Baseball was a strange game. Even a game you were sure to lose could suddenly turn around with a shift in momentum. In that sense, momentum was crucial…
"Strikeout!"
But looking at Lee Seung-tae's pitches today, it didn't seem like the momentum would change. He had effortlessly struck out the first three batters with nine pitches and walked off the mound.
"I'll get on base, so look forward to it."
The leadoff hitter, Jin Myung-hwan, who had confidently left the dugout…
Crack!
"He really hit it…"
…surprisingly hit the first pitch, sending a grounder just past the second baseman and reaching first base.
The next batter, Ji Chang-seop…
Crack!
…a clean infield single.
Had they all awakened just to punish Dae-san High? Their focus was incredible.
The next batter, Lee Tae-hyung…
"Ball four!"
…walked on four pitches, as if the pitcher was already rattled.
…If he got a hit here, I didn't think the pitcher would recover. Even without this, Dongshin High was probably already shaken by Lee Seung-tae's surprise appearance.
A grand slam in the first inning? No one could withstand that, unless they had the mental fortitude of Jin Tae-hyun.
As I walked to the plate with my bat…
"Waaaaah!!"
"Cha Tae-hyun! Cha Tae-hyun!"
The unexpected cheers from the crowd made me laugh. How much pent-up frustration did they have to be cheering for me, the one who had crushed Cheongshin High's hopes of winning?
Since they were cheering for me like this…
"I have to hit a home run."
Ah, I said it out loud again. This habit from my major league days always seemed to pop out whenever I stood at the plate. Well, fortunately, the catcher didn't seem to mind. No… he probably couldn't mind.
His head must be exploding. Bases loaded with no outs, and the 4th batter at the plate. Should he walk me… or challenge me… Well, I hope he thought hard about it.
I got into my stance and stared at the pitcher. The pitcher wound up, and in my vision, I saw a slight tremor in his fingertips. The fingertips that should have precisely gripped the ball were clumsy.
It wasn't a grip… it was a push. Usually, that's called…
CRACK!!!!
…a mistake pitch.
The moment I swung the bat, the moment I felt the ball connect with the bat…
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!!!!"
…a loud crack, and thunderous cheers pounded against my eardrums. I watched the ball sail over the fence and then coolly flipped my bat.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
The cheers, like a bursting dam, once again filled the stadium.
"Are you watching?"
Thinking of Mi-yeon, I smiled at the crowd and rounded the bases.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The semi-final against Dongshin High ended more easily than expected. Lee Seung-tae's form was insane. A 9-inning complete game shutout, which had become rare since the pitch count rule was introduced, and he'd only given up two hits.
Nevertheless, the MVP was…
"Cha Tae-hyun! Wow~ he's really amazing! A grand slam in his first at-bat, and a two-run homer in his second! But wait, there's more! He hit a solo homer in his third at-bat! Is this even real?"
└ Seriously, isn't he on something?
└ Hey, don't say such 'weak' things.
└ But seriously, I'm starting to suspect doping.
└ Doping in high school baseball? Are you serious, lol?
└ No, but this is just too unbelievable, lol.
└ Wow, but did you see Sweet Tae-hyun's smile during the grand slam today? ㅠㅠ So heartwarming.
└ I know we should get rid of the fangirls, but Sweet Tae-hyun was amazing today, lol. I'm a guy, but my heart fluttered.
└ What guy? That's disgusting, get lost.
"Haha… our viewers are also sending in very passionate responses. Now, we can't help but ask Cha Tae-hyun about the finals! Cha Tae-hyun? Are you confident about the finals?"
Cha Tae-hyun grinned as soon as he heard the announcer's words.
The announcer, catching it, excitedly asked, "What's the meaning of that smile? The finals? You're not nervous at all! Is that it?"
The announcer, who had been expecting a rookie's bravado, froze at Cha Tae-hyun's next words.
"Nervous? I'm looking forward to the next game. You all saw the Dae-san High interview, right? They crossed the line… I think I need to put them in their place."
└ Wow, lol, he's so pissed, Tae-hyun-shin is furious, lol.
└ Wow, this is the first time I've seen Tae-hyun-god like this, lol.
