Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 111

All-Star Game (1)

It was the day of the All-Star Game, arguably the biggest event after Children’s Day.

Numerous spectators flocked to the stadium, making it bustling even before the official event began.

There were children holding their parents’ hands, eager to meet the players, and long-time fans who had been supporting their teams for decades.

You could easily guess which player someone supported just by looking at their jersey and the name on the back.

The players were busy signing balls and jerseys brought by fans at booths set up at the stadium entrance.

Most noticeable was Oh Seok-hoon’s line, which was so long that the end was nowhere in sight.

As expected, female fans made up the overwhelming majority.

Lee Joo-hyuk and I were watching this scene from afar with pride.

“…Will we be able to sign for everyone today?”

“We have to, no matter what. Some people have been waiting for over an hour.”

Park Seong-ju and Na Joon-ho in the next booth were also constantly greeting fans and signing autographs.

I went to the noisiest booth and saw So Young-joon sitting there.

“Who’s your favorite player, Soo-yeon?”

So Young-joon kept asking questions while signing a ball.

“Oh Seok-hoon *oppa* [term of endearment used by younger women to address older men].”

“What? Who?”

So Young-joon asked again, doubting his ears.

“Oh Seok-hoon. Buffaloes’ Oh Seok-hoon *oppa*.”

So Young-joon stopped moving at the fan’s confirmation.

“Who’s next?”

“Of course, it’s Young-joon *oppa*.”

“Ah, really? That’s a relief.”

So Young-joon’s expression brightened up in an instant, as if nothing had happened.

As the next fan standing right behind approached, So Young-joon’s expression became complicated again.

“You’re wearing a Jaguars uniform? Are you a Jaguars fan?”

“Yes, they’re cool.”

“I can’t do it. I can’t sign for Jaguars fans.”

So Young-joon put down his pen, and the fan looked embarrassed.

“Please, just once. I’m a real fan of So Young-joon.”

“What about the Pelicans? Don’t you like the Pelicans?”

“I like the Jaguars more, but I’ll try to like the Pelicans too.”

Only then did So Young-joon pick up the pen again.

“You have to really support them. Got it?”

So Young-joon smiled as he watched the fan nod.

* * *

A while later, the All-Star Game officially began, and several events followed before the main game.

The All-Star players raised the atmosphere by playing Perfect Pitch, throwing balls to hit bats lined up in a row, and playing games with fans.

Everyone was enjoying the festival,

but one person alone was sweating in his hands like a student facing an exam.

“Seok-hoon, it’s not long now, is it?”

“It looks like it’ll start as soon as what we’re doing now is over.”

Park Seong-ju was gripping the bat tightly, perhaps to forget his nervousness.

“Just throw like you always do. Got it?”

“Don’t worry. I really want that smartphone.”

“Hoo… Let’s do well.”

As the time drew closer, Park Seong-ju’s expression hardened.

Oh Seok-hoon couldn’t help but chuckle as he saw Park Seong-ju’s face lose all color.

“Hey, aren’t you too nervous?”

“What nervous? I just have to do what I always do.”

“You’re as stiff as a stone. Today’s not the Korean Series, it’s the All-Star Game. Just enjoy it.”

Oh Seok-hoon chuckled and massaged Park Seong-ju’s stiff shoulders.

“I’m enjoying it a lot. I’m having so much fun right now. Can’t you feel it?”

“Should I go and tell them to start quickly? He’s going to break down.”

And before long, the time that Park Seong-ju had been waiting for finally arrived.

-Finally, we are about to start the Home Run Derby, which can be called the flower of the All-Star Game. This year, a new rule has been applied for the first time, right?

-That’s right. Among the eight players, the two players who record the most home runs in 4 minutes will advance to the final. Every time you hit two home runs over 130m, you get an additional 30 seconds. If there is a tie, the winner will be decided with only three swings in the final.

-The time limit is an important part, right?

-Because it has to be done within a limited time, how well the pitcher throws is the key.

-I see. I’m looking forward to seeing how many cool home runs will burst out and make our hearts soar.

The eight players participating in the Home Run Derby each began to prepare.

The order was assigned in reverse order of the number of home runs in the league so far.

Therefore, Park Seong-ju, who is ranked first in home runs, received the last turn.

The batting ball pitcher was warming up in the middle of the mound and the batter’s box, and the batter was preparing to hit in the batter’s box.

The first player started hitting.

Thwack!

Thwack!

The ball kept hitting the batter’s bat and couldn’t go over the fence.

-Hahaha. The batting ball pitcher is throwing too good of a ball right now.

-It’s easier to hit if you throw the ball high, but it keeps going into the low course.

-There’s not much time left. Will he be able to get one over?

Eventually, even though 4 minutes had passed, the player didn’t hit a single home run.

As soon as the time was up, the batter raised both hands to the pitcher and gestured as if he was resentful.

Thanks to that, the audience was filled with laughter.

And from the next batter, home runs began to soar into the sky.

Crack!

“Wow!”

Every time the ball soared coolly, the fans cheered without holding back.

The climax was Park Byung-hoon, who participated seventh.

He not only endlessly crossed the fence, but also succeeded in receiving extra time by hitting home runs exceeding 130m.

And now it was finally Park Seong-ju’s turn.

