Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 341

#340. Awakening

“Seriously, how can they do this? The season’s almost over, and they want us to travel all the way to LA for just three games.”

“Tell me about it. Yerin, I’m telling you again, you really don’t have to come. You’re busy preparing for your comeback, aren’t you?”

“No, *Oppa* [an affectionate Korean term for older brother or male friend], it’s obvious you’ve been losing stamina lately. If I let you go alone, you’ll just eat a sandwich and call it a day. I have to go with you.”

“I’m fine, really. Three games are no problem.”

“Nope! Enough of that. I’ll take care of the food, so you just focus on the games. It’s almost over, right? Let’s keep fighting until the end!”

Thanks to Leonard’s unexpected home run, we swept Cleveland, Oakland, Kansas City, Houston, and Detroit, extending our winning streak to 16.

Now, all that’s left is a three-game road series against the LA Angels, followed by a three-game series against Tampa Bay and a three-game series against Texas at home.

The long, arduous journey of 162 games is finally coming to an end.

The road series against the Angels, scheduled for the very end, is a bit of a concern, but,

what can you do? It’s not like this kind of brutal schedule is new to us.

I can only take solace in the fact that they’ve allocated a separate travel day.

“Okay, then I’ll go home and pack the last of my things. See you in LA, *Oppa*.”

“Yerin.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“Hehe, you’re welcome.”

Jacob and Min Yerin are the two people who played a crucial role in me completing this season without any major injuries or stamina issues.

Jacob, as my personal trainer, creates the perfect management program every day, while Min Yerin receives that program and fills in my shortcomings.

To be honest, I’m not really that interested in food.

Especially after coming to the States, the joy of eating delicious food has disappeared, and sometimes I don’t even feel like putting something in my mouth and chewing it.

For me, Min Yerin collaborates with the team to create a special diet, and when she has the time, she comes along and takes full responsibility for my meals.

Honestly, sometimes I think.

What am I,

why does she do so much for me?

“Okay, I’m really leaving now!”

“Okay, see you in LA.”

In my previous life, and in this life, I have lived and continue to live by owing a debt to many people.

Will the day ever come when I can repay all these debts?

* * *

“Hmm, should I just freeze some rice this time? No, even frozen rice can’t beat freshly cooked rice. Okay, I’ll bring the rice cooker and rice as usual.”

Min Yerin’s house,

Min Yerin, who has an infinitely looping theme song specially composed for only Han Su-hyeok, is packing her bags for the trip to LA.

It’s not just her, but everyone in the world knows that Han Su-hyeok is a picky eater.

This is a significant weakness for a professional athlete who needs to maintain a consistent physical condition throughout the year.

When playing home games, the team provides special care for Han Su-hyeok, but away games are the problem.

Before games, when other players lightly fill their stomachs with things like flakes or bananas, Han Su-hyeok mechanically drinks cabbage juice or a protein shake.

After an intense game, when other players devour huge amounts of food to replenish lost calories, Han Su-hyeok doesn’t even try to touch anything other than his designated diet.

Knowing that Han Su-hyeok has little interest in eating, Min Yerin researches recipes every day to help him enjoy his meals, stays by his side, and makes sure he doesn’t skip meals.

“Should I buy meat in LA? Should I go to the grocery store right after getting off the plane?”

She continued to talk to herself as she packed her bags, finally succeeding in finishing everything.

After checking again to make sure nothing was missing, she immediately lay down on the bed and muttered to the air.

“Good night, *Oppa*.”

* * *

Suddenly,

Inside the private jet heading to LA, I fell asleep and even had a dream.

To be exact, it’s a dream I haven’t had in a while.

The woman who had a big impact on my life before regression,

The woman I had given up looking for and decided to just forget appeared in my dream for some reason.

With her back turned, she buried her face between her knees,

and was crying so sadly,

so sadly that it made me tear up just watching her.

I don’t know.

I know what she used to feel about me, but unfortunately, then or now, I have no romantic feelings for her at all.

I just want to thank her as a person for being the only light in my barren and lonely life.

But after realizing that I couldn’t find her no matter how hard I tried, I’ve been working hard to forget her from my mind.

But why,

why did she reappear in my dream at this point?

At this point, when I’m leaving for Orange County, where her house is located.

“Hmm? Han, what’s wrong? Is there a problem? You don’t look good.”

“No, it’s nothing. Something just came to mind.”

“Came to mind? What? Did you remember Derek’s 0-for-10 at-bat hitless streak?”

“Damn it, Adam. You don’t have to rub salt in the wound like that.”

“No, it’s okay to do that to you. Tai isn’t here, and you’re digging a hole too, so Han isn’t getting any good pitches. Do better, Derek.”

“Haa, yes, I’m planning to. Han, just you wait. I’ll show you what an on-base king is today.”

Inside the private jet heading to LA, Derek clenched his fist and burned with fighting spirit at Adam Murphy’s joke.

