Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 131

131. Postseason Live (1)

Players who advanced to the postseason were busy preparing for their games, having joined their respective teams.

On the other hand, Soyoungjun, Jangsuyoung, and Michael Scott, whose teams failed to reach the postseason, gathered at the agency’s accommodation for the first time in a while.

Of course, I contacted Seosungmin as well.

He was initially hesitant to attend, but after my earnest request, he eventually came.

I was confident that I could find him a team in a few months anyway, and he was also part of our agency family.

It was a gathering for the players who had worked hard throughout the season.

With that in mind, I ordered chicken, which would have been difficult to enjoy comfortably during the season.

From fried to seasoned, green onion chicken, and even the latest trendy chicken, I ordered a variety.

There were five people, but we ordered a total of ten chickens.

Of course, there was also cold beer.

‘……I hope it’s enough?’

It was a menu that was so familiar that it might not seem special, but it seemed to feel completely different to one person.

“The smell alone is incredible.”

Michael Scott approached with a look of wonder.

He smelled the various types of chicken and wore an expression of awe.

“Scott, is this your first time eating chicken?”

Soyoungjun asked, looking at Scott with curiosity.

“It’s my first time. The fact that chicken can be cooked in this way is a truly amazing method.”

Soyoungjun smiled meaningfully and patted Scott on the shoulder.

“Today will be a very historic day in our Scott’s life.”

Scott, who didn’t yet understand the exact meaning, simply smiled like a child waiting for delicious food.

After a while, a total of six people gathered in the living room: me, Leejuhyuk, Soyoungjun, Jangsuyoung, Seosungmin, and Michael Scott.

After setting up, I picked up a can of beer and stood up.

“Our players have worked really hard during the season. I’m really glad that you finished without any injuries, no matter the outcome. Let’s rest well for the next few days and then run hard again. Cheers, everyone.”

“Cheers!”

“You’ve worked hard, senior.”

“Everyone’s worked hard.”

The players exchanged words of appreciation and clinked beer cans.

Then, they took refreshing gulps.

As expected, beer tastes best when you drink it with friends.

Soyoungjun pointed to the seasoned chicken next to Scott and said,

“Scott, try this first. It’ll be as incredible as you thought. If you don’t want to get it on your hands, put on a sanitary glove.”

“Okay. That’s what I was most curious about anyway.”

Scott put on sanitary gloves on both hands and picked up a piece of seasoned chicken.

Luffy came over and prowled around, envious of the way we were enjoying our meal.

I struggled to stop Luffy from trying to eat the chicken.

“Luffy, wait a minute. Of course, I have a gift for you too.”

I went inside for a moment and brought out some dog jerky.

“Luffy, eat this. You really like it.”

As soon as I put down the jerky, Luffy wagged his tail and began to eat it deliciously.

“Scott, but the season’s over, shouldn’t you go home?”

Soyoungjun asked, turning his head.

Scott was too busy eating the seasoned chicken with exclamations to answer.

“Wow.”

He didn’t seem to have the leisure to answer.

“Anyone would think I hadn’t fed you for days. Eat a lot.”

Soyoungjun was watching Scott eat with a look of awe.

Scott opened his mouth only after finishing the piece of chicken he was holding.

“I like Korea even more now.”

“Suddenly?”

“Who on earth developed this?”

“Korean chicken is amazing.”

Soyoungjun chuckled and replied.

“Is this a very famous place? Our agency is so wonderful.”

“This is a franchise.”

“Franchise?”

“In Korea, you can order this kind of chicken anywhere.”

At Soyoungjun’s words, Scott stopped in disbelief.

“……Even near the Jaguars stadium?”

“Of course. What kind of country is South Korea? If Scott says the word, they’ll deliver it anywhere.”

“Wow…… Unbelievable.”

Scott paused blankly for a moment, then gave a standing ovation as if possessed by something.

“Representative, you should buy Scott chicken more often.”

Soyoungjun turned his head and spoke to me.

“……I never imagined it would be this much. I’ll have to order it often.”

“Our boss is so great. Wonderful.”

Scott gave me a thumbs up.

I finished the friendly conversation with Scott and went to sit next to Seosungmin, starting a conversation.

“Senior, when is your wife’s due date?”

“About 6 months left.”

“6 months…….”

“I think it’ll be around the start of next season.”

“Wow. That’s not long now.”

“It feels like a long time, but it’s not long either.”

Seosungmin’s face was already full of smiles.

“Do you think it’ll be a son or a daughter?”

“Wouldn’t a daughter be prettier?”

As expected, fathers’ thoughts weren’t that different.

“Now, let’s start watching baseball!”

Jangsuyoung turned on the TV, and the Doubles vs. Vikings wild card game was starting.

Our attention naturally turned to the baseball game.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t see any agency players in today’s game, but the charm of the postseason added to the fun of baseball.

In particular, the postseason, where the outcome is decided in just a few games, offered exciting scenes that couldn’t be seen in the regular season.

Before the game started, the starting players for the Doubles and Vikings were being introduced.

