episode_0335

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Oh, hyung.”

After finishing the pre-game warm-up and having a little time before the game started, Ju Seung-cheol approached Maeng-ho, who was swinging his bat near the batter’s box.

“You look fine from your expression. I thought you were trying to act tough, but you actually seem okay.”

“Hyung, didn’t you watch the video? I hit really well.”

“Forget about that. Are you okay mentally? Mental state.”

“Well, why would my mental state collapse? Just think of it as taking a break and relax.”

Although he received a disciplinary suspension, it wasn’t a complete rest. On days with games in Seoul, they trained with the first team and then went home after practice. On away game days, it was individual training.

“30 games? How do you endure it?”

“So be careful today, hyung. I’ll try to shake off what piled up during the exhibition game.”

“Give it a shot.”

“But honestly, aren’t you more worried than me, hyung?”

“Me? Why?”

“Once the season starts, you won’t be able to see your girlfriend much. Are you okay with that?”

“Oh man! Why is that coming up here? Just go away.”

Seeing him blush and get angry, it seemed like he was still in a lovey-dovey relationship.

“Okay, I’ll hit one towards you, so go easy on it.”

“I should report you and claim a reward too. Isn’t this match-fixing proposal?”

“That won’t work. I’ll let you off the hook.”

“Alright, pass it over. If you’re bored during the break, contact me. I’ll hang out with you if you’re in Seoul.”

“Okay.”

As they continued their conversation, the time for the game to start drew closer, and the national anthem echoed as the game began.

“Maeng-ho! Hit one well and come back.”

“Got it.”

“If you happen to hear jeers, don’t get nervous. Got it?”

“Come on, coach, do you think I’m scared of that?”

“Good, I trust you.”

“I’ll be back.”

“Well, even though it’s an away game today, it’s our home stadium, so they probably won’t curse at me too harshly.”

Truthfully, due to the assault controversy, he was prepared to endure jeers. It was better that way. Turning the opposing team’s fans who jeered into a library was my hobby. But as I walked confidently to the plate, something unexpected unfolded.

– Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho!

No matter how much it was Jamsil Stadium, they started chanting my name loudly from first base and third base. The AT fans gathered at the stadium, along with Han Cheol’s fans, all together.

“Get in quickly.”

Feeling like I had entered the Korean Series, I unintentionally hesitated in the midst of such fervor, prompting the umpire to urge me to step into the batter’s box.

“Just a moment.”

Though the umpire hinted at me, I couldn’t stay still in this situation. I took off my helmet and bowed to the fans who chanted my name. First base, center field, third base, and the outfield.

-Wow!!!

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

In response to my greeting, the fans sent cheers and applause again. Seeing even Han Cheol’s fans welcoming me like this made me slightly flustered, but it didn’t feel bad. As I stepped into the batter’s box, a banner unfurled in the left-field stands, displaying my face and a cheering message.

“They must have been carrying something for the fan club earlier.”

To prepare all this, I couldn’t help but respond. I raised my bat in acknowledgment to the fans who prepared the banner and pointed towards the left-field stands.

“A predicted home run by player Ji Maeng-ho!”

And the cheerleader’s response. Jamsil Stadium erupted once again with cheers.

-Wow!!!

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

However, this time, the cheers were accompanied by jeers.

-Woo!!!

Jeers from Han Cheol’s fans in response to my predicted home run. While hearing support from the opposing fans was nice, my preference still leaned towards this side.

“Then I’m ready.”

Having finished all the preparations and settled into my batting stance, an unfamiliar voice came from the home plate area.

“Isn’t the preparation a bit too loud?”

“But who are you?”

“…I don’t know?”

“Han Cheol, the catcher, only knows courage… Oh, Han Cheol went to the bathroom. Sorry.”

I actually knew his face to some extent. This guy would show up on days when Lee Yong-gi wasn’t around. But since I didn’t know his name, I hadn’t really said anything wrong.

“This guy… Fine, let’s see how long you can ignore me. My name is Ahn Hoon-chan. Remember that.”

Seemingly angered by my lack of recognition, he introduced himself.

“I hope you become a player worth remembering by performing well.”

“You arrogant guy, you were like this last year too.”

“I was like this last year? I really don’t remember.”

“This guy till the end…”

I really didn’t remember this one. It was unreasonable for me to remember every catcher I met.

“Shall we check the ball mix?”

Today’s starting pitcher for Han Cheol was Kim Hyun-sik. Lee Yong-gi used to lead Kim Hyun-sik, so I wondered how this new guy leading him would be. I was already salivating at the thought.

“Well, even if Rossbi isn’t here, I’m not particularly worried. The opponent is Kim Hyun-sik. He’s a type of pitcher who throws precise fastballs and various breaking balls. A pitcher who likes playing with batters. And most pitchers like that had slow pitches, just like Kim Hyun-sik.”

Unfortunately for Kim Hyun-sik, his pitches were quite clear to me. From his pitching form to his slow speed. Was it a good match-up? Even without Rossbi, I wasn’t worried at all about this pitcher.

“Here it comes.”

“Ball.”

The first pitch was a fastball that broke outside. The second pitch was a slider that also broke outside. Both pitches were outside. It felt like other teams had decided to face me this way after watching UG’s pitchers do the same during the Korean Series.

Trying to force a walk by throwing as far outside as possible. Accepting a run strategy.

