episode_0349

-AT Thunders, on a delightful 4-game winning streak at Jamsil! Climbing to 3rd place!

…Meanwhile, in this series, AT Thunders swiftly secured a sweep victory against the Charlotte Blue Mariners, instantly rising to a tied 3rd place with the Future Buffaloes…

AT Thunders are scheduled to play against the Volcano Falcons in Daejeon this weekend, and they have announced Crongs as the starting pitcher for the team on Friday.

-Haha, this is it! LOL

-The team atmosphere has changed since Maengho’s return LOL

-Grab hold tightly!!!! We’re going up!!!!!!!!

-Crongs versus Seonghyun should be interesting LOL

-No, Crongs was good last year, but this year seems tough…

-No, looking at Crongs’ minor league stats, he usually picks up pace from summer onwards, so we can expect him to return to form if we wait.

-Baseball is all about Maengho LOL

-Honestly, you can’t ignore Maengho. As long as it’s not a crime, he’ll keep being praised.

-Isn’t assault a crime?

-It’s not considered a crime if it’s consensual LOL

-Frankly, as long as it’s not sexual assault or drunk driving, it’s fine.

-The rising AT! Meeting the 1st place Volcanoes in Season 1!

…After Maengho, the cleanup hitter, returned following a disciplinary action due to assault controversy and as AT Thunders were on a 4-game winning streak, they face off against the 1st place team, Volcano Falcons, in Daejeon. Currently, the Volcano Falcons maintain their 1st place position with a record of 20 wins and 15 losses, holding a win rate of 0.571, while AT Thunders, with a record of 18 wins, 16 losses, and 1 tie, share the tied 3rd place with the Future Buffaloes.

The highlight of this matchup is the showdown between last year’s MVP Ji Maengho and Seonghyun, who has won MVP three times, recorded 98 wins in total, and moved to the Major Leagues. Maengho boasted a batting average of .413, an OPS of 1.519, 60 home runs, and 58 stolen bases in the KBA League last season, whereas Seonghyun posted a 3-7 record with a 5.41 ERA in 108.1 innings pitched in the Major Leagues last season.

Although Seonghyun is expected to be at a disadvantage based on last season’s records, injuries affected his performance then. Looking at his current season’s stats, one can easily say, “He’s still Seonghyun,” given his impressive performance.

Seonghyun has pitched in 6 games this season, throwing 40.1 innings with a 1.57 ERA and 42 strikeouts. On the other hand, Maengho has played in 4 games this season, hitting .500 with a 2.111 OPS and 3 home runs.

The matchup between Seonghyun, who returned to Korea to help the Volcano Falcons win the championship by giving up 100 Major League wins, and Maengho, who devastated Korean baseball last season, has garnered significant attention from baseball fans. Will Maengho be able to prove that he can lead Korean baseball in a new wave against Seonghyun? All eyes are on Daejeon.

In a past interview, Maengho stated, “I feel like I can handle Seonghyun. When I saw him in the national team, I didn’t feel that he was that great. I hope Seonghyun made me happy before going to the Majors.” This interview sparked discussions.

-Haha, I’m really looking forward to it. Honestly, how can you endure Seonghyun vs. Maengho LOL

-Yeah, but Seonghyun seems washed up, so Maengho might win LOL

-Yeah, that washed-up guy is destroying the KBA right now, isn’t he?

-Wow, this Maengho guy has some guts. How can he give such an interview to his senior?

-Well, even gangsters just submit to him LOL

-Yeah, this guy is very likable when he’s not running his mouth.

-Honestly, fans who want Seonghyun to educate him are okay!

-That’s right!

-That’s right! It’s time for Maengho to get a reality check LOL

-Even though it’s Seonghyun, it won’t be easy against Maengho. Goyoungho got thrashed by Maengho last year

Charlotte returned home feeling good after her sweep. Contrary to the expected happiness from today’s sweep, Soyoung had a puzzled expression on her face.

