Geum Taeyang Likes Costumes
[Star Cluster Nursery]
"…Who would've thought this was volunteering."
Doyeon noona visited this facility—home to kids with nowhere to go without parents—at least once or twice a month to help out.
As I watched her hand out the gift boxes we'd loaded into the car to the children, the nursery director came up beside me and struck up a conversation.
"I heard you're Doyeon's acquaintance."
"Yes, that's right."
"We can't thank her enough. She was already consistent with her volunteering before, but now she's even taken on the role of our top sponsor. How can someone so young have such a beautiful heart…?"
The director sniffled, moved to tears.
She quickly wiped her eyes and asked me,
"I heard you came to see Doyeon today, but if the kids approach you, please don't be too harsh with them. They need warm attention, having grown up without parents…."
"…Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
I nodded and looked at the children.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Even after becoming an adult and standing on my own, losing my parents had felt like losing everything. How much harder must it be for kids like these, who grew up practically without any?
I could somewhat understand why Doyeon noona came here so often. As I watched from a distance, she spotted me and came running over.
"Ah, Seong-muk…!"
Sweat beaded on her forehead as she rushed to me. She'd clearly put in some real effort unloading dozens of types of gifts from the car.
"Impressive. Not tired?"
"I'd be lying if I said no, but it's fine. One smile from the kids, and I'm recharged."
Doyeon noona flashed a spirited smile.
I grinned back, but something seemed off from her usual look.
"Noona, new car?"
"Ah…."
I remembered her driving a Porsche SUV, but today it was some beat-up old rustbucket SUV.
There was a reason for it, of course.
"…Kids these days know luxury brands pretty well, so I borrow a staff car just for visits here. Didn't want anyone feeling out of place."
"Ooh…."
Who knew there was such depth to it.
She considered others down to the smallest details. I couldn't imagine myself doing the same—I felt a strange sense of awe toward her.
As we chatted about this and that, the nursery director suddenly came huffing and puffing over to us.
"Huff, huff… Doyeon. If it's not too much trouble, could I ask a favor? It's shameless, but you're the only one I can ask…."
"Of course! Don't worry about it—tell me."
"Thank you so much! This way, then…."
Beaming, the director led Doyeon noona off somewhere. And soon, I saw it.
"…………!?!"
Something I never imagined seeing at a nursery—her outrageous costume.
"How did I end up in a police costume…."
She fidgeted, twisting her body uncomfortably.
The outfit clung a bit tight to Doyeon's curvaceous figure, which only accentuated her explosively voluptuous body even more.
"……Ahem."
Didn't feel right staring, so I looked away.
The director explained that the nursery held regular safety drills.
Especially since kids often got into accidents like car crashes while wandering outside, they emphasized traffic safety.
But plain talk from regular folks didn't stick with the kids, so they resorted to having someone dress in a police-like costume for the lessons.
Inviting real cops was too bureaucratic, so they made do this way. But today, everyone usually assigned to it had taken leave.
Couldn't disappoint the kids who looked forward to these sessions, so they ended up asking Doyeon noona.
"I'll do it—for the kids…!"
Having taken it on, Doyeon was determined to give it her all.
She could've just read the script off the PPT, but she threw herself into the role.
"Playing in front of or behind a stopped car is super dangerous. The driver might not see short kids like you from the seat."
"When crossing the street, you must use the white striped lines like these—the pedestrian crossing. No crossing anywhere else. Promise?"
""Promise…!!""
"Remember everything we learned today, and let's all stay safe and healthy! Got it?"
""Yes…!!""
She delivered the lesson without a hint of awkwardness.
The director heaped praise: "Better than any presentation I've ever seen…!!"
Her ability to analyze and explain things clearly is world-class, for good reasons.
A bit of a talent waste, in the best way.
As I warmly watched the classroom scene, someone caught my eye outside the window.
"That kid…?"
"Ah, you mean Ha-jun."
The director's face darkened abruptly.
I soon heard the whole story.
Doesn't play with the other kids, always off throwing a baseball at the wall alone….
Somehow, it hit close to home.
He seemed walled off from everyone, but since he was into baseball, maybe I could get through a little.
