Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Recruited the Insanely Awesome Siblings!
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3rd year, Class 1.
A presence that brought massive tension to what had been a reasonably peaceful class appeared.
>“Grrr...”
>The culprit was Takahina Ryuji, sprawled face-down on his desk, dead asleep. Plenty of students were seeing him for the first time since he hadn't shown up to school once after classes started.
>“That's Ryuji, the guy who's always absent.”
“Whoa, but he's kinda hot. Might be my type...”
>“You should give up. He's the heir to a yakuza family!”
“Gasp...!!”
Rumors about his background spread like wildfire through the class in no time. At that point, when no one dared approach him, a hulking guy strode over. It was the biggest presence in the class: Geum Seong-muk.
>Tap tap!
>The students watching nervously were stunned.
Geum Seong-muk had nudged Ryuji's desk with his foot while the guy slept.
Then he muttered lowly.
>“Hey, slant-eye.”
“Mm...?”
“Whoa...!!”
>The whole class was floored.
The top slur hated by Japanese people in Korea: slant-eye!
And he said it to a yakuza heir, no less.
The classmates wondered if Seong-muk had balls of steel. But Ryuji, jolted awake by the sudden slur, was no pushover either.
>“...Why you calling me, nigger?”
“N-nigger...!?!?!”
>Now the classmates were covering their mouths in shock.
Who dared call Geum Seong-muk “nigger”?
Unlike calling someone “pale,” “black-skinned” carried heavy negative connotations and was far more likely to piss someone off in everyday talk. Especially if the target was a dangerous guy like Geum Seong-muk.
Geum Seong-muk raised his right hand high at Ryuji's words.
The classmates gulped.
>‘Th-they're definitely gonna fight!’
‘Is this a showdown for top dog in our class...!’
>Just as they thought the clash was about to erupt,
Geum Seong-muk quietly pointed toward the door with his finger.
>“Canteen. I'm buying.”
“Sounds good?”
>Ryuji shot up like it was a great idea. The two headed off to the canteen with big grins.
>“Wh-what just happened...?”
>“...When did those two get chummy?”
An unimaginable duo had formed, leaving the class utterly dumbfounded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The baseball team gathered today for practice as usual.
But before training began, there would be introductions for the new faces. Right before that, Ryuji and Noah finally came face-to-face after a long time.
>“Onii-chan...!!”
“Haha, Noah. Long time no see.”
>Noah rushed to Ryuji, tears welling up.
She'd heard the rough outline from their father and had been deeply worried.
>“That's so mean! No replies to my texts! And you were out doing dangerous stuff!!”
“Sorry, I was a bit lost. But I'm good now. I won't do anything risky again.”
>“Really...?”
“Of course. You know I never break a promise once I make it.”
>Ryuji gently wiped his sister's tears.
Once Noah seemed calmed, she bowed deeply to Seong-muk in thanks.
>“Seong-muk sunbae, thank you for saving my brother!! I'll repay this debt someday!”
“Forget the rest. Just work hard in the baseball club from now on. That's plenty.”
“Yes...!!”
>Noah clenched her fists with determination.
She already handled three roles in the club by herself. Seong-muk figured that was more than enough. As he turned to join the other members, Ryuji grabbed him.
>“Here, Seong-muk. Take this.”
“What's this...?”
>Ryuji suddenly handed something to Seong-muk.
It was a bat as black as pitch.
Seong-muk took it, stared blankly for a moment, then stepped back a few paces and swung it experimentally.
>Whoosh-!
>“Whoa, it's pretty heavy...”
>It was nearly 1.5 times heavier than his usual bat.
But it felt on another level from a regular bat—heavy in a profound way.
>“It's made from top-grade wood that only grows in the Takahina family estate. Heavier than commercial bats, sure, but the rebound is worth it. Once you get used to it, it'll be great for power hitting.”
“......Oh ho.”
>Seong-muk got the feeling immediately.
An instinctive sense that he had to use this bat. The thick, domineering wood vibe hooked him right away.
>“Nice. Tell them thanks.”
>Ryuji and Noah grinned and thumbs-upped.
Seong-muk led them to the field where everyone was assembled.
The captain showing up with two new faces drew all eyes instantly. Manager Myeong Sin-u had the team line up, cleared his throat, and spoke.
>“You all don't know these faces, right? Have each of them introduce themselves.”
>Noah went first.
She greeted everyone with a bright, bubbly smile.
>“I'm Takahina Noah, the new member of the baseball club! I'm not much, but please take care of me...!!”
>Clap clap--!
>“Woooah...!!”
“Take care of me too!!”
>Thunderous applause erupted for the cute girl joining. They would've cheered for any XX chromosomes, but a darling manager like Noah? The reaction was off the charts.
The baseball club members went wild.
And it wasn't just the guys welcoming her.
>“Heh heh, so fresh and cute, I could die. Gotta spoil her rotten.”
>Shin Hye-ji, the 3rd-year senior manager who'd joined a week earlier, giggled at Noah. She adored cute things, so no one was happier about Noah than her.
>“Why am I suddenly getting chills...?”
>Is it a cold snap? Noah shivered.
Next up: Ryuji's introduction.
>“Takahina Ryuji here. Noah's big bro~.”
>Ryuji flashed a friendly smile and wrapped it up simply.
The intro was short, and the reaction was lukewarm.
Of course, there were reasons.
>‘Takahina Ryuji...?’
‘Who's that?’
>Most players here didn't know his name or his skills. At best, they knew he was a yakuza heir. So some harbored quiet resentment.
