Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 1

Please be aware that the characters and settings in this story are fictional, and the scenarios are created by the author for dramatic purposes, which may differ from reality.

Unforgettable First Game in the Majors (1)

My major league debut came somewhat late and unexpectedly, without any advance warning.

I received the call-up notification and played my first major league game in less than five hours.

The biggest difference between minor league and major league games was the audience.

If minor league games felt like performing in a small theater with about 100 spectators, major league games felt like performing in a blockbuster musical with 20,000 fans.

Listening to the cheers of the crowd filling the stadium from the field gave me chills all over my body.

However, it wasn’t all good.

Thwack!

“Huh?”

The sound of the ball hitting the opposing batter’s bat was almost lost in the loud cheers of the crowd, making it hard to hear clearly.

I needed to predict where the ball would land based on the sound of the bat hitting the ball, but I couldn’t clearly hear that crucial sound.

It was an unexpected variable.

I hoped another player might catch it, but the chances were slim.

I had to handle it myself.

I initially assumed the ball would go farther than where I was standing, so I took my first step backward.

Fortunately, I quickly realized that choice was a mistake.

I abruptly stopped moving backward, changed direction, and sprinted forward again.

Because of the sudden change in direction, I struggled to accelerate properly due to the reverse motion.

At this rate, I would definitely allow a hit.

But since it was my first defensive play in front of the major league fans, I didn’t want to miss it.

While running with all my might, I had to calculate all sorts of possibilities in my head.

Should I risk trying for an out, or should I play it safe even if it meant allowing a hit?

An outfielder’s error could turn a routine single into a triple or an inside-the-park home run, so it was crucial to play it safe.

However, my body was acting differently from what my mind had decided.

Before I knew it, I was sliding forward, extending my gloved hand.

“Wowwww-”

I barely managed to catch the ball, and cheers erupted from the stands as I raised my glove.

-Wow! Kang Hyun-woo is showing off an amazing play in his major league debut!

-He overcame a mistake on his first step with incredible agility and explosive speed.

-That was a great play that will be recorded in this season’s highlights.

-Kang Hyun-woo. I think we can look forward to great things from him.

“Kang Hyun-woo! Kang Hyun-woo! Kang Hyun-woo!”

The crowd started chanting my name in unison as I jogged back after the play.

I felt chills all over my body.

But before I could fully enjoy the thrill, I had to prepare to bat.

-The next batter for the Jaguars is center fielder Kang Hyun-woo.

My name echoed through the stadium via the announcer’s voice.

I swung my bat to loosen up as I walked towards the batter’s box.

-The Jaguars’ new center fielder, Kang Hyun-woo, is walking towards his first major league at-bat.

-He showed a really great sliding catch on defense earlier. Good defense is often followed by good offense. I’m curious to see what he will show in this at-bat.

Now, the eyes of over 20,000 spectators were focused solely on me.

Even fans who were seeing me for the first time cheered me on, shouting my name displayed on the scoreboard.

It was finally my dream major league debut at-bat.

I imagined myself hitting a clutch hit and receiving enthusiastic cheers from the fans.

The thought alone was electrifying.

I stood in the batter’s box, gripped my bat, and focused on the pitcher on the mound.

The opposing pitcher was a fastball specialist.

He had the ability to throw fastballs over 150 km/h [approximately 93 mph] at any time.

However, he wasn’t fully capitalizing on his strengths due to his erratic control.

Against this type of pitcher, it was much more effective to be patient and make him falter on his own rather than rushing the game.

Besides, I already knew that most of the pitches this pitcher threw were fastballs.

The pitcher, looking at the catcher’s sign, nodded and took a stance to throw the ball.

I also stopped breathing and settled into my batting stance.

And I focused all my attention on the ball the pitcher was throwing.

Now, the pitcher’s windup began.

I gripped my bat tightly.

I was going to show him that I would swing aggressively from the first pitch,

Whoosh-

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

What was going on?

With a splitting headache, my vision went dark.

At the same time, the stadium, which had been filled with the cheers of 20,000 spectators, was instantly filled with silence.

-Oh. Is Kang Hyun-woo okay?

-He was hit hard in the head. I hope it’s not a serious injury.

The fastball thrown by the opposing pitcher at over 150 km/h flew towards my head instead of the strike zone.

I, who hadn’t shaken off the tension of my debut at-bat, instinctively turned my head slightly but couldn’t avoid it completely.

As a result, I had no choice but to get hit in the head by the ball, which felt like being struck by a lump of iron.

-Kang Hyun-woo. You absolutely must not force yourself to get up. Take it easy.

-Ah… The situation seems a bit serious? I think the ambulance needs to come in quickly.

All the players on the field rushed to where I was lying.

The manager and coach in the dugout did the same.

The pitcher who had just thrown the ball at me was in shock, sitting on the mound with his head in his hands.

Meanwhile, the sound of an ambulance approaching could be heard in the distance.

A doctor who rushed over asked me a few questions.

I struggled to understand what he was saying, but soon I couldn’t hear anything.

