A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 30

New Recruit of Baseball Team Is Too Good – Episode 30

Chapter 10: Black Curtain Cha Cha (1)

Kim Dong-hui, from the International Affairs Team, and I arrived at a Hamburg steak restaurant called [The Era of Meat].

“Irasshaimase!”

“Irasshaimase!”

A famous local restaurant that had achieved a rating of 4.2 on GuX Maps and 4.3 on a Japanese gourmet site.

A place that pitcher Jang Min-gu, known for his picky taste within the KH Cannons team, had actively recommended, giving it ‘two thumbs up.’

Its reputation was no lie. Even though it was a bit early for dinner, the place was bustling with customers. It was there that-

“Ah, so you’re the new recruit?”

Ji-seop was face to face with ‘her.’

“It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard that picky Ryu Jang-ho only follows you around, calling you ‘hyungnim, hyungnim’ [a respectful Korean term for ‘older brother’ or ‘senior’]?”

The undisputed super ace of the KH Cannons International Affairs Team.

The person who was selected as the number one candidate in a survey of the front offices of all 10 clubs as ‘the person most likely to become Korea’s first female general manager.’

And the legendary front office member who had subdued the haughty foreign pitcher McMahon in an instant, turning him into a ‘gentle lamb.’

“Let’s work well together, Kim Ji-seop.”

‘Black Curtain Cha Cha,’ Team Leader Cha Yun-ju.

“……”

To be honest, her first impression was very ordinary.

When I heard Ryu Jang-ho’s story, I imagined a ‘tomboy’ style with a large build and sharp eyes.

The ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ I actually met was a person with a small frame and a friendly impression.

Rather than a super ace of the Cannons front office, she felt more like an insurance salesperson that your mom brings home as ‘someone she knows.’

“……So, my wife wants to send our kid to a coding academy, but honestly, I don’t know what to do, Team Leader.”

“Oh, coding is nonsense! Just keep sending him to the taekwondo gym he’s been going to. I think it’s best to send him to coding when he says he wants to do it.”

Even watching her talk about child education issues with her subordinates, I wondered, ‘Did that person really take down McMahon?’

“Team Leader, the food is coming out.”

“Oh, it came out faster than I thought?”

The food that the Cannons players would eat in two weeks began to be served on the table one by one,

“First, let’s take a picture.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Click, click.

The moment Team Leader Kim Dong-hui nodded, saying, ‘Okay,’

“Everyone, let’s focus? Let’s finish this restaurant in one go.”

The sight of the International Affairs Team employees swallowing hard at Cha Yun-jin’s soft words.

At that moment, Ji-seop seemed to get a sense of it.

‘The rumors… were true.’

‘Let’s finish this restaurant in one go’?

Then that means it didn’t end with one tasting before.

* * *

What unfolded before Ji-seop’s eyes afterward was the sight of the International Affairs Team employees tasting the Hamburg steak with expressions as if they were taking the college entrance exam.

“Hmm……”

“Haa……”

“The taste… is okay, I think……”

Some employees were concentrating on the taste of the food, rolling their tongues diligently, some were constantly getting up from their seats to check the cleanliness of the kitchen, and some were holding onto the Japanese staff and asking various questions.

Of course, Ji-seop, who was relatively comfortable, was able to enjoy the local restaurant’s Hamburg steak leisurely.

“Team Leader, can I get some more rice?”

“……Again?”

How much time had passed as they began to evaluate the local 맛집 [matjib – famous/delicious restaurant] [The Era of Meat] in their own ways?

“Well, it seems like everyone is done eating.”

‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ Cha Yun-jin, who had completely emptied one extra-large Hamburg steak.

She wiped her mouth with a napkin and turned her gaze to her subordinates.

“Now, shall we hear some evaluations? How was it, everyone? Do you think our players will be able to enjoy it?”

As soon as Team Leader Cha Yun-jin’s question fell, meaningful glances were exchanged among the International Affairs Team employees.

It seemed like they were deciding on the order of giving their opinions in that short amount of time.

It was right after that that Team Leader Kim Dong-hui, who had received the most glances, carefully raised his hand.

“It seems… okay.”

