Chapter 59
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Signed Loyalty
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"No one's home?"
Shin Ha-yoon's house was pitch black, not a single light on.
"My little sibling hated being home alone, so they went to a friend's place and said they'd come back when Mom gets off work. Mom's been helping out at a relative's store on weekends lately. Guess she hasn't come back yet. She'll probably be here soon."
Tak.
Shin Ha-yoon flicked on the light, revealing the inside of the house. It was your standard family home, about 34 pyeong.
If not for the uniform with my name on it hanging on the living room wall.
"Doesn't it look a bit weird? My parents are huge fans of yours. I tried to stop them, but they insisted on hanging it up..."
The uniform on the living room wall was definitely odd, but didn't it just mean they liked me that much?
"I'm grateful from my side."
"Really...? Guess I won't mention that to Mom then."
"Why?"
"Last time, they bought a Nixon bat because of your commercial and were thinking about getting your signature to hang it on the wall. If they hear you like it, the bat'll end up on the wall too."
I couldn't help but laugh, picturing it.
Up to this point, the conversation had flowed pretty naturally...
But there was no avoiding the awkward vibe with just the two of us in an empty house.
The ticking of the clock suddenly seemed deafening.
"Um... wanna check out my room?"
Shin Ha-yoon hated the awkwardness too and spoke up first.
"Yeah, sure."
The moment Shin Ha-yoon opened the door, he flinched and froze.
What, something I wasn't supposed to see?
"You like sticking stuff on the walls too, huh."
Not a uniform, but photos of me at bat were plastered all over.
I glanced over, and Shin Ha-yoon hurriedly explained.
"Uh... um, it's your batting form! I've been tweaking my swing lately, so I keep it fresh in my head! Can't forget as your coach."
"Thanks. Others might find it a little weird."
I meant it. Girls her age loved decorating, but here was a guy covering his walls with photos of another dude swinging a bat—for coaching purposes.
That's when stacks of files piled high on the desk caught my eye.
Not just the number of them, but the thickness rivaled any textbook.
"No way all these are coaching analyses for me?"
Shin Ha-yoon nodded with a faint smile.
"Some from studying, some data logs, just everything gathered up..."
"Can I take a look?"
"Yeah."
The corners of Shin Ha-yoon's mouth fluttered up.
He really loved coach talk the most.
The moment I opened a file, an impressed sound escaped me. Mostly handwritten, but even a quick glance showed how packed and well-organized the content was.
Even after skimming for about 30 minutes, Shin Ha-yoon's family still hadn't returned.
"Mom and Dad are super busy with work. Looks like it'll take a while. You okay? Nah, you're probably tired—head home. Just sign a few things."
His words said go home, but his face was full of regret.
The kid had zero acting talent.
"Nah, I'll wait. Going home, I'd just chill anyway—same here or there."
Shin Ha-yoon's mouth corners fluttered again.
"Really? Then... waiting around's lame, wanna watch a movie?"
"Okay, Shin Ha-yoon pick. Boring ones put me out in 30 minutes flat."
"I'll queue up a total banger, so don't whine later about not going home."
"Sounds perfect. Hit me with it."
"Seriously conking out..."
She played that movie about a boy on a bicycle, and Cha Tae-hyun leaned back in the chair, eyes shut exactly 12 minutes in.
Truth was, Shin Ha-yoon knew it was boring. He'd been burned once before.
So why play it?
Shin Ha-yoon felt his face heat up.
'Am I nuts...?'
To see Cha Tae-hyun asleep... No way he could tell anyone that.
Just played a movie—nothing else, right...?
Shin Ha-yoon leaned in closer to check out Cha Tae-hyun's sleeping face.
Suddenly, he recalled the first time he'd seen it.
During a softball game, he smashed a homer out of nowhere, then headed to the stands and crashed.
'Back then... I was such a jerk...'
Even now, all he felt was sorry toward Cha Tae-hyun.
Truth was, those piles of data analysis on the desk had grown out of that guilt too.
He'd wanted to help Cha Tae-hyun somehow—to atone that way, studying late into the night.
But now, that didn't matter.
No matter how much he forgave him,
"Sorry... Even if you forgive me... I'll atone for life."
Because he didn't hate these moments together, even if they came from excuses like this.
He'd definitely called it a banger...
When I came to, an hour had flown by.
"Sorry, guess I was pretty beat."
Shin Ha-yoon flinched for some reason and shook his head.
"No, no! You must've been tired—my bad. Mom and Dad must be swamped. Still not back."
"Yeah? Works out great."
Shin Ha-yoon's eyes went wide in surprise.
...What're you thinking.
"Means their business is booming."
"Ah... yeah. Right, they're late 'cause it's going well."
"Yeah, time for me to head out. Grab any uniforms, bats, home run balls—I'll sign 'em before I go."
Shin Ha-yoon bolted from the room and came back with his arms full of bats, uniforms, and more.
"Thanks so much..."
"Thanks my ass. You're volunteering on the Phoenix championship project."
"That's... my way of apologizing."
