your first game¡¯s home run ball¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been packing lunch for me every day. I wouldn¡¯t call this a repayment, but¡­ When I get famous and earn a lot of money, I¡¯ll give you a signed ball made of gold.¡±


    Miyeon couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to give me a gold one. This one is more than enough to make me happy.¡±


    That was 100% the truth.


    She was so happy that it was hard to suppress the smile threatening to spread across her face.


    Taehyun hesitated, as if he had more to say, and looked at Miyeon.


    ¡°Also¡­ I just wanted you to have it. Not just for the lunch.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Thanks to you, every day has been a joy for me.¡±


    Miyeon was left speechless.


    ¡°The lunches were delicious, but the time I spent with you was what truly kept me going.¡±


    ¡°¡­I see¡­¡±


    ¡°Ms. Miyeon? Why are you looking down all of a sudden?¡±


    Because my face feels hot!


    Of course, she couldn¡¯t say that.


    ¡°So¡­ I was wondering if I could continue eating your lunch¡­ I know it¡¯s a lot to ask,


    but¡­ would you mind?¡±


    Hearing that, Miyeon¡¯s head shot up.


    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you going to be too busy with the baseball team now?¡±


    Taehyun answered yfully.


    ¡°The coach doesn¡¯t care what I do as long as I y well. I can step out during lunchtime.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°Really? Then¡­¡±


    Miyeon was about to answer immediately but stopped herself.


    ¡®¡­What am I thinking? I just made up my mind earlier¡­¡¯


    But the moment Taehyun spoke again,


    ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient, then I¡¯m okay¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, no! I actually felt lonely making lunch for just one person.¡±


    Her resolve crumbled instantly.


    ¡®It¡¯s not like eating lunch together is weird, right?¡¯


    In any case, now that she had regained her ¡°smile energy,¡± Miyeon returned to the school with Taehyun, who said he left something in the ssroom.


    After parting ways with Taehyun, Miyeon entered the faculty office and sat down at her desk. The teacher from ss 3 looked at her curiously.


    ¡°Wow, Ms. Miyeon, you look revitalized again!¡±


    ¡°Huh? I do¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! No, you look even more energetic than usual! Did you find some money while walking around?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s not money, actually.¡±


    Miyeon ced the home run ball on her desk and smiled.


    ¡°I got something much better than money.¡±


    It¡¯s been over a week since I joined the baseball team.


    I¡¯ve built friendships with the members, and even have some who follow me now, so I¡¯m quite satisfied.


    However¡­ a problem has arisen.


    A big problem.


    Smack!


    ¡°Oh! Lee Jiho again?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up with himtely?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a double-y machine now.¡±


    The universe¡¯s force of resistance, or whatever it is, seems to have finally thrown Lee Jiho into a slump.


    Not only could this potentially create a link to Ms. Miyeon, but it¡¯s also a problem for the baseball team.


    Right now, we¡¯re mainly ying intra-squad games and friendlies, but if this continues during tournament season¡­


    Forget about winning; we¡¯ll have to worry about getting knocked out early.


    Sure, you might think, ¡°How can losing one batter affect the team so much?¡± But actually, Lee Jiho isn¡¯t the only problem.


    ¡°Is Senior Seungtae seriously missing?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what happened to him? Did he get into an ident or something?¡±


    ¡°The coach isn¡¯t saying much either.¡±


    The team¡¯s ace pitcher has been missing for a week with no contact.


    ¡°Maybe he caught a bad cold or something. He might be a jerk, but he¡¯s serious about baseball. Still, I hope he doesn¡¯te back.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. Watching him torment Hwang Gwang-hyun was painful. And since the coach never said anything about it¡­ what could we even say¡­?¡±


    ¡°Really? Should I bring him back, then?¡±


    The second-year members, who had been chatting away excitedly in the dugout, froze instantly.


    Me included.


    ¡°S-Senior Lee Seungtae?¡±


    ¡°Your hair¡­?¡±


    Lee Seungtae, grinning like he found it amusing, had nearly shaved his head down to a buzz cut.


    What on earth¡­ What happened to him?


    ¡ª

 Chapter 11

    When did it all start?


    When did Seungtae, a baseball fanatic, start turning into a tyrant?


    Maybe it was during his first year of high school when he hit ate growth spurt.


    He¡¯d wake up taller every morning, and every bit he ate seemed to go straight into building his physique.


    The velocity he once thought he could never achieve was now easily surpassed, and his pitches became sharper day by day.


    Before he could even realize it, there wasn¡¯t a single yer in Korea who could im to be better than Lee Seungtae.


    From a yer who was merelymendable butcked physicality, he suddenly became the most sought-after athlete by professional teams.


    Was it possible that he had be intoxicated by his own sess?


    Whenever he looked at Hwang Gwang-hyun, short and with a closely shaved head like a chestnut, it reminded him of his pathetic self from the past. And it annoyed him for no reason.


    Yeah.


    That was really it.


    It was simply because he had risen so high, thinking he was the best, indulging in his arrogance as if the world was his own.


    He acted like a fool.


    This was a realization he might not havee to for a long time, maybe even his entire life, if it weren¡¯t for that single swing that shattered his pride.


    ¡°Haha¡­¡±


    Recalling that memory, Seungtae let out a shortugh and left the dark room.


    After taking a shower, he left his house and headed to the neighborhood barbershop he hadn¡¯t visited since he started growing his hair in high school.


    ¡°Seungtae, you¡¯re here.¡±


    As he entered, Seungtae flinched.


    ¡°Why are you standing there? Sit down.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Your hair¡¯s gotten really long.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°Still ying baseball?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Seems like you¡¯re doing well if you can grow your hair out this much.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°So, should I just trim it for you today?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you want it shaved?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Shave it¡­ like a chestnut.¡±


    When Seungtae returned, he was quite different.


    No, calling it ¡®different¡¯ doesn¡¯t even begin to describe it. It was like he had be apletely different person.


    At first, when he asked where Hwang Gwang-hyun was, I thought he came back just to torment him.


    But instead of bullying him, he got down on his knees and apologized in front of his juniors and teammates.


    This was something the Seungtae I knew would never have done.


    Hwang Gwang-hyun, being the kind-hearted person he is, thanked him for apologizing, even if it waste, and forgave him.


    In return for the forgiveness, Seungtae promised to coach Hwang Gwang-hyun in pitching from now on.


    It was a heartwarming ending I hadn¡¯t expected.


    ¡°What could have made him change his mind so suddenly¡­?¡±


    Well, it¡¯s a good thing.


    The baseball team is now free from the ticking time bomb that was Seungtae.


    Now, the only issue left is Lee Jiho, who¡¯s still in his slump.


    This, too, is puzzling in its own way.


    If my memory is correct, the cause of Jiho¡¯s slump was Seungtae¡¯s bullying.


    Now that it¡¯s been resolved, why is he falling into a slump on his own¡­?


    Or maybe¡­ there really isn¡¯t any particr reason at all.


    Slumps oftene without any clear reason, so it¡¯s not that strange.


    Thinking any more about it wouldn¡¯t bring answers, so I stretched and left the lounge.


    As I was walking down the hallway, a paper on the wall caught my eye.


    It was the match bracket for the Golden Lion Tournament, one of the major tournaments.


    ¡°It¡¯s tournament season already.¡±


    Since the Golden Lion is a major tournament, many scoutse to watch.


    Not only domestic professional teams but even Major League scouts make an appearance, so it¡¯s a must-grab opportunity for anyone dreaming of bing a professional yer.


    Of course, I also n to use this chance to make a strong impression.


    The earlier I attract attention, the higher my market value will go.


    Since I¡¯ve walked this path before, I know how to increase my worth.


    It¡¯s simple. I need to showcase sess in both pitching and hitting. The appeal of a two-way yer is beyond imagination.


    So, I¡¯m nning to start pitching practice soon. I¡¯ll need someone to catch for me¡­


    At that moment, I saw Senior Ji Chang-seop walking by with a bat in hand.


    ¡°Senior Ji Chang-seop!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up? Why are you running over in such a hurry?¡±


    ¡°Can you catch for me for a bit?¡±


    ¡°¡­I was about to do some batting practice, but if it¡¯s our ace asking, I guess I¡¯ll have to go. Come on, the pitching practice area should be open.¡±


    ¡°By the way, where¡¯s the guy who¡¯s supposed to pitch?¡±


    As soon as we arrived at the practice area, Senior Ji Chang-seop asked.


    Looks like he misunderstood something.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to pitch.¡±


    ¡°What? You?¡±


    Senior Ji Chang-seop¡¯s eyes, which were usually half-closed, opened wide.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve been wanting to start pitching practice.¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re joking, right? From the way you¡¯re talking, it sounds like you think you can pitch too.¡±


    I smiled slightly as I stepped onto the mound.


    ¡°Then shall I give it a try?¡±


    ¡°¡­Go ahead, throw one.¡±


    Senior Ji Chang-seop got into his catching stance, still looking skeptical.


    ¡°I¡¯ll throw the first one lightly.¡±


    As I stood on the mound, I felt my body itching to throw, but going full force from the start could lead to injury.


    Oh, this is bad¡­


    If I keep smiling on the mound, I¡¯ll look like a crazy person.


    Well, it can¡¯t be helped.


    I just really love pitching.


    As I winded up, I smoothly raised my arm and pulled my upper body back like a javelin thrower.


    From this position, I brought my arm forward, throwing the ball with all my strength as if pushing it down. My back foot naturally kicked forward from the sheer force of my dynamic pitching form.


    The ball flew straight and fast into the mitt.


    Thwack!


    The sound of the ball hitting the mitt echoed through the indoor practice area.


    Did I throw it too hard?


    I intended to take it easy, but I ended up throwing it at full power.


    Senior Ji Chang-seop, looking stunned, stared at his mitt.


    After a moment, he snapped out of it and threw the ball back to me.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun. Take it easy.¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ I just threw it a bit too hard.¡±


    ¡°Why are you apologizing? I only said that because if our ace pitcher, who¡¯s supposed to lead us to the Golden Lion victory, gets injured, the team would be in trouble.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Ji Chang-seop smiled yfully as he continued.


    ¡°Just kidding. Anyway, keep throwing. I¡¯m getting curious about your pitches.¡±


    ¡®This Cha Taehyun¡­ He¡¯s really insane.¡¯


    After catching the 60th pitch, Ji Chang-seop shook his head.


    This guy hasn¡¯t even been practicing pitching, yet he¡¯s not showing any signs of fatigue. In fact, his pitches are getting faster. On top of that, he keeps grinning like some kind of maniac.


    ¡°They say the ones who are good at baseball just keep getting better.¡±


    A faintugh escaped from Ji Chang-seop¡¯s lips. It wasn¡¯t augh with any deeper meaning, just pure admiration.


    He¡¯s so far beyond everyone else that you don¡¯t even feel jealousy or inferiority.


    ¡°Taehyun, stop, stop! Let¡¯s call it a day. I¡¯m getting tired too.¡±


    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±


    ¡°You like pitching this much, so how have you managed to hold back until now?¡±


    ¡°I held back by batting.¡±


    ¡°Haha! You¡¯re really something¡­ a baseball-crazy maniac.¡±


    ¡°By the way, Senior, how was my pitching?¡±


    ¡°How was it?¡±


    Ji Chang-seop chuckled as he responded.


    ¡°It was good. From what I see, Chang-hyun is now our third starter.¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t that quite a highpliment?¡¯


    Despite that, there was a hint of dissatisfaction on Taehyun¡¯s face, and he truly was feeling a bit regretful.


    Back when he was around this age in the past, he was already at the pinnacle of high school baseball in Korea as a pitcher, so it was natural for him to feel this way.


    ¡®Not having a fully developed body is the problem.¡¯


    Despite working himself to the bone over the past month, his growth had been stunted by thete nights spent working a part-time job.


    But stopping the job wasn¡¯t an option because he needed the money to cover his living expenses.


    ¡®Should I seriously take out a loan or something?¡¯


    While Cha Taehyun was deep in thought, Ji Chang-seop tapped his shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, Taehyun, see those people? They¡¯re scouts. Theye here often, so I¡¯m sure. Anyway, they seem to be looking for you. Go talk to them.¡±


    ¡®Scouts?¡¯


    As Ji Chang-seop said, a man and a woman were looking around as if they were searching for someone.


    ¡°They might not be looking for me, though.¡±


    ¡°Who else would they be looking for? Now go.¡±


    Pushed forward by Ji Chang-seop, Cha Taehyun approached the pair.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, right? Could we have a word with you? We¡¯ve already got permission from the coach.¡±


    I followed the scouts to the coach¡¯s office.


    Once I sat down, one of the scouts handed me a cup of coffee


    , though I had no idea where it came from.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on! No need to thank us. You¡¯ve given us some of your precious time.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh, um¡­ it¡¯s not a problem to spare a bit of time.¡±


    ¡°Wow! What a great personality you have. You¡¯d be a star the moment you join the Phoenix team!¡±


    Oh, so they¡¯re scouts from the Phoenix?


    I was wondering why they were treating me so well, even though I¡¯m just a second-year high school student¡­ but now it makes sense.


    Phoenix is a team that¡¯s been stuck in a slump.


    No one even calls them ¡°Phoenix¡± anymore. They¡¯re known as ¡°Fail-nix¡± because they always finish at the bottom.


    I guess it¡¯s natural for their scouts to be desperate.


    ¡°There¡¯s still over a year left until the draft. Stop getting ahead of yourself, Eun-chan.¡±


    The coachmented, sipping his coffee.


    ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s true, I¡¯m getting ahead of myself. Still! We just wanted to say hello to Cha Taehyun and express our interest in him joining our team.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ Yes. Thank you. I actually like Phoenix.¡±


    At that moment, the woman who had been silent next to Kim Eun-chan jumped up.


    ¡°Really? Is that true, Cha Taehyun? You¡¯re exactly what our Phoenix needs! Our team¡¯s shortstop depth is aplete disaster¡­ Ah¡­ I hear ¡®Get us a shortstop¡¯ all day long! If you join us, I might finally get a breather! Is that true?¡±


    This woman¡­ She must have a lot of pent-up frustration.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 12

    The scout¡¯s excited demeanor was quickly calmed by the coach¡¯s words.


    ¡°Just because you like a team, does that mean you¡¯ll go there? Another team could call your name first.¡±


    He was so right that I couldn¡¯t help but nod.


    Even if I wanted to join the Phoenix, the draft gives priority to teams in reverse order of their league ranking.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that. Cha Taehyun, I can assure you that the Phoenix is a lock forst ce this year! I guarantee it!¡±


    Is that really something to say so proudly¡­?


    I was about to respond, but the coach interrupted again.


    ¡°And that kid isn¡¯t meant to stay in Korea. Phoenix? I wouldn¡¯t go there. It¡¯s a graveyard for rookies.¡±


    The scouts froze, mouths open, unable to refute the coach¡¯s words. The Major League, huh¡­


    I¡¯ve walked that path before, and I¡¯m well aware of the league¡¯s characteristics, so it¡¯s definitely not a bad option.


    However¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m not nning to go directly to the Majors.¡±


    The coach turned to look at me, while the scouts, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly brightened.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll never go. It¡¯s just that I really like the Phoenix.¡±


    To be precise, I like Miyeon because she loves the Phoenix so much¡­N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Anyway, I n to win the championship with the Phoenix, which Miyeon always dreams of, before moving to the Majors.


    ¡°¡­Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll strongly advocate for you within our organization.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ yes. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°A genius batter who chose the Phoenix over the Majors¡­ This¡­ this is a godsend for the Phoenix!¡±


    ¡­That¡¯s taking it a bit too far.


    ¡°That being said¡­ I know this might sound presumptuous, but as someone who once trained to be a batting coach, would it be okay if I gave you some advice? I want to see you do even better.¡±


    ¡°I would appreciate that.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, you have almost no weaknesses. Hitting, base running, defense, mental strength¡­ you¡¯re well-rounded. But there¡¯s one small thing that could use some improvement.¡±


    The scout¡¯s eyes scanned my body.


    ¡°Your physique isn¡¯t bad by any means, but considering your natural frame, it could be better. You should eat more, be more active, and get enough sleep. Your performance will naturally improve.¡±


    It seems Phoenix did hire a decent scout.


    I don¡¯t like saying this myself, but the scout is right. My only w is that my physique isn¡¯t fully developed yet.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, but my sleep pattern is a bit unstable.¡±


    ¡°What? Then¡­ maybe you could set aside a day to fix your pattern.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I work the night shift at a convenience store until 4 a.m.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    The scout¡¯s face froze, and a heavy silence fell over the room.


    ¡°Are you telling me that you¡¯ve been training and doing night shifts all this time?¡±


    The coach asked.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°But why? What does a high school student need money for so desperately?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s hard to make ends meet without the night job.¡±


    Another wave of silence followed.


    This time, the scout spoke first.


    ¡°I won¡¯t ask for more details, as it would be impolite. But how about this?¡±


    Kim Eun-chan proposed providing me with a ¡°living allowance¡± on behalf of the organization.


    They offered to pay me about 2 million won every month.


    With that amount, I could quit all my part-time jobs and still livefortably. It would actually make my life even better. They even offered to pay more if needed. Since I had already been thinking about joining the Phoenix if they called, it was an offer hard to refuse.


    But I turned it down.


    ¡°¡­Can I ask why?¡±


    ¡°Receiving money from an organization in advance¡­ it¡¯s not technically allowed, right? As long as I keep quiet, it probably won¡¯t be a problem, but my philosophy is to ¡®live honestly.''¡±


    The scout smiled bitterly and nodded.


    ¡°I overstepped. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never been so eager to recruit someone like you.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just grateful that you think so highly of me. Let¡¯s consider this conversation never happened, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ Cha Taehyun, you¡¯re as mature as your baseball skills. Thank you for your time today. We¡¯ll be going now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±


    After seeing the scouts off, I stood up as well.


    ¡°Coach, I¡¯ll be heading out now.¡±


    I bowed and turned to leave the coach¡¯s office, but he called me back.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Starting today, quit your night job.¡±


    His heavy voice sounded more like amand than a suggestion.


    Was this man even listening to what I said earlier?


    ¡°Well¡­ as I mentioned before, if I quit, I won¡¯t be able to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Is 2 million won per month enough?¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Write down your bank ount information. I¡¯ll transfer it to you tomorrow.¡±


    I froze for a moment, unsure how to react.


    Isn¡¯t that a fair response? What the coach had just said was simply hard to ept.


    ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up. Don¡¯t have a bank ount? Want cash instead?¡±


    ¡°N-no, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m a bit overwhelmed. 2 million won a month is a lot of money.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s definitely not a small amount. But¡­ if I think of it as investing 2,000 in my final season to win four trophies, it doesn¡¯t seem so bad, right? Anyway, it¡¯s just money I would¡¯ve lost in stocks, so I don¡¯t feel like it¡¯s a waste.¡±


    The coach grinned, showing his teeth, grabbed a pen and paper, and put it in my hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this for myself, so write it down before I change my mind.¡±


    Suppressing the rush of emotions inside me, I shouted loudly.


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    While eating lunch with Miyeon, we started talking about Lee Jiho.


    Apparently, despite all my efforts, he ended up consulting Miyeon for advice.


    I noticed his slump had started to ease recently¡­


    ¡°That¡¯s surprising. He actually went to someone for advice?¡±


    Miyeon looked around cautiously before lowering her voice.


    ¡°Well¡­ he said he feels inferior to you¡­¡±


    Hmm? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?


    He feels inferior? Jiho?


    ¡°Why does he feel inferior to me?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ he used to think he was the best among the second-years, and he had a lot of pride in that. But after you showed up¡­ that pride got a bit shaken, it seems.¡±


    Hmm¡­ now that I think about it, I guess that makes sense.


    Jiho has always been the best for his age. He would¡¯ve continued to be if not for my unexpected appearance that shattered his years-long belief in his own superiority¡­


    Even I would¡¯ve had my confidence shaken. Baseball yers naturally have a strongpetitive spirit.


    It¡¯s a bit shocking to realize that I¡¯m the cause of his slump.


    While it¡¯s something we could just let pass, there¡¯s a bit of an issue.


    The problem is that Jiho sought advice from Miyeon.


    What if their rtionship changed because of it?


    ¡°So, what did you say to him?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t really remember.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    Miyeon blushed, embarrassed.


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I know I shouldn¡¯t have done it, but¡­ lunch breaks are so short, you know?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ yeah, they are.¡±


    We only have about 15 minutes before the students return from lunch.


    No way¡­


    ¡°So¡­ I just wanted to get it over with quickly, so I said a bunch of positive things¡­ Something like, ¡®Just because you¡¯re not as good as Taehyun doesn¡¯t make you a bad yer. Keep your head up.¡¯ I think¡­¡±


    Well¡­ I guess I was worried for no reason.


    In fact, I feel a bit bad for Jiho.


    In normal circumstances, he could have received more solidfort from Miyeon.


    Anyway, we ended the conversation about Jiho and moved on to discuss the first round of the Golden Lion Tournament this weekend.


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re ying as a starter?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Miyeon pped her hands excitedly, as if it were her own aplishment.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, Taehyun! I¡¯ll definitelye to cheer for you.¡±


    ¡°That might be difficult.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why? I love baseball. It won¡¯t be hard at all.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ the game is in Seoul.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll just take the KTX train, right?¡±


    With no hesitation, Miyeon¡¯s innocent response made me smile.


    ¡°But it costs money, and you¡¯ll have to spend time, too.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have many friends, so I don¡¯t really have anything else to spend money on.¡±


    Sheughed yfully, and I couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing as well.


    The day of the first round of the Golden Lion Tournament finally arrived.


    We arrived at Mokdong Baseball Stadium, unpacked, and gathered in the dugout.


    On the way in, I noticed broadcasting cameras and some people who looked likementators. It seemed today¡¯s game would be televised to promote high school baseball.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long¡­ since I¡¯ve been in a proper baseball stadium.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? We¡¯re always at a baseball field.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan chimed in on my muttering.


    ¡°A proper baseball stadium, you idiot. Is the school¡¯s field even a baseball field?¡±


    ¡°You sound like someone who hasn¡¯t been to a stadium in years.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s true. It¡¯s been years.


    Ever since I retired as an injured yer and spent my time reading web novels¡­


    Not that he¡¯d understand


    if I exined.


    ¡°Just go along with it.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, gather up.¡±


    The coach arrived and called for us to assemble. The lineup for today¡¯s game was about to be announced.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 13

    The Hyuksan baseball team isst year¡¯s Golden Lion champions. Naturally, they are a strong favorite to win this year¡¯s tournament as well.


    Even so, today¡¯s game won¡¯t be easy.


    As if fate were ying a trick, their opponent in the first round is none other thanst year¡¯s runner-up, Ilmyeong High.


    Losing in the first round is a very real possibility.


    Everyone was well aware of that, which is why the atmosphere in the dugout was filled with tension.


    It was like the calm before a storm, when the coach finally appeared.


    ¡°I¡¯ll announce the lineup, so listen up. Leadoff hitter, center fielder, Jin Myunghwan. Second, catcher, Ji Chanwoo. Third, shortstop, Cha Taehyun.¡±


    Third?


    That was unexpected. The coach had always used me as the leadoff hitter. Not that I¡¯mining¡ªthe third spot in modern baseball is just as crucial as the cleanup spot, which means more opportunities for me to shine. ¡°Fourth, designated hitter, Lee Taehyung. Fifth, third baseman, Lee Jiho.¡±


    Lee Jiho, who recently overcame his slump, secured the fifth spot. That guy really is something. Oveing his slump after just one counseling session with Miyeon¡­


    ¡°Andstly, the starting pitcher will be Lee Seungtae.¡±


    The coach approached Lee Seungtae, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and smiled slightly.


    ¡°Since you shaved your head, your pitches have improved. Just pitch as you normally do, and you¡¯ll do fine.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    In the end, Lee Seungtae was chosen as the starting pitcher.


    Changhyun had been in great form, so I thought there was a chance he might get the start. But Seungtae¡¯s form had also improved dramatically¡­


    Overall, this lineup was within my expectations, except for thest part, which caught me off guard.


    ¡°Hwang Gwanghyeon, you¡¯ll be in relief today, so don¡¯t be too nervous.¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes? ¡­Yes!¡±


    Hwang Gwanghyeon, who had never been a regr, was brought in as the relief pitcher. I¡¯ve often seen Seungtae coaching him during pitcher practice, so it looks like his skills have improved.


    Seungtae really has changed.


    Even now, he¡¯s giving Gwanghyeon advice, telling him not to be nervous. It¡¯s heartwarming to see.


    ¡°Onest thing¡­ don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s okay to lose. Just don¡¯t y worse than usual because you¡¯re scared. Give it your all. There are a lot of scouts here today. You all know what that means, right? Show them how hard you¡¯ve worked to get here.¡±


    Leaving those words behind, the coach disappeared somewhere.


    He¡¯s changed a lot too. He¡¯s nothing like the stat-obsessed coach from the text.


    Could this coach really be the same person as the one described in the story?


    I don¡¯t think so.


    Seungtae, Gwanghyeon, Jiho, and even Miyeon have all changed, for better or worse, because of me.


    This world isn¡¯t just following a predetermined story.


    So, I¡¯ve decided to stop consciously thinking about Nemaz.


    Now, as Cha Taehyun, I have a new goal: to bring Miyeon a Phoenix championship.


    ¡°So today, we must win.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Well, yeah, but that was random.¡±


    ¡°Myunghwan.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Just go with it.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    There were less than 10 minutes left before the game started when my phone vibrated.


    [Miyeon: Taehyun, I¡¯m here! ^^ I¡¯ll be cheering you on, so do your best!]


    Just reading the text made a big smile spread across my face.


    Am I not incredibly lucky? What other teacher woulde all the way to Seoul to cheer for me?


    As I was typing my reply, another message from Miyeon came through.


    [You¡¯re going to hit a home run, right?]


    I quickly erased what I was writing, thought for a moment, and typed again.


    [If you buy me something tasty.]


    Her reply came almost immediately.


    [Sure! I¡¯ll buy you something delicious if you hit a home run! I¡¯ll do it every time you hit one, haha.]


    Every time? Let¡¯s aim for at least two¡­ no, three.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Seo Jia suddenly poked her face into my space, so I hurriedly put away my phone.


    ¡°Just texting.¡±


    ¡°¡­Really?¡±


    ¡°Who are you texting to be so happy? Is it¡­ your girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ sounds suspicious¡­ really suspicious!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s not.¡±


    Seo Jia kept questioning me for quite a while before she finally left.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Changhyun, when did you get here?¡±


    Somehow, Changhyun had been sitting in front of me, staring nkly into space.


    ¡°Leave romance outside the ballpark¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh, what?¡±


    ¡°Lucky guy¡­¡±


    Miyeon sat in the audience seats of Mokdong Baseball Stadium, looking around.


    Many people were holding stopwatches and speed guns.


    ¡®They must be scouts.¡¯


    Just as she thought, there were quite a few scouts present at Mokdong Stadium today. Despite it being the first round, it was a matchup betweenst year¡¯s champion and runner-up.


    There was no way the scouts would miss this game.


    ¡°I wonder if the Phoenix scouts are here.¡±


    ¡°Are you a Phoenix fan?¡±


    ¡°Whoa!¡±


    Miyeon flinched as a woman suddenly appeared beside her.


    ¡°Haha. I¡¯m sorry. Is it okay if I sit here?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ but are you two by any chance¡­¡±


    Miyeon eyed the man and woman with suspicion.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re Phoenix scouts.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Miyeon, like she was meeting a celebrity, excitedly began to talk to Kim Eun-chan and Ji Suyeon.


    ¡°You came at just the right time. There¡¯s a really good yer here today. Someone the Phoenix desperately needs!¡±


    Ji Suyeon grinned as she asked, ¡°Oh? Could you tell us who that might be?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a yer named Cha Taehyun. Do you know him?¡±


    Kim Eun-chan nodded.


    ¡°He¡¯s a great yer. We¡¯re here to see him today.¡±


    Miyeon looked at him in surprise, and he continued calmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure every scout here today will be stunned. This is the first time Cha Taehyun will be officially showcasing his skills. Watch closely. Today might be a historic moment.¡±


    Ilmyeong High¡¯s ace, Ju Ji-tae.


    Although Hyuksan¡¯s ace, Lee Seungtae, is in a ss of his own, Ju Ji-tae is still a solid pitcher who is likely to be selected in the first round.


    As he took the mound today, Ju Ji-tae made a vow.


    ¡°I will win today, no matter what.¡±


    Not a single day had passed without Ju Ji-tae recalling the memory ofst year¡¯s Golden Lion final, where they lost after a fierce battle that went into extra innings.


    He was grateful that he had been a second-year back then, and he¡¯d been waiting for this chance at revenge ever since.


    When the leadoff hitter, Jin Myunghwan, stepped up to the te, Ju Ji-tae red fiercely at him.


    Taking a deep breath, he threw the first pitch.


    -Pow!


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    The umpire¡¯s call was apanied by a faint smile from Ju Ji-tae.


    The scoreboard disyed 147 km/h. It was a surprisingly fast pitch for an off-speed throw.


    Quickly regaining his focus, Ju Ji-tae threw the second and third pitches.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    He wrapped up the at-bat cleanly.


    Striking out Jin Myunghwan, who was known for his top-tier contact hitting, in just three pitches was a feat.


    Three up, three down.


    Feeling satisfied, Ju Ji-tae faced the next batter.


    ¡°Ji Chanwoo¡­ the one who helped turn the tablesst time¡­¡±


    He was another top contact hitter, and a catcher at that.


    But Ju Ji-tae didn¡¯t let it faze him and continued to pitch.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    Even Ji Chanwoo was struck out in just three pitches.


    After retiring these two batters, Ju Ji-tae felt utterly confident.


    He was sure of it now. Today, his pitches wouldn¡¯t be easy to hit.


    When the third batter stepped into the box, Ju Ji-tae couldn¡¯t help but let out augh.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, huh¡­¡±


    He had never heard of that name in any tournament before.


    Which meant he wasn¡¯t a great yer.


    If a yer is good, they get analyzed and discussed, but this guy¡­ he hadn¡¯t even heard the name before.


    ¡°Seems like it¡¯s his debut¡­ it¡¯s going to be embarrassing for him on TV.¡±


    Smiling wryly, Ju Ji-tae gripped the ball.


    -Taehyun!!!


    A loud voice rang out from the stands.


    Even though it was the perfect timing to pitch, Cha Taehyun turned toward the audience and smiled contentedly.


    Ju Ji-tae scoffed at the sight, as if Taehyun felt no tension about the impending duel.


    ¡°¡­Ignoring the pitcher right in front of him?¡±


    ¡®I was nning on taking it easy early on¡­ but not with this guy.¡¯


    Ju Ji-tae raised his knee, spread his arms wide, and nted his foot firmly as he delivered the pitch with all his strength.


    It was a full-force throw, even shaking his cap slightly.


    With an insane spin rate, the ball rocketed forward.


    It was a perfect pitch, just grazing the outer edge of the strike zone.


    ¡®It¡¯s in


    for sure!¡¯


    He could already picture the batter¡¯s stunned face.


    But then, Ju Ji-tae¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    As if Taehyun had seen the future, his bat was already in position to meet the ball that was supposedly untouchable.


    -Crack!


    The sound of the bat smashing the ball sent a tremor through Ju Ji-tae¡¯s entire body.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Overwhelmed, Ju Ji-tae¡¯s head whipped around.


    He had to crane his neck further and further upward.


    Just how far was this ball going?


    ¡°Where¡¯s it going¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Cha Taehyun makes contact on the first pitch! It¡¯s heading right-center! Going high, going far! It¡¯s sailing past the fence! An incredible home run!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s never yed in elementary, middle, or even in his first year of high school! This unknown rookie is now dominating the game with his first swing in his first official appearance!¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 14

    With a single swing, the scouts, who had their eyes solely on ¡°Lee Seungtae,¡± the top draft prospect, and the key yers of Hyuksan High and Ilmyeong High, were thrown into a frenzy.


    ¡°What, what just happened? Why did he get hit when he was pitching so well? Did he let his guard down? What was the speed of that pitch?¡±


    ¡°154¡­ It was 3 km/h faster than Joo Jitae¡¯s top speed.¡±


    ¡°What? That was Joo Jitae¡¯s best pitch of his career? And that guy just knocked it right over the fence? What are you doing! Quickly, look up that Cha Taehyun guy¡¯s data!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ about that.¡±


    ¡°Find it now! Didn¡¯t you notice anything from that swing? That guy is something else!¡±


    ¡°There¡­ there isn¡¯t any data¡­¡±


    ¡°What? What kind of nonsense is that?¡±


    ¡°I mean, there¡¯s literally no record of him. We checked everything¡­¡± ¡°Are you kidding me! Are you saying that guy just made his debut out of nowhere?!¡±


    Some scouts were venting their anger at their unfortunate teammates, while others were hurriedly contacting their clubs.


    And it wasn¡¯t just the domestic scouts who were in a panic.


    ¡°¡­Hey, Rick. Weren¡¯t we supposed to just focus on Lee Seungtae today?¡±


    A ck scout asked the White scout beside him, who replied with a dazed expression.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ that¡¯s what we nned.¡±


    ¡°Then who the hell is this Cha Taehyun? Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t just see that incredible swing.¡±


    ¡°I saw it. It was a really beautiful and efficient swing.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Damn it, Joo Jitae threw a perfect pitch, and this guy just sent it flying! What are you waiting for? Add him to the list!¡±


    The White scout shook his head.


    ¡°Not yet. Maybe he¡¯s something here in this country, but to make it in the majors, hitting alone isn¡¯t enough. He needs to be good at defense too.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Really? I think that swing alone is worth it though¡­¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I think so too. But let¡¯s watch him a bit more¡­ It¡¯s only just started.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ Maybe today, we¡¯re witnessing the birth of a monster.¡±


    In his debut game, he hit the first pitch right over the fence. This time, I was quite satisfied with my swing.


    Seems like quitting the part-time job and getting more sleep is having an effect, thanks to the coach.


    As I rounded the bases, I nced at the Ilmyeong High pitcher. He had his head down, so I couldn¡¯t see his face clearly.


    Is he losing hisposure?


    If not, this game might not be easy.


    It might sound strange to say this after hitting a home run, but he¡¯s a skilled pitcher. If it wasn¡¯t me up there, he probably would have struck out the batter.


    As I rounded the bases and entered the dugout, the atmosphere was heated.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun!! That¡¯s it!!¡±


    Changhyun pushed Seo Jia aside and ran towards me. It was a familiar pattern I¡¯d seen many times, but¡­


    ¡°This guy is really nuts!¡±


    ¡°Cha Taehyun¡­ who is he, really?¡±


    ¡°Taehyun¡­ now you¡¯re scaring me.¡±


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Taehyun, you embarrassed Chanwoo by hitting a home run right away!¡±


    ¡°Taehyun, nothing you do surprises me anymore. I¡¯ll just go with it.¡±


    This¡­ I didn¡¯t expect.


    As I entered the dugout, countless hands and cheers started hitting me all over.


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    What is this feeling?


    The cheers from my teammates were so loud that it felt like my ears would burst, and their hand ps were stinging my back.


    And yet, I couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    The Hyuksan nightclub, which had briefly opened, had now closed, and it was time to focus on the game again.


    The batter up was senior Lee Taehyung. As the leader of the fielders and the cleanup hitter, he delivers when it matters.


    Those in the know would recognize that this at-bat was a crucial turning point in the game.


    A pitcher who threw perfect pitches and struck out two consecutive batters had just been hit by a pitch that wasn¡¯t even a mistake but was better than his usual form.


    For the pitcher, that situation was a disaster.


    But a good pitcher knows how to hold his ground.


    The question was: could Ilmyeong High¡¯s Joo Jitae do that?


    Joo Jitae wound up and threw the ball.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    A fastball right inside the zonended in the catcher¡¯s mitt. The speed and the pitch quality hadn¡¯t dropped at all.


    ¡°As expected of a first-round caliber pitcher¡­ he¡¯s no pushover.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jin Myunghwan interrupted again.


    ¡°Myunghwan, don¡¯t you see?¡±


    ¡°See what?¡±


    ¡°The pitch quality is the same, and the time it takes to pitch hasn¡¯t changed. It means his routine isn¡¯t shaken. Honestly, his mentality should be a bit shaken by now.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡±


    I didn¡¯t expect him to understand.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He¡¯s the type who relies on his instincts, so I didn¡¯t think he would pay attention to details like this.


    ¡°You pay attention to details too? That¡¯s surprising.¡±


    ¡°No. You told me to ¡®just go with it.''¡±


    Just as I was about to lose my words,


    ¨C Crack!


    A sharp hit echoed.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°That was close¡­¡±


    ¡°If it had just gone a little more to the right, it would¡¯ve been over the fence¡­¡±


    A foul ball that barely missed the foul pole. A sigh escaped my lips.


    Hmm¡­


    Two possible futures could unfold from here.


    Either the pitcher gets rattled by the near-home run and gives up a real home run, or the batter loses his cool and strikes out.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    Thetter is far more likely.


    A full swing at a high fastball, the so-called ¡°hanging strikeout,¡± must be burning up senior Lee Taehyung inside.


    He must have been really frustrated since he hit his head with his bat.


    Seeing that, the eyes of the other teammates became more serious.


    Seeing senior Lee Taehyung, who is like the team leader, expressing such passion must have resonated with them.


    It¡¯s a good sign.


    I grabbed my glove and stepped out of the dugout.


    Hyuksan High¡¯s offense ended, and Seungtae climbed onto the mound.


    The starting pitcher in a game that was practically the finals.


    It would be normal to feel a bit nervous, but there was no such trace on Seungtae¡¯s face.


    In fact, he was even smiling slightly.


    Seungtae had stood on this moundst year as well.


    Even though the bullpen copsed, extending the game, he had not given up a single run as the starting pitcher.


    ¡°I¡¯ve beaten them once before.¡±


    There was no reason to think he¡¯d lose, so why would he be nervous?


    Seungtae¡¯s gaze turned towards Cha Taehyun.


    It was his first time ying on the same team as Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious¡­¡±


    What kind of y will the guy who easily hit his best pitch show in defense?


    Seungtae smirked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s put him to the test.¡±


    Seungtae, who was holding a four-seam fastball grip in his glove, switched to a two-seam fastball.


    He intended to test Taehyun¡¯s defense by inducing a ground ball.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I threw it for a groundout. Has Ilmyeong High¡¯s batting lineup gotten weaker?¡±


    Seungtae wasn¡¯t aware.


    [153 km/h]


    His pitch speed had be significantly faster.


    ¡°Should I control my speed a bit?¡±


    The second pitch. Another two-seam fastball, but with a bit less power than the first one.


    ¨C Crack!


    ¡°Did I ease up too much?¡±


    The ball headed between third and short. It was a hard-hit ball that could easily get through.


    But Seungtae grinned.


    Cha Taehyun had already moved towards the ball the moment he heard the sound of the bat. He caught it with ease and threw it to first base.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    ¡°If this is how it is, there¡¯s no need to go for strikeouts.¡±


    Inducing groundouts would help conserve his pitch count.


    The next batter faced another two-seam fastball.


    ¨C Crack!


    Once again, the bat made contact. But just because a ball is hit doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s always a hit.


    The ball flew weakly, looking like an easy catch.


    However, it took a sudden hop in front of Cha Taehyun¡ªa so-called ¡°bad bounce.¡±


    Without panicking, Taehyun watched the ball and leaned forward to catch it.


    He managed to catch it, but the batter was known for his speed.


    It seemed a bitte for Taehyun, who had slightly lost his bnce while catching the ball, to make a proper throw.


    But as if to contradict Seungtae¡¯s thoughts, Taehyun threw the ball powerfully, even while off-bnce.


    Though he ended up sprawled on the ground¡­


    ¡°Out!¡±


    He sessfully got the runner out.


    ¡°Even if I don¡¯t want to admit it¡­ he really is good.¡±


    Smiling faintly, Seungtae called out to the dusting-off Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Nice y.¡±


    Meanwhile, thementary booth was in a state of excitement.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Seungtae¡¯s pitches are impressive, but I can¡¯t help but focus on


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s defense.¡±


    ¡°Indeed! Who is this yer? Where did hee from to y this well? From just the defense we¡¯ve seen, it¡¯s hard to tell if this is high school or pro baseball!¡±


    Thementators were so worked up that the camera director had to ask them to calm down a bit.


    At that moment, a staff member approached the director.


    ¡°Director¡­ the viewer count is exploding right now¡­¡±


    The director¡¯s eyes widened.


    It made sense. This was a high school baseball broadcast, a project that only startedst year. High school baseball had never been particrly popr.


    ¡°No way¡­¡±


    Unable to believe it, the director quickly checked the live viewer count on his phone, seeing the number 500.


    Only 500, one might think, but¡­


    ¡°What? Is this for real?¡±


    The average viewership hovered between 20 and 50, asionally breaking 100. 500 was indeed explosive.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡±


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s sudden appearance as a phenomenal yer was causing a stir, sure.


    But that was supposed to happen after the game. The public didn¡¯t even know about this rookie yet.


    One of the staff raised his hand.


    ¡°Uh¡­ I frequent the Phoenix gallery¡­ and Cha Taehyun has quite a following there.¡±


    ¡°Really? Is that true?¡±


    The Phoenix gallery was known for itsrge, activemunity. The director had at least heard of it.


    ¡°Yes, there was a brief uproar about him once. Something like a baseball genius showing up at the Phoenix batting center?¡±


    ording to the staff, Cha Taehyun had dered he would join the Phoenix team, which made him quite popr on the forum.


    ¡°So, he¡¯s famous there?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s use this! Tell thementators to open the tablet and start interacting with the chat!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    ¡°We just received new instructions. We are extremely grateful to our viewers, so from now on, thementary team will interact with the chat as we go through the game.¡±


    ¡°The chat box will appear on the side of the screen, so please keep things civil.¡±


    Following the director¡¯s instructions, the chat was opened.


    And immediately, it exploded.


    ©¸From now on, the Phoenix gallery takes over this chat.


    ©¸We¡¯re here to support our main star ^^


    ©¸So, is our star good-looking?


    ©¸He looks like he could win in a fight.


    ©¸Then he must be good.


    ©¸The future ace of our team is here, so we came to watch.


    ©¸Where¡¯s our star? Should I cheer for Ilmyeong High?


    ©¸You, you spy from the Dinos team.


    ©¸What the hell?


    ©¸We¡¯re here to find the shortstop of the Daejeon Volcanoes who went missing ^^


    ©¸Crazy Volcanoes, dreaming of stealing our Phoenix ace?


    ©¸Isn¡¯t the crazy one the Phoenix team, ranking lower than the bottom?


    ©¸Shut up.


    ©¸Don¡¯te to our team¡­ I don¡¯t want to get attached when he¡¯s just going to be sold off.


    ©¸At least Phoenix gives you pizza lol


    ©¸Sigh.


    ©¸Wow, did you see that prettydy in the stands?


    ©¸You face-crazy fool, our star is on the field and you¡¯re looking elsewhere?

 Chapter 15

    The second inning continued with Hyuksan High¡¯s offense, and the first batter up was their fifth hitter, Lee Jiho.


    As he stepped out of the dugout, Lee Jiho paused for a moment.


    ¡°Teacher¡­?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t his homeroom teacher, Lee Miyeon, sitting in the stands?


    ¡°She came all the way here just to support me¡­¡±


    With his teacher¡¯s advice, he overcame his slump, and now she had evene to cheer him on.


    It was time to repay her.


    Lee Jiho took his batting stance, narrowed his eyes, and focused. He connected with the pitch that flew toward him.


    -Crack! The ball soared past the second baseman¡¯s reach and kept going, splitting the right fielder.


    Lee Jiho ran at full speed and easily reached second base.


    A clean double.


    It was a good performance, but his expression showed dissatisfaction.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun cleared the fence so easily¡­¡±


    That feeling of inferiority settled back in his heart. But he quickly shook it off, ncing at the stands.


    ¡°My teacher came all the way here to support me, so I shouldn¡¯t waste time on useless thoughts.¡±


    Today, the only thing that mattered was winning.


    But that resolve soon faded.


    -Crack!


    ¡°Out!¡±


    -Crack!


    ¡°Out!¡±


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    Two groundouts and a strikeout ended their offensive inning in the second.


    My turn at bat came again in the fourth inning.


    This meant that our team had barely hit since myst turn. Except for Lee Jiho, everyone had been dismissed with groundouts or strikeouts.


    Now was the time to hit a home run, regardless of the promise with Miyeon.


    I grabbed my bat and stepped out of the dugout, only to have the coach follow me.


    He nced around to make sure no one else was nearby before speaking in a low voice.


    ¡°Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Grip the bat long.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you swing and miss three times. Just go for full swings. No one else can get us a run.¡±


    He was telling me to aim for a home run, even if I got out.


    Well¡­


    ¡°That¡¯s what I nned to do anyway.¡±


    The coachughed heartily and patted my shoulder.


    ¡°Good. That¡¯s the spirit. Swing away and give it your best shot.¡±


    As I stepped into the batter¡¯s box, I heard Miyeon¡¯s cheer.


    ¡°Taehyun! Hit another home run!¡±


    I smiled toward her direction and turned my gaze back to the mound.


    Joo Jitae.


    Despite being hit in the first inning, he wasn¡¯t shaken; in fact, he was pitching even better, embodying the qualities of a great pitcher.


    He was certainly delivering a ¡°career game¡± right now.


    But I had no intention of being the supporting character in his career game.


    Joo Jitae wound up and threw the first pitch.


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    A breaking ball fell slightly below the strike zone.


    He was clearly mindful of the earlier home run, avoiding pitches I could hit.


    The second pitch followed.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    Another inside pitch that missed the zone.


    It wasn¡¯t an intentional walk, but he was making sure not to throw me anything good.


    Well then, I just need to hit the bad pitches. After all, one of my nicknames was ¡°bad-ball hitter.¡±


    Joo Jitae threw the third pitch.


    From his pitching form, it looked like a fastball, but¡­


    Hmm.


    My instincts, honed in the majors, told me it was a changeup.


    A changeup with the same delivery as a fastball to confuse the batter and disrupt their timing. A fantastic pitch, often considered essential.


    Seeing the ball slow down and drop before my eyes, a grin spread across my face.


    When you¡¯re aware, it¡¯s basically just a batting practice pitch.


    -SMACK!


    It was an extreme uppercut swing, almost like a golf shot, and I connected perfectly with the ball.


    ¡­Honestly, it was a pitch I shouldn¡¯t have swung at. Could it go over the fence?


    I nced at Joo Jitae. His mouth hung open as he watched the ball fly.


    His face said, ¡°Is that actually going over?¡±


    Well¡­


    ¡°Looks like it is.¡±


    That makes it two meals with Miyeon. I tossed my bat and ran the bases, feeling good.


    ¡°The ball is lifted as if he was ying golf¡­! It flies over the center fielder! Over the fence! It¡¯s gone! Wow! What am I witnessing right now? I can¡¯t believe it!¡±


    ¡°Absolutely! To be honest, that pitch wasn¡¯t supposed to go over like that. Look at it! That wasn¡¯t even a lure pitch. It was practically a walk. But he just lifted it! It feels like we¡¯re witnessing the birth of a new star!¡±


    ©¸ Is he ying golf? LOL


    ©¸ Looks like when he took that insane curve from China, lol.


    ©¸ I feel bad for the pitcher, haha.


    ©¸ Look at his face, he¡¯s so bewildered, haha.


    ©¸ As expected from Daejeon Volcanoes¡¯ shortstop.


    ©¸ Volcano fans, if you want Cha Taehyun, you have toe under us first.


    ©¸ I think we could do it. Let¡¯s go Volcanoes, lol.


    ©¸ God Taehyun.


    ©¸ We worship you, G.O.A.T.


    ©¸ Now that I think about it, why are the Phoenix fans acting like they own Cha Taehyun?


    ©¸ Who do you think will end up inst ce this year?


    ©¸ Sorry¡­


    ©¸ Logic, as expected from Phoenix, lol.


    ©¸ Last year, it was Lee Seungtae; this year, it¡¯s Cha Taehyun. They aimed forst ce on purpose.


    ©¸ Phoenix championship confirmed within two years.


    ©¸ I can finally see Phoenix win the championship, tears¡­


    ©¸ You guys are getting ahead of yourselves. The yer isn¡¯t even on your team yet, lol.


    Lee Seungtae was in great form today.


    He hadn¡¯t allowed a single runner on base, meaning he was pitching a perfect game so far.


    I hoped the game would end like this, but¡­


    -SMACK!


    Ilmyeong High¡¯s fourth batter, Kang Daehan, pulled the fastball and sent it flying over the fence.


    I suppose it was about time for him to get hit.


    In fact, it was more impressive that he hadn¡¯t allowed a single hit against Kang Daehan until now.


    If Lee Seungtae was the top pitching prospect, then Kang Daehan was considered the top batting prospect.


    Seungtae seemed to understand this as he continued pitching calmly.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    He struck out the next batter right away.


    Although he had given up a home run, by the end of the seventh inning, the score was still 2-1 in our favor.


    In the eighth inning, Seungtae left the mound due to a pitch count limit.


    Honestly, you could say this is where the real game begins.


    Last year, Seungtae pitched perfectly until the eighth, but the bullpen gave up runs and turned the game upside down.


    To make matters worse, this was Hwang Kwanghyun¡¯s first time pitching in a major game like this.


    Will he be okay?


    At least he didn¡¯t show any signs of nervousness on his face.


    Hwang Kwanghyun threw the first pitch.


    -Crack!


    The ball flew toward the gap between third and short, but I caught it and made the y.


    Hwang Kwanghyun smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.


    The next batter, the eighth in the lineup.


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    A clean strikeout with precise control. Hwang Kwanghyun clenched his fist.


    The ninth batter stepped up.


    -Crack.


    A well-hit ball, but it was right towards the pitcher. Hwang Kwanghyun quickly moved his glove and caught it.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Ugh, ahhh!!!¡±


    Hwang Kwanghyun looked at the ball in his hand, then fell to his knees, screaming in relief.


    He had hidden it well, but he must have been incredibly nervous.


    Anyway, we got through the eighth inning unscathed. Now, we just needed to hold the ninth to secure our win.


    As everyone returned to the dugout, I changed direction.


    ¡°Hey, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°The bullpen.¡±


    ¡°What¡­? Why are you going to the bullpen?¡±


    ¡°Myunghwan, what¡¯s the reason for going to the bullpen?¡±


    ¡°To warm up before pitching?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. So, why ask when you already know?¡±


    I walked past the bewildered Jin Myunghwan and entered the bullpen.


    The coach made a rather extreme yer change.


    He reced the shortstop, Cha Taehyun, with the closing pitcher, putting Lee Changsoo in his ce.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t solely the coach¡¯s decision. There isn¡¯t a coach in their right mind who would bring in a shortstop to pitch in a one-run, bottom-of-the-ninth situation.


    Cha Taehyun himself had approached the coach in the eighth inning and requested the change.


    Initially, the coach rejected the idea, saying it was absurd. But he soon changed his mind when he saw the look in Taehyun¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°They were eyes filled with conviction.¡±


    Eyes full of confidence that he would definitely shut down the opposition. In his decades of coaching, he had seen that look asionally.


    Those who had that look always proved their confidence right.


    ¡°Seungtae, do you think I¡¯m crazy?¡±


    ¡°¡­Honestly, yes.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t deny it either. But, Seungtae¡­ somehow, I feel like this guy, Cha Taehyun¡­


    he¡¯ll just handle it like it¡¯s nothing. Is it just me?¡±


    After a brief moment of thought, Lee Seungtae recalled something and smirked.


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ I feel the same way.¡±


    As Cha Taehyun took the mound, the stadium and the chat went wild.


    ©¸?????


    ©¸Did I see that right? Pitcher Cha Taehyun?


    ©¸??? Does our star know how to pitch too?


    ©¸There¡¯s no data on him, lol.


    ©¸So, he¡¯s a two-way yer? Crazy.


    ©¸I¡¯m starting to like this guy.


    ©¸What? You think Cha Taehyun is your buddy?


    ©¸The coach is insane. Ninth inning, one-run lead, and he pulls this?


    ©¸There must be a reason. Don¡¯t you know there are many two-way yers in high school baseball?


    ©¸If he pitches well too, what will his value be¡­?


    ©¸What do you mean? Straight to Mars, lol.


    ©¸Then he might go to the majors instead of Phoenix.


    ©¸Crap, you¡¯re right. Please don¡¯t pitch well¡­


    ©¸Protect our shortstop!


    The distance from the bullpen to the mound.


    The short walk gave me time to relish the moment.


    This was what I had missed.


    The appropriate excitement, adrenaline surging through my body.


    I took it all in as I stood on the mound. The cheers for me¡­ were unfortunately absent.


    After all, this wasn¡¯t the World Series; it was the Golden Lion Cup.


    ¡°Taehyun! You can do it!¡±


    Still, Miyeon hade all this way to cheer for me.


    That was more than enough.


    I unconsciously lifted the corners of my mouth but quickly straightened my expression.


    It¡¯s just my personal belief, but a pitcher¡¯s first priority is to follow their routine. Even minor facial expressions should be adjusted ordingly.


    The batter stood at the te, scowling. He was probably offended that a shortstop had taken the mound in such a crucial situation.


    Then, I should help him save face.


    I slowly lifted my knee and turned my head up high. Utilizing my tall frame, I stepped forward with a long stride.


    At that moment, I shifted my weight onto my pivot foot, firmly nting it, and forcefully brought my elevated hand down.


    The sensation of the seams brushing against my fingertips.


    I threw the ball as hard as I could, like striking a match.


    First pitch.


    -Thwack!


    A fastball grazing the inside corner.


    ¡°S-Strike!¡±


    The umpire¡¯s call was a bit dyed, but that was fine.


    The batter waspletely frozen.


    Feeling more rxed, I nced at the scoreboard.


    [155 km/h]


    ¡°¡­My speed still isn¡¯t fully up.¡±


    Was my body not fully warmed up?


    I reset my stance, and Changseob gave me the sign.


    Index finger, ring finger¡ªfollowing our prior agreement, it meant a curveball.


    Sure, I agreed to follow his lead, but¡­


    155 km/h was a bit too low for my liking.


    For the second pitch, I didn¡¯t change my grip and went for another power pitch.


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    It was the exact same pitch to the same spot, but the batter was still frozen.


    [156 km/h]


    Next, the third pitch.


    Again, a fastball to the same spot.


    [157 km/h]


    ¡°S¡­ Strike! Out!¡±


    I struck out the batter.


    The next hitter, the third in the lineup.


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    Again, I struck out the batter with three fastballs.


    The fourth batter, Kang Daehan, stepped into the box, and Changseob called for a timeout.


    ¡°Taehyun¡­ Your pitch is great. Seriously¡­ It¡¯s so good that I¡¯m speechless. But¡­ this guy is Kang Daehan, you know? You saw Seungtae give up that home run, right? So let¡¯s not be too predictable, okay?¡±


    In short, he was pleading with me not to throw three consecutive fastballs to the same spot.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°R-right? Right? You think so too, right? I trust you, Taehyun.¡±


    As Changseob returned to his position, I changed my grip as he requested.


    A cut fastball.


    It still had the word ¡°fastball¡± in it, so technically, I wasn¡¯t lying.


    I wound up and threw with all my remaining strength.


    The feel of the ball leaving my fingertips was electrifying. I had never experienced this even during my pro days.


    The ball curved sharply toward the batter¡¯s body.


    Oh?


    Kang Daehan adjusted his swing to match the ball¡¯s movement and made solid contact.


    Changseob¡¯s jaw dropped, and a smile spread across Kang Daehan¡¯s face.


    -Crack!


    But then, his bat shattered, and the ball floated weakly into the air.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    I casually walked over, positioned my glove under the falling ball, and caught it.


    -Thud.


    ¡°¡­Out! Game over!¡±


    We had secured the final out.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 16

    Game Set.


    Even though the umpire¡¯s call signaled the end of the game, the scouts remained seated in the stands.


    Some scouts stared nkly at the mound. Others were left speechless, their mouths hanging open. Some couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the scoreboard that disyed the 157 km/h pitch speed.


    They were all thinking the same thing:


    ¡°Who the hell is this guy?¡±


    When witnessing a truly unbelievable event, the first reaction is always one of confusion.


    What they had just seen defied their understanding.


    The New York Yankees¡¯ scouts were in a simr state.


    ¡°Rick¡­ could you please exin what we just saw?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about a crazy batter who turns every swing into a home run, thenes out as a closer and throws a 97-mile-per-hour cutter to shatter a bat, I can¡¯t exin it either.¡±


    ¡°Oh, damn¡­ That was exactly it.¡±


    ¡°Rick, do you still think Cha Taehyun isn¡¯t ready for the majors?¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ Jake, do I look like a damn idiot to you? With these eyes, how could I possibly ignore that monster? Contact the club right now. I need to grab the business card I left behind.¡±


    Meanwhile, the chatroom for the live broadcast was in an absolute frenzy.


    ©¸???????


    ©¸Haha, this is so ridiculous, I can¡¯t help butugh.


    ©¸This is our shortstop for Phoenix, LOL.


    ©¸??? Your shortstop is Ji Chan, who leads in errors, right?


    ©¸That guy doesn¡¯t exist for us anymore. From now on, our shortstop is Cha Taehyun.


    ©¸So, if we recruit Cha Taehyun, we get both a shortstop and a closing pitcher? Is this for real?


    ©¸From now on, I am one with Cha Taehyun¡­ Those who attack Cha Taehyun¡­


    ©¸God.Tae.Hyun


    ©¸Wow, hees out as a closer and shuts down Ilmyeong High¡¯s top lineup¡­


    ©¸Goo goo ga ga, I¡¯m baby Taehyun, and I want to go to Phoenix when I grow up.


    ©¸Satan, why are you cursing a baby?


    ©¸LOL, nice! Next year, Daejeon Volcanoes will takest ce, so we¡¯ll take Cha Taehyun. No objections, right?


    ©¸Haha, do you think you can do that? You have no idea why we¡¯ve been the ¡°true bottom¡± all along.


    ©¸Hey, our team has always been ranked above yours. Who knows what might happen?


    ©¸LOL, two prideful idiots going at it.


    Watching the heated banter in the chat, thementators wiped the sweat off their brows and began to speak.


    ¡°Wow¡­ You all have some strong opinions! Yes, yes¡­ It seems like everyone is eager to recruit Cha Taehyun! I can understand why! Haha¡­ Okay, everyone, let¡¯s calm down now. It¡¯s time to announce today¡¯s yer of the Game!¡±


    ©¸It¡¯s gotta be Cha Taehyun, LOL.


    ©¸TaehyunGod, haha.


    ©¸God.Tae.Hyun


    ©¸Lee Seungtae deserves it, too.


    ©¸But he¡¯s the only one who scored two runs and then came out as the closing pitcher to seal a one-run lead. How do you beat that?


    ©¸Agreed.


    ¡°Today¡¯s yer of the Game is¡­ Cha Taehyun!¡±


    The camera moved away from thementators and zoomed in on Cha Taehyun.


    ©¸Wow, look at that fierce expression, haha.


    ©¸He might look a bit rough, but his features are decent. A little grooming, and he could look great. He¡¯s handsome.


    ©¸Haha, there are already fans falling for his looks. He¡¯s definitely star material.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, you¡¯ve been selected as the yer of the Game for your outstanding performance today. What¡¯s more surprising is that this was your debut! Were you nervous at all?¡±


    Cha Taehyun took the mic, looked into the camera, and grinned.


    ¡°Did I look nervous? I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    His yful and slightly arrogant tone made the female announcer burst intoughter.


    ©¸Haha, he¡¯s so likable, haha.


    ©¸Honestly, he didn¡¯t look nervous at all, LOL.


    ©¸He was grinning like a maniac; I thought he was crazy, haha.


    ©¸Taehyun-oppa, I love you so much, ???.


    ©¸What do you mean, oppa? He¡¯s a high schooler, LOL.


    Despite being just a high school student who only yed baseball, Cha Taehyun handled the interview smoothly.


    He spoke so well that the announcer couldn¡¯t stopughing.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I did an interview; this is fun.¡±


    As the interview was going well, Cha Taehyun suddenly interrupted.


    ¡°Excuse me, I have something I need to say. Can I do that now?¡±


    The camera director quickly nodded.


    ¡°Sure, let our Cha Taehyun say whatever he wants!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t say it aloud on the broadcast, but he really wanted to cheer that on.


    He was grateful that Cha Taehyun revived the broadcast, which had been dwindling in viewership, and now he was nailing the interview.


    Holding the mic, Cha Taehyun lifted his head and blinked a few times before mumbling.


    ©¸Why is our shortstop crying¡­


    ©¸Taehyun, don¡¯t cry¡­ You did well, so why cry?N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ©¸Taehyun-oppa, don¡¯t cry, ???.


    ©¸I told you, stop calling him oppa!


    Cha Taehyun wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, then looked at the camera with a bright smile, as if to say, ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡±


    ¡°Nice acting.¡±


    The reason Cha Taehyun put on a little crying act was to set the tone for the interview. It was time to express his gratitude and repay those who had helped him.


    As they say, when you repay a favor, ites back even bigger.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m really grateful.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I really love baseball. I always wanted to be a yer¡­ but things don¡¯t always go as we wish. Money kept holding me back¡­¡±


    Cha Taehyun began sharing his story of growing up in a difficult environment. He didn¡¯t reveal that he had no parents, but he did add some emotion to his tale of juggling a part-time job to support his only sibling while finding time to train.


    Was it because of his calm voice, or because he expressed his challenging past so well?


    Sniff¡­ sniff¡­


    Sniffling sounds started to be heard here and there.


    ©¸?????


    ©¸It¡¯s so sad¡­ Taehyun,e to Phoenix and be happy now.


    ©¸Damn Phoenix is so bad even Satan would cry, LOL.


    ©¸Listening to this makes me want to kill those useless high-paying yers on our team even more. Is that normal?


    ©¸Not the right time, but I agree.


    Then, Cha Taehyun smiled slyly and spoke.


    ¡°There are people who gave me the chance to y baseball.¡±


    ¡°Ahem¡­¡±


    The coach, who was watching from afar with the other yers, turned his back.


    ¡°First, I want to thank our coach. No matter how many times I say it, it¡¯s not enough. When he found out I was working a part-time job, he told me to quit them all. He knew my livelihood was at stake.¡±


    ¡°What? Why did he do that?¡±


    ¡°He said he¡¯d cover my living expenses, so I could focus on baseball. Then he handed me a piece of paper and told me to write down my bank ount number. So, I wrote it down¡­ and the next day, 2 million won was deposited.¡±


    Cha Taehyun nced over at the coach.


    The coach had his back turned and his head bowed, but his satisfied smile was clear.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the coach, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to y baseball. And¡­ there¡¯s also the owner of the Phoenix Batting Center¡­¡±


    Next, he shared the story of his time at the Phoenix Batting Center, embellishing it a bit.


    ©¸Wow¡­ This guy¡¯s life is a story on its own¡­


    ©¸The Hyuksan High baseball coach is a true romantic, for real.


    ©¸Gave him 2 million won just like that, amazing.


    ©¸This sounds like something out of a manga¡­


    ©¸Is this fake?


    ©¸How dare you nder our shortstop?


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, you certainly went through many hardships to get here. That makes today¡¯s victory even more valuable, doesn¡¯t it? Now, for the final question, would you like to say a fewst words?¡±


    Holding the mic, Cha Taehyun looked toward the stands and said,


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    The announcer tilted her head at his unexpected words but quickly wrapped up the interview smoothly with her closing remarks.


    ¡°Cut, cut! Wow~ Cha Taehyun, that was a great interview¡­?¡±


    When the camera director put down the camera, Cha Taehyun was already gone.


    ¡°¡­You want to go back separately?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s my first time in Seoul, so I want to look around a bit before heading back.¡±


    Baseball teams usually operated as a group, so this was quite an unusual request.


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you want to do¡­ Just don¡¯t get into any trouble and be careful, alright?¡±


    Of course, that¡¯s the story for an average yer. After the interview, the bond between the coach and Cha Taehyun had grown stronger.


    After bowing to the


    coach, Taehyun quickly took a shower, changed clothes, and rushed to the stands.


    Miyeon was sitting in the stands, looking at her phone.


    Her face had turned a bit red, likely because of the setting sun.


    ¡°Taehyun? Y-you really came?¡±


    It seemed like she was watching the broadcast on her phone.


    ¡°I said I would.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I saw the baseball team leaving together.¡±


    ¡°Our coach is pretty lenient. I just told him I was leaving. Now, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Taehyun reached out his hand to Miyeon.


    She hesitated for a moment but soon grabbed his hand and stood up.


    ¡°Taehyun¡­ but our hands¡­¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll let go.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t know how long this silence wouldst.


    But for now, he walked slowly toward the exit, feeling grateful for the warmth in his hand.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 17

    Saying it¡¯s about treating me to something delicious is basically like a date.


    Or more urately, it could be called ¡°keeping Miyeon entertained.¡±


    The streets of Seoul are full of so many things to see and do that Miyeon is tirelessly exploring everywhere.


    Well, not that I mind. Just seeing Miyeon having fun recharges my energy.


    ¡°Taehyun, look at that! Isn¡¯t that the ice cream that¡¯s on TV?¡±


    Miyeon grabbed my hand and pulled me along, so I quietly followed.


    ¡°One, please!¡±


    The Turkish man selling the ice cream handed Miyeon a cone.


    Miyeon reached out quickly, but¡ª ¡°Haha!¡±


    The Turkish man with a big mustacheughed and moved the cone around with his stick.


    He kept moving it just out of reach, and Miyeon¡¯s face slowly turned into a pout.


    Didn¡¯t she do this because she wanted to see this trick¡­?


    Anyway, if this goes on any longer, Miyeon might really start crying, so I snatched the cone away.


    ¡°What¡­¡±


    I gave a thumbs-up to the stunned Turkish man and handed the cone to Miyeon.


    ¡°Thanks, Taehyun.¡±


    Miyeon, with a bashful smile, took the cone and immediately grabbed my hand.


    Hmm¡­


    I nced at Miyeon, who was just happily licking her ice cream.


    Maybe she grabbed it out of habit?


    Well, it¡¯s fine with me. I walked along, following wherever Miyeon led.


    ¡®I¡­ grabbed his hand!¡¯


    Of course, I was fully aware. I just pretended it was an ident.


    I know I really shouldn¡¯t¡­n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡®But what can I do if I want to hold it¡­¡¯


    It¡¯s so strange. Why does something as simple as holding hands make me this happy?


    And this is Seoul. No one here knows that Taehyun and I are teacher and student.


    Usually, even when I want to be with Taehyun, I¡¯ve had to hold back because of others watching.


    But if no one is watching¡­


    This was the moment when Miyeon¡¯s suppressed desires were starting to surface.


    As we walked along, Miyeon suddenly intertwined her fingers with mine.


    ¡°¡­Teacher?¡±


    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Miyeon looked at me with apletely innocent expression.


    This was really surprising¡­


    But I didn¡¯t dislike it, so I just kept walking.


    Though, I felt like she was getting closer and closer to my shoulder¡­


    ¡°Taehyun, do you know you¡¯ve be really famous?¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­? I have?¡±


    ¡°You were already famous on the Phoenix Gallery, but now, thanks to the broadcast, all Phoenix fans probably know who you are.¡±


    Well, considering the performance I gave today, it makes sense.


    ¡°Lucky you. You¡¯ll get to eat for free around Sajik Baseball Stadium.¡±


    I think I¡¯ve heard something like that before.


    But is that true?


    ¡°Oh,e on¡­ would they really give it to me for free?¡±


    ¡°They probably would.¡±


    As we chatted, we looked around at the restaurants along the street. I pointed out a few ces that seemed nice.


    ¡°Teacher, how about that pork cutlet ce? I like it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ it looks good, but¡­ let¡¯s keep looking!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a shabu-shabu ce over there. How about that one?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ just a little bit more looking!¡±


    ¡°Wow, they even have a pork soup restaurant here in Seoul. Should we check it out?¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s a pork soup ce in Seoul, there might be something even more interesting.¡±


    It seemed like Miyeon wasn¡¯t that hungry yet.


    It wasn¡¯t until it started getting dark that we finally entered a restaurant.


    I looked at Miyeon and teased her.


    ¡°So, we ended up at the pork cutlet ce. It¡¯s the one I first suggested.¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s face began to turn as red as a tomato, and I couldn¡¯t help but smirk.


    ¡°¡­S-sorry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. I like pork cutlet.¡±


    ¡°But I said I¡¯d treat you to something nice¡­ We should have gone for something more expensive.¡±


    ¡°Price doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s important is that I¡¯m eating with you.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­ o-okay¡­¡±


    Now fully tomato-red, Miyeon¡¯s face made meugh out loud.


    ¡°You know we still have one more left, right? I hit two home runs, so next time, you¡¯re treating me again.¡±


    With that, the pork cutlet was ced in front of Miyeon, who nodded vigorously.


    True to its name, the ¡°Cheese Bomb Pork Cutlet¡± was covered in cheese.


    It was quite unusual. Normally, the cheese is inside the pork cutlet, but here it was all over the outside.


    But it seemed like Miyeon was having trouble cutting it, struggling a bit with the knife.


    ¡°Here, let me.¡±


    I quickly cut it into seven pieces and handed it back to her.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Miyeon picked up a piece with her fork and took a bite. Her eyes widened in delight.


    ¡°Is it good?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s really delicious, Taehyun. You should try some.¡±


    Smiling, Miyeon offered me a piece of the pork cutlet she had just taken a bite out of.


    ¡°Oh, sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ Hold on.¡±


    I quickly grabbed the fork before it could be pulled back and popped it into my mouth.


    Hmm¡­ it is pretty tasty.


    It¡¯s delicious, but Miyeon froze, still holding the fork.


    ¡°What? You want some too, Teacher?¡±


    I cut another piece and offered it to Miyeon.


    Hesitating for a moment, Miyeon eventually opened her mouth and ate it.


    ¡°Is this one good too?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    In the past, when I saw couples feeding each other with ¡°Aah~¡± in public, I found it cringeworthy¡­


    Now I get it.


    Even if I don¡¯t know the reason, seeing her eat what I give her brings a strange sense of happiness.


    Well, I don¡¯t do the ¡°Aah~¡± thing. I just say, ¡°Eat this.¡±


    ¡°Want another one?¡±


    ¡°Ah, no, then you won¡¯t have enough to eat.¡±


    ¡°Fine, forget it.¡±


    ¡°N-no, I¡¯ll eat it.¡±


    Right. What¡¯s happiness, anyway? This is happiness.


    By the time we arrived at the KTTX station, the clock showed 1:20 a.m.


    Luckily, in Nemus, the KTTX runste-night services.


    ¡°Teacher, this is my first time on ate-night train. There¡¯s really no one here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that there¡¯s no one, it¡¯s just us.¡±


    This was a first for me as well. The train hadn¡¯t even departed, yet it was so quiet.


    ¡°Feels like we rented it out, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    I nodded at Miyeon¡¯s oddly cheerful words.


    We had reserved standard seats, which were two seats right next to each other. The first-ss seats in front were more spacious and separated.


    ¡°Since there¡¯s no one here, should we sit in the first-ss seats?¡±


    ¡°No, Taehyun! Even if no one¡¯s here, we have to be honest.¡±


    ¡°¡­Right. Then, shall we sit here?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    As we waited for the train to depart¡ª


    Thud.


    Miyeon¡¯s head fell onto my left shoulder.


    I nced over and saw that her mouth was slightly open.


    ¡°She fell asleep so fast.¡±


    It hadn¡¯t even been ten minutes since we sat down.


    I carefully pulled out my phone from my pocket without waking her.


    Covering the speaker, I took a photo of sleeping Miyeon.


    Came out pretty well.


    Smiling in satisfaction, I was about to close my eyes when¡ª


    ¡°Taehyun¡­ I want to go to a baseball game¡­ with you¡­ and¡­ go on a trip¡­ together¡­¡±


    Miyeon mumbled in her sleep.


    A baseball game together, and a trip¡­


    Does this mean that if I ask next time, she¡¯ll say yes?


    I gained some useful information.


    It was a good thing I didn¡¯t fall asleep.


    I closed my eyes too.


    As soon as the KTTX departed and Cha Taehyun fell asleep, Miyeon slowly opened her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re really asleep, right¡­?¡±


    She pressed his cheek a couple of times, and when Taehyun didn¡¯t move, Miyeon ran her hands over her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m crazy, I¡¯m crazy, I¡¯m really crazy, Im Miyeon¡­¡±


    Pretending to sleep-talking about wanting to go to a baseball game date and a trip together waspletely reckless.


    Luckily, he didn¡¯t catch on¡­


    But what¡¯s done is done.


    All she could do now was reflect on today and be more cautious from tomorrow on.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ From tomorrow, I¡¯ll go back to being the teacher, Im Miyeon¡­ Yes¡­ from tomorrow.¡±


    Having made up her mind, Miyeon pulled out her phone and snapped a photo of the sleeping Taehyun.


    Satisfied, she put her phone away and slowly leaned her head on Taehyun¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Just for today, I¡¯ll enjoy it¡­¡±


    Under the starry sky, the train carrying just two passengers headed toward Busan.


    After winning the intense round of 64, which was practically the finals, we advanced smoothly to the championship match.


    While everyone was predicting that Hyuksan High would win, one team started gaining attention.


    Cheongsin High.


    It was their first appearance at the Golden Lion and their baseball team was historically weak.


    But a yer named ¡°Jin Taehyun¡± emerged from this underdog team, creating a miracle and making it to the finals.


    Now, people were starting to wonder if Cheongsin High might actually win this


    .


    Perhaps because of this narrative, this year¡¯s Golden Lion finals have attracted unprecedented interest.


