Chapter 667 – Episode 654. 2026 Asian Games Finals.

[The match between Korea and Japan, between Japan and South Korea. The long-awaited finals of the Asian Games are taking place now. There are so many Taegeuk warriors aiming for the gold medal today, and the first runner is the baseball team?]

[Yes. Starting with the baseball team at 7 o’clock, the women’s volleyball team starts at 8:30, and the men’s soccer team starts at 9 o’clock, each aiming for the gold medal.]

[I hope you win gold in all three events. By the way, Manager Joo Hyung-jin announced Kim Won-ho as the starting pitcher. What do you think?]

[Kim Won-ho is currently the best player in the league, and he pitched 6 scoreless innings against Japan in the group stage, right? I think a similar pattern will probably unfold in this final. Kim Won-ho blocks and Ji Maeng-ho hits, this is the pattern of the game.]

[Yes. Now, let’s start the game with each country’s national anthem. … Top of the first inning, Republic of Korea attacks. Let’s call the lineup. The number one hitter, Jeong Hwi-cheol…, 4th batter, Ji Maeng-ho. …. … Jeong Hwi-cheol’s hit! Korea succeeds in getting the lead hitter on base from the first inning! … With two outs, the fourth batter, Ji Maeng-ho, comes to the plate. … Walk. The situation becomes 2 outs, 1st and 2nd bases.]

[In this situation, it’s hard not to ignore Ji Maeng-ho, right? Still, Park Jeong-hyuk is showing good form…]

[… Safety! The batted ball split into left-center! Jeong Hwi-cheol goes all the way home! Ji Maengho! Ji Maeng-ho also went home! Home! Coming in! 2:0! Team Korea scoring points from the first inning!]

[Hey, Ji Maeng-ho, I knew that, but the acceleration is really incredible.]

*

‘Sseu-eup, Hyuna’s match is at 8:30… If I call 5 times, I can see it in the middle of the first set, and if I call 7 times, I can see it in the 2nd or 3rd set, right?’

Hyuna starts the game at 8:30. About 10 minutes had passed and there were about 80 minutes left, but after attacking in the first inning, it seemed impossible to get in when the game started. The Japanese pitcher was also throwing some balls, so at best, he was called in the 7th inning.

Moreover, it takes about 40 minutes to get to the stadium where the finals will be held… If I were a little late, I might not have been able to watch the game at all.

In times like this, the only person I can trust is my friend Wonho.

“Wonho, please.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go quickly, quickly. “As usual.”

“This kid is putting pressure on the starting pitcher…”

“So? “Is it burdensome?”

“… Is that okay?”

Fortunately, judging from Wonho’s confident words, it seemed like there was no need to worry too much.

Well, it was strange that Wonho was nervous on the Asian Games stage. It was Wonho who showed good performance at the Olympics and WBC, and especially because he was the guy who was not afraid to throw even against me.

“Then I believe it.”

“This guy is weird. Why is this happening all of a sudden?”

“I should finish it quickly and go watch Hyuna play.”

“… Ah.”

Wonho lets out a short exclamation at my words and then nods. And then the Japanese attack began in the bottom of the first inning.

“Strike! Out!”

Wonho had liked Hyuna in the past, so I was a little worried that Hyuna’s story might have affected Wonho’s mentality, but fortunately it didn’t seem to have happened.

‘Well, it’s been a few years, and it’s strange if you still like it. Well, I guess I’ve really given up on it now.’

A few weeks ago, when there was controversy over her private life, Wonho asked her if she was still dating Hyuna, and when she answered that she was still dating him, she said, ‘Is that because of Hyuna’s personality? There was a time when Wonho laughed, saying, ‘I guess you really love me a lot?’

However, since it was over the phone, I was confused whether Wonho still liked Hyuna, but after seeing his reaction today, it seemed like he had completely forgotten about Hyuna.

‘Okay, let’s focus too.’

I tried to stop worrying about Wonho and focus on the game, but there was no need for me to focus.

“Out!”

“Out!”

Because Wonho quickly dealt with the other two batters as well. It seemed like he was throwing the ball with the same feeling as when he was hitting me, but he seemed to be paying a bit more attention because it was the final game.

“Wonho, it was good!”

Wonho nodded and answered what I said, probably already in game mode.

Thanks to Wonho’s good pitching, the game progressed quickly. In the top of the third inning, when I went to bat for the second time, the score was 2:0, and it was difficult to rule out me with no outs on first and second base. Moreover, the batsman behind me is Park Jeong-hyuk, who is performing the best after me in the Asian Games.

‘Okay, we’re on first and second base with no outs, so if we hit a home run, it’s 5:0. Looking at Wonho’s condition today, it looks like it will be easy to give up no runs until the 7th inning.’

At this pace, I thought I could finish the game quickly and watch Hyuna play. To do that, I needed a home run.

