Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Translator Wjin
Chapter 04
The three-run deficit was instantly overturned by the home run. Considering the remaining time, it was effectively a walk-off home run. Despite the dramatic situation, the field was silent except for the sound of Cha Tae-hyun's footsteps rounding the bases.
Everyone stared blankly at the sky, their mouths agape.
Just how far is it going?
That was probably what most people were thinking. But the ball's final destination would remain unknown, as it had disappeared over the fence.
Only then did the students start talking.
“Wow… he has a talent for that…”
“I know, right? Did he learn to play baseball somewhere?”
“Hmm… is it really that impressive? He hit it well… but it’s softball.”
Amidst the chatter, one person was still dazed. Shin Ha-yoon. Born to die-hard Phoenix fans, she had picked up a baseball at her first birthday party and had been attending Phoenix games since she was five.
She was a baseball fanatic. Naturally, she had a deep understanding of the sport. She was even secretly nurturing a dream of becoming a professional baseball coach. So, for her to be so stunned by a single home run in a gym class softball game was unusual.
She thought so herself. But, Cha Tae-hyun’s batting form…
‘Is that… even possible?’
She had seen countless batting forms while pursuing her coaching dream. That’s why she was so confused. His positioning, as if he completely understood his own body's mechanics. The perfect timing of his leg kick.
The perfect launch angle, designed solely for a home run. It was a batting form she had never seen before, yet its fluid and precise execution was breathtaking. They said you could gauge a batter’s level by their form.
If so, that man’s batting form was on par with a professional player’s. Perhaps…
‘His form alone is better than Ji-ho’s…’
“No, that’s… that’s impossible…”
She shook her head vigorously, then frowned and tilted her head again.
“No… it's not.”
Even considering her bias for the person she liked and her dislike for the other, his batting form was enough to shatter that prejudice.
“Hey.”
Cha Tae-hyun, who had approached her, tapped her shoulder with his fist.
"You were the manager for me, right? Thanks. Just a little more work. It'll be over soon.”
“…”
She stared blankly at Cha Tae-hyun as he walked back to the stands, her hand on her chest. For some reason, her heart was beating a little faster.
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After the game, the students returned to the classroom. But Lee Mi-yeon, the teacher, remained on the field. There was still one student left. Taking a deep breath, she clenched her fists.
'Don't be scared, Lee Mi-yeon. You already woke him up once.'
Of course, that was with other students around, which had given her courage. But… a teacher couldn't be afraid of a student. If a student was on the wrong path, it was her duty to guide them.
'Yes, yes, that’s what a teacher does.'
Mustering her courage, she slowly approached the sleeping Cha Tae-hyun. Her body trembled slightly, but the shaking subsided.
“What…”
A faint smile spread across her lips as she looked at his peacefully sleeping face.
“He’s still just a kid.”
She wasn't one to believe in physiognomy, but his sleeping face was so innocent. It made her wonder if the rumors about him were false. As she was about to wake him, his lips moved.
“Mi-yeon… ssaem.”
‘…?’
“Poor Mi-yeon ssaem… what should I do…”
Lee Mi-yeon’s mouth fell open at the unexpected words.
'Is he… sleep-talking? He said he did.'
That was the logical explanation, but "Mi-yeon ssaem" could only be her. And… his face was filled with sadness. As if he were genuinely worried about her.
“Ah.”
Perhaps she felt a pang of sympathy, because she stopped herself from touching his face.
'I have to wake him up… class is starting soon.'
Slap!
Lee Mi-yeon slapped her own cheek and gently nudged Cha Tae-hyun’s shoulder.
“Tae-hyun?”
She hadn’t called him loudly, but surprisingly, he opened his eyes immediately.
“Ah…, Ms. Miyeon…?”
Lee Mi-yeon smiled at his drowsy voice.
“You can’t just sleep here, no matter how tired you are.”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
'The rumors must be false.'
He looked a little scary, but his sleeping face was innocent, and he was polite… and he even apologized. And most importantly…
'He seems to like baseball.'
Lee Mi-yeon smiled, recalling his hit. No one who liked baseball could be a bad person. It was a baseless assumption, but for her, a baseball lover, it was a reliable standard.
“Let’s go, Tae-hyun. The bell is about to ring.”
Lee Mi-yeon extended her hand. Cha Tae-hyun hesitated for a moment, then took her hand and stood up.
‘See? He’s just an ordinary kid.’
Lee Mi-yeon smiled and returned to the classroom with Cha Tae-hyun.
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“Hey.”
“…Hey.”
A mysterious, yet annoying voice echoed through my hazy consciousness. The voice grew louder, making it impossible to ignore and go back to sleep.
“…Hey!”
“Wake up already—”
I lifted my head before the high-pitched voice pierced my ears.
[5:30]
A glance at the clock told me that class had ended long ago. It usually ended at 4:30, so an hour had passed. That was probably why there were no other kids in the classroom. Ah. Except for her.
“Why didn’t you go home? There’s no evening self-study on the first day.”
