episode_0122

‘Please, let’s just stop this inning!’

To sum it up in one word, the match against Han-cheol, which So-young had desperately urged her to win, was mind-boggling.

The score on the electronic display board was 10:9. Although we managed to score three runs after the 5th inning, it was still difficult to feel at ease. Hancheol continued to follow, and even in the bottom of the 9th inning, there were runners in scoring position. Listening to the cheers of the crowd, it seemed like there was full of anticipation that this stadium would score as if it were Han Cheol-man’s home stadium.

‘I’m so stiff right now. ‘It’s more solid than the WBC final.’

‘of course. That game was unwinnable to begin with, and now it might be winnable.’

Regardless of Soyoung’s confidence, being swept was a matter of pride. Besides, I was supposed to see Joo Seung-cheol today, but I didn’t want to meet Joo Seung-cheol after losing two games in a row like this.

‘I’m sure they’ll make fun of me!’

Even when I spoke on the phone yesterday, my voice was clearly uplifted. To think that I would hear that sound while drinking… .

Bottom of the 9th, one out, runner on second base. I increased my concentration to the fullest.

“Meng Hao. “Aren’t you too nervous?”

“I was focused.”

After lightly replying to what Kim Jeong-hyun, who was runner on second base, said, I focused on signing autographs. The cause of death is a ball on the body. The defensive position is closer to second base.

“Jinhyuk! “Let’s go!”

Starting with encouragement from shortstop Kang Hee-seok, closing pitcher Park Jin-hyuk takes his stance. Park Jin-hyuk’s left foot rises and steps forward. And then he swung his right hand forward like lightning.

Perfect!

‘come!’

When I saw the line drive ball fly to the left, I immediately jumped.

Pop!

The feeling of going perfectly into the glove.

‘Ugh.’

The sensation of solid ground felt throughout the body. Pain rose from where I hit, but I held back and immediately threw the ball toward second base.

‘Second base… ?’

“out!”

“Safe!”

“… Safe!”

In that order, Kang Hee-seok, Kim Jeong-hyun, and the second base umpire. Kang Hee-seok drew the square by hand.

‘How was it?’

‘It was a good defense. As expected, at least the athletic ability.’

‘No, not that one. Well, this type of defense is like eating a meal. ‘How was it at second base?’

‘well? It was almost the same time… .’

Coach Sands, who saw Kang Hee-seok’s appeal, immediately rushed out and requested a video review.

‘Ha, it would be nice if it ended here… .’

“Hey, I should take a look and throw it. “Because the throw was high, the base touch was a little late.”

“Hey, how do you look at that and throw it? “I throw it based on intuition.”

“Talking back… . Anyway, the defense was good.”

Wow, did I miss that much? I thought I threw it properly. As I was wondering where Song-gu was headed, a readout video began to appear on the electronic display board.

“uh? “Out?”

-Wow!!!!

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

-Park Jinhyuk! Jinhyuk Park!

The fans seemed to have come to the same conclusion as me, and the first base side became quiet, while the third base side erupted in loud cheers. Certainly, as Kang Hee-seok said, the thrown ball soared a little high, but it was visible to the naked eye that Kang Hee-seok’s foot touched the second base first.

“This won’t take long, right?”

Just as Kang Hee-seok was saying to himself, the referee took off his headset and raised his fist.

“out!”

“I won!”

-Wow!!

-Let’s all shout together in victory!

Cheering and shouting began to echo again from third base, where AT Thunders fans were gathered. The fans’ voices were full of joy, but I began to worry more than the joy of winning.

“and… . “It’s so damn hard to get one win.”

Yesterday, I was completely defeated, and today I was chased all the way to the chin. It wouldn’t have been surprising if we lost today’s game as well.

‘It’s definitely because Hancheol is strong against us, right? It won’t be this hard against other teams… .’

If I thought about playing games like this all season, I felt like I was already exhausted. I decided to just think positively. Hancheol These guys are strangely good at dealing with us.

Thinking about the future will only make your head hurt, so it would be better to enjoy the victory now.

‘Okay, for now I’ll just enjoy today. Seungcheol said last time that he would invite celebrities to the drinking party, but I wonder if he will invite them today… ?’

*

“hello! Ji Maeng-ho!”

“Ah yes.”

“This is my younger brother. “Jujia.”