With the director's permission, I decided to talk to the kid.
Careful, careful….
I sneaked up behind him and called out casually.
"Whatcha doing, Ha-jun?"
"…………!!"
He jumped in surprise.
Then snapped back irritably.
"What…!! I said I don't care about that lame education…!!"
He whipped around.
But his eyes soon lit up.
"G-Geum Seong-muk…!!"
"You know me?"
"Of c-course! Munhyeok High ace Geum Seong-muk hyung…!!"
He recognized me right away.
More people had started spotting me on the streets lately, but this was still surprising.
"I've watched every game you've pitched…! From Geumgang High, Girin High, Daegwallyeong High, Hancheong High—all of them…!!"
"Who knew I'd find a fan in a place like this."
Ha-jun looked thrilled.
I ruffled his hair and said,
"Wanna play some catch?"
"Whoa, really…!? But hyung, you must be tired…."
Worried about my stamina, the kid.
I couldn't help chuckling.
If a few tosses with a snot-nosed kid wear me out, I couldn't make a living at baseball.
I roughly tousled his hair again and said,
"Of course it's fine, kid. My body's built tough."
"Whoa…!!"
Ha-jun beamed.
We slipped on gloves and started catch. Interestingly, he was a lefty like me.
"How old are you, Ha-jun?"
"Fourth grade elementary, 11 years old…!"
"Got it."
He hadn't learned formally, but his form wasn't bad from what he'd picked up. Self-taught to this level? Pass.
"What do you wanna be when you grow up? Lots of options—lawyer, doctor, whatever."
"Pro baseball player, obviously. Nothing cooler than that."
"Can't argue there."
"I'll become a star player and take care of everyone at Star Cluster Nursery."
"Whoa…."
Big talk from the kid.
In Black communities, there's this "homie" culture where one success story lifts the whole group. Out of nowhere, here's this kid vowing to do it.
Could dismiss it as naive kid stuff, but it didn't sound bad to me.
A real man needs that kind of vessel.
Paang!
I smacked my glove, praising him.
"Impressive. You're a guy, alright?"
"Obviously…! And before going pro, I'll definitely go to Munhyeok High."
"Huh…?"
Passing up better schools for there…?
Munhyeok High was just a fallback—no baseball heritage or advantages.
By the time he grew up, it'd probably still be yelling "Sejong Tournament qualifier…!" as a total has-been.
Fan or not, this wouldn't fly.
"Think it over. Plenty of powerhouse schools out there?"
He shook his head firmly.
His eyes were dead serious.
"Munhyeok High baseball has something different from other teams…! I'll enroll there someday and become an ace as cool as you, hyung!"
"Ugh…."
That's as far as he goes?
Damn, couldn't just leave that hanging.
"Alright, I'll test if you've got the talent to be Munhyeok High's ace myself."
"Wow…!!"
Sounded weird, but not wrong.
To carry a newbie team like Munhyeok High solo, you'd need insane skills, right?
If his talent fell short, I'd gently talk him into a real powerhouse high school.
"Okay, throw some."
"Yes, here goes!"
He got into a pitcher's stance and fired.
About 10 balls in, from my catching perspective?
This kid throws some funky stuff.
No blazing fastball talent.
But the ball was dirty—moving fastball potential.
That's talent too.
Just gripping and throwing a straight fastball, but it naturally danced. Not everyone’s born with that.
Hmm, I can see his skill tree path.
Fourth grade wasn't too late or early—time for a proper baseball team. Doyeon noona would fund it if I asked.
Then, all the tricks I know.
Gamer vet tips for growth. No plans to share with the world, but for a nursery kid's dream? Fine.
"You can do it, Munhyeok High ace."
"Really?!"
"But you'll need systematic training. Wanna learn how I trained?"
"Whoa, yes…!!"
"Okay, try this in middle or high school when you have time. There's a place called Guryong Waterfall in Namwon, Jeonbuk—head there and…."
"……!!"
His eyes sparkled at my training secrets.
I shared various Easter egg-style drills suited for him.
I figured he'd barely hit half the list. The older and more sensible you get, the harder crazy training is.
Even a fraction of that, and he'd be mid-tier among peers.
