Chapters 197 – 195. Aftershock. (One)

Everyone who was watching was speechless for a few seconds at the sight of Ji Maeng-ho, who aimed his bat at the screen and slightly bent one knee as if he were shooting. Then, after bouncing the bat once with his hand, he threw the bat away and the frozen time began to move.

[Uh? What is it?]

[Eh… ?]

-?
-?
-?

-What did that guy just do?

– Was it just a ceremony?

“What? That bastard?”

The broadcasters who were broadcasting the game, the fans who were watching the game, and the players in the stadium were all taken aback by the unexpected situation. In particular, Ji Maeng-ho’s eccentricity was embarrassing to the point that even on baseball-loving sites, posts with only question marks for a few seconds appeared.

And in such an embarrassing situation, Ji Maeng-ho was leisurely circling the base.

[Was it just a home run ceremony?]

[Ah… Yes. It’s the first time I’ve seen it while broadcasting baseball for over 10 years. Uh… Uh, today isn’t the All-Star game, is it? Are you really young and MZ? Haha. Certainly, players these days have that kind of showmanship… Joe?]

The commentator was trying to protect the player as much as possible, but the words kept getting twisted because he did not understand the situation.

[Oh, is there a situation like this? First of all, Ji Maeng-ho’s two-run home run turned the game over to 6:5… Ah, catcher Kyung-Ho Baek blocked Ji Maeng-Ho who stepped on the home plate! Players flock to it! If this is so, if this is so!]

And just as the shock of the ceremony, which had never been seen before, was over, Baek Kyung-ho blocked Ji Maeng-ho who had stepped on the home plate.

[The players run out of the dugout!]

– Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho!

The voices of the fans chanting Ji Maeng-ho’s name were the loudest in this game, probably thanks to the come-from-behind home run and the fun watching. Under that voice, players from both teams gathered near the two players.

“Hey, you bastard! What are you doing bastard Who did you learn baseball from? Is this fucking tee that you can’t learn? “

“I learned from Lee Gi-cheol. Why? If you twist it, did you hit a homerun and hold a ceremony? Oh, don’t you have the skills to hit a home run?”

“This shit! Does your team have no seniors?”

“Are you telling me to listen?”

“No, Kwan-hyung hyung! This is a bit harsh! It’s not like some crazy bastard is playing!”

“What’s up with you, you keep calling me an asshole?”

“Hey, hey! Stop Ji Maeng-Ho! That bastard raises his fist again!”

“Dry! Dry it! Hey! What are you looking at! Stop it!”

Ji Maeng-ho and Baek Kyeong-ho are fighting against the giants.

“Maengho! Senior! Be patient!”

“Ah, why the fuck are you so strong?”

In such a confusing situation, the managers of both teams also faced each other.

“Lee Soo-hyun! What are you doing!”

“Senior, can you lower your voice? Are you all listening?”

With an age difference of over 10 years, director Lee Su-hyeon talked nicely and tried to stop UG director Moon Ki-taek.

“What? Is the pro a kid’s play? Hey! There, you, Ji Maeng-ho! Come to work!”

In that brief moment when Moon Ki-taek called Ji Maeng-ho, Lee Su-hyeon was put at a crossroads of choice.

The opponent is Moon Ki-taek, who is 10 years his senior and often seen in the baseball world. If it was an ordinary situation, it would have been appropriate to lose to Moon Ki-taek. However, he was the manager of this team, and Ji Maeng-ho was his own player.

‘Ha, Ji Maeng-ho… !’

His head was pounding because of the fierce tiger after he had an accident less than a few days after the warning, but Lee Su-hyeon had no choice but to open his mouth.

“Director Moon! Why are you saying this to other players?”

“What? Director Moon? Did these bastards eat real manners? Am I your friend? Huh?”

“Then, should we consider seniors and juniors in Gyeonggi-do? What, do you want to lose? Don’t you know that there are no seniors and juniors at the stadium?”

“Ha, because this bastard wants to see you.”

“Young? Don’t swear Who is holding back because they can’t fucking curse?”

“Fuck?!”