Soyoungjun took a sip of beer and looked at Jangsuyoung, asking,

“Suyoung, if you were still with the Wolves, you could have played in the Korean Series [championship series] this time. Aren’t you sad that you transferred?”

“I am sad, but I’ve won a few championships. Now, I prefer to play more games.”

“Hey, that’s annoying. It’s even more annoying because I’m jealous. How can someone who hasn’t won a championship live without feeling wronged?”

Soyoungjun took a few sips of beer and turned his gaze to me.

“Representative, please send me to a team that can win a championship too.”

“Instead of that, how about making the Pelicans win?”

“The Pelicans winning……? Ugh, I don’t expect it while I’m still playing……. If I had one wish, I’d like to see them win once before I die.”

“Why do you think it won’t happen? If the Pelicans’ ace, Soyoungjun, leads them well, they can definitely do it.”

“Hey, I don’t know.”

Soyoungjun gulped down the remaining beer.

Meanwhile, the game was fiercely underway.

As befitting the postseason, the two starting pitchers were engaged in a tight pitching duel.

You could feel the Doubles’ determination to end the game in just one match and the Vikings’ determination to drag it to the second game and win.

The outcome was decided in the second half of the game, past the middle.

Thwack!

“Wow!”

At the sound of a cool hit, our eyes simultaneously focused on the TV.

-It’s going! It’s going! It’s going! Home run!

-He’s creating a lead with a home run in an important situation.

-The Doubles are gaining a favorable position to advance to the準playoffs [semi-playoffs]!

-Waaaaaah-

The cheers of the Doubles fans seemed to burst through the TV.

I could feel the thrill just from watching it on TV.

Then suddenly, Soyoungjun came up to me.

“But Representative, shouldn’t we do something too?”

“Do what?”

“It’s boring to just watch, and I wish we could do something fun. It’s been a while since we’ve all gathered like this.”

“That’s true, but what could be fun?”

At that moment, Jangsuyoung suddenly threw out an idea.

“How about we do a live broadcast?”

“Live broadcast?”

“From the準playoffs [semi-playoffs] onward, several of our players will be playing. We’ll give biased commentary on our players.”

Before I could even think about it, Soyoungjun immediately jumped in.

“That’s a crazy idea. We can communicate with fans and watch the game together. It sounds fun?”

It did sound fun.

“Then shall we try it? If any players want to rest or are uncomfortable appearing on the broadcast, please feel free to say so.”

Everyone shook their heads as if they didn’t mind at all.

Only Seosungmin cautiously raised his hand.

“I think it would be better for me to sit out this time. I’m a little uncomfortable with the timing right now.”

Seosungmin senior would be understandable.

“Yes, of course. We’re doing it to have fun. Other players, don’t feel pressured and please speak up.”

As I turned my head, I noticed Scott.

Scott was patting his stomach and leaning back comfortably, as if he had finished his meal to his satisfaction.

“Scott? Are you really not going home? Foreign players usually want to go back to their home countries and rest as soon as the season ends.”

“I’m going to stay here longer. I like it here so much. You’re going to order chicken that day too, right?”

“That’s not difficult. The live broadcast is okay too, right?”

“Of course. I’ve always wanted to do something like that.”

Scott gave a thumbs up without hesitation.

“But the live broadcast will have to be in Korean, so will we be able to proceed smoothly?”

Soyoungjun asked worriedly.

“I’ll have to translate next to him.”

Leejuhyuk replied.

“Oh, it’s a perfect agency after all.”

Soyoungjun clapped his hands as if everything was resolved.

“It’s perfect because Gojihun senior is also starting that day.”

Jangsuyoung said with an excited expression.

“Then let’s do it.”

I was also feeling slightly excited.

* * *

A few days passed, and finally, the準playoffs [semi-playoffs] were held.

I was preparing for the live broadcast with Soyoungjun, Jangsuyoung, and Michael Scott.

There was brief game data on the table.

Leejuhyuk was planning to sit out of camera range and translate for Scott in real time.

“I’m saying this just in case, but even if it’s a biased broadcast, you can’t swear.”

I was saying it to everyone, but my eyes were drawn to one person in particular.

“Why are you talking to me, Representative?”

Soyoungjun protested, feeling my gaze.

“No, I’m just saying it just in case.”

“Don’t worry. People like me don’t make mistakes in these situations. And people’s expectations are low.”

“That’s true.”

“Tsk.”

Soyoungjun playfully raised his right hand.

“Okay, anyone who wants to go to the bathroom, go now.”

The game is about to start soon.

“Wouldn’t it be better to have a beer while we’re doing it?”

Soyoungjun said, gesturing to drink a canned beer.

“What beer.”

“Wouldn’t it be fun to think of it as naturally communicating with fans while having a beer?”

“That’s absolutely no!”

I shook my head without hesitation.

Soyoungjun lowered his head as if he was disappointed.

“There are already over 10,000 people watching?”

Jangsuyoung said, looking at the numbers again with a surprised expression.

“Wow. The reaction is hot.”

My hands were naturally sweating.

“The broadcast will start in 1 minute!”

The time for the live broadcast was approaching.