Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 297

296. Bully Who Catches Bullies

It is widely believed that many negative practices persist in Korean society, such as the so-called military culture—strict discipline and hierarchical relationships within organizations like schools or companies—were transmitted from Japan during the Japanese colonial period.

This includes things like seniors hitting juniors, assigning harsh tasks (drills), oppressing them, and creating cliques within the organization to ostracize those who don’t belong—a practice known as ‘ijime’ [Japanese term for bullying].

The reason I suddenly started thinking about this toxic military culture is because our team’s starting pitcher, Hayashi Rentaro, is standing on the mound looking like he’s about to collapse.

It just occurred to me.

Why that guy is acting like that.

A snippet from an interview with Hayashi Rentaro after his retirement, before my regression, came to mind.

[The ill-fated relationship between Hayashi Rentaro and Yamamoto Kenichi, which began during their time with the Yomiuri Giants, including habitual assault and bullying, and even threats to his life?]

[Yamamoto Kenichi, who formed the so-called Yamamoto Corps within the Yomiuri Giants and reigned over players and coaching staff, continued to threaten his Japanese juniors even after advancing to the Major League]

[Truth revealed through other retired Japanese players: “Is there a Yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicate] behind Yamamoto?” Japanese professional baseball world in shock]

To summarize:

When our team’s Hayashi Rentaro was playing for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, there was a piece of trash named Yamamoto Kenichi who formed a faction and acted like the boss. That guy advanced to the Big League as a free agent just before this season.

To Atlanta, whom we are facing today.

The content of the article I read back then was truly appalling.

The guys in Yamamoto’s faction frequently threatened and hit Hayashi and other players, borrowed money and didn’t pay it back, and even tore up gloves and uniforms as a prank. After games, they would call them to bars and make them dance naked.

Hayashi escaped to the Major League from that atmosphere, but he probably never dreamed that Yamamoto, who tormented him so severely, would follow him to the United States as a free agent.

“Play!”

Haa…

Why are there so many pieces of trash in this world?

Yamamoto Kenichi is batting fifth,

But Hayashi’s face already shows a complex expression, half annoyance and half fear.

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

Perhaps due to psychological issues, Hayashi’s control is already wavering.

In these situations, the battle with the first batter is the most important.

If something goes wrong here, he could collapse completely.

Fortunately, the fielding abilities of this team’s infield and outfield are above the Major League average, so they are composed of reasonably useful players.

Of course, I wish the batted balls would come my way if possible.

Did someone hear my wish?

Thwack!

With an intense sound, a bullet-like batted ball flew towards me.

Too fast to move my body and handle it in the center.

Inevitably, I stretched out my arm and shoved the ball into my glove,

Swish

Spinning around in place to reduce the force of the batted ball, I immediately took the ball out of my glove and threw it to first base,

Out!

“Damn it! He handles that so easily?”

“You son of a bitch! He’s disgustingly flexible!”

Um,

Should I take that as an insult or as a compliment?

Perhaps because I handled the difficult batted ball easily, Hayashi’s expression improved.

That’s how it should be.

He’s the guy we brought in with 5 million dollars of my money.

“Play!”

Although this team always bets everything on the starting pitcher, it’s not like there aren’t any useful hitters on this team.

There aren’t any players who can represent the league, but it’s a well-balanced lineup packed with at least A-grade players.

If we still had Acuña Jr., who had to retire before he even turned thirty due to two cruciate ligament injuries, we would have been a team that could challenge for the top of the league with hitting alone.

Acuña Jr… come to think of it, he was an amazing guy.

No matter how much the value of stolen bases has fallen, 40-70 stolen bases in a season.

Maybe 70-40, that’s a record that even I would find difficult to challenge now, and perhaps a record that will be hard to see again in Major League history.

Hmm,

After breaking the records related to home runs, I should lose some weight and try to challenge 70-70…

That’s enough.

Let’s put this issue aside for now.

Whoosh

Thwack!

“Wow! That’s great! That’s it!”

“Crush the Seattle guys! Show them the power of the National League!”

While I was lost in thought, the well-hit ball from the second batter became a hit in front of the right fielder.

In my opinion, Hayashi’s condition isn’t bad today.

It’s just that the guy, who is about to turn thirty, is being suppressed by the shadow of the jerk who used to torment him, and he can’t come to his senses.

Anyway, one out, runner on first.

I need to concentrate. If we meet that Yamamoto or Damanegi guy with a runner on base, Hayashi might collapse.

I need to take care of it somehow before that happens.

“Play!”

As a pitcher, the most difficult thing to do during the season is to maintain composure.

There are nine positions in baseball, but the most sensitive one is the pitcher, especially the starting pitcher who has to take responsibility for long innings alone.

The opponent is the ace of a strong team running first in the National League East Division,

Meanwhile, our team’s starting pitcher is intimidated by the nightmares of the past,

Hmm,

This isn’t good at all.

In situations like this, the catcher who forms the battery [pitcher-catcher duo] should understand the pitcher’s heart…

Thwack

“Oh! Yes! Fucking! That’s it!”

“Good! Crush them! Crush them completely!”

Damn it,

The situation has started to flow in the worst direction.

The pitcher’s complexion darkened even more with the consecutive hits, and eventually, he gave up a walk to the next batter.

Hayashi ended up facing Yamamoto, who remained a nightmare deep in his heart, in a bases-loaded situation with one out.

* * *

‘You moron… I’m pathetic even by my own standards.’

It’s so embarrassing that I’m about to turn thirty and I’m this scared of meeting a senior who used to torment me.

