On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 170

“It’s crowded even at this hour.”

“It’s the summer sea. Of course.”

“It’s a shame. We don’t have summer vacation.”

“That’s true.”

Kim Inhwan sipped his coffee.

“How do you feel seeing the sea? Does it relieve your mood a bit?”

“There’s nothing to relieve. I just felt strange, like our team suddenly became a strong team.”

“Are you upset that they did well even without you?”

Song Seokhyun smiled and shrugged.

“Not upset… um… I just wondered if I could take it easy from now on.”

“Take it easy? Slack off?”

“Hey, it’s not like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Um…”

Song Seokhyun hesitated for a while.

“I used to think our team would struggle without me. So, I’ve been trying to work harder. But seeing our team doing well even without me, I wonder if I’ve been too greedy.”

“What are you talking about, really?”

“Even Ilhyeok senior does well as a catcher. Even if I’m not there, there’s you and Seonho senior. Especially Ilhyeok senior, the number of games is important to receive FA [Free Agency, allowing a player to sign with any team] this year, but there aren’t many games left… I just feel like I’m being too greedy.”

Kim Inhwan laughed loudly.

“You’re talking nonsense. What nonsense is that? Pros should always work hard and do well. That’s not how you show consideration. No matter how close you are, competition is competition. If you play like that, the team will fail, you idiot.”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course. If you don’t have the skills, you have to step down. When you get old, you’ll have to step down whether you like it or not. Unless you’re hiding an injury and forcing yourself to play, it’s good for the team if you do your best to hold on.”

“…Um.”

Kim Inhwan sighed deeply.

“Are you feeling sorry for Ilhyeok senior because you’ve become close to him?”

“It’s not exactly that, but honestly, I feel sorry if I think my presence is delaying his FA… The FA amount can change depending on a one-year difference. Ilhyeok senior works hard, has skills, and has a good team spirit. A person like Ilhyeok senior is definitely needed in the team.”

“I sometimes forget, but you’re still a kid. You’re so naive. It’s good to be kind, but pros should have a professional mindset, not just skills. Well, it’s still the age to be pure. You don’t know what it was like when our team was a mess. When we traded, brothers I was close to disappeared, and factions were divided and fought every time the manager changed. It was a team in name only, honestly, it was a mess.”

“I’ve heard rumors about the Gote, but it must have been severe.”

“Yeah. If you get too emotionally involved, you’ll get hurt. Being close is being close, and the team is the team. So, you go your own way. I know better because I used to be naive like you. If you give your heart too much, you’ll get hurt. Everyone needs a proper distance. Especially for pros like us.”

“I understand. Thank you for the advice, hyung [older brother or older male friend].”

“When I see you like this, you’re just twenty years old. You know less about the world than I do.”

The two finished their coffee and got up.

Before going into the dorm, they walked along the beach to feel the sea breeze, and in the distance, they saw a familiar figure.

Kim Inhwan was the first to spot it.

“Hey, over there.”

“Huh…?”

“Isn’t that them?”

“I think so.”

“We should avoid them.”

“I guess so.”

The two stopped their walk on the beach and returned to the dorm.

Kim Inhwan showered first and then rolled around in bed.

“Ah, I’m jealous.”

“Why are you jealous when you know?”

“I’m jealous. Even Seonho senior is having a lovey-dovey time. How can I not be jealous?”

“But who is that woman next to him? Is that the person Changhoon senior was going to introduce?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know… Phew.”

Kim Inhwan buried his face in the bed.

“Everyone’s dating, why am I the only one like this? Ah, don’t tell me you’re dating too?”

Kim Inhwan jumped up when Song Seokhyun stammered at the sharp question.

“Hey! You too?”

“Ah, no. I’m not.”

“No. You’re a beat late. What, you are. Right?”

“No, that’s…”

“Hey, hey, who is it? Tell me honestly. Who is it? Your friend from last time? Nayoung?”

