Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 129

Fierce Ranking Battle (2)

The second day of the Buffaloes vs. Doubles’ 3-game series.

Unlike usual mornings, a subtle tension filled the lodging.

Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo sat across from Go Ji-hoon, quietly eating breakfast.

Soon, they would play a crucial game, with direct advancement to the semi-playoffs [the round before the final playoff series] on the line for their respective teams.

Perhaps due to the tension, the three players focused intently on their meals.

I sat between them, wanting to ease the awkward, heavy atmosphere, even if just a little.

In the past, I wouldn’t have dared to say a word to Go Ji-hoon before his start, but things had changed.

“Senior, are you feeling okay today?”

“I’ve been preparing for months for this. I have to be in top condition. I’m going to win, no matter what.”

I’d asked to lighten the mood, but the conversation took a different turn.

I glanced at Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo. They remained silent, perhaps intimidated by Go Ji-hoon’s spirited declaration as an opposing player.

“How about you, Seok-hoon and Seong-joo?”

At least Park Seong-joo seemed relaxed enough to answer.

“We have to win. We’ve played well all season, and we can’t afford to drop to 4th place at the end. It’ll be much tougher if we have to fight through the wild card game.”

Hmm… That didn’t work either.

I wondered what to say next when Go Ji-hoon spoke again.

“What’s your team’s strategy for today?”

“Pardon?” Park Seong-joo asked, as if he hadn’t heard correctly.

Oh Seok-hoon coughed several times, seemingly choking.

“It’s an important game, so the team must have had a meeting and prepared in advance, right?”

“Of course, we did, but asking me to tell you that…

“Can’t you tell me just one thing? Just between us?”

It sounded like a joke, but Go Ji-hoon’s expression remained serious.

“Then can you tell me your strategy, Senior?”

“Of course. What’s so difficult about that?”

Go Ji-hoon nodded as if it were nothing.

“Then tell me the most important thing first.”

Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo perked up their ears as Go Ji-hoon prepared to speak.

“I’m going to throw strikes against you today. Very aggressively.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”

They seemed disappointed, perhaps expecting a real, core strategy.

“Isn’t that a crucial strategy? It’s an important game, so you might think about avoiding the key hitters, but you’re saying you’ll face them head-on.”

“Then I’m going to swing for the fences today, too. If you throw a strike, Senior.”

“Really? You have to swing hard.”

“Of course.”

Park Seong-joo nodded confidently.

“But if I’m on my game today, it’ll be hard to tell if it’s a strike or a ball.”

Park Seong-joo paused, about to retort.

“…I can’t argue with that, it’s true.”

“Just kidding.”

Go Ji-hoon nonchalantly resumed eating his soup.

“Why do you make jokes with such a straight face?”

I burst out laughing at Park Seong-joo’s bewildered expression.

“Today’s game is important, but the post-season is even more so. All three of you, be careful not to get hurt.”

“Don’t worry.”

The meal continued with a heavy atmosphere, though the three seemed more comfortable now.

The players’ competitive spirit…

Not long after the three players left, Seo Seong-min arrived for training.

I intended to proceed with our planned training, regardless of the game, but I couldn’t concentrate.

It felt wrong to just watch a game like this on the news.

I wondered if Seo Seong-min felt the same way.

I decided to ask.

“Senior, should we just watch the game today?”

“Um…”

Seo Seong-min hesitated, unable to answer immediately.

Yeah, if we postpone training for this reason, there’d be no end to it.

“Let’s train hard. We have our own work to do.”

I tried to resign myself to it, but…

“No. I was going to try and focus on training, but I think it’s better to just watch. I don’t think I’ll be able to train properly, knowing the game is on.”

“Right? Let’s go watch the game then.”

In the end, Seo Seong-min and I cut the training short and headed to the TV together.

* * *

-As the season nears its end, the rivalry between these two teams intensifies. The two teams’ winning percentages are now separated by just one game. If the Doubles win today, they’ll be tied.

-It’s a thrilling prospect. Many fans must have been anticipating this since last night. Considering this series concludes their head-to-head matchups, today’s game carries even greater significance.

-And today marks Go Ji-hoon’s comeback. He’s taking the mound [登板, Touban in Japanese, a baseball term for pitching] at a critical moment.

-His injury worsened during the season, sidelining him for nearly three months. It’s been a long road back. Ideally, he would have had more minor league appearances before returning to the mound [登板], but the Doubles’ situation doesn’t allow for such luxury.

-Despite it being a weekday game, the stands were packed, not a single seat empty. This is a crucial match that could determine the season’s outcome, and it’s about to begin.

The Buffaloes are determined to maintain their position, while the Doubles dream of a dramatic comeback.

A sense of grim determination permeated both teams’ dugouts.

On one side, Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-joo were warming up with a casual game of catch, while on the other, Go Ji-hoon was preparing to pitch in the bullpen.

Shortly after, the game commenced with the Doubles’ offense.

