Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 224

Hyung, aren’t I cute? Episode 224 (224/500)

The next day.

I arrived at the dome stadium with Siha.

As we went inside, it was more spacious than I thought, and we met Bell, who worked on the inside.

“Si-hyeok hyung, over here! Over here.”

“Yeah, long time no see?”

“Yes, haha. Hello, Siha.”

“Hello~”

“Wow, Siha greets people so well now?”

Is it because he won the world championship?

His face seems to shine. He’s practically a celebrity, but when you meet him, he doesn’t have that unique feeling.

He’s just like a younger brother who’s good at games.

“There are two more people coming. Can we go in when they arrive?”

“Yes, of course. I got the staff pass here. I have to return this later, got it?”

“Only I have one?”

“They said there’s no need to give them to the kids. Their parents will be with them anyway.”

“I guess.”

Just then, Seung-jun arrived.

“Siha~”

“Seung-jun!”

Siha raised his hand.

The reason he’s missing one thing or another these days is because he’s diligently attending singing class.

Since they’re split up like that, Professor Oh Sang-hwan’s face looks very relaxed.

It’s just changed from taking care of two kids to one, but he seems more relaxed.

“Hyung, baseball! Baseball!”

“Yeah, shall we go watch baseball now? But it’s not starting right away. They’re probably preparing.”

“Preparing?”

“Yeah, warming up and talking. They might not have arrived yet.”

Siha nodded as if he understood.

He looks forward to watching the game.

I looked at Bell.

“Then can we go to the spectator seats?”

“Yes. No.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“We’re not watching from the spectator seats. We’re going inside the stadium.”

“Huh?”

Bell shook the pass hanging around his neck.

“Why would I need this [staff pass] if we were just sitting in the stands? What’s the reason we came here today! We came to see the players.”

“Does that mean we’re meeting them face to face?!”

“Of course. When you watch baseball, there’s a place where the players and the coach are, right?”

“I know.”

“We’re watching from there. Hehe. Only we get to see it.”

“It feels awkward. So the coach is there too?”

“No. Maybe even the coach? I don’t know. Let’s go in for now.”

“Okay.”

We entered the stadium.

I’ve never even been to the spectator seats, so being in the stadium feels strange.

When we arrived at the players’ waiting room, there were really broad-shouldered people.

Siha was amazed that there were 11 people gathered, so he said loudly.

“Hyung! Big. Big.”

“Yeah, baseball players are usually huge.”

A child over there also looked at us, curious about the child who came.

I guess it’s strange for a child around elementary school age to hear a 3-year-old baby say ‘Big! Big!’

“Hyung, Baek-dong hyung is bigger.”

“Yeah, he’s over 2 meters tall and has big bones.”

He might not even be human.

If I say that, he’ll look like he’s about to cry, saying, ‘That’s too much, hyung-nim [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend]!’

“Baek-dong Tongtong?”

“Pfft. What’s Baek-dong Tongtong?”

Suddenly, a new nickname for Baek Dong-hwan pops up.

I think he’ll look like he’s about to cry again if he hears it later.

“Um…”

A player came over to us.

“Are you perhaps Bell, the professional gamer?”

“Ah, yes! That’s right.”

“Haha, congratulations on the victory. I received a call that you were coming.”

Everyone seems to know Bell and smiles.

Siha asked innocently.

“Hyung. Pro-gay what?”

“Siha, it’s pro-gamer. One letter is missing at the end.”

Siha’s words made the other players burst out laughing.

The foreign player in front also seemed to understand Siha’s words and laughed, tapping his chair.

He gave us a laugh like this. Haha.

Bell was quite embarrassed by the question, but later smiled.

“Be careful with your pronunciation.”

“It can happen.”

“No. It can’t happen!”

I ignored Bell’s words and greeted the players.

“Ah, hello. I heard you’re having a match with the Little League team, so I came to watch. I played baseball with my younger brother yesterday.”

I stroked Siha’s head.

Siha is in a good mood and rubs his head against my hand.

