Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 343

#342. This is Going to Be a Long Day

“Yerin, what are you looking at so intently?”

“Oh, I think this photo came out a bit weird. I wonder if this reporter is a Barry Bonds or Giants fan? Why would they take a picture like this?”

“Never mind that, come here.”

“Okay, let me put this down… Oh my.”

Yerin collapsed into my arms, her face flushed red.

“Let me see. How did the picture come out?”

“Look. They took it from such a strange angle.”

“Hmm… looks fine to me.”

[Season’s 73rd Home Run After Talking with His Girlfriend, Seattle Fans Say, ‘Min Yerin is a Goddess of Luck’]

[What Did Han Su-hyeok and Min Yerin Talk About Before His At-Bat? Korean Spectators Nearby Testify, ‘Han Su-hyeok Asked Min Yerin What Her Wish Was, and She Replied That She Wanted to See a Home Run. Han Su-hyeok Said He Would Hit One for Her.’]

The articles, all with similar headlines, featured stories and photos about the home run I hit yesterday.

A side view of Min Yerin and me talking with the safety net between us.

Seeing that, the strange feelings I had yesterday resurfaced.

Many things are still vague and shrouded in mystery, but

I decided not to care about any of that.

I will simply live for the precious person in my arms.

That was enough. No, I think it will be enough.

“By the way, Oppa [term of endearment used by a younger woman to an older man], are you really okay?”

“Of course. You heard at the hospital, right? There’s nothing wrong.”

“Yes, but…”

“Enough. Let’s just stay like this today and do nothing.”

“…Okay.”

Yerin, still in my arms, looked up at me, her face flushing again.

I took a day off today for the check-up.

The Mariners, missing both Ty Johnson and me, must be fighting with all their might to achieve their 18th consecutive win.

But I didn’t feel the need to turn on the TV or my smartphone to check the game results.

Rather,

I just wanted to spend a day of complete rest with the most precious person in my life, whom I realized after a long time,

Min Yerin.

“Yerin, is that really all you wish for? A home run? A championship? Just that?”

“Huh? Oh, yes! Of course. I really don’t want anything else.”

“Really? Hmm, I was thinking of granting you anything you wanted.”

“Ah…!”

“Hmm? Did you think of something?”

“No, not right now, but I feel like I might think of something…”

“Okay, tell me anytime you think of something. I’ll grant you anything I can.”

“Heh…”

Hugging each other, we stared out the window in silence for a long time.

Saint-Exupéry, one of the few writers whose name I know,

said this:

‘Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.’

What awaits us in the place where Yerin and I are looking together at this moment?

* * *

[Seattle Mariners Win Decisively Against the Angels in the Second Game of the Series Despite Han Su-hyeok’s Absence, Continuing Their 18-Game Winning Streak and Challenging the Cleveland’s Record of 22 Consecutive Wins in 2017]

[The Gap with the Yankees, Who Are Ranked First in the American League in Winning Percentage, Has Narrowed to 0.11… Who Will Get the Number One Seed in the Postseason?]

[Season Record of 106 Wins and 49 Losses, Winning Percentage of 0.684, An Unstoppable Run, What is the Secret to Seattle’s Success After Finishing 4th for Two Consecutive Seasons? The Joining of Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson, and the Perfect Harmony of Old and New]

[Seattle General Manager Daniel Mitchell: “Everyone Laughed at Me. When I Offered a Huge Long-Term Contract to a Batter in His Mid-Thirties and Bet Everything on Signing a Player Who Played in the Asian League, Some People Called Me Crazy. I Want to Ask Those People, What Were You Doing While I Was Working So Hard?”]

[Han Su-hyeok, Ty Johnson, Hayashi Rentaro, Mike Warren, and Other Solid Acquisitions, and the Perfect Harmony with Players Raised in Their Own Farm System, Seattle, Now All That Remains is the Historic Record That Han Su-hyeok Will Create, and Their First World Series Appearance.]

“Damn it, Ryu, was that guy like that in Korea too?”

“It was much worse back then. The KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] only has 10 teams, so if you blinked, you’d be playing against him again.”

“Holy shit… that sounds terrifying.”

“Okay, let’s just do our jobs. Even if we lose today, there are still 10 games left. Those hicks from Toronto aren’t doing so well these days either. Forget the last two games. Let’s just focus on today’s game. Right, Ryu?”

Despite the words of Raymond Perkins, the team’s center hitter and captain, Ryu Han-gyeol’s expression wasn’t very bright.

Ryu Han-gyeol, who was starting in the final game of the season against Seattle,

His gaze was fixed on the Seattle dugout far away.

On Han Su-hyeok, whom he had briefly met before the game.

Ryu Han-gyeol swallowed hard and said to Lee Chan-ho, who was standing next to him,

“Chan-ho, you saw that guy’s expression, right?”

“Yes, I did.”

“This is bad.”

“I agree.”

Han Su-hyeok, who had been struggling in recent games due to intense scrutiny,

He felt something was wrong during the game and even missed a game, but today he was preparing for the game with the most refreshed expression ever.

An expression that showed he was completely focused on baseball without even a hint of other thoughts.

Ryu Han-gyeol knew how scary Han Su-hyeok was when he had that look on his face.

He couldn’t not know. He had suffered countless times in Korea.

“Oh boy… there’s going to be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth around here today.”

Of course, the biggest emergency was for himself, the starting pitcher.

He was about to face Han Su-hyeok, who had shaken off his mental burdens and was in top condition.

