The sport that draws the most spectators in Korea is, without a doubt, baseball.
But even baseball had its slump.
Poor international results in the early 2000s.
And the economic downturn.
Day by day, baseball's attendance dwindled, and it seemed to be falling into ruin.
But starting with the 2006 WBC semifinals.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal.
The 2009 WBC final against Japan, a regrettable runner-up finish, and so on.
Good results in international competitions became the catalyst for baseball's popularity, not only recovering attendance but even setting new attendance records.
In my past life, too, I liked baseball by riding the wave of the fever from international matches.
Especially the Olympic gold medal.
It didn't stop at simply watching games; I liked it so much that after school, I would gather on the playground with friends to play catch and baseball every single day.
I even wrote down baseball player as my future dream.
"Hold the grip like this..."
The reason I'm reminiscing about the past is simple.
"Now, get in your stance. One, two, three. Then just throw."
It's because I'm throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the KBO League opening game held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.
The baseball player currently looking over my form.
"Like this?"
The day of the first pitch.
I arrived an hour or two before the game started and was receiving pitching coaching from the players.
And that while all dolled up after visiting the salon.
I have a special performance coming up later, so there's no helping the discomfort, but.
"Yes. You have the best posture of any first pitcher I've seen."
Among my friends, I was something of a pitcher.
Meaning I'm not a complete outsider when it comes to playing baseball.
"I think it'd be even better if you threw the ball a little higher."
If only I could control my pitches well somehow, wouldn't they be calling me a first pitch goddess?
Me, who's even good at sports.
Just what the hell am I lacking?
"We'll proceed with introductions, then the first pitch and first at-bat in order. Don't feel pressured; just throw comfortably."
"Yes, don't worry. I practiced a ton at the lodging yesterday."
"At the lodging...?"
All night, I practiced by throwing a small rubber ball, similar to a softball, wildly toward Gim Seoyun.
I was so cheeky about it that Gim Seoyun got hit until the pillow stuffing serving as her shield burst out, but.
"Good work!"
"Excuse me, could I ask for a handshake, please?"
"Of course!"
After taking autographs and pictures with the players.
Finally back in the waiting room.
All the members were waiting.
Each wearing a baseball jersey top with their name on it and jeans.
They were uniforms prepared by the club.
"Dohui, did practice go well?"
The moment I sat down, Hana unni handed me a handkerchief.
This unni is so sweet sometimes; I really like her.
"Real practice is definitely the best."
"You crazy bitch, throwing balls like that yesterday."
"Oho. Can't you be more refined, Seoyun?"
Perhaps because she was influenced by Harang unni, whose speech is always rough.
Seoyun unni's filtering has weakened as well.
Before, no matter how angry she got, she wouldn't curse.
Or maybe she did.
"You're the problem. You."
I suppose it's because of the hole left by Naeun unni's absence.
"Urk... before... you were so sweet..."
"I really want to hit you."
Maybe Gim Seoyun's stress level has risen from us being stuck together 24 hours a day.
Anyway.
As I was touching up my makeup and fixing my clothes.
A staff member smiled and glanced at their watch.
"Shall we start moving now?"
Following the staff member out of the waiting room and down a long corridor, the ground spread out before us.
While players from both teams were busily warming up.
In the stands, a fierce off-field war of nerves between supporters was underway.
This spectacle from the first floor.
Seeing it from the ground was quite the sight.
A vast crowd different from the stage.
So this is what a sporty feeling is?
A stadium that exudes a more primal heat.
"I Dohui, are you nervous?"
I guess this is why people like sports.
"Would she be nervous? She probably loves it. She's an attention seeker. When people roll out the red carpet for her, she gets excited and doesn't know what to do with herself."
Gim Seoyun always mistakenly thinks I'm nervous like she is, but.
As Harang unni said, what I, an attention seeker, feel isn't nervousness but a shiver, a sensory trembling.
"A born celebrity. I'd like to request a correction."
"You think you were born in the right era."
Though I don't think Harang unni is one to talk.
"If you're ready, we'll head right in."
"Let's go, unni."
"Un."
"We'll be back~"
Holding Sera unni's hand, who was in charge of the first at-bat, we entered the ground.
And at the same time, Sera unni and I appeared on the large electronic scoreboard.
Regardless of the supporters' camps, loud cheers came from all directions.
-We will now have the ceremonial first pitch and first at-bat of the Isan Bears. The stars of the first pitch and first at-bat are I Dohui and Eun Sera of the popular girl group SAVEN! And please welcome SAVEN, who is receiving much love with 'Unsatisfied,' with applause!
As if answering, I waved my hand first.
"Unni, don't fold your arms and wave too."
"I dunno~"
"Sigh."
Sera unni is getting more brazen by the day.
-First, we will greet the audience!
The mascot, that is, the person in the character costume, handed us a microphone.
"Hello! I'm I Dohui of SAVEN. Please look forward to it!"
"Hello~ I'm Eun Sera~"
Woooaaaaah!
-The cheering is tremendous. Before the first pitch and first at-bat, we'd like a brief comment! First, Do-hui.
"Yes, it's such a great honor to throw the first pitch for the Bears today. I hope the Bears win today!"
