A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 33

The New Recruit of the Baseball Team is Too Good – Episode 33

Chapter 10. Black Curtain Cha Cha (4)

Based on Ji-seop’s past experiences,

Japanese people tend to bow ‘deeply’ at the slightest thing.

-I’m terribly sorry!

-I have no excuse.

It didn’t always seem like they were bowing out of genuine remorse or because they were truly speechless.

More likely, it was simply ingrained in Japanese culture, a customary gesture from someone in a slightly inferior position.

In any case, during the three or so years that Ji-seop played in the Japanese independent league, he’d witnessed someone bow deeply around ten times.

Considering that, the Amuro Sports Marketing team gathered in the president’s office that day probably weren’t completely unfamiliar with the sight of someone bowing their head deeply—

“I am truly sorry!”

Thud!

Even for the Amuro Sports Marketing staff, Chief Cha Yun-jin of ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’s’ actions came as a tremendous shock.

Even after knowing her for so long, it was still jarring to see a foreign executive, a female executive from a company, suddenly slamming her head on the desk with a ‘thud!’ like that.

“O-oh?!

“Ugh!!!”

“C-Chief Cha!!!”

The Amuro Sports Marketing team was utterly flabbergasted by Chief Cha Yun-jin’s sudden actions.

Without a word, they instinctively reached out to stop her, but there was no stopping ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ once she started.

“Chief Cha! Why are you doing this!”

“Because I’m sorry. Because I’m sorry.”

Thud!

“Y-you can’t do this!”

“But if I don’t do this, our sincerity won’t be conveyed.”

Thud!

“I-if you keep doing this, something really bad will happen! You might get hurt!”

“Considering the pain I’ve caused you all, this is nothing.”

Thud!

How long did Chief Cha Yun-jin keep banging her head like that, with the Amuro people panicking and not knowing what to do each time?

“A-alright! We understand!”

In the end, the Amuro Sports Marketing team threw up both hands in surrender.

“We understand how Chief Cha feels now. So please, stop.”

“If Chief Cha keeps doing this, how can we ever face Chief Cha again?”

“Please, sit down, Chief Cha. Why don’t you sit down and tell us what happened?”

The team gathered around Chief Cha Yun-jin, who was banging her head on the desk, practically begging her to stop.

It was right after that that Chief Cha Yun-jin swept back her hair and slowly raised her head.

“If you all have understood my feelings enough…”

Smirk.

Chief Cha Yun-jin wore a strange smile.

“Then, well… shall we get down to business?”

* * *

After gaining the ability to read other people’s minds, Ji-seop learned a few things.

One of them was that human emotions can change ‘quickly,’ more easily than he had imagined.

Sometimes, a casual remark from someone else could freeze good feelings as cold as ice.

Conversely, an unexpected action could melt away long-standing resentment like snow.

In the case of the Amuro Sports Marketing team, who had been ‘sulking’ over the news regarding the KH Cannons’ spring camp, it seemed to be the latter.

“Well, well, well…”

“Chief Cha, we knew that Chief Cha’s personality was fiery… but this time, you went a bit too far.”

“Why?”

Chief Cha Yun-jin tilted her head.

“When you watch movies or dramas… it seems like Japanese people often do this when they apologize, right?”

Chief Cha Yun-jin pretended not to know anything, feigning ignorance.

The Japanese employees of Amuro Sports Marketing gave bitter smiles and shook their heads.

“No, that’s… that’s just a scene that might appear in movies or dramas.”

“If you put it that way, Korean dramas always show beautiful romances, right? But is dating in Korea actually like that?”

“Ah.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin nodded.

“Hearing it like that suddenly makes me feel like I understand.”

“Right?”

Hehehe. Hahaha.

It was the first time laughter had erupted in Amuro Sports Marketing’s president’s office that day.

As that commotion, which had started with Chief Cha Yun-jin’s sudden actions, came to an end, the president of Amuro Sports Marketing opened his mouth in a calm voice.

“I’ve been working in this industry for quite a long time… but honestly, this is the first time I’ve experienced something like this, Chief Cha.”

The Japanese president continued.

“I’ve had relationships with many teams, and those relationships have ended… but most of them ended with written or phone notifications. This is the first time someone has come in person to apologize like Chief Cha did today.”

“If it weren’t for this friend here, I probably would have… glossed over it with a written notification.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin glanced at Ji-seop, who was sitting next to her, and continued.

“We have a new recruit who just joined KH… and he said that if we’ve been working together for nearly 20 years, we’re not just business partners, but friends.”

“Ah, this person here?!

The Japanese president looked at Ji-seop and slowly nodded.

“If you’ve had a relationship for 20 years, you should see them as friends rather than business partners… That’s a kind thing to say. It’s also a humbling thing to say.”

With those words, the Japanese president was lost in thought for a while.

When he opened his mouth again, Ji-seop could sense that the situation was turning positive.

“To be honest… we also have nothing to say to the KH Cannons regarding this practice game sales.”

“I gave those instructions.”

The Japanese president continued.

“If the KH Cannons are going to America next year… I told them to pay more attention to other teams this year.”

“……”

“But Chief Cha… no, the new employee of the Cannons sitting here considers us ‘friends’ and came all the way here… I have to repay that.”

“I will proceed with negotiations with the Japanese professional team again.”

The words Ji-seop had been waiting for finally came from the mouth of the president of Amuro Sports Marketing.

“However, realistically, there is a limit to the manpower we can put in. That’s why I’m saying this…”

The Japanese president looked at Chief Cha Yun-jin.

“We will arrange a meeting with the Japanese team, so how about Chief Cha comes and negotiates with us?”

“Me… together with you?”

