The Extra in a Baseball Novel

‘That’s the teacher, right…?’

Shin Hayoon doubted her eyes for a moment, but no matter how many times she checked, it was indeed her homeroom teacher, Lee Miyeon.

Cautiously approaching, Shin Hayoon tapped Lee Miyeon on the back.

“You’re the teacher, right?”

Lee Miyeon, her lips trembling slightly, looked away.

“Huh…? What are you talking about…? I’m… not a teacher.”

“Come on, teacher, that’s not fair.”

“Um… sorry.”

“Did you come to cheer for Cha Taehyun?”

“N-no! I-I just came to watch the baseball game, that’s all.”

“But you were jumping around earlier, shouting ‘Taehyun-ah~.’”

“…”

As Lee Miyeon froze completely, Shin Hayoon tried to smooth things over.

“Um… are you a Phoenix fan too, teacher?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Well, my parents were making a big fuss about it too. They came all the way to Seoul to watch Cha Taehyun play since he’s joining the Phoenix… I thought they were the only ones, but maybe you’re the same.”

“Yes! Yes! That’s it! I’ve become a fan of Taehyun too! He’s going to be the future ace of the Phoenix!”

“…I’m a Phoenix fan too, so I understand. But… shouldn’t you be a bit more careful? I mean, it’s Seoul, so it’s probably fine… but it might look strange if someone you know sees you…”

Though it was just for a moment, even Shin Hayoon had her own ‘strange thoughts,’ so being cautious seemed appropriate.

“Shouting ‘Taehyun-ah~’ sounds a bit too affectionate, don’t you think? Maybe stick to something like ‘Cha Taehyun!’”

At the playful mention of ‘affection,’ Lee Miyeon shuddered for a moment before nodding repeatedly.

“Y-yeah… you’re right. I’ll be careful.”

Puzzled by Lee Miyeon’s sudden change of expression, Shin Hayoon turned to leave.

“Anyway, enjoy the game, teacher. I’m going now.”

“Okay, see you next week, Hayoon!”

As she stepped out of the exit.

-Woooaaahhh!!

A loud cheer erupted. Turning her head, she saw people standing up, chanting Cha Taehyun’s name. He must have hit another home run.

“He’s really good… was that his second consecutive home run? Maybe he really will break a record…”

Just as she was marveling at Cha Taehyun’s skill, her teacher’s voice rang out.

-“Taehyun-ah!!”

“I told her not to shout ‘Taehyun-ah~’… Is there really something between them…?”

Resting her chin in her hand, Shin Hayoon shook her head.

‘No way… the teacher is too diligent for that.’

—

Before they knew it, it was the bottom of the sixth inning, and the score was still 4-0, with Daesangogo trailing.

‘This situation is really bad.’

It was one thing to not have scored by the sixth inning, but they hadn’t even managed to get a single runner on base. Forget about Cha Taehyun’s record, they were on the verge of giving up a perfect game in the Blue Dragon Finals.

“Sigh… We have to hold them off until we can get to their bullpen…”

Daesangogo’s catcher grumbled as he took his place behind home plate. The moment he put on his mask, he heard another round of cheers, followed by a sigh.

‘Is it already that guy’s turn again?’

It felt like it had just been a moment since Cha Taehyun’s second consecutive home run, and now he was up for his third at-bat.

That annoying guy, who got on his nerves just by being there, spoke up as soon as he stepped into the batter’s box.

“…It’s quiet now, huh? You sure talked a lot earlier…”

“…”

The catcher held his tongue, suppressing his anger.

Cha Taehyun, seemingly to provoke him, playfully swung his bat above the plate and asked again.

“Why don’t you ask me if I’m going to set a record this time? That’s kind of disappointing.”

‘Sigh… Why did I run my mouth…?’

Anger boiled inside him, and he wanted to hurl a curse, but since he had started it, he couldn’t do that now.

Otherwise, he’d just look even more pathetic.

He really wished he could turn back time.

‘I just want to walk him…’

The catcher’s honest thought as he signaled for an intentional walk. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Taehyun would hit the ball no matter where it was thrown.

As expected, Kim Sinhwa rejected the sign.

In that case, there was nothing he could do.

Kim Sinhwa wouldn’t change his mind, no matter what the coach said. Replacing the pitcher? Walking Cha Taehyun meant risking getting hit by the other batters.