Song Seokhyun’s eyes widened.

“How do you know that?”

“Is it her? Wow! Wow! Wow!”

Kim Inhwan picked up a pillow and repeatedly sat down and stood up.

“Wow, you’re the worst. You’re the worst guy.”

“Why… What did I do…”

“Forget it, forget it. Ugh, screw this world. Tell everyone to screw off. Ah, it’s annoying. Aaaaaaaaaaaaa, aaaaaaaaaa!”

“But hyung, you’re popular too. You get a lot of calls.”

“Forget it. I said forget it. I’m going to sleep. Turn off the lights.”

“…Okay.”

Song Seokhyun turned off the lights and lay down.

The vibration rang just as he was about to fall asleep.

“I’m jealous, I’m jealous. You even have someone to text in the early morning.”

“This is spam.”

“Forget it. Just do it. Who’s going to say anything about that?”

“It’s real.”

“Hmph, okay.”

Kim Inhwan grumbled for a while before falling asleep.

As night passed and the morning sun rose, Song Seokhyun tossed and turned.

He had to wake up and get ready before noon.

As Song Seokhyun picked up his phone to check the time, Kim Inhwan suddenly poked his face out.

“How do you meet decent women?”

“Ah! Hyung.”

“I…”

Kim Inhwan plopped down on the bed.

“I only get weird messages, and no decent woman contacts me.”

“Huh? Weird messages?”

“Hmph.”

Kim Inhwan shook his head.

“They keep asking me for materials.”

“What?”

“Some older women keep sending me strange messages. Some even sent me pictures of their bodies.”

“Ehh? What? Really?”

“Yeah. It’s driving me crazy. Why do only these kinds of women come to me!”

“Well, I don’t know. I’m not old enough to know. You should consult Jungryul senior…”

“Jungryul hyung will definitely make fun of me. How can I tell him?”

“I’m terrible at these kinds of problems too…”

It was then.

A giggling sound came from somewhere.

“Oh, Kim Inhwan. You’re truly the emperor of the night.”

The two turned their heads at the familiar voice.

“Ah, hello, senior.”

“Hyung… what is it?”

Kim Jungryul was at the door.

“Kim Inhwan. I told you to lock the door. You’re making sure to show that you had breakfast. Even if we’re the only ones on this floor, locking the door is basic, isn’t it?”

“Ah, ah…”

Kim Inhwan stammered.

“Our Inhwan is popular after all. The rumor that he’s the emperor of the night wasn’t just a rumor.”

“No, it’s not. I’m definitely not that kind of guy.”

“Well, our Inhwan has the Kangsoe [a figure known for his exceptional stamina] style that older women like. Broad shoulders, thick neck, thick thighs, good strength. Aww, older women will go crazy for that style. So, how explicit are the pictures?”

“Ah, hyung. It’s not like that.”

“He looks innocent, but he’s a pervert. Perverted demon Kim Inhwan. Have you been enjoying watching that stuff alone?”

“No… Hah! I just want to have a pure relationship, but they keep sending me strange pictures. I absolutely, positively didn’t do anything.”

“You’ve been playing pervertedly all this time. As they say, a quiet cat climbs the chimney first. Have you been having fun?”

“No, really.”

Kim Inhwan looked like he was about to cry, and only then did Kim Jungryul stop teasing him.

Song Seokhyun brought up another topic to comfort Kim Inhwan, who was sulking.

“Hyung, then you should make the first move. If there’s someone you like, you can send them a message first.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. You have recognition and popularity, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Why are you being so cautious?”

“Can I make the first move…?”

“Why not?”

“I tried it once, but I didn’t even get a response.”

“When was that?”

“Last year or the year before.”

“Your status is different now than it was then. You should try making a move. Do you think women will recognize you if you just whine like this? You have to make a bold move.”

“…What if I get rejected again? Then it’ll spread, that I got rejected again.”