Then, boos burst from the away supporters' section.
Boooooo!
It seemed my remark wishing for the Bears' victory in this important opening game had struck a nerve.
This is just business.
I pointed my finger at the camera and said.
"Giants, win next time when I'm not here!"
Laughter burst from the stands as if my answer wasn't bad.
-Great! Then now, Sera.
The MC sensibly switched the mood and continued.
"My parents have been Isan Bears fans since I was young, so I watched them a lot."
...? But you said you didn't even know the rules of baseball.
Then what was all that clinging to me all day yesterday asking questions?
"Isan Bears, fighting!"
Waaaah!
And why did they only boo me?
Boo at Sera unni too.
-Now for the first pitch and first at-bat, I Dohui to the mound! Eun Sera, please take your place at the plate!
I headed to the mound with a slightly aggrieved heart.
"Would you like to throw from here?"
The mascot stopped not at the mound but at a position a bit closer to home plate.
Being a woman, it seemed they meant for me to throw from here since throwing from the mound would be physically difficult.
"No. I want to throw from the mound!"
I've come all this way; I have to throw from the mound.
When else would I get to feel what a pitcher feels?
The mascot nodded.
Finally, I stepped onto the mound.
Receiving the glove and baseball from the staff, I took my stance.
-She's throwing from the mound.
-She's throwing from the exact same position where the players throw right now.
I recalled scenes I'd often seen in baseball manga from my past life.
First, putting three fingers on the inside of my arm, pretending to send a sign.
-Ah, player I Dohui is sending a sign. Has she been watching something somewhere!?
The catcher smiled faintly.
Since light performances were permitted, it seemed I could joke around a little.
-Seems the signs aren't matching with the catcher.
First, I shook my head once as if I didn't like the sign the catcher sent.
The cheers coming from the stands at every moment are fun.
Still, since it's rude to drag it out too long.
I pull one foot back and step back.
And started my windup.
-Great posture.
Lifting my leg up to my chest.
At the apex, takeback.
-Your posture is really good. Now the pitch!
It was only for one day, but all night long I'd stood in front of the mirror practicing my pose hard.
A pitching form that even the members, complete outsiders, praised as quite cool.
-Oh...!
***
Guided by the staff, we moved to the sky lounge.
Sera unni was nestled in my arms, but I couldn't push her away today of all days.
"It hurts..."
"It really was a mistake... Does it hurt a lot?"
"Hing... blow on it for me."
"Sigh..."
"Do it quickly..."
"Hoo... sigh..."
I keep getting an uneasy feeling that she got hit on purpose.
"I knew she'd do that. I could tell from yesterday when she was throwing balls at me all day."
Gim Seoyun accusing me the moment we arrived at the lounge.
"It's not like Do-hui does that kind of thing once or twice."
Even Chaerin unni...
"Hehe... you stupid girl, Do-hui..."
...?
Anyway, as I listened to the members' insults, my heart ached, so I fiddled with my phone.
Reactions I find myself looking up habitually.
On the internet, hot topic posts greeted me in real time.
[Do-hui proudly doing the first pitch.gif]
(Video)
is her dumbfounded expression after hitting Sera LOL
Upvote if she looks like a fool LOL
-Upvote LOL
-I like her because her expressions show everything without pretense LOL
-Sera's eyes are welling up from the pain TT so pitiful
-But seriously, no exaggeration, the trajectory is insane? The ball swerved right into Sera;; if she only had control she could sign right away, yes yes
└LOL
-I Dohui and Sera aren't on good terms LOL that same-gender rivalry LOL
└Are you mental?
└This one's a famous troll
-But both are fucking pretty in real life
└They are the visual top two after all
└Real talk, their real-life visuals are insane, they break through the camera
-Just do the first pitch and end your baseball career there LOL
└For real, why do they even do baseball?
-If the Bears lose after having Do-hui and Sera do the first pitch and first at-bat, they should just commit suicide
-I know I have no conscience, but please re-export the meme in 4K
[Real-time Jamsil Stadium First Pitch Legend]
[Dohui That Sera Hated]
[First Girl Group Member to Throw a Beanball in a Ceremonial First Pitch]
'...I'm good at sports, though.'
Looking at the internet only complicated my mood, so I focused on the game while eating the chicken the manager had bought.
"What's that? Is it an out?"
"When three strikes pile up like that, it's a strikeout."
"Ah, really?"
While eating delicious chicken.
I explained the rules to the members who were outsiders to baseball too.
As I watched a sports game with a light heart for the first time in a while, my gloomy mood from earlier loosened a bit.
"Oh! Isn't that what Do-hui threw today? What happens then?"
But then a beanball came out during the game.
My face suddenly caught on the scoreboard.
"Damn it..."
What is this, a public execution...
***
[Do-hui captured on camera after the beanball]
(First pitch video)
(Game beanball video)
(Scoreboard video)
LOL LOL LOL
-LOL look at Do-hui's face turning red
└LOL she must be embarrassed
└Her ears are red too LOL
-Camera sense is insane LOL
└Agreed LOL caught her immediately without hesitation LOL
Even when I looked at it, the photo from this day where even my ears turned red.
Circulated for a while.