Chapter 85

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 85

Chapter Title: A Stellar Debut and Fan Cake

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Expectations only breed greater disappointment the more you build them up.

The fans at Sajik Stadium had given up on Cha Yun-myeong long ago.

In that kind of atmosphere, Cha Yun-myeong's 150 km/h four-seam fastball came flying in.

—Waaaaah!!!

It was just one pitch, but it was more than enough to draw massive cheers.

'Gun-hyuk hyung was right. The fans really are kind.'

How long had it been since he'd heard cheers like this?

Cha Yun-myeong grinned as he waited for the catcher's sign.

Soon, the mitt was set at the far edge of the strike zone on the outside corner, almost like it was asking, 'Can you hit your spot here?'

He couldn't be entirely sure.

But he had confidence.

Cha Yun-myeong nodded and unleashed another pitch.

—Thwack!

A satisfying catcher's pop filled his ears, and the ball went in pretty close to the corner, if not perfectly on the black.

"Striiike!"

On the day he first threw a ball after rehab, Cha Yun-myeong had been certain.

The surgery and rehab had been a complete success.

You know your own body best, right? He'd felt a refreshing sharpness in his delivery that rivaled his prime.

That's why he was endlessly grateful for this moment,

and for Phoenix.

Grateful to Manager Lee Eun-seok, who had given up a third-round draft pick to keep his career from ending on the Winners' bench and handed him this opportunity.

'Gotta repay them by pitching well.'

Usually with two strikes, you'd expect a safe sign to steal a strike, but this was pretty aggressive.

'Not bad.'

A three-pitch strikeout in his debut. A chance to look cool in front of his kid.

—Thwack!

Cha Yun-myeong pumped his fist, and Manager Lee Eun-seok, sitting in the Phoenix dugout, nodded.

"See, Coach Seo? My junior doesn't lie, right?"

The chief coach, caught off guard, gave an awkward smile.

"Haha... Yeah. Right now, just looking at that stuff... definitely. Closer setup material."

"Whoa... What's up with Cha Yun-myeong? He's actually pitching great. Didn't expect him to hold two innings."

Shin Ha-yoon set her tablet aside for a moment and checked the cake in the oven.

"Shrunk again..."

It was better than the first try, but still wrinkled and ugly. Still, slather on some whipped cream?

"Looks... okay?"

It still didn't, but she'd have to settle. Shockingly, after three failures, she'd used up all the ingredients her little brother bought. The game was almost over, no time left.

Resigned, Shin Ha-yoon wrote a congratulatory message on the cake for the final touch.

"Ugh... The writing's crooked too. Whatever, it's the thought that counts."

With that, she boxed the cake and pondered how to deliver it.

'Surprise is the best for celebrations.'

Grinning mischievously at the fun of it, Shin Ha-yoon grabbed the cake and headed out.

Her destination: the apartment complex where Cha Tae-hyun lived. She didn't know the exact unit, but she knew he lived here.

She wandered the grounds before sitting on a bench. This spot was definitely on his way. Now just wait.

'Just a little longer...'

Her eyelids kept drooping, her mind fogging over.

She tried playing Cha Tae-hyun highlight videos to stay awake, but 20+ hours of fatigue was too much.

Slowly, her eyes closed.

In the top of the ninth with a 3-6 lead, Gun-hyuk hyung came in, loaded the bases, and ramped up the tension for the lax fans, but we held them off somehow, securing the winning series in the three-game set against Winners.

Considering Phoenix's usual formula—starter minimizing runs, then bullpen hanging on—this win was pretty meaningful.

How long had it been since the starter left without giving up a run and we won?

Now we could say we had a proper closer setup.

Of course, the biggest surprise was Cha Yun-myeong.

Nemas never mentioned him once, so he must've quietly faded from the Winners' bench. I never expected this from him in Phoenix.

"Yun-myeong, everything was great, but one regret: if it'd been me finishing that inning, I'd have teared up."

"Huh? But we shut them down clean."

"You don't get it yet. Fans melt for tears. When I got my first save here, crying bought me three days without 'washed-up old man' jabs."

"Whoa... Thanks for the tip. Next time, I'll cry my eyes out."

Wait... is that really a tip?

Dubious, but Gun-hyuk hyung clearly liked him.

Didn't he say when I headed to the field, 'Hope Yun-myeong gets the hold. Take care of defense.'?

"Tae-hyun, thanks, man."

As I was about to leave the locker room, Cha Yun-myeong suddenly thanked me.

"Without you today, who knows how the game goes. Shaking Su-ho's mental, giving up those runs."

"Nah. Your two shutout innings were huge."

Honest truth. Whether I flip for a ball or twist to rob a homer, if the bullpen starts leaking, the game's done. All our losses so far followed that pattern.

