"Kim Shin-hwa, you showed some great pitching today against the dark horse Cheongshin High, with only two runs allowed in eight innings. Could you share your thoughts?"
Dae-san High's starting pitcher, Kim Shin-hwa, answered with a stoic face.
"I don't have any particular thoughts. They were an opponent I naturally expected to beat."
The flustered reporter forced a smile and continued his commentary.
"Haha… very confident. This is the fighting spirit of youth! Now, Dae-san High, a team that has continued the legacy of a baseball powerhouse since last year, was evaluated as being much weaker due to injuries to its aces and the graduation of the senior players. What was the turning point that allowed you to revive like this?"
"You just said it, reporter."
"Pardon?"
"The second-year players, including myself, have grown well and filled the void left by our graduated seniors, and the injured players have all returned. We're just… back where we belong. Both Dae-san High and Cheongshin High."
The reporter flinched at Kim Shin-hwa's final words.
While the phrase "back where we belong" was an excellent way to express Dae-san High's pride, the addition of "and Cheongshin High" was the problem. It was an insult to the already defeated Cheongshin.
However, from the reporter's perspective, there was no better provocative quote.
'This… if I play my cards right, I might get an interesting article out of this.'
Although his conscience pricked him a little, what did it matter? In sports, a little trash talk helped with the ratings, didn't it?
Having rationalized his actions, the reporter decided to induce more trash talk.
"Haha. You really are confident. Then are you confident in winning against Hyuksan High, the strong favorite for this year's Blue Dragon tournament?"
"Hyuksan High? Well… they're good, but isn't their player Lee Seung-tae injured? He hasn't been playing… And besides him, there's nothing special."
The reporter's lips twitched. A brilliant headline had just popped into his mind.
[Dae-san High's Kim Shin-hwa: No Lee Seung-tae? Nothing special…]
"Wow… you really are confident. Does that mean you're not too concerned about Kim Chang-hyun…?"
"Well… that's something I confirmed in the last tryouts… he was below me."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jin Myung-hwan, who had been focused on his phone screen, shook his head.
"Look at this bastard's attitude? He's almost as annoying as Cha Tae-hyun…?"
I had also watched the interview with Jin Myung-hwan, so I agreed that the guy was annoying, but…
"Still, comparing him to me is crossing the line, Myung-hwan."
"Is it? Well… he's not quite on Cha Tae-hyun's level. Sorry, Kim Shin-hwa!"
"..."
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Why are you getting so pouty? Anyway, isn't it strange these days? The fake Tae-hyun, and this Kim Shin-hwa guy, why are so many good players popping up? And that includes you, the real Tae-hyun."
He was sharp…
Jin Myung-hwan always seemed to live without a thought, but he had moments like this. As he said, it was a phenomenon that couldn't be explained by mere 'coincidence.'
Jin Tae-hyun's appearance, a pitcher of Kim Shin-hwa's caliber suddenly appearing, and the old cliché of a weakened baseball powerhouse regaining its strength… at this point, it was likely that the one who had sent me here had intervened.
Perhaps it was the thought of, 'Well… it wouldn't be fun if it were too easy, would it?'
But did it matter?
"We can just shut them up by winning."
"Oh… spoken like a true asshole. I believe you."
"…I always wonder, why do you keep saying I'm an asshole?"
"The fact that you don't know is also annoying…"
No… I shouldn't have said anything.
I turned my head and looked for Chang-hyun. He was the one who would probably be most affected by this interview.
He was looking at his phone, and as expected, Kim Shin-hwa's interview was playing. But unlike my worries, Chang-hyun was smirking, as if he found it amusing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The coach was writing out the lineups for the upcoming semi-finals and finals.
'Seung-tae said he can pitch again soon…'
The coach chuckled as he wrote Lee Seung-tae's name next to the starting pitcher in the finals lineup. He suddenly remembered the Dae-san kid's arrogant interview.
"Nothing special besides Seung-tae…? Then I should put Seung-tae in."
The coach smiled and was about to move his pen when…
"Kim Chang-hyun?"
Kim Chang-hyun had suddenly appeared.
"I'm sorry for coming so suddenly. May I ask for a favor, coach?"
"A favor…?"
The coach tilted his head.
'This is a first for him…'
Kim Chang-hyun was someone who always did what he was told and never complained, even during harsh training. He wasn't the type to ask for favors.
"This is unusual… what is it?"
After a moment of hesitation, Kim Chang-hyun said, "I want to start in the finals."
"Start in the finals…?"
The coach was about to ask why, but he remembered the interview and stopped.
'Well… it's understandable that Chang-hyun's pride is hurt.'