"I told you I didn't care from the start... Just take a damn salary already."
I slipped in the pay talk casually, but Shin Ha-yoon shook his head right away.
...Why does he always refuse money?
Made no sense.
I signed everything he'd brought and got ready to leave.
"Thanks for real today."
Another thank-you from Shin Ha-yoon—I hurried out.
Third floor, so I took the stairs down, but then I heard footsteps coming up.
"Hey! Cha Tae-hyun! Hold up!"
Hm?
Shin Ha-yoon came running over, panting.
Wearing a Phoenix uniform over his clothes now, somehow.
"Um... got something to say. Walk to the bus stop with me?"
"...Sure."
Despite saying he had something, Shin Ha-yoon stayed quiet even after a good walk.
Awkward as hell, so I broke the ice.
"Y'know, you really don't do laundry for other teams, huh?"
"You're Phoenix."
"..."
I'd tossed it out hoping for a 'no team laundry!' reaction, but got counterpunched instead.
Sensing my silence, Shin Ha-yoon rushed to add,
"No... no big meaning! I'm your coach. I like Phoenix, but... gotta follow my player's team."
"Yeah, fair point."
The bus stop came into view up ahead.
Beyond it, a bench by the roadside, under the streetlamp casting a yellow glow. Right as we passed under it,
Shin Ha-yoon grabbed my collar.
"Don't fire me..."
"Outta nowhere, what..."
"If you switch teams... I'll do laundry like you said... so don't fire me."
It didn't sound like a total joke—his voice trembled a bit, like he was genuinely worried.
No clue if I'd done anything to worry him, but seeing this usually hyper kid all deflated wasn't great.
"Relax. I'm a Phoenix fan too. Won't cut you till we win it all."
Even after my answer, Shin Ha-yoon clung to my collar.
"Not just words..."
"Then what?"
Shin Ha-yoon lifted the hem and smoothed out the uniform flat.
"Sign..."
"...Huh?"
"Sign here... that you'll keep me on from now on..."
His voice was bold, but under the yellow streetlight, his face flushed red.
I stared for a second, then held out my hand.
"Marker."
This was the 'something to say'?
A marker popped from Shin Ha-yoon's pocket like he'd prepped it.
I took it and slowly signed.
...Felt kinda weird.
Shin Ha-yoon checked the signature, looked up at me, and grinned ear to ear.
"No take-backs, right? I'm sticking with you to the end."
Back to his lively self like nothing happened, he spun and dashed home before I could reply.
Lights flicked on down the first-floor stairs, then second, third—his face peeked from the window.
"You signed it! No backsies for real!"
He yelled it out, grinning so wide his teeth showed, waving wildly.
Basically a lifetime volunteer contract...
Definitely gotta pay the kid.
I waved back and turned away.
Phoenix's new pitching coach Gu Min-seung was watching the intrasquad scrimmage.
Having reviewed spring game footage multiple times before arriving, the players' abilities matched what he knew—no surprises.
Except for one who had him scratching his head.
The pitcher on the mound right now, slamming fastballs over 155 km/h non-stop.
Cha Tae-hyun.
Gu Min-seung knew of Cha Tae-hyun.
No matter that he'd been abroad training—Phoenix's top prospect? Impossible not to know.
The issue: this was his first time pitching since high school,
and the stuff he was throwing was unbelievable.
"Strike—out!"
That made six Ks. Four innings, all three up three down—half the batters struck out.
Phoenix might suck elsewhere, but team batting average was solid, plus 8 billion import hitter Lee Jun bolstered the lineup.
Nearly perfect against that...
Finally, Gu Min-seung had to ask the manager beside him.
"Manager, with this level, why not try two-way in key games, even if it strains him? Or pure starter? Worth considering."
The manager's lips curved up.
"Obviously."
The coach blinked, confused.
"Then... why no spring game appearances?"
"For Phoenix to win the championship."
For Phoenix championship.
Sounded nice, but explanation fell short.
"Checked the opener schedule, Coach Gu?"
"Yes. Away at Incheon Dragons."
"Right. Incheon Dragons—top team last year, title rivals unless upset."
"Yes... right... ah?"
The coach's eyes widened as realization hit.
"No way... holding him back for a sure first win?"
"Like your quick thinking, Coach Gu? You know how precious every win is in the final stretch—especially away."
The coach nodded.
Phoenix championship sounded absurd, but win value? He got it.
"Heard of Welsh Corgi Day?"
Random question tilted the coach's head.
"Phoenix drops one of every three games, no matter what—even vs Corgis."
The coach gave a wry smile. Too true to laugh off.
"So... beating that day breaks the jinx, huge boost?"
"Yeah. Shattering curses means big. Get it?"
"Got it, but... shouldn't he test in spring? Rookies can shake debuting straight up."
The manager raised his voice, utterly convinced.
"No. That kid won't rattle. Worry about shaking the other pitcher. No need."
"Yes... so when in the series? Not opener, right? Only two games anyway."
The manager eyed him like why ask the obvious.
"Opener starter, duh."
"Yes...?"