"Coach, I'm sorry to bother you, but do you have a 290mm spike?"
Right after the batting test ended, Kim Ho-san suddenly asked the coach.
"Hmm? I think there's one in the storage, but why all of a sudden? … Are you planning on pitching or something?"
"Yes. I really want to face Cha Tae-hyun at least once."
"But… you had surgery, isn't it too soon?"
"It's fine. I've recovered enough to return to play. I've even pitched a little recently."
Kim Ho-san's eyes were shining brightly.
'When he gets that look in his eyes, it's hard to stop him…'
The coach sighed and handed over the storage key.
"Do whatever you want. But since this is a personal matter, don't ask me for permission. Ask Cha Tae-hyun directly."
"Of course."
As he watched Kim Ho-san run to the storage room as soon as he got the key, the coach muttered, "He's really taken a liking to him… Cha Tae-hyun is going to have a hard time."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The batting test results were posted.
[1st place. Cha Tae-hyun.]
I already knew the result, but there seemed to be magic in those two words, '1st place.' It felt good.
I immediately took a picture and sent it to Miss Mi-yeon, but I didn't get a reply right away like before. It was that time of day. She was probably in class.
I put my phone away and sat on the bench, and Jin Tae-hyun, who had suddenly appeared, sat next to me.
"Shin Tae-hyun… I just worship you."
We hadn't seen each other in a while, and it wasn't starting off easy…
"What are you talking about all of a sudden…"
"That's what everyone on the internet calls you."
"That's just the Phoenix fans being dramatic. Don't learn strange things."
To turn a pure, hot-blooded baseball boy like this… I was once again reminded of how dangerous the internet was.
"No, even I think you're a god."
"...Well, thanks. Ah, so… can I speak informally? You're a year older than me, but it's a bit awkward to switch back and forth."
"Have you ever seen a god speak formally to a devotee?"
"Ah…, right."
I just gave up. Come to think of it, he had worshipped me even before he started using the internet. I really don't know why he worshipped me.
No, I just don't know Jin Tae-hyun as a person at all. If he had been a character in Nemas, it would be different, but he had just appeared out of nowhere.
"Is it okay if I ask which pro team you're thinking of going to?"
"Rookies don't get to choose. They get kidnapped by whichever team calls them."
"That's true… then it'll be the Phoenix."
"Right. Anyone can see that the Phoenix will be last this year."
Jin Tae-hyun nodded for a moment and then suddenly stared at me.
"Then I'll go to the Phoenix too."
"Huh?"
"Ever since I saw your forkball in the final, I haven't been able to stop thinking about being your battery mate."
…Didn't he strike out on that forkball…?
"I appreciate the thought… but as I said before, rookies get kidnapped by the team that calls them."
"Then I'll just go during free agency."
If he was serious, that was really scary.
What was free agency? It was a chance for a player who had completed their contract to enter the market and sell themselves. In other words, it was a chance to make the most money.
So, players usually went to the team that offered the most money, but he was saying he would go to the Phoenix just to catch my pitches…?
He must be joking…
Vibrate.
My phone vibrated.
[Miss Mi-yeon: I knew you'd get first place, Tae-hyun! ദ്ദിㆁᴗㆁ✿)]
I checked the time, thinking that class was already over, but it was still class time. She must have had a spare moment to text me.
"Who sent you a text that's making you smile like that?"
"Uh… someone precious?"
"Even if I'm told I'm clueless, I have a feeling."
"What is it?"
"It's your girlfriend."
Oh… sharp. I wanted to say that, but unfortunately, it wasn't.
"No."
"Really? That's strange too. How can you not have a girlfriend?"
"…"
This guy was starting to get on my nerves. And what made me even more angry was that I could feel that this surprise worship wasn't him teasing or playing a prank, but that he was being sincere…
I was wondering what I should say to get away from him when an unexpected visitor arrived.
Kim Ho-san, who had said he would leave after watching the batting test, was approaching me.
"I saw you earlier. That was a very excellent at-bat."
"Uh… yes. Thank you."
"So, I'd like to face you for one at-bat. Can you spare a moment?"
"Yes…?"
I was flustered, and I had also hit a lot during fungo, so I honestly wanted to rest…
But what was with this look?
Was this what they called a 'madman with clear eyes'? I couldn't refuse that look, so I eventually got up from the bench.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Kim Ho-san had one peculiar trait. Whenever he saw a talented player, he would lose his mind and his eyes would go wild.
It was peculiar, and the reason for it was even more peculiar, to the point of being eccentric. To put it nicely, he was overly patriotic. To put it more bluntly…
'The more players who can represent and promote Korea, the better.'
He was a nationalist.
Of course, Kim Ho-san himself thought it was patriotism… but in reality, he was a person addicted to the strange pleasure of his country being praised by other countries.
To what extent, you ask?
When Kim Ho-san first became the ace of the New York Mets, he wasn't happy because his honor as a pitcher had increased, but because…
[Kim Ho-san becomes the top starting pitcher in the American Major League! New York Mets fans beg for more Korean players to be recruited…]
[How far will the Kim Ho-san effect go? Major League teams start to keep an eye on domestic prospects…]
…he was more satisfied that there were more of these nationalist articles.
The thought that came to Kim Ho-san's mind when he saw Cha Tae-hyun was…
'Can he make it in the world?'
This was it.
Kim Ho-san was the type who had to check things out immediately if he was curious.
That's why.
The reason why the Major League ace suddenly appeared at the national team tryouts and stood on the mound.
