Golden Lion Tournament
The Golden Lion Tournament boasted a long history and immense prestige. There had once been talks of discontinuing it, but it had solidified its place as the climax of the first-half king-of-kings playoffs, ensuring its survival. As an event of great authority, it naturally drew the intense scrutiny of pro teams—and even the eyes of overseas scouts. With the recent exploits of Korean players in the majors and major league clubs increasingly looking abroad for fresh talent, it wasn't uncommon to spot MLB scouts in the stands these days.
The Golden Lion Tournament featured four games a day at Mokdong Baseball Field: 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. North Myeong High's first matchup was scheduled for May 8th at 12:30 p.m.
May 6th, Friday. The North Myeong High players were sweating it out in preparation for the game two days away. Since they'd be heading to Seoul the day before, today marked their final practice before the real action.
By the time training wrapped up, classes were ending too. During the break before evening self-study, a few students poked their heads toward the baseball practice field.
"Man, the baseball team's got it good. No self-study for them."
A boy muttered enviously, but the one walking beside him clicked his tongue.
"Hey, don't say that. You know how brutal they have it? I heard some of the freshmen puked during conditioning."
"For real? Damn, that's no joke."
The two boys chatted as they eyed the distant practice field. Suddenly, the air around them grew a bit rowdy. One glanced around curiously—and froze.
What they spotted was a woman. Definitely not a student; she was in casual clothes, and her style was effortlessly chic. Even with sunglasses on, she was a stunner who turned heads. But what really drew everyone's gaze was her blonde hair—she was a foreigner.
North Myeong High students walking by stared blankly at the sudden appearance of this outsider. She strode along for a bit before pausing, turning her head, and spotting the two boys. Then she headed straight for them.
They tensed up as the foreigner approached.
"Hey."
She slid her sunglasses down slightly and spoke. Her Korean was awkward, but at least she was speaking it.
"Where's the baseball field?"
"Oh! Uh, that way!"
The flustered boy pointed toward the grass field. She glanced over, said "Thanks," and made a beeline for it.
Staring blankly at her retreating figure, one boy murmured,
"She's... seriously pretty."
"Yeah... but why's a foreigner looking for the baseball field?"
"Beats me..."
Puzzled but thrilled at having chatted with a bombshell foreigner, the boys buzzed excitedly as they headed to the cafeteria for dinner.
"Great work today!"
The baseball team shouted in unison, signaling the end of the day's training. They gathered in small groups of friends and headed to the locker room.
As Yoo Min-hoo wiped sweat from his brow with a towel, Lee Ho-seok sidled up.
"Wanna round up the guys and hit a PC bang on the way home?"
"PC bang? Hmm. Maybe..."
Coming from America with its different gaming scene, Min-hoo had visited a few PC bangs and found them fun enough—in moderation, just for a change of pace. Evenings were reserved for personal rehab exercises, home strength training, and right-arm pitching drills, all without overdoing it. That discipline was key to his right arm's rapid development.
With the game two days out, he hadn't scheduled any solo sessions anyway. As Min-hoo pondered, a faint scuffle caught his ear from afar.
Ho-seok turned, eyes widening in surprise. There was pitching coach Han Myeong-hwan in a mild tussle with a foreign woman. Not a real argument—she'd tried entering the team area, he'd blocked her out of caution, and now she was explaining herself. The snag? Language barrier. They both looked baffled.
Min-hoo noticed a beat later, pausing and tilting his head. Then he squinted at the woman, recognition dawning. With quickening steps, he called out,
"Ella?"
"...Roy!"
Ella beamed and rushed over, throwing her arms around him. The surrounding teammates gawked in shock.
Han Myeong-hwan, who'd been sweating through the non-argument, approached Min-hoo.
"Min-hoo, you know her?"
"Yeah. She's here for me. Sorry for the commotion."
Min-hoo gently pried Ella off.
"No worries. Whew, the director might've handled it better."
"She knows some Korean, though?"
Min-hoo asked, puzzled. Han grimaced.
"Yeah, but her weird Busan dialect made it impossible."
