D-1: Victory, a Word Long Irrelevant to the Titans
For the Titans, victory was a rather irrelevant word.
It had been a whopping 48 years. Most Titans fans had never even seen the team win a championship in person. The old-school fans who had witnessed the team's last title had long since let those memories fade into the haze of time.
That was why the news of the Titans' advance to the Korean Series was more than enough to drive the fans—and all of Busan—completely mad.
"The boss has lost his mind! Korean Series Titans Berth Special—Bomb Sale!"
Countless shops were holding events to celebrate the Titans' Korean Series appearance and pray for a championship.
Even though the Korean Series was still days away from starting, Seoul-bound train tickets were already impossible to find.
"...But why are the Titans being so quiet?"
Yet amid the feverish frenzy sweeping Busan, there was one place that remained eerily calm: the Titans' home stadium, New Sajik Stadium.
"...Practice is closed to the public, right?" "Yeah. Normally they'd at least post a short clip on YouTube."
The Titans' training sessions leading up to the Korean Series were all conducted behind closed doors. It was more secretive than anyone expected.
"What the hell are they hiding?" "...You don't think they're putting Jin Yuha in the bullpen, do you?" "That'd be insane."
Everyone was dying to know what the Titans were preparing for their long-awaited Korean Series return. Rumors even spread that Jin Yuha had switched to a bullpen role to pitch whenever things got dicey.
"Oh... Park Gwangho posted on SNS." "Huh? That crazy Carver guy? Why check his feed?" "He mentions Jin Yuha sometimes. Looks like they're pretty tight." "Really? That's surprising..."
At that moment, Park Gwangho—the ace of the Carver team that had served as the Titans' training partners—dropped a new post on social media.
Without knowing the exact context, it was more than enough to set Titans fans' hearts racing.
The team with home-field advantage in the Korean Series is determined by regular-season winning percentage.
Game 1 of the Korean Series would be at Jamsil Dome. Unlike the brutal dogfight in the Eastern League—which had raged right up until the Titans' 12-game win streak—the Western League had seen its contenders implode, handing the Guardians an easy path to the top spot.
Naturally, Korean Series Media Day was also held in Seoul.
Flash! Flash!
As the Western League champions' reps—Guardians manager Won Sangchul, ace Shim Chando, and golden generation draft star/main catcher Kim Beomjun—stepped up, cameras erupted in a frenzy of flashes.
"Ugh..."
Kim Beomjun, still unused to the spotlight, squinted against the glare, but the other two remained unfazed. And then—
Flash! Flash!
The Titans' contingent—arguably drawing even more attention than last year's champs—took the stage.
Titans manager Jeong Hyeonho, now famous as a rebuilding wizard; franchise symbol and 17-year veteran catcher Park Cheongwon; and starting pitcher Baek Jungsoo.
"...Huh? Baek Jungsoo?"
A murmur rippled through the reporters. Manager Won Sangchul and Shim Chando's brows furrowed ever so slightly.
"Where's Jin Yuha...?"
Of course, Baek Jungsoo had enjoyed a career-high season and was a pillar of the Titans' rotation—a franchise star in his own right. But he wasn't the player reporters or fans had come to see on Media Day.
"...Haha."
Baek Jungsoo gave an awkward laugh.
"First, could we hear some thoughts from the team reps on making it to the Korean Series?"
Media Day proceeded as planned, setting aside the elephant in the room.
"Haha. What is there to say? We'll win it all again this year."
Won Sangchul, manager of the Guardians—who were attempting a rare KBO dynasty—oozed confidence.
"I'm looking forward to facing off against Jin Yuha."
Shim Chando laid bare his rivalry, subtly highlighting Yuha's absence.
"...W-We’ll do our best!"
Kim Beomjun, true to his rookie status, was stiff with nerves, drawing chuckles from the crowd.
"And how about the Titans, returning to the Korean Series stage after so long?"
Surprisingly, Baek Jungsoo was first to grab the mic among the Titans reps.
"Uh... I’ll work hard not to let the team down."
True to his famously introverted nature, it was a humble response.
"Well, we’re already prepared to win."
Jeong Hyeonho, by contrast, exuded the swagger of a hot team's skipper.
"...Haha. I’m not usually like this, but I feel like I could cry. Still, I’ll hold it together for that championship moment."
Park Cheongwon’s voice carried a wealth of emotion.
Various questions and answers followed.
"What’s each team’s predicted final Korean Series score?"
To the Media Day staple question—
"The Titans will be a tough opponent. 4-2? Or maybe 4-3?"
Won Sangchul, a Korean Series regular, was more cautious than expected.
"4-0 or 4-1. We want to savor that championship moment at our home, New Sajik Stadium."
Jeong Hyeonho, experiencing his first Korean Series, kept the bold confidence flowing.
