Chapter 73

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 73

Chapter Title: Si-hwan's Hold and Tearful Reunion

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"Cha Si-hwan? Who's that? Never seen him before..."

"Isn't he the control trash? Why bring him up now?"

"What kind of decision is that..."

The fans in the stands watching live,

Whether it was the live fans in the stands or those watching on TV, everyone disapproved of Cha Si-hwan taking the mound.

"Jeez... Has Manager Lee gotten too old? A 3-run lead isn't safe enough to relax..."

Even the Dinosaurs' manager saw Manager Lee Eun-seok's pitching change as a 'mistake.'

Regardless, the one guarding the mound this inning was Cha Si-hwan.

As he rubbed the rosin bag, memories from his minor league days flooded back.

Bitter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠times of being discriminated against by the coach and outright denied chances to play—could he brush them off as mere memories now?

'Nah, memories might be a stretch...'

Cha Si-hwan chuckled wryly and dropped the rosin bag.

He glanced at the stands; no one looked thrilled to see him.

What did he expect? After bombing in spring training and getting yanked, anyone hyping him up would be the weird one.

He'd just show his best stuff and make sure they remembered the name Cha Si-hwan.

That was his goal for today.

'Did Grandma come?'

As he started to drift into thought, he shook his head and gripped the ball.

The batter was stepping into the box.

'Control's shit, so just lay off unless it's a good pitch.'

No. 2 hitter Choi Jong-hoon entered the batter's box, recalling the manager's orders.

He was the type known as a 'first-pitch hacker'—someone who swung early and often.

But this time, he'd follow instructions.

—Whoosh.

"Huh...?"

But Choi Jong-hoon's bat whipped around viciously on the first pitch anyway.

It wasn't defiance against the manager... his instincts overrode his brain. The ball came in, and the bat just went.

Result: whiffed strike.

On a pitch that dropped way low.

"Nice..."

Cha Si-hwan smiled faintly and prepared the next one.

Underhand pitchers faced high injury risks from their motion, hard to use as starters, tough to hold runners... plenty of downsides, so they were fading from modern baseball.

But that rarity was boosting their value.

Not just scarcity, though.

Like Cha Si-hwan scraping the dirt right now.

The insanely low release point made the ball pop out suddenly at same-handed hitters, with high spin and bizarre movement scrambling their brains.

A pitch that felt alien anyway was impossible to time until adjusted.

—Whoosh.

"Striiike!"

More than enough to feel like utter garbage.

"No way..."

The ball missed the bat again for another strike. Choi Jong-hoon gawked at the mitt in disbelief.

Then the third pitch.

This one flew right down the middle. He swung hard, sure he'd connect.

—Whoosh.

But the ball seemed to float up, dodging the bat.

Impossible for it to actually rise, but that's how it looked to Choi Jong-hoon.

"Strike three!"

'Phew... Dodged that. Didn't blow it.'

The floating curve that stunned the batter and fans—what's called an 'upshoot'—wasn't even intentional from Cha Si-hwan.

Sometimes on good days, his curve felt floaty like that. This was one.

'Gotta remember that sensation...'

Cha Si-hwan etched the feeling in his fingertips and kept pitching.

As Cha Si-hwan cleanly fanned two batters, fans' gazes began to shift.

"Wait, Cha Si-hwan's stuff is solid..."

"Right? Doesn't look filthy from here."

"Manager Lee Eun-seok had a plan after all."

"Phew..."

Cha Si-hwan wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

Fine until two outs, but with his first career hold dangling, tension crept in.

Eyes closed, he thought of one person.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pillar always by his side, protecting him.

Someone he craved to see right now.

'Grandma... you watching?'

Eyes open, Cha Si-hwan inhaled deeply and leaned forward.

World tilts 90 degrees,

scrapes the ground just like always...

Release from the same spot.

Stays middle-in, so no clue where it'll go.

First pitch this time...

"Oh."

Dead center of the zone.

Right down the pipe.

—Crack!

No matter the movement, middle-middle invites solid contact. The ball shot toward short left.

'This one's through...'

Cha Si-hwan gave up,

but Cha Tae-hyun didn't.

Sprinted like mad, dove with glove outstretched, snagged it. Then, torso half-up, fired a strong throw.

"Out!"

"No way... wow..."

Cha Si-hwan gaped in genuine awe as Cha Tae-hyun approached with a thumbs-up.

"Congrats on the scoreless debut."

With that, he headed to the dugout. Tension gone, Cha Si-hwan burst into a silly grin.

"Cha Si-hwan, that was awesome!"

"Ball slithers in like a snake!"

"Right, it's demonic!"

"Keep it up like today, yeah?!"

Cha Si-hwan had always envied players basking in fan cheers.

No chances for minor leaguers.

But now, that envy dissolved fully.

Chants of his name, thrill of protecting the lead—pure ecstasy surging through him.

So much had happened, so many quit moments.

But now Cha Si-hwan could proudly say,

"Glad I became a baseball player."

Beaming, he bowed 90 degrees to the stands and jogged to the dugout.