Of course, there was no need to worry. I believed in my abilities,

‘Mr. Rossby?’

‘It’s a fastball.’

Because I had Mr. Rossby.

The opposing pitcher is Yamada, who plays for the Japanese society. He is a lefty who throws a fastball in the low 150s. Although I heard that he has an ERA in the 0 range, he is a pitcher of a professional level.

I waited for the guy’s pitch, picturing in my mind the timing of the guy’s fastball that I saw from the waiting box.

“Ball.”

However, the first pitch misses sharply.

‘First pitch ball? You are poor.’

Since it was a situation where a walk should not have been given anyway, it was the pitcher who stopped him. I calmly waited for his ball and led the count to three balls and one strike.

‘Should I throw a strike now? Isn’t that right?’

‘It’s a change-up.’

‘Change-up? Okay.’

The changeup thrown by a left-handed pitcher is a difficult ball for right-handed batters to deal with due to its trajectory… Believing this fact, he seemed to have chosen a change-up.

The Japanese kids came out after doing their best to analyze it, but no matter how good I am at hitting a changeup, I guess they didn’t think that I could hit a changeup I’d never seen before from a pitcher I’d never seen before?

Of course, it was difficult for me to hit a pitch I had never seen before from a pitcher I had never seen before without Mr. Rossby’s help.

However, I had Mr. Rossby, and as long as I knew the pitch type, the changeup…,

Ta – Aak!

It’s just a shit ball that’s easy to hit.

The batted ball cuts through the wind and flies near the fence. Well, there was no need to watch. Because it was a home run that had been hit hundreds of times so far.

“Nice!”

“Meng Hao, shouldn’t you be more happy? It’s a Korea-Japan match.”

“Hey, are you doing Seungri One Two Day? Let’s finish it quickly!”

*

[Game over! Thanks to Kim Won-ho’s excellent pitching in 7 innings, allowing 3 hits and no runs, the Korean national team won the game between Korea and Japan and won the championship in Japan!]

[Hey, if you lose 11-0 cold in your home, you must be very upset, right? Congratulations to the Korean team.]

[With the news that the Korean baseball team won the championship, we will continue with the soccer broadcast. Here…]

-Korea wins sssss!

┗Wow, it ended right when soccer started. What a benefit haha

-I would like to thank the fierce defenders for ending the game quickly so that the people can watch soccer. LOL

┗ㄱㅊ!ㅋㅋㅋ

-What happened to Yeobae?

┗Are you doing it now? 1:1 with China

┗┗Isn’t China doing really well? How is it 1:1?

┗┗Commentary I heard that Choi Hyun-ah is doing really well?

┗┗So where is the broadcast of Yeobae?

┗┗Should I do it in 1?

*

Beep!

[Ah! Hyuna Choi does it again! 14:13 Korea is once again keeping the spark of pursuit alive!]

[You just tapped the ball as it came up and passed it over? It was a perfect pass paint! But it’s still too early to rejoice. It’s still a match point, and we shouldn’t give one point.]

[South Korea continues to gain the right to attack! You can do it! You can do it! And Choi Hyun-ah on sub. Hyuna Choi’s serve! Receive! Ah! I missed this! Sub A! Score 14:14! Choi Hyun-ah records her second serve ace today! Creates a deuce!]

[Aren’t the Chinese players tired enough now? It was definitely a serve that could have been blocked in the first set, but I couldn’t receive it properly. Mental strength, the last important thing at the end of the 5th set is mental strength.]

Beep!

A close match that lasted until 14:14 in the 5th set. The buzzer sounds and players from both teams gather on the bench for a meeting.

“Hyunya, nice, you did a good job, you did a perfect job.”

“Ha, ha…”

The director praised her, but Hyuna couldn’t hear anything.

Lack of stamina? Of course not. Although it is an embarrassing story to tell others, Hyuna was confident that she was physically superior to anyone else. In order to spend quality time with Meng Ho, Hyuna always trains harder and more often than anyone else.

There is only one reason why Hyuna is gathered around. Extreme tension.

Final, 5th set, and 14:14. And Hyuna, this is a match where she could achieve her first win as an individual. Hyuna’s heart was pounding as the situation was pushed to its extreme limit.

Hyuna’s condition was not very good, as she was already down to 14 points, and it was safe to say that she was playing with only the senses remaining in her body rather than a plan. Still, his teammates didn’t notice because he had an innate sense.

‘Ha… Fuck, my heart can’t calm down.’

Moreover, Hyuna’s position was the most important setter on her team.

A setter who changes the team’s victory or defeat with a single gesture or touch.

Everyone is looking at themselves.

“…”

The director is talking to himself.

Hyuna strained her eyes to understand the director’s words instead of her hearing ears, but she could not understand what the director was saying. But at that time, Hyuna, who strained her eyes, saw someone walking into the seat.

