On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 130

“You’re doing well. What’s been frustrating you so much?”

“……I don’t think I have the talent for it.”

“You? Are you trying to mess with me? If I had your power, I would’ve bought a building in Gangnam [a wealthy district in Seoul] with my FA [Free Agent] money.”

“Weren’t you a star since your debut, Sunbae [senior colleague]? I haven’t even earned my keep for more than a few months.”

“It starts now. How old are you to be saying things like that?”

“Because there are guys who do well from the start. When I see him, I wonder what I’m even doing…….”

“Seok-hyun?”

“Yes.”

“Are you that jealous of him?”

“I’d be lying if I said no.”

“I’m jealous too.”

“You are, Sunbae?”

Yu Seon-ho sipped his coffee.

“There are guys who are born with it. Guys who do well no matter what they do. Smart, good physique, and great sense. Usually, these guys go down a different path, you know? Seok-hyun doesn’t know things like that. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t go to clubs. Just trains, studies, and sleeps well. Sigh. He doesn’t know it, but he’s a genius, a genius.”

“Seok-hyun doesn’t seem to know that. He doesn’t even acknowledge it.”

“Do you know why he’s like that?”

“Why?”

“Because his eyes are set way up there.”

“Up there? Is there someone better than Seok-hyun?”

“Who else could it be, you idiot? You know. The guy who carried the team to victory all by himself.”

“Ah…….”

“Since his standards are set there, how could he think he’s doing well?”

Yu Seon-ho finished his coffee and crumpled the paper cup into the trash.

“Everyone has their regrets. But what can we do? We just do what we can with what we have, right? Instead of envying others, just think about what more you can do. You’re just having other thoughts because you’re idle.”

“Thank you for the advice, Sunbae.”

“I usually manage my training volume to conserve stamina during the season, but these days, my pitches aren’t going where I want them to, so I come out and train. When I’m thinking about what I lack and how to fill it, I don’t have time for other thoughts.”

“Yes. I’ll work hard like you, Sunbae.”

“Whether you do as I do or not is up to you.”

Kim In-hwan smiled.

Before they parted ways, Kim In-hwan suddenly bowed to Yu Seon-ho.

“I’m really glad you came to our team, Sunbae. Thank you so much, Sunbae.”

“Why are you being so cheesy?”

Yu Seon-ho chided, but his lips twitched upward.

On the way home,

Yu Seon-ho whistled with his hands behind his back.

The whistling was high and sharp.

* * *

The next day.

The final game of the weekend series against the Pegasus.

The star of the day wasn’t Kim In-hwan or Song Seok-hyun.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

“Yu Seon-ho! He gets a hit in every at-bat today!”

“Everything but a triple. Just a triple away from a cycle…… but considering Yu Seon-ho’s legs, that might be difficult, right?”

“Even if a cycle is difficult, the Goat’s victory is right around the corner. Yu Seon-ho alone has brought in 5 RBIs [Runs Batted In], and in the top of the 7th, the Goat is leading 8-4. The Goat’s bullpen is busy. All hands on deck again today?”

“Tomorrow’s a day off, isn’t it? No need to save the bullpen.”

“If the Pegasus lose today, they’ll be swept. Won’t that jeopardize their current ranking?”

“They were two games ahead of the Scorpion, but if they lose today, it’ll shrink to one game. And it’ll shrink to three games behind the Wolves.”

“Considering the Pegasus’s recent momentum, this sweep is a bit unexpected.”

“Well, I don’t think it’s that unexpected. The Goat may have been in a slump, but the return of Song Seok-hyun, Yu Seon-ho, and Lee Ji-sung is like a cavalry charge. Whether by choice or necessity, the Goat has been conserving their strength by saving the bullpen. Looking at the starting lineup, the Goat has their 5th starter, 1st, and 2nd starters, while the Pegasus has their 3rd, 4th, and 5th starters. Of course, the Pegasus’s 3rd and 4th starters would be 1st and 2nd starters on other teams, but the Goat wasn’t pushed back in the starting lineup. If the starters are similar, then the Goat’s performance, with a reinforced lineup and a well-rested bullpen, was already expected.”

