Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 66

Can We Become Friends? (2)

The meeting was proceeding as usual.

“Then let’s wrap up that part like that.”

Lim Ye-ji flipped through the meeting materials, turning to the last page.

“Hyun-woo, is Go Ji-hoon doing well?”

“Yes, yes… He’s doing fine. No problems at all.”

“Really?”

Lim Ye-ji slightly raised the corner of her mouth and looked at me.

“Of course. Is there anything particularly problematic? Hahaha.”

“That’s a relief then. I was worried.”

Lim Ye-ji nodded, seemingly satisfied.

On the other hand, Kim Min-hwan, who was next to me, looked at me with pitiful eyes.

“To get good results in Go Ji-hoon’s upcoming FA [Free Agency, allowing a player to sign with any team] negotiation, conditioning is really important. Please support him so that he can handle a full season without any problems.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Min-hwan and I answered almost simultaneously.

Lim Ye-ji looked at Kim Min-hwan and asked.

“And Team Leader, was the request you made to the hospital completed?”

“I did, but… is this okay?”

Kim Min-hwan said, unable to hide his concern.

What did he request from the hospital?

“What’s the problem?”

“If the player has to go to the hospital this often, shouldn’t we advise him to rest?”

Lim Ye-ji, after hearing Kim Min-hwan’s words, tapped the table with her pen and pondered for a moment.

“The player himself wants it, and from what I’ve heard from Go Ji-hoon, it seems like he can handle the games without any issues, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Our job is to help the player achieve the best results on the field. How the game proceeds on the field is up to the player and the team to decide.”

“Ah, yes…”

“If you have nothing more to say, let’s end the meeting here today.”

Lim Ye-ji looked at me and Kim Min-hwan alternately, made eye contact, and then got up from her seat.

What on earth is all this about?

The meeting ended with an unsettling feeling.

As soon as I left the meeting room, I approached Kim Min-hwan.

“Team Leader, what was that about earlier?”

“What?”

“What was that about requesting something from the hospital, and why did the topic of resting come up?”

Kim Min-hwan’s eyes widened slightly as he looked around.

“Shall we go out for a coffee and talk for a bit?”

Suddenly, he pulled me in, put his arm around my shoulder, and took me outside.

* * *

We settled down at a cafe near the company.

It seemed like it was the first time Kim Min-hwan and I were having a conversation outside the company while drinking coffee.

Moreover, he was even buying me coffee for the first time.

The coffee tasted even better because it was the first time I was getting coffee from Kim Min-hwan.

“Thank you for the coffee. But was it difficult to talk about in the break room?”

“Ah, well…”

Go Ji-hoon’s physical condition is concerning.

I could somewhat anticipate the content from the updated information window from Kim Min-hwan.

But I couldn’t sense anything strange from the appearance I saw in person or from Go Ji-hoon’s information window?

I did feel like he was speeding up his pace.

I didn’t think it was anything special, just a desire that anyone could have before FA.

Kim Min-hwan cautiously opened his mouth.

“You know Go Ji-hoon has a lot of minor injuries, right?”

“Well, he is an underhand pitcher after all.”

In fact, throwing a ball like a pitcher was in itself an act that put a lot of strain on the body.

Moreover, an underhand pitcher who has to bend his back completely every time he throws would inevitably put even more strain on his body.

“It seems Go Ji-hoon asked to increase the number of treatments.”

“Hmm… but getting more treatment isn’t really something to worry about, is it?”

“In a way, that’s true. If you think about getting a few more treatments at the hospital, it doesn’t seem like anything special, but… I’ve felt it since last year, but it seems like he’s pushing himself too hard.”

Last year was the season when Go Ji-hoon pitched the most innings in his personal career, 163 innings.

It was a huge feat for him, who had been averaging around 120 innings when he played a full season without injuries.

“So, the reason he’s pushing himself is…?”

“What other reason could there be? He’s running because he has FA ahead of him.”

Oh, come on, I was worried for nothing.

I thought there was some great reason.

“But isn’t that natural? I think everyone wants to get good results before FA.”

“That’s true, but…”

“It would be weirder if they didn’t. It’s not for nothing that the term ‘FA roids’ came out, right? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it would be weirder not to run like crazy.”

“Is that so?”

Kim Min-hwan still tilted his head with a worried expression.

“You can’t stop a player who has worked hard in the winter and wants to pitch a lot of innings.”

“That’s true too.”

“The club will manage him thoroughly, but I’ll keep a close eye on him from the side. Don’t worry.”

It seemed like I was the one reassuring Kim Min-hwan.

Kim Min-hwan nodded and took a sip of his drink.

“Is living with Go Ji-hoon really okay? It won’t be easy.”

“I think it’s because we’re not close yet, but we should get to know each other. It seems like we’ll be living together for a while.”

