Chapter 21

Sajik Bread House -4-

#

-Oh, no! Players! You need to calm down! The fans are watching!

Of course, the commentator's cries were not heard. The players were making a commotion, not even properly hearing the shouts from the side.

The players from both teams were completely tangled up. However, it seemed quite difficult to calm Yang Daegun.

In fact, Yang Daegun was also a player who was often picked on by other team players.

Despite his towering 197cm frame, he was so kind and timid that he had suffered a lot since his rookie days.

Even when he was hit by a beanball, he never said a word of complaint, and when he was injured by another team's player, he would show a good-natured smile and say it was fine. He had never insulted anyone in the media, and even when he was cursed and hit by a drunk who was not even worth a mention, he would let it go.

-We need someone to calm down Yang Daegun. He's so big and strong...

He didn't mind being hit himself.

But a ball flying over his head was clearly a threat. It wasn't just a matter of whether it hit or not.

He was already struggling with the position of team captain, which didn't suit his personality.

However, he didn't want the young players, who had just graduated from high school and were doing well, to go through what he had gone through.

"Hit me instead!"

Yang Daegun knew that when someone like him used force, someone was bound to get hurt.

He had received a lot of hurtful looks from people around him because of his size since he was young.

He had always thought it was better for him to get hurt. But after talking with Kang Geon-woo and No Gyeong-woo, he had a new realization.

"Does being passive make me look weak!"

If he remained passive, others would get hurt.

Even Kim Il-jeon had once hit Yang Daegun's ankle with a ball, causing a fracture. At that time, he simply told the reporters, "I don't think he did it on purpose. I think such things can happen in sports."

The Oceans fans gathered at Sajik Stadium also went wild, but when the fight finally ended and Yang Daegun was ordered to leave the field, they all chanted his name together.

"Yang Daegun! Yang Daegun!"

"Daegun, well done! Now you're acting like a captain!"

"Captain Yang, you're the best! No one can touch you now!"

While violence cannot be justified, the fans knew Yang Daegun's usual demeanor.

They also knew that he had done something that didn't suit him for the sake of his juniors.

The coach accompanied him as he left the field.

"Good job, big guy."

[-Live- Incheon Vikings 2 : 9 Busan Oceans.]

Yang Daegun is so scary, even on screen it's terrifying;;;

Is he really a baseball player? He should be permanently banned, how can someone hit like that?

Well, it's better than being hit by a ball.

But he wasn't hit, right?

Shut up, you bastard. Suspend him for the remaining games.

Hypocrites. They always throw beanballs and injure people while sliding.

But still, a punch is too much, isn't it?

If you're mad, hit them back.

How can you hit that monster?

LOL, why did he do something so stupid?

If Daegun is scared, he shouldn't throw beanballs. LOL

Did you see Sajik's Yang Daegun's fighting skills?

Kang Geon-woo's girlfriend making toast was cute.

Kang Geon-woo's toast was cuter.

;;

With Yang Daegun's awakening, the Oceans transformed from the weakest team in bench clearing to the strongest.

#

The game ended 11-3. Although it was a bit chaotic, the atmosphere was definitely lifted.

When Daegun was ordered to leave, senior player Lee Si-wook took over the lead.

"Ah! Viking bastards! It feels good to see you squirm!"

Bae Young-han laughed strangely.

"Daegun is a scary guy."

Yeah. We should be more careful now, or we might end up in trouble.

His smartphone was flooded with messages.

-Yuri: Geon-woo, ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Yuri: Were you scared? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

If it weren't for Daegun, I would have gone to give a punch.

I thought he had already left work, but Daegun was hiding in the locker room bathroom when he was found by senior player Lee Si-wook.

"Hey! Senior! How long have you been here?"

"Um... since a while ago..."

"Why were you hiding?"

"Well, I felt a bit embarrassed..."

The image of him fighting alone like a turtle ship amidst the enemy was gone, and he was back to his usual self.

Senior pitcher Kim Jeong-yong, the leader of the pitching staff, asked.

"Daegun, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine..."

"No, your palm. Kim Il-jeon's face was pretty swollen, right?"

"My palm is quite tough..."

Not just his palm, but his whole body seemed tough.

I thanked him.

"Thank you."

"Oh, no, no. There's no need to thank me."

"It's because of me, isn't it?"

"I don't really know why I did it..."

I knew he acted without any calculation. That's why I'm more grateful.

No Gyeong-woo, who didn't seem to get it, chimed in with a silly comment.

"Senior! Can you teach me how to punch well?"

"Hey, why...?"

"Geon-woo."

"What?"

"Daegun's punches are a matter of talent, not something you can learn."

Anyway, today's schedule is over. Tomorrow is Monday, a day off, and next week we have three-game series against the Irons and the Thunderbirds.

The coach, who received an ejection in his second official game since taking office, looked quite happy. He emphasized that the team must act as one.

"If our big guy can't play, it will be a huge loss, but I hope you play as if he is with us. Remember, the team is one."

The team's morale seems to have risen. In the major leagues, teams sometimes deliberately cause bench clearings to lift the team's spirits.

Since the Vikings had often taken advantage of them, most of the players' reactions were along the lines of feeling relieved or wanting to show the opponents who they were.

From what I can tell, the former mainstays, Jung Gwi-hyun and Ko Eun-tae, seemed to only care about themselves.

When the coach left, senior player Lee Si-wook, perhaps wanting to start a party, shouted.

