Best Friends and Hidden Feelings

Ahead of the first group training, joyous news reached the Re-emergence Dreamers.

“Our opening game is a live audience game, right? It’s completely sold out, setting a new record with 100,000 concurrent users flooding the ticketing server!”

The main PD’s loud shout echoed across the spacious outdoor field. The 19 players standing on the green turf cheered as if they had been waiting.

“They say it sold out at a record-breaking speed this time? Wow, is this Cha Seok-young’s power?”

“No, it’s thanks to me. Where do you find a handsome catcher like me? Oh, by the way, where’s Seok-young?”

“Cha Seok-young-ssi has another schedule this morning for a bit. He’ll be here soon.”

“What, isn’t that just a trick to avoid paying late fees?”

“Dae-gyu, Seok-young isn’t as petty as you.”

“Oh, Captain. Petty? You know my size.”

When Seon Dae-gyu smirked, Captain Baek Sung-joon poked his round belly with the end of a bat. “Ugh,” a comical scream, brought laughter to the crowd. The PD also smiled along and picked up the microphone.

“I’m glad the atmosphere is good from the start, but there’s an important story left.”

The smiling main PD cleared her throat. Her expression quickly sobered, and she opened with a significant remark.

“As you know, given the nature of our program, we have many injured players. Currently, catcher Park Ji-hoon is recovering from surgery, slugger Shim Sang-jin has a thigh injury. Most importantly, the recovery of ace pitcher Myung Seong-won’s elbow is delayed. Frankly, no one knows who will even be the starting pitcher for the opening ceremony right now.”

The main PD’s face, which usually looked cute due to her small stature and bob cut, was very serious at this moment.

“The first opponent we’ll face amidst this uncertainty. They are also formidable.”

“W-who is it?”

“Oh, I’m scared.”

The highly tense players grabbed onto each other, making a fuss. The main PD, as if waiting for such a reaction, smiled faintly and dropped the bombshell.

“It’s Yuil University, which boasts 4 consecutive years of advancing to the U-League National Championship and 2 consecutive years of winning.”

“Ah, PD-nim! You said you’d go easy!”

“This is too much for the opening ceremony!”

“Are ten people going to be eliminated this season?”

“We’re doomed, seriously. No, honestly, our elimination criteria are too strict!”

“Right! Even when our winning percentage was close to 70%, eliminating four people is truly severe.”

The turf field instantly turned into chaos. Amidst the tumultuous protests, Hyun stood silently.

Then, a member who had been quietly standing beside him stepped closer. Seeing that he wanted to whisper, Hyun slightly bent his upper body.

“Senior, is Yuil University really that good? When I was a freshman, they said they just got lucky to advance.”

The face, which looked small as a fist, turned away with a puzzled expression. It was surprising how all his features fit into that tiny, pointed face. Only then did Hyun remember the self-introduction he had heard that morning.

“Hello! I’m Jeong Hye-seong, a twenty-three-year-old shortstop, the youngest. I went to college because I wasn’t drafted, and then debuted last year after training as a trainee. I’m currently active as a vocalist in INIX. I have many shortcomings in both broadcasting and baseball, so please take care of me.”

Not only was he the youngest, but he also received many more mischievous questions because he was an idol. Hyun, feeling a strange sense of relief that there was another entertainment industry professional on the team, smiled kindly.

“Well, actually, I haven’t even been to the college league, so I have nothing to say.”

“Oh, please speak informally!”

“If Hye-seong-ssi is comfortable with it. Anyway, you’re my senior in terms of baseball experience.”

Jeong Hye-seong’s pale face turned almost completely blue. He waved his hands, trying to retort something, but eventually shut his mouth. It was because the main PD, unable to bear the increasingly heated atmosphere of protest, grabbed the microphone.

“Everyone, I’m disappointed. Why are you already thinking about losing? Did you start this program with that mindset originally?”

Her expression was gentle. Her face, even with a faint smile, felt colder. The noisy players quietly settled down.

“Let me be frank. We started this program with the aim that ‘everyone deserves a second chance.’ As you have obtained this precious opportunity, you must prove through results that you are doing your best. Otherwise, we will have no choice but to pass the opportunity to a more desperate player.”

The playful atmosphere was now completely gone. Players who had been vying to raise their voices quietly closed their mouths and clasped their hands. Their solemn faces were slowly captured on camera.

“Before we begin our first training, as the acting owner, I wanted to instill some tension. The opening game is now just over ten days away. I hope you all work hard and show the initial spirit and desperation of the Re-emergence Dreamers.”

“Yes, understood!”

The youngest, Jeong Hye-seong, shouted like thunder. Thanks to him, the icy atmosphere broke. The PD, who chuckled, waved her hand. It was a nuance to go and train now.

“Ah, the youngest has good fighting spirit!”

“Was it because he’s a vocalist? His voice is really good.”

“Yeah, this is why we need new, young blood.”

The players extended their hands, gathering in the center. A circle was being formed to shout “Fighting!” Hyun led the red-faced Jeong Hye-seong and joined them.

“Since it’s the first day, Captain, you go first.”

“Yes, everyone, as the PD said, let’s be tense and put our hearts into it. Alright, throw again!”

“Run!”

“Re-emergence!”

“Dreamers!”

The moment they shouted loudly and raised their hands, Hyun’s heart inexplicably pounded. The tension he had long forgotten and the cherished camaraderie with his teammates surged within him.

It was only the first day of practice, and they were all wearing different uniforms, yet he felt this overwhelmed. What would it be like during the first game? He was already filled with anticipation at the thought of showing a completely united team in front of countless spectators.

