"Ehhh? Whose Steve?"
"Steebu?"
Ken ignored the questions in the bar and handed his beer to Daichi close by before making his way back to the street. Sure enough, standing not far away was his friend from the states.
"Steve, I thought you were only getting in late tonight?" Ken said with surprise.
"Hehe, I caught an earlier flight. There's no way I can miss my best friend's bachelor party right?" Steve replied with a grin.
Ken smiled, "Come inside, I'll introduce you to my friends."
Ken ushered him back into the bar where everyone's eyes instantly fell on the newcomer. As soon as he walked in, Steve felt like he was being sized up.
"Everyone, this is Steve, my friend from America. We played in High School and College together." Ken stated.
"Hmm? Thish guy plays baseball?" Makoto slurred, looking Steve over with a suspicious eye. He began to grope him, as if to feel his muscles.
"What the hell is he doing?" Steve flinched, quickly hiding behind Ken from the probing hands of Makoto.
Makoto scoffed, "He's wayyyy too weak to be a baseball player."
Ken laughed heartily, finding the situation hilarious.
Steve couldn't understand Japanese, but he could tell that something had been said by the bald-headed monk that was disrespectful. "What did he say Ken?"
"He said you're too weak to be a baseball player." Ken replied with amusement.
Steve's eyes widened, but then a mischievous smile crept onto his face. "Why don't you tell them? I want to see the look on his face."
Ken shrugged and did as Steve said. "He might not look it, but Steve was drafted to the Major League last year. He's moved up to Triple-A and might be playing for the Texas Riders before the end of the year."
"O-Oryahh?" Makoto's expression froze, however he didn't seem to believe it.
Daichi was the only person who knew of Steve, and he was the only one not surprised.
"Him? I don't believe it." Makoto replied, crossing his muscular arms defiantly.
This time, Steve didn't need a translator to understand what the guy said. With a mischievous grin still on his face, Steve pulled out his phone and walked over to Makoto, showing him something on the screen.
Makoto frowned, "5 million Yen? Why is this guy showing his bank account?"
"That's not Yen Makoto… That's US dollars." Ken replied, letting out a laugh.
This time, everyone in the bar suddenly went quiet. Shiro looked as if he was about to faint, while Hiroki, Riku and Masayuki wore serious expressions.
The average NPB salary was around a hundred thousand US dollars a year, though these young players received a little more because of their skill level. Still, hearing that a rookie who had yet to play a proper Major league game held so much money was shocking to them.
Makoto scratched his head, "How much is that in Yen? I'm not good with that stuff."
"It's over 700 million Yen…" Masayuki replied, his expression solemn.
"HUHHH!?" Makoto almost jumped out of his skin hearing such an absurd amount.
Seeing that everyone was reacting in such a way, Steve felt his ego soar. His mischievous smile turned smug and he held his head high, "Do you have any more doubts, my dear Monk?"
Ken translated for him, feeling amused.
Makoto quickly prostrated on the ground in front of Steve, "P—Please forgive me for my disrespect, Steebu-senshu1."
Steve tilted his head back and laughed in good humor. He scooped up the muscular bald-headed man and tapped him on the back a few times, "Drinks are on me tonight! Let's go celebrate our dear friend Ken!"
Ken translated for the group, his face pulling up into a smile.
"ORYAHHHHH! LONG LIVE STEEBU-SENSHU!"
And like this, Makoto and Steve were attached to the hip most of the night despite not being able to understand each other. Ken didn't mind, he was just happy that he and his friends could catch up like old times.
They went to a restaurant shortly after to fill their stomachs.
"I still can't believe you left to go to America, Daichi." Hiroki said, shaking his head. "Just when I thought we'd beat you guys next season."
Daichi shrugged his shoulders, "I doubt you would have, not until you get rid of that weakness of yours."
"Huh!? What weakness1?" Hiroki perked up, his hackles raised.
However, Daichi reached forward and took a sip of his drink, ignoring the question.
Hiroki then began to pester Daichi on and on until he was finally convinced to reveal the answer.
"What? Really?" Hiroki asked in shock, unsure whether to believe him.
"It's your choice if you believe me or not." Daichi shrugged, "The only reason I told you was because I'm no longer in the NPB."
Hiroki was silent for a while before nodding, his expression turning determined. "I will work on it… And then when I finish this season, I might also head over to the Major league." He said with a grin.
"Me too…"
Ken, Hiroki and Daichi turned to Riku who was nearby. The guy's face was red, he'd clearly had quite a few drinks.
"You can't be serious Riku…" Masayuki said, giving him an odd look.
"You wouldn't understand… There's something that I can only achieve in America." Riku added, his eyes growing distant.
Ken watched the guy, feeling his resolve. He nodded inwardly, it took such a lot of work to make it to the majors, but it seemed that Riku had the determination.
However, Masayuki rolled his eyes. "And what is it in America that you can achieve that you can't do over here?"
Riku slowly placed his beer mug onto the table and looked at Masayuki seriously. Yet his face crumbled in the next moment and tears began to pour from his eyes, as if the flood waters had broken.
"I JUST WANT A GIRLFRIEND DAMN IT!" He cried.
"PFFT." Kuro spat out his beer, drowning Shiro who was sitting across the table from him. The room erupted into laughter.
A suffix used in Japan when referring to an athlete.
Weakness to big boobs...