Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Tutorial
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Bang!
"You crazy bastard. Does it make any sense that you've been sleeping in until now?"
"I'm sorry."
The coach's roar, which I hadn't heard in ages, snapped me wide awake.
But even so, Choi Seung-taek still hadn't woken up from his dream.
'Hold on! Does that mean this is really reality right now?'
"I can't even smack you right now. Do you have any idea how important today's game is, standing around with your head in the clouds like this?"
The coach's eyes burned with the urge to lay into me even now, but it looked like he was barely hanging on to the last thread of his self-control.
'No way... Even if they sent me back to the past, why this exact moment? This is so unfair. I was never late once in high school.'
A sudden wave of injustice washed over me.
"Just get your ass to the bus right now. Everyone's waiting there."
"Yes, Coach! I'll run over quick."
As Choi Seung-taek moved to head out, the coach added one more line.
"We'll talk after the game."
'Shit, I'm screwed.'
Choi Seung-taek slunk toward the bus like a condemned criminal.
The familiar sight of the dorms and school felt a little welcoming after so long, but right now, there was no time to take it all in.
As he boarded the bus, everyone stared at Choi Seung-taek.
'What an embarrassment.'
He could feel all their eyes on him in the heavy silence.
Just as he tried to slip inside, the manager patted the seat next to him.
It meant sit here.
Choi Seung-taek sat right next to the manager. Then the coach climbed on and took the seat directly behind him.
"Everyone here? Driver, let's go. As fast as you can."
The bus driver shut the door and drove toward Mokdong Stadium.
The mood inside the bus was ice-cold. I could picture what had gone down before.
'They must've all gotten chewed out because they couldn't find me.'
No one said a word, and the suffocating quiet bore down on Choi Seung-taek harder by the second.
"Seung-taek."
"Yes, Manager."
"How can a senior supposed to set an example act like this?"
"I'm sorry."
"You're making us go into the game without even warming up because you're late."
"I'm sorry."
"You're not usually like this—what happened?"
"Nothing. It was nothing. I'm sorry."
It was incredibly unfair, but Choi Seung-taek couldn't make excuses. Opening his mouth to explain would just get him labeled crazy.
'Hoo... I'm losing my mind.'
Choi Seung-taek still couldn't wrap his head around being sent back to the past.
The bus he was sitting in, the manager next to him, the other players behind—all familiar, yet everything felt strangely off at the same time.
As Choi Seung-taek sat there completely zoned out, Kim Ik-hyeon, manager of Suseok High School's baseball team, looked worried.
"We'll figure it out once we get to the stadium."
"Yes. I'm sorry, Manager."
Choi Seung-taek felt more and more suffocated. This uncomfortable feeling was too real to be anything but reality.
'This is bad.'
There was only one way to make up for it: play well in today's game.
Thankfully, Mokdong Stadium wasn't far, so they arrived without too much delay.
As soon as the bus stopped, the coach bolted out yelling.
"Everyone, move it—now!"
"Yes, Coach!"
All the players, including Choi Seung-taek, jumped off the bus. The luggage compartment opened, and they scrambled to grab their gear.
But Choi Seung-taek just stood there blankly, unable to do anything. He saw busy hands all around, but he couldn't reach out.
'Damn it. What was my gear again?'
His juniors vanished one by one. In the blink of an eye, all the bags were gone, leaving Choi Seung-taek alone by the bus.
'What? Did I not even bring my gear?'
Choi Seung-taek's position was catcher.
Catchers needed the most personal equipment of any position, so forgetting it would be a massive screw-up.
'No, this can't happen. I've already caused one disaster. Come to think of it, I didn't even load my stuff at the dorm.'
The game hadn't even started, but cold sweat already trickled down Choi Seung-taek's back.
"Choi Seung-taek, you idiot! Why are you just standing there again?"
The coach's angry voice rang out once more.
"Uh... I don't see my gear."
"Your gear? The juniors already took everything inside! Hey, man! Are you seriously not gonna get your head straight today?"
The coach snapped at Choi Seung-taek, who stood there like a fool.
'These lifesavers. They grabbed it already. I was the only dumbass standing around.'
It made sense when he thought about it. Self-reliance culture only took hold around 2021, but back when Choi Seung-taek was in high school, juniors carrying seniors' gear was standard.
'Then I must've been a huge nuisance just now, standing in the way doing nothing.'
Confirming his gear had made it safely inside, Choi Seung-taek dashed into the stadium.
"Everyone, gather up—quick!"