Closer Kim Gun-hyuk loaded the bases in the finale, nearly opening Phoenix Cinema, but induced a double play to seal it. We swept the Dinosaurs for the first time in three years.

A sweep after three years... what kind of team was Phoenix before I joined?

Anyway, great win, fans in top spirits.

"Busan~ Phoenix, Busan~ Phoenix, to the~ skies we~ fly~."

As they left Sajik Stadium, fans belted the team song, chanted player anthems, shouts of love everywhere.

Seem great, but they throw chickens if we suck... mysterious.

Maybe baseball's a disease...

"Hey, Cha Tae-hyun, heading out right away?"

Shin Si-woo asked in the locker room.

"Yeah, where else?"

"Missed it? Si-hwan hyung's getting pranked with a hidden camera."

"Sudden hidden cam?"

"His grandma came to the game today, but he didn't know. Phoenix TV crew caught it and planned a surprise event."

Hmm... like heading home and Ji-hyun shows up with gifts?

Thrilled, but caught giggling—blackmail meme material.

I see the play.

"No wonder fans love Phoenix TV."

"Right? Felt like killer content the second I heard."

So we changed and headed to the site.

"Yo, Si-woo, Tae-hyun here?"

"Gun-hyuk hyung came too?"

"Just call me bro."

"Turning 40 next year, bro's a stretch... Ow!"

Shin Si-woo got smacked for mouthing off.

"Anyway, stay quiet. She's coming soon."

I scanned around and cracked up.

Not ninjas, but hiding behind cover with cameras. Pros.

Grandma hid with a camera guy.

—She's heading your way. Get ready.

Radio crackle tensed the crew.

Footsteps from afar, prank star Si-hwan hyung appeared.

First hold, face lit with joy.

Wonder what face he'll make seeing grandma.

Anticipation peaked as they met.

"G... Grandma?"

Shocked, Si-hwan bolted to her, mouth agape.

"Why you lookin' at me like a ghost."

"No... you came without a word, surprised me."

"Left cab money and card. What word? Don't matter. My grandson threw fire today!"

Grandma patted his back; his face brightened instantly.

Never seen such pure happiness.

...Up to here, as planned.

Then he bit his lip—vibe shifted.

"Truth is... wanted to invite you but feared blowing it. Didn't wanna embarrass you."

"Aigoo... so what if ya did? Grandma loves seein' you play ball. Si-hwan, you were amazing today. Proudest grandson ever!"

Grandma hugged him beaming; Si-hwan finally bawled.

Full-on sobs...

Like a little kid.

"N... now I'm up to majors, I'll... do better, treat you right. Nice house, all the good eats... top-shelf red ginseng too."

Everyone silent amid his sniffles. Fireworks timing long gone.

Prank ruined, but grateful for Si-hwan hyung, surely.

"I'm heading out first."

"Huh...? Now?"

I brushed off Shin Si-woo's grab and exited.

Hard to say, but watching Si-hwan made me wanna call Ji-hyun.

—Yeah? What's up, oppa?

"Just... felt like calling."

—Aw? Watched your game till end. Dinosaurs sweep after 3 years? Congrats!

Simple words curved my lips.

Truest lesson in this world: family precious, always my strength.

"You even know 'sweep'? Getting into baseball? Off tomorrow—wanna go somewhere?"

Vowed never forget, left Sajik Stadium.

"Today's win's huge. Right, Seo Coach?"

Manager Lee Eun-seok, no booze mid-season, cracked a beer with head coach, in high spirits.

"Yes sir. Dinosaurs sweep in 3 years! Busan's buzzing!"

Manager sighed, sipped.

"That's the win's meaning? The sweep?"

Flustered, Seo Coach pondered.

"Uh... Si-woo's homer today?"

"Yeah... half right. If not even that, might've seriously fired you."

"Haha..."

"Anyway... other half's Cha Si-hwan. Saw his stuff? Could be peak condition, but way better than bullpen scrubs, yeah?"

Seo Coach nodded.

Wondered what magic pitching coach worked on his control.

"Who fixed Cha Si-hwan?"

"Yeah...? Pitching coach?"

Manager smirked, pulled a file from drawer.

"Read it."

Seo Coach took it, whistled.

"Insane quality... This guy made it and fixed Si-hwan? Coach you know?"

"Nah. Cha Tae-hyun's friend."

"Pardon...?"

Seo Coach blanked, stunned.

Pro scouting team level.

"Crazy, right? Me too. Kid's got coaches like this as pals—what can't he do? Gonna make a spot and bring him on. Heads up."

"Got it. I'll tell the others."

"Thanks. Oh, trade rumor soon. Almost done. Note it."

"Trade...?"

"Yeah. Gave a 3rd-round pick."

Seo Coach's jaw dropped.

"Why so shocked?"

Why? Phoenix picks first as last year's basement dwellers—3rd round still valuable. Gave it up? For who?

"FYI... incoming pitcher's older. 36. But closer caliber, so bullpen'll shape up fine. Don't sweat."

Seo Coach's head spun. 36's iffy without babying.

But shook it off.

'Closer level... fine.'

Unless 'Phoenix closer' standards.