Off to Sajik Stadium with Epinel

Before I could even think about what to do tomorrow, Epinel had already laid out a simple itinerary for the day ahead, as if she'd planned everything in advance.

After roll call ended around ten, we'd head straight out. Since it was the off-season, a small event zone had opened up inside Sajik Baseball Stadium. We'd swing by there first, grab a quick lunch, then take the Sky Capsule—a tiny subway-like ride that could fit two or three people—to the beach. We'd spend some time there, have dinner, and head back. That was the plan.

When I asked if we could also visit the Choi Dong-il statue, we agreed to stop by briefly on the way to the stadium in the morning, since it was nearby.

'Sounds fun.'

This was technically my first date... or at least, that's what it felt like. I'd thought we were just going to watch the opening game of the pro baseball season together, but other than the trip being moved to Busan, nothing had really changed. After all, even the stadium visit was with Epinel.

".....You look unnecessarily happy."

"What, loser?"

"T-that was just because of the machine! If I switched machines, I'd definitely—"

"Yeah~ I'm not playing again~"

"You son of a—!"

Kim Sihu looked ready to explode, so I grabbed my pajamas and slipped into the bathroom to wash up. The other players were heading to the sauna to scrub each ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠other's backs and bowl a few games, but I wasn't particularly interested.

"So go without me. I'll just stay here and watch TV."

"If that's what you want..... Fine."

-Click!

Kim Sihu shut the door and left. The sauna was where most of the baseball team gathered, and even though he'd been in the second string, his crew was still heavily represented there. If I went, the starters—including Yang Uijin—would probably split off from the second-string group that followed Kim Sihu.

'Too much hassle.'

Honestly, in group life, the fewer places you went, the better. There were still players I wasn't close with, and the second-string guys—who'd mostly lost the intra-squad game—definitely wouldn't look at me kindly.

'During the Busan High game, we'll use some of the second-string players too. If the guys who won the intra-squad game don't have the skill, we'll bench them..... but they're probably anxious about it.'

The Busan High game would likely be the last practice match before the heavenly clash between Kim Sihu and Lee Taehyun. We needed to raise the team's spirits.

'Who knows? Maybe the second-string guys who win this game and gain confidence won't get cocky or overconfident when they face Lee Taehyun's team.'

The Haneul High second string had crushed Daeji High's students by such a wide margin that it was practically a mercy rule game. But they'd been so overconfident that they promised Daeji High would win if they scored even a single run... Then one player, inspired by Lee Taehyun's performance, stepped up and reached base safely. Lee Taehyun ended the game, and Kim Sihu's nightmare began.

Kim Sihu probably wouldn't get arrogant since I'd already beaten him, but the second-string lackeys who followed him were another story.

Unlike the Haneul High starters—who were a mix of all grades—the second string was mostly made up of first-years who'd just passed the recent test. The second- and third-year starters who'd realized they couldn't take a starting spot had either transferred to other schools after the semester or quit baseball altogether. That was how fiercely competitive the starting positions at Haneul High were.

'Ah, so some former Haneul High second-string players end up at Daeji High too.'

I'd see that confirmed later in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠episode where Haneul High and Daeji High faced off in the national tournament, so I set it aside for now.

'Tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.'

I decided to focus on tomorrow's date with Epinel instead.

...

...

...

"Alright, enjoy your free time. Dismissed!"

"Woohoo, freedom!"

The moment Coach Kim finished speaking, players bolted out just like yesterday. If it had been yesterday, I would've run with them, but today someone was waiting for me.

After watching everyone rush off, I slowly walked toward Epinel, who was chatting with the managers in the back.

She looked like she'd just ordered a drink from a nearby coffee shop—one hand holding a beverage. Even though it was still chilly, her Russian-Korean heritage showed in the way she strolled around in a trench coat and jeans.

"Epinel, let's go."

"Ah, yeah...."

I held out my hand and led her out. From behind, I felt a surge of excitement like someone had just hit a walk-off home run, but I decided to ignore it. After all, one of the second-year managers was also leaving hand-in-hand with Yang Uijin.

