Promise
I had no choice but to step outside. Right away, reporters and scouts started closing in.
Haa… Alright, let's do this.
That's when I spotted the stands. Yoo Sera had come down close to the field and was watching me.
Uh…? Gotta hurry.
Right then, Lee Seung-min happened to walk over that way and casually stood in front of her, striking up a conversation. Even with the barrier of the stands and the field between them, they were leaning in to talk—and the sight turned my stomach.
No way… Did I just get robbed of my spot? Why the hell am I stuck here right now? I need to get over there fast…
How do I make that happen…?
The answer came quick.
"Scouts?"
They all turned to look at me first.
"Sorry, but I'm not planning to play for a domestic team just yet."
A few in the front row flinched at that.
"Because my goal is to follow in my dad's footsteps and head straight to the majors. If you're here to scout other players, feel free. But if you're here for me, isn't it a bit early?"
The Eulji Crows scout forced a smile and asked, "So, should we come back in about a year?"
"No, try 15 years from now."
…
"Ooh!"
"Whoa…!"
Small gasps of admiration rose from the reporters. They'd caught the meaning. Some laughed at the scene; others jotted notes on their phones. The scouts looked utterly flustered.
Good. Scouts handled. Now for the reporters—the real pain.
Questions could drag on forever, and some might get nasty. But today, I had to bulldoze through with momentum.
I bowed to them and said, "Oh, and sorry to the reporters too, but no interviews today."
Their faces soured, as expected. A few shot me who the hell is this guy? looks.
Tsk. This might bite me later.
That's when I remembered that reporter who'd dug up everything about me.
"There's a reason interviews are off today. There was this reporter who knew my whole story… Instead of spilling it first, we promised a solo interview later. Well, it was more like he made the deal with my coach on his own, but it lined up with what I wanted, so I figured he deserved compensation."
Mentioning another reporter seemed to soften their reactions a bit.
"So this isn't me ignoring you all—it's about keeping that promise. He could've dropped an exclusive early but held back, showing real journalistic honor. I owe him respect for that. So please, let today slide. Plus… between what I pitched today and what I just said, you've got plenty to write about anyway."
A brief silence fell after I finished.
Then the reporters lightened up.
"Whoa, opposite of his dad, huh? Speaks his mind."
"Yeah. Not hopeless."
A few murmurs kicked things off, and they started drifting away after a word or two.
"Got it. Interview next time."
"Bummer. Take care from now on."
"Yep, thanks."
They headed for team captain Lee Seok-hyeon, the Cheongryonggi MVP, and then the Suseok High side, who'd lost.
"Phew… Nailed it."
I finally exhaled. Time to head straight to Yoo Sera.
As I turned toward the stands, a familiar voice stopped me.
"Son."
…Huh? My parents. And they weren't alone—they were with Gwangju Pheasants scouts.
Wait, hold up. Why now…?
"Son. Let's talk a sec."
Dad was already close, ignoring my reaction as he positioned the scouts nearby.
"No, why?"
"Just chat with these scouts real quick. About your condition…"
I cut him off before he could finish. No way this wouldn't drag on.
"Dad, I just sent all the scouts packing."
The Gwangju Pheasants guys glanced awkwardly.
"Hm… Still…"
"No joke—I told them to come back later. Pheasants included."
"…"
The Pheasants scout wrapped it up fast. "Well, nothing we can do. Let's talk next time, senior."
"Sure."
Then Dad tapped my arm and asked, "But why are you still like that?"
"Huh? Like what?"
"Why no icing?"
I blanked for a second. Icing? Oh… that?
My head had been so full of scouts, reporters, Yoo Sera, and Lee Seung-min that I'd totally spaced on body care.
"Uh… I need to do that?"
His face hardened the instant I said it. His tone sharpened like a blade.
"You think baseball's a one-day thing? Aren't you trying to do this right? And you skipped the most important part. Come on."
No room to argue. He grabbed my arm, and I got dragged to the locker room.
Yoo Sera's spot kept flickering at the edge of my vision, but I couldn't take a single step that way.
Icing started the moment we hit the locker room. The cold snapped me alert—but so did the irritation. Not the time for this…
But that thought vanished quick. Dad spotted the director and coach and launched into an argument.
"Come on, a guy who wasn't even starting suddenly pitches—first thing after the game should've been icing. What the hell is this?"
The director and coach were speechless. Sure, I'd bolted to shower right after, so they hadn't checked, but there'd been time for icing—they couldn't really push back.
"Ahem, our bad on missing that. But…"
"No buts…"
I was stuck there, pinned in place. One word from me, and it'd blow up bigger, so I stayed quiet.
That scene from the stands kept replaying—Lee Seung-min standing close, talking to her.
Haa… Need to talk to Sera…
But icing dragged on, and by the time I slipped out quietly, she'd already gone.
* * *
I slumped over my desk the second I got to the classroom, totally deflated. As I lay there, the door opened.
"You're here early today?"
Yoo Sera's voice drew closer.
"Good game?"
…? Good game?
I answered without lifting my head. "We won, didn't we?"
"So why's the Cheongryonggi champ moping like that? Should be thrilled. Or just sleepy? Partied all weekend after the win?"
I pressed my lips tight. "Not that."
"Then why? Act happy—you won."
"Just… not feeling it. Worst, actually."
She reacted fast. "Huh? Why the worst?"
I hesitated. Can't say it's 'cause of you… So I dodged. "Wanted to do something, couldn't."
"Oh? What?"
She came closer, probably standing by my desk. "What? Tell me, I'm curious."
I sighed softly. "Just… kinda bummed we couldn't talk that day."
Her voice went wide-eyed. "Whaaat? I wasn't even at the stadium."
That pissed me off more, so I lifted my head a bit, narrowing my eyes. "Don't lie. You were there."
"Haha, yeah, I was. But time was tight. Just saw the win and bounced. Nothing I could do."
Liar. But I got why she'd say that. Still, it made me feel even more wronged.
So I grumbled. "Whatever. You were there from the start."
She sounded surprised. "Huh? You saw that? I was way in the back."
Yeah. You were all I saw.
But I didn't say it. Then she narrowed her eyes at me.
"Hmmm. Got it. You're sulking… 'cause of that?"
…?
"Mad I talked to Seung-min?"
Yeah… but not the big issue.
"Nah."
"Then why…?"
"Told you. More like regretting not talking to you right there that day."
I sat up straight. "Sure, seeing you with Seung-min stung a bit. Jealousy, I guess—since I couldn't. But… he's earned it, putting in the work. Fair enough."
"Whoa, not the reaction I expected."
"You've known him longer, been closer. Makes sense he'd come watch and chat quick. Just sucks I couldn't even say a word to you in that spot. Ironic. Cleared out scouts and reporters just to talk, but ended up stuck anyway…"
She looked at me with a strange glint in her eye.
"Jeong-ui."
"Yeah?"
"Remember what you said before?"
"Uh… what?"
"Next time's fine. You can make it happen."
She stuck out her pinky.
"Next time, we'll talk at the stadium. Promise."
"…Promise."