Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 104

※ 104. Confirmed

Wonha Challengers, Sangsoo Tigers, Sungwoon Hawks, Dongsung Hornets.

The top four teams of the 2019 season were decided.

Our team, having finished the preliminary stage in first place, now had to prove we deserved that number one spot in the main stage.

Unfortunately, the Wonha Challengers couldn’t do this alone; we needed an opponent.

Who would it be?

Dongsung, who had lost some steam mid-season but were still a strong team?

Sungwoon, who had rapidly risen from mid-season and were about to step onto the semi-playoff stage for the second consecutive year?

Sangsoo, who were only in second place but felt more intimidating than most first-place teams?

“Interesting.”

A smile formed on my face as I looked at the completed standings. Amusingly, all three teams had deep connections with me or the Wonha Challengers.

No matter which team we faced, the road to the championship wouldn’t be easy. At the same time, fighting any of them would guarantee a lot of fun.

– Having fun?

“Yeah, I am. Aren’t you?”

– Ah, my head hurts.

I burst out laughing at Woosuk’s voice over the phone.

“Still, it’s lucky we start the semi-playoffs at home.”

– It’s Dongsung, though. They’re pretty strong.

“If not Dongsung, then Sangsoo, or us?”

– Ugh, this sucks.

Strong team, strong team, strong team.

The unnecessarily rhythmic repetition seemed to be a considerable burden for Woosuk.

“Do you think you can manage?”

– I don’t know. We’ll have to see… Ugh…….

“Come on up [to Seoul]. Beat Hyun-jin a bit.”

– Beat him? I talked to Hyun-jin the other day, you know.

“When?”

– When Dongsung erased their magic number [the number of wins needed to secure a playoff spot].

“Ah, yeah.”

– Do you know what that bastard said?

‘I will strive to show everything I learned from Kim Hanwool, Senior, to Choi Woosuk, Senior.’

– He said that shit! That son of a bitch!

“Hahaha, hahahaha!!”

Hyun-jin’s stiff tone and voice automatically played in my head.

– Then do you know what else he said after that?

“What, uh, what else did he, did he say….”

‘If we make it to the Korean Series [the championship series of the KBO League], I will strive to have Kim Hanwool, Senior, examine everything I learned.’

– He said that shit!!

“Haa, heh, heh, hahahaha!!”

At 3 PM, the captain of the team that finished the regular season in first place was clutching his stomach and laughing as loud as he could.

Finishing the first stage of the season made me feel incredibly relaxed. The one sweating bullets right now wasn’t me, but Woosuk, who would start the semi-playoffs in a week.

Teasing Woosuk was a lot of fun. Moreover, the pitcher they would face first was the national team’s first-string ace.

“Ugh….”

I caught my breath, which was about to drift away, and pulled myself together.

“Hoo… so. What’s your prediction for how far you’ll go?”

– What kind of prediction is there? We have to go all the way.

“The Korean Series?”

– What are you talking about? Winning the Korean Series is the end goal.

“Bullshit.”

– You wanna die, really?

“We’re going to win, so too bad for youuuu, Woosuk-ssi, too bad for youuuu.”

– ….

Ah, this is fun.

– …So. How’s it going with your girlfriend?

“Yeah. It’s going well.”

– Lucky you?

“Lucky as hell.”

Hehe.

The thought of Minyoung running towards me, shouting, “Hanwool-ssi!” made me smile contentedly.

– What’s so good about this bastard that women are all over him, seriously?

“Hey, this *hyung* [older brother/male friend] is just that kind of charming guy.”

– Are you really a crazy bastard?

“If you’re jealous… you know what to do?”

– You son of a bitch.

“What about you? How are things with Hyun-jung-ssi?”

– Just… just so-so.

“Why? I heard you were having dinner together recently.”

– I don’t know, ah…….

I wondered if he got dumped, so I didn’t bother bringing it up.

– Just wash your neck and wait [a Korean idiom meaning ‘prepare for revenge’]. I’ll be there soon.”

“Alright. Call me when you come up to Seoul. Let’s see each other for the first time in a while. With Myung-gyu too.”

– Tell Gyujin-hyung too.

“Okay, take care.”

