The Long-Awaited Korea-Japan Clash!
Ryu Ji's back-to-back homers had Tokyo Dome in a frenzy.
The Japanese fans watching the game buzzed with excitement.
Ryu Ji had successfully etched his name into the minds of the Japanese crowd. With the score gap widening to five runs, one might expect Korea to falter—but the Korean national team wasn't that easy.
Korea quickly plated three runs, closing the gap to two. That's when Japan pulled their ace card.
"Tsuyoshi, you're our only hope."
"Yes, Coach."
The pitcher strode to the mound with commanding presence.
Japan's blue-chip ace, Kato Tsuyoshi, had taken the stage.
'That guy's forkball is no joke.'
Seong-muk recalled him from the game stats.
Kato Tsuyoshi, wielder of an S-grade forkball, was notoriously tough to hit against thanks to his ugly delivery.
In reality, the Korean team had been shut down cold by him.
Thwack!
"Strike three…!"
Crack!
"Out…!!"
Korea went down one by one.
By the seventh inning, with the cleanup hitters finally getting on base to load first and second…
Seong-muk entered the batter's box.
Tsuyoshi suddenly remembered what Ryu Ji had said.
'Geum Seong-muk? Be careful if you face him. The guy's a clutch monster—always comes through in big spots.'
"Tch…"
Tsuyoshi shook his head.
He figured it was just his old teammate hyping him up.
He was Japan's ace.
No need to fear some flash-in-the-pan Korean.
He unleashed his signature forkball.
And then he saw it.
His pitch sailing not into the catcher's mitt, but high over the fence.
"………What!?"
"Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk…!!"
The Korean fans in Tokyo Dome chanted wildly.
Seong-muk soaked it in as he touched home plate.
'Hitting Eye A really makes picking pitches feel sharper.'
He'd targeted the fork from the start, and it connected perfectly.
Now, even with raw stats alone, Seong-muk could produce solid contact. He'd successfully burned his name into the Korean public's memory too.
Bottom of the seventh.
Japan's turn at bat again.
Bases loaded, and Ryu Ji stepped up once more.
Following Ryu Han-ul, Ma Cho-won came down, and lefty bullpen ace No Jin-su took the mound.
'Takahina Ryuji—that guy's on fire today. I'd love to bring in Ryu Taek-jin, but…'
Using the elite closer this early felt wasteful.
He considered Ri Dong-hyeok too, but sending a righty underhander against a lefty power bat was risky.
Of course, that choice proved costly.
The game-changer? Ryu Ji again.
"Sorry, Seong-muk. Can't let this one slip…!"
Crack!
Ryu Ji, who single-handedly drove in eight RBIs that day, made his presence undeniable. Manager Shin Cheol-hyeong rubbed his temple in frustration.
"…Bring in Ri Dong-hyeok."
"Got it!"
Ri Dong-hyeok prevented further damage after taking the mound, but Japan burned through their cards to shut down Korea's lineup.
"Bases on balls…!"
"…Tch."
Japan blatantly pitched around the ultra-clutch Seong-muk. He walked to first but never crossed home.
Beep, beep, bzzzz…!
"Game over!"
Final score: 8-6, Japan.
Securing first in the group for the main draw, Japan spilled out of the dugout, reveling in their victory over Korea.
"…………."
"…………."
Group second place.
No issue advancing to the main tournament, and no team there could match Korea anyway—but it was a bitterly frustrating loss.
"Haa, what a pain."
"Gonna get hounded by the press…."
The Korean players sighed as they packed up.
They needed to head to England and prep properly for the main event.
Seong-muk felt the same.
As he crossed the field with his bags, he ran into Ryu Ji emerging from an interview.
"Yo, Ryu Ji. You were murdering it today."
"Haha, thanks to you guys going straight at it."
"Main draw's no joke, y'know? Enjoy it while it lasts."
Seong-muk patted his shoulder, but Ryu Ji's face turned deadly serious.