The person’s body stood out because he was taller than most people, but Hyuna was confident that she would still be able to recognize him even if he was shorter than most people.

‘Ji Maeng-ho… ? What? How did we get here? Wasn’t there a game?’

Because that person was the person he loved.

Wave your hand Our eyes meet. Meng Hao’s lips are moving.

‘Fury. This. ‘Ting!’

“… Phew.”

Hyuna, who followed Meng Hao’s lips and understood what he said, burst into laughter. And a smile spreads across Meng Hao’s lips.

“… Hyunya! Hyunya! Did you understand?!”

Hyuna’s world, where she couldn’t hear anything, is filled with noise.

“… Yes!”

I don’t know what the director was talking about, but I could clearly see what he was asking for. That’s the team’s victory.

“Okay, what did I tell you to do?”

“… “I’ll just take care of it.”

“…”

The director’s expression hardens at Hyuna’s bold words. However, the coach also knew because he experienced it as a player. The fact is that an Ace in this state is not to be touched.

“… Yes, I believe it.”

“Please believe me. “Director.”

After the operation time was over, if it was long, it would be long, if it was short, it would be short. In Hyuna’s mind, it was not the tension about the game,

‘How did you get a seat at the front? You don’t even talk to me.’

I was filled with thoughts about Meng Hao, who made a surprise visit to the stadium. And, the fact that Meng Hao was watching made me feel more energized than usual.

‘Yes, Meng Hao is here too, we can’t lose. If you lose, they will definitely make fun of you.’

So the game started again,

[Baek Yoon-hee’s serve! … Yuyen’s Spike! I’m out! I’m out! Score again! South Korea scores three consecutive points from the brink and is only one point away from winning the championship!]

Yuyen’s spike, which had been shaking all day, missed, and Korea’s attack continued with only one step left to win.

A rally that started from the serve. The battle that could possibly confirm the win continues, and the libero’s digging leads to Hyuna.

Hyuna’s current score is 9 points, including 2 sub-aces. It is said that some points were obtained by blocking, with a scoring ability that is not suitable for the position of a setter, but the number of points was a testament to how sharp Hyuna’s attack was today.

The Chinese players also knew that, so they prepared for Hyuna’s feint attack.

There is only one point left to win. And the ball heading for the ace.

The thought that the ace might want to end the game passed through the Chinese players’ minds, and just as they thought, one of Hyuna’s hands stretched out as if she was going to feint.

“Stop it!”

Chinese players jump high to block Hyuna’s feint attack…

Tuk.

The ball, slightly floating in the air, goes behind Hyuna’s body, and when the Chinese players’ blocking goes down, a strong spike is struck. At the last moment, Hyuna passed the ball to the attacker as she always practiced.

[Choi Hyun-ah’s one-handed toss! Kang Seon-hee… ! Ah! Blocking!]

However, there was still a long arm left in the net that seemed to be perfectly open. The person holding the arm is Yu Yan, who is 2 m 7 cm tall. Yu Yan’s hand, which was coming down after jumping, blocked the spike.

Tak!

After the ball is blocked, it passes back into the Republic of Korea’s half. Because it was a split-second, no player could react to the ball, and everyone in the stadium turned their attention to the ball.

Empty!

[… Line! It passed! Korea! Korea! Win! Korea beat Asia’s strongest team, China, and won the gold medal! Korea! It’s a win!]

“Aaaaah!”

“I won!”

As the ball passed by Yu Yan fell outside the line, the Chinese players sat down, and the Korean players were busy hugging each other.

“Hyunya! It was good!”

While hugging each other like that, a person comes into Hyuna’s eyes, whose eyes are half covered by tears… The person who gave me strength in a moment of crisis. Hyuna wanted to convey her feelings to that person at this moment.

“Meng Hao… !”

The world’s view?

“Uh? What? Choi Hyun-ah, where are you going?”

That wasn’t what was important to Hyuna right now. All that matters now is that the person you love is in front of you, and if you run just a little bit, you can feel that person’s warmth.

The low railing that separates the stadium from the stands, the fierce tiger stretching out his hand as he runs, and when he arrives in front of it, he bows down and gives his hand a hug.

As she was held by that hand, the familiar smell of sweat reached Hyuna’s nose. However, as always, Meng Hao’s scent was fragrant.

“Eww… The smell of sweat. “Didn’t you wash up after the game?”

Of course, the words that came out of his mouth were different from his true intentions.

“I came right after the awards ceremony. I’m afraid your game will be over.”

“… “Fool.”

“Congratulations on winning. Well, compared to me, I still have a long way to go.”

“… “Good job.”

Like that, Hyuna stuck out her lips as usual, and Meng Ho also covered Hyuna’s lips with his own, as usual.

“Uh? Isn’t that Ji Maeng-ho?”

“Take a picture! Take a picture!”

Click, click.

And the camera’s flash focused on the two people kissing.