Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 112

I scratched my head in frustration as I walked out of the stadium.

The dim stadium and the deserted streets seemed to be made just for me.

At 12 AM, among the streetlights where everyone gathered with bright faces, I saw a lonely friend with a dark complexion.

Feeling that his expression was similar to mine, I headed towards the only streetlight that was turned off, hoping that being with him would dispel my gloomy mood.

“Hoo….”

I didn’t particularly feel like smoking. I just relaxed my back and neck and stared blankly at the dark night sky.

“Haa….”

The chilly autumn night was already giving color to my breath.

I don’t want to go home.

If we had lost cleanly 4-0, I wouldn’t have felt this disappointed.

Let’s go home and rest, get a good night’s sleep, and start again tomorrow.

Just as I was about to get up from my seat thinking that,

“You’ve worked hard.”

“…….”

I slowly turned my head at the now somewhat familiar voice. Park Haejin, dressed smartly, was standing there.

“…Why aren’t you home yet and still here?”

“I was also feeling a bit restless, so I was wandering around.”

“You won the championship, what’s with the restlessness?”

“I’m not sure.”

He asked if he could sit next to me, and I silently nodded in agreement.

“…….”

Quietly.

The two of us sat silently, gazing at the night sky together.

If I were with someone I wasn’t close to, I would have said something, but he and I just remained silent.

After a while,

“…Hey.”

“Yes.”

Something that came to mind popped out of my mouth before I even realized it.

“You did well, Sangsoo.”

“Thank you.”

“We did well too. It’s a shame.”

Perhaps the beginning of this emotional state I’m feeling is emptiness.

It’s like being right in front of the finish line of a long race, cheering and celebrating as the winner, only to be overtaken.

“I always feel this, but it’s so empty when the season ends.”

“It is empty. And also daunting.”

“What are your plans for preparing for next season?”

“Next year? Same as always. Rest a bit, get in shape, and when the season starts…keep pitching. And if we make it to the postseason, pitch like crazy.”

After finishing my words, I glanced to the side. Unlike my slouching posture, he was sitting upright, looking ahead.

“You….”

I quickly started looking at the same place as him, finding his posture boring.

“I’m the same. I’ll rest a bit, get in shape, and then start the season.”

“No, not that. You said baseball is fun.”

“Yes.”

A fragment of the conversation I had with him after Media Day briefly flashed through my mind.

“…Why?”

“Yes?”

“Why is it fun?”

“It’s just…throwing, catching, hitting, isn’t that fun?”

“Hmm….”

I made an appropriate response with a subtle hum.

“What about you, senior?”

“Me? Why…didn’t I answer that back then?”

“You used to say it wasn’t fun…but the next story was a bit different.”

“I must have really been on a stream of consciousness.”

I chuckled, finding it most absurd that I was the one saying those words.

“…It’s fun. Lately. A little.”

“It’ll become even scarier then.”

“What will?”

“The Wonha Challengers, I mean. And you too, senior.”

“A guy who doesn’t seem to be afraid of ghosts….”

“I’m scared of ghosts too.”

“Are you scared of ghosts, or are people scarier?”

Ah, what kind of stream of consciousness is this?

“Are you going in?”

I thought I should really go home now, so I got up first.

“I should go. What time is it, haaahm….”

As I stretched my arms above my head, fatigue washed over every corner of my body.

“Aren’t you going in?”

“I’m planning to go in soon too.”

“Go in quickly. You must be tired.”

Glancing back with a cracked voice, I saw him smiling contentedly. It was the same expression Hyun-jin had when he looked at me.

“…Why?”

“I think what Lee Hyun-jin said is right.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about him? Hey, hey, don’t listen to what he says. No, filter out what he says about me. He’s strangely obsessed with me.”

Even though I gave him enough warnings, he maintained his smile.

“I know what he said about me, it’s obvious.”

The chill I felt as I walked was probably not from the cold.

“Aren’t you curious about what Lee Hyun-jin said?”