"Senior Daegun! Aren't you going to have a drink?"

"Um, I'm going to have a drink with Senior Yong-han."

"What? Senior, then come with me."

"Why?"

"If you go, the Viking bastards will gang up on you."

"No, I won't."

"Sure. I saw you hit Kim Il-jeon today, so you could probably take on five or six."

Yang Daegun made a strange face, put his finger to his lips, and said to be quiet.

"Senior! If it goes over ten, call me! I'll call the police!"

He then approached me.

"Geon-woo."

"Yes."

"Want to have a quick drink?"

Bae Young-han interjected.

"He has an alcohol allergy."

"Oh..."

"Want to have a drink with me?"

"Oh..."

"Why? Don't you want to? Si-wook doesn't have a girlfriend, right?"

"Yes..."

"Want me to introduce you to a girl?"

"Oh, Senior. I'll take care of you. Let's go."

He acted like a proper senior.

A few more people joined, and No Gyeong-woo, who had joined the group, quietly approached me.

"Want to come with us?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Yuri is worried I might be hurt. What would she think if I went drinking?"

"Happy to see you adapting well to the team? My boyfriend is really good at socializing?"

"Yeah. If you get a girlfriend, do the same."

...It reminds me of the past.

I, um.

I'm really lucky. Those memories are mine alone.

By coming back to the past, I've been given another chance.

Maybe I could have challenged the major leagues again and become an even greater player than before. I could have maintained a good relationship with Yuri while doing so.

But so far, I don't regret it. Here, we can be closer, and we don't have to meet after weeks or months to talk about different things.

On the way home, I decided to buy a flower.

To be honest, I don't know why Yuri likes flowers.

Since I came out a bit later, there weren't many fans. I signed for a few fans, took photos with them, and even sang my cheering song with them.

"Thank you. Please come to the game on Tuesday."

When I caught a taxi.

"Hey? What's this? It's Kang Geon-woo!"

Even though I refused, the driver didn't turn on the meter.

"Can you let me off here for a moment?"

"Flower shop?"

"Yes."

"Is it for your girlfriend?"

It seems the news has spread quite a bit. The driver gave a strange, lecherous smile.

He also made a fuss at the flower shop owner.

"Ma'am! Don't you know Kang Geon-woo? Kang Geon-woo! Oceans' Kang Geon-woo!"

"Kang Geon-woo? Kang Geon-woo! Kang Geon-woo!"

What's wrong with this city? Do they love baseball so much?

I insisted on paying for the free flowers and paid the driver when I got home, even though he said I didn't need to.

"Everyone else is going out to drink, but you look good! Keep showing us exciting baseball! I'm cheering for you!"

Hmm. I need to get my driver's license soon.

#

"Daegun."

"Yes, Senior."

"Wasn't today a bit too much?"

"I'm sorry..."

"I got a bruise trying to stop you."

"Senior..."

Oceans' captain Yang Daegun and Vikings' captain Jo Yong-han were drinking quietly in a secluded place.

Jo Yong-han poured the drink into his mouth and said.

"Well, I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine."

"Frankly, our guys were a bit too much."

"..."

"Still, hitting with a bat. Ah. Your parents were probably watching on TV."

"..."

"Still, you did well."

"Really?"

"An athlete can't be too gentle. As the Vikings' captain, I shouldn't say this, but our team did look down on you guys."

"That's true..."

"I thought you would be swayed by Irons, Gwi-hyun, and Eun-tae, but I'm glad you're acting like a captain."

"Thank you."

"Still, if you fight again, don't hit me."

"Look at what you did."

"What?"

"Hehe. Just kidding."

"Alright. Hey. I'll talk to Il-jeon and Chang-hyeol."

"I'll talk to myself too."

"What?"

"Daegun. Hold back. Don't hit in a way that makes you feel humiliated. Try to hit where no one can see. Got it?"

"You bastard."

The two, who were high school seniors and juniors, laughed heartily. Jo Yong-han, one of the few seniors Yang Daegun liked in the baseball world, said.

"Still, shouldn't we take a picture to show we've made up?"

"Will Il-jeon accept it?"

"I did it on purpose. I clearly told him not to."

"Oh..."

"If he says no, will he want to get hit by Daegun again?"

"Kuk kuk."

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because I should have hit him earlier."

"You bastard."

"Just kidding."

"Alright, let's drink."

"But I need to go home quickly. I can't stay long."

"Why?"

"It's recycling day."

"Hey, what... Ha. That's like you. Let's wrap it up quickly."

"What?"

"We need to take a picture with Il-jeon."

"Really?"

"I still have a good grip on our team's pitchers. Wait. Hello. Il-jeon, come here for a moment."

#

Before going home, I sent a message to Yuri, asking her to come to the playground.

Yuri walked out with a gloomy face. She seemed very worried.

"Hey, Kang Geon-woo. Are you okay?"

I smiled and extended the bouquet of flowers I had hidden behind my back.

"What? I'm fine, why?"

"Hey, this..."

"A gift for the genius coach who helped me with my batting form. Thanks to you, I've already hit a few home runs."

Yuri took the flowers and rolled her eyes. It was a look of liking but also a bit of embarrassment. But her eyes suddenly turned suspicious.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Did something happen?"

"Why? Nothing happened."

"But suddenly a bouquet? Are you trying to reassure me?"

"Absolutely not. Is this the first time I've given you flowers?"

"Um."

Was it?

Hmm.

It