"Tomorrow’s huge Game 1 of the Korean Series! Let’s hear the starting pitchers from both teams!"
Neither ace—Shim Chando nor Jin Yuha—could pitch. Both had thrown Game 5 of the Championship Series and needed rest.
"The Guardians will go with Eric Sanchez. With his wealth of Korean Series experience, I’m confident he’ll secure the win in Game 1."
That’s why the Guardians were slotting in their No. 2 ace, Eric Sanchez, for Game 1. They’d saved their No. 3, Fitzgerald, for Game 6 of the Championship Series for this very reason.
"The Titans will counter with James Gilbert. As you know, he’s an exceptional pitcher."
The Titans' Game 1 starter: James Gilbert. In just one season, he was hailed as the greatest foreign pitcher in Titans history.
"Director Jeong Hyeonho, you’re not mentioning the Game 2 starter today?"
The host’s question was pure buildup—for the question everyone was dying to ask. After all, the Titans' Game 2 starter was obvious.
"Ah, I got chewed out a bit at Championship Series Media Day for spilling..."
But Jeong Hyeonho was, as ever, a master at tormenting folks via interviews. He trailed off dramatically on purpose.
"...But! Since everyone’s so curious, I suppose I have to. Game 2 starter is, of course, our ace—Jin Yuha."
The room buzzed noticeably at Jeong Hyeonho’s answer. It was only natural.
"Since Director Jeong revealed his Game 2 starter early, I suppose I should too. Yes, the Guardians' Game 2 starter will be our Shim Chando right here."
The dream matchup everyone had hoped for was finally on.
"...Why didn’t Jin Yuha attend Media Day? No offense to Baek Jungsoo—he’s great—but we all assumed Yuha would be here."
It was the question on everyone’s mind. One reporter—a diehard Titans fan—had even worried Yuha might be injured.
"That’s..." "Pfft!"
The Titans reps' reactions were... odd.
"Ah, so that’s what you were all wondering."
Baek Jungsoo took the mic, standing in for the chuckling Jeong Hyeonho and Park Cheongwon.
"Yuha’s in Incheon right now." "Pardon?" "He went to Incheon Airport to pick up his girlfriend today."
In the stunned silence that followed, someone piped up.
"Guess Mia couldn’t make it..."
Everyone instantly understood why Jin Yuha had skipped Media Day.
"Yu? Why’re you fiddling with your ear?" "Nothing. Someone must be talking nonsense somewhere."
Unfortunately, someone was there to crash the lovers' reunion.
"Aw, man... Korean Series tomorrow and a rookie's ditching? Back in my day... Ow! That hurts! Honey!"
Dad got a solid whack on the back from Mom mid-rant.
"I’m pitching Game 2 anyway." "Exactly. Starters have to time their prep to the schedule. You’re doing great, Howard."
Uncle’s face was a welcome sight after so long.
"Yu-ha. Missed ya."
"...Hey."
Jackson’s gaze burned even hotter than Mia’s, which was a bit much.
Tch, he’s probably still eyeing me as a future client, right?
I hadn’t seriously considered a Major League move—return, from my perspective. Right now, the Titans' championship was all that mattered. Though...
If I do go MLB, Jackson’s agency is the obvious choice.
Friendship aside, they were the best in the business.
"Yu, you sure today’s okay? Like Uncle said, aren’t you swamped?" "It’s fine. I got the team’s okay ahead of time."
I’m the ace. They’d greenlight a little detour like this without hesitation.
"Tch. Director Jeong Hyeonho’s too soft."
Someone might gripe like Dad, but the ace’s mental game trumped a few grumbles. And my stabilizer was right here.
The restaurant we’d picked for the family gathering—Jackson included.
We were enjoying a warm time with Mia after so long.
"Ahem, Yuha. Got any questions?"
Then Dad just had to speak up.
"Huh? About what?" "Well, Korean Series is your first, right? ...Not that I’ve been there, but I’ve got big-game experience. I can answer whatever."
Ah.
"...Not really?"
Honestly, nothing came to mind.
In reality, don’t I have way more big-game experience than Dad or Uncle?
Dad and Uncle had been Mets dynasty stars. But...
The Mets' last World Series run was the end of that dynasty, I think?
My old team, meanwhile, had kept punching into the Fall Classic even after building their empire.
Winning some, losing some.
Experience-wise, I had them beat. Not that they’d ever imagine.
"Tch... This is why regressors are..." "Huh?" "Nothing."
I missed Dad’s mutter.
"Mmm! So good!"
Mia munching away cutely beside me was all I needed.
"If you’re that confident, winning’s a given, huh?"
Dad’s final question got a simple answer.
"Of course."
I’d never even imagined any ending but a championship.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Seoul. Jamsil Dome.
The long-awaited Korean Series Game 1 had begun.