“What’s this?”

And Soyoung tapped on a video.

-“I see. Do you feel any differences?”

-“Ah! Is it because my muscles have developed? Before, I used to struggle lifting a friend, but now it feels easier. I used to need both arms and a lot of focus, but nowadays it feels like I could lift with just one hand. It’s more comfortable stimulating other areas when one hand is free.”

-“Excuse me? What…?”

-“When having sex, I prefer the lifted position. Everyone, exercise. It really changes the quality. Oh, it’s YouTube, so is it okay to say this?”

The video was content from the club that I hadn’t finished editing.

“Haha, Maengho, are you crazy? Haha, why would you give such an answer on the club’s YouTube? This is hilarious, trying to kill me with laughter, right?”

Hyuna, who had been living in our officetel after the season ended, laughed loudly while watching the video.

“Huh? Wait, struggling to lift a friend? Is that about me? I’m not that heavy! If I’m weak, why blame me? And I work out for that! It’s all about muscles! Right, unnie?”

Looking at Soyoung as if seeking agreement from an odd angle, Hyuna said. However, as she looked at Soyoung’s cold expression and laughed, Hyuna’s smile gradually stiffened.

“Choi Hyuna.”

Soyoung’s voice was so cold that it felt like the air in the room was freezing.

“…Yes, unnie.”

“Can you keep it down?”

“…Yes.”

“Goto your room.”

“…Yes.”

“Ugh, clueless woman.”

Even though I often heard from seniors that I lacked awareness, I quietly sensed the atmosphere and stayed calm, but laughing so loudly. Hyuna went into the room like a dead fish being dragged.

“I’m sorry? Where are you looking, Maengho?”

“What? No, that’s…”

“You’re not just staring at Hyuna’s butt here, are you?”

A kind tone mixed with a stern voice. Cold sweat ran down my back. It felt like standing at bat during Game 7 of the Korean Series. No, it was even more intense pressure than that. This level of pressure was beyond anything I had experienced even in the Korean Series.

“Why did you say such a thing?”

“Well, Nuna always told me to treat fans sincerely.”

“Hmm.”

Soyoung snorted as if she didn’t believe it.

“Damn, is this not it?”

“You’re off-limits for interviews. Got it? Don’t even think about doing an interview unless it’s a reporter I call.”

“I don’t usually do them… And today’s was supposed to be done by the club…”

“If another YouTube video comes out with this kind of behavior… Ugh, I can’t live because of you, seriously!”

“Nuna…”

“As a punishment, no sex today.”

And her thunderous declaration fell.

“What?”

“Nuna! That’s not fair! I barely made time to come here!”

Though Hyuna and I protested vehemently,

“Choi Hyuna! You’ve been living here for almost a month, what do you mean you barely made time?”

Soyoung stated firmly.

“Ugh… I want to go home.”

And Hyuna sent a slight glare.

“Then I’ll go out for a walk…”

I immediately agreed, but

“Both of you, sit.”

Soyoung’s wall was high.

“…Yes.”

A cold atmosphere lingered in the house. Though we weren’t told to kneel, Hyuna and I knelt before Soyoung like obedient children, waiting for her next words. And then, the sound of the front door opening broke the silence, and a familiar voice shattered the stillness.

“Mr. Maengho, you’re here? Why are you so late? I was waiting, ready for a massage?”

It was Jo Eun waiting for me upstairs. Usually on game days in Seoul, after the game ends, I would go up for a massage, but since it didn’t happen this time, she must have come down. I looked at Jo Eun with a plea in my eyes.

“…You don’t have to… I came to tell you that I’m going to bed first tonight, I’ll go out again. Unni, sleep well, Hyuna, you too.”

However, sensing the uneasy atmosphere, she immediately left and a tense atmosphere filled the room once again.

Was I kneeling there for about 5 minutes?

“Maeng-ho.”

