First Taegeuk Mark (3)
"Everyone ready?"
"Mm-hmm."
The Korean staff guided the athletes with crisp efficiency. Athletes from every sport gathered, the Taegeuk flag resting over their hearts and in their hands.
Nagoya, host of the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony. Most events would be held in cities across the same prefecture near Nagoya, but the opening and closing ceremonies took place in Nagoya itself—the largest city in Aichi Prefecture.
"Alright, let's move!"
"Aigoo, what now."
"This is so lame."
The baseball national team had grown closer during the training camp than before. When Kim Jongbeom—who had piled up more win contributions than any other domestic player since the last Asian Games in 2023—started showing off, playful curses flew from every direction.
But once they were no longer alone among themselves, and athletes from other sports began mixing in, the jokes faded. The closer they drew to a place where horsing around was impossible, the more serious their faces became.
"KOREA!"
The opening ceremony. It was finally time for the Korean contingent to enter.
Gulp.
In settings like this, individual-sport athletes usually led the way rather than team-sport players. Otherwise the spotlight would fall only on the pros from baseball, soccer, or basketball. Taekwondo's Kang Taepung and swimming's Yoo Minjeong stood at the very front.
"Hey, hey—see over there?"
"Huh?"
Once the procession ended and the camera flashes died down, Park Sihye leaned toward Hajun. In the direction the same-age pitcher pointed, three women in matching colors stood together.
"The one in the middle is archery goddess Gu Yunji. Seeing her in person is insane."
"Ah…"
Hajun thought he might have seen her photo online a few years back.
"Over there is gymnastics goddess Chae Soyeon, and the tall one is volleyball goddess Park Minjeong."
"Did we walk into a temple or something? Why are there so many goddesses?"
"So you're not interested?"
"No, it's not that…"
Hajun's standards weren't particularly high, and the names Sihye listed were the kind of beauties who would turn heads even at a university or office, not just on a field.
Still, what a piece of work this guy is.
Park Sihye's interest in women was enough to make anyone's jaw drop. Idols were the baseline; famous actresses, rising influencers—if you hung around Sihye long enough, you would know exactly who was hot right now. By Hajun's measure, Jin Yeongil showed a normal, age-appropriate interest in girls. Park Sihye was practically a professional.
The funny part was that the tall, clean-cut baseball player had never once been seen actually meeting a woman or going on a date. Back in the Lakers days, plenty of guys stuck in the second team still hit the downtown bars every weekend. Even on the Hawks, players with girlfriends popped up now and then.
So why is he like this?
Hajun couldn't shake the curiosity. It wasn't as if Sihye was obsessed with any particular celebrity.
"Whoa, those people—?"
"Huh?"
Sihye's head snapped around. The Japanese contingent was entering.
"Japanese shooting goddess Ayase Miyu! Volleyball idol Kitagawa Kaoru!"
Park Sihye grabbed Hajun's uniform and gushed.
"And the one hosting is Saeko, the announcer Tokyo TV has been pushing hard lately! I get to see her in person!"
"Ah…"
This guy is completely gone.
His information network crossed national borders. Hajun could only shake his head in disbelief.
After the ceremony, the baseball team finished their brief stay in the athletes' village and headed for a hotel in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture. Group-stage games would be played at Toyohashi Baseball Stadium; from the Super Round (semifinals) onward, the action moved to Okazaki Baseball Stadium in Okazaki City.
"Number nine, Cha Seongmin. That's everyone."
"…"
The national-team coach announced the starting lineup for tomorrow's first group-stage game against the Philippines.
1. Shortstop Lee Hajun (Daejeon Hawks)
2. Center fielder Woo Jaechun (Daegu Warriors)
3. Third baseman Kim Jongbeom (Gwangju Kings)
4. Designated hitter Park Jinhyeok (Daejeon Hawks)
5. First baseman Ahn Eunwoo (Seoul Lakers)
6. Left fielder Ahn Donghae (Busan Clippers)
7. Catcher Kim Jongin (Seoul Lakers)
8. Right fielder Song Junhyeong (Seoul Highlanders)
9. Second baseman Cha Seongmin (Changwon Dragons)
Starting pitcher: Tae Minho of the Daegu Warriors.