    ¡°Wow¡­ I¡¯ve never seen the standspletely full before.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of the real Taehyun and the fake Taehyun.¡±


    Oh, by the way, the ¡°real Taehyun¡± is me, and the ¡°fake Taehyun¡± refers to Jin Taehyun, who has been carrying Cheongsin High on his back.


    ¡°Wow, doesn¡¯t the fake Taehyun remind you of something?¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­ the protagonist of a passionate baseball manga?¡±


    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s it! I watched a broadcast of his game, and he was practically sobbing every time he got a hit. Just like Changhyun-senpai.¡±


    ¡°But the real Taehyun is¡­ well, he seems passionate, but¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s boring. He¡¯s too good; it¡¯s annoying.¡±


    I smirked and approached Jin Myunghwan.


    ¡°Myunghwan, for there to be passion, you need something to boil over. Right? I actually envy Jin Taehyun. Imagine how fun baseball must be for him.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ You¡¯re so annoying¡­¡±


    ¡°Just kidding. Let¡¯s get ready. The game¡¯s about to start.¡±


    Well, half-joking, at least.


    Under the zing sun, the finals of the Golden Lion tournament began.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 18

    Before the game started, both baseball teams took time to shake hands with each other.


    This was supposedly part of an image improvement campaign to promote high school baseball, but I have no idea how this improves its image.


    Anyway, I ended up shaking hands with Jin Taehyun, known as ¡°Fake Taehyun,¡± and for some reason, his gaze on me was quite intense.


    ¡°I¡¯m really d to meet you. I¡¯ve been waiting just for this moment.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°I was able to get here all thanks to you¡­ Thank you. And I respect you. I admire you so much that I want to be like you.¡±


    A sudden show of worship¡­?


    To be honest, I didn¡¯t understand what he was saying at all, but I forced a smile and epted the handshake.


    ¡°Let¡¯s both do our best today so that we have no regrets.¡± ¡°¡­Sure.¡±


    This was the moment I realized that Jin Taehyun wasn¡¯t an ordinary guy.


    Less than five minutes had passed since the first inning began, and the atmosphere in Cheongsin High¡¯s dugout had already sunk.


    When they heard that Seungtae Lee was out with an injury and Kim Changhyun would be starting instead, they had hoped they might stand a chance. But now that they had seen his pitching firsthand, they realized it had been a futile hope.


    ¡°Their pitcher is even better than we expected¡­ It almost feels like he¡¯s not much different from Seungtae Lee¡­¡±


    Cheongsin High¡¯s assistant coach spoke to the head coach in a regretful tone, but the coach responded with a calm expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Did you see Taehyun¡¯s eyes today?¡±


    His sudden question about eye contact left the assistant coach opening and closing his mouth in confusion.


    ¡°That kid has always had a fierce look, as if he was putting everything into baseball.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Taehyun certainly has that¡­¡±


    ¡°But today, his eyes were beyond fierce; they were savage. Did you know? Jin Taehyun isn¡¯t just simr to Cha Taehyun in name. They have simr upbringings. Jin Taehyun was raised by his grandmother and had a tough time ying baseball. A kid like that has such a ferocious look in his eyes today. He won¡¯t go down easily unless he gives up.¡±


    Changhyun stepped up to the mound and struck out the first batter with just three pitches.


    I had only seen three pitches, but I could already tell how great Changhyun¡¯s pitches were today.


    It seemed like they wouldn¡¯t be easy to hit.


    -Whack!


    As soon as that thought crossed my mind, the second batter made contact with the ball.


    Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem like it would travel far, as it appeared to be easily caught by center fielder Jin Myunghwan.


    Changhyun also seemed to think it was a done deal and turned his head forward as he watched the fly ball.


    But then, Jin Myunghwan made an uncharacteristic mistake. He failed to catch the ball and dropped it.


    -Cheers erupted from the stands!


    Hurriedly, Jin Myunghwan picked up the ball and threw it with all his might.


    ¡°Safe!¡±


    The batter had already been standing on second base for a while.


    ¡°What are you doing, Myunghwan¡­?¡±


    Did he get nervous because of the crowd? It was the first time I¡¯d seen him make such a blunder.


    Well, a mistake is a mistake. It¡¯s something that could really irritate a pitcher.


    But instead of getting upset, Changhyun shouted out to reassure him.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Myunghwan! Don¡¯t worry about it!!!¡±


    Jin Myunghwan bowed his head in apology before Changhyun turned his back, striking out the next batter.


    ¡°Strike-out!¡±


    And now, it was the turn of the fourth batter, Jin Taehyun.


    He looked so serious, I could hardly believe this was the same guy I shook hands with earlier.


    His gaze was not just fierce¡ªit was terrifying.


    Catcher Ji Changseob¡¯s sign was dyed, likely because he wanted to be cautious against Jin Taehyun.


    Soon, Changseob showed his index finger. It seemed he had chosen a high fastball for the first pitch.


    Changhyun nodded and threw the ball.


    Jin Taehyun¡¯s eyes widened as he swung the bat with frightening speed.


    -Whack!


    The moment I heard the crack of the bat, I could already tell.


    ¡°It¡¯s going over.¡±


    -Cheers erupted!


    The ball soared high and far.


    It was clearly a massive home run, but Jin Taehyun continued sprinting at full speed.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ¡­Is this some new form of taunting?


    Anyway, we gave up a two-run home run right in the top of the first inning. A tough situation for any pitcher.


    Still, it¡¯s going to be okay. Changhyun¡¯s mentality is on par with mine, even if he is a bit entric.


    As if to prove my trust in him¡ª


    ¡°Strike-out!¡±


    Changhyun struck out the next batter with a more powerful pitch, clenching his fist.


    I returned to the dugout, took the water bottle that Seo Jia handed me, and sat next to Jin Myunghwan.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it feel a bit weird?¡±


    ¡°What does?¡±


    ¡°It feels like the crowd is oddly rooting for Cheongsin High.¡±


    I felt it during the top of the first inning. The crowd was dead silent when Cheongsin High¡¯s batters struck out, but when they scored an error or hit a home run, the cheers were so loud that they startled me.


    ¡°Of course. They¡¯re all here to cheer for Cheongsin High.¡±


    ¡°¡­What? Is Cheongsin High that popr?¡±


    ¡°Do you think so? This is their first appearance at the Golden Lion. There are no popr high school teams, to begin with.¡±


    ¡°Then why?¡±


    ¡°Do you not watch NewTube or something?¡±


    ¡°If I had time for that, I¡¯d rather swing a bat one more time.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ So annoying. Anyway, Cheongsin High¡¯s story is amazing, right? An underdog team breaking through to the finals. People thought it would help revive high school baseball, so they made a documentary about them on NewTube, and it became a huge hit. Naturally, they gained fans.¡±


    Listening to Myunghwan¡¯s exnation, I immediately understood the difference in the crowd¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°People do love a good story.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. No one expected a miracle run from an underdog team. It¡¯s quite romantic, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°I agree. So, from their perspective, we¡¯re the viins, huh?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much. If you hit a home run, they¡¯re going to hate it.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fun.¡±


    I¡¯m not the type to care about the crowd¡¯s reactions.


    I got enough of that in the Major Leagues.


    Besides, as long as I know Miyeon is cheering for me, it doesn¡¯t matter how many people are rooting for Cheongsin High.


    No, actually¡­


    Miyeon must be feeling frustrated being surrounded by opposing fans.


    For Miyeon¡¯s sake, it might be worth putting on a good show.


    I called out to Jin Myunghwan, who was heading out of the dugout.


    ¡°Myunghwan, just get on base.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll show them what a real viin is.¡±


    ¡°Do you have to? You¡¯re already the viin just by being better than the so-called main character, Fake Taehyun.¡±


    Hmm¡­


    He had a point, which was annoying.


    ¡°Myunghwan.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t get out. Today, I¡¯m batting fourth for the first time. Let me hit a grand m.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I¡¯ll do my best to set up the stage.¡±


    ¡°Good. Go and do your best.¡±


    I yfully punched Myunghwan in the chest.


    ¡°Why are you acting weird today?¡±


    Although he grumbled, he looked much more rxed than when he made the error.


    Yeah, Myunghwan, don¡¯t get nervous.


    Don¡¯t be afraid, and get on base.


    -Whack!


    ¡°Ah, geez.¡±


    Despite my encouragement, Myunghwan swung at a breaking ball and weakly hit it toward the infield.


    -Cheers erupted from the stands!


    It seemed like the crowd thought it was an easy out.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    ¡°Myunghwan, run!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s another fool like you! Run!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s not just Fake Taehyun; there¡¯s also Fake Myunghwan, haha!¡±


    Cheongsin High¡¯s shortstop made a critical error, allowing Myunghwan to safely reach first base.


    ¡°Safe!¡±


    Myunghwan looked at me and gave a cocky grin.


    His expression seemed to say, ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± and I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°Yeah, luck is a skill too.¡±


    Now, this is setting up my at-bat nicely.


    The uing second and third batters are top-tier hitters in the high school league.


    And, as if answering my expectations¡ª


    -Whack!


    -Whack!


    Second batter Ji Changseob and third batter Lee Taehyung hit consecutive singles.


    ¡°It¡¯s really a bases-loaded situation?¡±


    The stands were filled with spectators, our team was trailing, and the bases were loaded.


    One good swing could turn the game around.


    I had heard that batters felt psychological pressure in situations like this, but I never quite understood it.


    Isn¡¯t it a good thing that you have a chance to be a hero with one hit?


    That¡¯s what I used to think in my younger days.


    After spending some time in the league, I naturally understood why they felt that pressure.


    But if you were to ask me right now¡ª


    ¡°Are you nervous?¡±


    No. I can confidently say I¡¯m not.


    I understand it, but I can¡¯t


    quite empathize.


    I stepped into the batter¡¯s box and red fiercely at the pitcher.


    Part of my routine.


    It sometimes has a good intimidation effect.


    The pitcher already looks rattled.


    But then, Jin Taehyun called for a timeout and hurried to the mound, cing his hand on the pitcher¡¯s shoulder and passionately talking to him.


    ¨C ¡°There¡¯s no need to be afraid! You¡¯re our team¡¯s ace!¡±


    ¨C ¡°You¡¯re scared of getting hit? It¡¯s fine! Even if you get hit, we¡¯ll score as many runs as you lose.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Trust me, trust yourself, trust our team. If that¡¯s not enough, trust everyone here cheering for us. So throw with all you¡¯ve got. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    Is he giving a motivational speech or something¡­?


    His emotional gestures made me curious about what he was saying.


    Anyway, Jin Taehyun returned to the batter¡¯s box, and his words seemed to have a positive effect, as the pitcher¡¯s expression had calmed down.


    ¡°That took a while. What were you two talking about?¡±


    ¡°Oh, just gave him a confidence boost.¡±


    ¡°Really¡­? Sorry about this.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± The pitcher looked confused, but I just kept my mouth shut and got into my batting stance.


    The answer¡ª


    -Swoosh!


    This should be enough.


    The curveball came low, and I swung with an extreme uppercut motion.


    The thrilling sensation flowed through my entire body as the ball soared high into the air.


    Cheongsin High¡¯s center fielder ran frantically, gritting his teeth, and jumped at the fence, extending his glove.


    But the ball was just a bit too high, brushing past his glove and going over the wall.


    ¡°¡­..¡±


    It was so quiet that I couldn¡¯t tell if I was in Mokdong Baseball Stadium or Mokdong Library.


    ¨C ¡°Taehyun-ah!!¡±


    Well, at least I could hear Miyeon¡¯s voice clearly.


    I nced at the stands, smirked, and swung the bat in satisfaction. <hr>


    TL Note:


    Sheer curiosity here, I¡¯ve read stuff 3x as bad as this with +0.7 the rating. Did this novel kick someone¡¯s dog or something? I¡¯m not asking you guys to go out in force and spam 5-star reviews, but an exnation as to why we¡¯re getting hit so hard (beyond haters being haters) would be great, maybe in the form of ament or NovelUpdates review.

 Chapter 19

    A typical weekend morning. After studying all night, Shin Hayoon rubbed her eyes and walked into the living room.


    ¨C ¡°Wow! What is happening here?! He hit the first pitch and sent it for a home run! Look at this course! I want to see that again¡­ Look at this! Is this even possible? He hit that? He really hit that?!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Look at that fantastic upper swing. We should call this Cha Taehyun¡¯s signature move. Should we even call him a baseball yer or a golfer?¡±


    But something about the living room felt unfamiliar.


    ¡°Golden Lion¡­?¡±


    In Shin Hayoon¡¯s house, it wasn¡¯t unusual to watch baseball broadcasts since the entire family were enthusiastic Phoenix fans. However, they usually didn¡¯t go as far as watching high school baseball.


    Above all, the conversation between her mom and dad felt a bit off.


    ¡°Wow, Cha Taehyun is really something.¡±


    ¡°Right? And he¡¯s so manly and handsome.¡± ¡°Handsome? Baseball isn¡¯t yed with looks.¡±


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s better if he¡¯s good-looking. Should we get a jersey with Taehyun¡¯s name on it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! Get one for me too.¡±


    ¡°¡­What? What Taehyun¡­?¡±


    She tried to dismiss it, thinking she misheard, but a nagging thought made her ask cautiously.


    ¡°Mom, Dad, who did you just say? Taehyun¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh? Our daughter is awake? Who else could it be? Our Taehyun, of course. Isn¡¯t Cha Taehyun the only one?¡±


    Shin Hayoon was stunned for a moment. Shaking her head violently, she asked again.


    ¡°Who is Cha Taehyun?¡±


    She thought it couldn¡¯t be the thug Cha Taehyun she knew.


    ¡°Our daughter, you¡¯ve been studying so hardtely. He¡¯s already famous among Phoenix fans. Look, he¡¯s on TV right now. Isn¡¯t he handsome?¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s mouth dropped open when she looked at the screen.


    ¡°It¡¯s really Cha Taehyun?¡±


    The thug Cha Taehyun she knew was swinging a bat.


    She had heard that he joined the baseball team, but was he already starting and performing so well?


    ¡°Wow¡­ Sis, look at that! Isn¡¯t he amazing? Our Taehyun oppa is not only handsome but also insanely good at baseball. I saw him on the first day, remember?¡±


    And it wasn¡¯t just that he was performing well; the highlight reel was filled with nothing but Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°What¡­ What is this¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right, Sis! You¡¯re at the same school as Taehyun oppa. Go after him! Where else can you find a guy like that?¡±


    ¡°Hey! Little sis! What kind of¡­ brilliant idea is that? You¡¯re so clever! Hayoon, I approve. Even if you don¡¯t date him, at least get an autograph ball.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sis! The Phoenix ace as your husband? How can you resist that? What else are you going to do with that pretty face of yours?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha!¡±


    The living room filled withughter.


    Her mom, dad, and little sisterughed heartily, making it a warm family scene.


    Except for one person¡ªShin Hayoon.


    ¡°Sh-shut up!!¡±


    After hitting the grand m and returning to the dugout, I was greeted by a barrage of high-fives.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, you crazy bastard! I¡¯m speechless now, haha!¡±


    ¡°Stop being so good, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Why do you keep copying what I say?!¡±


    After finally escaping the clutches of my teammates, I sat down next to Jin Myunghwan.


    ¡°Crazy bastard¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You just shattered the hopes of hundreds of people in the stands¡­¡±


    ¡°So, was I supposed to feel bad about that?¡±


    Jin Myunghwan chuckled and offered a fist bump.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re the best. That was truly satisfying. The real viin of viins.¡±


    I smirked and bumped his fist.


    Seeing him this happy, it seemed like the cheers during his earlier mistake had really bothered him.


    Anyway, I focused back on the game.


    The fifth batter, Lee Jiho, was getting ready for his check swing.


    ¡°This is crucial.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see if the pitcherpletely copses or manages to hang on a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ If he gets hit again here, he mightpletely lose it.¡±


    Well, after a grand m, the chances are high for the former, but there are no absolutes in baseball.


    The pitcher threw the first pitch.


    -Thud!


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    A slider that just missed the borderline.


    ¡°Oh¡­ I guess he hasn¡¯t lost hisposure?¡±


    ¡°¡­Really? I¡¯m not so sure¡­¡±


    Although the slider became a ball, it was intended as a bait pitch. This means his control isn¡¯t necessarily off.


    While his velocity had dropped a bit, it wasn¡¯t enough to say he hadpletely lost hisposure.


    Looks like Jin Taehyun climbed the mound again to give his pitcher a pep talk.


    He¡¯s certainly a talented catcher. Calming down the pitcher is also part of a catcher¡¯s skillset.


    The second pitch followed.


    Once again, a slider that went outside.


    It looked like a standard setup to lure the batter into swinging with consecutive pitches in the same spot, but¡­


    ¡°Jin Taehyun¡­ he¡¯s more prepared than I thought.¡±


    ¡°¡­What do you mean, ¡®more prepared¡¯?¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t get it even if I exined.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Jin Myunghwan gave me a sulky look, but this time I wasn¡¯t teasing him; it was true.


    To understand Jin Taehyun¡¯s pitchbination, you have to know Lee Jiho very well.


    Since I¡¯m an avid reader of StrikeHeart, I know Lee Jiho¡¯s weaknesses well.


    This pitchbination is targeting his weaknesses with precision, almost as if dividing the field into sections to target the areas where he hits the fewest.


    ¡°For a hot-blooded baseball manga protagonist, he¡¯s pretty meticulous.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­ But if you say so, I guess it¡¯s true.¡±


    To break it down to that extent, how much must he have analyzed? He probably went through Lee Jiho¡¯s records and watched the videos dozens of times if they were avable.


    A genius with both effort and talent¡­ He definitely won¡¯t fade into obscurity.


    The Cheongsin High pitcher threw the third pitch¡ªa low inside curve with a sharp drop.


    One of Lee Jiho¡¯s notorious weaknesses.


    I¡¯d almost apud them for targeting it so well, but¡­


    -Whack!


    Unfortunately for them, Lee Jiho, having ovee his slump, was currently on fire.


    ¡°Oh? Wait a minute, is it going over?¡±


    ¡°It went over.¡±


    ¡°What¡­? It really went over¡­? I thought you said the pitcher hadn¡¯t lost it?¡±


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t. Lee Jiho just hit it well.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Well, Jiho did hit it cleanly¡­¡±


    ¡°Get ready. We¡¯ll be switching to defense soon.¡±


    ¡°Huh? But they haven¡¯t even recorded one out yet? And there was just a home run¡­?¡±


    ¡°Jin Taehyun is going to the mound. That guy¡¯s speeches seem to get the pitcher back on track. He¡¯ll probably hold off the lower batting order.¡±


    ¡°Is the catcher some kind of miracle worker? One speech and the pitcher¡¯s back in the zone?¡±


    ¡°Jin Taehyun is a pretty good speaker.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®speaker¡¯¡­?¡±


    After giving up a grand m, the pitcher gave up another home run to the next batter. Despite barely holding on and stopping the lower batting order, Cheongsin High¡¯s hardships continued.


    Now at the top of the 5th inning, the score was 7 to 3, and they were clearly on the losing side.


    Aside from Jin Taehyun adding a solo home run, they hadn¡¯t managed to score at all.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    It was just¡­ hopeless.


    Kim Changhyun, who had stepped up instead of Seungtae Lee, pitched with such ferocity that even making contact was difficult.


    -Whack!


    ¡°Finally! A decent hit! It¡¯s heading toward the shortstop! Ah¡­! But Cha Taehyun makes a diving catch! Throws to first, and he¡¯s out!¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ This must feel like having a hit stolen. Pitcher Kim Changhyun is beaming! It¡¯s hard not to be happy with defense like that!¡±


    When they did manage to make contact, that shortstop would magically catch everything.


    Now, the cheers for decent hits had died down, and people in the stands had started to leave.


    -¡°Strike-out!¡±


    The second batter swung without even making contact, ending up with a strikeout.


    His face showed disappointment, but it didn¡¯t seem like he felt much regret.


    Rather, it was more like resignation.


    ¡°¡­How are we supposed to hit those pitches?¡±


    The issue wasn¡¯t Kim Changhyun, the second-string pitcher, who was pitching as well as Seungtae Lee¡­


    As the second batter picked up his bat and went to sit down, Jin Taehyun suddenly stood up.


    Jin Taehyun closed his eyes and took a deep breath.


    ¡°At least show some frustration!!¡±


    His shout was loud enough to shake the dugout.


    The Cheongsin High yers flinched at his words.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to mess up¡­ It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t hit¡­! It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t catch! Hell, it¡¯s okay to lose!!¡±


    Jin Taehyun continued, his fist trembling with emotion.


    ¡°But¡­ is this really right? Looking at your faces, it¡¯s like the game is already over. It¡¯s written all over your faces that you just want to go home!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you frustrated? Huh? How can you not be? I feel like I¡¯m going crazy


    ! Are you thinking ¡®We made it to the finals, so that¡¯s good enough?¡¯ ¡®We couldn¡¯t win anyway?¡¯ Screw that! If that¡¯s your mindset, then pack up and leave right now!¡±


    Still visibly angry, Jin Taehyun picked up his bat and spoke quietly.


    ¡°¡­Sorry for yelling. I¡¯ll hit a home run to get us one run closer¡­ so from the next batter, let¡¯s do this right. Even if we lose, let¡¯s go down swinging¡­¡±


    Jin Taehyun walked to the batter¡¯s box, leaving behind a chilling silence in the dugout.


    Breaking the silence, the coach spoke up first.


    ¡°He said what I wanted to say. Just watch how different Jin Taehyun is from you all.¡±


    -Whack!


    No sooner had the coach finished speaking than a loud crack echoed in the dugout.


    A huge hit, enough to clear the fence, soared high into the air.


    And yet,


    Jin Taehyun ran. He clenched his teeth, not even ncing at the ball, and sprinted toward the bases.


    ¡°Baseball is not yed alone. Even if people say we made it this far thanks to Jin Taehyun, Jin Taehyun can¡¯t win the game by himself. We got here because of all of you. Because of Jin Taehyun and Cheongsin High.¡±


    The coach paused before smiling faintly.


    ¡°Do you all understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!!¡±


    Cheongsin High¡¯s baseball was not over yet.


    At the end of the top of the 6th inning, Cheongsin High only managed to score one more run thanks to Jin Taehyun¡¯s home run. The score was 7-4, still a tough situation.


    However, the Cheongsin High yers¡¯ expressions had changed.


    No longer lifeless, their eyes now glowed with the determination to win.


    Seeing their renewed determination, Jin Taehyun nodded.


    ¡°Yeah. We can do this. In baseball, you never know what will happen.¡±


    Wearing his catcher¡¯s mask, Jin Taehyun smiled as he watched Cha Taehyun approach.


    They hadn¡¯t added many runs, but it was clear that they had regained their focus and improved their hitting.


    However, Cha Taehyun¡¯s face showed he wasn¡¯t worried at all.


    ¡°As expected of a good yer.¡±


    As such, they couldn¡¯t let their guard down.


    While Jin Taehyun was thinking about his next pitchbination, Cha Taehyun suddenly spoke.


    ¡°You¡¯re working hard.¡±


    The remark stirred something inside Jin Taehyun, but he swallowed it down.


    It was part of the mental game of baseball; he thought it was a psychological trick.


    Jin Taehyun replied as calmly as he could.


    ¡°Of course, I am. The game isn¡¯t over yet.¡±


    ¡°Really¡­?¡±


    Cha Taehyun trailed off and closed his mouth, seemingly focusing on his batting stance.


    Jin Taehyun turned to his pitcher and focused again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s walk him¡­ but try to lure him.¡±


    After giving up two home runs in consecutive at-bats, Jin Taehyun realized that Cha Taehyun could hit almost anything.


    So they had no choice but to walk him.


    However, since he often swings at bad balls¡­ Jin Taehyun nned to use that to their advantage.


    Perhaps he¡¯d swing at a truly bad ball.


    Jin Taehyun signaled to the pitcher, pulling his mitt wide. The pitcher wound up and threw the ball.


    The pitch approached quickly toward Jin Taehyun¡¯s mitt, but its trajectory began to deviate.


    ¡®W-wait a minute.¡¯


    Jin Taehyun had overlooked one thing.


    It was only the 6th inning, but the pitcher was mentally exhausted after facing so many hits and home runs.


    He had barely been holding on with Jin Taehyun¡¯s support and encouragement¡­ a fact that Jin Taehyun hadpletely missed.


    So, a wild pitch from the pitcher was hardly a surprise.


    -Wham!


    The intense sound of the hit made Jin Taehyun¡¯s spine tingle as the ball shot straight up into the sky, flying over the center fielder¡¯s head at a terrifying speed.


    Its final destination¡ª


    -Thud!


    The back screen, right where ¡°Cheongsin High¡± was written.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s over. The game.¡±


    Cha Taehyun coolly tossed his bat aside, leaving those words as he sprinted toward the bases.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 20

    ¡°Ah!! It¡¯s another home run! Cha Taehyun achieves his third consecutive home run! He didn¡¯t miss the pitch and sent it straight to the back screen, shattering the hope that Cheongsin High had barely recovered!¡±


    ©¸ Hahahahahaha


    ©¸ Wow¡­ this is getting a bit pitiful¡­


    ©¸ They try to rally, and he just cuts them down¡­


    ©¸ Should this be rated 19+? It¡¯s too brutal.


    ©¸ Oh¡­ um, stay strong, Cheongsin High!


    ©¸ Why don¡¯t they just walk him¡­


    ©¸ Judging by the pitch right down the middle, it looks like a mistake.


    ©¸ I just worship you, Taehyun-god¡­ ¡®It¡¯s my fault¡­ An arrogant decision¡­ Songchul had already reached his limit.¡¯


    Jin Taehyun, his head hung low, pounded the ground with his fist.


    ¡°No¡­ This isn¡¯t the time for this. I need to get up there and help Songchul with his mentality¡­¡±


    Hurriedly climbing the mound, Jin Taehyun looked at the stiff face of Shin Songchul and bowed his head slightly.


    What on earth could he say to him?


    Was it my fault? No¡­ It was clearly a mistake, so saying that would be a lie. Should he have just been intentionally walked? Yeah¡­ maybe it¡¯s better to say it like that¡ª


    ¡°Hey, why the long face?¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    Despite looking stiff, Shin Songchul spoke in a yful tone.


    ¡°You were just lecturing us about not wanting to go home, but now you¡¯re acting like that?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    Before Jin Taehyun could say anything, Shin Songchul lightly tapped his chest with his fist.


    ¡°Stand tall. Keep your head up. Sometimes you take a hit. I made the mistake, didn¡¯t I? So don¡¯t scowl. The game isn¡¯t over yet, right?¡±


    Jin Taehyun slowly lifted his head.


    Only then did his narrow field of vision expand, revealing his pitcher, his teammates, and the whole stadium.


    ¡®¡­I was shaken too.¡¯


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not over. Sorry. I talked big, but I guess I was shaken too.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all human. You can¡¯t be the only one unaffected. Anyway, head back. It¡¯s about time Ie down.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯reing down?¡±


    Shin Songchul gestured toward the dugout with his chin. The coach was slowly walking toward the mound.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time for me to step down. So, I¡¯m counting on you, Taehyun.¡±


    Waving his hand once, Shin Songchul walked toward the dugout.


    Cheongsin High¡¯s starting pitcher stepped down early, and the relief pitcher, Lee Chanwook, took the mound.


    Cheongsin High hoped this pitching change would shift the momentum, but¡­


    -Whack!


    Unfortunately, the next batter was Lee Jiho. He took the second pitch, a high fastball, and hit a home run.


    The score became 9-4, doubling the point difference.


    It was certainly a bleak situation.


    Still,


    ¡°It¡¯s okay! We¡¯ll catch up in the next inning!¡±


    Cheongsin High hadn¡¯t given up and continued to burn with determination.


    But just because there was determination didn¡¯t mean baseball would go well.


    -Whack!


    ¡°Safe!¡±


    -Whack!


    ¡°Safe!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ It¡¯s another hit. Cheongsin High changed pitchers, but they still haven¡¯t managed to get a single out. This is bing a very difficult situation.¡±


    More runs. More runs again. Hyuksan High¡¯s offense showed no signs of ending, and when Cheongsin High finally managed to secure the three outs¡­


    ¡°Out. With this, Hyuksan High¡¯s long offensive ends. The score now stands at 11-4, widening the gap significantly.¡±


    A considerable point difference had opened up.


    Honestly, when I hit that grand m, I thought the game was over.


    Cheongsin High turned out to be a more tenacious team than I expected.


    Until the 7th inning, Changhyun was on the mound, so they couldn¡¯t score, but they twisted and turned to increase his pitch count.


    Eventually, they seeded in making Changhyun use up his pitch limit, and starting from the 8th inning, Cheongsin High began their counterattack.


    Slowly, Cheongsin High¡¯s batters started to fill the bases.


    It wasn¡¯t just that our bullpen was weak; I had to admit it.


    Cheongsin High¡¯s concentration was on another level.


    Baseball surprisingly relies a lot on mental strength, and with their mental fortitude, they didn¡¯t crumble easily.


    Anyway, the current score is 11-7. Cheongsin High has caught up quite a bit, but there¡¯s still afortable four-point lead.


    I probably won¡¯t have to go out as the closing pitcher. The coach said he¡¯d try not to use me to conserve my energy.


    But as if to contradict my thoughts, a Cheongsin High batter hit Hwang Gwanghyun¡¯s pitch over the center fielder¡¯s head, striking the wall.


    The runners on second and third both came home.


    A two-run hit. The score was now 11-9.


    Hmm¡­ Looks like I might have to go out there.


    ¡°And now, Cheongsin High¡¯s offense resumes in the top of the 9th. The current score is 11-9. Cheongsin High has caught up quite a bit.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. After pitcher Kim Changhyun came down, Hyuksan High¡¯s relief pitcher Hwang Gwanghyun has looked a bit unstable. Even though there¡¯s still a two-run difference, it¡¯s really anyone¡¯s game now.¡±


    ©¸ Cheongsin High¡¯s mentality is insane.


    ©¸ They held out until the 7th and then tore into the bullpen.


    ©¸ Are they really going to turn this around?


    ©¸ Who knows? Hyuksan High¡¯s bullpen has been traditionally weak.


    ©¸ They¡¯re starting from the leadoff batter, so they have a good chance.


    ©¸ A two-point difference is really unpredictable. Didn¡¯t Hyuksan High¡¯s bullpen blow it inst year¡¯s final, too?


    ©¸ Hyuksan High is a Bonfrere-style team. If the bullpen messes up, the batters pick up the ck, haha.


    In light of Cheongsin High¡¯s unexpectedeback, whispers of ¡°Could Cheongsin High do it?¡± began to surface, and this sentiment filled the stadium.


    -Wooaaah!!!


    Just seeing Cheongsin High¡¯s yers taking the field elicited loud cheers. It felt as if Cheongsin High had already turned the game around.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting noisy again.¡±


    And with the appearance of a single figure, the atmosphere suddenly died down.


    Pitcher Cha Taehyun was stepping onto the mound.


    ¡°Oh! This is a bold move! Cha Taehyun ising on as the closer!¡±


    ©¸ Wow, look at that, pitcher Cha Taehyun!


    ©¸ It¡¯s been so long!


    ©¸ But isn¡¯t this overworking him? Shortstop in the 8th and now closer in the 9th¡­?


    ©¸ Taehyun, what can you do¡­ You¡¯vee this far¡­


    The audience had varied reactions, but most were filled with confusion.


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that the batter? Why is he pitching?¡±


    ¡°Can batters pitch too?¡±


    ¡°Are they out of pitchers? Why send him out?¡±


    More than half of the audience hade after watching the emotional Cheongsin High documentary on YouTube. Many didn¡¯t even know much about baseball, let alone who Cha Taehyun was.


    They were simply surprised to see a batter pitching, and as soon as the Cheongsin High batter stepped into the box, the crowd cheered again.


    -Wooaaah!!!


    However¡­ the moment Cha Taehyun threw his first pitch¡­


    -Thwack!


    [154km/h]


    -Woooaaah¡­


    Silence fell over the stands once more.


    After seeing the speed on the scoreboard, I clicked my tongue.


    154? Seems like I didn¡¯t have enough time to warm up; I¡¯m not in my best condition.


    But still, it¡¯s enough to get these three outs for this game.


    I wound up again and threw the second pitch.


    A daring fastball right down the middle.


    It was undoubtedly a good pitch, but the batter couldn¡¯t even think of swinging. He just froze in ce.


    [156km/h]


    I caught the ball again and waited for a sign. Senior Jichangseop usually isn¡¯t one to take the lead, but he sends signals when we have the upper hand like this.


    However, there was no signal.


    It was basically, ¡°Throw whatever you feel like.¡±


    Fine by me.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    For the third pitch¡­


    I put a bit more force into my throw.


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    With a clean three-pitch strikeout, I secured one out.


    Next up was the second batter, the one who took a hit by pitch to reach base, celebrating as if he¡¯d achieved something.


    I admired his resolve and the care he had for his team, which made me feel a bit moved, but¡­


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    That didn¡¯t mean I¡¯d go easy on him.


    Another three fastballs, another strikeout. The second red light signaling an out blinked.


    Jin Taehyun, the fourth batter, was swinging his bat in front of the dugout, but¡­


    I think this will end here.


    I wound up and threw the first pitch. Another fast fastball.


    -Whoosh


    The third batter swung his bat wide, but it was a ridiculous


    attempt. It was more of a ¡°swing just in case¡± rather than a calcted one.


    Well, it¡¯s better than just standing there.


    For the second pitch, the Cheongsin High batter swung again.


    -ng!


    The ball hit the bat, but it was aplete mishit. It was an easy one for Lee Changsoo, who had reced me as shortstop to handle¡­


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    He must have been nervous since it was his first appearance in a while, as he fumbled it.


    No need to worry. Errors happen all the time.


    -Wooaaah!!!!!


    Then, the cheers that hadn¡¯t been heard in a while pierced my ears again.


    It¡¯s fair to be excited.


    Top of the ninth, two outs, runner on first, and a two-run difference. If Jin Taehyun hits a big one, it¡¯s a tie.


    But¡­ will that happen?


    Taking a deep breath, I threw the first pitch. A fastball aiming for the inside corner.


    Jin Taehyun, unwilling to let it go, swung his bat.


    -Whack!


    He hit it hard.


    -Woooaaah¡­


    The cheer started but quickly died down. It was a foul ball that veered far off the foul line.


    Jin Taehyun, who had been running hard, hurriedly returned to the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°This guy¡¯s a maniac.¡±


    This might sound cocky, but it¡¯s the first time anyone¡¯s managed to hit my first pitch like that.


    Did he step out of aic book or something? What a guy¡­


    Iposed myself and took a big step forward.


    I leaned my upper body even further than usual and threw the ball with all my strength.


    The ball flew powerfully, seeming to get sucked into the mitt positioned on the inside corner.


    But¡­


    -Whack!


    The bat came out and connected with the ball.


    -Wooaaah!!!!!!


    The loudest cheer so far erupted but soon died down.


    It was a foul home run that just missed the left foul pole. A well-hit ball, but the bat reacted a bitte.


    [157km/h]


    ¡°It was my all-out pitch, and he managed to foul it off for a home run¡­¡±


    Is this what makes the protagonist of a miracle story different?


    Well then¡­ I¡¯ll give him some respect.


    I subtly changed my grip.


    ¡°This might be a bit cheap¡­¡±


    ¡°Taehyun! Strike him out!!¡±


    I can¡¯t lose since Myeon-ssam is watching.


    As I went into my pitching motion, the hidden grip became visible, causing Jin Taehyun to flinch.


    Looks like he realized it wasn¡¯t a fastball.


    But¡­ does knowing it¡¯s a breaking ball stop him from swinging?


    The ball left my hand and flew towards the mitt. Jin Taehyun¡¯s bat came out as well.


    It seemed like it would make solid contact, but then, almost defying gravity, the ball dipped and grazed the bat, slipping into the mitt.


    A cleanly executed forkball.


    Jin Taehyun swung wildly and staggered before falling on his rear.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    ¡°Game set!¡±


    The third red light signaling the final out of the Golden Lion Tournament final blinked.

 Chapter 21

    The owner of the Daejeon Volcanoes was sitting in his office, reading the newspaper.


    [Cha Taehyun Bombards the Golden Lion Tournament! A Record-Breaking .800 Batting Average Leads Hyuksan High to Victory¡­]


    [Hits Well, Catches Well, Pitches Well! A Monster Rookie Appears¡­]


    [A Sudden Appearance of a Second-Year High School Baseball Star: Professional Teams Already Showing Interest?]


    [Cha Taehyun¡­ Also Catches the Eye of Major League Scouts¡­ If He Chooses the KBO, Which Team Will He Join?]


    The owner, unable to take his eyes off the photo of Cha Taehyun, finally spoke.


    ¡°You know, it¡¯s been a really long time since I watched high school baseball. It was a TV broadcast, but still¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about the Golden Lion Tournament?¡±


    Nodding calmly, the owner continued. ¡°It was really a game that made my heart race. You don¡¯t see many games like that in the pro leagues these days. Especially¡­ that Cha Taehyun kid, he¡¯s something else.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    After stroking his chin for a moment, the owner asked the head of the strategy team.


    ¡°We can¡¯t pick up this Cha Taehyun kid, can we?¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ No, it¡¯s almost certain that the Phoenixes will finish inst ce this year, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­ Do theye inst every year?¡±


    ¡®Our team is always just above them¡­¡¯


    Swallowing the words that came up to his throat, the head of the strategy team handed the owner a stack of documents.


    ¡°This is a summary of this year¡¯s and next year¡¯s draft candidates.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    As he skimmed through the documents, the owner stared intently at the strategy team head.


    ¡°Is there a problem¡­?¡±


    ¡°What about Jin Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°Pardon? Are you talking about Jin Taehyun? Well, his performance in the Golden Lion Tournament was impressive, but he hasn¡¯t stood out much until now. Wouldn¡¯t it be safer to pick Joo Jitae, as we originally nned?¡±


    The owner let out a thoughtful ¡°Hmm¡­¡± as the team leader forced a bitter smile.


    ¡°Joo Jitae is great¡­ A left-handed fireballer. But, you know, I watched that broadcast. Jin Taehyun also caught my attention. And in my opinion, he¡¯s not just a fluke. He had a fierce determination in him.¡±


    ¡®Well¡­ It seems he¡¯s already set on Jin Taehyun¡­ I should probably adjust our strategy toward him.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take it into consideration.¡±


    As the strategy team leader bowed and was about to leave, the owner spoke again.


    ¡°Sigh¡­ But are we really unable to get Cha Taehyun? He¡¯s definitely going to be a huge sess¡­ Is there any way we can meet him in advance and sign a contract? Maybe if we pay him generously and have him im he¡¯s going to the majors¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Sir, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, of course¡­ I¡¯m just saying that¡¯s how much I want him. Sigh¡­ I really just want to meet him at least once. Is there a problem with that?¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean¡­ I just want to treat him to a meal. I saw his interview, and¡­ he seemed to have had it rough.¡±


    ¡°Considering your position, sir, it might stir up some controversy.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Then what if I make an excuse by setting him up with my daughter? You know, like a matchmaking meeting.¡±


    ¡°¡­In that case, it should be fine.¡±


    With a hum, the owner picked up his phone, seemingly lost in serious thought.


    ¡®Wait¡­ He wasn¡¯t joking?¡¯


    ¡ª


    On a peaceful weekend morning, I was lying on my bed, fiddling with my phone.


    ¡°Ah, Novelpia¡¯s down again.¡±


    I was nning to take a rare break and spend the whole day reading web novels, but the site was down once more.


    What kind of text site crashes this often¡­


    I was thinking of taking a nap when a message suddenly came in from Jin Myunghwan.


    [Jin Myunghwan: Did you check the national team selection list?]


    Ah, is it that time already?


    The U-18 youth baseball national team selection.


    This is a unique setting found only in StrikeHeart.


    Normally, the national youth baseball team is selected by the association, but in StrikeHeart, they form the team through a selection process instead.


    If I remember correctly, they chose this method to assemble a team that could achieve the best possible performance by judging solely on skill.


    In short, they gather the best high school yers from all over the country and pick only those who survive.


    [Why aren¡¯t you responding? Ignoring me?]


    I was lost in thought for a moment, but Jin Myunghwan began whining.


    Such impatience.


    [Yeah.]


    [Wow, your messages are so annoying.]


    [Yeah.]


    [Anyway¡­ Coach picked three of us: you, Senior Changhyun, and Lee Jiho. No additional recruits.]


    I expected Lee Jiho and me, but Senior Changhyun is a surprise. I thought Lee Seungtae would go for sure.


    [Oh, Coach said he¡¯s not sending Senior Seungtae because he got a sprain.]


    That makes sense. With the drafting up, it¡¯s best to take care of him.


    [What are you doing?]


    [Are you training even now?]


    [Seriously, I could have made the national team too. Right?]


    [Come on, respond.]


    ¡°He¡¯s so chatty, even in messages.¡±


    [I was going to read web novels, but the site¡¯s down, so I¡¯m thinking of sleeping.]


    [Web novels? What are those? Are they fun?]


    [Figure it out yourself. I¡¯m going to sleep.]


    I was about to close the message app and turn off my phone when another message arrived.


    [Hey.]


    ¡°What now?¡±


    It was an unknown number. I was going to dismiss it as spam, but just in case, I replied.


    It might be someone who knows me, even if I don¡¯t know them.


    [Who is this?]


    [Shin Hayoon.]


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    I thought I read it wrong for a moment, but it was really Shin Hayoon. Why is she texting me out of the blue?


    I don¡¯t know how she got my number, but honestly, I just¡­ don¡¯t want to deal with this.


    [Don¡¯t y pranks.]


    I thought this would get rid of her, but she replied immediately.


    [No, it¡¯s Shin Hayoon! I¡¯m in ss 3, Second Year at Hyuksan High! I sit right next to you!]


    But I haven¡¯t been in ss for over a month.


    [Stop pretending you don¡¯t know.]


    I was going to ignore her, but her persistence made me curious.


    [Why?]


    [Why so curt?]


    [Just get to the point.]


    [¡­Did you forget something?]


    I thought for a moment, but nothing came to mind.


    [No idea.]


    [Seriously¡­ Isn¡¯t that too much? We made a promise.]


    ¡°What nonsense is this?¡±


    Me? With Shin Hayoon?


    [Stop lying.]


    [I¡¯m not lying! Remember that day I woke you up? You promised to show me your batting form. You said you¡¯d show me.]


    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s right.¡±


    I did say that.


    I was grateful she woke me up before I almost spent the night at school. Plus, I thought her enthusiasm for coaching was admirable.


    ¡°Ugh, what a bother¡­¡±


    But this is my first real day off in ages. Do I really have to go out and show my batting form?


    [¡­Just once, please.]


    I smirked at the uncharacteristic message from Shin Hayoon.


    So, she has this side too?


    Feeling a bit yful, I replied.


    [You¡¯re being really curt.]


    ¡°Maybe that was too much?¡±


    I thought she might not reply, but then my phone buzzed.


    [Please¡­ Just let me record it once.]


    She really is passionate about bing a coach.


    For Shin Hayoon to swallow her pride and ask like this¡­ it¡¯d feel wrong not to go.


    And after all, I did promise.


    [Okay, meet me at Phoenix Batting Center.]


    [Really? When?]


    Well¡­ since today is my day off.


    [Come now. I¡¯ll head out right away too.]


    [Thanks. I¡¯ll be there right away.]


    ¡°Is this really Shin Hayoon¡­?¡±


    Herst message made me question if this was the Shin Hayoon I knew¡ªthe prickly one.


    ¡ª


    I dressedfortably and headed to the Phoenix Batting Center.


    Hayoon was already there, standing by the first-floor desk.


    But the problem was¡­ she wasn¡¯t alone.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s Taehyun oppa in person!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a huge fan, Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°The real Phoenix ace looks even better in person!¡±


    Her family, all smiles, rushed toward me.


    I shot Hayoon a look that said, ¡°Why did you bring your family?¡±


    She avoided my gaze and mumbled.


    ¡°¡­Sorry.¡±


    I sighed internally but forced a smile.


    After all, her family seemed to really like me.


    ¡°Taehyun oppa, can we take a photo?¡±


    A girl who looked like a younger version of Hayoon held out her


    phone to me.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°Haha¡­ Sure, I don¡¯t mind taking a photo.¡±


    ¡°Nice!¡±


    Hayoon quickly came over and stuck to my side, holding up the phone.


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t touch my sister!¡±


    ¡­Your sister¡¯s the one who came over, though.


    ¡°Thanks, oppa! Hehe!¡±


    As if taking a photo with me was the best thing ever, Hayoon¡¯s sister grinned while looking at the picture.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, could we also take a photo?¡±


    It was obviously Hayoon¡¯s parents. They approached with their phones.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Now that I noticed, they were both wearing Phoenix uniforms at the batting center. They must really be die-hard Phoenix fans.


    ¡°Thank you so much. By the way, could we also get your autograph?¡±


    They even had a marker ready.


    ¡°Sure, where should I sign?¡±


    In response to my question, Hayoon¡¯s parents immediately turned around.


    Uh¡­ I wasn¡¯t expecting this.


    Wait, I haven¡¯t even debuted yet¡­


    On the back of the uniform was my name. Well, they asked for it, so I signed.


    ¡°Thank you~ I¡¯m so happy. I can¡¯t wait to brag to Jiyeon.¡±


    Despite it just being the signature of an undiscovered high school baseball yer, they were practically jumping for joy. I couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    It¡¯s a bit overwhelming, but it¡¯s nice to see how much they like me.


    ¡°Oh! Me too, oppa!¡±


    ¡°Sure, where do you want it?¡±


    Hayoon¡¯s little sister grabbed the hem of her white T-shirt and slightly lifted it to make it t.


    Having me sign her shirt wasn¡¯t strange, but signing while she¡¯s wearing it felt a bit¡­


    ¡°Here! Right here, please!¡±


    She yfully flicked the hem of her shirt, and Hayoon yanked her back, ring at me.


    ¡°Are you¡­ jealous? Ow!¡±


    Hayoon, who had been holding her, smacked her on the head.


    ¡°Alright, everyone, go! Why did you evene? I told you I had an appointment!¡±


    Finally losing her patience, Hayoon screamed, making her family burst intoughter.


    ¡°Haha¡­ Fine, fine, Hayoon. It was my mistake. Thanks for today, Cha Taehyun! Enjoy your time with my daughter~.¡±


    ¡°Leave, now!¡±


    Grinning, Hayoon¡¯s family finally left the Phoenix Batting Center. <hr>


    TL Note: First, the PSA: The Patreon for this novel is fully operational (up to 60 advanced chapters) so if your stockpile¡¯s looking a little low, I¡¯ve got your back. You can check that out by clicking the ¡®Patreon¡¯ highlighted text: Patreon.


    Now my gratitude. I wanted to take a moment to thank @TamaSaga and @Giernold. The honest reviews ¨C as well as the kind words ¨C were much appreciated. The error you were experiencing, TamaSaga, is likely due to you not being logged in. You need to make an ount first by clicking the door icon in the top right corner. I really need to make a FAQ.


    As always, thanks for reading.

 Chapter 22

    As we headed up to the second floor, I heard Shin Hayoon¡¯s voice behind me.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡±


    She had been unusually quiet, probably because bringing her family along was on her mind.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. They like me so much, and I didn¡¯t particrly mind it.¡±


    ¡°Really¡­? That¡¯s a relief. Well, um¡­ thanks¡­¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For signing and taking pictures. My family really likes you, for some reason¡­ I don¡¯t know why¡­¡±


    If only she hadn¡¯t added the ¡°I don¡¯t know why¡± at the end, it would have been perfect.


    ¡°Not sure if I¡¯m all that, but I¡¯m just grateful they like me.¡± Shin Hayoon looked at me with a surprised expression before blurting out, ¡°Hey.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not as bad of a guy as I thought.¡±


    I let out a small chuckle.


    ¡°Stop. Don¡¯t say things you don¡¯t mean.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious¡­¡±


    As I approached the pro zone, the one on the far right, Shin Hayoon quickly grabbed me.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°Hey. The pro zone pitches at over 150 km/h, you know?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re just showing your batting form. Why not use an easier one?¡±


    ¡°This one¡¯s easy for me.¡±


    Shin Hayoon chuckled.


    I wasn¡¯t joking; I was being serious¡­


    Well, she¡¯ll see soon enough.


    I picked up a bat and waited for the pitch.


    ¡°Watch carefully. I¡¯m only going to hit 10 balls.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Go ahead¡ª¡±


    <em>Crack!</em>


    As soon as I hit the ball, Shin Hayoon¡¯s words stopped mid-sentence.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    <em>Crack!</em>


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    <em>Crack!</em>


    After the 10 hits, I turned around to see Shin Hayoon staring nkly at me.


    She said she was going to record it, but the camera lens was pointing limply at the floor.


    ¡°Hey, did you get that on camera?¡±


    ¡°Huh? ¡­Ah, ah!¡±


    Only then did she realize that the camera was out of focus. She grabbed her hair in frustration.


    Seeing no other choice, I picked up the bat again, but then she said something I couldn¡¯t ignore.


    ¡°Well¡­ after watching you in person, I see some things in your form that could use some adjustments¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    If she intended to provoke me, she seeded. She hit the mark perfectly.


    I¡¯ve gone through countless trials and errors to create this batting form, and now she¡¯s saying it needs adjustments¡­?


    ¡°No, no¡­ I don¡¯t mean it¡¯s bad. It¡¯s really good. In fact, it¡¯s the best I¡¯ve ever seen. But listen for a moment¡­ I recorded the initial part, at least.¡±


    She held up the camera and pointed at the screen, tapping my side with her finger.


    ¡°Here¡­ you¡¯re overextending too quickly, right?¡±


    ¡°Show it again.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, look here. See? Your hit is strong and looks good, but there¡¯s a risk of injury. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you could hitfortably?¡±


    Hmm¡­ honestly, the camera is too shaky, so I can¡¯t really tell.


    ¡°What¡­? Want me to hit again?¡±


    Without answering, I grabbed the bat and stepped back up.


    This time, I focused on my side, just as Shin Hayoon mentioned.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    As soon as I struck the first pitch, I realized it.


    It stung my pride, but¡­ she was right.


    The slight difort I¡¯d felt while hitting had disappeared.


    To be fair, I had some inkling that this difort existed because it¡¯s my own body.


    However, I hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it since my form was perfected in my prime, and I thought it was just due to my currentck of physical condition.


    But for her to pinpoint and correct that immediately¡­


    She might just be a future top coach.


    After finishing off the rest of the balls, I came back to see Hayoon gazing at the camera as if it were a treasure.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    It hurt my pride a little, but I had to admit that her help was valuable.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    She looked up, eyes wide.


    ¡°Your advice made it feel a lot morefortable.¡±


    Even Shin Hayoon, who¡¯s usually tough, couldn¡¯t hide her smile when praised for her coaching.


    ¡°Ah¡­ thanks. I had fun today¡­ a little¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Her voice trailed off at the end, so I couldn¡¯t catch thest part.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m going to head back now. I need to back up the video.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    As I watched her walk away with a spring in her step, a scene from StrikeHeart suddenly came to mind.


    <em>¡°Even now, I regret it. Although I¡¯ve seeded as a coach, if I had more confidence back then, maybe I could have be a coach sooner and gained more experience¡­ Well, it¡¯s all in the past now.¡±</em>


    Well¡­ giving her a little confidence boost won¡¯t hurt.


    ¡°Hey, Shin Hayoon.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Now that I had called her, I didn¡¯t know what to say.


    I hesitated for a moment before blurting out whatever came to mind.


    ¡°You have talent.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You should be a coach. I think you could even coach in the Major Leagues.¡±


    ¡°Do you think being a Major League coach is easy¡­?¡±


    Though she grumbled, the corners of her mouth twitched upward. She¡¯s terrible at hiding her feelings.


    ¡°Anyway¡­ I¡¯m really going now. Maybe next time¡­¡±


    <em>¡ªOr not.</em>


    She muttered in a barely audible voice and hurried out of the batting center, almost like she was running away.


    ¡ª


    On a scorching hot afternoon, Kim Yoobin was in the dugout, cooling off.


    ¡°Hey, Yoobin, do you think you¡¯re going to get pushed out of the national team this time?¡±


    Kim Yoobin scoffed at his teammate¡¯sment.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Kim Yoobin. The star shortstop carrying Hwachung High. How could I get pushed out?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you watched the Golden Lion Tournament broadcast?¡±


    ¡°Why would I? What¡¯s so fun about it?¡±


    ¡°See, that¡¯s your problem. The shortstop from Hyuksan High is insane. He hits like crazy.¡±


    ¡°Better than me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Way better.¡±


    Kim Yoobin tilted his head.


    How could that even be possible?


    Scouts say that when ites to shortstops, Kim Yoobin is the first name thates to mind. And there¡¯s a shortstop better than him?


    ¡°Maybe he just had a hot streak. You see that sometimes in tournaments. But you know what themon trait of those guys is? They suddenly disappear.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ there are exceptions.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see. Anyway, don¡¯t worry. Do you think I¡¯d get pushed out of the national team?¡±


    ¡ª


    The Shinwol Baseball Stadium was packed with yers from high schools all over the country, preparing for the national team selection.


    A veteran with his hands in his pockets slowly walked out in front of the gathered yers.


    This year¡¯s national team manager, Jeon Hocheol.


    Having led Korea to itsst championship, his gaze alone exuded charisma.


    ¡°Nice to meet you all. As you know, not everyone here will earn the right to wear the Taeguk mark. I don¡¯t care which school you¡¯re from or how good your past performance was. I will only judge you based on what you show me today. Do your best.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    With a brief greeting, the coach immediately sent out the pitchers and began preparing the infielders¡¯ tests.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start with the shortstop fielding test. Line up in the order called earlier.¡±


    The test was simple.


    Jeon Hocheol would hit the ball directly, and the shortstop would field it. Points would be given based on how cleanly they handled the y.


    When the first shortstop took his position, the coach standing next to Jeon Hocheol began listing his information.


    ¡°This is Shin Haechan from Dongsin High. He has a career batting average of .320¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Speak when I ask.¡±


    Jeon Hocheol picked up the ball and hit it.


    It veered toward the third-base line, a fast-moving, tricky ball to handle.


    The shortstop chased after it but couldn¡¯t catch it cleanly, fumbling the ball.


    Just as the shortstop hastily grabbed the ball to throw it¡­


    ¡°Stop. Next shortstop, step up.¡±


    ¡°W-What? Please, just give me one more chance! I¡¯ll get it right next time!¡±


    The shortstop pleaded desperately, but Jeon Hocheol remained firm.


    ¡°Nerves, mistakes, difficult balls¡ªthey¡¯re all part of your skill. Tournaments are single elimination. There is no ¡®next time.¡¯ Understand?¡±


    In the end, the shortstop had to bow his head and return to the dugout.


    Jeon Hocheol¡¯s expression remained unchanged as the tests continued.


    These yers were supposed to be some of the best from high school teams across the country, so they had the fundamentals¡­


    ¡®None of them stand out¡­¡¯


    Aiming for world-ss performance, Jeon Hocheol found them allcking.


    As he sighed, a shortstop with a different gleam in his eyes came into his view.


    ¡®He looks confident, at least.¡¯


    The others had shown signs of tension after the first shortstop was easily dismissed, but this guy seemed rxed.


    ¡®Let¡¯s see if his skills match that confidence.¡¯


    <em>Smack!</em>


    A ball shot towards the third-base line, simr to the one that the first shortstop missed.


    But this shortstop caught it cleanly and made a swift throw to first.


    Jeon Hocheol gave a faint smile and nodded.


    ¡°What¡¯s that kid¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°Kim Yoobin, a third-year. He¡¯s considered the best shortstop in the country.¡±


    ¡°Really? Not bad.¡±


    ncing at the coach, Kim Yoobin grinned.


    The coach, who had been stern-faced until now, was finally showing a hint of a smile.


    ¡®Yeah, you need to be at this level to catch the coach¡¯s eye.¡¯


    <em>Smack!</em>


    Jeon Hocheol hit another ball, and Kim Yoobin handled it deftly.


    Once, twice, three times¡ªKim Yoobin had fielded more balls than anyone so far.


    ¡°Last one!¡± shouted the coach.


    <em>Smack!</em>


    The ball was headed towards second base. It looked easy to handle, but then suddenly bounced awkwardly.


    Thrown off bnce, Kim Yoobin missed the ball and anxiously looked at the coach.


    The coach smirked and waved it off.


    ¡°You¡¯re through. Why so nervous? Who could catch that?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Thank you!¡±


    Grinning, Kim Yoobin returned to the dugout as the remaining shortstops thought to themselves:


    ¡®Guess the starter has been decided¡­¡¯


    ¡°Next!¡±


    Jeon Hocheol¡¯s eyes had slightly dulled. He thought it would be boring for a while, now that a fairly good yer had shown up.


    But when the next shortstop stepped up, Jeon Hocheol let out a scoff.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that guy?¡±


    If Kim Yoobin had an air of self-confidence,


    Then this guy was grinning, looking as rxed as if he were just ying around.


    He seemed soid-back that Jeon Hocheol almost questioned whether he was taking this seriously.


    Clicking his tongue, Jeon Hocheol prepared to hit another ball. He hated yers whocked passion.


    <em>Smack!</em>


    This time, he swung with noticeably more speed, sending a scorching line drive.


    ¡®Too much power¡­¡¯


    Even Jeon Hocheol thought it might have been too much. He was about to get another ball when¡ª


    ¡°¡­Ha! This kid!¡±


    The shortstop swiftly dove, catching the ball and quickly springing up to make a perfect throw.


    ¡®Finally found him.¡¯


    Jeon Hocheol grinned widely and asked the coach beside him,


    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s Cha Taehyun, a second-year from Hyuksan High.¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 23

    ¡®A high school student already making such clean defensive ys¡­?¡¯


    From the look on his face, he was still a young rookie. However, the entire process of catching the ball, pulling it out of his glove, and throwing it was so crisp that it left onlookers in awe.


    One might even think that this ce could be a Major League stadium without it feeling out of ce.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    Jeon Hocheol kept hitting the balls, unaware of the time passing. There were others waiting behind him, and his arm was screaming in pain, nearing its limit.


    ¡°Good! Cha Taehyun! You can do a bit more, right? Let¡¯s go one more round!¡±


    What else could he do? A talent that shines so brightly in front of his eyes demands that he keep dancing along. Jeon Hocheol¡¯s frenzy only stopped when the bucket containing about 20 balls finally ran out.


    ¡°Hoo¡­ It¡¯s been a while since I had such a good fungo session.¡±


    Jeon Hocheol wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and steadied his breath. Though he was visibly exhausted, he was smiling widely enough to show his white teeth.


    ¡°Excellent, Cha Taehyun. You have value just in your defense.¡±


    The coach¡¯s eyes widened at Jeon Hocheol¡¯s words.


    ¡®The manager is actually giving outpliments like this?¡¯


    Jeon Hocheol was known for being strict. In fact, he was so exacting that even a single word of praise was rare. It was only natural that the coach was surprised.


    Cha Taehyun bowed his head and returned to the dugout, prompting the manager to smile again.


    ¡°This guy even has manners, huh?¡±


    ¡®¡­Looks like the manager ispletely captivated by Cha Taehyun.¡¯


    The manager wasn¡¯t the only one who was surprised.


    ¡°Where did this guy evene from?¡±


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t he that guy who dominated the Golden Lion Tournament?¡±


    ¡°I thought I might get in as a substitute, but now what¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, he¡¯s really good¡­¡±


    Various reactions came out, but they all converged on one thought.


    ¡®The starter isn¡¯t Kim Yoobin, it¡¯s Cha Taehyun¡­¡¯


    ¡ª


    If you were to pick a legend in Korean baseball¡­ many names mighte to mind. But if you were to choose one current yer, everyone would think of the same person.


    ¡°Oh? Kim Hosan. Why are you here?¡±


    Kim Hosan.


    He¡¯s the Korean pitcher who has achieved the best performance in the Major Leagues.


    Although he¡¯s taking a break this season due to Tommy John surgery, he¡¯s expected to fully reim the ace role when he returns.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking a break from the season, so I thought I¡¯d visit my hometown.¡±


    Since it was Jeon Hocheol who discovered and actively supported Kim Hosan, the first person he came to see upon arriving in Korea was none other than Jeon Hocheol.


    ¡°You had surgery, right? Is your arm okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s healed to the point where I could return soon.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. So, why are you here today?¡±


    ¡°Haha, do I need a reason? I just wanted to see the yers who will lead Korean baseball in the future. Are there any promising yers this year?¡±


    ¡°There are. Some good yers.¡±


    Kim Hosan tilted his head slightly at the quick response.


    ¡°If the strict manager says there are good yers¡­ they must be pretty outstanding, huh?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, strict?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, just kidding. So, who¡¯s the yer that caught your eye, Manager?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Well, I¡¯ve only tested the defense so far, but if we¡¯re talking defense alone, it¡¯s Cha Taehyun.¡±


    Kim Hosan asked curiously.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun? Never heard of him.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense. I just heard about him today myself.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been too busy to watch the Golden Lion Tournament, but it turns out he made his debut there.¡±


    ¡°Wait, are you saying that a yer who debuted at the Golden Lion Tournament is already that good?¡±


    Jeon Hocheol chuckled as he continued.


    ¡°Right? I couldn¡¯t believe it either. But just in terms of defense, he¡¯s at a professional level. I hit some pretty hard line drives at him, and he snagged them right away.¡±


    ¡°You hit fungo? Sounds like he has great reflexes.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. He was cking off a bit, so I swung with more force than usual. But he just sat there and caught it¡­ Oh, actually, you want to see for yourself? The fielding drills are done, and the hitting tests will start soon.¡±


    ¡°I was going to ask you anyway. I¡¯m curious about the yer who caught your eye.¡±


    ¡ª


    The results of the first defensive test were posted.


    <em>[1st ce: Cha Taehyun]</em>


    ¡°They even ranked the yers?¡±


    No idea what criteria they used, but being first certainly felt good.


    I was about to take a picture to brag to Ms. Miyeon when¡ª


    ¡°It¡¯s Kim Hosan!¡±


    Someone shouted, and suddenly, the atmosphere became chaotic.


    Kim Hosan?


    I knew that name. It¡¯s impossible not to. He¡¯s a character who became Lee Jiho¡¯s role model in <em>StrikeHeart.</em>


    Most importantly, there¡¯s a scene that¡¯s still vivid in my memory where Lee Jiho hits a home run off Kim Hosan in the Major Leagues.


    But why is a yer of his caliber here?


    I followed the other yers toward Kim Hosan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind him too much. Remember why you¡¯re here today,¡± the manager said earnestly.


    But it was useless.


    A guy who had achieved the dream that all of them were striving for appeared right before their eyes. How could they not pay attention?


    ¡°Now, we¡¯re about to start the batting test¡­ But I want you to remember one thing: I value contact ability in hitting the most. I like hitters who can at least hit singles. Understood?¡±


    In short, it¡¯s all about how well you make contact with the ball.


    Well, that¡¯s what I¡¯m best at. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.


    ¡°While you prepare, wait in the dugout.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Back in the dugout, I sent the photo of my 1st ce rank to Ms. Miyeon.


    Not even ten secondster, I got a reply.


    <em>[What¡¯s this, what¡¯s this? Did you get 1st ce?]</em>


    <em>[Yes, I¡¯m currently ranked 1st in defense, haha.]</em>


    <em>[Awesome! You¡¯re the best, Taehyun! Can you get 1st ce in batting too?]</em>


    Batting, huh?


    Hmm¡­ I was nning to go for a big hit, but I can¡¯t be sure.


    Lee Jiho and Jin Taehyun are also here. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if they hit home runs too.


    How they score it will be important¡­


    Ah!


    A brilliant idea struck me.


    Yes, that would guarantee 1st ce.


    <em>[Yes. I¡¯ll send you a picture of me in 1st ce soon.]</em>


    <em>[Okay! I¡¯ll be waiting. Good luck! ?(??????)?]</em>


    Some people go through all sorts of things to get a dopamine rush, but I don¡¯t get it.


    I mean, just sending a text makes dopamine flood my system!


    I suppressed my uncontrobly rising grin and stepped out of the dugout.


    ¡ª


    With Kim Hosan watching, the preparations for the batting test werepleted.


    The manager gathered the yers, and soon some yers in Phoenix uniforms were brought in.


    ¡°For today¡¯s batting test, the Phoenix 2nd team pitchers have agreed to help. They¡¯ve given up their precious time, so make sure to thank them.¡±


    The manager finished his brief introduction and organized the lineup, calling out the first yer.


    ¡°Lee Jiho, step up to the te.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lee Jiho shouted confidently and took his stance.


    There was no starting signal. The pitcher wound up when he felt ready and threw the first pitch.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    A loud crack rang out, surprising the pitcher, who sighed in relief when the ball went foul.


    Even so, it was impressive.


    ¡®¡­These high schoolers are something else.¡¯


    Although he was currently in the 2nd team, this pitcher had experience in the 1st team and had survived in professional baseball for a while. He didn¡¯t expect to get hit so easily, even if it was a foul home run.


    ¡®I need to focus more.¡¯


    The second pitch, thrown with caution.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    The moment the ball was struck, the pitcher let out a hollowugh.


    Nothing was wrong with his pitch. He had thrown it just like he always did. He wasn¡¯tcent.


    ¡®¡­They call this a rookie test, but it seems there¡¯s a monster among them?¡¯


    Watching Lee Jiho¡¯s home run, the next batter, Kim Yoobin, felt a strange sense of relief.


    Or rather, he found it a little funny.


    ¡®The Phoenix team really is legendary.¡¯


    With the season underway, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for them to send their top pitchers. Maybe that¡¯s why it was so easy for Lee Jiho to hit that home run.


    After all, these were just 2nd team Phoenix pitchers.


    ¡®I need to hit a home run too¡­¡¯


    With confidence, Kim Yoobin stepped up to the te and gave a deep bow to Kim Hosan.


    ¡°Hello, senior! I¡¯m Kim Yoobin from Hwachung High, the same school you went to!¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ really? You¡¯re my junior? Manager, is this guy any good?¡±


    The manager squinted slightly.


    ¡°His defense is alright¡­ but¡­¡±


    <em>-Strike!</em>


    ¨C


    Strike!


    <em>-Strikeout!</em>


    ¡°Hosan, looks like you¡¯ll have to set things straight at Hwachung High¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡±


    ¡®W-What the hell? Why is his pitching so good?¡¯


    It was to be expected. Even if it was the 2nd team of a bottom-tier club, the pitcher was a professional. It wasn¡¯t going to be easy for a high schooler to hit his pitches.


    Lee Jiho was just on a different level.


    Face red with embarrassment, Kim Yoobin ran back to the dugout as if to escape.


    ¡°Next, Jin Taehyun!¡±


    Jin Taehyun stepped up to the te, causing Kim Hosan to let out a sound of surprise.


    ¡°He¡¯s got a sharp look in his eyes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a yer I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on. He never lets his guard down. He¡¯s full of spirit.¡±


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    Proving the manager¡¯s keen eye, Jin Taehyun smashed the first pitch.


    ¡°Haha. Well, it¡¯s not that the Phoenix pitcher is bad¡­ These high schoolers these days are something else.¡±


    Another home run. At this point, the manager couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge it.


    ¡®¡­A golden generation.¡¯


    He had only seen the fielders so far, and already three yers stood out as potential stars.


    Next up was Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Next, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Oh? Is that the yer you mentioned earlier, Manager? Is he going to hit an out-of-the-park home run on the first pitch?¡±


    Kim Hosan seemed quite excited, already making a fuss.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    He made solid contact on the first pitch, but it went foul. Still, the quality of the hit was decent.


    This was proof that his contact ability was pretty good.


    Even so, there was a hint of disappointment on Kim Hosan¡¯s face.


    ¡®Doesn¡¯t seem like someone the manager would make a fuss about¡­¡¯


    Then came the second pitch.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    Another foul ball, though the quality of the contact remained high.


    ¡°Hmm¡­?¡±


    Feeling that something was off, Kim Hosan narrowed his eyes and focused.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    Once again, the ball veered into foul territory.


    ¡®Wait a minute¡­ Is this on purpose¡­?¡¯


    The disappointment faded from Kim Hosan¡¯s face, reced by a slight smirk.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    When the fifth consecutive foul ball flew past the line, a wide smile spread across Kim Hosan¡¯s face.


    ¡°This guy¡­ He¡¯s insane.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The manager looked at Kim Hosan, confused.


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    When yet another foul ball was hit, he finally spoke.


    ¡°Is this kid¡­ doing this on purpose? Because I said I¡¯d be looking at contact ability?¡±


    With a mischievous smile that bordered on being twisted, Kim Hosan nodded.


    ¡°Watch. He¡¯ll cut the next one too.¡±


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    Just as Kim Hosan predicted, another foul ball.


    ¡°No¡­ No way, is this for real?¡±


    ¡ª


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    That¡¯s the fifth foul in a row. Of course, it¡¯s not that my timing waste or that I missed the ball.


    These were 100% intentional hits.


    Why am I doing this in the batting test? The reason is simple.


    I want to ce 1st to brag to Ms. Miyeon.


    The manager said he valued contact.


    A home run? Sure, that can show my contact ability. But there are others here who can hit home runs, too. Lee Jiho and Jin Taehyun have already done it.


    I can¡¯t be sure that a home run alone will make me 1st.


    However¡­


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    A yer who can intentionally foul off balls regardless of the course or type of pitch¡­?


    Well, that yer would be¡­ me. At least in this ce, for now.


    I suddenly recalled the time I did this in the Major Leagues and ended up infuriating the opposing pitcher, causing a bench-clearing brawl.


    The fans called it ¡°Taehyun¡¯s Game.¡±


    Anyway¡­


    <em>-Thwack!</em>


    I¡¯m saying that I¡¯m going to take 1st ce in this test, no matter what.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Are you doing this on purpose?¡±


    The manager¡¯s voice rang out, so I momentarily stepped out of my batting stance.


    ¡°Yes. I want to make sure I take 1st ce.¡±


    The manager let out a shortugh, his face showing disbelief.


    Obsessing over a ranking that doesn¡¯t even hold much meaning might be hard to understand.


    But Ms. Miyeon wants me to be 1st. So, for me, this is a serious matter.


    ¡°Alright, then. Hit the next one properly!¡±


    I nodded and subtly lowered my bat.


    Looks like he¡¯s a bit mad¡­?


    The pitcher¡¯s face had hardened. After hearing the conversation between me and the manager, which pitcher wouldn¡¯t have his pride wounded?


    Gritting his teeth, the pitcher wound up and threw with all his might.


    Certainly.


    ¡°He¡¯s pissed.¡±


    The ball left the pitcher¡¯s hand, spinning sharply and hurtling toward me. Even at a nce, the speed and power were on apletely different level than before.


    So far, he had been holding back since I was just a high schooler, but now he decided to put some effort into it¡­


    But I wasn¡¯t about to be overwhelmed by the full force of a 2nd team professional pitcher.


    <em>-Smaaack!</em>


    The instant the ball met the bat, a thrilling sensation ran down my spine, making the corners of my mouth twitch uncontrobly.


    The pitcher hung his head.


    The ball soared high into the sky.


    No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of this sight.


    I watched as the ball stretched out, showing no sign of stopping, until it mmed into the center-field screen. Then I asked the manager,


    ¡°Am I in 1st ce now?¡±


    The managerughed heartily for a while before answering.


    ¡°What, do you think you¡¯re 2nd?¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 24

    ¡°Director, I¡¯m sorry, but do you have a pair of spikes in size 290?¡±


    Right after the batting test ended, Kim Hosan suddenly asked the manager.


    ¡°Hmm? They should be in the storage room, but why do you need them? ¡­Wait, are you thinking of pitching?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t help but want to face Cha Taehyun for just one at-bat.¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­ are you sure that¡¯s okay after having surgery?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m already at the point where I could start pitching again, and I¡¯ve been throwing a bit recently.¡±


    Kim Hosan¡¯s eyes sparkled with determination.


    ¡®Once he gets that look in his eyes, it¡¯s hard to stop him¡­¡¯


    Sighing, the manager handed over the storage room key. ¡°Do what you want. But don¡¯t ask me for favors; go talk to Cha Taehyun directly.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The manager muttered to himself as he watched Kim Hosan dash off toward the storage room.


    ¡°Looks like Cha Taehyun has really caught Kim Hosan¡¯s eye¡­ It¡¯s going to be a hassle for him.¡±


    ¡ª


    The list of results from the batting test was posted.


    [1st ce: Cha Taehyun.]


    Even though I already knew the result, seeing those two words, ¡°1st ce,¡± still felt magical. It put me in a good mood.


    I immediately took a photo and sent it to Ms. Miyeon, but unlikest time, there was no quick reply. It¡¯s about that time, so she¡¯s probably in ss.


    Putting my phone away, I sat on the bench, and soon after, Jin Taehyun appeared and sat next to me.


    ¡°Taehyun-sama¡­ I worship you.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking like a weeb.¡±


    It hasn¡¯t been long since west met, but he¡¯s starting off strong¡­


    ¡°What are you talking about all of a sudden¡­?¡±


    ¡°People on the inte are calling you that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just the Phoenix fans going overboard. Don¡¯t pick up weird stuff.¡±


    Seeing how this pure, passionate baseball boy was influenced by the inte made me realize just how dangerous it could be.


    ¡°No, I think they¡¯re right. You are like a god.¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, thanks. Hey, can I drop the formalities? You¡¯re a year older than me, but it¡¯s awkward to keep switching back and forth.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever seen a god speaking formally to his follower?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ okay.¡±


    I¡¯ve given up. Thinking about it, even before he was using the inte, this guy always worshipped me. Why he does that, I truly don¡¯t know. In fact, I don¡¯t really understand Jin Taehyun as a person. If he were a character from StrikeHeart, I might know him better, but he just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.