"Korea vs. Japan—we meet again in the quarters, right?"
"Probably."
"…Make sure you're the starter."
"Huh?"
"I'll crush your stuff for sure. So show up."
Seong-muk chuckled at his intensity.
He slung an arm around him firmly.
"Deal—if four straight Ks in a storm's fine by you."
The two burst into laughter.
But Seong-muk's smile faded to seriousness.
'Gotta recover faster.'
Ryu Ji had evolved further.
A rock-solid ally before, a real threat as an opponent now.
Of course, Seong-muk had no intention of losing.
He hadn't even claimed half of what this national team run offered.
Until he did, he wouldn't fall.
The Korean national team arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.
They departed the day after qualifiers ended.
Manager Shin Cheol-hyeong wrapped up the interview with resolve.
Even aggressive reporters got calm, measured responses.
As they entered the gate, Seong-muk spotted a familiar face.
"Ah, Seong-muk oppa…!"
"Noah?"
No way he'd meet her at the airport.
Curious, he asked right away.
"Where's Ryu Ji?"
"Oppa’s flight's a bit later! He's coming soon, so I came to see you off first…!"
Noah handed over a lunchbox wrapped in pink cloth—made by the Takahina family chefs, she said.
Knowing how delicious it was, Seong-muk thanked her, planning to skip the bland airplane food.
"Thanks, I'll dig in."
As he took it and turned, teammates glanced over and chimed in.
"What? She's super cute…?"
"No way—is that Geum Seong-muk's girlfriend?"
Whispers from behind, until Jang Tae-san piped up like he'd remembered something.
"…Oh yeah, that's her—the girl blowing up YouTube lately. Heard she's from Munhyeok High cheer squad."
"You know me! Thanks for recognizing!"
Noah beamed with a cute bow.
The players flinched in surprise.
"Ahem, adorable…."
"With a cheerleader like that, making it to Sejong-ki wouldn't have been so tough.."
"Damn, our school's cheerleaders are all Amazon warrior builds…!"
Ma Cho-won clutched his head especially hard.
Choi Seok-ho asked why—the reason was ridiculous.
"Daegwallyeong High rides horses to school every day, so everyone—guys and girls—ends up with overdeveloped legs…."
"………."
The mood sobered at Ma Cho-won's tragic tale.
Anyway, the team boarded the flight to England, leaving Japan behind.
A grueling 14-hour flight.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, some were waiting for that very plane.
London Heathrow Airport.
A woman with beige hair walked through.
"Oh…."
"Beautiful…."
Men’s gazes locked on.
Sunglasses couldn't hide her stunning looks.
Back home, her famous family and lifelong public face forced her to conceal her identity, but even disguised, she drew stares.
'Lucky the shooting schedule lined up with the tournament….'
Her rising fame in Korea brought an offer from the UK side. Craving a reunion with Seong-muk after ages apart, plus needing to visit her family home and talk with her dad, she accepted instantly.
Why she was at the airport? Simple.
To see Seong-muk, whom she hadn't met in forever.
'He'll be shocked, hehe….'
She'd risen at dawn to pack a lunchbox.
She couldn't wait to see his face at the surprise.
At the same time.
A British mansion.
A blue-haired girl scrolled news on her phone.
"Coming after all, Geum Seong-muk."
She'd half-doubted, but Korea was too strong to flop in qualifiers. Hearing he'd fly straight to England made her cold heart race.
She gripped her pounding chest and scowled.
"…Crazy bitch, still hasn't snapped out of it."
Seo Ye-bin sighed deeply.
Their first love.
And final innocent crush.
"…………."
She eyed the fallen frame on her desk.
Lifting it gently revealed a photo of her and Seong-muk beaming happily.
Back then, she'd been happier than ever.
Though now, more miserable than ever.
In England, where Big Ben measures history's pulse.
Many events awaited Geum Seong-muk there.