“I see. Although today’s game isn’t over yet, who would you say is the biggest contributor to this series? Still Song Seok-hyun?”

“The KS duo [Kim and Song], maybe? Song Seok-hyun is the main key, but Kim In-hwan has also been doing really well this time. When Song Seok-hyun wasn’t around, he struggled alone, but with Song Seok-hyun behind him, he’s become a different hitter. Opposing pitchers can’t avoid Kim In-hwan. If they go head-to-head with Kim In-hwan…… what pitcher’s ball can withstand Kim In-hwan’s power?”

“Yu Seon-ho is also coming back to life in today’s game.”

“That’s right. It still seems difficult for him to attack top-tier pitchers, but looking at his physical condition, he seems to be improving to some extent. If Yu Seon-ho can show his class, the Goat’s cleanup hitters can be considered the best in the league.”

Yu Seon-ho hit a single, two doubles, and a home run in the game.

He didn’t complete the cycle, but it was enough to become the game’s MVP [Most Valuable Player].

Yu Seon-ho teared up during the MVP interview, which he hadn’t done in a long time.

“I felt bad that I couldn’t properly thank the Scorpion fans who supported me so much when I left, but I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them once again. I’m wearing a different team’s uniform now, but thank you so much for supporting me.”

“The next game is against the Scorpion. Do you have any special resolutions?”

“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t. I’ll do my best. I want to show that Yu Seon-ho hasn’t rusted yet. Please watch.”

Yu Seon-ho looked straight at the camera and said,

“I’ll do my best.”

* * *

Yu Seon-ho’s declaration of war was enough for a news story.

Yu Seon-ho’s face was plastered all over the sports newspapers on Monday.

Monday afternoon, with baseball fans arguing back and forth.

Yu Seon-ho was sitting side by side with Lee Ji-sung in the hotel sauna, sweating it out.

“You’re not making plans for today?”

“Taking a good rest on Monday is the best. It’s not good to meet my son and drink.”

“Still, it’s been a while since you’ve been to Daegu [a city in South Korea]…… I’m sure there are a lot of people who want to see you, Sunbae.”

“Not now. I can meet them when things calm down a bit.”

Yu Seon-ho flipped the hourglass.

“You said you’re coming for your son’s sake, right?”

“Yes. It’s almost time for our appointment.”

“Sweating it out and then eating duck and sleeping on the bus will be perfect.”

“What about dinner?”

“I’ll just eat something at the hotel and go to bed early.”

“You’re not going out at all?”

“If I go out, there will be reporters and people lying in wait. It’ll just be a mess. If I made a declaration of war, I have to be careful.”

The two finished their sauna and came out with a banana milk each.

Song Seok-hyun and Kim In-hwan were waiting outside.

“Did you wait long?”

“No. We just got here a little while ago.”

“Okay. Let’s go. I know a place that makes amazing duck. Duck is better than samgyetang [Korean ginseng chicken soup] in the summer.”

As the four were about to leave the hotel, they stopped when they spotted someone.

A man with sunglasses, but a familiar face.

It was Kim Jung-ryul.

Next to Kim Jung-ryul was a stunning beauty with an eight-head figure [ideal body proportion], also wearing sunglasses.

“But is that…… Peng Hye-ri?”

Yu Seon-ho tilted his head.

Rising to Prominence as a Catcher

Happening

At Yu Seon-ho’s words, the other three hesitated.

Who here wouldn’t know Peng Hye-ri?

Even with sunglasses, it wasn’t Peng Hye-ri’s face or body.

It would be a topic of gossip anywhere, but this was a hotel.

As everyone was hesitating, Kim Jung-ryul was crossing the hotel lobby towards the main entrance.

The four hid behind a pillar without a word.

“What should we do?”

At Song Seok-hyun’s question, Yu Seon-ho just licked his dry lips.

“Let’s wait a bit.”

Just then, Song Seok-hyun’s phone rang.

Startled by the loud ringtone, Song Seok-hyun quickly turned off his phone.

The caller was Kim Jung-ryul.

Song Seok-hyun looked back and forth between Yu Seon-ho and Kim In-hwan.

“Just answer it,”

At Kim In-hwan’s suggestion, Song Seok-hyun answered the phone.

“Hello.”