Players who had been arguing before the rare coaches’ words stopped talking and started looking at the coaches one by one.

“Directors! Why are you doing that!”

Then the referees stepped in between the two coaches, putting them apart.

“Hey! Lee Suhyun you bastard!”

“What! What!”

A strange situation in which the voice grows louder as the distance between the two increases. In that strange confrontation, interest in Ji Maeng-ho, who was the starting point of the incident, gradually faded.

“If you continue for two minutes, you will be exited!”

“… Under. See you outside.”

“Who knows who would be afraid to see it.”

“Directors!”

And the lull began. Players from both teams glared at each other and began to move to their respective dugouts.

[Uh, fortunately there was no violence. I was worried about Ji Maeng-ho’s past, but fortunately, that didn’t happen. Such violence shouldn’t happen in a baseball league that even young fans watch, right?]

[You’re right. Uh, Maeng-Ho Ji’s ceremony was a little too much, right? It was a situation that made Baek Kyung-ho angry enough. Even if they are enemies, we must show respect for each other.]

[Uh, Joonghwan Yoon is getting off the mound. The next pitcher…]

The pitcher was replaced and Choi Jin-cheol, the next hitter, entered the plate. And from the first pitch, the ball pierced Choi Jin-cheol’s thigh. Choi Jin-cheol smiled bitterly before throwing the bat and walking to first base.

[Choi Jin-cheol, you endured well. I endured it well.]

[Fortunately, the. The second round did not happen.]

[Both teams need to calm down the heated atmosphere. Choi Jin-cheol endures like a veteran.]

“… Did you see it?”

Director Lee Soo-hyun said in a low voice. Of course, the target of the question was Ji Maeng-ho, who was standing next to him in an engrossed resting posture.

“… Yes.”

“You don’t know that your co-workers will get hurt if you do that shit, don’t you?”

“… Sorry.”

“Do you want the director to be criticized and the seniors to be beaten because of you?”

“… No.”

“But why?”

“Sorry. I think I was a little excited.”

To director Lee Soo-hyun’s question, Ji Maeng-ho barely answered. It wasn’t a difficult question for him to answer, but the reason he managed to answer it was, of course, Rossby who was smiling beside him.

Hehehahaha, you stupid bastard! I’ve never seen a bastard like you in my life. Hehehahahaha!!’

‘Please, shut up! Because the atmosphere is serious.’

I couldn’t contain my excitement. Revenge for Yoon Joong-hwan, army, reversal, home run, excitement. These things were combined in a complex way, and he unknowingly held a sniper ceremony.

“How long are you going to act like that because you’re young? Huh? Fierce tiger Let’s get some iron. Please. I’m losing my hair because of you. Huh?”

“Sorry.”

“Under… You are fined.”

“Yes.”

Doesn’t that mean there are no other penalties? At that thought, Ji Maeng-ho’s expression brightened slightly.

‘Well, there’s no rule in the rule book not to hold a ceremony.’

“It’s 2 million won.”

“200? My annual salary is 3000…”

“So it’s not worth it? The guy who got a down payment of over 500 million and drives a nice car… And you, you also got the monthly MVP prize.”

“… Yes.”

Still, if it was 200, did you block it cheaply? While Ji Maeng-ho was thinking about that, Choi Jin-cheol came into the dugout as a replacement for the runner-up.

“Ji Maeng-ho!”

“Yes! Seniors!”

“Come here.”

At Choi Jin-cheol’s call, Ji Maeng-ho hurriedly ran. And the sound of hitting the helmet with a thump rang through the dugout.

“Dude, I’m going crazy because of you. Crazy.”

“… Sorry.”

“… But, it was funny. In nearly 30 years of baseball, I’ve never seen a real kid like you.”

“Hehe, right?”

“Split?”

“… Sorry.”

Choi Jin-cheol’s admonition was over, but Ji Maeng-ho’s feet didn’t know how to rest.

“Ji Maeng-ho.”

Kim Soo-ho called Ji Maeng-ho in a low voice. I wanted to say something, but director Lee Soo-hyun and senior Choi Jin-cheol caught Ji Maeng-ho first, so my turn came late.

