The Returned Catcher Wants to Win the Championship
Choi Seungtaek was surprised to see the indoor practice facility. It looked completely different from what he remembered.
He had never come here before, so even though it was inside the school, the place felt strangely unfamiliar.
Park Gayeong’s eyes widened as she gazed around the training room.
“Wow… it’s amazing.”
Choi Seungtaek thought for a moment about what he should show her, then decided to demonstrate something he could do alone.
He brought out a T-ball and showed her his batting stance.
“Tatak!”
“Wow!”
A crisp, satisfying crack echoed through the room. Park Gayeong gasped at the sight of the ball flying cleanly through the net.
Choi Seungtaek tossed another ball into the air.
“Tatak!”
“Wow! It’s incredible.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I didn’t know it would come off so easily.”
Choi Seungtaek tossed another.
“After I showed you that video, I’ve been doing a ton of batting practice.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. That’s when I realized what I was missing. Thanks to you, we’re really flying now. It’s all thanks to you.”
Park Gayeong’s heart swelled with happiness at his words.
“You’re helping me like this?”
She picked up a ball from the box and set it on the T-ball stand.
“Yeah.”
“Tatak!”
Once more the sharp sound of swings filled the indoor training room.
Choi Seungtaek’s ball sailed cleanly toward the net. Park Gayeong picked it up and placed it back on the stand in front of him.
They had this time together because it was a busy Sunday afternoon after the game. Everyone was at home or out playing, so the dorm was empty, but the training room was completely deserted.
At first Park Gayeong had thought coming here was a waste of time, but watching the tall, solid Choi Seungtaek practice made her reconsider.
“But is it okay if I stay like this?”
“It’s fine. The kids usually come in the evening. We have a few hours until then. Most of them will be home after dinner.”
In reality he would probably get scolded if caught, but Choi Seungtaek figured no one would show up. Even if they did, he was a key player in his third year of high school, so there shouldn’t be any real trouble.
If I get caught, so what… I’ll just enjoy it now and worry about it later.
“Tatak!”
Park Gayeong tossed another ball up.
“But am I really helping you properly?”
“Of course. You’re doing great. Tossing the ball is already hard work. If you weren’t helping, I’d be tossing and swinging, tossing and swinging. This would be a lot less efficient.”
Helping with the T-ball practice was already making a big difference, and just watching the form was helping him focus.
“Tatak!”
Flash!
Instantly, Choi Seungtaek’s eyes glowed as glowing text appeared in his vision.
Impossible.
The flawless form of MLB superstar Mitchell Nelson was finally his to use.
He had already been mowing down mediocre teams with his off-timing swings, but now with proper mechanics… it was incredible news.
This could make a huge difference in the quarterfinal against Gwangju High and the final against Buma High.
[New Quest Unlocked]
📍 Location: [Gwangju High School - Quarterfinals]
🎁 Reward: [Full System Unlock]
Wait… there’s still another ability to unlock. But first I have to complete the original goal.
“Uh… Seungtaek-ah?”
Park Gayeong noticed he was staring blankly into space and asked, concerned.
“You looked a little scared. Why so sudden?”
“Oh! Sorry. I just got an idea.”
Choi Seungtaek gripped the bat again.
The bat felt strangely lighter than before.
“Tatak!”
The ball screamed through the air and slammed the net with terrifying force.
“Whoa! It’s different from last time!”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The way I’m holding the bat and how I swing it… it feels more natural. And so much smoother.”
Park Gayeong’s words made Choi Seungtaek’s heart race.
“Exactly. Natural and smooth.”
Anyone watching would have said his form was complete.
Even Park Gayeong, who didn’t know much about baseball, could tell. Managers and scouts would feel the same.
Choi Seungtaek refused to let this thrilling sensation slip away.
“Thwack!”
“Hah…”
Choi Seungtaek’s entire body was drenched in sweat. They had been swinging for three straight hours since lunch.
Park Gayeong couldn’t understand why he suddenly went all-out. She only had a moment to stop him—right when the box was empty.
She had paused several times to refill the box, but Choi Seungtaek kept going, and she had no choice but to keep tossing.
“You worked hard this time too.”
Choi Seungtaek told Park Gayeong to rest and began gathering the balls. She obediently followed his serious expression.
