“Cha Taehyun, right? You hit pretty well. Let’s keep it up from now on.”
“I thought you were crazy for just standing still at the end there.”
“Hey, which middle school baseball team were you on? How co I’ve never seen you before? Soone at your level would’ve definitely made a mark in the tournants…”
Before the ga started, the team mbers were giving the cold shoulder, but now, after hitting a ho run, they were approaching in a friendly manner.
It’s like when a player, criticized for underperforming, suddenly becos a national hero after a dramatic performance against Japan.
…Guess I was lucky.
If it hadn’t been a ga against Dongshin High, or if the ga hadn’t co down to my final at-bat, it might have taken longer to establish my place on the team.
Of course, not everyone was welcoming .
For starters, Lee Chang-soo, the original starting shortstop, and his friends still seed to be avoiding .
Well, ti should take care of that.
“You’re Cha Taehyun, right?”
At that mont, a huge figure approached . It was Lee Tae-hyung, the cleanup hitter and leader of the fielding team.
“Yes, that’s .”
From a distance, he didn’t seem too intimidating, but up close, his face looked quite fierce. His expression was so stern that I wondered if he was mad at .
“You’re a good hitter. I was especially surprised by that quick hit at the end.”
Guess I was wrong.
It was just a straightforward complint. I bowed my head in thanks, and he patted my shoulder a few tis before saying, “I look forward to working with you,” and left.
Did I earn his recognition…?
Just as I was about to head to the locker room, Senior Kim Chang-hyun approached .
How should I put this… He’s amusing.
Right now, he’s trying to imitate Senior Lee Tae-hyung with a serious face, but it’s so obvious.
“Cha Taehyun.”
“Yes.”
“I kept my promise and held the last inning.”
“I knew you would. Your pitching was great throughout the ga.”
“!!”
Senior Kim Chang-hyun’s eyes widened for a mont, and the corners of his mouth twitched.
Oh, I get it. He’s that type.
You know, the saying, “Complints make even a whale dance.” People with a lot of pride love being acknowledged.
“As expected… You definitely have what it takes to be the ace of Hyuksan High. I look forward to working with you.”
His final words were similar to Senior Lee Tae-hyung’s.
Anyway, I bowed my head, and Senior Kim Chang-hyun also patted my shoulder before leaving.
“Guess I should get going too.”
I was heading toward the exit when I ran into the coach. The mont he saw , he grinned and took out two baseballs from his pocket.
“Here, take them.”
“…What’s this?”
Why is he suddenly giving baseballs…?
They weren’t even new; they had so dirt on them, as if they had been used.
Why would he… No way, could these be…?
“Are these the balls from my ho runs?”
“Of course. I’ve got to give you the balls from your first ga’s ho runs. The one on the left is from your first ho run, and the one on the right is from the second. You might want to mark them with a marker.”
So, is this why the coach wasn’t around at the start of the ga—to find these?
That’s… surprising.
When I read Nemas, I thought he was just an old man obsessed with performance, but now, he seems to have a warr side.
Or maybe he’s just being nice because I’m good at baseball…
Anyway, I’m grateful regardless.
I bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle and shouted energetically.
“Thank you, Coach!”
“No need to thank . If you’re grateful, just keep playing well. Oh, if you need a marker, check the lounge.”
After saying that, the coach left.
I changed my route from the locker room to the lounge.
“Since it’s my first ho run ball, I should mark it right away.”
If I get them mixed up, I’ll be bothered forever wondering which one was my first.
The lounge was empty, and there was a marker right next to the whiteboard.
First, I wrote today’s date on the first ho run ball.
“…Should I sign it too?”
Might as well. I added my signature, the sa one I used back in my Major League days.
“Oh… Not bad.”
It had been a while since I signed a baseball, but it turned out quite well. Looking at the ball, a face suddenly popped into my mind.
“…I wonder if Ms. Miyeon is still at school.”
It was already getting dark.
Even though work hours were long over, Lee Miyeon was still in the faculty office, preparing materials for her upcoming classes.
The horoom teacher of Class 3 tapped on Miyeon’s desk.
“Ms. Miyeon, you look really tired today. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Huh? …?”
The teacher from Class 3 nodded.
“How should I put it… You usually have this ‘smile energy,’ but today you look like a droopy puppy. It started around lunchti. Did you have an upset stomach or sothing?”
“Not really…”
“Hmm… I see. Well, if you’re tired, go get so fresh air. A walk is the best cure when you’re feeling down.”
After contemplating for a mont, Lee Miyeon eventually left the faculty office and walked down the stairs.
She slowly walked around the school field before sitting on a bench.
“So sharp… the teacher from Class 3…”
Miyeon muttered bitterly with a smile.
To be honest, she knew that today felt emptier than usual.
That hollow feeling had lingered with her all day.
In fact, she probably already knew the reason for it.
No, it’s not “probably.” She did know…
The only difference between yesterday and today was that the ti she spent eating lunch with Taehyun was gone…
But admitting that was hard because…
The mont she admitted it, she could no longer be the “teacher” she had aspired to beco.
That’s why she had been vaguely aware that her relationship with Taehyun was a little inappropriate, but…
Just…
“It’s just… talking with him is so fun. What can I do?”
At first, she packed lunch for Taehyun out of pity.
