Rookie Parade and Romantic Notions
"Somehow, pitching feels so easy because my battery partner, Hyung Ha-chan, is super smart. If I were as smart as Hyung Ha-chan, I'd have gone to Seoul National University too."
"Whoa, really? I definitely need to interview Player Lee Ha-chan later!"
"Hahaha, please don't tell him I said that. Hyung Ha-chan's actually pretty shy about that stuff."
"It's going out live nationwide right now, you know?"
"Ah... Then, sorry, but could you edit this part out?"
"Player Seo Tae-woong, this is live broadcast."
The two bantered back and forth like old friends. Tae-woong tried for some wittier replies, but it wasn't as easy as he'd hoped. The best he could manage was avoiding short, curt answers.
Of course, there were good reasons for that. Even after years in pro ball, Tae-woong had never been much in the spotlight—most of his time was spent in the second team, not the first. This was his first real TV interview.
And there was an even bigger reason. Wanna know what? Should I tell you?
Hey, you there? Seo Tae-woong? Can you hear me?
It was because he was face-to-face with the interviewer right in front of him, announcer Lee Ha-yan.
You're not even pretending to listen. Your eyes are completely rolled to the left.
Thump! Thump!
Huh? Who's beating drums and hitting gongs all by themselves? Not you, right? Nah, couldn't be. Humans have consciences.
'Ace, shut up first.'
Today's interviewer was sports announcer Lee Ha-yan, the goddess of Korean baseball whose beauty even non-fans recognized. With her stunning looks and sharp wit, she dominated not just baseball coverage but communities across the internet as the top announcer.
'Ah... She's even prettier in person. I wish this moment would never end.'
But against Tae-woong's wishes, the interview—barely three minutes long—flew by, and Lee Ha-yan's final question arrived.
"Player Seo Tae-woong, for your last one this season, please share your goals."
"Yes, as a starter, 20 wins and a team championship..."
"Thank you. Now, one final greeting to the fans cheering you on."
"Uh... This is really the last one, right?"
As Tae-woong made eye contact with Lee Ha-yan, smiling as he replied, a sloshing sound and clattering came from behind.
'Huh?'
Tae-woong whipped his head around at the suspicious noise. There stood Kang Baek-ho and captain Park Kyung-seo, grinning mischievously. They hefted a massive water cooler—too big for one person—and were poised to dump it over his head.
To shield Lee Ha-yan from the ice water, Tae-woong swiftly turned his back to her.
"Ha-yan-ssi, watch out!"
Pitiful. Acting all dramatic like you're in a romance flick?
SPLASH!
"Kyaaack!"
Thankfully, his massive frame helped in times like these. A bit of water still splashed toward Lee Ha-yan despite his broad back, but he blocked the worst of the ice-water deluge.
"Player Seo Tae-woong, thank you for shielding me. I didn't get wet at all thanks to you. Are you okay?"
The startled Lee Ha-yan pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the water dripping from Tae-woong's forehead.
Her touch—straight out of his ideal type—made his face flush beet red in an instant.
Huh? Thought it was ice water, but was it hot? Why's your face turning red?
'This guy's spouting nonsense again... Don't interrupt and just get lost. Hey! Hey!'
The interview wrapped up decently enough. Back home, Tae-woong checked the news recaps first—and sure enough, his debut performance dominated the sports highlights.
Lord, this Seo Tae-woong guy's living too easy. Please send some trials his way...
"What're you doing right now?"
Ah... I whispered, but you heard? So oblivious.
"Who's calling who oblivious?"
[Wiz's Rookie Parade Grand Festival! Winning Streak Secured!]
[Seo Tae-woong's Successful Debut: 7 IP, 10 K, 1 ER!]
[Kang Baek-ho Rides Tae-woong's Hot Start to Storm 2-Game Win Streak!]
[Rookie of the Year? Me, Me! It's Me!]
[Debut Game Strikeout Record Tie!]
[Fourth in History After Sun Dong-yeol, Park Dong-hee, Ryu Han-jin! First in 12 Years!]
[In Tae-woong's Head Today: Me, Romantic, Successful!]
Sunlight poured through the large window of a hotel room. After finishing yesterday's game and his MVP interview, Tae-woong woke at nearly 9 a.m. to his alarm.
Having thrown over 100 pitches the day before, he went through a full routine: stretching, icing, and sports massage. No soreness lingered in his shoulder or elbow—his body felt light.
"Ughhh, feels so good. I slept like a rock, no dreams or anything."
Tae-woong grabbed his smartphone from the nightstand first thing and scrolled articles and comments about himself.
