I need more Orange Na. No, more Velocity Enhancement Potions.
But a problem cropped up.
No matter how many texts I sent, Kim Ji-won from the mart wasn't replying. He wasn't picking up his phone either.
"Guess I'll head over."
I bolted straight to Jiwon Mart.
Today's velocity boost was undeniable. Which meant I needed even more.
On top of that, the weekend league starting pitcher competition was right around the corner.
The faces of my rivals flashed in my mind.
Shin Su-ho and Park Jin-woong.
Shin Su-ho was on another level entirely, but getting pushed aside by Park Jin-woong would be a disaster.
142 km/h from the left side wasn't enough.
Seo the scout had said it: faster pitches, better pitches.
Less than a year until pro tryouts. To knock on any of the ten teams' doors, I had to crank up that velocity even higher.
But velocity wasn't everything.
To even step up to the pro threshold, I needed to boost power, control, and stamina too.
Jiwon Mart
As expected, Kim Ji-won was nowhere to be seen. A guy in his thirties was manning the store instead.
"Welcome."
"Oh, yeah."
I checked the cooler section, but no dice.
"Got any Orange Na?"
"One sec."
The clerk checked inventory.
"Sold out yesterday. New stock comes in before dawn. We open at 9 a.m."
"Ah, got it. Thanks."
9 a.m. tomorrow. That's when I could boost my velocity again.
I left the mart and hit up nearby convenience stores. Found some Orange Na at a couple spots, but no text floating above the bottles.
Click.
Just in case, I cracked one open and chugged.
The fizz went down my throat, but the expected surge didn't come.
"Nothing."
Just heartburn, no velocity gain.
Everything except the stuff from Jiwon Mart had been duds.
"What if tomorrow's shipment at Jiwon Mart doesn't work either...?"
My heart sank, but I shoved the bad thoughts aside and headed home.
That's when the pitching coach's words echoed in my ears.
"Weekend league game coming up. Prep to start."
"You got this, right?"
Unlike bullpen duty, starting meant owning the game from pitch one to the final out.
The weight of it hit me, overlapping with Seo Ji-hoon's critique from the school gate.
"Song Hyun-jun's got weak power on his pitches."
A top scout calling it "middle school level."
Could I really beat Park Jin-woong in the weekend game with that?
"If you want pro ball, shore up that power. Build grip strength, grow your chest muscles."
The cold advice lingered.
I felt it in my bones: power was more urgent than velocity.
"Beating Deokyang High was pure luck."
A few days of arm and chest workouts wouldn't magically toughen my pitches.
Weeks, months. Years, even.
Had to stack it steady to get stronger bit by bit.
"So yeah, not just velocity. Gotta level up power and everything else too."
Was getting good at baseball ever easy?
I trudged along, then something caught my eye.
"Huh?"
I whipped my head around.
Over huge letters on a menu poster, familiar text hovered.
"...What's this now?"
My voice dripped doubt, but a grin spread across my face anyway.
[Power +1]
"Power? It's really boosting power?"
I was ready to dance for joy.
Power was exactly what I needed, and here it dangled like a reward.
I drifted toward it, mesmerized, then froze at the sign.
Grandma's Soup House
A soup joint.
"...Power from a soup house?"
I cocked my head, but stepped inside anyway.
Standard soup house vibe inside. Nothing special.
Except one thing that jumped out.
Mixed Sundae Soup - 9,000 won Power Enhancement Potion (E)
Mixed sundae soup, 9,000 won. Effect: Power +1.
"This is the potion...?"
Hard to buy it, but only one way to check.
"One mixed sundae soup, please!"
I ordered the sundae soup marked with the power boost.
Clatter clatter clatter.
Kimchi and side dishes hit the table quick.
"Ah, thank you."
No time for proper thanks to the kindly older clerk.
Thud.
"Mixed soup's up."
"Ah, yeah."
Food came fast.
Mixed sundae soup. Familiar text hovering over it.
[Power +1]
Power boost message floating over the soup.
Saw it the moment it left the kitchen.
