Chapter 71

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 71

Chapter Title: Designated Seat Wish

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"Sorry for pulling you aside like this."

"Not at all. Thanks to you, Chairman, I get to eat and make a living. How could I not spare a moment?"

Shin Myung-hoon burst into laughter at Cha Tae-hyun's response.

He'd met with players one-on-one plenty of times before, but this was the first rookie who'd crack a joke right in front of him.

The kid's baseball skills were top-notch, and his looks? Perfect fit. He was thrilled with him.

"It's nothing major. If there's anything you want, just say it now, nice and easy."

"Pardon? Didn't you give me those Randeria vouchers today?"

"Hey now! Come on! You think that's it? I didn't give them to you to use yourself in the first place. I'm not dumb enough to feed a pro athlete hamburgers. They're for your little sister."

The Phoenix chairman had watched Cha Tae-hyun's documentary multiple times.

That tearjerker story always highlighted his one and only sister—how could she not stick in his mind?

"Can someone else besides me use the vouchers?"

"Of course. That's why I gave them... though most folks would give them to their sister anyway. These days, the MZ generation loves Randeria."

'Ji-hyun prefers Burger Queen, though...'

Cha Tae-hyun smoothly hid his thoughts and smiled, and the chairman smiled back, satisfied.

"Alright, that's settled! So, what do you want? Anything at all—spit it out."

The chairman had changed into a suit, but his special Cha Tae-hyun uniform still made Secretary Kim flinch.

'Lucky guy...'

Knowing the chairman's personality, he'd hand over a luxury car if asked, or even a house without batting an eye. Secretary Kim wondered what Cha Tae-hyun would request.

"Could you possibly create a designated seat for me?"

'Why that?'

Secretary Kim and the chairman both widened their eyes in surprise.

A house or car might be too much, sure, but a designated seat? They hadn't seen that coming at all.

"Designated seat... at Sajik Stadium?"

"Yes. Right down at the bottom near first base on the infield side would be perfect."

Secretary Kim sighed inwardly.

'Just ask for a house! If it were me... if it were me!'

"Well... that's not hard at all. Fans might talk a bit, but hey... as long as you keep playing great baseball, no issue. But is that really all? I don't go back on my word. House, car—whatever's fine."

Even after the chairman mentioned houses and cars being on the table, Cha Tae-hyun was firm.

"Yes, really. I just want someone precious to me sitting in a designated seat at Sajik. I'll earn a house or car myself with bonuses from you once I play even better!"

"Hahaha!"

The chairman's head tilted back as laughter exploded out.

"Excellent... just excellent! Not just great at baseball—this personality's a riot too! You're destined to be Phoenix's star! Alright, I'll make that seat happen, so keep crushing it and claim those bonuses from me!"

"Thank you!"

"Thank me? Nah! Good work out there... oh, hold on!"

The chairman stood, grabbed Secretary Kim, and positioned them next to Cha Tae-hyun.

"My secretary here's a huge Phoenix fan! Too shy to say it, but he probably wants a photo. Stick it as your KakaoTalk profile pic, and boom—instant popularity, right, Secretary Kim?"

"...Pardon? Yes... thank you. ...Chairman."

Touched by the chairman's thoughtfulness, Secretary Kim held back tears and snapped a photo with Cha Tae-hyun.

"Perfect! This is my new profile pic for sure! You too, right, Secretary Kim?"

"Haha... of course."

We pulled off a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, added a shutout win, got MVP, and even scored a special award from the chairman.

Each one could've made my heart race, but right now, heading to Teacher Mi-yeon after leaving Sajik Stadium? That's the moment that has me buzzing most.

Well past quitting time.

The area around Sajik was quiet and empty, and Teacher Mi-yeon sat on a bench under a streetlamp, scrolling her phone.

Whatever she was looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at had her smiling—no idea what, but seeing it tugged my lips up too.

I crept up as quietly as I could and sat beside her.

[Breaking) Monster Rookie Cha Tae-hyun Strikes Again? Second Shutout Plus Walk-Off Homer...]

She was so into the article she didn't notice me sit down, grinning wide as she rubbed the screen.

"Hehe... this is just too good."

"Who is?"

"Eek!"

Teacher Mi-yeon jolted, shoulders jumping as she leaned back.

No can do.

I pulled her in close before she could slip away.

"T-Tae-hyun?"

Instead of answering, I hugged her tighter. Her face pressed into my chest.

She turned her head, burying it fully, and started mumbling.

"Mmph... mmph..."

It tickled, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

After her relentless assault, I waved the white flag and let go. She beamed at me.

No words needed—we just held hands and stood.

Tonight's route...

A lap around Sajik Stadium.

Nothing special to see, but it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her favorite course. So, it's mine too.

After a short walk, she switched our grip to interlocking fingers.

"How was I today?"

Hearing praise from Teacher Mi-yeon? That's irreplaceable, my absolute favorite time.