“Well, I haven’t just been lazing around during the winter.”

I focused my training this preseason on hitting outside pitches. I practiced enough to hit a home run if one or two balls missed the strike zone due to right-hand control.

“He’ll probably throw outside again this time. These scaredy-cats.”

Of course, even if they aimed outside, they would likely slightly approach to induce a potential strike. No pitcher or catcher wanted to give three straight balls. As the third pitch was thrown, a faint feeling arose, and my instinctive sense told me the pitch’s type.

“It’s a curveball!”

Looking at the trajectory, it was a curveball dropping outside. I disrupted my stance and pulled Kim Hyun-sik’s low curveball towards the left fence adorned with banners.

Thud – Crack!

With a cheerful sound, the ball flew towards the left fence with banners. Another home run.

“Um… Ball mix, failed. When throwing outside, try to pull further or throw inside to allow for variation.”

“You, you f***ing…”

I moved my steps towards first base, listening to the catcher cursing behind me. As I heard the cheers of the fans at third base, I glanced towards where the loyal fans were seated. The fans who had been jeering earlier were nowhere to be seen, wearing gloomy expressions instead.

“Ah, this taste. But what was that catcher’s name again? Well, judging by his ball-handling skills, I probably don’t need to remember it. It doesn’t matter.”

—

– Assault controversy, Ji Maeng-ho! Still strong at bat.

…Meanwhile, AT Thunder’s infielder Ji Maeng-ho, embroiled in a social assault controversy, showcased his well-being in the game with a 1-for-1 hit, 1 home run, and 1 walk. …

ㄴㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ

ㄴHaha, Maengho-shin isn’t someone whose mental would break over something like this, haha.

ㄴOh, his mental is really tough; almost got fooled after seeing him hit a home run right away, haha.

-Ji Maeng-ho, on a hitting streak! Dominating the exhibition games!

…Ji Maeng-ho displayed two hits, both doubles, leading AT Thunder to a 4-game winning streak. …

ㄴWow, dominating from the exhibition games? He had an 8.0 batting average, haha.

ㄴㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ

ㄴI can’t stand not seeing Maengho-shin’s hits anymore, damn. Gotta wait a month to see Maengho-shin hit…

ㄴThe exhibition game lineup: Volcanoes, AT, Charlotte, all the strong teams gathered, haha.

ㄴYeah, why do they always end up together, haha.

ㄴStill, it’s a relief that AT won last year’s championship, haha.

– Who are the exhibition game batting and home run kings? Last year’s ‘MVP’ Ji Maeng-ho!

…In the 2024 KBA exhibition games, he secured the titles of batting and home run king with a .769 batting average and 7 home runs. …However, Ji Maeng-ho faces a crucial question of whether this hitting prowess will continue into the regular season, given his 30-game suspension…

ㄴWell, that’s only natural.

ㄴEven though it’s an exhibition game, the performance is impressive, haha.

ㄴBut hardly any inside pitches during the exhibition games, haha.

ㄴIt’s inevitable; not many top pitchers play seriously in the exhibition games.

ㄴDon’t post articles like this now; is it news that Maengho-shin is the batting and home run king?

ㄴTrue, it’s just everyday stuff, nothing special.

ㄴAh, how am I going to survive a month without Maengho-shin…

ㄴThe key will be the first 30 games of the season.

—

[Opening game, AT Thunders claim a 2-1 victory over Charlotte Blue Mariners, marking a satisfying first win!]

“It was indeed a close one.”

As Noona Hyojin said, we did secure the first win in the opening game, but our team’s performance didn’t look particularly strong. Is it obvious because I’m not there, or perhaps it’s just the early season and our bodies aren’t fully warmed up yet?

“But more importantly than that right now is…”

“Noona, have your breasts gotten bigger lately?”

It seemed like Hyojin Noona’s chest had grown larger than usual. She had been touching her chest continuously while watching baseball, and once the game ended, it was evident that her chest had indeed increased in size. The fact that her breasts, which had been gradually shrinking since giving birth to Hojin, had now grown this much…

“How did you know? You’ve become quite perceptive.”

“Noona, seriously?”

“8th week.”

“Really?! Ah! So that’s why you said you had something to tell me today and invited me to watch baseball together at home!”

“Surprise~.”

I was feeling a bit down for not being able to join the expedition team, but this joyful news lifted my spirits. With 8 weeks left before departing for intensive training, the timing couldn’t have been better. As I looked at Hyojin noona’s belly, it was clear that she seemed slightly more bloated than before.

“For some reason, Hyojin noona wasn’t pushing for sex lately; maybe she was being careful because of the early pregnancy.”

“It seemed like it was effective when I only ejaculated inside her, right?”

“Yeah, it seemed possible with the help of others.”

Before leaving for the United States, it seems that ejaculating only inside Hyojin noona during ovulation while doing missionary work had an effect.

“But, Ikcheol won’t suspect anything, will he?”

“Oh, you know. If you get him drunk and wake up naked together in the morning, he’ll think you two had sex. Just give him a few handjobs, and that’s all.”

“Good job. Let’s not have sex with him in the future.”

“Of course. I’m your fierce lioness.”

“Should we do it once as a reward then? Is it okay after 8 weeks?”

“It’s fine. Just not too intense.”

And she began to discard her stained top, soaked with breast milk.