"Um, can I have one of these?"
The Orange Na in the black bag.
I freaked out at Deok-gu trying to twist off the cap like he was parched.
"No way!"
"...Huh?"
Deok-gu's face soured as he took off his catcher's mask.
He'd stayed late to help me out, making his way home even later, and now here I was denying a thirsty junior a single drink.
I frantically waved my hands to clear up the misunderstanding.
"No, Deok-gu, it's not like that... Here, take cash instead!"
"Cash?"
I pulled a ten-thousand-won emergency bill from my pocket and slapped it into his hand.
"Get something good with this—no soda. Too much carbonation rots your bones."
Decent excuse? Maybe?
"..."
Deok-gu stared silently at the bill I'd given him for a moment. Then he looked up at me, eyes wide.
"You're even looking out for my health... Kinda touching."
Good—he took it the right way.
"No big deal. Anyway, you busted your ass late tonight. We've got a practice game tomorrow, so rest up. See you then."
"Got it. You too, sunbae."
I left him with a quick bow and hurried out of the practice field.
On the way, I snuck a peek to count the Orange Nas in the plastic bag without Deok-gu seeing.
One, two, three, four.
Perfect—all four safe and sound.
Three bottles of this velocity potion had pushed me past 140 km/h.
If I downed the remaining four, tomorrow I might hit 141... maybe even 142.
"142 km/h. That should be enough to qualify for the Blue Dragon Cup."
Last year's Blue Dragon Cup win was thanks to Kim Ki-gwang and Shin Su-ho's one-two punch.
With those two around, I'd never gotten my shot.
"In the practice game against Deokyang High, I just need a chance for even one inning."
My velocity had climbed to 140 km/h, but the pitching coach and manager had no clue.
Tomorrow's game might pass me by entirely.
Harboring that worry—but also the thrill of one more growth spurt from the four remaining velocity enhancement potions—I headed home in a tangle of emotions.
Meanwhile, at the school training ground after Hyun-jun left.
Deok-gu, packing up his gear to head out, bumped into a dark shadow.
"Oh? Deok-gu, you still here?"
It was pitching coach Jo Jong-hoon.
As Deok-gu bowed his head, Coach Jo asked,
"What's keeping you this late?"
"Training... and caught a few for Hyun-jun sunbae."
"Hyun-jun? Song Hyun-jun?"
"Yes."
"Ah."
Coach Jo's face fell at the name 'Hyun-jun.'
Slow velocity, solid control, decent breaking stuff.
He was talented enough for high school ball, but in the coach's eyes, Hyun-jun was up against too big a wall.
Shin Su-ho.
A super prospect already beyond high school level, with MLB whispers in the air.
Compared to him, Hyun-jun's stuff was just... ordinary.
Pitying the situation, Coach Jo turned to Deok-gu.
"So, how'd Hyun-jun's stuff feel catching it?"
Deok-gu hesitated at the question, then answered honestly.
"Not heavy, but... the velocity felt noticeably faster than usual."
"Faster? By how much?"
"Definitely over 140."
"140 km/h?"
"Yes."
Coach Jo blinked in surprise at Deok-gu's words.
"Song Hyun-jun touching 140...?"
Only two lefties on the roster at school.
Of them, Hyun-jun was the only one with real command.
The coach had often wished Hyun-jun could just break 140 km/h.
And now he had?
"Got it, Deok-gu."
"Yes, Coach."
"It's late—take a cab with this."
"Huh?"
"Here."
Coach Jo pressed a ten-thousand-won bill into Deok-gu's hand with some advice.
"Practice game against Deokyang High tomorrow. No sleeping in."
"...Yes, Coach."
As Coach Jo left the training ground, Deok-gu soon followed through the school gate.
His expression was different from usual.
Pulling two bills from his pocket, he gazed at them, feeling a strange warmth.
"So many good people on our baseball team."
That was why Deok-gu could head home excited for tomorrow, in high spirits.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day.
I dragged myself to school, eyes a bit puffy.
"Whoa, Hyun-jun, rough night?"
I brushed off my classmates' questions.
Slept funny.
Truth was, I'd chugged all four remaining velocity enhancement potions by morning.
"Ugh, stomach's churning."
Burps kept coming, but I felt great.
Seven bottles total. Seven km/h gained.
I couldn't wait to test it out.
That's when the manager called everyone together.
"Guys, as announced, practice game against Deokyang High today. Starts in two hours—get ready, no slacking."
"Yes, sir!"
I shouted louder than anyone, fist clenched.
Just one inning.
If I got the call today, I'd show them how different my stuff was from yesterday.