    ¡°Can I ask which professional team you¡¯re nning to join?¡±


    ¡°Rookies don¡¯t get to choose where they go. You just get picked up by whoever drafts you.¡±


    ¡°True¡­ so it¡¯s going to be Phoenix, then.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, anyone can see that Phoenix is going to best ce this year.¡±


    Jin Taehyun nodded briefly, then stared at me intently.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to Phoenix too.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Ever since I saw your forkball during the finals, I haven¡¯t been able to stop thinking about bing your battery partner.¡±


    ¡­Didn¡¯t he strike out from that forkball¡­?


    ¡°I appreciate it, but¡­ like I said, rookies get picked up by whoever drafts them.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll just join when I be a free agent.¡±


    He¡¯lle as a free agent¡­? If he¡¯s serious, that¡¯s actually pretty scary.


    A free agent is someone who haspleted their contract and can put themselves up for sale. It¡¯s the opportunity to make the most money. Most yers go to the team that offers them the highest sry, and he¡¯s saying he¡¯d join Phoenix just to catch my pitches¡­?


    He must be joking¡­


    -Buzz.


    Just then, my phone vibrated.


    [Ms. Miyeon: I knew you¡¯d get 1st ce, Taehyun! ????????]


    Did the ss end already? I checked the time, and it was still during ss hours. She must have texted during a break.


    ¡°Who¡¯s texting you to make you smile like that?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ someone important.¡±


    ¡°I may not be the sharpest person, but even I can tell what that means.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your girlfriend, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Oh¡­ he¡¯s perceptive. I wanted to say, ¡°You¡¯re sharp,¡± but unfortunately, it¡¯s not true.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s strange. How could you not have a girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He¡¯s starting to make me ufortable. The fact that his sudden worship feels genuine rather than a joke makes it even more annoying¡­


    I was thinking about how to get away from him when an unexpected visitor arrived.


    Kim Hosan, who said he was only here to watch the batting test, approached me.


    ¡°I watched you earlier. It was an excellent performance.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ yes, thank you.¡±


    ¡°So, I was wondering if you could spare a moment. I¡¯d like to face you for an at-bat.¡±


    ¡°Pardon¡­?¡±


    I felt confused, and honestly, after the intense fungo practice earlier, I just wanted to rest¡­


    But what¡¯s with that look in his eyes?


    Is this what they call the gaze of a ¡°clear-eyed madman¡±? I found myself unable to refuse, so I stood up from the bench.


    ¡ª


    Kim Hosan has a peculiar trait. When he sees a talented yer, he bes so captivated that he can¡¯t think straight.


    It¡¯s peculiar, but the reason behind this trait is even stranger.


    To put it nicely, he¡¯s incredibly patriotic.


    To put it more bluntly¡­


    ¡°There can never be too many yers who represent Korea on the world stage.¡±


    In short, he¡¯s a patriot.


    Of course, Kim Hosan sees this as patriotism¡­


    But in reality, he¡¯s addicted to the thrill of seeing his country praised by other nations.


    How far does this addiction go¡­?


    When he became the New York Mets¡¯ ace starting pitcher for the first time, he was happier not because his reputation as a pitcher had risen but because¡­


    [Kim Hosan bes the top starting pitcher in the MLB! New York Mets fans beg for more Korean yers¡­]


    [The Kim Hosan effect? MLB teams set their sights on Korean prospects¡­]


    ¡­there were more articles like these.


    So, the moment Kim Hosan saw Cha Taehyun, one thought crossed his mind:


    ¡®Will he be able topete on the world stage?¡¯


    Kim Hosan is the type who needs to confirm things immediately when he¡¯s curious.


    That¡¯s why.


    That¡¯s why the ace of the Major League suddenly showed up at this national team selection game and took the mound.


    ¡°I¡¯ll only throw fastballs. You don¡¯t need to worry about other pitches!¡±


    Kim Hosan shouted loudly.


    It was a kind of handicap.


    After all, even though the purpose was to see if he could make it on the world stage, Cha Taehyun was still just a high school sophomore.


    Just confirming his potential was enough.


    ¡®Hmm¡­?¡¯


    However, Cha Taehyun¡¯s expression looked quite displeased. Even when facing a senior like him.


    Normally, he would¡¯ve scolded him, saying, ¡°How dare you re at a senior offering you a chance? What an impudent brat!¡± But¡­


    Kim Hosan was different.


    ¡°Interesting guy. He¡¯s got character.¡±


    He even saw such rude behavior as part of his character.


    A smile began to form on Kim Hosan¡¯s lips.


    ¡ª


    When I was in the Major Leagues, I have to admit, my personality was terrible.


    I hated losing even a little bit, and if I suffered any disadvantage, I had to pay it back equally to feel satisfied.


    If I had to offer a slight excuse¡­ maybe it was because my determination to survive abroad without being looked down upon got twisted in a strange way.


    Anyway¡­ I can¡¯t say for sure if my personality has softened since then, but what I can say is that I¡¯m not someone who perfectly fits the traditional Korean Confucian culture.


    So¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll only throw fastballs. You don¡¯t need to think about other pitches.¡±


    I can¡¯t help but frown at those words.


    Even if I understand that he¡¯s ¡®considering¡¯ his position as an MLB ace and mine as a high school yer, it¡¯s just part of my personality. I can¡¯t be overly respectful just because he¡¯s a senior.


    Honestly¡­ I¡¯m only a high school student now.


    If you think about it, I¡¯m technically the senior here, aren¡¯t I?


    The more I think about it, the more it annoys me. I have to say something.


    ¡°Senior, you can throw whatever pitches you want.¡±


    ¡°Haha! You¡¯re confident, I like that even more.¡±


    ¡­That was unexpected. His tone didn¡¯t seem to care about my words at all.


    Somehow¡­ I felt my annoyance dissipate.


    Anyway, I gripped my bat and focused.


    Then, the 190cm-tall Kim Hosan took a big step forward and swung his arm powerfully.


    Tsk¡­


    Even after what I said, he¡¯s still holding back?


    Of course, even so, his pitch looked much heavier and faster than those from the high school pitchers or the Phoenix 2nd team pitchers earlier.


    Still¡­ still.


    I came out here, pushing through my fatigue.


    This just won¡¯t do.


    -Smaack!


    A swing with extra force.


    The ball stretched out and easily cleared the fence.


    ¡°If you throw like that again, I¡¯ll hit it again.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°This¡­ this is incredible¡­¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Even though he held back a bit, that pitch probably came in around 97 mph, and he sent it over the fence like it was nothing. This is the kind of pitch that even Major League batters would have trouble hitting.


    But more impressive is that


    mentality. Instead of being intimidated when facing a star yer, he went on the offensive.


    ¡®Did he say he¡¯d hit it again if I threw the same pitch?¡¯


    Amused, Kim Hosan gripped the ball the same way again.


    This time, the same pitch, the same course.


    Except¡­ this time, he would throw it with full power.


    While he didn¡¯t mind Cha Taehyun¡¯s boldness, he thought it necessary to set some boundaries.


    If he got too caught up in thinking he was the best, he wouldn¡¯t be able to improve.


    ¡®Take a little break.¡¯


    He lifted his knee and stepped down forcefully.


    He stomped so hard that dirt flew up from the mound.


    His muscles bulged as he wound up his pitch, and when he gathered all his strength to swing his arm, the ball shot out of his hand like a bullet.


    The 101 mph fastball that cemented his spot as the ace of the Major Leagues rocketed into the mitt.


    And Kim Hosan thought.


    ¡®¡­I hope he doesn¡¯t get discouraged. It¡¯d be a mistake to think I¡¯m the average for the Major Leagues.¡¯


    However, his concern was soon¡­


    -Smaack!!


    ¡­shattered as the ball flew off the bat.


    Kim Hosan turned his head reflexively, tracking the ball with all his focus.


    The ball¡­


    ¡­hit the very edge of the fence and bounced off.


    Turning back, Kim Hosan looked at Cha Taehyun and grinned widely.


    ¡®He¡¯s disappointed that he only hit the fence¡­¡¯


    And it didn¡¯t end there.


    ¡°One more, please.¡±


    Those eyes that refused to let it end like this made Kim Hosan¡¯s shoulders shake with excitement.


    ¡ª


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just got a call from my agent, so it looks like I can¡¯t do another round¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, I guess it can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    Kim Hosan was more cunning than I had expected.


    Pulling the ssic ¡®I won once, so I¡¯m done¡¯ move¡­


    Of course, technically, I hit the fence, so you could say I won¡­


    But it¡¯s just not satisfying.


    I felt that my swing was a littlete.


    Indeed¡­ an MLB ace¡¯s full-power pitch isn¡¯t easy to handle.


    ¡°Anyway¡­ that was an excellent hit. If you want, I can introduce you to an agent I know. Any MLB team would want you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Pardon? I¡¯m only a sophomore.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good to start talking early.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m not nning to go to the Majors.¡±


    For a moment, Kim Hosan¡¯s mouth dropped open.


    Is this really that shocking¡­?


    ¡°What? Why? Are you not confident in your abilities? You¡¯d do great. I guarantee it. No, you have to go to the Majors. Wasting your talent would be a national loss.¡±


    A national loss¡­?


    ¡°You have to go. You must. You can represent Korea!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ yes, thank you, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, why are you pestering someone who doesn¡¯t want to go? Don¡¯t you have somewhere to be? You¡¯ve had enough fun, now scram.¡±


    The manager finally arrived, and only then did Kim Hosan sigh regretfully before handing me his business card.


    ¡°Contact me if you ever need help. Or if you¡¯re ever in the U.S.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, thank you.¡±


    With that, Kim Hosan finally disappeared.


    ¡°Strange guy, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh¡­ he¡¯s definitely unique.¡±


    ¡°No need to sugarcoat it. He is strange. Whenever he sees someone talented like you, he loses his mind¡­ You¡¯ve got a rough road ahead.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°That guy might go to great lengths to get you into the Major Leagues.¡±


    ¡°No way¡­ Would he really?¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 25

    After the tests for both the fielders and pitchers ended, the coach finally announced the names of the yers who would be wearing the national emblem.


    Naturally, my name was called, as well as Jin Taehyun, Lee Jiho, and even senior Changhyun.


    The rest¡­ were people I didn¡¯t know, so I honestly wasn¡¯t too interested.


    ¡°Alright, everyone, you all worked hard today for the tryouts. We¡¯ll start training once the team is officially decided, so take care of yourselves until then. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    On my way to the locker room, I checked the list of results from the pitcher test posted in the dugout.


    I wasn¡¯t particrly interested in other high school pitchers, but I was curious about how senior Changhyun performed.


    ¡°Oh¡­?¡±


    [1st ce: Kim Sinhwa]  [2nd ce: Kim Changhyun]


    Senior Changhyun ced 2nd?


    Of course, he is a good pitcher, but he was always more of a secondary character¡ªthe second starting pitcher of Hyuksan High School.


    For him to take second ce nationally was quite surprising. Of course, this was with the absence of Lee Seungtae.


    Looking at things like this¡­ it seems this world is progressing differently from what I know in StrikeHeart. The appearance of Jin Taehyun and the changes in Lee Jiho¡­ Is my existence causing a butterfly effect, or will these changes continue to happen in the future¡­?


    As I was getting lost in thought, someone ced a hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    It was senior Changhyun, but¡­ something about his expression seemed off. He looked calm as usual, but that was the problem.


    He¡¯s someone who desperately wants recognition and takes pride in his pitching. So, for him to have confidently secured 2nd ce today and still look so downcast¡­?


    His behavior only made my alreadyplicated mind even more confused.


    ¡°Uh, senior Changhyun, what¡¯s going on all of a sudden?¡±


    Without warning, he removed his cap and bowed his head toward me.


    He stayed that way for a moment before speaking softly.


    ¡°Could you help me out?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ what kind of help do you need?¡±


    ¡°Today, I realized that I¡¯m really nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°Senior, you came in second ce among the pitchers, didn¡¯t you? Is it because you weren¡¯t first?¡±


    Still bowing, senior Changhyun gave a bitter smile.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I just can¡¯t be satisfied with myself.¡±


    He continued speaking calmly, still with his head lowered.


    ¡°Kim Sinhwa in first ce is remarkable, but when I saw the match between you and Kim Hosan¡­ I realized howcking I am. I need to work harder.¡±


    ¡­That¡¯s not right.


    Senior Changhyun¡¯s effort is anything butcking. If anything, it¡¯s excessive¡ªto the point where he risks injury.


    Although in StrikeHeart, he was a minor character who appeared briefly and then faded away, the Kim Changhyun standing before me now, who purely wants to be better at baseball and humbles himself before a younger junior without regard for pride, is not someone who will remain just a background yer.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what kind of help you need, but I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    Still bowing, he replied.


    ¡°Could you stand as the batter for my pitching practice from time to time? I believe that facing high-level batters is the best training.¡±


    ¡°Please, senior, lift your head. You¡¯re making me ufortable. And you¡¯re my senior, you can just order me to do things like this. Why are you being so formal?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re asking someone for a favor, you should be polite.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I get it. I¡¯ll stand at bat whenever you want, so please, lift your head.¡±


    Finally raising his head, senior Changhyun gave a faint smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Cha Taehyun. I¡¯ll make sure to repay this favor.¡±


    ¡°This might sound presumptuous, but as long as you don¡¯t lose that willpower, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll surpass Kim Hosan, who was here today.¡±


    Senior Changhyun opened his mouth a bit in surprise, then burst intoughter.


    ¡°You sure are full of yourself, just like Myunghwan said.¡±


    ¡°What? Myunghwan said that to you, too?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much every day? ¡­Anyway, thanks again. I¡¯ll head out first.¡±


    Senior Changhyun waved his hand and walked away from the dugout with a more rxed expression.


    ¡ª


    Recently, Shin Hayoon had be increasingly interested in Cha Taehyun.


    Of course¡­ not in a romantic way. It¡¯s just¡­ he¡¯s good at baseball¡­ Analyzing good yers is necessary if she wants to fulfill her dream of bing a coach.


    ¡°Yeah, analysis is important¡­ It¡¯s essential, after all.¡±


    After hesitating for about five minutes, Shin Hayoon finally ced her hands on the keyboard.


    [Cha Taehyun¡¯s yer record.]


    She intended to start by looking at Cha Taehyun¡¯s data.


    ¡°Hmm¡­?¡±


    Moving her mouse, Shin Hayoon tilted her head. No matter how many times she refreshed¡­


    ¡°Why are there so few records¡­?¡±


    Normally, a high school baseball yer would have records from weekend leagues, tournaments, and even international games. Yet, for Cha Taehyun, there were only five games listed from the Golden Lion Tournament.


    In other words¡­ Cha Taehyun hadn¡¯t yed baseball until his sophomore year in high school, and then he stormed through the tournament¡­


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense¡­¡±


    It¡¯s almost like something out of a fantasy novel; it¡¯s too unrealistic¡­


    In the end, Shin Hayoon started searching for the broadcasts of the Golden Lion Tournament.


    ¡°If I¡¯m going to watch, I might as well start from the first game.¡±


    She decided to watch all the games from the Golden Lion Tournament today and pressed y.


    An hour passed, then two, then three¡­


    ¡°He really is good¡­¡±


    By the time the first game ended, she had to admit it. The Cha Taehyun on screen was a monstrous rookie, through and through.


    She was curious about the next game. Quickly moving her mouse to find the following match¡­


    ¨C Please watch Cha Taehyun¡¯s interview. He¡¯s so admirable.


    ¨C Agreed. Thank you for holding on, Cha Taehyun!


    ¨C I¡¯m also a high school student, and I really respect how hard Cha Taehyun has worked. I hope you seed!


    Thements stood out.


    Something about them seemed very different from the image of Cha Taehyun she knew¡­


    ¡°An interview¡­ maybe I¡¯ll just watch it for a bit.¡±


    Shin Hayoon moved her mouse again to y the interview video. She stared nkly at the screen.


    And¡­


    Not long after.


    Her hand, which was holding the mouse, began to tremble.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Shaking her head in disbelief, she rewound the video.


    When she watched the interview a second time, she couldn¡¯t help but lower her head.


    Fleeting memories of the harsh words and actions she had directed toward Cha Taehyun shed through her mind.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine how he must have felt in those moments.


    ¡®No¡­ maybe this interview is a lie¡­?¡¯


    She tried to rationalize, but it was no use. Hearing Cha Taehyun¡¯s slightly sobbing voice and seeing his teary eyes on screen made her conscience ache.


    What was she supposed to do with this overwhelming guilt and self-reproach¡­


    Unable to keep her mouth shut, Shin Hayoon buried her face in her knees.


    ¡ª


    At 8 p.m., a bitte for dinner, I sat at the table with Jihyun and picked up my spoon.


    Whenever I ate with Jihyun like this, I always noticed how quiet she was.


    If I didn¡¯t start a conversation, she would just finish eating and head to her room.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice having youe home early these days, Oppa. Eating together.¡±


    But today, Jihyun spoke first.


    ¡°¡­Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a bit lonely eating alone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try toe home early more often if I don¡¯t have training.¡±


    Jihyun shook her head.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to. I shouldn¡¯t get in the way of what helps you make a living for us.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®in the way?¡¯ You cook for me every morning and evening. We¡¯re family, and family helps each other.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, you¡¯re right. Family should help each other.¡±


    Jihyun faintly smiled and asked another question.


    ¡°Are you entering another tournament? In Seoul?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s called the Blue Dragon Tournament, and it¡¯s held in Seoul.¡±


    ¡°Then you won¡¯t be able toe home for a while¡­¡±


    Her subdued voice was tinged with clear disappointment, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    A warm feeling grew in my chest.


    Is this what family bonds are?


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you often while I¡¯m there.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After a rare, lengthy dinner conversation, I returned to my room.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Suddenly, I felt dizzy. It was a sensation I hadn¡¯t felt in a while. Cha Taehyun¡¯s memories were starting to flow into my mind again.


    ¨C Oppa¡­ I want to leave this ce¡­


    ¨C I wish I had my own room, so I could be alone.


    ¨C Is that what you really want?


    ¨C Yeah¡­


    ¨C Okay. Then let¡¯s get out of here. Just wait a little longer¡­


    ¡°So that¡¯s why we left the orphanage¡­¡±


    It seems like Jihyun had trouble adjusting to the orphanage¡­ or maybe she was bullied.


    In any case, there must have been a problem.


    Is it that she¡¯s not good at socializing with others?


    Come to think of it, she doesn¡¯t talk


    much, but more than that, I¡¯ve rarely seen her leave the house except for school.


    And she never talks about friends.


    Anyway, it¡¯s a problem I can¡¯t solve just by thinking about it. I can only hope for more memories toe back.


    As I was about to lie down, my phone vibrated.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    I thought it might be Miyeon, so I quickly checked the message, but it was Shin Hayoon.


    [Shin Hayoon: I¡¯m sorry¡­]


    The sudden message was unexpected, but its content was even more so.


    ¡°Why¡¯s she apologizing all of a sudden?¡±


    I decided to ignore it andid down.


    ¡ª


    In baseball, there¡¯s a saying:


    ¡°Baseball is a pitcher¡¯s game.¡± Ultimately, a great pitcher dominates the game, and I think it¡¯s true.


    This is especially pronounced in high school baseball.


    There was even a time when high schools would sacrifice their ace pitchers¡¯ arms like a dark ritual to win championships.


    Oh, of course, that was a long time ago. Trying that now would spell immediate doom.


    To prevent such things, pitch limits have been implemented, making attempts impossible.


    Anyway¡­ even with pitch limits, high school baseball still heavily relies on the pitcher.


    Unlike professional baseball, where games are yed almost daily except for one day a week, high school tournaments often have a three-day break, providing ample time for rest.


    Therefore, even without many pitching resources, having just two excellent pitchers can lead to good results.


    That¡¯s the kind of team Hyuksan High School is.


    Our top batting lineup is quite strong, but our lower lineup is awful, and our bullpen is infamous for consistently blowing leads.


    The team is not well-bnced, but our starting pitchers, Lee Seungtae and senior Changhyun, helppensate for this.


    What I¡¯m getting at is that even though we won the Golden Lion Tournament, there¡¯s no guarantee we¡¯ll win the Blue Dragon Tournament just as easily.


    Well¡­ today¡¯s first opponent, Hwacheong High School, doesn¡¯t seem to be too tough, though.


    ¡°Nice to see you, Cha Taehyun. Remember me?¡±


    As part of baseball¡¯s image improvement, both high schools had a handshake event, and the guy in front of me spoke.


    Who was this guy¡­?


    ¡°Oh, yeah¡­ I remember.¡±


    I feigned familiarity, and he grinned and continued.


    ¡°You¡¯re good, I¡¯ll admit. But today¡¯s game won¡¯t be easy. I¡¯m not the same as I was during the tryouts.¡±


    Tryouts¡­ That rings a bell. Wasn¡¯t he that Kim¡­ something? Anyway, he was the one who tested for the shortstop position along with me.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do our best.¡±


    I shook his hand lightly, and the game began.


    And the game¡­


    ¡­contrary to what he said about it not being easy¡­


    ¡°Game set!¡±


    [Hyuksan: 7]


    [Hwacheong High: 1]


    ¡­ended surprisingly quickly in our favor.


    ¡°We had a tough draw in the Golden Lion Tournament, but we¡¯re getting lucky in the Blue Dragon, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never seen us clear the first round this easily.¡±


    ¡°Senior Changhyun pitched phenomenally today. Why is he suddenly doing so well?¡±


    ¡°Right? Did he find some secret technique or what?¡±


    I hate to say this, but¡­ it was too easy.


    Senior Changhyun allowed only one run and perfectly controlled the game for eight innings. Even the closer managed to finish the ninth cleanly.


    Considering how tough our previous first round was, this almost feels unfairly easy¡­


    Leaving the dugout, I took out my phone.


    Today, Taehyun¡¯s school, Cheongshingo High, also had their first game, so I wanted to check the result.


    Cheongshingo probably won. They put up a tenacious fight in the finalsst time, after all.


    ¡°Still ying, maybe?¡±


    We did finish our game rather quickly, after all.


    However, when I saw the result on the screen, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder.


    [Game Over: Daesangogo High Wins]


    Cheongshingo:


    ©¦1©¦©¦0©¦©¦0©¦©¦1©¦©¦0©¦©¦0©¦©¦0©¦©¦0©¦©¦0©¦[2]


    Daesangogo:


    ©¦2©¦©¦0©¦©¦2©¦©¦0©¦©¦1©¦©¦0©¦©¦1©¦©¦4©¦©¦0©¦[10]


    ¡°They lost by this much¡­?¡±


    ¡ªN?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 26

    ¡°Kim Sinhwa, you pitched an impressive 8 innings and allowed only 2 runs against Cheongshingo High, the underdog sensation of the tournament. Could you share your thoughts?¡±


    Daesangogo¡¯s starting pitcher, Kim Sinhwa, replied with a calm expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have much to say. I expected to win, so it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    The reporter, caught off guard, forced a smile and continued.


    ¡°Haha¡­ You seem very confident! That¡¯s the spirit of youth! Now, Daesangogo, known for its baseball legacy, was considered to have weakened due to the injuries of its ace yers and the graduation of its senior membersst year. What led to this resurgence?¡±


    ¡°You just answered your own question, reporter.¡±


    ¡°Pardon¡­?¡±


    ¡°The current second-year yers, including myself, grew strong and filled the void left by our graduated seniors. Injured yers also returned. Basically¡­ everything is back to where it should be. Including Daesangogo and Cheongshingo.¡±


    The reporter flinched at Kim Sinhwa¡¯sst statement. iming that everything returned to its proper ce was a good way of expressing Daesangogo¡¯s pride, but adding ¡°Cheongshingo as well¡± was the issue.


    It was ament that insulted Cheongshingo, a team that had just suffered defeat.


    Still¡­ to the reporter, this was a juicy, provocative quote.


    ¡®This might turn into an interesting article.¡¯


    Though he felt a bit guilty, the reporter reasoned that trash talk can stir up excitement in sports.


    Having justified it to himself, he decided to encourage more trash talk.


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re brimming with confidence. Do you think you can defeat Hyuksan High, a strong favorite to win the Blue Dragon Tournament?¡±


    ¡°Hyuksan? Well¡­ they seem good, but isn¡¯t Lee Seungtae injured? I didn¡¯t see him y¡­ Without him, they¡¯re nothing special.¡±


    The reporter¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. A perfect headline popped into his head.


    [Daesangogo¡¯s Kim Sinhwa: ¡®Without Lee Seungtae? They¡¯re nothing.¡¯]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°Wow¡­ You¡¯re really confident. Does that mean you¡¯re not worried about Kim Changhyun, then?¡±


    ¡°Not really¡­ I already confirmed that in the tryouts. He was beneath me.¡±


    ¡ª


    Jin Myunghwan, who was focused on his phone screen, shook his head.


    ¡°Look at this guy¡¯s arrogance. He¡¯s almost as annoying as Cha Taehyun.¡±


    I watched the interview with Myunghwan and agreed that Kim Sinhwa was annoying, but¡­


    ¡°Still,paring him to me crosses a line, Myunghwan.¡±


    ¡°Really? Well¡­ you¡¯re right. He can¡¯t quitepare to Cha Taehyun. My bad, Kim Sinhwa!¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Ah, sorry, sorry. No need to sulk. Anyway, isn¡¯t it strange these days? With this fake Taehyun and this Kim Sinhwa, all these talented guys keep popping up. Oh, that includes you, the real Taehyun.¡±


    He¡¯s sharp¡­


    Although Myunghwan always seems like he¡¯s living thoughtlessly, he has his sharp moments.


    Indeed, as Myunghwan pointed out, this phenomenon can¡¯t simply be dismissed as ¡°coincidence.¡±


    The appearance of Jin Taehyun, the sudden emergence of a pitcher on par with Lee Seungtae like Kim Sinhwa, and even the resurgence of historically powerful baseball teams¡ªthese clich¨¦s all seem to suggest someone might be pulling strings, possibly the one who sent me here.


    Maybe they thought, ¡°It would be boring if things went too smoothly.¡±


    But what does it matter?


    ¡°I just have to win and shut him up.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ That¡¯s the kind of confidence I expect from the most annoying guy.¡±


    ¡°¡­I always wonder, why do you keep calling me annoying?¡±


    ¡°The fact that you don¡¯t understand why is annoying.¡±


    Ugh¡­ it¡¯s pointless to argue.


    I turned to find senior Changhyun.


    Honestly, he¡¯s probably the one most affected by that interview.


    Senior Changhyun was looking at his phone, watching Kim Sinhwa¡¯s interview on the screen. Surprisingly, instead of looking upset, he had a sly smile on his face.


    ¡ª


    The coach was holding a pen, constructing the lineup for the uing semifinals and finals.


    ¡®They say Seungtae can start pitching again soon¡­¡¯


    He wrote Lee Seungtae¡¯s name next to ¡°starting pitcher¡± on the finals lineup and chuckled.


    Suddenly, he remembered that arrogant interview from Daesangogo¡¯s rookie.


    ¡°So, we¡¯re nothing without Seungtae, huh? Fine, I¡¯ll put Seungtae on the mound.¡±


    The coach raised his pen to continue, but at that moment¡­


    ¡°Kim Changhyun?¡±


    Unexpectedly, Kim Changhyun approached.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you, coach. Could I make a request?¡±


    ¡°A request¡­?¡±


    The coach tilted his head.


    ¡®This is a first¡­¡¯


    Kim Changhyun was always obedient, doing whatever was asked of him, no matter how tough the training. He wasn¡¯t the type toe with personal requests.


    ¡°This is unusual¡­ What is it?¡±


    After a brief pause, Kim Changhyun spoke.


    ¡°I want to be the starting pitcher in the finals.¡±


    ¡°The starting pitcher in the finals¡­?¡±


    The coach was about to ask why but then recalled the interview and stopped himself.


    ¡®Right¡­ I guess his pride is hurt.¡¯


    After all, they said Hyuksan was nothing without Seungtae¡­


    ¡°Are you mad because that Daesangogo pitcher looked down on you?¡±


    ¡°No, sir.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re not?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confident I can pitch better than him.¡±


    The coach, who was listening seriously,ughed as if he had been let down.


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty much the same thing, kid. I get that you¡¯re annoyed, but this is the finals. We should¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m annoyed. So please, let me do it!¡±


    Kim Changhyun suddenly raised his voice. He was so loud that the coffee on the desk rippled a little.


    ¡®For Changhyun to be this insistent¡­¡¯


    Kim Changhyun, who always sacrificed for the team¡­


    The coach rubbed his chin for a moment and looked at Changhyun¡¯s face.


    A firm, unwavering gaze filled with certainty.


    ¡®Every time I see eyes like these, my heart softens¡­¡¯


    ¡°Are you confident?¡±


    Hearing the coach¡¯s words, Kim Changhyun grinned broadly and replied.


    ¡°I¡¯ll crush them.¡±


    ¡°I like the sound of that.¡±


    The coach moved his pen again.


    [Starting Pitcher: Lee Song¡­ Kim Changhyun.]


    ¡ª


    Since we were favored to win, we advanced smoothly to the semifinals, which is today.


    The opponent is Dongshin High, known as Hyuksan¡¯s eternal rival.


    Though we now outmatch Dongshin High, Hyuksan vs. Dongshin has always been unpredictable, regardless of the gap in skill levels, so we can¡¯t let our guard down.


    That aside¡­


    ¡°Why are there so many spectators again? Is it because it¡¯s Hyuksan vs. Dongshin?¡±


    My personal ¡°Speedwagon¡± Myunghwan quickly answered.


    ¡°Not at all. Cheongshingo fans are cheering for us.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Cheongshingo fans? Why?¡±


    Cheongshingo lost their chance at the championship because of us, but they¡¯re supporting us?


    ¡°It¡¯s because of that trash-talking interview with Daesangogo. It went viral on Newtube.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ the one about ¡®restoring Cheongshingo to its proper ce?¡¯¡±


    That was definitely a jab.


    ¡°Yeah, that one. The whole ¡®Cheongshingo Miracle Run¡¯ had a lot of fans, so they got pissed off when they saw that interview.¡±


    ¡°But why are they supporting us?¡±


    ¡°We got insulted too, remember? They said we¡¯re nothing without senior Seungtae. So now, Cheongshingo fans are hoping we¡¯ll smash Daesangogo¡¯s heads in.¡±


    He really has a talent for exining things. It all makes sense now.


    ¡°How do you even know all this?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m the ghost of Newtube.¡±


    ¡°¡­If you spent less time on Newtube, your batting average would go up.¡±


    ¡°Could you give me some advice that actually makes sense, Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°Everyone, gather around.¡±


    At that moment, the coach entered the dugout.


    ¡°You all know we¡¯ve never had an easy time against Dongshin, right? So stay focused. More importantly¡­¡±


    The coach paused briefly before continuing.


    ¡°Those Daesangogo punks have been running their mouths, so we need to teach them a lesson in the finals, don¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    The response was so loud that the dugout shook a little. The coach grinned, showing his teeth.


    ¡ª


    Under the zing sun, the semifinals of the Blue Dragon Tournament began, with Lee Seungtae taking the mound for the first inning.


    ¡°Hey, Seungtae. You¡¯re not upset that the coach put you in


    the semifinals, right?¡±


    Catcher Ji Chanwoo asked teasingly, and Seungtae smirked.


    ¡°Why would I be? Didn¡¯t you hear that punk¡¯s interview?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Oh, yeah, I did.¡±


    ¡°Of course Changhyun should pitch in the finals. It¡¯ll be more satisfying that way. Even if the coach hadn¡¯t chosen him, I would¡¯ve told him to go. So stop worrying. It¡¯s obvious you¡¯re thinking too much.¡±


    ¡®Seungtae has really changed¡­¡¯


    Changwoo grinned and handed Seungtae the ball.


    ¡°Alright, my bad. So, how are you nning to handle Dongshin today? Want me to call the pitch?¡±


    ¡°Chanwoo, my arm¡¯s well-rested. I¡¯ve got energy to spare.¡±


    ¡°Alright, do it your way then.¡±


    Back at the batter¡¯s box, Chanwoo took his stance, and the umpire called the start of the game.


    Without hesitation, Seungtae gripped the ball for a fastball and threw the first pitch.


    The moment the ball left his fingertips, a grin spread across Seungtae¡¯s face.


    ¡®Resting for a while really does make a difference¡­ This pitch feels pretty good.¡¯


    While it might have been just ¡°pretty good¡± for Seungtae¡­


    -Whish!


    To the batter, it was much more than just a ¡°pretty good¡± pitch.


    -Smack!


    ¡®Already¡­ in the glove?¡¯


    When the batter realized it, the ball was already inside the catcher¡¯s mitt.


    ¡°Nice pitch!¡±


    The batter, frozen in ce, turned his head toward the scoreboard, barely believing what he saw.


    [157 km/h]


    His jaw dropped helplessly.


    The umpire, who also couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the scoreboard, btedly called out.


    ¡°St¡­ Striiiike!¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 27

    Baseball is truly a fascinating game. A game that seems impossible to win can suddenly turn around when you catch the right momentum.


    In that sense, momentum is incredibly important in baseball¡­


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    Watching Lee Seungtae pitch today, it doesn¡¯t seem like that momentum will shift anytime soon.


    After striking out batters one through three in just nine pitches, Lee Seungtae calmly walked off the mound.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get on base for you, so get ready.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan, the first batter, confidently left the dugout and¡­


    -Smack!


    ¡°He actually hit it¡­¡± To everyone¡¯s surprise, he hit the first pitch and sent it just over the second baseman¡¯s reach, making it safely to first base.


    The second batter, Ji Chanwoo, followed¡­


    -Smack!


    ¡­with a clean infield hit.


    Did everyone suddenly level up just to put Daesangogo in its ce?


    The concentration was intense.


    The next batter, Lee Taehyung¡­


    ¡°Ball four! Walk!¡±


    ¡­managed to get a walk as the pitcher seemed to start losing his cool.


    ¡­If I hit it now, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll recover.


    The entire Dongshin team must already be shaken by Seungtae¡¯s surprise appearance. A grand m in the first inning? Only someone with a mental fortitude like Jin Taehyun could withstand that.


    As I walked up to the batter¡¯s box, I suddenly heard¡­


    -Waaaaah!! -Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!


    The unexpected cheers from the crowd made meugh.


    How much must they have been holding in to cheer for me, the one who crushed Cheongshingo¡¯s hopes of winning?


    With this much support¡­


    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to hit a home run.¡±


    Ah, I said it out loud again.


    This bad habit from my major league days always seems toe out when I step into the batter¡¯s box.


    Well, it¡¯s a good thing the catcher didn¡¯t seem to care.


    No, rather than not caring¡­ he probably couldn¡¯t. His mind must be so overloaded it¡¯s about to explode.


    Bases loaded in the first inning with the cleanup hitter at bat.


    Should they walk me¡­ or pitch to me¡­


    Let them think about it as much as they want.


    I took my stance and stared at the pitcher.


    The windup began, and as the pitcher rotated his arm, I caught a slight tremor in his fingertips.


    The fingers meant to brush against the ball were shaky. Instead of brushing, they¡­ slipped.


    This kind of pitch is usually called¡­


    -Smaaack!!!!


    ¡­a mistake.


    The moment I swung the bat wide, the moment I felt the ball connect with the bat¡­


    -Waaaaaah!!!!!!


    A loud crack reverberated through the stadium, and thunderous cheers filled my ears.


    Watching the ball sail far into the sky, I tossed my bat as soon as it cleared the fence.


    -Waaaaaaah!!


    The explosive cheers surged through the stadium once more.


    ¡°You¡¯re watching, right?¡±


    I smiled toward the stands, thinking of Ms. Miyeon watching over me, as I rounded the bases.


    ¡ª


    The semifinal match against Dongshin ended more easily than expected.


    It made sense, given that Seungtae¡¯s return was phenomenal. He pitched aplete game shutout, something rarely seen since the pitch count limit was implemented, allowing only two hits.


    Despite that, the MVP was¡­


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Wow, this is absolutely incredible! A grand m in the first at-bat, a two-run homer in the second! And wait, everyone, don¡¯t be shocked! He hit a solo homer in his third at-bat! Is this even real?¡±


    ©¸ Damn, is this guy on steroids or something?


    ©¸ Hey, stop with the ¡®steroids¡¯ talk.


    ©¸ Honestly, it¡¯s starting to look like doping.


    ©¸ What doping in high school baseball, are you out of your mind?


    ©¸ But still, this is just ridiculous, lol.


    ©¸ Did you see Sweet Taehyun¡¯s smile after that grand m? It was so heartwarming!


    ©¸ I usually hate fangirls, but Sweet Taehyun was legit today. I¡¯m a guy, but I swooned, lol.


    ©¸ What do you mean ¡®I¡¯m a guy¡¯? That¡¯s gross, get out.


    ¡°Haha¡­ The viewers are also sending in their enthusiastic responses! Now, we have to ask Cha Taehyun about the finals, right? Cha Taehyun? Are you confident about the finals?¡±


    As soon as he heard the announcer¡¯s question, Cha Taehyun¡¯s lips curled into a smirk.


    Noticing this, the announcer excitedly pressed further.


    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of that smile? Is it that you¡¯re not nervous at all about the finals?¡±


    The announcer had expected a typical rookie¡¯s bravado, but he froze at Cha Taehyun¡¯s reply.


    ¡°Nervous? I am looking forward to the next game. Did you all see Daesangogo¡¯s interview? They crossed the line¡­ I think it¡¯s time to make them realize their ce.¡±


    ©¸ Wow, it¡¯s over, Taehyun is pissed off, lol.


    ©¸ I¡¯ve never seen Cha Taehyun this mad before, lol.


    ©¸ People who know Taehyun¡¯s personality must be shocked, lol.


    ©¸ Honestly, Daesangogo really did cross the line.


    ©¸ Agreed.


    ©¸ Agreed.


    The announcer, who finally regained hisposure, reached out to take the microphone from Cha Taehyun, but he pulled it back and spoke again.


    ¡°Kim Sinhwa, or whatever his name is? I have something to say to you right now.¡±


    ¡®Uh¡­ uh?¡¯


    Sensing that this interview might damage high school baseball¡¯s image, the experienced announcer prepared for the worst.


    ¡°When I step up to the te, you better walk me.¡±


    ¡°Unless you want to be remembered as the team that helped me set a new record.¡±


    The announcer, who felt his mental state crumbling,tched onto the keyword ¡°record¡± to regain his focus.


    ¡®Alright¡­ if this is how it¡¯s going to be, let¡¯s make it big!¡¯


    ¡°Wow! Are you referring to the world record of five consecutive home runs?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s five at-bats, then yeah, five consecutive homers¡­ If it¡¯s six, then six consecutive homers. Basically, I¡¯m telling Daesangogo to prepare to find their ce.¡±


    ©¸ Lolololololol


    ©¸ Taehyun: If you don¡¯t walk me, I¡¯ll hit a home run.


    ©¸ This is when Taehyun teaches them a lesson with his bat, lol.


    ©¸ I can¡¯t believe a yer like this ising to Phoenix; I¡¯m so happy!


    ©¸ Agreed, Taehyun is the legend Phoenix needed.


    ©¸ ?


    ¡ª


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s interview caused quite a stir, both good and bad.


    Cheongshingo fans, thrilled by his words, began spreading the interview video everywhere.


    Initially, the association, worried that this would harm the carefully built image of high school baseball, eventually decided to embrace the hype and started releasing special videos to promote the event.


    As a result¡­


    ¡°Hey! Cha Taehyun, you¡¯re on TV!¡±


    Cha Taehyun, who was texting at the lodging, snapped his head around.


    ¡°What nonsense¡­ Wait, why am I really on TV?¡±


    ¡°Wow, look at you, a star already!¡±


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s interview even made it to the news.


    He could understand why his interview was gaining traction, but when Kim Hosan, a national star in Major League Baseball, appeared right after, even Cha Taehyun couldn¡¯t hide his confusion.


    ¨C ¡°Recently, I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on a yer who gave a fiery interview. Yes, I¡¯m talking about Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¨C ¡°If you¡¯re keeping an eye on him, does that mean Cha Taehyun is a yer with that much skill?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Yes. Well¡­ anyone who follows high school baseball probably already knows this, but for those who don¡¯t¡­ I can confidently say he¡¯s a yer who will definitely go to the majors.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is this guy serious?¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡ª


    The day of the highly anticipated Blue Dragon finals, fueled by my interview, had arrived.


    I boarded the bus heading to the stadium after packing my gear when my phone vibrated.


    [Little Sis: (Photo)]


    It was an unusual text from Jihyun. She had sent a picture of a four-leaf clover.


    [I found it on the road. Looks like a good omen for your finals, Oppa.]


    The warmth in her message made me smile without resistance.


    Then, I noticed something odd in the photo. The background was grass, and there was a bit of dirt on her hand¡­


    ¡°You didn¡¯t just find it on the road¡­¡±


    Maybe she was worried I¡¯d feel burdened if I knew she took the time to pick clovers for me.


    The thoughtfulness made my heart warm up.


    ¡°Myunghwan.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Be good to your family.¡±


    ¡°¡­What are you talking


    about all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been realizing how precious family istely.¡±


    ¡ª


    Under a cloudless blue sky, the sun baked the ground.


    The two teams, who had fought their way to im the Blue Dragon trophy, now stood facing each other.


    In what had be a tradition, the handshake ceremony began, and the one shaking hands with Cha Taehyun was, of course, Kim Sinhwa.


    ¡°I saw your interview.¡±


    Kim Sinhwa spoke with a stoic expression.


    Cha Taehyun responded just as calmly.


    ¡°I saw yours too.¡±


    For a split second, Kim Sinhwa¡¯s lip twitched.


    Cha Taehyun didn¡¯t miss it.


    ¡°Must be tough pretending to be cool, huh?¡±


    ¡°¡­You, on the other hand, must feel a lot of pressure¡­ with that outrageous im you made.¡±


    ¡°Did you think it was an outrageous im? Just something I said in the heat of the moment?¡±


    Before Kim Sinhwa could respond, the handshake ceremony was called to an end.


    Though Cha Taehyun didn¡¯t get to hear his final words, he had a good idea of what he was going to say.


    ¡®He¡¯s wondering if I meant what I said¡­¡¯


    No, it wasn¡¯t something I said out of anger.


    Today, you¡¯re in for a real lesson.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 28

    ¡°There are so many people here at the stadium today. I can¡¯t remember thest time I saw a Blue Dragon Tournament final this packed with spectators. It¡¯s probably thanks to those fiery interviews from Kim Sinhwa and Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s quite an unprecedented level of poprity. And, get this, there are even Major League scouts in attendance today. Apparently, Kim Hosan has been actively promoting Cha Taehyun. It¡¯s going to be interesting to see how Cha Taehyun performs today.¡±


    ¡°While Cha Taehyun is certainly a focal point, I was quite surprised to see that today¡¯s starting pitcher for Hyuksan High School is Kim Changhyun. I think most people were expecting Lee Seungtae, weren¡¯t they?¡±


    ©¸ Kim Changhyun???


    ©¸ Where¡¯s our Phoenix¡¯s ace, Seungtae?


    ©¸ Sir, Lee Seungtae pitched in thest semi-finals. If you use him again now¡­


    ©¸ But is it really Kim Changhyun?


    ©¸ Did the coach throw the game?


    ¡°Haha¡­ It seems our viewers are equally confused. It¡¯ll be interesting to see if Kim Changhyun can prove himself amidst all this doubt today.¡± ¡ª


    The diamond-shaped field.


    The circr mound in the center.


    The eternal battleground of pitchers.


    The mound.


    Kim Changhyun stepped onto it.


    He turned his head, scanning the entire stadium. It was filled with a crowd far beyond what you¡¯d expect for a high school baseball game.


    He knew that most of those eyes were filled with doubt, not trust.


    In fact, he wondered if maybe all of them were filled with suspicion.


    Yet, Kim Changhyun simply smirked.


    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if everyone doubts me.¡¯


    The practice he had begged his junior to help him with.


    His teammates who believed in him all this time.


    And the endless sweat he had shed.


    Even if everyone doubted him, Kim Changhyun believed in himself.


    He asked the catcher in front of him, ¡°Do you believe I¡¯ll shut them down today?¡±


    Ji Chanwoo chuckled and patted his chest.


    ¡°Who else would the catcher trust if not the pitcher, you idiot?¡±


    Nodding, Kim Changhyun muttered quietly, ¡°Then it¡¯s a perfect game today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s make it happen!¡±


    Thus, the Blue Dragon final began.


    ¡ª


    ¡®I hear Daesangogo is known for their offense¡­¡¯


    None of Daesangogo¡¯s batters had an average below .300. Essentially, there was no clear division between their upper and lower batting orders.


    This was the most difficult type of lineup for any pitcher to face.


    But Kim Changhyun wasn¡¯t concerned about that.


    ¡®A pitcher who throws ording to the situation isn¡¯t a real pitcher¡­¡¯


    It didn¡¯t matter if the opponent had a .300 average, a .400 average, or if it was someone like Cha Taehyun who hit home runs without fail.


    To be called an ace, you had to get the outs.


    That had been Kim Changhyun¡¯s long-held belief.


    A Daesangogo batter stepped into the box, his expression calm with not a hint of tension. He even seemed to be smirking slightly.


    Seeing that, Kim Changhyun¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile.


    No words had been exchanged, but he already knew.


    The batter was underestimating him.


    He had heard it before, back during the handshake ceremony.


    ¡®If it¡¯s not Lee Seungtae, it¡¯ll be a breeze,¡¯ they had said.


    Slowly raising his knee, Kim Changhyun muttered as he began his pitching motion.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching Cha Taehyun so much¡­¡±


    Taking a powerful stride and rotating his right arm smoothly,


    ¡°¡­seeing you guys is underwhelming!¡±


    The ball left his hand.


    As it flew towards the batter¡­


    ¡®¡­Huh?¡¯


    The batter¡¯s face showed signs of surprise.


    -Thwack!


    By the time the ball hit the mitt, the batter had frozen in ce.


    A fastball right on the inside corner.


    The scoreboard disyed 153 km/h.


    Receiving the ball again, Kim Changhyun chuckled at the sign Ji Chanwoo shed.


    It was the same fastball, aimed at the exact same spot as before.


    A bit risky¡­ but he didn¡¯t mind.


    The ball flew to the exact same location as the first pitch.


    -Thwack!


    Once again, the batter couldn¡¯t even lift his bat.


    ¡®You can¡¯t get startled by just this.¡¯


    Grinning at the dumbfounded batter, Kim Changhyun spread his index and middle fingers and gripped the ball.


    -Can you throw a forkball, Changhyun?


    -I know how, but I don¡¯t use it often.


    -Maybe you should start. You¡¯ve got perfect hands for a forkball¡­


    Of course, even when he threw a forkball during practice, Cha Taehyun managed to hit it without fail¡­


    ¡®But it¡¯s more than enough for these guys.¡¯


    The ball left Kim Changhyun¡¯s hand, drifting towards the batter.


    It was an enticing lure, and the batter, thinking it had finally arrived, opened his mouth wide to take the bait.


    -Whoosh


    As the bat swung out to hit the ball, the forkball dipped sharply, hitting the ground and sending dirt flying. Ji Chanwoo quickly crouched to scoop it up.


    When the ball touches the ground, it¡¯s considered a ¡°strike not out.¡± If the batter reaches first base before the throw arrives, it counts as a hit.


    ¡°Not running?¡±


    But it didn¡¯t matter, since the catcher had already made a clean grab.


    Ji Chanwoo casually tapped the batter with his glove, and the umpire called, ¡°Out!¡±


    The second batter followed suit.


    Two fastballs raised the count, and a forkball finished him off.


    Then came the third batter.


    ¡®I need to be careful with this one¡­¡¯


    He was known for his excellent contact and sharp eye, making it difficult to limit his pitch count.


    ncing at Cha Taehyun briefly, Kim Changhyun gripped the ball for a two-seam fastball.


    He nned to let Cha Taehyun take care of it if the batter made contact.


    And as if reading his intention, the batter swung at the two-seamer.


    -Smack!


    A solid hit flew towards the gap between third and shortstop. It was a fast grounder, and the batter smirked, already expecting a hit as he sprinted.


    But oddly enough, Kim Changhyun was smiling too.


    ¡®¡­Why is he smiling?¡¯


    Just as the batter nced back at the pitcher in confusion, something flew in from behind.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°What the¡­?¡±


    Cha Taehyun, diving for the ball, caught it cleanly and raised his glove.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    Laughing at the now-frozen batter, Kim Changhyun shouted.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Whoa!! Can you believe this? That was an unbelievable catch! I think ¡®flying¡¯ is the perfect word here. Let¡¯s watch it again! This moment right here, flying like a bee and catching it like a butterfly! What a beautiful y!¡±


    ©¸ Lol, is he using some kind of martial arts?


    ©¸ Taehyun General using teleportation, lol.


    ©¸ Honestly, just with his defense, he could be Phoenix¡¯s main shortstop, lol.


    ©¸ Even without defense, his charisma alone makes him the starting yer, haha.


    ©¸ What kind of shortstop does Phoenix even have?


    ©¸ Don¡¯t ask¡­


    ©¸ But seriously, what¡¯s up with Kim Changhyun¡¯s pitching? It¡¯s amazing.


    ©¸ How about Kim Changhyun joining our Daejeon Volcanoes?


    ©¸ Volcanoes switching to Kim Changhyun since they can¡¯t get Lee Seungtae, lol.


    ©¸ Isn¡¯t Kim Sinhwa supposed to be better than Kim Changhyun? How good is he?


    ©¸ No, high school baseball¡¯s just crazy right now¡­ Beyond a golden generation¡­


    ©¸ Truly a crazy golden generation.


    ¡ª


    Retired pitchers often share stories about that one game in their life where they pitched beyond their usual abilities.


    Every pitcher has a day when they throw an incredible game that they¡¯ll remember for life.


    From my experience, today seems to be that day for Changhyun.


    I can¡¯t say for sure if he¡¯s better than Seungtae, but right now, I can confidently say that no one is missing Seungtae.


    ¡°Changhyun did a great job shutting them down¡­ Now, let¡¯s see how good that trash-talking Kim Sinhwa really is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Sinhwa, not Shihwan.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan, who was about to leave the dugout with his bat, corrected me.


    ¡°Does it matter? You understood, didn¡¯t you? Anyway, don¡¯t get struck out and at least try to make him throw some pitches.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m hitting a homer on the first pitch.¡±


    Striding confidently to the te, Myunghwan watched Kim Sinhwa wind up for the first


    pitch.


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    ¡°Not as bad as his trash-talking, but he¡¯s not bad.¡±


    A fastball right on the outer corner. Myunghwan, one of the best in high school baseball for contact, couldn¡¯t even touch it.


    The speed disyed on the scoreboard was 155 km/h.


    Honestly, maybe my standards are just too high, but by regr high school baseball standards, he¡¯s definitely top-tier.


    Throwing over 150 km/h in high school isn¡¯tmon.


    No wonder they¡¯re talking about this as a golden generation.


    As the second pitch came, I smirked.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    Same spot, same fastball. Is he trying to match Changhyun?


    Anyway, it looks like Myunghwan won¡¯t even be getting a hit, let alone a home run.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    As expected, Myunghwan struck out cleanly in three pitches.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to hit a home run on the first pitch?¡±


    ¡°I thought only his mouth was annoying, but damn, that ball¡¯s annoying too.¡±


    ¡°How can a ball be annoying?¡±


    ¡°I mean it¡¯s nasty. Can¡¯t you understand that?¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡­¡±


    I was at a loss for words. I never thought I¡¯d hear that from Myunghwan.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Chanwoo will have an easy time with him either.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s Chanwoo, you never know.¡±


    Chanwoo wasn¡¯t wearing the number two just for show. He was known as the best-hitting catcher.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    ¡°He struck out too?¡±


    Myunghwan asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Yeah, his pitches are pretty nasty. Hitting him in the first at-bat looks tough.¡±


    As I picked up my bat and started to leave the dugout, Myunghwan asked.


    ¡°Do you think you won¡¯t be able to hit him on your first at-bat either?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Ugh, so annoying. But¡­ since it¡¯s you, I think you will.¡±


    I chuckled at his backhanded encouragement as I walked out.


    While practicing my swing, I watched Taehyung at the te.


    Even if he¡¯s overshadowed by me and Jinho, Taehyung is still one of the top sluggers in high school baseball.


    He won¡¯t go down so easily.


    -Smack!


    Much to my surprise, he barely managed to hit a weak grounder toward the shortstop.


    The shortstop should have no trouble handling that¡­


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Suddenly, the ball bounced awkwardly and slipped past the shortstop¡¯s glove. He quickly picked it up and threw to first, but¡­


    ¡°Safe!¡±


    Since Taehyung had been sprinting from the moment he made contact, he was already hugging the base.


    -Whooaa!!!


    -Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!


    Just walking to the te, I was met with cheers like I¡¯d already hit a home run.


    It was a shame I couldn¡¯t hear Miyeon¡¯s voice amidst the noise, but¡­ this wasn¡¯t a bad feeling either.


    Standing at the te, I red at Kim Sinhwa. Sensing my gaze, he smirked.


    ¡­Myunghwan was right. He¡¯s really annoying.


    Just as I gripped the bat lower,


    ¡°Oh, look who¡¯s here to make history!¡±


    A mocking voice called out from behind.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t walk me, that is.¡±


    I heard a scoffing chuckle, but I ignored it and got into my stance.


    If he underestimated me, that was to my advantage.


    Despite having Taehyung on first base, Kim Sinhwa clearly knew he wasn¡¯t a fast runner. He took a big windup and threw the first pitch.


    A sharp curve broke towards the te, looking as if it was going to dip below my bat.


    Most hitters would be tempted to swing here, only to cut through empty air.


    But I¡¯m not just any hitter.


    Plus, the ball was only half a ball width outside my strike zone, well within my range.


    -Crack!


    With a slight flick of my wrist, I adjusted my swing and made perfect contact.


    The ball soared high into the sky.


    The Daesangogo catcher, who had been sneering moments ago, threw off his mask in a panic and jumped to his feet.


    The center fielder chased after the ball with his head tilted back, crashing into the wall in a desperate attempt to catch it.


    But the ball kept flying.


    -Woooaaahhhh!!!!!!


    As the crowd erupted into deafening cheers, I casually tossed my bat.


    ¡°I told you, don¡¯t pitch to me if you don¡¯t want to get hit.¡±


    Leaving a stunned catcher in my wake, I began a slow trot.


    -Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!


    The spectators along the first base line chanted my name wildly, and I turned to them, raising a single finger in the air.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Ohhhh! He did it again! Cha Taehyun with that uppercut swing! Every time I see it, it leaves me speechless! The Major League scouts must be shaking their heads in disbelief! What an incredible swing!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Just now, Cha Taehyun held up a single finger to the crowd. Could that mean it¡¯s his first home run? Will he hold up two fingers for his next at-bat?¡±


    ©¸ Lol, Kim Sinhwa talked all that trash, only to give up a home run on the first pitch.


    ©¸ How many fingers is he going to raise today, I wonder, haha.


    ©¸ I worship you, g.o.a.t¡­


    ©¸ Kinda sad we don¡¯t get to see sweet Taehyun today.


    ©¸ But honestly, Kim Sinhwa has a right to be pissed. That pitch was a ball¡­


    ©¸ Not in Taehyun¡¯s strike zone, lol.


    ©¸ Right? Does he not know? Didn¡¯t they analyze him? Haha.


    ©¸ But seriously, I think Phoenix¡¯s championship is within sight.


    ©¸ Agreed. Lee Seungtae + Cha Taehyun = championship.


    ©¸ Finally, the Huangnix dynasty is being built¡­


    ©¸ Here we go with the crowning talk again, lol.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 29

    ¡°Hey, Rick¡­ I told you! Damn it, we should have definitely spoken to Cha Taehyun thest time! Look at the expression on that New York Mets scout¡¯s face; those eyes arepletely out of it already!¡±


    ¡°I agree with you, Jake. That beautiful curveball from Kim Sinhwa was impressive, but Cha Taehyun¡¯s perfect hit was simply gorgeous¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ So why didn¡¯t you approach him when we first found him? We¡¯re going to lose Cha Taehyun to another team at this rate!¡±


    Rick looked wistful for a moment before replying.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say it at the time, but¡­ that boy was walking, holding hands with a girl, looking so happy. I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to interfere with his love.¡±


    Jake snorted and grumbled.


    ¡°What a romantic you are¡­ Anyway, we must get Cha Taehyun today, understood?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ that is, if she¡¯s not by his side.¡±


    ¡°Damn it¡­ I hope she¡¯s not around today so your madness won¡¯t re up¡­¡± Contrary to Jake¡¯s hopes, she, Lee Miyeon, was indeed nearby.


    ¡®So now even the Major League scouts are here.¡¯


    Lee Miyeon nced at the foreign-looking scouts and smiled.


    Watching Cha Taehyun perform well was enjoyable, but seeing him being recognized brought her even greater joy.


    However, a thought crossed her mind, and her smile faded.


    ¡°Will Taehyun go to the majors¡­?¡±


    Cha Taehyun had once said he would go to the Phoenix team, but it wasn¡¯t certain if he truly meant it. Moreover, with his exceptional skills, it would be strange if he didn¡¯t go¡­


    Supporting his future was the right thing to do, but¡­


    ¡®If he goes to America, I won¡¯t be able to see him much¡­¡¯


    These thoughts were inevitable.


    After all, what¡¯s the problem with not being able to see him? She and Cha Taehyun didn¡¯t have any special rtionship.


    They were just teacher and student.


    That was all their rtionship was.


    So why did the thought of not seeing him as often make her chest ache?


    -p!


    Lee Miyeon pped both her cheeks with her hands to clear her head, then forced herself to look at the field.


    But still¡­ the lump in her chest wouldn¡¯t go away.


    ¡ª


    The catcher of Daesangogo rushed up to the mound to check on Kim Sinhwa¡¯s face.


    He looked furious after giving up a home run, but that was better than him being mentally out of it.


    ¡°You okay?¡±


    Tsk. Kim Sinhwa clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. I threw a bad pitch. The ball didn¡¯t spin right.¡±


    ¡®¡­It seemed like a perfect pitch to me, though.¡¯


    In the catcher¡¯s opinion, it was the cleanest curveball Kim Sinhwa had thrown so far, but he nodded cautiously.


    ¡°Right. Everyone makes a bad pitch now and then. We¡¯re only down by two runs, so don¡¯t let it get to you. Anyway, their pitcher is no big deal. We¡¯ll get our hits! And as for Cha Taehyun¡­¡±


    Kim Sinhwa cut him off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to walk him.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t tell me to y it safe.¡±


    ¡®¡­Ah, this stubborn kid¡­¡¯


    The catcher barely swallowed his sigh, handed the ball back, and returned to home te.


    Cha Taehyun might be on another level, but today, Kim Sinhwa¡¯s pitching wasn¡¯t bad.


    ¡®As long as it¡¯s not Cha Taehyun¡­ we should be fine.¡¯


    The catcher signaled for a fastball and moved his mitt inside.


    ¡°Hey, Daesangogo.¡±


    The fifth batter, Lee Jiho, spoke up.


    The catcher pretended not to hear him.


    He had already tried some mind games with Cha Taehyun and paid dearly for it, so it was better to keep his mouth shut.


    Kim Sinhwa wound up and threw the pitch, and as Lee Jiho prepared to swing, he spoke.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to run your mouth¡­ make sure you pick the right target.¡±


    -Crack!


    The huge impact sent chills down the catcher¡¯s spine.


    Throwing off his mask, he looked up to see the ball sailing over the fence.


    ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake¡­¡±


    Finally, letting out a sigh, the catcher hung his head.


    ¡ª


    Even after giving up back-to-back home runs, Kim Sinhwa didn¡¯t waver. He swiftly took care of the bottom of the lineup.


    Still, Daesangogo¡¯s dugout felt like apletely different cepared to before the game.


    And understandably so. They had thought it would be an easy win with Lee Seungtae not pitching, only for the top of their lineup to go down in order. Then, the confident Kim Sinhwa got smashed in the first inning¡­


    ¡®¡­This isn¡¯t good.¡¯


    The most stunned person was the coach.


    He had expected this tournament to be Daesangogo¡¯s path to reiming their honor. Their aces had fully recovered from injuries, and many yers, including Kim Sinhwa, had shown significant improvement.


    Yet, here they were in the second inning, with the coach doubting their chances of winning.


    ¡®Hyeongyu is our only hope¡­¡¯


    Moon Hyeongyu, the cleanup hitter, stepped up to the te.


    He was a solid batter. Being the fourth hitter for Daesangogo, known as an offensive powerhouse, was no small feat.


    Only now, monstrous yers like Jin Taehyun, Cha Taehyun, and Lee Jiho had emerged.


    Moon Hyeongyu took a deep breath and readied himself.


    ¡®It¡¯s not Seungtae¡­ I can do this.¡¯


    While this confidence might have seemed arrogant, it was justified for Moon Hyeongyu.


    Despite being the cleanup hitter, he had never forgotten the day he was struck out without touching Lee Seungtae¡¯s pitches.


    He used that humiliation to fuel his relentless effort and believed his skills had surpassed what they once were.


    Thus, it was natural for him to slightly underestimate Kim Changhyun.


    However¡­


    There was one thing Moon Hyeongyu didn¡¯t know.


    If he had worked himself to the bone over the past year¡­


    -Thwack!


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    ¡­Kim Changhyun had worked himself to the point of coughing up blood.


    [153 km/h]


    ¡®¡­It¡¯s fast.¡¯N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Watching the first pitch, Moon Hyeongyu understood why the earlier batters had fallen so easily.


    But understanding it didn¡¯t mean he would go down the same way.


    He had trained to face fastballs by dueling countless times with Kim Sinhwa, and his pitching machine was always set to over 150 km/h.


    If it was Seungtae¡¯s 157 km/h, maybe¡­


    ¡®This much, I can handle!¡¯


    -Whoosh.


    He was sure he had hit it in his mind, but his bat swung through nothing.


    ¡®What¡­?¡¯


    Before he knew it, the ball was already in the mitt.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    It was now two strikes, an extremely disadvantageous count.


    ¡®Is he going to throw a ball now? ¡­He finished earlier with two fastballs followed by a forkball¡­ There¡¯s no way he¡¯d throw another forkball, right?¡¯


    As Moon Hyeongyu¡¯s thoughts grewplicated, Kim Changhyun wound up for the pitch.


    The throwing motion waspletely different, and the ball was much slower.


    He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what kind of breaking ball it was, but judging by the pattern so far¡­


    A forkball on two strikes? That¡¯s way too disrespectful.


    He must have thought that¡­ He must have known it was a trap to lure him¡­


    Yet, when the ball came flying toward him, Moon Hyeongyu found himself swinging his bat.


    -Whoosh.


    The bat sliced through thin air again as the umpire called out.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡±


    So this is what they mean when they say you can¡¯t help but swing even when you know.


    Feeling a strange sense of shock, Moon Hyeongyu shook his head as he left the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°¡­The Daesangogo cleanup hitter looks shaken.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s understandable. His pitches are quite heavy for their speed; I bet the spin rate is incredibly high. That batter probably doesn¡¯t even know why he couldn¡¯t hit the ball.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, his pitches definitely have some lift. But that forkball he¡¯s using as the finisher¡­ it¡¯s top-notch. I wonder if he has any other pitches?¡±


    Jake smirked as he continued.


    ¡°Well¡­ Kim Changhyun is worth considering too, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    The fifth batter walked to the te, yfully patting Moon Hyeongyu on the shoulder.


    ¡°A strikeout? Come on, man. He¡¯s not even Seungtae; that¡¯s embarrassing.¡±


    It was meant as a joke, but Moon Hyeongyu responded with a hollowugh.


    ¡°That guy¡­ He¡¯s on another level. He¡¯s pitching like he¡¯s possessed¡­ Seungtae¡¯s no different.¡±


    ¡°Haha! Don¡¯t talk so big just because you¡¯re embarrassed. I¡¯ll show you how it¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah, go ahead and show me.¡±


    The fifth batter walked to the te with bravado, unable to hide his grin.


    ¡®What¡¯s this talk about pitching like he¡¯s possessed? His speed is lower than Sinhwa¡¯s.¡¯


    That confidence stayed with him as the first pitch came. No, itsted even as he swung at the first pitch.


    Right up until the moment he made contact.


    ¡®Why can¡¯t they hit something like this¡­?¡¯


    -Pop.


    He hit it. It wasn¡¯t that the ball missed the bat entirely.


    But the timing was way off, and the ball skidded off the bat awkwardly, popping up weakly.


    The batter¡¯s gaze followed the ball¡¯s arc until he locked eyes with Kim Changhyun, standing at its final destination.


    In that instant, Kim Changhyun grinned as he casually extended his glove.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    The ball nestled inside the glove.


    Now the fifth batter understood the meaning behind Moon Hyeongyu¡¯s hollowughter. Smiling himself, he left the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°Haha¡­ We¡¯re in big trouble. Can we even score today¡­?¡±


    He muttered to himself, his thoughts shifting.


    Could they even get a hit?


    It didn¡¯t take long for the answer.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    The sixth batter was struck out as well.


    ¡°It¡¯s another strikeout! That¡¯s already three strikeouts for Kim Changhyun, who hasn¡¯t allowed a single runner through the second inning! He¡¯s proving himself!¡±


    ©¸ What is this? Is Daesangogo just trash, or is Kim Changhyun really that good?


    ©¸ Can¡¯t you tell from the pitches? Look how heavy those fastballs are. They have so much lift, haha.


    ©¸ Throwing two of those cheat fastballs for strikes and then finishing with a sinker. Total savage, haha.


    ©¸ Hmm¡­ Can¡¯t we just bring both Seungtae and Changhyun to the Phoenix?


    ©¸ Where¡¯s your conscience?


    ©¸ Kim Changhyun belongs to our Daejeon Volcanoes. Other teams, please refrain from mentioning him ^^.


    ¡ª


    Shin Hayoon loved baseball as a lifelong Phoenix fan.


    So when her family suggested a trip to Seoul and then, out of nowhere, decided to watch the Blue Dragon Finals, she had no reason to say no.


    However, sitting in the crowd at the Blue Dragon Finals, her lips stuck out in a pout.


    ¡°Hayoon, isn¡¯t it exciting to watch the Blue Dragon tournament in person?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not even a Phoenix game¡­ What¡¯s so exciting about it? I wanted to go to the department store. Why are we at the Blue Dragon Finals¡­?¡±


    ¡°What does it matter? There are two Phoenix yers here; it¡¯s practically a Phoenix game!¡±


    ¡°Where are you getting this ¡®Phoenix yers¡¯ nonsense?¡±


    Her mom giggled and pointed to the dugout of Hyuksan.


    ¡°Seungtae isn¡¯t ying today, but he¡¯s probably in there¡­ Oh, look! Hayoon, look! Our Phoenix yer ising out!¡±


    Sighing at her mother¡¯s sudden enthusiasm, Hayoon flinched as cheers erupted.


    -Whoooaaa!


    -Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!


    The reason Shin Hayoon was ufortable watching the Blue Dragon Finals.


    Cha Taehyun, the culprit, was walking to the te.


    ¡°Taehyun oppa~!!¡±


    ¡°Our ace! Hit another one!¡±


    ¡°Our son-inw! Set a new record~!¡±


    ¡°Hey! Who said he¡¯s our son-inw?!¡±


    Shin Hayoon yelled out, prompting her family to burst intoughter.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was bothered by her family teasing her over this game.


    Well, that was certainly part of it¡­


    ncing at Cha Taehyun¡¯s face, Shin Hayoon¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Every time she saw that face, she was reminded of his tearful interview, and it made her chest feel tight.


    That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t like it¡­


    ¡°Hayoon? Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Bathroom.¡±


    In truth, she didn¡¯t really need to use the bathroom. She just felt ufortable watching his at-bat.


    She walked off, heading toward the restroom.


    -Taehyun-ah!!!


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    A voice she had heard before made Shin Hayoon stop in her tracks.


    Following the sound, she turned her head and tilted it slightly.


    ¡°Teacher¡­?¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 30

    ¡®That¡¯s the teacher, right¡­?¡¯


    Shin Hayoon doubted her eyes for a moment, but no matter how many times she checked, it was indeed her homeroom teacher, Lee Miyeon.


    Cautiously approaching, Shin Hayoon tapped Lee Miyeon on the back.


    ¡°You¡¯re the teacher, right?¡±


    Lee Miyeon, her lips trembling slightly, looked away.


    ¡°Huh¡­? What are you talking about¡­? I¡¯m¡­ not a teacher.¡±


    ¡°Come on, teacher, that¡¯s not fair.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ sorry.¡±


    ¡°Did youe to cheer for Cha Taehyun?¡± Lee Miyeon shook her head vigorously.


    ¡°N-no! I-I just came to watch the baseball game, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°But you were jumping around earlier, shouting ¡®Taehyun-ah~.¡¯¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    As Lee Miyeon frozepletely, Shin Hayoon tried to smooth things over.


    ¡°Um¡­ are you a Phoenix fan too, teacher?¡±


    ¡°Huh? How did you know?¡±


    ¡°Well, my parents were making a big fuss about it too. They came all the way to Seoul to watch Cha Taehyun y since he¡¯s joining the Phoenix¡­ I thought they were the only ones, but maybe you¡¯re the same.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Yes! That¡¯s it! I¡¯ve be a fan of Taehyun too! He¡¯s going to be the future ace of the Phoenix!¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m a Phoenix fan too, so I understand. But¡­ shouldn¡¯t you be a bit more careful? I mean, it¡¯s Seoul, so it¡¯s probably fine¡­ but it might look strange if someone you know sees you¡­¡±


    Though it was just for a moment, even Shin Hayoon had her own ¡®strange thoughts,¡¯ so being cautious seemed appropriate.


    ¡°Shouting ¡®Taehyun-ah~¡¯ sounds a bit too affectionate, don¡¯t you think? Maybe stick to something like ¡®Cha Taehyun!¡¯¡±


    At the yful mention of ¡®affection,¡¯ Lee Miyeon shuddered for a moment before nodding repeatedly.


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±


    Puzzled by Lee Miyeon¡¯s sudden change of expression, Shin Hayoon turned to leave.


    ¡°Anyway, enjoy the game, teacher. I¡¯m going now.¡±


    ¡°Okay, see you next week, Hayoon!¡±


    As she stepped out of the exit.


    -Woooaaahhh!!


    A loud cheer erupted. Turning her head, she saw people standing up, chanting Cha Taehyun¡¯s name. He must have hit another home run.


    ¡°He¡¯s really good¡­ was that his second consecutive home run? Maybe he really will break a record¡­¡±


    Just as she was marveling at Cha Taehyun¡¯s skill, her teacher¡¯s voice rang out.


    -¡°Taehyun-ah!!¡±


    ¡°I told her not to shout ¡®Taehyun-ah~¡¯¡­ Is there really something between them¡­?¡±


    Resting her chin in her hand, Shin Hayoon shook her head.


    ¡®No way¡­ the teacher is too diligent for that.¡¯


    ¡ª


    Before they knew it, it was the bottom of the sixth inning, and the score was still 4-0, with Daesangogo trailing.


    ¡®This situation is really bad.¡¯


    It was one thing to not have scored by the sixth inning, but they hadn¡¯t even managed to get a single runner on base. Forget about Cha Taehyun¡¯s record, they were on the verge of giving up a perfect game in the Blue Dragon Finals.


    ¡°Sigh¡­ We have to hold them off until we can get to their bullpen¡­¡±


    Daesangogo¡¯s catcher grumbled as he took his ce behind home te. The moment he put on his mask, he heard another round of cheers, followed by a sigh.


    ¡®Is it already that guy¡¯s turn again?¡¯


    It felt like it had just been a moment since Cha Taehyun¡¯s second consecutive home run, and now he was up for his third at-bat.


    That annoying guy, who got on his nerves just by being there, spoke up as soon as he stepped into the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s quiet now, huh? You sure talked a lot earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The catcher held his tongue, suppressing his anger.


    Cha Taehyun, seemingly to provoke him, yfully swung his bat above the te and asked again.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask me if I¡¯m going to set a record this time? That¡¯s kind of disappointing.¡±


    ¡®Sigh¡­ Why did I run my mouth¡­?¡¯


    Anger boiled inside him, and he wanted to hurl a curse, but since he had started it, he couldn¡¯t do that now.


    Otherwise, he¡¯d just look even more pathetic.


    He really wished he could turn back time.


    ¡®I just want to walk him¡­¡¯


    The catcher¡¯s honest thought as he signaled for an intentional walk. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Taehyun would hit the ball no matter where it was thrown.


    As expected, Kim Sinhwa rejected the sign.


    In that case, there was nothing he could do.


    Kim Sinhwa wouldn¡¯t change his mind, no matter what the coach said. Recing the pitcher? Walking Cha Taehyun meant risking getting hit by the other batters.


    ¡®Fine¡­ let¡¯s go for the hardest possible spot to hit¡­¡¯


    He ced his mitt just barely on the inside edge of the strike zone.


    It would be a difficult pitch to control, but if it worked, it¡¯d be hard to hit. If it missed, it¡¯d be a ball, avoiding the worst-case scenario of giving up another home run.


    ¡®Please¡­ let this pitchnd where I want it.¡¯


    Would his desperate prayer reach the heavens? The ball left Kim Sinhwa¡¯s fingers, heading fast and urately toward the mitt.


    ¡®Nice! Perfect control!¡¯


    A spot that was nearly impossible to hit.


    But then, as if mocking the catcher¡¯s thoughts, the bat was already swinging toward the ball.


    ¡®Even if it connects, it won¡¯t go far from this spot¡­¡¯


    -Crack!


    The terrifying sound of the hit and the ball¡¯s trajectory shooting up left the catcher¡¯s mind nk.