"Hahaha... Eating soup fills you up solid, boosting power? Then chugging soda clears your gut for velocity?"
Lame joke as I grabbed my spoon.
Slurp.
Delicious. Warm and hearty, real soup.
But no power boost yet.
"Took the whole Orange Na to kick in... So gotta finish the whole bowl for this."
Hadn't eaten lunch anyway. One bowl was easy.
Cleared it no sweat.
Then the text popped up, nearly had me clapping.
[Power permanently increased by +1.]
"That's what I'm talking about!"
Power went up.
Flashback: velocity cranked, but weak power let Deokyang High's cleanup hitter Kang Cheol-woo nearly crush one out of the park.
"But now I've got a fix."
High on joy, I ordered another bowl right away.
"One more soup. No, make it two!"
"Two more? Friends coming?"
"Nah, all me."
"What? Kid's eating it all? You just downed one."
Grandma behind the counter looked shocked.
I pondered a sec, then puffed my chest.
"Still growing. Gotta eat big to get tall."
Growing boys are always starving. Common knowledge.
Grandma smiled warmly at my answer.
"Good to see a kid with an appetite."
"Thanks."
"Here, on the house."
"Huh?"
"Try the bone hangover soup too."
Won't boost power, but...
With eager eyes, Grandma loaded my table: two soup pots, one hangover bowl.
Her kind smile reminded me of my country grandma. Couldn't say no.
"Th-thank you."
And so the soup feast began.
"Eats good."
Amid her praise and cheers, I barely cleared the soup and bone hangover.
Meant to start with soup, but no choice.
Grandma watched with that kindly gaze.
[Power permanently increased by +1.]
Still snagged the reward for that one soup bowl. Now the final one.
"My, you eat well. More sides?"
"I'm good!!!"
"Alright. Holler if you need anything."
"Yep."
Minor crisis aside, after over an hour of feasting, I polished it off.
[Power permanently increased by +1.]
A reward more filling than the soup.
"Power... it's up!"
I could feel it.
Grip!
Grip strength surging, forearms brimming with power, pecs heavy and thick.
Power hit 3, raw strength flooding my body.
"But no more. Can't force it."
Stuffed to the gills.
Three bowls of sundae soup, plus Grandma's extra—four total, over an hour.
Her cooking was top-notch, soup was great, but now even the sight of those pots made me queasy.
I looked away, and faint text flickered in my vision before fading.
Held Points: 2,467P
Points down from before.
Was 2,767. Down 300.
"Hold up, 100 points per power potion? Same for velocity ones?"
Not freebies.
100 points each.
Finally piecing together how points work.
"Buy 24 more stats and no more velocity or power boosts? Hmm..."
Big problem.
Learned from today's game: good results mean point rewards.
"Gotta play as many games as possible from now on. Rack up wins."
Win to thrive.
Grab every mound chance.
That simple truth hit, sparking a thought.
"Velocity, power... stats like that mean there's gotta be a status screen too, right?"
World with potions? Status screen fits.
Expectations swelled.
Caught Grandma's eye, so I mumbled "bathroom" and slipped out, whispering carefully.
"Status screen."
...
Nothing.
"Stats, status, whatever. Show up."
Still zilch.
"Yeah. No dice."
Not a huge letdown.
Proved velocity boost without a screen via potion.
Body changes confirmed power gains.
No numbers needed.
"Monthly scouting reports are detailed anyway... No status screen, no biggie."
Those reports break down every stat per player.
Brutal for guys like me, so I skip 'em. But this month's? Looking forward.
"Thanks for the meal."
Paid up.
Checked menu again, just in case. [Power +1] still glowed clear.
Means this power potion in soup disguise isn't one-and-done.
"I'll be back."
Save it for later.
Wanted to test the +3 power back at school, but throwing now? No way.
"Puke mid-throw?"
Belly full to bursting, plus today's full-game grind left my body beat.
Needed rest.
Creator: Son lololol Creator: Get home NOW
"Dad? Calling me home at this hour?"
Sounded off.
Grabbed my stuff and headed back.
...Creator's summons never end ordinary.
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