* * *

“I won’t say that we have to continue our winning streak at all costs. We just need to do our best. The rest will just follow naturally.”

“…….”

“…You thought I’d say that, right? No, gentlemen. Listen up. The opportunity to be named the team with the most consecutive wins in Major League history is just around the corner. If we win just four more games, including today’s game, we can be named one of the strongest teams in history. How about it? Doesn’t it tempt you?”

“Yes! Of course, Manager!”

“Good, today we have our 5th starter, and the other team has their ace. It’s a bit unfortunate to say this to Dimon, but it’s true that we’re a bit behind in terms of pitching. So, we’re going to drag the game into a slugfest no matter what. To do that, what’s the most important thing?”

“The first run.”

“That’s right. Han will be the leadoff hitter today. If those cowardly bastards avoid Han again, we’ll bring him home no matter what. To do that, we’re going to be aggressive with our tactics if necessary. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, sir!”

While the Mariners and Angels players were determined to do their best for their own reasons, the final game of the season between the two teams began.

Manager Benjamin expressed his determination to continue the winning streak today by using Han Su-hyeok, who had returned after a good day’s rest, as the leadoff hitter.

Of course, Han Su-hyeok’s strong will was also reflected in that decision.

‘I want to hit as many home runs as possible. I don’t want them to avoid me recklessly. So, I want to be the leadoff hitter.’

When Han Su-hyeok, who had seemed mentally and physically exhausted for various reasons recently, said that with a completely recovered expression, the last bit of anxiety that remained deep in Manager Benjamin’s heart was completely resolved.

No matter what anyone said, Seattle was Han Su-hyeok’s team.

Manager Benjamin responded to Han Su-hyeok’s proactive attitude.

‘Everything will be as you wish. But if there’s anything uncomfortable, tell me anytime.’

As a result of this conversation,

The most powerful lineup that Seattle could field was formed: 1st Han Su-hyeok, 2nd Derek Fleming, 3rd Chuck Clark, 4th Antonio Garcia, and 5th Jim Brown.

And,

“Play!”

Seattle’s attack in the top of the first inning began.

“You’re quite the big leaguer now.”

“Hmm? You remember me?”

Luis Herrera, who started as the catcher today, was a second-year rookie who had been treated like a punk by Han Su-hyeok early in the season, causing them to get into a heated argument.

Back then, Luis really resented Han Su-hyeok a lot.

He thought that someone who wasn’t much different from him was acting recklessly just because he was good at baseball.

But he soon realized that he was wrong.

He wasn’t just ‘good’ at baseball.

He was baseball itself.

Luis’s father always told him this:

‘If someone at the top of their field says something, there must be some meaning in it.’

Of course, Han Su-hyeok was only half-joking when he said that back then.

Anyway, with the animosity between them gone, a heartwarming conversation took place between the two.

“I remember. You were a complete rookie back then. But you look like a catcher now.”

“Okay, I admit it. I think I was a bit hasty when I got angry back then.”

“Excellent attitude.”

“Then, shall we just play baseball like nothing happened?”

“That’s also an excellent attitude.”

Han Su-hyeok, who had completely sorted out his feelings for his ex-girlfriend and Min Yerin before his regression, felt like he was reborn.

He even thought that if he met someone like Desmond King, who was full of bad blood, he could smile and shake hands first.

Of course, if they actually met, they would exchange fists instead of handshakes.

Anyway,

After that heartwarming conversation, the first pitch thrown by Ryu Han-gyeol flew far away from the strike zone.

Paang

“Ball.”

“Hmm, should I be grateful that it’s not an intentional walk?”

“Sorry, you know we’re not far behind the Jays [Toronto Blue Jays]. In that situation, we can’t recklessly compete against you, the greatest hitter of all time.”

“Well, everyone has their own situation.”

Paang

“Base on balls.”

Han Su-hyeok, who clicked his tongue after four consecutive balls, walked to first base.

The fans in the outfield stands, who had gathered to catch Han Su-hyeok’s home run ball, booed like crazy, while the voices of Angels fans in the infield stands echoed everywhere, cheering for Ryu Han-gyeol.

But,

Han Su-hyeok, who stepped on first base, suddenly started taking a huge lead. He looked like he was about to run to second base right away.

Paang!

“Safe!”

Ryu Han-gyeol, flustered, threw pickoff throws repeatedly, but Han Su-hyeok’s quick return to the base was barely called safe.

As that situation was repeated several times, the voices cursing or cheering for Ryu Han-gyeol grew louder.

It was only the top of the first inning, but the atmosphere at Angel Stadium was already on the verge of exploding.

Ryu Han-gyeol on the mound, Lee Chan-ho, who was watching the ground with a nervous expression from the center field position, and the rest of the Angels players,

They all realized.

That today’s game would not go their way.

And,

Ttaaak!

The moment Ryu Han-gyeol threw the first pitch, Han Su-hyeok started running,

In that moment when the flustered Angels infielders flinched, Derek Fleming’s hit flew like an arrow past the first base and into the outfield.

The moment the ball left the infield, Han Su-hyeok, who had already arrived at second base, turned around second base without hesitation and sprinted towards third base, and finally towards home.

The second baseman, who received the ball from the outfield, turned his head towards home, but Han Su-hyeok’s foot had already stepped on home plate.

1 to 0 in an instant.

Ryu Han-gyeol, who realized that something had gone wrong from the start, wiped the sweat flowing from his forehead and muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Shit, this is going to be a long day.”