“Nice to meet you. “My name is Ji Maeng-ho.”

“My name is iTuber Jujia. “I heard a lot about it from my brother.”

“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about it.”

When I saw it right in front, it looked better than I thought.

Although he was a bit short, his face was also small, so his proportions looked quite good. Moreover, the facial features that filled her small face were showing off her presence, and her big eyes and cheeks that seemed to have lost all their milk added to her cuteness. And the shoulder-length brown hair that was dyed looked quite good.

In particular, the ratio was better than most models. Well, the actress who married Joo Hyung-jin was also short, but she was famous for having a face the size of a fist.

“But it’s a bit strange, isn’t it? Don’t sons usually take after their mothers and daughters take after their fathers? Seungcheol is tall, but Jia… .”

“oh! “Attack right away from the first moment?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“I’m just kidding, I’m kidding.”

“It’s just that he’s weird. When I was young, I didn’t sleep and just watched TV and used the internet all the time, so I was short. “I was worried what would happen, but I’m glad I’m still making money like this.”

“brother!”

It is said that siblings usually do not get along well, but Joo Seung-cheol and Joo Ji-ah seemed to get along well. I was a little jealous too. Because I was an only child, I didn’t know that feeling.

“Still, you two look a bit alike. haha. “Do you take after your mother?”

“What kind of double insult… !”

“hey! “How am I similar to him?!”

… Are you on bad terms? I was a little scared when two people glared at me at once. I think the staring eyes are exactly the same.

Anyway, after saying hello to Jujia, I entered the studio.

When we entered the studio, quite a few people had set up cameras and microphones, and something was in full swing.

“Oh, Ji Maeng-ho, your makeup looks great, maybe because you have a good disc!”

“Oh, thank you.”

In addition, I had to put makeup on my face to see if it was the writer or someone else before I could go on a full-fledged broadcast.

“Now today is Jamsil’s rival who heated up the opening match! We invited two players! Hancheol Grizzlies’ 5-tool player! Joo Seung-cheol and the AT Thunders are rising national heroes! This is Ji Maeng-ho! The two players also performed well in the WBC, leading Korea to second place, right? “I think there are some fans who are worried that they might disturb the players, but today is Sunday and tomorrow is the players’ day off, so they took the time to come, so no malicious comments!”

Since she’s an iTuber, I thought she just broadcasted with a cam and a microphone, but Jujia’s broadcast was quite authentic. I see the PD, I see the writers. Is iTube actually doing this in earnest?

“uh? Meng Hao, you look a little unwell. Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“ah… . “Seungcheol said it would just be a light interview, but I’m a little nervous because it’s something serious.”

“ah! “Is this your first time broadcasting on iTunes?”

“yes.”

“You are now at a historic site! Ji Maeng-ho’s first foray into iTube! “You can only see it on ZiaTube!”

When we met, I felt a little lively, but perhaps because she was a broadcaster, Joo Ji-ah’s tension was no joke. Should I say it’s hard to follow… . Is this a professional broadcaster?

“And Ji Maeng-ho, you don’t have to think too hard. You can speak comfortably. “It’s not a live broadcast anyway.”

“Oh yeah?”

“And Joo Seung-cheol will also help us a lot, right?”

“… … .”

“brother!”

“Yes, I will help you a lot.”

“Hehe, if I do this, I’ll get a lot of views from Hancheol fans and AT fans. Ah, now I’ve edited these words sensibly! PD, do you know?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“ah! “It really doesn’t work!”

Something is making me lose my mind.

“Hey, what are you scared of?”

“… “This is my first time doing something like this, so it seems a bit different from a broadcast interview.”

“Do what you normally do. just.”

So, did you say that what you are asking today is about the WBC content and what it was like after your debut?

“Then, please both of you say hello to the viewers.”

“hello. This is Joo Seung-cheol of the Hancheol Grizzlies. “Don’t you come up too often on your younger brother’s YouTube channel?”

“Oh, every time Joo Seung-cheol comes out, the number of views increases by tens of thousands. Oh, edit this too! Then Ji Maeng-ho too.”

“hello. This is AT Thunders Ji Maeng-ho. This is my first time doing a broadcast like this, so please be kind to me.”

“Waaah! Clap clap clap, thank you for coming. “Then may I ask what your first impression was of the two of you?”