    There was no need to take off his mask. The ball traced a perfect arc in the air, a clear home run to anyone watching.


    ¡°Not walking me again, huh¡­ well, thanks for that.¡±


    With a sly smile, Cha Taehyun flung his bat aside and the crowd went wild once more.


    In response to the fans¡¯ cheers, he raised three fingers high as he ran the bases.


    ¡°Home run! Another home run! And yet another home run!!! Cha Taehyun has perfectly timed a 154 km/h fastball on the inside edge and sent it flying out of the park! Three consecutive home runs! I think we can start anticipating a legendary record! Viewers, do not turn off your TVs! You can¡¯t miss this historic moment!¡±


    ©¸ What¡¯s up with thementator¡¯s excitement, lol.


    ©¸ So hyped, lol.


    ©¸ But it¡¯s insane, lol. Three consecutive home runs, all on the first pitch.


    ©¸ Let¡¯s give a thumbs-up if you feel bad for Kim Sinhwa, lol.


    ©¸ Thumbs-up, lol. It¡¯s like he¡¯s just ying with a toy, hitting everything.


    ©¸ Is Kim Sinhwa quitting baseball? lol.


    ©¸ If he quits, join the Phoenix team. We¡¯ll make you the No. 3 starter at least.


    ©¸ But the fact is, Cha Taehyun is just crazy. Kim Sinhwa is actually pitching well, lol.


    ©¸ Why is that true though? lol. Besides Cha Taehyun and Lee Jiho, he hasn¡¯t given up a single hit, lol.


    ©¸ Kim Sinhwa must hate Cha Taehyun¡­


    ¡ª


    ¡°But isn¡¯t aiming for the record too much?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is. The only reason he mentioned the record was to mock Daesangogo. He can¡¯t seriously think he¡¯ll break it.¡±


    Even at first, the crowd rooting for Cha Taehyun assumed that his talk of breaking the record was just to intimidate his opponents.


    After all, what he was talking about was simply unrealistic.


    Could one batter hit home runs in five consecutive at-bats?


    ¡°Well, if a monster batter who dominates the Major League came here, maybe.¡±


    ¡°Why would a Major League monster battere here?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s impossible.¡±


    When Cha Taehyun hit his first home run in the first inning, the crowd simply shouted, ¡°As expected!¡±


    A single home run? Well, it was Cha Taehyun.


    When he hit his second consecutive home run in the fourth inning, the crowd nodded, thinking, ¡°That¡¯s Cha Taehyun for you.¡±


    Even two home runs? It was still just Cha Taehyun.


    But when he hit his third consecutive home run in the sixth inning and raised three fingers, the crowd began to wonder, ¡°Could he¡­?¡±


    And when he finally smashed his fourth consecutive home run in the seventh inning, the crowd started to hope.


    Sorry to the other yers, but the crowd no longer cared about the oue of the game.


    All those people filling the stands were focused on one thing.


    ¡®Could he really hit five consecutive home runs?¡¯


    No.


    ¡®I want to see him hit five consecutive home runs!¡¯


    By now, any doubts had long vanished.


    In the minds of the audience, they could already picture Cha Taehyun raising his entire hand after hitting his fifth consecutive home run.


    Amidst that anticipation, the bottom of the eighth inning arrived.


    The score was 7-0, with Hyuksan leading.


    Jin Myunghwan, the first batter, struck out. The second batter, Ji Chanwoo, grounded out. The third batter, Lee Taehyung, hit a single and stood on first.


    And then, it was time for the fourth batter, the one driving the crowd crazy: Cha Taehyun.


    ¡ª


    If someone had asked me what my greatest strength in baseball was during my ying days, I would always have answered, ¡°My mentality.¡±


    For a simple reason.


    I¡¯ve seen many yers crumble under pressure.


    A closer who couldn¡¯t handle the tension of a one-run game that would decide the championship.


    A batter who went up as thest hitter in a medal-deciding game, only to weakly ground out.


    All those people taught me that my strength was my mentality.


    When I think about it that way, I might be built differently from most people.


    Even though this is high school baseball,


    I¡¯m standing on the brink of a record. There are countless people in the stands with their eyes on me, hoping to see history made.


    Logically speaking, this is a moment that could shake anyone¡¯s mental fortitude.


    But to me, this moment isn¡¯t just thrilling; it¡¯s euphoric.


    I gripped my bat lower and calmed my excitement.


    I focused solely on the pitcher¡¯s fingertips, calm as a stillke.


    The pitcher wound up, gritting his teeth and twisting his upper body to hurl the ball with all his might.


    Perhaps due to the force, his cap shook and flew off as the ball shot toward me.


    In response, I swung my bat naturally, following the ball.


    When it aligned perfectly, I unleashed all the power I had been holding back.


    -CRACK!


    As the ball soared into the sky, the stadium fell silent for a brief moment.


    Then, as the ball continued to fly further, the cheers grew louder and louder.


    When the ball finally struck the back screen.


    -Boom!


    -Wooooaaahhh!!


    Golden fireworks exploded, and the crowd went wild.


    ¡°¡­They¡¯re setting off fireworks during the game?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Did they press the wrong button?


    Well, I don¡¯t mind. Teacher Miyeon loves fireworks, so it¡¯s perfect.


    Imagining her somewhere in the crowd cheering my name, I smiled, raised my fully open hand high, and ran toward the base.


    ¡ª


    Fireworks lit up the sky, cheers filled the surroundings, but Shin Hayoon¡¯s world was quiet.


    She couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away from the swing of one man.


    ¡°¡­Beautiful.¡±


    Lost in her daze, she muttered to herself.


    Others might think she was talking about the fireworks, but she hadn¡¯t even noticed them.


    From the moment Cha Taehyun stepped up to bat, and until he smashed his fifth consecutive home run.


    She had been staring at nothing but his swing.


    In her hands was a camera, zoomed in as close as possible.


    ¡°Unni! Did you get a good shot? Let me see!¡±


    Her little sister reached for the camera, but Shin Hayoon pulled it back, shaking her head.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°¡­Why are you being so stingy over a video¡­ Mom bought that camera anyway¡­¡±


    It was only then that Shin Hayoon snapped out of it.


    Why did I do that¡­?


    She couldn¡¯t understand herself. All she had to do was show it. Why was it so hard?


    And why was her heart racing like this¡­?


    It was really¡­ strange.


    ¡ª


    The bottom of the eighth inning ended. The top of the ninth, Daesangogo¡¯s final chance at bat, began with Kim Changhyun still on the mound.


    ¡°Chanwoo, how many pitches do I have left?¡±


    ¡°Fourteen left¡­ Can you do it?¡±


    Kim Changhyun grinned and replied.


    ¡°Plenty.¡±


    Ji Chanwoo chuckled and lightly punched his chest before returning to home te.


    The seventh batter stepped up, and Ji Chanwoo signaled without a call, cing his mitt in the center.


    Just throw it however you want.


    In response to this trust, Kim Changhyun, showing no decline in his pitch quality, struck out the seventh batter.


    -Strikeout!


    With eleven pitches left.


    Ignoring the numbing sensation creeping into his shoulder, Kim Changhyun threw his full power against the eighth batter.


    -Strikeout!


    Another strikeout. He clenched his fist.


    With only one out left, Kim Changhyun wound up and threw the first pitch.


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    A sigh escaped his lips.


    He lost his grip on the ball as it left his fingers, resulting in a t pitch toward the batter.


    The batter, with a burning determination to prevent a perfect game, swung his bat forcefully.


    -Crack!


    A clean hit, though it didn¡¯t travel far from Kim Changhyun.


    He quickly extended his glove.


    But it was too clean of a hit. Though he reached out, the ball sailed past before it could touch his glove.


    Ovee with regret, Kim Changhyun gritted his teeth when¡ª


    ¡°Out!¡±


    A call he hadn¡¯t expected reached his ears, and his head turned slowly.


    ¡°Nice pitching.¡±


    There stood Cha Taehyun, casually holding up the ball and giving him a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun¡­ you really¡­¡±


    Shaking his head briefly, Kim Changhyunughed brightly and shouted.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! Cha Taehyun!!¡± <hr>


    TL Note:


    So, we¡¯ve hit the big 30. I think this is an important milestone in any novel¡¯s development, and where people have really solidified their opinions about it. So, how¡¯re you feeling? If you¡¯re feeling motivated to do so an honest rating on NovelUpdates wouldn¡¯t go amiss, but if not ament down below with your thoughts would also be nice (though I suspect it¡¯d probably be easier to leave a rating in stars on NU then to make a whole new ount here lmao. But, if you feel so inclined you can click the door icon in the top left, sign in with a Google ount, and then you should be able to leave ament.) Regardless, have a great day.

 Chapter 31

    ¡°With so many incredible records set in today¡¯s game, I¡¯m really curious about who the MVP will be! Now, let¡¯s meet today¡¯s MVP!¡±


    The camera turned to where the announcer was pointing, showing Cha Taehyun and Kim Changhyun standing together.


    ¡°Yes! Today¡¯s MVPs are two yers. It was difficult to distinguish between the two of them, so they decided on a joint award.¡±


    ©¸ Totally agree


    ©¸ This is like Naruto vs. Sasuke, for real


    ©¸ Five consecutive home runs and a perfect game; a joint award makes sense, lol


    ¡°First, we¡¯ll pass the mic to Kim Changhyun. Could you share your thoughts briefly?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ this is my first time starting on such a big stage, especially in the finals¡­ and we won¡­ I don¡¯t know how to put it¡­ I feel overwhelmed¡­¡±


    Kim Changhyun suddenly lowered the mic, looked up, and blinked his eyes. He was unknowingly so ovee with emotion that a tear escaped.


    The Hyuksan baseball team watching from afar had to cover their mouths to hold back theirughter.


    ©¸ Phoenix¡¯s Kim Changhyun, don¡¯t cry ???


    ©¸ Ugh, those Phoenix guys act like everything is theirs, smh lol


    ©¸ Volcanoes¡¯ Kim Changhyun, don¡¯t cry ????


    ©¸ I¡¯m so jealous¡­ If only our team wasn¡¯t so bad, we could pick up yers like Cha Taehyun or Kim Changhyun


    ©¸ ?


    ¡°It looks like Kim Changhyun is very emotional right now. It¡¯s totally understandable.¡±


    The announcer waited patiently until Kim Changhyun picked up the mic again.


    ¡°Kim Changhyun, you showed remarkable growth this time. How did you manage to improve so much?¡±


    ¡°¡­Well, first of all, it¡¯s because of my own effort. This might sound a bit arrogant, but I can¡¯t leave out the hard work I¡¯ve put in consistently. Ah¡­ If I were to share a secret, there¡¯s something that¡¯s helped recently.¡±


    The announcer perked up at the mention of a ¡®secret.¡¯


    ¡°A secret, you say? This is really intriguing! Could you tell us what it is?¡±


    Kim Changhyun chuckled and nced at Cha Taehyun standing beside him.


    ¡°Practicing pitching against the best batter is my secret. Cha Taehyun here has been a huge help. Every time I asked, he would alwayse over and train with me.¡±


    ©¸ Taehyun, it¡¯s you again, isn¡¯t it?


    ©¸ Damn, it¡¯s Daetaehyun again. I have no choice but to worship him¡­


    ©¸ Is it possible to borrow Cha Taehyun for a month, Phoenix? We need him to face our pitchers, haha


    ©¸ It would be useless if he came. He¡¯d probably just convince Seo Myun to go to the sauna with him


    ©¸ LOL, agreed


    ¡°Well, that was a heartwarming story. Lastly, could you share a final thought?¡±


    This time, Kim Changhyun looked toward the baseball team.


    ¡°Lee Seungtae.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Surprised by the sudden mention, the announcer widened her eyes as Kim Changhyun spoke softly.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll repay this debt.¡±


    The sharp-eyed camera director quickly panned to capture Lee Seungtae, who was seen smirking.


    ©¸ LOL, look at him act all serious the moment the camera¡¯s on him


    ©¸ Lee Seungtae is probably disappointed too, but he¡¯s still smiling. What a ss act


    ©¸ Sigh¡­ the future of our Phoenix team is so bright


    ©¸ Could someone please knock me out so I can wake up two seasonster? I want to see Phoenix with Seungtae and Taehyun¡­


    ¡°Haha, they seem like a really close team. Now, let¡¯s proceed with Cha Taehyun¡¯s interview.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s someone waiting for me, so I¡¯ll just say one thing briefly.¡±


    Cha Taehyun nced at the audience and said.


    ¡°I¡¯ming now.¡±


    After saying that one line, Cha Taehyun immediately disappeared from the screen.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Coach, I have something I¡¯d like to¡ª¡±


    Before I could finish speaking, the coach smirked and nodded toward the audience.


    ¡°Hurry up, wash up, and go. Isn¡¯t your girlfriend waiting for you?¡±


    ¡°What? She¡¯s¡­ not my girlfriend, though.¡±


    ¡°Haha! Sure, whatever. I¡¯ll talk to the guys. If you y baseball well, you¡¯re allowed to date, kid.¡±


    There seemed to be a bit of a misunderstanding, but I didn¡¯t bother correcting it.


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    I showered as fast as I could, changed my clothes, and rushed toward the audience.


    In the distance, Miyeon¡¯s face was partially illuminated against the backdrop of the sunset.


    Just seeing her profile was enough to make me feel a surge of happiness.


    I tried to calm my rising smile as I approached her.


    As soon as she saw me, she smiled brightly, and my lips lifted without resistance.


    ¡°You did so well today, Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Right? Honestly, hitting five consecutive home runs was a bit much.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Yes! I know, I know. You¡¯re the best, Taehyun!¡±


    Miyeon gave me a thumbs-up, and I couldn¡¯t help butugh again.


    ¡°Since I did so well today, I think there should be a special reward¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ You¡¯re right. Five consecutive home runs is really impressive. What would you like? Just tell me.¡±


    What should I ask for?


    A baseball stadium date that Miyeon mumbled about in her sleepst time?


    No, wouldn¡¯t a trip for just the two of us be better?


    As I was happily debating, a ck man suddenly appeared and spoke to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry¡­ I don¡¯t want to interrupt your love, but I¡¯m receiving death threats¡­ Ah, I forgot.¡±


    He started speaking nonsense before pulling out a trantor.


    ¡°No need to turn on the trantor.¡±


    ¡°Oh? You speak English? Good. Anyway, we¡¯re these people.¡±


    The man handed me a business card.


    It said he was a scout for the New York Yankees.


    ¡°You get the gist, right?¡±


    ¡°Roughly.¡±


    ¡°Then that¡¯s enough. Contact us if you¡¯re interested.¡±


    ¡°What? Are you crazy, Rick? We¡¯re leaving so soon? We need to talk more!¡±


    ¡°Jake, this is enough. We¡¯ve already intruded.¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Hey! Don¡¯t just leave! Ugh¡­¡±


    They randomly appeared, handed me a business card, fought amongst themselves, and left.


    ¡­What strange scouts.


    I casually slipped the business card into my pocket. I didn¡¯t need it, but it felt wrong to just throw it on the ground.


    Miyeon, who saw me put the card in my pocket, suddenly looked downcast.


    ¡°Are you¡­ going to the Majors? Not that it has any special meaning¡­ I¡¯m just really curious.¡±


    Her cute little lie made meugh again.


    ¡°No, seriously, I¡¯m just curious¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright. Could you hug me once?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll be able to decide after that.¡±


    It was a ridiculous thing to say, even to myself, but Miyeon hesitated before slowly wrapping her arms around my waist.


    Whether it was the glow of the sunset or just her embarrassment, her face turned a soft shade of pink as she looked up at me.


    ¡°¡­Are you going?¡±


    ¡­I hadn¡¯t nned on going in the first ce.


    Even if I had signed a contract, I would¡¯ve torn it up after seeing this.


    ¡°How could I go when you¡¯re holding onto me like this?¡±


    ¡°N-no, you¡¯re the one who asked me to hug you¡­¡±


    I looked at her flustered expression and gently hugged her back.


    Maybe I held on a little tighter than I intended.


    But it should be fine.


    Her arms slowly tightened around me too.


    I took a moment to savor the warmth and heartbeat that was passed to me and spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±


    Miyeon, who had her face buried in my chest, looked up again.


    Her eyes were a bit wet. Was she crying a little?


    I stopped my lips from curling into a smile again and repeated.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going. To the Majors. So stop worrying for no reason. Why are you crying?¡±


    ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t worried¡­ I just asked because I was curious, that¡¯s all¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Now let¡¯s go get something to eat.¡±


    As I was about to let go and step back, her arms around my waist pulled me in again.


    ¡°Teacher¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­Because it¡¯s five consecutive home runs¡­ We can stay like this for five minutes¡­¡±


    Well¡­ I won¡¯t decline.


    I hugged her again, and Miyeon sneakily reached


    into my pocket and pulled out the business card.


    ¡°I¡¯ll throw this away for you. Since¡­ you don¡¯t need it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m not going.¡±


    ¡°Still¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright. But only one more minute.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡±


    ¡ª


    After spending some time in Seoul with Miyeon, I returned on thete-night KTTX train.


    I arrived home at 5 a.m. I quietly opened the door, knowing that Jihyun would be asleep.


    As I carefully took off my shoes and was about to head to my room, Jihyun¡¯s door opened.


    ¡°¡­Oppa, you¡¯re back?¡±


    Rubbing her eyes, Jihyun saw me and broke into a shy smile.


    ¡°Congrattions on winning, Oppa.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Jihyun. Now go back to bed. You must be tired.¡±


    Jihyun shook her head and went to the kitchen, turning on the stove.


    ¡°Wait a bit, Oppa.¡±


    She was already too excited, so I gave up trying to stop her and sat at the dining table.


    After a while, various side dishes started filling the empty table, followed by a steaming pot of soft tofu stew.


    ¡°You love soft tofu stew, Oppa. I wanted to make it for you since you must be tired.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    Jihyun smiled and handed me a spoon, and I felt a lump in my throat.


    I took the spoon and scooped up a bite.


    ¡°Is it good?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the best in the world.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t tried every soft tofu stew in the world, but where else could I find one that made me so happy after just one bite?


    Yes, I was simply happy.


    I kept moving the spoon, and when it finally stopped, the pot was spotless.


    ¡ª


    After finishing the morning batting practice, I came to the lounge where the other members were noisily chatting about something.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ¡°Wow¡­ Did you see that? A super fancy limousine pulled in earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but did you see who got out of that limo? That¡¯s even crazier.¡±


    ¡°I saw too. She looked like some kind of celebrity¡­ With blonde hair, she seemed mixed-race.¡±


    As I was casually listening nearby, Jin Myunghwan turned to me.


    ¡°Hey, Taehyun, did you see? She looked like she just stepped out of a drama¡­¡±


    The dazed look on his face was more than a little perverted¡­


    ¡°Nah, I was at batting practice, so I didn¡¯t see.¡±


    Well, I didn¡¯t see her, but from what I¡¯ve heard, I have a good guess who it is.


    It¡¯s probably Lee Siha, the second daughter of the huge conglomerate, Nixon Sports.


    Ah, she¡¯s Korean by nationality but lives in the U.S., so she also goes by the name Rena.


    ¡°What? You missed seeing her? Poor guy¡­ This time, my skipping batting practice paid off.¡±


    ¡­Honestly, he¡¯s making too big of a deal out of it, but if it¡¯s the Lee Siha I know, I can kind of understand.


    -She possessed a beauty that no man could ignore.


    There was a description like this in StrikeHeart.


    But whatever¡­ She has nothing to do with me, so I don¡¯t need to take an interest.


    The only reason Lee Siha came to Hyuksan was for Lee Jiho.


    Her first appearance was probably when she suddenly entered the lounge and called for Lee Jiho.


    I nced around the lounge and saw Lee Jiho chatting away in a corner. That scene might be reenacted right before my eyes soon.


    Thinking about it made me a bit excited.


    After all, I was an avid reader of StrikeHeart.


    It feels like I¡¯m watching a live-action movie of StrikeHeart that no one else will ever see.


    Then, someone knocked on the lounge door.


    With very precise rhythm and strength.


    Everyone in the lounge immediately turned their gaze toward the door. It made sense; no one usually knocks that politely in here.


    With all eyes on the door, it slowly opened.


    Between two muscr men in suits, a blonde woman appeared.


    Oh¡­


    She certainly had a beauty that could inspire awe. I could see why the other members were so hyped up.


    With an ambiguous expression that was hard to tell if it was prideful or arrogant, Lee Siha slowly scanned the lounge.


    Her eyes found Lee Jiho¡­ and then passed him, locking onto mine.


    ¡­What?


    Surprised by the unexpected situation, I stayed quiet.


    Lee Siha¡¯s lips curled into a small smirk.


    ¡°Found you.¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 32

    Lee Siha is officially recognized by the author as the heroine, but you can¡¯t help but wonder, is she really a heroine?


    She barely has any presence, and even up until the end of StrikeHeart, there wasn¡¯t a single description of Lee Jiho feeling any fluttering emotions towards her.


    Even Seo Jia had a few moments like that¡­


    In my opinion, the author only introduced her to serve as a financial backer.


    Her role is probably to provide support when a situation arises that requires a lot of money without conflicting with the storyline. Maybe that¡¯s why I always had the impression that she was a pitiful character.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of Lee Siha¡¯s voice and turned my head.


    ¡°You¡¯re Cha Taehyun, right? I know this is sudden, but could I have a moment of your time?¡±


    Jin Myunghwan, standing next to me, gave me an envious look. It¡¯s not like that, Myunghwan¡­


    ¡°Sure, I can spare a moment.¡±


    I didn¡¯t ask why she wanted to talk. After all, I already knew.


    Lee Siha, as the second daughter of the chairman of Nixon Sports, has the ambition to revive the failed baseball business with her own hands.


    Part of her baseball business revival project involves finding an exclusive promotional model.


    That¡¯s why this chaebol daughter came all the way to Hyuksan to find me.


    However¡­ from what I recall¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ve been pushing to select Lee Jiho as the model since a year ago. I saw the potential for stardom.¡±


    I remember there was a line like this.


    Since she had been pursuing this for over a year, I thought no matter how well I performed, would she change her ns? But¡­


    She changed it?


    Do business ns really change this quickly? I mean, she had probably already nned products with Lee Jiho¡¯s name on them.


    Regardless, I followed Lee Siha out of the lounge.


    ¡ª


    Escorted by men in ck suits, we arrived at the coach¡¯s office.


    The coach was absent, seemingly informed beforehand, and we sat facing each other on the sofa.


    After a brief exchange of greetings, Lee Siha spoke first.


    ¡°The reason I¡¯m here today is to offer you the position of the exclusive promotional model for our Nixon brand. I saw the potential for stardom in you, Cha Taehyun.¡±


    Lee Siha handed me what looked like a contract.


    ¡°Would you like to take a look?¡±


    I nodded and skimmed through the contents.


    It was a three-year contract with an upfront payment of 1 billion KRW (about 10 million USD) upon signing.


    There were no additional incentives mentioned.


    There were various other uses, but the crux of it was the 1 billion KRW contract for three years.


    Considering my future potential, the amount was ridiculously low, but looking at it from the current perspective of Cha Taehyun, it was a satisfactory sum.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    In fact, it was surprisingly high. I mean, no matter how much they call me a monstrous rookie, I¡¯m still just a second-year high school baseball yer who hasn¡¯t even been performing for a full year.


    Lee Siha is probably the only person who would offer a contract with this amount for someone like me.


    Interestingly, the original contract for Lee Jiho was set at 500 million KRW (about 5 million USD), not 1 billion KRW.


    Anyway¡­ this is really satisfying.


    Now, Jihyun and I can live a little morefortably.


    ¡°It looks good.¡±


    Lee Siha smiled brightly at my words.


    ¡°Thank you. Did you read the points I highlighted?¡±


    I remembered it now, at her words. This was the moment when Lee Siha first took an interest in Lee Jiho.


    In the original story, Lee Jiho reviewed the contract and abruptly declined it.


    The reason¡­ is fitting for the protagonist.


    ¡°Looking at the contract, it might interfere with my training. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    He rejected a 500 million KRW contract just because it could disrupt his ¡®training.¡¯


    Thanks to that, heter catches Lee Siha¡¯s eye with the clich¨¦ ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re the first person I¡¯ve met who doesn¡¯t obsess over money like this!¡± and receives her endless support and affection.


    But as for me¡­


    I only need the money right now; I¡¯m confident I can earn bigter on, and I certainly don¡¯t want to catch Lee Siha¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve read it. No problems, let¡¯s go ahead with the contract.¡±


    ¡ª


    The contract ended faster than expected.


    Thanks to Cha Taehyun¡¯s satisfaction with the contract.


    From the start, Lee Siha herself thought the contract sum was excessive, so it was no surprise the deal concluded so smoothly¡­


    Yet, she felt something quite fresh about this situation.


    As a businesswoman, the type of person she disliked the most, ironically, was someone who disyed greed for money. Of course, she was well aware that business itself revolved around money.


    Even knowing that, it was like a personality trait for her; something she couldn¡¯t easily change.


    That was who Lee Siha was¡­


    ¡°If I use thepany¡¯s products in real games, will there be any additionalpensation?¡±


    ¡°Can we add a use to reward for achievements during the contract?¡±


    Normally, she would have been annoyed by questions like these from Cha Taehyun.


    ¡®How curious¡­¡¯


    But why didn¡¯t she feel any aversion to the man in front of her?


    Her curiosity grew, but she stopped herself there. It wasn¡¯t polite to zone out in front of someone.


    ¡°Thank you for your time. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything or have any questions.¡±


    As they exchanged farewells and Lee Siha reached for the doorknob, a question popped into her mind.


    ¡°By the way¡­ what do you earn money for, Cha Taehyun?¡±


    She quickly shook her head. Questions outside of the contract were impolite.


    She was about to apologize when Cha Taehyun answered first.


    ¡°Is there a special reason? It¡¯s for me and my family. Isn¡¯t that the same for you, Miss Lee?¡±


    Lee Siha stared at him for a moment in a daze before nodding.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right¡­ I¡¯ll be on my way now.¡±


    After exiting the coach¡¯s office and getting into the car, she stared out the window and muttered.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t get it¡­¡±


    ¡ª


    The Korean high school baseball scene was in a festive mood every day due to its unprecedented poprity.


    The YouTube live stream viewership, which used to hover in the double digits, easily surpassed four digits for the finals now.


    Even the TV broadcast ratings averaged 0.5% and peaked at 1.2%.


    To those unfamiliar, it might not seem that high, butpared to the previous viewership, which used to linger around 0.05%, it was a miraculous achievement.


    The association couldn¡¯t afford to miss this opportunity and started to paddle hard.


    No, they attached a motor instead of paddling.


    They pushed the broadcasting team to create dozens of videos rted to Cha Taehyun¡­


    They did everything they could.


    And yet, the team leader of the broadcasting team still wasn¡¯t satisfied.


    ¡°Today, we¡¯re heading to Hyuksan.¡±


    An exhausted staff member who was editing like a zombie turned their head in surprise.


    ¡°Wha-what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The President¡¯s Cup is starting soon, right? Let¡¯s interview Cha Taehyun before that.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ boss, why interview before the tournament even starts? They don¡¯t even do that in the professional leagues unless it¡¯s a rivalry match¡­¡±


    The staff member¡¯s point was perfectly valid¡­


    ¡°But this is Cha Taehyun we¡¯re talking about.¡±


    The director simply answered.


    It was absurd, but it actually made sense, so much so that they couldn¡¯t argue.


    It was true¡­ an interview with Cha Taehyun would draw attention.


    ¡°Right? So what should we do?¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll get ready.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s the spirit. I like how quick you are.¡±


    ¡®Ugh¡­ I want to quit.¡¯


    ¡ª


    -Who do you think will win the President¡¯s Cup this year, Cha Taehyun?


    -Hyuksan.


    -That¡¯s a very confident answer! Then, who do you think will be the MVP of this President¡¯s Cup?


    -I think I will be.


    ¡°Wha¡­ How can someone be so irritating? No, this goes beyond irritating; it¡¯s disgusting! Cha Taehyun, you¡¯re just disgusting!¡±


    Jin Myunghwan, sitting in the dugout and looking at his phone, gagged and overreacted.


    ¡°I only said what they asked for, you idiot.¡±


    Even so, it wasn¡¯t far from my actual thoughts.


    Right now, Hyuksan¡¯s strength was undeniably at its peak.


    Ignoring another of Myunghwan¡¯s nitpicks, I checked my phone as it vibrated.


    [Taehyun, I¡¯ve arrived! Will you hit a home run again today?]


    I tried to suppress my smile as I replied.


    [If you hug me again, then yes.]


    Hmm¡­ No quick reply.


    It seems that getting a hug requires at least a five consecutive home runs, huh?


    Just as I was feeling disappointed, I got a call.


    It was from Miyeon.


    ¡°Teacher?¡±


    -Y


    -yeah¡­ Taehyun, so¡­ um¡­


    After a moment of silence, Miyeon¡¯s voice came through the speaker again.


    -¡­There are a lot of people these days, right? I wanted to tell you this before the match because my voice might be too soft to hear. Taehyun, I¡¯ll be cheering for you, so do your best!


    I almost dropped my phone.


    Otherwise, she might hear my stupidughter.


    Calming my wildly beating heart, I picked up the phone again.


    ¡°Thank you. But¡­ if I hit a home run¡­¡±


    -¡­Yeah. I¡¯ll give you a big hug, so go hit a home run!


    Today¡¯s opponent was Hwachung High, wasn¡¯t it¡­


    I don¡¯t have anything against them, but they¡¯re in for a beating.


    ¡ª


    It was just the beginning of the first inning, but Hwachung High¡¯s coach had a grim expression.


    ¡®Looks like we¡¯re going to be eliminated in the first round¡­¡¯


    As a coach, he shouldn¡¯t think this way, but what could he do? Hyuksan was just that strong.


    Moreover, they had already tasted defeat in the Blue Dragon Games¡­


    Still, he couldn¡¯t give uppletely, so he devised a strategy.


    -Just walk Cha Taehyun!


    Whether or not there were runners on base, even if the next batter was another monster, Lee Jiho, Cha Taehyun should be walked the moment he stepped up to the te.


    It might sound like a ridiculous strategy, but¡­


    After racking his brains, the Hwachung coach couldn¡¯t think of anything else to counter Cha Taehyun¡­


    Soon, the first batter, Jin Myunghwan, stepped up, and Hwachung¡¯s pitcher, Kim Taehwan, threw the first pitch.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    ¡®Oh¡­? Taehwan¡¯s pitching is pretty good today?¡¯


    It was just the first pitch, but it looked heavy and solid. Better than usual.


    The second and third pitches were also cleanly controlled through the strike zone.


    ¡°Good!¡±


    The coach pped his hands in satisfaction.


    Next up was batter number two, Ji Chanwoo, known for his strong contact.


    However, Hwachung¡¯s pitcher was having what they call a ¡°lucky day.¡±


    -Crack!


    Ji Chanwoo hit a grounder, seemingly mistiming the swing. An easy out.


    But in baseball, unexpected things happen.


    ¡°Ah, what bad luck.¡±


    Due to an irregr bounce, the second baseman missed the ball, allowing Ji Chanwoo to secure first base.


    The coach bit his lip and watched the third batter, Lee Taehyung.


    ¡®¡­This is a nightmare. Ji Chanwoo is followed by Lee Taehyung? And after him is that monster?¡¯


    They¡¯d only given up one hit, yet it felt like a crisis was brewing¡­ The coach nervously nced at the pitcher.


    However, Kim Taehwan struck out Lee Taehyung cleanly.


    ¡°Oh? Taehwan¡¯s really on point today¡­¡±


    Despite the unlucky bounce that put a runner on base, he calmly took out Lee Taehyung. In any other team, Lee Taehyung would be a solid fourth batter.


    The coach looked at Cha Taehyun walking to the te and had a sudden thought.


    ¡®Should I¡­ trust Taehwan for once?¡¯


    The coach beside him seemed to be thinking the same as he asked,


    ¡°Taehwan¡¯s pitching well today, isn¡¯t he? Should we try going against Cha Taehyun?¡±


    Just as he was about to say ¡°Yes,¡± the scene of Cha Taehyun hitting a home run on the first pitch shed through the coach¡¯s mind.


    ¡®I must have gone crazy for a moment¡­¡¯


    Shaking his head, the coach firmly replied,


    ¡°No¡­ walk Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Huh? But¡­ that might affect Taehwan¡¯s confidence. He¡¯s pitching so well¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be worse if he gives up a big hit. No¡­ Just walk him! Walk Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡®This really isn¡¯t right¡­¡¯


    The coach sighed inwardly and nodded.


    However, just as they were about to walk Cha Taehyun, Kim Taehwan shook his head.


    The catcher signaled to walk him as instructed, but he refused.


    The coach urgently stood up and shouted,


    ¡°Kim Taehwan! What are you thinking? Walk him! I said walk him!¡±


    Brimming with confidence from striking out Lee Taehyung, Kim Taehwan threw the ball.


    In fact, Kim Taehwan¡¯s pitch wasn¡¯t bad at all.


    It was a ¡°lucky day¡± for him, clocking in at 148 km/h, breaking his personal record¡­


    The ball was precisely positioned at the inside borderline. Perfect control.


    It was the moment his best pitch was thrown.


    ¡°Huh¡­?¡±


    That is, if the opponent wasn¡¯t Cha Taehyun.


    -Crack!


    Cha Taehyun swung his bat, and the ball soared high into the sky.


    Kim Taehwan, realizing the hit was a home run the moment it made contact, copsed on the spot.


    The coach, staring nkly at the flying ball, muttered,


    ¡°I told you to walk Cha Taehyun¡­¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 33

    ¡°Hey, you must have spent some money, huh?¡±


    As soon as I returned to the dugout, Jin Myunghwan asked.


    ¡°What money?¡±


    ¡°Your bat, glove, and gloves, all brand new. You were using some raggedy stuff before.¡±


    So, he was talking about the baseball equipment I received from Lee Siha.


    ¡°The design looks fancy and expensive. What brand is it?¡±


    Jin Myunghwan inspected my bat closely and tilted his head when he saw the brand name, Nixon.


    ¡°Wait, did Nixon even sell baseball equipment?¡±


    It was natural for Jin Myunghwan to be curious. While Nixon Sports was a prominent name in most sports, they had practically withdrawn from the baseball business. ¡°They¡¯ve been selling it for a while, but it never gained poprity.¡±


    ¡°Really? How¡¯s it feel to use?¡±


    ¡°Pretty good.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t just lip service because of my contract with Lee Siha; I was genuinely impressed.


    Knowing that Nixon would be the top name in the baseball equipment industry in the future, I figured their prototypes might be decent. Surprisingly, they were even better than I had expected.


    They were nearly indistinguishable from the equipment I used during my professional career.


    ¡°A bat that¡¯s Taehyun-approved¡­ I might buy one too.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why not?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not for sale yet.¡±


    An idea suddenly crossed my mind.


    If Lee Siha saw me using these prototypes, wouldn¡¯t she be quite surprised?


    Typically, baseball yers might change their bats, but they rarely switch their gloves because they need a perfect fit.


    She might be so moved by this voluntary promotion that she could add some extra incentives.


    Though, to be honest, I mainly changed because my old glove was worn out¡­ But there¡¯s no need to mention that to the world.


    ¡°If you want it, wait until mymerciales out to buy one.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean, amercial?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see it on YouTube soon enough.¡±


    ¡ª


    The game reached the top of the fourth inning, with the score still at 2:0.


    Judging by the score, Hwachung High¡¯s pitcher was holding up surprisingly well. Although he had slumped after giving up a home run, he seemed to have quickly regained hisposure.


    I hoped he wouldn¡¯t walk me and would try to pitch to me this time¡­


    -Ball!


    The first pitch missed the zone by a long shot. It seemed that he had regained enough control to make rational decisions.


    The second pitch followed.


    -Ball!


    It was far outside. While I did earn the nickname ¡°bad ball hitter,¡± even I couldn¡¯t swing at pitches like that.


    -Ball! Walk!


    In the end, I went to first base without even swinging the bat.


    Miyeon said she would hug me for five minutes since I hit five consecutive home runsst time. I was nning to use that as an excuse to hit more home runs so I could hold her longer¡­


    Dare you waste my precious time¡­?


    I can¡¯t forgive this.


    Until now, I had avoided stealing bases to prevent injuries since I was still building my physical condition.


    But this time, I have to steal. No, I must.


    Lee Jiho, the fifth batter, stepped into the box, and I started to take a lead-off the moment the Hwachung pitcher stepped on the rubber.


    I slowly took one step¡­ two steps¡­ three and a half steps¡­ This was the average lead-off distance.


    However¡­ In my professional career, I used to take a lead of four steps or even four and a half, depending on the situation.


    I had confidence in my speed, and I was also gifted with a sense of timing and instinct for base-stealing.


    Most importantly, having a left-handed batter like Lee Jiho at the te was key.


    With a left-handed batter, the catcher¡¯s view of first base is limited, significantly improving the chances of a sessful steal.


    So¡­ it was worth taking a bold lead of four and a half steps.


    I could be confident in this as someone who once had a 40-home run and 40-stolen base season in the majors.


    Of course, that¡¯s from my perspective, and in the eyes of Hwachung¡¯s pitcher, it probably looks like I¡¯m begging to be picked off.


    As I kept my focus on the pitcher, he nced at me before making a quick throw to first base.


    It was a pretty decent pick-off attempt, but as soon as I recognized his pick-off motion, I sprinted back and slid just as my hand reached the base.


    -Safe!


    I stood up and dusted the dirt off my uniform.


    The Hwachung pitcher looked frustrated, but¡­ should he be?


    To the naked eye, it might have seemed like a close call, but I felt it wasfortably within my range. I probably won¡¯t get picked off moving forward.


    In other words, I¡¯m going to keep messing with him by taking the lead.


    ¡ª


    ¡®Man¡­ This is driving me crazy.¡¯


    Kim Taehwan was so distracted by Cha Taehyun on first base that he felt like his head was about to explode.


    At first, he thought, ¡®What the heck? Is he out of his mind?¡¯ when he saw the absurdlyrge lead-off. It was clearly enough to get him picked off.


    -Safe!


    But¡­


    ¡®Why can¡¯t I get him out?¡¯


    He had already thrown three pick-off attempts, yet Cha Taehyun remained on base, leading off again with a grin.


    ¡®Taehwan, just pitch¡­¡¯


    Unable to watch anymore, the Hwachung catcher signaled for a high fastball inside, hoping to catch him if he ran.


    Kim Taehwan nodded and threw the first pitch.


    A fastball way off the mark. The catcher quickly prepared to throw, but Cha Taehyun was just standing there, as if he knew.


    The second pitch was also a high fastball that missed. Again, the catcher moved to throw, but Taehyun somehow sensed it and stayed put.


    ¡®Now I can¡¯t just throw random pitches¡­¡¯


    With a 2-0 count, he couldn¡¯t keep pitching outside the strike zone. Yet, if he threw a fastball down the middle, there was a high chance Lee Jiho would smash it.


    ¡®¡­A curveball should be fine, right?¡¯


    Would he really steal now? If he does, it would raise serious suspicions of sign-stealing.


    Or¡­ maybe he just has an insane instinct.


    The catcher signaled, and Kim Taehwan nodded.


    On the third pitch, Kim Taehwan wound up and threw the ball. The catcher¡¯s eyes widened.


    Cha Taehyun, who had been standing still, smirked before turning and sprinting toward second base.


    Since it was a low curveball, Lee Jiho didn¡¯t swing. The catcher quickly grabbed the ball and threw it, but¡­


    -Safe!


    Taehyun was already hugging the base.


    Kim Taehwan shook his head in disbelief and threw the next pitch.


    -Crack!


    Lee Jiho caught the cutter inside cleanly.


    The ball soared and hit the fence. The left fielder hastily retrieved the ball, but since Taehyun had started from second base, he had plenty of time to reach home te.


    The score was now 3:0.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Kim Taehwan sighed deeply and muttered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°This is some messed-up baseball¡­¡±


    ¡ª


    As if one stolen base wasn¡¯t enough, Cha Taehyun kept trying to steal more.


    ¡°Oh! Cha Taehyun steals second again! That¡¯s his third steal! Can he really see the future or something? Even I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m seeing on the screen; imagine how Kim Taehwan feels. His expression doesn¡¯t look good at all.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s understandable. Allowing a stolen base is a huge blow to a pitcher¡¯s pride. Look at Cha Taehyun¡¯s lead-off distance. I shouldn¡¯t say this, but it¡¯s almost like he¡¯s mocking Kim Taehwan.¡±


    ©¸ Ta¡­ Taehyun, I¡­ I did it¡­ Stop¡­ Please stop


    ©¸ Why is someone who never stole bases suddenly doing this?


    ©¸ LOL;; Feels like he¡¯s intentionally provoking the pitcher


    ©¸ Thank goodness he¡¯s a Phoenix yer; if he did this on another team, phew


    ©¸ If I was watching on TV, I might have punched the screen


    ©¸ We¡¯re watching on TV, but Kim Taehwan probably wants to punch Taehyun¡¯s face right now LOL


    Despite the concerns of the viewers, Kim Taehwan managed to maintain hisposure after three consecutive stolen bases.


    Of course¡­ it onlysted up to the third steal.


    ¡°Haha! What is Cha Taehyun doing? He¡¯s rocking back and forth as if he¡¯ll steal but then stops! Kim Taehwan¡¯s going to be really mad now!¡±


    ©¸ LOL LOL WTF


    ©¸ This is a bit too much LOL


    ©¸ It¡¯s a psychological game; don¡¯t nder our Taehyun


    ©¸ If Kim Taehwan holds up under this, I¡¯ll acknowledge his mental strength


    ©¸ How can you endure this?


    ©¸ Forget walking him; his next at-bat might involve a hit-by-pitch LOL


    In the top of the seventh inning, Cha Taehyun¡¯s persistent


    antics finally broke Kim Taehwan¡¯sposure.


    ¡°Ah! Kim Taehwan¡¯s throw is way too high! The ball¡¯s gone wild! Taehyun takes off immediately! Safe! He steals second again! Ah, this is really rough for Kim Taehwan!¡±


    Kim Taehwan closed his eyes and sighed deeply.


    ¡®What did I do to deserve this¡­¡¯


    ¡ª


    The first match ended with a significant score difference of 9:0 in favor of our Hyuksan.


    Kim Taehwan had held up rtively well until the seventh inning, but he eventually crumbled, leading to the wide gap in the score.


    Pleased with our performance, the coach announced a team dinner.


    As for me, of course¡­


    ¡°Going to see your girlfriend again? She must be something,ing all the way to Seoul every time.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I keep telling you, she¡¯s not my girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ Sure. What¡¯s the point of eating with a bunch of guys anyway? Go on.¡±


    With Miyeon waiting for me, I slipped away.


    ¡°Taehyun, you¡¯re here?¡±


    Seeing Miyeon¡¯s bright smile washed away the fatigue I had been feeling.


    ¡°Taehyun, could you follow me for a moment?¡±


    I didn¡¯t know where we were going, but since Miyeon reached out her hand, I obediently followed.


    We didn¡¯t go far.


    It was the front row of the stands near first base.


    ¡°I thought about it, and if Ie two hours early, I can always get this seat.¡±


    ¡°What? Two hours? Why go through that trouble? It¡¯s already tiring enoughing all the way to Seoul.¡±


    I was genuinely worried for her.


    ¡°So I can see you better.¡±


    Like that was all that mattered, she looked at me and smiled.


    My lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up.


    ¡°So, you know, if you ever¡­ um, Taehyun?¡±


    I impulsively hugged her. I just¡­ wanted to after hearing what she said.


    ¡°I hit a home run today¡­¡±


    ¡°Right. Yes, you did. Good job, Taehyun.¡±


    Miyeon was momentarily startled but then buried her face in my chest and gently wrapped her arms around my waist.


    ¡°Oh, right, I was saying¡­ If you want to find me during the game, just look here. I¡¯ll always be in this spot from now on.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll look here only.¡±


    She seemed satisfied with my answer as she kept chuckling with her face still pressed against my chest.


    ¡°Yeah. Look here. I¡¯ll always be right here.¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 34

    Just past midnight, Lee Siha sat at herputer in the dark room, without turning on a single light.


    She pushed back her tousled hair, left her pajama buttons half undone, and turned on the power button with her toe. She positioned the potato chips and soda she had brought with her at a safe distance from the keyboard.


    ¡®Absolutely perfect!¡¯


    ying games or watching YouTube for an hour or two before bed.


    It was a simple hobby of a chaebol heiress that no one would ever imagine, and a time when she could throw away the burdens of her business persona and formal speech.


    For now, she left the potato chips and soda unopened.


    It was best to enjoy them with the perfect entertainment.


    The moment she opened YouTube, thumbnails that made her mouth water lined up. Since so many videos were rmended ording to her taste, it was impossible not to get hooked.


    ¡°I really can¡¯t quit this.¡± Lee Siha chuckled as she spotted a familiar face on one of the thumbnails.


    [The Biggest Star in High School Baseball, Cha Taehyun¡¯s Presidential Cup Challenge?]


    ¡®Choosing Cha Taehyun as our promotional model was definitely a good decision.¡¯


    Even though her usual algorithm rmended videos about animations and games, seeing a baseball video, especially high school baseball, meant that it was trending quite well.


    Well, that was that, and this was her precious time to wash away the fatigue of the day, so she had no intention of watching the video.


    ¡°Hm¡­?¡±


    But¡­ the bat that Cha Taehyun was holding looked particrly familiar.


    ¡°It¡¯s ourpany¡¯s product¡­?¡±


    ¡®Did he use it for publicity in the interview?¡¯


    However, the rted video next to it, the Presidential Cup¡¯s first game, also showed Cha Taehyun using the prototype that Lee Siha had provided.


    Click.


    Lee Siha decided to watch that video for a bit.


    In the game footage, Cha Taehyun was even more thorough than in the interview.


    He was using the bat, gloves, and even the glove that Lee Siha had provided¡ªthe kind of equipment that baseball yers rarely change once they break it in.


    He even swung the bat twice as if to make sure the Nixon logo was visible every time he stepped up to the te.


    ¡°If someone saw this, they¡¯d think it was just part of his routine¡­¡±


    -Crack.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Without realizing it, she had opened the potato chips in surprise.


    ¡®Am I actually enjoying a baseball video?¡¯


    She had a passion for the baseball business and loved making equipment, but she never liked watching the game. This was certainly a surprising discovery.


    -Glug glug¡­


    Deciding to go all in, Lee Siha poured herself some soda and slowly immersed herself in Cha Taehyun¡¯s video.


    ¡­


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Baseball is more interesting than I thought.¡±


    More than anything, seeing the products she had put so much effort into making appear in the video made her proud and happy.


    The video was the video, but there was a need to set some boundaries. Lee Siha was the type to strictly adhere to contracts.


    Although Cha Taehyun¡¯s use of the products might have been helpful, it was outside the terms of their contract, so she had to make that clear.


    She picked up her phone and began typing a message.


    [Sorry for thete hour. I happened to see a video on YouTube today, and I noticed you were promoting our products. While I appreciate it, we would like to ask that you refrain from promoting them until we request it.]


    ¡®Hmm¡­ It¡¯s not like the promotion was a bad thing, but will he feel a bit offended?¡¯


    Lee Siha started to type another message.


    [This time, we¡¯ll send you promotional fees. But in the future, we¡¯d like to¡­]


    Before she could finish typing, Cha Taehyun¡¯s reply arrived, making her pause.


    [I didn¡¯t promote it?]


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    [Oh, sorry. I¡¯m not used to using formal speech in texts.]


    No, that¡¯s not the issue here¡­


    [You can speak however you¡¯refortable. But what do you mean you didn¡¯t promote it? It was clearly visible in the game footage.]


    [I just used it because I liked it.]


    For a moment, Lee Siha was stunned. It wasn¡¯t that she was surprised by his immediate informal tone when she had told him to befortable. What shocked her was his response about simply using the products because he liked them.


    [You liked it?]


    Wasn¡¯t that too much of a lip service? There were already plenty of high-quality baseball equipment brands out there, and customized gloves were quite essible.


    But¡­ he was someone who had just earned 1 billion won, using a product that had just entered production, let alone been released? And on top of that, giving it a positive review?


    Of course, she had put a lot of effort into it. She had put everything into this business.


    But since the products hadn¡¯t even been officiallyunched yet, she wasn¡¯t entirely confident.


    [No, I¡¯m serious. I really like it¡­ Want to know why?]


    She chuckled at the sight of his abbreviations.


    She had been taking this conversation quite seriously as part of the business, but he was talking as if he were chatting with a friend.


    Still, it wasn¡¯t a bad feeling. Not at all.


    [Sure, please do.]


    [First of all, the bat is great. It¡¯s durable, the ball travels well, and the weight is perfect¡­]


    [The glove also seems designed forfort. It¡¯s light and feels good¡­ But if I had to suggest an improvement, the color scheme of the glove is a bit tacky, and the bat could use something other than the Nixon lettering¡­]


    As the flood of messages continued, Lee Siha found herself reading with a nk expression before a smile crept across her face.


    At first, she had thought he was just ttering her, saying things he didn¡¯t mean to stay on her good side¡­


    But after reading his messages, she realized that wasn¡¯t the case. It felt more like the feedback of a regr customer who genuinely enjoyed the product and wanted to see some improvements.


    [Okay, I¡¯ll work on those parts.]


    [Great, send me the improved version when it¡¯s ready.]


    With a smile, Lee Siha typed her reply.


    [Of course. If there¡¯s anything else you¡¯d like, just let me know. I¡¯ll send it all.]


    [Then, can you rmend something you¡¯re confident in?]


    ¡°The bat¡­ it has to be the N200, right?¡±


    ¡°The glove? That¡¯s a bit trickier¡­¡±


    The whole time they texted, the smile never left her face.


    It was a new, fresh feeling, but not an unpleasant one.


    Was it because she had never made friends due to her single-minded pursuit of sess since she was young? Is that why she found this conversation so enjoyable?


    ¡®I get why my sister texts so often now. This¡­ is really fun.¡¯


    For the first time in a long while, she could text not for profit, but simply for conversation.


    [It¡¯s gettingte, so I¡¯m going to sleep. Good night.]


    Smiling contentedly at the message, she decided to respond with a hint of sincerity.


    [Good night. If you¡¯re curious about anything else in the future, feel free to contact me.]


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Cha Taehyun grinned as he looked at the texts.


    ¡°As expected of Lee Siha. She¡¯s got some nerve.¡±


    Actually, he had nned to confess that he was promoting the products and ask for an incentive. But he thought that might be a bit too much, so he subtly hinted at wanting to try more of her products.


    She had readily agreed to send him whatever he wanted, which he found quite likable.


    More than anything, he was pleased that he wouldn¡¯t have to go out and buy his own equipment; she¡¯d send them right to him.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ¡°Guess I won¡¯t have to worry about equipment anymore.¡± <hr>


    TL Note:


    Novels now have an official schedule:


    Learn more

 Chapter 35

    ¡°Ahhh!! Cha Taehyun hits a bases-clearing, game-ending hit, sealing this game with a cold-game victory! It¡¯s Cha Taehyun again! Who is this yer?¡±


    ©¸ What do you mean who? He¡¯s the future of the Phoenix, its treasure, the man who will be a Phoenix legend, Cha Taehyun.


    ©¸ Just memorize it: baseball is Cha Taehyun. LOL


    ©¸ I can¡¯t even worship him properly anymore. I might need to create a worship macro at this point.


    ©¸ Honestly, if it¡¯s not a home run but a double, I don¡¯t even get excited anymore. LOL


    ©¸ Ah, I¡¯m so happy that this yer is on our Phoenix team. LOL


    ©¸ Let¡¯s be real, the reason we ended up inst ce this year was to pick up Cha Taehyun, right?


    ©¸ Who doesn¡¯t know? Last year¡¯sst ce was Lee Seungtae, this year¡¯s is Cha Taehyun. LOL


    ©¸ Getting first-rate yers by beingst ce, other teams are probably crying a river. ©¸ Are you watching this, dear owner? The future of the Phoenix is right here!


    The Phoenix team owner smiled contentedly and put down the phone disying the broadcast.


    ¡®Reading the chat can be quite entertaining.¡¯


    He wasn¡¯t the type to usually read chatments.


    ¨C The owner of this team isn¡¯t just a fool; he¡¯s in stupid. They keep finishingst every year, which devalues the brand more than promoting it. Why does he even invest in this team? They should just disband already.


    Thatment still lingered in his memory as a sort of trauma. But now, even the most vicious fans had be mild and were cheering for the Phoenix because of Cha Taehyun, making it all the more enjoyable.


    ¡°Manager, you know, I really love the Phoenix.¡±


    The suddenment from the team owner made the general manager sitting across from himugh awkwardly.


    ¡°Haha¡­ Yes, I know.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t sold this team even when it changed its name from Phoenix to ¡®Pheonix Losers.¡¯¡±


    The owner was smiling as he spoke calmly, but the general manager suddenly felt a chill down his spine.


    ¡°Even after making thergest investments every time, only to have the worst performance.¡±


    The general manager forced a bitter smile and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.


    ¡°But there seems to be a limit¡­ I¡¯m starting to feel exhausted. You understand, right? Sometimes I wonder if I should just sell the team.¡±


    The general manager couldn¡¯t say a word. He couldn¡¯t disagree with the owner¡¯s sentiments, as he felt the same.


    ¡°Buttely, watching Cha Taehyun has made those thoughts disappear. I feel like I must see him join our Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it as well.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I really want to see that. You know, Cha Taehyun has what it takes to make it to the major leagues, right?¡±


    Of course, he knew. Cha Taehyun was bing something beyond just a star among Phoenix fans, and as the general manager, he was well aware of that. It was also one of his biggest worriestely.


    ¡®If Cha Taehyun goes to the majors, I¡¯m finished!¡¯


    It might sound like an overreaction, but Busan didn¡¯t earn the name ¡°Baseball Ma¡± for nothing.


    If the perception arose that they lost Cha Taehyun due to his mistakes or ipetence¡­?


    He might actually get pelted with eggs or chickens around Sajik Stadium.


    ¡°Yes¡­ He certainly has what it takes to go to the majors. But, um¡­ I¡¯ll do my best-¡±


    Before the general manager could finish speaking.


    ¡°No.¡±


    The owner shook his head.


    ¡°That must not happen.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, of course.¡±


    ¡°I mean, no matter what. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ If the yer himself is strongly determined to go to the majors, there might not be anything I can do¡­¡±


    ¡°Is there such a thing as ¡®nothing you can do¡¯? Think about that high sry you¡¯re getting. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    The owner asked with a sly smile, and the general manager had no choice but to nod along.


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll do my best to keep him.¡±


    ¡°Good. I¡¯m counting on you, Manager Lee.¡±


    As soon as he left the owner¡¯s office, the general manager immediately contacted Kim Eunchan from the scouting team.


    ¡°Do you know Cha Taehyun¡¯s home address? Or at least his contact information¡­¡±


    Desperation filled his voice.


    ¡ª


    Even though high school baseball has recently been booming, the Presidential Cup currently in progress is not as popr as the Golden Lion or Blue Dragon tournaments.


    The reason for this is quite ironic: ¡°Hyuksan High is too strong.¡±


    Baseball is more thrilling when it¡¯s close, but Hyuksan High¡¯s overwhelming power made the games too one-sided, killing the excitement.


    And so, the Presidential Cup seemed like it would pass by without much fanfare¡ªuntil the finals.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to face Daesango High again.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It was the exact same matchup as the Blue Dragon finals, which drew attention as people wondered if Daesango High would seed in taking revenge.


    ¡°Well, they are a strong team.¡±


    They¡¯re a bit annoying, but they are undeniably a solid team. If I weren¡¯t around, even Hyuksan High couldn¡¯t be certain of victory.


    ¡°Hey, did you see the interview with that guy?¡±


    ¡°What, did he start bragging again?¡±


    ¡°No. Look at this.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan handed me his phone, and there was Kim Sinhwa in another interview.


    However, the atmosphere was quite different from the previous interview, where he wore a cocky expression.


    This time, he seemed more subdued.


    ¡°As Hyuksan High is a strong team, we will give it our best effort.¡±


    ¡°Cha Taehyun? He¡¯s a great yer, a very skilled one.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan snickered.


    ¡°He¡¯s been properly taught some manners, huh? He¡¯s not so annoying now.¡±


    No sooner had he said that than¡­


    ¡°But this time, I¡¯m certain we can show a different side. I¡¯ve grown a lot. This time, I¡¯m nning to make Cha Taehyun taste his first defeat.¡±


    ¡°Looks like he still hasn¡¯t learned his lesson.¡±


    ¡ª


    The finals of the Presidential Cup began. The stands were filled with quite a crowd, including a significant number of scouts.


    It was one of the few opportunities to showcase one¡¯s talent before the draft.


    In fact, this could be thest chance, as it was the finals.


    ¡®I won¡¯t lose today, Cha Taehyun¡­¡¯


    Daesango High¡¯s starting pitcher was Kim Sinhwa again.


    He was a stubborn pitcher who insisted on going head-to-head with Cha Taehyun, but Hyuksan High¡¯s batting lineup was too strong for the coach to send anyone else.


    Still, Kim Sinhwa had done some reflecting.


    It was true he had been stubborn, but he failed to prove himself.


    So today¡­


    ¡®I will prove myself by defeating Cha Taehyun.¡¯


    While practicing his pitches on the mound, Kim Sinhwa recalled Cha Taehyun¡¯s interview.


    ¡°He still doesn¡¯t seem to get it. I n to show him what it feels like to be knocked out by the same team twice in a row.¡±


    Just thinking about that interview made his blood boil. Sure, his previous interview during the Blue Dragon tournament was a bit provocative, but this time, he had been gentlemanly.


    And yet, such an ungentlemanly interview?


    ¡®Karma alwayses back around, Cha Taehyun¡­¡¯


    ¡°Hey, hey! Sinhwa, rx! Are you trying to burn out before the game even starts?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a saying: practice like it¡¯s the real game, Ji Daesoo.¡±


    Daesango High¡¯s catcher sighed at Kim Sinhwa¡¯s nonsense.


    ¡®Did getting hit by Cha Taehyun mess up his mind¡­¡¯


    ¡ª


    Kim Sinhwa might be mocked as a pitcher who got taught a harsh lesson by Cha Taehyun, but¡­


    He¡¯s not actually a pitcher to be made fun of.


    His control is quite good, and most importantly, he can pitch over 150 km/h.


    It¡¯s just that this generation has some extremely exceptional yers; Kim Sinhwa is certainly a talent worthy of recognition.


    To prove his skill, Kim Sinhwa cleanly took down Hyuksan High¡¯s top-ranked batting order¡ªfirst, second, and third¡ª in the bottom of the first inning.


    Although Hyuksan High¡¯s pitcher was Lee Seungtae, who also made Daesango High retire in order, Kim Sinhwa paid no mind.


    He could confidently say his condition was at its peak today.


    This time, unlike before, he was fully focused when Cha Taehyun stepped up to the te.


    ¡®¡­This time, I won¡¯t let my guard down.¡¯


    His pride and stubbornness, which had made him reluctant to throw breaking balls back then, had been left behind when he stepped onto the mound.


    He hated to admit it, but Cha Taehyun was definitely someone who hit fastballs well, so he ruled out fastballs.


    He was also a guy who could easily hit pitches that were outside the zone, making it seem hopeless, but that was only because others didn¡¯t have enough pitch quality. His own pitches could certainly induce a swing and miss or weak grounder.


    He aimed for a slider that broke inside¡­


    -Crack!!


    ¡°What?¡±


    Kim Sinhwa let out a death rattle-like groan of confusion.


    His previously clear thoughts suddenly halted, and his head instinctively followed the ball¡¯s trajectory.


    The ball flew in a straight line and barely cleared the fence.


    Kim Sinhwa¡¯s eyes widened as he froze like a


    statue.


    ©¸ LOL LOL LOL


    ©¸ Kim Sinhwa: I¡¯ll make him feel his first elimination. LOL


    ©¸ Isn¡¯t Kim Sinhwa¡¯s face already broken? LOL


    ©¸ It¡¯s understandable for him to break down. LOL


    ©¸ But seriously, how do you deal with Taehyun? That pitch was slightly outside, wasn¡¯t it?


    ©¸ Throwing it just slightly outside was the mistake. LOL


    ©¸ Looks like he hasn¡¯t learned yet. LOL


    ¡ª


    Even though he gave up a ridiculous home run in the second inning, Kim Sinhwa surprisingly didn¡¯t lose hisposure.


    ¡®You were lucky, Cha Taehyun. The left fielder would have easily caught that if the wind hadn¡¯t blown¡­ There won¡¯t be a next time.¡¯


    Whether you¡¯d call it keeping hisposure or falling into narcissism, he continued to pitch calmly.


    -Crack!


    ¡°Cha Taehyun hits another slightly inside pitch! The ball flies just past the shortstop for a base hit!¡±


    Though he didn¡¯t give up consecutive home runs like before.


    ¡°Nice!¡±


    Of course, it was true that he had allowed a hit. His victorious fist pump, oblivious to the fact that he was being recorded, was rather bizarre.


    ¡®A single against Cha Taehyun counts as a win.¡¯


    This was the new defense mechanism Kim Sinhwa had instinctively developed.


    ¡®It¡¯s not that I¡¯mcking; it¡¯s that guy who¡¯s abnormal.¡¯


    ¡®If anything, I¡¯m holding up pretty well.¡¯


    This odd mix of respect and narcissism allowed him to¡­


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    He struck out Hyuksan High¡¯s fifth batter, Lee Jiho, keeping the score at 2-0 until the eighth inning.


    Feeling confident, Kim Sinhwa subtly sat beside his coach.


    ¡°Coach, I¡¯ve proven that I can face him without having to avoid him.¡±


    The coach patted Kim Sinhwa¡¯s shoulder with a smile. Slightly cocky, but today Kim Sinhwa had indeed pitched well.


    ¡°Yes, you did great! Now that Lee Seungtae is off the mound, it¡¯s doable!¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Kim Sinhwa smirked, ncing over at Hyuksan High¡¯s dugout.


    Although he had slightly ¡°lost¡± to Cha Taehyun with four hits in four at-bats, including one home run.


    ¡®If we don¡¯t win the game, it¡¯s all pointless. In the end, I¡¯ll be the one smiling, Cha Taehyun.¡¯


    Of course, they were still trailing 2-0, but Hyuksan High¡¯s bullpen was rumored to be weak. As a batting-oriented team, Daesango High had every reason to expect aeback.


    Just as the coach seemed to be thinking simrly, smiling, the announcer¡¯s voice filled the air.


    ¡°We¡¯re starting the bottom of the ninth with Hyuksan High¡¯s attack¡­ Oh, wait, is Cha Taehyun stepping onto the mound? Wow! I had a slight hunch, but it¡¯s true, Cha Taehyun ising in as the closing pitcher!¡±


    ©¸ Has the coach lost his mind? Is he trying to burn out our Phoenix ace?


    ©¸ But honestly, if you¡¯re hyped, give a thumbs up! LOL


    ©¸ Thumbs up! LOL


    ©¸ Taehyun, what are we going to do now¡­?


    ©¸ Well, it¡¯s because he¡¯s Hyuksan High¡¯s coach that he can make these decisions. If I were the coach, I¡¯d use him every day, agreed? LOL


    ©¸ Agreed! LOL He¡¯s a cheat card, and considering the timing now, it¡¯s understandable.


    Cha Taehyun climbed onto the mound with a smug smile, as if to say it was nothing.


    ¡ª


    Despite the concerns of the viewers, it was entirely Cha Taehyun¡¯s decision to take the mound.


    In fact, the coach had been worried about injuries and tried to stop him, but Taehyun had insisted on going out there.


    He felt a bit sorry for Hwang Gwanghyun, but in Taehyun¡¯s opinion, Gwanghyun wouldn¡¯t have been able to calmly pitch against the 3rd, 4th, and 5th batters with a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth.


    ¡®I can¡¯t let a ninth-inningeback happen with Miyeon watching.¡¯


    Not in the finals, of all times. Absolutely not.


    With Cha Taehyun¡¯s surprise appearance on the mound, the Daesango High coach¡¯s head was filled with so many thoughts, it was about to explode.


    He knew that Taehyun also pitched, of course.


    But since the Golden Lion tournament, he hadn¡¯t pitched even once, so he never imagined they would bring him in now.


    Kim Sinhwa, who was nervously pacing, smirked and spoke up.


    ¡°Coach, there¡¯s no need to worry. He just yed shortstop and immediately came up here, so he probably hasn¡¯t recovered his stamina or warmed up his arm.¡±


    The coach sighed and nodded at Kim Sinhwa¡¯s words.


    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡±


    ¡°Besides, he hasn¡¯t pitched at all up until now. There must be a reason for that. Just rx and watch as our Daesango batters crush Cha Taehyun¡­¡±


    -CRACK!


    The instant the sound of the mitt rang out, Kim Sinhwa¡¯s mouth, which had been running quickly, suddenly froze.


    ¡®What was that just now¡­?¡¯


    Even at a nce, the velocity and quality of the pitch were on another level. Kim Sinhwa jumped up and checked the scoreboard.


    [154 km/h]


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Kim Sinhwa¡¯s jaw dropped.


    ¡®Is this the pitch of a guy who was ying shortstop just moments ago and didn¡¯t even warm up his arm?¡¯


    Slowly turning his head back to the mound, he saw Cha Taehyun throw the second pitch.


    -CRACK!


    It was a fastball aimed straight down the middle, as if challenging the batter to hit it.


    [155 km/h]


    The batter could only stand there, mouth agape.


    Then came the third pitch.


    Once again, it was a fastball right down the middle. The batter gritted his teeth and swung the bat with all his might.


    -Whoosh.


    The ball sailed just above the bat, seemingly sucked into the mitt.


    ¡°¡­S-strike! Out!¡±


    For once, the umpire¡¯s call was dyed.


    The cheers of the crowd erupted btedly as well.


    They couldn¡¯t help it. The scoreboard disyed an unbelievable number that had drawn their eyes.


    [157 km/h]


    Likewise, Kim Sinhwa, who was staring at the scoreboard, let out a hollowugh and hung his head.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 36

    In the final match of the Presidential Cup, Cha Taehyun, who stepped up as the closing pitcher, secured the win. With this, Hyuksan High School achieved a remarkable feat, winning the Golden Lion Tournament, Blue Dragon g, and Presidential Cup consecutively.


    The main figure in this whirlwind? It was undoubtedly Cha Taehyun.


    Thanks to his performance, Cha Taehyun became a household name among baseball fans, not just Phoenix supporters.


    Interestingly, lower-ranked teams began to post discussions like this online:


    ¡°[Isn¡¯t it better to finishst and get Cha Taehyun than to end up in 7th ce?]¡±


    To be honest, it¡¯s annoying to see the bottom-ranked team bragging about having Cha Taehyun, but I have to admit I¡¯m a bit envious. That guy is seriously amazing. This season is pretty much a bust anyway, so wouldn¡¯t it be better to finishst for a brighter future?


    [Upvotes: 129] [Downvotes: 152]


    ©¸ ¡°That¡¯s exactly what the useless Dinos should do.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°From how they¡¯re ying, they might end upst even without tanking.¡±  ©¸ ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible. The Volcanoes are pushovers, but the ¡®Last Nicks¡¯ are on a whole other level; no one can beat them.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Why is the idea of not being able to win at beingst so funny? Haha.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Still, tanking is too much, idiots.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°You troublemakers, get out of here.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Gosh, tanking enthusiasts show up every day, tsk tsk.¡±


    Although there were more downvotes and negativements, it was surprising that some fans were even open to such discussions.


    Considering that the act of tanking¡ªintentionally lowering your rank to pick top rookies¡ªgoes against the spirit of sports and is generally viewed negatively, this level of response was unexpected.


    ¡°Ha~ Those dinosaur bastards. Yep~ Cha Taehyun is our Phoenix ace.¡±


    Shin Hayoon chuckled as she read the post.


    They had always been teased for losing to the Dinos, mocked for their rank, and even their recent championship years were the subject of jokes.


    Now, however, everything could be justified with just Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re inst ce, but we¡¯ll take Cha Taehyun with us~.¡±


    As she typed thement, Shin Hayoon¡¯s younger sister looked at her pitifully.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t like him before, acting all coy¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I just meant it as a fan! I said it as a fan!¡±


    Shin Hayoon hurriedly shook her head, trying to exin, but to her sister, it just sounded like an excuse.


    ¡°Unnie, with that attitude, you won¡¯t even be friends with Taehyun oppa. Someone else might snatch him up first.¡±


    ¡°¡­What are you talking about? I¡¯m just a fan. I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Really¡­? If you say so.¡±


    Having lived together for over 10 years, the younger sister could easily read Hayoon¡¯s expressions. When she mentioned, ¡°Someone else might snatch him up first,¡± she noticed Hayoon¡¯s lips pout ever so slightly.


    With narrowed eyes, the younger sister said to Shin Hayoon:


    ¡°Unnie, I hope you seed in being with Taehyun oppa someday~.¡±


    ¡°Hey! I told you, it¡¯s not like that!¡±


    ¡ª


    The office of the high school baseball broadcasting team resembled a scene from an apocalypse.


    Employees wandered in a daze, clutching coffee. One copsed on the keyboard, and another staggered around like a zombie.


    Only the team leader seemed unaffected.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not enough. It¡¯s still not enough¡­ We need so much more!¡±


    The director suddenly shouted, causing a subordinate to sigh.


    ¡®Here we go again¡­¡¯


    At this point, they were more than used to it. In a few minutes, the director would certainly demand another video featuring Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°There¡¯s a big eventing up, the U18 Baseball World Cup! But we need a bang! We need more! We must make Cha Taehyun into an even bigger star!¡±


    ¡®Isn¡¯t he already famous enough¡­?¡¯


    The Presidential Cup finals broadcast had an impressive 1.1% viewer rating, and Cha Taehyun¡¯s interview video had already surpassed 500,000 views. What more could the director possibly want¡­?


    At that moment, the director¡¯s eyes widened, and he shouted as if he¡¯d just had a eureka moment.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it! I know what we need to do!¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­ What now?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll film Cha Taehyun¡¯s daily life!¡±


    ¡°No¡­ What is he, a celebrity? You want him to film a vlog?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk¡­ And that¡¯s why you still haven¡¯t been promoted and are stuck under me.¡±


    ¡®There¡¯s over a 10-year age gap between us¡­¡¯


    ¡°Think about it! That tear-jerking interview with Cha Taehyun! If we show how hard he works in his daily life¡­!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t they receive support to resolve that?¡±


    ¡°Aigoo¡­ You just don¡¯t get it. We can go with a reenactment. We can show how tough his life was with a shback.¡±


    The subordinate couldn¡¯t help but let out an impressed ¡°Oh.¡± As much of an old-school thinker as the director seemed to be, his creativity was undeniable.


    ¡°Well¡­ That would be interesting.¡±


    ¡°Exactly¡­ This will be a hit! Everyone, wake up! Starting today, we¡¯re nning a reenactment video of Cha Taehyun¡¯s life!¡±


    ¡ª


    With the U18 Baseball World Cup fast approaching, Japan was the first to confidently announce its ambitions during a press conference.


    ¡°It is true that Japan has shown a rtively weak performance in past Baseball World Cups. However, this was because we focused on the Koshien tournament and assembled our national team from second or even third-string yers. Now, it¡¯s different. We intend to showcase the true strength of Japan¡¯s first-string, our very best.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re confident about winning the championship?¡±


    ¡°Of course. This national team boasts an unprecedented golden generation with many outstanding yers. Moreover¡­ we have the best prospect, Yamada Ryuji, don¡¯t we? I¡¯m certain Japan will emerge victorious.¡±


    This news quickly reached Korea, and given the fierce rivalry between the two countries, where even losing at rock-paper-scissors was uneptable, Korea also held a press conference.


    ¡°Coach, there¡¯s a widespread opinion that both the U.S. and Japan are fielding very strong teams in this U18 World Cup. Is this true?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is. Both the U.S. and Japan have assembled historically strong teams. You can sense the so-called ¡®golden generation¡¯ from them. Furthermore, since Japan is the host country, they will have the home-ground advantage. This may be the most intense World Cup in history.¡±


    ¡®This could be problematic¡­¡¯


    Unexpectedly acknowledging Japan¡¯s strength, coach Jeon Hocheol caused the reporters¡¯ faces to turn grim.


    They had hoped for at least a bold assurance of victory, if not the outright statement, ¡°We¡¯re going to sink Japan.¡± Typically, patriotic articles were the most popr.


    Observing the reporters¡¯ expressions, Jeon Hocheol smiled knowingly and continued.


    ¡°But¡­ you see, Korea isn¡¯t an easy opponent either.¡±


    A reporter quickly followed up with a question.


    ¡°Did you see the interviews from Japan and the U.S.?¡±


    ¡°Of course I did.¡±


    ¡°They all expressed confidence in winning. Could you please share a few words as well, coach?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jeon Hocheol responded with a smirk.


    ¡°They say Japan and the U.S. have a lot of talented rookies and a golden generation¡­ Well, we¡¯re in the same boat. I believe this generation will be recorded as a golden generation in Korean baseball history.¡±


    Finally, the journalists began typing furiously on their keyboards.


    The coach¡¯s exnation of why the Korean team was strong continued for a while.


    ¡°And most importantly¡­ we have a monster among us.¡±


    Thisst remark was exactly the kind of headline the reporters had been hoping for.


    ¡ª


    In StrikeHeart, there are some differences from reality.


    One such difference is that the Phoenix Tournament, which was abolished and then revived in real life, remains abolished here, and the U18 Baseball World Cup takes ce before the draft.


    That¡¯s why I am now in Osaka, Japan, the host city of this year¡¯s Baseball World Cup.


    As soon as I got off the ne, Kim Shinhua, Jin Taehyun, and Kim Yoobin followed me.