-Scoring the first run is always important, but it’s especially crucial in a game like today’s. The Doubles’ batters need to alleviate some of the pressure on Go Ji-hoon.

“Doubles, hit! Hit!”

However, contrary to expectations, the Doubles’ first-inning offense was stifled by the opposing pitcher, failing to gain any momentum.

Soon after, the innings changed, and it was the Buffaloes’ offensive turn.

As Go Ji-hoon walked toward the mound, the Doubles fans erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

“Go Ji-hoon! Go Ji-hoon! Go Ji-hoon!”

-Now it’s the bottom of the first, and the Buffaloes’ offense will begin. We’ll get to see Go Ji-hoon’s pitching. Go Ji-hoon has been excluded from the lineup twice this season due to injuries. Especially the last injury required a very long recovery period, correct?

-That’s right. This season is before his free agency, so the player himself must have been highly motivated. It’s a shame that his injury was prolonged in many ways.

-The pressure of making a comeback in such an important game today must be significant.

-That’s probably true. But if I had to pick one of Go Ji-hoon’s greatest strengths, it would be his strong mentality. Assuming there are no lingering issues with his physical condition, I think he’ll be able to deliver his best performance.

Standing on the mound, Go Ji-hoon prepared for his first pitch against the Buffaloes’ leadoff hitter.

“Hoo-”

He took a deep breath and threw the ball with all his might.

Thwack!

“Strike!”

The batter, who naturally anticipated a ball [a pitch outside the strike zone], was startled and gaped his mouth open as soon as he heard the umpire’s call.

-That’s a truly amazing ball right from the very first pitch!

-He threw the ball accurately on the edge of the strike zone. It’s wise not to swing at a ball like that.

Go Ji-hoon gripped the two-seam fastball slightly differently from the first pitch.

And he threw the next ball without any change in expression.

The batter, judging it to be a similar pitch as before, swung his bat with all his might.

However, the ball sank slightly at the last moment, making it impossible to hit cleanly.

Tick!

The mis-hit ball was easily caught by the shortstop, resulting in an out.

“Out!”

The battle with the second batter wasn’t much different.

Tick!

The second baseman easily caught the ball and threw it to first base, making two outs.

He succeeded in inducing ground balls from two consecutive batters.

Now, Oh Seok-hoon, the third batter, was approaching the plate.

-Go Ji-hoon comfortably induced ground balls from both batters. With only five pitches.

-The previous two players were certainly not easy outs, but the batter now at the plate is a truly formidable opponent.

-Oh Seok-hoon is leading the league in batting average. Looking at their head-to-head record this season, Oh Seok-hoon has had considerable success against him.

-Will he be able to continue his success against him in today’s game as well?

Go Ji-hoon shook his head a few times at the sign sent by the catcher, and finally nodded at the last sign.

Then, without any hesitation, he threw the ball.

Thwack!

“Strike!”

Oh Seok-hoon, who simply watched the first ball pass, couldn’t help but chuckle.

Park Seong-joo, who was watching from the on-deck circle, mirrored the sentiment.

-Am I seeing things correctly? I’d like to see that last ball again.

-He threw a fastball right down the middle of the strike zone. And that was against the league’s leading hitter. How many pitchers can make a play like that? That’s incredibly bold.

Go Ji-hoon seemed to silently convey a message to Oh Seok-hoon, who was smiling at the plate.

‘I told you I’d aggressively throw strikes against you guys, right?’

As if he could hear his thoughts, Oh Seok-hoon nodded and gripped his bat.

-How will they approach the second ball?

-He succeeded in catching him off guard with the first ball. Will he throw a breaking ball now?

All eyes in the stadium were focused on the battle between the two players.

Go Ji-hoon threw the ball with all his might.

This time, Oh Seok-hoon swung his bat.

Tick!

The mis-hit ball flew into foul territory.

-That was a ball that would have been a strike even if he hadn’t swung. He threw a really good pitch.

Oh Seok-hoon swung his bat with all his might at the following ball as well.

Tick!

Oh Seok-hoon also had difficulty making solid contact with Go Ji-hoon’s breaking ball.

-Go Ji-hoon’s condition is truly excellent today. All the balls he’s thrown so far have been strikes. Besides the first ball, none of them have been located in the heart of the plate either.

Oh Seok-hoon tried swinging his bat with all his might, but

This ball rose up at the last moment, making it impossible to hit with the sweet spot of the bat.

Whoosh-

-Strikeout! In the end, Go Ji-hoon succeeds in inducing a swing and a miss from Oh Seok-hoon.

-It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the secret curveball that only Go Ji-hoon can execute. If he can control that ball to this extent today, it seems like it won’t be easy for the Buffaloes’ batters to get a hit in today’s game.

Oh Seok-hoon couldn’t immediately return to the dugout, seemingly feeling wronged, and lingered at the plate for a moment.

Go Ji-hoon, who was coming down from the mound, gave Oh Seok-hoon a faint smile.