Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Sergei-kun, Who Occasionally Blushes in Russian
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"Ah shit, I'm screwed."
The Solar Meridian alarm blared all through the early morning, keeping me from getting a wink of sleep. I must've managed about two hours right at the end.
[Geum Seong-muk, I wanted to bring a lunchbox to the stadium, but your condition isn't good today either... Thanks for the dead one. It was delicious -Olivia] To top it all off, even the lunchbox doping was off the table. My condition, which had felt like I could fly to the heavens, was worlds apart from the golden days at Geumgang High.
Having to beat the Sejong Tournament's Kirin High team while crawling on the floor like this... It was shaping up to be a tough day.
"Ah, Seong-muk hyung...!"
"It's Hassan. You feeling okay?"
"Haha, I'm fine! It's a relief it didn't end worse."
Hassan's medical checkup came back as "no major issues." But no major issues didn't mean no issues at all.
'There's very minor bone damage. It won't affect daily life, but he absolutely can't push it with intense physical activities like pitching.'
'Over the rest of the tournament, a total of 60 pitches max. That's his limit. Anything more, and the kid's bones won't hold up.'
It was grim news indeed.
Hassan had to start against Daegwallyeong High in the next game. The problem was that Daegwallyeong, alongside Hancheong High, boasted one of Seoul's strongest lineups.
In a situation where even Hassan wasn't sure how long he could last against them, pulling him after just 60 pitches meant bridging to closer Ri Dong-hyeok with Park Chan-jun.
'...We're fucked?'
Chan-jun had somehow earned a reputation for blowing games whenever he took the mound, but what could you do about reality?
'Tch, should've scouted one more decent pitcher...'
But if they had, there wouldn't have been time to pick up Ji Su-yong, and the outfield would've been left with a massive hole impossible to patch.
'No point worrying about the next game already. Let's win this one first.'
For now, all we could do was squeeze everything out of what we had. Ahead of the game, I recalled the conversation I'd had with Do-yeon noona.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Noona's coming here in person?"
"Yeah, I figured it'd be better to explain it face-to-face..."
I could've just sent the data via messenger, but Do-yeon noona had come all the way to Munhyeok High's baseball field.
I led her into the office inside the stadium and we got down to business.
"Seong-muk, how much do you know about Kirin High?"
"Hmm, not a ton. Just that they have sister school ties with communist countries and bring in a lot of players from there...?"
"Right, you have the gist of it."
Of course, it was just surface-level knowledge like "that's their gimmick." It was a Sejong Tournament team, but not one with a huge presence in the game.
"As a Sejong Tournament qualifier, they've got plenty of A-rank players, but the three you really need to watch out for are these."
Shff!
She neatly laid out three reports. Two hitters and one pitcher.
"First up is 'Brown Bear' Dmitry Novik, Russia's youth national team catcher. Kirin High's starting catcher, famous for his well-rounded hitting and defense."
I knew this guy.
He'd go on to anchor Russia's national team for 20 years. Definitely someone to be wary of at the plate.
"Next is China's Tian Zifeng. A mid-to-long-range slugger with insane power, and word is his form's been hot lately."
I knew this one too.
I remembered him as the guy whose heavy steroid use made everyone around him grimace. The type I'd prefer to avoid off the field.
"Last is Russia's Sergei Rasputin, famous for his devastating knuckleball."
Anyone who's played Doki Doki Baseball knows this guy. The knuckleball's raw power was part of it, but his bizarre antics made him even more memorable.
Sergei usually wandered around shirtless, thick chest hair on full display—but that was tame.
'What was it again? Something about mimicking a butterfly's flight, sneaking into someone's vegetable patch to throw knuckleballs, and getting arrested...'
He was the unpredictable type most avoided as a teammate, but veteran players who'd seen it all sometimes recruited him anyway.
'I've used him a few times myself.'
Knuckleballers excel at eating innings and back-to-back outings, which has tons of merit—especially in tournaments. If there'd been time, I might've even made an offer.
"Sergei throws just two pitches. Fast knuckle and slow knuckle—that's it."
"A high schooler already at that level...? Insane proficiency."
Even R.A. Dickey, the Cy Young winner with knucklers, threw two types, but for a high schooler to match that? Impressive.
"Yeah, definitely a tough matchup. But if you're targeting one for an approach, go for the fast knuckle."
"Makes sense—the fast one's got less break, so easier to square up."
"Exactly."
Intuitively, "fast" sounds more powerful, but for a dance-all-over knuckler, the slow, fluttery one with wild movement is way harder to hit.
Sergei knew that too, so his fast-to-slow ratio was about 3:7. But Do-yeon noona had countermeasures prepared.
"This is his pitch sequencing patterns by count. Reference these, and you can predict when the fast one's coming..."
"Oho..."
No matter how much game knowledge I had, I couldn't know every detail like this. I was floored by Do-yeon noona's analytical skills filling in the gaps.
"Thanks, Do-yeon noona."
".........!!"
Her face flushed bright red in an instant.