But there’s nothing I can do.

Yamamoto Kenichi, who reigned over himself and his juniors for the entire five years he played for Yomiuri, and who was so difficult to control that even the team couldn’t easily control him due to rumors of Yakuza involvement, was a truly terrifying person.

How many times has he been beaten by that guy, and how big were the wounds he suffered in the name of pranks?

He himself is becoming a veteran now, but the pain Yamamoto inflicted on him back then still remains as scars on his body and mind.

‘Get a grip, Hayashi! You’re a pro! You’re an adult!’

[Batter number 5, first baseman Yamamoto Kenichi]

No matter how hard I try to reassure myself,

My body flinches without me even realizing it when Yamamoto’s name comes out of the stadium announcer’s mouth.

But that won’t do.

He is a pro among pros who earns close to ten million dollars a year in salary alone, one of the Big League players who are the best baseball players in the world.

When I think about what that guy did to me in the past, I want to slam a ball into his head, but…

The fear that has been learned for a long time is showing resistance even to the thought of doing that.

Therefore, all Hayashi can do now is somehow catch that guy and prevent the inning from scoring.

“Haa……”

A sigh flowed out of Hayashi’s mouth without him even realizing it.

From last night to this morning, more than one of his teammates was worried about his unusual expression.

But who can confide in such a ridiculous story?

Nothing emphasizes machismo more than American culture.

If they knew that he was shrinking back like this just because he was bullied as a rookie, he would be the target of criticism and ridicule, not sympathy.

I have to overcome it. I have to overcome this moment alone somehow.

“Play!”

Yamamoto, who was at bat, looked at him with a bitter smile.

Just by looking at his eyes, I knew what he was thinking.

That look that clearly sees him as a pushover, or even worse, as a complete idiot.

What if I get a double play here?

Maybe I’ll get curse and threatening calls all night long.

Low-level threats like saying they’ll kill me if I come to Japan.

But I have to overcome it.

I used to do as I was told because I was afraid of those threats when I was playing in Japan, but I can’t do that anymore.

I’m a Big Leaguer. And a starting pitcher for a team that is challenging for the World Series title.

“Hap!”

Hayashi, who unknowingly shouted, fired the first pitch at Yamamoto.

Whoosh

Crack

“Strike!”

A 98-mile fastball that stuck close to the body.

Yamamoto’s lips curled into a sly smile as he let the first pitch go by.

In that moment, the trauma of the past came to mind and his heart sank.

‘No… Stay strong, Hayashi!’

Hayashi Rentaro, who sent himself encouragement in his heart, threw the second ball.

Whoosh

Crack

“Ball.”

The ball, which he threw to get a strike for a quick win, was called a ball.

The sly smile on Yamamoto’s lips deepened even more.

Seeing that smile reminded me of what happened when I was in my second year as a pro.

‘Hey, Hayashi. Take a look at this.’

‘Yes?’

Someone called Hayashi, who was preparing to start.

It was a guy named Motoshi who was doing Yamamoto’s bidding.

At that voice, Hayashi turned his head without thinking,

Thrust

‘Ugh!’

With a feeling that was so unpleasant and painful that it couldn’t be expressed in words, Hayashi had no choice but to sit down on the spot.

‘Oh, I guess it went in too well, it was just a joke, kekeke [onomatopoeia for laughter].’

‘Hayashi, you bastard. Get up. Don’t act like you’re in pain.’

The team’s captain giving the starting pitcher, who was about to start, a ddongchim [Korean prank involving a forceful poke in the butt] as a joke, and the gang giggling as they watched.

That’s exactly what Yamamoto’s smile looked like back then.

“Hoo……”

Hayashi, who forcibly blew away the memories of that time with a sigh, prepared the third ball.

Leaving aside the fact that he is a human piece of trash, batter Yamamoto Kenichi is a strong hitter who has hit 50 home runs in the Japanese league and is evaluated to be good enough to hit about 30 home runs even in the Big League.

One out, bases loaded, if I make a mistake here, I could be taken down.

Hayashi knows very well what kind of determination Seattle brought him in with.

The manager’s words to establish himself firmly as the team’s fourth starter came to mind.

‘I’ll definitely catch him!’

Hayashi, who unknowingly bit his lower lip tightly, powerfully threw a fastball towards the lowest outside course farthest from the batter.

But,

Thwack!

Yamamoto, who knows more about the pitcher Hayashi Rentaro than he knows himself, and who makes him shrink just by existing, properly hit that ball.

“No! Stop it!”

“Damn it! You fucking bastard!”

Sighs and groans poured out from where the Seattle visiting fans were gathered.

The batted ball that hit the right fence bounced irregularly and rolled out of the foul line.

Following the runner on third base, the runner on second base, and even the runner on first base, all three runners on the bases came home, and Yamamoto, who hit that batted ball, ran to third base with all his might.

Even if the runs we’ve already given up can’t be helped, we have to prevent the batter-runner from advancing to third base.

Chuck Clark gritted his teeth and threw the ball with all his might towards third base.

Whoosh

“Safe!”

But it was already too late.

Yamamoto, who hit a 3-RBI triple, screamed and rejoiced on the base.

“Ehehehe, Hayashi, you stupid bastard, you haven’t improved at all. Good, I gave up a triple, so I won’t bother you for a while and leave you alone.”

I heard a story I didn’t want to hear in a voice I didn’t want to hear.

Hayashi felt like plugging his ears.

But he couldn’t do that. He can’t show such an ugly sight in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

“Haaa……”

A deeper sigh,