When I stood in front of the classroom door, I heard the faint sound of a violin seeping in from the end of the hallway.
The words I heard from the baseball team Manager kept circling in my mind, but the moment I heard that violin sound, I began to forget them little by little.
As expected, Yu Se-ra stood in the center of the classroom, moving her bow in a familiar posture as she played.
This time, I carefully made my presence known as I entered the classroom.
It was so I wouldn't startle her like last time.
The moment I entered, Se-ra didn't stop playing but turned her body slightly to look at me.
Her bow was still moving, and only her gaze was directed at me.
It was a greeting offered with a smile instead of words.
- Hi. Welcome.
Yu Se-ra mouthed a greeting to me.
Of course, she could have spoken while playing, but she seemed reluctant to disturb the beautiful music she was creating herself.
Seeing Yu Se-ra's gentle smile and the greeting welcoming me, I felt like I was floating on clouds.
All the dissatisfaction that had built up while waking up early to come to school disappeared in an instant.
Ah...
If I can see this every day...
I can come early anytime.
The worries about the baseball team that had been weighing me down until just a moment ago became blurry like a lie.
Then, unable to meet Yu Se-ra's gaze for long, I looked away unnecessarily.
Because I strangely started to feel hot and could feel my face burning up.
I went to my seat quietly, pretending nothing was wrong, and buried my face in the desk.
When my forehead touched the desk, a cold sensation was transmitted, and only then did I realize how flushed my face had been.
I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm my heart for no reason.
The violin sound didn't stop.
Rather, it was filling the classroom more gently and slowly than before.
Each note felt like it was rolling across the desk, and as I closed my eyes, my thoughts scattered quietly instead of being organized one by one.
Worries, burdens, and concerns about tomorrow were pushed behind the sound.
Like that, buried in my desk, I surrendered my body to the sound of the violin.
My consciousness gradually faded.
With that sound as the last thing I heard, I slowly fell asleep again.
Just as I was about to fall into a deep sleep, the violin sound stopped.
Ah... I wish she wouldn't stop.
I woke up again with a regretful expression.
"Oh? You're not sleeping. Did I fail this time?"
"No. I almost fell asleep. But... it was a little short..."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Yu Se-ra smiled brightly.
"Actually, I did it on purpose~. Still, to bury your face right away. Hmph."
"Ah... sorry..."
Should I listen for a bit and then bury my head next time?
No, but this time it couldn't be helped.
If you look at me with that face, my heart won't survive.
"And you were a little late."
Uh... that is...
"Uh... there was a reason I was late."
"What is it? I hope it wasn't oversleeping or anything like that?"
Yu Se-ra spoke with a pouty expression.
"There really is a definite reason for this. I definitely arrived on time."
"Then tell me. What's the reason?"
"Um... I happened to meet the baseball team Coach and Manager inside the school. So while talking for a bit..."
"You saw the baseball Manager and Coach? Why?"
Yu Se-ra made a curious face.
Hmm... should I reveal it already?
I hesitated for a very brief moment, but I had no choice but to tell the truth.
Somehow, I wanted to tell her.
"Well... I received an offer to join the baseball team."
"The baseball team? Oh! Then that was you!"
Yu Se-ra was a little surprised but spoke with a bright expression.
Yeah, it's me.
I haven't completely decided to join the baseball team yet.
But... I'm starting to lean toward one side more and more.
( ❋ ❋ ❋ )
As soon as lunch time arrived, I ate quickly and moved to the baseball field.
Because the coach had said to see him briefly during lunch.
"I'm here, Coach."
When I arrived at the field, the coach was standing in a corner.
When I went to him, the coach was looking at me with a calm face, like someone who had already organized his thoughts.
"Good, you came. The reason I called you is to talk about what we're going to do with you going forward."
"Yes. Please tell me."
"For now, we will focus on building your body, centering on running and stretching."
That makes sense.
It's been quite a while since I rested.
A situation where a lot of muscle mass has disappeared.
Of course, thanks to resting, I'm healthy in many ways, but to become a proper baseball player, I need to pull my physical condition back up.
"Especially, I plan to push fitness training centered on the lower body and core very hard. Although underhand form has differences from other pitching forms, the foundation of pitching is still the lower body."
"Then, by any chance, what about games?"
"Hmm... well, there's the fact that you aren't officially a baseball team player yet, but even if you were, wouldn't playing in games still be too much? Of course, the player depth is thin, so I want to use you as fast as possible. But you need to be able to do basic fielding, and above all... we're in a situation where we don't even know if you throw balls that work against batters."
"I see."
