Chapter 17: Why is it going up so fast?

A yakiniku restaurant in downtown Fukuoka.

It was a place where both food and drinks were all-you-can-eat.

Dozens of robust men were enjoying a lively dinner party.

The main characters of the dinner party were the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ 3rd army players.

They often came to this restaurant for team dinners, but today was special.

There was a female player among the 3rd army players.

“Is this for real?

The baseball girl from the news is here.

Wow, she’s so pretty.

Make sure to give me your autograph before you leave?”

“Yes, I’ll come often.

Please give me lots of extras!”

Officially, it was a dinner party hosted by Su-hyeon, who had lost the bet.

But in reality, it was a welcome party to celebrate Su-hyeon’s joining the team.

“Now, the future ace of the Hawks.

Hyon-chan should say a few words!

Everyone, applause!”

“I’m hosting this dinner because I lost to the manager today.

This isn’t some kind of hazing, right?”

Hahahahahaha-

“I got a lot of money from winning the Greatest Baseball Tournament, so I’m rich.

Dinner’s on me today, so eat as much as you want!”

Yesssssss-

Hyon-chan!

We love Hyon-chan!

I love you-!!

The dinner party continued in a lively and joyful atmosphere.

Manager Kawasaki approached Su-hyeon with a glass in his hand.

“Hyon-chan, you said you can’t drink, right?

Give me a glass.”

“Yes, Manager.”

Kawasaki took a drink from Su-hyeon and continued.

“I was joking about you paying for dinner today.

I didn’t want you to misunderstand and think Japanese people are like this.

It’ll be covered by the team’s dinner budget, so don’t worry about it.

Okay?”

“But it’s true that there’s a culture of high-earning players treating others in Japan, right?”

“That’s true, but there’s no need to push yourself on your first day.”

“I’m really okay.

Everyone has been so nice to me that I wanted to treat you all.

I already paid, so let’s use the team dinner budget for another dinner next time.”

Beautiful looks, outstanding baseball skills, and a kind heart.

Where did they find such a gem?

Kawasaki inwardly praised the team’s front office for their ability.

“Oh, I have a call.

Excuse me for a moment.

Take your time eating, Hyon-chan.”

“Yes, please go ahead, Manager.”

The person who took Kawasaki’s place was.

Yamada Genta, who had struck out against Su-hyeon earlier.

“Hyon-chan!

Your pitches were amazing earlier.

I learned a lot.”

“I just got lucky.

The sound of your swing, Yamada-senpai, wow.

I was so scared when I was pitching.”

It wasn’t really like that.

But it wouldn’t hurt to compliment a promising player on the team.

“We’re only a year apart, so there’s no need for senpai.

If we go by salary, I should be calling you senpai.

You can call me Genta comfortably.”

“Should I?

Are you from Fukuoka, Genta?”

Su-hyeon was trying her best to make friends as she had previously resolved.

But it’s hard to keep up with the energy when you can’t drink.

“Hyon-chan, what’s your LINE ID?”

“LINE?

No, I have Instagram.”

Just as Yamada was about to invite Su-hyeon into the world of Japan’s national messenger, LINE.

Manager Kawasaki, who had finished his call, returned and drew everyone’s attention.

With a somber expression, Kawasaki made an important announcement.

“Everyone, listen carefully.

One of our 3rd army teammates has been notified of a promotion to the 2nd army, effective tomorrow.”

Waaaaaaaaaa!!

The players cheered at the good news.

But the following words from Manager Kawasaki made everyone fall silent.

“The player promoted to the 2nd army is Hyon-chan, Su-hyeon, who joined us today.

Congratulations, Hyon-chan!

Although it was a short time, you were a proper member of the 3rd army.

I hope your time here will serve as a small milestone for your future endeavors.”

It’s too short!

And, my money…

Why did I spend 500,000 yen on dinner…?

“Congratulations, Hyon-chan!

I wanted to spend more time with you!”

“I’ll follow you to the 2nd army soon, so wait for me there!”

“I’m sorry, babies…

When the general manager asked me how Hyon-chan was doing today, I told him the truth…

I didn’t know he’d promote her after just one day…”

From being the hero of the dinner party, Manager Kawasaki had suddenly become the villain who couldn’t protect Su-hyeon.

Su-hyeon quietly asked Kawasaki.

“Manager, about what you said earlier about the team dinner budget…

Is it still valid?”

“Hyon-chan…

There’s still so much I need to teach you…

Sob.

You have to work hard in the 2nd army, too!

Thanks for the meal today!”

I see.

So no refunds.

The professional world is truly cold.

After graduating from the Hawks’ 3rd army in just one day, Su-hyeon was promoted to the 2nd army.

Su-hyeon joined the 2nd army’s spring training camp held in Arizona, USA.

Of course, Dae-joon was with her.