‘Fine… let’s go for the hardest possible spot to hit…’

He placed his mitt just barely on the inside edge of the strike zone.

It would be a difficult pitch to control, but if it worked, it’d be hard to hit. If it missed, it’d be a ball, avoiding the worst-case scenario of giving up another home run.

‘Please… let this pitch land where I want it.’

Would his desperate prayer reach the heavens? The ball left Kim Sinhwa’s fingers, heading fast and accurately toward the mitt.

‘Nice! Perfect control!’

A spot that was nearly impossible to hit.

But then, as if mocking the catcher’s thoughts, the bat was already swinging toward the ball.

‘Even if it connects, it won’t go far from this spot…’

-Crack!

The terrifying sound of the hit and the ball’s trajectory shooting up left the catcher’s mind blank.

There was no need to take off his mask. The ball traced a perfect arc in the air, a clear home run to anyone watching.

“Not walking me again, huh… well, thanks for that.”

With a sly smile, Cha Taehyun flung his bat aside and the crowd went wild once more.

In response to the fans’ cheers, he raised three fingers high as he ran the bases.

“Home run! Another home run! And yet another home run!!! Cha Taehyun has perfectly timed a 154 km/h fastball on the inside edge and sent it flying out of the park! Three consecutive home runs! I think we can start anticipating a legendary record! Viewers, do not turn off your TVs! You can’t miss this historic moment!”

└ What’s up with the commentator’s excitement, lol.

└ So hyped, lol.

└ But it’s insane, lol. Three consecutive home runs, all on the first pitch.

└ Let’s give a thumbs-up if you feel bad for Kim Sinhwa, lol.

└ Thumbs-up, lol. It’s like he’s just playing with a toy, hitting everything.

└ Is Kim Sinhwa quitting baseball? lol.

└ If he quits, join the Phoenix team. We’ll make you the No. 3 starter at least.

└ But the fact is, Cha Taehyun is just crazy. Kim Sinhwa is actually pitching well, lol.

└ Why is that true though? lol. Besides Cha Taehyun and Lee Jiho, he hasn’t given up a single hit, lol.

└ Kim Sinhwa must hate Cha Taehyun…

—

“But isn’t aiming for the record too much?”

“Of course it is. The only reason he mentioned the record was to mock Daesangogo. He can’t seriously think he’ll break it.”

Even at first, the crowd rooting for Cha Taehyun assumed that his talk of breaking the record was just to intimidate his opponents.

After all, what he was talking about was simply unrealistic.

Could one batter hit home runs in five consecutive at-bats?

“Well, if a monster batter who dominates the Major League came here, maybe.”

“Why would a Major League monster batter come here?”

“Exactly. It’s impossible.”

When Cha Taehyun hit his first home run in the first inning, the crowd simply shouted, “As expected!”

A single home run? Well, it was Cha Taehyun.

When he hit his second consecutive home run in the fourth inning, the crowd nodded, thinking, “That’s Cha Taehyun for you.”

Even two home runs? It was still just Cha Taehyun.

But when he hit his third consecutive home run in the sixth inning and raised three fingers, the crowd began to wonder, “Could he…?”

And when he finally smashed his fourth consecutive home run in the seventh inning, the crowd started to hope.

Sorry to the other players, but the crowd no longer cared about the outcome of the game.

All those people filling the stands were focused on one thing.

‘Could he really hit five consecutive home runs?’

No.

‘I want to see him hit five consecutive home runs!’

By now, any doubts had long vanished.

In the minds of the audience, they could already picture Cha Taehyun raising his entire hand after hitting his fifth consecutive home run.

Amidst that anticipation, the bottom of the eighth inning arrived.

The score was 7-0, with Hyuksan leading.

Jin Myunghwan, the first batter, struck out. The second batter, Ji Chanwoo, grounded out. The third batter, Lee Taehyung, hit a single and stood on first.

And then, it was time for the fourth batter, the one driving the crowd crazy: Cha Taehyun.

—

If someone had asked me what my greatest strength in baseball was during my playing days, I would always have answered, “My mentality.”

For a simple reason.

I’ve seen many players crumble under pressure.

A closer who couldn’t handle the tension of a one-run game that would decide the championship.

A batter who went up as the last hitter in a medal-deciding game, only to weakly ground out.

All those people taught me that my strength was my mentality.

When I think about it that way, I might be built differently from most people.