Everyone is looking at us with a pleased expression, and the foreign player squatted down and waved his hand.

“Hello.”

Siha stared blankly and said one word.

“Guten Tag-” [German for “Good day”]

Why suddenly German greetings?

I remembered meeting Liam at Meltz Company before.

I was surprised at the time because it was a coup [unexpected and successful move].

「No way! How did you know? Do you know German?」

It seems like another surprising thing has happened.

***

Tyron Rojas.

He was a foreigner who joined the NM team this year.

The reason Siha surprisingly guessed correctly was that he really had German blood mixed in him.

His father is American, and his mother is German.

He grew up in Germany but went to America to play baseball.

He was a case of using two languages well, and he said he was really surprised by Siha’s words.

「Haha. I see. Actually, I know a little German. I have experience working with Meltz Company, so I was a translator there for a while.」

「Wow. Really? It wouldn’t have been easy to translate such a specialized industry. But your German is really natural.」

「Thank you. But usually, there’s a translator attached, right?」

I looked around.

But I didn’t see a dedicated translator.

「Ah…. I heard they requested a contract renewal after the season ended, but they quit and left. Well, it’s an inevitable choice as a freelancer. But I want to respect it.」

「Ah, I see.」

I understand. Not a regular employee, but a contract translator.

I know they usually sign a 10-month contract.

Before tax, 2.5 million won per month. No four major insurances [national pension, national health insurance, employment insurance, and industrial accident compensation insurance], no severance pay.

Where did this information come from again?

Anyway, when I see this information, I can roughly picture why they quit.

Of course, I’ve seen contracts like regular positions, but it seems they quit because it wasn’t easy to switch.

「Actually, I don’t know the players well, but are you a pitcher?」

「Yes. I’m a right-handed pitcher.」

Tyron grabbed his right shoulder.

I was expecting that.

I could just tell from his body.

Just then, I heard the staff calling out, probably because the Little League team had arrived.

「It seems the Little League team has arrived. They said to gather?」

「Haha. Thank you. Actually, all the translators are off today, so I’ve been asking my colleagues.」

「Ah, is that so?」

「Let’s go together. My son is there too.」

「Wow. In the Little League team?」

「Yes. My whole family came to Korea this year.」

My eyes widened.

I was amazed because I thought there were such cases.

What should I say? It felt like the whole family moved together while being dispatched overseas.

I was even more surprised because I didn’t expect to see it in baseball.

“Siha, shall we go too?”

“Ah ah!”

Seung-jun, who was next to him, grabbed Siha’s hand.

“Wow! They’re real players. Everyone’s body is big.”

“Baek-dong hyung is bigger!”

Hey, Siha. What are you suddenly competing with?

Anyway, it’s fun.

The Little League team and the players greeted each other, talked a little, and then started stretching.

Everyone has already warmed up, but it’s also a time to get a little closer to the kids.

But why is Tyron Rojas here?

「Rojas. Shouldn’t you go to your son?」

「You can call me Tyron. My son is already a fan of another player. Can you see him over there? He’s talking to the player with sparkling eyes.」

「Hehe. Then you can go to the other kids.」

「Um. The kids can’t understand me. They’re scared because I’m a foreigner.」

Then Tyron helped Siha stretch by pressing down on his back.

「But I’m glad Siha isn’t scared of me. Actually, my impression is fierce, so my son cried a lot when he was young.」

「Tyron, you’ve been through a lot too. Did your son come out and participate here?」

「That’s right. Well. Haha.」

Siha bent down and lifted him up.

“Tyron?”

“Tyron is that uncle’s name.”

“Siha ara [Siha knows]. Tiger. Tiger. Tyron. Tyron. Ty Gata.”

“Oh! That’s right. Siha is smart.”

“Name cool.”

「Haha. Tyron. Siha says your name is cool because it feels like a tiger?」

At those words, Tyron laughed heartily and liked it.

I wonder how he picks such pleasant words, and affection seems to be falling from Tyron’s eyes.

But Tyron, do you know that?