>‘Transfers like Ji Su-yong or Geum Seong-muk sunbae who're actually good? Fine, whatever...’
‘But adding some no-name who's never been on any sports team now? We busted our asses in tryouts...’
>Sure, if they saw him as a bonus to a cute manager like Noah, it was tolerable. Still, the team consensus held doubts about recruiting Takahina Ryuji.
Manager Myeong Sin-u picked up on the vibe.
He promptly set up a stage to test Ryuji's skills.
>“Alright, we're switching up today's training. Free batting first. Get it set up!”
“Yes sir!!”
>Free batting commenced.
>Crack!
Crack!
>“Oh ho.”
>The training had paid off—key hitters showed hot bats, enough to make the watching manager smile.
>“Next up, Takahina Ryuji.”
“Here.”
>The guy finally stepped to the plate.
All eyes locked on.
>“Ugh, he better deliver...”
>Manager Myeong Sin-u played it cool, but he had his doubts about recruiting Ryuji too.
>‘No sports team experience, hasn't played ball in nearly two years...’
>Normally, that alone would've gotten him cut. But Geum Seong-muk was the super top dog who could fire Myeong Sin-u anytime.
If the captain said recruit, he recruited. A lowly manager couldn't defy the ace.
>As everyone eyed Ryuji suspiciously at the plate, one existing member alone seemed unbothered, tidying his gear.
>“Adam sunbae, not watching the newbie's free batting?”
>Choi Adam turned at Do Do-jin's question.
He shook his head.
>“Nah, no need.”
“Why not?”
>“That guy's on another level. Probably right up there with Un-gang or Geum Seong-muk.”
“What...!?”
>Do Do-jin jumped in shock.
At that moment, a clean crack echoed across the field.
>Crack--!
>“...!”
>The ball rocketed left at insane speed. It flew straight like a laser and smashed over the fence.
>Crack!!
Crack!
>The third and fourth balls cleared the fence too. The players were stunned—never knew you could homer at such a low trajectory.
>Crack!!
>Finally, the last pitch.
Ryuji sent that one over too.
Two balls frustratingly ricocheted off the fence, but out of ten, he'd homered eight. Terrifying power. The Munhyeok High members were shell-shocked.
>“Insane, for real...?”
“Bat speed is nuts...”
>‘A hitter like this was a nobody all this time?’ The team marveled.
They lacked experience against top schools, but everyone instinctively knew: this guy was national-class.
A short hiatus couldn't erase the burning passion for baseball always in his heart or his overwhelming talent.
>Everyone now saw Ryuji in a new light.
The biggest impact? Manager Myeong, naturally.
>“Haha, of course! A Seong-muk pick couldn't flop...!!”
>The manager felt like an idiot for doubting. The third-base hole that'd kept him up at night was filled perfectly by this slugger. Munhyeok High's lineup and defense had no glaring weaknesses now.
>“Phew, feels great!”
>The man who'd stunned them all returned to the dugout bat in hand. As everyone stared silently, gulping, Ryuji spoke up like he'd spotted something.
>“Hey, look who it is! Long time, Adam!”
“...!?”
>All eyes turned to Choi Adam.
As if asking how they knew each other.
Adam himself was the dumbfounded one.
They'd been in a baseball club together, but for less than two weeks. He'd assumed he'd been forgotten, but nope.
>“Uh, yeah. Long time.”
>Adam was secretly thrilled such an amazing guy remembered him. Until those next words.
>“Haha, Adam's still as short as ever!”
>Ryuji beamed and patted Adam's shoulder. No malice—just pure observation.
But...
>“Wh-what...!?”
>Crack!
Height was Adam's sore spot. He'd been properly triggered.
>“Pfft, hahaha, heh heh heh...”
>Shin Hye-ji, who'd overheard, was doubled over laughing. Already pissed with his bestie rolling on the floor? Adam snapped.
>“Gahhh! You damn foreigners, I'll kill you all...!!”
“Adam hyung, hold it in! You'll die fighting that guy...!”
>“I get sunbae's feelings, but he can't win...”
“Whose side are you on, you punks!!”
>Ji Su-yong and Do Do-jin: consoling or provoking? Hard to tell. The awkward dugout turned rowdy in seconds.
>“Hee hee, so lively! Love it!!”
“Yeah, great vibe.”
>Noah and Geum Seong-muk smiled at the dugout chaos.
Anything short of the extreme Islam vs. Buddhism clash from tryouts, Seong-muk didn't mind teammate squabbles.
>‘That's how they bond—roughhousing and getting close.’
>Seong-muk didn't care about the mess, idly picking his ear. Then Noah tossed him a question.
>“Oh yeah, Seong-muk sunbae! Tomorrow's the group draw, right?”
“Yeah. Manager Myeong Sin-u's going himself to pick.”
>“Hmm, wonder how it'll go...”
“Pray over a bowl of water or something. ‘Please give us an easy group.’”
“Ahh...”
>Truth was, they didn't even need an easy group.
Just avoid the worst-case death group.
Seoul-area high school seeds split into A, B, C, D groups.
>One of the four was always hell.
Land there, and you'd face powerhouse schools that broke through the Sejong Tournament—three times—to reach summer nationals. Madness.
>‘The bracket won't screw us too, right?’
>He'd already endured more than his share of bad luck.
So he believed it'd be fine this time.
Just dodge that one group. No way it'd happen!
>The calm before the storm.
Whether it was sound reasoning or a pipe dream? Tomorrow's results would tell.