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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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As I was going up to the second floor, I heard Shin Ha-yoon’s voice behind me.
“Sorry…”
She’d been quiet, so she must have been worried about bringing her family.
“It’s fine. I didn’t mind, since they liked me so much.”
“Really…? Then that’s a relief. And… thank you…”
“For what?”
“You signed autographs and took pictures. My family really likes you, for some reason…”
It would have been better if she had left out the ‘for some reason’ part.
“Well, it’s not like I’m a big deal. I’m just grateful that they like me.”
Shin Ha-yoon looked at me with a surprised expression and then suddenly said, “Hey.”
“What.”
“You’re not as bad as I thought.”
I chuckled. “Come on, you don’t mean that.”
“No, I’m serious…”
As I was about to enter the pro zone on the far right, Shin Ha-yoon quickly stopped me.
“Hey. The pro zone throws over 150 km/h, you know?”
“It’s fine.”
“…You’re just showing me your batting form, so let’s just do it in an easier one…”
“This is easy for me.”
Shin Ha-yoon chuckled. I wasn’t kidding, it was true… Well, she’d see. I took out a bat and waited for the ball.
“Watch closely. I’m only going to hit 10 balls.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s see you hit—”
Clang!!
The moment I hit the first ball, Shin Ha-yoon’s words were cut off.
Clang!
Clang!
.
.
.
Clang!
After 10 hits, I turned around, and Shin Ha-yoon was staring at me blankly. She said she was going to film, but the camera lens was pointing at the floor.
“Hey. Is that camera even recording properly?”
“Huh? …Ah. Ah!”
Shin Ha-yoon, finally realizing that the camera was out of focus, tore at her hair. I was about to pick up the bat again when Shin Ha-yoon said something I couldn’t just ignore.
“Well… seeing it in person, I noticed some things to correct in your batting form, so I just…”
“What?”
If she was trying to get under my skin, she had succeeded. I was thoroughly irritated. Things to correct in my batting form, which I had developed through countless trial and error…?
“No… it’s not that it’s bad, it’s good. Yeah, it’s really good. I’ve never seen such a beautiful batting form… Anyway! Just listen… I have a video of the beginning.”
Shin Ha-yoon held out the camera and pointed at my side on the screen.
“Here… you’re going out too fast and too much. Right?”
“Again. Play it again.”
“Yeah. Look again. Right? The ball is traveling well and everything is good. But there’s a risk of injury. It’s better to hit the ball more comfortably.”
Hmm… honestly, the focus was too blurry, so I wasn’t sure.
“Uh…? Can you hit one more time?”
I took the bat and stood at the plate again. This time, I was conscious of my side, which Shin Ha-yoon had mentioned.
Clang!
The moment I hit the first ball, I realized. My pride was a little hurt, but… Shin Ha-yoon was right. The slight discomfort I had felt when hitting was gone.
Of course, I had vaguely known about this discomfort, since it was my body. But it wasn’t a major concern, and since my batting form was completed during my prime, I had dismissed it as a problem with my current lack of physical ability.
And she had corrected it just like that… She really had the potential to become a famous coach in the future.
When I finished hitting the remaining balls and came out, Shin Ha-yoon was looking at the camera with a fond expression, as if it were a treasure.
“Thanks.”
It was a little embarrassing, but… it was true that she had helped me.
“Huh?”
Shin Ha-yoon looked up at me with wide eyes.
“It feels much more comfortable, just as you said.”
Even the great Shin Ha-yoon couldn’t hide her pride when it came to coaching, and the corners of her mouth twitched.
“I… I had a good time today too. It was… fun.”
“What…?”
Her voice trailed off at the end, so I couldn’t hear her well.
“It’s nothing. Then I’ll be going now. I have to back up the video I took.”
“Alright.”
As I watched her leave with a happy step… a scene from the past came to mind.
I have some regrets even now. I’ve succeeded as a coach, but… if I had been a little more confident back then, I could have established myself as a coach much sooner and gained more experience… well. It’s in the past.
Well… it wouldn’t be difficult to boost her confidence a little.
“Hey, Shin Ha-yoon.”
“What?”
Now that I had called her, I didn’t know what to say. I thought for a moment and then just said what came to mind.
“You have talent.”
“What?”
“Become a coach. I think you can even become a major league coach.”
“Do you think becoming a major league coach is easy…”
Shin Ha-yoon grumbled, but the corners of her mouth were twitching. She’s a terrible actress.
“Anyway… I’m really going now. Next time…”
See you or not…
Shin Ha-yoon, who had spoken in a small voice, almost inaudibly, left the batting center as if she were running away.
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On a hot afternoon, Kim Yu-bin was drinking water in the dugout.
“Hey, Yu-bin, aren’t you going to be pushed out of the national team this time?”
Kim Yu-bin snorted at his teammate’s words.
“Hey. I’m Kim Yu-bin. The biggest prospect at shortstop, who carries Hwacheong High. How can I be pushed out?”
“No, didn’t you watch the Golden Lion Tournament broadcast?”
“Why would I watch that? What’s so fun about it?”
“That’s why. Hyeoksan High’s shortstop was a little crazy. He hits really well.”
“Well, does he hit better than me?”