Since he'd said there was nothing special besides Seung-tae…
"Are you upset because the Dae-san pitcher ignored you?"
"No."
"Huh? That's not it?"
"Because I'm confident I can pitch better than him."
The coach, who had been listening seriously, chuckled.
"That's the same thing, you brat. Anyway… I understand you're annoyed, but it's the finals. Even so, this—"
"That's right. I'm annoyed. So… let me do it!"
Kim Chang-hyun suddenly raised his voice. He shouted so loudly that the coffee on the desk rippled.
'Chang-hyun, this kid, is being so stubborn…'
The Kim Chang-hyun who would sacrifice anything for the team…
The coach stroked his chin and looked at his face. Unwavering, resolute… eyes full of conviction.
'I always get weak when I see eyes like that…'
"Are you confident?"
Kim Chang-hyun's eyes widened at the coach's words, and he grinned.
"I'll just crush them."
"I like your confidence."
The coach moved his pen again.
[Starting Pitcher: Lee Seung-… Kim Chang-hyun.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As expected of a favorite, we easily reached the semi-finals, and today was the day.
Our opponent was Dongshin High, Hyuksan High's eternal rival. Although there was a considerable skill gap between us now that I had joined, the Hyuksan vs. Dongshin matchup was known for its upsets, so we couldn't let our guard down.
That aside…
"Why are there so many spectators? Are they here because of the Hyuksan and Dongshin rivalry?"
Jin Myung-hwan, my personal speedwagon, answered immediately.
"Not at all. It's because all the Cheongshin fans are on our side."
"Huh? Cheongshin fans? Why?"
It was Hyuksan who had crushed Cheongshin's hopes of winning, so why were they on our side?
"Well, you know, Dae-san was trash-talking. That interview went viral on NewTube."
"Ah… the one about Cheongshin being back where they belong?"
That was definitely something to get worked up about.
"Yeah, that one. Cheongshin's miracle run was quite romantic, so they gained a lot of fans, and everyone was pissed after seeing that interview."
"I get that, but why are they cheering for us?"
"We were also dissed then. Nothing special besides Seung-tae. So the Cheongshin fans want us to crush Dae-san's head."
This kid really had a knack for explaining things. It was so easy to understand.
"But how do you know all this?"
"Well… I'm a ghost of NewTube."
"…Your batting average would go up if you just cut down on NewTube."
"I wish you would give me some realistic advice, Tae-hyun."
"Everyone gather up."
Just then, the coach entered the dugout.
"You all know that we've never had an easy time with Dongshin. So don't let your guard down, and above all…"
The coach paused and continued, "Those Dae-san guys are talking so much trash, shouldn't we go to the finals and teach them a lesson?"
""Yes, sir!""
The dugout shook with their loud reply, and the coach grinned, showing his white teeth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Blue Dragon tournament semi-finals began under the scorching sun, and Lee Seung-tae was on the mound in the top of the first inning.
"Hey, Seung-tae, you're not upset that the coach put you in the semi-finals, are you?"
The catcher, Ji Chang-seop, asked playfully, and Lee Seung-tae chuckled.
"Why would I be upset? Didn't you see that arrogant bastard's interview?"
"Uh…? Ah, I saw it."
"Of course, Kim Chang-hyun should pitch in the finals. That would be satisfying, wouldn't it? Even if the coach hadn't, I would have told him to pitch in the finals. So stop worrying about strange things. It's so obvious, you brat."
'He's definitely… changed a lot, Lee Seung-tae…'
Ji Chang-seop grinned and tossed the ball to him.
"Alright, sorry. How do you want to handle the Dongshin hitters today? Should I call the pitches?"
"Chang-seop, I've rested my shoulder a lot. I have plenty of energy."
"Alright. Do whatever you want."
Ji Chang-seop went back to the plate, got into his stance, and the umpire's call to start the game was heard.
Lee Seung-tae didn't hesitate. He gripped a fastball and threw the first pitch. The moment the ball left his fingertips, his lips curled into a grin.
'I've rested a long time… the ball feels pretty good, doesn't it?'
For Lee Seung-tae, it was just pretty good, but…
Swoosh!
To the batter at the plate, it wasn't just a pretty good pitch.
Thwack!
'It's… already in the mitt?'
By the time the batter came to his senses, the ball was already nestled in the mitt.
"Nice ball!"
The frozen batter turned his head slightly to look at the scoreboard, as if in disbelief, and at that moment…
[157km/h]
His jaw dropped. The umpire, who also couldn't take his eyes off the scoreboard, belatedly made the call.
"S… Str-ike!"
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