**Dongdae Middle School Wins Again**

**Monster Battery Achieves a Perfect Game in the Finals of the U-15 King of Kings Middle School Baseball Championship**

**Middle School Student Throwing 150 km/h**

**The Best Baseball Prospect in Korean History, Comparable to the United States and Japan**

The Republic of Korea was in an uproar over Lucas Bright.

The name of this crazy middle school student, who threw a ball 150 km/h at the age of only 16, was in the media every day.

However, for some reason, he completely disappeared, and no one could find his whereabouts. So, one year later, he was completely forgotten on the baseball field.

---

A white student wearing a white short-sleeved collared shirt and dark blue shorts asked a black-haired student wearing the same clothes.

"Hey, Lucas Bright. Did you register for the class properly?"

Lucas smiled at the white student who spoke to him.

"Mike, if it weren't for you, I would have failed this semester. I forgot to register for the class. I owe you one."

"Good to know."

"Next time, I will ask you a favor."

Mike nodded. "I plan to collect my debt properly. By the way, are you really not going to play baseball after school this semester?"

Today too, Mike suggested the baseball club to Lucas, who was 183 cm tall and had a stocky physique. It was already the 20th time today.

Lucas licked his dry lower lip with his tongue and closed his eyes tightly. After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head. Mike swallowed a sigh of regret and quickly left.

Lucas looked at his back blankly and sighed.

'baseball.'

After coming to America Kim Dijin change his name to Lucas Bright.

Of course it was not Kim Dijin decision to change his own name, it was his parents choice.

So Lucas pick up his mother family name which was 'Bright' and given name 'Lucas'.

Anyway, Kim Dijin now as Lucas, who was considered the best prospect of all time, quit baseball after middle school.

It was not of his own will. His father's business failed because his partner took the money and disappeared.

As a result, Lucas had to emigrate to the United States, specifically to LA. His father's older sister, his aunt, was running a small business there, so the visa issue was resolved.

Lucas's family chose this place in the hope that they would be able to get by in the United States.

But Lucas, the person involved, did not want to go to America. He wanted to play baseball, which he was good at and loved, until the end. However, his father strongly opposed Lucas's idea.

-You may be ahead of your peers now, but do you think you will be ahead of others in the future as well?

-What if you get injured and can no longer play baseball? Who will take responsibility for your life then?

At that time, his father was very sensitive.

Although he could not acknowledge his son's talent, he only spoke harshly about it.

But middle school student Lucas knew the reason.

'Uncertain future. And… money.'

There was no money in the house. In fact, his father knew Lucas's talent. He couldn't ignore it. But who would pay for the costs of baseball?

Even if Lucas received a scholarship, what about living expenses and monthly rent if he remained in Korea alone? His family did not have the ability to cover those costs.

-we are going to America. If you learn English there, it will be of great help to your life.

Lucas eventually followed his father's advice and left for the United States.

However, as soon as they arrived in the United States, another problem struck Lucas's family: private high school tuition was expensive.

You might think he could go to a public school, but to attend a public high school, he had to go through various procedures.

Lucas, who had immigrated to the United States, did not have time to go through such procedures. Lucas said he would go to a public high school even if it meant taking a year off, but his parents did not want him to waste a long year in an unfamiliar land.

At that time, Lucas's aunt reached out to the family once again.

"No matter how hungry or tired you are, you have to give your children a proper education."

Under the pretext of lending money, she willingly paid Lucas's tuition until graduation.

In the end, Lucas entered FS Private High School in Santa Monica, LA. Expensive tuition, difficult family circumstances, and a language he didn't understand broke Lucas's heart. He helped around the house, but he didn't want to be a burden to his family anymore.

So, Lucas studied English for a year to adapt to the unfamiliar environment. Around the time he began to learn English to some extent, Lucas thought it was good that he had listened to his father.

'I'm sure even if I go back to Korea later, I won't have any problems making a living thanks to English.' But at some point, Lucas's brow furrowed. Whenever he thought of baseball, he felt a stabbing pain in his heart.

'I can't have a weak heart.'

As always, Lucas bit his molars hard and endured it. Baseball is not the path he should pursue. Baseball's future is uncertain.

Baseball...

Lucas's eyes trembled.

---

Unlike Korea, American high schools have a total of four grades. At 18 years old in Korean age, Lucas, who was still 16, had just entered his third year of high school in the United States.

Although there were two years left until graduation, life in the United States remained the same.

He attended classes, went straight home after school, and studied English.

This was a repetition of daily life. Nothing changed just because a new semester started. The friends he made here encouraged him to join various clubs, but Lucas always shook his head.

"I have to study English."

It was just an excuse.

No matter what activity he did, he would eventually need money. Life in America was better than in Korea, which had been completely ruined.

However, nothing dramatic happened that suddenly brought the family to its feet. They tried to refrain from spending money elsewhere while just trying to feed themselves.

That's why Lucas came straight home after school.

Regret? That kind of thing doesn't come back as money.

If you don't have money, you can't do anything.

Lucas realized the truth of the world at a very young age. In the end, he did not neglect studying English, knowing that his future was his own to pioneer. It seemed like today was the same as always.

"Hey, Lucas."

It was Mike, the white student who spoke to him yesterday. As always, he approached Lucas as soon as the school bell rang.

"You haven't forgotten what you owe me, right?"

"I know. I'm not that bad."