    I don¡¯t know why, but these guys had been getting friendly with me since our intensive training before leaving.


    Well, I can understand why Jin Taehyun is doing it, but¡­


    ¡°How about we unpack our luggageter and do a one-on-one batting contest with drinks on the line, using Kim Shinhua as the target pitcher?¡±


    ¡°Even if you have Cha Taehyun on your team, you still won¡¯t be able to touch my pitches, so what kind of contest is that?¡±


    ¡°Wow, seriously, if Kim Shinhua hadn¡¯t yed baseball, he probably wouldn¡¯t have had any friends¡­¡±


    As for why Kim Shinhua and Kim Yoobin are sticking with me, that remains a mystery.


    Just then, my phone vibrated.


    [Teacher Miyeon: Taehyun, did you arrive in Japan?]


    As soon as I saw the sender¡¯s name, the corners of my mouth lifted involuntarily.


    [Yes, I arrived safely. ??]


    [No ne crash, right?]


    [If there was, I wouldn¡¯t be replying, would I?]


    [Thank goodness. ?? But what if there¡¯s an earthquake in Japan


    ¡­? I heard a typhoon might being too¡­]


    [Should I go to Japan under the guise of cheering you on during my trip?]


    I¡¯d like to reply, ¡°Yes!¡± immediately, but after thinking about it, that wouldn¡¯t be right. Teacher Miyeon should also rest during the vacation. Besides, she already came up to Seoul from Busan to support me. Asking her toe all the way to Japan would be too much.


    [It¡¯s okay. You should rest, teacher.]


    [Well¡­ it¡¯s a trip anyway, and the yen is cheap these days.]


    [And it¡¯s easier to find cheap tickets if I¡¯m traveling alone¡­ I also want to go abroad¡­]


    The more reasons she listed, the more it felt like Teacher Miyeon genuinely wanted toe. It strangely put me in a good mood.


    While I wasforting Teacher Miyeon, who seemed to be seriously considering a trip to Japan, I was stunned by an unexpected message.


    [Taehyun, don¡¯t you¡­ miss me?]


    [I think I miss you¡­ maybe a lot¡­ quite a lot¡­]


    Hmm¡­


    I know I shouldn¡¯t, but¡­


    [I miss you.]


    My hand disregarded my brain¡¯smand and typed out the message.


    Teacher Miyeon might really end up booking a ne ticket after reading this.


    But isn¡¯t this her fault?


    How could I possibly reply that I don¡¯t miss her? Only a crazy person would do that.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve found Cha Taehyun¡¯s weak spot.¡±


    Kim Shinhua suddenly made an oddment.


    ¡°Right? He¡¯s totally out of it right now.¡±


    Kim Yoobinughed and yfully pped my shoulder.


    ¡°This guy¡­ bes a total softie around girls? Have you seen his face? I¡¯ve never seen him smile so goofily like this before.¡±


    Me?


    I mean, sure, I¡¯m smiling because I¡¯m texting Teacher Miyeon, but I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re saying I looked goofy. That¡¯s hard to believe.


    Demanding the truth from Jin Taehyun:


    ¡°The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of baseball, Cha Taehyun, being weak around women was something I already knew.¡±


    Jin Taehyun casually nodded as if it were a matter of fact.


    ¡ª


    Taiwan has a reputation for ying tough matches or even beating Korea in international baseball games. This leads many to think Taiwan is a baseball powerhouse, but that¡¯s not exactly true.


    Their domestic league once faltered due to match-fixing scandals, and the league¡¯s management was often criticized. Although they¡¯ve been improving recently, they still can¡¯t quite stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Korea, the U.S., and Japan.


    However, they have been notably strong in the U18 Baseball World Cup.


    So, it¡¯s not surprising that Taiwanese fans held high hopes for today¡¯s game.


    ©¸ Korea in the first round? This is going to be tough.


    ©¸ But don¡¯t you think we have a chance? We¡¯ve beaten them a few times before.


    ©¸ Yeah, Taiwan always ys well against Korea for some reason.


    ©¸ Plus, we have Lin Hao on our side.


    ©¸ Right. Trust in Lin Hao, brothers.


    ©¸ Who could hit Lin Hao¡¯s rock-solid fastball?


    Lin Hao, their starting pitcher, was a top prospect. Even though he was just a high school student, he could throw a fastball that clocked up to 153 km/h, so the anticipation was inevitable.


    And so, with high hopes, the Taiwanese people watched as the game began.


    -Thwack!


    ©¸ Brothers? Something¡¯s off. Lin Hao got hit right from the first batter¡­


    ©¸ Stay calm, friend. Lin Hao seems a bit nervous.


    ©¸ Lin Hao¡¯s strength is his resilience! He¡¯ll get back on track, don¡¯t worry!


    -Thwack!


    ©¸ He got hit again?


    ©¸ Brother, do you not trust Lin Hao? He¡¯s a pitcher who has escaped jams before.


    ©¸ Just wait for his 153 km/h fastball.


    -Thwack!


    ©¸ Something¡¯s definitely wrong¡­ It¡¯s now bases loaded with no outs¡­


    ©¸ Plus, thest hit by that Jin Taehyun guy could¡¯ve easily been a double if the shortstop hadn¡¯t made a diving catch. We would¡¯ve been down in the score already.


    ©¸ Where did all the ¡®Trust in Lin Hao¡¯ brothers go?


    For a moment, the Taiwanese chat went silent, but soon they rallied, continuing their cheers.


    ©¸ We just have to hope Lin Hao gets back in his groove.


    ©¸ Lin Hao, stay calm! You¡¯re not the kind of pitcher to get hit like this!


    ©¸ That¡¯s right. If he rxes, his 153 km/h fastball will crush them.


    Contrary to what the Taiwanese viewers believed, Lin Hao was not nervous at all.


    He threw the ball just like he usually did, perhaps even better than usual.


    Even now, with the bases loaded,


    Even facing Cha Taehyun, who was highlighted in the analysis report as the yer to watch out for,


    Lin Hao was perfectly calm, trusting in his fastball.


    Yes.


    Lin Hao wasn¡¯t at fault.


    He really pitched well.


    It¡¯s just that¡­


    -Thwack!!


    ©¸ Brothers?


    ¡°The inside fastball is hit hard!! It¡¯s going deep, deep! And it¡¯s over the fence! A grand m for Cha Taehyun in his first at-bat, driving a dagger into Taiwan¡¯s heart in the first inning!!!¡±


    The Korean golden generation was just a bit off, as coach Jeon Hocheol had mentioned.


    ¡ª


    TL Note:


    Just wanted to take a moment to tell you we¡¯ve just released a new sports novel (with a slice of pure romance), though it¡¯s ser this time around. If that¡¯s interesting to youe check it out! <blockquote data-secret="azXUBdOmOv">My Girlfriend Wants Victory</blockquote>

 Chapter 37

    Meanwhile, in the New York Mets¡¯ locker room. A yer, looking at Kim Hosan¡¯s expression, asked his teammate.


    ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing Hosan smile so happily. What on earth is he watching?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s watching the Youth Baseball World Cup.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Kids? The U-18 Baseball World Cup? And he¡¯s that happy watching it?¡±


    ¡°You must be new here. Hosan is a huge patriot. He¡¯s the kind of guy who tears up whether his country wins or loses on the international stage.¡±


    The teammate nodded in admiration.


    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s one hell of an admirable guy.¡±


    At that moment, Kim Hosan approached them, holding out his phone as if he had overheard their conversation.


    ¡°Take a look at this.¡± The teammate tilted his head slightly as he epted the phone. It seemed to be a home run video from the Baseball World Cup.


    ¡®Honestly, showing this to us, Major Leaguers¡­¡¯


    He didn¡¯t expect to be impressed, but surprisingly, the swing of the yer on the screen was quite clean.


    ¡°Oh¡­ the pitch was better than I thought, but the batter¡¯s swing is even more top-notch.¡±


    ¡°I agree. A swing that clean is pretty rare, even here¡­¡±


    Hearing his teammates¡¯ evaluations, Kim Hosan smirked and handed his phone to another teammate, Bob.


    Unlike the others, Bob joined around the same time as Kim Hosan. Having spent a lot of time together, he had already figured out what Hosan wanted.


    As soon as he took the phone, Bob ced his hand on his forehead, opened his mouth wide, and eximed.


    ¡°What¡­? What am I seeing right now? Damn! This guy has a crazy swing, and he¡¯s only 18? Hosan, which country is this monster from? I can¡¯t believe it!¡±


    Grinning in satisfaction, Kim Hosan nodded and replied.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun. A Korean yer who will soon conquer the Majors!¡±


    ¡°Damn! Korea again? That country is small, but why do they have so many monsters? If this Cha Taehyunes here, the U.S. will be turned upside down.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! Bob, you do have a good eye!¡±


    ¡°And you, Hosan. You should be a scout. Every Korean prospect you¡¯ve found has been amazing.¡±


    The other teammates watching the two of themughing boisterously had simr thoughts.


    ¡®Is it really that impressive¡­?¡¯


    Sure, the swing was clean and wless, but saying he would conquer the Majors seemed like an exaggeration.


    However, no one voiced their opinions. After all, it was Kim Hosan, the team ace, who was smiling so happily.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Wow! There¡¯s a reason everyone keeps talking about Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Right? Isn¡¯t he aplete monster?¡±


    ¡°Taehyun, do you want to transfer to our school? No, wait, I¡¯m turning pro soon. When I get drafted, you should follow me. Having a shortstop like you would be incredible.¡±


    I expected reactions like this after hitting a home run, but¡­


    ¡°Oh, the one and only Taehyun-god¡­ I worship you.¡±


    Jin Taehyun, this guy, still hadn¡¯t let go of his fanatic persona and was actually sping his hands together as if in real worship.


    What a peculiar fellow.


    Anyway, it might sound odding from the guy who hit the home run, but Lin Hao is not a pushover as a pitcher either.


    There are times when yers refuse to break under pressure and even enjoy taking risks, and Lin Hao seems to be one of them.


    Even during my bases-loaded at-bat, his pitches didn¡¯t weaken but instead got even sharper.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    Even after giving up a grand m, his pitch still had life.


    If he had thrown like that from the beginning, he probably wouldn¡¯t have given up consecutive hits to batters one, two, and three¡­


    ¨C Smack!


    But¡­ Jiho is an outlier.


    The ball soared effortlessly over the shortstop¡¯s reach. Jiho easily made it to first base.


    Adding another hit to the grand m ¨C this situation is likely a nightmare for any pitcher.


    Lin Hao nodded silently and threw the ball, his control improving even more.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    He cleanly retired batters six, seven, and eight in a triple y.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun.¡±


    As I returned to the dugout, Jiho spoke up. While it¡¯s not unusual for a teammate to talk to me, it¡¯s been a long time¡­ or maybe even the first time?


    Jiho awkwardly smiled and said,


    ¡°Nice home run.¡±


    With that, he coolly went to retrieve his glove.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him¡­?¡±


    I habitually looked for Jin Myunghwan but clicked my tongue in frustration.


    I never thought I¡¯d miss Myunghwan¡­


    ¡ª


    When Korea¡¯s offense in the top of the first inning ended, Kim Sinhwa took the mound.


    Although during the training camp Kim Changhyun had slightly outperformed Kim Sinhwa, Taiwan¡¯s team had a high ratio of left-handed batters, so the left-handed pitcher Kim Sinhwa was chosen as the starter.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a four-point lead, so throwfortably!¡±


    Jin Taehyun¡¯s words were meant to ease the tension, but the Taiwanese batter stepping into the box had a face full of determination.


    ¡®This won¡¯t be easy¡­¡¯


    Kim Sinhwa rolled the ball in his glove a couple of times before delivering the first pitch.


    A fastball inside.


    ¨C Whoosh


    The Taiwanese batter swung and missed as the ball was sucked into the mitt.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    The second pitch was a slider that broke away on the outside.


    ¨C Smack!


    The batter swung slightlyte, and the ball went foul.


    ¡®Surely, their batters have a high level¡­¡¯


    Though it was a foul, getting the timing right from the first at-bat meant they wouldn¡¯t be easy opponents.


    Just as the scouting report indicated, Taiwan had a strong lineup.


    Kim Sinhwa threw the third pitch but clicked his tongue as soon as it left his fingers.


    It wasn¡¯t exactly a mistake, but it didn¡¯t break as sharply.


    ¨C Smack!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The batter didn¡¯t miss the t pitch and swung the bat, sending the ball over the second baseman¡¯s head and rolling into the outfield.


    A clean double.


    The few Taiwanese fans in the stands stood up and cheered, and the Taiwanese dugout shouted, rallying their spirits.


    ¡®Taiwan got lucky¡­ If I had touched the rosin bag for just one more second, he would never have hit that.¡¯


    Despite his peculiar way of thinking, Kim Sinhwa¡¯s mentality remained intact.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    He cleanly struck out batters two and three.


    As Taiwan¡¯s fourth batter approached the box, the Taiwanese fans who had briefly quieted down stood up again and shouted.


    ¡®Was his name Wang Jian Hao? They said we should be wary of him.¡¯


    ording to the scouting report, this was the yer to watch out for.


    He had participated in the Baseball World Cup since his first year, making him quite a promising prospect.


    Perhaps considering this, Jin Taehyun called for an outside breaking pitch.


    However, Kim Sinhwa shook his head immediately.


    ¡®Wang Hao or whoever, he¡¯s not Cha Taehyun¡­¡¯


    After a couple of attempts to persuade him, Jin Taehyun eventually gave in, and Kim Sinhwa confidently delivered the pitch.


    An inside fastball that squeezed the strike zone. The pitch wasn¡¯t perfect, but the velocity and spin were quite good. If it passed through the strike zone, it would surely be called a strike.


    ¨C Crack!


    But, just as life doesn¡¯t always go as nned, neither does pitching.


    Wang Jian Hao¡¯s bat swung at an incredible speed, making perfect contact with the sweet spot, and the ball shot straight out.


    Kim Sinhwa quickly turned his head to chase the ball.


    The Taiwanese fans, anticipating a scoring hit, were jumping and screaming.


    A hit¡­?


    No, given the speed, it was a potential run-scoring hit.


    The Taiwanesementator even stood up and threw the mic, and the chat room was blowing up with excitement.


    But then, Cha Taehyun moved.


    Raising his arm high, he caught the ball that should never have been caught, almost as if snatching it.


    After a slight stumble uponnding, Cha Taehyun showed his glove to the umpire, who, stunned for a moment, btedly made the call.


    ¡°¡­Out!¡±


    ¡°Crazy! What was that?!¡±


    ¡°Is this real? LOL¡±


    ¡°Do those ¡®godlike ys¡¯ from baseball games actually exist in reality?¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°Sure, it happens asionally in professional baseball¡­ but to see it in an international match is something else.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, those kinds of ¡®godlike ys¡¯ do exist in real life, but seeing it happen in an international game is rare. LOL.¡±


    ¡°The Taiwanese fans just got their hopes crushed, huh? LOL.¡±


    ¡°Why do the Taiwanesementators look like statues? They¡¯re just frozen, LOL.¡±


    ¡°Real-time Taiwanese chat: ¡®Brothers, I think we need to conduct a drug test on this yer, Cha Taehyun.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Now they¡¯re starting to nder Taehyun-god, LOL.¡±


    ¡°But to be fair, watching that defensive y just now, it kind of makes sense. Seriously, what was that? LOL.¡±


    Kim Sinhwa looked at Cha Taehyun and let out a hollowugh before mumbling to himself.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun¡­ As a teammate, I really do like you.¡±


    In what might be the first time ever, he gave Cha Taehyun a pure thumbs-up filled with 100% respect.


    ¡ª


    Taiwan, known for its strong hitting, put up a persistent fight, but sheer tenacity has its limits. Now, in the 7th inning, the score stood at 10-4, with Taiwan barely avoiding a mercy rule defeat.


    The offense for this inning started with the third batter, Jin Taehyun, but he struck out weakly, which was unusual for him.


    As he returned to the dugout, Jin Taehyun subtly spoke to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ and whatever you do, don¡¯t look at the first base bleachers.¡±


    Although his warning was abrupt, there was a hint of seriousness to it, as if he really didn¡¯t want me to look.


    However, humans are inherently creatures of curiosity; when someone says ¡°don¡¯t do it,¡± it only makes you want to do it more. It¡¯s the same as seeing a red buttonbeled ¡°Do not press¡± and wanting to press it.


    This is all Jin Taehyun¡¯s fault.


    Ah¡­?


    The moment I nced at the first base bleachers, I understood exactly why Jin Taehyun had warned me and why he struck out so easily.


    A small, cute child was looking at me with tear-filled eyes, wearing a baseball cap toorge for their head.


    No doubt about it¡­ This really is a counter to Jin Taehyun.


    He¡¯s already such an emotional guy, and seeing those big, shining eyes giving off a look that says, ¡°Are you going to hit a home run¡­?¡± or ¡°Please don¡¯t¡­¡± must have been hard for him.


    Let¡¯s see¡­ The current score is 10-4, and the runner is on second. So, if I score just one more run and Taiwan fails to score in their turn, it will end the game in a mercy rule?


    Thinking about it this way even made me feel a bit soft-hearted.


    The kid and their family probably flew all the way here to watch the game, hoping for a good result. They¡¯d be so disappointed if it ended in a mercy rule.


    Still¡­ I¡¯m sorry, kiddo.


    There are many people back in Korea cheering for me.


    Especially Ms. Miyeon.


    -Crack!


    I adjusted my bat¡¯s trajectory to match the downward curveball and swung with all my might.


    The moment the ball made contact, I was certain it was a home run. I nced over at the bleachers.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    -Waaaah!


    The kid was crying loudly, beingforted by their family as tears streamed down their face. I, who was about to habitually throw my bat, carefully ced it down and quickly ran the bases, almost as if trying to escape.


    ¡ª


    ¡°As expected of Taehyun-god¡­ I worship you. The unshakable swing, unfazed even by the gaze of a child¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow, Taehyun, I saw that kid too. You really are something else, crushing that cute child¡¯s dreams and hopes.¡±


    ¡°Well done, Cha Taehyun. Baseball is a cruel world, after all. If I were a batter instead of a pitcher, I would¡¯ve done the same.¡±


    We had just finished the game against Taiwan in a mercy rule win and were having a silly conversation when suddenly¡­


    ¡°Hey¡­ Isn¡¯t that family over there the one with that kid?¡±


    Just as Kim Yoobin said, the kid¡¯s family was approaching us.


    ¡°Excuse me, do you speak English?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, I can speak English.¡±


    Upon hearing that, they smiled brightly, removed the kid¡¯s hat, and handed it over to me along with a marker.


    ¡°Our child seems to have be a fan of yours. Could you please sign this?¡±


    ¡°Sorry? Me?¡±


    I was momentarily taken aback.


    They¡¯re saying their child became my fan, even though I just ended today¡¯s game in a mercy rule¡­


    ¡°Oh, our kid is still young, so they don¡¯t really know which team is from our country. They just like whoever ys well.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡±


    Now that I think about it, the kid is quite young. I guess they cried earlier because they were overwhelmed by the game.


    Anyway, seeing this cute child smile at me, I felt pretty good.


    I took the hat and marker, signed it, and put the hat back on the kid¡¯s head. The child jumped up and down in excitement, clearly pleased.


    As I watched them with a warm feeling in my heart, a good idea came to mind.


    ¡°Wait a moment, please.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    I opened my bag, pulled out a bat, and signed it before handing it to the kid.


    The bat was too heavy for the child to lift, so they hugged it instead, smiling bashfully as if they liked it.


    ¡°Are you really giving this to us? Is that okay? It looks like it¡¯s one you use yourself.¡±


    I did only bring one spare bat, so it¡¯s a bit tricky¡­ But if I need another one, I can just borrow Jin Taehyun¡¯s.


    Besides¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just wanted to give it to them. Consider it amemorative gift for my first international fan.¡±


    I thought to myself that receiving this bat would be a memory that stays with the kid for a lifetime. If I could create a memory with just one bat, it would be a small price to pay.


    The child¡¯s parents thanked me so profusely that it almost felt burdensome.


    They wanted to post it on social media, so I allowed them and took a picture together.


    The little kid, showing their tiny front teeth, bowed to me before leaving.


    I had felt a bit guilty seeing them cry earlier, but now I felt relieved.


    ¡°As expected of Taehyun-god¡­ His kindness is as vast as the sky¡­¡±


    ¡°This guy is actually kind of cool.¡±


    ¡°Winning the game and building a positive image? Not bad, Cha Taehyun. I respect you for this.¡±


    ¡°¡­Cut it out, Sinhwa. Don¡¯t ruin this heartwarming moment.¡±


    At my words, Jin Taehyun and Kim Yoobin clutched their stomachs, bursting intoughter.


    The hot summer day in Osaka was drawing to an end.

 Chapter 38

    The shocking result of Taiwan¡¯s defeat by the mercy rule filled their portal sites with articles, most of which featured Cha Taehyun.


    The Taiwanese people¡¯s reactions to Cha Taehyun were divided into two categories.


    People Criticizing Cha Taehyun:


    ¨C ¡°Brothers, we really need to consider the possibility that Cha Taehyun is using drugs.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Am I the only one who dislikes this yer?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Me too. His face alone makes me angry.¡±


    ¨C ¡°I agree. He has no manners; he¡¯s constantly smirking.¡±


    ¨C ¡°An ill-mannered youth.¡±


    People Supporting Cha Taehyun: ¨C ¡°But as a baseball fan, I¡¯m excited that a big star might be emerging in Asia.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Yeah, our team may have lost, but he seems like an excellent yer.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Brothers, let¡¯s not be too harsh. He looks like someone who could make it big.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Does his face make you mad? I think he¡¯s handsome.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Let¡¯s just see baseball as baseball, brothers.¡±


    However, when a photo of Cha Taehyun smiling rather smugly during the game began to circte, people started tobel him as a disgrace to sportsmanship.


    Things escted, and some even started to express anti-Korean sentiments.


    It was at this moment that a particr social media post went viral and instantly changed the atmosphere.


    ¡ª


    [An Unforgettable Memory!]


    ¡°This Baseball World Cup has given us an unforgettable memory, thanks to Cha Taehyun. Despite the unexpected request, he kept smiling and signed the hat for us. But then, he went even further and gave my child a bat with his signature on it¡ªa bat he had actually used! Even when saying goodbye, he saw us off with a smile.¡±


    [Photo]


    [Likes: 17,265] [Dislikes: 231]


    ¨C ¡°So, he was just a yer who smiles a lot during games.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Korea is truly an advanced country. The mindset of their yers is admirable.¡±


    ¨C ¡°I¡¯m genuinely moved!¡±


    ¨C ¡°A well-mannered young man.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Brothers, is this not what they call ¡®jeong¡¯ (affection)?¡±


    ¨C ¡°This is true fan service and sportsmanship!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Who was it that tried to nder our brother Cha Taehyun?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Can anyone share info about the bat? It¡¯s exactly my style, but I can¡¯t seem to find it.¡±


    This post didn¡¯t just be a hot topic in Taiwan; it quickly spread worldwide through tforms like TikTok and YouTube.


    Even reaching as far as the New York Mets¡¯ locker room in the U.S.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, Hosan, are you high or something? You seem to be in a great mood.¡±


    The teammate was joking, but considering that nationalism could be a type of high, it wasn¡¯t entirely wrong.


    Of course, Hosan himself wouldn¡¯t see it that way.


    His teammate nced at the phone screen that Hosan was holding.


    ¡ª


    [Taiwan Cries! China Cries! Japan Cries! The U.S. Cries! He Made the Whole World Cry!!! Cha Taehyun Shows Korea¡¯s ¡®Jeong¡¯!!!]


    ¡ª


    [A K-Baseball yer Stopped the Tears of a Child Who Was Crying Over Taiwan¡¯s Shocking Mercy-Rule Defeat? Cha Taehyun Touches the World!]


    ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s in Korean, so I don¡¯t quite understand. Anyway, it looks like a fun video, right?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just that our national baseball team beat Taiwan. I¡¯m just really happy about it.¡±


    The teammate let out an admiring ¡°Oh¡­¡± in response.


    ¡°Just as I¡¯ve heard, your patriotism is really impressive. I bet you¡¯d run back to Korea immediately if a war broke out.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. In your country, every man must serve in the military, right? So you¡¯ve alreadypleted your service? That¡¯s really incredible.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. Every man born in Korea goes to the military and trains hard with the sole desire to protect their country. It¡¯s a natural duty.¡±


    The teammate nodded earnestly, genuinely moved, and gave Hosan a thumbs-up.


    Another teammate, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, tilted his head.


    ¡®But¡­ didn¡¯t Hosan once boast to me about winning an Olympic gold medal?¡¯


    ¡ª


    The national team¡¯s amodation is divided into either two-person or single rooms. Since there aren¡¯t many rooms, upperssmen usually get single rooms.


    However, I, a second-year student, currently have a single room.


    ¡°Does anyone have a problem with Cha Taehyun using a single room?¡±


    It seems the coach thinks highly of me. Well, I don¡¯t mind at all. I¡¯m sensitive to noises like snoring or teeth grinding, so having a room to myself makes me feel more at ease.


    I was happily preparing to drift off into dreand when¡­


    ¡°Love is an open door~¡±


    I heard a strange songing from the door.


    I tried to ignore it, but they kept singing until I finally opened it, revealing the trio: Jin Taehyun, Kim Yoobin, and Kim Sinhwa.


    There was one more person standing behind them.


    ¡°Jiho?¡±


    Now that was unexpected.


    ¡°Hehehe¡­ Taehyun, isn¡¯t Jiho really a man¡¯s man?¡± Kim Yoobin giggled as he pointed to Jiho.


    ¡°What the heck are you talking about now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s such a total gay! I¡¯m really shocked.¡±


    ¡­What?


    Does Jiho have such a preference? Have I somehow changed the world¡¯s fate by being involved?


    I stared at Jiho with a look that said, ¡°Is this true?¡±


    ¡°No, damn it¡­¡±


    Hmm. Guess not. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever heard Jiho curse.


    ¡°Hey, why are you reacting like that to a joke? Anyway, Jiho came to us for advice, you know what it was about?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ¡°No, don¡¯t¡ª¡±


    Jiho quickly tried to cover Kim Yoobin¡¯s mouth, but Kim Yoobin stepped back and spoke up.


    ¡°He went on and on for 30 minutes, telling us his story, but in the end, he just wanted to make up with you! Isn¡¯t it true that guys should just say ¡®sorry¡¯ and be done with it?¡±


    Kim Sinhwa, who had been quietly standing beside them, nodded.


    ¡°That is indeed an undeniable truth. Jiho does seem pretty gay, though.¡±


    ¡°No, damn it¡­ Fine, I¡¯ll say it.¡±


    Jiho sighed, then stepped forward and bowed his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything, Cha Taehyun. My apology iste.¡±


    Jiho was seriously apologizing, but the problem was that I had no idea what he was apologizing for.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Why are you apologizing, exactly? I¡¯m not teasing; I genuinely don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯ve treated you like trash based on baseless rumors¡­¡±


    Jin Taehyun suddenly covered his mouth and muttered.


    ¡°sphemy¡­ sphemy!¡±


    These guys keep ruining the mood, but anyway¡­


    ¡°Was that it? I honestly didn¡¯t know you were doing that. I didn¡¯t really care.¡±


    Jiho lifted his head and looked at me with eyes full of newfound admiration.


    Seriously¡­ When you look at me like that, it makes me suspicious.


    ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t hold any grudges, so you don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    ¡°¡­Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Like you said, why should guys bother over something like that? Are you really gay?¡±


    Jiho smirked and replied.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Anyway¡­ thanks.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡±


    As a warm atmosphere settled in, suddenly¡­


    ¡°Taehyun-god¡¯s mercy is as vast as the ocean¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ we have no choice but to worship him.¡±


    Now, even Kim Yoobin was following this weird worshiping concept.


    ¡°So, are you guys done now?¡± I subtly hinted for them to leave.


    But Kim Yoobin shook his head.


    ¡°We agreed to a one-at-bat match with Kim Sinhwa this morning.¡±


    ¡°But I was the starting pitcher today¡ª¡±


    ¡°What, are you scared? Is your arm too tired that I¡¯ll strike you out?¡±


    ¡°¡­Fine. Come on out. I¡¯ll show you the difference in skill.¡±


    Normally, I would ignore it, but right now, an extremely important message just came to my phone.


    ¡°Everyone, get out. I have a very important call to make.¡±


    When I spoke with a serious expression, Jin Taehyun, going ¡°Ooh¡­ The godmands us¡­,¡± led the others out.


    [Ms. Miyeon: Taehyun, are you in your room?]


    Ms. Miyeon¡¯s message is a major issue, after all.


    [Yes, I just got to my room¡­]


    I stopped typing the message and pressed her number instead. While texting is nice, I just really wanted to hear Ms. Miyeon¡¯s voice right now.


    ¡°Ta-Taehyun¡­?¡±


    ¡°I was going to text, but I just wanted to hear your voice.¡±


    ¡°O-Oh¡­ Really?¡±


    I heard a softugh through the speaker, though it seemed like she had moved the phone away for a moment.


    I wanted to call her, but now I have no idea what to say.


    After thinking for a bit, I just said what was in my heart.


    ¡°I really miss you right now.¡±


    There was no response.


    I moved the phone closer to my ear, and a small voice from the speaker tickled my ear.


    ¡°¡­Me too.¡±


    Is it possible to feel this much happiness from such a short answer? I also had to lower the phone to cover up myughter.


    After calming myself, I picked up the phone again.


    ¡°I¡­ really


    miss you, Taehyun.¡±


    And I had to lower the phone again.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡±


    This is bad¡­


    I really want to see Ms. Miyeon.


    There¡¯s nothing on my schedule tomorrow anyway¡­ Should I just take a flight and go see her?


    ¡ª

 Chapter 39

    ¡°Congrattions on your four consecutive wins. You¡¯re about to face your final game against Korea, and they have been showing quite an impressive performance. In particr, the yer Cha Taehyun seems threatening. Do you have any strategies prepared to deal with him?¡±


    The American team¡¯s coach chuckled, seemingly in disbelief.


    ¡°Well¡­ Cha Taehyun is certainly a talented hitter, but¡­ did you forget? We have a hitter even more talented than him, Tom ndy, and a pitcher, Nick Trigeris. Both are yers that Major League teams have their eyes on. Why would we need to prepare a countermeasure?¡±


    The coach¡¯s confidence bordered on arrogance, and the reporter smiled as he asked again.


    ¡°So, are you guaranteeing a victory?¡±


    ¡°Victory? I¡¯m just worried you might fall asleep while watching the Korea game.¡±


    This American interview quickly spread to Korea.


    ¨C ¡°Wow, even though I know it¡¯s trash talk, it really makes my blood boil.¡±


    ¨C ¡°LOL, it¡¯s not even trash talk. He¡¯s serious. This coach acted the same way during thest World Cup.¡± ¨C ¡°But the most annoying part is that they can back up this trash talk because they¡¯re that good.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Damn¡­ Please, Taehyun-god, teach these guys a lesson¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°Even though we call him Taehyun-god¡­ Can he handle yers that Major League teams are scouting?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Hey, even Taehyun-god caught the attention of Major League scouts. Didn¡¯t you see them at the finals of the Cheongryonggi?¡±


    ¨C ¡°But we only have Cha Taehyun, while they have both pitcher Trigeris and hitter Tom ndy¡­ They have two yers on par with Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Two yers on Cha Taehyun¡¯s level? Seriously?¡±


    ¨C ¡°It¡¯s true. Watch the American team¡¯s games. Every time Tom ndy swings, it¡¯s a hit.¡±


    ¨C ¡°No, no, the real deal is Trigeris. That dude only throws pitches over 155 km/h, LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°155? Even Kim Sinhwa throws at that speed like it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Eat something, Kim Sinhwa!¡±


    With mixed expectations of Cha Taehyun teaching the Americans a lesson and the reality check of how tough it would be to beat the U.S., the decisive day finally arrived.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, wee to another exciting baseball game at the U-18 World Cup! The future stars of baseball are standing on the field right now, fighting for the honor of their countries. Could there be a more perfect day for baseball, America¡¯s favorite sport? Oh, and don¡¯t fall asleep, folks! Grab some pizza and stay focused!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Guys, will Korea put up a fight today?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Are you kidding? There¡¯s no team that can beat the U.S., except maybe Japan.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Did you not hear thementator? Our focus today isn¡¯t on beating Korea; it¡¯s on fighting off sleep.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Haha, that¡¯s hrious! Thanks to that, I can watch the game with peace of mind.¡±


    American viewers seemed to expect a smooth victory¡ªor rather, an overwhelming one.


    Today¡¯s starting pitcher for Korea was Kim Changhyun.


    The bigger the stage, the better Kim Changhyun performed. He had judged today¡¯s game as a ¡°big game,¡± and when he did, his pitches were never easy to hit.


    ¨C ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    The first batter was struck out on three consecutive 153 km/h fastballs, all to the same spot.


    ¨C Smack


    The second batter hit the ball well on the first pitch, but shortstop Cha Taehyun made a diving catch and threw him out with a powerful throw.


    The third batter timed his swing well, but again, Cha Taehyun jumped and made the catch.


    The U.S. team¡¯s offense ended quickly in a 1-2-3 inning, contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations.


    ¨C ¡°Something seems off¡­ Isn¡¯t the Korean team¡¯s pitcher pretty good?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Hey, buddy, why worry? Baseball is a game where pitchers always have the advantage in the early innings. Hitting right from the first at-bat is never easy.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Yeah, and the only reason those hits were caught was because the shortstop got lucky. They could have been hits.¡±


    ¨C ¡°So, don¡¯t worry about useless things. Just wait for our star, Trigeris, to put on his strikeout show.¡±


    Despite the early hup, American viewers remained rxed, confident in their star pitcher, Trigeris.


    And, living up to his fans¡¯ trust¡­


    ¨C ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    ¡°Looking strikeout! Trigeris has struck out two batters in a row! Right now, he¡¯s delivering despair to the Korean batters! Just look at the stunned expression on the Korean batter¡¯s face! That¡¯s Trigeris for you!¡±


    Trigeris cleanly struck out two batters in a row.


    As the chat began to pick up momentum and thementators¡¯ excitement grew, Jin Taehyun stepped up to the te, his face filled with determination.


    ¡®Well¡­ Just because he res doesn¡¯t mean he can hit this pitch.¡¯


    Trigeris chuckled and threw the ball.


    ¨C Smack!


    Jin Taehyun swung his bat powerfully and hit the slider, which was curving outside, squarely.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The ball easily sailed over the second baseman¡¯s glove. Jin Taehyun made it to first base without difficulty, grinning.


    Of course, this was his attempt to mimic his idol, Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°You fing sh!¡±


    Trigeris seemed to take it as a provocation, spitting on the ground in frustration.


    ¨C ¡°Haha, fake Taehyun with the shot, shot, shot!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Even knock-offs of luxury items are expensive, LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°What did he just say? Wasn¡¯t that some harsh cursing?¡±


    ¨C ¡°He probably said ¡®fing,¡¯ which is like saying ¡®damn¡¯ in Korean.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Oh, I totally get it now, LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Baking ¡®damn bread¡¯ from the first inning, huh?¡±


    Soon, the fourth batter, Cha Taehyun, took his ce at the te, giving the pitcher a trademark smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t walk me.¡±


    Surprised by the sudden remark, the catcher chuckled and replied.


    ¡°I appreciate that you learned English, but it seems our team didn¡¯t study your style at all. We¡¯re not the kind of team to intentionally walk a batter, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡±


    ¡°Really? Then I¡¯m setting a new record today.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking abou¡ª¡±


    Before the catcher could finish, Cha Taehyun raised his bat, his lips curving into a smirk.


    The catcher scoffed and ced his mitt in the center.


    ¡®Let¡¯s teach him a lesson.¡¯


    Sensing the catcher¡¯s intentions, Trigeris grinned and threw the ball.


    It was a dynamic pitch that ignored any consideration for tempo control, as his upper body twisted dramatically.


    Having already secured a spot in the Major Leagues, his top speed reached up to 158 km/h.


    Considering he was only 18 years old, this was an incredible speed.


    However, the sensation as he gripped the seams just now was extraordinary.


    Even more thrilling than the day he recorded his 158 km/h pitch, which shocked the scouts.


    Trigeris sensed it.


    This pitch would easily break his top speed, zoom into the catcher¡¯s mitt, and make the batter look like a fool.


    ¨C Crack!


    At least, that¡¯s what he thought.


    But then, the bat struck the ball¡­?


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Uttering a scream-like question, Trigeris turned his head.


    The ball soared with an unimaginable speed, almost as if it was piercing through the atmosphere.


    The center fielder ran hard after it, but eventually shook his head, stopping in his tracks.


    The ball kept flying until it met the massive back screen, finally dropping down.


    Trigeris, still staring at the falling ball, nced at the speed measurement next to it, his jaw dropping.


    [159 km/h]


    ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding¡­¡¯


    The catcher, too, shook his head, unable to recover from the shock.


    Meanwhile, Cha Taehyun threw his bat with one hand in a slightly aggressive motion, still in his swing stance.


    ¡°You¡¯re not mad because I threw the bat, right? Can¡¯t have you falling asleep now. Gotta put on a show.¡±


    Finishing his words with a smirk, Cha Taehyun ran toward first base.


    ¡ª


    ¡°So¡­ even though there are two outs, Jin Taehyun is on first base. It would be great if Cha Taehyun could deliver a big hit¡­ Oh my!!! It¡¯s gone! It¡¯s gone! This is¡­ over the fence! Oh my! Amazing~! Truly incredible, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Did thementator just¡­?¡±


    ¨C ¡°LOL, why does it sound like he¡¯s moaning, LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°But seriously, that was insane.¡±


    ¨C ¡°What? They said even Taehyun-god would have trouble? LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Trigeris? Oh, you mean the guy I hit a homer off on the first pitch? LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Real-time U.S. reaction: ¡®Hmm¡­ Can we bring him to the Dodgers? We have a close rtionship with Korea.¡¯ These guys are already flipping sides, LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°No way, he¡¯s our Phoenix ace!¡±


    ¨C ¡°But hey, Phoenix fans, you should be getting nervous. Isn¡¯t it odd that a yer of his caliber isn¡¯t going to the Majors?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Right, damn it?¡±


    ¨C ¡°No way, Phoenix for the win!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Wait, did these guys seriously think Phoenix would win if Cha Taehyun joined


    ¡­?¡±


    ¨C ¡°They don¡¯t know the Phoenix team. These guys will still curse if they fail to win the championship, even while joking.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Damn, it¡¯s been 30 years without a win. It¡¯s understandable to be like this.¡±


    ¨C ¡°It¡¯s been over 30 years¡­ Seriously?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Shockingly, yes¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°Phoenix is something else.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Shut up, damn it¡­

 Chapter 40

    After the first inning ended, the American team was in a state of confusion due to the unexpected turn of events.


    Their offense had been shut down as the first, second, and third batters were retired in order, and their trusted pitcher, Trigeris, had given up a home run in his very first at-bat.


    In contrast, the Korean team¡¯s manager, Jeon Hocheol, remained quite calm. Having been a manager for a long time, he had anticipated this level of performance.


    However, he believed that going head-to-head with Tom ndy, the fourth batter, was not a wise decision. Even after seeing Kim Changhyun¡¯s excellent pitching today, his opinion remained unchanged.


    ndy was definitely a hitter to avoid if he performed as he had in previous games.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try facing him just once.¡±


    Thus, Jeon Hocheol had to gently reject and persuade the still inexperienced pitcher standing before him.


    ¡°Alright. A pitcher should have that kind of spirit. Go ahead and pitch with confidence.¡±


    Jeon Hocheol calmly respected Kim Changhyun¡¯s determination. The reason was simple: in Jeon Hocheol¡¯s view, encouraging Kim Changhyun in this manner would lead to better pitching, even if it meant conceding a hit.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Aren¡¯t you going to the mound?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to allow it so easily.¡±


    ¡°How can a manager not trust his yers? Now, get up there quickly.¡±


    A short sentence.


    Honestly, he didn¡¯t trust himpletely and thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but sometimes, these little lies are necessary.


    With a faint smile, Kim Changhyun replied energetically, ¡°Yes, sir!¡± and headed up to the mound.


    ¡ª


    The sides changed, and the towering batter, Tom ndy, who looked at least 190 cm tall, stepped up to the te.


    The American fans immediately began waving their gs and cheering.


    ¡°Tom ndy! Tom ndy! Tom ndy!¡±


    ¡®The level of poprity is definitely different,¡¯ Kim Changhyun thought.


    There had been cheers before, but this was the first time he heard the fans chanting a batter¡¯s name.


    Trying to ignore the noise, Kim Changhyun focused on the batter in front of him.


    Since he had entrusted the pitch selection entirely to Jin Taehyun, he threw a curveball on the first pitch as signaled, aiming for the lower outside corner.


    The curveball had arge break, dropping perfectly, which even Kim Changhyun found satisfying.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    ¡®So, he has a good eye, too.¡¯


    As expected from his reputation, ndy picked the ball without the slightest hesitation.


    The second pitch was a slider that curved outward. It moved well butcked precision in control, and ndy didn¡¯t miss it.


    ¨C Crack!


    Startled, Kim Changhyun quickly turned his head to check the ball.


    ¨C ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    A sigh came from the audience, while a sigh of relief escaped Kim Changhyun¡¯s mouth.


    It was a foul home run that narrowly missed the foul pole.


    Though it was fortunate, the fact that ndy easily hit a slider that barely missed the zone on just the second pitch was certainly threatening.


    ¡®¡­He¡¯s definitely not an easy batter.¡¯


    For a moment, the thought of walking him crossed his mind.


    But his body was already in the motion of throwing a fastball.


    ¨C Crack!


    At that moment, ndy¡¯s bat swung fiercely, and the ball shot high into the air.


    Kim Changhyun nodded, sensing a home run. Meanwhile, ndy, imitating Cha Taehyun, tossed his bat with one hand and raised his fist toward the audience.


    ¨C ¡°Damn it, why didn¡¯t he just walk him instead of facing him?¡±


    ¨C ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Kim Changhyun today? Why is he giving up home runs in the second inning?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Ugh, you baseball noobs, how is that a bad pitch? It¡¯s just that crazy ndy hit it really well.¡±


    ¨C ¡°We lost. I¡¯m turning off the TV.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Turning off. GG.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Kim Changhyun, Volcanoes¡¯ ace, demoted.¡±


    ¨C ¡°It¡¯s just one run, stop overreacting.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Just one run? LOL, he was getting hit hard in the first inning too, but Cha Taehyun saved him. Just watch, he¡¯s going to get clobbered soon.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Getting hit from the start, how can he not lose hisposure? LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Seriously¡­ It¡¯s actually worse because he¡¯s pitching well but still getting hit. Is he okay?¡±


    Viewers were worried about Kim Changhyun¡¯s mentality, but in reality, he wasn¡¯t too bothered.


    ¡®I¡¯ll just be more careful next time.¡¯


    The team had already secured two runs for him. His sole focus now was to protect that lead.


    That was all he thought about.


    ¨C ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    ¨C Smack!


    ¨C ¡°Out!¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Kim Changhyun calmly ended the inning, recording one strikeout and two infield groundouts without giving up additional runs.


    ¨C ¡°Wow, he really managed to get out of that with minimal damage.¡±


    ¨C ¡°As expected from Volcanoes¡¯ ace, Kim Changhyun!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Damn, earlier they wanted to demote him, now they¡¯re changing their tune.¡±


    ¨C ¡°But didn¡¯t the Volcanoes say they were going to pick Kim Sinhwast time?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Those guys are just like the Phoenix team, LOL. Whenever a good yer shows up, they act like he¡¯s theirs.¡±


    ¨C ¡°No nder against Phoenix. They¡¯ll be fine as long as they have Lee Seungtae, Cha Taehyun, Jin Taehyun, Kim Sinhwa, and Kim Changhyun.¡±


    ¨C ¡°?¡±


    ¡ª


    Kim Changhyun was known to be a man of pride. People said that a lot.


    And it was true.


    He believed in his pitches and rarely avoided a confrontation.


    However, he never crossed the line.


    Even if he didn¡¯t want to admit that his pitches weren¡¯t effective, when the moment came, he would give up the fight for the sake of the team.


    That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t face ndy again after the second inning. When he concluded that it was ¡®impossible,¡¯ he walked him.


    It was a bit disappointing.


    It¡¯s not every day you get to face an opponent as formidable as ndy, even if he wasn¡¯t quite on par with Cha Taehyun.


    Though he had allowed a home run, the thrill of that confrontation¡ªof not knowing if the ball would go into the mitt or hit the bat in that split second¡ªwas still coursing through Kim Changhyun¡¯s veins.


    Yes, it was certainly a bit disappointing.


    ¡®An ace should protect his team¡¯s lead.¡¯


    Thanks to that decision, he had saved his pitch count and kept the game in his team¡¯s favor with a 4-3 score heading into the top of the ninth inning.


    More importantly, the U.S., desperate to tie the game, had attempted a bunt with a runner on second base and exchanged an out count for an advancement, now leaving a runner on third.


    Even if ndy wasn¡¯t at the te, strategically, walking him to aim for a double y wasn¡¯t a bad decision.


    ¡®Alright¡­ Let¡¯s walk him and aim for a double y with two-seamers¡ª¡¯


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    Kim Changhyun¡¯s eyes widened as he fiddled with the ball inside his glove.


    Standing in front of him was Jin Taehyun.


    ¡°What¡¯s taking you so long to decide?¡±


    Jin Taehyun stared at Kim Changhyun for a moment, then lightly tapped his chest with his fist.


    ¡°If you want to pitch, then pitch.¡±


    ¡°In this situation, that would be a bit risky¡ª¡±


    ¡°So what? If you give up a run, we¡¯ll just earn it back.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª¡±


    Just then, Cha Taehyun shouted.


    ¡°Changhyun, just throw it in! If you get hit, I¡¯ll take responsibility!¡±


    ¡°Well, there you have it.¡±


    With a slight smile, Kim Changhyun nodded.


    ¡°Yeah. An ace must trust his team.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s the spirit, Kim Changhyun!¡±


    Kim Changhyun chuckled and lightly tapped Jin Taehyun¡¯s chest.


    Jin Taehyun returned to home te, and Kim Changhyun¡¯s grip on the ball changed. It was no longer a slider intended to break away but his most trusted fastball.


    Pressing down on the seams, he stepped on the pitching te and swung his arm powerfully.


    Though he had already lost to this opponent once in the first inning, it was now the ninth. The odds of winning were lower than before, but Kim Changhyun¡¯s face was full of confidence.


    ¨C Crack!


    ndy swung aggressively at the fastball that came inside.


    However, Kim Changhyun didn¡¯t even turn his head to check the result, instead preparing for the next pitch.


    ¡®Toote, ndy.¡¯


    The ball had veered far away from the foul pole. The audience let out a sigh of disappointment, but ndy nodded, acknowledging the pitch.


    ¨C Crack!


    ¡°Foul!¡±


    ¨C Crack!


    ¡°Foul!¡±


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    A relentless at-bat. The lights indicating the count had all lit up.


    Full count.


    Jin Taehyun signaled ¡°OK¡± instead of giving a sign, and Kim Changhyun grinned, slipping his index and middle fingers deep into the ball.


    He threw a forkball, a pitch he had been diligently practicing on Cha Taehyun¡¯s advice, and now his proudest breaking ball.


    The ball left Kim Changhyun¡¯s fingertips


    , hurtling toward ndy. ndy swung his bat with terrifying speed.


    ndy twisted his wrist to make contact with the beautifully dropping forkball.


    ¨C Crack!


    The ball soared high into the air.


    ¨C ¡°Woooooooah!!!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Tom ndy! Tom ndy!¡±


    The crowd cheered madly, sensing a home run.


    Kim Changhyun smirked.


    ¡°Good pitching.¡±


    ndy muttered briefly before walking back to the dugout instead of heading to the base.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    The center fielder caught ndy¡¯s ball just in front of the fence.


    But there were still only two outs. The runner on third base dashed home, and the U.S. seeded in tying the game.


    ¡°Alright! Kim Changhyun! We¡¯ll finish it! Just get one more out!¡±


    Kim Changhyunughed again and continued pitching.


    ¨C ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    He ended the top of the ninth with his own hands.


    ¡ª


    As Cha Taehyun was about to leave the dugout after a brief switch in offense and defense, Kim Changhyun called out to him.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, an ace keeps his word.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Cha Taehyun replied confidently, tapping his chest as if to reassure him.


    ¡®Of all people, I have to start with this guy.¡¯


    The moment Trigeris saw Cha Taehyun at the te, he spat nervously.


    Before stepping onto the mound, the manager had instructed Trigeris to throw breaking pitches to lure him into a trap. If that didn¡¯t work, he was to walk him.


    Though it was a blow to his pride, it was true that a single big hit could end the game.


    The catcher called for a curveball aimed to fall far outside, and Trigeris reluctantly nodded.


    Or at least, he was about to nod.


    ¡°Hahaha! This crazy guy!¡±


    ¡°Calling his shot in this situation, haha! He¡¯s a real superstar!¡±


    Cha Taehyun had raised his bat and pointed to the outfield.


    ¡°Calling his shot¡­? Who does he think he is, Babe Ruth?¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Trigeris immediately changed his grip to a fastball and threw it with all his might.


    At that moment, Cha Taehyun grinned, baring his teeth, and swung the bat fiercely.


    ¨C Craaaaaack!!!


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s called shot¡­


    ¡­became reality.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Cha Taehyun!!¡±


    Kim Changhyun and the entire team shot up from the dugout.


    Thementators went wild.


    ¡°Yes, even though they tied the game, our batters did an amazing job~! Especially Cha Taehyun, who really has us excited. Trigeris throws his first pitch¡­ Oh my!!! Is it going over? Going over? Over! Over! Over! It¡¯s gone! It¡¯s gone! A walk-off home run! Wow! Cha Taehyun ends the game just as he started it¡ªwith a home run! What an incredible yer!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Damn it, for real, LOL. How can we not worship this guy!¡±


    ¨C ¡°Taehyun-god¡­ I worship you¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°Wow, look at that beautiful swing. I cried tears of joy. T_T¡±


    ¨C ¡°?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Phoenix victory secured, LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°No, you mean ¡®Major League secured,¡¯ LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Shut up, damn it.¡±


    ¨C ¡°A yer like this not going to the Major League is a ¡®national loss.¡¯ He will definitely shine for Korea! Thinking back to my days before joining the New York Mets, his current performance reminds me of my own. No matter how I look at it, his Major League debut seems certain¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°Who is this guy spamming nonsense in the chat?¡± <hr>


    TL Note:


    We n to release series that are in a simr vein to our current ones, so if this kinda thing is your jam and you enjoy our trantion quality, I rmend you give us a follow on NU so you get a notification the second we trante a new series. You can do that by clicking the ¡®Follow¡¯ button near the top-right corner here. Regardless, thanks for reading.

 Chapter 41

    The chairman of Nixon Sports and owner of the Daejeon Volcanoes, Lee Daejin, called a family meeting and summoned his eldest daughter, Lee Sieun, and his younger daughter, Lee Siha, to the chairman¡¯s office.


    Of course, the ¡°family meeting¡± was just a formality; in reality, it was a time to evaluate the performance of the businesses managed by Sieun and Siha.


    In simpler terms, it was an opportunity to say, ¡°Look at what I¡¯ve achieved! Didn¡¯t I do well? So, I¡¯ll take over Nixon Sports!¡±


    From the moment they entered the chairman¡¯s office, both Lee Sieun and Lee Siha red at each other with fierce determination.


    ¡°Shall we start with our eldest daughter?¡± Lee Daejin asked.


    At his words, the eldest daughter, Lee Sieun, confidently began to report on this quarter¡¯s performance.


    ¡°The tennis division is currently in an excellent situation. Sales, operating profit, and profit are all showing a steady upward trend. In particr, our new product lineup is receiving high praise in the ¡®global market.¡¯ We are also receiving positive evaluations from the ¡­ sector.¡±


    Lee Daejin nodded in satisfaction with a pleased smile.


    Hearing that all indicators were trending upwards left him with no reason to be unhappy. Most importantly, the fact that they were doing well in the global market was what pleased him the most. ¡®There¡¯s a limit to relying solely on the domestic market¡­¡¯


    One of Lee Daejin¡¯s business philosophies was to always aim for the global market.


    With his positive evaluation, Lee Sieun sneered slightly at her younger sister, Lee Siha.


    ¡°Our second daughter took on a challenging sector. How¡¯s it going?¡± he asked.


    Lee Siha flinched slightly before answering.


    ¡°Nixon Baseball has announced its first lineup, the CTH lineup, and is currently epting pre-orders. This is also true for the global market. We are now in the final stage beforeunching.¡±


    Hearing her brief report, Lee Daejin nodded with a somewhat regretful expression.


    ¡°I see¡­ Baseball has been a dying sector, so you must have put a lot of preparation into it. But you do understand that hard work alone isn¡¯t enough, right?¡±


    With a bitter smile, Lee Siha nodded.


    ¡°How are the pre-orders? Are they doing well?¡± he asked.


    ¡°¡­They¡¯re still quite low at the moment,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I questioned why you would invest in a failed business¡­ Wouldn¡¯t it be better to join your sister now? I could create a position for you,¡± Sieun said.


    Her words sounded like those of a caring older sister, but her exaggerated tone and expression made it obvious that she wasn¡¯t being sincere.


    Slightly biting her lip, Siha continued speaking.


    ¡°However, this was within our expectations. We haven¡¯t done any promotions yet. We¡¯ve finished contracting our promotional model, and once the athlete¡¯s schedule clears up, we¡¯ll start filming. I¡¯m confident the situation will improve then.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? If you¡¯re cing that much hope on the promotional model, they must be quite a remarkable athlete?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes. Although he is still a high school yer, we made a three-year, 1 billion won investment with an eye on the future.¡±


    At that moment, Lee Sieun widened her eyes and raised her voice.


    ¡°What? Are you crazy? Instead of choosing already famous athletes, you signed a high school baseball yer¡­ for 1 billion won?¡±


    Just as Sieun was about to scold Siha, thinking this waspletely unreasonable, Lee Daejin suddenly interjected.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    He raised his voice, his eyes sparkling.


    ¡°By any chance, what¡¯s the name of that high school athlete¡­?¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­? It¡¯s¡­ Cha, Cha Taehyun. He¡¯s fairly popr¡ª¡±


    The moment she mentioned Cha Taehyun¡¯s name, Lee Daejin broke into a broad smile and raised his voice.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Of course, I know him! You mean Cha Taehyun from Hyuksan High School, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! Well done, Siha! Very well done!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Three years for 1 billion won? You¡¯re a genius investor! I can¡¯t believe I have such a talented daughter!¡±


    ¡®What the¡­ Who on earth is this Cha Taehyun to make him so happy¡­?¡¯


    Nixon Sports ranks first or second in the sports industry in terms of sales. Their promotional models are usually renowned athletes that anyone would recognize. But now, he was getting excited over an unknown high school baseball yer?


    Sieun shook her head, unable toprehend the situation, while Daejin went over to Siha¡¯s side,ughing heartily.


    ¡°Hahaha! With this, Nixon Baseball is definitely worth reviving! I¡¯ll invest more funds!¡±


    ¡°F-Father? What are you talking about? Nixon Baseball has long been forgotten. Arge investment at this point would be a waste of money!¡±


    Sieun¡¯s argument was entirely rational, but Daejin ignored her,ughing and patting his second daughter on the shoulder.


    ¡°By the way, Siha, when is the promotional shoot with Cha Taehyun scheduled?¡±


    ¡°We n to do it as soon as the ongoing Baseball World Cup ends.¡±


    Hearing her answer, Daejin suddenly made a surprising remark.


    ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll join you. I¡¯ve wanted to treat him to a meal for a while now.¡±


    While it was puzzling why he wanted to arrange a meal, it was a purely personal request that had nothing to do with business. Normally, someone with Siha¡¯s personality would have refused, but¡­


    ¡°That¡¯s okay, right?¡±


    Daejin¡¯s face was full of anticipation. The kind of expression that suggested something terrible would happen if she declined¡­


    In the end, Siha had to nod.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll inform him.¡±


    ¡ª


    As Siha left the chairman¡¯s office, a smile spread across her face.


    Truthfully, pre-orders had been sluggish, and she hadn¡¯t achieved any clear results, so she had braced herself for some criticism. Instead, her father promised to make an additional investment.


    ¡®It¡¯s all thanks to him, really¡­¡¯


    She thought she should express her gratitude once today¡¯s match was over.


    At that moment, Sieun, who was leaning against the wall and looking at her phone, spoke up.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Cha Taehyun, huh¡­ I really don¡¯t get it. I looked him up, and he¡¯s not that famous, not even a pro yet. Most importantly, his visuals are rathercking.¡±


    Siha scoffed and immediately retorted.


    ¡°Maybe your standards are just too high? I think he looks fine.¡±


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re smitten, little sister. Given your status, many better men would line up for you. Why settle for this kind of man and waste 1 billion won?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not wasting money on him; I¡¯m investing in his potential sess.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? Because otherwise, this deal makes no sense. But I¡¯ll respect that. It could just be a peculiar taste.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I won¡¯tpletely deny it. To be honest, I like him more than my own sister.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Stunned by her words, Sieun froze, while Siha simply bowed and walked away.


    ¡®Was I too harsh?¡¯


    She felt she might have gone too far, but something about Sieun¡¯s demeaning remarks had infuriated her.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°Whatever¡­ It¡¯s her fault for being more bothersome than him.¡±


    Siha pulled out her phone as she walked.


    She saw that today¡¯s match had ended. It was a bit early, but¡­


    ¡®It should be fine, right?¡¯


    She wanted to relieve the stress caused by her sister as soon as possible. Even a simple business-rted conversation with him over text was always pleasant.


    [Congrattions on your victory today, Cha Taehyun. Do you have a moment to chat?]


    [Thanks. Chat? Sure. I¡¯m on the bus back, so I¡¯ve got nothing else to do.]


    With a bright smile, Siha began typing.


    [Thanks to you, things went well for me today.]


    [Because of me?]


    [Yes. I managed to make a good impression on my father.]


    [I¡¯m not sure what happened, but that¡¯s great.]


    [It is. Thank you so much. By the way¡­ Could youe a bit earlier on the day of the promotional shoot?]


    [I don¡¯t mind, but why? Did the schedule change?]


    [Uh¡­ The chairman really wants to treat you to a meal.]


    [Really? Well, I¡¯m down for a free meal. But wouldn¡¯t it be better to eat after the shoot?]


    [Oh, I made a mistake. I just wanted to show my appreciation.]


    [Show appreciation? Well, I¡¯m grateful, whatever it is.]


    ¡°Alright. Since Father will be there, it¡¯s better to put some effort into this. This much¡­ should be considered part of work. Now, let¡¯s see¡­ What¡¯s a watch brand that men like these days¡­?¡±


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, the Japanese national team was holding a strategy meeting in preparation for their uing match against Korea.


    Everyone focused on the screen showing Cha Taehyun¡¯s batting highlights.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun¡­ Right-handed pitcher and batter, 187 cm. A key yer for Korea, known for his outstanding contact and power¡­ Ryuji, what do you think? Can you handle him?¡±


    Yamada Ryuji, already hailed as Japan¡¯s top prospect and enjoying poprityparable to professional yers, looked at the screen for a moment before nodding.


    ¡°He¡¯s definitely a good yer. However¡­ he¡¯s not exactly threatening.¡±


    The coach nodded in satisfaction and asked.


    ¡°Do you think our pitchers can contain him?¡±


    ¡°I agree with your assessment,¡± Ryuji replied.


    ¡°Good. Then, I don¡¯t think


    we need to worry about giving up big scores¡­ Can you hit Kim Sinhwa¡¯s or Kim Changhyun¡¯s pitches?¡±


    Smiling slightly, Ryuji asked back.


    ¡°What do you think, Coach?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll st it out of the park.¡±


    ¡°I think so too,¡± Ryuji said confidently.


    ¡°Excellent. So, for the first match, do you n to pitch or hit?¡±


    He was asking whether Ryuji would take the mound or the batter¡¯s box against Korea. Ryuji pondered for a moment, then smiled as if he had a fun idea.


    ¡°We¡¯ll face Korea in the finals regardless of whether we win or lose the first match. So¡­ I¡¯ll y as a batter in the first match. Then, in the finals, I¡¯ll surprise them by revealing the pitching skills I¡¯ve kept hidden¡­ How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha!! Indeed! I can already picture Korea¡¯s shocked faces when you take the mound!¡±


    The coach burst intoughter, and Ryuji smirked as well.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Hey, Taehyun. Is Yamada Ryuji any good?¡± Yoobin asked.


    ¡°Well¡­ he is. He hits well, and he can pitch too,¡± Taehyun replied.


    ¡°What? He¡¯s a dual-yer? I thought he didn¡¯t have any pitching records?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Taehyun answered carelessly, feeling annoyed by Yoobin¡¯s persistent questions.


    Right now, Yamada Ryuji wasn¡¯t supposed to stand out as a dual-yer.


    Actually, Yamada wasn¡¯t supposed to be a monstrous prospect at all.


    He had a peculiar career path: he joined the pros with decent stats, yed for about four years, and then btedly discovered his pitching talent, switching to both pitching and batting.


    In any case, he managed to reach the Major League as a dual-yer, so he was quite a formidable yer.


    Besides, since he was set as Lee Jiho¡¯s rival, it was only natural that he would be strong.


    As for why he¡¯s appearing now as a monster prospect at this stage¡­ I have no clue. Maybe it¡¯s simr to how Jintaehyun or Kim Sinhwa suddenly popped up.


    Whoever sent me to this world probably didn¡¯t want me to have an easy path.


    If Yamada Ryuji has blossomed into his talent this early, then¡­


    ¡°It might actually be a tough match,¡± Taehyun muttered.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yoobin asked.


    ¡°The match against Japan. Ryuji is really skilled.¡±


    Yoobin gave Taehyun a surprised look.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you show this much respect for someone. Well, he did look impressive in the videos.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m not entirely sure, but he might also pitch well,¡± Taehyun continued.


    ¡°Really? Has someone finally appeared who can beat Cha Taehyun?¡± Yoobin teased.


    It was just some light provocation.


    ¡°No, they haven¡¯t,¡± Taehyun replied coldly.


    That crossed a line.


    ¡°Haha! So he¡¯s not better than you, Taehyun?¡± Yoobinughed.


    ¡°Of course. No matter how good Ryuji is, he won¡¯t win the Major League MVP.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Just some thoughts.¡±


    ¡ª


    As the Super Round of the U18 Baseball World Cup progressed, the official YouTube live broadcast started.


    As a result, both Japanese and Korean viewers shared the same chatroom, which became chaotic even before the match began. Japaneseizens, ordinary Japanese citizens, Koreans interested in the Korea-Japan rivalry, and more filled the chat. <hr>


    TL Note:


    We¡¯ve just been flush with trantor notes as ofte, haven¡¯t we? This will probably be thest for a while, just wanted to let everyone know we¡¯ve hit 100 early ess chapters for this novel. That¡¯s always a nice milestone to hit, very satisfying. If you want to check that out feel free to click here, but even if you don¡¯t thanks for reading this far. d you¡¯ve stuck with me.

 Chapter 42

    Although he got hit once, Kim Sinhwa ended the top of the 2nd inning without allowing any additional runs.


    He might not always listen to the coach andcks awareness at times, but he¡¯s quite a decent pitcher. Somehow, he manages to keep hisposure, with his mental strength remaining unshakeable.


    ¡°The wind just blew; it wasn¡¯t a ball that should¡¯ve gone over. I¡¯ll win next time.¡±


    See that? Although it would make sense to y it safe after getting hit, he¡¯s still making light-hearted jokes.


    ¡­He can¡¯t be serious, right?


    Anyway, since the other side scored a run, we need to catch up and score one as well.


    Just as I was about to grab my bat and head out, I couldn¡¯t help but smirk at Kim Sinhwa¡¯sment.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, make sure you get that run.¡±


    Seems like he might be okay when pitching, but he¡¯s clearly afraid of losing in a Korea-Japan match. ¡°Sure, just watch. I¡¯ll tie it up.¡±


    ***N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Today¡¯s starting pitcher for Japan is Kubo Daisuke.


    A left-handed fireballer with a top speed of 155 km/h, he was considered the top prospect before Yamada Ryuji emerged.


    ¡°Ganbare, Daisuke!¡±


    As the host country, many Japanese fans hade to cheer. Taking down Cha Taehyun, who has been the center of attention alongside Ryuji, would be an opportunity to reestablish his value, which had been overshadowed by Ryuji.


    Facing off against Cha Taehyun was his chance.


    However, he didn¡¯t n on a direct confrontation. During the analysis of the match against the U.S., he realized that would be madness.


    He aimed to pitch on the edge of the strike zone, barely within it if at all, while ensuring that he wouldn¡¯t make a mistake by throwing one right down the middle.


    Since he and the catcher had already discussed this, the catcher signaled for a curveball to break slightly outside.


    Nodding, Daisuke wound up and threw the ball.


    The feel at his fingertips was good. The ball was dropping right at the borderline, exactly as intended, with an ideal curve.


    There¡¯s no way the batter won¡¯t swing at this.


    ¡®There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll hold back!¡¯


    As expected, the batter swung, and Daisuke smiled.


    Even if he managed to hit it, it would likely result in a grounder or a whiff.


    ¡°What?¡±


    But then, the bat¡¯s trajectory adjusted little by little until it perfectly connected with the ball at the sweet spot.


    -Smash!


    A terrifying crack echoed. Feeling chills run down his spine, Daisuke quickly turned to follow the ball.


    The left fielder sprinted, grass and dirt flying with each step, but¡­


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    It was futile.


    The ball continued to soar over the fence without losing momentum.


    The Japanese crowd, stunned by the first-pitch home run, was left speechless. Even as ordinary spectators, they could see that the pitch was low, yet it had been lifted over the wall.


    Daisuke,ughing bitterly, muttered to himself.


    ¡°He might be better than Ryuji¡­¡±


    ***


    The Japanese spectators, who had been exhrated by Ryuji¡¯s home run from the 2nd inning, grew increasingly quiet as the game progressed.


    It wasn¡¯t that Japan was ying poorly.


    The problem was that they couldn¡¯t seem to score unless it was Ryuji hitting a home run. Kim Sinhwa¡¯s pitching was that sharp.


    ¡°The situation is critical. It¡¯s one out with runners on first and second. Kim Sinhwa has managed to hold them off so far, but if he loses control here, it could be dangerous. Now¡­ Kim Sinhwa throws a breaking ball to induce a double y¡­ Ah! It¡¯s a solid hit! It looks like it¡¯ll go through, but¡­ Oh! Great! Cha Taehyun makes a clean y, turning it into a double y to stop the threat!¡±


    ¡°That damn Cha Taehyun again¡­¡±


    ¡°As a defender, he¡¯s even more stable than Ryuji¡­¡±


    ¡°That would¡¯ve been a run if it went through¡­¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t expect anything now unless we hit a long ball.¡±


    Every time Japan had a scoring chance, Cha Taehyun would erase it with his incredible defense, leaving the spectators frustrated.


    The defense was already infuriating, but his batting was even more monstrous.


    -Smash!


    ¡°Damn it! Does this guy hit a home run every time he swings?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t Ryuji supposed to be better than Cha Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°Are they not using the first-string yers today?¡±


    ¡°Waaah! Mommy, I hate that man!¡±


    Every time he came to bat, at the very least, he¡¯d get a hit. If the pitch missed and ended up in the zone? Instant home run.


    Cha Taehyun was making Japanese kids cry, who hade to watch the game with their mothers.


    But being the team that topped the group stage, Japan didn¡¯t crumble easily.


    By the 7th inning, they were trailing 5-3, but thanks to Ryuji¡¯s consistent hits, the gap didn¡¯t widen too much. In the 8th inning, they executed their nned strategy against Korea¡¯s relief pitchers, tying the game at 5-5.


    As Japan¡¯s final chance in the top of the 9th inning began¡­


    ¡°Please! Just let the batting ordere back to me! I¡¯m begging you, everyone!¡±


    Yamada Ryuji clenched his fists, shouting fervently at the batters stepping up.


    A stark contrast from his calm demeanor at the start of the game.


    However, his desperation was in vain.


    ¡°Strike out!¡±


    -Smash!


    ¡°Out!¡±


    -Smash!


    ¡°Out!¡±


    With Cha Taehyun¡¯s continuous ster defense, the lineup never made it back to Ryuji.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Ryuji lightly hit the dugout railing with his fist before approaching the manager.


    ¡°Let me finish this game as a closer!¡±


    The 9th inning for Korea would start with their leadoff batter. In other words, even a single hit would bring Cha Taehyun back to the te. Leaving it to another pitcher? That was uneptable.


    ¡®They won¡¯t be able to stop him.¡¯


    As frustrating as it was, Cha Taehyun was definitely an excellent batter, one who might even rival himself.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    The Japanese manager shook his head firmly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have time to warm up. And even if you managed to stop him with your shoulder, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Think about it, Ryuji. This is only the first match. In the end, it¡¯s the team that wins the final that ims the medal. We can¡¯t afford to give up the strategic advantage of your surprise appearance in the final.¡±


    Ryuji bit his lip but eventually nodded.


    Losing the first game would certainly be a blow to his pride, but winning the final was more important.


    Ryuji sat down and watched Kazama, their closer, take the mound, praying once more.


    ¡°Please¡­ If you can just hold them off¡­ I¡¯ll figure out a way to turn this game around!¡±


    As Ryuji prayed fervently, Korea¡¯s offensive began.


    ¡°Strike out!¡±


    -Smash!


    ¡°Out!¡±


    Kazama efficiently took care of the 1st and 2nd batters. Ryuji clenched his fist in excitement, but it didn¡¯tst long.


    The eyes of the 3rd batter, Jin Taehyun, looked anything but ordinary. They gave off a chilling vibe that made it seem like he was destined to hit something.


    And that ominous premonition turned out to be correct.


    -Smash!


    Jin Taehyun didn¡¯t miss the slider that came inzily, swinging it perfectly for a hit just over the shortstop¡¯s head, reaching first base.


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    Groans echoed from the crowd and Ryuji as their eyes naturally turned to the on-deck circle, where Cha Taehyun was waiting with a smirk.


    ¡°Walking him¡­ would be pointless.¡±


    The batter following Cha Taehyun was Lee Jiho. While not as fearsome as Cha Taehyun, he was still a formidable hitter. Walking Taehyun and facing Lee Jiho with runners in scoring position was not an appealing option. The manager signaled for Kazama to face Taehyun directly, and Kazama nodded.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 43

    Usually, when traveling abroad, people n ahead and book their flights and amodations early. It¡¯s more cost-effective that way.


    On the other hand, if you n at thest minute, you¡¯ll naturally end up paying a lot more.


    So what about Lee Miyeon?


    She didn¡¯t just nte; she made her decision on the day of the trip, paying an amount that made the concept of ¡°cost-effectiveness¡± irrelevant.


    She booked a one-way flight and a one-night stay, which cost over 400,000 won.


    If the average person found out about this, they¡¯d foam at the mouth, but¡­


    ¡®Taehyun will be so surprised, right?¡¯


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait!¡±


    Lee Miyeon was sitting in her airne seat, grinning to herself. She was so excited that she even started humming without realizing it. ¡°Oh, I need to reserve my seat for the game.¡±


    [Infield: 19.76 USD, Outfield: 8.99 USD¡­]


    Since it was a foreign website, the prices were listed in dors. After conversion, the infield seats were a little over 20,000 won, and the outfield seats were just over 9,000 won.


    ¡°That¡¯s so cheap!¡±


    Excited, Miyeon snapped her fingers in delight and immediately pressed the reservation button.


    [Tickets can be reserved starting at 12 PM on the day of the game.]


    It wasn¡¯t time to book yet. Feeling disappointed, she browsed the seating chart and spotted a seat that caught her eye.


    Front row on the first base side.


    ¡®If I sit here, Taehyun might be able to spot me.¡¯


    Of course, it was a different stadium, and he didn¡¯t know she wasing, so the chances were slim. Still, she wanted to sit in that spot.


    After a moment of deliberation, Miyeon¡¯s face lit up with an idea.


    ¡°I can just ask my friend to book it for me!¡±


    Isn¡¯t that a brilliant idea? She felt proud of herself, but then a realization hit her, and her mood turned somber.


    ¡®I should have made more friends¡­¡¯


    She had no experience with dating and only had one friend since she focused solely on her studies to be a teacher.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask Hyuna first¡­ Mom, Dad, and my cousin¡­ they probably won¡¯t, right?¡±


    For the first time, Miyeon regretted being an only child as she sent messages to her one friend and her parents.


    ¡®I mean, I have four people to ask, so maybe I¡¯ll get lucky, right?¡¯


    With high hopes, Miyeon closed her eyes, thinking of a certain someone.


    In the locker room before the game, Kim Yoobin approached Taehyun.


    ¡°You know, you¡¯ve got a pretty unique routine.¡±


    ¡°A unique routine? Waving my bat twice over the te?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not so unique.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    ¡°You always look toward the first-base stands. Why is that?¡±


    I can¡¯t exactly tell him it¡¯s because that¡¯s where Miyeon sits¡­


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t even realize I was doing that until you pointed it out.¡±


    And it was the truth. Standing in the batter¡¯s box, he would unconsciously look for Miyeon¡¯s seat, even here in Japan where she wasn¡¯t present.


    I guess it became a habit.


    ¡°It¡¯s kind of fascinating. Anyway, today¡¯s game is going to be intense, right?¡±


    ¡°No need to make it sound so dramatic.¡±


    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s because you haven¡¯t seen the YouTube live chat.¡±


    ¡°The chat?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I rewatched it, and the chat was legendary. There was talk of ¡®chopping down the Japs¡¯ and everything. It was a literal war zone. Think it¡¯ll be the same today?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re curious, just take a look before the game starts.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll do that.¡±


    I was a little curious myself, so I took a peek at Yoobin¡¯s phone.