“If Chief Cha comes to the meeting, it won’t be impossible to arrange more practice games than before. And…”

The Japanese president continued with a determined look.

“If you do that, we will take responsibility for arranging a meeting with Director Kinjo Katsuhiro.”

“Director Kinjo…?”

Chief Cha Yun-jin’s eyes changed slightly.

“That’s right. He is in charge of the Japanese professional baseball’s second-string All-Stars in the Okinawa Education League starting this season.”

“……”

“If the negotiations with him go well, it seems like the KH Cannons’ second-string team could have regular practice games with the Japanese professional baseball’s second-string All-Stars starting next year…”

The Japanese president gave a meaningful look.

“Chief Cha, what do you think?”

* * *

That was as far as Ji-seop could hear the conversation between Chief Cha Yun-jin and the president of Amuro.

After that, the two of them moved to another place to talk privately.

“Ah, yes, yes. Then I’ll write it up and submit it now.”

While Chief Cha Yun-jin was having a private meeting with the president of Amuro, Ji-seop waited in the car parked outside the company building.

He waited for about an hour, catching up on the minor tasks he had been putting off.

Ji-seop was able to meet Chief Cha Yun-jin, who was coming out of the company building, being seen off by the Amuro Sports Marketing team.

“New recruit, did you wait long?”

“No, Chief.”

Ji-seop pushed the laptop he had on his lap to the side and greeted Chief Cha Yun-jin.

“Did the talk… go well?”

“Well, not bad.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin nodded.

“It’s a bit of a hassle for me to go to the meeting myself… but anyway, we’ll be able to secure practice games.”

“Besides, there’s an unexpected gain.”

“It’s a bit surprising that the president of Amuro decided to arrange an interview with Director Kinjo for us.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin shrugged her shoulders.

“Regular practice games with the Japanese professional baseball’s second-string All-Stars, not just any team… If it works out, it could be a big help to our second-string players.”

“It seems like the president of Amuro is trying to keep the KH Cannons as a client in that way.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin chuckled at Ji-seop’s opinion and turned her head.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, regular practice games with the Japanese professional baseball’s second-string All-Stars… If it works out, the games will 100% be held in Okinawa, right?”

There’s no way that high-nosed Japanese team would come all the way to Jeju Island just for practice games.

In the end, in order to have practice games with them, the KH Cannons’ second-string team would have to set up a spring camp in Okinawa.

In Ji-seop’s view, this was Amuro’s strategy to somehow not lose their business partner.

Chief Cha Yun-jin mostly agreed with Ji-seop’s thoughts, but it seemed like there were some different points as well.

“I don’t think there’s no intention at all, but… I think this is a personal favor from the president of Amuro.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you think the Japanese old farts will stay still? If the Japanese second-string All-Stars have regular practice games with the KH second-string team?”

Whether it’s Japan or Korea, the reality is that if something related to each other happens, there will be talk in some way.

“It’s definitely a story that will cause gossip… but the president of Amuro said he would try to make it happen no matter what. Then we should see it as that person’s favor. And at the same time…”

Chief Cha Yun-jin turned her head.

“Let’s see Amuro as a friend, not a business partner… It also means that Ji-seop’s idea was right on the money.”

“N-not at all…”

Ji-seop, who was embarrassed by the sudden ‘hook’ of praise, scratched the back of his head.

Chief Cha Yun-jin, who was smiling slightly as she looked at Ji-seop, found the laptop next to him and opened her mouth.

“But what were you doing, Ji-seop? Weren’t you just resting?”

“Ah, this?”

Ji-seop picked up the laptop.

“I was writing my duty log.”

“Duty log?”

“Yes, training assistants have to write it every day and upload it to the bulletin board… I’ve been skipping it a lot lately.”

There was a lot of work, but the bigger reason was that it wasn’t in his nature to sit down and write these things one by one.

“I have to upload all the duty logs I’ve been putting off by today…”

‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ is known as the second most meticulous person in KH Cannons.

Ji-seop quickly closed the laptop, thinking that he might get an earful again, but what came back was Chief Cha Yun-jin’s unexpected question.

“Who’s in charge of that?”

“Yes?”

“Who’s in charge of the training assistants’ duty logs?”

“Ah, yes, it’s Deputy Jo Woo-hee of the operations team…”

“Is that so? Wait a minute.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin took out her cell phone.

Not long after, a voice saying, ‘Yes, Chief,’ was heard through the cell phone speaker.

“Hey, Deputy Jo. It’s Cha Cha.”

Ji-seop chuckled inwardly at the sight of her introducing herself as ‘Cha Cha’.

“You know Kim Ji-seop, right? Yeah, the training assistant assigned to our team.”

The next moment, Ji-seop could only stare at ‘Black Curtain Cha Cha’ with wide eyes.

“That thing about him writing his duty log? Have him exempt from that.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin continued to speak, not noticing Ji-seop’s surprised expression.

“Why else? Why would you make a busy kid do such a formality? Is Ji-seop at the level of picking up balls on the ground right now?”

“If it’s not you, who else would it be? Who? Case? Section Chief Jang Kyung-woo? Okay, then I’ll talk to Case later… Treat today’s amount as if he submitted it. Got it? Okay.”

“I’ll take responsibility, I’ll take responsibility.”

With those words, Chief Cha Yun-jin hung up the phone.

Ji-seop was staring at her with a dumbfounded look.

“C-Chief?”

“You don’t have to write the duty log. This baseball team is only good at doing such useless things.”

“Start the engine.”

Chief Cha Yun-jin said to Ji-seop.

“Forget about the duty log, let’s have a drink with Section Chief Jo today.”

And then she added.

“Ji-seop, you haven’t had Section Chief Jo make you a somaek [Korean mixed drink of soju and beer] yet, have you?”