The Extra in a Baseball Novel

“With so many incredible records set in today’s game, I’m really curious about who the MVP will be! Now, let’s meet today’s MVP!”

The camera turned to where the announcer was pointing, showing Cha Taehyun and Kim Changhyun standing together.

“Yes! Today’s MVPs are two players. It was difficult to distinguish between the two of them, so they decided on a joint award.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

└ Totally agree

└ This is like Naruto vs. Sasuke, for real

└ Five consecutive home runs and a perfect game; a joint award makes sense, lol

“First, we’ll pass the mic to Kim Changhyun. Could you share your thoughts briefly?”

“Well… this is my first time starting on such a big stage, especially in the finals… and we won… I don’t know how to put it… I feel overwhelmed…”

Kim Changhyun suddenly lowered the mic, looked up, and blinked his eyes.

The Hyuksan baseball team watching from afar had to cover their mouths to hold back their laughter.

└ Phoenix’s Kim Changhyun, don’t cry ㅠㅠㅠ

└ Ugh, those Phoenix guys act like everything is theirs, smh lol

└ Volcanoes’ Kim Changhyun, don’t cry ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

└ I’m so jealous… If only our team wasn’t so bad, we could pick up players like Cha Taehyun or Kim Changhyun

└ ?

“It looks like Kim Changhyun is very emotional right now. It’s totally understandable.”

The announcer waited patiently until Kim Changhyun picked up the mic again.

“Kim Changhyun, you showed remarkable growth this time. How did you manage to improve so much?”

“…Well, first of all, it’s because of my own effort. This might sound a bit arrogant, but I can’t leave out the hard work I’ve put in consistently. Ah… If I were to share a secret, there’s something that’s helped recently.”

The announcer perked up at the mention of a ‘secret.’

“A secret, you say? This is really intriguing! Could you tell us what it is?”

Kim Changhyun chuckled and glanced at Cha Taehyun standing beside him.

“Practicing pitching against the best batter is my secret. Cha Taehyun here has been a huge help. Every time I asked, he would always come over and train with me.”

└ Taehyun, it’s you again, isn’t it?

└ Damn, it’s Daetaehyun again. I have no choice but to worship him…

└ Is it possible to borrow Cha Taehyun for a month, Phoenix? We need him to face our pitchers, haha

└ It would be useless if he came. He’d probably just convince Seo Myun to go to the sauna with him

└ LOL, agreed

“Well, that was a heartwarming story. Lastly, could you share a final thought?”

This time, Kim Changhyun looked toward the baseball team.

“Lee Seungtae.”

“Huh?”

Surprised by the sudden mention, the announcer widened her eyes as Kim Changhyun spoke softly.

“Thank you. I’ll repay this debt.”

The sharp-eyed camera director quickly panned to capture Lee Seungtae, who was seen smirking.

└ LOL, look at him act all serious the moment the camera’s on him

└ Lee Seungtae is probably disappointed too, but he’s still smiling. What a class act

└ Sigh… the future of our Phoenix team is so bright

└ Could someone please knock me out so I can wake up two seasons later? I want to see Phoenix with Seungtae and Taehyun…

“Haha, they seem like a really close team. Now, let’s proceed with Cha Taehyun’s interview.”

“There’s someone waiting for me, so I’ll just say one thing briefly.”

Cha Taehyun glanced at the audience and said.

“I’m coming now.”

After saying that one line, Cha Taehyun immediately disappeared from the screen.

—

“Coach, I have something I’d like to—”

Before I could finish speaking, the coach smirked and nodded toward the audience.

“Hurry up, wash up, and go. Isn’t your girlfriend waiting for you?”

“What? She’s… not my girlfriend, though.”

“Haha! Sure, whatever. I’ll talk to the guys. If you play baseball well, you’re allowed to date, kid.”

There seemed to be a bit of a misunderstanding, but I didn’t bother correcting it.

“Thank you!”

I showered as fast as I could, changed my clothes, and rushed toward the audience.

In the distance, Miyeon’s face was partially illuminated against the backdrop of the sunset.

Just seeing her profile was enough to make me feel a surge of happiness.

I tried to calm my rising smile as I approached her.

As soon as she saw me, she smiled brightly, and my lips lifted without resistance.

“You did so well today, Taehyun.”

“Right? Honestly, hitting five consecutive home runs was a bit much.”

“Yes! Yes! I know, I know. You’re the best, Taehyun!”

Miyeon gave me a thumbs-up, and I couldn’t help but laugh again.

“Since I did so well today, I think there should be a special reward…”

“Hmm… You’re right. Five consecutive home runs is really impressive. What would you like? Just tell me.”

What should I ask for?

A baseball stadium date that Miyeon mumbled about in her sleep last time?

No, wouldn’t a trip for just the two of us be better?

As I was happily debating, a black man suddenly appeared and spoke to me.

“I’m really sorry… I don’t want to interrupt your love, but I’m receiving death threats… Ah, I forgot.”

He started speaking nonsense before pulling out a translator.

“No need to turn on the translator.”

“Oh? You speak English? Good. Anyway, we’re these people.”

The man handed me a business card.

It said he was a scout for the New York Yankees.

“You get the gist, right?”

“Roughly.”

“Then that’s enough. Contact us if you’re interested.”

“What? Are you crazy, Rick? We’re leaving so soon? We need to talk more!”

“Jake, this is enough. We’ve already intruded.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Hey! Don’t just leave! Ugh…”

They randomly appeared, handed me a business card, fought amongst themselves, and left.

