A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 258

65. Someday, Here Again (6)

A few days later.

Lee Soo-bin of the KH Cannons was creating a new ‘group chat’.

‘Okay, I’ve made the room for now…….’

The Cannons’ new cleanup hitter leaned back on the living room sofa, busily working on his phone.

As he finished some adjustments, messages from the players invited to the group chat began to appear one by one.

-Oh, you made a room?

-Hello, seniors!!!

-How have you been? Aren’t some of us not in Korea right now?

The players chattered noisily as soon as the group chat was created.

In fact, to be more precise, it wasn’t limited to just ‘players’.

Quite a few Cannons front office staff members had also joined the group chat that Lee Soo-bin created that day.

-I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that any players who have not yet submitted their passport numbers should send them to the international affairs team!!!

-Ah, Manager! We agreed not to talk about work in this room! There are reporters here right now, you know?

-Young-chan, please cut me some slack. The kids keep ignoring my messages. Our team’s entire group chat has been silent for ages…

There were players, front office staff, and even sports reporters who frequented the Cannons.

What was the reason these diverse people had gathered in the group chat at the same time?

-Okay, is everyone in now? Then shall we start the lottery right away?

-How are you doing the lottery? Are you making paper slips and drawing them, Soo-bin?

-Ah, senior! Who makes paper slips for a lottery these days? There’s a function in the app.

-Seriously???

While Cannons’ captain Chun Jin-woo posted a ‘surprised cat’ emoticon, the lottery function was activated in the group chat.

A convenient function that allowed you to check who was in and who was out with the touch of a button.

[Check Now!]

Above the button, the purpose of the lottery that day was clearly displayed.

#Check it out now!

#[Lottery for who will see Ji-seop off tomorrow] function has been activated!

#[Lee Soo-bin]’s message: Stop fighting over who’s going, let’s just settle it with this!!!!

Everyone seemed busy checking the lottery results.

Although it was a short time, the group chat was silent for a while.

Amid messages like ‘Damn’, ‘I’m out’, ‘Is this fair?!’ slowly appearing.

-Yesss!!!!!!!!!!!

There was one person who expressed the joy of winning with their whole body.

The person who would represent the Cannons in seeing Ji-seop off was – Go Chang-deok from the power analysis team.

* * *

“Ji-seop, it seems like you and I have some kind of connection after all! Otherwise, this phenomenon can’t be explained, right?”

The next day, at Incheon International Airport.

To Ji-seop, who was returning after finishing the procedures, Go Chang-deok continued to speak with a constantly beaming expression.

“It was exactly 37 to 1! I came to see you after breaking through a 2.7% chance!”

Hahahahaha.

Team manager Seo Chang-ki tilted his head slightly, watching Go Chang-deok burst into laughter.

“But why did you do a lottery? Did Special Advisor Kim set a limit on the number of people?”

“No, it’s not that…….”

Go Chang-deok replied.

“Yesterday, we were talking amongst ourselves, and it seemed like about thirty people wanted to see Ji-seop off today.”

“Well, if it’s Special Advisor Kim, that’s understandable, but… why is that a problem?”

“No, we thought about it. Ji-seop’s parents and brother will be coming, and we thought it would be a nuisance if thirty of us went all at once…….”

So, they had a lottery.

If everyone who wanted to come to the airport came, it might interfere with Ji-seop greeting his family.

So, let’s pick one person to represent us and go to the airport to see him off.

It was a surprisingly considerate choice for the Cannons players, who usually acted as they pleased-

“But it’s a bit lonely, isn’t it?”

Go Chang-deok scratched the back of his head and looked back at Ji-seop.

“Ji-seop, what happened? Aren’t your parents coming today? Or your brother?”

“Yes, they’re not coming.”

Ji-seop smiled bitterly.

“My mother has a group reservation at her restaurant. My father and brother are helping out there… So today, it’s just the team manager and you, hyung [older brother or close male friend].”

