Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Round of 32 Secured!
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Choi Seung-taek's coach walked all the way out to second base to pick up his gear.
"Choi Seung-taek, nice one! Your bat's looking sharp today, huh? All that batting practice is paying off."
"I'll show you some real clutch hitting today."
Choi Seung-taek could feel the power of his revamped swing.
It wasn't fully ingrained yet, but he'd made solid contact anyway, ripping a clean line drive.
"Oh, come on. Don't get ahead of yourself—keep hitting like that through the end."
"Don't worry. We'll sweep 'em and take the title."
"Yeah, let's do it. Win this one for real."
It wasn't the kind of talk you'd expect in the first inning of a Round of 32 game, but Choi Seung-taek was already feeling good.
'This is just the beginning.'
Choi Seung-taek's eyes blazed.
That day, Seoul Suseok High School crushed Suwon Information High School 9-0.
I San held a perfect game through seven innings, and the bullpen shut things down easily over the final two.
After the game, back at school, the coach had the players gather since the manager was standing in for him.
"Alright, good work, everyone. We advanced to the Round of 16 with room to spare, so let's go all the way and win it this time. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
Then the coach relayed various messages the manager had left for the players.
"San, your stuff was lights-out, and if we make the quarterfinals, you'll start again, so take it easy and prep."
"Yes, sir."
The coach added something.
"But whose idea was it to throw that changeup right down the middle? You won the numbers game perfectly. Risky, but it worked."
"Choi Seung-taek senior told me to. Seemed like a good call, so I trusted it."
"Got it."
'Bullshit. He shook me off twice.'
Choi Seung-taek nearly said it but held back for I San, who was already laying on the lip service.
"Gi-hyeon, your defense was a bit shaky, but you got three hits, so you'll probably stick at leadoff."
"Thank you, sir."
"And Choi Seung-taek."
"Yes, sir!"
"Four for five today—you were on fire. Good job. But the manager wants to see you, so pack your gear quick and head over."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean 'huh'? Get to the office now."
"Yes, sir."
Choi Seung-taek felt uneasy about the manager calling him separately.
'Calling someone right after a game like this is usually bad news... What'd I do wrong?'
As his expression soured, the underclassmen noticed and pitched in with his packing.
"Senior, we'll help."
"No need. Don't. I'll handle it."
"No, we didn't play, so we got nothing to pack anyway."
"Forget it. Go do your own stuff and rest."
Choi Seung-taek headed to the manager's office with a knot in his stomach. The manager was lounging in his chair, waiting.
"Seung-taek."
"Yes, Coach."
The manager's face was stern as he spoke.
"You gonna play ball like that?"
"Sorry, sir."
No choice. When in doubt, shut up and apologize.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Huh? Coach?"
"I called you in to say you're doing great, and here you are apologizing. Tsk tsk."
'Oh. He called me in to praise me. He's not usually the type to hand out compliments like this.'
"At first, I thought you'd lost your mind. Asking to skip other training for batting practice, wanting to pick your own starters..."
"Ahem."
"Thought you were nuts, but you balled out today. Lucky."
"No, sir."
"No, seriously... I'm just happy to have a kid who can handle real freedom."
The manager looked genuinely pleased. Choi Seung-taek recalled his history with Coach Kim Ik-hyeon.
Truth be told, Coach Kim Ik-hyeon was the best mentor Choi Seung-taek had ever had.
Back when Choi Seung-taek was in middle school, the coach had spotted his potential and helped him enroll at Suseok High on great terms.
Thanks to that, despite his poverty, Choi Seung-taek could keep playing ball. And because the coach valued pure merit over money or connections, he'd earned a starting spot as a sophomore.
Reflecting on all that, seeing Coach Kim Ik-hyeon smile like it was old times made Choi Seung-taek happy too.
"More than anything, I like how relaxed you looked. Today? Straight-up pro material, kid."
Choi Seung-taek felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. Then the coach pulled up a familiar video.
"Seen this?"
"Yeah, a classmate showed me a few days ago."
It was the video of Incheon Cranes' second-team manager Park Wan-gyu.
"After this dropped, I've gotten a few calls asking about you."
"Really?"