That was the plan.
I had no idea then.
That I was personally raising the monster who'd lead Munhyeok High's second golden era….
Anyway, Ha-jun's coaching wrapped up.
He seemed pumped.
Then he spotted something—his expression turned sly. He sidled up and whispered,
"Hyung, you're close with Doyeon noona, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, um… Not sure if I should say, but…."
Scratching his head, hesitating.
Finally deciding I was trustworthy, he spilled.
"I skip events and hang by the fence a lot, so I noticed—every time Doyeon noona visits, there's this guy outside watching her."
"……!?"
Pretty shocking.
Stalker?
I probed for details.
"Can you describe him?"
"Big guy, glasses, neat beard, pretty handsome for an ajusshi…."
"Huh?"
Someone popped into my head.
But that guy was Doyeon noona's….
"Ah, there he is!"
"…!"
I whipped around and locked eyes with a middle-aged man.
"Do Hakhoon, chairman…?"
"………!"
Noticing I'd clocked him, Do Hakhoon bolted. I considered chasing but didn't.
Something's up, for sure.
Korea Baseball Association chairman and the siblings' biological father, Do Hakhoon.
Heard he was the worst dad for abandoning them to remarry, but like Dojin said, he had unspoken circumstances. Otherwise, those desperate eyes made no sense.
Might pay him a visit soon.
The Do siblings grew up practically parentless. If there was a misunderstanding between parent and kids, I'd help clear it.
Partly because of my ties to Doyeon noona and Dojin, but not entirely selfless.
Networking with a top baseball power player? Can't hurt.
Korea's a connections society.
Even for national team selection or awards, knowing someone in the association smooths things.
A chairman? No question.
"Ha-jun, this is our secret, got it?"
"Yep, got it…!!"
He nodded eagerly.
Time to head back.
"Hyung, good luck in tomorrow's spring tournament finals. I'll watch live…!!"
"You got it—I'll smash one, so tune in."
Tomorrow, probably DH. No Solar Divine Vein made my chest tight, but I'd make do with raw stats.
I ruffled his hair and returned to the nursery.
"Ah, Seong-muk's back?"
Doyeon noona was finishing cleanup after the lesson.
Just us two in the classroom.
I helped casually, wrapping up quick.
"Good work, Seong-muk…! How'd it go with Ha-jun?"
"Yeah, turns out he's a fan. Gave him the full fan service."
"Really…?"
She lit up when I mentioned catch and pitching tips too. Ha-jun had worried her.
"Oh, by the way, noona. Notice any stares today?"
"Stares…?"
She tilted her head.
Then clapped suddenly.
"Ah, yeah!"
"…!"
So she had felt her dad's gaze vaguely—
"The kids were staring at the police uniform like crazy. Do they really love cop costumes that much…?"
"………."
I glanced down subtly.
The outfit strained, ready to burst.
Even kids are boys.
Probably drawn to her overwhelming curves, I figured.
"Um, Seong-muk…."
"Yeah?"
"Staring like that is embarrassing…."
"………!!"
I snapped my head away.
Meant to sneak a peek, but got caught ogling her chest too hard.
Damn, embarrassing.
Awkward vibe hung.
I cleared my throat, scratched my head.
"…Ahem, it suits you so well, I zoned out."
"Teasing?"
"No, for real."
"……!"
Doyeon noona blushed.
Silence fell.
She tucked her hair behind her ear shyly, murmuring low.
"…Then you can look more."
"……!"
What a violent line.
If Solar Divine Vein were active, it might've reacted.
"Ahem."
This was something.
Couldn't ignore her earnest request.
I turned back. That instant—
Paang!
"Kyaa…!?"
The button popped off explosively.
The one barely holding against her massive chest gave way.
The flying button rocketed up—and
"Guhk."
Smacked me right on the forehead.
I toppled backward.
Kudangtang!
"Kyaaak, Seong-muk…!!"
Even with her black lace bra exposed, she panicked over me falling.
…Whoa, look at that.
Staring at the massive mounds shaking before me, I thought: Not really hurt, but I could play it up awhile.
Anyway, the day before finals.
A fulfilling rest day, all around.