"Right. At the very least, let's prepare well so you can go out even for a small game in the second half of the year. And... come back once more after all classes are over today. To formally greet the other baseball team members."
"Excuse me?"
I was flustered inwardly.
I felt like the story was flowing much faster than I expected.
Because I didn't think I had finished organizing everything in my heart yet.
"Uh... I haven't made a decision yet? I think the progress is moving too fast."
My voice was weaker than I thought. At that, the coach looked at me for a moment and shook his head side to side.
"No, the faster the better. And no matter how I look at it, it looks like you've already made your decision."
It was a calm tone, but he hit the nail on the head.
"You're going to do it, right?"
...
"Yes."
( ❋ ❋ ❋ )
As classes ended, I headed straight to the school baseball field.
Baseball team members were already lined up on one side of the ground.
It was a scenery that was both unfamiliar and familiar.
The coach was standing in front, and when I arrived, he nodded briefly, giving a signal.
The coach looked around at everyone once, then formally introduced me.
"Alright, this is Kim Jeong-ui, who will be active in the baseball team again starting this time. His position is pitcher, and he has already been confirmed as the pitcher with the best control in our school."
At the coach's words, gazes gathered on me.
"Of course, since there was a period where he rested, immediate deployment in real games is difficult right now. So he is scheduled to play in games after going through sufficient practice, so everyone help Jeong-ui adapt quickly. Especially the second years, since you're in the same grade. Got it?"
"Yes, understood."
"Okay, then Jeong-ui."
At the coach's words, I took a step forward and bowed briefly.
"Please take care of me. Somehow I ended up returning to the baseball team, but I will become a player who doesn't cause a nuisance to everyone."
Even while doing that, I was naturally counting the number of players.
Seven 3rd years, eight 2nd years, and six 1st years.
Total twenty-one.
Including me, it becomes twenty-two.
Considering that schools that accept enough members usually carry around 40 players, the number we have is merely half.
Since the minimum number required to operate is twenty, it's really touch-and-go. If the incoming students decrease next year and the students moving up to 3rd year quit...
A dangerous period might come again.
And I added one more thing.
"I am not an official member yet, but a temporary member. I will have many shortcomings, so please treat me well."
Among the players, I felt gazes that nodded lightly or looked at me without expression.
( ❋ ❋ ❋ )
Like that, I greeted the baseball team and returned home.
"You're here?"
"Yes. I'm back."
"Then come here and sit for a bit."
My parents were sitting together at the dining table as if waiting for me.
Seeing that, I stood there with my body stiffened.
"Sit down quickly."
At Dad's words, I slowly sat across from my parents.
Oh boy... it's clear the school contacted them additionally about something.
Dad didn't beat around the bush. He went straight to the main point.
"Are you really going to play baseball again?"
Haa... too many things have already proceeded.
It's actually better this way.
I have to answer now.
I nodded.
"Yeah. I'm going to do it."
"Haa..."
At my words, Dad sighed.
"Mom, Dad. I don't have talent for studying. So I thought about just quietly graduating until the third year of high school. But I happened to play baseball again briefly by chance, and fortunately, there was something I could do. Even though I thought I lacked talent. So I want to try."
When I finished speaking, Dad didn't say anything. He kept his gaze only on the table.
That silence was scarier.
Then Mom opened her mouth first.
"Honey, still, isn't the school offering to pay for everything because he did something well? Usually, they almost never do this even if the father is a player."
At those words, Dad's head lifted slowly.
"Right. But is money the problem?"
His voice was low but solid.
"Why on earth is the school doing that for him?"
I caught my breath once and spoke.
"I can be a pitcher. I can only throw fastballs, but my control was good."
Dad asked back immediately.
"A pitcher? What's the velocity?"
"Mid-120s comes out."
"Haa..."
Dad sighed briefly.
It wasn't deep or long, but it was stained with disappointment.
"Will that work? That's the velocity that came out when I was retiring."
I lowered my gaze for a moment, then looked at Dad again immediately. And I spoke as clearly as possible.
"Dad, I am an underhand pitcher too."
At that moment, Dad's face looked like it stopped.
He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes changed.
And for a moment, his gaze wavered.
This is... he is calculating something.
He's probably calculating using the fact that I'm an underhand pitcher.
And perhaps having finished the calculation, he sighed once more.
"Phew... Okay. Do as you please. But I still don't approve of you playing baseball again. Still, if you want to do it, do it. Since the school is covering the costs anyway, I won't care."
Dad got up from his seat with those final words.
Phew...
It's done.
This is effectively permission.
I can play baseball again.
(End of Chapter)
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