“Reason?”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin asked, fixing her gaze on her phone screen.

“First of all, the taste is good. I looked around the kitchen and it was managed quite cleanly. I also saw that they had received some certifications in that area.”

“Okay, next.”

As Team Leader Cha Yun-jin nodded, the International Team employees began to give their opinions one by one.

“I also checked the ingredient issue with the staff. Fortunately, most of the ingredients are from Okinawa, and the ingredients coming from mainland Japan are from the Kansai region.”

“The restaurant itself is spacious, and the road to the nearby stadium is not complicated… so there shouldn’t be any problems in that area either.”

“I also checked the allergy issue. Except for Jeong-yun and Hun-i, everyone else seemed to be able to eat without worry.”

Not only the taste and cleanliness of the food, but also the source of the ingredients, the accessibility of the restaurant, and the players’ allergy issues, etc.

As someone who only thought about ‘Is the meat cooked well enough,’ Ji-seop was momentarily surprised by the amount of information that was pouring out.

If they checked this many points, wouldn’t it be okay to decide on this place as the players’ dining location?

“Hmm, and what else?”

It seemed like it was still not enough to meet the standards of ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha.’

“I’m going to talk to the owner of this restaurant a little later, is there anything else we can request at that time?”

‘Points to request’ was a gentle way of putting it, but in reality, it meant that there was something that Team Leader Cha Yun-jin didn’t like.

It was from this moment that a tense feeling began to rise on the faces of the International Affairs Team employees.

“S-Should we talk about the operating hours? I saw earlier that they have a break time from 3 PM…….”

“Hey, that’s already been discussed.”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin chuckled.

“C-Can’t we ask for cola or cider as a service? We have a lot of people, after all…….”

“Don’t you know our kids don’t drink soda these days? They bring their own drinks…….”

Strange? It’s quite simple, though?

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin shook her head as if she was disappointed.

“Everyone, I told you, I’m not planning on staying in the International Affairs Team for long.”

At first, I thought she was thinking of quitting.

Office workers often talk about quitting.

But it seemed like such an option didn’t exist in the head of ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ from the beginning.

“I’m going to become the operations team leader within three years? That’s what I agreed with my husband. My husband is trusting that promise and working hard at home taking care of the kids…….”

Tap, tap.

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin tapped the table with her finger.

“If you guys are struggling like this… how can I leave the International Team? I can’t even set up a proper meal for the players.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“I’m not doing this to hear you say you’re sorry.”

Where did the lady who was ‘giggling’ a little while ago go? Team Leader Cha Yun-jin looked back at the employees with sharp eyes.

“Think. I always say? The front office has to think from the players’ perspective. If you think that way, the answer comes out easily, right?”

‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ seemed to be trying to give a hint, but the International Affairs Team employees remained silent.

“No opinions?”

“……”

“No one?”

“……”

“Haa, then there’s no choice.”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin let out a short sigh and got up.

“Let’s eat again for lunch tomorrow and talk about it. Si-won? Go pay and make a reservation for tomorrow.”

In the end, Team Leader Cha Yun-jin, who had made the decision to ‘try again,’ handed the corporate card to the employee next to her. It was at that moment.

“Excuse me… Team Leader?”

Among the employees who were looking down with the expression of ‘Damn it, again?’, one person slightly raised their hand.

It was Team Leader Kim Dong-hui.

The very person who had brought Ji-seop here.

“Before you finish today’s meeting… how about listening to the opinion of the new recruit?”

“New recruit?”

“Yes, he received good reviews in the minor leagues, and more than anything, he’s been a player for quite a long time…….”

“That’s right, he did?”

As if she had just remembered Ji-seop’s existence, Team Leader Cha Yun-jin turned her head, saying, ‘Ah.’

“Okay, Team Leader Kim is right. We can’t not listen to the new recruit’s story.”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin returned to her seat.

“Then, new recruit, tell us what you think. How was this restaurant? Was there anything we should request?”

“Something to request…….”

At this moment, Ji-seop felt the attention focused on him.

The desperate eyes of the International Team employees sitting around him.

[Please… I’m begging you, new recruit!]

[You’re the only one we can trust!]

[Do you know how many times we’ve been to the same restaurant this week?]