Min-hoo facepalmed. A foreigner mangling Korean with a bizarre Busan twang? No wonder communication failed—especially for a Seoul native like Han.
Ella alternated glances between them, as if wondering what the issue was. Han started to ask about their relationship but thought better of prying and headed off.
Alone now, Ella grinned at Min-hoo.
"Back off a bit. I'm sweaty."
Min-hoo sighed. Naturally, it was in English.
"So what?"
Ella shrugged it off with a smile. Ho-seok, eavesdropping, crept closer.
"Who's she?"
"Oh? This is..."
As Min-hoo began introductions, Ella hooked her arm through his and beamed.
"I'm Roy's girlfriend!"
"Girlfriend?"
"Min-hoo hyung's got a girlfriend?!"
Shocked voices erupted nearby. Min-hoo facepalmed again, muttering inwardly,
'Great, rumors are gonna fly.'
"How's baseball club life in Korea?"
"Fine."
"Throwing righty now? What a wild choice."
"Yeah, well. How's school?"
Ella was a year older—a college student, naturally.
"On break."
She smiled brightly at his question. Min-hoo nodded; American colleges often started summer break in early May.
"College treating you okay?"
"It's alright."
They bantered casually—in English. Ho-seok watched, reminded anew that Min-hoo had lived in the States.
"Hmm. Roy, you seem... more grown-up all of a sudden?"
Ella squinted, sensing a shift in his vibe. Min-hoo chuckled and shrugged.
Ho-seok, listening silently, piped up curiously.
"Roy's your name?"
"Yeah? The one I used in America."
"Oh, cool."
Ella eyed Ho-seok and asked,
"He's sticking around?"
"Neighbor. Team regular."
"Oh? What position?"
"Catcher."
"Catcher, huh."
Ella nodded, then smiled at Ho-seok.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ella, you know."
Ho-seok's face twisted oddly.
"Uh... Lee Ho-seok."
Seeing his reaction, Ella whispered to Min-hoo,
"Did I mess up?"
"That weird speech pattern."
"What's wrong with my speech? Mom said this is how."
Min-hoo shook his head at her pouting. They were nearly home.
"Your 'girlfriend' speaks Korean well... but that accent?"
"Bad teacher. And she's not my girlfriend."
Min-hoo corrected with a sigh.
"Not your girlfriend?"
Ho-seok blinked, puzzled—
"Ella?"
A surprised voice called. They turned to see Min-hoo's mother, Kim Mi-hyun, back from shopping with a basket.
Ella lit up and dashed over.
"Mommy!"
She hugged Kim tightly and pecked her cheek. Ho-seok stared blankly; Min-hoo clicked his tongue.
"Ella's my stepsister. What do you call it? E-boo? Yi-boo?"
"Stepsister?"
"Yeah. Stepsister."
"Your mom remarried?"
"Didn't I mention?"
Min-hoo scratched his head. Ho-seok just watched Kim and Ella chat warmly.
Min-hoo set the shopping basket in the kitchen for his mom. Kim Mi-hyun and Ella sat in the living room, chatting.
"Ella, is college fun?"
"Yeah! Mom, it's great! Just started break!"
"You should've said something. I'd have picked you up."
"Wanted to surprise you."
Ella grinned happily. Min-hoo noted again how well she got along with Kim—unlike his own awkward adjustment.
He emerged from the kitchen.
"Dad know you're here?"
"Huh? No."
"..."
Min-hoo let out a dry laugh at her casual tone. Kim looked resigned and checked her phone.
Ella was outgoing and affectionate by nature. When Kim remarried, she'd taken to her stepmom far better than Min-hoo had his stepdad, whom he'd known beforehand.
Has it been eight years already?
Min-hoo's biological father, Yoo Kyung-seok, had died in a car accident when he was nine. Amid the grief and cleanup, Kyung-seok's friend—Ella's dad—had helped immensely, drawing their families close. Ella had lost her own mom at nine too.
By the time Min-hoo was eleven, Kim had remarried. Looking back, it had been the right call.