"Walk-off homer and a shutout? Super cool."

"How much?"

"Hmm... best out of everyone who played today. The absolute top."

"So, I'm the best to you too?"

Teacher Mi-yeon flinched for a second.

Under the streetlamp, her face flushed pink.

She walked on silently, then whispered so softly.

"...Who else would I like?"

My lips shot up without a fight. Anyone seeing this goofy grin would think I'm an idiot.

"Teacher, hold on a sec."

I stopped under the next streetlamp and pulled out the ball I'd brought.

"What's this?"

"My first homer ball at Sajik. Wanted to give it to you."

Her mouth dropped open, and she threw herself at me. Her excited bouncing had me thrilled too.

She'd love hearing about the designated seat, right?

But that'll wait.

It might be cheesy, but I want to save it for that heartfelt moment. Make it unforgettable in her memory.

"Thanks, Tae-hyun. You always take such good care of me..."

"Take care? You always come find me and wait. And from now on, every commemorative ball I get? Yours."

"R-Really...?"

"Who else? Gotta be you, Teacher."

Something wrong with what I said? She stopped dead and stared at me.

"Teacher...?"

She hesitated, then suddenly went up on her tiptoes.

Her face rushed right up to mine.

Breaths mingling close,

she whispered.

"...My turn to give back."

The short words hit as her lips brushed my cheek.

She dropped back down, tugged my hand, and we walked on.

Dazed, I touched my cheek as she led me.

The warm tingle at my fingertips.

That's when it sank in—this was real.

Happiness welled up deep inside, my lips twitching wildly.

Every commemorative ball I snag gets me this feeling...?

Big trouble.

Now I'll obsess over records.

What milestone to chase next? Right then, Teacher Mi-yeon suddenly bolted.

"...Let's run, Tae-hyun."

"Huh...?"

"Just! Suddenly wanna run."

And she did. I followed, pulled along by her hand.

No clue why, but it felt amazing.

Running ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand-in-hand with her? Pure bliss.

We lapped around Sajik for ages together.

Game two against the Dinosaurs saw Su-ho sunbae take the mound on rotation, and... we won.

Phoenix hitters exploded from the first inning, racking up 9 runs by the seventh. Su-ho sunbae's gem: 7 innings, 2 runs. Final: 9-2, a solid margin.

But the issue? Su-ho sunbae left after the seventh.

Normal fans might think "starter went 7 innings, good enough,"

but Phoenix's balance right now? Nowhere near normal...

Low-dice Ro-woon sunbae struggled, and bullpen flamethrower Kim Chan-woo lit a fire—bad one.

Closer Gun-hyuk sunbae cleaned it up, thank goodness. A blown save...

Sajik might've seen horror.

Anyway, a win's a win.

Fans on the verge of rioting sang the team song happily as they filed out.

Phoenix fans' panic persisted.

Oh, not just fans freaking out.

[Busan Love Bank: This year's the chance! Phoenix Championship Savings! Earn 4.5% base + up to 5.2% bonus if we make the playoffs! Chase victory and happy interest rates together!]

"Man, I can't believe this savings product's been around for over 20 years."

Shin Si-woo seemed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be reading similar articles.

"Read carefully—they sell out every time, that's why."

"No way... really? Makes sense? We flop last every year—do fans just forget?"

"I don't get it ei—"

Was about to say I don't either when a text came in.

[Mi-yeon Teacher: Tae-hyun, Busan Love Bank's gone nuts this year! 5.2% if we win it all! Teacher signed up right away haha. They must have cash—gonna win for real this time.]

"It makes sense."

"Huh...?"

"It's fan love. They're trusting us enough to bank on it—we should be grateful, not cynical. Right attitude for fans? Si-woo? We're baseball players who just play ball, but basic respect for fans matters."

"Uh... yeah. You're right."

Yeah. Gotta appreciate it. Can't rely on players thinking like that.

I texted back.

[Gonna hit it up on off-day for the championship savings haha.]

Cha Si-hwan, who always left home 30 minutes early for work, now sat by the front door fiddling with tickets even as departure time loomed.

—Probably pitching tomorrow's game. Keep it in mind... first start, so if family wants to come, take the tickets.

His first-team debut at Sajik had finally arrived.

Showing his grandmother his big-league mound time was his dream. He should be overjoyed, arms wide.

But now that it was real, worry crept in.

Truth was, he wasn't fully confident he'd pitch well.

Control had improved a ton.

Shocking compared to old Cha Si-hwan, but objectively? Still shaky.

He might walk a bunch and get yanked early.

Was inviting Grandma right?

She wouldn't like seeing her grandson get roasted.

—Bzzz.

Phone vibrated in his pocket.

Last alarm. Delay more, and he'd be late.

Cha Si-hwan nodded decisively, left the tickets, his credit card, and a small note by the door, then headed out.