“...What?”
A smile spread across my face at Shin Ha-yoon’s bewildered expression.
"Just kidding. Thanks for waking me up.”
I meant it. All the other kids had left me. If it weren't for her, I might have slept here until night. Although my first impression of her wasn’t great, she was kind-hearted, as expected of a main heroine.
“...I didn’t wait for you for an hour to wake you up.”
“Okay.”
As I was about to leave, I heard an annoyed voice.
“I’m serious.”
“...Okay. I get it.”
“I left something in the classroom and was going to get it when I ran into Ms. Miyeon. She said she was going to wake you up, so I came instead.”
Her detailed explanation made it clear that the idea of ‘waiting for an hour to wake me up’ was absolutely unacceptable to her. By the way, Ms. Miyeon was going to wake me up?
As expected of Ms. Miyeon. She even took care of a villain like Cha Tae-hyun.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I have something to be happy about.”
“...You were just sleeping.”
“There’s just something.”
As I was about to leave the classroom, I heard her voice, "Hey.”
It stopped me. I turned around. The reddish light filtering through the window illuminated half of her face. She looked at me, then bit her lip and started to frown as if in pain. ...What was she doing?
I was so confused. I was about to turn around and leave when I heard a small voice.
“Did you… learn… baseball?”
I chuckled. I had wondered what she wanted to say that was causing her so much distress, and it was just about whether I had learned baseball.
“...Did you learn baseball?”
She asked again, as if urging me. Her face was even more flushed, as if she were embarrassed.
“I learned it, didn’t I?”
Most of my baseball skills were self-taught, but I had been on a baseball team, so…
“Then… did you also learn… that batting form? If so, from whom?”
Her rapid-fire questions made me realize why she had been so distressed to talk to me.
“Why? You want me to teach you my batting form?”
Her eyes widened. She must have thought my batting form was pretty good and wanted to use it as data. Shin Ha-yoon was that passionate about her dream of becoming a coach.
I was willing to teach her out of admiration for her passion, but…
“Not now. Maybe later, when I have time.”
For now, adapting to this world was my priority. Shin Ha-yoon looked a little disappointed, then stood up and walked past me. Of course, without a word of farewell. She made a very cool exit. Looking at her back, I thought,
“Was she always such a rude character?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As I left the school gate, I felt a familiar dizziness, and Cha Tae-hyun’s memories flowed in. They weren’t important memories… but I could understand the reason for my extreme fatigue throughout the day.
“This Cha Tae-hyun… he was a real psycho.”
For the record, ‘psycho’ was a term of pure admiration. I had also grown up without parents and had a tough life, but at least I only had to take care of myself…
But the Cha Tae-hyun of this world? He had a younger sister, two years his junior. He had been working two part-time jobs a day to support his only blood relative.
“And they treat a kid like this like a delinquent…”
I didn’t know who had spread the rumors, but it was too much. I was even feeling wronged.
“Tae-hyun, let's get back to work! Customers are coming. Get some meat out first.”
“Yes. Coming!”
I quickly got up and headed to the meat storage.
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After a grueling 11-hour schedule – 5 hours at the meat restaurant and 6 hours at the convenience store – the clock showed 4 AM.
“At least the house is close…”
If the convenience store had been far from home, I might have collapsed on the way. I put the key in the lock and went in.
Creak
I opened it gently… The door must be very old. As I was about to tiptoe to my room, the door next to mine opened.
“Oppa… you’re home?”
A girl with messy hair, rubbing her eyes. Although I was seeing her for the first time, she didn't feel like a stranger. Instead, a warmth spread through my chest. A small smile appeared on my lips without me realizing it.
“Why are you up? You should be sleeping.”
“I just woke up…”
“Go back to sleep. You’ll oversleep.”
My sister… no, Cha Ji-hyun, Ji-hyun, smiled and went back to her room. I went to my room too.
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“……What is this, really?”
I had planned to go to sleep as soon as I got home. But seeing Ji-hyun for a moment had stirred my emotions, and I couldn't easily fall asleep. My heart ached.
Was this… Cha Tae-hyun’s feelings for his sister? Or was it just me feeling pity for a pair of parentless siblings? I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. I soon came to a conclusion. I decided to think of it as my own feelings.
That seemed easier. Feelings weren't something you could just ignore. And since this seemed to be a feeling for family, and I had never felt that before…
“Let’s stay up a little longer.”
I was the type to act immediately once I made up my mind. The moment I acknowledged this feeling as my own, I had a new goal: to take responsibility for my family.
So, it was impossible to go to sleep now. That’s the kind of person I was. I closed the door and turned on the light.
“Let’s see…, the money I’ve saved… 10 million won… he really saved up diligently… I’m in my second year now… so if I build a pro-level body within a year… and get my name on the draft list…”
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I could only lift my head after I had a rough outline of a plan.
“Ugh…”
I stretched and looked out the window. A futile laugh escaped my lips.
“Time to go to school…”