“Ah, really? A group reservation on a day like today.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been a good son for the past week. And they’ve decided to come to America for a visit once I settle down.”

“Really? That’s a relief then…….”

Go Chang-deok clicked his tongue.

“If it’s like this, your departure will be too lonely, won’t it? Damn, if I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered with the lottery.”

Go Chang-deok seemed very disappointed, but a strange expression was appearing on Ji-seop’s face as he looked at him.

“Don’t worry too much, hyung.”

“Hmm?”

“You know it too, don’t you? Were our players the type to strictly follow the rules?”

“Well, they’re not those kinds of guys. They’re the type to gloss over things if it’s not in their interest…….”

When the conversation reached this point, Go Chang-deok seemed to have caught on to something.

“What, then could it be?”

“Yes.”

Ji-seop raised his finger.

“Over there, behind the bulletin board… I’ve been noticing a man with a chubby belly since a while ago.”

“Haha, you’re right.”

Go Chang-deok’s expression also brightened.

“Geez… That’s a familiar D-line [referring to a rounded physique]?”

* * *

There were exactly 10 people.

That day, the people who had secretly sneaked into Incheon International Airport to see Ji-seop off.

Among the players were Cannons’ captain Chun Jin-woo, Ahn Young-chan, Jang Dae-woo, Lee Soo-bin, Kyung Sun-woo, and Shim Sung-joon.

Among the front office staff were Deputy Cha Jong-min from the scouting team, Deputy Kwon Dae-woong from the public relations team, Deputy Park Myung-hoon from the development team, and Cha Yoon-jin, the only team leader-level figure, also known as ‘Black Curtain Cha’.

It might be obvious, but they all denied that they had come to the airport because of Ji-seop.

“It’s a trip, a trip! I was leaving on a trip with my family, you know?”

“Then where is your family? Let’s say hello.”

“They went home.”

“Pardon?”

“They fought on the way and went home.”

It was captain Chun Jin-woo who was spouting such nonsense.

“I had a blind date scheduled.”

“A blind date?”

“Yes, I had a blind date with an airport employee… So that’s why I came, I had no other intentions, you know?”

“No, what kind of blind date do you go to wearing a tracksuit? Have you always been that confident?”

“Th, that’s…….”

It was Kwon Dae-woong, the deputy from the public relations team, who shut his mouth at Go Chang-deok’s rebuttal.

“No, I mean, I just happened to be passing by!”

“Why don’t you believe what people say? Do I look like someone who would break a promise?”

People who were telling lies, people who were remaining silent, people who were flustered and raising their voices.

Everyone was denying it in their own way, but it didn’t last long.

“Hey, what? If that was the case, you should have said so earlier!”

“I’m glad I came today! So why did you set a limit on the number of people from the beginning?”

“Oh, Special Advisor! It’s so nice to see your face like this. Closing my eyes and coming was the right answer, right?!”

The Cannons people’s expressions quickly brightened again at the story that Ji-seop’s family hadn’t come to see him off.

From Gyeonggi-do Yeongsan to Incheon Airport is more than 2 hours and 30 minutes even without traffic.

Seeing his colleagues who had come all the way without hesitation, Ji-seop felt a strange tingling in his nose.

“It’s a bit awkward to talk standing here… Would you like to have a cup of coffee?”

* * *

So, the Cannons people moved to a cafe on the 4th floor of the airport.

Sitting around with a warm cup of coffee in front of them, they chatted endlessly for a while.

“Ah, I’m telling you, Soo-bin, he’s subtly not punctual. How can he make seniors like us wait for more than 30 minutes?”

“Hey, senior! That’s why I bought lunch and dinner that day. You said it was okay then, but now you’re bringing it up again here?”

The story of Lee Soo-bin oversleeping and being late for his appointment with his seniors.

The story of Deputy Cha Jong-min borrowing Chun Jin-woo’s car and scratching the bumper.

The story of Deputy Kwon Dae-woong going on a blind date and being rejected in exactly 10 minutes, etc.