If another player had said this, a fight would have broken out, but it was Adam who had played in the big leagues for over 20 years.

If Tai had been there, he would have said what Adam said instead.

Anyway, we only have 9 games left,

and I need 2 more home runs.

I don’t know.

I want to set the record for the most home runs in a single season while leading Seattle to their first World Series appearance this year,

but I know better than anyone in the world that things don’t always go as planned.

“I need to get some sleep. Derek, stop talking and go back to your seat so I can get some rest.”

The noisy Seattle private jet became quiet in an instant.

There wasn’t much time left until we arrived in LA.

I fell asleep again, hoping she wouldn’t appear in my dreams.

* * *

“*Oppa*, the lunch box for before the game is ready. Should I bring it in?”

– No, I’ll go out to get some fresh air and pick it up. Let’s meet near the gate for staff. Be careful, there are a lot of cars trying to park around here.

“Okay. I’ll be waiting, so come out slowly.”

Min Yerin, who was holding the lunch box containing the essential nutrients that Han Su-hyeok needed to eat before today’s game, was happily walking towards her meeting place with him.

It was still quite a while before the game, but the parking lots around the stadium were already filling up.

Soon, the area around the stadium would be filled with cars driven by fans.

Fans of the LA Angels from nearby, Seattle fans who came for the away game, and casual fans who gathered to see Han Su-hyeok’s chase for a new home run record.

“He has to hit a home run today…….”

At this moment, Min Yerin only wanted one thing: Han Su-hyeok’s new home run record.

The reason was simple.

She wanted Han Su-hyeok to get rid of the heavy burden of the new record as soon as possible and play baseball with a lighter heart.

Other than that, nothing else mattered.

As long as Han Su-hyeok was happy, nothing else mattered.

“Is that the right way?”

“Yes, Yerin. That’s right.”

Min Yerin, nodding at the manager’s answer, quickened her pace towards the gate where the visiting team entered.

In the distance, Han Su-hyeok in his training uniform caught her eye.

She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she instinctively knew that it was Han Su-hyeok.

“*Oppa*!”

She called out Han Su-hyeok’s name loudly without realizing it.

As if he heard her voice, Han Su-hyeok turned in this direction and strode out.

A big smile appeared on Min Yerin’s face.

But then,

Screech!

“Ahhh!”

“Oh! What! Yerin!”

She screamed and collapsed on the spot.

The surprised manager turned his gaze towards where she was looking.

Fortunately, it was nothing serious.

A car speeding in the crowded parking lot had spotted a child and braked suddenly, and Han Su-hyeok, who was next to him, had lifted the child up.

But Min Yerin’s reaction was too strange.

She was looking at Han Su-hyeok with an expression as if she had seen a ghost, or as if the world had collapsed before her eyes.

“Yerin, Yerin? Yerin! What’s wrong? Hey, get a grip. What’s wrong? Huh? Are you not feeling well? Should we go to the hospital?”

The panicked manager hovered around her, not knowing what to do, and Han Su-hyeok, who belatedly realized her situation, ran towards her with all his might.

But Min Yerin was still just staring at Han Su-hyeok with a pale face.

“Yerin! Manager, what’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know. She suddenly screamed and collapsed… Nothing happened… Yerin! Yerin!”

“This won’t do. Manager, take her to the hospital first. I think that would be better.”

“Yes? Ah, yes, that’s right. The hospital. I understand. That would be better. Yerin, take my hand. Let’s get up first, huh?”

Min Yerin, who was staring blankly at the manager’s outstretched hand, finally opened her mouth after a long time.

“…No, it’s nothing. What hospital? I’m fine.”

“Hey, what do you mean you’re fine? Your face is completely pale. It’s the same as when you fainted and collapsed. Let’s go to the hospital first.”

“No, I was just a little dizzy. I think it’s because I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m fine now.”

“Really? No, why did you scream when you were sleep-deprived… Hmm, your complexion seems to have returned a bit. Are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Su-hyeok *Oppa*, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“You don’t look fine at all. I’m telling you to go to the hospital first.”

“No, I’ve always had a bit of anemia. I’m fine. If I go to the hospital every time with this, I won’t be able to live my daily life. But just in case, I’ll go to the doctor when I get back to Seattle. Is that okay?”

“Hmm, I’m worried, so let’s do this. Let’s go into the stadium first, but if anything happens, we’ll go to the hospital right away. Manager, please keep an eye on her.”

“Of course, Han Su-hyeok, trust me. Good luck with today’s game.”

“Thank you. Yerin, then I’m going in.”

“Yes, ah, *Oppa*, you have to take this, the lunch box.”

“Oh, right. That’s what I came to get. Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“You’re welcome. Go in and I’ll see you after the game.”

“Okay.”

Han Su-hyeok, who received the lunch box from Min Yerin, kept looking back as he entered the stadium.

Min Yerin, who was standing there, staring blankly at his back,

A drop of tears fell from her eyes for an unknown reason.

‘This is strange. Whose memory is this……?’