    ©¸ Here we go, lol.


    ©¸ Today, Taehyun-shin is setting the Japanese straight~


    ©¸ Guys, be careful; they say the legendary ¡®first team¡¯ will appear today, lol.


    ©¸ What¡¯s with ¡®legendary first team¡¯? If it¡¯s the first team, it¡¯s just the first team.


    ©¸ Don¡¯t you know Thunder Eleven? We¡¯re screwed, lol.


    ©¸ Thunder Eleven is ser, isn¡¯t it?


    ©¸ Exactly. It means it doesn¡¯t exist, lol.


    ©¸ Ah, lol.


    Maybe because of their previous defeat or the mockery in interviews, there weren¡¯t many anti-Koreanments in the chat this time.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too bad today. Let¡¯s go check the lineup.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s about time.¡±


    From the moment we entered the dugout, there was an odd buzz, and I immediately understood why when I saw the opposing team¡¯s lineup.


    [Starting Pitcher: Yamada Ryuji.]


    ¡°What¡­ what the hell? He really is a two-way yer?¡±


    Kim Yoobin stared at me wide-eyed, as if demanding an exnation.


    ¡°Well, I only said that because he seemed good at baseball.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe it myself, but it looked like Yamada Ryuji had unlocked his talent for both pitching and hitting early on.


    If that¡¯s the case, what level is he at?


    In his prime, Ryuji was known as Asia¡¯s best pitcher, with a top speed of 164 km/h in the major leagues.


    The problem was that even throwing like that, he would still get hit by the main character, Lee Jiho.


    Anyway, even if he had unlocked his talent early, he wouldn¡¯t be throwing at that speed already.


    He quickly embarked on the path of a two-way yer, but if he¡¯s that good this early, that would be problematic.


    Wait, is he not fully a two-way yer yet? He¡¯s starting as a pitcher, so maybe not.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious to see how he pitches.¡±


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m more terrified¡­ I feel like he¡¯s going to be really good¡­¡±


    Yamada Ryuji initially started ying baseball because he wanted to be a pitcher.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The pitcher, standing in the middle of the baseball field, controlling the game, looked incredibly cool to him.


    He had some talent, too. His speed was much higher than that of his peers.


    But in the end, Ryuji switched to being a batter because of his persistent control issues.


    He had no choice, and since he had the talent for batting, he decided to live contently as a batter.


    However, when he joined the national team due to Japan¡¯s focus on international baseball, he met an old pitching coach, which became his turning point.


    ¡°You not bing a pitcher is an insult to those whock the talent.¡±


    The coach persistently pushed Ryuji to be a pitcher. Under his guidance, Ryuji eventually refined his pitching form and naturally regained control.


    When Ryuji said he wanted to repay the coach for helping him fulfill his dream, the coach replied:


    ¡°If you be a pitcher representing our country, that will be repayment enough.¡±


    Yes.


    To repay the old coach who had made his dream a reality and raised his value as a yer¡­


    Yamada Ryuji was determined to make his pitching debut today a victory.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡±


    Ryuji closed his eyes and took a deep breath.


    ¨C Keep your release point steady!


    ¨C Make your body remember this. Always nt your lead foot here.


    ¨C Create your own routine, and stick to it, no matter what.


    It was almost as if the coach was right beside him, giving him advice.


    ¡®Are you watching, Coach? Yamada Ryuji, your masterpiece, is throwing his first pitch now!¡¯


    He drove his lead foot forward sharply, yet precisely to the distance he had set. His left shoulder dropped as his right shoulder rose to lead the motion.


    Lifting his hand high, he threw the ball as if shing downward.


    The ball shot forward in a heavy, direct line.


    -Smack!


    It mmed into the center of the catcher¡¯s mitt.


    ¡°¡­Strike!¡±


    -Wooooaaaahhhh!!!


    It was only the first pitch, yet cheers erupted from the stadium.


    Were they cheering because their country¡¯s pitcher threw a strike?


    Maybe, but it wasn¡¯t enough to exin the level of excitement. The crowd wasn¡¯t even watching Ryuji; their eyes were fixed on the electronic scoreboard.


    [158 km/h]


    ¡°Haha¡­ what the hell, from the first pitch?¡±


    The first batter, who had checked the scoreboard, shook his head in disbelief.


    The second pitch came inside, close to the batter.


    -Swish!


    The batter swung the bat fiercely, but he missed. A whiff.


    The third pitch was another bold fastball, right down the center.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    The batter had no choice but to watch as he was struck out.


    It was the same for the second batter.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    Another three-pitch strikeout.


    The third batter, Jin Taehyun, managed to make contact with the first pitch, but it went foul. Then, he swung and missed the next two pitches.


    ¡°Strike! Out!¡±


    In just nine pitches, Yamada Ryuji had erased the top of the first inning, marking the birth of a new star.


    -Wooooaaaahhhh!!!


    The crowd went wild.


    Back in the dugout, Jin Taehyun shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯ll take me some time to hit off him.¡±


    ¡°Is it that bad?¡±


    ¡°You saw it¡­¡±


    Well, to be fair, even I had to admit that his pitching was unbelievable. His velocity was simr to that of Trigeris, the top American prospect, but his control seemed even better.


    At this point, it¡¯s clear that whoever brought me here is intentionally raising the difficulty level.


    I don¡¯t particrly mind, though. It¡¯s not unreasonable yet.


    Now, I wonder if Changhyun-senior¡¯s mentality is holding up.


    After seeing the shocking pitching from the opponent and realizing that our hitters might struggle to score, it would be natural for him to feel a bit shaken.


    Though it¡¯s Changhyun-senior, so he¡¯ll probably be fine.


    ¡°Changhyun-senior, what do you think your scoreless innings streak will be today?¡±


    He smirked and replied.


    ¡°The ace always pitches with the intent of not giving up any runs.¡±


    ¡°Got it, zero runs confirmed.¡±


    I guess I was worried for nothing.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    Changhyun-senior¡¯s first pitch was a solid inside fastball clocking in at 152 km/h. He looked to be in good form today.


    Yamada Ryuji might be abnormal, but Changhyun-senior¡¯s pitch is by no means easy to hit.


    -Smack!


    Just as I thought that, the first batter swung at the ball.


    I anticipated the direction of the hit based on the sound and prepared to move, then visually tracked the ball to move more urately.


    It looked like a bouncing ball, so I positioned myself to catch it a bit farther back.


    It¡¯s not over yet. You always have to consider an unpredictable bounce in your mind. Baseball is a game of surprises.


    -Thud!


    See? Like this.


    The ball, with a bit of backspin, veered off in the opposite direction of what I had expected.


    I stayed as calm as possible, turned my body, extended my arm, caught the ball, and spun around for a strong throw.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    It was close, but we managed to get the first out.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    Changhyun-senior shouted, giving me a thumbs up.


    -Smack!


    The next batter also hit the ball on the third pitch.


    I jumped and snagged the ball headed toward the left field.


    -Smack!


    Another ball came flying my way.


    ¡­Why does it feel like the ball keepsing over here today?


    Not that I mind.


    -Woooaaaahhhhh!!!


    The cheers thate when the ball is in flight.


    ¡°Not gonna happen.¡±


    ¡°Out!¡±


    -¡­


    The moment everything goes quiet is the most satisfying.


    Since the game was being held in Japan, Miyeon had expected that most of the crowd would be Japanese.


    But¡­ this was way beyond her expectations.


    ¡°Ganbare! Ryuji-san!¡±


    ¡°Ryuji-san! You can do it! Strike him out!¡±


    ¡°Ryuji-san, please stop Taehyun!¡±


    Everyone around her was Japanese. She had hoped to at least see one Korean person nearby¡­


    As a result, Miyeon had felt small and intimidated the whole time.


    However, the moment Cha Taehyun stepped into the batter¡¯s box, she jumped up and started shouting without a care for the stares around her.


    ¡°Taehyun-ah!!!¡±


    Cheering her heart out, Miyeon wiped the tears forming in her eyes.


    ¡°Why am I crying¡­?¡±


    Was it because of the overwhelming emotions? She sniffled and resumed cheering loudly. Then, her eyes widened.


    ¡°¡­Taehyun-ah?¡±


    He shouldn¡¯t know she was here¡­


    But just like always, Cha Taehyun¡¯s eyes naturally turned in her direction.


    For a moment, she stood there in a daze, staring into his eyes, then found herself shouting without even realizing it.


    ¡°Taehyun-ah!! I missed you!! I really¡­ really missed you so much!!!¡±


    These were the words she had always wanted to say but had held back out of embarrassment. Now, they poured out without hesitation.


    After all, he wouldn¡¯t hear her.


    No one around knew who she was.


    So, right now, she could finally express the feelings that a teacher shouldn¡¯t have.


    That¡¯s what she thought as she shouted, but¡­


    Cha Taehyun nodded as if he heard her and shed a bright smile.


    Then, as if to promise a home run, he raised his bat and pointed to the outfield.


    Taehyun adjusted his stance and swung his bat fiercely.


    -SMACK!


    It was the highest-speed pitch of the U-18 Baseball World Cup.


    Yamada Ryuji¡¯s fastball, clocked at 160 km/h, was sent flying to the back screen.


    Following the ball¡¯s flight, Miyeon turned her gaze back to Taehyun, who was already looking right at her.


    His lips curved into a gentle smile, and naturally, Miyeon found herself smiling back.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 44

    Toyama, the legendary pitching coach, had trained countless star yers in Japan.


    In his eyes, Yamada Ryuji was a yer with exceptional talent, one who could be one of the best pitchers not just in Asia but worldwide.


    Then what was this guy who just took that 160 km/h fastball ¡ª possibly the best pitch of Ryuji¡¯s career ¡ª and sent it straight to the back screen?


    Having spent his life coaching pitchers, Toyama had always been indifferent to batters.


    But now, his interest was piqued, and he even felt an urge to have this Korean yer on his side, the very yer he considered a rival.


    ¡°An interesting yer¡­¡±


    As Toyama muttered, Ryuji approached him, his face a bit downcast.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault. You just had a bit of bad luck. Besides, the game has just begun. Taehyun still has at-bats left. Go at him again! I believe in you.¡± The coach¡¯s words seemed to bolster Ryuji¡¯s spirits as he returned to his position, a bit more energized.


    ¡°Toyama-san, do you really believe that Ryuji can stop him?¡± the coach asked.


    Despite their roles, the coach spoke quite politely to Toyama, given his extensive experience.


    ¡°Of course not. Didn¡¯t you see that swing from Taehyun just now? That kind of swing is on apletely different level; it¡¯s not something that belongs here. I just gave Ryuji advice so that he wouldn¡¯t crumble.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­ In that case, would it be better to avoid him¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for you to decide as the manager. However¡­ if there are no runners ahead, it might be better to have Ryuji face him. Pitchers are sensitive creatures.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ Well, he¡¯s been handling the other Korean batters quite well, so let¡¯s hope he can manage.¡±


    ***


    ¡°That¡¯s Cha Taehyun for you! I knew I could trust you!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Cha Taehyun! You¡¯re giving us a higher chance of flying back home!¡±


    ¡°All hail Taehyun-shin¡­¡±


    ¡°An ace supports another ace with runs, that¡¯s how it¡¯s done!¡±


    The moment I returned to the dugout, I was greeted with a barrage of high-fives. They were so intense this time that they actually hurt a little.


    It just showed how much pressure everyone was under because it was a game against Japan.


    ¡°Wow, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you smile like this before,¡± Kim Yoobin said out of nowhere.


    ¡°I hit a home run; why would I frown?¡±


    ¡°Well, normally, you don¡¯t frown, but you don¡¯t seem to react much either.¡±


    Now that I think about it¡­ he¡¯s kind of right. Ever sinceing to Japan, I¡¯ve been like that.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s got you in such a good mood today?¡±


    As soon as he asked, the thought of Miyeon popped into my head, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile again.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the grin?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ nothing.¡±


    Right, now isn¡¯t the time for this.


    I quietly approached the manager.


    ¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t the future of Korean baseball! Korea¡¯s treasure! What¡¯s up, Cha Taehyun?¡±


    Heughed heartily and patted my shoulder as soon as he saw me. If I were the manager, I¡¯d probably be pretty happy with a yer like me, too.


    In that case, it¡¯s only fair that I get something in return, right?


    ¡°I was wondering if you could grant me a favor.¡±


    ¡°Hm? A favor? What is it? Just say it! I¡¯ll make it happen!¡±


    I can¡¯t just say, ¡®Can I go see Miyeon after the game?¡¯ so¡­


    ¡°Can I move around independently after the game?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ We haven¡¯t won yet, but if we do, the interviews and press conferences will all be focused on you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do the interviews. But¡­ can you handle the press conference for me?¡±


    The manager rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment.


    Maybe this was too much to ask.


    ¡°Alright! But only if you win the game and get the MVP! Then I¡¯ll figure something out. Go do whatever sightseeing you want afterward!¡±


    I never really understood why people called him a great manager until now¡­


    This man truly is a great manager. He knows how to lift his yer¡¯s spirits. That¡¯s enough to make him a great coach.


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the loudest I¡¯ve ever heard you speak. You wanted to go sightseeing that badly?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ something like that!¡±


    ¡°Honest, I like it! Haha! Now go hit another home run!¡±


    ***


    When Cha Taehyun stepped into the batter¡¯s box at the start of the fourth inning, the crowd sighed and groaned.


    ¡°Is it Taehyun again?¡±


    ¡°Now just seeing that guy gives me chills¡­¡±


    ¡°Can Ryuji stop him this time?¡±


    ¡°How would he? The guy sent a 160 km/h fastball to the back screen.¡±


    ¡°But that pitch was right down the middle. Maybe he should mix in some breaking balls and change up his pitches a bit?¡±


    Ryuji decided to put his pride aside, opting to throw mostly bait pitches to Cha Taehyun.


    The first pitch was a slider that broke outside.


    It flew with a precise horizontal movement, but Taehyun stoodpletely still.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    ¡®He let that go so easily¡­¡¯


    Clicking his tongue, Ryuji threw another bait pitch, this time dropping it low.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    Once again, Taehyun calmly watched the ball go by.


    For the third pitch, Ryuji tried a forkball with a sharp drop, but Taehyun¡¯s bat barely twitched.


    Starting with a three-ball count, Ryuji found himself in an extremely unfavorable position, and the Japanese crowd¡¯s faces turned pale.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he going to hit another home run?¡±


    ¡°He already did, didn¡¯t he¡­?¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Ryuji! Just walk him! There¡¯s no one on base anyway!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Just walk him! Let Taehyun go!¡±


    The crowd thought it was better to just give him a free pass.


    ¨C I believe in you!


    Recalling the words of his mentor, Ryuji decided to trust himself one more time.


    Gripping the changeup, Ryuji wound up and delivered the pitch.


    The changeup, famous for its simr form to the fastball but at a significantly lower speed, was meant to throw off the batter¡¯s timing. He hadn¡¯t used this pitch yet in the game.


    ¡®He¡¯s got to fall for it at least once!¡¯


    Ryuji could already picture Taehyun swinging and missing.


    But¡­


    ¨C SMACK!!!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Like an illusion fading away, Ryuji¡¯s vision shattered as the ball soared high and far.


    Ryuji didn¡¯t even bother to follow the flight of the ball. He simply hung his head and let out a deep sigh.


    ©¸ Hahaha, should¡¯ve walked him!


    ©¸ Two consecutive home runs, wow!


    ©¸ Ryuji¡¯s mental state is shattered, lol.


    ©¸ Look at the Japanese fans. They were groaning, but now they¡¯re thrilled to catch a home run ball, lol.


    ©¸ Ryuji, are you secretly Korean?


    ©¸ So there was a spy in the Japanese team¡­


    ©¸ Why don¡¯t we ever send out our first team?


    ***


    Though Ryuji allowed Taehyun two consecutive home runs, the game remained a tight 2:1 score up to the top of the ninth inning.


    Taehyun might have been ying out of his mind, but Ryuji¡¯s pitching wasn¡¯t something that could easily be hit.


    While Kim Changhyun had to leave the mound in the 7th inning after reaching his pitch limit, Ryuji still had rtively plenty of pitches left, holding out until the 9th inning. That fact alone was proof of how well he had performed.


    Nevertheless, the truth remained that Japan was still trailing by a single point.


    In the bottom of the ninth, Japan found themselves on the edge of a cliff.


    The Japanese manager decided to make a final gamble.


    ¡°Take the te, Ryuji.¡±


    He removed the designated hitter and ced Ryuji in the third spot in the batting order.


    This move forced changes in the defensive positions. While it wasn¡¯t an issue if the yers could handle their new positions, the current Japanese roster didn¡¯t quite fit that bill.


    They could use substitute fielders, but theycked suitable yers for those positions.


    Essentially, they were putting everything on the line in this bottom of the ninth.


    Ryuji agreed with his manager¡¯s gamble. It was a desperate,st-ditch effort, but he believed that he could at least aim for a tie or a walk-off against Korea¡¯s bullpen.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    The manager nodded and smiled slightly. He had no doubt that Ryuji would lead them to victory.


    But that was before Cha Taehyun took the mound.


    ©¸ ???? I thought Japan was crazy, but what¡¯s this?


    ©¸ Why is Taehyun pitching? Can a batter do that?


    ©¸ So many newbies here, lol. Don¡¯t you know Taehyun-shin can pitch?


    ©¸ He¡¯s been a two-way yer much earlier than Ryuji, lol.


    ©¸ Like this if you predicted this as a Taehyun fan, lol.


    ©¸ Haha, looks like we¡¯ve already won. Time to stretch out and rx, lol.


    ©¸ True, I¡¯m already in sleep mode, lol.


    ***


    ¨C Taehyun, are you sure? You don¡¯t have


    to push yourself. I¡¯ll let you move around aler; it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to.


    Director Jeon Hocheol really does seem to be a legendary manager. In international tournaments, especially youth tournaments, overworking yers ismonce.


    But the fact that he stopped me from pitching even when I volunteered to take the closer¡¯s role showed how great a manager he was.


    Well, it is quite a risky appearance, even to me.


    I nced over at the first base side of the stands.


    The moment our eyes met, Miyeon shed a smile.


    If Miyeon is here, I have to push myself.


    She wouldn¡¯t want to see me rowing a rubber boat back to Korea, after all.


    ¨C Taichi! Taichi! Taichi!


    The crowd roared as the leadoff hitter stepped into the batter¡¯s box, but the cheering died down as soon as I threw the first pitch.


    ¨C SMACK!!!


    [156 km/h]


    I followed up with two more fastballs.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    The first batter was out with a clean strikeout.


    The second batter met the same fate with three consecutive fastballs.


    ¡°Strikeout!¡±


    Another three-pitch strikeout.


    ¡°Nice! Nice, Cha Taehyun! Please, strike out the next batter too! I¡¯m so nervous!¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the voice behind me. Turning slightly, I saw Kim Yoobin¡¯s forehead covered in a cold sweat.


    Facing the te again, I saw Ryuji, Japan¡¯s hope and the final batter of this game, stepping in.


    ¨C Woooaaaah!!!


    ¨C Ryuji! Ryuji! Ryuji!


    Cheers had been ringing out throughout the game, but this was the first time they were so loud that it felt like my ears were going numb.


    It was understandable why the crowd was so excited.


    Their star yer was up as the final out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared! Taehyun! Ignore that weird Japanese shouting!¡±


    ¡­Who said I was scared?


    Ryuji¡¯s eyes were different, though.


    Filled with a sense of determination, it reminded me of the matchup with Jin Taehyun.


    I took a deep breath and wound up.


    I hadn¡¯t had much time to warm up, so my shoulder ached a bit.


    When I was up to bat, he threw a fastball right down the middle, didn¡¯t he?


    I¡¯m a bit petty like that.


    I gritted my teeth and summoned all my remaining strength, swinging my arm fiercely.


    Just like Ryuji, I threw a fastball right down the middle for the first pitch.


    ¨C Whiff.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    Ryuji swung hard but missed, then immediately turned to look at the scoreboard and let out a small, hollowugh.


    [158 km/h]


    Not a bad speed?


    I liked to pitch quickly, so I didn¡¯t bother checking the speed myself.


    The ball felt pretty good today; maybe I should go for more?


    I wound up again, pushing my body to its limit as I threw the pitch.


    ¨C SMACK!


    Ryuji¡¯s bat followed the ball, connecting this time.


    ¡°Foul!¡±


    ¨C Ahhh¡­


    With a groan, the ball veered outside the foul line. Ryuji nced at the scoreboard again, his mouth slightly agape in surprise.


    [159 km/h]


    His reaction made me curious, but I didn¡¯t check it this time either.


    The ball was still sharp, so I stayed on my pace.


    Once more, I wound up, thinking this third pitch would be myst. I put every ounce of strength into the throw.


    The force of my throw caused my cap to fall off, momentarily obscuring my view. When the cap cleared, I saw the ball just about to meet Ryuji¡¯s bat.


    ¨C SMACK!


    The ball and bat made contact, but instead of shooting forward¡­


    ¨C Crack!


    The bat shattered, sending the ball high into the air.


    I walked slowly to where it wasing down, extended my glove, and caught the final out of the game.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    ¡°Game set!¡±


    It was the moment we stood atop the U-18 Baseball World Cup.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 45

    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Go explore Osaka right now!¡±


    Though it was slightly off the mark, the coach kept his promise.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Responding loudly, I quickly took a shower, then hurriedly walked while ncing around, and when I confirmed no one was around, I broke into a run, holding my phone.


    ¡°Where are you, Teacher?¡±


    ¨C I¡¯m by the drink vending machine near the exit.


    The drink vending machine by the exit.


    I ran toward the exit until I was slightly out of breath, found the vending machine, but no one was there.


    I caught my breath and asked, ¡°Teacher, you¡¯re at the vending machine by the exit, right?¡± There was no answer. For a moment, I thought the call might have been cut off. The moment I moved the phone away from my ear¡­


    -Thud, thud, thud¡­


    I heard the sound of someone¡¯s footsteps echoing near me.


    I turned my head toward the noise and saw Miyeonrunning in my direction.


    Seeing that strange expression on her face, not sure if she wasughing or crying, made me smile unconsciously.


    She approached me, and just as I was about to greet her warmly, she dove into my arms.


    Miyeon clung to me tightly, wrapping her arms around my waist, muttering something.


    ¡°¡­wanted to¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry, what?¡±


    Because her face was buried in my chest, her voice was muffled, making it hard to hear. She raised her head slightly, and I heard her voice, slightly trembling with emotion.


    ¡°I missed you¡­¡±


    Why do these few words make me so happy? I hugged Miyeon back.


    ¡°I missed you too.¡±


    We stood there for a while, holding each other without saying a word.


    ¡°Teacher, I only hit two home runs today. Is it really okay to hug like this for so long?¡±


    Miyeon nodded her head while still resting her face against me, making my shirt move up and down with her.


    ¡°How long?¡±


    This time, she neither answered nor nodded. Instead, her arms around my waist tightened slightly.


    ¡­Well, okay then. Let¡¯s just stay like this all day.


    When I had to retire from Major League Baseball unwillingly, I traveled abroad a bit.


    There wasn¡¯t really a particr reason. People around me kept nagging me that it was a waste not to travel when I had both time and money.


    It wasn¡¯t that enjoyable. Seeing traditional buildings or eating the country¡¯s local food didn¡¯t bring me happiness.


    Honestly, I preferred staying at home, lying around reading web novels. That¡¯s when I thought I wasn¡¯t really the type for travel.


    But now I realize it was probably because I was traveling alone.


    ¡°Taehyun, this pork cutlet is so delicious! It¡¯s true that the original is different! Here, try some of mine too.¡±


    Even though it looked the same, every food tasted uniquely delicious.


    ¡°Wow¡­ how did they build that castle in the past?¡±


    The castle that had felt nd before now looked magnificent.


    ¡°Oh! Congrattions! You¡¯re the first to seed at our betting center event!¡±


    When I won a big stuffed bear and gifted it to Miyeon-seonsaengnim, I felt more proud than when I hit a home run, without exaggeration.


    Yeah, now I understand why people say you should go on trips. It would have been nice if they had added, ¡°Go with someone special!¡±


    Well, I guess even if they had said that, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered much. Back then, I didn¡¯t have anyone I could call ¡®special.¡¯


    I grew up in an orphanage and dedicated my whole life to baseball.


    But right now, I have that special someone by my side. Someone who holds my hand and guides me somewhere.


    I don¡¯t have even the slightest resentment toward whoever sent me to this ce.


    ¡°Taehyun, look at this flyer. It looks like they¡¯re going to have fireworks. Let¡¯s go! Shall we?¡±


    Yeah. How could I resent anything?


    ¡°The coach said to be back by 10 o¡¯clock¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Then, I guess we can¡¯t go¡­ too bad.¡±


    ¡°Not listening to the coach for one day is fine, right? I mean, I hit a few home runs. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    My once-empty life is now filled to the brim.


    The New York Mets secured their 10th consecutive win today.


    Champagne was popping all over the locker room, and the yers were shouting in excitement amidst this frenzy.


    Kim Hosan was sitting alone, looking at his phone with a sly smile.


    ¡°Hosan! I heard Mac rented out an entire club to celebrate our 10-game winning streak. Are youing? They say there are some amazing women too!¡±


    Most of the team cheered at the invitation, but Kim Hosan gave a firm ¡°No!¡±


    The clean rejection startled his teammate, who turned to another teammate.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Hosaning to the party?¡±


    ¡°I heard that Hosan¡¯s country won the Baseball World Cup. He said he wanted to celebrate that victory on his own.¡±


    ¡°Damn¡­ Hosan¡¯s patriotism makes me reflect on myself.¡±


    They were a bit off the mark, but they were partly right. Korea¡¯s victory was one of the reasons why he was rushing home now.


    Once at home, Kim Hosan immediately turned on his smart TV and logged into NewTube, entering a Japanese NewTube channel.


    ¡°Did today¡¯s analysis get uploaded?¡±


    This was a Japanese channel that Kim Hosan regrly watched. It mainly posted analysis videos rted to Korean baseball¡­


    Although it imed to be analysis, in reality, it was a Japanese channel riding on Korea¡¯s national pride.


    ¡°¡­Darn. No subtitles yet? This channel offers the most impartial analysis.¡±


    Kim Hosan wanted to watch this ¡°impartial analysis,¡± but seeing that the subtitles weren¡¯t avable yet, he sighed softly.


    After a brief moment of contemtion, he had an idea and contacted his teammate Sakazaki.


    ¡°Hosan! You called me? What¡¯s up?¡±


    Sakazaki dly epted Hosan¡¯s invitation.


    When he first entered the Major League, he had received a lot of help from Hosan, who was like a benefactor. So even though it was his day off, he rushed over at once.


    ¡°I have a small favor to ask. It might be a bit troublesome.¡±


    ¡°Of course! Just tell me!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a Japanese video I want to watch, but it doesn¡¯t have subtitles. Could you trante it for me?¡±


    ¡°A Japanese video? That¡¯s easy! As long as it¡¯s not an adult video, I¡¯ll do it, haha!¡±


    As Sakazaki joked, Kim Hosanughed heartily.


    ¡°Why would I watch something like that? There are better videos in the world.¡±


    Sakazaki started getting curious about what kind of video could be so important to Hosan that he invited him.


    The video started ying, and Sakazaki began tranting the Japanese to English skillfully.


    ¡°Korea is an amazing country. Their speed and batting are incredible! How does such a small country have so many talented yers?¡±


    ¡°Japan really needs to learn from Korea¡­ Look at how great and cool that swing is¡­¡±


    While tranting, Sakazaki sensed something was off and nced at Hosan.


    Focused intently on the screen with a joyful expression, Hosan urged him on.


    ¡°Keep going, Sakazaki!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ alright, Hosan.¡±


    ¡°Looking at Korean baseball, Japan can¡¯t evenpete anymore! Korea is just so amazing¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, Hosan, is this really an analysis video?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Even as a Major Leaguer, I think this guy¡¯s analysis is excellent.¡±


    ¡®There¡¯s not much analysis here, though¡­¡¯


    ¡°Anyway, keep tranting for me.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay.¡±


    ¡°Now, watch this final scene¡­ Ryuji¡¯s bat shattering signifies the downfall of Japanese baseball¡­¡±


    ¡°Truly amazing¡­ Why doesn¡¯t Japan have a yer like Cha Taehyun?¡±


    Sakazaki, his voice gradually lowering, nced at Hosan again.


    Hosan was smiling with a pure expression of happiness.


    ¡®¡­I can¡¯t even say anything.¡¯n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Though Sakazaki realized this wasn¡¯t a real analysis video, knowing that Hosan was truly a good person, he continued to trante diligently.


    ¡®Well¡­ he might genuinely believe it¡¯s an analysis¡­¡¯


    ¡°He¡¯s not just a star in Japan but will shock the whole world! A superstar has appeared. I¡¯m so jealous that Japan doesn¡¯t have a yer like him¡­¡±


    On the day of the promotional shoot after the Baseball World Cup ended, Lee Siha greeted Cha Taehyun briefly before taking him to a department store.


    ¡°This might not be enough to repay you, but if you need anything, just call for it. I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡±


    She felt that repaying him with money was too impersonal, and simply buying a gift might not match his taste. So she decided it was better to let him choose what he wanted, which is why they came to the department store today.


    ¡°Well¡­ this feels a bit overwhelming.¡±


    Lee Siha chuckled softly. Overwhelming? What was he even talking about?


    ¡°Do you know what the situation with Nixon Baseball is like right now?¡±


    Cha Taehyun paused, then shook his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really use the inte.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to you, Nixon Baseball is achieving unbelievable results.¡±


    ¡°Because of me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You put up an incredible performance at the World Cup, so naturally, the equipment you used got a lot of exposure in the media and word of mouth.¡±


    No matter which sports portal site in Korea, the US, or Japan you visited, you couldn¡¯t avoid seeing Cha Taehyun¡¯s photos. In those pictures, he was always holding a bat or glove with the ¡®Nixon¡¯


    logo. He was already promoting the brand.


    ¡°More importantly, didn¡¯t you give your bat to a young fan?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Yeah, I did?¡±


    Seeing his nonchnt reaction, as if it had just happened, Lee Siha smiled softly.


    ¡®So it wasn¡¯t a promotional strategy.¡¯


    She had thought that it might have been some high-level marketing tactic, but his reaction showed otherwise.


    It had been a genuine, heartfelt gesture.


    ¡°That story became quite a hot topic, adding to our promotional impact.¡±


    ¡°Really? I don¡¯t really use my phone much, so I didn¡¯t know. Well, at least things seem to be going well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more than ¡®just going well.¡¯ Our global pre-orders have surpassed expectations by dozens of times, and the Korean market is doing the same.¡±


    This was no exaggeration. The results were so impressive that even the chairman himself visited the Nixon Baseball department and gave cash bonuses to the employees.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m worried if this is enough to repay you, so don¡¯t feel pressured.¡±


    Finally, Cha Taehyun grinned slightly and spoke yfully.


    ¡°Alright? Then I¡¯ll take you up on it. I¡¯m really going to buy a lot, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I actually insist on it.¡±


    Thus began their shopping spree with Cha Taehyun.


    Time passed, and by now, Cha Taehyun was carrying quite a number of bags.


    Since she was the one who had insisted he buy so much, she didn¡¯t particrly mind, but there was something curious.


    ¡°Everything you¡¯ve bought so far seems to be women¡¯s items¡­¡±


    Clothes, shoes, even cosmetics¡ªall were women¡¯s products.


    Surely it couldn¡¯t be that he had such preferences¡­ Could it be for a woman he likes?


    If so, she felt a bit disappointed.


    Of course, it was meant to be a gesture of gratitude, so it didn¡¯t matter how he used them, and Lee Siha was good at keeping work and personal feelings separate.


    But for some reason, the thought of the things in his hands ending up with another woman made her feel a bit uneasy.


    ¡°This? I don¡¯t really need much, so I¡¯m just getting stuff for Jihyun.¡±


    ¡®Jihyun¡­¡¯


    Hearing the casual way he spoke that name, Lee Siha¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but then rxed as he continued.


    ¡°She¡¯s my sister. I haven¡¯t done much for her so far, so I thought I¡¯d take the chance now.¡±


    She was surprised at how naturally a smile spread across her face, which she quickly tried to control, nodding her head.


    It was strange why she felt this way, but now she understood one thing.


    Why, despite their first meeting where he seemed to care about money, he hadn¡¯t been unpleasant.


    Perhaps it was because that goal was for his sister.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good brother.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m a lousy brother. I haven¡¯t done much for her until now.¡±


    Lee Siha shook her head and replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. There are plenty of siblings who wouldn¡¯t do something for their family, even if they could.¡±


    Like my sister, she thought to herself, chuckling as she began to walk again.


    Heading toward the exit, she suddenly asked Cha Taehyun,


    ¡°What are we, exactly?¡±


    This had been troubling hertely.


    Knowing it was a strange question, she still wanted to hear his answer.


    Cha Taehyun thought for a moment before replying briefly.


    ¡°Business partners?¡±


    Lee Siha nodded in silence at the matter-of-fact answer.


    Normally, this would be the end of their conversation, and she¡¯d go back to their business rtionship, but¡­


    Right now, she wanted to stay a little longer.


    ¡°Being business partners is fine, but¡­ what about being a different kind of partner?¡±


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    The atmosphere turned awkward, and realizing what she¡¯d just said, Lee Siha raised her voice.


    ¡°No, I mean friends! Friends! Business partners are too stiff¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh? Right, you¡¯re right. Friend partners¡­ haha. Let¡¯s go with friend partners.¡±


    ¡°Yes, friend partners. That sounds good! We¡¯re friend partners now.¡±


    And so, Lee Siha managed to move beyond being mere business partners to bing ¡°friend partners¡± with Cha Taehyun.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 46

    Listening to the coordinator¡¯s excited chatter, Lee Siha headed to the waiting room where Cha Taehyun was. As soon as she opened the door, she was momentarily stunned.


    ¡®Is that really him¡­?¡¯


    For a second, she genuinely wondered if it was someone else because Cha Taehyun lookedpletely transformed.


    His once fierce eyes were now exuding masculinity, harmonized by a hairstyle that exposed his forehead. His facial features had always been good, but with his proportions, and now dressed in luxury clothes, his stunning figure was more apparent than ever.


    Lee Siha recalled her sister¡¯s previousment and smirked slightly.


    ¡®Did she really say he didn¡¯t have a great visual?¡¯


    She wondered what kind of expression her sister would make if she saw this look. She even felt tempted to take a photo and send it to her¡­ but that wasn¡¯t part of the n.


    Lee Siha nced at the coordinator and spoke.


    ¡°Um¡­ don¡¯t we need to take a photo first?¡± The coordinator was momentarily caught off guard but quickly caught on and nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Of course! We definitely need to take a photo. Our new face of Nixon Baseball is here! We also need a shot for Instagram.¡±


    Still looking slightly unsatisfied, Lee Siha¡¯s expression prompted the coordinator to think for a moment before smiling in understanding.


    ¡°Oh! And, we should take one with the president too! Just like we did with, uh¡­ the coach?¡±


    Lee Siha nodded, then turned to Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°If it feels too burdensome, you don¡¯t have to take it.¡±


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have said that¡­¡¯


    She regretted her words for a moment, but Cha Taehyun soon responded that he was fine with it.


    Lee Siha walked over to stand beside Cha Taehyun, giving a subtle smile¡ªa genuine one, not for show.


    ¡°It turned out well! Is this good enough, President?¡±


    Satisfied with the photo, Lee Siha whispered to the coordinator.


    ¡°Um¡­ Could you please send me the photo file privately?¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­ Of course.¡±


    While the two shared their little secretive conversation, Cha Taehyun asked,


    ¡°Are we starting the shoot now? I need to change into the uniform. Where should I return these clothes?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s over-¡°


    ¡°Just take them with you. They¡¯re yours.¡±


    The coordinator¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡®Everything together probably costs hundreds¡­¡¯


    ¡°This watch too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. Don¡¯t refuse it. We¡¯re, uh¡­ we¡¯re¡­¡±


    Mumbling a bit, Lee Siha quietly finished her sentence, ¡°¡­friend partners.¡±


    Cha Taehyun chuckled and extended his fist.


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    It was just a casual gesture for him, but Lee Siha found it hard to control her smile.


    A fist bump! Wasn¡¯t this a sign of friendship seen on NewTube?


    It really felt like she had made a pure friend, beyond a mere business rtionship.


    Even if they call it ¡°friend partners,¡± that was just a joke¡­ well, it¡¯s all the same.


    With a pleasant feeling, Lee Siha gently bumped her fist against his and left the waiting room.


    [What Equipment Does Superstar Cha Taehyun Use?]


    [Not Nixon Sports! It¡¯s Nixon Baseball! Nixon¡¯s Baseball Division Rebranding Shows Signs of Sess¡­]


    [Following Cha Taehyun¡¯s Heartwarming Stories, Taiwanese and Worldwide Baseball Fans Begin Pre-Ordering Nixon Baseball Products¡­]


    [Nixon Baseball¡¯s Rising Sess Boosts Nixon Sports¡¯ Stock Prices!]


    [Yamada Ryuji: ¡®I Respect Taehyun, So I Will Use the Same Gear.¡¯ Signs of a Korean Baseball Equipment Boom in Japan!]


    [Kim Hosan: ¡®I Will Use Our Proud Korean Gear Too! Please Support Nixon Baseball!¡¯]


    ¡®Just how much did they spend on promotions?¡¯


    Not only the sports news, but every category was flooded with Nixon Baseball articles.


    Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Sieun muttered irritably.


    ¡°Did they hire Kim Hosan too? How much money did Dad give him?¡±


    Even Sieun, who wasn¡¯t interested in baseball, knew of Kim Hosan, the national star. For someone like him to say such things, he must have been paid a lot.


    Otherwise, why would he praise newly released equipment just because it¡¯s ¡®Korean-made¡¯?


    It didn¡¯t sit well with her.


    ¡°Now that I think about it, isn¡¯t today the shoot? I bet the atmosphere is just lovely~.¡±


    A faint smile began to form on Sieun¡¯s face.


    Commercials are like that. They may seem easy, but you need to act naturally, understand the director¡¯s instructions, and apply them.


    And Cha Taehyun?


    He¡¯s just a second-year high school yer.


    Has he ever even shot amercial, let alone worked as a promotional model?


    She could already imagine the shooting team¡¯s tense atmosphere.


    ¡°Looks like I need to go see how my sister¡¯s doing.¡±


    Feeling a bit better, Sieun left her office and headed for the elevator.


    On her way to the studio, she nced at a man who passed by.


    Thinking he was unusually handsome, she turned around and called out to him.


    ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Taking another look at the man¡¯s face as he turned, Sieun widened her eyes.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes? Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Lee Siha¡¯s sister, Sieun. I saw your profile before, but your appearance seems to have changed a lot.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I guess Lee Siha put some effort into styling me today for the shoot. Does it look okay?¡±


    Of course, it looks fine¡­ no, it¡¯s more than just fine.


    Even if it was just for a moment, he had caused the heart of the high-standard Sieun to skip a beat.


    ¡®So it¡¯s true that men look different with the right hairstyle¡­¡¯


    With a slight smile, Sieun asked,


    ¡°But where are you going? Aren¡¯t you still in the middle of the shoot?¡±


    Seeing him dressed neatly and not in a uniform, it seemed he hadn¡¯t started the shoot yet.


    ¡°Oh, I finished already.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°The director seemed satisfied. He cut pretty quickly, didn¡¯t take many shots. Anyway, the president invited me to a meal, so I¡¯m heading out.¡±


    ¡®Uh¡­?¡¯


    ¡°Uh, excuse me?¡±


    Staring at the departing Cha Taehyun in disbelief, Sieun rushed to the studio and asked the director.


    ¡°Director?¡±


    ¡°Miss Sieun? What brings you here? Is there another shoot scheduled?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ no, that¡¯s not it.¡±


    Sieun looked around.


    The staff were busy cleaning up, as if the shoot had indeed wrapped up.


    ¡°Did today¡¯s shoot start early? It shouldn¡¯t be over this quickly¡­¡±


    This wasn¡¯t what she had expected.


    She had envisioned a frustrated director sighing over repeated mistakes, yet he wasughing heartily.


    ¡°No, I was just as surprised. I expected today to be tough since he¡¯s just a high school yer, but wow, he was a total pro. He looked like someone who¡¯d done dozens ofmercials!¡±


    As the director continued to shower praise, Sieun found herself dazed.


    ¡°What, Sis? Did youe to cheer me on, thinking the shoot would be difficult?¡±


    Lee Siha approached, smiling broadly.


    ¡°Even I was surprised. That person could probably be a celebrity. He turns into apletely different person in front of the camera.¡±


    Lee Siha quickly continued speaking, not giving Sieun time to respond as she struggled to keep herposure.


    ¡°Thank goodness, right? The shoot didn¡¯t go as badly as you thought it would, Sis.¡±


    A yful, lilting voice.


    Sieun¡¯s lips trembled.


    ¡°Wh-What do you mean? When did I think that?¡±


    Heh.


    A softugh, loud enough to be heard, escaped Lee Siha as she turned around.


    ¡°Forget it, then.¡±


    Unable to control her expression in that moment, Sieun called out to her sister.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Where else? I¡¯m having dinner with him and Dad. Oh, and Sis, you can¡¯te. You weren¡¯t invited.¡±


    Watching her older sister with a slightly opened mouth, Lee Siha smiled contentedly.


    It felt as if the resentment she¡¯d been holding onto had finally been washed away.


    When the president said he wanted to buy me a meal, I naturally assumed it was a business meeting.


    I thought there might be additional contracts or something, but¡­


    ¡°This is a hidden gem of a restaurant. Great meat, good prices.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Dad, why did you bring us here?¡±


    ¡°Hey! What do you mean ¡®bring us here¡¯? I told you, it¡¯s a famous ce.¡±


    It seemed he really just wanted to treat me to a meal.


    Here I was in a simple barbecue restaurant, with the president of arge corporation grilling the meat himself.


    It felt strange, but not unpleasant. Actually, it was morefortable than going to some fancy ce.


    Maybe that¡¯s why? I found it easy to converse with the president.


    He smiled throughout our conversation, and when he asked about my hardships, I added a pinch of seasoning to my story, and he even shed a tear.


    ¡°Such a good young man! Reminds me of my own youth. It¡¯s a pity¡­ If we had finishedst this year, you¡¯d have joined Volcanoes.¡±


    ¡°Dad¡­ how is that anything to regret? It means they avoidedst ce.¡±


    Probably not.


    From what I remember, Volcanoes lost their second-tost spot to the Dinos at the end.


    It¡¯s odd to say they ¡®lost the second-tost spot,¡¯ but anyway¡­


    ¡°I heard the Dinos were also falling behind.¡±


    ¡°Right. I wonder what¡¯s wrong with them


    this year.¡±


    It¡¯s because Nemath is a Dinos fan. To get the protagonist, Lee Jiho, into the Dinos, their ranking had to drop.


    If you ask, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t they have finishedst then?¡±


    Even the author couldn¡¯t stand the idea of the Dinos ending upst.


    So, they added a narrative that the Phoenixes desperately needed a catcher. They skipped over Lee Jiho and picked Lee Younghal, who was supposedly the next big thing.


    Of course, Lee Younghal earned his nickname, ¡®Zero-hitter,¡¯ after failing in his first five games and eventually vanished, but¡­


    Anyway, the president, after having a drink, asked in a somewhat louder voice,


    ¡°You seem quite close with my daughter¡­ What¡¯s your rtionship?¡±


    At the word ¡®rtionship,¡¯ Lee Siha flinched. Feeling yful, I answered.


    ¡°Partners¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­?¡±


    Lee Siha widened her eyes at me.


    Suppressing myughter, I continued.


    ¡°A wonderful business partner and friend.¡±


    -Whew¡­


    Lee Siha breathed a sigh of relief, and the president looked a bit disappointed.


    ¡°Still just friends? My daughter isn¡¯tcking in any way, you know. You better try harder, Lee Siha.¡±


    ¡°D-Dad! What are you saying!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! No need to be so embarrassed!¡±


    After a heartyugh, the president handed me a drink.


    ¡°Dad! Taehyun is still a minor.¡±


    ¡°So what? At his age, a couple of drinks are fine. Right?¡±


    I¡¯m known to be a lightweight, but a drink or two should be okay.


    This is all part of socializing.


    ¡°Of course. A drink won¡¯t hurt since there¡¯s no game anyway.¡±


    ¡°Haha! That¡¯s the spirit! Have a drink!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Hmm¡­


    I remember nothing after this.


    -Squeak!


    Hearing the old front door creak open, Cha Jihyun jumped out of bed and ran to the entrance.


    ¡°Oppa¡­?¡±


    Cha Taehyun looked a bit off today. Usually, even after training all day, his eyes sparkled. But now¡­


    He was in a daze?


    ¡°What are you carrying so much of?¡±


    His hands were filled with all sorts of bags. They were paper bags, but they looked luxurious and expensive.


    ¡°Oh¡­ this? Presents for you, Jihyun! Open it¡­ open it.¡±


    ¡°Presents? O-Oppa?¡±


    As he handed over the presents, Cha Taehyun wobbled and nearly fell towards her.


    Barely managing to catch him, Cha Jihyun dragged her brother into his room.


    ¡°Presents¡­ Jihyun¡­ I think this¡­ will suit you.¡±


    His eyes were half-closed, but his lips moved. How badly did he want to give her the gifts?


    ¡°Okay, Oppa. I¡¯ll check them, so lie down first.¡±


    After finally getting him to lie down, Cha Jihyun noticed her brother looked different than usual.


    ¡°He got more handsome.¡±


    Her brother, who had never bothered to dress up, seemed to have been styled somewhere and looked much more dashing.


    ¡°This gift¡­ here¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha. Alright.¡±


    Smiling, Cha Jihyun checked the presents her brother had brought.


    ¡°Oh¡­?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t an expert on luxury brands, but even she recognized the names of the items filling the bags.


    She wondered if they were fake, but with authenticity marks, certificates, and quality that anyone could tell was genuine.


    ¡°Oppa, where did you get such expensive stuff¡­?¡±


    She asked worriedly. Taehyun, who had slowly risen, patted her head.


    ¡°Your brother¡­ earns good money now¡­ So if there¡¯s anything you want¡­ just tell me¡­ I¡¯ll get it¡­ for you¡­¡±


    ¡°But all of a sudden¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Taehyun¡¯s head dropped onto her shoulder.


    ¡°I mean it¡­ I¡¯ll make sure you livefortably¡­ so just ept it¡­¡±


    After standing still for a moment, holding her brother, Cha Jihyun softly smiled at the sound of his quiet breathing.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Did her brother even know?


    That because of him, she had already been living without any envy.


    ¡°Thank you, Oppa.¡±


    She whispered gently into his ear and carefullyid him on the bed before leaving the room.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 47

    Phoenix had effectively secured thest ce due to their repeated losing streak, but the fans were celebrating.


    [Yes, yes! 10 consecutive losses! Last ce confirmed, nice!]


    [Taehyun confirmed to join Phoenix, lol]


    [If you¡¯re happy about beingst, give a thumbs up, lol]


    [Next year, postseason baseball; the year after that, championship! If you¡¯re already excited, give a thumbs up, lol]


    The gallery was filled with premature celebrations. They were already lost in the fantasy of Lee Seungtae and Cha Taehyun finally fulfilling the 30-year-old dream of winning a championship.


    That was, until the next day, when Lee Seungtae announced his intention to enter the Major League.


    [Title: No way, is it true? Lee Seungtae is considering going to the Major League?]


    What the heck? I just saw the news; Lee Seungtae is thinking about going to the Major League¡­ The draft is just around the corner, and now this bombshell drops¡­ ©¸ Stop joking


    ©¸ It¡¯s real; search it up


    ©¸ What¡¯s going on?


    ©¸ Hey, he just expressed interest. It¡¯s not certain, right? Maybe he¡¯s just trying to increase his value?


    ©¸ Read the article. It seems like he genuinely wants to go to the Major League¡­


    ¡°¡­What do we do, Taehyun? Phoenix needs to win the championship¡­¡±


    Teacher Miyeon spent the entire lunch breakmenting about the news of Lee Seungtae potentially joining the Major League.


    Well, knowing she¡¯s a die-hard Phoenix fan, I could understand how she felt.


    Still¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? There¡¯s no need to be so disappointed, right?¡±


    I unintentionally put a bit of emotion into my words. Teacher Miyeon widened her eyes and inteced her fingers with mine.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. With Taehyun here, I was just saying nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Teacher¡­ We¡¯re still in the ssroom.¡±


    ¡°We can let go if someonees in.¡±


    Teacher Miyeon chuckled and held my hand even tighter.


    Hmm¡­ I feel more at peace now.


    Right. Though I got a bit heated, the fact is that Lee Seungtae is an essential yer.


    No, he¡¯s a necessity. Without Lee Seungtae¡­ leading Phoenix to victory would be incredibly difficult.


    That¡¯s just how hopeless Phoenix is.


    I need to ask him about this. If he¡¯s really going to the Major League, we need to start preparing an alternative n right now.


    But that¡¯s that¡­


    ¡°Taehyun, is it good?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    For now, let¡¯s just enjoy this moment.


    After lunch break, during free training time, Lee Seungtae suddenly came looking for me.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a bit.¡±


    I was nning to seek him out anyway, so this was perfect.


    After finding a bench to sit on, Lee Seungtae started speaking.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing big, but I¡¯m thinking of trying for the Major League.¡±


    Wait, it¡¯s true¡­?


    Originally, in Nemath, Lee Seungtae receives an offer from the Major League, but he didn¡¯t go¡­ or so I thought.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t considering the Major League? Did you have a change of heart?¡±


    ¡°No, not exactly. I got in touch with Senior Kim Hosan, and he persuaded me that I should aim for the Major League.¡±


    Kim Hosan¡­ that exins it.


    How many yers wouldn¡¯t be swayed if the most sessful pitcher in Korea convinced them that aiming for the Major League is worthwhile?


    ¡°And Senior Kim Hosan said you¡¯d also be heading to the Major League.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard. Me, going to the Major League?


    I quickly searched my memory, but I had never said that.


    ¡°Really? I never said that.¡±


    Lee Seungtae frowned slightly and tilted his head.


    ¡°Is that so? He seemed so certain when he said it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just his opinion. I¡¯ve never said that.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ even if you didn¡¯t say it, don¡¯t you think you have what it takes to aim for the Major League?¡±


    I couldn¡¯t argue with that.


    ¡°I suppose, but¡­ I made a promise.¡±


    ¡°A promise?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I promised to bring a championship to Phoenix.¡±


    Lee Seungtae chuckled.


    ¡°Are you already dating someone without even debuting?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not dating yet.¡±


    ¡°So, you made that kind of promise even though it¡¯s not dating?¡±


    ¡°¡­I just want that person to be happy. That¡¯s enough for me.¡±


    Lee Seungtae shook his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s romantic if you put it nicely. But if not, it just makes you a pushover.¡±


    ¡°Then please call it romantic.¡±


    ¡°Alright, a romantic pushover.¡±


    Lee Seungtaeughed and was about to leave, but I called out to him.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just go to Phoenix instead of the Major League?¡±


    I knew it was a far-fetched request, but I had to try.


    It¡¯s Lee Seungtae¡ªthe biggest prospect in high school baseball. He¡¯s a yer capable of debuting in the pros right away.


    If he doesn¡¯te to Phoenix, winning the championship would go from difficult to nearly impossible.


    ¡°Sure, then I¡¯ll go to Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°Why, you don¡¯t want it? Didn¡¯t you ask me to go to Phoenix?¡±


    No, that¡¯s not it, but¡­


    ¡°That easily?¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°No, not exactly¡­¡±


    ¡°I never mentioned it before, but I owe you. The reason I can still y baseball right now is thanks to you.¡±


    This unexpected response left me speechless.


    Him agreeing to go to Phoenix and then saying he could still y baseball because of me¡­ What does he mean by that?


    ¡°It was only for a month, but¡­ I definitely did something to Gwanghyeon that I shouldn¡¯t have done. If it hadn¡¯t been for your ball, I might have ruined Gwanghyeon¡¯s baseball career. And mine too¡­ So think of this as my way of paying you back.¡±


    I didn¡¯t get it.


    Even though he exined it with a serious expression, I had no clue what I had done.


    For now, I nodded. I didn¡¯t know if he would really give up on the Major League to go to Phoenix, but it was good news for now.


    And just the next day, Lee Seungtae officially announced he was giving up on the Major League.


    He even mentioned my name.


    [Why am I giving up on the Major League? My junior, Cha Taehyun, asked me. He said we should aim for the championship with Phoenix¡­]


    ©¸ Taehyun-shin ?????


    ©¸ I almost fainted thinking Seungtae was leaving ???


    ©¸ Already thinking about Phoenix¡¯s championship! I love it! Taehyun, you¡¯ll definitely have your number retired


    ©¸ Did you just say ¡®you¡¯ to Taehyun-shin?


    ©¸ Praise be to Taehyun-shin


    ©¸ The Guardian Deity of Hwangniks, Cha Taehyun


    ©¸ Thank goodness, the championship isn¡¯t dyed another year


    ©¸ Who wouldn¡¯t worship the great Taehyun-shin?


    ©¸ In gratitude, I just ordered 3,000 Nixon bats, as promoted by Taehyun-shin


    ©¸ I also bought 5,000 Taehyun-shin gloves just now


    ¡°Wow, Cha Taehyun, you¡¯re a public favorite. You could probably win an election at this rate.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan, who was fiddling with his phone instead of training, snickered.


    ¡°So what if public opinion is good now? There¡¯s still a long way to go before I join Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°Well, at least this means you won¡¯t be criticized when you debut.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan didn¡¯t seem to know much about the Phoenix team. How could you not get criticized there?


    Even if Babe Ruth came back, he¡¯d get criticized there.


    ¡°You can strike out five batters in a row, but if you give up just one hit, you¡¯ll get roasted.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that an exaggeration?¡±


    ¡°They throw chicken at you if you y poorly.¡±


    Jin Myunghwan fell silent instantly.


    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ I¡¯m not going to Phoenix¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just Phoenix. You¡¯ll get criticized no matter where you go.¡±


    As we continued our banter, someone called out.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Long time no see!¡±


    The high school baseball broadcasting team hade by.


    I wondered what they were doing here after the tournament, and it turned out they wanted to shoot a video of me reenacting my daily life from the past.


    Honestly, I didn¡¯t see how that would help high school baseball or why I¡¯d need the money, so I declined.


    But the director persistently pleaded.


    ¡°It would help high school baseball¡¯s poprity, but it could also benefit you, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know if you watch NewTubetely, but¡­ there are some strange rumors spreading. Like your past stories being fabricated¡­¡±


    I was somewhat aware of that. Jin Myunghwan had shown me thements.


    ¨C Haha, who would believe this? Does that even make sense? It¡¯s obviously fake.


    ¨C LOL, trying to create a forced sob story, telling made-up tales.


    They were justments iming my past stories from interviews were fake.


    It wasn¡¯t strange. Whenever you gain more recognition, trolls are bound to show up.


    They were there even when I dominated Major League Baseball.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you want to shoot a reenactment video to clear up those false rumors, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! But to be honest, we just really want to make a


    video about you, Cha Taehyun¡­¡±


    I already knew that. I appreciated the honesty.


    Anyway, the more I listened, the more I felt it might be worth filming.


    I didn¡¯t mind taking the heat, but¡­


    ¨C What are Cha Taehyun¡¯s parents even doing? Are they jobless?


    ¨C Why was it only Cha Taehyun who worked? Was his sister doing nothing while he worked two part-time jobs?


    Seeingments dragging my nonexistent parents and, most importantly, my sister into this, I was feeling conflicted.


    Since I was now also the face of Nixon Baseball, it seemed wise to manage my image.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°Really? Thank you, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll inform the coach and then head to the barbecue restaurant.¡±


    ¡°Sorry? Barbecue restaurant? Actually, we n to use actors for the reenactment, so you¡¯d just have to narrate.¡±


    Well, that works too, but¡­


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more convincing and stop the false rumors if I reenact it myself?¡±


    The director widened his eyes for a moment, thenughed and gave a thumbs-up.


    ¡°Taehyun, are you really living your second life? Howe you know broadcasting better than I do? Haha! Sounds great, it¡¯s an excellent idea!¡±


    For the reenactment, we decided I¡¯d just step in for a day to do the part-time jobs I used to have, starting with the barbecue restaurant.


    Grilling meat, running to take orders whenever someone called.


    All I did was work the part-time job I had before, yet the director and staff stared at me with pitiful eyes the whole time.


    ¡°Um¡­ Are you okay? If it¡¯s too hard, we can stop here since it¡¯s just a reenactment.¡±


    Some of the staff even worried about me.


    It was just pity before, but then¡­


    ¡°Wait¡­ Another part-time job?¡±


    ¡°Yes, before I joined the baseball team, I did two jobs a day. Until 10 PM at the barbecue ce, then starting at 10:10 PM, I worked at a convenience store.¡±


    ¡°¡­When did you sleep, then?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ at school, I guess. Sorry to my teachers.¡±


    When I mentioned going to the convenience store for another shift, some staff started wiping tears from their eyes.


    I finished my convenience store shift, and it was 4 AM by the time we wrapped up filming.


    After thanking the staff for their hard work, I was about to leave when the director approached me.


    ¡°¡­Taehyun, I know I probably shouldn¡¯t ask this, but I have to.¡±


    The director took a deep breath before continuing.


    ¡°¡­After watching this, I¡¯m sure everyone will have the same question. Why did you work so hard, all by yourself?¡±


    Basically, why was I the only one working?


    I¡¯d thought about it during filming, too, and realized this was a question I couldn¡¯t avoid.


    After some consideration, I decided to reveal that I was an orphan.


    It was better to make it known quickly and definitively.


    ¡°Because I grew up without parents.¡±


    My short response made the director¡¯s eyes widen.


    ¡°So, I had no choice but to work. I worked to survive, nothing more. Also, let me make this clear: don¡¯t question why my one and only family member, my sister, didn¡¯t work. I stopped her from working. It was my choice. If I see any morements about this, I will take legal action.¡±


    As I spoke, I found myself growing emotional. I hadn¡¯t nned on mentioningwsuits.


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    I asked, snapping the director out of his daze.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to bring up such a heavy topic.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. It was something I needed to address sooner orter. You were right, it¡¯s a question that would havee up.¡±


    The director nodded, smiling bitterly.


    ¡°Yes. After this video, anyone who believed those rumors will be silenced.¡±


    ¡°That would be a relief. Please take care of it.¡±


    A few dayster, Cha Taehyun¡¯s documentary was released to the public, and his fan, Shin Hayoon, was among those who watched it.


    ¡°A documentary, not a highlight? I wonder what it¡¯s about.¡±


    At first, she watched, expecting a casual vlog from Cha Taehyun.


    However, as the video progressed, her expression grew darker.


    ¨C Because I grew up without parents.


    The moment she heard that sentence, Shin Hayoon¡¯s mind went nk.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 48

    [Did you watch Taehyun-shin¡¯s documentary?]


    I seriously watched it with tears in my eyes. ???


    Why did our gallery master have to live such a hard life? ??


    And those idiots who imed it was all made up¡­ The part-time job owners even showed the pay stubs, so I wonder what they¡¯ll say now.


    ©¸ Seriously, it was so heartbreaking. ??


    ©¸ Watching that video made me reflect on myself¡­ Trying to achieve his dream while working two part-time jobs a day, and here I am doing nothing.


    ©¸ My whole family are Phoenix fans, so we watched it together during dinner, and even my dad teared up¡­


    ©¸ Damn, I hope all those maliciousmenters disappear.


    ©¸ Since even the pay stubs were revealed, those who imed it was fake are probably going to be eradicated. At least that¡¯s some relief¡­ ¡°d I filmed it.¡±


    After the documentary aired, the number of maliciousmenters significantly decreased.


    Especially those who imed it was fabricated are now almost nonexistent.


    ¡°That¡¯s one problem solved.¡±


    Now, the mountain of winning the Phoenix championship remains¡­


    But is that mountain too high¡­?


    Of course, the situation has improved since Lee Seungtae gave up on the Major League and chose to join Phoenix.


    But Phoenix is Phoenix.


    They aren¡¯t called the ¡®owner ofst ce¡¯ for nothing.


    Lee Seungtae and I joining won¡¯t suddenly change the team.


    ¡°If only Shin Hayoon joined as a coach, some of the problems would be solved¡­¡±


    This isn¡¯t just a figure of speech; it¡¯s a fact.


    Others might see Shin Hayoon as just an ordinary high school girl, but since I know the future, she¡¯s a talent I really want.


    Her coaching skills are undeniable; she bes the first Korean woman to coach in the Major League.


    She has the passion to even bow and ask to document my batting form, even if she previously criticized me as a delinquent.


    More importantly, she actually delivers results.


    When Lee Jiho joined the Dynos but failed to perform, it was Shin Hayoon who stepped in and started fixing the team.


    Or rather, overhauling it?


    She offered advice to both pitchers and batters, resulting in significant improvements.


    Thanks to her, the Dynos advanced to postseason baseball within a year of Lee Jiho joining, and they even considered her as an intern as they aimed for the championship.


    ¡°If she joined Phoenix, it would be perfect¡­¡±


    Thinking of that, she really is the talent Phoenix desperately needs.


    And since she¡¯s a Phoenix fan, she likely has plenty of data.


    Just as I was pondering how to make Shin Hayoon a coach for Phoenix, my phone vibrated.


    Speak of the devil; it was a text from Shin Hayoon.


    [Come to the fountain in Hyuksan Park. I¡¯ll be waiting.]


    ¡°What¡¯s this about all of a sudden?¡±


    It was an unexpected text, and I couldn¡¯t predict what it meant.


    [What¡¯s this about?]


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    No reply.


    Now I can¡¯t ignore it¡­ What if she¡¯s really waiting in the park?


    ¡°¡­Might as well stop by while I¡¯m out for a run.¡±


    I quickly put on my training gear and left the house.


    I arrived at the fountain in Hyuksan Park.


    Since there weren¡¯t many people around, I spotted Shin Hayoon immediately, and something seemed off.


    She was standing with her head hung low like someone who hadmitted a crime.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with her¡­?¡±


    It was clear from the look of things that the atmosphere was unusual.


    Should I go over or not¡­


    I considered pretending I hadn¡¯t seen her and leaving, but I ended up approaching her.


    As I got closer, Shin Hayoon slowly lifted her head.


    Why does she look like this¡­?


    Her eyes drooped, and she couldn¡¯t meet my gaze directly.


    ¡°You called me over, so what¡¯s with the guilty look? What¡¯s this about?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s lips trembled.


    She didn¡¯t say anything and just stood there, making me feel guilty for no reason.


    It took quite a while before she finally spoke up, her wordsing out slowly.


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    The unexpected words caught me off guard, and my voice involuntarily rose. Shin Hayoon flinched, looking scared.


    She struggled to meet my eyes with her wavering gaze before speaking again.


    ¡°¡­I know I¡¯mte. I should have properly apologized when I heard your story in the interview¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have pretended like nothing was wrong after just sending a text¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m really¡­ sorry.¡±


    Her voice was filled with tears, as if she was about to break down at any moment.


    ¡°¡­This is all very sudden. I don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re apologizing.¡±


    I genuinely didn¡¯t understand, but for some reason, Shin Hayoon interpreted my response differently and dropped her head.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ You¡¯re right¡­ I know it¡¯s meaningless to apologize now¡­ I know it¡¯s all excuses¡­ But I¡­ I really didn¡¯t know. I had no idea you were going through such a hard time. No¡­ No, it¡¯s all my fault¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have said those things, believing the rumors¡­¡±


    The mention of rumors immediately made me realize what this situation was about, and I let out a sigh of relief.


    I thought it was something serious, but it seems she felt guilty about treating me like a delinquent at the beginning of the semester.


    I guess it¡¯s either a sign of her foolishness or just typical of Shin Hayoon.


    ¡°Yeah, you did say some harsh things on the first day.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. I didn¡¯t really care, so don¡¯t take it so seriously.¡±


    ¡°How could you not care¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    No, I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s really fine¡­


    Honestly, I hadn¡¯t given it a second thought until she brought it up. But now, here she is, apologizing as if she hadmitted a terrible crime.


    ¡°If you¡¯re that sorry, why don¡¯t you help Phoenix with their coaching? I have to lead them to victory, so it works out well.¡±


    I said it half-jokingly, but Shin Hayoon lifted her head slowly.


    Wait, is this¡­ possible?


    I decided to probe further.


    ¡°I was serious when I said you had talent as a coach. So, instead of working for another team, why not use that talent to help Phoenix?¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer and just stared at me nkly.


    ¡­Guess it¡¯s not going to happen.


    Well, it was too much of a freebie, even if she felt guilty. Doing it unpaid would be a bit much.


    Let¡¯s see, after taxes, I have about 700 million won left from the signing bonus I got from Lee Siha. Should I just make a sudden investment¡­?


    Just as I was calcting her potential monthly sry, Shin Hayoon spoke up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll be your personal coach.¡±


    I mean, I¡¯m happy you¡¯re offering¡­ but isn¡¯t this turning into something else?


    ¡°I appreciate it, but there¡¯s no need to be my personal coach. There are plenty of Phoenix yers who need coaching. Just collecting data for them would be enough.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Shin Hayoon shook her head.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be a Phoenix yer too, right?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ yeah, that¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re included, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­I guess so. Then how much would your monthly sry be?¡±


    Judging by the situation, I could probably get away with not paying her, but my conscience wouldn¡¯t let me.


    ¡°Sry?¡±


    ¡°We have to keep business and personal matters separate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine with it¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I seriously intend to hire you.¡±


    With a somewhat regretful expression, Shin Hayoon nodded.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll think about the sry and let you knowter.¡±


    ¡°Sure, that works.¡±


    ¡°So, should we start today?¡±


    ¡°No need to rush. We haven¡¯t even signed a contract yet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I want to start today.¡±


    Her eyes were no longer lifeless; they were filled with so much energy and enthusiasm.


    ¡°Then today doesn¡¯t count for your daily wage, okay?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I already owe you, anyway.¡±


    That was just a joke.


    Shin Hayoon sat on a bench and patted the spot beside her.


    ¡°Um¡­ It¡¯s a bit awkward to do this standing up.¡±


    When I sat beside her, she took out her phone and began scrolling through a long list of videos.


    Even at a nce, there seemed to be many videos¡­ and they all looked like videos of me.


    ¡°Did youe to watch my games?¡±


    Shin Hayoon nodded.


    She said that if the stadium was nearby, she would always go; if it was farther away, she would use her allowance to get there¡­


    ¡°It was just to collect data, okay? There¡¯s no special meaning behind it.¡±


    ¡°Who said anything?¡±


    At my response, Shin Hayoon closed her mouth for a moment before suddenly speaking out.


    ¡°¡­You have a lot to work on. I haven¡¯t mentioned it before, but you have quite a few things to fix.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ okay.¡±


    ¡°Remember how I pointed out that you were opening up your side too much before? You held up fine until the President¡¯s Cup, but you faltered when facing Ryuji in the Japan match, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, it was a situation where it was hard not to get tense.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened, but you need to keep it in check consistently.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, okay¡­¡±


    And so, Shin Hayoon¡¯s coaching began in earnest.


    ¡°I think that covers all the problems with Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s wrap up. It¡¯s already getting dark.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. When did it get thiste?¡±


    Getting up from the bench, Shin Hayoon realized how well things had turned out today.


    When she had


    first arrived at the park, she didn¡¯t even know how to properly apologize.


    But Taehyun had forgiven her without a second thought, even praising her talents and asking for her help as a coach.


    ¡®To think I treated someone like him like a delinquent¡­¡¯


    Looking back, she realized just how awful she had been.


    ¡®I have to work hard to make up for it.¡¯


    Shin Hayoon made up her mind. She would do her best to help Cha Taehyun achieve his dream of leading Phoenix to victory.


    ¡°You worked hard. I hope I didn¡¯t keep you toote.¡±


    At Cha Taehyun¡¯s words, Shin Hayoon shook her head.


    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t tiring at all.¡±


    She meant it.


    How could it be tiring? Here was someone who acknowledged her efforts, who took her coaching seriously.


    In fact, part of her was a little sad to see him go.


    As she watched Cha Taehyun¡¯s back retreat, she couldn¡¯t help but call out.


    ¡°Hey¡­ So¡­ are we good now?¡±


    Taehyun turned his head slightly and gave a faint smile.


    ¡°Were we ever fighting? You were just moping around by yourself.¡±


    Shin Hayoon let out a smallugh and waved.


    Soon, Taehyun disappeared from her sight, and she found herself staring at the moon in the sky.


    Suddenly, her sister¡¯s words echoed in her mind.


    ¡®Someone else might snatch Taehyun oppa away from you, you know?¡¯


    That silly tease, which she had brushed off without a second thought, was starting to weigh on her a little.


    Time flew by, and now it was the third year of high school.


    As nned, senior Seungtae joined Phoenix, immediately made it to the first team, and maintained an ERA in the low 3s, living up to his reputation as a monstrous rookie. But now, near the end of the season, he still has only 5 wins.


    That¡¯s probably why he looks so defeated during interviews. I worry he might be burnt out by the time I get there.


    Changhyun-senior joined the Daejeon Volcanoes, and although he has an ERA in the mid-3s, which is impressive for a rookie, the team has been performing better than expected.


    People are even saying that the Volcanoes might make it to postseason baseball for the first time in a long while.


    Maybe that¡¯s why he has already be a star among the people of Daejeon.


    Jintaehyun joined the Seoul Winners, and since they had a weakness in the catcher position, he quickly became the starting catcher.


    His performance at bat has also been strong, making him extremely popr.


    So, although everyone seems to be having a good season¡­


    Hyuksan High School is going through a bit of a disappointing year.


    We did win the Golden Lion Trophy, but we didn¡¯t do well in the other tournaments.


    In fact, we won the Golden Lion Trophy mainly because Jiho and I performed exceptionally. Otherwise, we might not have won any trophies this year.


    Well, it couldn¡¯t be helped.


    The team was already unbnced, and it feels like the graduation of the third-year yers has left us with a failed generation shift.


    Today, we just lost the semifinals of the President¡¯s Cup, ourst tournament of the year, with a score of 7:12.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame. You tried to close the gap toward the end,¡± Jihomented.


    ¡°Yeah, you should have hit another home run,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Together, we hit three home runs today¡­¡±


    ¡°If Changhyun-senior were here, he¡¯d say, ¡®An ace is responsible until the end!¡¯¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true. By the way, now that the tournament is over, I remembered something. Why did you do that back then?¡±


    ¡°Do what?¡±


    ¡°You acted weird when I tried to give the signed ball to the teacher.¡±


    Oh, right. I remember. When Jiho wanted to give the home run ball to Ms. Miyeon, I got a bit worked up and blocked him.


    ¡°I just wanted to thank her for alwaysing to cheer for us. It didn¡¯t mean anything else.¡±


    He probably meant nothing by it. Jiho was definitely taking a different path than in Nemesis.


    ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. I overreacted. It¡¯s hard to exin, but it was like PTSD or something.¡±


    ¡°Why would giving the signed ball to the teacher give you PTSD?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ hard to exin.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then. I was just bringing it up because I thought of it. Anyway, now that the tournament is over, want to go y some screen baseball?¡±


    Jin Myunghwan suddenly appeared and said, ¡°Oh! That sounds fun!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna pass. I have ns.¡±


    ¡°Why do you have ns after every tournament?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, who is it? Stop hiding and just tell us.¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Not a chance.


    At least not until we graduate.


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m heading out.¡±


    Well, it¡¯s almost time.


    For graduation, and for my professional debut.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 49

    The Phoenix team¡¯s owner sat on the sofa, and the general manager approached to sit across from him.


    The general manager had beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, looking tense.


    It wasn¡¯t usually something to be nervous about when the team owner summoned him, but today, Phoenix had just lost their 10th consecutive game.


    And it was with an absurd score of 24:0.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°Did you watch today¡¯s game?¡±


    The owner¡¯s words made the general manager flinch, and he struggled to respond.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I did.¡±


    ¡°Should Iugh or cry after watching that game?¡±


    The general manager wanted to cry too.  ¡°Do you know what the fans are saying about us this season?¡±


    The general manager couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. He could already imagine the unutterable profanities.


    ¡°Well¡­ insults are expected¡­ but they¡¯re saying that if it weren¡¯t for Lee Seungtae, they would have set Sajik Stadium on fire. They say the rookie is the only decent yer. Does that sound right? Huh? They¡¯re calling me senile, saying I forget and waste money like an idiot while we¡¯re always inst ce.¡±


    ¡°¡­I have no excuse.¡±


    ¡°Enough. Sigh¡­ It¡¯s not all your fault. From what I see, this team is just cursed. Cursed to never y good baseball¡­ But¡­ we still need to try to break the curse, don¡¯t we? General manager, it seems it¡¯s time to make some decisions.¡±


    In other words, he needed to change the coaching staff, fire the manager, or do something.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve been looking for a new manager.¡±


    ¡°Good. That¡¯s the right approach. Tell me if you¡¯ve got anyone in mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaning towards Kim Jichan¡ª¡±


    ¡°Forget it.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me¡­?¡±


    ¡°Did you hear what Lee Eun-seok said?¡±


    Lee Eun-seok is a legendary manager in Korean baseball, having led the Incheon Dragons to three consecutive championships.


    The general manager had seen the interview in which Lee Eun-seok, who had announced his retirement right after his illustrious career, stated that he was considering returning next season.


