Fucking Hanging On!!

It was a damn good hit. And yet, the batter couldn't budge a single step from the batter's box.

"Out!"

"...What a shame."

Those words came from Baek Jihun, who was swinging his bat around wildly from the dugout bench.

"Yeah."

Jin Yuha nodded in agreement, but...

"If that senior pulls off plays like that, my chances of making the All-Star team just got even slimmer..."

Baek Jihun's regret was a far cry from Jin Yuha's.

"Yuha, come on—even if that's true, making that face at your big bro hurts my feelings."

"Oh, my bad."

"Did you pick that up from Kangyeol or something?"

Baek Jihun was dead serious.

"It's obvious we're locking down this All-Star game, right? And the most important position—shortstop—is held by me, Baek Jihun, franchise star whose jersey sales rank in the team's top five. You really think I won't make it?"

"The guy's Song Jeongwoo, hyung. And the most important position is starting pitcher."

No matter that the Rhinos were one of the so-called "box office bust alliance"—the least popular teams—the hype around a former Major Leaguer was massive. And Song Jeongwoo wasn't some failed MLB guy, either.

"Ugh... Can't argue with that, but still, make it happen somehow."

Clutching his head, Baek Jihun shot Jin Yuha a grumpy look.

"This is all your fault!"

"Me?"

"You're pitching too damn well—there's no spotlight left for me!"

This game was Baek Jihun's personal All-Star showdown with Song Jeongwoo for the Eastern League spot. At least to him.

Team win? That's a given. Our pitcher's Yuha.

But Jin Yuha was just too damn good. Even Baek Jihun, who prided himself on shining brightest on defense, was getting overshadowed.

"You still flashed some great defense today, didn't you?"

"Not enough. That's already Song Jeongwoo's fourth web gem!"

"You're actually keeping count..."

The Rhinos' starter, Pedro Lopez, was a sinkerballer who induced grounders. Their infield defense was bound to shine.

"Then just show it at the plate."

"You think that's easy? I'm Baek Jihun."

Not bragging or anything.

"Ahem, thanks anyway, though."

"Suddenly?"

"Thanks to you, Song Jeongwoo won't be getting any hits. If that guy started hitting... whew."

Baek Jihun knew how to read the room.

Crack!!

"Strike three!"

Thankfully, Baek Jihun never had reason to be disappointed in Jin Yuha right up to the final out.

The Titans only shine in spring. Every KBO fan has heard it at least once.

That's why...

Titans fans were suffering PTSD after the team dropped three in a row right as June kicked off.

(Image of Jin Yuha calmly walking off after the shutout)

Jin Yuha's shutout was a huge boost for those fans.

Titans fans now had rock-solid faith that with Jin Yuha, even summer wouldn't bring a long skid.

Crack!!

"Out!"

The Titans, who looked listless on both sides of the ball during the three-game skid, seemed back to form after Jin Yuha's shutout.

The Titans fan community, briefly quiet, lit up again. And fans' heads were in the clouds.

Crack!!

Following Jin Yuha, starter James Gilbert notched a complete game.

Just as one wise commenter in the community said.

Honestly, no real thoughts on the fans' hype.

"Sports fans are always like that. Overreactions and mood swings are their passive skill, right?"

Baseball especially. Unlike other sports, games every day. No wonder outsiders think baseball fans are nuts.

— "That guy's gonna be huge! League's top ace potential! ...Not quite Yuha level, though!"

Mia was like that too.

— "Fuck! That was stupid pitching! Why the hell did the GM sign that damn kid long-term?!"

Mets after Dad's era were amazing in all the wrong ways.

Anyway, Titans fans strutting wasn't just their issue.

"Reporters are really pumping the tires."

Definitely the journos going wild for clicks off naive fans.

After me and James's back-to-back complete games, the loaded articles piled up.

At first, I figured typical hype pieces.

"Ugh... Why these articles of all things."

Jeong Hanseong's scrunched-up face.

"Whoa, this shit's consistent even after decades."

And Park Cheongwon's oddly sour expression told me otherwise.

"So... No team that's gotten these articles has ever actually done well?"

"Yep. Everyone freaks out over 'em."

"Fans don't seem to hate it, though."

"That's... 'cause it's been ages since we got tagged with ones like this."

Sad story.

"At least no 'momentum' talk yet."

Words from Je Gal-hoon, who'd quickly bonded with the Titans squad.

What's that about?

Eh, probably same old stuff.

"Ah."

Then a sigh from Yoon Kangyeol next to him, staring at his phone.

"It dropped."

Craaaack!!

. . .

Crack!!

"Argh!!"

Craaaack!!

. . .

Thwack!!

"Ball."

Craaaack!!

. . .

The Titans got royally fucked.

The Titans, paying the price for hubris, needed a vibe reset.

That was why the front office moved.