'Didn't know he had a girlfriend....'

Or maybe having a girlfriend was exactly why he could hang out with the other guys so casually.

'I don't really get it either.'

For now, I needed to focus on enjoying the Busan trip with Epinel, who was being led along by my hand.

"Should we head to Sajik Stadium first?"

"S-sure!"

Epinel and I boarded the bus and started toward Sajik Baseball Stadium.

'.........Hmm, what do people usually do on dates?'

Oh, right—Yang Uijin had gone out with one of the managers earlier.

'They've known each other for over a year.... Maybe I should just ask him something simple?'

Ah, I deleted the last message without sending it. Even if Yang Uijin was crazy, I didn't have enough seniority yet to curse him out to his face.

'Wait, this feels like foreshadowing for me cursing him out later...'

From what I'd heard about Yang Uijin's dating history, he'd seen Shin Siah during the entrance exam and confessed first. Shin Siah had said she'd accept if he hit a home run in a practice game. And just like that, Yang Uijin blasted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠three home runs, confessed boldly, and Shin Siah—smitten by that sight—accepted.

'They really are a perfect match......'

Who confesses on the first date and who accepts right away? Well, if your face is the deciding factor, anything's possible. There are games where people fall in love at first sight and hand over everything, liver and gallbladder included.

'Senior Shin Siah......'

She was one of the three people supporting Epinel. Ah, I remembered now. She had a slightly haughty look and wore a skirt with stockings even in freezing weather. A peculiar person.

'Well, if they're happy, it's not my place to say anything....'

-Squeeze

That aside, Epinel was gradually inching closer. The bus was getting crowded, and before long, the distance between us had shrunk to about ten to fifteen centimeters. For reference, that was the distance between our heads. Which meant....

'......How am I supposed to endure this?'

Epinel's baseball bag was now pressed right against my body. Since she couldn't even reach the handrail, she was using my waist as a substitute.

Epinel herself looked completely unbothered, but personally, I felt more nervous now than when I had to hit Choi Dong-il's pitches.

"Ah, kyaa?!"

Suddenly, the bus swerved sharply—either trying to cut someone off or avoiding a car that had cut in front of it. Unlike Seoul buses, this one lurched violently. Epinel, who hadn't found her balance, stumbled forward. I instinctively twisted my body and reached out to catch her safely by the back, preventing her from falling....

"...........Um, you can let go now. The bus stopped."

"Ah, sorry."

"Ah, I-I didn't mean I hated it...."

Because of that, I'd ended up hugging Epinel, and our faces were now less than five centimeters apart—an unexpectedly heart-pounding situation. I'd managed to prevent an injury, but I couldn't stop Epinel from covering her tomato-red face with both hands.

I'd thought she was just an energetic person, but she had this side to her too....

'Cute.'

It was the kind of day that made me think she was a little cute.

[This stop is Sajik Baseball Stadium, Sajik Baseball Stadium. The next stop is.....]

"Ah, should we get off?"

"Yeah."

And so, in this moment where we couldn't even look at each other out of embarrassment, the announcement that the bus had arrived ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at Sajik Stadium rang out at just the right time.

After tapping our bus cards, Epinel and I stepped off....

[Choi Dong-il Statue]

"Wow.... It's amazing. I couldn't see it properly during roll call. Such an overwhelming presence."

'.....Aren't the glasses a bit too big?'

The Choi Dong-il I'd seen had been wearing thin gold-rimmed horn-rimmed glasses.... These looked like bulky plastic square frames.

'Thank you. I'll always think of Choi Dong-il when I use '

After offering a brief prayer for Choi Dong-il, I followed Epinel into Sajik Stadium, where I was greeted by....

"Whoa."

A surprisingly generous reward awaited at the event zone, and....

"An event? There probably aren't any kids coming besides us Busan High guys."

"Well, it's basically just a tournament for the local Busan high school kids."

They were Busan High players, wearing Busan High baseball uniforms.