"Up till now, it was just casual probes, but after today's game? You wouldn't believe how many calls I fielded about you."
"No idea, sir."
"You know scouts came for San today, right? But they weren't just eyeing him—your name came up plenty too."
"They asked about me?"
"Yeah, kid. Never talked catchers this much in my life. Keep it up, and pro ball's yours for sure."
Coach Kim Ik-hyeon showed him a stack of business cards.
Gwangju Phoenix, Gangnam Parrots, Gangseo Turkeys—cards from various pro teams.
"See these? Worried it'd go to your head, but I figure it'll motivate you more if I tell you."
In his past life, around this time, Choi Seung-taek had been mulling college options. Pro was a long shot, but school was doable.
Then Busan Sea Gulls drafted him out of nowhere, and he went pro straight away. The school had gone nuts—sending two kids right to the pros when they hadn't expected any.
This time was different. The buzz now pointed to rounds 4 through 6.
Hearing he was all but guaranteed pro ball lifted Choi Seung-taek's spirits even more.
'Still only halfway there.'
Mid-round picks didn't command big signing bonuses.
And the team wouldn't push him as a top prospect. If he was going pro, he wanted a spot that guaranteed better opportunities.
"I ain't worried about Tae-pung or San. You, Bang-man, and the other seniors were the concerns. Glad you're turning it around."
"Thank you, sir. I'll give it everything through the Phoenix Cup."
"Good. Keep killing it. Now go."
With the good news, Choi Seung-taek left the office feeling lighter.
Coach Kim Ik-hyeon held one card he hadn't shown.
Incheon Cranes second-team manager Park Wan-gyu's.
'If he keeps it up, maybe then.'
Too high-profile a name might mess with the kid's head, so the coach pocketed Park Wan-gyu's card again.
"Seung-taek, did the coach rip into you bad?"
Han Bang-man, who'd been worried, came over. Choi Seung-taek shook his head.
"Nah, all good stuff. Kept saying keep doing what I'm doing since I'm hot lately."
"Good, then. The guys got all dramatic when they heard he called you in."
"I thought the same at first. Lucky it wasn't."
"Phew, idiot. Glad it's nothing. Heading out first."
"Yeah."
Back at the dorm, Choi Seung-taek showered and hit the bed.
Bzzzzt.
He was about to sleep when his phone vibrated.
"Huh...?"
Seeing the sender's name, Choi Seung-taek's heart skipped a beat.
It was Park Ga-young. They'd swapped numbers suddenly.
Before heading to the game, she'd asked for his, and Kim Min-jae, who'd seen it, turned demonic and tormented him on the bus.
Ga-young: Seung-taek, you guys won today!
Ga-young: Congrats!
'Uh... what do I do?'
Choi Seung-taek's heart stopped, then pounded wildly.
It had been so long since they'd messaged like this—he froze up.
Ga-young: No reply? You read it.
Ga-young: You really not gonna answer?
Park Ga-young's texts were sharpening.
'Oh crap, can't do this.'
Seung-taek: Sorry. Just got chewed out by coach, feeling off.
Ga-young: For real? Aw, my bad. ㅠㅠ
Choi Seung-taek suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Kinda sleazy throwing the coach under the bus.
Ga-young: Must've sucked. You free anytime?
'Free?'
His heart raced again.
'What's she thinking? A date?'
Thump thump.
Seung-taek: Only if we get knocked out of the tourney.
Ga-young: Oh, right? Guess no class for a while then?
Seung-taek: Nah. Morning classes for two days. Game after that.
Ga-young: Cool. Glad. Thought I'd miss you the whole time.
'Glad. Thought I'd miss you the whole time?'
Choi Seung-taek's mood turned even more fluttery at her text.
'What's her angle?'
He closed his eyes, then opened them. This was real.
Seung-taek: I'll make the finals and show you me analyzing hard.
Ga-young: Do it. See you tomorrow. Analyze hard then too. I'll cheer the whole way.
Seung-taek: Yeah. Got it!
Choi Seung-taek lay back, smiling. As he turned off his phone, he caught his grin in the reflection.
'...'
Seeing himself beaming like an idiot embarrassed him a little.