Leadoff, huh.
Hajun realized he was being valued even more highly on the national team than he had imagined. Against the Sangmu team they had said they were batting him first because his training form looked good, but this was something else.
"Don't go wild just because we're in Japan. Get to bed early."
The manager and coaches delivered the message like a simple notice and left it at that.
"Alright then."
Team captain Woo Jaechun of the Daegu Warriors stepped forward. It was evening; everyone was about to head back to their rooms.
"Let's settle what we talked about last time."
"…"
There was still business to finish. It had been mentioned during the domestic camp but never decided.
"We've got three candidates."
At Woo Jaechun's gesture, three teammates came forward.
"Let's pick one and go."
"Do we really have to do this?"
"We already agreed. Too late to back out now."
The room split into three rough camps—those who didn't care, those who weren't thrilled, and those who were all in—but once a group decision was made, following it was non-negotiable. The outcome wouldn't change.
For some, this was a fairly important moment. They had agreed that every player who got a hit in this tournament would perform a shared celebration, and they needed to lock in the move. Pitchers would have to join in after games as well, so anyone might end up doing it.
"Number one."
"Ahem."
Ahn Donghae of the Busan Clippers stepped up. He formed a camera shape with both hands, tilted his head, and struck a shutter-click pose.
"Hey, that's the famous one."
"You're straight-up copying?"
"Out."
"Just leave."
Ahn Donghae, who had imitated the signature celebration of a world-class soccer star that every Korean knew, was eliminated without another word.
"Next."
Catcher Kim Jongin of the Seoul Lakers appeared. He carried more bulk than most baseball players, but he was flexible enough that the motion looked free. He covered his face with one arm, stretched the other long in the opposite direction, and dipped his head—the once-famous Dab.
"Aigoo, what year is this from?"
"You're out too."
"If I do something trendy you'll yell that I'm copying!"
Kim Jongin grumbled as he exited.
"Last one."
"…"
The captain called Kim Jongbeom of the Gwangju Kings.
Just pick anything already.
Hajun, who had stayed quiet until now, only felt boredom when the final candidate appeared. How special could this possibly be?
"How's this?"
"…"
With a confident little smile, Kim Jongbeom stood his left hand upright and laid his right hand flat across the top, forming a clear T.
What is that?
Hajun tilted his head. The others looked just as puzzled. It wasn't weird, and it didn't look familiar either. No real reason to object—yet no one particularly wanted to do it.
"Alright, that's all three. Time to vote."
The captain ignored the baffled faces and pushed the process forward. The result came quickly.
"Nice."
Kim Jongbeom won. And so the national team's celebration was locked in as the completely inexplicable T pose.
"Batting first, Lee Hajun! Second, Woo Jaechun! Third, Kim Jongbeom!"
It wasn't Osaka, Tokyo, or Fukuoka, but Toyohashi sat close enough to the major city of Nagoya that the stands filled with both fans who had made the short trip from Korea and local Korean residents living in Japan.
"…"
Damn it, I can't focus.
Hajun had gotten an earful from the hard-line teammates after he failed to do the celebration following a hit in practice. He would do it if he had to—but the moment someone told him he absolutely must, the fear of forgetting it started eating at him.
"…"
Regardless, Hajun settled into his stance and locked eyes on the pitcher.
CRACK!
A flat, hittable pitch. Hajun did not miss it. A hard line drive with serious exit velocity. The right fielder had to range to his right to field it, so there was no chance of holding the now-runner Hajun to a single.
Oh, right!
Hajun performed his slightly delayed duty.
"…"
And then he had to endure the mild wave of secondhand embarrassment that followed.