Kim Min-hwan looked at me and smiled.

“It won’t be easy to get close to that guy. I’ve known Go Ji-hoon for 5 years since we were in the agency, and I’m still uncomfortable with him.”

“5 years?”

“Of course, it’s different because I haven’t lived with him like Hyun-woo, but Go Ji-hoon’s style is just like that. He’s not the type to have many friends.”

Then how can I become friends with him?

If he’s not the type to have many friends, then even if I get a little closer, we could become more special than anyone else.

* * *

It was late at night when I returned to the dorm.

The lights were on only in the living room and the second-floor room.

Luffy, who was sitting alone in the yard, ran to me when he saw me.

When I reached out and scratched Luffy’s belly, he immediately lay down.

“You must have been bored all day because your brothers weren’t here. Should I bring a new friend?”

Starting today, the Buffaloes had to go on an away game, so Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju were both away from home.

Half of the season is away, so there will be many days like this in the future.

Fortunately, for games in the metropolitan area, there were cases where they commuted to and from away games.

Oh, wait?

Does that mean Go Ji-hoon is the only one at home right now?

This is…

It’s still awkward to spend time alone together.

But let’s try to talk to him naturally.

At least he’ll answer my questions.

I slowly moved my steps into the house.

“I’m home.”

No sound was heard other than my voice.

I didn’t think Go Ji-hoon would be watching TV in the living room at this time.

Is he training?

That seemed most likely.

I mustered up the courage and carefully went down to the basement.

“Ugh.”

The rough breathing grew louder as I got closer.

It seemed like he was doing exercises to strengthen his shoulders and waist.

It was one of the exercises that starting pitchers do while preparing for their next start.

I carefully approached so as not to interfere with his training.

“Huff. Huff.”

Go Ji-hoon, who had stopped running, wiped his sweat with a towel.

I was about to wait quietly from behind,

“Oh?”

Then I made eye contact with myself reflected in the mirror.

I overlooked the fact that there was a mirror.

It was a much faster timing than expected.

“Senior. Is your training going well?”

“Oh, well… it’s going well. I’m doing well.”

Looking at Go Ji-hoon’s expression, he didn’t seem too pleased with the sudden appearance of me and the conversation.

“Is there anything uncomfortable or anything you need?”

“There’s nothing like that?”

“When I saw your last start, your pitches looked good.”

“Really? Thanks.”

Was it just my imagination that the conversation wasn’t flowing smoothly?

“How’s your condition these days?”

“Well, just… fine.”

He now seemed to be getting tired of answering my questions.

“Are you planning to train more?”

“I was thinking of doing a little more.”

“How much rest do you take? It seems like you’ve been training quite a lot lately.”

The rest time is too short compared to the amount of training.

Taking a rest was as important as training.

If you don’t give yourself enough time to recover, the risk of injury increases accordingly.

Go Ji-hoon should have his own routine established.

“I rest when the training program is over.”

“Did the club create that program? Or did you make it yourself, Senior?”

“Why are you suddenly curious about that? Is that also the role of an agent?”

Go Ji-hoon stopped wiping his sweat with a towel and made eye contact with me.

His eyes were so sharp that I flinched for a moment.

“Well… I felt it during spring camp, but your pace is fast, and it seems like you’re training too much.”

“Is the amount of training a problem? Does that mean that athletes can’t afford to relax during the season?”

“Well, yes. You already know better than anyone else, but you need to give your body time to recover with adequate rest, and it seems like there’s not enough time for that right now.”

After listening to my words, Go Ji-hoon pondered for a moment and picked up a baseball that was piled up next to him.

“Have you ever thrown a ball on the mound?”

“I haven’t played in a real game, but I’ve thrown batting practice a few times.”

I wasn’t a pitcher, so that was the obvious answer.

“If I only add up the number of pitches I’ve thrown on the mound for 12 years, it’s probably over 20,000. If I calculate the training and warm-up I’ve done since elementary school, wouldn’t it be at least 100,000?”

Go Ji-hoon fiddled with the seams of the baseball he picked up.

“Uh…”

“Then who would know better how to throw a ball well on the mound?”

Then he threw the ball towards the wall where he was practicing pitching.

Thud!

The ball that hit the wall fell to the floor and rolled away.

Go Ji-hoon came back to me again.

“I know very well that our junior has shown outstanding ability in fostering hitters. I respect and acknowledge you enough, even though you’re my junior. But.”

“…”

“I think I know a lot more about throwing a ball, right?”

“…”

“I’ll think of it as you trying to help me in a good way until today. I hope this is the last time you meddle. I don’t think I’ll feel good if you do it again.”

Go Ji-hoon patted me on the shoulder a few times.

I turned my head and looked at Go Ji-hoon’s back as he left the training area.

Ha…

I already expected it, but it seems like he won’t be an easy opponent after all.