The Opening Game: The Heat of the Mound

The stadium atmosphere was bright and bustling. The sold-out seats were packed with fans, and the cheering songs, led by the cheerleaders, were filled with excitement. All the players lined up in front of the dugout also wore excited expressions.

Soon, the national anthem, first pitch, and first hit followed.

In keeping with the scale of the opening game, famous actors and singers appeared one after another, heating up the atmosphere even more. Amidst tremendous cheers, the curtain rose on the opening game.

“A new wave, a new season. Our re-challenge continues. Hello, <Hit & Run Again> viewers. The 20xx Re-emergence Dreamers opening game. It begins now. Today, we have commentator Goo Jun-hyuk joining us for commentary.”

“Hello. Caster Na Chan-young, long time no see.”

“Yes, it’s truly been a long time. How have you been? I, along with our viewers, have been eagerly awaiting the new season.”

“I as well. The Re-emergence Dreamers have changed in many ways from last season, and while expectations are high, today’s opponent is formidable.”

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

“Yuil University, a powerhouse in hitting. They are a team that plays aggressive baseball, always swinging. They also have many fast runners who can steal bases, allowing for diverse plays.”

“Today’s game, Yuil University’s offense begins. Let’s look at Yuil University’s batting order. #1 Kim Ji-hyung, #2 Son Hae-seong…”

The first inning of the opening game, signaling the start of the season. The audience reacted greatly to each practice pitch thrown by the pitcher. Amidst the cheers of over 20,000 spectators, Hyun briefly stopped playing catch-ball.

The mound, seen from in front of the dugout, looked very far away.

Yoon Jung-ho, standing there, stomped the dirt with the tip of his spike and fiddled with the rosin bag. He blew away the white powder with a huff and then threw another practice pitch powerfully.

A “Whoa!” erupted from the stands, but Hyun tilted his head. His posture seemed to be shaking more than usual. His always sharp release point1) seemed a little… today.

“That’s strange.”

Someone else uttered the words he couldn’t bring himself to say. It was Cha Seok-young, who had approached so closely without him noticing. He spoke to the surprised Hyun in a casual tone.

“Let’s warm up in advance.”

There was conviction in his face as he gestured towards the bullpen. ‘Would it be okay without instructions from the manager and coach?’ Cha Seok-young pulled the hesitating Hyun.

“Facing them today is the Re-emergence Dreamers’ starting pitcher, Yoon Jung-ho. The eldest member of the team. A seasoned veteran who recently played in the professional league, a player with a keen sense of the field.”

“That’s right. Although a left-handed pitcher would be much more advantageous against Yuil University, which has many left-handed batters. Our Yoon Jung-ho, despite being a right-handed pitcher, has similar performance against left-handed batters as he does against right-handed batters. The difference in ERA is very slight. That’s not easy to achieve.”

“Of course, Yuil University is also said to have prepared thoroughly. We hear they recreated Yoon Jung-ho’s pitches and focused on batting practice for several hours a day.”

“We’ll see if it’s effective. Now, as I speak, Yoon Jung-ho! He threw the ball!”

“It’s a ball. Kim Ji-hyung holds back well.”

“Is the analysis training really effective? He watches two balls. What will happen this time?”

“It’s a strike. Kim Ji-hyung has a good eye for the ball. A tough battle continues.”

“Ultimately, Yoon Jung-ho is in a full count2) situation from the very first batter. Ah, it’s a walk.”

“A walk on the first at-bat of the opening game! An unbelievable event has occurred.”

Outside the bullpen, a deep sigh of disappointment settled. It was still the early stages of the game, the top of the first inning.

Hyun looked at Cha Seok-young with uneasy eyes. He touched the rosin bag with a serene expression, as if he couldn’t hear the commotion outside.

He blew away the white powder covering his hand with a huff and then twitched his eyebrows.

“Why. Are you scared?”

He was bewildered by Cha Seok-young’s playful question, yet he envied him. Hyun shook his head as if to say, ‘Forget it,’ and picked up the rosin bag.

Due to the lack of available catchers, the pitching coach rushed over and put on a mitt. Cha Seok-young and Hyun threw balls silently for a while in front of the two seated catchers.

Even without watching the game, they could gauge the atmosphere from the continuous sighs and cheers.

The game was going unfavorably. The moment he replayed the situation, his body tensed. The ball, which had been striking the mitt like a laser, began to waver.

“I don’t understand. What are you scared of?”

Cha Seok-young, who had stopped pitching, let out a faint, hollow laugh. His brow was about to furrow at the baseball genius’s condescension, when an unexpected remark came out.

“It was your specialty, wasn’t it? Rescuing a team that got hit hard.”

Cha Seok-young had a nasty habit. He would suddenly bring up long-forgotten memories as if they had happened yesterday.

For a moment, his mind was blank, as if he had gone back to middle and high school. Countless crises and victories, memories steeped in sweat and dust, a joyfully smiling Cha Seok-young. Hyun, dumbfounded by the surge of nostalgia, shook his head.

“What old story are you talking about?”

He forced a light smile, shaking off the lingering feelings. Cha Seok-young didn’t even pretend to hear him.

“You pitched much better as a relief pitcher than as a starter.”

“Even that didn’t happen many times, if you count them.”

“You never flinched from a batter who hit a home run.”