“Yeah. Much better.”
Kim Yu-bin tilted his head.
No, did that make sense?
Scouts also thought of Kim Yu-bin first when it came to shortstops, and there was a rumor that he was the best. But there was a shortstop who hit better than him?
“Well, he probably had a good day. Sometimes there are kids who suddenly explode in tournaments. But do you know what’s characteristic of those kids? At some point, they disappear.”
“Well… there are exceptions.”
“We’ll know when we see it. Anyway, don’t worry. Do you think I’ll be pushed out? From the national team?”
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Shinwol Baseball Stadium was currently filled with players selected from each high school to try out for the national team.
An old man with his hands in his pockets slowly walked out in front of the many players.
It was coach Jeon Ho-cheol, who would lead the national team this year.
As the coach who had led Korea to its last victory, his charisma was exceptional.
“Welcome. As you all know, not everyone here today can wear the Taegeuk mark. I don’t care which school you’re from or how good your record is. I’ll evaluate you based on what you show me today, so do your best.”
“Yes!”
After a brief greeting, the coach immediately sent out the pitchers and began preparing the tests for the fielders.
“First, we’ll test the shortstop defense. Line up in the order your names were called.”
The test was simple.
Jeon Ho-cheol would hit the ball, and the shortstop would handle it. They would be scored based on how cleanly they handled it.
As the first shortstop took his position, the coach next to Jeon Ho-cheol began to read the shortstop’s information.
“Dongshin High’s shortstop, Shin Hae-chan. His career batting average is .320—”
“That’s enough. I’ll ask when I need to.”
Jeon Ho-cheol picked up a ball and hit it.
A ball hit towards third base. It was a fast ball, quite difficult to handle.
The shortstop chased after it, but he couldn’t catch it properly and dropped the ball.
As the shortstop, who had hastily picked up the ball, was about to throw—
“That’s enough. Stop. Next shortstop, hurry up.”
“Yes…? C-Can you give me one more chance! I’ll catch it properly next time!”
The shortstop pleaded desperately, but Jeon Ho-cheol was firm.
“Whether you were nervous, made a mistake, or the ball was difficult, that’s all part of your skill. The tournament is a tournament, there’s no next time. Do you understand?”
In the end, the shortstop had to return to the dugout with his head bowed.
Despite the continuing tests, Jeon Ho-cheol’s expression remained stiff.
They were all renowned players from high school baseball teams across the country, so their basics were there, but…
‘There’s no one who really stands out…’
To Jeon Ho-cheol, who was aiming for the top of the world, they were all lacking.
Jeon Ho-cheol sighed, and a shortstop with a different look in his eyes came into view.
‘At least he looks confident.’
The first shortstop had been eliminated so easily, and everyone else looked nervous, but this guy didn’t seem to be.
‘Let’s see if he has the skills to back it up.’
Clack!
A ground ball hit towards third base, looking just like the one the first shortstop had missed.
But this shortstop cleanly fielded it and threw to first.
Jeon Ho-cheol smiled faintly and nodded.
“What’s that guy’s name?”
“Kim Yu-bin. He’s a third-year and is considered the biggest prospect among shortstops.”
“Really? He’s not bad.”
Kim Yu-bin, who had glanced at the coach, grinned.
The coach, who had been stiff-faced the whole time, was smiling slightly.
‘Yeah, you have to be at least this good to catch the coach’s eye.’
Clack!
Kim Yu-bin skillfully handled the next ball hit by Jeon Ho-cheol.
Once, twice, three times. After Kim Yu-bin had fielded the most ground balls so far, the coach nodded and shouted, “Last one!”
Clack!
The ball was hit towards second base. It looked easy to handle, but the ball took a bad hop as if it had hit something.
Kim Yu-bin, who had been slightly thrown off balance, eventually missed the ball and quickly looked up at the coach.
The coach chuckled and waved his hand.
“That’s enough, you passed. What are you so scared about? How could you catch that?”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Kim Yu-bin, who had smiled again, returned to the dugout, and the other shortstops who were waiting thought,
‘The starting shortstop is decided…’
“Alright, next!”
Jeon Ho-cheol’s eyes were slightly downcast. Since a decent player had come out, it would probably be boring for a while.
But when the next shortstop came up, Jeon Ho-cheol let out a chuckle.
‘What’s with that guy?’
If Kim Yu-bin was full of confidence—
—that guy wasn’t just not nervous, he was grinning.
He was so not nervous that it seemed like he didn’t even have the desire to do well.
Tsk. Jeon Ho-cheol clicked his tongue. He hated those without passion the most.
Clack!
At that arrogant attitude, Jeon Ho-cheol hit the ball with a speed that was clearly different from before.
The fiercely hit ball flew in a straight line without a single bounce. It was practically a line drive.
‘I put too much power into it…’
Even Jeon Ho-cheol thought that was a bit much and was about to grab the next ball when—
“…Haha. Look at this guy.”
The shortstop, who had quickly thrown himself, had caught the fast ball.
And he didn’t just catch it. He immediately got up and threw to first.
‘I finally found him.’
Jeon Ho-cheol grinned widely and asked the coach,
“What’s his name?”
“Hyeoksan High, second-year, Cha Tae-hyun.”
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