"I'll only throw fastballs. You don't have to think about other pitches!"
Kim Ho-san shouted loudly.
It was a handicap of sorts.
Even if the purpose was to test if he could make it in the world, Cha Tae-hyun was still a high school sophomore.
It was enough to just check his potential.
'Hmm…?'
But Cha Tae-hyun's expression looked quite displeased. Even in front of a great senior.
Normally, he would have shouted, 'How dare you glare at a great senior who is personally giving you an at-bat? What a rude bastard.'
But Kim Ho-san was different.
"He's an interesting friend. He has a strong character."
He even thought of that rude behavior as a character trait.
A small smile began to bloom on Kim Ho-san's lips.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
My personality in the Major Leagues was pretty bad, even I think so.
I hated losing even a little, and if I was disadvantaged, I was the type who had to get even to feel satisfied.
As a slight excuse… I think my will to survive without being looked down upon in a foreign country was a bit twisted.
Anyway… I'm not sure if my personality has softened a lot compared to then, but I'm definitely not a great man who can perfectly fit into Korea's proud Confucian culture.
So…
'I'll only throw fastballs. You don't have to think about other pitches.'
It was inevitable that my expression would crumple at those words.
Even if I knew that he was 'considering' my position as a high school baseball player and his as a Major League ace.
This was just a part of my personality, so even if he was a great senior, it would be difficult for me to be polite.
Honestly… I'm a high school student now, but if you think about it, aren't I much more of a senior?
Thinking about it made me even more resentful. I should say something.
"Senior. You can just throw all the pitches you can."
"Haha! He's confident, and I'm starting to like him more and more."
…An unexpected reaction. That tone, as if he didn't care about my remark.
Somehow… I felt a bit deflated.
Anyway, I held the bat and focused.
Soon, the 190cm tall Kim Ho-san took a big step and rotated his arm fiercely.
Tsk…
He was holding back even after I said that?
Of course, even so, his pitch looked much heavier and faster than those of the high school pitchers or the Phoenix 2nd-string pitcher.
But… still.
I came up here despite being tired.
This isn't right.
Thwaaaack!
A hit with a little more power.
The ball flew straight and easily cleared the fence.
"If you throw like that next time, you'll get hit again."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"This… is… amazing."
Although he had held back a little, the pitch was still around 97 mph, but he hit it so easily. Even Major League batters would have a hard time hitting that.
And more importantly, that mentality. He wasn't intimidated by a star player like him, but rather taunted him.
'Did he say he'd hit it again if I threw it the same way?'
Kim Ho-san, as if he found it amusing, gripped the ball the same way again.
This time, with the same pitch, the same course…
But… he threw it with all his might.
Of course, Cha Tae-hyun's confident attitude wasn't bad, but he needed to be taught a lesson.
He couldn't move forward if he was too caught up in the idea that he was the best.
'Take a little break.'
He lifted his knee and took a fierce step.
He stepped so hard that the dirt on the mound flew.
The muscles in his pitching motion pumped as if they would explode, and as he rotated his arm with all his might, the ball shot out of his fingertips like a bullet.
The 101-mph fastball that had solidified his position as the Major League ace flew into the glove.
Kim Ho-san thought,
'…He won't be shocked, right? It'll be a problem if he thinks this is the Major League average.'
Kim Ho-san's worries were soon—
Thwaaaack!!
—shattered and flew away with the hit ball.
Kim Ho-san's head reflexively turned to follow the ball.
The ball…
…hit the top of the fence and bounced back.
Kim Ho-san, who had turned his head again, smiled broadly at Cha Tae-hyun.
'He hit that ball to the fence and he's still disappointed…?'
It didn't end with disappointment.
"One more time."
That look in his eyes, as if he couldn't end it like this, made Kim Ho-san's shoulders shake.
"Sorry. My agent just contacted me, so I can't have another at-bat…"
"…Then I guess there's nothing I can do."
Kim Ho-san was more cunning than I had thought.
To pull the 'I won, so I'm not playing anymore' card…
Of course, since I hit the fence, I technically won, but…
I just wasn't satisfied.
I felt like my bat was a little late.
It's definitely… not easy to hit a Major League ace's full-power pitch.
"Anyway… that was a really excellent at-bat. Any team in the Major Leagues would want a batter like you. I can connect you with an agent I know if you need one."
"Yes…? I'm still a sophomore."
"Well, it's good to talk about it in advance."
"No… I'm not going to the Major Leagues anyway."
Kim Ho-san's mouth dropped open for a moment.
No, was that so shocking…?
"What? No, why? Are you not confident in your skills? You'd definitely make it. I guarantee it. No, you have to go to the Major Leagues. It's a national loss to waste that kind of talent."
A national loss…?
"Go. You have to go. You can be the batter who represents Korea!"
"Uh… yes. I'm grateful, but…"
"Hey, hey, what are you doing, holding on to a guy who doesn't want to go? Didn't you have somewhere to be? You've had your fun, so go now."
The coach finally came and Kim Ho-san, who seemed genuinely disappointed, sighed and handed me his business card.
"Contact me anytime you need help. And contact me if you ever come to the US."
"…Yes. Thank you."
Kim Ho-san finally disappeared after saying that.
"He's a strange one, right?"
"Yes? Uh… he's a bit unusual."
"No. You don't have to say it like that. He's a strange one. He can't control himself when he sees a talented guy like you… You're going to have a hard time from now on."
"Yes?"
"That guy, he might do all sorts of things to get you to the Major Leagues."
"No way… he wouldn't."
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