It might have been a truly unnutritious chat depending on who was listening, but that time felt very special to Ji-seop.

‘I thought they were all people who lived only thinking about baseball… They have unexpected sides to them?’

Just because you can read someone’s mind doesn’t mean you can know every aspect of them.

If I had known they were such fun people a little earlier, I could have talked about things other than baseball usually.

Just as that regret was about to raise its head very slightly.

“Hmm.”

Team manager Seo Chang-ki, who was listening to his subordinates’ stories, put down his coffee cup.

“Shouldn’t we get going soon?”

“Yes? Already?”

Go Chang-deok’s eyes widened, but Team manager Seo seemed to have his own reasons.

“It seems like we’re seeing the effects of winning the Korean Series [championship series in Korean baseball]. There are more people around us.”

“People, what…… ah.”

The group, looking around, made an ‘ah’ sound as if they had promised to do so.

Without even realizing it, quite a few people had gathered around them.

“Lee Soo-bin! Isn’t that Lee Soo-bin?”

“That’s right, Chun Jin-woo is also there?”

“It’s not even spring camp yet, what are the Cannons players doing here?”

They were people who recognized the Cannons players.

Some were rummaging through their bags to see if they had paper to get autographs, and others were taking out their phones to ask for pictures.

It wasn’t a huge reaction like when a celebrity appeared, but the commotion was definitely felt.

Team manager Seo said to everyone.

“We should hurry a bit. That way, we can send Special Advisor Kim off on time, even if we get a request or two for autographs, right?”

“That’s right, let’s get up.”

As Deputy Cha Yoon-jin nodded, the people emptied their remaining coffee as if they had promised to do so.

It was just then, as everyone was about to get up from their seats.

“Um, excuse me…….”

A voice came to Ji-seop’s ear as he was diligently clearing the empty cups.

As Ji-seop turned his head, a young boy who looked like he was in the first grade of elementary school came into view.

“Hmm? What is it?”

The child suddenly held out a small notebook under Ji-seop’s chin.

“Can I get an autograph?”

* * *

While the adults were hesitant to come forward, the young child broke through them and confidently asked for an autograph.

“Autograph, please sign.”

Ji-seop didn’t know how other teams responded in this situation.

The only thing Ji-seop knew was that according to the Cannons team’s internal regulations, they couldn’t refuse a child’s request for an autograph.

“Autograph? I’ll give you one! Of course, I’ll give you one.”

Ji-seop rubbed the coffee on his hands on his pants and continued to speak.

“Whose autograph should I get you? Lee Soo-bin? Or Kyung Sun-woo? Ah, Shim Sung-joon is over there too.”

Lee Soo-bin – Kyung Sun-woo – Shim Sung-joon.

They were the three players who were especially popular with children.

Ji-seop mentioned those three for that reason, but the response he got was strange.

“The person who knows baseball the best.”

“Hmm?”

What is he talking about?

Ji-seop tilted his head, and the child gave a further explanation with a look of doing a great favor.

“My dad told me the name, but I forgot it on the way here.”

Seriously.

“But I remember one thing. He said it’s someone who knows baseball well. The person who knows baseball the best in the Cannons.”

“Not someone who ‘plays’ well? Not someone who ‘knows’ well?”

Ji-seop tried to have a conversation, but the child just shook his head.

“I’m telling you, it’s someone who knows well! Not someone who plays well, someone who knows well!”

“Ah, I, I see…….”

Okay,

If that’s what you mean.

Ji-seop stretched his neck and started looking for Chun Jin-woo.

If you’re talking about someone who knows baseball the best in the Cannons, it’s none other than Chun Jin-woo.

He thought that if he asked him for an autograph, this confident little kid’s father would be satisfied too—

“Ah, someone who knows baseball well?”

While Ji-seop was turning his gaze to find the Cannons’ captain, Lee Soo-bin approached the child and started spouting nonsense.

“Then you’ve come to the right place! This uncle! This uncle is the person who knows baseball the best in our Cannons!”

“Hmm?”