-Park Seong-ju’s batting ball pitcher is Oh Seok-hoon from the same team.

-Park Byung-hoon, who is currently in first place, has recorded 38. What kind of performance will Park Seong-ju, the league’s home run leader, show?

Park Seong-ju carefully swung a few times and stood in the batter’s box.

Meanwhile, Oh Seok-hoon warmed up by rotating his shoulders.

“Seong-ju, let’s start!”

At Oh Seok-hoon’s shout, Park Seong-ju nodded with a determined expression.

The 4-minute countdown began from the moment Oh Seok-hoon threw the first ball.

Clang!

Clang!

Park Seong-ju’s body was so tense that he couldn’t swing properly on the first five balls he threw.

They flew far, but they couldn’t go over the fence.

As he hadn’t crossed even once after 30 seconds, Park Seong-ju’s impatient swing was collapsing rapidly.

-Park Seong-ju must be very nervous. It’s been almost a minute and he still doesn’t have a home run.

-Rather, home run hitters sometimes fail to show their skills when they feel pressured.

“Seong-ju, breathe. Breathe!”

Oh Seok-hoon stopped throwing for a moment and gestured to breathe.

Park Seong-ju also stopped for a moment and calmed his hurried breathing.

After a few seconds of short reorganization, he continued hitting again.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he created shots that stretched out.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

His breathing with Oh Seok-hoon was also perfectly matched, and he was able to continue accurate hitting without wasting any balls.

-It’s finally starting. It’s refreshing just to watch.

-Wow! That shot was the farthest distance today.

-He’s already broken through 20 and is heading towards 30. If you include the added time, there’s still more than a minute left!

-35! There are only 20 seconds left!

-If you get at least 3 more, you can take the game to the final.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

-Finally 38! It’s a tie. One more home run and you win!

-There are 5 seconds left. It’s probably going to be the last ball.

Even though I tried not to be conscious of it, the numbers on the scoreboard caught my eye.

‘Just one more!’

As the ball that would be the last flew in, Park Seong-ju swung his bat with all his might this time as well.

Clang!

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the last ball that flew.

The shot was flying through the sky at the same speed as before.

“Please go over, go over.”

Park Seong-ju, who had finished his last swing and was watching the flying ball, kept muttering to himself.

-Will that ball be able to go over?

-If this ball goes over, he can take the sole lead with 39.

-Ah! It hits the fence and falls.

“Ah. That’s too bad.”

Park Seong-ju, as well as the fans in the stadium, let out a sigh of regret.

“Seong-ju, you’ve worked hard.”

“The last ball was too bad.”

“Let’s win in the final.”

Oh Seok-hoon came over, held out his hand, and high-fived Park Seong-ju.

Soon after, the Home Run Derby final between Park Byung-hoon and Park Seong-ju continued.

-The final will be decided with just three swings.

-One swing will be really important.

-What happens if there is a tie here too?

-If the number of home runs is the same here, the player who hit the home run with the farthest distance will win.

Park Byung-hoon entered the batter’s box again.

As each ball was important, both Park Byung-hoon and the batting ball pitcher had nervous expressions.

And he started throwing batting balls.

Crack!

Crack!

-Wow! He easily got two balls over.

-What will happen to the last ball?

Crack!

-Oh! He gets the last ball over cleanly as well! He records three home runs in three swings.

-At this point, we should say that Park Byung-hoon has won.

Park Byung-hoon returned to the waiting area and gave a thumbs up to the batting ball pitcher.

Now it was Park Seong-ju’s turn to enter the batter’s box.

-In order for Park Seong-ju to win, he must first get all three over, and he must fly the distance farther.

-The farthest ball that Park Byung-hoon flew this time was 132m. Can he fly farther than this?

Oh Seok-hoon, who exchanged glances with Park Seong-ju, nodded once and carefully threw the ball.

Crack!

-He gets the first shot over. The distance is 128m.

-What about the second shot?

Crack!

-Wow! This one goes over too. Distance 130m! He has to hit a home run over 132m here!

-It’s chewy [suspenseful] until the end. Can the Home Run Derby be this fun?

“Hoo-”

“Park Seong-ju can do it!”

As Park Seong-ju seemed nervous, Oh Seok-hoon smiled and gave him strength.

And he threw the ball that would be the last.

Crack!

-Oh, oh! It’s stretching out.

-It definitely looks like it’s going over. How far will the distance be?

-Wow! It’s 138m!

-In the end, the Buffaloes’ Park Seong-ju wins the All-Star Game Home Run Derby.

Oh Seok-hoon, who checked the distance on the electronic display board, ran towards Park Seong-ju.

Park Seong-ju spread his arms and hugged Oh Seok-hoon, who approached, and fully enjoyed the thrill of this moment as if he had won the championship.

Park Byung-hoon, who was watching from the side, clapped and approached Park Seong-ju.

“Seong-ju, congratulations.”

“*Sunbaenim* [senior/respected colleague], you’ve worked hard.”

Park Seong-ju received the Home Run Derby trophy and smartphone and ran around as if he was flying into the sky.

Now that all the events were over, it was time to watch the main game where the All-Star players of professional baseball faced off.

Who will be this year’s Mr. All-Star?