“He probably said something like, ‘Senior will dominate the baseball world,’ or ‘Senior is amazing,’ something like that.”

“There’s more to it, but….”

“Ah, please. Please don’t say it.”

As I arrived near my car, I waved my hand. With a beep, I grabbed the door handle of the car.

“Go in.”

“Okay. Then I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

“Ah…right. That’s how it is again.”

Thump—

After lightly closing the driver’s seat door, I lowered the window. I lightly raised my hand towards him, who had been wearing a strange smile since earlier.

“Go in carefully. Congratulations on the championship.”

“Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I waved the hand that had been touching the gear stick a few more times in the air and then drove out of the parking lot.

Glancing at the rearview mirror, Park Haejin was still standing there.

* * *

Drrrrrrr—

Listening to the sound of the small wheels of the suitcase grinding against the asphalt made me feel somewhat calm.

“Aigoo….”

Without even having time to lament the narrow defeat in the Korean Series, I had to head straight to Gocheok Sky Dome.

National Team.

There might not be a big physical difference in playing with the Taegeukgi [South Korean flag] on the left side of my chest, but what should I say…….

“Wow! Can I get your autograph?”

“Huh? Ah, yes, yes.”

Oh! It’s Kim Hanwool!

Who is it?

A baseball player!

Oh…….

Should I say it’s a mental aspect…….

“Good luck in today’s game!”

“Yes…thank you.”

Or should I say it’s a burden.

“Hoo…I have to do well.”

The pressure to ‘absolutely produce results’ was several levels above that of the Korean Series.

Ding—

[Hanwool, fighting!] [Rabbit waving a ‘Fighting’ panel emoticon]

As I arrived at Gocheok Sky Dome, a text message from Minyoung arrived like an alert. As I left a reply with a pleased heart,

“Hello, senior. You worked hard in the Korean Series too.”

Hyunjin, who had been waiting in front of his home stadium, bowed 90 degrees and greeted me.

“Hey. Sorry, Hyunjin.”

“Yes, senior.”

“I don’t know what it is, but I did something wrong.”

“Yes, senior.”

“…Please don’t greet me like that.”

“I’ll try.”

“…….”

I followed Hyunjin, already feeling a headache coming on. As I followed along, familiar faces and unfamiliar faces crossed paths.

“Yo, Hanwool.”

“It’s only been a day, manager.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Kim Seokju, the manager of Sangsoo Tigers, who won the Korean Series once again. He will also be the manager for this Premier12 tournament.

“Hanwool, how much is left on your contract now?”

“I…I have exactly 2 years left.”

“2 years? Good, just wait.”

“Hey, you’re saying something scary again.”

After a brief greeting, I looked around the scenery of Gocheok Stadium.

I saw players who had arrived earlier than the assembly time and were moving around in advance, and players who were slightly late for the assembly time and were running in a hurry.

“Your game sense must still be good.”

“I guess so? I played until yesterday, after all.”

“But you must be a bit tired.”

“I guess…so.”

It wasn’t anything significant, I was just objectively talking about my condition. It’s more of a loss to act like I’m fine and then get hit. For me, and for the team.

“I won’t force you too much from the evaluation game. Just watch the atmosphere for now.”

“Yes.”

Evaluation game.

There are players who are new to the national team, and there are players who I’m meeting after a long time.

The players who finished the season early had been raising their senses through the military teams or practice games with teams that were eliminated from the postseason.

I’m also included among the people who are new to this…I should have come early and matched up with them, but I can’t help it.

“Tsk.”

As I stood blankly, feeling like I was floating alone,

“Wow, Kim Hanwool has come all the way here.”

Woosuk approached.

“The national team uniform suits you quite well?”

“Of course. Unlike someone, I have the height.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“Sorry, I fought unfairly with facts.”

The atmosphere made me reflexively sweep under my nose. I put my hands behind my back, smiled contentedly, and had a little chat.