Ji-seop, who turned his head again, was dumbfounded.

Lee Soo-bin was pointing at himself in front of the child.

“Lee Soo-bin, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean? I’m doing fan service!”

Lee Soo-bin smirked.

“The person who knows baseball the best in the Cannons… Isn’t it *dangyeonhi hyeongnim*, of course, *hyeongnim* [older brother/respected senior]? Our young fan wants to get *hyeongnim’s* autograph, why are you trying to pass it on to someone else?”

“Hey, do you think what you’re saying makes sense? Who would get an autograph from a front office staff like me…….”

“No, they can!”

It was from this moment that support fire came in for Lee Soo-bin.

“It seems like our fan recognized the person who will become the general manager of the Cannons in the future? Then they can get it, right?”

“That’s right, our kid has an eye for talent! Huh? They have an eye for talent!”

“No, in the first place, you have to faithfully fulfill the fan’s request! Special Advisor Kim, what are you doing not signing it?”

Hurry up, buddy!

Make it big! Make it big if possible!

What’s taking you so long to give one autograph?

Everyone threw a word at Ji-seop with playful expressions.

“Hey, what are you all saying…….”

Ji-seop waved his hand with a bitter smile, but his resistance didn’t last long.

“Please do it, *ajeossi* [term for older man, like ‘uncle’].”

“Hmm?”

I don’t know what he was thinking, but the ‘young fan’ in question was holding out a notebook towards Ji-seop.

“You want me to sign it? To me?”

“Yes, please do it.”

A little child with sparkling eyes, urging, ‘Hurry up!’

Perhaps because those eyes were so innocent.

Ji-seop, who had been hesitating for a moment, was already taking out a pen from his inside jacket pocket as if possessed.

“What’s your name……?”

* * *

Starting with the child receiving the notebook back from Ji-seop, a small autograph session was held in the 4th floor cafe of the airport.

“Please give me an autograph!”

“I want a photo!”

“Can I ask you too? My child likes Lee Soo-bin very much…….”

While responding to the onslaught of autographs, he headed to the departure gate just in time.

The Cannons players must have given out dozens of autographs that day, but the only autograph that was on everyone’s lips was Ji-seop’s.

“Special Advisor Kim, your handwriting is good? I guess players are different?”

Director Seo laughed heartily.

“I know, right! I was wondering if you practice signing autographs on a regular basis?”

When Deputy Chief Cha added praise here, Ji-seop quickly waved his hand.

“Oh, what’s wrong with you all today.”

An autograph when he’s not even a player.

Ji-seop was a little embarrassed.

“I got caught up in the atmosphere and did it…… I keep thinking that I did something unnecessary. I think the child’s father will be disappointed too.”

“Haha, what does it matter! We just fulfilled the fan’s request!”

“That’s right, honestly, I wanted to give more additional explanations!”

This friend led our Cannons to their first championship!

This friend is the first front office to advance to the United States!

When Go Chang-deok shouted as if he were the host of a TV program, laughter erupted from the people.

“By the way…….”

As the departure gate began to appear in front of him, Team Leader Cha Yoon-jin asked Ji-seop.

“Special Advisor Kim, is it just my imagination? I feel like you’ve been glancing at your right hand since a while ago?”

“Yes?”

“I didn’t see it wrong, did I? Why all of a sudden? It can’t be that you got a cramp while signing autographs.”

“Ah, my right hand?”

At this time, Ji-seop hesitated slightly.

Should I say this, or would it cause another uproar if I said it, that’s what I was thinking.

But now it was time to say goodbye to these good people, and I thought it wasn’t a wise choice to gloss over the last question.

“It was my first time.”

“First time? What?”

“Signing autographs.”

Ji-seop continued with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“It’s my first time signing autographs at the request of fans, not in places like contracts, so…… I feel a little dazed.”

“Fi, first time?”

“Really?!”

What followed was exactly the reaction Ji-seop had expected.

That child was really lucky, it was a jackpot, shouldn’t we go and get the autograph back now.