[It’s so uncomfortable every time we eat… I’m starting to get indigestion?]

No wonder everyone was picking at their food with a look as if they were chewing on sand.

It seemed like they had been through a lot of trouble for the past few days because of their picky boss.

But no matter how picky the other person was, it wouldn’t be a big problem for Ji-seop.

‘It’s a problem that can be easily solved if I read their mind.’

Thinking that way, Ji-seop began to ‘gaze’ at Team Leader Cha Yun-jin’s eyes.

But at that very next moment, Ji-seop’s thick eyebrows twitched slightly.

‘……What?’

It wasn’t for any other reason.

‘Wait, was it… just this?’

A simpler answer than I thought.

Such a minor point that I wondered if she would decide to ‘try again’ for just this.

However, since he had never misread a mind before, Ji-seop opened his mouth with doubt.

“Perhaps… is it the rice bowl?”

Ji-seop continued.

“Is it because the rice bowl is too small… that you think we should talk to the restaurant about that?”

And the answer that came back.

“Oh my.”

‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ was looking at Ji-seop with an interesting gaze.

“Our new recruit is quite something?”

* * *

As a result, it seemed like he had guessed the correct answer, but in fact, Ji-seop thought that Team Leader Cha Yun-jin was being a bit exaggerated.

‘It’s true that I had to refill the rice bowl several times because it was small… but aren’t Japanese restaurants usually like that?’

Shouldn’t we just gloss over this?

We can just refill the rice whenever we want.

The International Affairs Team employees seemed to be thinking similarly to Ji-seop.

“Rice bowl……?”

“No, why is that…….”

Some tilted their heads, and some sighed as if they were frustrated.

Of course, Team Leader Cha Yun-jin was someone who could immediately notice the atmosphere of such subordinates.

“Do you think I’m overdoing it too much?”

“N-No, it’s not that…….”

The employees whose thoughts were read flinched without realizing it.

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin picked up one of the empty rice bowls and opened her mouth.

“Our players… are big eaters.”

People who exercise eat a lot.

So much that ordinary people would worry, ‘Won’t their stomachs tear?’

“Let’s be honest, with the amount of rice in this rice bowl… wouldn’t you see the bottom after one or two uses of chopsticks?”

“That’s… true, isn’t it?”

“Right? Then let’s think about it?”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin chuckled.

“We have over thirty players? Then what happens if all those players ask for more rice at once?”

A ‘Ah’ sound came from among the International Affairs Team employees.

“The staff who bring it will be out of their minds, and the players who are waiting will be annoyed… but the bigger problem is time.”

Time.

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin said again with emphasis.

“Our players are coming here in two weeks? It’s the second half of spring camp, their stamina will be low, and they’ll be more tired because they’re coming after playing practice games, right?”

“……”

“At that time, the part we need to pay the most attention to is finishing all the schedules as quickly as possible and sending them back to the dorms. So they can go wash up and sleep or play among themselves.”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin continued.

“If it’s something unavoidable like traffic… then maybe, but wasting 10 or 20 minutes just refilling rice and stuff? I can’t tolerate that. You can’t do front office work like that.”

Do you all understand?

The International Team employees nodded their heads at Team Leader Cha Yun-jin’s story.

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin, who was giving a faint smile while looking back at those employees, turned her gaze to Ji-seop.

“Still, our new recruit is smart? Even though he’s been a player for a long time… I didn’t know he would be able to pinpoint the point I was thinking of right away.”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Tell Team Leader Kim to buy you a cup of coffee later. I think he’ll buy it for you? Because thanks to you, he doesn’t have to eat food he doesn’t want to eat.”

No, tell him to buy you two cups.

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin continued.

“You drink one cup, and give the other cup to me.”

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin gave a bitter smile.

“From tomorrow, it’s full-scale practice game setting… so I think I need to get some caffeine.”

Okay? Did you understand?

Team Leader Cha Yun-jin, who threw that joke, moved her steps towards the store to negotiate with the store owner,

“……”

Ji-seop, who was looking at the back of Team Leader Cha Yun-jin, was unknowingly letting out a short sigh.

Baseball team front office.

It’s not an easy job.