I didn’t forget to check the list of players participating in this tournament on the ground.

An Byung-guk hitting a tee.

Jo Taepung receiving fungo [a fielding drill].

Hyunjin throwing a ball in the bullpen.

Heoncheol receiving that ball.

Etc.

“How is it?”

“The atmosphere is definitely different.”

“But you have national team experience. Think about that time.”

“That was in high school, does it even matter?”

“Even if you just have that feeling, it’ll be quite helpful.”

I laughed awkwardly and watched each other’s training. Glancing at the corner of the ground, I saw the MBS broadcasting crew filming the opening video.

And the players from Puerto Rico.

“…It’s amazing.”

Feeling the amazing aspects in many ways, I took out a tubing band from my bag. I probably won’t be pitching today, but I can’t skip the maintenance.

However, I didn’t take my glove out of my baseball bag today. Before the game, during the game, and after the game.

4 to 0.

In the batting lineup, Choi Jaewon hit a three-run home run, followed by Kim Kiyoon adding a timely hit.

Hyunjin, Im Jaehyuk, and other starting pitchers divided and pitched to check their condition, and Lee Songin, Lee Kangmin, and others also split and pitched well.

As for the defense, well…….

“How was it?”

“I felt really comfortable?”

I asked Gyuhak, who came out as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement in the second half of the game.

“The elite are definitely the elite. I realized why they say national team, national team.”

Go Myunghyun’s handling of the hard-hit ball, Nam Donggeun’s diving catch, Han Changmin’s good throw, and so on.

“Don’t be intimidated, you’re here because you’re on the same level as those people.”

“What….”

I threw a word to the guy who seemed somewhat intimidated in front of the great people. Whether it was okay with just one word, he smiled brightly.

After the game, after finishing a brief meeting, we had an evaluation game against Puerto Rico the next day as well.

In the second evaluation game, the players who were tired from participating in the Korean Series took a day off, and their names were largely listed on the starting lineup.

Park Haejin, Sunghyun, Hyukjun, and so on,

Bang-!

“Strike, out!”

And Nara.

“Hoo….”

Perhaps because it was more of a practice game than a real game, I didn’t feel any particular tension or pressure.

I didn’t place any more or less meaning than a practice game, and after cleanly blocking 1 inning, I received a warm welcome from my new teammates.

“Aish, that’s why I can’t hit your ball.”

“Hey, you hit a home run against me last year.”

“Didn’t you fail to hit any after that?”

“You need to practice your hitting a bit, senior.”

“Ah, really.”

I felt good after receiving the lip service from second baseman Kim Kiyoon. Wow, I really felt that I was on the same level as these people only after pitching in the game.

What should I say, I didn’t feel that the national team was that amazing or great.

Aside from the skill part, the human part.

“Yonghwan, is this what you received this time?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“Oh, this is good.”

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], you should talk to them too. I happened to find out about it, and it’s good.”

“What is it, what is it?”

“A glove. Touch it.”

“Uh…I don’t really like it.”

Shortstop Choi Yonghwan of the same sex, second baseman Kim Kiyoon of KP, and right fielder Han Changmin of Visco.

Even though they were players who could easily secure a starting position no matter which team they went to, they were still people, and the space where those people gathered was all the same.

“Excuse me, Kim Hanwool senior.”

As I was quietly listening to the chatter of my new teammates, a youthful voice was calling me.

“Huh?”

“Hello, I’m…Im Jaehyuk.”

“Oh, oh, I know, I know.”

When I wondered who it was, it was Im Jaehyuk, whom I had met as KP’s first starter during the 준playoff [semi-playoff] two years ago.

Im Jaehyuk, with a youthful face as much as his youthful voice, was fidgeting with a baseball in his hand.

“What’s up?”

“Um…could you possibly teach me…the changeup?”

“Of course. Come here.”

When I gestured, Im Jaehyuk hesitated but came over and handed me the ball. Then,

“Hey, hey, me too.”