Captain's Sake and Soju Lesson
Hey, you killed it today. Let's grab a drink. Today's stats: 4-for-4! Best performance ever.
My head was filled with thoughts of rushing home to brag to Kim Se-rin, who'd already gotten off work as a cheerleader. To make that happen, clocking out sharp was key, so I was packing up faster than anyone.
The only thing standing in the way of my getaway plan was an interview. Alright, all packed. Now just load up the car and go.
That's when a voice came from behind me.
"Hey, Kim Hu-seong."
I turned to see Son Tae-ho sunbae standing there with his arms crossed. A flicker of unease hit me.
"Yes, sunbae?"
"Let's have a drink today."
What? Out of nowhere? I responded almost reflexively.
"No, I'm good! I've got training tomorrow! You don't have to buy! I'll keep working hard!"
Ultimate evasion maneuver! But before I could finish, Son Tae-ho sunbae shook his head with a laugh.
"Hey, they're making me buy because you did well. So come on, you punk."
Crap...
"I've got a wife and kid at home, and as captain, this is me looking out for the rookies."
No room for argument there. Sigh, I'm done for. I let out a mental groan. The moment I couldn't escape had arrived.
"You got a car?"
"Yes, I do."
"Weird guy. I'll send you the location—follow me."
"Got it, sunbae."
As we drove, my eyes widened at the destination. Stepping inside, it was a swanky private Japanese restaurant. The sign already screamed high-end, and the interior was no joke—quiet, almost no other customers. A staff member guided us straight to a private room, like they'd been waiting.
The room glowed with warm lighting and a faint woody aroma. Tatami mats covered the floor, traditional ink paintings hung on the walls. Don't places like this host team scout meetings or director visits?
We barely sat down before sunbae ordered without glancing at the menu.
"Uh... the course menu, please. Sashimi and tempura course."
He casually added a bottle of sake. I ventured cautiously,
"Sunbae, I drove here, though?"
He grinned like it was nothing.
"I drove too, dude."
"...Right?"
"Just call a designated driver. Don't worry about it—tell 'em here, and they'll handle it. Don't be an idiot and grab the wheel. You know more baseball players get busted for drunk driving than anything else, right?"
"Haha... yeah."
In the end, I raised my glass. The subtle, fragrant aroma of sake tickled my nose. One sip, and warmth burned down my throat.
Ugh... why do people drink this?
Sunbae was already pouring his second.
"Kuh~ Hits the spot. You really crushed it today."
Those words eased my tension somehow.
"Nah, just got lucky."
"Luck's part of skill, dude. How many guys got even one hit today? Four. Two or more? Just two—you and me. Right?"
Sunbae drained his glass and continued.
"Manager Kim Young-ho was praising you too. Thought your bat was weak early on, but today's game changed his mind. Unless something crazy happens, keep this up and you might stick in the first team. Lee Sang-hyeon in the outfield backup isn't a big hitter either—just steady defense. And you're solid there too."
My heart raced a bit at that. But reality followed.
"Thing is, keeping it up like today... that's the hard part. Baseball's like that. Your contact quality's still shaky sometimes. Bad luck, and you could ground into three infield outs. Speed saves you, but eventually, you gotta refine that swing."
I nodded.
"Yeah, I know."
"Coach Oh Tae-sik didn't call you up for nothing. There's something in you. But you gotta pull it out. First team doesn't keep you just for one good day. Slip tomorrow, and it's back to second team. Brutal, right?"
I was speechless for a moment. He was spot on.
By the time the sake was half gone, platters of glistening sashimi from the course arrived. Dishes came one after another—I barely knew the fish. Flounder, sea bream, yellowtail—I'd heard the names, but up close, it was just neat arrangements of white and red flesh.
Dipped one piece lightly in soy, and it melted smoothly. Not sure if it was "tasty," but it went down clean. Oily fish stuck differently, but a sip of sake refreshed everything. That's when sake first tasted good.
"Huh? Sunbae, the sake tastes different now. It was hot and bitter before..."
Sunbae paused his chopsticks and laughed.
"That's it. Expensive stuff's expensive for a reason. Tastes damn good now, huh?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. Sweet. Nice aroma too."
"See? Now you get it. Booze can be delicious."
He poured another round, the subtle scent wafting again. He popped more sashimi, eyed me, and continued.
"Rookies come up all confused. Cocky one day, nervous the next. Some guys... they target that. Intimidate rising juniors, make 'em screw up."
"Ah..."
"Mess up, then use it to break 'em more. Guys who flip out if their spot's threatened. If any assholes pull that crap, tell me. Got it?"
"Yes! Thanks. I'll do even better!"
"That's the spirit."
He clinked glasses with a grin.
"Sigh, damn. Finished second last season, everyone's a bit down, but start's looking okay. Outfield was reeling from injuries, but you eased that."
My heart pounded. Real recognition. Sucked missing home, but now I felt great. I sipped carefully.
Sunbae glanced at the bill, scowled.
"Hey, know how much they gave me to buy you dinner?"
"How much?"
"Just 200,000 won! What the hell can you do with that?"
"Still, nice spot—grateful."
"Grateful my ass. Course alone's 200,000. Booze extra. Nights like this, you gotta drink hard..."
He tsked, shaking his head.
"Decent places like this start at 300,000 at least. Damn. Ugh, tsk tsk... 100,000 out of my pocket."
He drained his glass, narrowed his eyes.
"Tch... sake's tasty, but too umami. Won't cut it."
"Won't cut what?"
"Leaves your mouth wanting more!"
He called the server.
"Ten bottles of soju here!"
"Ten!?"
"Yeah, ten." He said it so casually. "Sake's just umami."
Soon, green bottles lined up. He cracked one, filled my glass.
"Try a sip."
I hesitated, then sipped. No bitterness—just a slight sweetness.
"Huh? This isn't bitter either?"
Sunbae burst out laughing.
"Exactly!"
He slapped my shoulder.
"You're at the point where soju goes down like water. Cheers!"
"Yes! Got it, sunbae."
"Hmm... not today, huh."
Kim Se-rin dragged her suitcase home with a disappointed look. She'd waited ten extra minutes, but no Kim Hu-seong.
She unpacked, showered clean.
"Tch, knew it. Do well once, and it's all 'later,' huh?"
Still miffed post-shower, she headed out for a short walk to shake it off. Late-night stroll, just around the apartment—no big deal, walk a bit and back.
Then a weird sound.
"Ughhhh."
Out-of-nowhere death groan. Someone in agony.
Sunday night and already blackout drunk?
"Ughhhh. Gotta... get home..."
"Ah! This is nuts... Hey! Snap out of it!"
What the? Next to the collapsed guy, someone looked distressed.
That voice... familiar.
Kim Se-rin approached. She recognized him.
Kim Hu-seong?
"Hey! You gotta pay the designated driver."
"Ugh..."
"Seriously, this guy's killing me."
Kim Se-rin got closer.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"What's going on?"
"Uh... I'm the driver, but the customer's wasted..."
"Aha."
Kim Se-rin knelt, checked the face. Reeking of booze—definitely Kim Hu-seong.
"How much for the driver?"
"Pardon?"
"I know him. I'll cover it."