"That last headline was kinda weird... But the reactions are solid overall."
He read every single one from start to finish. Unbeknownst to him, years of obscurity had left him starved for praise. Each accolade melted away yesterday's fatigue.
As he browsed, a reward popped up before him.
Today, the Star is Me! Me!
You're dying of envy over your teammate's exploits? Dominate tonight's baseball news main spot!
Reward: Random Skill
*Failure: All pitch ratings -5 for next 1 game
Reward granted.
"Yes! Reward time! Gimme something good this time! Please!"
One More After Out
Activates if lead-off hitter in 1st inning is retired on first pitch.
Recovers to pre-pitch state for each batter retired.
Maintains until runner reaches first base.
A skill he'd never once unlocked in Real Baseball Ace—he'd only known it existed.
"This...? The condition seems tricky."
Tae-woong's eyes widened as he read the description. He'd expected something new, but this exceeded imagination. The trigger was tough, but the effect was straight-up broken.
"Stamina? So once it starts, unlimited stamina until it ends?"
Broken, totally broken. This has to be a glitch? Refundable, right? For honor's sake, report it.
"Nope, no such thing. Just my sincere prayers paying off."
Thanks a lot, my foolish child.
"Don't wanna? I'm taking everything till I burst."
After checking his reward, Tae-woong finished scanning the main articles. There was his MVP interview video on the side—Lee Ha-yan holding the mic, eyes sparkling up at him.
Suddenly, yesterday's interviewer popped into his mind. He wanted to rewatch, but Ace's piercing stare from the side was annoying.
"Hmm... Should I review yesterday's interview? Might've messed up somewhere..."
The guy who bragged about a mental age near 40, embarrassing himself... How old's that announcer anyway?
"Ah, Announcer Lee Ha-yan? Twenty-three!"
What? Twenty-three? Hey, old man. You're way past 20 years older. This is a crime. Police! Over here!
Ace "pressed" the bedside phone button, but it just reminded him he was a hologram—his finger passed right through.
"Heh... Think what you want. Say what you will, I'm a fresh twenty-something now."
Kuh... Anyone I can talk to? Need to judge this punk.
"Nope, no one like that."
Damn it! Hey! Where you going!
"Ahem, I've got another interview with Ha-yan-ssi today on Rookie of the Year candidates, so I'll head out. Rest well, Ace-ssi."
Tae-woong left the room after that.
Slam!
Going alone? Hey! Take me with! It's boring solo!
Ace phased straight through the firmly shut door.
"Was the meeting spot here? Why's a cafe tucked in such a corner? Hard to find."
Can't find it yourself and complaining...
"Quiet, man. I'm human. Can get lost sometimes."
After wandering from his room, Tae-woong finally entered the cafe in the hotel's first-floor corner. Unlike noisy street cafes, the spacious spot played soft classical music.
To show humble rookie manners, he'd arrived 30 minutes early—and the menu shocked him.
"Coffee prices like what...? Did the hotel teleport to Zimbabwe while I slept? A cup more expensive than fried chicken?"
Yo, eyes bulging. Pop back in before they fall out.
"Ah, thanks... Wait, what bullshit. Why would my eyes pop? Just shocked at the prices. C'mon, even you gotta admit it's humanly insane, right?"
Not human, so dunno. Man, you bullshit with such sincerity. Guy got 1.1 billion signing bonus and pinching pennies. Spend it!
Tae-woong pouted at Ace's words.
"Already blew 600 million of the bonus on a deposit. Another 400 million paid off family debts. The last 100 mil? Gone. Ugh... My monthly allowance is just 500k!"
It was a pathetic lament: escaping their cramped old place for a nice one near Wiz Park, clearing accumulated debts—poof, all that cash vanished.
Ah, damn... Hang in there, buddy...
—Seo Tae-woong: But it's an interview, right? They'll cover at least a coffee? Yeah? Better wait till she arrives. Waste not to.
As a perennial second-team guy, hotel interviews were new. Prices like this? First time. Even pricier than steaks in America.
Tae-woong set the menu down and waited.
"Throat's getting dry... When's she coming?"
About 10 minutes later, Lee Ha-yan entered the cafe.
"Player Seo Tae-woong still in his room? I came right on time. Where's that number from after yesterday's interview... Ah! Here."
Glancing around, she called while scanning the cafe for him.
"Huh? Unknown number? Who... Ah, the one from Lee Ha-yan-ssi yesterday? Maybe?"
The moment Tae-woong hit accept, the call dropped.
Spam call, spam. You almost got voice-phished. A guy like you chasing girls...