It was heartbreaking to see him going without food.
She thought he was probably hurting inside, and as a teacher, she wanted to help heal those wounds, so she initiated conversations…
“I’m really hopeless…”
At so point, just talking to him beca enjoyable, and she forgot about the initial purpose.
But still, he’s good at baseball, likes the Phoenix team, is kind, and even gave her the signed bat she had wanted so much…
Honestly, how is this Taehyun’s fault…?
Miyeon quickly shook her head.
“What am I even thinking…”
Anyway, the reason for the lack of Miyeon’s “smile energy” was none other than Cha Taehyun.
Because he had joined the baseball team.
“Looks like I won’t be seeing him as often now…”
‘Maybe it’s for the best…’
If it weren’t for this forced separation, she wouldn’t have had the strength to distance herself from Taehyun.
“Yes… Let’s just return to being a normal teacher and student rela—”
“Ms. Miyeon?”
“Eek…!”
Suddenly, Cha Taehyun appeared under the streetlight, startling Miyeon so much she bit her tongue.
“You haven’t gone ho yet?”
“Y-Yes! I stayed late to prepare for my classes.”
“Today’s my lucky day, then.”
“What’s that supposed to an?”
Taehyun smiled softly and pulled a baseball out of his pocket.
“I wanted to give you this. If you had left, I was going to give it to you another ti.”
Miyeon’s eyes, which had been downcast all day, widened and sparkled.
“It’s a ho run ball. My first ga, my first ho run ball.”
Her mouth opened slightly as she received the ball.
A ho run ball from the first ga.
As soone who loves baseball, Miyeon knew exactly how precious it was.
“Can I really accept this? It’s your first ga’s ho run ball…”
“You’ve been packing lunch for every day. I wouldn’t call this a repaynt, but… When I get famous and earn a lot of money, I’ll give you a signed ball made of gold.”
Miyeon couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“You don’t have to give a gold one. This one is more than enough to make happy.”
That was 100% the truth.
She was so happy that it was hard to suppress the smile threatening to spread across her face.
Taehyun hesitated, as if he had more to say, and looked at Miyeon.
“Also… I just wanted you to have it. Not just for the lunch.”
“Huh?”
“Thanks to you, every day has been a joy for .”
Miyeon was left speechless.
“The lunches were delicious, but the ti I spent with you was what truly kept going.”
“…I see…”
“Ms. Miyeon? Why are you looking down all of a sudden?”
Because my face feels hot!
Of course, she couldn’t say that.
“So… I was wondering if I could continue eating your lunch… I know it’s a lot to ask,
but… would you mind?”
Hearing that, Miyeon’s head shot up.
“Huh? Aren’t you going to be too busy with the baseball team now?”
Taehyun answered playfully.
“The coach doesn’t care what I do as long as I play well. I can step out during lunchti.”
“Really? Then…”
Miyeon was about to answer imdiately but stopped herself.
‘…What am I thinking? I just made up my mind earlier…’
But the mont Taehyun spoke again,
“If it’s inconvenient, then I’m okay—”
“No, no! I actually felt lonely making lunch for just one person.”
Her resolve crumbled instantly.
‘It’s not like eating lunch together is weird, right?’
In any case, now that she had regained her “smile energy,” Miyeon returned to the school with Taehyun, who said he left sothing in the classroom.
After parting ways with Taehyun, Miyeon entered the faculty office and sat down at her desk. The teacher from Class 3 looked at her curiously.
“Wow, Ms. Miyeon, you look revitalized again!”
“Huh? I do…?”
“Yeah! No, you look even more energetic than usual! Did you find so money while walking around?”
“Well… it’s not money, actually.”
Miyeon placed the ho run ball on her desk and smiled.
“I got sothing much better than money.”
It’s been over a week since I joined the baseball team.
I’ve built friendships with the mbers, and even have so who follow now, so I’m quite satisfied.
However… a problem has arisen.
A big problem.
Smack!
“Oh! Lee Jiho again?”
“What’s up with him lately?”
“He’s a double-play machine now.”
The universe’s force of resistance, or whatever it is, seems to have finally thrown Lee Jiho into a slump.
Not only could this potentially create a link to Ms. Miyeon, but it’s also a problem for the baseball team.
Right now, we’re mainly playing intra-squad gas and friendlies, but if this continues during tournant season…
Forget about winning; we’ll have to worry about getting knocked out early.
Sure, you might think, “How can losing one batter affect the team so much?” But actually, Lee Jiho isn’t the only problem.
“Is Senior Seungtae seriously missing?”
“Yeah, what happened to him? Did he get into an accident or sothing?”
“The coach isn’t saying much either.”
The team’s ace pitcher has been missing for a week with no contact.
“Maybe he caught a bad cold or sothing. He might be a jerk, but he’s serious about baseball. Still, I hope he doesn’t co back.”
“Agreed. Watching him tornt Hwang Gwang-hyun was painful. And since the coach never said anything about it… what could we even say…?”
“Really? Should I bring him back, then?”
The second-year mbers, who had been chatting away excitedly in the dugout, froze instantly.
included.
“S-Senior Lee Seungtae?”
“Your hair…?”
Lee Seungtae, grinning like he found it amusing, had nearly shaved his head down to a buzz cut.
What on earth… What happened to him?
—
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