– You too.

Click―

A peaceful afternoon for the first time in a while.

Even after hanging up, a contented smile remained on my face. I lay on the bed and fiddled with my phone.

“Wow… seriously.”

With nothing else to do, I accessed the page I had bookmarked to relive the excitement I once felt.

* * *

[Official] Final Roster for ‘Premier12’ National Baseball Team Announced

The final roster for the Korean national baseball team participating in the Premier12 tournament has been revealed.

Kim Seok-ju, the manager of Sangsoo Tigers, who will be returning as the manager for this tournament, announced the 28-player roster representing South Korea at a press conference on October 2nd.

The team consists of 13 pitchers, 2 catchers, 7 infielders, and 6 outfielders.

The pitching lineup includes national-level aces like Lee Hyun-jin (Dongsung) and Hwang Hyuk-joon (Wonha), as well as first-timers like Kim Hanwool (Wonha), Lee Song-in (Sungwoon), and Im Jae-hyuk (KP).

The catching lineup features two young catchers, Shin Heon-cheol (Sangsoo) and Moon Gyu-hak (Wonha). Moon Gyu-hak, in particular, will be wearing the Taegeuk mark [the symbol of the South Korean national team] for the first time.

The batting order is led by Park Hae-jin (Sangsoo), Kang Seong-hyun (Wonha), and Choi Woosuk (Sungwoon), giving the overall impression of a refreshed player base. How they fill the void left by Hong Seok-jin (Sangsoo), who is expected to retire, is a key point.

The Premier12, featuring 12 baseball-loving countries, is scheduled to begin on November 2nd.

…Omitted.

South Korea, along with Cuba, Canada, and Australia, is in Group C and will play its group stage matches at the Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome from November 6th to 8th.

…Omitted.

Attention is focused on whether South Korea, which won the inaugural Premier12 tournament four years ago, can once again reach the top.

* * *

Double celebration.

“Congratulations!”

“Aigo… it’s all thanks to Minyoung-ssi’s support. Really.”

“Wow… it feels like a dream.”

Not long after finishing the regular season in first place, I heard another piece of good news.

Selection for the national team.

I had survived within the number that had dropped to less than half from the initial list of about 60 people.

“But it’s a bit… unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought Minyoung-ssi wouldn’t like me going to the national team.”

No fan likes their favorite team’s key player suffering in areas outside the team. Especially if that suffering is for a game that doesn’t help the team at all.

The practice games of the camp, the exhibition games before the season starts, the All-Star game, which is an event in itself.

Even national team games, which, unlike the others, can be labeled with a separate name of national prestige.

“But the national team is different.”

Ahem!

I focused on Minyoung-ssi’s story as she shook her head with that expression.

“Of course… if Hanwool-ssi gets injured in that tournament, or if it’s too much and it affects the next season, I’ll be very sad.”

“Hmm….”

That’s not entirely untrue. Rather, it’s a story you can see quite often.

“But this time, something… feels different.”

“Huh?”

The right arm that was moving salad to her mouth stopped in mid-air.

“Um… how should I put it? When your favorite player is a nobody, you don’t even think about the national team.”

Nobody…….

“But when that player suddenly grows, and gets good results, and even gets to the national team… doesn’t it feel overwhelming?”

“I think I understand….”

“The person involved probably doesn’t know.”

In fact, there is the most debate about me among the national team members this time.

A bullpen pitcher who recorded a 4 ERA [Earned Run Average] in a low-hitting league, is that even possible? Since improving, he’s only allowed 0.87 in 31 innings, and so on.

Certainly, even I thought my pace in the second half was amazing.

“And….”

The head that had been lost in thought found its original angle at the shy voice.

“Since my boyfriend is a national team player… it feels really amazing.”

“…….”

Crazy.

My heart ached as I watched her hide her blushing cheeks to the side.

And… what?

“Excuse me… Minyoung-ssi.”

“Yes, yes?”

“What did you… say just now?”

“Um… it feels really amazing….”

“No, before that.”

“National team…?”

“Before that.”

“…Boyfriend….”

“…….”

“…….”

Sniff.

I suppressed the emotions that were about to overflow like a dam collapsing. I didn’t want to show my girlfriend an ugly side.