Mike gently lifted the corner of his mouth and then opened his mouth. "Then, help me today."

"Help you? What do you need help with?"

"Today, our after-school baseball club is playing against another school, but one person said he would be late because he had urgent work to do. Please just fill in the space for a moment."

Lucas furrowed his brows, but Mike didn't care.

"I'm not asking you to join the club. You know what it means to break a promise with another school from the beginning of the semester? It means we can't even schedule another match next time."

Mike's situation continued. "One hour. Just fill the space. That's enough. Instead, if you help me today, I won't bother you with club invitations again."

Lucas had already made up his mind.

It was Mike who helped him when he foolishly misunderstood the date and did not sign up for the class. Since he owed him a lot, Lucas had no intention of turning down the request.

But it was baseball after all.

'No. Did it actually turn out well?'

Lucas hated being in debt.

It didn't seem like his original personality was like this, but at some point, he became more calculating.

That's why he thought it was fortunate that it was baseball he knew how to play, not basketball or soccer.

'Okay. i just have to pay what I owe properly.'

Today is really the last day. He would go out to the field for the last time today and then focus on studying again. Lucas nodded willingly.

"Okay. Can I go now?"

Mike kept saying thank you. "Come with me. Everyone will be gathered together."

Lucas put his school bag on his shoulder and followed Mike. When he arrived at the baseball stadium where the game was taking place, he felt a stabbing pain in his heart again.

Most of the people in the baseball club were strangers to Lucas, except for Mike and one or two others.

Due to the nature of Americans, even strangers greet each other as if they were close friends. They all approached him warmly.

"Thank you. One person was really in a hurry."

"It's a friendly game, so don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"They said they'd be back in an hour, so it won't take that long. We'll replace you as soon as they arrive."

They kept expressing gratitude just for his participation. At the same time, Mike handed the glove to Lucas.

"Number 9 left fielder. Is that okay?"

Lucas nodded, took the glove, and stared blankly.

'Long time no see.'

---

At that moment, the school's baseball club teacher, dressed as a referee, appeared.

"Everyone gather together. Let's say hello and start the game right away."

Lucas finished shaking hands with the opponents and moved toward left field.

"Play ball."

When the match started, his heart began pounding faster and harder.

Was it because it had been a while since he put gloves on his hands? Or was it because baseball, which he had been ignoring through video, was unfolding before his eyes?

Lucas gritted his teeth to ignore his feelings.

'Don't come. Don't come. Don't fly at me.'

He hoped no ball would come his way.

Fortunately, the first inning was all ground balls, so no balls flew toward him. But the second inning was different.

The opponents started getting hits and walks, and before he knew it, the bases were loaded with one out.

Thump.

With bases loaded and one out, the cheerful sound of an aluminum bat filled the ground. The hit went to none other than Lucas.

Lucas looked at the ordinary fly ball and quenched his nerves.

'It comes eventually.'

Lucas slowly approached the falling ball's point. The ball began to fall toward where Lucas stood and landed in his glove as if being sucked in.

'It's only today.'

After today, he would never play baseball again.

So, he would do it right for today.

Lucas's eyes sparkled. He took out the ball that landed gently in his glove and immediately threw it home.

"Back home!"

Swoosh—!

The throw passed the shortstop and was sucked into the catcher's mitt without a bounce.

Thud.

"Out!"

A moment of silence followed by a short exclamation.

"Wow."

Did he just throw it directly to home from far away?

What on earth was that ridiculous throwing speed?

Everyone did not take their eyes off Lucas with surprised expressions.

However, Lucas silently entered the dugout without changing his expression.

Only then did he raise the corners of his mouth when he felt the shocked gazes of the other players following him.

"Oh, I was lucky."

No one believed Lucas's words.

"What? Did you play baseball?"

"Is that an excuse? I thought you were a major leaguer!"

Lucas wore the businesslike smile that had become his habit since arriving in the United States.

'As expected, the lip service is too much.'

A major leaguer. If a real major leaguer heard this, he would have held his stomach and laughed. Mike handed the ball to Lucas.

"Our friend who was supposed to be here is still stuck. Want to go up on the mound one last time?"

Mike suggested, remembering Lucas's earlier throw that made his hands tingle. He wanted to see Lucas stand on the mound and throw just once.

"Nope?"

"I saved you half a year, remember? Are you saying that the value of half a year is less than standing on the mound?"

There was no right of veto.

That's what it sounded like to Lucas.

'You're cunning.'

Lucas raised the corners of his mouth and held out his glove. He was planning to do anything for his savior today anyway.

Mike smiled brightly and put the ball in his glove.

Top of the 3rd inning.

Lucas eventually stood on the mound.

All kinds of complex and subtle emotions enveloped his entire body.

'No. Rather, it worked out well. Let's end this situation neatly.'

He would shake it all off today. He would throw without regrets so that he would no longer have any lingering feelings about baseball.

Lucas closed his eyes tightly. He put his right hand inside the glove and grabbed a fastball grip. He lifted the glove up to the tip of his head and wound up, his eyes sparkling.

The lifted left leg touched his chest. The moment his leg powerfully stepped onto the floor, the ball left Lucas's right hand.

Shhhhh.

The ball Lucas threw went through the wind and headed straight to the catcher's mitt. In the blink of an eye, it was stuck in the mitt.

Wow.

There was silence in the stadium, as if time had stopped.

"S-Strike."