That was the last scene in my fading memory.

* * *

I slowly opened my eyes.

All I could see was a white ceiling and fluorescent lights.

Where am I?

Why am I lying down?

I tried to think on my own, but I couldn’t remember anything.

“Ugh.”

I tried to get up, but my body wouldn’t move as I wanted, as if it had stiffened.

I reluctantly moved my head slightly and saw that I was wearing a patient gown.

A nurse was writing something right next to me.

The nurse tilted her head at the rustling sound.

She looked around and was startled to see me moving.

“Patient! Are you awake?”

“Yes… But where is this?”

The nurse was startled and calmed me down as I squirmed and tried to get up.

“Wait a minute. You shouldn’t get up suddenly.”

The nurse pressed a button, and the head of the bed rose, putting me in a slightly upright position.

“Do you have any difficulties seeing right now?”

“Difficulties?”

“Yes. Can you see me clearly?”

Can I see clearly?

I didn’t know what she was asking, but I could see well.

“Yes… I can see well.”

That’s when it happened.

Swish!

Suddenly, the white curtain surrounding me was pulled open.

“Hyun-woo!”

“Mom?”

The person who pulled back the curtain was my mother.

“Hyun, Hyun-woo’s father! Come quickly.”

My mother trembled and gestured urgently towards the back.

“Why! What’s wrong?”

My father rushed over.

“Are you okay… Hyun, Hyun-woo! Are you awake now?”

My father also widened his eyes with a surprised expression.

“Guardian, please wait a moment. I’ll bring the doctor right away.”

“Yes. Quickly, quickly.”

The nurse put the chart she was holding on the shelf and hurried out.

Then, my mother sat down on the chair next to me and held my hand tightly.

“Hyun-woo. Are you okay? Do you recognize me?”

My mother’s eyes turned red, and tears began to well up.

“Of course. But where is this?”

“You don’t remember anything at all?”

“No… I don’t know at all.”

“How much do you remember? Do you remember playing the game?”

Game?

Did I play a game?

What game was it…?

At that moment,

-Wowwww-

-Kang Hyun-woo! Kang Hyun-woo! Kang Hyun-woo!

The cheers that had made my ears ring came to mind.

Ah. That’s right!

I made my major league debut.

That moment was thrilling even now.

But why am I in the hospital?

As I struggled to recall my memories and tried to answer, the door burst open and a man who appeared to be a doctor rushed in.

“Are you Kang Hyun-woo?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I’m Park Han-do, who performed this surgery.”

Surgery?

“I’ll check for any aftereffects first.”

I didn’t understand what he was saying, but I nodded since he was a doctor.

“Does the surroundings look the same as before? Me, Kang Hyun-woo’s mother, father, and the surrounding objects.”

At those words, I slowly looked around.

My mother and father both looked the same as I remembered.

There was nothing unfamiliar about the TV, chairs, refrigerator, etc.

“Yes. I can see well.”

At my answer, the doctor looked relieved and instructed the nurse to do something.

“But what kind of surgery did I have?”

The doctor paused at my question.

He fiddled with his glasses for a moment and said in a slightly sighing voice.

“Your memory hasn’t fully returned yet.”

“Doctor. Is my son okay?”

My mother, still holding my hand, looked at the doctor with a worried expression.

“He hit his head hard and was unconscious for a week, so there may be some symptoms of memory loss.”

A week? I’ve been lying down for a week?

“Then… what will happen?”

“Fortunately, there are no special symptoms such as cerebral hemorrhage so far, and there are no problems with seeing things, so you don’t have to worry too much. Let’s monitor the progress for a few more days to be certain.”

“Yes, doctor. Thank you.”

“Hyun-woo. If you experience any problems, please tell me right away.”

“Yes.”

With that conversation, the doctor went out with the nurse.

My father, who had escorted the doctor to the door and returned, asked with a somewhat relieved expression.

“Hyun-woo, are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock.

There was a knock on the hospital room door from outside.

“Who is it?”

My father, who had gotten up again, walked towards the door.

When the door opened, a sturdy man who looked over 190cm [approximately 6’3″] tall was standing there.

He was holding a box of fruit in his hand.

My father greeted him with a happy expression.

“Oh. You came just in time. Come in, quickly.”

“Yes, Father. I heard that good pears came in, so I bought them.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to buy them.”

The man seemed to be close to my father.

“Hyun-woo, you have a guest.”

“Huh? My guest…?”

As I wondered inwardly, his voice was heard again.

“Oh? Is Senior awake?”

“Yeah, he just woke up.”

Before my father could finish speaking, the man quickly walked towards me.

As the distance got closer, his face became visible little by little.

It’s a face I’ve seen a lot.

Who is it…?

That was the moment.

Whoosh-

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

The last scene in my memory flashed before my eyes.

Ah! Choi Jeong-hwan from the Doubles [likely referring to a baseball team or group].

Choi Jeong-hwan, who had come up to me while I was recalling my memories, suddenly knelt down.

“Senior, I’m sorry.”