“Um…… just a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Wait a moment.”

“Yes, yes.”

As Song Seok-hyun held the phone and held his breath, someone suddenly peeked out from behind the pillar.

“What? What are you doing here?”

Kim Jung-ryul was looking at the four with his phone in hand.

* * *

“Hey, that ringtone is only used by you. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize it.”

Kim Jung-ryul laughed and poked Song Seok-hyun’s stomach.

“Ugh, what were you thinking?”

“No, I…… I didn’t know she was your cousin.”

“You could have just asked instead of being so sneaky. Were you thinking something strange too, Hyung [older brother/male friend]?”

“If a man and woman are walking around in a hotel, you can see it that way.”

“Geez. What are you all doing here, all four of you?”

“We were going to eat, then take the bus. Do you want to come with us?”

“I already ate, I have plans with her today.”

“Really? Then there’s nothing we can do.”

“Just a moment. Hey, Hong Ye-ra. Come here.”

Kim Jung-ryul called out to the woman standing in the lobby.

The woman came over to where the four were when Kim Jung-ryul gestured.

“Introduce yourself here. You all know each other, right?”

The woman took off her sunglasses.

At the same time, all four men gasped.

She was a rare beauty.

“Hello.”

“You’re a fan of Seok-hyun, right? This is the time to see him in person.”

“Nice to meet you, Song Seok-hyun.”

“Hey, hey, ‘Seon-soo’ [player]? Just call him Seok-hyun. You’re old enough to be his aunt.”

“Oppa [older brother/male friend, from a female perspective].”

The woman glared, and Kim Jung-ryul frowned.

“What, what.”

“I need to get an autograph, but I don’t have any paper right now. Can we take a picture together?”

“Yes, sure.”

“Then shall we take a picture? I’m a huge fan of our Song Seok-hyun.”

Kim Jung-ryul pointed to the woman.

“She’s never watched baseball until recently because of him. Geez, she wasn’t interested when I was throwing like crazy.”

The woman ignored Kim Jung-ryul’s words and took out her phone to take pictures with Song Seok-hyun.

One shot, two shots, three shots.

Yu Seon-ho, Lee Ji-sung, and Kim In-hwan, who had been reduced to extras, couldn’t hide their envy and glanced at the woman.

After taking all the pictures, the woman held out her hand.

“I’ve been watching your games really well lately. I’ll continue to support you.”

Song Seok-hyun took the woman’s hand.

“Yes, thank you.”

“You’re so young. How can you be so good at such a young age?”

Kim Jung-ryul said, looking at the woman.

“Let’s go, now. I don’t have much time either.”

“Okay. I’m going. Then it was nice meeting you today. See you next time.”

“Then see you all on the bus later. Bye-bye.”

Kim Jung-ryul left with his cousin.

Yu Seon-ho put his hands behind his back and looked wistfully at the departing woman.

“Is she from Jung-ryul’s mother’s side? Her face is very different.”

“Right? She was so beautiful.”

“She’s so different from Jung-ryul Hyung…….”

Song Seok-hyun shook his hand and looked at Yu Seon-ho.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I have to. Okay, let’s go.”

Throughout the meal, the topic of conversation was Kim Jung-ryul and his cousin.

From whether faces could be so different even if they were from the mother’s side, to expressing betrayal over why he hadn’t mentioned such a beauty until now.

They were ready to grab Kim Jung-ryul and interrogate him right away, but Yu Seon-ho, Lee Ji-sung, and Kim In-hwan didn’t have the chance.

The away buses had to take different buses.

“Did you eat something delicious?”

Kim Jung-ryul sat next to Song Seok-hyun on the same bus.

“Yes, I ate duck. It was delicious.”

“Duck. Duck is good.”

“Everyone has a lot of complaints about you, Sunbae, for hiding such a beauty.”

“What am I hiding? She’s just my cousin.”

“Everyone’s saying your faces are too different…….”

“Who? Seon-ho Hyung?”

Song Seok-hyun chuckled.

“But did your appointment go well?”

“Ah, that? Well…… I think it went well.”

Kim Jung-ryul hesitated and suddenly changed the subject.

“Now that I think about it, I feel really sorry to you.”