National Team Call-Up [1]

The trophy ceremony was brilliantly handled by the graduating third-year captain, Lee Hyunbin, standing at the center. Next year, it would be Heo Kangmin as a third-year, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in two years, it would probably be me lifting that trophy in the same spot. I never expected that Yang Uijin and I would be the ones following the national custom of the pitcher and catcher hugging on the mound after a win... but it was our first national tournament victory, so the feeling was incredible.

During the shoulder ride event where we launched Coach high into the sky, some players seemed to be venting all the stress they'd built up during training by throwing him extra hard, but... it was a good day, so I'd let it slide.

"Haa... I'm kinda nervous about the interview."

How many people were going to try to tear me apart? No matter how much a superstar needs to drive both fans and haters crazy... it still felt a little scary.

"Seojun, you can do it!"

"Thanks, Epinel."

With Epinel's encouragement, I slowly entered the interview room. As expected, the questions were overwhelmingly focused on my selection for the WBC. There were far more cameras than during the Weekend League. They were probably all from stations that had come to see me—the hot potato at the center of the current WBC controversy.

"Player Lee Seojun, you've been selected as the youngest ever for this WBC. What are your thoughts..."

"Player Lee Seojun, there are suspicions that you recently had contact with Commissioner Heo Gu-yeon at Haneul High School..."

I quickly pointed to the reporter from MBBC who had raised his hand with a loud click.

"Yes, MBBC reporter."

"Ah, yes. Player Lee Seojun, you've just achieved your first championship as a member of Haneul High School. Could we get a word from you on your thoughts?"

"Well, first of all, it feels really good... This victory wouldn't have been possible without my teammates who worked so hard alongside me and Coach Kim."

"Player Lee Seojun! About the WBC..."

"Player Lee Seojun, regarding your thoughts on being selected..."

Just as I'd expected, every station except MBBC was completely ignored.

Click!

"Yes, MBBC reporter."

"Ah, um, could you share your determination or thoughts regarding the WBC..."

"Honestly, I never expected to be picked at all, but I'll do my best."

The moment I blatantly ignored their questions, I could feel the reporters' gazes—some pitying, others clearly thinking, 'Is this little brat really ignoring the press?'

This is revenge against the networks that ran those illegal drug and parachute reports on me last time.

Doing the interview exclusively with the MBBC reporter left the others looking like they were sweating bullets, terrified they wouldn't get any usable stories about me.

Click.

Oh, this one's not from MBBC.

It was a reporter from OPSN, well-known for their sports coverage. During all the noise around my selection, they were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠practically the only outlet that stayed completely neutral, simply reporting the news of my call-up and my pitching performances in the Weekend League. I was genuinely grateful to them.

"Yes, OPSN reporter..."

"Yes, Player Lee Seojun. There's been a lot of negative attention surrounding your recent WBC selection. I'd like to ask what you think about that."

Oh.

Since all the station reporters were gathered here, this was the perfect chance to speak my mind openly.

"First of all, at seventeen years old, this is the first time I've ever received this much attention... It's a bit overwhelming, honestly, and it makes me nervous. I feel like I need to work even harder in every way. Oh, and it's also made me really reflect on the meaning of the saying 'proximity to ink makes one black.'"

I'd basically told them, in the most roundabout way possible, that I had no intention of dropping down to U-18, that I was pretty pissed off about all the malicious articles, and that they shouldn't expect any interviews from me in the future. As expected of reporters, they seemed to catch the true meaning behind my words.

"Finally, I want to prove that the reason I was selected for this WBC was purely based on my skill and that it was justified."

After making that calm declaration and turning my head, I spotted an old man in the stands watching me with great interest.

.....Is that Manager Ryu Eunseong from Daeji High and Manager Kim Kyung-moon?

The manager leading this WBC national team was looking straight at me.

Click.

Manager Kim Kyung-moon gave me a big thumbs-up.

......Nice.

Maybe I actually had a shot at starting in the WBC.

It was supposed to be a peaceful weekend... except it wasn't a weekend at all. I was just lounging around at home on a weekday. The reason was simple. Players selected for the national team had to go through all sorts of complicated processes for assembly and training, so the school had apparently marked our attendance as some kind of field trip or experiential learning. As expected of an autonomous private high school.

Out of the ten high school tournament wins needed to unlock God of Baseball (H), I'd already secured two. That was about one-fifth of the way there. Even after the Blue Dragon Flag ended, requests for practice games kept pouring in, so Copy All (L)'s evolution was progressing smoothly too.

The completion of God of Baseball (H)... If I win the second-semester Weekend League, the Phoenix Flag, and the President's Cup Golden Lion, I could get up to five wins in a single year.

Given how badly Daeji High was doing, it seemed entirely possible to sweep all the titles while ignoring any influence from the Heaven and Earth Battle. I might even finish it before graduating high school.

Getting MVP in this WBC is probably too much to ask... I'll have to settle for the Premier with the U-18 team.

A grand slam—winning every tournament in a single year. It was a feat that had never once been achieved in high school baseball... but my gut told me I could pull it off at least two more times. The reason was simple.

Honestly, with these stats...

It felt like all the other kids were playing with BB guns while I was rolling up in a tank. It was just too much.

Oh, it's already time.

"Seojun, let's go."

"Yeah, I'll be right there."

Click.

Today was the national team assembly day. All the players selected—including those active in the major leagues, Nippon Professional Baseball, and the KBL—were gathering in one place for simple introductions, practice games, and team training. Since national team duty meant training camp, my dad's car trunk held a neatly packed suitcase with all the clothes I'd need for the duration.

"How long is the camp again?"

"Five days. Two intra-squad games plus various training sessions... and on the last day, we're having a practice match against the Dominican Republic at Gocheok Sky Dome. After the game, we have two days off before flying straight to Japan..."

"Wow, I can't believe my son is already a national team player who's going to be on TV."

"I didn't expect it either."

That was surprisingly the truth.

I really thought I'd only get picked for U-18, or at best U-20...!

I was still feeling a bit dazed by it all. By the way, my dad wasn't usually the type to beat around the bush like this...

"Hey, after the camp, could you get Yang Hyun-jong's autograph for me?"

As expected.

My dad had a plan all along.