    ¡°Yes, I saw it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­ I¡¯m sure teams at the bottom like us are going to scramble for him. So, go ahead and bring him in before they do.¡±


    The general manager¡¯s mind went nk for a moment.


    ¡®Is that even possible¡­?¡¯


    Why would such a renowned managere to Phoenix, a team stuck inst ce and known as the ¡°graveyard of managers¡±? Besides, this man was someone who had valued his career so highly that he had retired even after being offered the highest manager sry.


    ¡°Can you do it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course!¡±


    Of course¡­ there was no option to refuse. Whether it was possible or not, he had to make it happen.


    The general manager had a gut feeling. If he didn¡¯t produce results soon, his career as a general manager would be over.


    ¡°Oh, and it should go without saying, but just in case you¡¯ve forgotten¡­¡±


    The owner spoke with a very serious expression.


    ¡°If Cha Taehyun goes to the Major League¡­ I might join the fans in setting Sajik Stadium on fire¡­ with you hanging there¡­¡±


    The general manager awkwardlyughed at the grim joke and replied.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ Of course. I will definitely bring in Cha Taehyun!¡±


    Sometimes, there are things you have to do even when you know they¡¯re impossible.


    For the general manager, this was one of those moments, sitting across from Lee Eun-seok.


    ¡°Well¡­ you didn¡¯t really call me here just to have a drink, did you? Shall we get to the point?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know. You came to ask me to manage Phoenix, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s right.¡±


    Lee Eun-seok chuckled and said.


    ¡°Do you know?¡±


    ¡°Know what, sir?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m originally from Busan. I¡¯ve lived here my whole life. I only left briefly when I was managing, but I still live here now. I love this city. So, which baseball team do you think I support?¡±


    The corners of the general manager¡¯s mouth twitched.


    ¡®No way?¡¯


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Phoenix. I¡¯ve never once stopped supporting Phoenix, even when I was managing the Dragons.¡±


    ¡°Then why have you refused the manager position until now?¡±


    ¡°Because even as a fan, it¡¯s maddening. And you want me to manage them? That¡¯s like telling me to die.¡±


    The general manager nodded subconsciously; it was too rtable.


    ¡°Anyway¡­ I never intended to manage Phoenix, but this time, I¡¯m feeling inclined.¡±


    The general manager¡¯s eyes widened at the unexpected hopeful news.


    ¡°Does that mean¡­?¡±


    ¡°Cha Taehyun¡­ he¡¯s a real gem. His mindset is excellent, and his talent is outstanding. It¡¯s been a while since I found a yer I like this much. Bring in Cha Taehyun for sure. Then I¡¯ll consider taking the manager position at Phoenix.¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s Cha Taehyun again?¡¯


    The general manager felt like his insides were burning. Recalling Lee Seungtae¡¯s interviewst year, where he said, ¡°Cha Taehyun asked me to win together,¡± it was likely that Cha would join Phoenix, but it wasn¡¯t guaranteed.


    Officially, Cha Taehyun hadn¡¯t dered his intentions, and considering his performance, joining the Major League seemed more probable.


    Moreover, rumors were circting that several Major League teams had already offered Cha Taehyun over $3 million¡­


    ¡°Hmm¡­ You¡¯re hesitating. Not confident?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all! I will definitely bring him in.¡±


    Regardless, the general manager had no option to say otherwise.


    ¡®Alright¡­ this might actually work out for the best.¡¯


    If he couldn¡¯t convince Cha Taehyun, he might end up tied to a burning Sajik Stadium. But if he seeded, he could also bring in Manager Lee Eun-seok.


    ¡®I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to bring Cha Taehyun in!¡¯


    The only way for him to survive was to pull this off.


    After finishing the meal, the general manager immediately contacted his subordinate.


    ¡°Hey, Chanbin. We need to revise our n. This might sound a bit crazy, but¡­ I¡¯m thinking of investing 2 billion won in Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¨C ¡°What? Did I hear that right? 2 billion for a rookie?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Considering the offers from the Major League, we need at least that much to stand a chance.¡±


    ¨C ¡°But even then, 2 billion could mess up our budget for signing FA yers¡­¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll have to beg the owner to make it work.¡±


    ¨C ¡°But, sir, even so, this is¡ª¡±


    The general manager hung up immediately.


    By now, his mind was solely focused on one thing: ¡®Sign Cha Taehyun!¡¯


    I remember when I was about to join the pros, the general manager of the Busan team came to me and persistently pleaded.


    Can a mere yer hold more leverage than an entire team? If you¡¯ve dominated the league like I did, then yes. For teams at the bottom, talented rookies are desperately needed.


    Phoenix is no different. They finishedst ce two years in a row, and it¡¯s almost certain they¡¯ll end up there again this year. People are even saying they¡¯re reliving their ¡°password¡± days.


    In this situation, if I decide to go to the Major League? Hmm¡­ something might actually happen to Sajik Stadium.


    Anyway, I had no intention of getting ripped off by the general manager today, considering this is practically my second life.


    I¡¯m going to join Phoenix, but I don¡¯t like getting the short end of the stick.


    The highest rookie signing amount so far has been 1 billion won, right?


    It might be a stretch, but I¡¯m thinking of asking for double that¡ª2 billion.


    Okay, it¡¯s quite a stretch, but I think I deserve it.


    Wasn¡¯t I the yer who won both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young MVP in my Major League debut season?


    Yes, I should get 2 billion. No matter what, I¡¯ll get more than that.


    ¡°How about 2 billion?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    For a moment, I thought I had spoken out loud, but it was actually the general manager who had said it.


    ¡°As you know, it¡¯s twice the highest rookie signing amount, which is 1 billion. We believe this is the best offer Phoenix can show.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    I hesitated briefly in surprise, and perhaps interpreting my reaction as reluctance, the general manager suddenly grabbed my hand.


    ¡°¡­This is truly the best we can do! Anything higher is just impossible! Please reconsider, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    I had a feeling something was off from the beginning, and now that I saw him up close, his dark circles were hanging down like a panda¡¯s.


    Who knows what he¡¯s been throughtely.


    Anyway¡­ I was just momentarily caught off guard because he offered the exact amount I had in mind. I¡¯m quite satisfied with the deal.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll need to go over the detailed contract terms, but for now, I¡¯m satisfied with the signing amount.¡±


    Upon hearing my response, the general manager¡¯s face lit up instantly, and he started to pour out his grievances.


    ¡°Th¡­thank you so much. I know it¡¯s rude to bring up personal matters, but¡­ the owner said he¡¯d hang me from Sajik if I couldn¡¯t bring you in¡­ And the fans keep saying, ¡®Just wait¡¯ if I fail to sign you¡­¡±


    ¡­It


    seems this guy has been through a lot.


    The draft day, the final gateway for high school yers dreaming of joining the pros, had arrived.


    If there was something Miyeon loved as much as watching baseball broadcasts, it was watching the draft broadcast.


    But today, she wasn¡¯t watching the broadcast from home.


    Instead, she was attending the draft in person as Cha Taehyun¡¯s proxy, standing in for his parents.


    ¡®Seeing it in person¡­ the atmosphere is no joke.¡¯


    The hall where the draft was to be held was luxurious and elegant, but the atmosphere was heavy.


    It felt like being in a college entrance exam room.


    As Miyeon cautiously took her seat, she looked around.


    The people who seemed to be parents of the yers were sitting with their eyes closed and hands sped together as if in prayer.


    Being invited here meant that most would likely be drafted, but there were still cases where yers went undrafted.


    It was probably the anxiety of that slim chance and the hope that their child¡¯s name would be called as early as possible.


    Miyeon sped her hands and closed her eyes.


    ¡®Please let Taehyun be drafted by Phoenix¡­ He¡¯s worked so hard.¡¯


    If someone heard her prayer, they might criticize her for being presumptuous.


    But Miyeon was sincerely worried.


    Phoenix had lost their starting catcher in free agency, and their backup catchers had been performing poorly, leading to whispers that they might draft a catcher, Lee Yeonghal, who was ready to start immediately.


    Of course, no matter how terrible Phoenix¡¯s catcher situation was, and even though Lee Yeonghal had been performing well, any sensible person would draft Cha Taehyun.


    But this was Phoenix.


    How many times had they shocked their fans with bizarre trades?


    There was no telling what kind of crazy move they might make at the draft.


    ¡®I should have just asked Taehyun¡­¡¯


    She had refused to let him tell her to avoid any contractplications, but now she regretted that decision.


    Soon, the announcer began the draft, and the general manager of Phoenix, who had finishedst cest year, took the microphone.


    ¡°Phoenix selects Hyuksan High School¡¯s Cha Taehyun.¡±


    The moment she heard those words, Miyeon rxed her tension and let a big smile spread across her face.


    She wanted to jump up and shout Taehyun¡¯s name, but this was the draft hall.


    Instead, she lowered her slightly raised butt back onto her seat and murmured quietly.


    ¡°Congrattions, Taehyun.¡±


    Miyeon beamed with happiness as she looked at Cha Taehyun.


    And this moment was captured by a camera.


    Meanwhile, back at Miyeon¡¯s family home, her family was peacefully watching TV.


    Miyeon¡¯s father held the remote, changing the channel since the variety show they had been watching was boring. By chance, the draft broadcast appeared on the screen.


    He had been a baseball fan in the past, so he seemed a bit interested, but he was about to press the channel button again.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    A familiar back caught his eye.


    Tilting his head, he lowered the remote and focused on the broadcast. When the camera angle changed, his eyes widened.


    ¡°Wait¡­ isn¡¯t that Miyeon?¡±


    Sure enough, his daughter was on the screen.


    ¡°It is! It¡¯s Miyeon! But how did she get there? Everyone here looks like they¡¯re parents of students¡­¡±


    Soon, Cha Taehyun¡¯s profile appeared on the screen. As Miyeon¡¯s father saw the words ¡®Hyuksan High School,¡¯ he asked.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Hyuksan High School where our daughter works?¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s mother nodded repeatedly.


    Watching their daughter look at Cha Taehyun with an enchanted expression, they were stunned.


    Lately, whenever their daughter called, they heard her cooing ¡°Taehyun-ah~ Taehyun-ah~.¡±


    They had been secretly pleased, thinking that the daughter they feared would remain single forever was finally dating.


    But¡­


    Could it be that Taehyun was¡­?


    ¡°¡­Honey, this isn¡¯t what I¡¯m thinking, is it?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡±


    Despite their words, Miyeon¡¯s father hurriedly reached for his phone.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 50

    Cha Taehyun was on stage wearing the Phoenix uniform, answering the announcer¡¯s questions.


    ¡®He really is a star¡­¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ve never seen a high school yer handle an interview this smoothly.¡¯


    ¡®Every one of his answers could be a headline¡­¡¯


    Journalists, who were typing away on theirptops while watching, couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. Clearly, this yer had only been focused on baseball his entire life, yet his speaking skills rivaled those of a celebrity.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun, do you have any goals you¡¯d like to achieve after joining Phoenix?¡±


    The reporters perked up and listened attentively to the announcer¡¯s question.


    This was the key question that could generate a headline-worthy topic.


    Whether he aimed to be the home run king, win Rookie of the Year, or, with the boldness of a rookie, go for the MVP, whatever he said would be perfect for the headlines.  Everyone was eager as Cha Taehyun fixed his gaze on the camera and gave a sly smile.


    ¡°Of course, I have set a goal. Actually, it¡¯s not ¡®goals¡¯ but a single ¡®goal.¡¯ I¡¯ve set only one.¡±


    Hearing that, the announcer beamed, eximing enthusiastically.


    ¡°Oh! I see! Then, that one goal must be quite significant! Is it¡­ perhaps the MVP?¡±


    The journalists nodded in agreement, having the same thought. However, Cha Taehyun shook his head.


    ¡®Then, is it Rookie of the Year?¡¯


    The reporters, feeling a bit disappointed, were momentarily stunned as Cha Taehyun opened his mouth.


    ¡°Phoenix winning the championship. That is my one and only goal. I¡¯m not interested in anything else.¡±


    Everyone had naturally expected him to talk about personal career goals, which was also the intent of the announcer¡¯s question¡­


    ¡°Is this what it means to walk a different path?¡±


    A journalist chuckled, feeling confident.


    If Cha Taehyun excelled in baseball, he would undoubtedly be a superstar.


    The scene was soon broadcasted live, causing a sensation online.


    ¨C ¡°When he said he had just one goal, I thought he meant MVP, but he suddenly goes, ¡®Phoenix championship¡¯ LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°LOL, a rookie iming he¡¯ll lead a team that hasn¡¯t won in over 30 years to a championship? LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°That¡¯s some high difficulty, saying he¡¯ll confidently take them to the top LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Honestly, it might be harder to win the championship with Phoenix than to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year at the same time LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°It¡¯s happened once in history, but Phoenix has only won twice¡­ And regr season wins? Zero.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Taehyun walks a different path LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°He really is a superstar LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Damn, this is it. If a rookie is aiming for a championship, learn from him, you Phoenix sry thieves!¡±


    After parting with Cha Taehyun and heading home, Miyeon received a sudden call from her parents and headed to their home.


    She didn¡¯t think much of it until she opened the door. She just thought her parents wanted to see their daughter suddenly.


    But¡­


    ¡°Miyeon.¡±


    Her mother¡¯s voice was too cold to be that of a mother who simply missed her daughter.


    ¡®Did I¡­ do something wrong?¡¯


    There¡¯s that chilly feeling you get instinctively when your parents call your name, especially when they use your full name.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Mom, why did you call me today?¡±


    She responded as innocently as possible, pretending not to know anything. Her mother then pulled out a photo on her phone, showing a picture of the TV screen.


    ¡°Huh¡­? What is this¡­?¡±


    Just as Miyeon was about to ask what it was, her eyes widened, and she froze, her mouth hanging open like a hippo.


    It was a picture of her at the draft, smiling brightly as she looked at Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°That student, Cha Taehyun, is from Hyuksan High, right¡­? The school where you work?¡±


    Seeing her daughter¡¯s pale face, her mother sighed heavily.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Miyeon, I know how hard you studied to be a teacher without making a single friend. You¡¯ve achieved your dream, and now you¡¯re 26, an age where you¡¯d naturally want to date¡­¡±


    She had no intention of interfering with her daughter¡¯s love life. In fact, she wanted to support her.


    She had seen firsthand how much her daughter had sacrificed and how hard she had worked.


    But¡­


    ¡°Still¡­ shouldn¡¯t you date someone around your age? And not your student¡­¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡­ That¡¯s not it¡­¡±


    Her daughter couldn¡¯t deny it right away and seemed lost for words, causing her mother to feel a bit dizzy.


    She had feared it, but it seemed there really was something between her daughter and that student, Cha Taehyun.


    After collecting herself for a moment, she continued speaking.


    ¡°You¡­ haven¡¯t crossed the line, right?¡± n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Unable to meet her mother¡¯s eyes directly, Miyeon mumbled.


    ¡°¡­What do you mean by ¡®the line¡¯?¡±


    Her mother swayed slightly.


    ¡°I mean¡­ have you treated him like a lover¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­Just as a teacher cheering on her student¡­¡±


    ¡°Fine. A teacher can support her student.¡±


    ¡°By holding his hand¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ After some thought, I suppose it¡¯s understandable to hold hands, considering how much hardship that student, Cha Taehyun, has gone through¡­¡±


    Holding hands was something she could somehow rationalize ande to terms with. However, Miyeon seemed to have more to say, her mouth slightly pursed.


    ¡°Did you do more than hold hands¡­?¡±


    ¡°Just¡­ hugging¡­ a little¡­? But that¡¯s it! I swear¡­¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s mother rubbed her face with her hand.


    She felt lightheaded, but at the same time, she was relieved. At least they hadn¡¯t crossed the line¡­


    After pondering for quite a while, her mother made up her mind.


    ¡®Well¡­ as long as they¡¯re happy¡­ Our daughter is technically the one stealing here, anyway.¡¯


    ¡°Miyeon. I¡¯ll try to understand. It¡¯s your life¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m really just Taehyun¡¯s supportive fan¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough with the nonsense. But you have to promise me one thing¡­ You have to wait until he graduates, okay?¡±


    ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re giving your approval?¡±


    Miyeon¡¯s mother let out a shortugh. All this time, she had been pretending to be just a fan¡­


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m not against it¡­ but you¡¯re on your own. You know you¡¯re responsible for this, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    As she watched her daughter cling to her, saying thank you, she sighed.


    ¡®She studied too much¡­¡¯


    [Monster Rookie Cha Taehyun chooses Phoenix over the Major Leagues!]


    [Phoenix spending big! 2 billion won invested in Cha Taehyun!]


    [Phoenix fans: Overpay? We got Cha Taehyun, that¡¯s all that matters!]


    [Cha Taehyun: My only goal is Phoenix winning the championship.]


    In the past few days, articles that would make the hearts of Phoenix fans flutter flooded the news.


    ¨C ¡°I trusted you, Chairman!¡±


    ¨C ¡°The eternal light of Phoenix¡­ God-champion.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Right, is this really the Phoenix GM?¡±


    Even the notoriously fierce online fanmunities were celebrating, so it was natural for the Phoenix team¡¯s owner to feel his spirits lifted.


    Laughing heartily as he put down his phone, the owner patted the general manager on the shoulder.


    ¡°See? You just had to try! GM, I always believed in you!¡±


    Of course, he hadn¡¯t believed at all and had been thinking of firing him, but he hadn¡¯t said it out loud, so it was fine.


    ¡°Haha¡­ Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. You¡¯ve done a great job, so take it easy now and eat well. You¡¯ve lost too much weight. What, have you been stressed?¡±


    ¡°¡­No. What would I be stressed about?¡±


    ¡°Our GM is really a good person, huh? Always trying not to show when he¡¯s having a hard time. Well, since you¡¯ve done a great job, I¡¯ll give you a generous bonus!¡±


    A bonus! That sweet reward was something the general manager had been hoping for, but he still had one more task left.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a bonus.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    With Lee Seungtae, Cha Taehyun, and the legendary three-time winning manager Lee Eun-seok joining the team, it was almost as if the universe was aligning for Phoenix.


    This was a precious opportunity that would nevere again. The general manager thought this was not a time to settle for just being satisfied.


    ¡°¡­Could you provide a little more funding?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­? I thought we set a sufficient budget? For next season, too.¡±


    ¡°To win the championship, we¡¯ll need more.¡±


    The word ¡°championship¡± made the owner widen his eyes before bursting intoughter.


    He had already invested a lot, so adding more funding was a burden. However, the general manager, who had previously been content with just keeping his position, was now refusing his bonus and earnestly making this request.


    ¡®Finally, he¡¯s acting like a proper GM.¡¯


    It was enough to sway the owner¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Alright, spend as much as you want. I¡¯ll handle the aftermath.¡±


    ¡°Ch-Chairman!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, GM. It¡¯s wise to invest when the opportunity arises. Let¡¯s go for the championship!¡±


    Autumn had passed, and winter winds were now


    blowing coldly.


    Phoenix held a press conference, confidently dering that the next season would be different.


    ¨C ¡°Next season will be different (10th year).¡±


    ¨C ¡°Sure, aiming for 9th ce, now that Cha Taehyun is here.¡±


    ¨C ¡°I¡¯m a Phoenix fan too, but honestly, thinking that Cha Taehyun¡¯s arrival means a championship is just nonsense.¡±


    ¨C ¡°The truth is, Phoenix fans say stuff like that, but behind the scenes, they¡¯re calling it ¡®God-nix,¡¯ ¡®Emperor-nix,¡¯ and shouting for victory LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°True LOL.¡±


    Baseball fans were busy mocking it as the same old talk, but when Phoenix started revealing their cards one by one, public opinion began to change.


    [Is Phoenix really different now? Legendary manager Lee Eun-seok epts the Phoenix manager position!]


    ¨C ¡°What?¡±


    ¨C ¡°Is this for real?¡±


    ¨C ¡°No way LOL Why would Lee Eun-seoke here LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°WTF LOL Lee Eun-seok at Phoenix LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°LOL Is Lee Eun-seok going to ruin his career in his final years?¡±


    ¡°Lee Eun-seok is going to be our manager, Taehyun! The coach who led the team to three consecutive championships!¡±


    Teacher Miyeon was so overjoyed at the news of Lee Eun-seok¡¯s appointment that she was practically jumping with excitement. I was quite satisfied, too.


    I didn¡¯t know much about Lee Eun-seok since he wasn¡¯t covered significantly in StrikeHeart, but he was a coach who had experienced three consecutive championships.


    It was definitely better than having Kim Jichan, who would have buried Phoenix even deeper within a year.


    Phoenix¡¯s bold moves didn¡¯t stop there.


    [Seoul Winners¡¯ franchise star Lee Joon joins Busan Phoenix¡­ Four-year, 8 billion won free agency jackpot.]


    [Another Phoenix signing? Foreign slugger Andy John signs a $1 million deal!]


    [Phoenix¡¯s spending doesn¡¯t stop! Foreign pitcher Iric Wood signs for $1.3 million!]


    ¨C ¡°This is getting scary¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°I asked them to sign a free agent, but they¡¯re buying everyone¡­?¡±


    ¨C ¡°The fact is, even if you gather all these yers, in a few months they¡¯ll underperform, and the money will evaporate LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°So true LOL.¡±


    Like the fans said, even if Phoenix spends a lot of money, there are always misfortunes: ¡®turns out to be a scammer,¡¯ ¡®homesick foreign yers,¡¯ ¡®yers who performed well before free agency suddenly lie down.¡¯ But still, the scale of this investment was enough to raise expectations, even considering all those factors.


    If a sry cap system existed in this world, they would already be under sanctions.


    ¡°Phoenix really is different! We¡¯re winning next year, for sure!¡±


    Well, even so, I wasn¡¯t sure if it was worth shouting, ¡°We¡¯re definitely winning!¡± just yet.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to win the championship no matter what.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Teacher believes in you, Taehyun.¡±


    Right, Ms. Miyeon is hoping for a win, so I have to make it happen.


    The year changed, and following the schedule for spring camp, I joined the team early.


    Surprisingly, today was my first visit to the team since being drafted.


    This was because I had chosen self-training instead of joining the rookie camp.


    You might think it¡¯s arrogant for a rookie to choose self-training, but none of the fansined.


    ¨C ¡°Cha Taehyun isn¡¯t joining the rookie camp, he¡¯s just going for self-training.¡±


    ¨C ¡°That¡¯s the right decision. Phoenix¡¯s coaches would just ruin him.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Agreed.¡±


    They even praised me for my judgment.


    Anyway, for that reason, this was my first time meeting the Phoenix yers.


    I was walking down the hallway, carrying some anticipation, when I came across a familiar face.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that senior Lee Seungtae?¡±


    However, Lee Seungtae, whom I hadn¡¯t seen in a while, looked¡­ very different.


    His appearance was, of course, the same since he hadn¡¯t undergone stic surgery, but his aura had changed quite a bit.


    His eyes, which used to be full of confidence, now looked hollow and lifeless, and his whole demeanor seemed downcast.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Taehyun? It¡¯s been a while. Good to see you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, have you been well, senior Lee Seungtae?¡±


    At my words, Lee Seungtae gave a bitter smile and ced his hand on my right shoulder.


    ¡°Taehyun¡­ Phoenix isn¡¯t a team where you can live well.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Never mind¡­ You¡¯ll find out when the season starts. Anyway¡­ hang in there. Oh, and try not to look at the inte¡­ especially on days when we lose.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ yes, understood.¡±


    It seemed like¡­ a lot had happened to Lee Seungtae.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 51

    ¡°Uh¡­ Did you perhaps experience any injustice?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with the sudden talk about injustice?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ how should I say this¡­ You don¡¯t seem to have much energy.¡±


    Lee Seungtae chuckled.


    ¡°I get what you¡¯re trying to say. Everyone I meet asks the same thing. ¡®Did something happen?¡¯ or ¡®Did you get bullied here?¡¯¡±


    Have I be more perceptive since joining the baseball team? I understood what he meant right away.


    ¡°It¡¯s something like that.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. The people here are alright. There aren¡¯t any trashy guys like me from the past.¡±


    I felt a bit awkward. I didn¡¯t mean to criticize his past.  ¡°But it¡¯s not like there¡¯s absolutely no hierarchy¡­ there are boundaries. You know what I mean?¡±


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t cross the line, they don¡¯t bother you?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. They won¡¯t interfere as long as you stay within the boundaries. But¡­ have you crossed the line?¡±


    I didn¡¯t need to ask what crossing the line entailed. I had a pretty good idea.


    ¡°Is it because I skipped the rookie camp and did self-training?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. The seniors probably don¡¯t care since they¡¯re mostly here to ¡®rx,¡¯ but the coaches might look at you with disdain. They¡¯re pretty old-school.¡±


    Hearing Lee Seungtae¡¯s words, I felt even more confident that choosing self-training had been the right decision.


    ¡°Oh, there is one strict senior. His name is Lee Suho, and he¡¯s the only one in Phoenix who has any passion left.¡±


    ¡°The only one? Didn¡¯t you say everyone was alright?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ as people, they¡¯re fine. They¡¯re friendly and not bad-tempered, but as yers¡­ that¡¯s another story.¡±


    So¡­ it¡¯s like saying, ¡®My kid might bezy, but they¡¯re a good person¡¯?


    ¡°¡­This team justcks passion. Do you know what the seniors say? They say Phoenix is a ce where yerse to rest after making onest big payday in free agency.¡±


    Hmm¡­ Now I get it.


    No wonder Lee Seungtae seemed so drained.


    If all thezy yers are enjoying their sries while the rookie ant, Lee Seungtae, works his tail off, how could he possibly stay motivated?


    ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s go greet the pitcher squad first since they¡¯re nearby.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    [Phoenix¡¯s Eternal Ace Lee Suho Re-signs with Phoenix!]


    [Lee Suho: ¡®Phoenix is my only team.¡¯]


    Although Lee Suho re-signed with Phoenix without hesitation out of his love for the team, Phoenix was not exactly a good team.


    ¨C ¡°I know this isn¡¯t right, but thank you for staying, Suho¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°I feel sorry for you¡­ and thank you.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Why, Suho¡­ why did you stay with Phoenix again¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°I feel sad every time I see Suho now¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°Having an ERA in the low 2s but only 7 wins? Unreal.¡±


    ¨C ¡°If it weren¡¯t Phoenix, his ERA would be even lower, probably in the 1s LOL.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Just give us Lee Suho, Phoenix. You guys arest anyway.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Hey, what can we do? Our Suho doesn¡¯t want to leave.¡±


    ¨C ¡°Well, he was born a Phoenix fan¡­ what can you do?¡±


    ¨C ¡°He said he won¡¯t go anywhere else until Phoenix wins the championship¡­¡±


    ¨C ¡°So, he¡¯s saying he¡¯ll retire as a Phoenix yer.¡±


    ¨C ¡°That¡¯s harsh, man.¡±


    This was how fans were; they¡¯d rather see a franchise star go to another team than suffer here¡­


    ¡°Suho, shall we go to Seomyeon after the game?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. You¡¯re treating?¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on, didn¡¯t I treatst time?¡±


    Even after losing by a miserable 12:3 score, the yers were already thinking about drinking and didn¡¯t seem to care about the standings.


    It felt like Lee Suho was the only one trying hard while everyone else was cking.


    Not all yers were like that, but most of them were.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Seungtae! I¡¯ll do my best to be a pitcher that will help Phoenix under your guidance, Senior Lee Suho!¡±


    Still, Lee Suho liked this rookie named Lee Seungtae.


    His eyes shined with a determination that was unlike the rest of the yers who had grown used to losing, and he seemed full of passion.


    ¡­But even such a passionate rookie turned into a hollow-eyed fish in no time.


    ¡°¡­Senior, I don¡¯t even know what I did wrong¡­¡±


    Did he do something wrong? Not really. It was remarkable for a rookie who just graduated high school to finish the season with an ERA in the low 3s on the first-team stage.


    If it weren¡¯t for Phoenix¡¯s horrible defense, he could have aimed for an ERA in the 2s, achieved 10 wins, and had a shot at Rookie of the Year.


    But he lost all of that because of thezy, positive-thinking teammates around him. It was no wonder his spirit was crushed.


    Oh, there was one thing Lee Seungtae did wrong. It was a huge mistake, actually.


    ¡°You should have gone to the majors. That¡¯s your mistake.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same for you, Senior?¡± n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    I tried to hit back with a jab, but Lee Seungtae¡¯s response struck me in the heart instead.


    ¡°Haha¡­ That¡¯s true. I made a mistake, too¡­ But what can I do? For me, Phoenix is¡­ the light of my life, the me of my existence, my sin¡­ my soul.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know either. It¡¯s just something I heard somewhere. But that¡¯s exactly how I feel about Phoenix.¡±


    If not for Lee Seungtae, Lee Suho might have seriously considered transferring to another team.


    But thanks to Lee Seungtae, he found hope and started dreaming about Phoenix winning the championship once more.


    And with the monster rookie Cha Taehyun joining Phoenix, maybe he could reignite his passion for the team onest time.


    Lee Suho, however, felt quite displeased when he heard that Cha Taehyun didn¡¯t join the rookie camp.


    ¡®Was his talk about aiming for a Phoenix championship just a bluff?¡¯


    It wasn¡¯t because of some petty reason like, ¡®How dare a rookie skip training and do whatever he wants?¡¯


    It was just disappointing to see him seemingly following the path of those passionless yers who were draining Phoenix from within.


    ¡®I¡¯m not usually into things like this, but¡­¡¯


    Lee Suho stared sharply at Cha Taehyun, who was brought in by Lee Seungtae.


    For Cha Taehyun¡¯s sake, and for the sake of Phoenix.


    ¡®I need to set things straight.¡¯


    We arrived at the area where the pitcher squad was gathered, and soon, the ¡®good people but no passion¡¯ seniors that Lee Seungtae mentioned approached.


    ¡°Oh? Is this the rookie everyone¡¯s talking about?¡±


    ¡°The one who signed a 2-billion-won contract?¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ How can a rookie contract be worth 2 billion? He must be really good.¡±


    ¡°Look at his face. I bet he¡¯ll have a lot of female fans soon.¡±


    Just like Lee Seungtae said, no one seemed to have an issue with me skipping rookie camp. Instead, they were praising me, saying they were envious or had high expectations, so I guess he wasn¡¯t lying about their personalities.


    However, there was one person who was ring at me.


    His face said it all: ¡®A rookie who¡¯s cking off!¡¯


    That must be Lee Suho, the one who still has passion, unlike the rest.


    ¡°Is your name Cha Taehyun? As a rookie, you should be putting in more effort. I heard you skipped the camp¡­¡±


    Just as I expected, Lee Suho spoke up, and Lee Seungtae hurriedly stepped in to defend me.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Senior Suho, he¡¯s my junior from school. He¡¯s not the type to ck off. Even if it was self-training, he probably worked hard.¡±


    Is he looking out for me because we went to the same school? Lee Seungtae has really changed.


    Despite his defense, Lee Suho¡¯s gaze remained sharp.


    ¡°Ah,e on, Suho! Isn¡¯t this the yer you¡¯ve been waiting for to lead Phoenix? yers who are really good can afford to take it easy.¡±


    Lee Suho scoffed.


    ¡°Oh yeah? Then let¡¯s see if he¡¯s still good when he¡¯s taking it easy. Let¡¯s have him face me for one at-bat.¡±


    I¡¯m fine with that. Sure, I skipped camp, but it¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t been training. I was starting to get a bit annoyed.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it. If I get a hit, will you acknowledge that I trained hard?¡±


    The surrounding yers started murmuring, ¡°Oh~.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got the guts of a star, huh?¡±


    ¡°Now I see why everyone¡¯s been talking about Cha Taehyun. Look at him standing up to Suho.¡±


    ¡°Follow me.¡±


    With just those words, Lee Suho coolly walked out to the practice field.


    ¡°Is Senior Suho taking this seriously? He¡¯s warming up his shoulder.¡±


    ¡°Seungtae just wanted to introduce him and then head to the fielders¡¯ side, but now it looks like he¡¯ll be stuck with the pitchers.¡±


    ¡°Who said


    it¡¯s his fault? You guys dragged him here.¡±


    ¡°Senior Sangjin? How did you know?¡±


    ¡°How? When all the pitchers are suddenly gathering in one ce, it¡¯s hard to miss. So, what¡¯s Suho up to?¡±


    Lee Sangjin, the cleanup hitter and the de facto leader of the fielders, asked curiously.


    ¡°Oh, you know Cha Taehyun, right? The 2-billion rookie. Suho¡¯s nning to set him straight because he skipped the rookie camp and opted for self-training.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s good. The batting coach was giving me an earful about the rookie skipping camp.¡±


    After finishing his warm-up, Lee Suho briefly exined the rules to Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be one at-bat. If you get a hit, you win; if you get out, I win.¡±


    ¡°If I win, you¡¯ll acknowledge that I trained diligently?¡±


    Lee Suho¡¯s lips twitched at Cha Taehyun¡¯s confident tone, as if he had already secured the victory.


    ¡°Sure. I hope you do.¡±


    Lee Suho climbed onto the mound, touched the rosin bag, blew on it, and dusted off his hands.


    Then, he stepped on the pitching rubber and nced at Cha Taehyun.


    ¡®He¡¯s got a good look in his eyes.¡¯


    He didn¡¯t know what kind of reputation this rookie had, but his focus at the te seemed to be solid.


    Lee Suho was a renowned left-handed fireballer, known for being a top-level pitcher who could still throw fastballs at 154 km/h even at 34 years old.


    It might seem a bit unfair for such a high-level pitcher to go full throttle against a rookie, but if he was going to set him straight, he needed to do it properly.


    Lee Suho wound up and threw the first pitch with all his might.


    The ball shot out of his hand fiercely, aimed toward the strike zone, only to curve away and exit the zone.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Suho really went all out. That slider had insane movement.¡±


    The other yers watching were in awe of the impressive slider.


    However,


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ how did Cha Taehyun not fall for that?¡±


    Even top-tier KBO batters might have moved their bat slightly at that slider, yet Cha Taehyun stood frozen, like a statue, calmly watching the ball go by.


    ¡°Did he freeze because the pitch was too good?¡±


    ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    ¡®I don¡¯t think so¡­¡¯


    Lee Sangjin, who had keen eyes, could faintly make out Cha Taehyun¡¯s expression. He was sure he saw one corner of his mouth curl up slightly.


    If he were frozen by the pitch, would he make that kind of face?


    Well, it was still hard to say for sure.


    Even Sangjin would have at least flinched at that pitch.


    The second pitch came. Another breaking ball, this time a forkball dipping low.


    It was another beautiful forkball fitting of Lee Suho¡¯s reputation, but Cha Taehyun¡¯s bat remained still.


    ¡°Wow¡­ He really seems to be watching and taking them.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that forkball just now was a masterpiece.¡±


    The murmurs among the team started to grow. It wasn¡¯t just the yers who were surprised.


    ¡®That pitch dropped perfectly¡­¡¯


    If it had been any other top-tier KBO batter, they probably would have swung and missed at least once.


    ¡®His strike zone judgment is pretty decent, huh?¡¯


    ¡°Alright¡­ Let¡¯s see if he can handle the fastball.¡±


    Lee Suho switched to a four-seam grip, wound up his arm, and firmly nted his foot.


    He put a little more power into this one, to the point where it felt almost excessive, rotating his upper body vigorously.


    Lee Suho¡¯s four-seam fastball, known for its speed over 150 km/h, was what made him a top pitcher in the league.


    ¡®That¡¯s a good pitch.¡¯


    The moment he released the fastball, Lee Suho felt a thrill he hadn¡¯t experienced in a while and allowed a small smile.


    Right then, Cha Taehyun, who hadn¡¯t moved an inch before, swung his bat forcefully.


    ¨C Crack!


    A terrifying sound of impact echoed through the field, reverberating through Lee Suho¡¯s entire body.


    The ball soared directly at Lee Suho¡¯s head, grazing a few hairs before rocketing upward.


    Despite the near-miss, Lee Suho wasn¡¯t startled. Instead, he urgently turned to track the ball¡¯s path.


    Theunch angle wasn¡¯t very high. It had barely grazed his hair.


    It shouldn¡¯t go far¡­ right?


    The ball defied his expectations and kept soaring, eventually clearing the top edge of the fence.


    ¡°Wow¡­ are you serious?¡±


    ¡°This guy¡¯s insane.¡±


    ¡°Senior Sangjin, wasn¡¯t that pitch just now really fast?¡±


    Like the bewildered Lee Suho on the mound, Lee Sangjin was also in a daze.


    ¡®You¡¯re asking if the pitch was fast?¡¯


    It was fast, sure¡­ But Lee Suho¡¯s four-seam wasn¡¯t all about speed.


    Its strengthy in its heavy, vicious rotation. Having faced it himself a few times, he knew how tough it was.


    But this rookie sent it over the fence at thatunch angle? With aser-like trajectory?


    Lee Sangjin let out an incredulousugh.


    ¡°¡­Looks like I¡¯ll have to move down to the fifth spot in the lineup.¡±


    As I watched the ball fly out of the field, I turned toward Senior Lee Suho, who was approaching me. My heart sank.


    Did I go overboard?


    I had hit his pitch right out of the zone without hesitation.


    And this was a challenge to test a junior¡¯s mettle, right? I must have ruined his pride.


    I could almost hear Phoenix¡¯s championship chances dropping.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun¡­¡±


    His voice didn¡¯t sound pleasant. How should I smooth things over?


    ¡°Why¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Why¡­!¡±


    Senior Lee Suho suddenly grabbed both of my shoulders and raised his voice.


    Is he about to start yelling at me?


    But then, he suddenly broke into a bright smile and said something confusing.


    ¡°Why did youe sote!!!¡±


    Uh¡­


    This guy must have been through a lot too.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 52

    I arrived at Sajik Baseball Stadium as usual, but today, Ms. Miyeon was with me.


    She came along, saying that it would be hard to see me for a while once I left for spring camp.


    ¡°You said it¡¯s in Japan this year¡­¡±


    Ms. Miyeon¡¯s voice revealed a trace of regret as her lips slightly pouted.


    ¡°How long will you be gone¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there until February, thene back for a bit. Two dayster, I¡¯ll be gone again for about a month.¡±


    ¡°T-that long?¡±


    Ms. Miyeon opened her mouth in disbelief, her shoulders drooping. She didn¡¯t cry, but her eyes were already moist.


    I knew I shouldn¡¯t, but I felt good whenever I saw her like this. Because it showed how much Ms. Miyeon cared about me.


    I smiled for a moment and then approached her, gently pulling her into a hug.


    The startled ¡°Taehyun?¡± Miyeon from the past was nowhere to be found now. Instead, she tightened her arms around my waist.


    As I stroked her hair, I spoke softly.


    ¡°I said I¡¯d take two days off when I return from spring camp. I¡¯ll spend the whole time with you, so just wait a little.¡±


    Satisfied with my promise, her head nodded up and down against my chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you when I arrive.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ make sure¡­ through video call.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    I entered the stadium, leaving behind Ms. Miyeon, who waved for a long time.


    ¡°Hey, Cha Taehyun.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Shin Siwoo, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you finally remembered my name.¡±


    Shin Siwoo, another rookie like me, was drafted in the second round as a catcher and joined the first-team spring camp. It seemed the manager had decided to rece the existing catcher and train this guy.


    ¡°¡­I saw everything.¡±


    ¡°Saw what?¡±


    ¡°I saw you being all lovey-dovey with your girlfriend¡­¡±


    Not that it¡¯s official yet, but at this point, it¡¯s hard to deny it. Whether it¡¯s Miyeon or me, it seems like we¡¯ll cross the line soon enough.


    ¡°So what?¡±


    ¡°¡­Damn. You¡¯re not even denying it. Anyway¡­ well¡­¡±


    Shin Siwoo hesitated for a moment and then spoke softly.


    ¡°Can you teach me how to get a girlfriend?¡±


    He pleaded earnestly, even adding, ¡°I¡¯m really serious.¡±


    ¡°What can I do if I don¡¯t know how?¡±


    ¡°But you already have one! Just tell me how you got together.¡±


    If that¡¯s what he¡¯s asking¡­


    ¡°You just have to be good at baseball. Then, someone wille along.¡±


    Shin Siwoo was speechless for a moment, then sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ it¡¯s my fault for asking. Never mind that. How do you find it here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really have any thoughts about it.¡±


    ¡°Really? I actually find this ce morefortable than high school. The coaches are a bit old-fashioned, but the training itself is pretty loose, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Indeed, just as Shin Siwoo said, Phoenix¡¯s schedule is sox that it makes you wonder if this is really how a professional team should operate.


    But¡­ since the manager has changed, it might not stay that way.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see. It might just be temporary.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The new manager is joining us during spring camp, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you mean Manager Lee Eun-seok? He¡¯s a bit old, so he might be strict. But the seniors say he only came here to cash in before retirement anyway. They say there¡¯s no other reason for him toe here and that he doesn¡¯t care about Phoenix.¡±


    What Shin Siwoo said made sense. If you think about why a legendary manager who won three consecutive championships woulde here, that reason would be the first to pop up.


    I thought the same, but Shin Hayoon, a lifelong Phoenix fan, once told me:


    ¨C ¡°I heard he was born in Busan. I found out that he spoke quite often about being a Phoenix fan. I think he genuinely cares about this team.¡±


    ¡°I heard from someone that the manager seems to genuinely care about Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°Really? ¡­Well, we¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    We¡¯ll find out soon enough. That was true.


    ¡°This team is hopeless.¡±


    On the first day of spring camp in Miyazaki, Japan, those were the first words that Manager Lee Eun-seok said to the Phoenix yers.


    The yers all tilted their heads in confusion, and the coaches did the same.


    ¡°I took a look around this team before I came to spring camp¡­ It¡¯s just hopeless. I can see very well why this team is at the bottom, and I¡¯m sure I¡¯m not the only one who knows that.¡±


    ¡®He¡¯s right.¡¯


    Standing among the yers, Lee Suho kept nodding his head.


    The manager walked over to the fielders¡¯ side, stopping in front of Lee Sangjin, and stared at his belly before sighing.


    ¡°Is this the body of a baseball yer? Should an athlete have such a big gut? No wonder fans call you a bunch of useless junk.¡±


    Once again, Lee Suho nodded vigorously.


    The manager pulled outst year¡¯s Phoenix spring camp schedule from his jacket and held it up.


    ¡°One hour of basic physical training¡­ The rest is all self-training¡­ I don¡¯t know who made this, but it¡¯s quite simple, isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t mind simplicity either, so¡­¡±


    ¨C Rip


    He tore the schedule in half, letting the pieces fall slowly to the ground.


    ¡°From this year on, it¡¯ll be even simpler. No more self-training. We¡¯ll focus solely on physical conditioning. Simpler, right? You should all be satisfied.¡±


    As expected of a manager called a baseball legend, no one dared to object. However, some of the yers who had more experience openly showed their displeasure on their faces.


    ¡®Shin Taeseop¡­ Lee Sangjin¡­¡¯


    The manager made a mental note of their faces and continued speaking.


    ¡°Today, we start with running. Everyone, line up.¡±


    One of the yers, aligning himself reluctantly, asked the manager,


    ¡°How manyps?¡±


    ¡°Laps? There¡¯s no such thing. You¡¯ll run until I say stop. Oh, and for those who stop before I tell you to, your break time will be cut in half.¡±


    ¡®Cut break time in half?¡¯


    The coach¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the manager.


    While it was true that the previous break time was a bit longerpared to other teams, cutting it in half seemed unreasonable, no matter how you looked at it.


    ¡°Manager¡­ If you cut the break time in half, the yers might copse before they even get to the practice games¡­¡±


    The manager scoffed at the coach¡¯s words.


    Copsing because their previously overflowing break time got cut in half? That just means their basic fitness isn¡¯t up to par.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, pack your bags and head to the second-team camp. That goes for the coaches, too.¡±


    The manager was resolute. He might have been past 60, an age where his passion should have cooled down, but from the moment he became Phoenix¡¯s manager, he had no intention of doing things half-heartedly.


    He was genuinely dedicated to Phoenix.


    ¡°What are you doing? Line up already!¡±


    The manager shouted loudly, and the yers reluctantly started aligning themselves.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Seriously, what is this?¡±


    ¡°Does he think it¡¯s still the 80s or something¡­?¡±


    ¡°See, that¡¯s why old coaches don¡¯t work¡­¡±


    ¡°Training like this is so primitive. Does he think raising our stamina is all it takes?¡±


    Voices ofint echoed all around even before we started running.


    I also thought that making us run until he said to stop was a bit primitive, but for Phoenix specifically, it seemed like the right approach.


    I felt that for this team, it was best to be pushed hard, even if it seemed crude.


    Anyway, following Senior Lee Suho¡¯s lead, the line of yers began to move.


    The manager hadn¡¯t mentioned maintaining a particr speed, so I thought they might run slowly, but of course, Senior Suho was different.


    He kept a steady pace, not fast but definitely not slow.


    Onep, twops¡­


    Everyone kept up with the pace well until the thirdp, but¡­


    ¡°Huff¡­ Huff¡­¡±


    Wait, have these guys not done any fitness training at all?


    We had only run fourps, and I could already hear heavy breathing.


    Then came the fifthp.


    ¨C ¡°Already copsing! Get up!¡±


    The manager¡¯s words rang out as the so-called ¡®junk cars,¡¯ the guys with big bellies, began to fall.


    I was still fine. I maintained my breathing and continued running.


    At that moment, the foreign yer Andy John came up beside me and started talking.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Taehyun? I¡¯m starting to feel dizzy. I miss my wife¡¯s kimchifitangsuyuk¡­¡±


    ¡°What? Kimchi pizza sweet-and-sour pork? Is that even a thing?¡±


    ¡°What? You don¡¯t know kimfitang, Taehyun? You¡¯ve been missing out on half of life. Make sure to try it when you get back.¡±


    I had heard he had a Korean wife, so I expected him to know some Korean culture¡­


    Kimfitang, huh¡­ Seems like his wife has unique tastes.


    Andy kept talking to me but finally went silent around the ninthp, eventually dering his surrender.


    ¡°Damn¡­ If only I had eaten some kimchi this morning, I could¡¯ve run more¡­ Good luck, Taehyun.¡±


    As Andy dropped out, there were only a few of us left in the lineup.


    Surprisingly, rookie Shin Siwoo was still holding on.


    ¡°Siwoo¡­! Si


    woo¡­!¡±


    Or maybe not?


    The weird sounds he was making suggested he was losing it.


    ¡°Why are you making weird noises?¡±


    ¡°Siwoo¡­ Huff¡­ You don¡¯t¡­ Huff¡­ know? Huff¡­ My brother¡¯s¡­ celebration¡­ Huff¡­ Gives me strength¡­ if I do this¡­¡±


    Muttering something iprehensible about his brother and a celebration, Shin Siwoo finally copsed during the 11thp, shouting ¡°Siwoo!!!¡±


    Now, the only ones left were Senior Lee Suho and me.


    We ran quietly, and then¡­


    ¡°Manager¡­ You¡¯re amazing¡­ This is¡­ Huff¡­ the right way¡­ Huff¡­¡±


    Senior Suho started muttering nonsense, seemingly at his limit.


    ¡°Huff¡­ What are you suddenly talking about?¡±


    Lee Suho grinned widely as he answered.


    ¡°I really¡­ Huff¡­ feel it¡­ Huff¡­ The change¡­ Now that the manager has changed¡­ Huff¡­ Isn¡¯t it?¡±


    I had to agree. I hadn¡¯t expected the first day to be this intense.


    Anyway, I was also starting to run out of breath. Was this ever going to end?


    The fact that he hadn¡¯t said to stop yet likely meant that the running was just an excuse, and the real n was to turn half of the break time into training time.


    That won¡¯t do¡­


    If that means my call time with Ms. Miyeon is halved¡­ Then bring it on. Let¡¯s see who wins.


    Meanwhile, the manager had been away for quite a while, caught up on a phone call from the team¡¯s general manager.


    ¡°Is it thiste already¡­?¡±


    It had been 20 minutes since he left.


    The manager returned to the field, expecting everyone to be sprawled out.


    ¡°What the¡­¡±


    Surprisingly, one yer was still running.


    ¡°Huh¡­ Turns out he¡¯s crazier than I thought¡­¡±


    His eyes were half-closed, and his body was soaked in sweat, but Cha Taehyun showed no intention of stopping, sprinting past the manager.


    Realizing the situation, the manager scolded the coach.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? Why didn¡¯t you tell him to stop? What if he copses?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ You said to run until you told them to stop¡­¡±


    The manager sighed, putting a hand to his forehead.


    ¡°If I said I¡¯d be away for a while due to a call from the general manager¡­ you should have figured it out! Use your judgment!¡±


    Clicking his tongue, the manager left the coach behind and approached the track, shouting.


    ¡°Cha Taehyun! Stop! You can stop running now!¡±


    Cha Taehyun halted in front of the manager, catching his breath before saying something iprehensible.


    ¡°I think I can do one morep. I¡¯ll keep going.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    The manager stood there in shock as Cha Taehyun began to run again, shaking his head.


    Meanwhile, Phoenix TV¡¯s filming crew, who had arrived unnoticed, captured the whole scene on camera.


    Juxtaposed perfectly with the ¡®junk cars¡¯ copsed on the ground.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 53

    Some people, even if they seemzy, will still grudgingly do something when told. On the other hand, there are those who refuse to do anything, even when asked.


    Fortunately, in Phoenix, most yers fell into the category of ¡°those who¡¯ll do it if asked.¡±


    ¡°Whew¡­ This is really tough. Taeseop, look at my stomach. I think I¡¯ve got abs now.¡±


    Lee Sangjin, who had just finished fielding drills, lifted his shirt to reveal his belly.


    No matter how I looked at it, it was just regr belly fat.


    ¡°Hey, Taehyun says to cut the nonsense,¡± Senior Shin Taeseop clicked his tongue at me.


    Was I that obvious¡­?


    Anyway, yers like Senior Lee Sangjin, who had been criticized as ¡°junk¡± on the first day, along with Senior Shin Taeseop and the rest of the Phoenix yers, were following the intense training. Perhaps it was due to the pressure of ¡°being sent to the second team if they got on the manager¡¯s bad side.¡±


    But, is this really intense training? I don¡¯t think so.


    Though the first day was filled with some rather extreme running, the training afterward became more systematic. It seemed like the manager just wanted to gauge the yers¡¯ fitness levels.


    The result? A pitiful level of stamina. Considering that, this training is more at the ¡°necessary¡± level.


    ¡°Our Phoenix is getting healthier.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Senior Shin Taeseop. You truly carry on the spirit of the ¡®Shin.¡¯ What insight!¡±


    Shin Siwoo slyly ttered, making Senior Shin Taeseop chuckle.


    Although I hadn¡¯t seen Catcher Shin Siwoo in action yet, he certainly seemed to excel in social skills.


    ¡°By the way, Taehyun. Don¡¯t you feel it?¡± Senior Lee Sangjin asked.


    ¡°Feel what?¡±


    ¡°That after this spring camp¡­ it feels like a storm is brewing in Phoenix.¡±


    I agreed with that sentiment. It was clear the manager was sincere about this team, and his displeasure whenever he looked at the coaches was apparent.


    There were even rumors that the manager and the head coach had already had a disagreement.


    ¡°I heard the head coach is unhappy about the removal of self-training.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I heard that too. But honestly, it¡¯s not like he¡¯s doing it for our sake, wanting to bring self-training back. It¡¯s just an excuse because self-training makes their lives easier. They¡¯re just leeches. ¡­Well, I guess I¡¯m not one to talk either, along with Taeseop.¡±


    Senior Shin Taeseop nodded with a wry smile.


    ¡°Honestly, the way things were before was abnormal. I¡¯d say things are returning to normal.¡±


    ¡°Oh,e on¡­ Shin Taeseop, you shouldn¡¯t say that. You¡¯re the one who told me Phoenix was an easy ride¡­¡± Senior Lee Joon grumbled.


    Senior Lee Joon had joined Phoenix through an FA contract. Judging by the dirt all over his uniform, he had been working hard.


    ¡°What? You? Hey, Lee Joon, be careful with your words. Our team¡¯s pitcher, Shawn White, is actually ck despite his name.¡±


    Andy suddenly butted into the conversation. However, his Korean skills werecking, so the seniors just tilted their heads in confusion.


    ¡°Taehyun, they say you speak good English. Can you trante for us?¡±


    ¡°He said, ¡®Anyone who trusts Joon is a fool.''¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    For a moment, Lee Joon was stunned before rushing at Andy. As Andy yelled, ¡°No! No! Wait! What¡¯s the problem?¡± and ran away, everyone burst outughing, clutching their stomachs.


    Just as I was about to rify that it was a joke¡ª


    ¡°Alright, alright! Break¡¯s over! Get up!¡±


    The manager appeared, and the yers quickly started getting up. By now, there were almost no signs of discontent.


    ¡°Tomorrow is the final practice before the match. Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Yes!!¡±


    A loud voice filled the indoor training ground.


    Compared to the first day, Phoenix was indeed changing, little by little.


    ***


    The day of the first practice game of the spring camp had arrived. Our opponent was the Dinos, who were also holding their spring camp in Miyazaki Prefecture.


    I might get to see Lee Jiho. Although he¡¯s a rookie, his skills probably earned him a starting position.


    ¡°Uh, uh, uh¡­ What do I do, Taehyun?¡±


    Right. Even rookie Shin Siwoo, who¡¯s now a starting yer but is trembling with nerves, is taking part in the game. There¡¯s no way Jiho would be left out.


    ¡°Why is the usually lively guy suddenly so nervous?¡±


    ¡°Why¡­ Why am I a starter!?¡±


    I chuckled. A rookie refusing a starting spot¡ªwhat a sight.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you get the hint when the manager put you in the first-team camp? It means he¡¯s nning to develop you. It¡¯s a great opportunity, so don¡¯t be nervous and try to show your best.¡±


    ¡°I know that¡­ But they say today¡¯s game is being broadcast. You look so calm. How do you do it? Any tips?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ I just have confidence that I¡¯ll do well?¡±


    I gave a sincere answer, but Shin Siwoo¡¯s face instantly crumpled.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Cha Taehyun. Do people often tell you how irritating you are?¡±


    I was momentarily speechless. Am I really that annoying¡­?


    Anyway, I needed to calm Shin Siwoo down a bit. Phoenix has many weaknesses, but the catcher position is the most ring one.


    If Shin Siwoo fails to perform today, there¡¯s no chance of us winning.


    If he messes up and bes the reason for a loss today, he might lose confidence right from the start.


    You have to start things off on the right foot.


    ¡°Hey, what was your batting average in your third year?¡±


    ¡°Me¡­? Around the high .200s¡­¡±


    That¡¯s slightly disappointing for a catcher drafted in the second round, but¡­ it¡¯s enough to boost his confidence.


    Because thepetition is Phoenix¡¯s catchers.


    ¡°Did you know the main Phoenix catcher had a .170 averagest year? If you do even slightly better, the fans will love you. So there¡¯s no need to be nervous. You can at least hit better than .170, right?¡±


    Finally, he seemed to rx as he smirked and raised his voice.


    ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s what I was waiting to hear! Thanks, Taehyun. I¡¯ll give you the right to use the ¡®Siwoo Ceremony!''¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need that¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, try it! Siwoo!!!!¡±


    ¡­Did I overdo it?


    Just as I was about to ignore him and head to the dugout, Andy suddenly joined in.


    ¡°Hey, catcher! Are you a fan of my brother too? Want to do it together?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    ¡°Siwoo!!¡± ¡°Siwoo!!¡±


    ¡­My head started to spin a little.


    Well, at least his nerves seem to be gone, so it¡¯s probably fine.


    ***


    [Today marks the beginning of the Hwangnix Dynasty!]


    ©¸What kind of nonsense is this?


    ©¸Lol, they¡¯re saying this because Phoenix is having a practice game?


    ©¸Seriously, now they¡¯re getting hyped up over a practice game?


    ©¸The practice game hasn¡¯t even started yet, lol.


    ©¸Let them have their fun, even now, lol.


    ©¸Lol, not falling for it~ We¡¯re winning with Taehyun~


    ©¸Seems they forgot they did thisst year with Lee Seungtae joining, lol.


    As Shin Hayoon chuckled while reading the chat, her younger sister asked,


    ¡°Hey, weren¡¯t you pretty close with that Jiho? The guy who went to the Dinos.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Jiho? Yeah, I was¡­¡±


    ¡°So, who are you going to cheer for, Phoenix or the Dinos?¡±


    Well, obviously¡­


    ¡°Taehyun,¡± almost slipped out, but Shin Hayoon barely managed to hold her tongue.


    ¡°¡­Phoenix, of course. I¡¯m not one to change teams.¡±


    Her younger sister squinted her eyes and grinned.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ So you like Taehyun more?¡±


    Shin Hayoon flinched and lunged at her sister.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ¡°You¡­ I told youst time that¡¯s not it!¡±


    ¡°Ow! Okay, okay! I won¡¯t tease you! Wait, the game¡­ The game is starting!¡±


    Hearing that the game was starting, Shin Hayoon hurried to theputer.


    Her face was full of anticipation.


    Watching her sister, the younger one mumbled in disbelief,


    ¡°Yeah, sure¡­ She says she doesn¡¯t like him¡­¡±


    ***


    Phoenix and the Dinos have a rivalry.


    Or so Phoenix fans im.


    Based onst season, the head-to-head record was 1 win and 15 losses. In what world is that considered a rivalry?


    The truth is, Phoenix is more like a punching bag for the Dinos.


    ¡°Yes, Phoenix did seem to struggle against the Dinos,¡± thementator candidly admitted, causing the chat to explode with ¡°?¡± messages.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped since this broadcast was on Phoenix TV.


    Thementator awkwardly smiled and hurriedly added,


    ¡°Haha¡­ But that was the Phoenix ofst year. The Phoenix of this year?¡±


    ©¸Is different!


    ©¸With Taehyun, it¡¯s different!


    ©¸Dinos, watch out!


    ©¸Hwang.Nix.Win.


    ©¸Ready to be 15-1 this season? Lol.


    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right. I have no doubt we¡¯ll see a different performance today! The game is starting now. The first batter, Jin Taehyun, steps up to the te.¡±


    The starting pitcher for the Dinos was Kim Hyunsoo, known for a respectable


    upper-140s fastball and excellent sliders and changeups.


    Batter Jin Taehyun hit the first pitch fastball but didn¡¯t get much distance.


    Ground out.


    Batter number two, Lee Joon, hit a clean shot off a slider that struck the wall.


    Hefortably reached second base, prompting Manager Lee Eun-seok to p and smile contentedly.


    ©¸Ah, this is why I spend money, lol.


    ©¸Spending money is worth it!


    ©¸Kong Joon¡¯s first hit of the season is a double, lol.


    ©¸Joon really has something, lol.

 Chapter 54

    <strong>¡°Cha Tae-hyun¡¯s fantastic jumping catch! Can you catch this? Cha Tae-hyun! Seriously! This is amazing defense!¡±</strong>


    ¡°The defense just now was incredibly fast in terms of reaction speed. The moment we heard the sound of the hit, Cha Tae-hyun was already prepared¡­ and then he jumped right here! Wow¡­ this is truly incredible defense! How is this yer still a rookie?¡±


    The Phoenix TVmentators raised their voices in excitement, repeatedly eximing in admiration.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you really feel that this year is different? The stability of this defense! It¡¯s so secure it reminds me of a Simmons bed! Look at pitcher Lee Suho¡¯s reaction too. Don¡¯t you see how happy he looks!¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Damn, Suho¡¯s expression is heavenly ???¡±


    ©¸ ¡°A face Jiwoo-chan has never shown before ????¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Let¡¯s never see Jiwoo-chan again ^^¡±


    ©¸ ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Phoenix, Jiwoo-chan wouldn¡¯t have even set foot on the first-team stage.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Andy John¡¯s defense seems decent, doesn¡¯t it?¡±©¸ ¡°The fact that he¡¯s not from Venezu is already satisfying, and even the manager seems pleased.¡±


    Andy John was originally a batter recruited for his defensive skills, and he had been performing well. But this guy, Cha Tae-hyun, was something else. Despite being a rookie who had just entered the pro league, he disyed remarkableposure. He never seemed nervous, and sometimes his cheerful demeanor almost felt cocky. However, it didn¡¯t feel like the immature confidence of a rookie; rather, it was a poise usually seen in yers with years of experience who genuinely enjoy the game.


    ¡°¡®The more I watch him, the more I think he¡¯s someone special,''¡± the manager thought, smiling contentedly while observing Cha Tae-hyun.


    <strong>¡°Strikeout!¡±</strong>


    Shin Tae-seop, the batter at the te, struck out. The next batter and the one after that met simr fates, ending the second inning scoreless. The manager remained calm.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s about right.¡±


    Typically, regret or disappointment stems from having expectations. Lee Eun-seok, who knew Phoenix well, had no expectations for this inning. The only thing he regretted was shifting the batting order to amodate rookie Cha Tae-hyun. If he had known Tae-hyun would adapt so seamlessly, he would have ced him higher in the lineup.


    As the offense and defense switched, the Dinos began their turn at bat. While they had shown strength against Phoenix, they were still struggling as a lower-ranked team.


    <strong>-Thump! ¡°Out!¡± -Thump! ¡°Out!¡±</strong>


    Against Lee Suho, Cha Tae-hyun, and Andy John, the Dinos were unable to secure any hits. When Lee Jiho, the sixth batter, stepped up to the te, the Phoenix manager¡¯s interest was piqued.


    ¡°They say Cha Tae-hyun is the next big rookie, but his gaze is different,¡± he remarked.


    Lee Jiho persisted, fouling off several pitches from Lee Suho, and on the seventh pitch, he swung hard at an inside fastball.


    <strong>-Thump!</strong>


    It was a solid hit. Lee Jiho sprinted toward first base, but his eyes involuntarily shifted to the shortstop.


    ¡°You¡­ caught that?¡±


    Cha Tae-hyun, smirking, had already fielded the ball cleanly and stood ready to throw. With a quick, sharp toss, the ballnded perfectly in the first baseman¡¯s glove, beating Jiho by a hair.


    <strong>¡°Out!¡±</strong>


    ¡°Wow¡­ this shouldn¡¯t have been an out. Don¡¯t feel too bad; our Tae-hyun is just that good,¡± first baseman Shin Tae-seop chuckled as he returned to the dugout, leaving the stunned Lee Jiho behind. <hr>


    The offense and defense switched once more, and rookie Cha Tae-hyun, the cause of much excitement, stepped up to bat for the first time.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ©¸ ¡°Isn¡¯t he the 2-billion-won rookie?¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him. The Kkolknicks went crazy when they drafted him.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°But he¡¯s worth it. He dominated the high school league.¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Lots of yers shine in high school and then disappear, though ???¡±


    ©¸ ¡°Why are you hyping him up so much?¡±


    Kim Hyunsu, the pitcher, had heard of Cha Tae-hyun¡¯s reputation but didn¡¯t think much of it. After all, many rookies had ster high school records but struggled in the pros. However, on the first pitch, Cha Tae-hyun hit a sharp double, sending the ball flying off the fence.


    Kim Hyunsu, now visibly shaken, muttered to himself, ¡°Cha Tae-hyun¡­ this guy is something else.¡± <hr>


    <strong>[Phoenix Spring Camp: First Practice Game Victory ¨C 9-8 Against the Dinos!]</strong>


    <strong>[Cha Tae-hyun Shines in Offense and Defense ¨C Is This the Start of a New Era?]</strong>


    Despite their win, Phoenix¡¯s weaknesses were evident, particrly in the bullpen. Manager Lee Eun-seok sighed as he reviewed the game. While the team had won four consecutive practice games, every victory had been narrow, witheback wins highlighting their struggles.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t won a championship in over 30 years,¡± the manager told his head coach. ¡°Fans don¡¯t want to keep hearing about the future. They want a championship now. It¡¯s time to deliver.¡± <hr>

 Chapter 55

    After returning from spring camp, the first thing I did was finalize the contract for my new apartment.


    Though I wanted to postpone the move and just rest for a bit, exhibition games were starting soon. If I waited, I¡¯d probably have to put it off even longer, so it was best to get it done now.


    ¡°Wow¡­ Oppa, your apartmentplex has ake!¡±


    Jihyun¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as soon as we entered the apartmentplex.


    ¡°Oppa, there¡¯s an elevator too. Now we don¡¯t have to walk up to the 4th floor anymore! This is so convenient, right?¡±


    Seeing her smile so brightly just because of an elevator made my nose sting with emotion.


    If I¡¯d known she would be this happy, I would have moved sooner¡­


    When Jihyun got off the elevator, she made my heart ache once more.


    ¡°Oppa, there¡¯s even a digital door lock here. You just press the code to open the door, right? Now we won¡¯t have to worry about losing our keys.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jihyun¡­ I should have moved earlier.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why are you apologizing, Oppa? You¡¯re letting us live in such a nice ce¡­ Don¡¯t say weird things and let¡¯s go inside already, okay?¡±


    Jihyun tugged at my hand eagerly.


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go in.¡±


    I punched in the passcode, opening the door to reveal a sleek shoe closet, and as we walked further in, the pristine white interior came into view.


    ¡°Wow¡­ The living room is huge¡­¡±


    At 64 pyeong (about 2,300 sq ft), it was vast, iparable to the old house we used to live in.


    Jihyun couldn¡¯t stop marveling as she explored the apartment.


    ¡°There are three bathrooms!¡±


    ¡°Is this my room, Oppa? It¡¯s at least three times bigger than my old one.¡±


    ¡°Oppa, look! There¡¯s a bathtub!¡±


    She was as excited as a child visiting an amusement park for the first time.


    ¡°Do you like it, Jihyun?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I really, really like it! Oppa¡­ thank you!¡±


    Jihyun leaped into my arms. I¡¯d never seen her this happy before. Money really does make life better sometimes.


    If anyone ever says that money can¡¯t buy happiness, I¡¯d like to show them Jihyun¡¯s joyful face right now.


    I need to work even harder and earn more.


    ¡ª


    ¡ª


    The general manager visited the club at Coach Lee Eun-seok¡¯s request.


    ¡°Director Lee, after returning from spring camp, I realized¡­ this team isn¡¯t as hopeless as I thought.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Why so surprised? Did you think Phoenix was a lost cause?¡±


    The general manager almost nodded but forced a smile instead.


    ¡°Haha¡­ No, not at all. I was just expecting you to be more critical of Phoenix, so I was caught off guard.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I was strict in my assessment. But there is potential.¡±


    Just as the manager was about to ask, ¡°Are you serious?¡± the coach continued.


    ¡°Of course, having potential doesn¡¯t mean Phoenix is a good team right now.¡±


    The general manager couldn¡¯t help but agree. After all, how much could a team that finishedst the previous year change in one spring camp?


    ¡°Yes¡­ I think so too.¡±


    ¡°Right. It¡¯s an undeniable fact. But do you know what I mean by potential? It means that with the right adjustments¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying they could seed?¡±


    ¡°I like that you catch on quickly, Director. I won¡¯t ask for much. Just leave all trades entirely to my discretion¡­¡±


    The general manager nodded. He had been heavily criticized for every trade he made and was sick of it, so it was a relief to hand it off to someone else.


    However, what the coach said next was the problem.


    ¡°Let¡¯s overhaul the coaching staff.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying¡­ you want to rece the entire coaching staff?¡±


    The coach gave a sly smile and nodded.


    ¡®This¡­ I didn¡¯t see thising.¡¯


    When Coach Lee Eun-seok was first appointed, he never mentioned bringing in his own people, so it was assumed he was satisfied with the current staff.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been out of the scene for a long time. The people who used to work under me have already found positions elsewhere, so I don¡¯t have anyone to call in. I was willing to give the current coaches a chance, but¡­ I don¡¯t think they¡¯re going to work out.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any coaches in mind?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve made a list. Take a look.¡±


    The general manager nced at the list, surprised to see that most of the candidates were quite young.


    ¡°They¡¯re all quite capable, but I picked those who would listen well. Can we make it happen?¡±


    The general manager rested his chin in his hand, deep in thought.


    ¡®The owner did say to follow Coach Lee Eun-seok¡¯s judgment as much as possible, but recing the entire coaching staff¡­ That¡¯s a huge undertaking.¡¯


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll need to consult with the owner first.¡±


    ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll ask him directly. Just connect the call.¡±


    Nodding, the general manager sent a message to the owner to check avability, and soon received a response saying it was fine.


    The call was longer than expected. He thought they¡¯d just discuss setting up a meeting about the coaching staff, but it sounded like the conclusion would be reached over this call.


    ¡°Yes, thank you very much, sir.¡±


    ¡°Did the owner give his permission?¡±


    ¡°He said it¡¯s necessary for Phoenix to win, so he readily agreed.¡±


    The general manager nodded with a bitter smile.


    ¡®No matter what, the owner sure is easily swayed¡­¡¯


    ¡ª


    ¡ª


    ¡°Granny, I¡¯m heading out.¡±


    Busan Phoenix¡¯s second-team yer, Cha Sihwan, stepped out of a shabby vi and climbed into an old car that looked like it barely ran.


    Most people imagine baseball yers as wealthy, but the reality for a second-team yer like Cha Sihwan, especially not being a high draft pick, was quite different.


    Still, Cha Sihwan was content with his current life. After all, he knew that his entry into the professional league was a stroke of luck.


    During his final tournament in his third year of high school, he was just a backup. But when his teammates were injured, he ended up on the mound as the closing pitcher. Seeing it as hisst chance, he pitched with all his might, delivering a once-in-a-lifetime performance.


    As an underhand pitcher, his top speed reached 138 km/h, shutting down two innings.


    That performance caught the eye of a scout, earning him a ce on the Phoenix team.


    Of course¡­ there was a reason it was a once-in-a-lifetime performance.


    If he could consistently throw 138 km/h with his underhand style, he would have been scouted long before.


    His main weakness was his notoriously poor control.


    Because of that, he received the lowest possible signing bonus and sry, but Cha Sihwan believed time would resolve it.


    Isn¡¯t that what professional coaches are for? With such specialized guidance, he was confident that his control would stabilize.


    But the Phoenix coaches were far from what he had envisioned.


    ¡°Raise your arm angle.¡±


    That was the first piece of advice he received from a coach.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but a senior pitcher who taught me the underhand said I should never raise my arm angle¡­¡±


    Since that senior had seeded in the Major Leagues with his underhand technique, Cha Sihwan believed that maintaining his arm angle was a core principle.


    No matter how much he exined, the coach was stubborn.


    ¡°What? Are you saying your senior¡¯s advice is more important than your coach¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°¡­That senior is a sessful pitcher, so I¡­¡±


    ¡°Ha! This rookie¡¯s ignoring his pitching coach? Unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But¡­ I can¡¯t change my arm angle.¡±


    ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s see how well you do without listening to me.¡±


    At first, Cha Sihwan was determined to stand his ground.


    ¡°I apologize for being stubborn, Coach¡­¡±


    A yearter, he finally bowed his head to the coach.


    He could handle being ignored and left alone by the coach. After all, there was nothing to learn from someone who stubbornly insisted on raising his arm angle.


    But¡­ the problem was that the entire second-team coaching staff was in cahoots with that coach.


    Cha Sihwan had be disliked by all the coaches, resulting in fewer opportunities to y.


    Without any significant achievements and with limited ying time, he was at risk of being cut from the team this year.


    Hadn¡¯t he promised to seed for the grandmother who had raised him alone?


    It was time to swallow his pride.


    ¡°Hm¡­ Well, rookies can be a bit stubborn. From now on, make sure you listen to the other coaches too, alright?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I will.¡±


    ¡®I have to at least show Granny that I¡¯m ying in a first-team game¡­¡¯


    Swallowing his pride, Cha Sihwan adjusted his arm angle as instructed by the coach.


    ¡ª¡ª


    With just a few days left before the exhibition games, I found myself at the secondary training field in Sangdong.


    If you¡¯re wondering why I¡¯m here, well, I don¡¯t really know either.


    The coach suddenly said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go see the second team?¡± and brought me along.


    I doubt he¡¯s nning to send me to the second team, so he must have some other reason.


    But this could be an opportunity.


    There were mentions on Nemars (an online forum) about a yer who would seed after leaving the Phoenix team.


    It might mean that there¡¯s a yer here who could experience that ¡°escape effect.¡±


    If I remember correctly, there was an underhand pitcher who became a prime example of that¡­


    If I see that pitcher here, I¡¯ll grab the coach by the pants and persuade him.


    After all, every pitcher is crucial for winning.


    ¡°Coach Lee Eun-seok?¡±


    As we entered the training ground, the coach who had been lounging on a chair jumped up in surprise.


    Was this an unannounced inspection?


    Judging by the coach¡¯s reaction, it seemed today¡¯s visit was unnned.


    ¡°What brings you here, sir? You must be very busy¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough. I¡¯m here to take a look at the bullpen, so gather the pitchers, and bring a catcher to the field. Oh, and don¡¯t worry about the hitters.¡±


    The coach nced at me and added, ¡°He¡¯s going to hit.¡±


    So that¡¯s why I was brought here ¡ª to see how the second-team bullpen would fare against a first-team batter.


    But is this okay?


    It seems like it would be better to have someone like Lee Sangjin do this instead of me.


    Oh well, when the coach gives an order, you just do it.


    I took my ce at the te.


    ¡°Haha! I look forward to it!¡±


    The pitcher on the mound introduced himself with a voice loud enough to tear his throat.


    The desperation was clear in his tone and in his eyes.


    ¡­It made sense for him to be desperate.


    If he pitched well here, he might get called up to the first team.


    I¡¯m a bit soft-hearted in situations like this¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold back and swing just as you usually would. Understood?¡±


    With the coach saying this, I had no choice but to hit even if I felt bad.


    The pitcher wound up and threw the ball.


    Maybe he got too excited and lost control. A nd fastball flew straight down the middle.


    This kind of pitch¡­ Even if I wanted to let it go, I just couldn¡¯t.