“I wasn’t sure about my first impression, and as we spent time together, I thought he was a bit of a jerk.”

“Brother, can I say that I’m like a fool here?”

“Well, how about iTuven?”

“oh! No! “My broadcast is a high-quality baseball debate broadcast, so please refrain from using profanity!”

“Ugh… .”

“ah… . Actually, I didn’t watch Korean baseball very much, but Joo Hyung-jin came to check on my condition before I was selected for the national team. “At that time, I heard a little about Seungcheol from senior Hyungjin Joo.”

“Oh, are you Dad? If you think about it, we are meant to be! “In a way, my dad recommended me to the national team.”

“Hey, what is a saint’s father? “You should call me father.”

“Well, I’m not an old guy. everyone! “Joo Seung-cheol is an old guy, so if you want to be my step-sister, be careful!”

… Is this really a show like this? I was completely out of my mind.

“Hey, but you never told me that.”

“You didn’t ask me.”

“What did your father say?”

“Just, well… . “A story about someone stopping me from going to the majors, and a story about me saying it’s better to start with the KBA?”

“and?”

Joo Seung-cheol asked in a slightly lower voice than usual. Do you have the answer you want? This is the end… .

“Well, he’s my son, but I also said he’s good at hitting me.”

Still, since I’m buying you a drink today, this level of lip service probably isn’t that bad.

“Oh, are you Dad?”

“Father… .”

“Dad never praised you, but it seems like he praised you a lot behind your back? “He is such a blunt person.”

It stung a little, but since it was a white lie, I decided to think good of it.

“Yes, so it felt a bit familiar even when I first saw it. And Seungcheol is a good person. In the beginning, Woo Joo and I were the youngest members of the national university, and Seungcheol hyung is also almost the youngest member, right? “He approached me first and we became friendly.”

“You say Joo Seung-cheol is a good person? no way… .”

“Hey, my brother is this kind of person. “Everyone except you says I have a good personality.”

“hmm… . Then, let’s dive into the first question in earnest.”

“Are you ignoring me?”

Joo Seung-cheol spoke while tapping the table, but Joo Ji-ah ignored Joo Seung-cheol and began broadcasting according to the script.

“The first time Ji Maeng-ho appeared to Korean baseball fans was in the game against Australia, right? Of course, everyone knew that while setting a new high school baseball record… .”

“Ah, the game against Australia.”

“yes. At that time, did you ever see a picture of your life? Here is the data screen… .”

“Oh, I saw it too. “I also changed my profile picture to this one.”

“Then, please explain the situation.”

As the full-scale interview began, I began to tell my story without adding or subtracting anything.

“Ah, at that time Cheolyoung… … .”

“In the game against Japan, I hit a home run against Ohtani… … .”

“Oh, I prepared a lot… … .”

“In this game against Hancheol, you hit a home run in your first at-bat… … .”

Still, the interview came to an end before I knew it as I answered in as restrained a manner as possible, like Iyubra’s younger brother, whom I consider to be quite close.

“Wow, it’s finally over. “Oppa, what are you going to do now?”

“me? “I was going to have a drink with Meng Hao?”

“alcohol? where? “Let’s drink together too!”

“huh… ?”

I looked at Joo Seung-cheol and shook my head violently. Drinking with someone you know’s younger sister. It couldn’t have happened.

“Meng Hao, then how would you like to have a light drink at my house today? Well, I have some liquor at home too.”

Wait a minute, then what about the celebrities we decided to introduce?

Joo Seung-cheol, this bastard, you were fighting so much with your younger brother earlier, so why are you listening to me now?

“Mr. Meng Hao? It doesn’t matter, right? “Drink it at my brother’s house.”

“Yeah, well, I was a little reluctant to go to bars because of my injury. “It doesn’t matter, right?”

… Fuck. I didn’t think I could refuse it. Yes, if I lose now, I can invite real celebrities later… .

‘Maybe it’s because I’m so nice, but it’s hard for me to refuse. Ha, being a good person, I have to endure it.’

“Oh, and I heard he’s a rookie this year, so I thought he was the same age, but when I heard it, he was my older brother. Can I call you oppa? Brother Meng Hao?”

And with his kind personality, it was even more difficult to refuse a request from a pretty woman who called him oppa.