“Why was I promoted?

I haven’t done anything.”

“Just think of it positively.

Think of yourself as Su-hyeon’s manager.”

The reason why Su-hyeon, with a salary of $1.5 million, was sent to the 3rd army first was.

It was a measure to convince the entire team, starting from the bottom.

The Hawks’ front office was trying to follow a standard route to ensure that Su-hyeon, who could be considered an irregular, could make her 1st army debut as smoothly as possible.

Su-hyeon and Dae-joon joined the spring training camp.

The atmosphere here was completely different from the 3rd army’s home field, Chikugo Baseball Park.

There was a chilling tension in the air.

“The 3rd army was mostly people around the same age, so it was fun and there was no formality, but the atmosphere here is suffocating.”

“It can’t be helped.

The 2nd army stage is all about survival.

Everyone is aware that they are all rivals.”

There were only four foreign players who could play in the NPB 1st army.

Three of them were players with very solid positions, so now there was only one spot left for Su-hyeon.

The opponent competing with Su-hyeon for the starting spot was.

A left-handed pitcher from Cuba, Dario Sarduy.

He joined the Hawks at a young age and was now in his seventh season.

Last season, he played as a swingman in the 1st army.

He recorded 4 wins, 2 losses, 5 holds, an ERA of 3.58, 73 innings pitched, 66 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.21.

He thought he would start the season as the 5th starter this year, but now his position was in jeopardy because of a new addition who came through the Greatest Baseball Tournament.

“Dario doesn’t even acknowledge me.

Well, I guess it’s understandable.”

“He must not be in a good mood.

He’s already 26 years old, and now he has to compete with someone as young as Su-hyeon.”

Dario’s salary for this season was $500,000.

Exactly one-third of Su-hyeon’s.

It was obvious who the team had higher expectations for.

Word had spread about what happened in the 3rd army.

No one was surprised by Su-hyeon’s training performance anymore.

They just thought that a $1.5 million player was performing like a $1.5 million player.

Time passed in Arizona as they focused on training.

One day in February, the Hawks’ 2nd army pitching coach, Ohbayashi, called Su-hyeon.

“You called for me, Coach!”

“Yes, Su-hyeon.

How’s your condition?”

Asking about my condition.

It must mean I’m pitching.

“It’s very good!”

“What’s with that tone?

Just be yourself.

Anyway, we have an exhibition game against a Korean team tomorrow, and I think it would be good for Su-hyeon to pitch.”

My first real game is against a KBO team.

It was a good narrative.

For both the team and Su-hyeon.

“Yes, I understand!”

“Good.

Get some rest and take care of your condition.”

The opponent for the Hawks’ 2nd army exhibition game was a very familiar team to Su-hyeon.

The Daejeon Chickens 1st army, who finished 8th in the KBO league last year.

After the sudden death of their ace, Jeong Su-hyeon, the Chickens were unable to fill the void and continued to struggle in the lower ranks.

Dae-joon asked Su-hyeon, who kept looking at the Chickens players warming up.

“What are you looking at?

Are you fascinated because you’re seeing players you only saw on TV in person?”

“Huh?

Oh, yes.

That’s right.

I guess I keep looking because it’s fascinating.”

It wasn’t wrong to say it was fascinating.

Her former teammates and juniors were alive and breathing right across from her.

Although there was no trace of the departed.

Su-hyeon suppressed the urge to run over and greet the people she missed.

More than that, I need to get revenge.

The Chickens’ offer to appease her with just a bakery coupon.

It had nothing to do with the Chickens players, but there was still resentment in Su-hyeon’s heart.

The game started with the Hawks batting first.

The Hawks’ offense attacked the Chickens’ starter from the first inning and scored the first run.

With a 1-0 lead.

The Hawks’ starter, Jeong Su-hyeon, took the mound.

[Boing Boing (EX) trait is activated]

Boing~

Whoosh-

Thwack!

“Swing, batter out!”

“Su-hyeon, Subarashi pitching!”

“Thanks to you!”

“It’s good that it ended quickly!”

“You can take your time on offense!”

Su-hyeon, who perfectly shut down the bottom of the 1st inning with three strikeouts, exchanged high-fives with her teammates coming in from defense.

It was Su-hyeon’s old habit.

Whether there was an error or she gave up a lot of runs because of her bad pitches.

After finishing an inning, she always showed her appreciation to the fielders.

The top of the 2nd inning ended with no runs for the Hawks, and in the bottom of the 2nd.

The Chickens’ cleanup hitter stepped into the batter’s box to face Su-hyeon, who was on the mound again.

A very familiar face.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he was someone she had talked to more than her ex-wife, Im Yu-min.

A player who had been Su-hyeon’s battery mate for nearly 10 years.

The Chickens’ former starting catcher, Choi Ji-hwan.