"Right. Let's keep it up. Aiming for Phoenix championship, yeah? My kid's a Phoenix fan now too, so we gotta win it all."

"Sounds good. I'll do my best to make it happen."

"Yeah. Appreciate it!"

"Great work today, Tae-hyun! You make baseball fun to watch."

"Nah, just doing my job for the paycheck."

"If only all Phoenix guys had that mindset..."

"They've been hustling more lately, though."

"True, better than the old days. Must be Manager Lee Eun-seok. Anyway, get home safe!"

"Yes, you too."

Like always, getting praise from the security guard ajusshi as I walked to the complex.

The usual straight shot home... but

"What's she doing here?"

Shin Ha-yoon was slumped on the bench.

Head thrown back, mouth agape like a drunk old man.

Oh, drooling too.

"Hm...?"

About to sit, but there was a box.

Did she bring this for me?

Curious, he peeked inside. Unexpected contents.

"A cake?"

Casually pulling it out to check... he froze for a moment.

"......"

Crooked handwriting.

Sunken cake.

Sloppily smeared cream.

Amateurish beyond belief, unsellable for money, but that's exactly why he knew. Who made it, how much effort went in.

"Thanks..."

Genuinely touched.

Almost teary.

Set the cake down, spotted the lighter nearby, chuckled.

"Bought a lighter but left the matches where?"

-Click!

Placed candles on the cake, lit them.

"Shin Ha-yoon."

"Mm... Ungh..."

"Wake up. It's morning."

At "morning," her eyes snapped open.

Wide-eyed, looking around, still half-asleep.

"Snap out of it. Blow this out and make a wish."

"Wha...? This is cake?"

"Yeah. You made it."

Shin Ha-yoon blanked out, then gave an exasperated look.

"Dude... Why'd you pull it out? No, wait... You blow it out, not me."

"Then let's blow together."

"Huh...?"

Staring like I'd said something crazy.

"You got something to celebrate too. Tried calling yesterday, no answer."

"Oh... That Shin Min-seok bastard... So what's the congrats for?"

I chuckled. Blow first, think later.

"O...kay. On three, we blow?"

"Yeah. Hurry."

Shin Ha-yoon counted "3-2-1" and blew alone.

"Dude... Why didn't you blow?"

"Good enough. Getting this cake is thanks aplenty."

She pouted, but her lips twitched up.

"...Fine. So what's my congrats?"

"Spot opened up at Phoenix."

"Wha...? What're you talking about?"

She closed the distance in a flash, grabbing and shaking my shoulders. Eyes twice their usual size from shock.

"Your spot, obviously. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Congrats on the Phoenix job."

At my words, Shin Ha-yoon stared blankly, speechless for a bit.

"Ah, not official coach yet, starting in analysis team. You get it? No career, specs lacking..."

"Thank you!"

Before I finished, she tackled me.

"Whoa... I get you're excited, but get off first."

Ignoring me, she kept thanking and shaking me.

"Thank you thank you thank you so much... really, so so thankful yes... really really too thankful."

"Wait... It's not coach yet, just strategy analysis intern..."

"Yeah! Still! Thank you! Cha Tae-hyun... really really thank you!"

She kept spilling thanks nonstop, then suddenly started sobbing.

"Dude... You crying?"

She shook her head no, but my chest was getting wet.

Sniffle... waaah...

Finally, Shin Ha-yoon burst into full sobs.

"All cried out now?"

"......Sorry. Tears just came out of nowhere."

Back on the bench, Shin Ha-yoon couldn't lift her head. Embarrassed, probably.

"Thanks to me too. Making this couldn't have been easy. Anyway... heading home."

Grabbed the cake box to stand, but she caught my wrist.

"Since we're here... wanna watch this together?"

Checked her phone: a TV show I knew.

We Love Baseball. Highlights from KBO, expert analysis, that sort of thing.

Not really my go-to, honestly.

"Today's your special episode."

"...Me? Like Cha Tae-hyun Special?"

She nodded. Thought it was a joke, but real.

Okay, my special was intriguing.

"Alright, just this then."

Sat back; she scooted close. Small screen, unavoidable.

Chuckles at the announcer.

I'd been doing well lately, but this much fanfare?

"Hold up, gotta open chat. It's live stream, reactions pop right away."

She opened chat; already flooded with Tae-hyun God, Shin Tae-hyun stuff.

Hmm...

Yeah. Announcer had reason to hype.

Even early season, two weeks in, these were stats I'd never seen.

OPS nearing 2? Even I suspected composites.

"...Hey."

Shin Ha-yoon called, looking worried.

"I know it's not... but just in case..."

"Spit it out."

She hesitated, then:

"You're not... doping, right?"