The Long-Awaited Sejong Tournament Group Draw!
Just D-5 until the grand opening of the Sejong Tournament.
We're gathered at Do Dojin's house after school, repeating our grueling daily practices. Just like during last spring's tournament, we're here to watch the group draw.
Should've come here yesterday, damn.
I heard his dad came by to pick up his stuff. It all got handled somehow, but as a red-blooded guy, I can't help feeling a bit regretful.
"Oh, it's starting!"
At Seo Kyungsu's words, the team members turned to the TV. There stood a professional commentator in front of the draw box.
"Hello, baseball fans of Korea and around the world! The Sejong Tournament, set to deliver another year of drama! I'm commentator Jo Hong-jae, here ahead of the draw!"
The commentator finished his booming self-introduction.
The draw ceremony began right away.
"Alright, first up, we'll draw the runner-up teams from last spring's tournament finals!"
The coaches drew balls one by one.
Before long, all 32 teams had been drawn.
"Now, the moment we've been waiting for—the spring tournament champions! Who will they face...?!"
By default, spring champions are matched against runner-ups from other regions—a perk for the winners, though you can't write off all the runners-up as weak.
The tough seeds go all-in on qualifying for Sejong, often tanking the finals.
We didn't have to look far—Munhyeok High's own strategy had been like that. Without Park Chan-jun's gutsy 128 pitches, we might've been in that boat too.
Still, even among the runners-up, there are plenty of trap cards strong enough to upset anyone. Dodging those would decide our Sejong run.
But right now, we were gripped by extreme anxiety.
"...Coach Myeong, be real—he's got the shittiest luck."
"I can't even imagine our coach pulling a good draw...!!"
Ryu Ji sighed while Do Dojin tore at his hair.
Coach Myeong Sinu already had a track record of pulling the most hellish draws in spring history. When it came to draws, he had zero trust from anyone.
In fact, the team joked that he lost every bet. "Go opposite Coach Myeong and you're guaranteed a win!"
Well, surviving that hell draw did make us way stronger...
Didn't Nietzsche say something like what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?
We survived without dying, made it to Sejong, and got stronger than ever.
Of course, if he botched the Sejong draw too, we'd be truly fucked. Knowing that, everyone glued their eyes to the TV, forgetting to swallow.
"Munhyeok High's Coach Myeong Sinu! Come up and draw your group!"
Coach Myeong Sinu stepped onto the stage.
That slow walk felt like an eternity.
"Please, please!!"
"God! We beg you!"
Some guys were even on their knees praying.
These atheists, huh.
Seok Un-gang and Hassan, who actually had faith, seemed far calmer.
Maybe believers really are different. As I turned to look, I noticed they were muttering something.
"Dispel afflictions, all is suffering, all phenomena are impermanent, all dharmas are without self, nirvana is tranquil silence, craving is the root of suffering, all is created by the mind, let go of attachments, abide nowhere and give rise to the mind, all things arise from causes and conditions, the mind unhindered, free from fear, tranquil silence is supreme joy, mindfulness in the present, contemplate your own mind, all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows—take refuge in the Three Jewels, unmoved by external circumstances, patience is perfection..."
"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar...!"
"These crazy bastards."
Both lost in utter madness, eyes half-glazed.
Even the usually serene Seok Un-gang and Hassan driven to this anxiety—what kind of cursed luck did Coach Myeong have?!
"Ah, Coach Myeong Sinu has drawn!"
"Please, pleeease!!"
"Coach, nooooo!!"
Near-screams filled Do Dojin's house as Coach Myeong held up a ball marked 'A'.
"Huh, that's..."
"...No way!!"
The baseball team members' eyes flew wide.
They stared at each other in disbelief, then piled into a group hug.
"Woooah, yesssss!!"
"We're safe, we're saaaafe!!"
The teammates jumped around in joy.
Geum Seong-muk watched, chuckling in absurdity.
...Seriously.
Anyone would think we'd pulled the dream draw, but no.
We'd just snagged a solid mid-to-upper bracket.
They were thrilled even at that—their joy threshold lowered by that dark-aura coach. Geum Seong-muk sighed deeply.
"Next draw! Now, Gwangya High's coach, Lee Yuk-song!"
Lee Yuk-song appeared, his thick beard flowing.
He drew: 'P'.
"Oh, that's good news."
"Eek, good news out of nowhere! You can already calculate it...!!"
Do Dojin nailed the assessment while Ji Suyong freaked out. Do Dojin explained patiently.
"Simple—Group P is the farthest from our Group A. We'd only meet in the finals."