Seoyoung spoke in a gentler tone than before.

“Yes.”

“Nuna is really worried.”

“I’m fine though…”

“Still… Nuna can handle most things, but public opinion is not easy.”

Seoyoung’s voice full of worry. But I was truly okay. Seoyoung seemed to sense my sincerity as she sighed while nodding her head.

“Ha… Okay. You might be fine, but it hurts us to see you getting criticized. Right, Hyuna?”

“…Me? Me? Yes, yes. Well, that’s true.”

Hyuna answered hesitantly, her eyes flickering at the sudden question. …Clearly a lie. Would she not secretly enjoy it if I were criticized? Despite that, thanks to Hyuna’s response, the tension was gradually easing.

“…Nuna, I have an away game tomorrow.”

“…Huh?”

She seemed slightly taken aback by my words.

“Sex… we should, right?”

“Well then, Maeng-ho, massage first?”

And as if she had been eavesdropping outside, Jo Eun suddenly entered the room.

“What? Unni, were you listening outside? So nosy!”

“Ahaha…”

Hyuna glared at Jo Eun, who awkwardly laughed. Seeing them like that, Seoyoung shook her head and surrendered.

“Sigh… If it’s an away game, we can’t help it.”

“Yes!”

“Hyuna, if you’re going to do this, why not just live here during the season?”

“Oh, I want to live here like unni. I really want to… Seoyoung unni! Can’t you talk to the volleyball team’s manager or coach to cancel the training camp? This is a violation of human rights!”

“Hyuna. If you don’t attend the training camp and stay here, your grades might suffer, right? Absolutely not.”

“…Unni, you’re dead to me today. Just wait and see.”

“Haha, not scared at all?”

Seeing the three of them chatting amicably, I felt relieved that Seoyoung’s anger had dissipated quickly. Indeed, home had to be this lively. And in a corner of my mind, a frightening thought arose. Even with a win today, if we had lost the game…

“Phew. I almost screwed up if we had lost today. It’s fortunate we won. Still, it’s good that it ended quickly. As I head out for the away game, I need to eat a hearty meal.”

*

Dda-ak!

“Wow, Ji Maeng-ho, you did it again.”

“It’s your first time seeing it, right? That guy does this during training all the time.”

“Ju Yeop, how does Maeng-ho look today? We were on the same team last year, so you should know, right? He seems tired to me. What do you think?”

Seonghyun leaned against the dugout railing, asking Kim Juyeop, who had been teammates with Maeng-ho until last season, while watching Maeng-ho train.

“Hyung, that guy. These days are the most dangerous. The days when he looks tired. His focus is at its peak. Probably without even sleeping, he analyzed and came out, you know?”

“Yeah, when I saw him at the national team last time, he didn’t seem like that kind of guy, right? Isn’t he more of a physical player?”

“Ugh, that guy is such a poser. Such a poser. How shameless can he be? And when I asked him how he could act like he knows everything about me, he just said he sees it all with his own eyes. What does that even mean? It’s like watching a horror movie until it’s ingrained in your mind. Especially when facing a special pitcher like Hyung.”

At Kim Juyeop’s statement about completely dissecting the pitcher, Seonghyun nodded.

“Oh yeah? To me, it just looks like he couldn’t sleep… But there were a few guys in the U.S. who messed up games with those faces because they stayed up all night having sex and partying. Well, being in that state probably didn’t put them at their peak concentration. Hmm… video analysis, huh. Well, not sleeping and doing that probably gives you a 40% boost. I’m looking forward to today.”

Unfazed by his wavering performance in the past WBC and boldly speaking out, and with the thought of facing Ji Maengho who led the country to victory with a home run in that game, Seonghyun’s heart began to race. Since they had never faced each other in exhibition games, he was even more eager to see what kind of hits Ji Maengho would show.

‘Didn’t he ask for some fun? I hope he enjoys facing me too.’