└ Seriously, people who know Tae-hyun-god's personality will be surprised, lol.
└ But seriously, Dae-san High crossed the line.
└ I agree.
└ I agree.
The announcer, who had barely regained his composure, tried to take the microphone from Cha Tae-hyun, but he pulled it back and spoke again.
"Kim Shi-hwan, or whatever his name is? I'm telling you this now."
'Uh… uh-oh?'
The experienced announcer sensed a broadcasting accident at this crucial moment for high school baseball's image.
"If you pitch to me, I'm going to hit it out."
"Unless you want your team to be remembered for giving up a new record."
The announcer, whose composure was about to shatter, barely held on, latching onto the keyword 'new record.'
'Right… if it's come to this, I might as well go all in!'
"Wow! Cha Tae-hyun has mentioned a new record! Are you talking about the world record of 5 consecutive home runs?"
"If it's 5 at-bats, then yes… and if it's 6, then it'll be 6 consecutive home runs. Anyway, Dae-san High should get ready to be put back in its place."
└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Tae-hyun-shin: I declare I will hit a home run if you pitch to me.
└ From now on, Tae-hyun-shin will be teaching a lesson in water rockets, lol.
└ I'm so happy that a player like this is coming to the Phoenix ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ I agree ㅠㅠㅠ The permanent number of the Daejeon Volcanos is here.
└ ?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Cha Tae-hyun's interview was causing a stir, for better or worse. The Cheongshin High fandom started spreading the interview video everywhere.
The Association, which had been worried about tarnishing the carefully crafted image of high school baseball, decided to capitalize on the hype and started producing special feature videos. As a result…
"Hey, Cha Tae-hyun, you're on TV."
Cha Tae-hyun, who had been texting in the dorm, turned his head.
"What are you talking about… hey, why am I really on TV?"
"Wow, Cha Tae-hyun's already a star."
Cha Tae-hyun's interview was even being shown on the news. He could understand that, since the interview was quite strong.
But when the national star, major leaguer Kim Ho-san, appeared next, even Cha Tae-hyun couldn't hide his surprise.
[A player I've been keeping an eye on recently had a very hot interview.]
[Yes, Cha Tae-hyun. That's right.]
[If you've been keeping an eye on him, does that mean Cha Tae-hyun is a skilled player?]
[Yes. Well… those who watch high school baseball probably already know, but for those who don't, let me just say… he's a player who will definitely go to the majors.]
"...That person…"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The day of the Blue Dragon tournament finals, which had garnered unprecedented attention due to my interview, dawned. I got on the bus heading to the stadium, and my phone vibrated.
[My dear sister: (Photo)]
It was a rare text from Ji-hyun, and she had sent a picture of a four-leaf clover.
[I found it on the street. It must be a sign that your finals will go well.]
My lips curled up at the warm message. But then, I noticed something strange in the picture. The background was a field of grass. And her hands were a little dirty…
"You didn't just find it on the street…"
Did she worry that I would feel burdened if she said she had spent time looking for it? I was so grateful for her thoughtfulness that my heart warmed.
"Myung-hwan."
"What now?"
"Be good to your family."
"...What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"I've been realizing lately how precious family is."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Under the cloudless blue sky, the sun was heating up the ground. The two teams that had come to win the Blue Dragon tournament faced each other.
At the now-inevitable handshake ceremony, Cha Tae-hyun was shaking hands with, as expected, Kim Shin-hwa.
"I saw your interview."
Kim Shin-hwa said with a stoic face. Cha Tae-hyun also replied calmly, "I saw yours too."
At that moment, Kim Shin-hwa's lips twitched slightly. Cha Tae-hyun didn't miss it.
"It must be hard to act cool, right?"
"…You must be under a lot of pressure… making such an unbelievable promise."
"Did you think it was an unbelievable promise? Or just something I said in the heat of the moment?"
Kim Shin-hwa paused, and as he was about to speak again, the call to end the handshake ceremony was made.
In the end, he couldn't hear Kim Shin-hwa's last words, but he had a good idea of what he was going to say.
'He had a look on his face that said, 'Wasn't it?''
Oh no, it wasn't in the heat of the moment.
Let's get a proper scolding today.
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