    ¨C CRACK!


    The bat swung, and the ball soared far, easily clearing the outfield wall.


    ¡°C-could I please have one more chance?¡±


    The pitcher turned anxiously to the coach, but¡­


    ¡°Next.¡±


    In the end, the pitcher had to step off the mound after throwing just one ball.


    Several other pitchers took their turns after that, but¡­


    ¨C CRACK!!!


    ¡°H-how did he hit that¡­?¡±


    ¡°Next.¡±


    ¨C CRACK!


    ¡°P-please, just give me one more shot!¡±


    ¡°Next.¡±


    ¡°Next¡­¡±


    One by one, they either gave up home runs or long hits.


    Sighing, the coach turned to the pitching coach.


    ¡°Any more pitchers left?¡±


    When the pitching coach shook his head, the coach signaled for me toe off the field.


    ¡°Alright, Taehyun. Let¡¯s wrap it up and head back.¡±


    That¡¯s strange¡­ I was sure there was an underhand pitcher here who had been a prime example of the ¡°escape effect.¡±


    But there¡¯s no usementing over what isn¡¯t here. As I put down my bat and began walking back¡­


    ¡°W-wait! Coach! Coach, we have a pitcher here! We still have one!¡±


    Huh¡­?


    Suddenly, a pitcher was sprinting toward the mound in a hurry.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? Didn¡¯t you say there were no more pitchers?¡±


    ¡°W-well, he is a pitcher, but he never listened to instructions. Only now has he started adjusting, so he¡¯s not in any state to be in the first team¡­ That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t mention him¡­¡±


    ¡°Really¡­?¡±


    The pitcher looked at the coach with desperation and shouted, his voice trembling.


    ¡°Cha Sihwan, sir! Please, just give me one chance to pitch! One chance is all I¡¯m asking! I won¡¯t ask for a second! Please¡­ Please, just one opportunity, Coach!¡±


    ¡°What the hell is this kid doing¡­!¡± n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The pitching coach angrily stormed toward the mound to drag him away, but the pitcher shook off his grip, fell to his knees, and continued to plead with the coach.


    He begged for just one chance to pitch.


    I wasn¡¯t sure if this was the underhand pitcher I had heard about.


    But whether he was or not¡­


    Ignoring someone so desperate just didn¡¯t seem right.


    At least, that¡¯s what I thought.


    I changed my course and returned to the batter¡¯s box, raising my bat.


    ¡°Coach, how about one more at-bat? I¡¯m asking you, please.¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 56

    <hr>


    ¡°Th-Thank you!¡±


    Cha Sihwan jumped to his feet, his face lighting up at the chance to pitch an at-bat.


    His heart pounded like mad. How long had he waited for a chance like this?


    <em>Calm down¡­ If you get too excited, it¡¯s over.</em>


    He steadied his breathing, picturing his grandmother waiting for him in their small home. But as he tried to focus, his coach¡¯s words echoed in his head, clouding his thoughts.


    <em>¡°Good, keep that arm angle. See? Your speed increased after listening to me.¡±</em>


    If he ignored the coach¡¯s instructions and pitched his usual way but failed to impress, it would be over for him. Not only would his first-team call-up remain a dream, but his second-team career might get even tougher¡ªor worse, he could face being cut.


    Logic dictated he should pitch as instructed to preserve his future. But deep down¡­


    <em>I want to throw¡­ my way.</em>


    A fire burned inside him. Something primal urged him to pitch the way he had always pitched.


    Cha Sihwan closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, picturing himself on the mound during the President¡¯s Cup semifinals¡ªthe day he pitched the game of his life and earned a spot in the pros.


    He decided to let his body choose. He would go with the flow.


    As he began his pitching motion, his upper body tilted, bringing his world to its unique, sideways perspective¡ª90 degrees off from the rest of the world.


    His arm moved gracefully, like water flowing, as it descended.


    The arm angle matched perfectly with his memory of that life-changing game.


    As the ball left his fingertips, a puff of rosin powder trailed behind it.


    Underhand pitchers thrived on maximizing spin, producing extreme movement that deceived hitters.


    The ball, though gripped simply, danced unpredictably as it approached. It seemed to float as it darted toward the catcher, who instinctively raised his mitt slightly.


    A small smile crept across Cha Sihwan¡¯s face.


    It was the kind of pitch he rarely managed to throw¡ªone he hoped would catch the manager¡¯s eye.


    But before he could relish the moment, the batter¡¯s bat whipped forward with vicious speed, connecting with the ball.


    <em>CRACK!</em>


    The deafening sound of the hit sent a shiver down his spine.


    Turning quickly, he saw the ball slicing foul far from the foul pole. Only then did he let out the breath he¡¯d been holding.


    When he looked back at the batter, he saw the man slightly gaping in surprise, muttering something under his breath.


    <em>It¡¯s been a while since I waste on a pitch¡­</em>


    Cha Sihwan let out a self-deprecating chuckle.


    <em>I¡¯m the one who¡¯s shocked here¡­</em>


    It had been the best pitch he¡¯d thrown in years. But not only had the batter made contact, he¡¯d sent it flying for a foul home run.


    <em>So this is the first-team level¡­</em>


    For a moment, the weight of the challenge ahead felt suffocating.


    ¡°Pull yourself together, Cha Sihwan.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He pped his face lightly and muttered to himself.


    Despite the wless pitch, it was still a foul ball¡ªa strike. He had the advantage.


    He pitched again, praying for control.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    The batter didn¡¯t swing, but not because the pitch fooled him. The ball missed the strike zone by a mile.


    Gritting his teeth, Cha Sihwan tried again.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    This time, it sailed low and outside, far from where he intended.


    <em>Please¡­ just once¡­ Let me get it right!</em>


    But his prayers went unanswered.


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    ¡°Ball!¡±


    Cha Sihwan ended up walking the batter.


    Except for the one near-perfect pitch, his control had been disastrous. Even then, the batter had easily turned it into a foul home run.


    Before he could dwell too much, he noticed the manager walking toward the mound.


    <em>This is it¡­</em>


    Cha Sihwan hung his head, clenching his teeth.


    What should he do now?


    Wait to be cut? Or swallow his pride and beg the coach for another chance?


    ¡°Pack your things,¡± the manager said firmly.


    Desperation blinded him. Pride forgotten, Cha Sihwan spoke in a trembling voice.


    ¡°Please¡­ Please give me a little more time. I won¡¯t be stubborn anymore! Trade me if you have to¡ªI¡¯ll throw harder and fake my way through! Just please¡­ don¡¯t cut me!¡±


    The manager tilted his head, genuinely confused.


    ¡°What are you talking about? Why would I release you?¡±


    Cha Sihwan blinked in disbelief.


    ¡°But you said to pack my things¡­¡±


    ¡°I meant pack for Sajik Stadium. I¡¯ll work with you myself¡­ if you¡¯re willing to listen.¡±


    The manager patted his shoulder, shing a mischievous grin.


    ¡°Unless you don¡¯t want to?¡±


    The teasing tone made Cha Sihwan shake his head frantically, his voice bursting out.


    ¡°No, sir! I¡¯ll work harder than ever!¡±


    Even as the manager turned and walked off, Cha Sihwan kept bowing deeply, his voice cracking with gratitude.


    When the manager reached the coach, he ced a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You too. Pack your things.¡±


    The coach¡¯s eyes lit up with hope.


    ¡°Am I going to Sajik too?¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re going home.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what¡­?¡±


    The coach¡¯s expression crumbled, but the manager kept walking, unbothered. <hr>


    Cha Sihwan¡¯s underhand pitch brought a lot of thoughts to mind.


    He might be the ¡°breakout star¡± I¡¯d been looking for, and underhand pitchers are rare gems.


    At first, I considered deliberately missing to encourage him.


    But as soon as he threw, my instincts took over.


    That pitch was too tempting to resist.


    Though his control faltered after the first pitch, that one moment showed his potential.


    I¡¯m d he¡¯s moving to the first team.


    As I was leaving, I felt a hand grab my arm.


    ¡°Cha Tae-hyun! Please, wait!¡±


    Cha Sihwan was running after me, panting heavily.


    ¡°Thank you¡­ Truly, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you¡­¡±


    His voice cracked as tears welled up in his eyes.


    Eventually, he broke down, sobbing openly.


    The raw emotion in his voice was heart-wrenching.


    I waited for him to calm down, then spoke.


    ¡°See you at Sajik, Sihwan.¡±


    At those words, his face lit up.


    As I got into the manager¡¯s car, I nced back.


    Cha Sihwan was standing at the exit of the second-team stadium, waving furiously. <hr> <hr>


    Back in Sajik, the first pre-season game between the Busan Phoenix and the Daejeon Volcanoes was set to begin, and the stadium was packed to capacity.


    For most teams, having such a turnout for a pre-season game would be unusual. But for Busan, it was just another day.


    ¡°Why do people keeping to watch the Phoenix y? They¡¯ve beenst ce for years,¡± one fan from another team once asked.


    But the answer wasn¡¯tplicated.


    ¡°Busan people just love baseball.¡±


    Even if the team¡¯s record had been abysmal for years, it didn¡¯t matter. For the locals, going to the stadium was a way of life.


    Still, today¡¯s crowd wasn¡¯t just here out of habit. There was a buzz of hope in the air.


    ¡°This year feels different, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, with all the new yers and even the coaching staff shaken up, I think they might actually pull it off this time.¡±


    The Phoenix¡¯s bold moves in the offseason had reignited optimism among fans.


    However, when the starting pitcher for today¡¯s game was announced, a mix of excitement and concern rippled through the crowd.


    ¡°Ah¡­ It¡¯s Lee Rowoon starting today.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? Rowoon isn¡¯t exactly reliable. Why not just start with Suho?¡±


    Lee Rowoon wasn¡¯t a bad pitcher¡ªhe had moments of brilliance. But his inconsistency earned him the nickname ¡°Hae Rowoon¡± (Harmful Rowoon).


    Still, those doubting Rowoon didn¡¯t know how determined he was today. <hr>


    On the mound, Lee Rowoon¡¯s gaze was steely. He muttered to himself as he began his windup, ¡°Can¡¯t let my new partner down.¡±


    With a fluid motion, he unleashed a high-speed fastball that mmed into the catcher¡¯s mitt with a loud <em>pop!</em>


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    The umpire¡¯s call was followed by the disy board lighting up: 151 km/h.


    ¡°Whoa¡­ Did Rowoon just hit 151?¡±


    ¡°I thought his fastball topped out at 145!¡±


    It was clear Rowoon was throwing at his absolute best today. <hr>


    In the infield, I could feel the intensity radiating from Rowoon¡¯s pitches. His form was sharper than usual, and his focus was unshakable.


    Still, baseball is unpredictable.


    A sharp grounder came barreling toward second base, the kind of hit that could rattle even a solid infield.


    But I dove for the ball without hesitation, extending my glove as far as I could.


    The ball smacked into my glove, and without wasting a second, I used the momentum to flick it toward Andy at first base.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    Andy caught it barehanded, pivoted, and fired it back to second.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    We¡¯dpleted a double y, snuffing out what could¡¯ve been a game-changing moment for the Volcanoes.


    ¡°Whoa! Tae-hyun! That was amazing! Almost as good as kimchi-pizza-tang-su-yuk!¡±


    Andy¡¯s bizarrepliment caught me off guard, but I gave him a thumbs-up and a grin.


    From the mound, Rowoon was grinning too.


    ¡°I knew you had my back, Ai-bo!¡± he shouted, pumping his fist.


    <em>Ai-bo?</em>


    I sighed. Rowoon¡¯s enthusiasm was something else. I just hoped his performance stayed consistent. <hr>


    Later in the game, it was time for the Phoenix to take the te. As I stepped up to bat, I noticed the opposing pitcher, a seasoned veteran known for his precision.


    He started with a curveball, which I watched sail by without swinging.


    ¡°Strike!¡±


    The umpire¡¯s call didn¡¯t faze me. I studied his movements, waiting for my moment.


    On the next pitch, I spotted a fastballing my way¡ªright in my sweet spot.


    <em>CRACK!</em>


    The ball soared through the air, clearing the outfield fence with ease.


    ¡°Home run!¡±


    The roar of the crowd was deafening as I rounded the bases.


    This year really did feel different. <hr>

 Chapter 57

    ¡°Wow¡­ This is truly an incredible defensive y, even when you watch it again. Just catching that was impressive, but who would have thought he¡¯d go for a double y with that glove toss?¡±


    ¡°Ipletely agree. Cha Taehyun¡¯s defense was clean, but Andy John¡¯s sense was equally remarkable, wasn¡¯t it? Catching Cha Taehyun¡¯s throw with his bare hand and then throwing it! Without that, the double y would have been impossible. Compared tost year, the Phoenix¡¯s infield defense has improved drastically!¡±


    ©¸ Wow¡­ I¡¯m speechless.


    ©¸ Is this¡­ really the Phoenix¡¯s infield?


    ©¸ I can¡¯t believe it!


    ©¸ Last year, it wouldn¡¯t have been a double y, but double advancement instead.


    ©¸ LOL, seriously. They wouldn¡¯t have caught even one of them and would have given up a run.


    ©¸ Well, technically, it wasn¡¯t an easy ball to catch; Taehyun managed to do it.


    ©¸ Damn, can a single rookie really change the atmosphere this much? The Volcanoes¡¯ pitcher, who took the mound in the bottom of the first inning, was Lee Subin,st year¡¯s first-round pick.


    He¡¯s a rookie who has just joined the pros, but he performed well in practice games and has garnered the high expectations of Volcanoes fans.


    Despite being a rookie, he¡¯s not an easy pitcher.


    Of course, to fans, a rookie is just a rookie. Not many fans keep up with practice games, after all.


    ¡®He¡¯ll be heavily criticized if he doesn¡¯t hit¡­¡¯


    Leadoff batter Jin Taehyun raised his bat.


    Lee Subin wound up and threw the first pitch. A fast inside four-seam pitch with decent control, but Jin Taehyun reacted swiftly.


    ¨C Crack!


    A clean hit. The ball flew straight.


    It had the speed to make a base hit, but unfortunately, it went directly to the shortstop.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    After effortlessly taking down the first batter, Lee Subin raised one corner of his mouth, and the camera quickly captured the moment.


    ¡°Haha! Lee Subin seems quite confident.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit of a rookie. Didn¡¯t he just fearlessly throw a four-seam against Jin Taehyun? The new rookies these days are really something.¡±


    ©¸ Look at that cockiness. Is he for real?


    ©¸ What¡¯s with this arrogant rookie? Tsk tsk.


    ©¸ These people praised Cha Taehyun¡¯s smirk but criticize this. Hypocrites LOL.


    ©¸ Taehyun¡¯s smirk looks genuinely cool, so it¡¯s eptable.


    ©¸ What¡­;;


    Next up was the second batter, Lee Joon.


    ¡®Gotta be careful with Lee Joon¡­¡¯


    Even though he has no championship titles and is known as the ¡°Crownless King¡± and the ¡°Ghost of Second ce,¡± it means he always finishes second. And second ce is no low rank.


    Lee Subin tried his best to lure Lee Joon with breaking balls.


    ¡°Strike¡ªout!¡±


    After a full-count battle, he threw a decisive changeup, striking out even Lee Joon.


    ©¸ Sigh, seems like our batters have lost their touch today.


    ©¸ Getting beaten up by a rookie? What a joke.


    ©¸ Hey, guys, the lineup hasn¡¯t even gone around once. Isn¡¯t it too early to panic?


    ©¸ Does it make sense for an 8-billion-won yer to strike out against a rookie?


    ©¸ Seriously, so many Lee Joon fans here. Is he a mole from the Winners?


    ©¸ Caught me, LOL. Lee Joon is the best!


    ©¸ Ugh, just get lost already.


    The Sajik Stadium crowd, who were smiling after Cha Taehyun¡¯s great defense, started to look like enraged Chihuahuas. At that moment¡­


    ¨C Crack!


    The third batter, Andy, hit a clean outside four-seam pitch for a base hit.


    ¡°Andy! Andy! Andy!¡±


    As if they hadn¡¯t been grumpy a moment ago, the crowd began cheering and chanting Andy¡¯s name.


    Andy raised his fist and roared.


    ¡°This! Is! Andy!!!¡±


    ¡®You¡¯d think he hit a home run¡­¡¯


    Lee Subin shook his head as he watched Andy deliver an uppercut to the crowd.


    ***


    ¨C Waaaah!!


    The moment fourth batter Cha Taehyun stepped into the batter¡¯s box, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers.


    ¡°Wow¡­ With that poprity, you wouldn¡¯t even think he¡¯s a rookie. Changhyun, didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s your junior?¡±


    As his senior approached, Kim Changhyun quickly wiped off his smile and nodded.


    ¡°Is he that good? I think Subin is pitching out of his mind today.¡±


    Kim Changhyun inadvertently let out a scoff but quickly cleared his throat.


    ¡°Ahem¡­ I apologize, a sudden sneeze. Subin¡¯s pitching is indeed good, but I don¡¯t think he can handle Cha Taehyun.¡±


    His senior tilted his head.


    ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you overestimating him just because he¡¯s your junior? You saw Subin¡¯s pitches today too. He even struck out Lee Joon. Sure, he got hit by the foreign yer, but everyone makes a mistake once in a while.¡±


    ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t think he can beat Cha Taehyun.¡±


    His senior had already spoken to the point where one might back down, but Kim Changhyun remained firm.


    ¡°Wanna bet on it? Loser buys the team dinner.¡±


    Even if they didn¡¯t call the entire first team, calling just the pitchers¡¯ unit would easily exceed ten people. For rookie Kim Changhyun, it was quite a burdensome bet.


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll bet on Cha Taehyun getting a hit.¡±


    Kim Changhyun confidently ced his bet on Cha Taehyun.


    ¡°Are you serious? You said it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m serious. Watch.¡±


    He calmly turned his eyes to the mound.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    If this had been the old him, he might have nervously prayed, ¡®Please hit it, Cha Taehyun!¡¯ But not now.


    Lee Subin wound up and threw.


    A perfectly tight inside four-seam, clocking easily over 150 km/h, darted fiercely toward the mitt. It was a tricky pitch, even for experienced hitters in the league.


    ¨C Crack!


    Cha Taehyun, however, made contact with ease and grace.


    ¡°Wha¡­ What?¡±


    His senior rushed to the dugout fence and watched the ball soar over the fence with an astonished look.


    Cha Taehyun threw the bat aside and ran toward first base as the crowd erupted, chanting his name like a crashing wave.


    With a satisfied grin, Kim Changhyun found himself standing up unconsciously.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! Cha¡ª¡±


    ¡°Cha¡­?¡±


    He found himself facing the greatest crisis since his professional debut.


    With all eyes on him, Kim Changhyun, suddenly nk, blurted out something iprehensible.


    ¡°Cha¡­ learning the harsh reality is the only way to be an ace¡­ is what I want to tell Subin.¡±


    The dugout of the Volcanoes team went ice-cold.


    ***


    There¡¯s a reason rookies, unless they¡¯re exceptionally good, are developed in the second team.


    The gap in skill between the high school leagues and professional leagues, the experience of ying in front ofrge crowds¡ªthere are numerous reasons.


    But the most significant is the mental aspect.


    A pitcher, especially one sensitive to mental stress, can easily lose theirposure in an unfamiliar environment and with limited experience.


    Lee Subin, who had given up a home run to me on the first pitch, allowed hit after hit without recording a single out, eventually giving up five more runs and getting knocked out. It wasn¡¯t surprising.


    ¡°This scary guy¡­ He didn¡¯t just establish dominance; he practically destroyed him.¡±


    Well, yes, I did mess with his mental state.


    ¡°I¡¯d say the one who finished him off was Shin Siwoo. If I were him, I¡¯d want to die if you got a hit off me.¡±


    ¡°Wha-what?¡±


    There¡¯s no point in acting all shocked. It¡¯s true.


    During the practice games, Shin Siwoo had a batting average of only .210, faithfully following Phoenix¡¯s tradition of having hopeless catchers.


    ¡°Still, if Inded the final blow, that means I contributed too, right? I did well.¡±


    ¡°Sure¡­ Congrats, but don¡¯t rx just yet. The game isn¡¯t over.¡±


    ¡°Huh? We got a 7-run lead in the first inning.¡±


    I leaned closer to Shin Siwoo and whispered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know our bullpen?¡±


    Realizing what I meant, Shin Siwoo quickly picked up his mitt and got ready for the exchange.


    ***


    After the Volcanoes changed pitchers, we couldn¡¯t score any more runs, but the same went for the Volcanoes.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing great, Aibo!!¡±


    Though it was a bit embarrassing when he kept demanding this weird double-cross ceremony, whenever I did it for him in the dugout, Roun continued pitching excellently up to the fourth inning. The relief pitcher, Sean White, also maintained a scoreless game until the seventh inning.


    ¨C ¡°Busan Phoenix! Busan Phoenix! Burn bright!¡±


    With such a clean game, even the team cheer song, which rarely yed, resounded throughout Sajik Stadium, raising the atmosphere to a fever pitch.


    It would¡¯ve been great if this festive mood had continued to the end¡­


    ¡°You think you¡¯re a pro?¡±


    ¡°Does this even make sense?¡±


    ¡°Stop throwing balls and put some strikes in there!¡±


    ¡°Does Cha Sihwan even know how to pitch?¡±


    Sihwan, who was pitching in the first-team game for the first time, managed to get two outs but started to


    lose control, throwing ball after ball.


    After walking in a run, another relief pitcher was brought in, but there wasn¡¯t much difference.


    Ball, ball, ball¡­ more balls, giving up five runs in the eighth inning alone.


    Of course, with nine runs already in hand, we weren¡¯t in danger of losing the lead.


    So the fans stayed, which was¡­ the problem.


    The ninth inning was¡­ Hmm¡­


    Even now, after the game, it¡¯s shocking to think about.


    ¡°Aaargh! Does it make sense to give up two grand ms in one inning?!¡±


    Shin Hayoon, who had been analyzing the data with Rapsodo, suddenly yelled.


    She seemed to be on the brink of losing her mind, but I understood. Even the spectators were on the verge of going berserk. How could Shin Hayoon, who carefully analyzes every detail for coaching, not go crazy?


    ¡°But you already knew, didn¡¯t you? That Phoenix¡¯s bullpen is hopeless.¡±


    Shin Hayoon let out a big sigh.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I knew. I knew, but¡­ We really could have won. And there were some decent bullpen pitchers avable, but they didn¡¯t use them.¡±


    She was right. Though most of the key bullpen was injured, there were still resources like Yoo Min-seung and Kang Hoon.


    While they weren¡¯t top-notch relievers, they wouldn¡¯t have allowed two grand ms in one inning.


    Because of that, Director Lee Eun-seok, who had been praised as ¡°Diamond-seok,¡± ¡°Lee Geum-seok,¡± and ¡°Lee Hwang-seok,¡± was now being called ¡°Lee Dung-seok,¡± ¡°Lee Stone-seok,¡± and ¡°Lee Mud-seok.¡±


    I certainly understand the fans¡¯ anger, but I respect the director¡¯s decision.


    ¡°When else would you test them if not during an exhibition game?¡±


    All the bullpen pitchers who got hit today were called up from the second team or were backup bullpen pitchers. The director, finding the current bullpen inadequate, probably wanted to test if any of them could be useful.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true. Yeah¡­ I prepared some feedback while watching the game.¡±


    The paper Shin Hayoon handed over was filled with detailed notes, almost like a scratch pad.


    It was a reminder of her dedication and talent as a coach.


    We need to get her hired by Phoenix soon¡­


    ¡°Anyway, please make sure to deliver this¡­ And, uh¡­ Are you going home now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, where else would I go?¡±


    Shin Hayoon hesitated, fumbling with her hands.


    ¡°If you need to ask for something, just say it. I¡¯m always getting help from you.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but I haven¡¯t received any pay¡­ So, I was wondering if you coulde to my house?¡±


    ¡°No, I said I¡¯d pay you, but you refused.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­ Never mind, I¡¯m just asking. Could you pleasee to my house?¡±


    Well, I have received a lot of free help from her. It¡¯s not a big deal.


    She helped me adjust my batting stance to fit my body better, and she gave me feedback on today¡¯s game.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but why?¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s my mom¡¯s birthday. I haven¡¯t been able to do much for her, and I want to give her a special present. She¡¯ll be home soon after work.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Shin Hayoon looked at me with wide eyes.


    ¡°Well, your mom likes me. That¡¯s why you want me to go, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ That¡¯s right.¡±


    A faint smile escaped my lips.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s great. Why the weird reaction? Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve been feeling a bit guilty for using you as freebor all the time.¡±


    Shin Hayoon quietly smiled, nodded, and pulled my hand.


    When I asked why she suddenly grabbed my hand, she replied that she had to guide me since I didn¡¯t know the way.


    It was a ridiculous response, but seeing how excited she was, I just silently followed.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 58

    ¡°Is no one home?¡±


    Shin Hayoon¡¯s house was dark, with not a single light on.


    ¡°My little brother didn¡¯t want to be alone, so he went to a friend¡¯s house and said he¡¯de back when Mom finishes work. Mom has been helping out at a rtive¡¯s store on weekends, so she¡¯s not back yet. She should be here soon.¡±


    Click.


    Shin Hayoon turned on the light, revealing the interior of the house. It was a typical home, around 34 pyeong in size.


    Except for the uniform with my name on it hanging on the living room wall.


    ¡°It looks a bit strange, doesn¡¯t it? My parents really like you. I tried to stop them, but they insisted on hanging it up¡­¡±


    It was certainly odd to see my uniform on the wall, but it also meant they liked me that much.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m thankful.¡± ¡°Really¡­? I¡¯d better not tell my mom that.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°The other day, when you were in amercial, she bought a Nixon bat and was thinking of getting your autograph to hang it on the wall. If she hears that, the bat will end up on the wall too.¡±


    The image of that scene made meugh.


    We managed to keep the conversation going up until this point¡­


    But it was inevitable that the atmosphere turned awkward with just the two of us alone in an empty house.


    The sound of the clock ticking echoed noisily.


    ¡°Uh¡­ want to take a look at my room?¡±


    Shin Hayoon seemed to dislike the awkwardness as well, so she spoke up first.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡±


    As soon as she opened the door to her room, she froze.


    I wondered if there was something in there that shouldn¡¯t be seen¡­


    ¡°You seem to like having things on your walls too.¡±


    While it wasn¡¯t uniforms, pictures of me hitting were stered all over.


    I nced over, and Shin Hayoon hurriedly exined.


    ¡°Well¡­ uh¡­ it¡¯s for your batting form! I¡¯m always trying to keep the adjustments to your batting form in my head! I can¡¯t afford to forget, as your coach.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. Others might think it¡¯s a bit weird, though.¡±


    I meant it. At her age, she should be into decorating her room, but instead, she had covered it with pictures of some guy swinging a bat for coaching purposes.


    Then, I noticed the pile of files stacked on her desk.


    It wasn¡¯t just the number of files but also their thickness, which wasparable to that of a college textbook.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you analyzed all of this for my coaching?¡±


    With a slight smile, Shin Hayoon nodded.


    ¡°Some of it is from studying, some is data recording, just everything all together¡­¡±


    ¡°Mind if I take a look?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    The corners of Shin Hayoon¡¯s mouth twitched. As expected, she loved talking about coaching the most.


    As soon as I opened the files, I couldn¡¯t help but exim in awe. Most of it was handwritten, and even at a nce, it was clear that the content was detailed and well-organized.


    I skimmed through the materials for about 30 minutes, but still, her family had not returned.


    ¡°Mom and Dad are quite busy these days. It seems like it will take them a while to get back. Are you okay? Actually, you must be tired. You should probably head back after signing a few things.¡±


    She said I should go, but disappointment was written all over her face.


    She¡¯s not very good at acting either.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait. I don¡¯t go to bed right away even if I go home. Might as well rest here as at home.¡±


    The corners of Shin Hayoon¡¯s mouth twitched again.


    ¡°Really? Then¡­ how about we watch a movie while we wait?¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see what movie you pick, Shin Hayoon. If it¡¯s boring, I¡¯ll fall asleep in 30 minutes, guaranteed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to y a really fun movie, so don¡¯t whine about not wanting to go hometer.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. Please y a movie like that.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°You really fell asleep¡­¡±


    I had put on the movie The Kid with a Bike, and Cha Taehyun had leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes precisely 12 minutester.


    To be honest, I knew this movie was boring. I¡¯d experienced it firsthand.


    So why did I y this movie?


    Shin Hayoon felt her face heat up.


    ¡®Am I crazy¡­?¡¯


    She couldn¡¯t tell anyone that she wanted to see Cha Taehyun sleeping.


    All she did was y the movie. It wasn¡¯t like she did anything else¡­


    Shin Hayoon moved a little closer to Cha Taehyun¡¯s sleeping face.


    She suddenly remembered the first time she saw him asleep.


    During a softball game, he randomly hit a home run and then went to sleep in the stands.


    ¡®Back then¡­ I was really mean¡­¡¯


    Even now, she felt only guilt toward Cha Taehyun.


    In fact, the reason there was so much data analysis on her desk was partly due to that guilt.


    She wanted to help Cha Taehyun in any way she could. She studiedte into the night, trying to make up for her mistakes.


    But now, none of that mattered.


    Even if he forgave her¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ No matter how much you forgive me¡­ I¡¯ll live my whole life repenting.¡±


    Because she didn¡¯t mind being with him, even if it was just for these fleeting moments.


    ¡ª


    Shin Hayoon said it was a super fun movie¡­


    When I came to my senses, more than an hour had passed.


    ¡°Sorry, I must¡¯ve been more tired than I thought.¡±


    For some reason, Shin Hayoon flinched and shook her head.


    ¡°No, no! You must¡¯ve been tired; I¡¯m the one who should apologize. My parents seem to be really busy. They¡¯re still not back.¡±


    ¡°Really? Well, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Shin Hayoon looked surprised, her eyes widening.


    ¡­What is she thinking?


    ¡°It means their work is going well.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ yeah. I guess they¡¯re busy because things are going well.¡±


    ¡°Well, I should head back soon. If you have anything like a uniform, bat, or home run ball, bring it over. I¡¯ll sign them before I leave.¡±


    Shin Hayoon quickly dashed out of the room and came back, her arms full of a bat, uniform, and other items.


    ¡°Thank you, really¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank me? You¡¯re participating in the Phoenix¡¯s winning project for free.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I told you it was my way of apologizing.¡±


    ¡°I told you, I didn¡¯t care about it from the start¡­ So please, just ept your sry already.¡±


    I subtly brought up the topic of her paycheck, but she shook her head firmly.


    ¡­Why does she refuse to ept money when it¡¯s offered?


    I don¡¯t get it.


    I signed the things she brought and got ready to leave.


    ¡°Thanks for today, really.¡±


    After hearing her thank me again, I quickly left the house.


    Since it was on the third floor, I just took the stairs.


    Then I heard footsteps behind me.


    ¡°Hey! Cha Taehyun! Wait a minute!¡±


    Hmm?


    Shin Hayoon came running, panting. She was even wearing a Phoenix uniform.


    ¡°There¡¯s¡­ something I want to say. Can I walk you to the bus stop?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ sure.¡±


    Even though she said she had something to say, she remained silent as we walked quite a distance.


    Feeling a bit awkward, I spoke up first.


    ¡°Come to think of it, you really didn¡¯t change teams, huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the Phoenix.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    I was hoping for a reaction like, ¡®I¡¯m not changing teams!¡¯ but I ended up feeling like I got hit with a counter.


    Sensing my silence, she hurriedly added.


    ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t mean anything by it! I¡¯m your coach. I do like Phoenix, but¡­ I should go wherever my yer goes.¡±


    ¡°I see. That makes sense.¡±


    I spotted the bus stop in the distance.


    As I passed under the streemp, which formed a yellow circle with a bench beside it, Shin Hayoon grabbed my sleeve.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cut me off¡­¡±


    ¡°What are you suddenly talking about¡­¡±


    ¡°If you go to another team¡­ I¡¯ll wash up and follow¡­ So don¡¯t cut me off.¡±


    It was said as if it were a joke, but there was a slight tremble in her voice. It sounded like she was genuinely worried.


    I don¡¯t know what I did to make her worry¡­ but seeing this usually cheerful girl look so deted wasn¡¯t good.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a Phoenix fan too. I won¡¯t cut you off until we win the championship.¡±


    Even after my reply, she kept holding onto my sleeve.


    ¡°Not just with words¡­¡±


    ¡°So what then?¡±


    She lifted the hem of her uniform, smoothing it out.


    ¡°Sign it¡­ here, to say that you¡¯ll keep using me¡­¡±


    Despite her bold words, her face was slightly flushed, even under the yellow streemp.


    I watched her for a moment, then extended my hand.


    ¡°Give me the marker.¡±


    ¡ª


    So this is what she wanted to say?


    She pulled a marker out of her pocket, as if she had it ready.


    I took the marker and slowly signed.


    It felt¡­ strange.


    She nced at the uniform, then looked up at me with a smile.


    ¡°No taking it back, okay? I¡¯m really going to follow you to the end.¡±


    Before I could say anything, she turned and ran back home, as energetic as ever.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The light on the first-floor stairs turned on, then the second, and finally, the third. Soon, her face appeared in the window.


    ¡°You signed it! You can¡¯t take it


    back!¡±


    Shouting that, she grinned widely and waved.


    As I thought about paying her properly in the future, I waved back and turned around.


    ¡ª


    The new Phoenix pitching coach, Goo Minsung, was watching the team¡¯s intrasquad game.


    Since he had reviewed the footage of the exhibition games multiple times beforeing to the team, the yers¡¯ capabilities were almost exactly what he expected.


    Except for one yer. A yer who made him tilt his head in curiosity.


    The pitcher currently on the mound, consistently throwing fastballs over 155 km/h.


    Cha Taehyun.


    It wasn¡¯t that Goo Minsung didn¡¯t know who Cha Taehyun was.


    Even though he was overseas for training, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t know Phoenix¡¯s top prospect, Cha Taehyun.


    The problem was that this was the first time he had seen Cha Taehyun pitch since his high school days.


    And it was hard to believe how well he was pitching in this condition.


    ¡°Strike¡ªout!¡±


    That was the sixth strikeout. He had retired all batters in order through four innings, striking out half of them.


    Phoenix might not have the strongest team overall, but their team batting average was decent. They even signed Lee Joon, an 8-billion-won hitter, to strengthen the lineup.


    But against that lineup, Cha Taehyun was pitching almost perfectly¡­


    Coach Goo Minsung couldn¡¯t help but ask the manager beside him.


    ¡°If he¡¯s this good, shouldn¡¯t we try using him in crucial games as a two-way yer, or maybe as a starting pitcher?¡±


    The manager replied with a smile.


    ¡°Of course, we should.¡±


    The coach, momentarily startled, asked again.


    ¡°Then¡­ why didn¡¯t you use Cha Taehyun in the exhibition games?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s for Phoenix¡¯s championship.¡±


    For Phoenix¡¯s championship.


    It sounded nice, but the exnation wascking.


    ¡°Coach Goo, did you check the schedule for the opening game?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s an away game against the Incheon Dragons.¡±


    ¡°Right. The Incheon Dragons. They were a top teamst year, and unless something drastic happens, they¡¯re a team we¡¯llpete with for the title.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s¡­ Ah?¡±


    The coach¡¯s eyes widened in realization.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ You¡¯re hiding him to secure even one win?¡±


    ¡°Coach Goo, you catch on quickly, don¡¯t you? You know how important every win is in the final stretch of the championship race. Especially an away win.¡±


    The coach nodded. The idea of Phoenix winning the championship seemed far-fetched, but he understood the importance of each win.


    ¡°Have you heard of ¡®Welsh Corgi Day¡¯?¡±


    The coach tilted his head at the sudden question.


    ¡°It¡¯s a saying that Phoenix always loses one game out of three, even against a weak team like a Welsh Corgi.¡±


    The coach smirked bitterly. While it sounded like a joke, it was sadly true about Phoenix.


    ¡°So¡­ winning even on that ¡®Welsh Corgi Day¡¯ would be a huge help, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Breaking that jinx has great significance. Got it?¡±


    ¡°I understand, but still¡­ shouldn¡¯t we try using him in at least one exhibition game? He¡¯s still a rookie, and if we send him out right away, he might crumble.¡±


    The manager raised his voice confidently.


    ¡°No, he¡¯s not the type to crumble. If anything, he¡¯ll shake up the opposing pitcher. Don¡¯t worry about him.¡±


    ¡°Understood¡­ So when will he pitch in the three-game series? It¡¯s not the opening game this week, right? It¡¯s only a two-game series.¡±


    The manager looked at the coach, as if wondering why he even asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s the starting pitcher for the opening game, of course.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me¡­?¡±


    ¡ª

 Chapter 59

    Phoenix has a nickname, ¡°Bomnix.¡±


    This nickname stems from the team¡¯s tendency to start strong with great win rates during exhibition games and early in the season, exciting fans, only to fall back to their usual performance after spring ends.


    [Even Phoenix, known for doing well in exhibition games, is now struggling in even those games? Crisis for Phoenix, despite their promises of change!]


    ©¸ The reporter clearly knows nothing about baseball, lol. If you don¡¯t see what¡¯s different this year, you¡¯re missing it.


    ©¸ Yep, performing well in exhibition games means nothing.


    ©¸ True, Phoenix always performs well in exhibition games, then ends up at the bottom. Haven¡¯t you seen that?


    ©¸ This time, though, Phoenix feels different somehow, doesn¡¯t it?


    As usual, Phoenix fans don¡¯t care much about nicknames and instead hope for the best in the new season.


    It¡¯s akin to an Indian rain dance: they pray for rain until ites, and when it does, they im the dance was a sess. The difference here is that even the Indians seed after about a month, whereas Phoenix fans have been ¡°dancing¡± for over 30 years without sess. One of those fans, still performing this never-ending ¡°dance,¡± was standing right in front of me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel like this year will be different, Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do. It definitely feels that way.¡±


    While I can¡¯t guarantee that this 30-year rain dance for a championship will be sessful, Phoenix does seem to be changing. I don¡¯t want to sound arrogant, but ever since I joined the team, we¡¯ve at least sorted out the shortstop position and the starting pitcher rotation.


    ¡°But teacher, aren¡¯t you tired froming over every evening to cook for me?¡±


    Recently, Ms. Miyeon has been visiting my house to make dinner every evening. The reason is simple: she just wants to.


    ¡°Oh? No, I¡¯m not tired. Actually, it reminds me of when we used to share lunch together, so it¡¯s fun for me.¡±


    Ms. Miyeon smiled as shedled some soup and took a small taste.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    She tilted her head slightly and offered me thedle.


    ¡°Can you taste it for me?¡±


    I took a small sip.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡±


    It really was. I almost felt bad for Jihyun, who would miss out on this amazing meal because of night study sessions.


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m d to hear that. Just wait a little longer; I¡¯ll make it even better.¡±


    While sitting at the table, I asked her,


    ¡°Are you reallying to the opening game? It¡¯ll be tough to make it to Incheon.¡±


    ¡°Of course! I wouldn¡¯t miss it. But in exchange, you have to hit a home run!¡±


    ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll try to hit as many as I can.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s win the opening game!¡±


    Well¡­ I¡¯ll be pitching too, so it¡¯s not just home runs¡ªI¡¯ll aim for strikeouts as well.


    But I¡¯ll keep that a secret. Surprises are more fun that way.


    The spring breeze began to blow gently as the eagerly anticipated opening day of the professional baseball season approached.


    Fans eagerly awaited their team¡¯s opening game to be held in their home cities, but the world of professional baseball can be harsh. Only the top five teams from the previous year get to host their opening game at home, so Phoenix, having finishedst, had to travel from Busan to Incheon for an away game.


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this Incheon? Why are there so many Phoenix fans here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. A guy in a Phoenix jersey earlier even asked if I had extra tickets to sell.¡±


    Despite the inconvenience, Phoenix fans¡¯ passion burned just as brightly as their team colors. After all, if they could stick by the team through 30 years without a championship, what¡¯s a long-distance trip? Though their numbers were smallerpared to the home team, the sheer amount of Phoenix fans who traveled from Busan to Incheon was impressive.


    ¡°Phoenix fans, you never cease to amaze!¡±


    Seeing these enthusiastic fans made Miyeon¡¯s shoulders lift with pride.


    ¡°Here we are again, cheering for Phoenix¡­ but I hate Phoenix!¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ Suyeon, we¡¯re definitely winning today, though!¡±


    ¡°You say that every time, and we always lose! Dad, you¡¯re a liar!¡±


    ¡°No, no! Cha Taehyun is going to hit a ton of home runs today!¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Miyeon, sneaking nces at the father-daughter duo beside her, was suddenly distracted by the stadium¡¯s growing buzz.


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Did the scoreboard glitch?¡±


    ¡°Why does the pitcher¡¯s name show up as a batter too?¡±


    The stadium grew noisy, as both Phoenix and Dragons fans alike stared at the scoreboard.


    [P Cha Taehyun]


    ¡°Wait¡­ Taehyun is the starting pitcher?¡±


    That was surprising enough, but then:


    [4 Cha Taehyun]


    Seeing his name in the cleanup hitter spot made people wonder if it was a mistake.


    ©¸ What¡¯s happening? Where¡¯s the designated hitter?


    ©¸ Lol, are they seriously making Cha Taehyun do double duty as a pitcher and batter?


    ©¸ I thought he quit pitching after high school, didn¡¯t he switch to being a batter?


    ©¸ Will he crash and burn or turn into a diamond in the rough?


    ©¸ Is this even a good idea?


    ©¸ Sure, he threw over 150 in high school, but nobody¡¯s seen him pitch for long innings before¡­


    ©¸ Why didn¡¯t they just use Sooho for the opener? Is this the right move?


    It wasn¡¯t just the fans who were confused.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Seriously, starting a rookie as both pitcher and batter on opening day? Phoenix has gone insane.¡±


    asionally, a batter might take the mound in an emergency, like when a game stretches too long. But starting a batter as the opening pitcher, and having him y both roles? It was practically unheard of.


    The Dragons yers weren¡¯t just confused¡ªthey were offended.


    Opening day is the season¡¯s most significant game, meant to set the tone. The Dragons had even gone as far as to start Jin Taehyun, their ace who¡¯s often called a national team-level pitcher, in order to secure a sure win. But Phoenix had ced a rookie on the mound to both pitch and bat, and it was an affront to the Dragons¡¯ pride.


    Dragons catcher Lee Kangchul stared at the scoreboard with an annoyed expression.


    ¡°This is ridiculous. Are they opening a science experiment on us or something, Taehyun?¡±


    Jin Taehyun, with his typically indifferent expression, nced at the board before letting a small smirk form on his lips.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what this rookie¡¯s got.¡±

 Chapter 61

    ¡°Ah! Ji Chanwoo, seriously!!¡±


    Shin Hayoon mmed her desk as she watched the broadcast on herputer.


    They were so close¡­ A perfect game was within reach! But Ji Chanwoo had blown it in such a disappointing way.


    Of course, since it was recorded as an error, the chance for a no-hitter was still alive, and that was still a remarkable achievement.


    ¡°¡­But it¡¯s such a shame, really.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed.


    Sighing, Shin Hayoon searched for Ji Chanwoo¡¯s stats.


    563 games yed in total, with a career WAR of 0.98.


    In other words, with these kinds of stats, he¡¯s not exactly a starter material, right? So why had Ji Chanwoo been Phoenix¡¯s starting shortstop?


    Surprisingly enough, there was no other shortstop, aside from Cha Taehyun, who could take Ji Chanwoo¡¯s ce.


    It clearly showed how ipetent Phoenix¡¯s coaching staff had been all this time.


    ¡°Well¡­ the coaches have been reced, so hopefully, they¡¯ll develop him better now¡­¡±


    In any case, Ji Chanwoo¡¯s batting had improved over thest two years, even if his defense hadn¡¯t. Last year, he recorded a career-high batting average of .270.


    The defensive coaches had been reced too, so if his defense improved a bit, he could at least serve as Cha Taehyun¡¯s backup¡­


    Just as Shin Hayoon was clinging to some hopeful thoughts, Cha Taehyun¡¯s face zoomed in on the screen as he approached the batter¡¯s box.


    ¡°He¡¯s angry, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    It was rare to see him show any signs of anger. Actually, had he ever shown it before?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    At least, from what Shin Hayoon could recall, he hadn¡¯t. But if he were angry, this would be the face he¡¯d make.


    ¡°His angry face¡­ doesn¡¯t look bad either¡­ Wait, what am I saying?¡±


    Shin Hayoon pped her cheeks to shake off the thoughts and focused on the screen, preparing to clip the video.


    This was her favorite momenttely¡ªwatching the yer she had coached seed brilliantly. It felt amazing.


    Especially when it was her favorite yer, Cha Taehyun, who was doing well.


    ¡°Wait¡­?¡±


    Her favorite?


    ¡°Do I¡­ like Cha Taehyun?¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what am I even thinking¡­ No, no, no!¡±


    Was it real? Had she really started to develop feelings for him?


    Shin Hayoon was nervously pacing, having a mini-panic attack, when suddenly¡ª


    <em>CRACK!</em>


    A monstrous sound of a hit echoed, and the ball shot off fiercely. Shin Hayoon immediately focused back on the screen, tilting her head in confusion.


    ¡°Did he put in more strength because he was angry?¡±


    The speed and power of the ball were abnormal. It stretched out like it was unhindered, and then disappeared beyond the stadium¡¯s limits.


    ¡°Wow¡­ How far did that go?¡±


    As she marveled, the screen disyed the distance of the hit, as if in response.


    ¡°One¡­ one hundred fifty-two meters¡­? Isn¡¯t that a record?¡±


    The distance was so ridiculous she wondered if it was measured incorrectly. The chat was exploding with reactions.


    ©¸ What the heck, 152m? LOL A home run of fury, haha


    ©¸ For reference, 152m is the longest distance in KBO history, insane


    ©¸ Taehyun is a legend!


    ©¸ Taehyun: ¡®Missed the record, so I made another one¡¯


    ©¸ Unbelievable that he¡¯s Korean, lol


    ©¸ Even crazier that he¡¯s on Phoenix


    ©¸ So happy that Taehyun is on our team!


    ¡°Yes! That¡¯s it, Cha Taehyun!¡±


    Still seated, Shin Hayoon raised both arms in the air and shook them wildly, only to lose her bnce and crash backward with a thud.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Tears welled up from the pain of hitting her head, but the excitement couldn¡¯t be contained.


    ¡°Longest¡­ longest home run!¡±


    Sheughed through the pain, celebrating Cha Taehyun¡¯s new record.


    Cha Taehyun added another home run in the top of the ninth inning, then climbed back to the mound in the bottom of the ninth, striking out one more batter to finish the game with a clean three outs.


    The Phoenix won 2-0.


    When it was time for the MVP interview, the choice was obvious.


    ¡°And today¡¯s MVP is Cha Taehyun!¡±


    ©¸ MVP doesn¡¯t even cover it, honestly LOL


    ©¸ They need a hard-carry award just for him LOL


    ©¸ Taehyun is practically a god at this point


    ©¸ That¡¯s already been confirmed in the Phoenix fanbase


    ¡°You made your debut today and hit 4 at-bats, 2 home runs, and 4 hits. But that¡¯s not all, folks! Taehyun also shined as a pitcher today! Let¡¯s take a look at his pitching stats!¡±


    [9 innings, 0 earned runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 home runs¡­]


    ¡°Mr. Zero himself! But that¡¯s not all either! Let¡¯s also show the amazing records Cha Taehyun set today!¡±


    [16 wless innings (1st ever)]


    [18 strikeouts in regtion innings (Korean record)]


    [wless debut innings (1st ever)]


    [Debut no-hitter (1st ever)]


    [First at-bat home run debut]


    [Multi-home run debut (1st ever)]


    [Longest home run (152m)]


    ¡°Wow¡­ A debut no-hitter, multi-home run, and longest home run ever! How many records has he broken today?¡±


    ©¸ Insane¡­


    ©¸ What is this?


    ©¸ I can¡¯t even believe it anymore LOL


    ©¸ I used to roll my eyes when people called him a god, but now I¡¯m praying too


    The announcer flipped through the cue cards and hesitated for a moment. The next question didn¡¯t seem right.


    [Doesn¡¯t it feel a bit disappointing that you missed out on the perfect game?]


    ¡®How could it not be disappointing?¡¯


    The announcer felt sorry for whoever wrote the question. But since it was on the script, they had to ask.


    ¡°You¡¯ve set so many incredible records today, but¡­ you missed the perfect game. Do you feel disappointed?¡±


    The announcer expected Cha Taehyun to look troubled or hesitate with his answer.


    It was the kind of question that could easily backfire, potentially putting a teammate in a tough spot.


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason to be disappointed.¡±


    Cha Taehyun¡¯s unexpected response made the announcer¡¯s eyes widen.


    ¡°Pardon? No reason to be disappointed?¡±


    Cha Taehyun suddenly locked eyes with the camera, a smirk tugging at his lips.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more epic to win the Korean Series with a perfect game? That¡¯s why there¡¯s no need to feel disappointed.¡±


    The announcer gaped like a hippo, then burst into a wide grin, giving Cha Taehyun a big thumbs-up.


    ¡°What a fantastic mindset! It could have been a letdown, but instead, you¡¯re aiming to win the Korean Series with a perfect game. Your ambition is truly admirable, Taehyun!¡±


    ©¸ Taehyun is a legend for real


    ©¸ He could havepletely thrown Ji Chanwoo under the bus here, but he didn¡¯t. Respect.


    ©¸ Honestly, Ji Chanwoo¡¯s image is already in the gutter, though.


    ©¸ If Taehyun had really gone for it, Chanwoo would¡¯ve been done for.


    ©¸ True, though. Taehyun probably could have destroyed him if he wanted to LOL.


    Just when it seemed like the interview was wrapping up, some staff members approached with two baseballs in hand.


    ¡°These are your first and second home run balls from today¡¯s game! Fortunately, two Phoenix fans retrieved them and asked that we make sure to give them to you.¡±


    While symbolic home run balls, like one¡¯s debut home run, are often tracked down by staff, it was heartwarming to see fans voluntarily return them.


    Smiling, Cha Taehyun excused himself for a moment, running off somewhere before returning with two bats and a marker.


    Kneeling down, he signed the bats quickly and handed them to the staff.


    ¡°Could you give these bats to the fans who returned the home run balls?¡±


    The announcer beamed warmly at the gesture, adding ament.


    ¡°What a kind yer! Not only is he incredibly skilled in baseball, but he also has a great heart. We¡¯ll make sure to deliver these bats to the fans personally! Now, could you share your thoughts on tomorrow¡¯s game?¡±


    Cha Taehyun grabbed the microphone and confidently replied, ¡°I¡¯ll win tomorrow too, and bring us even closer to the championship.¡±


    ©¸ Haha, he¡¯s already talking about the championship after just one win.


    ©¸ Seriously, I love this guy LOL.


    ©¸ You guys know Phoenix is in first ce right now, right?


    ©¸ Yeah, with only one win under their belt, LOL.


    ©¸ Still, being in first ce feels great, doesn¡¯t it?


    ©¸ True, the air is fresh up here LOL.


    ©¸ Better enjoy it while itsts LOL.


    Back at the team¡¯s amodations, the yers were paired up two to a room. Today, Cha Taehyun was sharing with his senior, Sihwan.


    ¡°Oh, Taehyun, Chanwoo came looking for you earlier.¡±


    ¡°Chanwoo sunbae did?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ how should I say it, because of what happened today¡­¡±


    ¡°You mean the perfect game?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yeah, that. He said he wanted to apologize to you. He waited here for a while but eventually left.¡±


    Hmm¡­ I didn¡¯t know that.


    I had several missed calls from an unknown number¡ªcould that have been Chanwoo sunbae?


    ¡°Well, if I were you, I wouldn¡¯t want to see Chanwoo¡¯s face for a while either. Not that I¡¯m trying tofort you or anything, just being honest.¡±


    It seemed like Sihwan was misunderstanding something.


    ¡°I was upset for a moment, but I¡¯m fine now. I didn¡¯te backte because I didn¡¯t want to see Chanwoo sunbae or because I was shocked over the perfect game being ruined.¡±


    In truth, I had a fantastic time.


    Not that I could tell him I spent a long time snuggled in Mi-yeon teacher¡¯s arms as an excuse for the perfect game slip-up.


    ¡°Really? Even if it were me, I wouldn¡¯t want to face Chanwoo for a while.¡±


    That¡¯s the reaction of a normal person, but my personality doesn¡¯t hold grudges as long as someone doesn¡¯t cross the line.


    Ruining the perfect game didn¡¯t feel like crossing a line¡­ it wasn¡¯t intentional, after all.


    I could be mad at the y, but I couldn¡¯t be mad at the person.


    ¡°No matter what, I think that¡¯s impressive. I really respect that mindset. Oh, and thank you.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Suddenly, Sihwan climbed down from his bed and gave me a deep, 90-degree bow.


    ¡°You know that feedback material you gave mest time? The one from your friend who¡¯s preparing to be a coach?¡±


    Ah, Shin Hayoon¡¯s material?


    I had given it to him at Hayoon¡¯s request, but it was only based on feedback from one game, so I didn¡¯t think it was anything special.


    ¡°To be honest, I was skeptical since it was from someone prepping to be a coach, but it actually helped a lot.¡±


    Even that short feedback helped? Was this the magic of Shin Hayoon, who had propelled the Dynos to the yoffs in no time?


    ¡°So, does that mean you¡¯ve improved your control?¡±


    If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s really good news. If Sihwan, with his refined control, joins Phoenix¡¯s bullpen, he could instantly be a crucial relief pitcher.


    ¡°Well¡­ not quite yet. But I feel like I¡¯m on the verge of figuring it out? Before, I could onlynd 2 out of 10 pitches for strikes. Now, I feel like I couldnd 5. If I aim for the center of the strike zone, maybe 7.¡±


    5 out of 10, and aiming for the center could get 7?


    That¡¯s actually really good.


    It might sound like nonsense to anyone else, but that¡¯s just the level of Phoenix¡¯s bullpen right now.


    ¡°So, uh¡­ could you introduce me to that friend of yours? I¡¯d like to get some direct coaching if possible.¡±


    That wouldn¡¯t be a problem¡­


    But why did I suddenly feel reluctant?


    ¡°Let¡¯s stick with receiving feedback material for now. If we need moreter, I¡¯ll ask her for you.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­? Yeah, that makes sense. Your friend must be busy too.¡±


    Lee Sangjin was surprisingly sensitive when it came to sleeping, especially given hisrge frame. During his rookie days, he had struggled to sleep at away game amodations, finding it hard to rest.


    Though things weren¡¯t as bad now, he was still sensitive to disturbances.


    ¡ª<em>Sniff¡­ sniff¡­</em>


    Even though the sobbing was quiet, Lee Sangjin couldn¡¯t help but wake up.


    ¡®He¡¯s acting like he¡¯s okay, but¡­¡¯


    Lee Sangjin let out a small sigh.


    It hadn¡¯t even been a few hours since the huge error.


    Ji Chanwoo was currently the target of brutal criticism, not only from Phoenix fans but even from other team¡¯s fans who found his mistake hard to watch.


    Even within his own team, the coaches and manager hadn¡¯t held back from expressing their disappointment.


    Well¡­ it was understandable. That kind of defense deserved the criticism it got. His y was so bad, there was no retort to ¡°Are you even a pro?¡±


    Still, Lee Sangjin couldn¡¯t bring himself to criticize Ji Chanwoo. And if you¡¯d been with Phoenix for a long time, you probably couldn¡¯t either.


    Before Coach Lee Eun-seok took over, while everyone else waszily going out to drink, Ji Chanwoo had been stayingte, practicing his batting alone.


    If the previous coaches hadn¡¯t clocked out right after practices, Ji Chanwoo probably would have stayed to practice fielding as well.


    His work ethic had always been clear¡ªhe put in more effort than anyone.


    It¡¯s truly unfair how talent works.


    Though Ji Chanwoo had made it this far in the pros, which meant he wasn¡¯t without talent, his abilities were just so¡­ frustratingly average. And that might have been even more cruel.


    Ji Chanwoo had probably been whipping himself, constantly striving for something just out of his reach.


    And now Cha Taehyun had appeared.


    A rookie, taking his position and proving himself in just one game. How must Ji Chanwoo feel, watching that?


    For Ji Chanwoo, watching someone effortlessly achieve what he¡¯d worked so hard for must have felt¡­


    ¡ª<em>Sniff¡­</em>


    Another quiet sob echoed through the room. Though he tried to suppress it, Lee Sangjin¡¯s sharp ears caught the sound.


    Lee Sangjin carefully grabbed his phone and changed his rm time.


    ¡ª<em>Buzz!</em>


    The rm vibrated, and Lee Sangjin, still facing away, spoke.


    ¡°Ah¡­ I set the rm wrong¡­ Sorry about that, Chanwoo. Did I wake you?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes. But it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m the type who finds it hard to fall back asleep after waking up. Do you want to go toss a ball around with me for a bit?¡±


    A momentter, Ji Chanwoo replied.


    ¡°¡­Yes, sure.¡±


    ¡°Great. Take your time, though. I¡¯m going to step out for a smoke first.¡±


    With that, Lee Sangjin headed out and stopped by the convenience store.


    When he came out of the store, he was holding two cans of Zero Cider.


    Taking a sip, Lee Sangjin mumbled to himself.


    ¡°I bet Chanwoo doesn¡¯t even know I don¡¯t smoke¡­¡±


    By the time he finished the cider, he saw Ji Chanwoo approaching in the distance, wearing a cap. Clearly, he didn¡¯t want to show his face, even at night.


    Lee Sangjin chuckled and handed him a can of cider.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do better next time.¡±


    Ji Chanwoo flinched slightly at thement.


    ¡°You did your best with the opportunity you were given. These things happen. But you know, it¡¯s your responsibility to make up for it. You get that, right? That¡¯s what being a pro is.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I understand.¡±


    Lee Sangjin gave a light tap to Ji Chanwoo¡¯s shoulder with his glove and continued.


    ¡°The coaching staff has changed. No more coaches clocking out early. So, make sure to ask for extra fielding practice every day. You¡¯ve worked hard on your batting, and it¡¯s improved. There¡¯s no reason you can¡¯t do the same for your defense.¡±


    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Thank me? For what¡­ It¡¯s fine. Today¡¯s just the beginning. Now, go stand over there. I¡¯m going to throw ground balls to you all day.¡±


    ¡°Huh? But don¡¯t you have a game tomorrow¡­?¡±


    ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m going to spend all day throwing to you? Be smart.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ Yes!¡±


    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s start with the same course that ruined Taehyun¡¯s perfect game.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Don¡¯t apologize to me. Say that to Taehyun tomorrow. Now, catch this!¡±


    The ball rolled towards him.


    The same course, the same speed as the one in the eighth inning.


    Why had it been so hard to catch that simple ball?


    ¡®If I hadn¡¯t felt the pressure of protecting the perfect game¡­¡¯


    No. That was a pathetic excuse. If he couldn¡¯t handle that pressure, that¡¯s why he kept making mistakes.


    All he needed to do was get the ball into his glove like this¡­


    A little grip, and it¡¯s caught.


    What more is there to it?


    ¡°That¡¯s it! Just like that! Did you hear Taehyun¡¯s interview today? Do it like that when you¡¯re in the Korean Series!¡±


    With his lips slightly trembling, Ji Chanwoo wiped his eyes with his arm and shouted.


    ¡°Yes!!¡±


    Even after everything, Ji Chanwoo still wanted to keep ying baseball.

 Chapter 62

    The strategy of having Cha Taehyun start as both pitcher and batter in the season opener¡ªwhile crazy¡ªwas sessful since they secured the win.


    ¡°¡­But we should limit how much we make him y both positions.¡±


    Keeping him fixed as the primary starter and rotating him regrly felt like too much of a stretch, no matter how exceptional Cha Taehyun was. After all, despite his superhuman performances, he was still human. He couldn¡¯t pitch aplete game every time.


    Of course, even if he didn¡¯t pitch aplete game, he could continue ying as a batter after being reced as pitcher. However, any pitcher that took his ce would eventually have to bat, creating a hole in the lineup.


    It wasplicated if he didn¡¯tplete the game¡­


    ¡°Maybe we should have him pitch once every two weeks or only y both roles during crucial games¡­ that seems like the right approach, Coach Goo,¡± the manager suggested.


    Coach Goo tilted his head in thought.


    ¡°Hm¡­ I think if Taehyun is okay with it, we should just let him keep going,¡± he replied.


    ¡ª<em>Crack!</em> Before Coach Goo could finish his sentence, a Dragons batter connected with Lee Suho¡¯s pitch. The ball shot sharply between third base and shortstop.


    Cha Taehyun calmly tracked the ball, snatching it up and quickly pulling it out of his glove to throw.


    The ball rocketed toward the first baseman at an unbelievable speed.


    ¡°Out!¡±


    The inning was over.


    ¡°Now imagine if Ji Chanwoo had been there instead¡ªdo you think the inning would¡¯ve ended that smoothly?¡±


    Granted, the hit was difficult for anyone to field, not just Ji Chanwoo, but still.


    ¡°Probably not,¡± Coach Goo admitted.


    ¡°So what do you think would happen if we overwork Cha Taehyun and he ends up injured?¡±


    Coach Goo briefly imagined that scenario.


    ¡ª<em>Roar!!</em>


    He flinched as if he could hear the angry screams of furious fans in his mind.


    ¡°The stadium would be a sea of fire¡­¡±


    Of course, it was a joke, but there was an unsettling feeling¡ªlike it could actually happen.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. Coach Goo, let¡¯s make sure we handle this carefully. Also¡­ look at Suho¡¯s face over there.¡±


    Manager Lee Eun-seok gestured toward Lee Suho with his chin.


    ¡°Haha! Cha Taehyun! I love you!¡± Lee Suho shouted.


    ¡°Uh¡­ what?¡± Cha Taehyun replied, confused.


    ¡°And you too, Andy! Come here! Let¡¯s have a group hug, my keystone yers!¡±


    ¡°What? No! I¡¯m not gay! I have a wife!¡± Andy protested.


    Manager Lee smiled and continued speaking.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching Suho since he debuted with Phoenix as a fan¡­ I¡¯ve never seen him look this happy. And it¡¯s not just Suho. Without Cha Taehyun, our pitching staff¡­ well, you know what I mean, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ipletely understand,¡± Coach Goo responded.


    ¡°Something¡¯s seriously off with that Dragons¡¯ foreign pitcher,¡± Shin Tae-seop muttered.


    Shin Si-woo, who always stuck with him because they shared the samest name, quickly chimed in.


    ¡°Yeah, something¡¯s weird. He even gave up a hit to me but didn¡¯t allow any runs¡­ it¡¯s almost like he¡¯s a bit of a masochist. It¡¯s like he enjoys loading the bases without letting anyone score.¡±


    For once, Shin Si-woo was right.


    The guy allowed plenty of hits, even to yers like Shin Si-woo, yet somehow kept wriggling out of jams and preventing runs.


    ¡ª<em>Crack!</em>


    As Lee Joon, the next batter, approached the te, Lee Sangjin yelled out.


    ¡°Hey! Lee Joon! Live up to your name this time! You should hit a double!¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡¯ve told you not to say that,¡± Lee Joon muttered, scowling as Lee Sangjin and Shin Tae-seop chuckled.


    They always teased him about anything rted to the number two, and it always got to him. The guy seriously hated the number two.


    ¡ª<em>Whiff!</em>


    Lee Joon let the first pitch go by. It looked like a ball to me.


    ¡°Strike!¡± the umpire called.


    Well, I guess the umpire saw it differently.


    ¡ª¡°Come on! How is that a strike?¡±


    ¡ª¡°Get your eyes checked, ump!¡±


    ¡ª¡°You¡¯ve got money riding on this game, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Lee Joon frowned, clearly not happy with the call, and readied his bat again, his eyes now sharp and focused.


    On the second pitch, Lee Joon swung hard, sending the ball just over the shortstop¡¯s head, allowing him tofortably reach first base.


    ¡ª¡°Haha! That¡¯s Lee Joon for you!¡±


    ¡ª¡°Lee Joon! Lee Joon!¡±


    ¡ª¡°Maybe you should¡¯ve just let him catch that ball!¡±


    ¡°See? That¡¯s Lee Joon. He¡¯s living up to his name after all,¡± Lee Sangjin said.


    ¡°Senior, didn¡¯t he only hit a single? Shouldn¡¯t he have hit a double to live up to his name?¡± Shin Si-woo asked.


    ¡°He hit two singles, so that counts. It¡¯s actually more like him to do that.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I see!¡±


    ¡­Does that really make sense?


    Anyway, even if a double y happens now, I¡¯ll still get my turn at bat. Unless it¡¯s a triple y, but that¡¯s not likely.


    As I moved toward the on-deck circle, Andy was waiting for me with a grin.


    ¡°Taehyun, are you ready to hit a grand m?¡±


    So that¡¯s why he was standing here. He just wanted to say that.


    Apart from his obsession with kimchi pizza, Andy¡¯s a pretty fun guy.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Satisfied with my answer, Andy stepped up to the te.


    ¡ª<em>Crack!</em>


    ¡ª<em>Cheers erupting!</em>


    Andy actually got a hit.


    After reaching first base, he threw a punch in the air toward the stands, then looked at me, moving his lips as if to say, <em>Let¡¯s destroy that pitcher!</em>


    Well¡­ I couldn¡¯t hear him clearly, but I¡¯m pretty sure he was telling me to hit one out of the park.


    That was exactly what I was nning to do anyway.


    How many times had we failed to score runs when we should have? The fans must be getting impatient by now. Most importantly, how frustrated must Mi-yeon teacher be, having sacrificed her day off toe watch?


    ¡ª<em>Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun! Cha Taehyun!</em>


    The cheers were deafening as I walked to the batter¡¯s box.


    Maybe it was because we won the season opener yesterday, but there seemed to be more Phoenix fans today.


    I tried searching for Mi-yeon teacher in the crowd¡­ but as expected, it was hard to spot her.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Maybe I should suggest giving her a designated seat back at Sajik Stadium¡­


    ¡°Could you focus on the game?¡± a sharp voice from behind snapped at me. I hadn¡¯t even looked at the stands for that long,pared to some other yers¡¯ routines.


    Well, in any case¡­


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s focus and get some runs.¡±


    That answer usually made people happy.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been doing well recently, but how long do you think that¡¯llst?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll focus on the game.¡±


    I heard some chuckles and grumbling, but I ignored it and locked my eyes on the pitcher.


    As I mentioned earlier, this pitcher was strange. He allowed runners but somehow didn¡¯t give up many runs.


    He wasn¡¯t an easy opponent.


    Even though I had two hits off him in three at-bats today, neither of them were extra-base hits.


    He seemed to throw breaking balls just for me, almost as if he was wary of me.


    So far, he¡¯d thrown a curveball, two-seamer, slider, forkball, and changeup. If he had anything else up his sleeve, I¡¯d just tip my cap and settle for a single.


    The pitcher dropped the rosin bag and began his wind-up.


    In this brief moment before the pitch, the batter has to quickly analyze the pitcher¡¯s motion, arm swing, and speed to predict what kind of pitch ising.


    The ball left his fingertips, heading my way.


    The pitching motion looked almost identical to his fastball delivery. But after observing him so far, I¡¯d noticed one thing: he hadn¡¯t thrown a fastball as his first pitch in any of the six innings so far.


    Which meant?


    It was probably a changeup, designed to deceive me with the same motion and arm speed as a fastball.


    But if I knew it was a changeup¡­


    It¡¯s basically a batting practice pitch.


    ¡ª<em>Crack!</em>


    I timed my swing perfectly, connecting with the ball as it sharply dropped in speed.


    The ball soared high into the air, heading straight for the stands.


    As the cheers around me grew louder and louder, I couldn¡¯t help but grin.


    When the ball finallynded deep in the outfield stands, I confidently tossed my bat aside.


    As I started jogging toward first base, I paused for a moment.


    ¡°Thank you. Focusing really is important,¡± I said, giving a small bow toward the direction of


    the veteran who had snapped at me earlier.


    This is Korea, after all. It¡¯s only polite to show respect to your seniors.


    It wasn¡¯t just theck of hits that frustrated the fans today. What was worse was the inability to score runs, even after getting on base.


    It was like watching a movie with tons of build-up, only for it to end without a proper climax.


    The Phoenix fans were on the verge of losing it, feeling as though the game was heading in the same direction.


    Then Cha Taehyun stepped up to the te.


    A rookie, but more reliable and exciting than any veteran.


    His bat swung powerfully¡ª


    ¡ª<em>Crack!</em>


    The long-awaited highlight finally arrived.


    ¡°The ball¡¯s flying farther than expected! The left fielder has stopped in his tracks, and the ball¡¯s destination is¡­ the stands! A grand m! Cha Taehyun, in just his second game, has recorded his first career grand m, putting Phoenix ahead by four runs!¡±


    It was like taking a drink of refreshing soda after a long, frustrating stretch¡­ enough to drive anyone wild with excitement.


    ¡°This guy is insane!¡±


    ¡°Where do you find a rookie that delivers whenever you ask?¡±


    ¡°Taehyun, I love you!¡±


    ¡°This kid is amazing! Totally worthing all the way to Incheon for!¡±


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to go to every game in Sajik now! Forget work!¡±


    ¡°Not even 20 billion won would be too much for him! Just take all the other yers¡¯ sries and give him 200 billion!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, give Taehyun 200 billion! But make sure he stays with Phoenix for life!¡±


    Phoenix swept the opening series with a two-game win streak, starting the season on a high note.


    There¡¯s a saying that if Phoenix ys well, peacees to Busan. It wasn¡¯t just an empty phrase.


    Especially on Sundays, when a win carried the joy through to Monday.


    Though it was just two games, Phoenix was officially at the top of the standings, and the fans were relishing the moment, already celebrating.


    Reporters eagerly published articles, and fans reveled in the early sess.


    [The Emergence of a Monster Rookie in Korean Baseball? Who is Cha Taehyun?]


    [Cha Taehyun: Recognized Early On by Korea¡¯s Best Pitcher, Kim Ho-san?]


    [Kim Ho-san: ¡°He¡¯s amazing, but I wish he had gone to the Majors¡­¡±]


    [Pitcher No-hitter, Batter Multi-home Run¡ªHe¡¯s ying Baseball All by Himself!]


    [Our Phoenix Has Changed! Phoenix Dominates 5-0 to Sweep the Opening Series!]


    [Phoenix Coach Lee Eun-seok¡¯s Magic: From Bottom to Top in No Time?]


    [Phoenix¡¯s Starting Pitchers: Foreign Aces Locking Down the Rotation!]


    [Lee Suho Throws a Complete Game Shutout¡ªBut Is 121 Pitches Too Much?]


    [Lee Suho: ¡°It¡¯s not overwork. I insisted on finishing the game myself. I wanted to close it out.¡±]


    ©¸ Manager Lee Eun-seok is just built different.


    ©¸ Dude, he¡¯s your friend or something? Show some respect to our manager!


    ©¸ It¡¯s like he has winning in his DNA. How else could he have turned this team around?


    ©¸ Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves. If it weren¡¯t for Cha Taehyun, we wouldn¡¯t have scored a run in the opener, and today¡¯s game would¡¯ve gone differently too. It¡¯s too early to talk about championships.


    ©¸ Yeah, we¡¯re riding on Cha Taehyun¡¯s back, but so what? Let the legend carry us!


    ©¸ LOL, they¡¯re so jealous of our Taehyun.


    ©¸ I¡¯m just so happy. I never thought Phoenix baseball could bring me this much joy¡­


    ©¸ Funny, we said the same thingst spring.


    ©¸ Shut up.


    Despite all the positive news and reactions about Phoenix, Coach Lee Eun-seok had a grim expression on his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s lucky Taehyun and Suho threwplete games¡­¡±


    The reporters and fans didn¡¯t know it, but the coach was well aware.


    The bullpen was a ticking time bomb. It hadn¡¯t exploded yet, but it was only a matter of time.


    Once the bullpen came into y, the games would get tougher. The fans who were now praising the team would turn into monsters in an instant.


    His job was to make sure that didn¡¯t happen¡­ or at least to dy it as long as possible.


    As he looked over the bullpen roster, Coach Koo Min-seung spoke up.


    ¡°Coach, I heard Min Iri-woo¡¯s rehabilitation is almostplete. What do you think about bringing him up?¡±


    Min Iri-woo. The mention of his name made Coach Lee Eun-seok flinch.


    Once a powerful pitcher with a devastating forkball, he had been Phoenix¡¯s ace, even winning the most victories in a season.


    As a fan, Lee Eun-seok had loved him.


    But that period of admiration hadn¡¯tsted long. The excessive use of his forkball had damaged his shoulder.


    He¡¯d undergone Tommy John surgery three times. If he returned this season, it would be his first appearance in six years.


    ¡°That would be great¡­ Min-woo can definitely pitch well.¡±


    Lee Eun-seok was confident that even if Min-woo were moved to the bullpen, he¡¯d adapt perfectly.


    However¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s still a no-go. He needs toplete his full rehab, no exceptions.¡±


    Trading the team¡¯s future for sess was one thing, but risking the career of a yer who had already been broken once was something he couldn¡¯t justify.


    As much as it pained him, Min Iri-woo would have to wait. That left only one other yer worth considering.


    [Cha Sihwan (Submarine pitcher, right-handed thrower/hitter)]


    Closing the roster file, Lee Eun-seok stood up.


    ¡°Coach Goo, is Cha Sihwan around?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He should be doing pitching drills. I saw him earlier this morning, excited because he said he was finally getting a feel for his control.¡±


    ¡°Really? I thought it would take longer for him to figure that out. How did it happen?¡±


    ¡°Well, like I said, I just saw him briefly this morning, so I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll ask him myself. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡±


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