"Yes, Coach!"
At the coach's command, the players hurried into the dugout.
In moments, everyone was assembled, fidgeting anxiously as they waited for the manager.
Soon after, the manager walked up with the lineup decided.
"No time, so I'll call it fast."
"Yes, Manager!"
"Leadoff, second baseman Seo Gi-hyeon. Two-hole, center fielder Kim Jin-hu."
Names I hadn't heard in ages rang out. All familiar and welcome.
...
"Cleanup, first baseman Han Bang-man. Six-hole, third baseman Kim Min-jae."
'Ah... Skipping me because I was late?'
Choi Seung-taek's heart sank. As a third-year in high school, he usually hit sixth when in the lineup.
Everyone's batting averages were middling, but it was the manager's consideration for the seniors to give them higher spots.
So another player's name in the six-hole meant Choi Seung-taek wasn't starting today.
"Seven-hole, right fielder Kim Min-sik."
The manager paused for a beat.
"Eight-hole, catcher Choi Seung-taek. Nine-hole, shortstop Na Min-ho. Starting pitcher today: Kang Tae-pung."
'Phew, made it in.'
Choi Seung-taek had screwed up big time.
To maintain team discipline, benching him would've been justified.
In a weekend league game, the manager would've gone with second-year backup catcher Go Jae-myeong for discipline's sake.
But this was the Blue Dragon Cup quarterfinals—an important match. Pulling the starting catcher wasn't easy.
Choi Seung-taek had always been diligent, so the manager gave him a pass this once.
Still, he couldn't ignore the tardiness entirely, so dropping him to eighth was the warning.
"This is a tough, crucial game today, so everyone get your heads in it and play smart."
"Yes! Got it, Manager!"
The manager returned to his seat in the dugout.
"Alright, warm up quick and get ready for the game."
The coach issued orders, and the players scattered to their warm-up spots.
Choi Seung-taek headed into the dugout to gear up.
"Seung-taek, you okay? Something going on?"
Captain Han Bang-man came over.
"No idea. I don't even know what's happening myself."
No point telling the truth, so Choi Seung-taek brushed it off vaguely.
"Don't let it get you down! Everyone messes up once."
"Yeah, thanks."
"But hurry and get ready. Not much time—we'll toss a few around in the infield and start."
"Got it. On my way."
The fielders grabbed their gloves and headed out first.
"Hoo..."
Choi Seung-taek let out a sigh.
It felt like a storm had just blown through.
'But can I even play well?'
Four years as a pro was huge experience. But three years since retirement, working as a power analyst.
He hadn't left the game entirely, but not playing meant his body wouldn't feel the same.
Right now, he needed to shake off the rust, even a little.
"Let me help you, Senior."
Second-year Go Jae-myeong rushed over to assist with the gear.
"Must suck. You could've started today."
A panicked voice came from below.
"Don't jinx it! I'm not ready for a game like this."
"Come on. Even in the Blue Dragon Cup, a second-year could go."
"Senior, we play the games we're meant for. Matches like this are for third-years like you."
'Whoa, dramatic much.'
Fully geared up, Choi Seung-taek grabbed his catcher's mask and stepped onto the field.
'Something feels off, though.'
Maybe because it was Blue Dragon Cup quarterfinals, but the stands had a decent crowd. Oddly, mostly on the home side.
Home stands usually held baseball insiders, so a big crowd there meant pro scouts were very interested.
'Heard it was a big game today, but who's the opponent to draw this many for quarterfinals?'
Choi Seung-taek glanced at the scoreboard as he walked to home plate.
Suseok High was batting bottom first, so their name was below. Above: Buma High School.
'Wait, Buma High?'
Buma High School Baseball Team
Buma High represented Gyeongnam region, especially dominant in 2014, sweeping high school tournaments.
Weekend leagues, Golden Lion Cup, Blue Dragon Cup, President's Cup—they won it all, undisputed top dogs.
Last Blue Dragon Cup quarters against them, despite ace Kang Tae-pung's effort, they lost 4-0.
Matchup between Go Tae-san (straight to majors) and Kang Tae-pung (Gangdong Falcons first-round pick) drew eyes, but Go Tae-san pitched a perfect game while Tae-pung allowed four runs in defeat.
Outmatched in every position. That explained the junior's freakout.
The message I'd gone so long without seeing popped up again.
'What, tutorial?'
Choi Seung-taek was dumbfounded.
'A tutorial in the game where we got perfect-gamed?'