"N-no, it's nothing. You're Do-jin's benefactor. If anything, I'm the one who should be thanking you...!"
"What you did back then helped me tenfold more. I'm always grateful to you, noona."
"Ugh..."
She couldn't meet my eyes, covering her face with both hands. After steadying her breathing, she spoke up.
"Seong-muk... um, you know..."
"...?"
"Well, I mean."
"Yeah?"
"After the game, come over to my place...! I'll make something delicious..."
She suddenly invited me over. I considered declining since it felt like I was just receiving, but with Do-jin there too, a group dinner sounded fun. I nodded.
"Got it. I'll definitely come."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Tch, wonder if I can even make it. With condition this shitty..."
If I weren't starting today, I'd be flat on my bed right now. Forget heading to Do-yeon noona's after the game—I was worried I'd collapse before then.
Yawning hugely, I staggered toward the bathroom and spotted a foreigner with a thick mat of chest hair, shirtless as usual.
His face was covered in scruffy beard too. I knew his name.
"...Sergei Rasputin?"
"......Kto (Who)?"
Question marks popped up on his face when I called his name. Déjà vu hit hard—first Geumgang, now bumping into another ace in the bathroom at Kirin High.
"Ahh, it's you. Zem Seong-muk."
"Zem Seong-muk? Who's that...?"
Guess that's how Russians pronounce my name. I stepped into the stall two over from his.
As I unzipped, the guy pulled a sudden move.
"Zem Seong-muk, yours is small."
He slid right next to me, clicking his tongue and shaking his head.
"Ho...?"
The audacity.
Was he picking a fight over dick size? I glanced over at his.
'What? Smaller than mine?'
His ancestor, the Mad Monk Rasputin, was supposedly legendary down there, but this was disappointing.
He'd assumed I was smaller without looking properly. When I didn't react, he finally checked for real.
"Heop...!"
Sensing the size gap, he scrambled for an excuse.
"...When it grows, Zem Seong-muk, you can't match me."
"Pfft!"
What a clown.
One strong flex and he'd faint, yet here he was talking big.
Ziiip!
I zipped up and tossed him a question.
"Hey, Sergei."
"Zem Seong-muk, why call?"
"You really a high schooler?"
"...Sergei is high schooler. Why ask?"
He snapped sharply, probably used to age questions. I grinned.
"Just curious. First high schooler I've seen with receding hairline already."
"......Chyo (What)!"
His eyes bulged.
The beard and chest hair contributed to his aged look, but the emerging M-shaped hairline was a big factor too.
(Sure, Chan-jun hyung had it too, but he was a year older, so exception.)
"Anyway, stock up on hair loss meds early. Won't be able to handle it later."
I tossed that advice and headed out, but he pondered it, then dashed over and grabbed my shoulder.
"Hey, Zem Seong-muk...!"
"...?!"
Was he pissed and wanting to throw down? I braced for rough measures, but his words were unexpected.
"What medicine do I take? Tell me...!"
"......"
This guy was dead serious about his hair loss.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Thanks, Zem Seong-muk...!! You're my friend now!'
We'd inexplicably become friends. I'd ask around and get him the hair loss info he wanted.
Not a bad guy, and owing me a favor couldn't hurt.
As I moved to join the team, I spotted some unexpected figures talking in a secluded spot.
'That's Un-gang?'
Seok Un-gang was chatting with Tian Zifeng, Kirin High's Chinese player. Looked like Tian was the one holding him there.
"Heard you turned down the China national team offer? Why?"
"This humble monk is from Hong Kong. How could I betray my homeland for another country's team?"
"Gal (Hah)......!!!"
"...!"
Tian suddenly bellowed, flying into a rage and jumping around like a maniac.
"Seok Un-gang, you bastard! Another country? Hong Kong is China's too—what nonsense is that!"
"...Your words are excessive."
"Excessive? Hah."
Tian sneered in disbelief.
"Hong Kong isn't even a real country to begin with. Yet you Hong Kongers yap on about being different from China. Just shut up and go with the flow of the mighty Yangtze. Tch..."
"............!"
Un-gang, who'd been silent, had veins bulging on his forehead. Way angrier than the spat with Hassan.
'If I don't stop this, he's gonna unleash the Buddha's Divine Palm...?'
A pre-game brawl would mean instant suspension. With their size difference, one solid hit from Un-gang would leave Tian on death's door. I rushed in and wedged between them.
"Hey, Un-gang!!"
"Geum Seong-muk shiju...?"
"Coach is looking for you. Hurry."
Catching my intent to defuse, Un-gang quickly calmed. He clasped his hands in apology.
"Forgive my shameful display. I'll go at once."
I sent Un-gang off, but Tian spoke up incredulously.
"What the hell is this?"
"What're you on about?"
Saving his ass and still complaining.
I turned to the guy with zero self-awareness. What he said next made me doubt my ears.
"Unbelievable. How dare a man from a small nation meddle in a great nation's affairs...!!"
".........??"
This motherfucker.
Was that aimed at me?