I tried my best to maintain a gentle appearance. I tried to control my emotions as much as possible to look like a cool boyfriend.

“So what are you going to do from now on?”

“Rest a bit… then go train again before the Korean Series, and then the Korean Series… Ah, it’s tough, now that I think about it.”

Practically, the Premier12 tournament starts soon after the Korean Series ends.

Really… it’s lucky it’s being held in our country. If I had to go abroad or something, I might have lost my mind.

“Cheer up, Hanwool-ssi. You’ll do well.”

“…….”

Minyoung-ssi came next to me and took my hand as I was muttering to myself. And then she said something like this.

Squeeze―

“Ha, Hanwool-ssi….”

“Ah.”

Without realizing it, I had put strength into my grip to endure something.

About a month since we started dating.

We haven’t been able to meet often because of the schedule, but the frequency itself was similar to before anyway.

And the problem in question had been sufficiently discussed with Minyoung-ssi in advance.

So that’s why,

“Hanwool-ssi, that!”

“Ah, yes!”

Minyoung-ssi’s touch, pulling my hand, was full of affection, as much as I don’t usually see.

How long has it been since we ate? I matched Minyoung-ssi’s pace as she cheerfully ran to the skewer stand.

“Um… what would you like, Hanwool-ssi?”

“I’ll….”

I stood close to Minyoung-ssi and looked at the menu once. I chose the medium flavor out of the five levels of spiciness.

“One salt-grilled and one spicy, please!”

Sizzle―

The two skewers that went up on the grill made a rather dangerous sound effect, but the couple didn’t even glance at it.

They were looking at each other’s eyes and smiling brightly.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you~.”

Spicy flavor in my left hand. Salt-grilled in Minyoung-ssi’s right hand. Each other’s hands in the hands that weren’t holding the skewers.

When I took a bite of the tender chicken thigh meat and chewed, the savory and moderately spicy taste stimulated my appetite.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had chicken skewers.”

“Um….”

Minyoung-ssi was staring blankly at the sight of me blowing on it, saying, “Hoo, hooo,” because it was hot.

A look that wanted something.

“…Would you like to try some?”

“Um… is it okay?”

“I’m okay. Would Minyoung-ssi be okay?”

“Umm….”

Minyoung-ssi can’t eat spicy food at all, but at the same time, she was also a Korean with determination.

If you’re Korean, you have to eat spicy food.

Minyoung-ssi brought her mouth to the stinging taste that she was drawn to like fate.

“How is it?”

“Um… I don’t think it’s that spicy….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…Minyoung-ssi?”

Not a pause, just a stop.

Minyoung-ssi’s movements stopped as the pain that struck from behind one beat later.

“Hee!”

Like a college student quickly processing overdue assignments, Minyoung-ssi executed the processing of the senses that had a temporary gap in a cramming session.

The result was,

“Ugh, ugh!”

This shape.

“See, I told you it was spicy.”

“Hee, spi, spicy….”

Quickly looking around, I decided to increase the sales of the bead ice cream shop, which had fewer customers due to the gradually cooling weather.

“Quickly, quickly eat this.”

“Komahoyo!” [mispronounced Korean for ‘Thank you’]

Pardon?

Minyoung-ssi, who expressed her gratitude in an unintelligible word, scooped up a spoonful of beads and shoved them into her mouth.

“…Ugh.”

That action several times.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes….”

Looking at her fanning her tongue, which still had a stinging sensation, with her tongue sticking out in the air, really…….

“…….”

“…Hanwool-ssi?”

It was so cute that my right hand was stroking Minyoung-ssi’s head without my permission.

“Ah.”

I came to my senses and quickly withdrew my hand. The fingers that were twitching with the remaining awkwardness as fuel were about to return to me, but,

“It’s okay.”

“Ah….”

I was immediately calmed by Minyoung-ssi’s touch.

“I really hate it when someone touches my head, but… I really like it when Hanwool-ssi strokes it. Stroke it more.”

“…….”

“Hehe….”

Stroke… stroke…….

That’s how I kept stroking Minyoung-ssi’s head until the warm chicken skewers turned cold.