Siha doesn’t go to the game, so he doesn’t need to stretch…

Well, it’s important to spend time together like this.

It will probably be a good experience for Siha.

「Si-hyeok, then can’t you have Siha and Seung-jun throw the first pitch? Before the game with the Little League team.」

「Yes? Really?」

「Haha. Of course. Hey! These two friends came all the way here, let them throw the first pitch before the game!」

The players nodded, understanding his words in English.

The staff also thought it would be fun and prepared the first pitch.

After a while.

I don’t know why it turned out like this, but the catcher player decided to catch Siha and Seung-jun’s balls himself.

Seung-jun is completely excited.

“I’m super fast. If I go ‘Swoosh!’ you might not see it!”

“Haha. Don’t worry and throw!”

“Here I go!”

The batter was also a real player. His mischievous expression is ominous. I think he’s really going to hit it?

Seung-jun threw the ball.

Taang!

The ball flew far away.

“Agh! A soccer kick…”

Putting aside the fact that soccer came out, who is that batter? Get him out of here! He’s serious against kids.

The batter was embarrassed when Seung-jun looked like he was about to cry.

“Ahem. Do you want to throw it again? Do better this time.”

“……”

Seung-jun pouted and threw it again.

This time it went well into the glove. The batter also swung the bat in the air at the right timing.

“Hehe!”

Seung-jun regained his smile as if he was in a good mood.

It’s like matching the president’s mood by saying ‘Nice shot’ [a compliment regardless of the actual quality of the shot].

Well, you have to do that for the kids.

Siha’s eyes widened next to him.

“Ah ah! Seung-jun is great!”

Here’s one more person who was simply fooled.

He really thinks Seung-jun threw well.

Both kids were completely fooled by that amazing acting.

“Okay, Siha. It’s your turn now.”

“Ah ah!”

Siha went up to the mound.

Tyron dusted Siha’s hand with rosin [a sticky substance used to improve grip] next to him.

“Ah?”

“If you put this on, it won’t slip.”

“This?”

“Yeah.”

“Huh? Ah! Siha, Tyron uncle said if you throw it following his pose, it’ll be super fast.”

Tyron showed his pitching form.

It was just a normal form.

Siha nodded as if he understood.

“Okay. Now let’s get closer to the catcher.”

“No. Siha here.”

“It’s too far from here.”

“No. Siha can do it.”

“Really?”

“Ah ah.”

I shrugged as if to say do as you please.

The catcher also chuckled and took a stance.

The batter looked at Siha.

“Ah ah.”

As expected, it starts with ‘Ah ah’. But when is he going to throw it?

Siha tilted his head and toddled over to the catcher.

I thought he was going closer because it was far.

“Catcher ajji [term of endearment for an older man].”

“Yeah?”

“Sign here?”

Siha shows one finger, two fingers.

The players who were watching laughed loudly at those words.

“Hehe. Ah, you’re so cute. Uncle didn’t give you a sign? I’ll give it to you soon. Wait there. Okay?”

“Ah ah.”

He stood on the mound again.

The catcher put the mitt inside his body and gave him a sign like the real thing.

Siha went to the catcher again and asked.

“Catcher ajji. This? This? Here?”

“Huh? Yeah. I gave you that sign. But then the batter sees all the signs too?”

“Gae-chana [It’s okay]. Gae-chana.”

Siha stood on the mound again.

I thought it was so cute.

Only those who have experienced it can laugh at that action.

Seung-jun said next to him.

“Siha, fighting!” [common Korean phrase of encouragement]

“Ah ah.”

Finally, he threw the ball.

Thud.

Of course, it fell in the middle. In fact, it didn’t even go near.

Siha looked around, then slyly grabbed the ball and ran to the catcher, sticking it into the mitt with a bang.

“Hyung. Siha did it!”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. You did great! You’re the best!”

I gave him a thumbs up.

It’s okay. If I filmed it, it would have gone in with editing skills! Yes! There is no failure in Siha’s dictionary.

Director, please edit this scene well!