However, not everyone seemed to share the same thought. As they moved for practice, someone lightly tapped Hyun’s shoulder and passed by, sneering.

“So this is why the tickets sold so well.”

It was Shim Sang-jin, a player famous for hitting frequent home runs despite his small stature during his active career. He turned back askew and approached Hyun and Jeong Hye-seong.

“An actor, an idol…”

Shim Sang-jin snorted and scrutinized the two. His unpleasant gaze slowly rose from bottom to top.

“PD Kim just talks so smoothly, but in reality, she was just planning to gather fangirls and make money, huh?”

“……”

“Bringing in guys who only care about getting screen time, not baseball, and what ‘desperation’? Only we will have to work our asses off.”

This level of sarcasm barely bothered him. When playing baseball, one was bound to encounter such seniors by the truckload.

On the contrary, Hyun even felt a strange sense of familiarity. Like when he stepped on the mound and in the dugout1), he realized that he was playing baseball again.

“No, sir. I will work hard.”

Hyun tried not to smile as he answered respectfully. Because he deliberately stepped half a step forward, Shim Sang-jin’s gaze focused on Hyun.

“Hard work is fine, but you have to do well, well. Didn’t you hear that one person gets eliminated every two losses? If you guys screw up the game, I might get unnecessarily involved. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, I understand. I will do well.”

“How? You said you haven’t even crossed the professional threshold, so what will you do well?”

“I may be lacking, but I will try my best. Please help me, Senior.”

At his impeccable reply, Shim Sang-jin was speechless. ‘Huh, look at this.’ He let out a hollow laugh, and just as he was about to add something.

“What are you doing here?”

A heavy weight suddenly pressed down on his shoulder. At the same time, a cool yet sweet scent, reminiscent of a resort, subtly wafted over.

Hyun turned his head with surprised eyes. Cha Seok-young, slightly above his eye level, smiled and met his gaze. Thanks to his white silk shirt and styled hair, his face was even more radiant than usual.

“Skipping your first training?”

He ruffled Hyun’s hair with a playful smile. Hyun stiffened at the familiar and affectionate touch, just like in the old days. He couldn’t react at all.

“Oh, Senior was here too.”

Cha Seok-young gave a slight nod to Shim Sang-jin, while massaging Hyun’s stiff shoulder. Shim Sang-jin did not point out the barely mimicked greeting. Instead, he smiled broadly and raised his voice.

“Oh, yeah, Seok-young! Wow, you look like a movie star today? Where have you been?”

“Yeah, well. Just for a bit.”

Cha Seok-young, who replied insincerely, slowly scanned Shim Sang-jin and Jeong Hye-seong. A doubtful sigh accompanied his gaze.

“Were you discussing something important? Everyone else seems to be going to train.”

Cha Seok-young, standing askew, leaned his weight more heavily onto Hyun. Everything was too close and intense. The firm muscles touching him, the warm body heat, even the dangerous scent.

“What important discussion, you old fogey in the backroom. I was just saying, let’s do well from now on. Right?”

Shim Sang-jin grinned, gesturing with his chin. Hyun thought he was just a nuisance, but he was the type to be sarcastic, knowing when to choose his battles.

Hyun barely managed to part his lips. He cautiously took a shallow breath, avoiding Cha Seok-young’s scent, and replied softly.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you, Senior.”

He intended to bow and break free from Cha Seok-young while he was at it. His head was about to lower when the collar of his T-shirt was suddenly grabbed.

“If you’re done talking, can I take our Hyun now?”

‘Our Hyun?’ Surprised, Hyun spun around to Cha Seok-young. His shameless but beautiful eyes curved gently. It was an eye-smile that seemed to ask if there was any problem.

“Wow, you two are really that close. It’s not just an exaggeration for the broadcast?”

Shim Sang-jin’s eyes, trying hard to laugh, trembled. Hyun tried to say, ‘No, sir,’ but Cha Seok-young spoke first.

“Yes, we’re childhood friends.”

He pulled Hyun even closer, then gave a kind smile. The words that followed had a hidden sting.

“Enough to avenge each other if something happens somewhere.”

Unlike his fresh eye-smile, the words he spat out with emphasis were eerie. As Shim Sang-jin stammered with a dumbfounded expression, sensing the strange atmosphere, Cha Seok-young pulled Hyun along. Hyun, who was being pulled so hard his arm throbbed, paused and looked back.

“Wait, hey, Hye-seong.”

“When did you meet him to be calling him Hye-seong already?”

He hadn’t dropped formalities yet, but there was no time to explain that far. Hyun grabbed Cha Seok-young’s arm, which kept pushing him.

“No, Cha Seok-young. Just a moment. If we leave him like that…”

“Is he your brat again too?”

Cha Seok-young stopped abruptly and looked down disapprovingly. He glared at Hyun irritably and let out a deep sigh.

“Haa, if I take my eyes off you for just a second, you make trouble everywhere.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? What trouble am I making!”

Before he could retort, his body was pulled again. The armlock, much stronger than before, was almost a headlock, and with every step, his firm body rubbed against Hyun’s in an obvious way. Hyun shuddered and tried to pull away, but an undeniable warning was delivered.

“Don’t irritate me more, just follow. If we go back, it won’t end well.”

Cha Seok-young whispered, lowering his head as if to kiss his ear. At the sensation of goosebumps prickling all over his body, Hyun had no choice but to be led away.

1. Dugout: The area in a baseball field where players wait.