She never imagined a date would turn into this awkward situation, but somehow right now Choi Seungtaek looked cool.
“Seungtaek-ah, do you always practice this long?”
“I’m not practicing now.”
“Really? Doesn’t it get tiring?”
Park Gayeong, who had tossed hundreds of balls, looked a little tired.
“Yeah, but I can go forever. Thanks to you tossing the balls, I have energy. It’s not hard at all.”
It felt like she was being taken advantage of, but she decided to keep going for now.
“Still… you’ve already done so much. Your hands must hurt.”
“I’m fine. They’re perfect.”
Choi Seungtaek was still excited, so he didn’t feel any pain yet. Pain would come later, but right now the feeling was more important.
Choi Seungtaek gripped the bat again.
“Again?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
Once he had gathered all the balls, Park Gayeong tossed another onto the stand.
“Tatak!”
The thunderous crack of the bat echoed once more.
“Creak…”
“Oh? Someone’s here?”
“Hah!”
Suddenly someone opened the door. A middle-aged man entered with a late-thirties scout from an unknown professional team.
“What’s this? Seungtaek? What are you doing here on Sunday afternoon? Who’s the girl next to you?”
An unexpected guest had walked in. The visitors were none other than high school head coach Kim Ik-hyun and a scout from a pro club.
If it had only been the coach it would have been easy, but now there was an outsider.
Choi Seungtaek panicked.
“Uh… that’s the head coach.”
“Whoa. What a sight. Good job, good job.”
The scout smiled lightly. Coach Kim Ik-hyun looked a little awkward too.
Choi Seungtaek’s face was troubled, and Park Gayeong’s cheeks turned bright red.
“Head Coach, this is amazing. A player even dates and plays here with a girlfriend.”
The scout’s sharp remark hit hard. Choi Seungtaek had no choice but to lower his head.
“Hey, I was just kidding. You’ve been training like crazy today. Sweat doesn’t lie.”
His casual uniform was soaked through and the batting gloves were falling apart.
“Let me see your hands.”
Choi Seungtaek pulled off the gloves. His palms looked rough after hours of swinging without rest.
“Whoa, head coach. This school’s not playing around. The player even trains while dating.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Coach Kim Ik-hyun chuckled at the absurdity.
“Hey, you psycho. Just go to a movie like normal people.”
“Sorry.”
The scout, clearly intrigued, made a suggestion.
“Then, head coach, can I watch Choi Seungtaek hit a few more times? Just a little after the special practice.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. Show me one more time.”
Choi Seungtaek stepped back into the batter’s box. The scout caught balls himself for the special drill.
This guy must be testing me. I have to look better than I expect.
The scout began throwing balls one by one.
“Tick! Tick! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Tatak! Tatak!”
Choi Seungtaek missed the first few. The T-ball was familiar, but the sudden change in timing threw him off. Slowly his rhythm came back, and his swings grew cleaner.
The powerful cracks filled the room.
His completed form was impressive. Even after only a few swings, the scout’s eyes were wide with shock.
Coach Kim Ik-hyun looked equally surprised.
This guy… he really hits like that?
After about a hundred special swings, Choi Seungtaek’s form was flawless.
He had thought his defense was already pro-level, but his hitting form was now complete too.
This… I’ll have to move him up to the upper rounds.
The scout’s mind spun. Buma High’s Ha Seung-yoon suddenly seemed less valuable.
Every ball he swung, the scout felt like he was helping a home-run hitter in the minors. Choi Seungtaek’s hits were so explosive they rattled the net.
The test ended after roughly two hundred balls.
“So, what do you think of Seungtaek?”
Coach Kim Ik-hyun asked proudly.
“He’s a madman. We’ll have to rewrite our plans when he joins the team.”
The highest praise possible.
“Seungtaek-ah, I’m going to talk with the coach in the office. Stay quiet, okay? You know what I mean?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Seungtaek, it was great meeting you today. You’ll be playing for our club.”
“Cough… thank you.”
“That last line wasn’t empty talk.”
The scout turned and headed for the office, then glanced back with one final remark.
“We almost had a disaster.”
“Seungtaek-ah, it’s not a disaster, is it?”
“Yeah. It’s not bad. It feels like things are going well.”
But Choi Seungtaek couldn’t help letting out a sigh of relief.