Even though this is high school baseball,

I’m standing on the brink of a record. There are countless people in the stands with their eyes on me, hoping to see history made.

Logically speaking, this is a moment that could shake anyone’s mental fortitude.

But to me, this moment isn’t just thrilling; it’s euphoric.

I gripped my bat lower and calmed my excitement.

I focused solely on the pitcher’s fingertips, calm as a still lake.

The pitcher wound up, gritting his teeth and twisting his upper body to hurl the ball with all his might.

Perhaps due to the force, his cap shook and flew off as the ball shot toward me.

In response, I swung my bat naturally, following the ball.

When it aligned perfectly, I unleashed all the power I had been holding back.

-CRACK!

As the ball soared into the sky, the stadium fell silent for a brief moment.

Then, as the ball continued to fly further, the cheers grew louder and louder.

When the ball finally struck the back screen.

-Boom!

-Wooooaaahhh!!

Golden fireworks exploded, and the crowd went wild.

“…They’re setting off fireworks during the game?”

Did they press the wrong button?

Well, I don’t mind. Teacher Miyeon loves fireworks, so it’s perfect.

Imagining her somewhere in the crowd cheering my name, I smiled, raised my fully open hand high, and ran toward the base.

—

Fireworks lit up the sky, cheers filled the surroundings, but Shin Hayoon’s world was quiet.

She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the swing of one man.

“…Beautiful.”

Lost in her daze, she muttered to herself.

Others might think she was talking about the fireworks, but she hadn’t even noticed them.

From the moment Cha Taehyun stepped up to bat, and until he smashed his fifth consecutive home run.

She had been staring at nothing but his swing.

In her hands was a camera, zoomed in as close as possible.

“Unni! Did you get a good shot? Let me see!”

Her little sister reached for the camera, but Shin Hayoon pulled it back, shaking her head.

“…It’s mine.”

“…Why are you being so stingy over a video… Mom bought that camera anyway…”

It was only then that Shin Hayoon snapped out of it.

Why did I do that…?

She couldn’t understand herself. All she had to do was show it. Why was it so hard?

And why was her heart racing like this…?

It was really… strange.

—

The bottom of the eighth inning ended. The top of the ninth, Daesangogo’s final chance at bat, began with Kim Changhyun still on the mound.

“Chanwoo, how many pitches do I have left?”

“Fourteen left… Can you do it?”

Kim Changhyun grinned and replied.

“Plenty.”

Ji Chanwoo chuckled and lightly punched his chest before returning to home plate.

The seventh batter stepped up, and Ji Chanwoo signaled without a call, placing his mitt in the center.

Just throw it however you want.

In response to this trust, Kim Changhyun, showing no decline in his pitch quality, struck out the seventh batter.

-Strikeout!

With eleven pitches left.

Ignoring the numbing sensation creeping into his shoulder, Kim Changhyun threw his full power against the eighth batter.

-Strikeout!

Another strikeout. He clenched his fist.

With only one out left, Kim Changhyun wound up and threw the first pitch.

“Ah.”

A sigh escaped his lips.

He lost his grip on the ball as it left his fingers, resulting in a flat pitch toward the batter.

The batter, with a burning determination to prevent a perfect game, swung his bat forcefully.

-Crack!

A clean hit, though it didn’t travel far from Kim Changhyun.

He quickly extended his glove.

But it was too clean of a hit. Though he reached out, the ball sailed past before it could touch his glove.

Overcome with regret, Kim Changhyun gritted his teeth when—

“Out!”

A call he hadn’t expected reached his ears, and his head turned slowly.

“Nice pitching.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

There stood Cha Taehyun, casually holding up the ball and giving him a thumbs-up.

“Cha Taehyun… you really…”

Shaking his head briefly, Kim Changhyun laughed brightly and shouted.

“That’s it! Cha Taehyun!!”

TL Note:

So, we’ve hit the big 30. I think this is an important milestone in any novel’s development, and where people have really solidified their opinions about it. So, how’re you feeling? If you’re feeling motivated to do so an honest rating on NovelUpdates wouldn’t go amiss, but if not a comment down below with your thoughts would also be nice (though I suspect it’d probably be easier to leave a rating in stars on NU then to make a whole new account here lmao. But, if you feel so inclined you can click the door icon in the top left, sign in with a Google account, and then you should be able to leave a comment.) Regardless, have a great day.