“Yes, senior.”

“Follow me down the aisle.”

At Kim Su-ho’s call, Ji Maeng-ho moved to the aisle between the dugout and the locker room.

“Hey. Are you good at baseball?”

“… No.”

“Why are you really like that? Under… I’m tired of talking now. Exhausted.”

“Well, what am I supposed to say? I couldn’t control my excitement.”

“Are you going to come to your senses if you give it a try? Let’s play baseball please. Baseball only.”

Seeing Kim Soo-ho talking, unlike usual, as if begging, even Ji Maeng-ho of the world began to feel guilty.

“… Sorry.”

“Ha… I’m not the kind of person who talks like this to juniors, but I’m really worried about you. Huh? Come to your senses. Fierce tiger! Please!”

Ji Maeng-ho’s eccentricity was absurd to the point that even Kim Soo-ho, who usually doesn’t talk much, talked a lot.

“Yes…”

“Really, you fell behind even if you weren’t good at baseball. Really. Under… There wasn’t a guy like this among my juniors, but somehow this guy came in. Under… Even if you can’t play baseball… Hey! Go!”

And when he returned to the dugout, the weatherman tapped the seat next to the bench he was sitting on.

“Sit down.”

“… Yes.”

“Hey. If you did that in the majors, you would get shot. Really.”

“… This is Korea.”

“The mouth is alive. Hehe, but it’s so damn funny. It’s the first time I’ve seen Kyungho hyung make that kind of expression, really.”

Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh, kid. I am fond of it.”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t go to another team. If we meet as enemies, then I really break the pot with a bat. Okay?”

“… Yes. But does that mean that you will be at AT for life? I’m going to the majors here.”

“What is the major for your skills? He definitely has a knack for being funny.”

“Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh, bitch.”

And the one who watches that Ji Maeng-ho get scolded.

‘Certainly, kids these days have individual ceremonies. I guess I’m old I mean, I don’t understand. Still, it’s sad to see him die. It shouldn’t have any effect on grades. Maybe that kind of confidence is the secret to grades. Without that, a rookie can’t achieve this kind of performance.’

It was Woo Kwan-hyung, who was looking at Ji Maeng-ho with his father’s smile.

*

[Let’s meet today’s Suhun player, Ji Maeng-ho. Hello! Maengho Ji!]

[Hello. This is AT Thunders Maeng-Ho Ji.]

[Including the come-from-behind home run that became the final hit today, you made a big success with 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 3 runs and 2 RBIs, right? Please tell me what you think from 20-20.]

[First of all, it feels good to win today’s game, and more than anything, it feels good that it came out of my hands. And 20-20 honestly doesn’t bother me that much. My goal is 60-60 beyond 50-50.]

[Oh, what an aspiration… Uh, and with May just around the corner, are you nominated for Monthly MVP again? What do you think.]

[Of course I will.]

[Oh, I see. Uh, then, uh, today we hit a home run and shot with a gun. What did it mean?]

[It didn’t make any sense. I just did it because I felt good.]

[… Ah yes. Yes… Joe? I guess so? Ah. Then, by the way, there aren’t any players who usually do such a ceremony after hitting a home run, right? Is there a reason why you did such a ceremony?]

[Ah, I met Yoon Joong-hwan the other day, and he struck out me and held a shouting ceremony. So, I also did a ceremony. Pitchers do that too, can’t we hitters?]

[Uh, doesn’t it usually end with a bat flip?]

[Because I’m not an ordinary person.]

[Ah, that’s right. Yes. I bet it is. Uh, yes If so, baseball fans might think badly of Ji Maeng-ho, right? Is this a bit out of line?]

[Would my fans or AT fans like it?]

[Other fans… ?]

[Any other fans? Should I even care about that?]

[Then, the interview with Suhun today ends here. Thank you.]

The interview with Ji Maeng-ho that day recorded 100,000 views, and the video of Ji Maeng-ho’s ceremony recorded 1 million views in one day, and the video was introduced on ESPN.