That's when my eyes met team ace Shin Su-ho's.
"Hmph."
What?
Did my fired-up vibe rub him wrong? He furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
Then the manager's voice grabbed everyone's attention.
"Special guests today—the Devils scout team."
"Whoa..."
"So focus extra hard. Who knows? Play well today, and you might catch the Devils scouts' eye."
The manager glanced at Shin Su-ho as he finished.
A look that screamed the scouts were here for him.
That trusting gaze landed on Su-ho, who smirked and shot me a glance.
A winner's smile.
"Ah...!"
Watching him, I prayed desperately.
Please... let Shin Su-ho screw up today.
Then I'd get my shot.
In the bullpen, I gripped a ball, fingers tracing the seams.
Deep breath in, out—calming my racing heart.
A chance.
To show the manager and coach my boosted velocity.
As I stretched, eyes locked on the
Deokyang High Baseball Team
bus pulling into the lot from afar.
"Alright, game prep!"
The manager's call-up order.
Everyone gathered in the locker room, and his sharp eyes scanned us.
For a split second, our gazes met.
Could it be...?
"Starting on the mound: Shin Su-ho."
Ah... of course.
Not just me—nearby pitchers muttered low.
"Again with Su-ho? Thought he'd check more arms."
"Ki-gwang hyung's pro now—what choice is there? I'd start Su-ho too."
"Gotta beat Deokyang High."
Deokyang High—Seomun High's longtime local rival.
Grumbles aside, no one argued the manager's call to start Su-ho.
Personally, I hadn't expected to start anyway.
The manager didn't know my velocity had jumped.
Just one inning—that was plenty.
I stared at him with that plea, but he never looked my way again.
"Rest of you, stay sharp."
"Yes, sir!"
That was it.
Bullpen it was—waiting for my name to be called.
The game kicked off soon after.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Before announcing the lineup to the players.
Pitching coach Jo Jong-hoon approached Seomun High manager Lee Min-han.
"Manager, if there's a chance today, how about giving Hyun-jun a shot?"
Lee eyed him curiously at the suggestion.
"Song Hyun-jun?"
"Yeah, he was grinding personal training late last night."
"Really? ...Hmm."
"Figured a kid putting in that effort deserves at least a practice game inning."
"Opponent's Deokyang High, though."
"It's just practice. Sticking solely with Su-ho even here might tank the other guys' morale."
The pitching coach left it at that—no more pushing.
Player usage was the manager's call.
But he could recommend pitchers in form.
Over there, Song Hyun-jun warming up in the bullpen.
And on the mound, the team's symbol, Shin Su-ho.
Lee Min-han glanced between them, face stiffening slightly before speaking.
"We'll see."
His gaze lingered on Song Hyun-jun tossing in the bullpen.
"Play ball!"
The game began.
Shin Su-ho took the mound as planned, shoulders squared, ready to pitch.
Windup.
Thwack!
The first pitch exploded from his explosive windup.
As Deokyang's leadoff hitter flinched, the scoreboard lit up.
156.2 km/h
First pitch, 156 km/h.
As the manager said, the outfield scouts watching the game beamed.
"That's Shin Su-ho."
"Definitely different caliber."
The scouts marveled at his fastball—except one, eyes sharp.
"Not good...?"
Devils scout Seo Ji-hoon.
Unlike him, the opposing players gaped at the pitch's heat.
"Whoa..."
"Seomun High's Shin Su-ho!"
An ace who crushed enemy spirits with one pitch.
Shin Su-ho fit the role perfectly.
Fair enough.
But on his second pitch, the vibe shifted.
"Ball two."
Two balls right out the gate.
"...Huh?!"
"Su-ho hyung's control ever wobble like that...?"
Amid our team's murmurs, Shin Su-ho on the mound glanced at his fingers.
Looked like pain.
Seomun dugout buzzed at his uncharacteristic outing.
"Manager."
"...Let's watch a bit more."
Lee's eyes stopped at the bullpen.
Song Hyun-jun. Something in that gaze hooked him.
Meanwhile.
"Walk! Batter to first!"
A walk.
Shin Su-ho grimaced on the mound, staring at his fingers again.
"Ah...!"
Nail issue, maybe.
Lee, fingers steepled at his nose, pondered the hitters' tendencies deeply before glancing back at the bullpen, then slowly spoke.
Hyun-jun was there, eyes burning hotter.
"Bullpen, get a long reliever ready."
"Yes, Manager."
"Hold up."
"Sir?"
Lee issued orders to the pitching coach.
"Get Song Hyun-jun ready too."
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