…What strange scouts.

I casually slipped the business card into my pocket. I didn’t need it, but it felt wrong to just throw it on the ground.

Miyeon, who saw me put the card in my pocket, suddenly looked downcast.

“Are you… going to the Majors? Not that it has any special meaning… I’m just really curious.”

Her cute little lie made me laugh again.

“No, seriously, I’m just curious…”

“Alright. Could you hug me once?”

“…Huh?”

“I think I’ll be able to decide after that.”

It was a ridiculous thing to say, even to myself, but Miyeon hesitated before slowly wrapping her arms around my waist.

Whether it was the glow of the sunset or just her embarrassment, her face turned a soft shade of pink as she looked up at me.

“…Are you going?”

…I hadn’t planned on going in the first place.

Even if I had signed a contract, I would’ve torn it up after seeing this.

“How could I go when you’re holding onto me like this?”

“N-no, you’re the one who asked me to hug you…”

I looked at her flustered expression and gently hugged her back.

Maybe I held on a little tighter than I intended.

But it should be fine.

Her arms slowly tightened around me too.

I took a moment to savor the warmth and heartbeat that was passed to me and spoke.

“I’m not going.”

Miyeon, who had her face buried in my chest, looked up again.

Her eyes were a bit wet. Was she crying a little?

I stopped my lips from curling into a smile again and repeated.

“I’m not going. To the Majors. So stop worrying for no reason. Why are you crying?”

“I-I wasn’t worried… I just asked because I was curious, that’s all…”

“Yes, yes. Now let’s go get something to eat.”

As I was about to let go and step back, her arms around my waist pulled me in again.

“Teacher…?”

“…Because it’s five consecutive home runs… We can stay like this for five minutes…”

Well… I won’t decline.

I hugged her again, and Miyeon sneakily reached

into my pocket and pulled out the business card.

“I’ll throw this away for you. Since… you don’t need it.”

“I’m telling you, I’m not going.”

“Still…”

“Alright. But only one more minute.”

“Okay…”

—

After spending some time in Seoul with Miyeon, I returned on the late-night KTTX train.

I arrived home at 5 a.m. I quietly opened the door, knowing that Jihyun would be asleep.

As I carefully took off my shoes and was about to head to my room, Jihyun’s door opened.

“…Oppa, you’re back?”

Rubbing her eyes, Jihyun saw me and broke into a shy smile.

“Congratulations on winning, Oppa.”

“Thanks, Jihyun. Now go back to bed. You must be tired.”

Jihyun shook her head and went to the kitchen, turning on the stove.

“Wait a bit, Oppa.”

She was already too excited, so I gave up trying to stop her and sat at the dining table.

After a while, various side dishes started filling the empty table, followed by a steaming pot of soft tofu stew.

“You love soft tofu stew, Oppa. I wanted to make it for you since you must be tired.”

“…Yeah.”

Jihyun smiled and handed me a spoon, and I felt a lump in my throat.

I took the spoon and scooped up a bite.

“Is it good?”

“It’s the best in the world.”

I hadn’t tried every soft tofu stew in the world, but where else could I find one that made me so happy after just one bite?

Yes, I was simply happy.

I kept moving the spoon, and when it finally stopped, the pot was spotless.

—

After finishing the morning batting practice, I came to the lounge where the other members were noisily chatting about something.

“Wow… Did you see that? A super fancy limousine pulled in earlier…”

“Yeah, but did you see who got out of that limo? That’s even crazier.”

“I saw too. She looked like some kind of celebrity… With blonde hair, she seemed mixed-race.”

As I was casually listening nearby, Jin Myunghwan turned to me.

“Hey, Taehyun, did you see? She looked like she just stepped out of a drama…”

The dazed look on his face was more than a little perverted…

“Nah, I was at batting practice, so I didn’t see.”

Well, I didn’t see her, but from what I’ve heard, I have a good guess who it is.

It’s probably Lee Siha, the second daughter of the huge conglomerate, Nixon Sports.

Ah, she’s Korean by nationality but lives in the U.S., so she also goes by the name Rena.

“What? You missed seeing her? Poor guy… This time, my skipping batting practice paid off.”

…Honestly, he’s making too big of a deal out of it, but if it’s the Lee Siha I know, I can kind of understand.

-She possessed a beauty that no man could ignore.

There was a description like this in StrikeHeart.

But whatever… She has nothing to do with me, so I don’t need to take an interest.

The only reason Lee Siha came to Hyuksan was for Lee Jiho.

Her first appearance was probably when she suddenly entered the lounge and called for Lee Jiho.

I glanced around the lounge and saw Lee Jiho chatting away in a corner. That scene might be reenacted right before my eyes soon.

Thinking about it made me a bit excited.

After all, I was an avid reader of StrikeHeart.

It feels like I’m watching a live-action movie of StrikeHeart that no one else will ever see.

Then, someone knocked on the lounge door.

With very precise rhythm and strength.

Everyone in the lounge immediately turned their gaze toward the door. It made sense; no one usually knocks that politely in here.

With all eyes on the door, it slowly opened.

Between two muscular men in suits, a blonde woman appeared.

Oh…

She certainly had a beauty that could inspire awe. I could see why the other members were so hyped up.

With an ambiguous expression that was hard to tell if it was prideful or arrogant, Lee Siha slowly scanned the lounge.

Her eyes found Lee Jiho… and then passed him, locking onto mine.

…What?

Surprised by the unexpected situation, I stayed quiet.

Lee Siha’s lips curled into a small smirk.

“Found you.”

—