“……”

“They said you were born with strong mentality.”

Around the time he was acting as a clumsy teacher to Cha Seok-young, who had transitioned from batter to pitcher, Hyun would often tease him, who easily got angry.

“Mentality management is half of pitching. This hyung was born with strong mentality, so I’ll pass on my secret.”

“What’s the secret?”

“Just trust me and throw. I’ll back you up.”

Like Hyun back then, Cha Seok-young showed a refreshing smile.

“Trust me and throw. I’ll back you up.”

It felt as if he knew his weakness and was exploiting it. How could he, with just a word and a smile, always take his breath away? Hyun wiped his dumbfounded face with his forearm.

It always came back to this.

He had constantly pretended to be fine, and sometimes he even fooled himself. That he would get used to being close to him, that a day would come when he would be indifferent.

That if he just buried the old past well and moved on, they might remain good friends. He had even thought it funny, imagining a day when he would officiate Cha Seok-young’s wedding.

But it was all a foolish delusion. Cha Seok-young could never be an ordinary friend.

In moments like these, Hyun realized it to his core. Every cell in his body surged, and he felt a desperate, wrenching pain in his heart.

No matter how much time passed, no matter how hard he tried. For him, Cha Seok-young would always be Cha Seok-young, no matter what.

Comments:
Anonymous23: He started by throwing wild pitches and acting crazy, now he’s getting hit hard lol.
Anonymous30: Yoon Jung-ho’s habit: his mentality crumbles, he throws wild pitches, and when he goes for the win, he gives up home runs.
└ Anonymous2: S***, why does his mentality crumble at the start? Is it a congratulatory pitch for the opening game?
Anonymous7: It’s the top of the 3rd, and he already has 5 walks, seriously?
Anonymous9: Bases loaded in 3 innings against college students ㅋㅋ And they’re not taking him out? That ‘baseball of trust’ is insane.
└ Anonymous56: But f***, if they take him out, who are they going to put in?
└ Anonymous131: Just put in Seok-young.
└ Anonymous20: Mentors can only pitch 2 innings, so if they put him in now, there’s no way to revive the game if it gets worse later.
└ Anonymous3: Is this even a revivable state?
Anonymous21: They only change him after a bases-loaded walk, f***. Pulled in the 3rd inning.
Anonymous88: Crazy Jung-ho really shat the bed today. The next pitcher is so pitiful.
Anonymous112: Score is down by 1 run, and he hands over bases loaded with 1 out ㄷㄷ The dignity of a veteran is insane, that lunatic ㅋㅋ.
Anonymous93: Jung Hyun is coming up. Is this guy good? I only briefly watched the tryouts.
└ Anonymous98: He did pretty well in the tryouts.
└ Anonymous121: I don’t think anyone can mess up more than crazy Jung-ho right now lol.
Anonymous132: What’s with this guy’s face? An idol?
└ Anonymous143: Actor.
└ Anonymous163: They told them to bring a left-handed pitcher, and they brought an actor. Idiots.
Anonymous81: Quiet! He’s a left-handed flamethrower who’s supposed to avenge his parents!
Anonymous102: Kids, S S S (Strike out, strike out, strike out)!
Anonymous11: Came in with bases loaded and immediately threw a fastball S S S S S.
Anonymous43: F***, what is it? Isn’t that Cha Seok-young?
└ Anonymous145: They say they’re close, and their pitching forms are similar.
Anonymous173: Why is such talent in the entertainment industry? Scouts, you f***ers, you should have brought him to Changgeon.
└ Anonymous188: Are you crazy with greed? Come to Thunder.
└ Anonymous192: Titans first, you brats.

“Jung Hyun has shown an incredible pitching performance today. As soon as he came onto the mound, he rescued the team from a bases-loaded crisis and perfectly shut down Yuil University’s lineup with consecutive strikeouts. His laser-sharp control is starting to waver slightly in the 6th inning. The score is tied 4:4. There are no runners with two outs.”

“At bat is cleanup hitter Seong Ju-yong. He’s a tricky batter who went to a full count in his previous at-bat. He’s also making it difficult this time.”

“Ah, he threw it right away! Strike! The ball, flying high, drops in perfectly. Immediately the second pitch, again a strike right in the middle! Now there’s only one last out count3) left.”

Catcher Seon Dae-gyu gave the sign with a serious expression. Between his thick thighs, in his spread-apart groin, he made a small finger heart. Hyun immediately frowned and shook his head.

Seon Dae-gyu’s playful gesture, meant to ease Hyun’s tension, was corrected with a mischievous laugh. This time, a curveball sign. It was a pitch he was confident in.

Hyun threw the ball powerfully. The ball, soaring high, drew a steep parabola towards the spot where the catcher had placed his mitt.

Almost simultaneously, the bat swung. The batter’s waist rotated greatly, aiming for a home run. It was a swing that, if the ball hit the sweet spot4), would undoubtedly go over the fence.

1. Release point: The position of a pitcher at the moment of releasing the ball.

2. Full count: A situation where the count is full with 2 strikes and 3 balls.

3. Out count: A term referring to the number of outs made by the offensive team in an inning. When the out count reaches 3, offense and defense switch.

4. Sweet spot: The part of the bat that, when hit by the ball, sends it flying the furthest.