"Aha...!"
No early exit against the powerhouse Gwangya High. We'd grown, but they were still daunting.
Eat up Sejong teams bit by bit, then clash in the finals when ready—that was winnable.
The draws continued. With Baekro High's final pick, the brackets locked in. The team was pretty satisfied.
"This draw's a blessing."
"For Coach Myeong's curse, this is basically jackpot."
We started breaking down the matchups.
A pattern emerged.
"First round: Pungroe High—solid powerhouse, right?"
"Yeah, famous for speed and ironclad defense. They mess with opponents' heads too."
The team nodded at Geum Seong-muk's explanation.
Infamous as rookie shredders.
Of course, once you're dialed in, they're not hard.
"Second round likely: Cheonghyeon High..."
"........."
Ji Suyong went quiet—his dream school in Asan, where he'd once belonged. Mixed feelings.
"Suyong, you good?"
"Hmph! If they're going down, better by my hand! Trust me...!!"
The black beast snorted, pounding his chest. As a Munhyeok man now, resolve hardened.
Geum Seong-muk grinned when Ryu Ji asked seriously from the side.
"Speaking of, you okay, Seong-muk?"
"Why?"
"No upsets, and you're facing Bujeon High in the fourth."
"......"
Bujeon High—Busan's top school, where Geum Seong-muk's body had been before possession. Led by national lefty No. 3 Cheon Ji-uk, powerhouse always in Final Four contention.
Best friend Hwang Tae-gang was on the lineup, but enemies outnumbered.
Just the ace Cheon Ji-uk hated my guts.
He'd skip training, boozing and raging, but especially loathed Geum Seong-muk.
Whatever, not my problem.
Memories weren't his own—just read from the story. No reason to let it shake him.
"Of course I'm fine—they'll have the bigger burden."
"Yeah, true."
The guy they discarded becomes national ace and knocks them out of Sejong? They'd eat shit.
"Alright, show's over. Time to practice."
"Ooooh...!!"
The fired-up crew.
Munhyeok High's national domination was near.
Early morning at Munhyeok High.
A blue-haired beauty emerged from the chairman's office.
"My identity stays secret, got it?"
"Of course, miss!!"
The chairman bowed deeply.
Bowing to someone his daughter's age might be embarrassing, but her overwhelming backing erased that.
As students arrived, a rumor spread through Munhyeok High.
"Dude, saw a smoking hot girl at school today."
"Olivia back? Or Noah?"
"Nah, total new face! Heard she's transferring from Busan?"
Amid Sejong buzz, the transfer student's rumor flew. By first period, students confirmed it.
"Ahem! We have a transfer student today!"
"Transfer?"
Geum Seong-muk tilted his head. Didn't care who.
Ryu Ji beside him was already asleep, training fatigue.
"Come in."
He figured he'd nap too, but the door opener snapped him awake.
"Hi, I'm Seo Ye-bin, transferring from Bujeon High."
"Nice to meet you~."
Seo Ye-bin smiled brightly.
The class guys' hearts melted—ultimate weapon activated.
Why the hell is she here...?
Geum Seong-muk, busy lately, hadn't watched news. No clue her dad Seo Mu-jin was jailed.
As he gaped, sleeping Ryu Ji shot up his hand.
"From Bujeon? Friends with Seong-muk?"
The burning question.
All eyes on Geum Seong-muk and Ye-bin.
"........."
Ye-bin paused briefly.
She'd simulated this hundreds of times.
Classic heroine move: drop a bomb, class goes "Whaaat?!"
"Yeah, pretty close!"
"Huh, gotcha."
Safe answer dodged Ryu Ji's question.
She wouldn't rush.
...Can't burden Seong-muk.
No stress for him pre-tournament. Just being back on the starting line made her happy.
Start as friends, approach like a drizzle soaking clothes.
Opportunity will come for sure.
Seo Ye-bin, veteran of chaos, had endless patience.
Tak-tak-tak—
Green onions chopped fine on the board.
Olivia cooked at her Korean home for the first time in ages.
Sizzle—!
Ingredients hit the pan.
She packed her lovingly made lunch, smiling.
"Hope Seong-muk likes it."
No game today, but return gift for him.
She headed to school happily.
Usually English class for natural meetup, but today she went to his room.
Ah, there he is!
Olivia beamed at Geum Seong-muk.
Her smile froze mid-approach.
"...Hi?"
The blue-haired girl greeted Olivia.
Seo Ye-bin smiled sweetly.
"........."
Olivia's face hardened unusually.
A tectonic shift rocked Geum Seong-muk's relationships.