“If you’re afraid of that, you shouldn’t make a move.”

“…Is there no woman who likes me?”

Kim Jungryul chuckled.

“Hey, a man should have the taste of actively pushing forward. How long are you going to keep picking and choosing like that? Ah, wait. Who did you make a move on?”

“Han Gayeon.”

“Han Gayeon?”

“Han Gayeon?”

Song Seokhyun and Kim Jungryul shook their heads at each other.

“You aimed for the Han Gayeon of all people? You crazy bastard.”

“Hyung, aren’t you dreaming too big?”

“She’s exactly my style. Petite and cute.”

“There must be over a hundred guys who got rejected after confessing to her. Tsk, your standards are too high.”

Kim Inhwan looked back and forth between Song Seokhyun and Kim Jungryul, then sighed deeply.

“Hmph, it’d be faster to go to the army and get married through a matchmaking service.”

“Don’t be so pathetic. Get ready and come out! Why are you suddenly talking about women, talking about women.”

* * *

The rumor spread faster than the wind.

Before the game even started, Kim Inhwan’s nickname ‘Emperor of the Night’ had spread so widely that there was no one around who didn’t know it.

He was the only one who didn’t know his own nickname.

The second game of the mid-week series against the Foxes was unexpectedly close.

Jung Jinoh had a quality start with 6 innings and 2 runs, but the Foxes’ ace Shin Gyuwon was also formidable.

He finished his role as an ace with 7 innings and 3 runs.

“3-2. Today’s game is very intense.”

“That’s right. Shin Gyuwon’s good pitching was expected, but I didn’t know Jung Jinoh would do this well.”

“Gote seems to be a typical team that’s succeeding this year. Who would have known that two starting pitchers, Jung Chunwoon and Jung Jinoh, would suddenly stand out in the first team like this?”

“Gote has been criticized a lot for lacking development compared to the state-of-the-art facilities in the second team, but this season is completely different. Song Seokhyun, Jung Chunwoon, and Jung Jinoh. Three rookies are playing a big role in the first team.”

“Kim Inhwan is at bat. He hasn’t gotten on base at all today. It seems like he’s in a slump today.”

The Foxes’ pitcher was Jeon Byeongseop.

He was a right-handed pitcher who threw fastballs and sliders.

The Foxes’ catcher Park Jinhwan called for a slider from the first pitch.

Whack!

-Strike!

“Kim Inhwan swings big but misses. Kim Inhwan’s swing is big today.”

“Is he being greedy? His swing is usually cool, but swinging recklessly like that isn’t a good idea.”

The second pitch was also a slider, a swing and a miss.

The catcher called for a slider for the third pitch as well.

Whack

-Ball. Outside.

Kim Inhwan’s bat came out and stopped.

The catcher licked his lips.

‘Slider.’

He called for a slider again, but it was a ball.

It was 2-2.

Kim Inhwan’s body flinched this time as well.

‘Slider.’

Another slider.

This time, the pitcher shook his head.

-Four-seam. Outside.

He wanted to show one outside pitch and then tie it up with a slider, so he called for a fastball.

The pitcher threw the ball, and the batter swung his bat.

The ball was a little outside the strike zone.

The ball hit the end of the bat and floated into the air.

“Right fielder! Right fielder! Right fielder! It’s going over! It’s gone! Home run! Kim Inhwan hits a solo home run to extend the lead!”

“I thought it was just going to be caught, but that kind of ball goes over the fence in Sajik [stadium name]. Amazing, Kim Inhwan. What tremendous power.”

“Was it the wind? The ball that looked like an easy fly ball went over the fence, and Gote adds another run to extend the lead. The score is 4-2, 4-2.”

As Kim Inhwan returned after hitting the home run, all the players stood up and applauded.

“As expected.”

“As expected.”

“As expected.”

‘As expected’ without adding any further words.

Kim Inhwan shouted with a reddened face.