Watching his colleagues make a fuss as if they had planned it in advance, Ji-seop was thinking to himself.

‘I’m taking away a lot.’

Really,

A lot.

That was Ji-seop’s honest feeling.

‘At first, I just thought it would be nice to get my salary regularly…….’

Over the past two years, the Cannons team has provided more than that.

He also had the experience of having the national team catcher catch his ball in person.

He also received a player uniform with his name on it from the coach.

He also enjoyed the luxury of entering the dugout during the game while wearing that uniform.

‘On top of that, I even got to sign autographs at the request of fans today.’

When I think about it, it was something Ji-seop really wanted when he was a player.

Playing baseball with the national team, receiving a professional team uniform, or signing autographs for fans.

But one interesting thing is that now that I have experienced all those things, I feel a greater sense of fulfillment in a slightly different area.

The people I met here.

The Cannons players, the front office staff, and the people who live around KH Cannons Field.

That he had formed relationships with all those people, that he had cried, laughed, and enjoyed together, and that he had-played a great baseball game together.

“…….”

That fact was the most rewarding, that fact was the most proud.

Ji-seop, who turned around with the departure gate in front of him, was saying this to his colleagues.

“Everyone…… thank you.”

Ji-seop was trying to speak in the most calm tone possible.

“Director, Team Leader, and colleagues and players……. I think I was able to come this far with everyone’s help. Thank you very much.”

“Hey, what thanks.”

The first to react was Director Seo Chang-ki.

“If we’re talking about being grateful, we’re more grateful. How many things has Special Advisor Kim done for the Cannons in the meantime?”

“That’s right, it’s hard to list them one by one.”

Starting with Team Leader Cha Yoon-jin, everyone who came to see him off began to say something to Ji-seop.

“That’s right, Ji-seop! We have to be clear about the calculations! It’s all thanks to you that I settled in the power analysis team!”

“Frankly, don’t you know it too, Ji-seop? That Ji-seop did more for us than we did for you?”

“That’s right, that *hyeongnim* [older brother/respected senior] is just doing that for no reason again. He wants to hear us say thank you, right?”

With that, laughter erupted and subsided once again at the departure gate.

When everyone had a faint smile on their faces, but no one could easily smile with their teeth showing.

Director Seo Chang-ki looked at Ji-seop and said.

“Special Advisor Kim.”

“Yes, Director.”

“There’s no need to tell us that you were grateful. Did you see it just now? Everyone thinks they received more from Special Advisor Kim than they gave.”

Rather,

A slightly unexpected story came out of Director Seo’s mouth.

“When you go to the United States, the little boy who you signed for a little while ago……. I hope you think about that kid.”

“That friend? No, why…….”

“Didn’t Special Advisor Kim say it just now? That the child was the first fan to sign an autograph in Kim’s life.”

Director Seo continued.

“I’m not a player, so I don’t know very well, but doesn’t the first fan to sign an autograph have a special meaning?”

“We, well…….”

As Ji-seop nodded, Director Seo gently patted his shoulder.

“Make sure that child cherishes the autograph he received from you today……. Yes, make him proud of his meeting with you today.”

“…….”

“I once heard that a player’s job doesn’t end with signing an autograph. It is also the player’s duty to protect the value of that autograph, and to increase that value…….”

Director Seo raised the corners of his mouth.

“Isn’t Special Advisor Kim still a *hyeonyeok* [active duty/current] player at heart? Then I think it’s an aphorism that can be applied to you?”

“Di, Director…….”

I understand.

Ji-seop nodded his head greatly.

“As Director said…… When I go to the United States, I will focus on increasing the value of my autograph.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

It was at this time that Director Seo checked his wristwatch.

“Let’s leave soon. Even if you go now, you might have to run at the end.”

“Yes, Director.”

Ji-seop shook hands firmly with Director Seo.

Next was Team Leader Cha Yoon-jin, then Deputy Go Chang-deok and Manager Kwon Dae-woong, and even the players.